The automatic doors of the Lumiose Pokémon Center slid open with a soft whoosh, welcoming in the warm morning light and a very tired Satoshi. His blue hoodie clung to his back with sweat from the trek, his visor hat tilted slightly askew from the long walk through the outskirts.
The familiar scent of disinfectant mingled with the sweet aroma of Poké Puffs wafted through the air—oddly comforting, like a blend of home and a bustling animal shelter, if home involved constant chaos.
The place was a whirlwind of activity. Trainers filled every corner—some arguing heatedly over battle strategies, gesturing wildly with scarred Poké Balls like hard-won trophies; others slumped half-asleep at tables, nursing cups of coffee that had long gone cold.
A sudden loud crash made Satoshi jump as a hyperactive Bunnelby knocked over a towering stack of magazines, its frantic trainer chasing after it with apologies flying, only to trip over the protruding tail of a dozing Rhyhorn in the waiting line. Nearby, two kids tore past him, squealing with laughter as they tried to wrestle a stolen bag of chips from a mischievous Pichu's tiny, sparking hands.
And in the corner by the benches, a massive Snorlax snored so loudly that the vending machine beside it rattled rhythmically, threatening to dispense free snacks with each thunderous exhale.
Satoshi weaved through the mayhem with practiced dodges, finally planting himself at the front counter.
Nurse Joy stood there, clipboard in hand, looking like the eye of the storm—calm, composed, and eternally patient amid the frenzy.
"Oh, hello! Welcome to the Lumiose Pokémon Center!" she greeted him with a bright, unwavering smile, her pink loops of hair bouncing slightly as she glanced up.
"How can I help you today?"
Satoshi rubbed the back of his neck, offering a sheepish grin that didn't quite hide his exhaustion.
"Yeah, uh… long story short, but I need one and the other pokémon treated." He reached into his hoodie pocket and placed two Poké Balls onto the counter with a soft clink.
Nurse Joy blinked, her curiosity piqued as she eyed them.
"Two? Are they both yours?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
Satoshi awkwardly pointed to the left one. "That one's mine—just caught him today." He patted the ball containing Zigzagoon with a hint of pride, like a new pet owner showing off their first adoption.
"The other one, though… that's kind of my fault," he admitted, pointing to the right Poké Ball with a wince.
Joy's expression shifted subtly, her professional demeanor holding steady. "Your fault?"
"Yeah…" Satoshi sighed, reluctantly diving into the explanation. "My Zigzagoon accidentally woke it up with a Pin Missile to the face and belly, trying to clear out a bush. Turns out it was an Ursaring. Big, cranky, and really not a morning person."
Joy's eyes widened just a fraction, though her smile remained. "You… woke up an Ursaring with a Pin Missile?"
"I didn't! He did!" Satoshi held up both hands defensively, gesturing vaguely behind him as if Zigzagoon were still tailing along beside him, even though the Pokémon was snug inside its ball.
"I swear, it was an accident. One minute we're hiking, the next there's a rampaging bear on our tails."
Nurse Joy gave a soft, angelic chuckle that somehow cut through the surrounding noise like a gentle bell.
"Ara ara~ That explains the destroyed forest tree report the city rangers filed this morning. About some wild Ursaring spotted rampaging near the cliffs, as if chasing someone."
Satoshi avoided eye contact, his cheeks flushing slightly under the visor. "…Yeahhh, that's the one. Guilty as charged."
Joy took the Poké Balls and placed them on a tray, guiding it gently into the healing bay with a practiced motion. "Don't worry. We'll take good care of both of them. You did the right thing bringing it in—most trainers would've just run."
Satoshi nodded gratefully. "Thanks. I'm planning to release it once it's fully recovered. No hard feelings on my end."
"Oh? That's very thoughtful of you," she said, her smile warming further. "Why don't you take a seat? It'll take a little while."
