Chapter 27

Emmet wakes up, realizing he's not alone. Leaf is cuddled up to him, her scent, something floral, filling the air around them. He doesn't panic or get all awkward about it. Instead, he pulls her a bit closer. She responds by snuggling even tighter into him, and for a few peaceful moments, they both lie there in a comfortable, silent embrace.

Soon enough, he feels her stir. She's awake, but she doesn't make a move to pull away. Neither does he. It's a mutual, unspoken agreement to just enjoy this rare tranquility. Then their alarms blare in unison, destroying the moment. Both groan as they reluctantly untangle from one another. On impulse, their lips meet in a brief, chaste kiss before they shuffle out of bed.

It's business as usual from there. They each take turns in the bathroom, brushing teeth and washing faces. Once they're done, they quickly scan the room. No socks under the bed, no chargers plugged into the wall—nothing forgotten. They nod at each other, double-checking their bags one last time before they prepare to make their exit.

Emmet and Leaf find themselves back in the lounge of the lighthouse, but there's no sign of Bill. Taking this as their cue, they do a final sweep for forgotten items. Satisfied, they pull up the PokeGear at the front door. A quick map check, a moment to align the compass, and they've got their bearings set for Celadon.

As they trek through the forest, the conversation is less about where they're going and more about what they could be doing with their unique abilities. It's almost like a rolling brainstorm session, each throwing out ideas and seeing what sticks. Then Leaf pauses, as if she's stumbled onto something big. "Hey, does Heal Pulse work by directly healing wounds, or does it speed up the body's own healing process?"

"What's got you curious about that all of a sudden?" Emmet asks, peering at her through the greenery.

"Just answer the question," she urges, not missing a beat.

Emmet takes the inquiry seriously. He looks at his palm, focusing. A pinkish glow surrounds it as he activates Heal Pulse. He feels the energy circulate, observing the effect it has on him.

He stops, his face twisting in thought. "You know, it's hard to say for sure, but it might be a bit of both. It does have an immediate soothing effect, but I also feel like it nudges my natural healing along a bit."

"Could you, theoretically, skew it more towards accelerating natural healing?" Leaf's voice is tinged with excitement.

"Why would I want to do that?" Emmet frowns, clearly puzzled. "Sounds like a waste of a perfectly good technique."

Leaf grins, almost predatorily. "What if I told you that by doing that, we could rapidly build muscle and increase our stamina? If we make Heal Pulse focus only on speeding up the body's natural process, we could actually help our muscles repair faster, process lactic acid at an insane speed, and get stronger as we move. It's like EM but on a cellular level!"

Suddenly, it's like someone flipped a switch in Emmet's head. The possibilities unfurl in his mind like a runaway fireworks display. If he can get Heal Pulse to work the way Leaf imagines, they'd be in a constant state of growth, just as long as they got enough nutrients. And if he could apply this to his Pokemon? The word 'revolutionary' doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels his breaths start to quicken, excitement and potential filling his lungs like helium.

Leaf can't help but grin as Emmet, in his classic "I've got an idea" fashion, halts abruptly and calls out Clefairy. He's animated, hands gesturing wildly as he talks to the pink Pokemon. Clefairy, for her part, nods with what looks like understanding, hanging on his every word like he's delivering some cosmic secret.

Switching gears, Leaf calls out her own Pokemon crew. "Alright, guys, I need you to set up a perimeter. Emmet and Clefairy are onto something big." Her Pokemon scatter, taking their positions. But then her eyes catch Emmet wincing as he pricks his finger with a pocket knife. She watches Clefairy channel Heal Pulse, but something's different—the glow this time isn't pink. It's a deeper, more complex shade of purple.

Doubt flickers in Leaf's mind. No way they cracked it that fast. But then again, she reflects on the way EM operates for Emmet and his Pokemon. For her, every experience feels like a turbo-boost, like she's learning ten times faster than normal. Emmet, on the other hand, is on another level. If she had to put a number on it, she'd say he and his Pokemon are learning at a pace that feels like thirty times faster. Maybe even more. The 'rate of learning' concept is all fuzzy math anyway, but the bottom line? Emmet's already a fast learner, and he's just getting faster.

