Chapter Three

Izzy’s POV

After healing Cyndaquil at Professor Elm’s lab. We finally started our trip to Mr. Pokémon’s house.

To be honest, I wasn’t fully on board with this journey. The very thought of living out in the wilderness and outside the comfort of my own home was terrifying. I mean did you know that 4 out of 10 kids that are on a journey usually suffer some kind of injury or death. How, just how can adults allow kids to go out into the wild? Without any kind of adult supervision. We live in a world full of creatures that are capable of causing avalanches, earthquakes, and tsunamis. How is it that one test? Just one test is capable of determining that kids like me are considered legal adults and are capable of surviving this world. Hell, the test wasn’t even that hard and even I, a dropout from school, was able to pass it. What are adults really so irresponsible? Why am I the only one that sees this? What I’m trying to say is that this world is fucking dangerous and I can die in any minute. Sure that could happen even in the safety of my room but at least there I would die in extreme comfort.

That’s without mentioning the worst of it and by that I mean people. The strangers that I would meet on this trip. Oh god, even thinking about it is making me break down. You can never trust anyone. Sure they act all nice when you first meet them but it’s all a lie and are just waiting for a chance to use and betray you. I can’t trust any of them, except of course mom and Lyra. Maybe professor Elm but not too sure.

……

I’m ranting. Sorry.

My point is that I wasn’t exactly happy to be on this journey but because of my mom and Prof. Elm. I didn’t have a choice and unlike me, Cyndaquil completely wanted to go. Not to mention the promise I made to Cyndaquil to actually try to train him.

—

3rd POV

Izzy’s legs burned, his breaths came in ragged gasps, and every step felt like he was dragging himself through mud. His backpack, which he had barely noticed when he started, now felt like a bag of bricks strapped to his shoulders.

“Cynda…quil…” His partner huffed beside him, barely keeping pace.

Izzy wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Just… a little… more,” He panted. The moment he lifted his head, his breath was caught in his throat.

Before him stretched a town unlike anything he had seen before. Cherrygrove City wasn’t much bigger than New Bark Town, but to Izzy, who had spent years hiding indoors, it felt huge. Buildings of different colors and heights lined the streets. There were people everywhere—trainers walking with Pokémon, shopkeepers chatting outside their stores, and kids laughing as they played near a fountain. Signs and billboards advertised Poké Marts, Trainer Services, and something called “The Best Fishing Rods in Johto!”

Izzy took a step forward, feeling as if he had entered another world.

“Cyndaquil… we made it,” he breathed.

“Quil!” Cyndaquil cheered, his flames flaring up in excitement—only to fizzle out a second later as exhaustion hit him.

Right. His Pokémon had been battling all day, and Izzy had been walking for hours. The Pokémon Center should be the first stop.

That would be easy, right?

---

It was not easy.

Ten minutes later, Izzy found himself in an alleyway between two tall buildings, staring at a brick wall. He turned back the way he came… only to realize that he had no idea which way that was.

“Quil?” Cyndaquil tilted his head, clearly as confused as Izzy.

“I know, I know, I should’ve paid more attention,” Izzy muttered, gripping his Pokégear. He tapped on the map app, but instead of showing a neat path to the Pokémon Center, it kept zooming in and out randomly. His sweaty fingers weren’t helping. “Ugh, stupid thing—just show me where to—”

“Excuse me, young man. You look a bit lost.”

Izzy nearly jumped out of his skin.

Turning around, he saw an old man standing nearby, his expression kind and amused. He wore a simple beige sweater, brown pants, and comfortable-looking shoes. A white beard covered the lower half of his face, and his bright blue eyes twinkled as he watched Izzy struggle with his Pokégear.

“I—uh—” Izzy swallowed, suddenly aware of how awkward he looked. “M-maybe?”

The old man chuckled. “You wouldn’t happen to be looking for the Pokémon Center, would you?”

Izzy hesitated, but Cyndaquil nudged his leg as if telling him to just admit it.

“…Yes,” Izzy finally muttered.

“I thought so! Don’t worry, lad. You’re not the first new trainer to get lost here.” The old man smiled warmly. “Come, I’ll show you around. The name’s Albert, by the way.”

“I-Izzy,” he replied, still a little wary.

