Cerulean City

As we took a few more steps into the city, a firm voice called out to us.

"Hey, you two! IDs, please!"

A woman with cyan hair, dressed in an officer's uniform, strode toward us. The sharp clicking of her heels echoed off the concrete road as she approached.

"Okay, Officer Jenny!" Skyla called back, already reaching into her bag.

"Rotom?" I prompted.

[I'm handling it, Alex Carter,] Rotom buzzed as its screen lit up, displaying my Trainer ID.

Officer Jenny walked up to us, briefly glancing at the ID before turning to Skyla with a warm smile.

"Wait Skyla! Is that you? How have you been? I haven't seen you in Cerulean for what—months now?"

Skyla grinned as they embraced briefly. "Yeah, I was with my grandparents for a while, and before that, I was helping Bill with the PC system."

Jenny chuckled. "Figures. That guy never stops tinkering."

Then, her sharp gaze landed on me. She studied me for a moment before tilting her head.

"And you? Never seen you around here before. Why are you with Skyla?"

Before I could respond, Rotom took it upon itself to introduce me in the most dramatic way possible.

[Miss Jenny, this is Alex Carter! The trainer who defeated the Unbreakable Rock, battled countless opponents, beat multiple Pokémon on his journey, and even received his starter from Professor Cherry herself!]

Jenny raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed.

I crossed my arms and smirked. "You heard what Rotom said. I'm Alex Carter. And I'm with Skyla because of sandwiches."

Jenny blinked. "...What?"

She turned to Skyla, who groaned and dragged a hand down her face in exasperation.

"Rudy was busy, so my grandparents asked Alex to take me to Bill's place," she explained. "And he only agreed because my grandparents' sandwiches were, quote, 'too good to pass up.'"

Jenny looked between us, her expression somewhere between amused and baffled.

I grinned, silently not mentioning the real reason I accepted—because a system message told me I'd gain access to Pokémon storage from anywhere if I took Skyla to Bill's. The sandwiches were just my official excuse.

Aria, nestled in my backpack, shifted slightly in her sleep, as if approving my reasoning.

Officer Jenny shook her head before waving us through. "Alright, alright, show your IDs and you're free to enter."

Rotom hovered in front of her, flashing my ID once again as she murmured, "Sinnoh, huh?" before scanning Skyla's as well.

Once she finished, she looked back at us. "Are you two heading straight to Bill's house?"

Before Skyla could answer, I held up Rotom to show her my Trainer Card, displaying the empty Cerulean Gym Badge slot.

Skyla sighed. "We'll take a break so Alex can challenge Misty first, then we'll go to Bill's."

I grinned, throwing my hands up in victory—only to lower them when I saw the unimpressed looks on their faces.

Jenny chuckled. "Well, if you two need a place to stay, you're welcome at my house. I've got a guest room, You can stay there for the night while Alex Can sleep at the Sofa"

"Sounds good," Skyla answered without hesitation.

"So! Are we going to the gym or not?" I asked, stretching my arms.

Skyla nodded. "Yeah, let's get this over with quickly."

As we stepped onto the bustling street, Jenny called after us, "Then I'll see you two tonight!"

"Yeah! See you later!" Skyla said as ı wawed my hand to her before heading off.

"You know where the gym is, right?" I asked Skyla as she scanned the street, looking for a taxi.

"Yeah, it's next to the PokéCenter," she replied before waving down a cab. "Let's get in."

Before entering, I returned Oddy and Aria to their Poké Balls. The moment I stepped inside, a strong stench of cigarette smoke and something rotten hit me like a Machamp's punch. It was like walking straight into a garbage dump.

Skyla seemed to think the same because she immediately tried to roll the window down with all her might.

"Where to?" the driver, an older man with a permanent scowl, grumbled, his voice as rough as his unshaven face.

"Pokémon Gym," I answered, already regretting this choice of transportation.

Skyla leaned toward me and whispered, "This is why I hate big cities." Then she turned back to the window, desperately inhaling fresh air as the car rumbled forward.

The driver took a long drag from his cigarette before exhaling through his nose. "So, which one of you is challenging the gym?"

"Me," I said, hoping to keep the conversation short.

The man grinned through yellowed teeth. "My son's a trainer too, y'know. Beat Misty on his first try!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What Pokémon did he use?"

