Chapter 26

Emmet's hands hover over Leaf's injured thigh as he aids Clefairy in administering a Heal Pulse. The situation is dire enough that neither of them feels any awkwardness about the intimate placement of his hands. Both are too drained—mentally and physically—to even consider it.

A couple of minutes stretch on, punctuated by Leaf's guttural groan as her femur clicks back into place with a sickening snap. She exhales a sigh of relief, and Emmet proceeds to heal her other bruises. "Thanks, I appreciate you looking out for the small stuff too," she says, her voice tinged with gratitude.

"So what now? It's not like we can pitch a tent; ours is Gyarados chow by now," Leaf asks, looking around at the wreckage.

Emmet checks his PokeGear, noting the time. "It's mid-afternoon. We won't make it to a town before dark. How about we head to Professor Bill's Lighthouse? We can ask to crash there until we're back on our feet."

"Sounds as good a plan as any," Leaf replies, weariness in her eyes. "I'm really not in the mood for roughing it out without tents right now."

Emmet helps Leaf to her feet and checks his PokeGear for their current location. Navigating quickly, he reorients them towards Professor Bill's Lighthouse in the distance.

As they walk, Leaf leaning heavily on Emmet to spare her recently healed leg, both are lost in their thoughts—evaluating the recent battle, assessing their mistakes, considering what could've gone better.

"We need to debrief with our teams," Emmet suggests. "Also, it's high time we get our Pidgeottos to evolve into Pidgeots. That way, they can swoop in and carry us to safety if something like this happens again."

Leaf nods. "You're right. And now that I have access to EM, I want to learn Heal Pulse like you. If you get hurt and Clefairy's out of commission, I want to be able to stabilize you."

"How are you feeling about all this?" Emmet asks. "Even with all we've been through, today rattled me. Seven Gyarados trying to turn us into lunch? That's not just another day in Kanto."

Leaf pauses, collecting her thoughts. "This was terrifying, Emmet. I'm only now realizing how many better choices I could've made. In the heat of the moment, adrenaline clouded my judgment. Like rushing to Pidgeotto instead of using my Psychic abilities to bring it to me—I endangered us all," Her hands tremble as she speaks, guilt clouding her eyes.

"Look, you did better than most would've. Sure, Ivysaur could have used Vine Whip to help Pidgeotto or you could have simply tried to return it to its Pokeball, although it was pretty far so maybe it wouldn't have worked, but the key thing is you're seeing your mistakes. That means you won't make them again," Emmet reassures her, trying to balance his words carefully.

But Emmet sees that Leaf is still wrestling with guilt. He opts to let her mull it over, figuring it might help her grow. As much as he wants to wipe away her worries, he knows that only through grappling with these tough feelings will she learn to face similar challenges in the future.

The sun dips below the horizon as Leaf and Emmet reach Bill's Lighthouse. Even in the dark, the lighthouse does its job, casting a beacon of light that's hard to miss. "Damn, that's some bright light, huh? Even the lighthouse close to Vermillion was way dimmer than this one" Leaf comments. 

Clefairy takes the initiative during the trek, periodically coming over to give Leaf a Heal Pulse. The extra boosts allow Leaf to walk on her own, freeing Emmet to approach the imposing metal doors adorned with intricate Pokemon etchings. "Kind of over the top but who am I to judge," he says before pressing the doorbell.

While waiting, Emmet gazes upwards. The lighthouse's top is still in one piece.

In the back of his mind, he knows that any day now, Ash is going to catch a Krabby, visit this same lighthouse, see a huge Dragonite, and witness Team Rocket's typical chaos resulting in the top of the lighthouse getting wrecked. "Man, the more reason to not stick around too long," he thinks, feeling a tinge of urgency.

Mentally shrugging off his concerns for now, Emmet gives the doorbell another press.

Acknowledging there's nothing he can do about it now, he presses the doorbell a second time and waits.

"Who is it?" a male voice sounds through an intercom.

"We're a couple of trainers who got attacked by a school of Gyarados earlier today," Emmet says, his words tinged with exhaustion. "Is this Professor Bill's Lighthouse? We could really use some shelter."

Leaf pipes up, "We won't be a burden, promise. We can help around if you need. Professor Oak knows us; he'd vouch for our character."

"You're claiming to know Professor Oak? Hang on, I need to check this with him. What are your full names?" the voice becomes noticeably more cautious.

"I'm Leaf Redwood, and this is Emmet Grant. We're not just some random trainers; Professor Oak sponsors both of us," Leaf reassures the man behind the voice. It was a well established point throughout both Kanto and Johto that Professor Oak takes his sponsored seriously. He had never let just anyone use his name and there has been instances in the past where he rescinded his sponsorship for bad behavior.

"Redwood? As in, related to Gym Leader Erika from the Redwood family?" the voice now carries a note of heightened interest.