Albert gave him a nod and gestured for him to follow. With little choice, Izzy trudged along, Cyndaquil keeping close to his side.

---

Albert led them through the streets, pointing things out as they walked.

“Now, over there is one of the many Poké Marts around this fine city.” He said, gesturing toward a blue-roofed store with a large Poké Ball sign. “You’ll want to stop by if you need Potions, Poké Balls, or any trainer essentials.”

Izzy’s eyes flickered toward it. He had used up most of his Potions today… Maybe stopping there wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Albert continued, “And right down this street—” he pointed to a path lined with small buildings “—you’ll find the Trainer’s Rest Stop. It’s a place where travelers can rent a room for the night if they don’t want to camp outdoors. You’ll be spending plenty of nights under the stars, but sometimes, a warm bed makes all the difference.”

Izzy shivered at the thought of sleeping outside. He wasn’t looking forward to that.

Albert gave him a knowing smile before stopping in front of a large, red-roofed building. The Pokémon Center.

“This is where you’ll heal your Pokémon,” Albert explained. “They provide free medical care for trainers—just hand your Pokémon to Nurse Joy, and they’ll be as good as new in no time.”

Izzy stared up at the building. He had seen them on TV, but now that he was standing in front of one, it felt… different. It was a place that trainers needed to survive. And he was a trainer now.

“Th-thank you, Mr. Albert,” Izzy said sincerely.

Albert grinned. “Think nothing of it! Every trainer gets a little lost at first. Oh! Before I forget—” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, red device. “Here. A Map Card for your Pokégear. This will update your map with better navigation so you won’t get lost again.”

Izzy took it, stunned. “I—seriously? Thank you!”

Albert laughed. “You remind me of myself when I was your age. Full of nerves, but eager to learn. Take care of that Cyndaquil, and be sure to visit again after you’ve earned a badge or two.”

With a wave, the old man walked off, leaving Izzy staring at the Pokémon Center doors.

“Well… guess we’re doing this.” He took a deep breath.

Cyndaquil nudged his leg encouragingly.

Izzy pushed the doors open and stepped inside.

Got it! I'll continue with Izzy nervously talking to Nurse Joy, leaving Cyndaquil to heal, and then heading to the Poké Mart. The money situation will hit him when he realizes his balance is lower than expected due to his earlier loss. I'll add pacing, internal monologue, and dialogue to keep the flow natural.

The Pokémon Center was… surprisingly cozy.

As Izzy stepped inside, the cool air was a welcome relief from the exhaustion weighing down his body. The lobby was bright and clean, with rows of cushioned seats along the walls. A few trainers sat nearby, either chatting, resting, or tapping away at their Pokégear. A large TV on the far wall played the latest battle updates from the Johto League.

But Izzy barely noticed any of that. His focus was on the counter—and more specifically, the person behind it.

Nurse Joy.

Her pink hair was neatly tied into loops on either side of her head, and she wore a bright, friendly smile. A Chansey stood beside her, humming cheerfully as it organized a tray of medical supplies.

Izzy felt his anxiety creep in. He had seen Pokémon Centers on TV. He knew what to do. Just walk up, hand over Cyndaquil, and she’d take care of the rest. Simple.

So why were his legs refusing to move?

“Quil?” Cyndaquil looked up at him, nudging his leg.

Izzy swallowed. He could do this. He had to do this.

Step by step, he approached the counter. Nurse Joy immediately greeted him with a warm smile.

“Hello there! Welcome to the Cherrygrove Pokémon Center. How can I help you?”

For a second, Izzy forgot how to speak. His throat felt dry, his hands clenched at his sides, and the urge to turn and bolt out the door was very strong.

But then Cyndaquil let out a small, tired “Cyn…” and Izzy snapped out of it.

“H-hi,” he stammered, forcing himself to focus. “I, uh, my Cyndaquil—he, um, battled a lot today, and, uh, he’s tired and, um—”

Nurse Joy’s expression softened as she gently reached out. “It’s okay, just hand him over, and we’ll take care of him.”

Izzy hesitated but nodded, carefully scooping up Cyndaquil and placing him on the counter.

“Cyndaquil will be just fine,” she assured him. “It’ll take about an hour for him to fully recover. You can take a seat and relax until then.”