"A Pikachu and an Eevee. You should've seen him go—commanding them like a real pro!" His voice was filled with pride as he maneuvered through the crowded streets, passing a bike shop.

I smirked. "Sounds talented. Where is he now?"

The old man's face darkened. "Next to that damn Juan," he spat. "That snake tricked my boy into becoming his student! My kid was only one gym away from the Kanto League, but now he's stuck in that water-logged region!"

He slammed a fist against the steering wheel, making Skyla jump before quickly turning back to the window.

A thought crossed my mind. "...By any chance, is your son's name Wallace?"

"Wallace?! Hell no! But I remember him! That kid was Juan's student too!" he scoffed, shaking his head as he pulled up to the curb....

After around 15 minutes we had arrived as the Old Man spoke "Here we are—Cerulean City Battle Gym!"

The moment the car stopped, Skyla leaped out, gasping for fresh air.

As I reached for the door, the driver suddenly grabbed my wrist.

"Normally, that ride costs 12,000 Pokédollars, but I'll cut you a deal—just 10,000 for you, kid." He grinned, expecting me to be grateful.

I glanced at the taximeter. 3,000 Pokédollars. Clear as day.

Without a word, I casually bent his hand back just enough to make him wince. "Rotom, kindly pay this man 3,000 Pokédollars," I said, remembering my near-constant struggles with shady taxis in New York.

"Ow, ow, ow! Okay! 3,000 is fine too!" he yelped.

I let go, stepping out and joining Skyla, who was still recovering.

"I'm never getting in another taxi in this city," she muttered, taking a deep breath.

Shaking my head, I turned toward the gym. It was massive—more like a stadium than a standard Pokémon Gym. As we approached, I noticed two entrances. Before I could decide which way to go, a man in a suit with an impressive black mustache stepped forward, blocking our path.

"Hello! Are you here as challengers or spectators?" he asked in a deep, theatrical voice.

I glanced at Skyla, expecting her to answer.

"I'm a spectator, and he's the challenger," she said, pointing at me.

"Ah, wonderful!" The man clapped his hands together. "Then, sir, please proceed this way, and miss, you may enter over there for a prime viewing experience! Enjoy the show!"

Before I could respond, he pushed me toward a side entrance.

"Good luck in there!" Skyla called.

[Good luck, Alex Carter!] Rotom chimed in.

After being ushered down a hallway, we stopped in front of a door labeled "3."

"Mr. Challenger, please wear one of the provided Clothes and wait for your turn. You may also train your Pokémon in the designated area inside," the mustached man instructed before shoving me through the door and slamming it shut.

I sighed and turned around to take in my surroundings.

The room was simple—filled with Stylish uniforms,suits and many more, each bearing number 3 on the back. Shoes, gloves, and other accessories were neatly arranged around the space. In one corner, a training area was set up with practice targets. At least I had time to prepare.

I released Oddy from his Poké Ball, then reached into my inventory, pulling out a green disk. It was the TM for Leech Seed, a reward from a mission I completed.

Oddy tilted his head, staring at the disk with confusion.

"How the hell am I supposed to use this?" I muttered, turning the TM over in my hands.

With no better idea, I decided to go with the most scientific approach possible.

BONK!

I threw the TM at Oddy's head. He let out a startled grunt before falling onto his back.

"Okay... that didn't work."

I picked it up again and this time pressed it against Oddy's head.

Nothing.

Before I could try something else, the TM began to glow. It floated slightly above Oddy's head, spun in place, then slowly disintegrated into a light. The red screen popped up in front of me.

[ODDY WANTS TO LEARN LEECH SEED.]

[WHICH MOVE SHOULD ODDY FORGET IN ORDER TO LEARN LEECH SEED?]

I smirked. Victory.

Without hesitation, I selected Vine Whip.

It's a decent move, but since Oddy already knows Giga Drain, I don't really need another Grass-type attack move.

[3...2...1… DONE!]

[ODDY FORGOT VINE WHIP AND LEARNED LEECH SEED!]

Before I could celebrate, another message appeared in front of me.

[NEW OBJECTIVE: WIN THE MODELING COMPETITION AND BATTLE MISTY.]

[REWARD:TM: WATER PULSE.]

I blinked. "...The what competition?"