Kenji sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the framed photograph that rested on his nightstand. The picture was old, its colors faded with time, but the memories it held were still sharp, like the sting of a fresh wound. In the photo, a younger version of himself, wide-eyed and full of hope, stood next to a small green Pokémon with a bulb on its back—a Bulbasaur. The two looked inseparable, as if they could take on the world together. But that dream had died thirteen years ago, on the cold stone floor of the Pewter City Gym.
With a sigh, Kenji set the photograph down and ran a hand through his hair. It was time to head out. He had an interview at the Celadon General Hospital, and though the nerves gnawed at his insides, he pushed them aside. He had to focus.
"Are you sure you’re ready for this?" his mother asked, her voice filled with concern as she appeared in the doorway. She was a petite woman, her dark hair streaked with silver, but her eyes were as sharp as ever.
Kenji offered her a reassuring smile. "I’ve been ready for a while now, Mom. I need to move forward."
She nodded, though the worry in her gaze didn’t diminish. "You know...you could always apply at the Pokémon Center. You have the skills, and it might be easier for you."
Kenji hesitated. "I’ve thought about it. But...I’m not sure I’m ready to face that world again. Not after what happened."
His mother stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. "What happened with Bulbasaur wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid, and Brock...he was too harsh."
Kenji's jaw tightened. He knew she meant well, but the memory of his defeat—of watching his first Pokémon, his partner, fall to Brock’s Onix—was something he could never shake. The grief, the guilt, it all still weighed on him like a stone tied around his neck.
"I promised you and Dad that I wouldn’t go down that path again," Kenji said quietly. "And I intend to keep that promise."
His mother squeezed his shoulder. "We just want you to be happy. Whatever that means, we’ll support you."
"I know," Kenji replied, giving her a grateful look. "And maybe...one day...I’ll find a way to make peace with it. But for now, I need to focus on what’s ahead."
He picked up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, taking a deep breath. The day was just beginning, and with it, a new chapter in his life. As he stepped out of the house and into the morning sun, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of uncertainty mixed with determination.
Kenji's shoes clicked softly on the pavement as he made his way through the bustling streets of Celadon City. The city was alive with its usual hum of activity: people hurrying to work, street vendors calling out to passersby, and the occasional cry of a Pokémon echoing through the air. He had plenty of time before his interview, so when he spotted a coffee stand on the corner, he decided to stop for a moment.
"One iced coffee, please," Kenji said to the barista, offering a small smile. The barista, a young woman with short purple hair, nodded and quickly set to work.
As he waited, Kenji took in the sights around him. It was still early, but Celadon was already awake and moving. He found himself thinking back to when he was younger, when the very thought of exploring a city like this with his Pokémon by his side had filled him with excitement. Now, the idea was just a distant dream.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, deafening explosion that shook the ground beneath his feet. People around him gasped and cried out in shock, and Kenji's heart skipped a beat. He turned his head towards the source of the noise—a thick cloud of smoke billowed from an alleyway not too far from where he stood.
"What the hell was that?" Kenji muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing in concern.
The barista handed him his iced coffee, but he barely noticed as he shoved some bills into her hand and took off towards the alley. When he reached the entrance, he saw two figures clad in dark clothing sprinting away from the scene, a large bag slung between them. A Voltorb and a Koffing, the apparent source of the explosion and smoke, floated nearby before quickly being recalled into Poké Balls.
Kenji’s instincts kicked in. Something was very wrong here. Without a second thought, he started following the figures, keeping a safe distance behind them as they moved through the streets. They made a beeline for the Celadon City Casino, a place Kenji had always heard rumors about but had never visited himself.
The two men didn’t head for the main entrance; instead, they slipped into a side door and disappeared behind what seemed to be a large, fake poster on the wall. Kenji hesitated only for a moment before following them, his heart pounding in his chest. He had no idea what he was walking into, but he couldn’t just turn away—not now.
He carefully pushed the poster aside and found himself in a dimly lit corridor that led down a narrow set of stairs. At the bottom, he could hear the sound of laughter—cruel and mocking. Kenji pressed forward, and as he reached the end of the corridor, the sight that greeted him made his stomach turn.
The room was filled with cages, each one containing a Pokémon in various states of distress. Some were bruised, others emaciated, all of them clearly neglected. The air was thick with the stench of fear and despair. Kenji’s eyes widened in horror as he took it all in.
