[The Pokémon Odyssey] [Viridian City I: Boys] [Y1/M1/D2]
"A visitor!" a voice said as glass automatic doors spread open.
"Hi, hello," I said, brushing droplets of water from my hair as I walked towards a woman at the counter.
The white linoleum squeaked beneath me with each step forwards. The faded Poké Ball design in the center of the lobby floor had scratches scattered about the tiles.
"Welcome to the Viridian City Pokémon Center," the woman said, "I'm Nurse Joy, and I can heal your Pokémon back to perfect health."
"Thank you!" I said, retrieving two Poké Balls from my backpack and putting them in the container she set out.
"Please give me no more than twenty minutes," Nurse Joy said.
She took the Poké Balls from the cracked plastic tray and placed them onto a black machine behind her. The healer was about the size of several desktop towers next to one another, with three rows of two slots lining the inside. Fogged up screens on the side of each niche lit up to display a heart monitor and other vital information as she inserted both Poké Balls. Warm yellow lights began to brighten and dim beneath the slots, and vent fans underneath spun out of sync.
"That machine looks a little...old," I said.
"It's the only device we have, too," Nurse Joy said, "Newer models can heal a full party in under five minutes."
"Will this Pokémon Center get one anytime soon?"
"We're on a waitlist for renovations. The head of the Pokémon League's Kanto Medical Division is a busy woman."
"Oh...I know."
"Really? I didn't expect someone your age to know who Katherine Lanes is!"
"I've met her once."
"That must've been wonderful! What's she like?"
It hurt to smile, "She's nice. Loves what she does more than anything else."
"I can see that in her...very passionate woman."
"May I sit somewhere and relax for a while? I came all the way from Pallet Town and I'm kind of tired."
"Of course!"
Nurse Joy took out a clipboard and placed it on the counter, "Pokémon Trainers can stay two nights for free every week in a specific Pokémon Center."
"That's-"
"We would scan your Pokédex, but our machine broke, so you'll to fill this form out."
The carbon paper on the clipboard had the Pokémon League logo printed at the top. A click interrupted my focus, and I looked up to see Nurse Joy giving me a pen. I received it, my hand shaking.
"Do you...do you send these off somewhere?" I asked.
"The Pokémon League gathers this information to determine our budget," Nurse Joy said, "Pokémon Centers require you to check in to stay overnight."
I didn't have money to live in a hotel every night, and I can't sleep on my bedroll in the rain.
"May I use the restroom?" I asked, "I'll come back and fill this out afterwards."
"Please do," Nurse Joy said, "It's on the hallway to your left, and the first door on the right."
I nodded and began to walk away, my shoes squeaking on the tiles. A place to stay isn't something I could continue to overlook. But I couldn't risk Mother finding me through the Pokémon Center system.
Someone was using the bathroom. I leaned against the wall and slid down to a squat, my hands on my face. My feet ached from the traveling, and my body felt cold from the weather. Nurse Joy could only help me for so long.
The lock clicked and I stood up as a tanned, muscular man walked into the hall. His tinted aviators reflected the fluorescent lights of the hallway, and a stench of smoke followed his movements.
"Excuse me," he said, his voice so low I could feel it vibrating my chest.
"Thank you," I murmured. Was it too bright in here for him?
I looked inside the bathroom, but shut the door. I had already gone on a tree on Route 1.
"Sorry to bother you again," the man said, bumping me with a cloth-covered object.
"That's my fault," I said, clinging to the wall.
He was carrying what appeared to be a cage draped with a black tarp. Gentle rattles whispered through.
"A Pokémon?" I asked.
"I'd show you, but it's a Ghost-type," he said, "I don't want him to get started under these lights."
"That's alright," I said, smiling.
"Thank-" he said.
He stopped, and I turned to see what he was looking at. A boy in a purple jacket was standing in the hallway, pointing an Ultra Ball at us.
He converted it to its full size, "I won't mess around with you anymore, Francis."
Francis dropped the cage onto the floor, prompting the creature inside to scuttle about more. He took a Poké Ball from his belt, leveling it against the boy's.
"You think some kid is going to beat me?" Francis asked, lifting his sunglasses into his hair.
Both pairs of hands flashed, and two Pokémon were in the hallway, ready to fight. A crater-covered sphere floated in above Francis, and a pale yellow fox-like animal sat in front of the boy in the purple jacket. I coughed at the smell that Francis's Pokémon was emitting and stepped forward.
"Move him," the boy said.
A hidden force raised me through the air and threw me back into the lobby. As I levitated, the fox creature stared up at me, and watched as I descended onto the tiles. I took out Dexter in an instant.
"Abra, the Psi Pokémon," Dexter said, "It can maintain telepathic radar even while sleeping. In dangerous situations, this Pokémon will teleport to safety."
"A Psychic-type..." I said.
"Stop distracting me," the boy said.
"Koffing, use Smokescreen!" Francis shouted.
The creature exhaled a blackish-green smog into the air, far more deadly than anything I've seen Charmander try. My eyes and nostrils burned, but I couldn't help look away the Battle.
