(Grey's POV)

  The neon signs of Fuchsia City flickered in the evening mist as we rolled in with the biker gang. The roar of the engines finally cut out, replaced by the ambient hum of a city that felt worlds away from the high-tech bustle of Celadon. My body felt like it was made of lead, every joint protesting the miles we'd covered. After thanking the bikers and swapping a few more tags on the Pokénet, I made a beeline for the glowing red roof of the Pokémon Center.

  The sliding doors hissed open, and the air-conditioned chill hit me like a physical wave. I approached the counter where a Nurse Joy was busy filing reports.

  "Welcome to the Fuchsia City Pokémon Center," she said, her voice carrying that practiced, melodic tone. "How can I help you?"

  "I need a room for the night," I said, sliding my ID across the sleek counter. "And I need my partner checked out. He's had a rough day on Route 16."

  I released Axew from his ball. He didn't come out swinging this time; he stood on the counter, his scales dull with dust and a few nicks visible on his hide from the Dodrio's Peck. When the Chansey rolled a trolley over, Axew tensed up, his eyes darting toward the strange machines. He looked small, vulnerable, and a little scared.

  "It's okay, buddy," I whispered, reaching out to scratch the spot just behind his tusks. "They're here to help. This place is where the damage goes away."

  The Chansey began a soft Heal Bell chime, and I watched the tension bleed out of Axew's frame. As the Nurse scanned my ID, her eyebrows shot up. "Ah, Grey. I was wondering when you'd arrive. Nurse Joy from Celadon sent over a priority note about you. She seems to think quite highly of your potential."

  It was a strange feeling—being "known" in a city I'd never stepped foot in. It was a reminder that the League was a small, interconnected world. After Axew was taken back for a full restorative cycle, I felt the gnawing emptiness in my stomach.

  I left the center and found a small ramen stall tucked into a side alley. The steam smelled of salt and fat. I ordered a massive bowl of miso-pork ramen and sat there, listening to the slurping of other trainers around me. When Axew was returned to me, I tried to offer him a bit of the pork, thinking he'd enjoy a "human" treat. He took one sniff of the salty broth and made a face like he'd been poisoned, turning his head away with a huff.

  "Right. Not a fan of the noodles," I muttered, pulling out a bag of balanced Poké-kibble. I realized then how much I had to learn about him. We sat there in the quiet stall, the "Ordinary Guy" and his dragon, eating our separate meals before heading back to the room. I didn't even have the energy to check the Pokénet. I hit the bed and was out before my head touched the pillow.

  The next morning, the sun hit the traditional wooden eaves of the city, and I woke up with a start. I realized with a jolt of panic that in my frantic exit from Celadon, I'd completely skipped the official League registration. I'd been so focused on the license and the training that I hadn't actually signed up for the circuit.

  I headed back to the lobby. "Nurse Joy, I need to register for the Indigo League. I... uh... missed the boat in Celadon."

  She laughed softly, processing my request through the terminal. "It happens more often than you'd think. The excitement of the first Pokémon usually blurs the paperwork." After a few clicks, she handed me a small, sturdy case. "Here is your Badge Case, Grey. It's empty now, but I have a feeling that won't last long."

  I stared at the empty slots. Eight spots. Eight hurdles.

  I spent the next hour walking the streets. Fuchsia was beautiful—a stark contrast to the metallic feel of the north. It felt like a ninja village from an old movie, with slanted roofs and stone paths. But I wasn't here for a vacation. I headed straight for the Safari Zone.

  The gate was imposing, a massive sprawling park that was the crown jewel of the city. I stepped up to the reception desk and handed over my ID.

  "Registration and ID, please," the attendant said. She looked at my empty badge case and then back at the screen. "Alright, Grey. Since you currently fall into the 0-3 badge bracket, you are restricted to the Lower Region of the Safari Zone."

  I frowned. "Just the lower region?"

  "It's for your own safety," she said firmly. "The Safari Zone isn't a petting zoo. The Middle and Upper regions contain Pokémon that have lived in the wild for years. A zero-badge trainer stumbling into a Scyther swarm or a herd of Tauros would lose their life. We don't want any unnecessary deaths on our watch if possible."

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  I nodded, accepting the reality.

  "I'd like to roam the reception area for a bit before I head in," I requested. She shrugged and waved me through.

  I used that time to be as practical as possible. I found a large map on the wall and started memorizing the topography—where the water met the grass, where the elevation changed. Then, I pulled out my phone and hit the Pokénet forums.

  theordinaryguy: Quick check—what's the standard spread for the Lower Region of the Fuchsia Safari? Any advice one the Pokemon available?.

  TheSafariGuy: Lower region is basic stuff but useful. You've got Exeggcute, Paras, and the Nidoran lines in the grass. Water areas are packed with Magikarp, Psyduck, Goldeen, and Poliwag. The evolved forms and the 'prestige' mons like Scyther or Pinsir are locked behind the badge-gates in the upper regions.

  TheSafariGuy: Advice? Don't bother fighting. Use bait and coercion. The lower region mons are used to humans; they respond better to food and a show of confidence. If you want a catch, show them you're a leader. You can release your Pokémon for support or intimidation, but no direct combat. The rangers will pull you out if they see a move being used.

  I leaned against a pillar and started thinking. I needed to fill my team, but I had to be smart. I wanted that Grass-Water-Fire core.

