Dislaimer: I don't own Pokémon or the song, Never Grow Up, by Taylor Swift.

This chapter's in a bit of a different writing style to the last two. I got this from starting to write another story, The Mistakes I've Made. So if you want to check that one out as well, that would be super cool. If not, then no worries, have fun reading this chapter.

Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home
Remember the footsteps, remember the words said
And all your little brother's favorite songs
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone

Leaf's first battle was special. It defined the rest of her life.

It began with getting her first Pokémon from Professor Oak.

She had been scared for many days. The excitement that she had shared with Gary just yesterday was long gone. As she stood before Professor Oak, her little body quivered with fear.

She was finally doing it.

Beginning her Pokémon journey.

This was the moment she had been waiting for since her mum had passed away.

This was why she had tried to make friends all her life.

So that she would not be lonely.

But she was going to be anyway.

Despite their pact, Leaf knew it was very rare that she and Gary would meet up on their journey.

And Ash, well, he had always had no trouble making friends. He would forget about her soon enough.

What little self-confidence she had, had been taken away by the trio at school.

Professor Oak stood in front of her, ready to begin his speech. Leaf had been the first of the four receiving Pokémon that day to arrive.

"Okay, Leaf. You have a choice of three Pokémon before you. Squirtle, Bulbasure and Charmander. Whichever Pokémon you choose will become your partner, your companion, your friend. Together with them, you will grow and become stronger. You will go through everything together, in your efforts to achieve whatever dream you set out to achieve." The professor paused, and noticed Leaf's face.

It was pale, and her green eyes, usually so vibrant with life, had been dulled. She was staring intensely at the three Pokéballs, as if she were to break the connection, life would end.

His eyes softened, and he took on the grandfather role that was reserved and used only for Gary.

"Is everything okay, Leaf?"

He saw the girl shake her head, and then tears began to pour down her face.

"I can't do this!" She cried, shoulders shaking as she began to sob. "I can't become a trainer. I'll be all alone. I can't trust and make friends with people, how am I supposed to be able to do it with a Pokémon?"

Professor Oak moved over to her, and wrapped his arms around her. He felt her return the hug, and he spoke quietly into her ear, "You are wrong, Leaf. I know how strong you can be. Before those girls…" He trailed off, "Before those girls did what they did to you, you were one of the strongest girls I knew. They broke something, but what's broken can be fixed."

He took her face in his hands, and kissed her forehead. "You will begin your journey today. And you will achieve your dreams."

Leaf nodded, and Professor Oak stood up, stretching as he did so.

"Right. So let me tell you a little bit about each Pokémon."

"I know which one I want," she interrupted. There was now a fierce determination in her eyes, and Professor Oak smiled. She would have done her research on each of them. She had decided, and there was no point trying to change her mind.

"Which one would you like, Leaf?" Professor Oak asked, already reaching for a Pokéball. He had a fair idea which one she would want.

"I want Charmander."

This made Professor Oak freeze. He had been certain she would pick the grass-type, Bulbasaur.

"Are you sure, Leaf? Charmander would be the hardest starter to train. It certainly is the most challenging. Please don't pick it just because you think it will be the strongest."

Leaf stepped forward and picked up Charmander's Pokéball herself. "I want Charmander. I want a challenge. I need to prove it to myself, and to everyone else."

"Leaf, you don't have to prove anything to anyone, we all know…"

"Then I need to prove it to myself. You told me to make a decision. To achieve my dreams. I can do that with Charmander."

Professor Oak nodded approvingly.

This was the Leaf he knew.

The Leaf that although had doubts with herself, hid it from everyone else. With a determination that overruled any self-doubts she had.

She could do it.

"Very well. Leaf, that Charmander is now yours. I'd like to give you a Pokédex and some Pokéballs to help you get started on your journey."

She took them off him, and they shook hands.

As she left, he gave her some final parting words.

"Good luck, Leaf. Don't let us down."

Pokémon

As Leaf exited the Professor's lab, she felt the thin, fragile walls she had built up around her in the lab break down.

She could not do this.

There was no way she could.

These thoughts filled her whole mind, as she travelled the short journey to the edge of Pallet Town.

By the gate, she saw a young boy, and she put on a brave face and smiled at him. He waved at her in return.