Izzy took a step back, feeling a little lighter now that he had gotten through that. “O-okay. Thank you.”

Nurse Joy smiled. “You’re very welcome! If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to ask.”

Izzy gave a quick nod before awkwardly turning away and heading toward the seating area. He thought about staying, but the last thing he wanted was to sit there doing nothing while his thoughts spiraled.

No. He needed to do something productive.

Like shopping.

The Poké Mart wasn’t far, just a short walk from the Pokémon Center. Izzy pushed open the door, the little bell above it jingling as he stepped inside.

Rows of shelves lined the store, stocked with everything a trainer could need—Potions, Poké Balls, Antidotes, and status-healing items. There were also general supplies, like camping gear and travel food. A few trainers were inside, browsing the aisles or chatting with the cashier.

Izzy pulled out his Pokégear, opening the banking app. His mother had deposited 3,000 Pokébills into his account before he left, which—

His heart sank.

Current Balance: 2,700₽

Izzy blinked. Wait. That couldn’t be right.

He scrolled through the transaction history… and there it was.

Battle Loss Fee – 300₽ Deducted

His stomach twisted.

“When trainers lose a battle, they have to pay the winner…”

Professor Elm’s words echoed in his head, and it finally hit him—losing a battle cost him money.

I already lost 300₽. Just like that.

That wasn’t even the worst part. He had to buy food. Not just for himself, but for Cyndaquil, too.

Izzy suddenly felt a little sick.

“Welcome! Need any help?”

He jumped slightly, looking up to see a young female cashier smiling at him from behind the counter.

“U-uh, no, I’m just—” He quickly turned away, pretending to browse the shelves.

He needed to think.

Izzy took a deep breath and started prioritizing.

• Potions? He had two left. Might need more, but they were expensive—200₽ each.

• Poké Balls? He hadn’t caught anything yet. He should get at least one more—also 200₽ each.

• Food for Cyndaquil? Definitely needed. He saw Pokémon food bags labeled for Fire-types—500₽ for a week's worth.

• Food for himself? He checked the travel food section. Simple meal packs were 300₽ each.

Doing quick math, if he got two Potion, food for Cyndaquil, and one meal for himself… that would be 1,200₽ total.

That would leave him with 1500₽ left.

His gut twisted. That didn’t seem like a lot.

“Ughhh,” Izzy groaned, rubbing his forehead. “This sucks.”

He knew he had to be careful. Losing another battle could drop his balance even lower.

Okay. Just… don’t lose anymore.

Easier said than done.

After a few more minutes of debating, he finally made his choices.

• 2 Potion (200₽)

• Cyndaquil’s food (500₽)

• 1 meal pack for himself (300₽)

Total spent: 1,200₽
 Remaining balance: 500₽

Izzy sighed as he carried his items to the counter.

The cashier rang him up with a bright smile. “That’ll be 1,200₽!”

Izzy hesitated before swiping his Pokégear over the scanner. The beep confirmed the purchase, and just like that… his money was almost gone.

“Thanks for shopping with us!” the cashier chirped.

Izzy gave a weak nod, taking his bag and heading for the exit. 

This is gonna be harder than I thought…

By the time Izzy returned, the exhaustion from the day was really catching up to him. His legs ached, his arms were sore, and his head was still spinning from the whole "you can lose money in battles" realization.

He stepped inside and made his way to the counter.

Nurse Joy greeted him with another warm smile. “Your Cyndaquil is fully healed and ready to go!”

She handed him a Cyndaquils Poké Ball, but before Izzy could take it, Cyndaquil leaped up onto the counter.

“Cyndaquil!”

Izzy couldn’t help but smile. “Hey, buddy.”

Cyndaquil hopped onto his shoulder, nuzzling his cheek.

“Looks like he missed you,” Nurse Joy giggled.

Izzy rubbed the back of his head. “Y-yeah… thanks again, Nurse Joy.”

“You’re very welcome! Take care, and be safe on your journey!”

As Izzy stepped outside, he exhaled slowly.

It had only been one day, and he already felt like he was in over his head.

But as he looked down at Cyndaquil, who was happily munching on one of his new Pokémon food pellets, he smiled.

