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Austin slipped into a quiet alley on the east side of Cerulean City, his sharp eyes scanning the streets for any sign of trouble. It wasn't paranoia—it was pragmatism. Team Rocket wouldn't just let him walk away after humiliating one of their recruiters, and the last thing he wanted was to be easy to track. Tugging his scarf a little tighter, he let out a soft sigh, his breath misting in the cool afternoon air.
Ahead of him, tucked between a fishmonger's stall and a modest flower shop, was a tiny clothing store with a faded wooden sign that read "Whirl Tail Fashions." The storefront looked like it had been around for decades, its windows filled with mannequins dressed in dated but sturdy clothing. What caught Austin's attention wasn't the quaint vibe but the lack of security—no cameras, no flashy ads, and no curious eyes. It was perfect.
As he stepped inside, the soft chime of a bell echoed through the shop. The interior was dimly lit, smelling faintly of lavender and old wood. Clothes of all kinds—jackets, shirts, trousers—were crammed onto racks that seemed like they hadn't been reorganized in years. Behind the counter, an elderly woman with kind, crinkled eyes looked up from where she was carefully folding a scarf. Her silver hair was pinned neatly beneath a floral-patterned kerchief, and by her side, a Poliwhirl stood at attention, its round body swaying slightly with a soft, rhythmic "Poli… Poli…"
"Welcome, dear," the woman greeted warmly, her voice as soothing as a lullaby. She adjusted her glasses and gave Austin a once-over, pausing at his scarf and sunglasses. "My, you're dressed awfully fancy for the east side. Need something more local, do you?"
Austin offered her a polite nod. "Yeah, I'm looking to change into something that... blends in a little better."
The woman smiled knowingly, as if she understood exactly what he meant. "Ah, a traveler trying to keep a low profile, hmm? Don't you worry, love. We'll find you something just right. Poli, help the young man, will you?"
"Poli!" the Poliwhirl chirped, waddling over to a rack of clothes with surprising efficiency. It pulled out a few pieces—practical, sturdy garments—and held them up for inspection.
Austin chuckled softly at the sight. "Got an eye for fashion, huh?"
The old woman laughed as she folded another scarf. "Oh, Poli's got more style than half the folks in this city. Now, let's see… something comfortable, nothing too flashy…"
After a few minutes, Austin found himself holding a new outfit: a cream-colored button-up shirt, a dark gray cardigan that looked well-worn but cozy, and a pair of straight-cut olive-green trousers. A brown newsboy cap completed the look, along with a pair of scuffed leather boots that felt like they'd seen their fair share of Cerulean's canals.
"Try it on, dear," the woman encouraged, gesturing to a curtained-off corner in the back. "No rush."
Austin stepped behind the curtain, carefully peeling off his dark academia-style clothes. As he swapped his old outfit for the new one, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The cardigan was soft and smelled faintly of cedar, and the boots fit snugly.
When he stepped back out, the old woman clapped her hands together, delighted. "Oh, look at you! A proper local now, you are. Poli, don't you think he looks dashing?"
"Poli!" the Pokémon croaked with a vigorous nod.
Austin chuckled, adjusting the cap on his head. "Thanks. This is perfect."
The woman waved off his gratitude with a warm smile. "Nonsense, dear. A good outfit should make you feel like yourself, not just someone else. Now, you take care out there, alright? The east side's no place for trouble."
Austin handed her the money, along with a little extra as thanks, before heading out of the shop. As the bell chimed behind him, he glanced over his shoulder to see Poliwhirl waving enthusiastically. He returned the wave with a small smile.
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Back on the bustling streets, Austin made his way to a food cart near a canal. The vendor, a middle-aged man with a bushy mustache and a Gyarados tattoo peeking out from his rolled-up sleeve, was grilling small, golden-brown sandwiches that smelled divine.
"Can I get three pieces, please?" Austin said, handing over a few coins. The vendor handed him the steaming sandwiches stuffed with gooey cheese and savory herbs, wrapped in wax paper.
With his hands full and Pikachu already sniffing the air expectantly from his shoulder, Austin wandered to a quiet bench overlooking one of the city's smaller canals. He sat down with a sigh of relief, setting the Carrozzas on the bench beside him.
