Oh crap!

I stared at the massive form of Gyarados as it twisted around, its blue scales gleaming under the fluorescent lights of the lobby. For some reason, it looked smaller than I remembered it being in the lake.

In my mind, Gyarados had been an enormous sea monster, as long and big as a semi-truck. My eyes must have been playing tricks last night because in the light of day, while Gyarados was still quite large, it was only about the size of a great white shark.

And now that I was face to face with Gyarados, I could see that I had been right—it was definitely not happy about being captured. Gyarados glared at me, its red eyes narrowed and filled with seething rage.

"Return!"

I lifted Gyarados' Pokéball and recalled it in a burst of red light before it could attack. What am I going to do with you? I wondered, looking down at the Pokéball. Having a Pokémon that wouldn't listen in the games wasn't a big deal. I just had to wait until I had enough badges. But now that Gyarados was its own being, I doubted it would be that easy.

Plus, in the games, I didn't have to worry about my Pokémon attacking me.

"Thank you!"

I grunted as Nurse Joy flung her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly. I could feel the softness of her body pressing against my own, her heartbeat racing against my chest.

Normally, I would have enjoyed the closeness, but right now, all I felt was an overwhelming burning sensation. The adrenaline that I hadn't even known was pumping through my veins had all but drained away, and I was starting to feel the effects of Koffing's Smokescreen attack. My eyes stung as if I'd rubbed them with sandpaper, and each breath I took felt like inhaling smoke.

I started coughing violently, the burning sensation in my lungs intensifying. Nurse Joy immediately snapped into doctor mode, guiding me to a nearby chair.

"Please, sit down," she urged gently, her hands grasping my shoulders. "I'll be right back."

Her skirt swished as she moved, offering tantalizing glimpses of her thighs. But I couldn't fully appreciate the view, too focused on the pain in my chest.

I shouldn't be so surprised, I thought, letting out another wheezing breath. Koffing was literally the Poison Gas Pokémon. Obviously, inhaling its fumes would have a negative impact on my body.

Still, even with my bloodshot eyes stinging with each blink and the sharp, bitter taste on my tongue making it difficult to swallow and breathe, I couldn't stop smiling. I was only in pain because Pokémon were real!

After a few minutes, Nurse Joy returned, wheeling behind her a metal canister about the size of a fire extinguisher. Attached to the canister was a long tube with an oxygen mask at the end.

"Here," Nurse Joy held up the mask to my face. "Take slow, deep breaths."

I felt instant relief as cool, clean air filled my lungs and the scent of antiseptic medicine replaced the pungent smell of Koffing's Smokescreen.

"You must have inhaled too much of Koffing's toxic gas," Nurse Joy explained softly as she sat down next to me. "This will help clear out your lungs and ease any discomfort."

Then the sudden roar of an engine caused Nurse Joy and me to jump in surprise. The blinding headlights of a blue and white motorcycle burst through the sliding glass doors, leaving behind a trail of shattered glass as it skidded to a stop just inches away from the front desk.

On the bike was Officer Jenny, her blue heel planted firmly against the tiled floor. I tracked my gaze up Officer Jenny's long legs, wrapped in a skintight pencil skirt hiked scandalously high by her straddling the motorcycle.

After a tense moment, Nurse Joy stepped forward, hands on her hips, clearly unimpressed with Officer Jenny's dramatic entrance. "Officer Jenny!" she admonished sharply. "How many times have I told you not to ride that thing inside?" She gestured in exasperation to the shattered glass scattered across the tile floor. "Was that truly necessary?"

Officer Jenny killed the engine before swinging herself off the bike, her skirt riding even higher.

Seriously, who designed those police uniforms?

"You reported a Team Rocket attack in progress," Officer Jenny met Nurse Joy's gaze unrepentantly. "Did you expect me to waste time parking?"

Nurse Joy opened her mouth to respond, then hesitated, a look of reluctant acknowledgment passing over her features. Sighing in resignation, she shook her head.

"No...I suppose the urgency was warranted."

Officer Jenny glanced around the lobby. "Where are these criminals then?" she demanded.

