A New Beginning in Viridian City

"J-Jiwoo..." Choi Iseul stammered, her voice trembling as she stared at the spot where the female officer had vanished. "What just happened to that policewoman? She's gone...."

It was only natural for her to be scared. After all, if it could happen to someone else, she had to wonder if the same ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fate might await her.

Still, Iseul was mine now. Since I planned to send her to the Exclusive Dimension eventually, I figured it was time to explain things properly.

"I'll tell you about that later, Iseul. And don't worry—she's definitely not dead."

"O-okay... Jiwoo...."

Iseul nodded with a frightened expression. I pulled her into my arms, helping her calm down. She leaned into my chest, steadying her breathing and choosing to trust me.

After all, she had already surrendered all her rights to me. If she couldn't believe in Jiwoo, there was no one left she could believe in.

Once Iseul had settled down, we finally arrived in Viridian City.

It was time to visit the Pokémon Center—the flower of the Pokémon world.

The nurses there were all beautiful women, so they definitely had collection value. If I turned them into Maids in the Exclusive Dimension and raised my Pokémon there, I'd need plenty of women to handle their care and medical needs.

After walking for a few minutes, we reached the Viridian City Pokémon Center.

The moment we stepped inside, I finally saw her behind the counter—Nurse Joy, the one I'd only ever seen in the anime and games!

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center," she greeted us with a professional smile.

Yeongja, Iseul, and I walked in. Pikachu stayed nestled in Iseul's arms the whole time. I handed Pikachu over to Nurse Joy for a checkup, and Iseul entrusted her three Pokémon—Corsola, Staryu, and Starmie—to her as well.

That's when we heard it.

"Kirli... Kirli...."

"Ralts...."

From a corner of the Pokémon Center came the cries of two Pokémon. When I spotted them, I couldn't hide my surprise.

"Huh? Why are a Kirlia and Ralts here? And is that an egg?"

In the corner, the injured Kirlia and Ralts huddled together. The Kirlia was cradling a mysterious egg in its arms.

Nurse Joy had left the treatment to her Chansey and came back out. I asked her why a Kirlia and Ralts—Pokémon normally found in Hoenn or Sinnoh—were all the way out here in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Kanto.

"Nurse Joy, why are a Kirlia and Ralts here when they usually appear in the Hoenn or Sinnoh regions?"

She gave me a sad look and began explaining their story.

"Those two... a Trainer abandoned them because he said they were too weak."

Yeongja and Iseul immediately flared up in anger.

"What a horrible person! How could he just abandon his own Pokémon simply because he thought they were weak?!"

"That's so cruel! To throw away your Pokémon just for being weak!"

Both women were furious at the Trainer who had discarded Kirlia and Ralts. I felt the same anger, but I also recognized an opportunity.

I needed Psychic-types right now, and catching these two would solve that problem perfectly. Besides, Kirlia and Ralts were among the Pokémon I wanted most.

After all, Ralts, Kirlia, and Gardevoir were my absolute favorites.

I had no idea what kind of Pokémon the egg Kirlia was holding belonged to, though.

I approached the trembling pair in the corner and gently extended my hand toward them.

"Kirlia... Ralts... I just heard what happened to you."

"I know you're scared of people because the Trainer you trusted abandoned you."

"You can sense my emotions, can't you? Read my feelings. See that I'm sincere."

Using their abilities, Kirlia and Ralts began to probe my emotions.

According to the Pokédex, Ralts could sensitively detect the emotions of people and Pokémon. If it sensed hostility, it would hide in the shadows.

Kirlia could manipulate psycho power to twist and bend the space around it, allowing it to see into the future.

After sensing my emotions and glimpsing my future, Kirlia's face flushed red. It whispered something to the still-trembling Ralts beside it. All I could make out was a soft "Kirli... kirli...."

Whatever Kirlia said, it convinced Ralts. The little Pokémon stepped closer, and Kirlia followed, both of them climbing into my open hand.

"Kirli... kirli...."

"Ralts... ralts...."

It seemed they had opened their hearts to me and were willing to become my Pokémon.

I took out a Monster Ball and offered it to Kirlia. The Pokémon closed its eyes and tapped the ball with its own hand, allowing itself to be caught.

Ralts was about to do the same, but since Yeongja didn't have a Pokémon yet, I picked up the untouched Ralts and carried it over to her.

Ralts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠started trembling again at the approach of another person, but I whispered softly into its ear.

"It's okay, Ralts... trust me."

Ralts seemed to understand. It nodded and looked up at me with trusting eyes.

When I told Yeongja to offer her Monster Ball, she did so right away. Ralts tapped the ball on its own and let itself be caught by her.

After catching both Kirlia and Ralts, Yeongja and I immediately released them from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠their balls. The two Pokémon rushed over to me, begging to be held.

"Kirli! Kirli!" "Ralts! Ralts!"

I scooped them both into my arms. Their horns began to glow with a happy red light. After persuading them to receive treatment, they agreed and were placed in Nurse Joy's care.

Now all that remained was the egg Kirlia had been protecting. It currently sat on a cushion nearby.

I couldn't help wondering what kind of Pokémon it would hatch into.

I decided to skip over the Team Rocket part.

Just like in the original story, they appeared at the Viridian City Pokémon Center, filling the air with smoke from Koffing. The trio—Jessie, James, and Meowth—recited their usual motto.

Their target was, of course, rare Pokémon. Specifically, they were after Kirlia and Ralts.

But just like in the original, Pikachu blasted them with a Ten Thousand Volt Thunderbolt, and Kirlia finished them off with Psycho Kinesis, sending the trio blasting off again.

The only difference was that in the original, Pikachu's attack had destroyed the Pokémon Center. This time, since Kirlia delivered the final blow, the center remained intact.

Too bad... I could've claimed Jessie.

Watching them fly away, I felt genuine regret. With her hair down, Jessie was easily one of the top beauties in the entire Pokémon world.

Still, it was obvious they would come back to try stealing Pikachu, Kirlia, and Ralts. That meant Jessie would be available to claim anytime I wanted.

Come to think of it, there were several female Team Rocket executives who were pretty attractive too. Maybe I should capture them first? Since they were villains, I could use them as stress-relief punching bags however I liked.

The next morning...

After Pikachu, Kirlia, and Ralts finished their treatment at the Pokémon Center, I decided to head to Pewter City with Yeongja and Iseul.

The Viridian City Gym Leader was away anyway. I needed to defeat Brock in Pewter City and earn his badge before I could enter the Kanto League.

Pikachu had grown attached to me after everything and now rode on my shoulder. I carried Ralts in my arms as we left the center. Kirlia walked right beside me, while Yeongja cradled the egg the two Psychic-types had been protecting.

I called Professor Oak to let him know I'd caught Kirlia and Ralts. He was thrilled and encouraged me to catch even more Pokémon before hanging up.

Oh, right—before leaving Viridian City...