Emmet examines his newly healed finger and shakes his head. "Nah, Clefairy, we're close but not quite. Let's switch it up. Use more Fairy energy and less Psychic this time, okay?" He doesn't hesitate as he pricks his finger again, blood bubbling up at the surface. 

Clefairy nods, making a soft "Clefairy" sound as she concentrates. She uses Heal Pulse again, and this time the glow surrounding Emmet's finger is a darker shade of pink. They both watch intently. At first, nothing seems to happen. Then, almost like a Slowpoke realizing it wants to move, the skin around the puncture starts to twitch. Instead of instantly sealing up, the blood begins to coagulate, as if it's following the body's natural playbook for healing a wound. The entire process feels slower but also more organic, like the body itself is taking the reins rather than some external force snapping its fingers.

"YES! That's it, Clefairy! You got it!" Emmet can't contain his excitement. He picks up Clefairy and starts spinning her around, her stubby arms flailing in joyous surprise. They've cracked it; they've actually cracked it.

Leaf watches Emmet and Clefairy's celebration with a sense of bewilderment. It's not just that what they've accomplished in ten minutes is extraordinary; it's extraordinary even by Emmet's ever-accelerating standards. Every new day seems to make his previous triumphs look pedestrian.

Her thoughts drift. Maybe Emmet's rapid progress is starting to numb even him to how incredible it is. Just yesterday, Bill mentioned that Emmet's Firefly was radiating energy on par with a Charizard. That should have been jaw-dropping, but she treated it like just another Monday. What's happening to them?

Leaf considers her own ambitions. Her life is irreversibly tied to Emmet now, but do their goals even align? She knows he's intent on thwarting Team Rocket and Mewtwo, but is that it? Is that the entire roadmap?

"Hey, Emmet," she calls out, interrupting his spinning dance with Clefairy, who looks like she might barf if the spinning continued any longer.

Emmet sets Clefairy down and focuses on Leaf's expression, his own brow furrowing. "You look serious. Everything okay?"

"What's your endgame?" Leaf asks, cutting straight to it.

"My endgame? Well, to take down Team Rocket and Mewtwo, like I've said," Emmet replies, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.

"And? Anything else? How exactly are you planning to do that?" Leaf presses.

"By becoming strong enough to confront Giovanni and Mewtwo. Ideally, catch 'em during a falling-out, if they ever have one," Emmet says, confidence edging his voice.

"That's it?" Leaf raises an eyebrow. "Why do you even want to stop Team Rocket?"

Emmet looks a little hurt, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'why'? They're evil, aren't they?"

"What are Team Rocket's goals? Who's funding them? Do they have support from any Gym Leaders? What about the Elite Four—are they in Giovanni's pocket?" As she fires off the questions, she watches Emmet's face twist into a grimace of realization. "I'd really like to know how you plan to do all these things. And no, 'by getting very strong' isn't a sufficient plan."

Emmet looks at Leaf, his eyebrows knitted. "Look, I get that you're concerned. Honestly, I don't have a laid-out plan, okay? I'm just now figuring out what kind of power I'm dealing with here. Nobody's helping me do recon on Team Rocket's bankroll or their political allies. What I do know is, I want to be strong enough to go toe-to-toe with Giovanni and Mewtwo when it matters."

Without giving Leaf a chance to speak, he barrels on. "You know, I think you're going through the same mental fog I've just started to clear. EM has changed the game for us. You wanted to climb the Ranger ranks, aim for Elite status one day, right? Now you're realizing that's selling yourself short. You could be a Gym Leader, Elite Four, hell, even a Champion."

"And as for me?" Emmet takes a deep breath. "Before EM, my dreams were pretty much local. Wanted to be a strong trainer, maybe hit the Indigo circuit for a few years, and then think about starting a Gym. Now? My horizon's gotten too big for long-term plans. I've got short-term goals, and I want to see what's out there—build up teams in different regions."

Leaf exhales, weighing his words. "Maybe you're right. Still, wouldn't it make sense for us to at least plan out those short-term goals together?"