Clasping her hands, Nurse Joy offered an apologetic smile. "Team Rocket got away. But..." she said with growing enthusiasm as she gestured toward me. "Thanks to this brave trainer, the Pokémon Center didn't lose a single Pokémon!"

Officer Jenny shifted her attention to me, her eyebrows rising in interest, if not skepticism at such high praise. "You're the 'brave trainer' who drove off a dangerous band of Pokémon thieves?"

Sensing her skepticism, if not outright suspicion, I frowned. What was wrong with me?

"That's right," I said, pulling the oxygen mask away from my face. "Team Rocket was trying to steal injured Pokémon. My Shinx and I fought Ekans, one of their Pokémon, before I lied and said the Gym Leader was on his way. That sent them running."

"Is that so?" Officer Jenny leaned down and gripped my chin roughly, glaring into my eyes. It would probably annoy any normal person my age, but with her cleavage practically in my face, what was there to complain about?

I stared back at her, waiting to see if she was going to try and scold me. I'd done what I needed to do, and even though it was just Jessie and James, it felt good sticking it to Team Rocket.

"Let's see some identification?"

I reached into my pocket and pulled out my Pokedex, handing it over.

Officer Jenny let go of my chin and flipped open the Pokedex. After a minute she nodded and handed it back.

"Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town, huh?"

"Jenny, is this really necessary?" Nurse Joy interjected with concern. "He just saved our Pokémon Center, and clearly the last thing he needs right now is to be questioned for doing the right thing. Just look at him!"

Nurse Joy pointed at the mud-covered rags I was wearing.

Officer Jenny handed me back my Pokedex and glared at Nurse Joy. "I am looking at him," she said, "and what I see makes me curious. What happened to put him in such a state?"

"I got attacked by some Spearow and fell into the river," I explained truthfully.

Officer Jenny's eyes went wide, her posture stiffening in alarm. "You were attacked by wild Pokemon? Where? Why?" She fired off questions rapidly, demanding details.

I recounted the anime—how my starter Pokemon Pikachu didn't want to have a trainer. That we made a deal which led to us pissing off a flock of Spearow and how we only escaped after jumping in the river and being pulled downstream.

Officer Jenny listened intently and I could see the concern flashing in her eyes shift to a stern, almost scolding look as I admitted to rushing to the Pokémon Center when I saw Team Rocket's balloon rather than staying away.

"As an officer sworn to protect citizens, I must advise trainers to report incidents immediately instead of confronting threats themselves," Officer Jenny said sternly before her expression softened. "However...that was still a very brave thing you did facing those dangerous criminals alone. Reckless, but brave."

Not really, I thought as Officer Jenny stood up. Battling two schmucks like Jessie and James wasn't what I would call brave.

Officer Jenny scribbled a few final notes into her small pad. Clicking her pen, she slipped it into her tightly-cinched utility belt along with the notebook. "I'll add your report to our ongoing investigation into Team Rocket's activities. Please come down to the police station if you remember any additional details that may aid our search." She smiled, although her brows remained knitted in disapproval and worry. "For now, get some rest. You've had quite the ordeal. If I have any further questions, I'll be sure to find you."

With that, Officer Jenny walked over to Ash and Misty. While she worked to gather everyone's statements, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the excessive and blatant display of fan service. Misty's petite figure was barely covered by a crop top and cut-off booty shorts, flaunting her toned body and making it clear she was no underage cartoon character.

Standing at about the same height as Nurse Joy, a few inches shorter than me, with curves that would make any fanboy drool, Misty looked less like her Indigo League design and more similar to her appearance in the uncensored Electric Tales of Pikachu manga.

I simply refused to believe she was supposed to be the same age as her character in the anime.

The sight of her, Nurse Joy in her revealing nurse uniform, and Officer Jenny in a hiked-up pencil skirt made it nearly impossible for me to focus. I cursed the hormones raging through my body, reminding me why puberty was such a pain in the ass.

At my age, a stiff breeze was enough to get me going, and here I was, surrounded by beautiful women. But I knew I had more important things to focus on, like figuring out what I was going to do about Gyarados?