Without another word, the smoke glowed a blue light, and blew at Francis, who had his arms up to block the gust.
"Tackle," Francis said.
"Koff!" the purple sphere said, propelling forwards and slamming face-first onto the Abra.
The boy caught his Pokémon and slid back before falling next to me.
"Get the cage!" he ordered, and Abra obeyed, pulling the box into the lobby using its telekinesis.
"Sludge!" Francis said.
"Counter with Shadow Ball," the boy said.
The Koffing spat out a glob of black goo, while Abra shot at it with a ball of electrified dark energy. A small explosion erupted in the lobby, burning the floor and releasing smoke into the room. They continued to fire attacks at one another, and I went to pull the cloth off the cage. Large, purple ears with blue insides sprung up to the top, and the Pokémon's red eyes gave me a weak sneer.
"Everything'll be okay," I said. This wasn't a Ghost-type.
"What is going on?" Nurse Joy asked, running in from the other hall.
"Francis Holter is holding a Pokémon caught through illegal means," the boy said.
"Get everyone out of here!" Francis said, and the sphere rammed into Nurse Joy with a Tackle.
I watched Nurse Joy crash on the floor with a scream, and saw the healer behind the counter. The Poké Balls had a green light shining beneath them.
The Koffing shot more globs of Sludge at the Abra, who stopped them with its telekinetic powers and let them fall to the tiles. The two circled the lobby as Koffing's attacks fired like a machine gun. As Abra moved towards me, I dived over the counter to take my Pokémon from the device.
"Go, Poliwag!" I said, releasing Poliwag from his Poké Ball.
"Li?" he asked, startled from the sudden action.
"Bubble on Koffing!" I said.
Poliwag blasted through Koffing's attacks with blue spheres of water, reaching the crossbones on its front and then pelting Koffing's face.
"Shadow Ball!" the boy said.
"Get to the left and use Smokescreen!" Francis said.
Abra shot a Shadow Ball from its palms, but the Koffing dodged in time and the attack struck a light fixture, shorting it out. Koffing then released another plume of black gas, filling the room. Abra moved the smoke away again, but the Koffing flew forwards to slam into Abra.
"Doubleslap!" I said, and Poliwag jumped up.
With a spin, Poliwag swatted Koffing out of the way with its tail, causing it to hit the floor and roll around before levitating back up.
"Sludge," Francis said.
"Help our friend out," the boy said.
Abra grabbed Poliwag and they both vanished.
"Wait-" I said.
Abra and Poliwag reappeared behind Koffing as I processed the situation
"Uhm, W-Water Gun!" I said.
Poliwag unleashed a torrent of liquid at Koffing, knocking it back into Francis, and the two of them fell over. Francis tossed his Pokémon aside and pointed at us.
"Selfdestruct!" he said.
Koffing floated before us and began to shake like it was experiencing an earthquake.
"Reflect," the boy said, and in an instant, a blue-tinged sphere encased the Koffing.
A blinding light and a deafening boom filled the space. I moved to shield Poliwag from the blast, but the heat blew me backwards and onto the floor. Poliwag fell into Abra, and the boy took a knee, blocking the shockwave with his arms.
The reaction faded and the lobby felt cold. I saw the Koffing passed out in a black crater, and Francis sitting up in a pile of broken glass from the automatic doors.
The entrance opened, and a woman in a blue police uniform walked in, grabbing Francis by the shoulder and yanking him up.
"Francis Holter," she said, "you are under arrest for poaching endangered Pokémon."
I looked at the container, at the purple, rodent-like Pokémon with a buck tooth and red eyes. The animal stared at me with aggression, but its ears laid back on its body.
"Poliwag, come here and use Doubleslap to release him," I said.
Poliwag tumbled forwards and spun around, hitting the door of the cage open. The Pokémon crept up and sniffed the floor of the building. The Nidoran approached me, careful that I'd lunge at it like a predator.
"That's a Nidoran ," the officer said, "They should found on their reserve on Route 22, shouldn't they?"
The Pokémon began smelling my shoes. I looked at Francis, who gazed to the side, not answering. The room would've been silent but my ears kept ringing from the explosion. The officer took out handcuffs, and snapped them behind his back.
"Let's talk on the way to the station," she said, escorting him through the door.
"Thanks for helping me," the boy said, coming me with an extended arm, "I'm Curt Winters."
Nurse Joy swept up the last broken tiles onto a dustpan, making the lobby semi-presentable. Her Chansey held out a trash can, and began to waddle towards of the hall with her.
"You'll keep the Pokémon?" Officer Jenny asked.
"He doesn't seem to want to leave," I said, looking down at Nidoran , who scratched my shoes with his claws.
"Then please file a report with the police department in Pewter City, and again in Vermilion City when you get there. We will arrest you if we don't have proof that you are caring for an endangered Pokémon."
"Him."
"Of course. Thank you for stopping him, the both of you."
"It's my pleasure," Curt said, "He tried taking my Abra a few weeks ago, so I've been following him ever since."
"Can you redact my name from the police report?" I asked.
"We'll list you as a bystander," she said, smiling and putting her hat back on, "Good luck on your Journey, Jeffrey."
