We arrived at the dining hall at what was practically perfect timing. It was almost empty, so we had no trouble finding a free place to sit. With a practiced motion, I quickly scooped food into my team's bowls. It still felt a bit strange that they didn't ask for anything else, but this time, I added some berry mix into an extra bowl.
Those berries were quite nutritious, packed with minerals and vitamins, but they weren't some magical wonder like the memories from my past world occasionally suggested. They were simply produce—somewhere between fruits and vegetables, with their flavor depending mostly on their coloration.
However, I was quite surprised when Lilly started preparing a bowl for her partner. Until then, I had honestly thought this Grass-type Pokémon was a pure herbivore. In the end, though, Bulbasaur got hefty chunks of meat, vegetables, fruit, and a few berries in his bowl.
Curiously, and above all, discreetly, I kept an eye out of the corner of my eye to see if she would release another Pokémon from a Poké Ball, but nothing of the sort happened. Bulbasaur was currently her only companion.
For myself, I piled on some Magikarp fingers—crispy pieces of fish coated in flour and egg, then fried to a golden brown. To go with that, I added a side of vegetables and a mountain of roasted potatoes. It was a rather heavy, calorie-dense meal, but my body craved it immensely. It probably felt, subconsciously, that after all the training and stress, it urgently needed to replenish its energy reserves.
Lilly went with a lighter alternative, choosing a mixed salad topped with pieces of grilled Pidgey.
And right at the moment we sat down, Bran came rushing over to us like a tidal wave.
"Hey guys, enjoy your meal!" he blurted out with a wide grin, as if last night had never happened. "Patrik, I've got great news! Nurse Joy just stopped me at the reception desk. We can move from the hotel here to the Poké Center right now—two rooms opened up!" He caught his breath quickly and immediately continued, "I'm Bran, by the way. And you are...?"
He turned to Lilly with an enthusiastic smile. At that exact second, she froze with a piece of salad and meat skewered on her fork, staring at him in utter confusion with her mouth slightly open.
While Lilly's mind was still processing this unexpectedly energetic hurricane, Bran went even further and, with immense politeness, offered his right hand to introduce himself. In his extroverted excitement and joy over the vacant rooms, he completely failed to notice that Lilly was missing an arm.
"This is Lilly, a friend from Pallet Town," I decided to step in and save the situation before it got genuinely awkward. "Bran, go grab your food first, then you two can get properly introduced."
"Sure, right back!" he nodded, completely oblivious. With the same wide grin, he headed toward the food counters, cheerfully whistling a catchy tune.
After a moment, Bran brought his food to the table and immediately released his team as well—Poliwhirl, Geodude, and Zubat, who instantly threw themselves headfirst into their portions. With a smirk, I realized my team had slightly better manners after all. It was mostly thanks to Wartortle, who ate with a grace worthy of a prince, and the others had quickly picked it up from him.
Fortunately, the dining hall was large enough that we weren't cramped, even with all our Pokémon out. I noticed, however, that very few trainers released their entire team at once like we did. Most probably relied on the fact that time passed slower inside a Poké Ball, meaning the Pokémon wouldn't get hungry as quickly, but to me, that seemed like complete nonsense. A Pokémon needed real time to grow, socialize, and especially to have high-quality, regular meals if they were to grow stronger.
As soon as Bran sat down with his portion, Lilly was already prepared and offered her hand. In his frantic pace, the idiot still hadn't noticed that she was missing her left limb—he simply shook the right one she offered. In my mind, I prayed fervently to all things holy, unholy, and to Arceus himself that he wouldn't make her cry.
"Are you still mad, Patrik?" Bran brought up curiously after chewing for a bit.
I completely ignored his question and kept eating with a stone-cold expression.
"Oh, come on, you can't be mad over such a stupid thing... Next time, I'll free up the room for you without a problem, I promise."
Lilly's gaze darted curiously between the two of us, which Bran noticed immediately. He quickly took the floor to explain the whole situation to her.
"You see, we share a room at the hotel, and last night, Patrik came back with a female acquaintance, saying he needed some privacy for a few minutes. Except I was already asleep, and I really didn't plan on wandering around Cerulean in the middle of the night just so he could get laid." He paused for a moment and added with a manly smirk, "But knowing you, you still got some action anyway, you lucky dog!"
Lilly smiled at me in amusement, those old mischievous sparks twinkling in her eyes again, and turned directly to Bran.
"I might be a girl... but even I know that you very seriously violated the Bro Code with that!" she told him strictly, but with an unconcealed smirk. "That's just not something friends do to each other."
"Thanks!" I returned her smirk and nodded appreciatively. Then I looked back at Bran. "Essentially, it's not just about whether I managed to figure things out in the end. It's the principle. If you bailed on me over such a trivial little thing, how am I supposed to trust you and rely on you in genuinely serious situations out in the wild?"
I could see him thinking about it deeply, but in the end, he nodded in defeat. "Alright, sorry. You're right, and it won't happen again."
I wasn't at all sure if he actually realized it himself, if Lilly had convinced him, or if he just simply didn't want to argue anymore. I let it go and just gave a curt nod.
