Chapter 39: Golden Nugget Bridge
I jolted awake to the sound of shouting.
The voices of Skyla and Officer Jenny echoed through the apartment, filled with panic and urgency. Without thinking, I threw off the covers and rushed toward the kitchen, Rotom floating beside me in equal alarm.
The moment we entered, my worry turned into a mix of shock and frustration. Jenny, now fully dressed in her officer uniform, and Skyla, still in her pajamas, stood in front of the stove, desperately trying to salvage what could only be described as a culinary catastrophe. The air was thick with smoke, and the acrid smell of something burnt filled my lungs.
From where Rotom and I stood, the situation was clear—whatever they had attempted to cook had gone far beyond its limits. The pan on the stove held what might have once been eggs but was now an unrecognizable blackened lump, teetering on the edge of combustion.
Skyla turned to us with a sheepish grin, her face betraying her attempt to act nonchalant. "G-Good morning?" she greeted awkwardly.
Jenny, attempting to support the act, held up the charred remains of breakfast with forced enthusiasm. "We made food!" she announced, as if that would somehow convince us this wasn't a disaster.
Rotom and I exchanged a glance before slowly looking back at the mess before us.
"...No, you didn't," I finally said, rubbing my forehead. "You committed arson."
Jenny let out a nervous laugh. "Hey, in our defense, it didn't look this bad a few minutes ago!"
Skyla crossed her arms. "Yeah! The recipe said 'high heat,' so we cranked it up!"
I groaned. "That's not how it works....."
Before this could turn into a full-blown lecture, I walked over to the stove, switched off the burner, and sighed. "Alright, move aside. I'll make breakfast before we leave."
Jenny blinked. "Wait, you can cook?"
"I used to take care of my little brother when we were kids so yeah!" I shot back.
Skyla pouted. "I thought you'd be happy that we at least tried..."
"Yeah, yeah. I appreciate the effort. Just... next time, maybe don't try so hard?" I gestured to the disaster zone around them before rolling up my sleeves. "Now, let me show you how it's done."
I got to work, clearing away the evidence of their failed attempt while Rotom hovered beside me, looking around Meanwhile, Skyla and Jenny sat at the table, watching with a mild embarrassment.
"So, what's on the menu, Chef Carter?" Skyla teased.
I cracked a few eggs into a bowl, whisking them together. "Something edible, for starters."
Jenny leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands. "That doesn't sound as fun as our experimental breakfast."
"It's only 'experimental' if there's a chance of success," I countered, pouring the eggs into a pan over medium heat—as cooking is supposed to be done.
While the eggs scrambled, I toasted some bread and cut up some vegetables that I found in the fridge. Within minutes, the smell of real food filled the kitchen, a stark contrast to the smoky disaster from earlier. I plated everything neatly before setting the food in front of them.
Jenny took a bite and practically melted. "Oh wow. This is actually better than Instant food."
Skyla grumbled under her breath before taking a bite herself. Her eyes widened. "...Okay, fine. It's better than ours."
"Of course it is. Because it's not burnt," I said, taking a seat and finally eating my own plate.
As we finished breakfast, Jenny checked the time and stood up, brushing off her uniform. "Alright, I have to head to work. You two are going to Nugget Bridge today, right?"
I nodded. "Yeah. Thats the plan."
Jenny smirked. "I still can't believe you two tried to sell her ticket."
Skyla groaned. "We didn't know it was that expensive!"
Jenny chuckled. "Alright, alright. Come on, I'll drop you both off on the way."
After wearing our own clothes and getting ready, we followed her out of the apartment and into her patrol car. As she drove through the streets of Cerulean City, I glanced out the window, watching the city come to life under the morning sun as we got closer to the Nugget Bridge.
While ı was lost Wandering through the lively streets of Cerulean City with my eyes, we finally arrived at the Yellow Nugget Bridge. As I stepped out of the patrol car, my gaze locked onto the massive structure before me. The bridge stretched far into the distance, its design resembling a series of interwoven golden bamboo stalks, giving it a natural yet almost surreal look against the bright blue sky.
