"So the boss gave you the good news, eh?" Mac asked when I made my way over to them,

"Yep," I said, still processing.

"What good news?" asked Janelle.
Mac grinned, "The news that Katie can keep traveling with me after she earns her Earth Badge!"
Janelle shot me a hurt look, demanding an explanation for such a betrayal, so I said, "It's not like that. Mac happens to be going where I'm going. I'm certainly not going to keep training him. Honestly, if not for-" I caught myself this time, "If not for what we talked about earlier, I'd find another route just to avoid him."

"Aw, don't be like that," he whined. "Just think about what good friends we've already become. Now imagine how close we'll be after traveling all the way to Saffron together!"

I glowered at him, "I'm still not fully sold on the idea. Even with… everything, I'm not trekking through the mountains and across the sea to Celadon or anything intense like that. How were you planning to get to Saffron?"

Mac's grin twisted knowingly, "Oh, it's been a while since I've seen my friend Janine in Fuschia. I figure I'd take Cloyster around the coast, then head up Cycling Road after."

"Oh wow, what a coincidence!" said Janelle, "I'm actually on my way to the Safari Contest being held there next month! I should totally stick with you two on the way."

The jerk. If I went with him, I'd have a chance to earn the Volcano Badge, the Soul Badge, and the Marsh Badge on top of whatever Badge I earned from Jasmine. I could practically pick how tough I wanted the battle with Jasmine to be, on top of how long I wanted to train with her. After the revelations during my conversation with Bruno, I had no doubt he knew it, too. "You smug-"

"Hey, looks like Nurse Joy has my Pokemon ready. Be right back!"

I glared at his back as Mac scampered off.

"So are we still going to the beach?" Janelle asked.

Once we'd finished our afternoon training, I gave everyone some time to just play together. Dart sat on a branch, quietly watching Janelle practice a routine with Mimsey and Clip-clop. Vola was playing pounce with Diggle while Snippy clacked along in excitement. Mac was sparring with his team, and their experience was clear from the intensity of the fighting.

Spin, taking his role as big brother seriously, was rolling around the Pokemon Center's practice field, being chased by Lucky. My Growlithe was alternately nosing the "ball" around and curling up himself and rolling after it. He couldn't get quite as tight as a Sandshrew, but he was having fun, which was all that mattered.

I still wasn't sure what I was going to do with the Viridian Gym. At this point, it seemed silly to put off the battle to visit Pallet Town. Still, while I was confident about Vola, I wasn't sure if Dart, and especially Lucky, would be able to handle a Gym match.

I watched him charge around after Spin a little more, getting more and more excited until his fur started to throw off embers. He looked like he was going into a Flare Blitz, and I panicked.

But Spin was ahead of me. He tilted to one side, angling his roll out of Lucky's path of destruction. Lucky was so surprised and delighted that he skidded to a stop to bark at Spin. Then, fur still smoldering but starting to cool back down, leapt into a roll after his friend.

It looked an awful lot like-

"Lucky, fire back up while you roll!"

As his head came back around to the top of the roll, he let out a happy "Rowwww!" as his mane blazed to life.

I was right. His whirling, fiery body turned sped up, beginning to look like a flaming tire. Perfect!

"Spin, Defense Curl, then brace for impact!"

Spin slowed down to tighten his armor. Lucky's reckless charge had turned into a more controlled attack reminiscent of Spin's Rollout, and when they collided, he simply rolled over the Sandshrew. He immediately slowed down and unrolled, looking back at his target in confusion and concern. For his part, Spin unrolled as well, brushing his lightly scorched tail through the dirt and shaking off a bit of ash. He looked curious, as well.

I jogged over, picking up my still-warm pup in glee. "Lucky, great job! You used Flame Wheel!"

He cocked his head to one side, but Spin's eyes closed and he nodded in understanding. I put Lucky down.

"Instead of Flare Blitz, you can go into a Flame Wheel instead. You can attack without hurting yourself. Try it again!" Lucky looked unsure, but Spin helpfully curled up next to him and rolled back and forth. "Like that," I said, "just add some fire."

He closed his eyes and breathed out, the hot flames igniting once more. He took a few steps beside Spin, then launched into a roll again. They spin across the field together, Lucky leaving a blazing trail behind him.

"You're sure?" Janelle asked.

It was an out. I could say, "Y'know, maybe not. I can come back another time."

I didn't.

Neither Mac nor Janelle would care one way or the other. I'd be going with them around the coast one way or another, so a stop here wouldn't make a difference to them. Honestly, it probably wouldn't be too critical for me, either. I didn't really even know anything about what I'd get here.

From what I'd heard, those who didn't leave empty-handed had mixed reviews of the place. Everyone agreed that it wasn't a commitment to make lightly, but whether it was worth it or not seemed up for debate. It definitely wasn't a tourist stop From what I knew, most people who passed through Viridian didn't even know where it was.

But once Mac had pointed it out, I couldn't not stop there. Some important people apparently thought I was worth keeping an eye on. Could I really handle something like an apprenticeship- was I worth an apprenticeship?- if I couldn't even manage this?

I took a deep breath and, Vola on my shoulder and Lucky at my side, knocked on the door of the Viridian Gym.