"Let's go, team"
And without looking back, I started running.
Nidorino followed immediately, his strides strong and sure. Kirlia floated beside me, not even touching the ground, and Growlithe… well, Growlithe settled into my chest and let the wind ruffle his fur as we moved forward into the future.
Cerulean City was waiting for us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Author's Notes: If you want to support the story and read some advance chapters (+7) https://www.p@treon. com/Jayjayempi , it would also help me a lot if you have comments on how the story is going or if you would be so kind as to leave a review, Thank you very much for reading!
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I ran along Route 4 with the afternoon sun caressing my face and Cerulean City on the horizon. I felt the dust of the road beneath my sneakers, the fresh air in my lungs, and the constant murmur of trainers on the sides training with their Pokémon. After the darkness of Mount Moon, this open stretch felt like breathing after being submerged underwater for too long.
Kirlia floated gracefully beside me, his movements synchronized with mine, and Growlithe rode in my arms, as was his custom. He clung to me as if the world were still a threat, occasionally growling at anything that moved too close. His warmth was comforting, yes, but his constant alertness was also a reminder of everything I'd seen in that tunnel. Still, watching him sleep in my arms the previous nights, peaceful at times, gave me a hope I didn't want to let go of.
As I was descending a small hill, I noticed a group of young trainers training. Some were enthusiastically throwing Poké Balls; one had a Pidgey spinning in the air; another was training a Sandshrew to accurately target objects. I wanted to stay and watch… but then I saw her.
Charlotte.
She was in the distance, accompanied by two girls about her age. Even from that distance, her presence was distinguishable. Standing tall, with her striking brown hair a little lighter than mine, a kind of natural confidence in her posture. It was impossible not to recognize her. A smile came to my face involuntarily, and my steps quickened, as if my feet knew they wanted to catch up with her before the opportunity disappeared.
"Hey!" I called, raising my hand as I approached.
The three of them turned at the same time, but it was Charlotte who recognized me first. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, but then she quickly returned to that familiar expression: the perfect mix of pride, annoyance, and... something I wasn't sure was discomfort.
"Oh... it's you," he said.
"Yes, it's me. Maxwell. The same as always," I replied with a smile that tried to look natural.
Immediately, her two friends reacted.
"Ooooh, Charlotte! Who's that kid running after you?" one said, nudging her with her elbow and laughing mockingly.
"Your number one fan?!" the other added with a laugh. "We didn't know you had a boyfriend!"
Charlotte snorted, crossing her arms.
"Shut up! Don't talk nonsense," he said through gritted teeth, not looking at me directly. "He just... helped me once in Pewter City. It's nothing."
Before I could answer, something glided down from the sky. A Fletchinder. Sleek, its feathers glowed a vibrant orange-red, and its flight had a control I'd only seen in well-trained Pokémon. For a second, I stared at it in admiration, but as soon as it approached me, Growlithe tensed completely.
He growled loudly, bristled his back, and without giving me time to calm him down, he threw an Ember straight at the bird.
"Growlithe, no!" I exclaimed. But it was too late.
Fletchinder dodged the flare with a nimble turn, squealed in annoyance, and soared back up to land on a nearby branch. Charlotte stepped forward, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Whoa… is that your Growlithe?"
"Yes," I replied, trying to reassure him. "I rescued him from Mount Moon. No... he's not quite right yet. He doesn't trust anyone, not even Pokémon."
Charlotte looked at the puppy with an unexpectedly gentle expression. Then she looked back at me and nodded, as if silently assessing something.
"It's obvious you're taking care of him. He's got energy. Good defensive instincts. He's a strong specimen," she said in a firm voice. And then, with a slight smile, "Congratulations."
I was more surprised than I should have been. Not by her words, but by the fact that they came from her. Charlotte wasn't the type to dish out praise. Something about her tone made me feel like her approval meant... more than I thought.
It was then that I looked again at the Fletchinder on the branch and something clicked.
"Wait... is that Fletchling? The one with the egg?"
Charlotte smirked. "Yeah. He evolved a couple of days ago. He's already controlling Flame Charge and Peck with precision. He's not ready for everything, but he can engage in real combat now."
I stared at him, now with real admiration. I had helped him emerge from his shell, and now there he was: imposing, strong, and elegant.
"You're doing well," I murmured. "And to think I saw him born. I suppose you're also... a fire-type specialist, aren't you?"
Charlotte nodded without hesitation.