A gust of wind swept through, gently ruffling my black hair as I found myself lost in thought. Nostalgia washed over me. Back when I played the game, this bridge was packed with trainers—one after another, blocking the way, forcing battles before you could cross. It was frustrating at times, but the reward was kinda worth it. Experience, money, and even a nugget as a prize at the end.
"It's nostalgic," I murmured to myself.
Skyla stepped out of the car right after me, carrying her luggage in one hand. The wind caught her blue hair, making it dance in the breeze, her long black coat fluttering slightly behind her. Officer Jenny soon followed, her usual cyan twin-tails swaying as she adjusted her officer's cap.
Without hesitation, Skyla and Jenny shared a brief but warm hug.
"If you two need anything, just call me, okay?" Jenny said, her voice filled with concern. "You already have my number, and I gave it to Rotom too, right?"
She turned toward Rotom, who had been oddly silent the entire ride. Its screen flickered strangely, an unreadable expression on its digital face.
"Rotom?" Skyla prompted, tilting her head.
Rotom jolted slightly before responding. "[Y-Yeah! I'm okay! I registered your number and address—everything! So don't worry, Officer Jenny!]"
It was trying to act normal, but anyone with a shred of common sense could tell it was forcing it. Something was off.
As Jenny continued speaking, I kept my eyes on Rotom, the unease in my chest growing.
"Alright then, I'll send you guys your payments once I sell those Moon Stones, okay?" Jenny said with a reassuring smile.
"Yeah, it's fine!" Skyla replied. "Oh, and Jenny, remember—I'll be at Bill's house for a long time, so visit me often, okay?"
Jenny gave her a firm nod. "Of course!" Then, turning to me, she waved. "Good luck on your journey, Alex!"
I nodded in appreciation. "Thanks, Jenny."
With that, she got back into her car, the engine humming to life as she drove off toward the Cerulean City gates. Skyla and I, now on our own, turned to face the bridge ahead.
As we stepped onto the wooden planks, Skyla suddenly leaned closer, whispering into my ear.
"Hey, Alex, what the hell is going on with Rotom? Did you two fight, or is it in some kind of depression?"
I glanced down at the floating Pokémon beside us. Rotom's usual spark of energy was missing. Its movements were sluggish, almost robotic, and its screen displayed nothing but an empty stare as it hovered silently by our side.
Something was definitely wrong.
I whispered back, "I really don't know, but I'll talk to it later so don't worry."
Skyla gave me a nod, as she tried to ignore the concern on her own face.
The sound of our footsteps echoed against the wooden planks of Nugget Bridge as Skyla and I made our way across. The bridge stretched long and wide, the wind gently tousling our hair as we walked, the yellow bamboo structures swaying slightly with the breeze. The sight of Cerulean City in the distance grew smaller with each step, but it wasn't just the view that had us distracted.
Skyla, ever the energetic photographer, insisted on taking a photo every five minutes. The moment she saw something remotely interesting—whether it was a scenic view, a funny angle of the bridge,a Cave which houses a legendary Pokémon also known as the copy of the Mew and the strongest of its time or a particularly striking cloud—she would pull out her phone and demand we stop.
"Hold on! Wait right there!" she would call, her hand already holding her phone. "Just a few shots, promise!"
At first, it was funny. But by the third or fourth stop, I was starting to feel like a model rather than a traveler.
A couple of times, we were interrupted by other trainers, who challenged me to battles as we walked. I didn't mind—sometimes it felt good to stretch my Pokémon's legs and test their skills. One trainer, a young man with a green cap, sent out a Weedle and a another battle with a young girl who looked to be no older than 12 with a Pidgey.
Skyla watched all of this with her usual smile, cheering us from the sidelines. "Nice one, Alex!"
After another few photos, we paused near the middle of the bridge. I leaned on the railing, watching the water below us flow swiftly. The sun was high in the sky now, and the warmth made everything feel more vibrant, more alive. I could hear the sound of the waves crashing against the supports of the bridge, adding to the serene atmosphere.
"Alex!" Skyla's voice broke through my thoughts. She was holding her phone up again, aiming it at me. "Can you stand by the railing? I want a shot of you with the bridge in the background!"
