[LATE AFTERNOON]
The sun hung low, casting long shadows over the cobbled path. A soft breeze stirred the trees as Mia stepped forward, her boots crunching against gravel and old leaves. Just ahead stood a weathered wooden sign, its paint faded but still legible:
[Welcome to Viridian City – The Eternal Green Paradise.]
She paused in front of it, reading the words slowly, as if trying to prove to herself that they were real.
'Viridian City. I'm actually here. Kanto… finally. Just me, Chansey, and Audino. One and a half days. It felt like a week.'
A deep breath slipped from her lips—part relief, part disbelief. She adjusted the strap of her bag and stepped under the archway, into the city proper.
The streets were alive with the gentle pulse of late afternoon. Trainers strolled by with their partners at their heels. A Growlithe chased two laughing kids down a side street. A young man stood outside the Poké Mart. Voices mixed with the occasional chirp of Pidgey perched on lampposts, and the warm scent of baked bread drifted from a small café.
No one stopped to stare, but Mia felt their glances. Her dirt-smudged shirt, the forest leaves still tangled in her hair, the pair of loyal Pokémon beside her—she didn't exactly blend in.
She muttered under her breath, just loud enough for her companions to hear, "Guess a girl walking around with a Chansey and an Audino isn't too weird around here…"
Audino let out a soft hum of agreement. Chansey waddled a little closer to her leg, nudging her lightly.
They wandered for a bit—past bakeries, quiet homes, small shops. Eventually, Mia spotted a middle-aged woman in a sunhat crouched outside a modest storefront, gently watering a row of potted flowers.
Mia hesitated, then took a step forward, trying to sound casual.
"Um—excuse me? Sorry to bother you, but… do you know where the Pokémon Center is?"
The woman looked up, immediately offering a kind smile. Her eyes flicked briefly to Mia's tired face and her worn boots before softening further.
"Of course, sweetheart. You're almost there," she said warmly, standing with a hand on her hip. "See that road there?" She pointed just past a bright blue building. "Go straight past the Poké Mart—big blue roof, you can't miss it. The Center's right behind it. Look for a red roof and a big white Poké Ball symbol."
Mia nodded gratefully, bowing slightly. "Thank you. Really."
The woman waved her hands with a chuckle. "No worries. First time in Viridian?"
"Yeah... just got here."
"Well then—welcome." Her smile turned knowing. "You and your Pokémon look like you've been through quite a bit. Nurse Joy will fix you all up in no time."
Mia exhaled softly, almost smiling. "Hope so."
---
[EVENING – POKÉMON CENTER LOBBY]
The automatic doors parted with a soft hiss.
Mia stepped inside, the city sounds muffled instantly by the Center's calming atmosphere. Cool, conditioned air washed over her skin, and the faint scent of antiseptic and herbal salve lingered in the background. The space was cozy—soft lighting, muted tones of red and cream, and a few plush couches where trainers lounged with their Pokémon.
Just as in the shows, Nurse Joy stood at the reception counter, flipping through a medical file. Her pink hair was perfectly styled beneath her nurse's cap, her uniform crisp and white. Her Chansey hummed quietly as it sorted supplies into neat little trays.
Mia approached the desk, her feet slow, uncertain. Her voice came small, tucked inside the kind of hope that could still be disappointed.
"Hi… I was wondering if you have any rooms available?"
Nurse Joy glanced up and offered a gentle smile, eyes crinkling with warmth. "Of course. You've come at a good time—we've got a few left tonight."
She reached below the counter but paused, her gaze returning to Mia. "I'll just need to see some ID for registration."
Mia hesitated, blinking as if the request had startled her. Then, remembering the ID she'd found earlier in her borrowed bag, she fished it out with slightly trembling fingers. The card was clean, crisp—too pristine compared to how she felt. She handed it over.
Nurse Joy took the ID with practiced ease, slotting it into a small device on the counter. The screen lit up with a soft chime, casting a pale glow across Joy's face as she read the information silently.
Her expression didn't change, still calm and professional—but her eyes lingered on the screen a beat longer than necessary. When she looked back up, there was a quiet understanding in her gaze. Something gentler. As if she'd seen something that explained the way Mia held herself—like she was bracing for the world to fall apart again at any second.
"You're all set," Nurse Joy said softly, sliding the ID back across the counter and placing a sleek, silver keycard gently in Mia's open palm. "Room Seven. It's on the second floor, left hallway. Nice view from that one."
