With our Pokédexes in hand, Raven and I set off down the road, our spirits high as we headed toward the next town. I couldn't stop glancing down at the Pokédex, eager to test it out.
"Alright, Joy," Raven said, noticing my excitement. "Before we dive into battles and training, I should show you around town. There are some places every trainer needs to know."
We entered the bustling town square, where various trainers were walking with their Pokémon. Raven pointed to a large building with a bright red roof. "First stop, the Pokémon Center."
As we stepped inside, I took a moment to soak in the familiar sight. The pristine floors, the hum of machines healing Pokémon, and Nurse Joy behind the counter with her Chansey—it was all so familiar. I felt a wave of nostalgia, memories of home and my family flooding in. Yet, the excitement of finally beginning my own journey, my own way, pushed me forward.
"Here, you can get your Pokémon healed for free," Raven explained, unaware of my thoughts. "Nurse Joy and her Chansey handle all the care. If you're ever in a tight spot, just find the nearest Pokémon Center."
I nodded, giving him a smile. "It's a comforting place. I know it well."
"True, your whole family are Nurse Joys," Raven remarked, his tone thoughtful. "But I get it—this must feel different now that you're out here as a trainer."
"Exactly," I said, nodding. "I'm grateful for what they taught me, but it's different doing it on my own."
With that, we left the Pokémon Center and headed to a nearby building with a blue roof. "Next up, the Pokémon Mart," Raven continued.
Inside, shelves were lined with Pokéballs, potions, antidotes, and various trainer supplies. "Here, you can buy everything you need for traveling, healing, and catching Pokémon. Stocking up on potions and Pokéballs is essential."
Raven reached for a few items, and I followed suit, selecting several Pokéballs and a couple of potions to keep us prepared. "It's all part of being a prepared trainer," he added with a grin.
I grinned back, feeling more and more ready for the journey ahead. "Got it—Pokémon Center for healing, and the Pokémon Mart for supplies."
We checked out, loaded our bags, and headed out into the bright afternoon. Raven then led me down a winding path to a larger, more elaborate building on the edge of town. Above its entrance was a bold, stylized emblem that I recognized immediately.
"This is a Pokémon Gym," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "Trainers come here to challenge the Gym Leader, and if you win, you get a badge. Collect all the badges, and you can enter the Pokémon League."
I stared at the building, excitement bubbling up inside me. This was what I had dreamed of—testing my skills, growing stronger, and earning badges on my path to becoming a Pokémon Master.
Raven gave me a sympathetic look. "Unfortunately, this gym is closed for now. It's actually the last one in the region, so we won't be coming back here until we've earned all the other badges."
"Wow, the last gym…" I murmured, imagining what it would be like to reach that level. But before I could say more, a shrill scream pierced the air.
"Help! Someone, please help!"
Raven and I exchanged a startled glance, and we both ran in the direction of the voice. Turning a corner, we found a young woman clutching her bag as a wild Machop tried to wrest it from her hands.
The young woman struggled to hold on as the Machop tugged her bag with surprising strength, its fierce eyes fixed on its prize. She glanced over at us, desperation in her eyes. "Please, help me!"
Without hesitation, I stepped forward, gripping Chansey's Pokéball. "Don't worry, we've got this!" I called to her.
Raven quickly joined me, already holding Dratini's Pokéball. "Looks like it's time to put those lessons to use, huh, Joy?"
I nodded, adrenaline rushing through me as I threw Chansey's Pokéball. She appeared in a flash of light, bouncing cheerfully, but she sensed the tension and immediately turned her focus to the Machop.
"Alright, Chansey, let's help that woman! Use Thunderbolt!" I commanded.
Chansey's body crackled with electricity before she released a powerful Thunderbolt aimed directly at Machop. The electric attack struck, causing Machop to release the woman's bag as it stumbled back, stunned by the shock.
The Machop shook off the electricity, then turned to us with a glare, flexing its muscles and preparing to retaliate. Raven stepped up, his eyes full of determination.
"Dratini, let's back Chansey up! Use Dragon Rage!"
Dratini's mouth filled with a swirling blue flame, and with a mighty exhale, it unleashed a blast of fiery energy at Machop. The attack hit hard, causing Machop to stagger back, clearly weakened but not yet giving up.
The Machop steadied itself, then lunged forward, swinging a Karate Chop toward Chansey. "Chansey, dodge and use Pound!" I yelled.
Chansey nimbly sidestepped the attack and countered with a strong Pound, striking Machop and pushing it back once more.
Seeing that Machop was still fighting, Raven reached into his bag, grabbing a Pokéball. "Let's see if we can catch it before it causes more trouble. Pokéball, go!" he shouted, throwing the ball with precision.
The Pokéball hit Machop, enveloping it in red light before snapping shut as it fell to the ground. The ball wobbled once, twice… then clicked, signaling a successful capture.
Raven grinned, picking up the Pokéball. "Looks like we've got a new teammate!"
The woman let out a sigh of relief, clutching her bag tightly. "Thank you so much! I don't know what I would've done without you two."
"No problem," I replied, smiling at her. "It's all part of being a Pokémon Trainer."
She offered us a small pouch in gratitude. "Here, take these berries. I pick them myself, and they can help your Pokémon recover in a pinch."
We gratefully accepted the gift, and after saying our goodbyes, she hurried off, leaving Raven and me alone in the street.
As we continued down the road, I looked over at Raven, still feeling the thrill of the battle. "That was amazing! Our Pokémon worked so well together."
Raven nodded, holding up the Pokéball containing his new Machop. "And we've even got a new teammate now! I think we make a pretty great team, Joy."
As we made our way down the road, Raven glanced over at me, looking thoughtful. "So... the Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center—is she related to you?"
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Not exactly. There are actually multiple families of Nurse Joys. We look similar, but we're not all directly related. I don't even know the Joy who's working at the center here."
Raven raised his eyebrows. "Wait, so you're all from different families?"
"Pretty much," I said, smiling at his surprise. "Some of us come from separate branches, but we share a tradition of becoming Pokémon nurses. It's… kind of expected."
Raven nodded, looking intrigued. "I always thought all Nurse Joys were part of one big family. But here you are, breaking that tradition to become a Pokémon Master."
"Exactly," I replied, my smile widening. "I respect what my family does, but I want something different for myself. That's why I left—to forge my own path."
Raven grinned, clearly impressed. "I admire that. You're really doing something amazing, Joy."
His words boosted my confidence, reminding me of the journey I'd just begun. And with that, we continued down the path, ready for whatever lay ahead.