"All right, Pikachu, you've been patient," Austin said, unwrapping one of the sandwiches. "Here you go." He tore off a small piece and handed it to his partner with a ketchup packet, of course.
Pikachu squeaked happily, grabbing the piece with both paws and nibbling on it with tiny, delighted bites. Vee sat beside Austin on the bench, his tail swishing lazily as he stared at the other sandwich.
Austin smirked. "You too, Vee." He tore off another piece and held it out, watching as the evolution Pokémon gently took it from his hand, chewing with a contented purr.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful. The three of them sat together, enjoying the quiet hum of the city around them.
Austin took a bite of his own Carrozza, savoring the rich, cheesy flavor. "Not bad, huh?" he said, glancing down at his companions. Pikachu let out a soft "Pika!" in agreement, while Vee gave a small, approving growl.
As they sat there, a pair of kids ran by chasing a Marill, their laughter ringing out as the Water-type Pokémon splashed into the canal. A gondola passed by, its operator humming a soft tune as his Slowpoke lounged at the front, half-asleep.
Austin leaned back on the bench, savoring the last bite of his Carrozza when a soft, playful voice cut through his thoughts.
"Oh wow, you have some awesome Pokémon."
Austin turned with a polite smile, but it froze on his face as he saw the speaker.
A young girl stood before him, around his age, with striking green eyes and slightly messy dark brown hair that cascaded down to her lower back. She wore a sleeveless black one-piece short dress paired with black low-heel shoes, white socks, and white gloves.
Austin's mind screeched to a halt. He knew this girl.
As a dedicated fan of the Pokémon Adventures manga, there was no mistaking her.
Leaf Green.
One of the three protagonists from the Red, Blue, and Green arc.
His mind spiraled. Why is she here?
He had already come to terms with the fact that this world wasn't a one-to-one replica of the Pokémon anime. It was more like a realistic anime. But seeing a manga-exclusive character like Green? That threw him completely off.
Does this mean Gary's father is manga Blue? Austin's head throbbed with questions. Why is Green the same age as me here?
His train of thought broke when Green gave him a shy, blushing look.
Austin's heart skipped. He knew better—it was a lie. She was the queen of misdirection. Yet, seeing his favorite manga character acting this way still made his chest flutter.
To distract himself, he leaned toward Vee and whispered something. Vee perked up and suddenly jumped into the canal. The brown fur shimmered before disappearing beneath the water.
Green tilted her head. "Shouldn't you be worried?"
Austin shook his head with a soft smile. "Nah, I trained him to swim."
Green's brows rose in surprise, a hint of genuine admiration flickering across her face. "Impressive. You really do know your stuff, huh?"
"Something like that," Austin replied, trying to stay nonchalant as Pikachu climbed onto his shoulder.
Green's smirk turned mischievous. "Say, you're clearly a talented trainer. I've got something you might like." She pulled out a small pouch and began laying out various items on the bench beside him.
"Deep Sea Scale, for boosting special defense," she said, holding up a shimmering scale. "Choice Band—power up one move to pack a punch. And, of course, Sea Incense, for enhancing Water-type moves. A trainer like you could use these, don't you think?"
Pikachu seemed utterly charmed by the Sea Incense, sniffing it enthusiastically with a delighted "Pika!"
"So... how many of these are real?"
Green gasped, placing a hand dramatically over her heart. "Fake items? Me? How dare you! I'll have you know, my merchandise is as genuine as my winning smile."
Austin raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly. "Right, because nothing screams 'trustworthy' like a pitch full of charm and zero receipts."
Green leaned in, her emerald eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, come on. You're hurting my feelings here. I don't scam people—I provide opportunities."
"Opportunities?" Austin repeated. "Is that what we're calling overpriced trinkets now?"
She tapped a finger to her chin, pretending to mull it over. "Well, when you put it like that, it sounds bad. Let's go with 'specialized trainer investments.'"
Austin laughed, shaking his head. "Sure. And I'm supposed to invest based on your... what? Flawless customer service and impeccable reputation?"