Outside, she let her new Charmander out of its ball.

She sat down against a tree and placed her face in her hands.

She did not cry this time. Instead, she tried to fill her mind with happy thoughts. Thoughts that would keep her going.

Leaf thought of her mum, of the Professor, of all the different kinds of Pokémon she had read about. Of travelling, of her father, of Ash and of Gary.

And of Charmander.

She looked up and saw him peering curiously at her. His head was tilted to the side, as if questioning why she was so sad.

Leaf crossed her legs, and began to tell him about herself.

"I'm Leaf. I'm ten years old and today I am beginning my Pokémon journey. You are my Charmander, but I'm not going to control you, I promise. I want you to be my friend."

She held out her hand, and after looking at it for a few seconds the Charmander placed his small claws in her palm.

Leaf smiled, and hope filled her like a balloon full of air.

This was the first step.

No matter how many self-doubts she had, and she was going to have a few, Charmander had accepted her.

Professor Oak had been right. She was never going to be alone.

Pokémon

"Gramps! Where's Leaf? I thought she would be hear by now." Gary's voice filled the lab, and Professor Oak entered the entrance room, where Gary was standing. He was alone, but outside, many girls and a car were waiting for him after he collected his Pokémon.

"She's already been here, Gary. Quite early too. She's never liked crowds though. I think she wanted to get her Pokémon and leave before it built up."

"Right…" Gary was disappointed. He had hoped he and Leaf could get their first Pokémon together.

"You could probably catch up with her quite quickly."

Gary nodded. He had to, if anything else, to say goodbye and wish her luck.

"Well, what Pokémon did she pick, Gramps?"

"She is now travelling with Charmander."

Gary's reaction was that of Professor Oak's. He thought Leaf would choose the docile Bulbasaur. That would have better suited her temperament.

"Well, I want Squirtle, Gramps."

Professor Oak already had the Pokéball in his hand. "I had a feeling you might say that, Gary."

Gary took the Pokéball from his Gramps and immediately released it.

"Hey there Squirtle. I'm Gary and I'm going to be your trainer. You up for that?"

The Squirtle just nodded and blasted a water gun up into the air.

Gary nodded. This was going to be the most fun of his life.

Pokémon

Leaf was walking through Route 1, carefully avoiding any Pokémon on the way. She could tell Charmander was itching for a battle, but it was walking along beside her. It was quite obedient, and Leaf wished she reward that. Unfortunately, it had already taken a lot of her courage not to run back to Pallet Town.

"Hey, Leaf!"

She heard the sound of a car from behind her, and turning, she saw Gary being chauffeur driven by a girl, who looked around sixteen.

Slut, Leaf thought to herself.

Gary told the girl to stop beside her and he got out of the car. He looked at Leaf and then at the Charmander beside her. Both were relatively clean and Leaf was not panicking, so he assume she had not battled anything yet.

"You know you're going to have to battle something eventually, right?"

Leaf blushed, Gary always knew what her fears were.

"I know. I just haven't seen any Pokémon yet."

"Bull." He responded, chuckling. "I saw at least five Rattata and three Pidgeys on the way here."

"And you didn't battle them either." She said.

"I had a reason," he protested, "I was trying to catch up to you."

Leaf's blush got deeper. No one had ever actually gone looking for her before.

"Why?"

He smirked, and released his Squirtle. He stood behind it and announced, "I want my first battle to be against you."

Leaf's mouth formed a slight pout. She didn't want her dreams to be crushed so quickly by Gary.

"I don't want to." She managed to get out.

"Aw, Leaf. Don't be such a party pooper. Look, your Charmander is rearing to go. If you don't want to battle, at least let him."

Leaf looked down, and indeed, Charmander and Squirtle were squaring each other up.

She sighed in resignation and stood back, creating a space for a battle field.

Gary's girls had changed into cheerleading uniforms and were grouped behind him. As they began their cheer, Leaf alone saw Gary's face turn into a grimace.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all.

"Not happy, Gary?"

"Nah, I might have to ditch them," he said in a lowered voice, "Can you imagine going through the whole of Kanto with them?"

Leaf laughed, and then got serious, as she saw Gary do the same.

"Ladies first," he said.

"Alright." Her voice shook, and she swallowed to calm her herself.