At the center of the room, the two men had opened the bag and were forcing a Gastly into a box made of plexiglass. The ghost-type Pokémon struggled, its normally gaseous form condensed and constrained by the confines of the box. The men laughed as the Gastly banged helplessly against the transparent walls.
"Stupid ghost thinks it can just float away," one of the men sneered, giving the box a shake. "Not so tough now, are ya?"
The other man grinned. "We’ll get a nice price for this one. Ghost-types always go for more."
Kenji felt a surge of anger rise in his chest. His fists clenched at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. How could anyone treat Pokémon this way? Memories of his own Bulbasaur flashed before his eyes—how much he had loved and cared for his partner, and how devastating it had been to lose him. And now, here were these people, laughing at the suffering they were causing.
His heart pounded in his ears as he bit his lip, struggling to keep silent. He knew he was outnumbered, and without any Pokémon of his own, he didn’t stand a chance against them if things turned violent. But he couldn’t just stand there and do nothing.
One of the men glanced over his shoulder, and Kenji quickly ducked back around the corner, his breath catching in his throat. His mind raced as he tried to figure out what to do next. He couldn’t take them on directly, but maybe there was another way to help the Pokémon—he just had to think.
“I’ll go get the boss,” one of the men said as he handed the box with Gastly to his partner. “He’ll want to see this haul.”
Kenji watched as the first man left the room, disappearing down another corridor. The second man set the box on a table and turned his back, rifling through some paperwork.
This was his chance. Kenji took a deep breath, his heart thundering in his chest. He didn’t know what he was going to do next, but he knew he had to do something—anything—to help.
Kenji’s mind raced as he weighed his options. He knew he had to act quickly, but the idea of confronting the grunt alone with no Pokémon to defend himself sent a shiver down his spine. Still, there was no turning back now. He took a deep breath and steeled himself. He had to do something.
Creeping forward, he edged closer to the table where the grunt was distracted. As he reached out to grab the box containing Gastly, his foot caught on a loose tile, sending him stumbling forward. He crashed into the table, knocking the box off its surface. It hit the ground with a loud crack, the plexiglass shattering upon impact.
The grunt whirled around, eyes wide. "Hey! What the—?"
Before he could react further, Gastly slipped through the broken box, its gaseous form expanding as it escaped its confines. It looked at Kenji for a moment, then turned its attention to the grunt. Without hesitation, Gastly’s eyes glowed a deep, menacing red as it unleashed a Hypnosis attack. The grunt’s protest died on his lips as his eyes fluttered shut, and he collapsed to the ground, fast asleep.
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Kenji blinked in surprise, his heart still pounding. He had never seen Hypnosis in action up close, but there was no time to dwell on it. The grunt had dropped a Poké Ball as he fell, and from it, the Koffing emerged, floating ominously in the air.
“Koffing, get ‘em!” the grunt mumbled in his sleep, still under the influence of Hypnosis.
The Koffing, confused but obedient, prepared to launch an attack. Kenji froze, unsure of what to do. But before the poison-type could act, Gastly shot forward, eyes glowing once more. The Hypnosis took hold almost immediately, and Koffing’s noxious gas vents sputtered as it fell to the ground, joining its trainer in a deep slumber.
Kenji let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding. “Thanks, Gastly,” he whispered, genuinely grateful.
Gastly hovered near him, its large eyes studying Kenji curiously. It seemed to sense that Kenji wasn’t a threat and was instead there to help.
“We’ve got to free the others,” Kenji said, glancing around at the caged Pokémon. He hurried to the nearest cage, his hands fumbling with the latch. Gastly moved to another, its spectral form slipping through the bars and phasing through the lock. One by one, the cages opened, and the Pokémon inside—Rattatas, Pidgeys, an Ekans, and even a scared-looking Abra—began to cautiously step out.
The room filled with the sound of shuffling feet and soft cries of gratitude from the freed Pokémon. Kenji worked quickly, his movements spurred by the urgency of the situation. Every second counted. He could still hear the grunt’s words echoing in his head: the boss was coming.
“We’ve got to get out of here,” Kenji said, mostly to himself but also to Gastly. The ghost-type nodded in understanding.
