Chapter 2: My Partner

Azalea Town Outskirts- Johto Region

As Tyson approached the town gate, he was swiftly stopped by the local Pokémon Rangers due to his disheveled appearance. Fortunately, after he explained his situation, they kindly offered to escort him to the local Pokémon Center. Upon entering, Nurse Joy rushed toward him with a look of worry, "Oh my, child, are you alright? What happened to you?" she inquired, while carefully checking Tyson for any injuries.

She bore the familiar look Tyson recognized from his old games and anime: the same pink dress with a white apron on top. She also donned her iconic nurse's hat, with her partner Pokémon, Chansey, by her side. Seeing Nurse Joy in person, as opposed to in a video game, gave Tyson the jolt he needed. The Pokémon were one aspect, but now he was confronted with one of the most emblematic characters from the games and anime.

After the examination and recounting his story, the room fell into a solemn silence. Breaking the quiet, Nurse Joy inquired, "I am sorry for your loss. Do you have any other family you can call on?" Tyson paused, reflecting on his memories. Since arriving in this world and absorbing the previous owner's memories, he had scarcely a moment to ponder them, making his silence at that moment quite understandable. After a brief pause, Tyson responded, "At present, the only family I have in Johto are my grandparents who are local to Sinnoh." Fortunately for Tyson, the host still had some family members to reach out to.

Upon hearing Tyson's words, Nurse Joy nodded and responded, "Okay, I'll get you some food and a change of clothes. For now, follow me; I'll show you to one of our spare rooms." She had completed her examination of Tyson's body during their conversation and found no injuries other than minor scratches and cuts, which was fortunate. After being directed to the bathroom, Tyson took a shower and put on the spare clothes provided by Nurse Joy. Before going to the empty room, Tyson remembered to entrust Larvitar to Nurse Joy for a check-up, as they had both endured a lot recently, and he wanted to make sure his companion was alright.

Tyson, now seated in an empty room, was enjoying the meal provided by Nurse Joy when he heard a knock. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by another familiar face. With her dark teal hair and fair complexion, she stood out. Dressed in a purple shirt adorned with a badge inscribed with 'Jenny', a matching skirt, and white gloves, she was unmistakably Officer Jenny, a character Tyson recalled from the anime.

Jenny paused at the door, surveying the room before she asked, "May I come in?" Her tone conveyed a respect for Tyson's privacy under the circumstances. With a nod from Tyson, they both took seats at the center of the room. Officer Jenny then proceeded to question Tyson about the events that led him to the Pokémon Center, and he responded as best he could. Following his account, a phone's ring sliced through the silence, prompting Officer Jenny to step out for the call. After a brief interval, she returned, this time accompanied by Nurse Joy, who came to return Larvitar.

Larvitar came to a halt beside Tyson as Officer Jenny started speaking, "Your grandparents have been notified about your situation. We are organizing transportation for you, which will be funded by the Pokémon League's Emergency Response Department. Since you're not a licensed trainer, you'll be treated as a regular citizen. Given your age, you'll require a guardian's supervision for the next 48 hours." Tyson absorbed Officer Jenny's words and sighed inwardly. 'Considering all that has occurred, it's logical they'd want to monitor me,' he reflected.

Unsurprisingly, Nurse Joy offered to supervise Tyson during his stay in Azalea Town, which brought a smile to his face. As she handed him a Poke Ball, Nurse Joy mentioned that Larvitar was currently without one, reminding Tyson that he had lost Larvitar's Poke ball during his swim. Before leaving the room, Officer Jenny promised to ensure Tyson's safety in Azalea Town. Lying on the bed, Tyson reflected on his recent experiences. 'First, I get shot, then I find myself in the body of a kid in the Pokémon world. What now? I no longer have to worry about my job, which is a relief. But it also means I have to live as this kid from now on. I need to set a goal; otherwise, adapting to this world will mean merely maintaining the status quo and nothing more.' Tyson thought.

Holding the Poke ball in his hand and glancing to his side, Tyson observed Larvitar comfortably nestled next to him, eyes shut in rest. Recalling Nurse Joy's words, Tyson softly inquired, "Larvitar... are you awake?" to which the bipedal creature responded with a gentle hum. "I just want to express my gratitude for being by my side all this time," Tyson said, eliciting a smile from Larvitar as its eyes formed a joyful expression. Rising from the bed, Tyson earnestly continued, "Larvitar, I don't have many friends in this world, and you've been a loyal companion throughout. Right now, I'm on my own and I need someone I can rely on unconditionally. We've been companions for years, so I have to ask, will you keep following me?" Tyson extended the Poke ball towards it.

The room fell silent as they locked gazes. With a gentle nudge, Larvitar touched the Poke ball and disappeared in a burst of light. The button flashed red, and the ball trembled, then stilled. "Glad to have you on board, partner," Tyson said, releasing Larvitar as they prepared to rest for the night. Outside the Pokémon Center, a pair of eyes peered out from a nearby bush, filled with curiosity and wonder. The creature, a quadrupedal mammalian being with pinkish purple fur and large ears, regarded the building with a mix of curiosity and anger. As the night deepened, it faded into the shadows, foraging for food, yet it harbored plans to return the following day.

Pokémon Team:

Team Rank: 1

Larvitar

Gender: Male

Type: Rock/Ground

Abilities: Guts, Sand Veil [Undeveloped]

Held Item: None

Moves: Rock Throw, Bite, Payback, Leer, Scary Face, Dragon Dance [Inherited], Ancient Power [Inherited]