The policewoman, Officer Jenny, wasn't as suspicious of Ash and Misty as the typical portrayals in the anime. She could tell at a glance that these two kids didn't fit the profile of villains. However, seeing their disheveled state made her think they might have had an unfortunate encounter with Team Rocket, the group currently wanted for Pokémon kidnappings in Viridian City.
"Officer Jenny...?" Misty recognized the policewoman in front of her. Officer Jenny's family was renowned worldwide, with members serving in various leagues and cities, making them a trustworthy and respected presence.
After Misty's explanation, Officer Jenny was shocked to hear about their encounter with a flock of Spearow and was also impressed by Ash and Pikachu's ability to fend off such a formidable attack.
"A new trainer?" Officer Jenny looked at Ash skeptically after learning about his and Pikachu's achievements. The level of strength they displayed wasn't typical for a novice trainer, and it was even beyond what some seasoned trainers could handle.
"Officer Jenny, hello. I'm Ash from Pallet Town. I just became a trainer today..." Ash explained, pulling out his Pokédex from his pocket. He knew the Pokédex was not only for gathering information on Pokémon but also served as a means to verify his identity, much like an ID card.
"A Pokédex, I see..." Seeing the Pokédex, Officer Jenny recognized that Ash was indeed a trainer, and after hearing Professor Oak's message from the device, she nodded. "In that case, I won't keep you any longer. You should head to the Pokémon Center."
"Thank you, Officer Jenny." Ash nodded. He didn't mind being stopped by Jenny—it showed her diligence and concern, which he appreciated.
"It's getting dark; you should hurry." Officer Jenny signaled for her Growlithe to clear the way.
"Goodbye, Officer Jenny." Ash and Misty bid farewell to Jenny and continued towards the Pokémon Center. The big city was quite different from the small town feel of Pallet Town, with its tall buildings and bustling streets full of people.
"There's the Pokémon Center..." After about ten minutes, as the evening turned to night and the streetlights came on illuminating the city, Ash saw a large building ahead. It was a semi-circular structure with a large "P" on the front door, unmistakably the Pokémon Center.
"It's completely different from what I've seen in the anime and games..." Ash marveled internally. The Pokémon Centers he remembered from the anime and games seemed much smaller in scale.
Upon approaching the Pokémon Center, Ash noticed the expansive battlefields outside, which were bustling even in the late evening. Numerous trainers were engaged in battles or watching intently as others competed.
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"I'm getting excited just seeing this!" Ash couldn't help but feel thrilled as they passed the battle areas. Apart from his fight with Gary, he hadn't yet had the chance to challenge other trainers.
"Pika..." Pikachu was equally astonished, experiencing such a scene for the first time. The Pokémon fighting under their trainers' commands showcased a new aspect of the human world to Pikachu.
Misty, on the other hand, was used to such sights, having grown up in Cerulean City where such activities were common.
"Where should we park the bike?" Ash looked around, unsure where to leave the bicycle since there wasn't a designated parking area near the entrance.
"You just put it in your backpack, of course..." Misty looked at Ash with some surprise, then signaled for him to get off the bike before she proceeded to store the entire bicycle into her backpack.
"Is your backpack really that big?!" Ash watched in envy as Misty effortlessly packed the entire 1.6-meter-long bike into her bag. This meant her backpack had to have at least two cubic meters of space.
"It's just a three cubic meter backpack, nothing special," Misty said modestly, not intending to show off.
"Three cubic meters... nothing special..." Ash didn't know how to respond. His own backpack was only one cubic meter and he had practically drained his finances to acquire it.
"Don't get hung up on that, let's go inside," Misty urged Ash, pushing him gently toward the entrance of the Pokémon Center. As they entered, a vast lobby unfolded before Ash's eyes, far grander than anything he had seen in the anime or games. The reality of the Pokémon Center was more impressive and sophisticated, filled with state-of-the-art facilities that catered to both Pokémon and their trainers.
"It's huge..." Ash marveled as he looked around the spacious lobby of the Pokémon Center, noting the many trainers seated in groups, engaged in various activities.
"We should check in at the dormitory first, then have Nurse Joy look at Pikachu," Misty guided Ash with familiarity to the reception desk, where a staff member other than Nurse Joy greeted them. This was different from the anime, where Nurse Joy seemed to be the only staff member at most Pokémon Centers.
"Hello, are you together?" the staff member asked with a friendly smile, observing the disheveled appearances of Ash and Misty.
"Yes, we're together," Misty nodded, then pulled out her Pokédex, surprising Ash. He hadn't known that Misty had a Pokédex, as she had never shown it in the anime.
"Hurry up..." Misty looked back at Ash, seeing his bewildered expression, and couldn't help but chuckle. She gestured for him to quickly take out his Pokédex.
"Oh... right!" Ash nodded hastily and handed over his Pokédex to the staff member.
After registering their details in the computer, the staff member handed back their Pokédexes and explained, "As per our policy, your accommodation is booked for one day. If you need to extend your stay, please remember to come back here tomorrow to register."
"Understood, thank you!" Misty nodded and then signaled for Ash to follow her to see Nurse Joy.
"Are we just going to walk away like that?" Ash was still a bit confused. They had registered for the dormitory, but how would they know where to go? Where was their room?
"The room number is shown in our Pokédex..." Misty understood Ash's confusion and activated her Pokédex, displaying the interface which now showed a series of numbers – their assigned room number.
With their accommodations sorted and the room number in hand, Ash and Misty proceeded to find Nurse Joy to ensure Pikachu was in good health after their adventurous day. The Pokémon Center, with its efficient system and supportive staff, provided a sense of safety and comfort far beyond what Ash had expected, making their experience in the big city of Viridian all the more exciting and memorable.