We resumed our pursuit, but just as we began to catch up, the sky above us darkened ominously. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and a sudden storm descended, drenching us within seconds. The wind howled, and the air was charged with an energy that felt unnatural.
"Something's not right," Misty said, looking worried as we pressed on.
Just as quickly as the storm had come, it vanished. The wind stopped, and the sky began to clear, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake.
And then, I saw it. A majestic, rainbow-colored bird soared across the sky, its wings shimmering with an ethereal glow.
"Ho-Oh…" I whispered in awe.
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[Hidden Achievement Unlocked]
★ First Legendary Pokémon Sighting (Ho-Oh) ★
• Caught a glimpse of the sacred Ho-Oh, igniting a burning Passion for adventure.
- Reward:
~ Will unlock once Tutorial Quests
~ XP Gained: +6
___________________________
I'd seen Ho-Oh countless times in the anime and games, but to witness it in real life — to feel the air shift with its presence — was something else entirely. This world had a magic, a weight, that was far beyond anything I had ever experienced before.
Misty stood beside me, equally stunned. "What... what was that?" she murmured.
I couldn't answer her. All I could do was stare at the sky, lost in thought. There was no denying it anymore — I was truly in the world of Pokémon, with all its wonders and dangers.
---
When we finally reached the spot where the lightning had struck, we found several fainted Spearow scattered across the clearing. I spotted one lying unconscious near the edge of the group, its feathers ruffled from the storm.
___________________________
[Spearow]
[Lv. 7]
[Gender]: Male ♂️
[HP]: 1/24 (Fainted)
___________________________
Without hesitation, I pulled out a Pokéball and threw it at the Spearow that had a bulge on it's head. I think this one's got injured from Ash which led to the Spearow ganging up on him. The ball clicked shut after a single shake.
___________________________
[Pokédex Updated]
Spearow #0021
[Type]: {Flying}{Normal}
Inept at flying high. However, it can fly around very fast to protect its territory.
___________________________
As I picked up the ball, I felt a strange sense of satisfaction. This Spearow is strong, I thought. It had been part of the flock that had attacked Ash, yet it had managed to survive the storm. There was something resilient about it, something that told me this was the kind of Pokémon I could rely on in the future.
Misty approached, looking at the fainted Spearow around us. "I don't know what happened here, but... I'm glad we're okay."
"Yeah," I agreed, though my mind was already racing ahead. Capturing this Spearow felt like the right move. It had proven its toughness. Maybe, just maybe, it would grow into something just as impressive as Ace.
Nearby, Misty knelt down by the remains of her bike. "Well, I guess I won't be riding this again," she said bitterly.
I winced at the charred metal. "Looks like we're walking to Viridian City."
Misty gave me an exasperated look. "You think?"
---
By the time we reached Viridian City, the sun had already set, and the streetlights cast long shadows along the quiet streets. As we approached the city gate, Officer Jenny stood at her post, her hand resting on her belt as she scrutinized us with a suspicious gaze.
"Halt!" she commanded, stepping forward. "What's your business here?"
I raised my hands in a peaceful gesture. "We're just passing through. We had some trouble with Spearow in the woods, and my friend's bike was... well, stolen."
Misty shot me a sharp look but stayed silent.
"Stolen?" Jenny's expression darkened. "By whom?"
"A trainer named Ash Ketchum," Misty replied tersely.
Officer Jenny's eyes narrowed further, as if assessing the truth in our words. "I've had some reports of suspicious activity near Professor Oak's lab recently. You wouldn't happen to be involved, would you?"
I blinked in confusion. "Suspicious activity? No, we didn't have anything to do with that."
Jenny's hand hovered near her sidearm. "I'll need to verify your identities. Hand over your Pokédex or Trainer ID."
I quickly handed her my Pokédex module, and Misty did the same. After a few tense moments of scanning our IDs, Jenny's posture relaxed slightly. "Alright, you check out. But I'm keeping an eye on you."
Misty sighed in relief. "Finally."
"By the way," I asked as Officer Jenny handed back our Pokédexes, "have you seen a trainer named Ash Ketchum pass through here recently?"
Jenny's face hardened at the mention of Ash's name. "As a matter of fact, I did. A boy fitting that description passed by earlier today. At first, he seemed suspicious because he was carrying his Pokémon—a Pikachu—outside of its Pokéball. That's not exactly normal around here."
"Yeah, we kind of ran into him earlier," I said, glancing at Misty, who crossed her arms but stayed silent. "What happened after that?"
Jenny nodded, her expression softening just a bit. "I had my doubts, so I verified his identity. Once I confirmed he was a registered trainer, I took him toward the nearest Pokémon Center. His Pikachu looked like it was in bad shape—it had taken a serious hit."
Misty's eyes flashed with worry. "Viridian City Pokémon Center?"
Jenny nodded. "That's right. If you're looking for him, I'd suggest you head there. But be careful. There's been some strange activity in the area, and I'm not taking any chances with all the suspicious reports coming in."
I felt a sinking feeling in my chest. Ash's journey had always been filled with challenges, but seeing it unfold in front of me was different. His Pikachu wasn't just pixels on a screen anymore—it was a real, living creature, and it was hurt. We needed to make sure it was okay.
"Thanks, Officer Jenny," I said, turning to Misty. "Let's head to the Pokémon Center."
She nodded, still fuming about her bike but clearly more concerned about Ash's Pikachu at the moment. "Yeah, let's go. And if we find Ash, he owes me a new bike."
---
___________________________
[Quest(s) Updated]
1. You have reached Viridian City
a. Clerk's Gift:
• Meet the PokéMart clerk. They'll give you an item that will help on your journey.
• Reward:
- Map of Kanto
b. Checking In
• Visit the Pokémon Center.
• Reward:
- ???
___________________________
As we walked through the quiet streets of Viridian City, I couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen. The encounter with Ho-Oh, the strange storm, and now Officer Jenny's warnings all weighed heavily on my mind. This world was dangerous, far more so than I'd realized back when I played the games or watched the anime.
But despite everything, I couldn't deny that I was excited. My journey was just beginning, and with Ace by my side, I was ready for whatever came next.
We finally spotted the Pokémon Center up ahead, its red roof a beacon of safety in the growing darkness.
"Here we are," I said, taking a deep breath. "Let's hope we find Ash inside."
Misty grumbled beside me, her frustration with the situation not quite hidden. "And my bike. Don't forget my bike."
As we approached the door, I glanced at the Pokéballs on my belt—Ace was registered, but I had Magikarp, Spearow, Rattata, and Mankey still unregistered. Each one represented a new piece of this world that I was slowly coming to understand. I had to keep those captures in mind as I mentally prepared myself for the chaos I sensed was coming.
I overheard snippets of conversation from a small group of townspeople gathered near a bulletin board.
"Did you hear about the trouble in the outskirts?" one of them whispered, glancing around nervously. "There's been reports of a group of trainers causing chaos, stealing Pokémon and supplies from others."
"Yeah, they say it's Team Rocket again," another added, lowering their voice. "If they're this close, who knows what they'll do next?"
Misty frowned. "What's going on?"
I felt a sinking feeling in my chest. The mention of Team Rocket was concerning, especially if they were nearby.
"Let's get inside," I urged. "I don't want to stick around to find out."
With a quick glance at Misty, we stepped through the doors of the Pokémon Center, ready to face whatever awaited us inside. My heart raced—not just from the anticipation of seeing Ash, but also from the excitement of possibly encountering Jessie from Team Rocket. I was more than a little curious about how that would play out.
---
End of Chapter 13