"My team will be fire, yes. My Braixen remains my main partner. I'm interested in offensive combinations, but also in controlling the field. It's not just about hitting hard, Maxwell… it's about mastering the rhythm of the fight."
The way she said it, so confidently, made me understand something I'd only guessed before. She was definitely no longer the same trainer I'd met a few weeks ago in Pewter City. Apparently, the trip and her new friendships have helped her mature a bit.
"So... have you faced Misty yet?" I asked, curious.
She grimaced. "Not yet. I'm at an elemental disadvantage. I'm not going to rush into an unequal fight out of pride. I'll train a little more first. Besides, these are my traveling companions," she said, gesturing to her friends. "Talia and Mika."
They both greeted me with equally mischievous smiles.
"Hey, Maxie~" Mika said in a sing-song voice.
"Is that what you call her, Charlotte?" Talia asked mockingly. "Maxie?"
"I don't call him that!" Charlotte exploded, her face as red as a Charmander. "And don't give him ridiculous nicknames! I don't even like him that much!"
I couldn't help but laugh. There was something about all this that made me feel... included. Like I was crossing an invisible barrier.
"So what do you call me?" I asked just to annoy her.
Charlotte glared at me, then looked away with a slight pout.
"Tsk. Forget it. It doesn't matter. Just..." he crossed his arms and lowered his voice, barely audible, "since you're here, and... for important things... give me your PokéNav number."
It took me a second to process it. Was she asking for my number? Charlotte?
"Sure," I said, trying to hide my smile, and handed him the PokéNav.
She roughly snatched it from me, typed it without letting me see her screen, and handed it back to me without looking at me.
"Only for emergencies," he muttered.
"Of course. Emergencies like, I don't know, if I see a Pidgey fly," I joked.
"Shut up!" he exclaimed, blushing again. But I saw something in his eyes that wasn't anger. It was... complicity.
He looked at me for a few seconds before putting on a slightly more serious expression.
"Wait, Maxwell," he said, his tone a little more serious, as he moved closer. "Are you going to keep training now? Don't you want to fight me for a while?"
I shook my head, continuing to walk. "No, I actually want to get to the Pokémon Center. I need to rest for a bit. Besides, I'm meeting up with a friend, Andrew."
Charlotte stopped and frowned, but at the mention of the name her eyes widened.
"Andrew?" he asked with a mixture of surprise and respect. "He's already beaten up several trainers in the city... including me," he added, almost as if he hated to admit it, "but he's a good guy."
"Yeah, he's a nice guy," I confirmed with a smile. "We've known each other for a while."
Charlotte gave a small laugh, as if resigned. "Okay, Max. I'll let you go this time. But when you rest, you won't get away from me so easily, okay?"
I nodded and she turned to her friends, who were waiting a little apart.
"See you, Charlotte," I said as I quickened my pace.
I arrived at the Pokémon Center just as the sun was beginning to set. I walked in, and the first thing that caught my eye was Nurse Joy. She had the same pink hair as Helen, the nurse I knew in Pewter City, but something about her features was different: her face a little thinner, her expression a little harder, as if she'd been through more personal battles. They weren't identical, but the pink hue of her hair connected them, as if they were from the same family or simply shared a very particular style.
I placed Kirlia and Nidorino's Pokeballs on the table as I walked over to the counter.
"Welcome. Do you want me to heal your Pokémon?" the nurse asked in a clear, professional voice.
"That's right, thank you," I replied.
Then Growlithe started to fuss and cry softly. He refused to leave my arms or be left alone, even when they tried to help with a Chansey that arrived for the Pulse Heal.
"Can I take you to the back?" I asked the nurse. She frowned a little, annoyed at the inconvenience.
"Okay, but don't take too long," he warned me as I headed toward the recovery area.
Growlithe calmed down as soon as we entered, cautiously sniffing the place, but remaining firm in my arms, not letting me put him on a stretcher.
Nurse Joy's Chansey efficiently applied a Pulse Heal, and within minutes, the signs of fatigue on my Pokémon began to disappear.
After my Pokemons were recovered and with Growlithe in my arms I headed towards the Lobby, right there was Andrew, leaning against the wall, with that confident smile he always had.
"Max! It's good to see you," he greeted, patting me firmly on the shoulder. "I was about to head out, but I thought I'd stay a while. How's everything going?"
"Better than I expected," I said, breathing a sigh of relief. "I had several problems on Mt. Moon, but I came out with a new partner."
