AN: Life update, school will soon be over though I have some personal tasks at hand to finish but at least I have extra time to continue writing or do random things I like. Also, I am not going to bother proof reading this lmao.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon
While I was trying to formulate a plan to take down these robbers without getting hurt, two trainers like me came in and told me not to fucking do it. It sucks. I want my TMs back right now, and I want to do it all myself.
"Listen, kid, you did some saving before, but let the grown-ups handle it," a guy, most likely a young adult, said seriously.
A woman beside him nodded in agreement. "Yeah, just don't. Don't try to be heroic this time."
"I'm not being a hero here. I just want my hard-earned TMs back," I said in annoyance.
They both sighed. "Okay… We'll try to get it back for you, okay? And just stay as support. No offense, kid, but your Cyndaquil is too weak for this sort of thing," the man said.
I clenched my fists and looked down at Cyndaquil, who seemed just as frustrated as I was. I hated to admit it, but they had a point. Charging in recklessly wasn't going to do me or anyone else any favors.
"Fine," I muttered through gritted teeth. "I'll stay back… but I'm not leaving. I want to see those assholes get what they deserve, and I want my TMs back in one piece."
The guy gave me a firm nod. "Good. Just stay out of the way, kid. We'll handle this."
The woman gave me a reassuring smile. "We'll get your TMs back, don't worry."
Cyndaquil let out a low growl, clearly unhappy with the situation, but I placed a hand on his back to calm him down. "It's okay, buddy. Let's just watch for now and see how this plays out."
The two trainers turned toward the robbers, who were still ransacking the store. The guy released a Machoke from his Pokéball, its imposing figure immediately catching the attention of the thugs.
"Cathy, stay and secure their main exit with your Butterfree. All we need is to buy some time until the police arrive," the man said to who I assumed to be his friend.
"Try not to make a mess though with your Machoke. We're inside a Poké Mart," she joked.
"Funny," he replied, not amused.
The tension in the air could be felt by everyone as the two trainers took their positions. The robbers hadn't noticed them yet, still focused on tearing the place apart and probably looting whatever holds high value. I could feel my fists tightening, the urge to jump in clawing at me, but I kept my mouth shut for now. Watching these two work seemed like the right move, at least for the moment.
"Cathy. We don't know how many of these guys are packing," the guy said, his voice low but steady.
Cathy—her name, I guess—nodded, eyes scanning the robbers. Her hands hovered near her belt, ready to command her Butterfree.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it," she muttered. "I'm not exactly planning to just stand here and let them walk all over us, you know."
She released her Butterfree, the bug Pokémon immediately flitting around, positioning itself near the ceiling, right above their nearest exit to avoid being noticed. I couldn't help but admire how calm she was in the face of all this. That's when I noticed the robbers weren't just taking things—they were also setting up some kind of makeshift barricade with the store's shelves. They had clearly planned this out, and whatever it is, I hope their plan fails.
The guy with the Machoke took a step forward, his voice turning commanding. "Oi, stop wasting time! We get what we came for and get the hell out. If you think you can fight us, you're seriously gonna regret it."
One of the robbers, the one holding the bat, looked over at him, narrowing his eyes. "What, you think you're some kind of big Unovan hero? We got all the time we need. So why don't you just stay the fuck out of it?"
The guy with the Machoke didn't flinch. "You're in the middle of a Poké Mart, surrounded by witnesses. Trust me, you don't want to start anything."
I held my breath, waiting for the tension to break, my eyes flicking between the robbers and the trainers. Cyndaquil, on my shoulder, was eerily quiet. I could feel his body heat, his tiny body tense. He wasn't thrilled about staying out of the fight, but I could tell he knew it was better to let the adults handle it. Just… What had he experienced before he even met me and Ash?
Cathy, meanwhile, was calmly watching the robbers, her eyes calculating. "We're just here to make sure you leave the store without causing any more trouble. I'd suggest you take your loot and walk out before things get ugly," she said, her voice firm but still laced with a touch of sarcasm.
