"I wanna go where no one's been, far beyond the crowd. Learn a way to take command, and use the power that's in my hand! We all live in a Pokémon world!"
— Pokémon: Adventures in the Orange Islands

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⠀⠀Sure, Jacob had gone to Jubilife City a couple times for basketball and volleyball tournaments with the numerous (rich) high schools that occupied the metropolis—his team and cheerleaders would often chant derogatory phrases such as "Daddy's money!" and referred to the opposing teams as "city boys" with venom dripping from their tongues. As someone who wasn't really that into the trash talk aspect of sports, Jacob recalled not enjoying it much—but being here on a real journey made the city feel brand new to him.

⠀⠀His face was pressed up the window and his breath fogged up the glass, but he couldn't help himself but stare in awe and wonder as the bus finally rolled into city limits. Kevin elbowed him in the side and said jokingly, "Close your mouth or a bug's gonna get in there somehow," laughing as Jacob rolled his eyes and pointedly ignored his friend. He was too engrossed in the scenery outside of him.

⠀⠀Jubilife City was the largest urban city or town in the entire region, only rivaled by Veilstone City which was to the east of Mt. Coronet. The metropolis sprawled on and on for as far as Jacob could see, and he was completely and utterly surrounded by tall skyscrapers and buildings of every shape and size with lights that lit up the Sinnoh evening. Billboards and signs flashed with advertisements for every single thing, and the honking of cars and endless chatter of people filled the air. The people. It seemed like Pokémon of every species milled around the city, and their trainers seemed to also come from every walk of life. There were so many smiles and peals of laughter and opportunities for him to seize! Jacob's heart felt like it was leaping out of his chest. Maybe it was because of the fact that he had spent his entire life in a fairly small town, but the sheer presence of the big city was overwhelming in the best way possible, and god, he was so excited!

⠀⠀Kevin seemed much less so. He stared out of the window over Jacob's shoulder, face set in a tired and dull look, and Croagunk sat in his lap, its vapid yellow eyes suddenly looking even more empty, if that was even possible. Jacob could see Kevin's reflection faintly in the window, and he turned around worriedly. Almost immediately, the look dropped off of Kevin's face with stunning ease.

⠀⠀"Are you okay, Kev?" Jacob asked with a frown. Kevin raised a brow.

⠀⠀"Where did that come from?" he asked with a small smile. "I hope my eye bags aren't that bad anymore. . . I tried to sleep a lot these past couple of days to get rid of them, but I guess Hoenn just really messed me up." Kevin snickered and looked away, but quite frankly, Jacob wasn't fooled. He looked down at Buizel, who shrugged helplessly, and sighed.

⠀⠀"No, you just looked. . . what's the word. . . deep in thought when you were looking at all of the buildings? And tired from that. I wanted to make sure you were okay and you weren't regretting coming with me," Jacob explained a bit nervously. What if he had made Kevin come along with him, and Kevin just wanted to stay home and relax after two years of being away? Would he even be able to continue his journey without Kevin? The prospect seemed scary.

⠀⠀Kevin adopted that pensive look again as he stared at the city going by. "Jubilife is just the first city I went to when I started my journey," he explained softly. He pointed at a large dome towards the middle of the city, the kind where big events like concerts would be held at. "I had my first contest in that building and I had such a massive head about how well I would do with Croagunk. I got completely crushed in the first round, man," he said somewhat bittersweetly, like he was savoring a memory he didn't quite remember fondly.

⠀⠀Jacob frowned. "Kev, that sucks. What happened?" he asked. Kevin glanced down at Croagunk, almost seeming to silently ask permission from the blue frog Pokémon, and once he received a nod, he sighed.

⠀⠀"I had just gotten Croagunk from a trip to Pastoria with my sister. We were still kind of unfamiliar with each other and Croagunk was getting used to living outside of the marshes in Pastoria, and we didn't fit together that well at first. Would you say that's right, bud?" Kevin looked down at the Pokémon in question.

⠀⠀"Croagunk, croak!" the frog Pokémon readily agreed, which caused Kevin to chuckle quietly.

⠀⠀"Yeah. First round—the appeal round where we show off our Pokémon and do cool shit—I had a plan to shoot a Focus Blast into the sky and then hit it with a Vacuum Wave shaped like a heart, which would hit and turn the compressed blue energy of the Focus Blast into blue shiny sparkles that would rain down on the stage," Kevin explained, suddenly appearing very sullen.