Andrew smiled at the sight of Growlithe nestled in my arms, his warm but firm expression one of admiration. "Wow, Max," he said, lowering his voice to avoid attracting the attention of other trainers, "that pup's got some real nerve. You've obviously worked hard to earn his affection."
I felt a lump form in my throat. Remembering the Mount Moon tunnel, the shadows, and the dangerous faces of Team Rocket, made me lower my voice even more and lean in closer to tell him secretly. "Andrew, there's something I don't want people to know," I whispered, looking both ways to make sure no one could hear us. "In the tunnel... I ran into members of Team Rocket. They were moving captive Pokémon, and I had to intervene. It was a complicated fight. I managed to neutralize them, but it was dangerous, and I don't want this story to become public. It could cause more trouble than I can handle."
Andrew looked at me seriously, nodding with understanding. "No wonder. Facing Team Rocket is no game, especially without help. But I'm glad to know you're okay and that Growlithe is with you. That pup is lucky to have someone like you."
After a pause, Andrew lowered his voice even further and gave me a mischievous look. "Hey, speaking of trouble… there's a kid over here causing a little bit of mayhem."
I looked at him curiously. "What kid?" For a second I was alert. I still remember reading Red and Blue's names on the victorious challengers screen at Brock's gym. Although I haven't run into any of them yet, I'm still waiting to see if their presence in this world will be as prominent as it is in the game.
"A blond guy who claims to be the son of Jonathan Jones, the former Kanto champion," he explained with a wry smile. "The guy is a total jerk. He thinks he's the king of the world and he's always bragging. He fought me recently, and lost—of course—but then he started a scandal worthy of a TV drama. He refused to pay the bet he made before the battle and goes around challenging anyone who touches him. I'm telling you, you better avoid him. Someone like that isn't worth messing with."
I laughed a little, thinking about how those kinds of characters always showed up to make everyone's life difficult. "Thanks for the heads-up. I don't think I want to run into him so soon."
The bustle of the Pokémon Center was growing, with trainers and visitors coming and going. Andrew gave me one last look before standing up. "By the way," he said as he prepared to leave, "I'm going to battle Misty this afternoon."
"Really? That sounds amazing," I responded enthusiastically. "Do you want me to come see you? I'd love to see that fight."
Andrew smiled confidently. "Of course. It's an important battle, and I think you'll enjoy seeing how he handles his Water-type Pokémon."
I felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Watching Misty and Andrew face off would be a valuable experience for me. "Then I'll be there, without fail."
He patted me on the shoulder, his eyes shining with determination. "See you this afternoon, Max. Get ready, because you'll see how much my team has grown."
And with that, Andrew left the center, leaving a trail of energy and anticipation. I stared at the PokéNav, thinking about the battle, Charlotte, and everything that still awaited me in Cerulean City.
Trainer: Maxwell Jones
Hometown: Pewter City
Sponsorship: None
Money: $72,200 Pokedollars
Badges: 1.- Boulder Badge
Expandable Travel Backpack (Deluxe)
1. 2 potions (1 slot)
2. 3 Rage Candy Bars (1 slot)
3. 10 Pokeballs (2 slots)
4. 1 Escape Rope (1 slot)
5. 1 Red handkerchief with 10 orange berries (1 slot)
6. 3 Antidotes (Poison Cure) (1 slot)
7. Badge case (1 slot)
8. PokéNav (1 slot)
9. Travel Cooking Kit (Includes a folding frying pan, small knife, kettle container, and mini lighter, all in a compact case) – 2 slots
10. Pokémon Food Ration (4-day ration bag) (2 slots)
11. Human food ration (canned and freeze-dried food for 3 days) (1 slots)
12. Basic Camping Kit (Includes Compact Tent, Sleeping Bag, and Collapsible Lantern) – 3 Slots
13. Basic Pokemon care kit (1 slot)
14. Moon Stone (1 slot)
Occupied slots: 19/30
Pokémon
Nidorino
Gender: Male
Level: 23
Moves: Leer, Peck, Focus Energy, Double Kick, Poison Sting, Rage Attack, Horn Attack Helping Hand
Kirlia✨
Gender: Female
Level: 20
Moves: Disarming Voice, Teleport, Growl, Double Team, Hypnosis, Draining Kiss, Lucky Chant, Psybeam, Charm
Growlithe
Gender: Male
Level: 24 Moves: Read, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Flamethrower, Odor Sleuth, Fire Fang
EXTRA
Pendulum necklace