The robbers exchanged glances, sizing up the situation. The guy with the bat sneered. "Ugly? What, you think we're scared of a couple of trainers and their Pokémon?"
"We've seen worse," the man with the Machoke replied, his voice cold. He gestured to his Pokémon, which flexed its muscles, the air around it suddenly feeling heavy with its power.
The robber with the bat tightened his grip on it, his eyes narrowing in defiance. "I don't care how big your Pokémon is. We didn't come here for a fight, but we'll take one if you want to make it happen."
Cathy raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Big talk for someone who just stole from a Poké Mart."
The tension thickened, and for a moment, it felt like anything could happen. I stood frozen, watching, barely even breathing. I wasn't sure what would come next, but it felt like it was going to be explosive—figuratively and maybe literally. I wanted to jump in, to charge forward and take the thieves down myself, but I could see it wasn't the right time. Not yet.
Cyndaquil seemed to sense my frustration, and he let out a soft whine. I patted him gently, trying to calm both of us down.
The two trainers didn't look like they were about to back down, and neither did the robbers. It was a standoff, and I had no idea how it would end.
In the middle of the standoff, I noticed another Poké Ball on the baseball bat guy. "So he has two Pokémon. How worrying," I muttered silently.
"You two, you're up," the baseball bat robber commanded the other two.
Now we know who their leader is. The two of them must be his little goons. If we just try to grab their Poké Balls before they could react, we might win this easily and prevent them from teleporting away if they have psychics in their possession. We can—
I was interrupted in the middle of my thoughts as the two robbers released their Pokémon, and it had us all gasp in shock.
We all froze, eyes wide, as the two robbers released their Pokémon. What emerged from the Poké Balls weren't the usual tough, battle-ready creatures we expected. Instead, what we saw were two Pokémon—malnourished, weak, and clearly neglected to the point of near death.
The first one, a Machop, stumbled out of its Poké Ball, its body frail, its skin a sickly gray color. It barely managed to stand up, its legs shaking as though it could collapse at any moment. Its eyes were dull, lacking the usual fire and determination.
The second Pokémon, a Zubat, appeared next to it. Its wings were tattered, barely able to flap as it hovered weakly in the air. The once vibrant purple hue of its body was now a pale, almost sickly blue, and its eyes were sunken, full of exhaustion and fear.
I felt my stomach twist in disgust and anger. How could anyone treat Pokémon like this? These were living beings, not tools for a robbery.
Cyndaquil let out an angry growl from my shoulder. "Big bro, we need to help them!" he said, clearly upset by the sight as well. His body was tense, and I could feel the heat radiating off him.
"No, calm down, calm down. But we will help them," I tried calming him down, but to little effect. "Listen, they have bombs that could kill not just us but the Pokémon as well."
Cyndaquil slowly nodded but was still visibly angered by the sight of abused Pokémon like him. I will make sure these robbers pay for what they did.
The robbers didn't seem to care about their Pokémon's condition, their faces still twisted into expressions of arrogance. But the sight of these malnourished Pokémon had an immediate effect on the situation. The tension in the air grew even thicker, and I could see both Cathy and the guy with the Machoke exchanging a look.
"Those Pokémon… they're in terrible shape," Cathy said, her voice soft but filled with anger. "What the hell have you done to them?"
The guy with the Machoke took a step forward, his eyes hardening. "You better release them. You're abusing them."
The robber with the bat smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "What? These weaklings? We don't care about 'em. They're just tools, not like they're worth anything."
My blood boiled at that. "You—" I started, my voice shaking with anger. "You don't get to treat them like that. Pokémon are not tools! They're living beings, you—"
I was cut off by a woman, a witness and a civilian who was behind the shelves near me. "Kid, calm down. That's not gonna help," I lowered myself along with Cyndaquil complying with her.
The robbers looked at each other, the smirk on the bat-wielding one's face slowly fading as the gravity of the situation began to sink in. Cathy's Butterfree had silently moved into position, hovering above them, ready for action.
"This isn't about your stupid heist anymore," Cathy said, her voice hard. "We're not letting you continue this abuse."