⠀⠀Damn, this must not be a fun memory for him to relive. Jacob was about to suggest they talk about something else to get Kevin's mind off of his first contest, but he was silenced quickly as Kevin continued. "Shit like that gets massive points during the appeal round, because apparently, the judges like shiny things," Kevin mumbled, now absentmindedly scratching Croagunk's head. "But, Croagunk has never really practiced his Focus Blasts before, and he ended up shooting into one of the monitors and damaged it. I think the Vacuum Wave missed as well and hit the MC."

⠀⠀Jacob was at a loss for words. "Uh. . ."

⠀⠀Kevin began chuckling under his breath, looking down to the Croagunk in his lap. "Hey, you cost me a lot of money that day. Both for the monitor and the MC so she wouldn't sue us," he playfully teased, and Croagunk only croaked dismissively in response. As Kevin looked back up to Jacob and said somewhat sadly, "I'm sorry I seem kinda down. I'm just. . . remembering my contest days."

⠀⠀Jacob frowned. "God, you're talking like you're never gonna do a contest again," he grumbled a bit worriedly. "You're just taking a break and you'll get back into the contest scene in no time, Kev. Don't talk like that."

⠀⠀An unconvinced sigh. "Yeah, I guess."

⠀⠀The bus rolled up to the red-roofed Pokémon Center, and both boys hurriedly climbed off with their Pokémon and bags in tow at Kevin's urging. Jacob looked up at the tall building, then at Kevin curiously. "Kev, why are we here? Buizel and Croagunk are feeling fine," he said, looking down at his partner just to make sure.  Yep, Buizel was just fine and cute as ever.

⠀⠀Kevin raised a brow at him. "Unless you wanna pay to stay in a hotel or camp outside of city limits, Pokémon Centers are where we gonna be staying for the most part. Now, come on." He smiled before stepping through the automatic doors with Croagunk by his side. Jacob and Buizel shared an unsure look before following.

⠀⠀The Pokémon Center was a common sight, with its signature red roof being found in every city. Its chief purpose was the healing and rehabilitation of Pokémon by the ever capable Nurse Joy and her partner, Chansey, but Jacob never could have guessed it had a second purpose. It's not like he had ever properly battled with Buizel or ever had a reason to go to this Pokémon hospital besides the one time Floatzel had picked a fight with a trainer.

⠀⠀It wasn't a very busy night—only a couple trainers and Pokémon were walking around, leaving the lobby fairly empty. The two walked straight up to "Nurse Joy," a pretty lady with braided pink hair and a pleasant smile,who manned the front counter. Well, Jacob always assumed that the name of Nurse Joy was a nickname because he had heard all of the head nurses in the Pokémon Centers were named that. Accompanying her was a very round, equally pink Pokémon with, strangely enough, a pouch containing an egg of sorts and a nurse's hat perched upon its head. Nurse Joy seemed to heed the Pokémon no mind as the Pokémon served a tray of a trainer's Pokéballs to him. The whole operation seemed weird for a second—wasn't Nurse Joy supposed to do the healing?

⠀⠀Quite frankly, Jacob was more curious about another thing. While Jacob froze and stared at the woman in front of him—he was very sure he had seen her before—Kevin, unfazed, fished a card out of his bag and slid it towards her.

⠀⠀"Hi, Nurse Joy! We'd like a room for the week, please," Kevin chirped. Nurse Joy took his card without a word and slotted it into a machine. Then, she looked at Jacob curiously.

⠀⠀"Sir, if you'd like a room as well, I'll have to see your Trainer ID," she explained in response to Jacob's stunned stare. Jacob was able to snap out of his—admittedly weird—trance and he patted his pockets down absentmindedly for a second before realizing. What did she ask him for?

⠀⠀"Um. . . I don't think I was ever given a Trainer ID," he said awkwardly. Was he supposed to have one? What did a Trainer ID even do? Nurse Joy shrugged, then began typing away at a computer.

⠀⠀"You must be a new trainer. Do you have a driver license or any sort of legal identification, then?"

⠀⠀Jacob nodded and fumbled for his license, drawing a couple quiet snickers from Kevin and Buizel, both of whom he shot quick glares at. He then handed the woman his driver license and watched as she began to input the information into the computer.

⠀⠀"Can I ask what a Trainee ID is for, Nurse Joy?" Jacob asked politely.

