The stars were just beginning to fade when Cyrus stirred, the first hints of dawn casting a soft glow across the clearing. He lay still for a moment, the grass cool beneath him, the Rainbow Wing resting against his chest like a quiet reminder. Above him, the sky was deep blue and streaked with the last remnants of night, the world suspended in that fleeting moment between sleep and motion.
Beside him, Aron stirred.
Cyrus sat up slowly, brushing his hair out of his face before tying it back with practised fingers. His body ached in the familiar way that only came from sleeping under the stars. He had a tent, but last night felt too significant to spend inside fabric walls.
"Up and at it, partner," he said quietly, already rising to his feet. "Let's warm up."
Together, the two moved through their morning routine, Cyrus beginning with stretches before shifting into bodyweight drills: push-ups, crunches, squats, and pull-ups from a low-hanging branch. Aron mirrored him, its own movements less elegant but no less committed. Once Cyrus finished his first round, they shifted into coordinated footwork drills—darting between trees, practising quick turns and dodges.
Afterwards, they moved into move training, refining Aron's existing techniques and experimenting with new strategies and combos that might give them an edge in future battles.
The air was cold but clean, and by the time the sun rose fully over the trees, both trainer and Pokémon were coated in sweat. They paused only briefly for breakfast and a quick wash before packing up.
"Viridian City's up ahead," Cyrus said, adjusting the straps on his bag. "Let's keep a steady pace. I want us there before noon."
After a few hours of walking, they arrived at the edge of the bustling Viridian City. As Cyrus approached the Pokémon Centre, his pace slowed.
The entire building was destroyed.
He let out a quiet, amused breath. "I kinda forgot how badly Ash destroyed this place in the anime," he muttered. "Guess we'll just buy what we need and be on our way, right, Aron?"
Aron gave a slight nod, and they turned toward the nearest shopping centre.
The store buzzed with early activity as shopkeepers prepared for the day's customers. Cyrus moved with quiet efficiency, weaving through the aisles with purpose.
He picked up what he needed: food supplies, dried herbs, berries, high-density nutrient mixes, cooking essentials, and a compact, collapsible camping stove to replace his old one. He also added an underwater breather to the basket, just in case. Thanks to the specialised tech built into his bag, similar to a Poké Ball's compression system, he was able to store everything neatly and carry it without issue.
Just as he was about to leave, something caught his eye at the back of the store: bikes.
Though he hadn't planned on buying one, the practicality of it was obvious. Travelling on foot was sustainable but slow.
As he scanned the options, a sleek black model stood out. Lightweight frame. Off-road tyres. Foldable. There was even an attachable seat for Pokémon, perfect for Aron to sit comfortably for the ride.
The price tag made him hesitate. It was steeper than he liked.
But then again...
Professor Oak had insisted on paying him for his three years of assistant work, and as humble as the man was, he was still one of the most respected Pokémon Professors in the world. Money was never tight at the lab, and Cyrus's contributions hadn't gone unnoticed. He earned more than a typical assistant, and Oak had always made sure of that.
Without a second thought, Cyrus walked to the counter, producing his trainer ID. As his ID showed he was also a research assistant, Cyrus was also able to get a further discount on his purchase.
Cyrus smiled faintly as he walked out of the store, prepared to head out of the city, and continue on his way through the Viridean forest. Cyrus took out his bike, and after adding the seat attachment, he and Aron took off.
The path through the forest was dappled in sunlight, the trees whispering above as Cyrus sped along the trail on his new bike. The air smelled of moss and bark, and occasional rustlings in the underbrush hinted at curious Bug-types nearby.
He stopped at a few clearings to train, quick exercises with Aron, brief sparring matches against wild Pokémon, and strategy testing for their next gym battle.
Eventually, the forest began to thin, and as the trees gave way to open terrain, the hilltop view of Pewter City emerged, its lights glowing warmly against the night sky. With a small smile, Cyrus continued cycling down the path, heading straight for the Pokémon Centre.
As the automatic doors slid open, he was greeted by a woman in a nurse's outfit with unmistakable pink hair loops.
"Hi, Nurse Joy. Could you please do a quick check-up for my Pokémon?"
"Of course," she replied kindly. "It'll be just a short wait. We received a large number of Pokémon transfers from Viridian City last night due to an emergency. But while you wait, is there anything else I can help you with?"
"I'm okay to wait. But since you asked, could you also register me for the Pokémon League? And I'd like a room for the night, if there's one available."
"Absolutely, I can take care of that right now."
She took his black Pokédex, quickly scanning it to register him as a League participant, then handed him a keycard to one of the Centre's guest rooms. Cyrus passed over Aron's Poké Ball, ready for him to collect in the morning after a good night's rest.
As he made his way to his room, he allowed himself a quiet moment to think.
'Ash and Misty should still be lost in the forest tonight… so I'll probably be battling Brock tomorrow, not his dad. We've trained hard for this. It shouldn't be a problem, but I need to stay sharp. Overconfidence gets people hurt, especially in this world.'
A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he lay back and closed his eyes, clearly excited for his first real battle since arriving in this world.