The man with the Machoke nodded, his eyes focused on the robbers. "Hand over your Pokémon. Now."
The robbers seemed to hesitate for a moment, realizing they might be in over their heads. But then, the guy with the bat sneered again, clutching the bat tighter. "You think you can just walk in here and—"
Before he could finish, Machoke lunged forward, grabbing the bat out of the robber's hands with one swift motion. The force of it sent the bat flying across the room.
The robbers, clearly outmatched, stood frozen for a second before the guy with the bat shouted, "Get them!"
The clerk ran away from the now destroyed desk and computer, away from the dangers going on.
In that moment, everything erupted into chaos. But my mind was still fixated on those two Pokémon—malnourished and abandoned, yet still standing by their cruel trainers. They didn't deserve this.
"Screw it, Cyndaquil, let's move our way in silently," I said, now pissed off and resolved not to let these guys escape by taking their Pokéballs and cutting off their potential escape through the use of Psychic types.
"Okay, big bro!" Cyndaquil said, now ready for action.
People behind me shouted at me. "What are you doing?! That's dangerous!" they kept telling me, but I had enough. No more worrying about TMs—screw them. We've got some Pokémon to free from abuse.
I slowly ducked my way through the mess and debris, staying hidden and getting closer to the baseball bat guy. He had two Pokéballs, which most likely meant he had a Psychic type or a Pokémon capable of teleportation. By getting the Pokéballs, we could block their main method of escape.
The two robbers, realizing the situation was slipping out of their control, snapped into action. The one with the bat shouted to his Pokémon.
"Machop! Focus Energy, get ready to strike! Zubat, Supersonic, confuse their Pokémon!" he ordered, his voice gruff with urgency.
The Machop, still weak but with a glimmer of determination, raised its fists and focused its energy, preparing for an attack. Zubat, its wings still battered and broken, let out a high-pitched screech, sending a wave of disorienting sound toward Cathy and her Butterfree.
Cathy, quick on her feet, called out to her Pokémon. "Butterfree, dodge it and go easy on them! We need to keep them in check!"
Butterfree flitted above the oncoming Supersonic waves, avoiding the confusion attack with impressive agility. It then shot a cloud of yellow spores toward Zubat, aiming to paralyze the weak Pokémon before it could cause any more trouble.
"John, do it now!" Cathy yelled, urgency in her voice.
The guy with the Machoke—now identified as John—nodded and called out to his Pokémon. "Machoke, use Karate Chop on that Machop! Make it quick!"
Machoke lunged forward, its powerful limbs cutting through the air with precision. It landed a solid hit on Machop, sending the smaller Fighting type stumbling back, though it quickly regained its footing, clearly tougher than its appearance suggested.
One of the robbers took command of the two of the Pokémon and sneered. "You think you can stop us with that? Machop, use Low Kick on that big guy! Zubat, use Leech Life to weaken them!"
Machop charged at Machoke, attempting to land a Low Kick to knock it off balance, while Zubat dived toward Butterfree, its fangs ready to drain energy.
Cathy gritted her teeth, maintaining her composure. "Butterfree, dodge again and use Confusion to push Zubat back!"
Butterfree nimbly dodged the Leech Life attack and, with a swift flap of its wings, sent a wave of psychic energy toward Zubat, sending it spiraling back, disoriented and struggling to regain control.
John's Machoke was not as lucky. Machop's Low Kick landed but barely phased it. John didn't slow down. "Machoke, don't let up! Use a soft Low Sweep!"
Machoke swept its leg out, knocking Machop to the ground with a swift but measured strike, ensuring it only fainted instead of being seriously hurt.
The tension was building, and I could feel the adrenaline in my veins as the two sides clashed in a heated battle. Cyndaquil tensed on my shoulder, ready to move in at any moment. The robbers' Pokémon were weak, but they were still fighting back. And I knew this wasn't going to end well if we didn't act soon.
With the robbers very much distracted, I was getting close to my target. "Cyndaquil, don't attack till I say so," I whispered. Cyndaquil simply nodded to my order.
