The Jennys had never imagined that one day they would step into the kingdom's royal castle and stand before its King.
As they gazed at the towering castle ahead, awe and unease mixed in their hearts. The massive stone walls rose like an unreachable mountain, exuding an overwhelming sense of authority.
For people from a remote place like Anville Town, concepts such as the Royal City and the King felt impossibly distant, almost unreal.
"Big Sister… I'm a little nervous," one of the Jennys whispered.
Jenny Ray lifted her gaze to the castle gates. She took a deep breath, steadying the emotions surging in her chest. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and subtly positioned herself in front of her sisters, shielding them like a solid wall.
"Stay close behind me," Jenny Ray said calmly.
The Jennys nodded and followed her, one after another.
Led by the envoy, they passed through the towering gates and entered the castle proper. Soon, they arrived at the grand throne room.
A long crimson carpet stretched from the entrance to the far end of the hall. At its end stood a majestic throne.
And seated upon it, a young man.
The moment they entered, every Jenny's gaze was drawn irresistibly toward him.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
The envoy immediately dropped to one knee in salute.
Startled, the Jennys quickly followed suit, kneeling on the carpet.
"His Majesty… Lucien," Jenny Ray said, her voice steady despite the tension in her heart.
"Rise."
The voice from the throne was calm, its tone unreadable.
The envoy rose first, and the Jennys stood as well.
Some of them kept their heads lowered, not daring to look up. Some stole cautious glances toward the throne. Others were so nervous that cold sweat soaked their palms.
Jenny Ray, as the leader of the Thunder Gang, forced herself to remain composed, waiting for the King to speak.
But the man on the throne seemed to have seen through their unease.
A soft chuckle echoed through the hall.
"There's no need to be nervous," Lucien said, his voice gentler now, carrying a faint smile. "You are all my subjects. And what you did was merely an act of survival."
Jenny Ray froze slightly, then slowly raised her head.
Her eyes met his.
"You must be their leader," Lucien said.
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Jenny Ray replied without hesitation, "I am Jenny Ray, the big sister of these Jennys."
Lucien nodded. "Very good."
"Founding the Thunder Gang on your own, leading a group rejected by the world, and carving out a place to live in Anville Town, this is no small feat. You are capable. Admirable."
Even Jenny Ray couldn't help but feel taken aback.
Before coming here, she had imagined countless outcomes, interrogation, rejection, suspicion, but she had never expected this.
The Jennys behind her stared in disbelief.
"What surprises me even more," Lucien continued slowly, "is that even in such circumstances, you never chose the path of evil. Instead, you protected the weak to the best of your ability."
Jenny Ray's lips parted slightly.
She hadn't expected the King to know even this much.
"No matter how much they feared us… those people never harmed us," Jenny Ray said quietly. A distant look crossed her face.
She remembered their first days in Anville Town, cold, hungry, penniless.
It had been a kind-hearted girl who gave them food when they had nothing.
So later, they formed the Thunder Gang, drove out the other gangs, and placed the entire town under their protection.
That was their way of repaying that kindness.
Lucien listened and smiled faintly.
"Your strength and sense of justice shouldn't be wasted," he said. "They belong in a better place."
"I have a task I wish to entrust to you."
"One that will allow you, just like Nurse Joy, to change how the world sees you."
"To live openly, freely, and with dignity."
At those words, a fierce light ignited in Jenny Ray's eyes. The Jennys behind her felt it too.
This...this was exactly why they had come.
"Your Majesty Lucien," Jenny Ray said, dropping to one knee without hesitation, "please help us. The Jenny Family is willing to serve you from this day forward!"
"Big Sister!" the others cried out.
Jenny Ray's expression was unwavering.
She wanted every sister behind her to stand in the sunlight, no longer feared, no longer cast aside.
Lucien looked pleased.
He paused, then asked, "Have you heard of a Police Station?"
"Police Station?" Jenny Ray blinked.
Her thoughts immediately turned to the newly built structure in Anville Town, the place where officers handled cases, arrested criminals, patrolled the streets, and maintained order.
Since its establishment, the town's safety had improved dramatically.
"Yes," Jenny Ray answered slowly.
Lucien nodded.
"From what I've seen, all of you possess a strong sense of justice," he said. "There is no profession more suited to you than serving in a Police Station."
Jenny Ray's eyes widened.
A… heart of justice?
Was he really speaking of them?
But in the end, what they had done in Anville Town had merely been for survival.
That thought lingered heavily in Jenny Ray's heart.
As if sensing it, Lucien gently shook his head from the throne.
"Even when pushed to the edge, you never chose to bully the weak or commit evil," he said calmly. "Instead, you protected others and shared food with the poor. That alone is enough."
"Your Majesty…" Jenny Ray's voice faltered slightly.
Lucien's gaze swept across the hooded Jennys standing before him, then he spoke slowly:
"Working at the Police Station may help you fulfill what you truly desire."
"The duty of the police is to fight crime and protect the innocent. Over time, your image in the eyes of the world will change, until you become symbols of justice."
"Just like the Joy family," Lucien continued. "As far as I know, people now see them as gentle angels in white. Few remember the fear and rejection they once faced."
Jenny Ray had investigated the Joy family long ago.
She knew this was true.
And that was precisely why she had come.
