If Sandgem Town was a cozy, seaside porch, then Jubilife City was a neon-lit, high-speed highway.
Built literally into the side of a mountain by the miners and engineers of nearby Oreburgh, Jubilife was a shimmering testament to Sinnoh's technological pride. As I crossed the city limits, I was greeted by the towering silhouette of the Jubilife TV Station and the massive, glowing logo of the Pokétch Company.
Huge holographic screens broadcasted the latest weather reports and battle highlights, while the air hummed with the sound of luxury cars and the distant rhythmic clanging of the metal trade.
I, however, felt less like a "Doctor" and more like a used dishrag.
A week on the road had left my blue tracksuit covered in forest dust and my red cap slightly lopsided. My first stop was the Pokémon Center, a massive, high-tech hub that smelled faintly of antiseptic and Chansey-scented air freshener.
"Ding-ding... ding-ding-ding!"
The familiar jingle echoed through the lobby as the machine finished its work. Nurse Joy, looking as perpetually cheerful as ever, slid two Poké Balls across the counter.
"Your partners are back to one hundred percent, Julian," she said with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Nurse Joy. You're a lifesaver," I panted, leaning against the counter. "Quick question—where do I go to register for the Jubilife Pokémon Contest? I'm hoping to make the cut before the deadline."
"The Contest Hall? Just exit the Center, hang a right, and follow the sound of the crowd. You can't miss it—it's the building that looks like a giant, jeweled Poké Ball."
I found the hall easily enough. I also found about five hundred other people who had the exact same idea.
"You have got to be kidding me," I whispered, staring at a queue that stretched around the block. "In the anime, Dawn just walked up to the counter and was done in five minutes. Why is real life so full of paperwork?"
Three hours later—after standing in the hot sun, listening to a guy behind me brag about his "undefeated" Magikarp, and nearly falling asleep on my feet—I finally reached the front of the line.
"Welcome to the Jubilife Contest Bureau," the clerk said, her voice sounding like a recording. "First time registering? I'll need your ID and the 1,200 League Coin registration fee for your license and Ribbon case."
I handed over the cash and my sleek, black Pokédex. "Here you go. Everything should be in order."
The clerk slotted the Pokédex into her terminal. Her fingers flew across the keyboard for a few seconds before she suddenly froze. She blinked, adjusted her glasses, and leaned into the monitor.
"Name: Julian Reed. Age: 15. Residence: Sandgem Town..." She paused, her voice rising an octave. "Honors: Primary Discoverer of the Fairy-type? Youngest Doctoral recipient in League history? Is this... is this a joke?"
"Shhh!" I hissed, leaning over the counter and gesturing for her to lower her voice. A few nearby Coordinators were already starting to stare. "Yes, that's me. But look, I'm just here to compete. I want a quiet journey, no paparazzi. Can we just keep this between us and the database?"
The clerk looked at me, then at the dirt-stained kid in the red cap, then back at the "Doctor" title on the screen. She looked like her brain was short-circuiting.
"R-right. Confidentiality. Of course, Doctor," she stammered, her fingers trembling as she hit the print command. "Here is your Contest License and your Ribbon Case. The opening ceremony begins tomorrow at 10:00 AM. Please... please don't be late."
I grabbed the warm, plastic license and the empty, velvet-lined box. "Thanks. And seriously, keep it on the down-low!"
Since the Pokémon Center's guest rooms were booked solid by the influx of Coordinators, I decided to treat myself. My research grants from Professor Rowan had left me with a bank account that would make a seasoned Gym Leader blush, so I checked into a high-end hotel overlooking the Jubilife Fountain.
After a long, scorching shower, I flopped onto the sofa wearing a comfortable cotton robe. Sylveon immediately jumped onto my lap, her ribbons wrapping around my arm with a demanding tug.
"Syl-vee!" She stared at me with big, watery eyes, her ears drooping slightly.
"I know, I know," I sighed, petting her soft ears. "Flabébé did all the fighting on the road while you were in your ball. You feel left out. I'm sorry, girl. Flabébé just needed the experience for her evolution. How about this? To make it up to you, we're going on a shopping spree."
The ribbons tightened happily. A girl after my own heart—retail therapy works every time.
We spent the evening wandering through Jubilife's commercial district. While it didn't have a massive Department Store like Celadon City, it was packed with boutique accessory shops and specialized boutiques.
Sylveon picked out a plush, sky-blue nest-style bed that looked like a cloud. Flabébé, meanwhile, dragged me to a flower shop, pointing excitedly at every exotic seed packet she could find. Since I couldn't carry a literal garden on my back, I arranged for the shopkeepers to mail everything back to my villa in Sandgem.
Finally, we stopped at a high-end "Evolution Emporium."
"Looking for a Shiny Stone, huh?" the shopkeeper asked, pulling a velvet tray from the safe. "I've got three in stock. This one is a Grade-C, fairly common. This one is a Grade-B, much purer."
I looked at the stones through my jeweler's loupe (a tool Rowan had taught me to use). In the games, a Shiny Stone was just a Shiny Stone. In the real world, the quality mattered. A low-grade stone might force an evolution, but it could cap a Pokémon's potential or lead to a "shallow" energy pool. A high-grade stone could actually enhance their natural talent.
The best one in the shop was a Medium-Grade. It was okay, but it didn't have that "brilliance" I wanted for Flabébé.
"Twenty thousand coins for a Medium-Grade?" I shook my head, handing the tray back. "Sorry, I'm looking for a Top-Tier, flawless Grade-A."
The shopkeeper snorted. "Kid, you won't find one of those in a retail shop. Those are auction items. You're looking at six figures, easy."
I'll have to call Professor Rowan later, I thought. He probably has a connection or a specimen in the lab's vault.
Walking back to the hotel, I was struck by how expensive it was to be a top-tier Trainer. A small "Speed Up" potion—the kind that might give you a millisecond advantage in a close fight—cost 10,000 League Coins. Defense boosters were 8,000.
Back in the games, I'd buy these by the dozen. Here? It was a king's ransom. If I weren't a famous researcher, I'd be sleeping in a tent and eating plain rice just to afford a single Potion.
"Everything alright, you two?" I asked as we reached the hotel room.
"Pei-Pei!" Flabébé chirped, settling onto her favorite spot on my head. Sylveon rubbed her face against my hand, completely satisfied with the blue nest being shipped to our home.
"Good. Because tomorrow, the research ends and the performance begins," I said, looking at the Contest License on the nightstand. "We've practiced the Counter Shield until we can do it in our sleep. We've mastered the Fairy Wind. Tomorrow, the Sinnoh region finds out exactly why the Fairy-type is the most beautiful—and dangerous—addition to the Pokédex."
I tucked them into bed and looked out at the lights of Jubilife. My debut. My first time under the spotlights.
"Let's show them what a Doctor can do on the battlefield," I whispered, closing my eyes.
The Jubilife Contest was only twelve hours away. And I was ready to sparkle.