Chapter 32: Pewter City Arrival and Plans

Pewter City unfolded beneath us, cradled between the sharp crags of the mountains like a fortress from another time. The scent of stone and pine washed over me, cool and familiar. My Pokégear buzzed, reminding me of the time—6 PM on the dot. The battery icon flashed red. Of course, it did. Figures.

Alisha bounded up beside me, her usual playful grin plastered across her face. "Hey, Punit, do you know who the gym leader is?" She poked my arm as if that would get a rise out of me.

I didn't even look at her. "Yeah, I know."

"It's Brock, right?" Her voice practically dared me to confirm it, waiting to hear me admit something she already knew.

"You'll see," I said, keeping my tone flat. Why give her the satisfaction?

She pouted. For about two seconds. Then she pulled out a chocolate bar from her teal backpack, unwrapping it with way too much enthusiasm, like the thing held some kind of secret. "Want some?"

I shook my head. "You good now? Earlier, you looked like you ate something you regretted."

Her eyes rolled so hard I thought they might stay that way. "Ha. Ha. So funny, Mr. Comedian."

She darted ahead like a Skitty on a sugar rush, hair bouncing in her messy ponytail. I wasn't going to follow her manic pace—didn't have the energy. Eventually, she looped back, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. She always came back. 

The cobblestone streets of Pewter crunched under our feet as we wandered toward the Pokémon Center. The buildings, hewn from the very stone of the mountains, loomed around us, rugged and timeless. This wasn't Cerulean with its rivers and lakes; this place was built on hard work and grit. The kind of city where people didn't waste time with small talk. I liked it.

"So, where are we staying?" I asked, glancing over at Alisha.

She shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Pokémon Center, duh."

"You don't want a hotel?"

"I don't have that kind of money," she said, not sounding particularly bothered about it.

I sighed. "I'll pay."

She blinked, genuinely surprised. "You don't have to."

"Make me food when we travel if we end up together again."

Her grin returned full force. "Deal."

We reached the Pokémon Center, its automatic doors swishing open, the inside cooler than the mountain air. Nurse Joy stood at the counter, smiling in that serene, unflappable way she always did.

"Good evening, Nurse Joy," I said, voice even.

Nurse Joy's smile widened. "Good evening, Punit."

Alisha nudged me, eyebrows raised in mock surprise. "You know her?"

I ignored her, handing over the small package I had picked up back in Viridian City. Nurse Joy took it with a polite nod.

"By the way, have Ash and Misty passed through here already?" I asked, as Alisha unclipped Splash's Pokéball from her belt, the Squirtle bursting out, landing right in her arms like it was his second home.

Nurse Joy chuckled, watching Squirtle wriggle happily. "They just left."

I nodded, handing over Ivysaur's, Pidgeotto's, and Pikachu's Pokéballs. Alisha mimicked me, but Splash was too busy cuddling Nurse Joy to bother returning to his ball. Typical.

"Your Squirtle's is playful ," Nurse Joy laughed.

"Just like his trainer," I smirked, glancing at Alisha. "By the way, this is Alisha."

Nurse Joy turned to Alisha with a warm smile, and Alisha grinned back, full of charm. "It's nice to meet you, Alisha," Nurse Joy said. "You're in good hands now," she added as she turned back to the task of healing our Pokémon.

"We're heading out for a bit," I said, stepping toward the door. "Take care of them while we're gone."

Nurse Joy nodded, her smile never faltering. "Don't worry, they're in safe hands."

As we stepped out into the cool evening air, I could've sworn Splash gave me a look. A Squirtle-sized betrayal glare for leaving him behind. I ignored it, my eyes already scanning the city. The gym wasn't far, and the lights were still on. Brock's reputation for being tough lingered in the air like the tang of iron from the nearby mines.

Alisha glanced at me, her usual teasing grin back. "You nervous?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Should I be?"

She laughed, shaking her head, her ponytail swaying. "Nah. But it wouldn't hurt to show some emotion once in a while."

We found a small restaurant tucked into the corner of a narrow street, a place with wooden tables outside and a fire pit in the middle. The smell of grilled meat and herbs hit me, and my stomach growled before I could stop it. We sat down, Alisha practically bouncing in her seat as she scanned the menu.

"I'm getting ramen," she declared, practically salivating. 

I leaned back in my chair, watching as the sky darkened, the stars peeking through the twilight. "So, you ready for Brock?"

She didn't answer right away, too focused on the menu. When she finally looked up, her eyes were sharp. "I've been ready since Viridian."

I couldn't help but smirk. Alisha always played at being carefree, but when it came to battles, she was all business. "Good. Just don't get too cocky."

She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Is that a challenge, Punit?"

"Just advice. But you can take it however you want."

The food arrived, steaming bowls of ramen and grilled skewers. I watched as Alisha immediately dug in, her competitive spirit momentarily quelled by the power of good food.

After a while, the silence between us grew comfortable. Alisha slurped her noodles, eyes flicking to mine every so often, probably waiting for me to crack another joke. I didn't. My mind was already on the gym battle tomorrow, calculating moves, strategies. Brock wouldn't be easy. And if Alisha wanted to play her game, she needed to be sharp.

"You're thinking too much," Alisha said, breaking the quiet.

"Maybe."

"About Brock?"

I nodded. "You should be too."

She grinned, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. "I'll be fine. I have Splash and Jolteon. We've got this."

I leaned back, eyes narrowing slightly. "Just remember: Brock's not the type to go easy on you."

Alisha didn't flinch. She met my gaze, her playful smirk softening into something more serious. "Neither am I." 

The fire crackled in the pit between us, the warmth mingling with the cool night air. Tomorrow, the games would begin, but tonight… tonight was calm.

For now.