Lucas followed the paved road with Growlithe walking close to his leg. The forest behind them was fading, and ahead the world opened up. His steps slowed until he stopped completely.
The city stood right there in front of him.
It wasn't imagination. It wasn't a picture on a screen. Rows of houses stretched along the streets, their windows gleaming in the sunlight. Beyond them, taller buildings rose in clean lines of glass and steel. Even from here he could hear the low hum of engines, the chatter of voices carried on the wind, and the distant call of bird Pokémon overhead.
His chest tightened. I've seen this so many times before… but never like this. It's real. I'm standing here, looking at it with my own eyes.
For a moment, he didn't move. He let the sounds and colors wash over him, grounding himself in the fact that this was no dream. Children laughed as they chased after a Pidove near the edge of the road. A man passed by further ahead with a Herdier at his side, bags strapped neatly across its back. A couple of Trainers were talking near a signpost, their Pokéballs gleaming on their belts.
Lucas felt his throat tighten again, but this time with something warmer than fear. Awe. Excitement. The disbelief that somehow, impossibly, he had been dropped into a world he once only knew as fiction.
A soft bark pulled him back. Growlithe was sniffing the air, ears twitching, tail wagging at the flood of new scents and sounds. Lucas crouched down, scratching behind his ears. His lips curved into a real smile this time.
"You like it too, huh?" he said softly.
Growlithe barked again and pressed closer, the warmth of his body steadying Lucas in a way no words could.
Lucas let out a long breath and stood upright, eyes fixed on the city. His heart was still racing, but it wasn't panic anymore. It was anticipation.
"Alright," he murmured. "Let's go see it for ourselves."
Together, he and Growlithe walked forward, the city drawing closer with every step.
The road carried Lucas straight into the city. The moment he stepped off the edge of the countryside and onto the streets, the world seemed to explode with life.
Cars rumbled past on wide asphalt roads. Children ran across the sidewalks with Pokéballs clipped to their belts, their laughter mixing with the cries of a flock of Pidove perched on a rooftop. A woman walked by with a shopping bag in one hand and a Petilil cradled in the other. Near a corner café, a group of Trainers sat with their Pokémon an Oshawott nibbling on a snack, a Blitzle flicking its tail impatiently, sparks crackling in the air.
Lucas slowed, his eyes darting from one scene to the next. Every detail made his chest tighten, not with fear but with awe. This isn't a screen. These are real people. Real Pokémon.
Growlithe padded close to his leg, ears flicking at every new sound. The pup barked once at a passing Trubbish being pushed in a cart by a worker, drawing a few chuckles from nearby pedestrians. Lucas crouched down quickly, scratching Growlithe's neck to calm him. "Easy, buddy. Everything's new for both of us."
He straightened again and let the flow of the crowd guide him. Shops lined the street bright windows filled with Pokéball cases, travel gear, and posters of Gym Leaders advertising tournaments. One banner showed the current Unova League Champion, his figure proud. Lucas felt a shiver crawl down his spine. That's where I'm aiming. All the way to the top.
The sound of automatic doors sliding open caught his attention. Across the street stood a tall building with the familiar red roof: the Pokémon Center. Trainers and their partners flowed in and out, some tired, some excited, others chatting while waiting on benches outside. The sight hit him harder than he expected. This was no longer a dream—it was the beating heart of a world he had always wanted to be part of.
Lucas swallowed, then looked down at Growlithe. The pup's tail wagged as if he already knew where they were headed.
"Yeah," Lucas whispered, his lips curling into a small smile. "First stop's obvious."
With Growlithe trotting beside him, Lucas stepped off the sidewalk and crossed the street toward the Pokémon Center, ready to see what awaited him inside.
The glass doors parted with a soft chime, and Lucas stepped into the Pokémon Center.
It was bright, cleaner and more polished than any building he'd seen so far. Trainers filled the lobby—some waiting at the counter, others sitting at tables in small groups. A Minccino darted between chairs while a boy chased after it, laughing, and an Oshawott sipped from a water bowl placed near the wall.
Behind the counter, Nurse Joy spoke warmly to a young Trainer before handing back a tray of Pokéballs. The sight stirred something familiar in Lucas—he had seen this moment a hundred times in shows and games, but here it was real, living.
Lucas drifted toward an empty table near the edge of the room. He dropped his bag by the chair and sat down, finally letting his body relax. Growlithe hopped up beside him, curling his body close, eyes alert as he watched the bustle of the lobby.
For a while, Lucas just sat there, taking it all in. The hum of voices, the occasional beep of the healing machines, the rhythm of footsteps against the floor. It was ordinary life here, but to him it was extraordinary.
Only then did his thoughts return to the forest. The first battle. The Patrat's snarl. His own voice breaking as he called out that first move. His fingers tightened on the edge of the table. I knew so much more. I had strategies, tricks, a whole library of knowledge… and I used none of it. Stress swallowed everything. I just panicked and shouted what came to mind.
He glanced at Growlithe, who was sitting tall, watching the room with sharp curiosity. Lucas reached over and ruffled his fur. "You carried us. I need to do my part next time."
Growlithe turned his head and let out a soft bark, as if the promise had been heard and accepted.
Lucas leaned back in his chair, a small smile breaking through. Alright. Next time, I stay calm. I think. I use what I know. That's how we'll win.
And with that thought steadying him, he let himself sink a little deeper into the chair, finally allowing his body to rest after a long first day.