"What did you guys even do today?" he asked curiously after a brief silence, trying to steer the conversation to a more pleasant topic. "I explored almost all of Cerulean. It's a magical place... I'm honestly surprised that, even though there are so many people here, the city feels really peaceful."
"Nothing special. Some shopping, and then a few battles," I shrugged calmly and kept eating.
Bran frowned at me slightly, obviously disappointed that I didn't share his enthusiasm for sightseeing. So, Lilly took the floor instead.
"First, his Machoke battled a Hitmonchan and absolutely smashed him to a pulp!" she announced to him with a smile. "And then Wartortle fought a Houndoom. That was even more one-sided."
It seemed like Bran's open, friendly nature was doing her some good, which made me genuinely happy. At least she was getting her mind off things a bit.
"What about you? Did you battle today, too?" Bran turned to her with a curious smile.
"No," she shook her head, casting her eyes back down to her plate. "I'm a little worried about Bulbasaur... I only have him left."
"Saur! Saur!" Bulbasaur chimed in from under the table in an offended tone, as if to protest that he wasn't afraid of any battle.
"See? We can change that!" Bran blurted out enthusiastically, a plan instantly popping into his head. "Patrik is a pro, so we can go to the seaside tomorrow, and on the way, we can catch something new for you, Lilly!"
Lilly visibly froze at that exact second. Out of my peripheral vision, I noticed her hand automatically shoot down under the table, find Bulbasaur's vine, and squeeze it tightly. It was clear she was practically terrified of the wilderness. Even so, Bran's idea was more than excellent.
"Great idea, Bran," I nodded in agreement, trying to give Lilly some courage. "We can set out. We'll have some fun, see the ocean, and besides, it's quite safe there since that path functions as a local tourist attraction. There are always plenty of rangers patrolling the area."
"Did you actually read a tourist brochure?" Bran teased incredulously, but quickly got back to the topic. "But yeah, exactly. It's safe there, and the wild Pokémon in that area are used to people, so they're said to be quite peaceful." He paused and looked directly at her. "I want to go, Patrik does too... What about you, Lilly?"
And right at that moment—as he looked at her intently—he finally noticed the missing part of her left arm. For a second, the words caught in his throat, but fortunately, thanks to a healthy self-preservation instinct, he completely ignored it, didn't hesitate, and just patiently waited for an answer.
"Don't worry, Lilly. Together we have eight strong Pokémon," I tried to finally convince her and calm her racing heart. "No wild Pokémon is going to hurt you with us around."
I completely understood her panic-inducing fear of the wilderness. After that brutal experience with Fearow, almost anyone would be terrified. But that was exactly why the sea, a relaxed vibe, and a safe environment were the ideal way to start gradual therapy. And she without a doubt urgently needed more partners on her team.
Lilly hesitated for a moment, but then resolutely raised her head and nodded.
"We can go!" she blurted out so quickly, it was as if she wanted to get it over with before she could overthink and take her word back.
"Bulbasaur!" her Pokémon chimed in enthusiastically.
"Alright, so we can head out tomorrow morning," I immediately switched into planning mode. "The walk to the sea should take half a day at most at a slow pace—at least according to the information board in town. We'll catch our own food right on the spot without any issues... But as far as catching Pokémon goes, we need to agree on clear rules beforehand."
"What do you mean?" Bran asked curiously, setting down his utensils.
„Since there are three of us trainers, I think we should set some rules. If we encounter a wild Pokémon that someone wants for their team, that person gets priority to battle and catch it. If it's a Pokémon we're only interested in selling later, we should decide the order beforehand with rock-paper-scissors. This way, we won't waste time arguing when we find one, and whoever wins can act right away."
After two nods of agreement, we were indeed playing rock-paper-scissors right there at the cafeteria table. From Lilly's genuine smile and relaxed, nonchalant attitude, it was clear to me that she was enjoying the game itself far more than its outcome.
And in the end, Lilly, who had looked like she didn't care about the outcome at all, won the whole game handily. I finished second, and Bran took third.
"Alright, so we have that finalized. Tomorrow at eight in the morning we'll meet here for breakfast, and we can set out right after," I concluded the discussion.
"Agreed," Bran chimed in enthusiastically, while Lilly next to him just gave a confirming nod with a calm smile.
We continued eating in a relaxed atmosphere. While Bran explained to Lilly with immense passion why he didn't actually battle for Gym badges, I pulled out my Pokédex and quickly typed out a message.
Good evening, Professor Oak.
Please let Alakazam know that I accept his offer. My entire current team consists of males, so I would appreciate it if the Abra were also male. I am currently staying at the southern Poké Center in Cerulean City.
Thank you, Patrik.
"Are we moving yet, Patrik?" Bran snapped me out of my thoughts, having just finished his last bite.
"Sure," I nodded, putting away the Pokédex. "So we're all set for tomorrow, Lilly. Eight in the morning here in the cafeteria, deal?"
"Yes. See you later!" she said goodbye with a small but genuine smile, cleverly stacking the used plates and bowls with one hand before taking them away.
