Pokémon: Midnight Blue

Beyond Cerulean Cave

I trekked through the cave for what seemed like hours. Every wild Pokémon I encountered met an untimely fate. It reminded me of the time Kira had escorted me through Mt. Moon. Mewtwo was nowhere to be found. I was starting to lose my patience. Finally, I found a light at the end of the tunnel. I thought I had finally found the answer to my prayers, the legendary Genetic Pokémon. Instead, I found a sea that stretched out for miles. I was getting ready to pull my hair out, but instead, I sent out my Dragonite and took to the sky.

I flew around for hours until I finally came across an island. This confused me because this island did not appear on any map I had seen. I flew up higher and realized that this island was located in the dead center of Cerulean Cave. I circled the island several times until my attention was drawn to a rogue Victreebel attacking a young woman. As I flew in closer, I immediately recognized the damsel in distress. It was Letta.

"Charizard, Flamethrower!" I roared as I sent out my Flame Pokémon.

Charizard roasted Victreebel and swatted it away from Letta. I landed Dragonite right in front of her and dismounted.

"You might wanna be a little more careful where you walk, sweetheart," I teased, hiding my eyes under my hat.

My attempt of concealment was futile. Letta recognized me immediately.

"Oh my goodness, Brian! You're here! I can't believe it!" she squealed in excitement. She jumped up and almost tackled me with an enormous hug, laughing so hard that it slowly turned into tears of joy. Then she released me and took notice of my new attire, "What in the world are you wearing?"

"Oh, it's a new look I've been trying out," I responded, chuckling at the fact that the Dark Phoenix look had become so normal to me, "Do you like it?"

"You look ridiculous, Brian. You look like some sort of sorcerer from the fifteenth century. Luckily for you, I salvaged some of your clothes from the flood. Come on."

With that, she brushed her sleek, brown hair out of her dark tan face and grabbed my hand. She tugged me along and led me to a large homestead located in the center of the island. Behind the fence surrounding the homestead, I saw immeasurable numbers of Pokémon running about the garden. She led me inside of the building and sat me down on a sofa in what seemed like a lobby.

"Mrs. Carney!" Letta called out into the halls, "I'm back!" She headed toward a hallway, then stopped and turned to look at me, "Wait here, I'll be right back, okay?"

I nodded as she ran off. I sat quietly in the immense lobby until an old woman walked into the room from a different hallway. She looked over at me, jumped slighty, and blinked and squinted multiple times as she pulled up a pair of glasses that hung from her neck by a cord.

"Oh, I'm sorry," the old lady muttered in a frail, shaky voice, "I thought I heard my assistant in here. I don't believe I've ever seen you on Cerulean Island before. May I ask your name?"

"Brian Phoenix," I responded politely, "And is it safe to assume that you are Mrs. Carney?"

"Yes, it is," she smiled a sweet old lady smile, then squinted at me again, "Brian Phoenix, you say? I do believe I've heard that name before." She thought for a moment, and while I thought my name sounded familiar to her because I was the new Indigo League Champion, a much more obvious answer dawned upon her, "Ah, yes! You must be the young man that my assistant has been talking about so much. She's told me so many wonderful things about you! It's a pleasure to finally meet you, young man."

"It's nice to meet you as well Mrs. Carney. Now, if you don't mind my asking, what is this place?"

"Why, it's a Pokémon Day Care!"