A warm smile spreads across Emmet's face. He takes Leaf's hand gently. "Absolutely, we should. But first, we've got to get those badges from Celadon and Saffron, pronto."

Leaf's eyes narrow curiously. "Why the rush for those two badges specifically?"

He grins, excitement lighting his eyes. "Look, if we get those out of the way, then we can face Koga in Fuchsia with a fully-evolved team. If we also tackle Koga and maybe even Blaine in the coming months, then we could head to Seafoam Islands. I've got my eye on a game-changer Pokemon there. But I wouldn't risk that trip unless our team is off-the-charts strong."

Leaf can't help but be intrigued. "What Pokemon?"

His grin turns cryptic. "Ah, let's keep that a little secret for now. What matters is, we've got to make tracks to Celadon. While we're on the move, Clefairy and I will work on perfecting this new Heal Pulse."

The journey to Celadon goes smoother than either of them expected. Emmet and Clefairy have a breakthrough with the new Heal Pulse technique. The light it emits settles into their muscles like a balm, easing fatigue and supercharging their stamina. As they walk, Leaf and Emmet sketch out plans, their chatter filled with the unspoken exhilaration of knowing they've just found another way to amplify their team's strength.

Once in Celadon, their first stop is the Pokemon Center. It's almost routine, the check-ups, the vital stats, the nurses' nod of approval. All the Pokemon get a clean bill of health, but what catches their eye is the omission of Firefly's mandatory full checkup. Seems Bill's words have reached Professor Oak; she's officially off the watchlist.

Morning light finds them standing in front of the Celadon Gym. They beat the morning rush, arrive to an empty lobby, and slide up to the front desk without having to elbow their way through a crowd.

The attendant behind the counter, a cute girl with a red ribbon tied around her hair, finishes tapping on her computer and looks up at Emmet. "You're all set to face Gym Leader Erika in one hour," she says, her cheeks blushing a bit as she hands him a piece of paper. "And, um, this is for you. Call me?" She bites her lower lip, her eyes meeting his for just a moment longer than necessary.

Emmet blinks, not quite sure how to handle the situation. "Uh, thanks for booking the match," he says, hesitating, but he leaves the paper on the counter. His face tries to maintain neutrality, yet a slight twitch of his eyebrows betrays his surprise.

Leaf, who's been silently fuming during this exchange, clears her throat loudly. The attendant's eyes shift, and her smile flattens into a scowl. "Yes?" she asks Leaf, curtly, her eyes no longer holding that flirty sparkle. "What can I do for you?"

Leaf's face contorts into a scowl for a split second before transforming into a predatory grin. Something's clicked in her head, and it's like watching a predator spotting an opening.

"Is this how you usually conduct yourself at work?" Leaf asks, nodding towards the piece of paper that Emmet left on the counter. Her eyes lock onto the attendant's, sharp and unyielding, daring her to deny it.

The attendant's eyes narrow, and she crosses her arms defensively. "I'm doing my job just fine, thanks. Last time I checked, there's no rule against flirting with a good-looking guy." Her words come out clipped, her nostrils flare just a bit.

"Oh really? And is this the Celadon Gym's standard practice then?" Leaf probes, her eyes still fixed on the attendant like a Beedrill sizing up its next target.

Emmet catches on that his usually calm and collected girlfriend is teetering on the edge of something. Her grin hasn't faded; if anything, it's grown more predatory, like a Gyarados sensing blood in the water.

The attendant lets out an exasperated huff. "Look, you're not my boss, and I haven't had any complaints so far, so what's it to you?" She leans in slightly, almost defiantly, as if daring Leaf to push her further.

In response, Leaf's grin turns practically feral. She pulls out her Pokedex, flips it open to reveal it doubles as her ID. "Let me introduce myself properly. I'm Leaf Redwood." Her tone is sweet, dripping with unspoken menace.

Color drains from the attendant's face as if she's just seen a Haunter. Realization washes over her: the Redwoods own this Gym. She's been backtalking to, essentially, her boss's family. Her arms uncross, and her posture straightens almost involuntarily, as if yanked up by an invisible string.

