Right behind the massive entrance gate, a large information board with a map of key locations was mounted on the left side. Cerulean City was huge—it featured as many as four Pokémon Centers strategically scattered in almost every corner of the city. The map clearly marked city parks, designated fishing areas, the Cerulean Gym itself, and vast shopping districts. Additionally, a river ran along the entire left side of the city, with detailed descriptions of the various exits from the city listed on the borders of the board.
One of the exits led to the sea, which according to the description was about half a day's walk away—Route 24. The second exit, marked as Route 9, was the road towards Lavender Town. Throughout Kanto, it was known as probably the smallest of the region's major cities.
The third direction, Route 5, was a direct southern route leading to Saffron City, and stretched right past it all the way to the port of Vermilion City.
"Are we going to the nearest Pokémon Center?" Bran asked after a moment of intense study of the map.
"Sure," I nodded in agreement, and with one last quick glance at the clear board, we headed deeper into the streets.
The nearest Pokémon Center was located in the southwest. According to the map, it also looked like there would be a direct view of the river from there. Thanks to the relaxed pace we had finally settled into after running all day, I had plenty of time and space to take in the surrounding architecture.
Compared to the austere, stone-built Pewter City, Cerulean felt significantly more modern. The city was incredibly lively, perhaps even more so than the rocky Pewter City—trainers with their Pokémon could be seen literally at every other step. The streets were substantially wider, with clearly separated sidewalks for pedestrians and occasional, specially modified crossings that served both people and riding Pokémon.
A wide variety of transport modes mingled in the dense flow. A luxurious carriage drawn by an elegant Rapidash slowly passed us by. Although the Pokémon commanded respect and drew the gazes of almost everyone passing, people viewed it as a perfectly natural part of traffic—it was more of a symbol of wealth, nobility, or political status. Alongside it, bicycles glided smoothly, clearly representing the most practical and common means of transportation here.
However, a car I noticed a little later stood out like a sore thumb in this environment. Quiet, low, and with completely tinted windows, it crept forward with exaggerated caution, as if it didn't belong in this world at all. People on the sidewalks gave it cold, judgmental glares rather than admiration. One guy standing a short distance from us even scoffed in disgust as the expensive car rolled past him.
In a city of this type, motor vehicles simply made no sense. They were slow, impractical in dense crowds, and couldn't compete with nimble bicycles, let alone fast Pokémon. They seemed more like a snobbish symbol of excess luxury than a real, meaningful means of transportation.
On the whole, however, the locals seemed far more relaxed than the people in Pewter. Perhaps it was the omnipresent proximity of water, or the fact that the city had direct access to both the river and the sea. The air here was noticeably more humid, softer, and pleasantly cool. As we walked down the main street, the intense aroma of roasted spices and grilled meat drifted from open street stalls, blending above the crowd's heads into a single warm, enticing haze.
It didn't take long before we found ourselves right in front of the Pokémon Center building. As we stepped inside, a visibly scowling guy with a Pikachu on his shoulder darted past us. Bran and I ignored the whole scene, though, and headed straight for the front desk. While some trainers sat scattered in padded booths, no one else was standing at the counter except for the nurse on duty, so we were served right away.
Before we even had a chance to open our mouths and greet her, Nurse Joy beat us to it with a practiced, slightly stiff smile.
"Hello. If you are looking for lodging, all our rooms are currently occupied. Unfortunately, the situation is the same in the other Pokémon Centers across the city. However, Pokémon healing, training rooms, and the cafeteria are available without any restrictions."
"How is that possible?" I asked in surprise, raising an eyebrow. Viridian had been almost empty during our visit, and while there were some trainers moving about in Pewter City, the city definitely hadn't felt this crowded.
"A massive influx of people all at once, right after the official start of the season," Nurse Joy sighed, dropping her professional mask for a moment. "While almost everyone gets through Pewter relatively smoothly, many trainers have huge trouble here in Cerulean with Misty and her water team. It also doesn't help that since the start of the season, people have been buying city-to-city teleports in droves. This wave in Kanto usually doesn't calm down until after the third badge... Trainers become more confident in their abilities and finally start traveling on foot, or perhaps on bicycles." She shrugged with a genuinely apologetic look.
"Can you recommend any lodging nearby, then?" I asked in a calm voice. The nurse wasn't to blame for this situation, and though it was an annoying complication, it wasn't the end of the world for us.
"A two-minute walk to the north is the Magical Cerulean Hotel. According to this morning's info, they still had some vacant rooms. If you are looking for something cheaper, they run the Magical Cerulean Hostel right next to it. You can't miss it," she smiled, a bit more naturally now.
Who knew how many frustrated and exhausted trainers had already argued with her today over those rooms.
"Thank you," I returned her smile. "Would it be possible to reserve a room with you as soon as one becomes available? We'll head to the hotel in the meantime."
"Yes, of course, we can do that," she nodded helpfully. "Could I have your IDs, please? Do you have any Pokémon that need healing?"