"Yep, Erika Redwood is my cousin. She runs the gym in Celadon," Leaf says, her tone stripped of any playful edge. It's a name-drop, but a necessary one right now.

"Alright, come on in. The lounge is open for you to wait. I'll confirm things with Professor Oak and be with you shortly," the voice, noticeably warmer now, replies from the intercom.

"Thanks. Just to clarify, who are we speaking to?" Emmet asks, feeling a little awkward for having to remind the speaker that he hadn't identified himself yet.

"Oh, my apologies for the oversight. This is Professor Bill. Please make yourselves comfortable in the lounge. And, if you wouldn't mind, return your Pokemon to their Pokeballs," Bill says, his tone polite but rushed.

With a mechanical rumble, the towering doors swing open, revealing a lavish lounge. Plush sofas, a state-of-the-art TV, sculptures, and an array of paintings give the room a classy aura.

"Better make this quick," Emmet mutters as he and Leaf recall their Pokemon, taking a moment to wipe their shoes clean on the doormat before stepping onto the room's expensive carpeting. Not that the rest of the clothes were in better shape, being all muddy and torn in places, but it's not like they could strip in the lounge to change.

"Why's Sylveon still out?" Leaf asks, noticing the Fairy Pokemon hovering beside Emmet.

"I never really feel comfortable without at least one of my Pokemon around," Emmet replies, scratching the back of his head. "Sylveon is pretty non-threatening; she won't set people on edge."

Leaf thinks back, mentally sifting through their time together, and realizes it's true—Emmet seldom goes Pokemon-less, save for brief visits to Pokemon Centers.

As they wander through the room, they're struck by the caliber of art and memorabilia. It's like stepping into a museum. "You know, this could easily be a public exhibit," Emmet says, Leaf nodding in agreement, their earlier tension momentarily forgotten in the face of aesthetic brilliance.

Emmet's eyes catch a painting that stands out among the others—a swarm of Dragonites shooting Hyper Beams at a village below. The image is intense and the graphic violence displayed seems out of place for some reason. "What the hell is going on here?" he murmurs, squinting at the painting as if expecting it to clarify itself.

Leaf observes Emmet's interest in the painting. Boyfriend? Is that what he is to her now? They never put a label on it, but things have been—well—obvious? She shoves those thoughts aside, focusing on the painting that has captured Emmet's attention.

"You know, it's not often you see artwork of this event," Leaf says, her voice tinged with a gravity that makes her words stick.

Emmet's eyebrows shoot up. "What event? What's this painting about?" he asks, genuinely puzzled as his finger traces the red blots on the village's streets.

"You don't know what this is depicting?" Leaf eyes him, disbelief shading her features.

"No, I've never seen anything like this," Emmet says. "I mean, since when do Dragonites go on rampages on towns?"

"I guess our school skipped a lot of the darker history. I only know about this because my family had me take extra lessons on Kanto's history," Leaf confesses. "This painting depicts an event from the Johto-Kanto War."

"I know there was a massive war, and that Samuel Oak essentially ended it by defeating the Champions and Elite Four from both regions," Emmet says. "But they never got into the nitty-gritty. I never heard about anything like this."

"Wow, is that all you know?" Leaf asks, a little stunned. "I thought you'd at least be familiar with this event. It happened not too far from Pallet Town."

"Okay, stop rubbing it in. What's the story behind the painting?" Emmet says, a little defensively but more curious than annoyed.

Leaf's teasing smirk fades, replaced by a solemn look. "This painting shows Dragonites from the Blackthorn Clan from Johto attacking Terracotta Town. They flew in the middle of the night, razing everything. It was hours before the Kanto League could muster a force to repel them. Thousands died. Finally, a local hero led a team that took down nearly a dozen Dragonites and injuring double that number, forcing the Blackthorns to retreat."

Emmet's eyes widen, absorbing the horror of Leaf's tale. "Was the hero Professor Oak?"

"No," Leaf sighs, "it wasn't Oak. The hero was a trainer from Terracotta Town itself. He was on his way back to visit family when he found the town under siege and his family buried beneath their own house."

"Who was it?" Emmet asks, the suspense hanging thick in the air between them.

Leaf's voice drops a notch, solemnity painting her words. "It was Giovanni."

Emmet leans back, arms folded across his chest. "So Giovanni's a hero 'cause he swooped into Terracotta Town like some kinda superhero?" he says, skepticism laced in his voice.

Leaf shakes her head, her expression turning serious. "No, Emmet. He's a hero because after that terrible attack, he led the counter-offensive. He didn't just beat back the Blackthorn Clan's Dragonites; he also took painstaking efforts to protect the civilians. And you know what's insane? He stayed on, helping with rescue operations for nearly two days without a break. That man went toe to toe against some of the strongest Pokemon species around while making sure to stand between them and the civilians. Say what you will about him now, but at the time he was an example of what a Kanto trainer wanted to ever be."