I sighed with a grin. "If you keep this up, you're going to run out of memory space!" I cried.
She laughed, not missing a beat. "I have plenty of space and who knows when are we going to see eachother after this!"
I rolled my eyes but complied, striking a mock dramatic pose against the railing. Skyla snapped a few photos, muttering something about "perfect lighting" under her breath.
It felt like hours had passed since we started our lomg walk across the bridge. But eventually, we reached the end of the bridge, where the path split off into a open area and ahead of that was a bunch of trees.
The wind carried the scent of fresh grass as Skyla and I continued walking along Route 25, the distant sound of the ocean waves crashing against the cliffs filling the air. The sun was at the top of the day, painting the sky with hues of blue.
"So, looks like we'll be able to reach Bill's house by tonight at the latest, huh?" Skyla mused, checking her phone while scrolling through the dozens of photos she had taken.
"Yeah," I replied before flashing her a playful grin. "It's finally over!"
Before I could even react, Skyla punched my arm—not too hard, but enough to get her point across. "Stop teasing already!" she pouted.
I chuckled and rubbed my arm before my eyes fell on the Pokéball attached to her belt—the one housing her newly adapted Nidoking.
"So, you finally made your choice, huh?" I said, plucking the Pokéball from her belt to examine it more closely.
Skyla nodded with a confident smirk. "Yep! I think it'll be fun, you know? Going on adventures, defeating rookie trainers like you—"
Before she could finish, I flicked her forehead.
"Ow, ow! That hurt!" she whined, rubbing the spot.
Grinning, I handed the Pokéball back to her. She took a few steps ahead before holding the ball up toward her face. "I know you're not sleeping in there," she said teasingly. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you get a big meal once we reach our destination."
The Nidoking wobbled slightly before opening one of his eyes as he looked at her and gave her a knowing look before closing it again, making Skyla chuckle as she secured it back onto her belt.
Just as we were about to continue walking, a sudden, desperate cry echoed through the trees.
"HELP!!!"
Skyla and I froze, exchanging quick glances before our instincts took over. Without hesitation, we took off running in the direction of the voice, with Rotom buzzing after us.
The scream abruptly cut off. My stomach twisted with worry.
"Rotom, protect Skyla! I'll go ahead!" I commanded.
For the first time today, Rotom's screen displayed a genuine expression, almost like concern. [Roger that, Alex Carter!] it responded firmly.
Skyla gave me a brief but serious look. "Be careful, Alex! Wait us before doing something!"
I nodded before dashing ahead, weaving through the trees as I followed the source of the sound. My heart pounded as I gripped Oddy's Pokéball tightly.
A few seconds later, I heard voices—two men talking in hushed tones. Slowing my pace, I pressed myself against a tree, carefully peering around the trunk.
Two men in dark suits stood in the clearing, both wearing purple masks. One of them had his hand clamped over a young boy's mouth, muffling his cries, while the other rummaged through the kid's bag, pulling out a Pokéball.
"Do you think the boss will care about this?" the thief holding the Pokéball asked in a sarcastic tone.
"Of course he will," the other man sneered. "A newly evolved Kadabra? It's definetly worth something and didn't he already said he needs a Pokémon capable of teleporting."
The boy squirmed helplessly, tears streaming down his face as he watched his Pokémon being stolen.
"Ah, stop crying, kiddo! You can always catch another one and train it up again," the first man taunted. "So we can steal that one too!" The other said before laughing to kid's face.
My hands curled into fists, rage boiling inside me. I didn't even need to say anything to Oddy and Aria—they had already sensed my anger. Aria's eyes burned with a fierce intensity, a different kind of anger than mine or Oddy's. It was deeper, rawer, as if something about this scene had struck a personal nerve.
Taking a deep breath, I looked at them and nodded.
"Alright… let's go!"
Without hesitation, I hurled both Pokéballs into the air.
"Aria—Draining Kiss! Oddy—Stun Spore!"
The moment they materialized, the two men instinctively flinched, raising their arms to shield themselves.
The battle had begun.