Wait, did I just think of him as prey? I felt weird as I realized that thought. I shook my head slightly, forcing myself to focus.
"Eevee, you're in now," the baseball bat guy said, throwing one of his Pokéballs.
As the Pokéball hit the ground, a flash of light revealed an Eevee—a shiny one. My eyes widened in surprise, and even Cyndaquil gasped.
"That's… a shiny Eevee," I muttered under my breath, taken aback by the rare sight.
"Big bro, should we try to stop his Pokémon instead?" Cyndaquil whispered, his voice filled with concern.
"No," I replied firmly, my tone laced with barely contained anger. "The Pokémon aren't the ones to blame here, we shouldn't be hurting them further. It's the bad guys. We take them down first."
I crouched lower behind some debris, keeping my focus on the shiny Eevee. My sharp gaze quickly analyzed its condition. The spiky end of its tail confirmed it was a male, but what caught my attention was the state of its body. It wasn't malnourished, which was a small relief, but the bruises on his fur told a different story. This Eevee had clearly been through hell—abused, overworked, and likely forced into battles it didn't want to fight.
"That's still just as bad," I whispered to myself, my hands clenching into fists.
The Eevee hesitated as it stood before the baseball bat guy, its body tense and its gaze shifting uneasily between its trainer and Cathy's Butterfree. Even from where I was hiding, I could see the conflict in its eyes. This wasn't a Pokémon fighting because it wanted to; it was fighting because it was being forced to.
The baseball bat guy smirked, completely oblivious to the pain he was causing his Pokémon. "Eevee, use Quick Attack on that Butterfree! Now!" he barked.
Eevee flinched at the harsh command but obeyed, darting forward in a blur of speed toward Butterfree.
"Dodge it, Butterfree!" Cathy called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.
Butterfree narrowly avoided the attack, its wings beating rapidly as it flew higher into the air. Eevee skidded to a stop, looking almost relieved that it hadn't landed the hit.
"Cyndaquil," I whispered, "we're not letting that guy get away with this. Stay ready."
"Got it, big bro," Cyndaquil replied, his flames flaring up slightly, reflecting his determination.
The distant wail of police sirens grew louder, signaling the impending arrival of law enforcement. The tension in the air thickened as the baseball bat guy's goons glanced at each other, their nervousness palpable.
Eevee, trembling, returned to its position near the baseball bat guy, its wary eyes darting between its trainer and the ongoing chaos.
The baseball bat guy growled in frustration and turned to one of his subordinates, the one currently hunched over a handheld device connected to a still-functioning computer. "Did you get into the system yet?!" he snapped.
The goon shook his head, beads of sweat dripping down his temple. "No, boss, I couldn't crack it! The firewall is too advanced, we can't access the locked and high-valued TMs! We don't have much time!"
"Damn it!" the baseball bat guy cursed, stomping his foot in anger. "We failed! Our boss is going to be pissed off at us." His fists clenched, the bat in his hand trembling with rage.
He took a deep breath and barked an order. "Eevee, distract them! Buy us some time so we can get the hell out of here!"
Eevee flinched, its entire body trembling as it glanced at the battlefield, then back at its trainer. It didn't move. Fear had rooted it to the spot.
"What are you waiting for?!" the man shouted, his voice dripping with contempt.
Eevee took a hesitant step back, its ears flattened against its head. "I—I can't…"
The man's face contorted in fury. "I've had enough of you, you useless abomination!" he snarled, raising his baseball bat high above his head, aiming to strike the terrified Pokémon himself.
"No!" I shouted, my legs moving before I could think. In a flash, I was sprinting toward the man, throwing myself between him and Eevee.
"Cyndaquil, grab his Pokéballs! Now!" I ordered, my voice sharp and resolute.
Cyndaquil, understanding the gravity of the situation, jumped from my shoulder without hesitation. "On it, big bro!" he replied, dashing toward the man's belt with remarkable speed.