Satoshi exhaled deeply, the tension easing from his shoulders as he made his way over to the waiting area.
He plopped down on one of the plush benches, leaning back with his arms draped behind his head, staring up at the ceiling tiles dotted with motivational posters of smiling Pokémon. The hum of healing machines provided a soothing backdrop, mingling with the chatter and occasional Pokémon cries.
"…First day in the city, and I've already angered a bear." he muttered to himself, a grin tugging at his lips despite the absurdity. His eyes started to drift shut, the bench surprisingly comfortable after the morning's ordeal.
Just as Satoshi was about to doze off, a faint flicker of light appeared in the corner of his vision.
A familiar blue translucent panel materialized mid-air in front of him—this time, without him even needing to look directly at Zigzagoon or activate it consciously.
____________________
[Pokédex Sync: Entry #263 – Status Panel Initialized]
┃Nickname: Zigzagoon
┃Species: TinyRaccoon Pokémon
┃Level: 9
┃Gender: ♂ Male
┃Nature: Jolly
┃Ability: Quick Feet
┃Type: Normal
┃Condition: Healing (Progressing)
┃Trainer: Satoshi (New)
— Moveset —
› Headbutt — [Normal | Physical]
› Flail — [Normal | Physical] (New)
› Pin Missile — [Bug | Physical | Multi-Hit | Versatile Use: Confirmed]
› Sand Attack — [Ground | Status | Field Disruption: Confirmed]
— Stat Matrix —
› ATK: 013
› DEF: 016
› Sp. ATK: 011 (–)
› Sp. DEF: 016
› SPD: 023 (+)
System Note: New Section Unlocked: [Trainer]. Reveals whether wild Pokémon are owned by a trainer.
• You can now access your Pokémon's status remotely without direct activation.
• Strategic behavior tags now linked to trainer command patterns.
____________________
Satoshi blinked, frowning as he sat up a bit straighter.
"…Wait. I didn't even look at him this time?" The panel hovered steadily in his vision, clear and unobtrusive, visible only to him like a personal HUD.
He checked the status update, his eyes scanning the details.
"Soo, the new section tells me whether a Pokémon has a trainer or not. Huh?" he muttered under his breath, leaning forward a little, curiosity sparking in his eyes like a trainer spotting a rare shiny.
"And it looks like once a Pokémon's officially mine, I can check its status without… secretly staring at it." he added, letting out a devious, low chuckle that drew a curious glance from a nearby trainer, who quickly looked away.
He narrowed his eyes, studying the panel more closely.
The move information had updated too, highlighting new applications and even a freshly learned move.
"Versatile use confirmed, huh? Plus he learned a new move—not bad." he said aloud, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Guess I'm not the only one thinking outside the box now." He leaned back, letting the window fade away on its own with a subtle mental nudge, his mind already racing with possibilities.
'This Status Panel has more tricks than I thought. Can't wait to test just how far it goes… once we're out of the city.'
Just then, the soft chime of a healing machine dinged behind the counter, snapping him back to reality.
Nurse Joy returned with her trademark smile, holding two Poké Balls in hand. "Sir~! Your Pokémon are fully recovered. They'll be just fine."
Satoshi stood, walking over to accept them with a nod of thanks. "Thanks a lot."
He looked down at the two balls in his hand after picking them up—one his first partner, the other a giant grizzly mistake. "…Guess it's time to say goodbye to one of you."
Reaching outside the bustling walls of Lumiose City, a gentle breeze rolled through the grassy fields. The city skyline loomed behind him like a glittering beacon, but out here, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful—wildflowers swaying, distant Fletchling calls echoing in the air.
Satoshi stood on a dirt path just beyond the main gates, visor tugged low against the sun as he plucked the two Poké Balls from his hoodie pocket.
With a press of the release button, white light burst forth from both spheres.
First, Zigzagoon landed lightly on the ground, giving a quick shake of his fluffy, bristly coat, looking refreshed and ready for more mischief.