⠀⠀"Oh, it's just for identification purposes while you're on a Pokémon journey," she said casually, typing so rapidly with such laser-focus that Jacob was surprised she could hold a conversation. "If you have a Trainer ID, you'll be able to participate in the Gym Challenge, Pokémon Contests, all that kind of stuff. It's also so we can keep track of everybody's Pokémon and make sure that nothing illegal happens, and if it does, we can track it. You'll also be able to stay at all of the Pokémon Centers in the region for a week for free as part of an agreement with the Champion, which your friend here," she nodded to Kevin, "was doing. Does that all make sense?"

⠀⠀Jacob felt a little dizzy at the info dump but nodded anyways. "Yeah. . . yeah, that makes sense."

⠀⠀"Hey, Chansey! Do you mind sweeping for tonight, sweetheart?" Nurse Joy called to the pink Pokémon, who chorused happily and nodded before waddling off. It wasn't long before the Chansey had come back with a broom and dustpan in hand and was sweeping the dust from the floor meticulously. Jacob really shouldn't have been as surprised as he was, considering that Floatzel also helped around with chores at home, but it was still a bit of a strange sight to see. Especially since Chansey had such stubby arms.

⠀⠀"Is Buizel your only Pokémon?" Nurse Joy asked after a moment of silence. Jacob nodded in confirmation, and she almost immediately handed him an ID card with his name and face on it. "Then you're all set to go. Your room will be Room B14 on the second floor, and your ID will open the door for you."

⠀⠀Kevin smiled gratefully. "Thanks so much, Nurse Joy!" he said before making his way to the escalator upstairs with Jacob, very confused, trailing behind.

⠀⠀As they trekked to their room, Jacob asked, "Hey, Kev? Was that the Nurse Joy from Sandgem Town?" he asked unsuredly. Jacob had definitely see that woman back in Sandgem Town, pretty pink hair and all. Kevin frowned, thought about it for a second, and shook his head.

⠀⠀"No, that was definitely the Jubilife Nurse Joy. Sandgem Nurse Joy has a bright orange cross on her hat, and this one had a teal one," he said thoughtfully. Jacob's face wrinkled in very genuine befuddlement.

⠀⠀"They looked exactly the same," Jacob insisted. "Facial features, pink hair, everything! What's up with that? I thought the 'Nurse Joy' thing was a nickname—I didn't think they're all the same person!" Jacob said a bit hushed, a little worried that the pink-haired woman would hear him and be offended. He looked down at Buizel to confirm that he wasn't losing it two hours into his journey, and thankfully, Buizel nodded in agreement, looking equally lost.

⠀⠀Kevin considered it for a second with a deep frown. "They're not. I'm pretty sure they all come from a long line of Pokémon nurses, though, and their family last name is Joy. I think some people can tell the difference between them."

⠀⠀"But—"

⠀⠀Kevin stopped them right in the middle of the fluorescent carpeted hallway they stood.

⠀⠀"Jake, we live in a world where people as young as eighteen can legally have access to fire-breathing dragons," he deadpanned. Kevin pointed to Buizel, who looked at him innocently. "You have a weasel that has two tails and can spit high-propulsion water, and I have a literal poisonous ninja frog—whom I love dearly," Kevin directed the last bit to Croagunk, who grinned widely in that blank and unnerving frog way. "The point is, this should not be the weirdest thing to you."

⠀⠀Jacob grumbled. "I mean, I guess."

⠀⠀Their room was a bit small, with only two beds against opposite walls, a TV, a small connected area, and a small sitting area with a small sofa and table. Everything about the room was small, but honestly, Jacob didn't mind it much. He was just excited to put his guitar and bag down and finally give his aching shoulders a break.

⠀⠀As Jacob began setting down his things and arranging them—god forbid he forget his phone again—Kevin made a beeline to the drawn curtains and opened them loudly with a big whoosh! While Jacob was crawling on the floor, trying to figure out where the hell the socket for his charger was, Kevin said with a knowing smile on his face, "Hey, Jake, come look at this." Jacob only looked at him curiously before getting onto his feet and going to where Kevin stood. And all of a sudden, his breath was caught in his throat.

⠀⠀The Pokémon Center they were staying in was a little out of the main city and higher up on the surrounding hills. And now, with the bright moon high up in the sky, Jacob could so clearly see the glowing city beneath him, with so many buildings and skyscrapers shining a million brilliant colors in a way that made his heart grow warm. Earlier, he was excited, but this? This feeling was unfamiliar. Was it surprise? Maybe wonder that he was finally able to see what was out in this beautiful world? Jacob was never the super extroverted or eager type to go out and do stuff, but god, he wanted to get into that city and live. Go out into the streets and see performers and food stands, see all of the milling people and Pokémon, go into stores for the heck of it. Just something to get him into that world.

