Even with the moon hanging high in the sky, my body still felt off—like I was caught in a whirlwind, every cell in my body rebelling against me. When I tried to stand, dizziness hit me like a crashing wave. From the looks of it, Aria and Oddy were feeling just as disoriented, both wobbling unsteadily in the grass.
"Does it always feel like this when you teleport?" I asked, turning to Aria as she managed to sit up, still shaking off the dizziness.
She looked at me and immediately shook her head furiously, as if the very thought was absurd.
I sighed. "So, Skyla still has a long way to go, huh?"
Shifting my gaze away from my unsteady Pokémon, I focused on a large house at the top of the slope. It seemed vaguely familiar, but my foggy mind struggled to place it. Then—
It clicked.
"The Day-Care!" I blurted out, the realization hitting me like a jolt of electricity.
Oddy, still struggling to get his bearings, finally managed to stand upright. Aria, looking equally determined, gave him a celebratory high-five.
I opened my Inventory, hoping to find something useful. Instead, I was greeted with:
Three broken steel tent poles.
One tattered awning.
A floor sheet.
A sleeping bag.
That was it,ı must have used all my items while fighting against those man.
"Looks like we're staying at the Day-Care tonight," I announced. "That is, if they let us in. If not..." I cast a wary glance toward the dense treeline. "Well, we'll be camping in the woods without a tent."
Aria and Oddy exchanged concerned glances.
"Don't worry," I reassured them. "Tomorrow, we can head to Vermilion or Saffron City to buy new tent poles. I don't know if the gates will be open, but we can figure that out later."
I tried to sound optimistic, but exhaustion was pressing down on me. We needed a place to rest—fast.
With a deep breath, I recalled Aria and Oddy back into their Pokéballs, then made my way toward the Day-Care house.
A long walk Later
I arrived at a quaint wooden house, its white walls illuminated under the soft glow of the moon. The orange roof towered above me, casting a long shadow. Despite its warm appearance, its sheer size made it feel a little intimidating at this hour.
Walking around, I finally spotted a blue door nestled under the porch. Taking another steadying breath, I stepped inside.
The moment I entered, a flood of warm light momentarily blinded me. I blinked rapidly, trying to adjust.
Once my vision cleared, I saw her.
A woman, dressed in teal and white, stood in the middle of the room. She looked to be in her early forties, her brown eyes gleaming under the light of a nearby lamp. She had been grooming a Pokémon's tail, but upon noticing me, her hand froze.
Despite her delicate appearance, she radiated an undeniable aura of strength—like a flower that could withstand any storm.
Beside her sat a Ninetales, its golden fur shimmering with an almost ethereal glow. Even without moving, it exuded an air of regality, its deep red eyes locking onto me.
For a moment, the room was silent.
"Uh… hello?" I finally spoke, my voice a little hesitant.
The woman placed her wooden comb down on the table and gave Ninetales a gentle pat before standing.
"Hello, young man," she greeted, stepping toward me. Though her tone was polite, I could sense her curiosity. "It's not often someone visits the Day-Care at this hour."
I swallowed my salvia after hearing this.
"Miss, can I… stay here for the night?" I asked, trying to sound casual but failing. If she said no, I'd have no choice but to sleep outside.
She studied me for a moment, her eyes scanning me as if assessing whether I was trustworthy. Then, she suddenly snapped her fingers in realization.
"Wait a second," she said, pointing at me. "You're the kid who beat Misty, aren't you?"
I chuckled, rubbing the back of my head.
"Yeah, that's me."
She eyed me for another second before finally breaking into a small laugh. Then, to my surprise, she reached out and ruffled my hair.
"Of course, you can stay! Consider it charity," she said playfully before returning to her Ninetales, picking up the comb and continuing her grooming.
Relieved, I took a few steps into the living room, taking in my surroundings.
In the center of the room sat a low wooden table, surrounded by four floor cushions. Against the far wall was a small television, next to it a Pokémon PC. The place had a cozy charm, much more inviting than I had expected.
I let out an impressed whistle.
"This place used to be so much smaller," I murmured as I exited the bathroom, wiping my hands dry.
That caught the woman's attention.
She turned to me with a curious expression. "Wait… how do you know that?"
I froze for half a second.
I needed an excuse—fast. Saying "Oh, I spent days here breeding Growlithe eggs for a Shiny while playing the game" was definitely not an option.
Thinking quickly, I forced a casual shrug.
"My dad was friends with the old Day-Care Man when he was younger," I lied smoothly. "He showed me pictures of this place from back then. Now that I think about it…" I squinted at her. "I don't remember seeing you in any of them."
For a moment, she was silent. Then, she smiled, as if recalling a memory.
"This place used to be run by an elderly man," she said, her voice carrying a nostalgic warmth. "After he passed away, the Pokémon Association reached out to me and offered me the position. I accepted, of course! I love the idea of meeting new Pokémon and trainers."
Her expression brightened as she spoke.
I nodded, but inside, a wave of melancholy washed over me.
The Day-Care Man… was gone.
Even though he was just an NPC in a game, I had spent so much time here. Hatching eggs. Checking stats. Celebrating the moment I finally got a Shiny Growlithe.
And now, standing here in this real version of that world, I realized something.
Of all the NPCs in the Pokémon games… he was the one I had interacted with the most.
And now, he was just gone.
"Were you close with him?" She asked, leaning forward against the table. She had probably noticed how taken aback I was.
I met her gaze for a moment before exhaling deeply. Why did his death hit me so hard? In the game, he had been nothing more than pixels—just another NPC I'd interacted with. But here… here, he had been real. And maybe, just maybe, I had wanted to talk to him. To see if he somehow remembered me.
"Yeah… I think I was," I admitted, a small but genuine smile forming on my lips.
She glanced at her Ninetales, as if silently exchanging thoughts with the regal Pokémon. Then, she turned back to me.
"I'm Suzie, by the way. Suzie of Scissor Street," she said, casually tossing some of her long hair over her shoulder before extending a hand toward me.
Scissor Street? The name rang a bell, but I couldn't quite place it. Still, I took a few steps closer and shook her hand.
"Alex Carter," I introduced myself. "The next champio—"
I stopped mid-sentence. Something felt… off.
My brows furrowed as I instinctively scanned the room, my mind racing.
"Is something wrong?" Suzie asked, curiosity piqued. Even Ninetales, previously uninterested, now had its piercing crimson eyes fixed on me.
I exhaled sharply. "Hahh… I was just wondering why everything felt so quiet. And then it hit me." I sat back with a groan, rubbing my face in frustration.
"What's not here?" Suzie pressed, tilting her head slightly.
I let out a dry chuckle before dropping onto the wool carpet. "Nothing… except the Pokémon that's supposed to be protecting me, carrying all my money, Gym Badges, and basically everything I need to survive." I sighed. "Rotom's probably still with Bill."
Suzie held onto the table as she shifted, then slowly rose to her knees, resting her chin in her hands as she studied me.
"If you'd like," she offered, "I can call Bill's Lab and have them pass a message to Rotom. Let it know you're here." Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she added, "In the meantime, you could help me take care of the Pokémon."
The idea made me sit up immediately. "Really?" I asked, eyes lighting up.
She nodded, amused by my enthusiasm.
Eagerly, I turned to the Ninetales, reaching out to give it a friendly pat—
Before I even got close, its jaws snapped at my hand, nearly taking my fingers with it. I yanked my hand back just in time, staring at it in shock.
Suzie chuckled, shaking her head as she resumed grooming one of Ninetales' silky tails. "She doesn't warm up to people instantly," she said. "You'll have to earn her trust."