The morning after the Gym battle dawned quietly over Pewter City.
Soft sunlight spilled across the stone-paved streets, and a thin veil of mist still lingered between the gray rooftops. The air smelled faintly of moss and minerals with clean, cool, and peaceful.
William Walker pushed open the glass doors of the Pewter Pokémon Center, exhaling a long, slow breath. The familiar chime above the door jingled gently, welcoming him into the warmth of the lobby.
Inside, the air was calm, filled with the soft hum of healing machines and the scent of disinfectant mixed with Oran balm. Nurse Joy stood behind the counter, her ever-present smile bright but kind.
"Good morning, William. Your Sharpedo and Electabuzz have finished treatment," she said, handing him two Poké Balls on a tray. "They're both in great condition now."
William took them with a small nod. "Thanks, Nurse Joy. My Electabuzz is battling against that Nidoking from Mt.Moon. I didn't know there was so many powerful pokemon.They worked hard yesterday."
Her eyes softened. "You must've too. Brock doesn't lose easily. I didn't know when you win the gym battle. You just walked straight to Mt.Moon."
He chuckled quietly. "Let's just say I became a little bit over confidence."
Nurse Joy's Chansey gave a cheerful "Chaaan-sey!" and waved its stubby hands. William smiled faintly before clipping the Poké Balls back to his belt.
"Take a day to rest," Joy said. "Trainers who only battle forget to breathe."
"I'll try," he replied with a dry smile and for once, he meant it.
Outside, the city was coming alive. Vendors opened their stalls, selling stone carvings, Pewter Rock Candy, and polished crystal trinkets that glinted under the rising sun.
William walked slowly down the street, Eevee perched on his shoulder and Ralts toddling beside him, holding his coat hem like a child would clutch a parent's hand.
Eevee's ears twitched, and it yawned lazily.
"Eee-vii…"
Ralts looked up at William, its red eyes bright beneath the green helmet-like crest.
"Raaalts?"
William smiled softly. "Yeah, I know. We've been training non-stop. How about we just enjoy the day?"
Ralts chirped happily and tugged his sleeve forward as if urging him to walk faster.
~ The Pewter Museum of Science ~
The museum loomed in the northwestern part of the city, its white stone façade gleaming under the sunlight. The sign above the entrance read:
Pewter Museum of Science — Where History Meets the Stars
William paid the $50 entry fee and stepped inside. The cool air hit him immediately, carrying a faint scent of polish and dust with ancient things preserved through time.
Eevee leapt down to explore while Ralts clung to his coat, eyes wide with wonder.
The first floor opened into a grand hall, and there, it is lit by overhead spotlights and there stood two fossil displays encased in glass.
An Aerodactyl fossil, wings outstretched, looked poised to soar even after millions of years. Its sharp teeth and clawed wings were perfectly preserved in the stone slab.
Beside it was the Kabutops fossil, skeletal and sleek, its scythe-like arms poised in eternal readiness.
William stood silently before them for a moment, hands in his pockets.
"Creatures from the age before Poké Balls or Trainers," he murmured. "Nature's first predators."
Ralts looked up, tilting its head curiously. "Ral?"
He smiled faintly. "You'd get along with them, I think. Sharp instincts."
Eevee hopped onto the railing and stared at Kabutops, tail swishing. It gave a soft growl of curiosity.
William crouched beside them both. "They fought to survive in a world without rules. Kind of like us, huh?"
Ralts nodded slowly, understanding not the words, but the tone.
He lingered there a while longer, just watching the quiet fossils under the museum light. Something about them felt grounding. A reminder that even strength faded, but legacy didn't.
Upstairs, the second floor was quieter. The air grew colder, the light dimmer. Small glass cases lined the walls, each containing fragments of Meteorites—some small and shiny, others blackened and rough.
William stopped before one labeled "Meteorite Fragment – Found in Mt.Moon."
He stared at it for a long time, the reflection of the faintly glowing rock dancing in his eyes.
"Strange," he murmured. "Fragments of the universe just… falling into our world."
