Chapter 3: New World Same Problems

The following day, Tyson awoke to explore the town. Thanks to Nurse Joy, he was outfitted with new clothes, Larvitar's Pokeball, and 500 Pokedollars—the local currency. Azalea Town resembled its game version, with lush greenery adorning the houses and businesses. The town's size surprised Tyson: it was much larger than its game representation, but this seemed reasonable when he thought about it realistically. He was also fascinated by the variety of stores, offering everything from survival tools and tents to canned food, medicine, and explorer gear. This was unexpected, as such diversity is usually found in mid-sized cities or larger, yet the town was amply stocked to meet the needs of its visitors.

Locals bustled about, with children playing in a nearby clearing. Tyson observed a stark difference from his own world: various Pokémon strolled alongside their trainers. Species ranged from Scyther to Furret, and even Pidgey perched in a nearby tree. "I really am in the world of Pokémon, huh," Tyson mused, proceeding on his path.

After a 30-minute walk, Tyson reached his destination: the local bookstore "Know It All Novels". His sole purpose for visiting was to understand the world's structure. The memories at his disposal were rich in detail, yet they belonged to a 12-year-old who had attended trainer school aimlessly. The former Tyson was unfocused, with mediocre grades and interests limited to Pokémon battles and battle theory.

Both classes offered their advantages and applications, as Tyson frequently engaged in battles with his peers alongside Larvitar. Yet, the absence of practical knowledge could be detrimental in the long term. Upon entering the shop, Tyson observed the numerous bookshelves, each marked with different categories. As he walked by the front desk, he noticed the clerk, a young woman with short black hair tied in a ponytail. After offering a brief greeting, Tyson headed to the shelves and selected several books he believed would be useful.

Upon leaving the store, Tyson cradled four books under his arm. One, titled "Wonders of The World," contained maps and descriptions of various landmarks around the globe, and was, regrettably, the third thickest volume he had acquired. The second, "History of Sinnoh," seemed essential, especially since his grandparents were due to arrive in two days, and his knowledge of Sinnoh was limited to anime episodes and "Pokémon Diamond" gameplay. The last book, a pocket-sized tome called "World Survival Guide," he intended to peruse later, hoping it would be as useful in this world as it would have been in his own.

Having spent a total of 60 Pokédollars, Tyson was pleased with his purchase. Upon exiting the shop, he let Larvitar out of its ball, and they proceeded down the street together. Larvitar's presence attracted attention from many tourists and locals, with several passersby requesting to take photos, as it was a rare Pokémon. 'Huh, so Pokémon like Larvitar are uncommon around here. It makes sense, given that it was discovered on Mt. Silver,' Tyson mused. 

As they made their way back to the Pokemon Center, Tyson decided to stop at the local Poke Mart. Gazing at the blue-roofed structure, he recalled the numerous times he had visited it in the game. 'It's much bigger in real life... but then, the same goes for the Pokemon Center,' Tyson mused as he stepped inside, Larvitar trailing behind him. Inside the mart, Tyson surveyed the various aisles filled with goods, his expression one of curiosity. Approaching the cashier, he asked about food for his Larvitar, prompting a smile from the cashier who then gestured towards the shelf behind her.

"Standard brand Pokemon food costs 80 pokedollars per pack, while the expensive foods will cost 200 pokedollars. Now for Pokemon trainers the cost of Pokemon food is different as the packs I mentioned before are for pets and workers. For nutrition food the cost of a standard pack is 120 pokedollars while the expensive packs can cost as much as 400 pokedollars per pack. That unfortunately is only standard nutrition for your Pokemon as customized Pokemon food can cost upwards of 700 to 1200 pokedollars" the cashier explained. The explanation was easy to understand, however Tyson could feel his wallet bleed as he thought of all the money, he would spend should he choose to become a trainer.

