The sun hung high above Kanto's horizon as James stood on a hilltop, gazing down at the sprawling city before him. Saffron City—Kanto's urban heart—stretched endlessly into the distance, its skyscrapers gleaming like polished steel and its streets humming with life.
Trainers of all ages moved purposefully. Businessmen hurried through crosswalks while vendors sold snacks and Pokéballs from automated kiosks. A pack of Growlithe jogged alongside a group of Officer Jennys. Pokémon battles erupted in designated zones, watched by crowds of cheering fans.
James took a deep breath. "This Is it."
He felt his heartbeat quicken as he stepped forward into the buzzing metropolis.
A short tram ride later, James arrived at a towering glass building with bright holographic letters spinning above the entrance: SAFFRON CITY TRAINER REGISTRATION CENTER.
Inside, pristine white walls gleamed under cool lights. The air smelled faintly of disinfectant and metal.
"Next!" called a young woman at the front desk, her voice cheerful but robotic.
James approached and slid the forged ID card across the polished counter. "James Blaze. I'm here to register."
The receptionist scanned the card. A moment passed. Then another. James swallowed, nervous.
But then—
DING!
"Welcome, James Blaze. You're now officially a registered Pokémon Trainer," the woman said, smiling as a small machine slid forward a tray.
On it sat a Trainer Card, a Badge Case, and a brand-new Pokédex.
"Here's your Trainer Card and Badge Case. Your details have been uploaded to the Kanto League system. Your current rank is Rookie. You can begin collecting Gym Badges right away."
James stared at the sleek card.
Name: James Blaze
Rank: Rookie
Registered Pokémon: 3
Badges Collected: 0
He gave a polite nod and pocketed the items.
A soft chime rang in his head as the system appeared in his vision.
[Mission Updated: Reach Saffron City and Register as a Trainer – Complete]
[Reward: 3x Low-Level Rare Candies]
[Rare Candies increase your Pokémon's level by one and boost their stats slightly. There are tiers—Low, Mid, High, and God-tier. Low-tier works until Level 25. Ten candies of the same tier can be combined into one of a higher tier. But remember, God-tier is the limit. Any more, and it's wasteful.]
James blinked, stunned. 'So I have level-boosting items already? That's crazy helpful.'
He shoved a hand into his jacket pocket and pretended to rummage. A second later, three blue-wrapped candies materialized inside, warm to the touch.
"Let's test these out."
James made his way to the Pokémon Center and slipped through the side gate leading to a back training yard.
He tossed out his Pokéballs. In three quick flashes of light, his partners appeared.
"Alright team," James said, smiling. "Time to check in."
He held up his Pokédex.
[Charmander (Shiny) – Level: 5 – Ability: Blaze]
[Eevee – Level: 8 – Ability: Adaptability]
[Wynaut – Level: 10 – Ability: Shadow Tag]
'Hmm, Charmander's falling behind. Better get him caught up.'
He crouched beside the shiny fire lizard. "Here you go, buddy."
Charmander blinked in surprise as James handed him the candies. With a happy chirp, it chomped the first, then the second, then the third—his cheeks puffing slightly with each sugary bite.
A moment passed. Then Charmander suddenly hiccupped and released a puff of black smoke.
James grinned. "Smokescreen, huh? Not bad!"
[Charmander (Shiny) – Level: 8 – Ability: Blaze – New Move Learned: Smokescreen]
Beside him, Eevee and Wynaut stared at the candies' remains with wide, puppy dog eyes.
James laughed. "You'll get yours soon, I promise."
He spent the next 2 hours training, helping Charmander perfect Smokescreen while Eevee and Wynaut practiced Quick Attack and Counter respectively.
Finally, satisfied, he returned them to their Pokéballs and stored them in the system's PC Dimension tab.
Back in his Pokémon Center room, James locked the door and sat cross-legged on the bed. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.
A familiar warmth built in his core, expanding outward like ripples on a lake.
'Time to refine my aura control.'
Dark pink light shimmered around him, swirling gently. It pulsed with life, wrapping around his body like a flowing ribbon.
This was his Psychic Aura—a third type that had emerged recently. Alongside the Normal and Fire auras within him, it was still raw, unstable. But he was learning to balance them.
He breathed steadily, holding the meditation as the aura thickened and surged like an invisible flame.
Miles away, deep inside the Saffron City Gym, another figure sat in eerie stillness.
A 10 year old girl, no older than James, cradled two dolls in her lap—one male, one female. Around her, Psychic energy drifted like violet smoke.
Her fingers delicately moved the dolls' limbs. She hummed an off-tune melody, the room echoing with an unsettling calm.
Then she froze.
Her eyes, dull one second ago, flared with violet fire.
A vision struck her mind—an image of James, wrapped in swirling Psychic energy. But not just that. Within him, she sensed two other auras... unlike anything she'd ever seen.
"...Interesting," she whispered. "Three auras? In one person?"
She tilted her head slowly. "I wonder if he wants to play with me."
Setting down the two dolls, she picked up a third—this one faceless, with a body shaped like hers.
A dark smirk crept onto her lips as her Psychic energy darkened into shadow.
The dolls on the ground trembled. Tiny tears formed at the corners of their sewn eyes.
Her laughter echoed across the gym as the faceless doll began to change. A nose formed. Then lips. Then the edges of eyes.
And soon, her laughter stopped.