Chapter no.5 Knowledge is Power

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As Austin walked through Viridian City, he found himself transported back to the 90s vibe depicted in the show.

The city had a nostalgic feel, with simple, low buildings painted in calm, pastel colors. Streets were quieter than he expected, with only a few people and Pokémon milling about, giving the city a laid-back atmosphere that contrasted sharply with the bustling cities of the present day.

'Unlike the anime, I wasn't stopped by Officer Jenny,' Austin mused to himself, a hint of relief in his thoughts.

The possibility of not encountering Team Rocket at the Pokémon Center crossed his mind.

'I would love to avoid Team Rocket, but why weren't they warned about by Officer Jenny? Is it some kind of Butterfree effect where me catching two Pokémon and arriving relatively safer did something?'

Austin stopped a passerby to ask for directions to the Pokémon Center.

After a brief conversation, with a thankful nod, he continued on his way. As he walked, he observed the details around him—the way the sunlight filtered through the leaves of well-placed trees, the soft hum of the city around him, and the distant laughter of children playing with their Pokémon.

Fifteen minutes later, the Pokémon Center came into view.

It stood out distinctly from the rest of the town's architecture, larger and more modern.

'To quote Ash, it's gigantic.'

The building loomed ahead, its large glass doors reflecting the evening light, beckoning to trainers from afar.

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center," Nurse Joy, a pink-haired woman, greeted Austin warmly as he entered. Her voice was gentle, a soothing presence for any weary trainer. "How can I help you?"

"Can you check if my Pokémon are healthy?" Austin asked, handing her the Pokéballs containing Spearow and Rattata, and then Pikachu, who looked visibly shocked.

"Relax, Pikachu, she's just going to see if you're injured."

"Chu," Pikachu muttered, still uneasy.

"Um, Pikachu doesn't like Pokéballs, and I haven't really let Spearow and Rattata out since I caught them earlier today," Austin warned her. "So please be careful."

Nurse Joy nodded understandingly as she placed the Pokéballs on a tray and motioned for Pikachu to hop on. The little electric mouse looked scared, his body tense with hesitation.

"Don't worry, buddy, she's just here to help."

Nurse Joy offered a comforting smile, which seemed to ease Pikachu's fears somewhat, prompting him to hesitantly jump onto the examination table.

"Ahem, Nurse Joy, is there like a bookstore or something around here where I can buy books like how to make Pokémon food?" Austin asked. He was unsure of how to phrase his question, but his intent was clear, and the unbridled joy on Nurse Joy's face was telling.

Austin felt a little embarrassed by her intense look, which seemed to linger a bit too long.

"Nurse Joy?"

"Sorry for staring," she apologized, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. "It's just that normally, new trainers just try to, as they say, 'wing it.' Most trainers don't start learning about Pokémon food recipes or grooming until a year or two into their journey."

Austin chuckled softly, feeling slightly less awkward now. "Guess I'm getting a head start then."

"Indeed," Nurse Joy giggled, her laughter light and friendly as she gave him directions.

...

The ringing of the bell announced Austin's entry into the bookstore. Inside, the shop was a cozy with shelves towering to the ceiling, laden with books of all sorts.

Austin's attention was quickly drawn away from the shelves and towards the shopkeeper. The man was an eccentric figure: a long white beard cascaded down his chest, a green beanie sat atop his head, and he wore a black bathrobe over shorts. From a curved pipe clenched between his teeth, he blew rings of smoke with an artful twist of his lips, each ring wafting lazily towards the ceiling before dissipating.

"That's bad for you," Austin couldn't help but comment, his nose wrinkling slightly at the smell.

The old man chuckled, a raspy sound that seemed to shake his whole frame.

"Well, it's not like I expect to live a long life."

As Austin moved deeper into the shop, he gathered an armful of books:

- "Grooming the Kanto Way: 101 Tips for Pokemon Care" by Suzie Yuki.

- "Inside Kanto: A Political Analysis" by Martin Greene.

- "Culinary Companions: Over 100 Recipes for Your Pokemon" by Emily Turner and James Ford.

- "The Physics of Pokemon: Understanding Their Moves" by Professor Magnolia.

The shopkeeper, still puffing on his pipe, raised an eyebrow as he saw the selection of books laid out before him.

"2000 Pokédollars."

Reaching for his wallet, Austin's heart sank when he realized it wasn't there. Nor did he even know what Pokédollars were.