As the last cage opened, a small Nidoran hopped out, nuzzling Kenji’s leg in thanks. Kenji smiled, his heart swelling with a sense of purpose he hadn’t felt in years. But the moment was short-lived.
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor, followed by voices—one of them unmistakably angry. The other grunt was returning, and he wasn’t alone.
Kenji’s breath caught in his throat. “We need to move. Now!”
Gastly nodded and floated toward the entrance. The freed Pokémon followed, a small parade of battered but determined creatures. Kenji ushered them out, his heart pounding in his ears as the voices grew louder, closer.
“We’re almost there,” he urged, keeping his voice low as they neared the exit. Just as they reached the base of the stairs, Kenji heard the door slam open behind him, followed by a bark of rage.
“What the hell is going on here?!” a deep voice roared.
Kenji didn’t look back. “Go, go, go!” he urged the Pokémon, practically pushing the last of them up the stairs. Gastly stayed close, ready to defend them if needed.
They burst out of the fake poster and into the alleyway, the sunlight blinding after the dimness of the underground room. Kenji’s heart raced as he looked around, trying to figure out where to go. The casino’s side door was still ajar, and the street beyond was filled with people—too public for the grunts to pursue them without causing a scene.
“Over there!” Kenji pointed to a narrow passage between two buildings. The Pokémon, sensing his urgency, darted toward the passage, with Gastly leading the way.
Just as the last of them made it through, Kenji heard the sound of pounding footsteps behind him. He glanced back to see the second grunt, followed by a tall, imposing man in a black suit with a Persian at his side. The man’s eyes locked onto Kenji’s, cold and calculating.
“Get them!” the man barked.
But it was too late. Kenji and the Pokémon were already sprinting down the passage, disappearing into the crowded streets of Celadon. He didn’t stop running until they were several blocks away, finally slowing down in an empty alley.
Kenji leaned against a wall, gasping for breath. The Pokémon gathered around him, their eyes filled with gratitude and fear.
“We... we did it,” Kenji panted, looking at Gastly. The ghost-type floated in front of him, its expression unreadable. “Thank you, Gastly. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Gastly let out a low, pleased hum, then nudged Kenji gently, almost like it was reassuring him.
Kenji looked around at the group of Pokémon he had just saved. He knew he couldn’t leave them here, but he also had no idea what to do next. One thing was certain, though: this wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. He had to get these Pokémon somewhere safe, and fast.
But as he caught his breath, Kenji realized something else. For the first time in thirteen years, he had faced danger head-on. He had helped Pokémon in need, despite his fear and doubt. And in doing so, he had found a part of himself he thought he had lost forever.
“Come on,” Kenji said, pushing himself off the wall. “Let’s get you all out of here.”
With Gastly at his side and a newfound resolve in his heart, Kenji led the group of Pokémon through the streets of Celadon, away from the Casino, away from the darkness, and toward whatever came next.
Kenji guided the group of Pokémon through the streets of Celadon, keeping a wary eye out for any signs of pursuit. The city was still bustling, but as they moved further from the casino, the tension began to ease. The Pokémon Center was just a few blocks away, and with each step, Kenji’s resolve strengthened. He knew they were almost safe.
As they approached the Pokémon Center, the large red-roofed building came into view, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos of the day. Kenji pushed open the door and led the Pokémon inside. The warm, sterile air of the lobby greeted them, and the receptionist at the front desk looked up in surprise as Kenji and the group of disheveled Pokémon entered.
“Nurse Joy!” Kenji called out, his voice urgent. “We need help—these Pokémon were just rescued from some kind of underground operation. They’ve been through a lot.”
Nurse Joy, who had been tending to another trainer’s Pokémon, immediately rushed over. Her kind eyes widened in concern as she took in the sight of the bruised and exhausted Pokémon.
“Oh my goodness,” she breathed, kneeling down to inspect them. “What happened?”
Kenji quickly explained the situation, recounting the explosion, the shady figures, and the Pokémon he’d found trapped in cages. He made sure to emphasize the conditions they were kept in, and how Gastly had been crucial in helping to free them.
“We need to inform Officer Jenny right away,” Nurse Joy said, her tone firm. She turned to the receptionist. “Call the police. Now.”
The receptionist nodded and picked up the phone, her voice calm but urgent as she relayed the situation.