The baseball bat guy swung downward, his anger driving the force of his attack. My arms instinctively rose to shield Eevee, my heart pounding in my chest as I braced for impact.
"Stop him, Butterfree!" Cathy's voice shouted as she realized what I was doing.
Butterfree, already midair, responded instantly. Its wings glowed faintly as it darted forward with astonishing speed, leaving a shimmering trail behind it. The silvery aura around its wings intensified as it aimed for the bat.
With a loud thwack, Butterfree's wings struck the bat, knocking it off course just inches before it could hit me or Eevee. The force of the impact sent the bat clattering to the ground, and the man stumbled back, momentarily stunned.
Eevee stared up at me, its wide, tear-filled eyes filled with a mix of disbelief and gratitude. I knelt down and gently placed a hand on its head. "You're safe now," I whispered, my voice soft but firm.
Behind me, Cyndaquil had already grabbed the man's Pokéballs, holding them tightly in his small paws. "Got them, big bro!" he called out triumphantly.
Cathy rushed to my side, her expression a mix of shock and admiration. "You're one crazy kid," she said, her voice wavering slightly. "But you've got guts."
The baseball bat guy snarled, his fury reigniting as he stumbled forward. "You little brat—"
Before he could finish, Cathy's Butterfree loomed above him, its wings glowing menacingly. The man hesitated. As he tried to reach for his other Pokéball, it wasn't there. Realizing he had no way of escape, he was now at a serious disadvantage. And the sirens were getting closer.
"Take this bastard," John punched him in the face, knocking him out cold. "That's for the Pokémon you abused. Machoke, restrain these two goons."
The two robbers tried to run away to escape, but Cathy had already secured the entrance, and Machoke easily took hold of them, restraining them with barely any difficulty.
I could hear the bystanders, both human and Pokémon, clapping, their cheers echoing through the room. It wasn't the type of applause you'd get after a performance, but a spontaneous outpouring of relief and admiration. My heart skipped a beat as I looked around at the people who had been watching the chaos unfold. Despite the tension, their faces now shone with gratitude, some even shouting words of thanks. We smiled in return, but there was still a lingering sense of unease.
John, however, looked confused, his brows furrowing as he surveyed the crowd. "Wait a minute," he muttered, glancing toward the exit doors. "Why the hell didn't anyone use the fire exit?"
One of the bystanders shrugged, looking just as perplexed. "There isn't one," he said, the words almost apologetic.
John sighed, shaking his head in disbelief. "Someone better fire whoever designed this building."
Before anyone could respond, the distant sound of sirens grew louder, signaling the arrival of the police. It was almost too perfect—just as John spoke, the officers stormed through the entrance Cathy was guarding, preventing the robbers from making a last-ditch attempt to escape.
I stood there for a moment, watching the police take control of the situation, the adrenaline slowly fading from my system. My gaze wandered, and I froze when I saw something that made me blink in confusion.
Machop.
It was standing near the back, grinning broadly, seemingly unfazed by everything that had just happened. What struck me, though, was the Zubat perched comfortably on its head, looking just as pleased with the situation.
I couldn't help but chuckle softly at the sight, feeling the tension in my shoulders loosen. But then, I turned my attention back to Eevee, who was still standing nervously beside me. The poor thing had been through so much today, and I could tell it was still scared.
I crouched down to its level, trying to keep my tone as calm and gentle as I could. "Hey, Eevee," I said quietly, watching as its large eyes met mine. "You're safe now. Everything's over. You did great."
Eevee's ears twitched slightly, but it didn't respond right away. I could see the fear still lingering in its eyes, even though the danger had passed. I took a deep breath, trying to reassure both of us.
"I know it's been a lot," I continued, my voice soft but firm. "But you don't have to be afraid anymore. You're not alone in this."
For a long moment, Eevee just stared at me, its gaze flicking between me and the others. Then, slowly, it took a cautious step forward, and I extended my hand toward it. I wasn't sure if it would trust me, but I had to try.
To my surprise, Eevee hesitated only for a moment before it gingerly nudged my hand with its small nose. A small, relieved smile spread across my face. "See? Everything's good now."