They, the Jenny Family, wanted the same chance, to live openly, without hiding, without fear.
"Are you willing?" Lucien asked.
Jenny Ray answered without hesitation, her voice firm and clear:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, we are willing!"
"Very well." Lucien nodded in satisfaction. "Then follow Lord Elif to the Lucien City Police Station and observe its operations. Once you are familiar with the work, Lord Elif will take you on a tour of the city."
"Everyone, please follow me," Lord Elif said with a smile as he stepped forward.
"Yes, My Lord!" the Jennys replied in unison.
Under Lord Elif's guidance, the Jennys soon arrived at the Lucien City Police Station.
But the moment they stepped inside, they froze.
Lined up neatly in the station's lobby sat a group of Pokémon they had never seen before.
They had orange-red fur marked with black stripes, bright eyes full of spirit, and an alert posture that radiated vigilance.
They were listening attentively as an officer spoke to them.
As soon as the Jennys entered, the Growlithe noticed them.
"Woof! Woof!"
The officer paused mid-sentence and turned around.
When she saw the newcomers, she froze for a moment before shifting her gaze to Lord Elif.
"Lord Elif… who are these people?"
"These are Officer Jennys from Anville Town," Lord Elif explained. "By order of His Majesty Lucien, they will officially join the Police Station starting today."
By order of His Majesty Lucien?
The officer immediately straightened, saluted sharply, and said:
"Welcome! I am Elsa of the Lucien City Police Station!"
The Jennys exchanged uncertain glances.
Finally, Jenny Ray stepped forward.
"I am Jenny Ray from Anville Town," she said calmly.
"Everyone, no need to be nervous," Lord Elif said reassuringly. "Elsa, we're here today to familiarize them with the Police Station. Please give them a proper introduction."
"Yes, Lord Elif!"
Elsa nodded and began guiding the Officer Jennys through the station.
The Growlithe, meanwhile, followed closely behind.
Their bright eyes darted between the Jennys, curiosity written all over their faces.
"Big Sister… these Pokémon look really smart," one Jenny whispered.
Jenny Ray glanced down at the Growlithe.
Their eyes met.
For a brief moment, everything went still.
Then;
"Woof! Woof!"
Several Growlithe wagged their tails enthusiastically at her.
"Hey, Growlithe, behave yourselves!" Elsa said with a laugh. "These Jennys will be your partners from now on!"
Partners?
The Growlithe grew even more excited.
Did that mean… they would finally have humans of their own?
Elsa turned back to the Jennys and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry about that. These Pokémon are called Growlithe. His Majesty Lucien sent them here not long ago to assist us."
"Working together?" Some of the Jennys couldn't hide the surprise on their faces.
"That's right," Elsa nodded. "Growlithe have an exceptionally keen sense of smell. In many cases, they play a decisive role in investigations. They're extremely reliable partners."
Hearing this, Jenny Ray looked at the Growlithe lined up before her, her gaze lingering.
Partners…
For the first time, she began to clearly imagine what her future might look like.
Meanwhile, in Castelia City, at the Castelia Gym.
After several days of preparation and training, Derick and Riolu finally stood before the Gym's entrance.
They hadn't challenged it yet, but Derick had already heard plenty of stories from other Trainers in the city.
The Gym Leader was named Alex.
A Fire-type specialist.
His strongest Pokémon was said to be an Emboar, and its power was overwhelming.
So far, no one had managed to obtain the badge.
Would he succeed?
Derick clenched his fists and stepped into the Gym alongside Riolu, whose body had grown visibly sturdier after days of intense training.
The challenge process was straightforward.
Derick first presented his Trainer credential, issued by the Trainer Association when he received his starter Pokémon. The staff verified it and immediately went to notify the Gym Leader.
The battlefield inside the Gym was a perfectly rectangular arena.
The ground beneath their feet glowed a deep, flame-like red.
The moment Derick stepped forward, a wave of heat washed over him.
This place is hot…
They didn't have to wait long.
Soon, a young man in a red martial-arts-style outfit strode out. His short crimson hair and confident grin radiated arrogance and passion.
So this is him… Derick thought. Alex.
"Another challenger?" Alex laughed lightly. "Welcome. I'm Alex, the Gym Leader stationed here by order of His Majesty Lucian."
"If you want a Gym Badge, prove your strength to me."
"The battle format is three versus three," the staff member acting as referee announced. "Each side may use up to three Pokémon. The match ends when all Pokémon on one side lose the ability to battle."
Three versus three…
Derick's pupils tightened.
He only had one Pokémon right now.
Before he could say anything, Alex had already thrown a Poké Ball with crisp confidence.
A burst of white light flashed.
A small, red-bodied Pokémon appeared on the battlefield, flames flickering faintly around its body.
Magby.
Seeing this, Derick clenched his fists harder.
I have to become strong.
Only then can I give my mother a better life.
"Riolu, go!" Derick shouted.
Riolu leapt onto the battlefield.
But the moment its feet touched the crimson floor, a subtle stiffness ran through its body.
"Heh," Alex chuckled. "This battlefield was specially customized for Fire-type Pokémon."
"For non-Fire-types, that scorching ground can be a real problem."
Despite explaining, Alex showed no hesitation.
"Magby," he commanded sharply, "use Flame Wheel!"