Eevee hopped onto the display edge and sniffed it curiously. Ralts tilted its head, sensing a subtle hum of psychic energy.
William smiled faintly. "Maybe that's what we all are. The fragments from somewhere else, just trying to find our place when we land."
For a while, he didn't move. The gentle sound of footsteps and distant voices faded away until it was only him and the quiet hum of ancient stardust.
Afternoon in Pewter City
By midday, the museum's glass doors opened again, and William stepped out into the sunlight, squinting slightly.
Eevee yawned again and jumped into his arms. Ralts tugged his sleeve, pointing toward a row of small food stalls by the plaza.
William followed the gesture, smiling. "Lunch, huh? Alright."
He bought a few skewers of roasted Sitrus fruit from an old vendor. The man chuckled when Ralts reached for one with telekinesis.
"Smart little one you got there," the vendor said.
William nodded, handing over the money. "They all are."
He sat on a stone bench under a tree, sharing the skewers with his Pokémon. Eevee devoured its piece eagerly, Ralts took slow bites, and even Sharpedo and Electabuzz's Poké Ball wiggled slightly on his belt as if demanding attention.
William laughed quietly. "Fine, fine." He released the Brutal Pokémon into a nearby decorative pond and Shocker near him.
The sudden splash startled a few pedestrians, but when they saw the Trainer's calm expression and the controlled nature of the Sharpedo, they relaxed.
Jaw gave a contented growl, swimming lazy circles in the shallow water. Shocker takes the berries from him and sitting beside him while watching the surrounding area with caution.
"Enjoy the day off,both of you." William said. "You guys have earned it."
Eevee leaned over the pond's edge, watching Jaw's fin slice the water. Ralts giggled, clapping its hands when the shark flicked water in their direction. Shocker just close his eyes and relax.
Evening in the City
As the sun dipped low, the stone of Pewter City glowed gold. Lanterns lit the streets with warm amber light, and a slow, easy rhythm filled the air—families walking, laughter echoing, the smell of food from every corner.
William strolled down the street with Eevee perched on his shoulder again and Ralts holding his hand. The city felt alive, yet peaceful—a rare harmony.
They passed by a small artisan's shop selling miniature sculptures of Rock-type Pokémon. Ralts stopped, pointing at a tiny figurine of Onix carved from granite.
William crouched. "You like that one?"
Ralts nodded shyly.
He bought it without hesitation, handing it to Ralts, who hugged it against its chest with a delighted hum.
Eevee pawed at another item—a little fossil charm shaped like Kabuto. William chuckled and bought that too.
"Souvenirs," he said softly. "To remember where we've been."
They continued walking until they reached a small overlook that faced the distant horizon. From there, the whole of Pewter City stretched below them—stone roofs, lamplight, and the faint shimmer of the museum dome in the distance.
Ralts sat on the railing beside him, and Eevee rested in his lap.
William gazed out at the scene, voice quiet. "You know… before all this, I thought power was everything. After all to survive in this world. But days like this...." he paused, exhaling slowly "they remind me why I started enjoying life in the first place."
Ralts looked up at him, eyes glowing faintly.
Eevee nuzzled against his arm.
He smiled. "To see the world. To meet lives that are different. To grow stronger, not just in battle, but in heart."
The city lights flickered below like a sea of gentle stars.
"Tomorrow," he said softly, "we move again back to Mt. Moon"
Eevee's tail flicked with excitement. Ralts nodded, clutching the Onix figurine close.
William stood, brushing the dust off his coat, and turned back toward the city.
"Come on, team. Let's rest up while we can."
As they walked back through the lantern-lit streets, the sound of laughter and music faded behind them, replaced by the soft rhythm of their footsteps.
For the first time in a long while, William felt no rush only peace.
A rare, fleeting calm before the journey ahead.
And as the stars began to bloom in the night sky above Pewter City, William knew that these quiet moments which is the warmth of companionship, the stillness between storms were the true treasures of a Trainer's life.
***************
Thank you for reading my book.