Mia clutched the keycard, her fingers curling tightly around it. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Thank you," she said, barely above a whisper.
Nurse Joy's gaze shifted to the Pokémon by her side. "They look like they've had quite a journey. Would you like us to take a look at them? Just to be safe?"
Mia glanced down at them, a sudden pang of guilt bubbling up. Audino's paws were dusty, and Chansey's pouch was scuffed.
"Yeah. Please. Should I, um… return them to their Poké Balls?"
Joy shook her head kindly. "Not necessary. They're perfect as they are. Chansey and I can take it from here."
Her Chansey perked up with a cheerful "Chaan-sey!" and waddled from behind the counter, arms outstretched. Mia's Audino gave her a reassuring glance before stepping forward, while her Chansey hesitated—then turned to flash her a comforting smile before following the nurse's assistant.
Mia swallowed. "Thanks… Please take care of them."
Joy nodded, voice steady and warm. "We always do."
---
[NIGHT – ROOM 7, POKÉMON CENTER]
The door clicked shut behind her with a quiet "thunk."
The room wasn't fancy, but to Mia, it felt like luxury. Soft sheets on a real bed. A tiny writing desk. A small window overlooking the city rooftops glowing beneath the twilight sky.
She dropped her bag and leaned back against the door, letting the silence wrap around her. Her legs ached. Her spine popped as she stretched.
She stripped off her travel-worn clothes, leaving them in a pile, and padded barefoot into the bathroom. The hot water came on in a rush, and as she stepped into the spray, her breath caught in her throat.
'It's so warm.'
She scrubbed away the layers of dirt, sweat, and forest grime until her skin felt raw but clean. The steam clung to her like a second skin, curling tendrils of damp hair against her cheeks. When she stepped out, wrapped in a threadbare towel, she caught sight of herself in the mirror—and froze.
For a moment, her mind rejected what she was seeing. The face staring back at her was hers, unmistakably so—but it was younger. Smoother. Her cheekbones were more defined, her jaw tighter. Her dark brown eyes looked just as tired, but beneath that fatigue was a softness she hadn't seen in years.
She leaned in, palm pressed to the foggy glass, watching the condensation part around her reflection. Her skin, a warm brown that had always reminded her of the sun on river mud, glowed with health under the fluorescent lights. Her dark, wavy hair clung wetly to her shoulders, and even without makeup, her features were striking. Not perfect—but alive.
A shaky breath left her lips as the realization settled in. The ID she'd found in the bag earlier flashed through her mind: twenty years old.
"Five years younger than before… " Her stomach fluttered with something between disbelief and grief.
She stood there, staring, trying to reconcile the memory of what she looked before with the reflection of what she look now. Finally, blinking back the sting of unexpected emotion, she turned away.
After rinsing out her clothes and hanging them by the window, she changed into the center-issued cotton shirt and shorts—simple, soft, and blissfully clean.
Just as she sank onto the bed, a soft knock sounded at the door.
She opened it to find a young nurse assistant with a bright smile, holding a tray.
"Dinner," they said cheerfully, "on the house."
Mia blinked. "Seriously?"
The assistant nodded. "House policy"
She murmured a shy thank you and closed the door, placing the tray on the desk.
The smell made her stomach growl—a bowl of warm vegetable stew, a soft roll, a bottle of water. She took a bite—and nearly teared up. Carrots, leeks, something like parsnip. Real flavor. Real food.
'I forgot food could taste like this.'
---
[LATER – STILL IN THE ROOM]
She sat cross-legged on the bed, empty tray off to the side, fingers idly tracing the rim of her water bottle.
Her mind was a quiet hum now. The kind of tired where you can't even bring yourself to move.
One and a half days. It's not even that long.
But it felt endless.
She looked at the window, at the faint outlines of rooftops and streetlights, and thought of her Pokémon—of how they'd walked beside her, comforted her when she hadn't known what to do.
A soft knock interrupt her thoughts.
Mia sat up as the door opened slightly and Nurse Joy peeked in.
"They're doing just fine," she said gently. "Some light scratches, nothing serious. They're resting now—you can see them first thing in the morning."
Mia smiled, slow and tired. "Thank you. I mean it."
Joy's eyes softened. "That's what we're here for. You get some sleep too."
And with that, the door clicked shut again.
Mia let out a long breath and fell back onto the bed, pulling the soft blanket over her.
The lights of the city glowed beyond the window. Her eyes fluttered closed.
'No more unnecessary thought for tonight… I made it. That's enough.'
---
To be continued...