If Mt. Coronet was the spine of Sinnoh, then Celestic Town was its soul. Emerging from the long, cool shadows of the mountain tunnel was like stepping into a living history book. There were no neon signs here, no bustling highways or high-tech skyscrapers. Instead, the air smelled of aged wood, mountain incense, and ancient stone.
The town was perfectly preserved, a cluster of traditional houses huddled around a central shrine that looked like it had been carved by the hands of the first settlers. Legends said this was the first place humans ever called home in the Sinnoh region, existing since the land was born from the chaos.
But as much as I appreciated the historical weight of the Celestic Ruins and the famous Research Institute, I had a very specific, very furry goal in mind first.
"Alright, everyone," I muttered, my pace quickening as I spotted the red-roofed Pokémon Center. "History can wait. It's time for the fluff."
I stepped into the Pokémon Center, the sliding doors hissing shut behind me. The familiar chime of a healing machine provided a comforting backdrop to the quiet lobby. I immediately headed to the counter, where a Nurse Joy was organizing a stack of medical records.
"Welcome to Celestic Town," she said with a warm, practiced smile. "How can I help you today?"
"Hi, I'd like to check my team in for a post-travel recovery," I said, placing the three Poké Balls on the counter. "Also, I believe the Officer Jenny family left a deposit here for me? Under the name Julian."
"Ah, let me check."
Joy took the tray and handed it to her Chansey assistant, then slid my Pokédex into the terminal. As the data populated the screen, her eyebrows slowly began to climb toward her hairline.
[Name: Julian]
[Age: 15]
[Hometown: Sandgem Town]
[Trainer Rank: Rising Star]
[Badges: 3 (Coal, Mine, Forest)] [Contest Ribbons: 2 (Jubilife, Floaroma)]
[Special Merits: Resolution of the Mt. Coronet Alpha Incident]
Joy looked at the screen, then at me, then back at the screen. "You've only been on the road for two months?" she asked, her voice tinged with genuine disbelief. "And you've already secured three badges and two ribbons? Most Trainers take a year just to get through the Oreburgh mines."
I rubbed the back of my head, feeling a bit sheepish. "I had a bit of a head start working as an assistant for Professor Rowan."
"Even so," she murmured, returning the Pokédex. "Most newcomers don't catch the attention of the senior Gym Leaders so quickly. You must be quite the talent. And yes, the report is here. A specialized Growlithe from the K-9 Academy lineage was transferred this morning."
She pressed a sequence on the console, and a single red-and-white Poké Ball rose from the pneumatic tube, alongside a small, locked metal case.
"The Jenny family left a message: 'He's a bit of a handful, but he's got the heart of a hero. Train him well.'"
I took the Poké Ball, feeling its weight. It was warm—almost vibrating with energy. I tucked the case (containing the high-grade Fire Stone) into the reinforced pocket of my bag. My heart was thumping against my ribs.
"Okay. Let's meet the new guy."
I stepped back into the center of the lobby, giving myself some space. With a flick of my wrist, the ball popped open, and a streak of brilliant white light hit the floor.
"Woof! Hahaha!"
The light coalesced into a stunning orange-and-black figure. It was a Growlithe, but even at a glance, you could tell he was from a premium bloodline. His fur was a vibrant, fiery orange, slashed with charcoal-black stripes that looked like war paint. His tail was a massive, cream-colored plume, and the fur on his chest was so thick and flared it looked like a lion's mane. On top of his head, a wild tuft of fur stood up like a mohawk.
He sat back on his haunches, his posture perfectly straight, his dark eyes scanning the room with a level of discipline that screamed "Police Academy."
I stood there, frozen. Oh man. Look at those paws. Look at that chest fluff. I want to bury my face in it. I want to pet him until my hands fall off.
[Internal Voice: Julian, stop. Do not be a creep. This is a highly trained service animal. Be cool. Be the Doctor.]
I shook the "pet-mania" out of my head and forced a calm, welcoming smile. "Hey there, Growlithe. My name's Julian. From today on, we're partners."
The Growlithe didn't wag his tail. Instead, he tilted his head, his nostrils twitching as he took in my scent. He smelled the mountain air, the faint scent of Sylveon's ribbons, and the distinct aroma of the Sitrus Berry snacks I kept in my pockets.
He turned his head toward Nurse Joy, letting out a sharp, questioning bark. "Woof!"
Joy chuckled. "That's right, little one. The paperwork is all in order. He's your official Trainer now, and a very capable one at that."
Hearing the "official" word, the Growlithe turned back to me. He stood up, walked a slow circle around my boots, and then sat back down. "Woof!"
"Nice to meet you too," I said, squatting down so I was at eye level with him. I slowly extended my hand, palm up.
Growlithe stared at my hand for a long beat. He looked like he was calculating my threat level. Then, with a dignified huff, he raised a thick, orange paw and placed it firmly in my palm.
The paw pads. They were warm, leathery, and slightly squishy. My brain nearly short-circuited. He's so soft. Even his paw fur is soft. I wonder if he likes belly rubs? Or behind-the-ear scratches? I bet he likes both.
My eyes probably glazed over for a second because Growlithe pulled his paw back and tilted his head further, giving me a look of deep suspicion.
"Woof?"
"Uh—nothing! Nothing!" I said, snapping back to reality and wiping a stray bit of drool from the corner of my mouth. "I was just... uh... thinking about our training schedule! Yeah. Very serious training. No fluff-petting at all. None."
Growlithe narrowed his eyes. He hadn't finished his full police dog training, but he had been raised around Officer Jennys his entire life. He knew when a human was being shifty. He let out a low, skeptical chortle.
"Woof, woof-bark." (Translation: You're a weird one, aren't you?)
"Anyway!" I stood up, adjusting my jacket. "We've got a lot to do. My other partners are getting checked out, but once they're done, I'll introduce you. We're going to the Historical Research Institute to meet a very famous lady and her granddaughter."
Growlithe stood up and trotted to my side, his tail giving a single, tentative wag. He seemed to decide that even if I was a bit of a weirdo, I smelled like someone who knew where the good treats were kept.
"I have a feeling we're going to get along just fine," I said, patting his head—just a quick one, for professional reasons. (Okay, I lingered for three seconds. It was worth it.)
As we waited for Sylveon and the others to finish their recovery, I looked at my fourth partner. With a Growlithe on the team, the upcoming challenges in Celestic Town didn't seem so daunting.