We both handed over our identification cards, but only Bran placed a Poké Ball on the counter for healing.
"I have a freshly caught wild Zubat from Mt. Moon here; it hasn't even been out of the Poké Ball yet," he informed her matter-of-factly.
Nurse Joy took our documents and, with quick, practiced movements, began entering our data into the computer system.
"Is it usually this crowded here?" Bran asked in a conversational tone while we waited. "I mean in general, with the number of people in the streets. It felt to me like there are way more than in Pewter City."
"Oh, yes. Cerulean is an extremely popular tourist destination within Kanto," the nurse nodded without taking her eyes off the monitor. "Since the river flows through the city and the open sea begins just a short distance away, people come here in droves for vacations, relaxation, and, of course, to catch wild Pokémon. Plus, the legendary Cerulean Cave is located just outside the city, and it was only recently reopened to the public. We also shouldn't forget the local Gym—spectacular synchronized swimming shows by Misty's older sisters take place there regularly... And last but not least, the great logistics help. You can get to three other major cities from here, and there are regular ferry lines from the port to other continents, as well as luxury cruises."
She typed rhythmically on the keyboard for a little while longer, but after a minute she was all done. She returned our IDs and turned to Bran with a warm smile. "By tomorrow morning, your Zubat should be completely checked over, rehabilitated, and treated if necessary."
"Thank you," we murmured almost in unison, turning to leave.
"One last piece of advice—I recommend registering for your official match with Misty immediately. The waiting times are really long right now," she called after us, giving a friendly wave.
We thanked her again and walked out of the building at a leisurely pace. Just as Nurse Joy had said, we couldn't miss the Magical Cerulean Hotel. As soon as we rounded the corner of the Pokémon Center, a massive, brightly glowing neon billboard caught our eyes.
"Should we get a room together?" Bran suggested as we walked toward the hotel building. "We'll save some money, and honestly, we don't plan on being cooped up in the room all day anyway."
"Sure," I nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, we stepped inside, although even at first glance, the hotel looked pretty cheap. Older, dusty wood was visible everywhere. The floor tiles beneath our feet looked like they had been there longer than Bran and I had been alive combined. Along the long hallway, arrows hung to guide visitors left toward the reception desk and right toward the public restrooms and individual rooms.
So we headed left and walked through a set of glass doors. The reception desk itself looked somewhat cobbled together from cheap particle board. I hadn't expected luxury here, of course, so I didn't care at all.
"Hello," we greeted the receptionist politely, and I got straight to the point. "We'd like to take a room, for an indefinite period for now."
The guy behind the computer gave us a lazy look, raised an eyebrow, but then nodded indifferently.
"One hundred Poké Dollars a night," he announced in a completely flat voice. When we nodded in agreement, he asked for our ID cards and asked matter-of-factly, "Will you be paying in cash or by bank transfer?"
"From my bank account, please," I replied, immediately turning to Bran. "You can give me your half later."
"Room number three," the guy announced, handing us the key with a smirk. "A large double bed will surely be enough for you two, gentlemen."
I automatically took the key, but a second later, my brain short-circuited completely. When it fully hit me what the guy had just implied, I immediately placed the key back onto the reception desk.
"We need a room with separate beds," I told him coldly through gritted teeth.
"Ah..." The receptionist chuckled under his breath, took key number three back, and handed us number seven instead. "Sorry, I thought... well, you know."
"Thanks," I muttered, grabbing the new key, and we headed down the long hallway toward our room. Bran walked right behind me, a wide, undisguisedly amused grin playing on his face.
The room was relatively small and dark. Through the narrow entryway, I immediately spotted heavy brown curtains completely covering the only window. To the right was a modest bathroom—it only had a basic shower stall, a toilet, and a small sink with an old mirror.
Further to the left stood two cheap wooden chairs and a small round table. Pressed against one wall was a narrow bed, and on the opposite side, right by the window, was the second one. Without hesitation, I claimed the spot by the window. Bran clearly didn't mind at all, as he immediately dropped his bag off his shoulder and threw his entire weight onto the other mattress.
"Should we go register you at the Gym first, and then grab some dinner and a beer?" Bran suggested after a brief moment of relaxed silence.
"Sounds good," I agreed immediately. After the long day we'd had, I was absolutely craving a cold beer. "And what if we had dinner right at the Pokémon Center?" it occurred to me.
But Bran shook his head in disagreement. "I'm in the mood for some real, proper pizza, Patrik. How about we find a nice street-side place instead, where they have normal food and drinks?"
"Alright then," I nodded. "I'll take a quick shower, freshen up a bit, and we can go."
I quickly stripped off my sweaty clothes and jumped into the shower. I turned the tap on, set the water to a comfortable warm temperature, and started washing. The problem was, the fucking water absolutely would not stay at the temperature I set. Within a few seconds, it spiked so high I felt like I was showering in flowing lava. Within literally less than a minute, I was out of the shower stall—utterly annoyed and red as a boiled lobster.