"Okay, okay, that's a little more impressive than I originally thought," Emmet admits, rubbing his arm in a sheepish manner.

"But that's not even the half of it," Leaf continues, her voice filling with a mix of respect and disbelief. "He teamed up with Gym Leader Blaine and led a group of trainers that stormed the Indigo Plateau, which was under Johtonian control at that time. They didn't just reclaim it; they tipped the scales of war. That battle ended up being a turning point, halting Johto's momentum and creating a stalemate. It bought enough time for Oak to become Champion in Johto, return to Kanto, and unify the leagues."

Just then, a man walks into the room—brown hair, brown eyes, and a casual blue sweater. "Ah, you're discussing the war," he says, jumping right in as if he's a part of the conversation all along. "You're correct, young lady. And let's not forget, Samuel Oak's first act as the newly minted Champion of the unified Indigo League was to appoint Giovanni as one of its first Elite Four members."

Emmet grinds his teeth for a moment at the admiration in Professor Bill's voice, almost letting slip the knowledge that Giovanni's now the boss of Team Rocket to the professor, a downright criminal syndicate, borderline terrorist. But he bites back the comment. Not the time or the place.

"Ya know," Emmet finally speaks up, "I've watched a few battles at Viridian Gym. And no offense to the guy, but Giovanni doesn't strike me as Elite Four material."

Bill chuckles, placing his hands in his pockets. "Ah, age has a way of leveling the field, my young friend. Giovanni's original team? Most have passed on, and those that are still kicking around have hung up their battle spurs for a life of retirement."

Bill then straightens up, shaking his head as if snapping out of something. "Ah, where are my manners? I'm Bill Mallow, a Pokemon Professor. I specialize in studying rare Pokemon and dabble in Energy Types."

Leaf opens her mouth to introduce herself, but Bill waves her off. "No need for introductions; Samuel Oak has sung both of your praises loud and clear." Both Leaf and Emmet's cheeks turn a rosy hue, caught off guard by the unexpected flattery.

Bill then directs his gaze to Emmet, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Speaking of Oak, he was rather insistent that I take a look at your Charmeleon. He seemed to think it was quite urgent."

Emmet rubs the back of his neck yet again, looking a bit uncomfortable, he seems to be doing that a lot recently and Leaf made a mental note to break him from this habit as it makes him look insecure. "Uh, yeah, the Professor can be a little overzealous when it comes to Firefly, my Charmeleon."

Bill locks eyes with Emmet, not a flicker of amusement in his expression. "Samuel Oak is not one to waste time. If he says it's crucial, it's in your best interest to heed his advice."

With a sigh of defeat, Emmet mutters, "Fine, fine, c'mon Firefly" and grabs Firefly's Pokeball from his belt. A flash of red light later, and Firefly appears, her eyes darting curiously around the luxurious space she now finds herself in.

Bill looks intently at Firefly, and for a fleeting second, Emmet swears he sees Bill's eyes flash a brilliant blue. But as quickly as it happens, it's gone, and Emmet dismisses it as a trick of the light.

Bill starts circling Firefly, his eyes narrowing as he examines her closely. He stops at various points, leaning in, staring as if he's reading an invisible book written on her scales. Emmet watches Firefly's tail flame flicker erratically, a sign that she's not exactly thrilled with the inspection.

"Hey, Professor, you're freaking her out," Emmet says, his voice tinged with concern. The words snap Bill out of whatever trance he was in, and he looks up, blinking.

"Ah, apologies, Firefly, is it? Nice to meet you girl," Bill says, his eyes meeting the Charmeleon's. He then turns to Emmet. "I can see why Oak was insistent that I examine her. She's not just any Charmeleon, that's for sure."

Meanwhile, Leaf plops down on the sofa, and Sylveon jumps onto her lap, begging for attention. Leaf smiles, stroking her fur. Sylveon is growing, and soon she'll be too big to curl up like this. But for now, she's enjoying the pampering.

"Look, Professor Bill," Emmet says, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice, "I have all the respect in the world for Oak, but he's been hounding me to get Firefly checked every chance he gets. We've been to Nurse Joy multiple times, and she's been getting clean bills of health at every opportunity. But still he keeps pushing for these thorough checkups, and it's starting to get on my and Firefly's nerves."

Bill motions for Emmet and Firefly to join Leaf on the sofa. As he sits on the sofa across from them, his eyes widen slightly at the sight of Sylveon, who merely yawns, unfazed by the scrutiny.

Emmet and Leaf exchange a knowing glance. They both feel it coming; Bill's about to go off on a tangent about Sylveon. But first, he has to address Emmet's concern about Firefly.