Our Pokémon were completely full as well. We cleared the table and made sure to check the floor underneath just in case any mess was left behind. We gathered all the bowls and took them to the return bins.
Since our hotel was only a short walk away, it didn't even take us twenty minutes to pack our things, check out, return to the Poké Center, and settle into our own rooms. Finally, some privacy.
As soon as the door closed behind me, I released my entire team, this time including Aron. Of course, even before pressing the button on his Poké Ball, I placed a one-kilogram iron weight plate from the IASka on the floor so he would have something to sink his teeth into.
Aron materialized in the middle of the room, immediately drawing in the air and sniffing around. In a split second, his eyes lit up wildly as he caught the scent of his favorite treat, and without hesitation, he lunged at the prepared iron. He instantly started crunching on the metal, completely ignoring me and all the other Pokémon around him. I watched him with a smile—regardless of his massive armor, he was still just a tiny, hungry baby.
"Guys, keep an eye on him for a bit, alright?" I turned to my team with a request, gesturing toward Aron. "I'm going to take a quick shower."
"War!" "Machoke!" "Hound," came the chorus from my trio of Pokémon.
Given their sizes, the room was quite crowded, but luckily we fit without any issues. I had sent Haunter out into the city to feed on some negative emotions while we were still packing back at the hotel.
I quickly took a refreshing summer shower and cleaned myself up. I was in a bit of a hurry because I planned to meditate before going to sleep—I desperately needed to work on my aura. But when I stepped out of the bathroom, a real surprise was waiting for me.
Machoke was doing push-ups on the floor with a sleeping Aron lying on his back like a weight. Meanwhile, Houndoom was lounging comfortably on my bed, and Wartortle was withdrawn into his shell in the corner of the room.
The biggest shock, however, was Oak's Alakazam. He was levitating near the window, and floating in the air right beside him was a tiny, sleeping Abra. Alakazam was studying me with a cold, piercing gaze. Before I could even say hello, his eyes flashed with a wild blue light. For a fraction of a second, I thought I saw pure surprise cross his face. A moment later, his eyes glowed even brighter, and his deep voice echoed inside my head.
"Spiritual energy flows within you," he informed me coldly through telepathy. "My offspring will initially have difficulty communicating with you telepathically until its mind grows stronger and you get used to each other."
"Why?" I asked curiously, though only in my mind, to reply in the same manner.
"Spiritual energy protects your mind and your memories. It is an energy that does not belong to this world."
He paused for a moment, as if contemplating something he had sensed within me. Then, using psychokinesis, he gently placed the sleeping Abra on the bed next to Houndoom and, without a single word, simply vanished. He had used Teleport.
I didn't even get a chance to thank him before he was gone... But I was grateful nonetheless.
I immediately reached into my pocket, pulled out my Pokédex, and aimed it at the sleeping Abra on the bed.
ABRA — the Psychic Radar Pokémon
Type: Psychic
Average height: 0.9 m
Average weight: 19.5 kg
Abra is a small, bipedal, mammalian Pokémon with a yellow coloration and a slender build. Its face is shaped like a dragon's, with a small, light-yellow snout and two short, pointed ears. Its wide eyes are almost always closed, as it spends most of its life sleeping. Its body is divided into segments, with black skin showing through the gaps. On its shoulders, it has two brown protrusions resembling pauldrons, and a brown armor-like structure wraps around its chest. Both its hands and feet have three digits, with the toes being significantly longer. Its long, thick tail has a prominent brown band near the tip.
Using its telepathic radar, Abra can sense approaching danger even before it happens. If it detects a threat, it immediately teleports to a safe location, often without even waking up. It can control its own mind using hypnosis and use its psychic abilities even while asleep. However, its immense psychic power places a heavy burden on its brain, which is why Abra needs to sleep for approximately 18 hours a day. While sleeping, it can utilize various extrasensory abilities, teleport over great distances, and even relocate to tree canopies, where it searches for and consumes berries. The deeper it sleeps, the farther it can teleport.
Despite its power, Abra is a very cautious and timid Pokémon. It most commonly lives near human settlements, regularly teleporting from place to place. During random teleports, it can create optical illusions that look like copies of itself, helping to confuse its surroundings.
Scanned subject values:
Height: 0.92 m
Weight: 21.3 kg
Aura level: 16/100
Gender: Female
"Oh dear," I shook my head. "I wanted a male for my team, but I'll trust that Alakazam's IQ had some genius reason for this."
I tossed a Poké Ball straight at her, and without it shaking even a single time, Abra was successfully mine.
***
Author's note:
Well, well, well—we're heading to the seaside! Are we talking beach loungers and piña coladas, or something else entirely?
We'll see what kind of Pokémon we—or rather, Lilly—manage to catch! She really needs to expand her team, and honestly, our MC's spiritual energy definitely has its perks!
We had a full team of guys so far, but Alakazam knows best; every team needs a lady. Plus, the female option won the poll by a landslide once all the votes were tallied! :)
Want to read ahead? The next chapter is already out for free on my official website! Grab the direct link on our Discord community: tgdTNZYVKt
***
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