"Exactly," Green quipped without missing a beat. She gave him a wink and added, "And let's not forget my irresistible charm."
Before Austin could retort, Green suddenly stiffened. Her confident smirk faltered as she glanced down, noticing something cool and wet near her pocket.
"What the—" Her eyes widened as she spotted a paw slipping out of her pocket, clutching her wallet.
She turned to see Vee, now in his Vaporeon form, standing beside her, his liquid-like tail swishing innocently.
"You thief!" Green shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Austin. "You trained your Pokémon to pickpocket me!"
"Whoa, whoa. Let's not jump to conclusions here." Austin paused, tilting his head. "Speaking of stealing, did your Ditto happen to... oh, I don't know... swipe my gold nugget?"
Green's confident smirk flickered for a moment, her green eyes narrowing. "What nugget?"
"Pikachu." Austin said, having enough of her games.
The girl jumped back from the bench as Pikachu leapt from his shoulder and launched a Thunderbolt straight at her.
"Ditty!" Green called out. A pink blob-like Pokémon appeared beside her, morphing instantly into a perfect Pikachu clone. The transformed Ditto countered with a Thundershock, causing the two attacks to collide.
The resulting explosion sent smoke billowing into the air. Austin groaned inwardly. Seriously, Arceus, what's with this universal smoke law?
As the smoke cleared, Austin's eyes darted upward. Green was floating high above him, clutching an overinflated Jigglypuff like a hot-air balloon.
"Better luck next time, handsome!" she called, waving his golden nugget at him with a triumphant grin.
"Pikachu, Vee, remember the training we did for Brock's Onix."
Both Pokémon snapped to attention. Pikachu exchanged a quick nod with Vee before they sprang into action. Using Quick Attack, they generated momentum as Pikachu jumped onto Vee, using his back as a springboard to propel himself higher. Sparks flew from his cheeks as he soared toward Green.
Green's eyes widened. Thinking quickly, she threw the golden nugget toward Pikachu, forcing him to halt his Thunderbolt mid-charge. Destroying the nugget wasn't an option.
Using the distraction, Green and her Jigglypuff floated farther away, disappearing over the canal.
Pikachu tumbled through the air, his small, round body twisting as he tried to stabilize himself. His tiny arms flailed, his soft yellow fur ruffling in the wind, and his large brown eyes were wide with a mix of alarm and frustration. His pink cheeks sparked faintly, reflecting his irritation at having to abort the Thunderbolt mid-air.
"Pikaaa—!"
Austin stepped forward, arms outstretched, his focus locked on his partner. In one smooth motion, he caught Pikachu, pulling the small, warm Pokémon close to his chest. The moment Pikachu felt Austin's steady grip, his tense body relaxed, his ears drooping as he let out a soft, tired squeak.
"Hey, it's okay, buddy," Austin murmured, his voice calm and reassuring. "We got the nugget back—that's what matters."
Pikachu tilted his head up, his large eyes meeting Austin's, and a soft coo escaped him. He leaned into the boy's hand as it scratched behind his ear, his little tail flicking in satisfaction.
Not wanting to be left out, Vee padded over, his sleek, aquatic body glistening faintly in the sunlight. He nudged Austin's side with his cool nose, looking up with expectant eyes as if to say, Where's my attention?
Austin chuckled, shifting Pikachu to one arm and reaching down to rub Vee's head with his free hand. "You did great too, Vee," he said with a grin.
"That was close," he muttered, mostly to himself.
Pikachu chirped softly, nuzzling against his chest, while Vee gave an encouraging growl.
Then his thoughts wandered, as they always did when the adrenaline settled. If Green's here… what other changes from the anime are waiting for me? He frowned slightly, his mind spinning with possibilities. The presence of a manga-exclusive character like Green was one thing, but it also raised bigger questions about this world's shifting rules. Who else might he run into? What other surprises did this blended reality have in store?
A sudden thought made him straighten up. "I wonder," he murmured aloud, his tone contemplative. If Green's here, then maybe Bill is too. In the games, he's in Cerulean City, but in the anime, he's closer to Vermilion. Could be either one... so let's find out.