"Charmander, let's start this off with an Ember."

"Squirtle, you hit it with a Water Gun."

The two moves collided, but with the water attack having a type advantage, the Ember was easily overpowered.

Leaf gasped, but regained her composure. She would have to think of a new strategy if she wanted to beat Gary.

She could be quite competitive when she wanted to be.

"Squirtle, use another Water Gun."

Leaf told Charmander to dodge, and then fire another Ember.

It did so, but Gary also ordered another Water Gun. Leaf smiled. This was just what she wanted.

The two attacks collided, but Leaf ordered Charmander to stop immediately and a dense steam covered the battle field. Leaf took the opportunity to send Charmander in to directly hit Squirtle with a Scratch attack.

The steam cleared, and Gary realised what had happened. He smiled and complimented Leaf on her tactic, causing her to blush again.

"You're flushed. Let's stop there."

"No. I'm fine," Leaf replied. She wished she could stop blushing. "The Pokémon aren't even tired yet. We'll keep going for a few more attacks."

"You're loss. You'll wish you hadn't said that when you lose." He smirked. "Squirtle, use Tackle!" Squirtle ran forward, and Leaf counterattacked with a Scratch. When he was close enough, Gary ordered a Water Gun, hitting Charmander directly.

He cried out, and so did Leaf.

But she was determined.

This was what she had been waiting for.

To prove herself.

"Charmander! Use Leer!"

"Leer, what will that do?" Gary thought Leaf had gone nuts. The only way to win battles was through physical attacks.

"Good, Charmander. Now use Ember!"

Gary ordered Squirtle to use Water Gun, but Squirtle would not move.

It was frozen in fear of the oncoming attack.

The move hit directly, and Squirtle was thrown backwards by the force.

Leaf grinned and threw her hands up in the air, performing a little happy dance with Charmander.

Gary smiled as well, and congratulated his Squirtle on a good battle.

"You'll be fine, Leaf."

She stopped dancing and smiled at him.

A real, genuine, smile.

She hadn't smiled like that in so long.

"You're going to be strong too, Gary."

"Yeah, the next time we meet, I will beat you."

"Sure you will."

He liked this new, confident Leaf.

But he knew the doubts would come back.

He just hoped he would be there to fix them again.

He had promised her he would always be there for her. He could not break that promise.

"We have to travel separately. We have the same dream." She said, as if reading his thoughts.

"I know, but still. What if we wait for each other sometimes? Just to make sure we don't lose touch."

She nodded. "It's a deal. Thank you Gary."

They shook on it, and Gary turned away, and went back to his car. The girls were already inside.

As they took off, he looked back at the small girl disappearing into the distance.

They would meet again.

He could not go through life not seeing her again.

The joy and motivation she gave him, it was enough to keep him happy though, for now.

Pokémon

Leaf watched him go as well.

She sighed a sigh of relief.

Gary always knew the right thing to do.

He always helped her in ways he could never possible understand.

Now, for instance, he had given her a dream.

A faith.

A courage.

A determination and will to succeed.

She was going to become a Pokémon Master.

She would earn eight badges and enter the Pokémon League.

Then she would win, and never have any self-doubts or insecurities again.

At least, that is what she wished would happen.

No doubt her journey would take her in many directions.

But she knew where she wanted to end up.

With him again.

Except she would not need to him to protect her then.

Looking down at Charmander they shared a nod, and continued on their way to Pewter City, home of their first challenge.

The Pewter City Gym.

Even the name sounded daunting.

And especially since it was a rock-type gym, and fire-types were weak to that.

Leaf shook her head. It didn't matter.

She had faith in her new Pokémon. And enough faith from everyone she knew to have faith in herself.

Only by trusting in herself could she succeed, and now, she was prepared to do so.

So here I am in my new apartment
In a big city, they just dropped me off
It's so much colder that I thought it would be
So I tuck myself in and turn my night light on

And that is it.

I'll probably keep this going once I finish the song and just have random one shots of Leaf's journey as she learns things. Because I think this is just a nice way to improve my writing and get more practice at it.

So yeah, please review, because then I know how I can get better.

Thank you to leafeonchick03 who is reviewed this. :) Thank you so much. This chapter is for you.

Have a nice week everyone!