The second release… was significantly less graceful. With a heavy thud that shook the nearby grass, the massive Ursaring materialized, standing tall and groggy as it blinked around, still somewhat drowsy from the sedation at the Center.
It let out a low rumble, shaking its head to clear the fog.
Zigzagoon blinked, then turned slowly as a large shadow loomed over him. "...Zig? (Huh?)"
He looked up. His pupils shrank to pinpricks.
"Z-Z-ZIIIIIIG ZAGOON?! (W-W-WHY IS THAT THING HERE?!)" The raccoon Pokémon instantly fluffed up like a spiny pinecone, tail rigid and eyes locked on the towering beast.
Tiny paws scrambled backward until he was practically hiding behind Satoshi's leg, peeking out with wide-eyed terror.
Meanwhile, Satoshi remained stone-faced, not reacting to the little Pokémon's surprise.
"Hey, it's time to apologize." he said flatly, arms crossed over his chest.
Zigzagoon froze, his fluff deflating slightly in disbelief. "ZIG?? (EXCUSE ME??)"
Satoshi gave him a sideways glance, unmoved. "You shot Pin Missile straight into its face while it was napping. That was your fault."
"Zig-zig! zagoon!! (I didn't know something was behind the bush! It was asleep in stealth mode!!)" Zigzagoon protested, gesturing wildly with his paws as if reenacting the scene.
"Still your fault." Satoshi replied with a no-excuses expression, pointing firmly at the Ursaring.
Zigzagoon groaned dramatically, clearly offended by the idea of owning up to anything, his ears drooping like wilted leaves.
Ursaring, meanwhile, blinked slowly at the commotion, then let out a low, tired grunt—not angry this time, just… done with the whole ordeal.
Zigzagoon peeked from behind Satoshi's leg, his resolve crumbling. "Zig… (Fine...)"
Tail down, ears flat, the raccoon Pokémon shuffled forward like a kid being forced to return a stolen cookie. He gave a stiff, awkward bow, eyes averted. "Zigzagoon… Zig. (Sorry for the surprise acupuncture.)"
Ursaring let out a huff through its nose, eyes closing as if saying, Whatever. Just don't do it again.
It shifted its weight, the ground creaking slightly under its bulk, but there was no malice—just weary acceptance.
Satoshi nodded, satisfied. "Cool. We're even now."
He held up Ursaring's Poké Ball and tapped the center button, severing the link between ball and Pokémon, fully releasing it. The ball clicked empty in his hand.
"Thanks for not attacking us when you had the chance." he muttered, pocketing the now-useless sphere.
Ursaring, now standing free on the grass, gave Satoshi a long, appraising look.
Almost respectfully before turning around and lumbering back into the trees, its massive form disappearing into the underbrush with surprising quietness.
Zigzagoon watched the bear vanish into the forest, then glanced up at Satoshi with a mix of relief and curiosity.
"Zigzag? (You're not keeping him?)"
Satoshi stretched, cracking his shoulders with a satisfied groan. "What would I even feed it? Five pounds of berries a day? No thanks."
Zigzagoon nodded vigorously, his tail flicking in agreement. "Ziiig. (Fair.)"
The two stood in silence for a moment, the breeze brushing past them both, carrying the faint scent of wildflowers and distant rain.
Satoshi looked toward the long road ahead, the path winding back toward the city and beyond.
"…Well. First real city, first real battle, and first real apology. Not bad for a day's work."
Zigzagoon snorted, hopping up onto a nearby rock for a better view. "Zigzagoon. (You're still making me do all the hard parts.)"
Satoshi smirked devilishly, ruffling the Pokémon's fur—carefully avoiding the spikes as usual. "That's because I'm your trainer now, so no freeloading this time."
Zigzagoon groaned again, but didn't protest, his tail wagging despite himself not wanting to.
*
To be continued...
____________________