⠀⠀Unbeknownst to him, Kevin watched him silently with arms folded, a smile overcoming his face and a warm feeling blooming in his chest for an entirely different reason. Kevin felt a tug on his pant leg, and he looked down to his lovely Croagunk, who pointed at Jacob and croaked once. Is that the one? Croagunk seemed to ask, to which Kevin nodded with a roll of his eyes. God, he'd never hear the end of this, and he knew that for sure as Croagunk began to snicker in that croaky, froggy way before hopping off to join Buizel on one of the beds. Meanwhile, Kevin looked back to Jacob, eyes wide in sweet and innocent wonder. The warm feeling appeared again.

⠀⠀"Welcome to the city of joy, Jacob. Your first step to a new start," Kevin said. Jacob could barely bring himself to pull away from the stunning lights of Jubilife, but he did and began smiling so wide that he thought his face would break. Jacob rushed forward and embraced Kevin in a hug, one so swift that Kevin almost got knocked off of his feet and barely managed to get his back pinned against the wall with Jacob pressed against him.

⠀⠀No words were exchanged for a second—just the sounds of soft breathing and Jacob burying himself into the crook of Kevin's neck. But eventually, Jacob mumbled into the softness of Kevin's skin, "Thank you, Kev. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to do any of this."

⠀⠀Kevin didn't respond for a second, but soon enough, Jacob felt Kevin's thin but strong hands against his back, bringing him even closer to Kevin's body. "You're stronger than you think, Jacob," his friend murmured softly, "but, of course. I'd do anything for you."

⠀⠀The whole situation was starting to make Jacob dizzy with heat and red cheeks. When was the last time he had had that much physical contact with Kevin? Elementary school? He was supposed to be over Kevin, and whatever this was wasn't helping. So Jacob quietly extracted himself from Kevin's surprisingly firm hold and clapped loudly, gaining the attention of the two Pokémon now idly chatting on the bed.

⠀⠀"Alright! It's," Jacob squinted to look at the analog clock mounted on the wall, "8:46PM, and I'm hungry as all hell, so let's go get dinner!" The entire room erupted into cheer—well, it was mostly just Kevin yelling wooh! and Croagunk and Buizel croaking and yipping out their names as all Pokémon did—but Jacob was immediately invigorated. He took a glance out the window, at that big city that lit up the Sinnoh night sky, and he couldn't repress the smile that overcame him.

⠀⠀This really was the start of something new.

⠀⠀Jacob grabbed his backpack off of his bed and rushed out the door with Buizel running after him in excitement. For a split second, Jacob ran back and appeared in the door frame again, eagerly motioning for Kevin to follow with the biggest smile Kevin had ever seen on his face. All Kevin could do was sigh fondly, sling his own bag over his shoulder, and run after Jacob with Croagunk in his arms.

— — —

POKÉDEX ENTRIES:

⇪

CHANSEY, the Egg Pokémon. It is said to deliver happiness to those who catch it. Being compassionate, it shares its eggs with injured people. They're often found in medical centers because of their healing prowess and nurturing nature.

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WC: 3k

god i feel like i'm on fire... w b2u, it took me like a year with sparse updates to get to six chapters, but i've gotten to six chapters here already within 2ish months!! IMPROVEMENT!!

anyways, i was actually having a tiny bit of trouble recently while writing this chapter bc of things like college apps and school work and just general writer's block but then i read a 500k word, 160 chaptered pokémon oc fanfic from 2009 that literally opened my eyes to all of the possibilities and also really helped with how to flesh out a story and characters and stuff... it was actually extremely well written and surprisingly poignant so if any of y'all wanna read it, lmk and i'll send u a link or smth it was REALLY good. also pretty dark towards the end. but good.

that being said, god the boyz have been so successful for "the stealer"... i'm so proud of them, they got so many wins and made so many leaps and bounds that i'm so proud to be their fan!!! AHHHH TBZ WORLD DOMINATION!! i hope you guys have also enjoyed this comeback and anticipate their next one </3

anyways, thank you for reading, and i hope you enjoyed!! leave comments, vote, all that jazz, and just thank you for all of the motivation :) love u guys!

peace,
- angie

p.s. new characters (both pokémon and tbz members) to be introduced next time!!! anticipate who it's gonna be ;)
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