"Whoa, you took a crazy fast shower!" Bran smiled, getting off the bed and heading straight for the bathroom, which was now billowing thick clouds of hot steam.
For a second, I thought about warning him, but the door clicked shut behind him, so I just chuckled to myself in amusement. It didn't take long before Bran's desperate, shocked yell echoed from the bathroom: "Fuck, goddammit! What the fuck is this?!" he screamed, hissing in pain.
A few seconds later, he burst through the door, looking exactly like the same boiled lobster I had been moments ago. At that point, I couldn't hold it in anymore and burst into loud laughter.
"Haha, hilarious," he muttered sarcastically, scowling in disgust. "Are they fucking out of their minds here? The water is literally liquid lava! I tried to turn the tap all the way to cold, but fucking nothing, it didn't respond at all. We're going to the front desk, and that guy is going to hear it from me," he declared resolutely.
We quickly got dressed. I threw on a clean set of my usual clothes, and looking in the mirror, I was pleased to note that I looked relatively presentable. The aggressive red color on my skin was already starting to fade, so I was no longer resembling a boiled lobster. We locked the room, Bran took the key, and we headed downstairs.
While I waited for him in the hallway, Bran—still looking like a freshly boiled lobster—strode purposefully toward the reception desk.
After a while, he came back, cursing hoarsely: "That idiot told me with a straight face that everything is fine on their end, but that he'd have maintenance check it just in case. Fuck, I look like a fucking Magmar roasted on a spit... and his response is that I should have just turned on the colder water! Can you believe this guy?!"
Bran was ranting so incredibly comically and at such a rapid pace that I couldn't stop laughing the entire way to the Gym. By the time we finally got there, the worst of the redness had luckily faded from him. Besides, the Cerulean Gym wasn't far from our hotel at all; it was located right in the heart of the city.
The Gym was just as massive as the one in Pewter City, but architecturally it was vastly different. While massive stone walls dominated Pewter, here the sides of the building were completely glassed-in, so we could easily see into the swimming area from the outside. The complex featured several different pools. In some, only Pokémon were swimming; other zones were reserved purely for people peacefully enjoying their free time; but I also noticed a special pool that was a complete blend of both worlds. I assumed this section was meant for trainers who wanted to swim alongside their Pokémon.
Immediately upon stepping through the automatic glass doors, we found ourselves right in front of the main reception. On the left side of the lobby, comfortable armchairs, couches, and a widescreen TV were set up, currently looping a commercial for some local mineral water. A family sat in one of the booths, looking thoroughly exhausted at a glance.
Behind the long reception counter sat an older lady and two young, attractive girls. While the older woman had a clearly readable sign in front of her that said "Battle Registration," both girls were in charge of the zones labeled "Public Swimming" and "Performances."
"I'll wait for you here," Bran said, gratefully settling into one of the vacant armchairs in front of the TV.
I headed straight for the older lady, my Pokédex already in hand. She processed my request with extraordinary, almost lightning-fast professionalism. Without any unnecessary chatter, she took the registration fee, entered me into the system, and immediately informed me of my official date.
Battle with Misty. Three-on-three format. In eight days at 15:00.
She briefly summarized the basic Gym rules for me, strongly warned me that any delay meant instant disqualification, and with a professional nod of her head, signaled that I was all set.
I immediately entered the details into my Pokédex calendar and set an early reminder to ensure a notification would pop up in time. Then I walked over to Bran, gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder, and together we headed out of the Gym, making our way back toward our complex.
We didn't have to walk far. Just a short distance from the hotel, we stumbled upon the ideal place that perfectly matched our expectations of a good dinner and evening entertainment. The sign above the entrance read "Magical Cerulean Bar," and based on its look and location, it was immediately clear to me that this establishment strategically belonged to the hostel, just like our hotel did.
***
Author's note:
Fun fact: the whole hotel situation with Bran actually happened to us in real life! The shower issue plagued our entire stay. Whoever went in first got only a few seconds of lukewarm water before it instantly turned into literal lava, so showers were always record-short. I guess that's the price two young guys pay for cheaping out on accommodation.
In the next chapter, you'll find out why I swore to never share a room with Bran again.
***
Step into the Restricted Section
The shadows are shifting, and the story goes much deeper... If you can't wait for the next update, Advanced Chapters are already waiting for you.
Enter the Restricted Section here: you-know-what/PatrikWriter
Upcoming Chapters – Already Written(15):
37. Cerulean After Hours
38. Shadows, Sparks, and the Bro Code – 18+
39. The Cost of Power
40. Of Iron and Fists
41. No Mercy
42. The Girl in the Pink Cap
43. The Price of Arrogance
44. Of Bro Codes and Psychic Radars
45. Where the Forest Meets the Sea
46. Sun, Sand, and Cerulean Waves
47. Not on the Menu
48. Blood in the Water
49. Beneath the Surface
50. Gearing Up
51. Borelli's Forge
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