Behind me, Cyndaquil joined in. "He's my big bro, he's friendly and cool!"
I hear the others talking as the police took the criminals away. But in that moment, all that mattered was the quiet connection I was forming with the little Pokémon, who had been through so much and was now slowly learning that it could trust us.
"Hey there, young hero, second time you got yourself into trouble. We are going to take you all for questioning, and then you are all free to move out," a police officer said, then walked off along with the paramedics checking for any injured bystanders.
"Hey there, kid," the man, who I now know as John, called out to me. "Here's your TMs. Surprisingly, the cases are in good condition despite the crazy show that awful dude put on."
"Thank you, sir—" I began, but he cut me off.
"No need," he said, shaking his head. "Seriously though, you're going to be big news, and I doubt you'd like that kind of attention," he added with genuine concern.
He let out a deep sigh, his gaze shifting from the TMs to me. "Look, I get it. You're brave, and that's something I respect. But you've got to be careful. This isn't something you can just walk away from like a bad dream. People will talk, the media will sniff around, and not all of it will be kind."
He paused, studying me for a moment, his expression softening slightly. "I'm not trying to scold you or anything. You've got guts, kid, but you're playing with fire here. The more you get involved, the more attention you draw—and not all of it will be good."
I nodded. He was obviously right. I could've actually died if that Butterfree hadn't shown up in time. I couldn't help myself when it came to saving a Pokémon and getting my TMs back. I'd been reckless. Was this the rainbow feather's doing, giving me main-character ener—
"I'm not saying you should back down, but just… think things through. Be ready for what's coming. The world is dangerous, but it's peaceful too. Keep that in mind."
His tone had shifted to something steady and almost fatherly—not harsh, but serious. "You're good with Pokémon, but life doesn't always side with the good guys. Just… stay sharp."
As he walked away, I realized Cyndaquil was now beside me, staring up at me with worry, while the shiny Eevee I'd saved was still clinging to my leg, trembling.
"Big bro, is he right?" Cyndaquil asked.
"He's right, and we have to keep going," I replied.
I heard footsteps just as I began checking Eevee for any injuries. "Hi there, young man," a Nurse Joy said as she approached. "We need to get that Pokémon to the Pokémon Center quickly."
I nodded and obliged. "Hey, Eevee, it's okay. They're good, I promise."
"Yeah! They helped me heal up!" Cyndaquil chimed in enthusiastically, hopping around the frightened Eevee.
Sometime Later
I found myself seated in a sterile, brightly lit room at the police department. The walls were a dull shade of gray, and the air smelled faintly of disinfectant. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the overhead lights and occasional muffled voices from the hallway outside. Across the table sat an officer, his uniform neat and his expression calm but focused.
"All right," the officer said, glancing at his notes before meeting my gaze. "We've gone through most of what happened, but I just need to ask one last thing for the report. Did you see what those guys were doing before everything were finished?"
I nodded, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Yeah, I did." I leaned forward slightly, resting my hands on the table. "They had some kind of device—looked like a small, portable machine. It was connected to a computer. I didn't get a good look at the details, but I overheard one of them saying something about trying to 'unlock' the TMs."
The officer raised an eyebrow, his pen hovering over the page. "Unlock the TMs? Can you elaborate on what they meant by that?"
I shrugged, feeling a little unsure. "I'm not entirely sure, but if I had to guess, they were trying to, uh… jailbreak the security to unlock the TM cases."
The officer nodded slowly, jotting down my statement. "Okay. That lines up with some of the other intel we've been gathering on these guys. It seems they're trying to bypass the security protocols on certain TMs to either unlock them for use or resell them illegally."
So that's what they'd been trying to do the entire time—a TM heist. My TMs had already been unlocked when they appeared out of nowhere, so they took them since mine were ready to use. I shouldn't be complimenting those dudes, but that was kind of smart.
"All right, that's all, young man. Thank you for cooperating. You're free to go now," the officer said, standing up. "Officer Jenny, please escort the kid."