After some thought, Tyson asked about the cost of Pokeballs, prompting a knowing smile from the cashier. She recognized that Tyson was likely aspiring to be a trainer, as many children his age do, and she wanted to ensure he understood the associated costs. "A standard Pokeball costs 200 Pokedollars, while a Greatball is 300 Pokedollars. Premiere balls, often used by Pokemon Coordinators, are 350 Pokedollars each. Ultra Balls are priced at 600 Pokedollars apiece. Unfortunately, specialized balls like Diveballs, Heavy Balls, and Friendballs are only available in major cities such as Goldenrod City."

'God damn, that's expensive,' Tyson mused as he nodded to the woman's explanation. Although Nurse Joy had given him 500 pokedollars, which would normally suffice for a week's expenses and food, Tyson reflected on how his usual school allowance was a mere 50 pokedollars. 'Sigh, no matter the world, the cost of fancy cars and convenient equipment is always steep,' he thought as he requested a pack of nutrient food for Larvitar. After spending 180 pokedollars in a mere two hours, Tyson was left with just 320 pokedollars in hand. 

Upon reaching the Pokemon Center, Tyson swiftly made his way inside, bypassing numerous trainers and Pokemon lined up for check-ups. Approaching the front desk, he informed Nurse Joy of his intention to retire to his room, then hurried up the nearby stairs, keen to delve into the books he had acquired. Once in his room, Tyson spread out the three books and addressed Larvitar, "Alright, buddy, it's study time first. If my hunch is correct, grandma should be here to fetch us soon," he said, reminiscing about his grandmother—a generous woman who doted on the old Tyson.

"Since they both reside in Sinnoh, we'll likely move there to complete our schooling," Tyson said, with Larvitar nodding in agreement. He opened the first book titled "Wonders of The World" and quickly flipped to the first page. As time passed and the sky darkened, Tyson found himself a little over halfway through the book. To his astonishment, the book provided a concise history of each region; he had already covered Kanto and Johto and was midway through Hoenn's history. "There's so much more to this world than I realized. Wars involving Pokemon and ancient ceremonies honoring legendary Pokemon show how diverse the culture is," Tyson remarked, glancing at the now sleeping Larvitar. 'The little guy must be bored since he doesn't have much to do. Maybe I should ask Nurse Joy if we can explore a bit,' Tyson thought.

As time went by, Tyson continued to peruse the book, pausing only when the clock signaled 8:00 pm—dinner time. Fortunately, Nurse Joy had already procured dinner for him. Thanks to his foresight in purchasing Pokémon food earlier, Larvitar was able to consume nutritious food to strengthen its battle readiness. Tyson pondered, 'Even though I'm uncertain of the path ahead, ensuring my partner's health is paramount.' Nurse Joy's thorough examination revealed that Larvitar was in excellent health, likely due to a diet of high-quality food in its early stages, these included Soft Sand and Hard Stone—both rare and costly items. 

'Grandpa was quite serious about caring for Larvitar. He must have found it as an egg and during its early infancy to ensure it was in top condition fed it rare materials' Tyson thought. After finishing his meal, Tyson left his room and walked downstairs to find Nurse Joy. At the desk, he saw Nurse Joy and her partner Chansey sorting through what he presumed were medical reports from the day's patients. "Oh, Tyson, did you enjoy your meal?" Nurse Joy inquired as she noticed him. "It was great, thank you," Tyson responded gratefully. "I wanted to ask if there's a place, I can take Larvitar for some exercise?" he asked to which Nurse Joy responded with a smile, "That's no problem at all. There's a battle area in the park where children often gather. If you're fortunate, you might challenge a few for a battle to give your little one some experience and exercise."

"That sounds like a great idea" Tyson replied 'It would even give me a chance to try Pokemon Battles'. Like any Pokemon fan Tyson always dreamed of standing on the field commanding a Pokemon in battle. Finishing his conversation with Nurse Joy, Tyson returned to his room and continued his reading until bedtime. 

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]