Nurse Joy began guiding the Pokémon toward the treatment area, her Chansey appearing to assist. “Don’t worry, you’re safe now,” she said soothingly to the frightened creatures. “We’ll take good care of you.”
Kenji stayed with the Pokémon until Officer Jenny arrived. She listened intently as he described the events in detail, taking notes and asking follow-up questions. Gastly floated nearby, keeping a watchful eye on everything.
“This is serious,” Officer Jenny said once she had all the information. “We’ve had suspicions about the Celadon Casino being involved in illegal activities, but we never had enough evidence to act. Thanks to you, we can start an investigation and hopefully shut this operation down.”
Kenji nodded, relieved that the authorities were taking action. “I’m just glad I could help.”
Officer Jenny offered him a small smile. “You did more than just help. You saved these Pokémon from a terrible situation. That’s something to be proud of.”
Kenji looked at the Pokémon being treated by Nurse Joy and her team. He felt a sense of peace knowing they were in good hands now.
Once he was sure the Pokémon were safe and everything was in order, Kenji decided it was time to leave. The adrenaline that had fueled him through the day was beginning to fade, leaving him exhausted. He thanked Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny for their help, then stepped outside into the evening air.
The sun was setting, casting a warm orange glow over the city. Kenji started walking home, his mind swirling with everything that had happened. The weight of the day’s events settled over him, but there was also a lightness in his chest—a sense of accomplishment that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
As he walked, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was being followed. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled when he saw Gastly floating a few feet behind him.
“Hey, Gastly,” Kenji said, stopping to face the ghost-type Pokémon. “You’re still following me, huh?”
Gastly bobbed in the air, its wide eyes glowing softly in the dim light. It seemed almost shy, as if it wasn’t sure how Kenji would react.
Kenji chuckled and shook his head. “You know, I’m not really a Pokémon Trainer anymore. I haven’t been for a long time.”
Gastly hovered closer, its expression one of quiet determination. It let out a low, encouraging hum, almost as if it was saying, *But you could be.*
Kenji’s smile softened. “I guess we did make a pretty good team today, didn’t we?”
Gastly’s eyes brightened at that, and it floated in a little closer, its energy pulsing with excitement.
Kenji sighed, but it wasn’t a sound of resignation—it was one of acceptance. He knew what Gastly was asking without it needing to say a word. And deep down, Kenji realized that maybe, just maybe, it was time to stop running from his past.
“All right, Gastly,” Kenji said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “If you want to stick around, I’d like that. We can figure things out together.”
Gastly let out a happy, echoing sound, circling Kenji in a small, joyful loop before settling beside him.
Kenji chuckled. “Come on, let’s get home before my parents start worrying.”
The two of them walked in comfortable silence as they made their way through the now-quiet streets of Celadon. The city’s lights began to flicker on, illuminating their path. When they finally reached Kenji’s house, he paused at the front door, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.
“Better be quiet,” he whispered to Gastly, who nodded in understanding.
Kenji carefully opened the door and slipped inside, Gastly following close behind. The house was dark, with only the soft glow of a lamp in the hallway. Kenji tiptoed up the stairs, his heart beating a little faster as he passed his parents’ bedroom. He didn’t want to explain to them why a ghost-type Pokémon was now following him around.
Once they were safely inside his room, Kenji shut the door softly and let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. He turned to Gastly, who was hovering near the bed, looking around curiously.
“This is it,” Kenji said, gesturing to the small, cozy space. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”
Gastly floated over to the bed and nudged one of the pillows with its round body. Kenji smiled and took off his shoes, exhaustion finally catching up with him.
“Yeah, I’m tired too,” he admitted, crawling into bed. “Today was... a lot.”
Gastly settled beside him, its form dimming slightly as it relaxed. Kenji pulled the blanket up and lay back, staring at the ceiling. Despite the long day, he felt an unexpected sense of contentment.
“Thanks for sticking with me today, Gastly,” Kenji murmured as his eyes began to close. “I’m glad you’re here.”
Gastly let out a soft, contented hum in response.
Kenji drifted off to sleep with Gastly beside him, both of them feeling a sense of belonging they hadn’t known they were missing. And as the moon rose high in the night sky, Kenji and Gastly slept soundly, ready to face whatever came next—together.