Must've been a year ago now when The Kid stumbled into Cerulean, battered and bruised. His Pokémon, too, especially the Charmeleon. They limped right into the Pokémon Centre, healed, then left.



I paid it no heed at the time, lots of trainers come by the same way.. but what was different is that the next day, he came right back in, almost even worse for wear than before. Started really noticing about the fifth day. Always came in just after sunset, day after day, him and his Pokémon. Injured. Tired. But still kicking. Never said a word.







There was a look in his eyes through it all.. a sadness I hadn't seen since I visited Lavender that one time. Kid was haunted by a great loss, one that set him on this road of endless training. That look said one thing: "Never Again."



I followed him out there once, staying hidden from behind a tree.





He was training like no one I'd ever seen before or since. Kid was a whirlwind of combat, running across the plains from here back to Mt. Moon, fighting.. always fighting.









Kid's Pokémon grew ever stronger.









As soon as the sun set, he'd walk back to the Pokémon Center, heal, and then leave again for the fields. He always camped out there, instead of using the trainer hostel at the Center. From my hiding spot that one night, I finally heard him.



He was talking with his Pokémon. Not like normal. Kid was straight up conversing with em. Again, it was like nothing I'd ever seen. They seemed to understand him perfectly, and he them.



Heading back home that night, I knew the kid was destined for greatness.



It was a month and a half after he had arrived when he finally came back from his camp. That morning he just waltzed right into the Cerulean Gym. I went in behind him to watch. I wanted to see just how strong this kid had gotten.







It was insane. The Kid was clearly at a type disadvantage, Misty being reviled among young trainers vying for the league as an aquatic powerhouse. She made or broke trainers, and she knew and loved it.







Kid wasn't fazed. No, he was determined. Kid just kept fighting. Attack after relentless attack.









Kid's Pokémon took a few heavy hits, but they seemed just as determined.











He finally pulled through. He'd beaten Misty. He'd proved himself to the one he'd lost. And it seemed, that dark veil over his demeanour finally lifted.



The look in his eyes changed at that moment. To one of sheer joy.



The Kid's mourning was over. It was finally time to move on.