"Big bro, are we done now?" Cyndaquil asked, clearly dying of boredom.
"We're going now, Cyndaquil," I snorted.
As we stepped out of the room, an Officer Jenny was waiting for us. She smiled and waved as we approached.
"Hello there. Remember me, Genera?" she asked cheerfully.
"Uh, no?" I replied, confused.
"What? I was the Officer Jenny who took care of you and threw you a surprise birthday party!" she laughed. "Oh, and I see you have a Pokémon now."
Wait. She's the same Officer Jenny from a few weeks back? But they all look the same to me! There has to be some kind of difference between the Jennys and Joys.
"Oh… Now I remember. Sorry," I said nervously, chuckling as we began walking. "So… how's your day been?" I asked, trying to make conversation.
She shrugged. "Nothing interesting—other than you, Mister Troublemaker," she teased with a chuckle.
"What? It seriously wasn't me—"
She cut me off. "No, no, I know it wasn't you who started it, but it was still pretty reckless of you to play hero, you know."
"I wasn—yeah, you're right," I admitted, lowering my head in shame.
"No need to feel sad or ashamed about it. Just look on the bright side—you saved an innocent Pokémon's life," she said, smiling warmly.
I smiled softly. "I guess you're right. But I really need to keep a low profile. I'm sure Mrs. Gardner's having a heart attack right about now."
She waved her hand dismissively. "You actually don't have to worry about that."
"Huh?"
"You're not on the list of names involved in the incident, so you're mostly safe from the media," she assured me.
"Mostly?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mostly because some of the people involved might talk. We told them to keep their mouths shut about who was involved, but there's always at least one person who breaks that promise," she said seriously.
I sweat a little. I hope that doesn't happen, I thought to myself.
Then, we stepped outside the building. Good to see some sunlight again, and breathe in the familiar scent of fresh air.
Officer Jenny gave me a knowing smirk. "Oh, by the way… just had to calm down a very worried Mrs. Gardner a few minutes ago."
I flinched. "Oh… uh… how bad was it?"
She crossed her arms, tilting her head with that look. "Well, let's just say she wasn't happy. At all."
Cyndaquil let out a low whistle. "Oof."
"Yeah, exactly." Jenny smiled at him, but then turned back to me, more serious. "She was ready to come charging over the second she heard what happened. Took me fifteen minutes to convince her not to kick the doors down."
I groaned, rubbing my temples. "She's definitely going to scold me when I get back, isn't she?"
Jenny raised an eyebrow. "Honestly, I was going to let her. But she changed her mind. Said you were just unlucky to get caught up in the whole thing."
I blinked. "Wait… really?"
She nodded, but her tone shifted—more stern now. "Yeah. But don't let that go to your head. She might not scold you, but I will."
I stiffened. "Uh—what?"
Jenny sighed and crossed her arms tighter. "Genera, I don't know what kind of magnet for chaos you are, but whatever this was? You got lucky. And next time, you might not be. You think being a Trainer gives you an excuse to run around getting caught in dangerous situation? 'Cause it doesn't."
"I—I didn't mean to—"
"I know you didn't. That's not the point," she cut me off. "The point is, you need to start thinking two steps ahead. Be more careful. Your actions don't just affect you. They affect your Pokémon, the people around you, and anyone who do care about you, people you hold dearly."
I looked down. "…Yeah. Okay."
"She's just worried about you," Jenny added, her voice softening a bit. "She really is. And so am I, believe it or not. You've got a good head on your shoulders, Genera—use it."
"Yeah, I know…" I sighed. "I'll talk to her when I can."
"You better." She gave me a firm look again. "I know this is gonna be hard to hear, but please keep yourself in check. Go big, go mighty, but do it smart. Make your parents proud—both sets, them and Mrs. Gardner."
I looked down, my expression falling.
"Big bro… are you okay?" Cyndaquil asked, concern in his voice.
"I'm… alright, Cyndaquil. No need to worry," I said, brushing it off. "I just hope what I'm doing is enough to make them happy."