"Do either of you know how Pokemon can stay alive?" Bill suddenly asks, leaning forward, locking eyes with them.

Leaf tilts her head, clearly confused. "I don't follow. Do you mean, like, how they eat and sleep? Or is this some kind of metaphysical question?"

Bill leans in, palms on his knees, locking eyes with both young trainers. "Let me give you an example. Magmar, for instance. Do you know that its body temperature hovers around 1,200 degrees Celsius? Now think about it. It's an organic being, blood in its veins, it eats, drinks, sleeps. How in Arceus' name is that even possible? Why doesn't it just combust or boil its own blood?"

Emmet and Leaf share a glance, then look back at Bill. Both are silent, brows furrowed, as if they've been handed a puzzle with no edges. They've never really questioned the physics-defying nature of Pokemon before.

"The answer," Bill continues, "is Energy. Not just any energy, but the specific Energy Types that give Pokemon their unique abilities and characteristics. It's this energy that balances an otherwise imbalanced biology. Think about Gastly and its evolutionary line. They're almost ghostly, intangible, yet they can still die. Why? Because the Ghost Energy that animates them still obeys certain... let's call them laws."

"Okay, that's intriguing and all," Emmet finally speaks, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "but what does this have to do with Firefly? Is she in any danger?"

Bill laughs, a hearty, knowing chuckle. "No, no, far from it. But your Charmeleon, Firefly I mean, she is a paradox. When Oak gave her to you, she was too young, hence the constant health checks. He was monitoring her growth, but the data he got back was... astonishing to say the least. She's developed at a rate that's not just unprecedented—it's nearly incomprehensible. Right now, I sense her radiating Fire Energy on a level I've mostly seen in Charizards and earlier in my life I saw many Charmeleons and Charizard."

"Let's sidestep the whole 'feeling Fire Energy' thing for a second. Are you saying Firefly is as strong as your average Charizard?" Emmet interjects, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Leaf chimes in, a hint of insistence in her voice, "No, hold on. Let's not sidestep that. How did you feel how much Energy Firefly has? Is that a family secret, or can anyone do it?"

Bill bursts into another round of hearty laughter. "Let's just say it's a family talent. But, ah, please keep that between us, only a handful of people know that. As for your question, Emmet, the energy radiating from a Pokemon is not an ultimate measure of its strength. It's significant, yes, but it's one factor in a complex equation. It'd be foolish, irresponsible even, to say a Pokemon is 'as strong' based on energy levels alone. But in a way, yes, Firefly is on the same level energy-wise than a lot of Charizards. And once they evolve, they usually get many times stronger."

Firefly seems to catch the drift. She puffs out her chest, smirking at Sylveon who's nestled in Leaf's lap. Sylveon snorts dismissively, makes herself even more comfortable, and pretends to sleep.

"So, is this energy anomaly putting Firefly in any sort of danger? Or is it a good thing?" Emmet's concern comes through clearly in his voice.

"No, Oak was simply being cautious because he couldn't perceive her Energy as I can," Bill explains. "Your Charmeleon is developing abnormally fast, but not in a way that suggests any health risks. You shouldn't need any more frequent check-ups, unless Oak just wants to satisfy his academic curiosity. She's safe as far as my checkup goes."

Emmet exhales deeply, the tension leaving his body. He hadn't even realized how much the nagging requests from Oak for continuous checkups had been gnawing at his subconscious. Until now.

Suddenly, Bill's eyes shimmer a radiant blue as he glances at Sylveon. This time, Emmet's sure it's not a trick of the light.

"Oh, my! That must be the Normal-type evolution of Eevee that Oak told me about. Her energy readings are on par with Firefly's, if not slightly higher," Bill exclaims, genuinely intrigued.

Sylveon's eyes pop open at that comment. She shoots Firefly a smug, 'take that' grin, as if declaring a silent victory.

"Wow, look at the time," Bill says, glancing at an ornate clock hanging on the wall. "We should probably call it a night. If you go through that door and up the stairs, you'll find a guest room on the second floor. Feel free to make yourselves comfortable."

Leaf yawns, stretching her arms over her head. "Do you mind if we head out at the crack of dawn? We're aiming to hit Celadon City by nightfall."

"You're guests, not hostages," Bill chuckles. "Come and go as you please. No hard feelings here."

"Besides," Bill continues, "I've got a heap of work waiting for me tomorrow. So, feel free to head out early. Just use the panel next to the main entrance door. It'll lock itself after you leave."

"Thanks, Bill. Really appreciate it," Emmet nods, and Leaf echoes his thanks. They move to the guest room, which conveniently has a couple's bed. They take turns showering, and despite this being the first time they've ever shared a bed, exhaustion takes over almost instantly. Between battling a horde of Gyarados, trekking through a forest while injured, and engaging in a late-night talk, both are out like lights as soon as their heads hit the pillows.