'Shit,' he thought, his skin beginning to prickle with sweat as panic set in.

Then, an idea struck him, and he hesitantly asked, "Is it possible to barter for this instead of paying with cash?"

The shopkeeper's brow furrowed as he considered the proposal.

"Depends on the item."

Austin took out a Pokéball and placed it on the counter.

The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed.

"Selling Pokémon is illegal," he stated firmly, taking a long draw from his pipe.

"No, no, no," Austin stuttered, opening the Pokéball to show it was empty.

The shopkeeper swiped the Pokéball, inspecting it closely to see if it worked.

The shopkeeper smoothly pulled out a few crisp notes, handing them to Austin. His eyes widened as he noticed the stylized mural of Mew on each bill—these were indeed Pokédollars, but unlike any currency he had ever seen before.

"Your change for the Pokéball," the shopkeeper explained.

As Austin quickly counted the money, his mind raced.

'3000 Pokédollars were given back, meaning a Pokéball costs 5000 Pokédollars? Holy shit!'

The reality of the cost set in deep.

"How much do trainers earn?"

"100 to 200 Pokédollars during a simple match, 500 to 2000 in an official gym battle, and 5000 for league participation. 10 to 20,000 if you make it to the top three," the shopkeeper recited, standing up from his chair.

Austin's mind went blank as he realized the financial challenges of being a Pokémon trainer. 'How much would Pokémon feed cost? Grooming them? Potions? Snacks? Lodging? Holy, Ash was lucky to have Brock beside him, or that kid would have wound up dead in a week.'

His spiraling thoughts were interrupted when the shopkeeper placed two more books on the counter:

- "Pokémon Training for Dummies" by Jane Peters.

- "Wealthy Trainer, Wise Trainer: Financial Strategies for Beginners" by David Clarkson.

Austin gulped, recognizing that these books were exactly what he needed.

"How much?" he asked, his voice tight with the anxiety of balancing his finances.

"Free," the shopkeeper declared, his tone gentle yet firm.

Austin looked at him, confusion evident on his face. The old man smiled warmly, adding, "The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance."

Austin blinked.

What?

"You're young," the shopkeeper tapped on the books, "yet you are willing to learn for your Pokémon. That's admirable enough for this old man to decide I am willing to help you."

"Thank you," Austin managed to say, grateful yet overwhelmed.

He took the books, not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth.

As Austin made his way back to the Pokémon Center, the air crackled with the urgency of a repeating public announcement: Attention Citizens of Viridian City. Attention Citizens of Viridian City. There have been reports of possible Pokémon Thieves, keep on the lookout for suspicious-looking strangers.

The voice belonged to a blue-haired woman in a police uniform—Officer Jenny. Austin's heart skipped a beat as he pieced together the timeline.

'I arrived earlier than Ash Ketchum... that's why I didn't meet Officer Jenny earlier.'

A sinking feeling took hold.

'Oh no. That means Jessie and James will break into the Pokémon Center.'

With renewed urgency, Austin quickened his pace toward the center. Upon arrival, he was greeted by Nurse Joy, whose smile was a stark contrast to the anxiety thrumming through his veins.

"Nurse Joy, are my Pokémon done with their check-up?" he asked, trying to sound calm.

"About that," Nurse Joy replied, her expression turning serious.

Austin's heartbeat accelerated, anticipating bad news. "We found that your Rattata needs to be given antibiotics for her infectious wounds. She has suffered from severe dehydration and starvation, so we'll be administering Lactated Ringer's Solution and Dextrose Solution intravenously."

Austin stumbled over his words, "I-I didn't know..."

"Mr. Ketchum, I am not blaming you," Nurse Joy reassured him quickly. "From our evaluation, it was clear that this condition was something Rattata was in before you captured her. Thankfully, you did, or Rattata wouldn't have survived by morning."

Austin exhaled deeply.

'Sad deaths have always been a part of Pokémon, but this seems more natural, more brutal.'

"Don't worry, Rattata will be fine by next morning," Nurse Joy said with a comforting smile.

Knowing he couldn't just ignore the impending threat of Team Rocket, Austin steeled himself.

'I need a plan.'

"Is there a room I can stay in?"

"Of course, the Pokémon Center provides lodging and a cafeteria, with a fee of 500 per night."

Austin sighed.