One step at a time.

As Izzy stepped out of the Pokémon Center, the sky was already darkening. Street lamps flickered on, casting a warm glow over Cherrygrove City. The sounds of distant chatter and the occasional flutter of wings from passing Pidgey filled the air.

His body was begging for rest. His feet ached from walking all day, his backpack felt heavier than ever, and his stomach… well, it had been growling for the past hour.

“Cyndaquil…” Izzy sighed, glancing at his partner, who was happily trotting beside him. “I don’t think I can sleep outside tonight.”

“Quil?” Cyndaquil tilted his head, then yawned.

Yeah. They were both exhausted.

Izzy pulled out his Pokégear, flipping through the map Albert had updated. The Trainer’s Rest Stop wasn’t far—just a few streets away. A place where trainers could get a warm bed instead of sleeping in the wilderness.

He picked up the pace, ignoring how much his legs protested.

The building wasn’t as big as the Pokémon Center, but it had a welcoming feel. A wooden sign with "Trainer’s Rest Stop" carved into it hung above the entrance. Soft yellow lights shone through the windows, and the smell of warm food drifted through the air, making Izzy’s stomach twist in hunger.

He stepped inside, greeted by a cozy interior. A fireplace crackled in the corner, and a few trainers sat at wooden tables, eating meals or chatting quietly. There was a front desk near the entrance, where a woman in her late thirties sat behind a counter, typing on a computer.

She glanced up and smiled. “Welcome to the Trainer’s Rest Stop! Looking for a room?”

Izzy swallowed, suddenly nervous again. He had never checked into a place by himself before.

“Uh… yeah.” His voice cracked slightly. “I, um, need a place to stay for the night.”

She nodded and clicked a few things on her screen. “Single room for one night—500₽, and it comes with dinner and breakfast in the morning.”

Izzy froze.

500₽?!

That was half of what he had left. His stomach clenched as he opened his Pokégear, staring at his remaining 1500₽. If he paid for this, he’d be down to just 1000₽ for the rest of his journey.

Can I really afford this?

His eyes darted to Cyndaquil, who was wobbling slightly, clearly drained from the day. Izzy could try sleeping outside—but after today? He didn’t think he’d last.

I need this.

With a deep breath, he swiped his Pokégear over the scanner.

Balance: 1000₽ Remaining

The woman smiled and handed him a small key. “You’re all set. Room 3, down the hall. Dinner is included, so just head to the dining area whenever you're ready.”

Izzy muttered a quick, “Thanks,” before heading toward his room.

The dining area was small but smelled amazing. Several tables were set up, and a buffet-style counter held steaming trays of food.

Izzy grabbed a plate and stared at the options—rice, grilled fish, roasted vegetables, and even fresh bread. His mouth watered.

He took a modest portion, making sure to leave room for Cyndaquil’s food. As he sat at a corner table, he placed a small bowl down for his partner and dropped a few of the food pellets he bought earlier into it.

“Here you go, buddy.”

Cyndaquil sniffed it, then dug in enthusiastically.

Izzy took his first bite of food—and nearly groaned in relief.

It’s so good.

After a day of constant walking, battling, and stress, the warm meal melted away some of the exhaustion. He ate in silence, occasionally watching the other trainers. Some were chatting about battles, others trading items, and a few were checking their Pokégear.

He felt out of place.

They all seem so… confident.

Izzy sighed and focused on his food. He had too much on his mind already.

Room 3 was small but comfortable—a single bed with a warm blanket, a nightstand with a lamp, and a small desk. There was even a window with a view of the street below.

Izzy dropped his backpack onto the floor with a thud and immediately flopped onto the bed.

“Ohhhh my god…” He groaned, sinking into the soft mattress.

Cyndaquil hopped onto the blanket beside him, letting out a content, “Cyn~.”

Izzy turned onto his side, staring at the ceiling.

His first day as a trainer was over and he had already lost a battle, lost money, almost gotten lost twice, and spent most of his savings.

Am I even cut out for this?

He glanced at Cyndaquil, who was already curled up beside him, eyes closed. Despite everything, Cyndaquil still believed in him. Izzy exhaled slowly and closed his eyes.

One step at a time.

Sleep claimed him almost instantly.