Nurse Joy's gentle voice pulled me from my thoughts. "If you don't mind, I'd like to take your Pokéballs to give your team a checkup while you get cleaned up. I noticed some electric burns on your Gyarados' scales that looked quite painful."

I blinked in surprise, impressed she'd noticed something like that through all the commotion. I hadn't noticed a thing.

She offered her hand. I took it, grunting as she helped pull me to my feet. The world spun for a moment before my balance steadied.

Nurse Joy kept a grip on my arm as she led me across the lobby floor strewn with glass shards. My muddy shoes and her pristine high heels crunched over the pieces.

We stopped at the front counter, and I sagged against it. Nurse Joy swept behind to her workstation, placing my Pokéballs into separate slots. She tapped a few buttons, and the machine whirred to life.

"Just need to run a quick diagnostic cycle." She flashed a comforting smile over her shoulder. "Should only take thirty minutes or so."

The machine whirred, glowing tubes along its top lighting up one by one. I managed a weak smile in return.

"Thanks, Nurse Joy. I really appreciate it."

Nurse Joy stepped back around, taking my arm again. "Of course! Now, let's get you to one of our open rooms so you can rest."

"Joy?" Officer Jenny said, looking over from where she was still talking to Misty. "I'd like to take your statement now."

Nurse Joy sighed. She pressed a key card into my hand. "Room 204, end of the hall on the second floor."

I nodded and headed up the stairs.

When I made it to room 204, my room for the night, I went straight for the bathroom and turned the shower's hot water faucet to its hottest temperature. I peeled off my filthy clothes, dumping them in a pile on the floor, and stepped under the steaming shower, letting out a long sigh as the water soothed my sore muscles and washed away the layers of grime covering my body.

I scrubbed vigorously at my hair and skin with a bar of soap, watching as murky water swirled down the drain, dragging away bits of dirt and blood along with it.

While in the shower, I used the time to think about my next moves. For some reason, I did a lot of my best thinking in the shower, so it worked out.

First, I needed to decide what Pokemon I wanted to catch so I could write down their locations from the games and anime before I forgot. If I wanted to shock the world and win the Indigo League as a rookie trainer, I had about eleven months to catch and train my Pokemon Team and win eight gym badges to qualify to compete in the Indigo Plateau Conference.

While eleven months was more than enough time for me to collect eight gym badges, once I qualified for the Indigo League, I'd be battling trainers who'd probably had years to train their Pokémon. Battle experience and natural growth weren't something I had to worry about in the games, but now it was going to be a big problem.

I thought about the Charicific Valley in Johto and how Ash's powerhouse of a Charizard had been nothing but a runt originally. If I wanted to shock the world and place 1st as a rookie trainer, then I needed a plan and money.

Money for what?

Technical Machines!

They were also a thing despite not being in the main anime, and apparently, they worked by "downloading" the knowledge of a Pokémon onto a disc that could then be "uploaded" to another Pokémon. The technology to do that was amazing, but it wasn't without a cost. When a TM was created, the Pokémon being used forgot the move that was "downloaded" from their brain.

Which is probably why they cost so much!

Even the cheapest TM costs several thousand Pokémon dollars, and while I didn't plan to go crazy, it would be a risk to spend so much money on Pokemon moves.

I don't want to be some flat-broke bum selling rocks, I thought. This world I found myself in had a money system like in the games, so I could win and lose money during battles.

Using a Pokédex, or a Pokédex app on a phone—an item all trainers were required by law to carry—two trainers would accept a League Sanctioned Battle (LSB for short), and the amount of money would be decided depending on the age, experience level, and rank of the defeated trainer.

Of course, not all battles had to be for money, but only LSB wins and losses would be shown on your trainer profile. Everything else was considered to be an exhibition.

The question was, did I have enough confidence in my skills as a Pokémon trainer to risk it?

And the answer was abso-fucking-lutely.

Set up chapter for the Viridian Forest!

Also, Ash won't be catching as many Pokemon as he did in the anime. That's fun for a show, but if you can't realistically train twenty different Pokemon to be strong enough to compete for a championship.

I've got 4 party slots locked, but feel free to leave a suggestion if you want!

Thanks for reading!