Just when it seems like the confrontation might escalate, a voice tinged with sweetness and concern cuts through the tension. "Is everything alright here?" The words flow like a gentle breeze, dispersing the gathering storm.

Standing there is Erika Redwood, Celadon's Gym Leader and Leaf's cousin. She's adorned in a pastel-colored kimono that practically radiates serenity. For a brief moment, Emmet wonders if Leaf could possibly share genes with this epitome of grace. Catching his momentary disbelief, Leaf's eyes lock onto his, shooting him a glare as sharp as an Ariados's fang. Just as quickly, her expression softens into a radiant smile upon setting her eyes back on Erika.

Leaf's face lights up like a Jolteon hit with an electric charge. "Erika!" she shouts, launching herself at her cousin for a full-bodied hug. Erika laughs, her voice warm and inviting, as she wraps her arms around Leaf, genuinely enjoying the burst of family affection.

Leaf pulls back from the hug, her eyes glowing with a fervor that'd make a Charmander jealous. "Oh my Arceus, Erika, you won't believe the journey I've been on! First off, my Ivysaur—total beast. I mean, I don't think there's another Ivysaur out there that could take it down. Oh, and I got a Gloom! You love Glooms, right?" She barely takes a breath before continuing. "And guess what? I have a boyfriend now! Emmet, meet Erika; Erika, Emmet!"

Erika and Emmet exchange polite nods, both slightly overwhelmed by Leaf's whirlwind update.

"But wait, there's more!" Leaf barrels on. "We survived a freaking school of Gyarados yesterday! No joke! And my Pidgeotto is like, this close to evolving! Oh, oh, oh! And guess what else? I have Aura now! Aura, Erika!"

Erika's eyes widen, clearly impressed but also struggling to keep up with Leaf's verbal torrent. Leaf finally takes a breath, looking like she just finished a Kanto Marathon but still brimming with untamed enthusiasm.

Emmet, who had been watching the exchange with growing discomfort, finally snaps. "Hey, maybe we should move this chat somewhere more private, huh? We're spilling family secrets in front of an audience here!" He glares at both Leaf and the still-stunned attendant.

Leaf catches on immediately, wincing at her lapse in judgement. She opens her mouth to apologize, but Emmet simply sighs and shakes his head, as if to say, 'Not now.'

Erika nods understandingly. "Why don't we move this to my office? We can talk freely there." As she turns to leave, her eyes narrow into a stern gaze, locking onto the attendant. "And you," she says with a note of warning, "heard nothing. If I find out you've been talking, your job will be the least of your worries." The attendant frantically nods.

Emmet feels a chill go down his spine as he watches Erika's transformation from graceful to menacing in a heartbeat, maybe it's a Redwood family trait? Swallowing hard, he quietly follows Erika, his hand intertwined with Leaf's.

They walk into Erika's office, and it's like stepping into another world. The room is vibrant with an array of flora, and green hues paint the walls and furnishings. The whole place feels like a slice of nature transported indoors, and it's weirdly soothing.

Erika motions for them to sit before pouring some tea into porcelain cups. Emmet takes a sip, feeling the warmth spread through him, immediately calming his frazzled nerves. "Ah, this is good stuff," he mutters, almost to himself.

"So," Erika finally speaks, eyeing them over her cup, "you two are together? Is this the same Emmet that you couldn't stop talking about all those years?"

Leaf blushes, unable to contain her smile. "Yeah, this is him. We've been best friends since, like, forever back in Pallet. Now, well, we're more."

Erika chuckles. "I never understood why your parents were so insistent on raising you in Pallet when we have everything here in Celadon. But if you were happy, that's all that matters."

Then Erika's expression hardens, her eyes narrowing. "But let's get back to the real issue. What was that about Gyarados and Aura?"

Emmet leans forward, deciding it's his turn to share. "We got attacked by a school of Gyarados. Happened just southeast of here, near Bill's Lighthouse, but we managed to get them, uh, to see reason. Yes, to see reason."

Erika groans, rubbing her temples. "Bill again. He's been messing around in that lighthouse of his, and it's making the Pokemon in the ocean act all kinds of crazy. The sinking of the S.S. Anne sure didn't help things either."

