As soon as I arrived in Dewford Town, my first instinct wasn't to explore or rest — it was to head straight home. The familiar scent of salt and seaweed drifted through the air, and the cries of Wingull echoed above the small port town. My heart beat faster with every step toward the wooden stall that my parents ran.
When I reached the front door, I stopped. The stall's shutters were down — a rare sight. I frowned and peeked inside from the corner, hiding behind a pillar like some secret agent.
"Why are you sneaking around like a stalker?" a deep voice whispered suddenly behind my ear.
"Wah! Dad!" I jumped nearly a foot high. "You scared me half to death! And—hey, why isn't the stall open today?"
My dad chuckled, his grizzled face breaking into a grin. "We knew you'd be coming back today, so we decided to focus on something more important — your homecoming party. Your mom's been cooking since morning. Come on, stop skulking and get inside."
He walked in casually, hands behind his back. I followed, still embarrassed.
Inside, the air was filled with the rich aroma of pasta and grilled seafood. My mom was busy at the stove, but the moment she saw me standing behind Dad, she froze. Then she dropped her ladle and ran over, hugging me tightly.
"There's no better news than seeing you safe and sound, honey! Why didn't you tell us you'd arrive today?"
"I came as soon as I could," I said sheepishly.
"Quickly, sit down. I've prepared your favorite dishes — and your dad just went to buy Pokémon food too."
I smiled and sat down, while Dad silently poured himself some tea and began eating, pretending not to be sentimental.
"So," he said between bites, "what's your plan? How long will you stay?"
"Maybe two or three days," I replied. "I've got some things to take care of — assuming my Gym challenge goes smoothly."
Mom's face lit up instantly. "My son, challenging a Gym already! I just know you'll win! We'll both come cheer for you!"
I nearly choked on my pasta. "No, no, please don't. If you come, I'll get nervous! Besides, you have the stall to manage. You already closed today — tomorrow you can't take off again."
Dad smirked. "He's right, dear. Let him handle this himself. He's grown up now."
"Dad, you're the best. I'll count on you to stop Mom from barging into the Gym on battle day," I whispered, earning a quiet chuckle from him.
Mom puffed her cheeks, clearly pretending to be mad, and returned to the kitchen. Dad unfolded his morning newspaper — delivered, as always, by a helpful Wingull who landed on our roof daily.
Just then, a voice came from the front.
"Excuse me, anyone here?"
I stood up and went to answer. Standing in the doorway was a tall man in sporty attire, his blue hair brushing his shoulders. A surfboard was slung casually under one arm, and his carefree grin was instantly recognizable.
The Dewford Gym Leader — Brawly.
"Ah, sorry, we're closed today for family reasons," I said quickly. "But, Mr. Brawly, could we schedule our Gym battle soon?"
He laughed. "Bad news for me then — I skipped lunch while surfing, so I was hoping your stall was open! But hey, Stephen, so you've finally become a Pokémon Trainer, huh? I always knew you had the spark — you've got the knowledge, and more importantly, the attitude."
"Thank you, sir," I said. "Then… about the challenge?"
"How about tomorrow morning?" he said, stretching. "The waves today are just too good to ignore. They're calling my name."
I smiled. "Fair enough. If you don't mind, though, you could join us for lunch."
Brawly grinned. "Tempting offer, but I know how your mom looks when she's hosting — I'd never survive the attention. I can already tell why the stall's closed. Enjoy your meal, Stephen — and get ready for tomorrow!"
With a casual wave, he turned and disappeared down the beach road.
"Clever guy," I murmured, smiling as I watched him go.
After lunch, I called out Torchic to get some training done — but it waddled out with a round belly, barely able to stand straight.
"Yeah… I should've guessed. You're way too full for Quick Attack practice. Alright, let's take a walk instead, good for digestion. Next time, don't swallow everything at once, okay?"
"T…orc," it chirped weakly, eyes half-closed.
We strolled along Dewford's peaceful beach, the afternoon sun sparkling off the gentle waves. Lotad floated lazily nearby, enjoying the water. A few kids were playing with Wingulls, and the sea breeze carried laughter across the shore.
Then I noticed a familiar face sitting on the sand — the girl from the ferry, staring at the horizon with a frustrated sigh.
"Hey, we met on the ship, right? Why the long face?" I asked, walking over.
She looked up, recognizing me. "Oh, it's you. The Gym's closed. Brawly's out surfing again. Why do Gym Leaders always have hobbies that keep them away from their arenas?"
I laughed. "Well, Gym Leaders are still human. They've got lives too. Think of it this way — it gives us rookies more time to prepare."
She crossed her arms. "Hmph. If I had any new strategy to teach my Pokémon, I'd be doing it right now. But one day isn't much."
"One day can still make a difference," I said. "Use it to bond with your Pokémon, or to notice details you might've missed before. By the way, how many badges do you have?"
"Just one," she said. "Stone Badge from Rustboro Gym."
"Wow, nice! You already beat Roxanne — why so nervous?"
She sighed. "Because both my Pokémon have type advantage against Rock-types. Roxanne went easy on me since it was my first Gym. I don't think I've truly earned it."
I chuckled. "Then imagine how I feel — I don't have any badges yet."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, you don't? But your Lotad battled so calmly — I thought you were experienced!"
"Calm? You mean the 'keep using Absorb until something happens' strategy?" I joked.
She laughed. "Still, you used Lotad's body type cleverly — your defense was solid. I learned a lot from that battle."
"Instinct, really," I said. "But you'll get there. For rookies like us, it's all about determination… and imagination."
She looked out at the sea again, smiling softly. "Determination and imagination, huh? Thanks, Stephen. I'll remember that."
"Anytime."
She waved and walked off down the beach, Marill bouncing behind her. I watched them go, the sun dipping low into the horizon.
Tomorrow would be my first Gym challenge — my first real test as a Trainer.