[LATE AFTERNOON – VIRIDIAN CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY]
The library's scent of old parchment and cedar polish had grown comforting after a few hours. Mia sat nestled in a wooden chair near the back, surrounded by a modest stack of books, her Chansey and Audino is inside they're Pokéball. Soft ticking echoed from the clock on the far wall, but she'd long stopped noticing it.
The book open in front of her now was titled:
"Modern Pokémon Nutrition & Pokéblock Applications – Indigo Region Edition."
Her fingers were busy jotting notes, her eyes scanning page after page with focused intensity.
This wasn't just feeding advice—it was a complete guide on Pokéblocks, the primary dietary solution for most trained Pokémon.
---
Pokéblocks – A Regional Staple:
A Pokéblock is a compact, nutrient-dense food cube made from a carefully blended mixture of berries, fruits, trace minerals, and—when necessary—medicinal herbs or supplements. Created using a Pokéblock mixer, this process preserves nutritional value while making it portable, easy to ration, and flavorful for Pokémon.
While wild Pokémon forage for raw materials, trained Pokémon often rely on these carefully tailored supplements to meet daily needs.
Mia smiled as she traced a diagram showing the process: fruits dropped into a cylindrical machine, blades whirring, heat steaming out the top as colorful cubes clicked into place.
"Kind of like a blender and a rice press had a baby," she muttered with amusement.
"Sigh"
"Being a trainer is so expensive."
She glanced down at the now-closed book, almost like it had betrayed her. All those warm, promising pages, and yet they'd triggered a whole new category of stress.
"Okay, so store-bought Pokéblocks are basically like... the cup noodles of Pokémon nutrition. Fine for a pinch, but feed that to your Pokémon every day and she's gonna start looking at you like you're a cheapskate."
Her eyes drifted to the windowa to the blue sky. Somewhere out there, trainers were probably handing their Pokémon freshly blended, personally infused Pokéblocks.
Meanwhile, she was still holding on the free food on the Pokémon Center.
"It's like being a personal chef, dietician, and accountant all in one… except your clients are you're Pokémon.
'Wow, being a trainer really is expensive'
"...God, I'm gonna have to take a job"
But despite her grumbles, there was a gentleness in her voice. She patted the Pokéball on her hip again.
"I mean, you're worth it. Obviously."
Mia smiled, tired but warm.
As her feet shuffled under the table, Mia reached for another book about food.
Not about Pokémon food, but human food and out diet.
"Okay, seriously... how does this world feed itself? Does this world even have animals from my world "
She rubbed her head. The nutrition books had sent her spiraling.
"Humans mostly eat grains, veggies, dairy... okay, that's fair. There's bread, rice, pecha butter, moomoo cheese, Leppa flour pasta. All plant stuff or products from Pokémon that don't get hurt. That's fine."
She counted on her fingers. "Milk from Miltank, eggs from Chansey or Blissey if you're lucky, cheese from the milk of miltank."
"But then—then—you get to the weird part."
Her voice dropped to a whisper like she was revealing state secrets. "Meat."
She looked around like someone might overhear her.
"Some people eat meat. And like, it's... fine, I guess. League-supervised. Very official. Very... not totally horrifying."
She swallowed.
"Like, Slowpoke tails? Apparently, they fall off on their own, and Slowpoke barely notices. Just plop—like shedding a scarf. And the tails grow back.
She squinted up at the book.
"I still don't know how I feel about tail stew, though.
"And Tauros meat—that's only when the population spikes. They have whole League culling programs so they don't overgraze or trample ecosystems. Still feels kind of cold, but it's managed. Fearow too—hyper-aggressive, territorial jerks in the wild.
Then came the kicker.
"Magikarp."
She stopped breathing.
"Poor, floppy Magikarp."
A long breathy sigh escaped her.
"Okay, so—apparently, they're not endangered, they're not intelligent enough to protest, and they breed like... waterlogged Zubats. There are millions of them. Some fisheries even farm them specifically for food."
Her nose scrunched.
"But like, they're mostly bones and scales. Eating one is like chewing rubber wrapped around a fork. So why even bother?"
She looked down at her boots, thoughtful.
"...I bet someone's out there right now, deep-frying Magikarp nuggets and calling it gourmet."
With a half-laugh, she rubbed her eyes. "One day I'm gonna write a thesis on all this. 'Ethics and Digestive Consequences: A Culinary Analysis of the Pokémon World'."
Then she stopped.
"Wait. That's actually a good title."
She made a mental note. Later. Add to book ideas.
---
[EVENING – TIME SLIPS AWAY]
Two book turned into Three. Then Four. Then Five.
From "Pokémon First Aid for Field Nurses" to "Indigo League Regulations: 98th Edition."
Hours passed like nothing.
But the longer she read, the more patterns she noticed:
Every single book focused on Kanto and Johto.
There was no mention of Kalos, Hoenn, or Sinnoh. No information about Mega Evolution. No whispers of Key Stones or Fairy types. Not even a passing reference.
She scanned indexes. Cross-referenced author names. Checked appendices.
Still nothing.
Mia leaned forward, resting her head in her hands. Her thoughts buzzed like static.
"I was hoping," she whispered, "there'd be something"
Her eyes drifted up, and for the first time all day, she noticed the clock.
6:42 PM.
She blinked.
"What? I've been here that long?"
"Gurgle"
Her stomach answered.
Mia began packing up her things, rubbing the bridge of her nose.
"Okay, okay. Let's go get food."
---
[EVENING – LEAVING THE LIBRARY]
Outside, twilight had fallen completely. The streets of City were washed in gentle amber from the lamps overhead. Shops were closing. The Pokémon Center's neon sign glowed in the distance like a lighthouse.
Her bag felt heavier with books and unanswered questions.
But what weighed on her more was what she didn't find.
No Fairy-type listings.
No Mega Evolution.
There was Professor Sycamorebut she only find his book about General Pokémon Evolution – Hjs studies about how Pokémon evolve overall, including the mechanisms and triggers behind evolution (like getting stronger, using items, friendship, etc.).
Mia sighed as she walked, her thoughts quiet but persistent.
it's still wasn't discovered
Her hand brushed the pouch that held the Audinite.
'should she take the step and introduce mega evolution?'
She thought thinking the opportunities it will open to her.
'Nahhhhhhh... great opportunities equals great risk. Some evil organizations might target me for information.'
She touch Audino's Pokéball, which attached to her hips.
"We'll wait for it to be discovered" she said softly. "One day. I know we will use this, and maybe find Chansey's mega stone too."
---
To be continued…