Pokémon (Kanto Adventure)

Chapter 20: Pokémon Day Care

Dylan, Paige, and Carson trudged along Route 5, their steps becoming slower as the sun beat down on them.

Carson wiped the sweat from his forehead and groaned, "Man, it feels like we've been walking forever."

Paige nodded, "I'm so thirsty."

Without thinking, Carson reached into his bag and pulled out his canteen. He shook it, hearing nothing but air. "Great... it's empty." He unscrewed the cap and tipped it back, hoping for at least one last drop of water. Nothing.

Dylan sighed, "We should've filled up before we left Cerulean City."

Carson glanced around, his brow furrowed. "If we don't find water soon, we'll be toast out here."

Paige, spotting a tree with some shade, pointed. "Let's stop for a minute. We need to rest."

They all agreed and shuffled over to the shady spot. Just as they sat down, Paige spotted something in the distance. "Hey, look over there," she said, squinting toward the horizon. "Is that a house on the hill?"

Dylan shielded his eyes from the sun, then grinned. "Yeah, it is! Maybe they've got some water."

Carson's face lit up. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

With renewed energy, the trio got back to their feet and headed toward the house. As they neared it, they saw an old man standing outside, tending to a small garden of flowers. The man noticed them approaching and waved warmly.

"Excuse me, sir!" Dylan called out, jogging up to the man. "We were wondering if we could fill up our canteens. We've run out of water and we're a bit thirsty."

The old man smiled kindly. "Of course, of course! I'm Roberto, and this here is the Pokémon Daycare Center." He gestured to the large sign beside the house. "You're more than welcome to come inside, cool off, and fill your canteens."

Paige's eyes widened. "The Pokémon Daycare? I've heard about places like this! Thank you so much, Roberto."

Carson rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Yeah, we'd really appreciate it. The heat's been killer out here."

Roberto chuckled softly. "I can imagine. Come on inside, kids."

Roberto led Dylan, Paige, and Carson into the cozy living room of the Pokémon Daycare. The cool air inside was a welcome relief from the blazing heat outside. The trio collapsed onto the plush couch, grateful for the break.

"Here, let me fill those canteens for you," Roberto said, taking the containers from them. A few minutes later, he returned with the canteens full of cool water, along with a tray of sodas and snacks.

"Thanks, Roberto," Dylan said, grabbing a soda and taking a long sip.

Paige smiled. "This is just what we needed. Thank you so much."

Roberto waved off the thanks. "No trouble at all! You kids look like you've been walking all day. Some snacks will help get your energy back."

On the tray were neatly made sandwiches and a small bowl of mixed berries. Carson took a bite of one of the sandwiches and his eyes lit up. "This is amazing! What kind of berries are these?"

"Mostly Oran and Sitrus," Roberto replied with a chuckle. "They're great for humans and Pokémon alike."

Just then, a woman entered the room. She had a warm smile and a gentle demeanor. "Hello there, trainers. I'm Julia," she said as she walked over and took a seat beside Roberto. "I see Roberto's been taking good care of you."

"Yes, ma'am, he has," Paige said, wiping her mouth after finishing a bite of her sandwich. "We're really grateful. We were starting to get a bit worried about how long it would take to find water."