Officer Jenny saluted, and then exited the Pokémon Center. I took out a Poké Ball from my backpack, and pointed it at Nidoran .
"You're sure you want to come with me?" I asked.
"Nida!" he said, pressing the button on the Poké Ball with his horn.
The Poké Ball clicked open, and Nidoran faded into a stream of clear blue energy. He went into the Poké Ball, which snap shut with a satisfying ping.
It was silent between me and Curt, with the drizzle and rumbling holding the only conversation.
"Thanks for helping me," Curt said.
"It's no big deal."
"We stopped a poacher together, though! Isn't that great?"
Thunder crashed outside, and the rain fell harder.
"We were impressive, I'll admit, and I wish we could do more, but I have to leave soon," I said.
"What?" Curt asked, "You should rest first, that was demanding."
"I can't...I can't check in at a Pokémon Center. Nobody will know I'm here."
Curt furrowed his brow, "That's why you didn't want your name in the police report, huh? But fine, Nurse Joy!"
"Yes, Curt?" she asked from the counter.
"Please list Jeff as my guest so he doesn't have to sign in, I think he's paranoid!"
"Oh...well, sure. He can have the other bunk in your room."
Nurse Joy pulled out the clipboard from earlier and began scribbling down notes.
"No, Curt, it's alright," I said.
"I'm not letting you leave in the rain or in some expensive hotel," Curt said, walking away.
"But-"
"Nurse Joy will have to take out a different colored pen and correct the information on that page if you don't sleep here tonight, so come on!"
His green eyes stung me, and my need for rest outweighed my want to be secretive.
I walked down the hall with him and turned left into the room he was staying in. There were two bunk beds on the side walls, and several desks placed in the back. A large window was above the desks, with open blinds showing the street next to the Pokémon Center. A backpack with Curt's organized belongings was by to the lower pallet on the left.
"I'm the only Trainer here," Curt said, "so help yourself to any of the beds."
I tossed my bag on the bunk opposite to his and laid down.
"Are you...are you trying to challenge the Pokémon League?" I asked.
"What?" he laughed, "No, I'm a Psychic-type Trainer, and I try to focus on just that."
"Can't you judge your skill against Gym Leaders?"
"I already understand battle theory. True talent, and refined mastery of the mystic arts requires tests with other psychics."
Curt sat on his bunk and revealed a deck of cards, "Pick one of them."
"How is this-"
"I'll find it by studying your internal energies, and-"
I pulled out the ace of spades, and then tossed it back in the stack for him to shuffle. He did some fancy tricks, holding his hands at shoulder-length and shooting them from his left to his right. The last card, however, flung out and hit me in the face.
"Oh, sorry," he said, watching it fall to the floor, "uh...let's try something else."
"Like what?"
"Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? What do your parents do?"
"I'm from Pallet Town. My mother is...uh..."
"Kathy Lanes, isn't she?"
I looked up, but Curt was on an electronic tablet. He showed me a newspaper article from nine years ago when I left Kanto. Apparently I hadn't changed much in the past ten years.
"I'd say that I recognize your baby face, but let's agree I know telepathy," he said.
I pursed my lips and looked out the window, "I...I didn't want her to find me here, which is the reason I couldn't to sign in."
"I understand, I'm running away from home right now."
"You are?"
"Well...no, but I just left without telling them. Again."
I rolled my eyes and he laughed, "So your dad is Warren Lanes, then? What's he like?"
"He's the CEO of PokéCorp," I said, "It's just any other boring office job."
"Why did they keep you out of Kanto for so long if they're both so involved with Pokémon?"
"I wondered that too for a while, but I understand now after seeing Prof. Oak: industries surrounding Pokémon are failing in Kanto. I don't think they wanted me to worry about finding a career when I gotolder."
"Do you even need a job later on?"
"I hate being lazy."
It was quiet again. There was another crackle of electric energy outside.
"So...what?" Curt asked, "You're going to enter the Indigo League in like, six months? And then what?"
"Become the Champion and restructure the budget to prioritize Pokémon research."
"What? That isn't a realistic goal, Jeff."
"Neither is thinking you can be the best Psychic-type Trainer but also believing you're above battling other Trainers," I said.
Curt scowled at me, but then his face softened and he laughed, "Nobody's ever put it like that."
"And?"
"Only a rookie would have that much faith in himself. Where are you headed next, Badge-less?"
"I'm going to leave tomorrow for Pewter City."
"I want to see you lose. Do you need a traveling partner?"
"I have Char-"
"You also don't have someone to teach you more about Pokémon. How can you be the best if you have no people to help you learn?"
I rolled my eyes again.
"Furthermore, I don't think have a choice," Curt said, "Not a lot of Trainers are going to be so generous as to let you be their guest at a Pokémon Center."
He crossed one leg over the other. And I didn't want to earn people's trust by having Francis attack a Pokémon Center at every city I went to.
"Would you like to come with me?" I sighed.
Thunder crashed outside, and Curt shifted forwards, reaching for the playing card on the floor instead.
"Is this your card?" Curt asked as I flipped it over.
It was the ace of spades.
