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Bayleef found what she was looking for when she trotted onto the road, the city rising up over the trees. She took in the view for a moment; being taller was so much more interesting. And it made her much more formidable in battle, too.
It was actually more of a ‘who’ than a ‘what’, though. Her friend, who had also gotten bigger (and rounder!) was walking from the city with Silver’s friend. At least, Bayleef thought so. Silver was grumpy about a lot of things, and it was hard to know what he really thought. But they battled so much!
Bayleef’s friend munched on a yellow berry, biting chunks out of it with his massive jaws, scrunching his eyes up with joy. When he opened them, he began tugging at Silver’s friend urgently, pointing at Bayleef with his chubby hand.
“Oh!” Silver’s friend looked surprised. “You’re Silver’s Bayleef, aren’t you? Are you okay? Did something happen?”
She looked worried, so Bayleef trilled in assurance, before ambling up to her. Silver’s friend smiled and pat Bayleef on her head, making Bayleef happily wave her leaf.
“Here, have one of these,” said Silver’s friend, dipping her hand into her bag. “I got them as a treat for Croconaw after we beat the Goldenrod gym, but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you had one.”
As soon as she produced one of the large, yellow berries, Bayleef carefully took hold of it in her mouth, turned around and headed back between the trees. This will do! she thought to herself.
Bayleef didn’t know what a gym was, and she was pretty sure she’d never been to one; Usually, she and Silver went underground to battle different people wearing black, and his friend with the Croconaw seemed to be the only person they battled more than once.
She found Silver where she’d left him, resting against a tree. He looked paler than usual, except for some red blotchiness on his nose and around his eyes. He blinked up at her when she returned. He looked strange, and it worried Bayleef.
“Oh, you’re back.” His voice was weird, too, as if his words were getting all squashed. He sneezed.
Bayleef walked over to him and gently lay the berry on his chest, nudging it towards his face. Silver picked it up and looked at it.
“What’m I supposed to do with this?” he muttered. Bayleef sat down, tucking her legs beneath her; they were thicker and longer, now, but she could still bundle herself up against him like before. She pressed her nose against his hand, moving the berry towards his mouth.
Silver rolled his eyes, but took a small bite. He patted her on the head with his other hand. Bayleef chirped softly as he made a face.
“Y’know what, this isn’t that bad,” said Silver. “I’ve always liked sour stuff.”
Bayleef watched him eat, then she shook out the leaves around her neck. This was a new thing, and those leaves created a nice smell that seemed to make people feel better. When he had finished eating, Silver’s eyes drifted shut, and his chest began to rise and fall as he slept. Bayleef nodded to herself before she rested her own head on his shoulder and drifted off to sleep.