Leaf sighs, her expression clouding over. "Is there anything you can tell us about the S.S. Anne sinking that wasn't on the news? All we got from the Pokemon Center was the League's official 'it's under investigation' spiel."

Erika locks eyes with Emmet, then turns to Leaf. "Can he be trusted? Because what I have to say isn't exactly public information."

Emmet doesn't take offense. Erika's a Gym Leader; she has to be cautious to safeguard the region her Gym overlooked. It's part of the job description, and Emmet gets that.

Leaf doesn't hesitate. "He can be trusted. We're Aura-bonded." Erika's eyes go wide, clearly startled, but Leaf is quick to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'll explain the Aura stuff. But first, what do you know about the S.S. Anne?"

Emmet locks eyes with Erika, and for a split second, he's sure he sees something flicker in her gaze—a glint, a spark. He recalls his recent talks with Bill where his eyes shone when the Professor analyzed Firefly, making him speculate that Aura users often have a brief flash in their eyes when they engage their abilities. The EM-enhanced Aura training has sharpened his perception, making him wonder if he's picking up on these subtleties because he's getting more in tune with his own Aura.

"Listen closely, both of you," Erika says, leaning in. "The S.S. Anne disaster is rocking the League to its core. Champion Lance is having a hell of a time keeping things together. We Gym Leaders got word that it's almost certainly a Team Rocket operation. So many are dead or missing—not just from Kanto and Johto, but also from Hoenn and Sinnoh. Every available hand is focused on rescue operations."

"That's not surprising," Emmet responds. "I recently caught a Feebas from Hoenn close to Bill's Lighthouse. Poor thing was running from a Gyarados. Through my Aura, I could feel its pain and got a sense that its trainer didn't make it out of the S.S. Anne's sinking."

Erika grimaces. "That lines up. We've found Pokemon, lots of them, drifting near the wreckage. Most are dead. The survivors, mainly aquatic Pokemon, have been systematically hunted down by the local Gyarados and Tentacruels. No wonder Kanto barely has any aquatic Pokemon from other regions with so many Gyarados and Tentacruels roaming around our waters"

She takes a long gulp of her tea before setting it down forcefully. "It gets worse. Almost all the rangers on board were killed before a bomb went off. That sealed the ship's fate. Hoenn and Sinnoh, who were this close to opening their borders to Indigo, pulled what was left of their delegations. Most were on that ship. They've made it clear they're not talking until Team Rocket is taken down."

Leaf and Emmet share a glance, heavy with unspoken words. Erika catches it and leans forward, curiosity glinting in her eyes. "Something you want to add?" she prods.

Leaf leans in and drops her voice a notch. "Emmet and I have been talking. We think Team Rocket is gearing up for something big, something major. The vibes are all wrong, Mt. Moon, and now S.S. Anne are only the first steps into something much bigger."

Erika laughs, a sound so gracefully executed that Emmet didn't even know it was possible to scoff in such a refined manner. "Oh, everyone's been feeling that," she replies. "The problem is, nobody knows what they're really after so we can't imagine what the next step will be. Their operations seems to be pretty Kanto-centric, for some reason."

"But could there be a connection to the Kanto-Johto war?" Emmet cuts in, trying to subtly nudge the flow of conversation to the only thing he could think that may be motivating Giovanni and his team. He would have never made this connection if Leaf did not tell him the story of Terracotta.

Erika shakes her head, just as her intercom buzzes to life. "Emmet Grant, your badge match is scheduled to start in ten minutes," announces a distant voice. "Look, that's ancient history, the war is over and no one cares about it any longer," Erika says, waving off Emmet's query. "I'm more worried that their plans are more immediate, and far more nefarious."

Erika gets up briskly. "Let's not keep the audience waiting. Follow me to the arena," she says, her tone mixing authority with a dash of excitement.

As they weave through the winding corridor, the smell of damp soil and plants in the air, Erika throws over her shoulder, "By the way, Lt. Surge requested your badge challenge be upped a tier. You'll be facing my five-badge team, not the four-badge one."

"I heard about Surge's request," Emmet replies, not missing a beat. "Doesn't bother me. Bring it on."

