Dusk, Saffron City.
Grey, wearing sunglasses and loaded with bags, disembarked with Green.
"Finally, Saffron City!"
City air filled his lungs; Grey drank it in.
"Gym Leader Grey? You're back too?"
Right then, Gary stepped up from behind.
Gone were the cheerleaders; today Gary was solo.
"Yeah. Got things wrapped up and needed to get back to handle Gym business."
Grey scratched his head.
All told, he'd been away less than a week.
But it felt like nearly a month had passed.
"By the way, what brings you to Saffron? Weren't you hanging around Cinnabar Island not long ago?" Grey asked back.
"I'm here for the Saffron Badge. Once I finish my Gym battle, I'm heading straight to Celadon City."
Gary smiled and patted the Poké Balls at his belt. "After the S.S. Anne incident, Sweethearts and I both got a lot stronger."
He looked back to Grey. "So after I challenge Gym Leader Sabrina, I want to challenge you again!"
"Fair warning—my strength is nothing to sneeze at."
Grey chuckled.
"Exactly why I want to push my limits."
Gary's eyes sharpened. No backing down—if anything, Grey's words stoked his fighting spirit.
"Good. I'll be waiting at the Saffron Gym."
Grey waved goodbye to Gary and brought Green back to the dojo.
…
Inside the Fighting Dojo, Bumiao and Sabrina had just finished welcoming the last challenger of the day.
Seeing Grey return, Bumiao rubbed her eyes, stunned.
"Huh? Weren't you headed to Galar?! How are you back so soon?!"
She was about to say more, but when she noticed Green coming up beside him, her surprise flipped on a dime. "Is this young miss here to challenge the dojo? That's a shame; today we—"
"Ahem. She's the dojo's new apprentice."
Grey cleared his throat and cut off the spell.
Sabrina, Bumiao, Green: ?
"Mm?"
"It's only been a few days and you've brought back another stranger?"
"Hold up—who said I agreed to be an apprentice?!"
All three spoke at once, then looked at each other.
"Staaare—"
Bumiao narrowed her eyes, lips pulling back to show a little fang. "So you brought the girl here without even getting her to agree first?"
"Don't slander me. We already talked."
Grey turned to Green. "Didn't you promise you'd be an apprentice?"
"Yeah—but not right now!"
Green crossed her arms and shook her head. "At least let me finish the Indigo League first!"
Grey lifted a brow. "How many Badges left?"
"Five."
She held up an open palm, then looked to Sabrina, blinking. "Gym Leader Sabrina, could I have a battle with you tomorrow morning?"
"No problem."
Sabrina nodded. No more words—she simply vanished with Teleport.
As Sabrina disappeared, Green stumbled back a step, eyes wide.
"S—so the rumors online were true!"
It was her first time seeing a real psychic.
Used like that, this power was stronger than most Psychic-type Pokémon, right?!
"Grey, if you and Gym Leader Sabrina went head-to-head, what are your odds?"
Green nudged Grey with an elbow, curious.
"Do you have to ask?"
Grey raised one finger. "One move's enough."
"For real?"
Green eyed him up and down. "You're all skinny arms and legs—and a Fighting-type trainer on top of that. If you really face Gym Leader Sabrina, won't she one-shot you?"
"You don't get it. It's called mutual oneshot."
Grey shrugged. "She and I check each other. Either she deletes me, or I delete her. That said, I like my odds a bit more."
"I see…"
Green thought it over and headed deeper into the dojo.
Only Grey and Bumiao were left in the doorway.
"…"
With a sigh, Bumiao went inside, too.
Ding—
Grey's phone buzzed: the Gym Leaders' group chat had heated up again.
Unova Retired Colonel: What's with these inspectors this time? They're way stronger than before. If I hadn't used my main squad, I'd have eaten dirt.
[Poison Elite Four Trainee]: Feels… average, honestly.
[Celadon Vileplume]: Lt. Surge, what do you mean by that? Please enlighten this little lady.
Unova Retired Colonel: This wave of inspectors is much tougher than the young guy from three years ago, and their Pokémon quality is off the charts.
[Old Man Without a Bald Spot]: Compared to Gym Leader Grey, who's stronger?
Unova Retired Colonel: Hard to say. Probably the inspectors?
The second Grey's line hit the chat—
Lt. Surge went silent.
What a "Lt. Surge 1v2'd" burn.
Seeing Grey speak up, Lt. Surge swallowed his pride and lurked.
[Cerulean Mermaid]: Uu… if even Lt. Surge says that, can our Cerulean Gym really pass the test?
[Sabrina]: Question: can the exam still be held if a Gym's battlefield is gone? @Lance (owner) @Lorelei (admin)
The chat froze for a beat.
Ever since Grey posted those photos the other day, everyone knew about the Saffron Gym getting blown up.
Word was the Kanto League went nuclear that day.
They rounded up a lot of Team Rocket members in a single sweep.
[Lorelei]: It's fine. Borrow Gym Leader Grey's dojo for the field. @Dojo Annihilape We'll trouble you then.
[Sabrina]: Mm. I'll cover any wear and tear to the dojo.
Dojo Annihilape: Naturally, no problem.
Putting his phone away, Grey thought about his roster.
He was a Gym Leader; he couldn't field his entire main team against every challenger.
Right now, the weakest was Poliwag. Even if he counted the yet-unhatched Farfetch'd, he was still short a few.
"Sigh. Long road ahead."
He shook his head and stepped into the dojo.
"Liiing!" (So this is where you live? Kinda shabby. The Seafoam was way nicer.)
The door had barely locked when Articuno popped out of its Great Ball.
It stretched its wings, swept the room with a look, and delivered a so-so verdict.
"This is Saffron City. Every inch costs a fortune."
Grey wasn't about to admit the Seafoam was nicer. "You'll understand when you're older."
Thud…
As they talked, something heavy hit the floor.
Grey turned and found Bumiao staring at the scattered vegetables she'd dropped.
"You… what did you drag home this time?!"
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