"Oh, they are happy. I'm sure of it," Jenny said, her tone soft again as she patted my head. "Anyway, I've got duties to attend to. Good luck on your journey, Genera."
I waved goodbye, Cyndaquil doing the same, as she headed back into the police department building.
With the ordeal finally over, I dusted off my clothes, checking for any mess. After all, I needed to look at least somewhat presentable—gotta make my family proud with the power of pride or something.
Then, my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
My family…
Or rather, both of my families.
I wondered how my family from my first life was doing. As far as they knew, I died, no longer part of them. Did they grieve for long? Did they move on quickly?
I could only hope they were doing well.
Did my siblings and cousins succeed in life? Did my parents live peacefully in their later years? I will never know. No matter how much I thought about it, there was no way for me to return, no way to see them again.
But somehow, deep down, I had this gut feeling—they were doing just fine.
And even though I missed them, I had moved on.
Now, my family in this life…
That was still a complete mystery.
Mom and Dad were gone. Dead. And with them, whatever secrets they had kept from me. There was no way to find out the truth—not unless someone out there knew and was willing to tell me. But I doubted that.
And yet, despite the unknown, despite whatever secrets they might have hidden… I knew one thing for sure.
They loved me.
They treated me like a regular human being, not some mystery to be solved. And for that, I would always be grateful.
Still… whatever the truth about me was, it better not be something bad.
I felt something poke my cheek.
"Big bro? Helloooo?"
I blinked and turned to see Cyndaquil looking up at me, tilting his head.
"You're acting weird," he said. "Like, really weird."
I let out a small chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah… just thinking about stuff."
He tilted his head further. "Deep stuff?"
"Yeah."
Cyndaquil huffed. "Big bro, I think we need to keep going. Weren't you excited for this 'journey' thing?"
I smiled. "Yeah. You're right."
Right. I needed to keep moving.
Whatever ridiculous things life threw at me next, I'd deal with them.
Hopefully, not all of them would involve me saving the damn day—I already had enough of that, and could be the feather that is giving is this luck or bad omen. And I really hope I'm not going to pull of an Ash Ketchum move by saving the day and not be traumatized from it.
After Cyndaquil snapped me out of my little mental spiral, we didn't waste much time.
I made a quick stop back in town to finally pick up the supplies I was supposed to grab before the whole rooftop chaos happened. The Poké Mart guy noticed my miserable-looking face, but I just played it cool and grabbed some Poké Balls, potions, snacks, and a map of Viridian Forest—basic stuff for a beginning Trainer with a tendency to stumble into trouble.
Officer Jenny gave me a proper scolding before I left town. Not a light one, either. Apparently, calming down Mrs. Gardner bought me some mercy, but not from Jenny herself. She wasn't mad that I got caught up in things—she was mad that I didn't think twice and dove in headfirst. Said something about how I better not make a habit out of "getting nearly killed" because she already had enough paperwork without adding me to it. Fair point, honestly.
Still, she meant well. And despite her sharp words, I could tell she was rooting for me.
With my bag finally stocked and Cyndaquil back in high spirits, we hit the road—Route 2, here we come. The sky was still blue, the breeze was nice, and for once, nothing was actively exploding or ruining the mood.
I don't know what's waiting for me out there. Probably more Trainers, maybe wild Pokémon, or maybe another cosmic mess because Arceus decided I looked bored. Who knows?
But whatever it is, I'm ready… ish.
All I need is to catch the next member of my team—preferably a powerhouse of a Bug-type or anything.
Let's see where the next step of this road takes me
AN: And there goes the end of his Viridian City experience, he'll be fine in the future. Im sure he wont be involved in stopping rampant criminal activities throughout the Kanto Region. Also I feel like this is too rushed but im too lazy to do a massive revision to fit with my vision so I hope you all are somewhat satisfied with this chapter.
???: So now you have more time
Author: Yeah school is almost over now and I should have extra time in my hands soon
???: Good for you I guess, does that mean you can play roblox more with me?
Author: Alright... Yeah sure