They finally enter the greenhouse arena, a marvel of nature. Oddishs, Glooms, and a menagerie of plant Pokemon roam freely. Emmet is instantly in awe. His eyes dart around, spotting Weepinbells and Victreebels tucked amid the foliage. There is an assortment of Gym trainers and a few bystanders who were taking a walk around the greenhouse but were now making way towards the stands by the arena's side.

As he moves to his designated spot, a referee arrives. Leaf opts to sit on the bench behind him rather than behind her cousin, drawing a pleased smile from Erika.

"The battle will be a three-on-three Pokemon match," announces the referee. "Only the contestant, Emmet Grant, is permitted to withdraw his Pokemon."

Emmet nods, fiddling with Pidgeotto's Pokeball. It feels a little like he's cheating, what with the type advantage and all. But his aim is to push Pidgeotto, to test its limits. Erika may not be top-tier, but she's no slouch. He knows she'll have tricks up her sleeve to balance out the type disadvantage.

"Tangela!" Erika releases a pretty big Tangela who arrives with a shout.

With a flick of his wrist, Emmet releases Pidgeotto. The bird Pokemon spirals up into the air, wings stretched wide. "Pidgeotto, use Wing Attack!"

Erika doesn't flinch. "Tangela, use Sleep Powder!" The mass of vines that is Tangela starts shaking, releasing a cloud of spores into the air. But Pidgeotto's wings whip up a miniature tornado, scattering the Sleep Powder away.

A collective gasp ripples through the crowd. Someone shouts, "Nice dodge!" Leaf exhales a breath she didn't know she'd been holding, her eyes flicking to Emmet, who stands composed but focused.

"Pidgeotto, use Quick Attack!" Emmet shouts. The bird Pokemon blurs, a streak of brown and cream feathers aimed like a missile. Tangela is hit but doesn't seem too phased; its vines act like a cushion, absorbing much of the impact.

"Tangela, Vine Whip!" Erika counters. Vines snap out like whips, aiming for Pidgeotto. They crack through the air, but Pidgeotto dodges with the telltale glow of the recently used Agility, narrowly avoiding the assault.

"Whoa, look at that dodge!" someone in the audience yells. Leaf smiles; even if she's not battling, she has seen how Emmet has pushed Pidgeotto to try and keep boosting itself even without his command to do so.

"Time to switch things up! Pidgeotto, use Sand Attack!" Emmet instructs. Pidgeotto dives low, flapping its wings vigorously to kick up dust and debris from the arena floor, blurring Tangela's vision.

Erika grins, seemingly pleased by the unconventional move. "Tangela, use Bind!" Tangela's vines extend outward, blindly seeking Pidgeotto through the dust cloud.

But Emmet's not letting that happen. "Pidgeotto, Gust!" The bird Pokemon swoops up, creating a powerful gust of wind that blows the sand away—and sends Tangela's seeking vines off course.

"Nice try. Tangela, use Sludge Bomb!" Erika commands. Tangela spews a volley of toxic sludge. Pidgeotto evades most of it, but a few drops splatter against its feathers, making it screech in discomfort.

"Enough messing around! Pidgeotto, ascend and finish this with Aerial Ace!" Emmet's voice rings out. Pidgeotto starts to glow, gathering energy for a high-powered dive.

Just as the glowing Pidgeotto swoops down, Erika calls, "Tangela, use Solar Beam!" But it's too late. Pidgeotto's Aerial Ace connects first, a blur of light and power smashing into Tangela, sending it sprawling across the arena floor, unable to continue.

The audience erupts into a deafening cheer. Leaf leaps up from her seat, shouting, "Yes! Way to go, Emmet!" as the referee raises his hand, "Pidgeotto is the winner!"

Pidgeotto lets out a triumphant screech, soaring high above the arena. Then, in a brilliant flash of light that draws the crowd's eyes skyward, its body expands, feathers elongating and beak sharpening. When the light fades, a majestic Pidgeot hovers over the battlefield, its larger wingspan casting an impressive shadow. The arena reverberates with its mighty call, "Pidgeot!"