  Water types? Kanto was flooded with them. Psyduck was too dopy for my style and I wasnt sure if Psyduck's in general were strong or It was just Misty's that was unique I think it was the later, Poliwag was decent, but I didn't want to lock into a Water type just because it was available. Magikarp was a joke—I didn't have the time or the "Chosen One" luck to baby a fish for weeks hoping it would turn into a Gyarados and hope it would listen to me . I needed utility now.

  Nidoran? A Nidoking or Nidoqueen would be a great tanky option, and they'd handle Koga's poison well. But I could eventually teach Axew ground-type moves to cover that gap.

  Then my mind settled on Exeggcute.

  I had to be realistic. I wasn't going to stumble upon a Bulbasaur in the wild—those were League-controlled starters for the "special" kids. Paras was a nightmare to train with its 4x weakness to Fire and Flying. But Exeggcute? Exeggutor was a Grass/Psychic beast. It was a staple of high-level teams, even used by Professor Oak back in his day and Blue in the games.

  Axew was a pure physical attacker. I needed something that hit from the Special side. Exeggutor had insane Special Attack, utility moves like Sleep Powder, and the Chlorophyll ability. If I ever set up a Sunny Day strategy, that thing would be a monster. It was the most practical, high-value catch available to someone in my bracket.

  I went back to the desk and paid the 500 Pokedollars. She handed me 10 Safari Balls—standard for the lower region—and a pouch of bait.

  "You have thirty minutes. Good luck."

  The Safari Zone was vast. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and wild growth. I moved quickly, bypassing the Nidoran scuffling in the brush and the Venonats hanging from the trees. I headed for the water's edge first, just to see if anything changed my mind. The Magikarps were splashing aimlessly, and the Psyducks looked like they didn't know which way was up.

  "Definitely not," I muttered.

  I headed back toward a grove of strange, bulbous trees. That's where I saw them. A cluster of Exeggcute, six shells huddled together. Most of them looked nervous as I approached, but one—the central shell—wasn't hiding. It was glaring at me. It actually had a smirk on its face, as if it was unimpressed by the human standing in its territory.

  I liked it immediately. It had attitude.

  I remembered TheSafariGuy's advice. I didn't reach for a ball. I pulled out the bait and tossed it a few feet in front of them. "Listen up," I said, my voice low and confident. "I'm not here to just put you in a cage. I'm heading for the Indigo League. I'm going to the top, and I need a partner who can hit harder and think faster than anyone else."

  I looked the smirking Exeggcute right in its "eyes."

  "Stay here in the lower region and wait for the next tourist to throw a rock at you, or come with me and I'll give you the stone you need to evolve into something they'll actually fear.I can take you out of here to explore the world so What's it gonna be?"

  The central shell used its psychic nudge to lift the bait. It inspected the food, then shared it with its other shells. It looked at me, then at the horizon, and finally gave a sharp, decisive nod. It was bored of being a "lower region" Pokémon.

  I tossed the Safari Ball. It didn't even shake. Click.

  I spent the rest of my time roaming, just to see if anything else caught my eye. I found a Nugget wedged in a cliffside—luck was finally on my side—and near a patch of tall grass, I spotted something metallic. A golden prosthetic tooth.

  "The Warden," I realized. If I remembered correctly in the games,Some poor old man had lost his teeth out here, I was not sure if game logic was true here as well in this world , it might just be a coincidence besides the tooth was found deep in the safari zone in the games , I found this in the lower region itself. I tucked it into my pocket just as the buzzer sounded.

  At the exit, I returned the nine unused balls. Exeggcute was registered to my ID, my second official partner.

  I headed back to the Pokémon Center to let the two of them meet. I released Exeggcute in our room. The six shells floated there, that same smirk plastered on the central one. Axew came out and immediately bristled, his tail thumping against the floor. He wasn't sure what to make of the "seeds."

  Exeggcute just hovered there, projected a faint, smug psychic pulse, and waited. After a minute of staring, Axew seemed to realize this thing wasn't a threat—it was a teammate. He gave a curt nod and went back to his food.

  "Good," I sighed. "No infighting."

  I asked Nurse Joy for directions to the police station. When I arrived, Officer Jenny recognized me from the Celadon reports.

  "Grey! What brings you to the station?"

  "Actually, I found this in the Safari Zone," I said, holding out the golden tooth.

  Her eyes lit up. "Ya this thing I remember an old man called has been a nightmare to deal with since he lost those. He's been filing a new complaint every day." She called over a junior officer. "Take Grey to the Warden's house. Let's get this settled."

  The Warden's house was filled with old photos and fishing gear. When I handed him the tooth, the old man nearly cried. He popped it back in and started talking a mile a minute.

  "Thank ye, lad! A man isn't a man without his bite!" To my shock, he reached into a drawer and pulled out a heavy, metallic disc and a long, sturdy rod. "Take these. That's the HM for Strength. And this here is a Super Rod. Only the best for someone who does a good deed."

  I walked back to the Center, stunned. A Nugget, an HM, and a Super Rod in one day. The "Ordinary Guy" was having a very un-ordinary day.

  I sat on my bed, looking at my two partners. "Alright," I said. "We aren't hitting the Gym yet. Tomorrow, we go to Route 19. Exeggcute, you need to improve . We're going to fish for Water types to battle, and you're going to show me that smirk isn't just for show."

  I pulled out my notebook and began to write. Tomorrow, the real training for my other Pokemon for Koga would begin.