Chapter 18: Pokémon Center
The policewoman didn't suspect that Ash and Misty were up to no good.
After all, they were just two kids, and their disheveled appearance hinted they might have encountered trouble rather than caused it.
Misty recognized the policewoman immediately.
"Officer Jenny…" she said, her eyes lighting up.
The Jenny family was well-known, with members serving across various regions in the Pokémon world, making them a trusted presence within the Alliance.
After hearing Misty's explanation, Jenny looked at Ash and Pikachu with surprise.
She hadn't expected them to be so unlucky as to provoke a Spearow swarm.
Yet, she was impressed by their strength, especially Ash and Pikachu's ability to fend off the aggressive flock.
"A rookie trainer?" she questioned, eyeing Ash with a hint of skepticism. The power they had shown wasn't typical for someone just starting their journey.
"Officer Jenny, hello! I'm Ash from Pallet Town. I just became a trainer today…"
Ash replied, pulling out his Pokédex. He knew that the device served not only to gather Pokémon information but also as a form of identification, much like an ID card.
"Ah, a Pokédex," Jenny said, recognizing its significance. After scanning the information Professor Oak had sent, she nodded in understanding.
"In that case, I won't waste your time. You should head to the Pokémon Center."
"Thank you, Officer Jenny," Ash responded gratefully. He appreciated her diligence and seriousness about ensuring their safety.
"It's getting dark; let's go," she said, motioning for Growlithe to clear the way.
"Goodbye, Officer Jenny!" Ash and Misty called as they continued toward the Pokémon Center.
The bustling streets of Viridian City were a stark contrast to the quiet of Pallet Town, filled with high-rise buildings and throngs of people.
"There it is—the Pokémon Center…"
More than ten minutes later, the sky had completely darkened, and streetlights illuminated the city, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
Ash's eyes widened at the sight of the Pokémon Center—a grand, semi-circular building adorned with a large red "P" at the entrance.
"It's nothing like what you see in the anime or games…" Ash marveled.
The Pokémon Centers he had seen in those media were much smaller, whereas this one was impressive and expansive.
As they approached the entrance, Ash noticed several outdoor battle arenas. Even at night, trainers were engaged in battles or watching the action unfold.
"I'm so excited!" Ash exclaimed, taking in the lively atmosphere. Besides his battle with Gary, he hadn't had the chance to fight against other trainers yet.
"Pika…" Pikachu shared Ash's excitement, its eyes sparkling at the vibrant scene of trainers commanding their Pokémon.
Misty, having grown up in Cerulean City, was more accustomed to such environments and watched the battles with a familiar ease.
"Where do we park our bikes?" Ash wondered, unsure where to place their bicycles as they neared the main entrance.
"Just put it in the backpack!" Misty replied with a grin, surprising Ash. With a quick motion, she dismounted and neatly stowed her bicycle into her backpack.
"Wait, your backpack is that big?!" Ash gawked in disbelief. Misty's ability to fit an entire bicycle into her bag left him envious. If her backpack could hold something so large, it must have an enormous capacity.
"It's just a three-cubic-meter backpack," Misty said with a hint of embarrassment, not intending to boast.
"Three cubic meters? Is that all?" Ash was taken aback. His own backpack could only hold about one cubic meter, a fraction of what Misty had.
"Don't worry about it; let's get inside!" Misty urged, nudging Ash toward the entrance.
As they entered, Ash's jaw dropped. "It's so spacious!" he exclaimed, gazing at the vast hall bustling with trainers gathered in groups, chatting or strategizing.
"Let's register for our room first, then we can see Nurse Joy about Pikachu," Misty said, guiding Ash to the front desk. Unlike in the anime, where Nurse Joy was always at the front, there were other staff members present.
"Hello! Are you two together?" the receptionist asked, smiling as she noticed Ash and Misty's somewhat sheepish demeanor.
"Together," Misty confirmed, then pulled out her Pokédex, catching Ash off guard. In the anime, he hadn't seen her use one, so he hadn't realized she had her own.
"Hurry up!" Misty urged, amused by Ash's surprised expression. "Get out your Pokédex!"
"Oh, right!" Ash quickly complied, pulling out his Pokédex and handing it to the staff member.
After the receptionist processed their information on the computer, she returned the Pokédex to them.
"Your stay is registered for one day. If you need to extend it, remember to come back tomorrow to re-register."
"Got it!" Misty replied, and she motioned for Ash to follow her to Nurse Joy.
"Are we just leaving like this?" Ash asked, puzzled. He understood they had registered, but how would they know where their room was?
"The Pokédex will show our room number," Misty explained. She opened her Pokédex, revealing a screen with a string of numbers that indicated their room.
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Adios