Viridian City, a metropolis embraced by forests, was always the finest example of harmony between people and nature. It was also the most "closed-off" modern city in all of Kanto.
No maglev trains, no airport, and even cars on the streets were a rarity. Anyone who came here for the first time would be struck breathless by the city's natural beauty.
By the riverside near Viridian Forest, clear water flowed gently downstream. On the bank sat a young girl in a straw hat, holding a fishing rod. Her upper body swayed forward and back as though she were fighting drowsiness.
"Ahhh… so sleepy…"
Yawning, Yellow lightly covered her mouth with a hand, looking listless.
Suddenly, her fishing rod trembled. Yellow perked up instantly, her eyes sparkling as she shouted:
"Something's biting!"
The Amaura lying lazily beside her leapt up, blinking its big eyes like a playful child, hopping and prancing around Yellow with excitement.
"Wow, it's really strong! Amaura, quick, help me!"
Yellow gripped the rod with both hands, but she was only eleven—far too small to match the strength of whatever was tugging from below. She yelped, calling for her Pokémon.
Amaura trotted over, bit the rod firmly, and with a backward pull easily hauled their catch out of the river.
"It's just a Goldeen!"
"Alright!"
Yellow's expression grew serious. With a sharp cry, she braced herself, yanked her rod, and freed the hook from the Goldeen. Then, like an acrobat at a circus, she spun the rod overhead in a flashy arc. The hook descended again—now swapped with a Poké Ball!
Snap!
The Goldeen was pulled inside the ball. Yellow's eyes lit up with joy—only for the Poké Ball to burst open. Goldeen leapt free and splashed back into the river.
"Ahhh… failed again. As I thought, it's impossible to catch Pokémon without battling them first."
Yellow crouched in defeat, pouting. "I'm hopeless at catching Pokémon."
Beside her, Amaura crouched low, ready to fight, eyes gleaming with eagerness. Though not a pure Dragon-type, Amaura carried dragon blood and didn't shy away from battle.
"Sorry, Amaura… I'm not good at battling either, hehe."
Yellow removed her straw hat, scratching at her wheat-colored hair in embarrassment. She hugged Amaura's neck, apologizing softly.
Amaura gave a cheerful cry, nudging her affectionately. It didn't mind—just being with Yellow was enough.
Not every Pokémon was born for battle. Even among the most ferocious dragons, there were always those who disliked fighting. And for many Pokémon raised by humans, simply living with their trainers for a lifetime was fulfillment enough.
At that moment, ripples disturbed the calm surface of the river. A counterclockwise whirlpool suddenly appeared, dragging water into its center.
Yellow instinctively sensed danger. Clutching Amaura, she slowly backed away.
Whooosh—!
A beautiful dragon burst from the lake in a shower of glittering droplets. Its slender, elegant body was clad in shimmering sapphire-blue scales. And though only half its form rose above the surface, it still towered ten meters high.
"Dragonair?! What's a Dragonair doing here?!"
Yellow gasped. Dragonair were exceedingly rare—yet here one was, at the very edge of Viridian Forest, emanating a fierce, intimidating aura.
Amaura growled, stepping protectively in front of her, its voice low and defiant.
But then, Dragonair's fierce look softened. Lowering its long neck, it gently tapped its horn against Yellow's forehead.
Yellow's eyes widened in surprise, then brightened with joy. She spread her arms with delight. "It really is a Dragonair!"
From the nearby bushes, a deep laugh rang out.
"Hahaha! Got scared, didn't you, little one?"
Logan stepped out, his long black Champion's robe flowing behind him. No matter how wild the terrain, the robe never seemed to pick up a speck of dust.
"Big brother!"
Yellow cheered, running toward him. She greeted the Eevee perched on his shoulder with a giggle. "Hi, Eevee!"
"Eevee!"
Eevee yipped happily, leaping into her arms.
Amaura hurried over as well, circling Logan joyfully.
"Your Amaura's finally grown to full size, huh?" Logan crouched, stroking Amaura's head. Since Yellow wasn't a formal trainer, her training methods were lighthearted at best. Growth had been slow, and it took over a year of care for Amaura to finally reach normal size.
"Were you practicing catching Pokémon again?" Logan asked, nodding toward her fishing rod and sketchbook by the bank.
"Yeah… but I failed again. In the past year, aside from the Amaura you gave me and the Doduo my uncle gave me, I haven't caught a single Pokémon." Yellow laughed sheepishly.
"Everyone has strengths and weaknesses," Logan said, voice full of quiet wisdom. "It just means catching Pokémon isn't your strength. That's fine. What matters is finding what you're best at. People waste too much energy grieving over what they can't do, instead of sharpening what they can do."
"Mm-hm!"
Yellow nodded earnestly. She never tired of Logan's lessons. To her, he wasn't just a big brother figure—he was someone to admire, someone to look up to.
"I've just finished a year and a half of special training," Logan continued. "I'll finally have more free time, no more running around. I—"
He paused. His Pokédex suddenly buzzed in his pocket.
"Who's bothering me now…"
He checked it with mild annoyance—only to blink in surprise. "Professor Oak? Wait… the people from Sinnoh are here already? I thought it'd take at least another week!"
He scratched his head, then looked at Yellow apologetically.
"I was planning to stay here with you for a few days, but something's come up. Someone from Sinnoh's come all the way to Kanto to see me—being mysterious about it, too. I'll have to head to Pallet Town and meet them."
"No problem!" Yellow waved her hands quickly. "I'll be fine here."
She wasn't the least bit spoiled—she was considerate, understanding, and far more mature than most children.
Logan ruffled her hair, messing it up until she protested. Laughing, he added, "If anything happens, message me. Or just come find me in Pallet Town—it's not far."
"Got it, big brother!" Yellow grinned brightly, her face glowing with joy.
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