Vermilion City was a huge port city with tourists littering the walkways, browsing and shopping along the stalls lining the paths to the main thoroughfares. Vendors hawked their wares, from food to souvenirs to exotic Pokémon found only in Kanto. They were mostly Spearow and Rattata, the odd Doduo.

Rye found the anonymity it provided comforting. He was jostled and shoved more times than he could count but he was happy. He was somewhere nobody knew anything about him. He was free to be whatever he wanted to be here.

His first stop was the Pokémon Center. It was vaguely north, according to Captain Skippy. He'd said that he had to acquire a Kanto license so he could participate in League functions and battle Trainers and receive money—if he won—especially if he didn't have any prospects aside from being something he was good at—a Trainer.

Rye found the Center a few hours later. He and his team got some lunch on the way and ate by the wharf, scarfing down chowder and garlic bread. The Center was the same red-roofed building as the ones in Unova, with the blocky outlines of a Pokéball sitting on top. The difference was that there was no Mart inside and the Audino that were usually the Nurse Joy's assistant were replaced by Chansey.

There were other Trainers in the Center, hanging out in the lobby, waiting in line by the booths that housed the bank of PCs and the videophones, sitting by the couches, watching a live broadcast of an Elite Four match, someone named Koga and a Trainer that looked like she was getting thoroughly outclassed with her Kirlia against a Venomoth.

Rye headed for the counter, where the Nurse Joy was handing out a tray of four Pokéballs to a young Trainer. She smiled at the boy and said, "Here you go, your Pokémon are fighting fit."

The boy nodded in thanks and clipped his Pokéballs to his belt and ran out of the Center.

Rye stepped up to the counter and cleared his throat. Nurse Joy looked at him and smiled. "Good afternoon, how may I help you?"

Rye grabbed the balls clipped to his wristband and whistled two, short, sharp notes. Venero jumped down from above, landing soundlessly on the counter. Nurse Joy started a little, shocked. Others turned curiously at the commotion then turned back to their own business.

He returned Venero and handed the nurse his Pokéballs. "Could you please check these three for me? Artur, my Horsea, he's a little scuffed up—a battle against a Whiscash that knew Ice Beam. Rostik—Snivy, he's a little… difficult. He doesn't like being touched. Venero, he won't give you problems. If you have to get them out of their balls, release Venero before the other two and he'll keep them in line."

Nurse Joy looked at him with this soft emotion that he couldn't put a name to and nodded. "They're going to be fine." She grabbed a tray and turned out back.

"Nurse Joy," She looked at him, head cocked to the side. "Uh, could you tell me where I could get my license renewed? I'm from Unova and I'd like to register to the League here."

Nurse Joy smiled at him. "Give me half an hour and I'll have your Pokémon ready to go and help you with your license."

Rye nodded. "Thanks."

He took a seat nearest the counter, between two young Trainers that looked depressed. He settled in his seat and counted down the minutes.

XLX

Half an hour later, Nurse Joy came out of the backroom with a tray that held three Pokéballs—his. Venero's ball all scratched up, the aluminum polished but with visible scars. Rye had tried his best to buff the worst of the scratches but there wasn't anything to be done with the deeper crosshatches marring the Pokéball. Rostik's ball, on the other hand, was pristine, with a green sticker on top, a serpentine silhouette that Ros made him polish everyday. And Artur's, fairly new and gleaming under the bright lights.

She caught his eye and motioned him over.

Rye got up and took out his Trainer Card, knowing that he had to present his old one to get a new set along with papers and official records. He wasn't worried about his family tracing his whereabouts. Kanto was the last place they would think to look for him. And everyone was keeping a low profile, they wouldn't make waves. At least not yet.

He wasn't stupid though. He knew that it'd only be a matter of time before something slipped through the cracks and they found him. Ideally, he would be strong enough to fight back.

Win.

Nurse Joy smiled at him and pushed the tray closer. He grabbed the three Pokéballs and released two of his team. Venero looking rejuvenated, his gold eyes carefully eyeing the people and the Pokémon, wary and tensed, ready for the first sign of trouble. Rostik, haughty and poised, snout tilted, his red eyes narrowed as he stared at the Center. He'd spend some time with Artur later, by the pool out back or by the sea.

Ros slithered up his arm to his shoulder, glaring at the Nurse Joy and the Chansey waddling over to her, as stack of papers secured in a folder balanced on her stubby paws. He scratched under Ros's chin and ignored the indignant hissing.

She gave him some forms to fill out for registration to the Indigo League. He couldn't apply for a citizenship right away since that required permanent residence for at least eight years, five if he worked for the League here. He didn't have plans that far into the future but it was something to think about. There were other regions. He'd heard Hoenn was a nice place.

Rye gave her his old card and filled out the forms, Rostik still glaring at the Nurse as she slotted his card in a computer and began the process of outfitting him with an Indigo League Trainer Card.

Name, age, trainer class. Birth date, birthplace…

Parents—unknown

Lies, but ones he was willing to tell. It wasn't unusual for Trainers—kids, especially to not know their birth parents. Being a Trainer was a hard profession but it was lucrative. All it took was having someone to sponsor him or her, usually a Professor, a starter Pokémon, and an iron will.

"Excuse me, Rye?"

He looked up at her and frowned.

"Would you like a new picture for your Trainer Card?" She was smiling. There was understanding in her tone, the way she looked at him. "I could certainly use your old one but—" She grabbed his card from the slot on the computer and showed it to him. Unsmiling, dark-eyed. Detached. Like he looked right now. "A new card in a new region deserves a new picture, don't you think?"

Rye opened his mouth to tell her to leave it alone, that the picture was fine when he… stopped. V and Ros were staring at him now, questions in their eyes. He chuckled as Venero cocked his head to side and grumbled inquiringly. This was a fresh start.

He smiled at Nurse Joy, the curve of his lips slight. Slight but there. "I'd like a new one please."