The day-long walk to Petalburg had been peaceful, if nothing else. Route 102 lived up to its reputation as one of the quieter paths in Hoenn. We'd passed a few other trainers heading in the opposite direction, but none had bothered us. Maybe they were just too focused on their own journeys to care about mine, or they were intimidated by Mightyena. There aren't many if any fully evolved pokemon wondering around this area.

  On the bright side, Mightyena had been the perfect traveling companion. She stayed close enough that I never worried about losing her, but far enough away that she could investigate anything that caught her interest. And plenty had caught her attention. Every unusual scent, every rustle in the bushes, every bird Pokémon call had her ears perking up and her head turning to investigate. Dog is gunna dog.

  The wild Pokémon we'd encountered had given us a wide berth, which made sense. A Zigzagoon had started to approach before catching sight of Mightyena and immediately changing direction. A flock of Taillow had altered their flight path to avoid flying directly overhead. Even a Surskit skating across a small pond had quickly moved to the far shore when we'd stopped for water.

  Smart of them, really. A fully evolved Pokémon traveling with a human was probably sending all kinds of warning signals to the local wildlife. Better safe than sorry when you didn't know if that particular Mightyena was friendly or looking for an easy meal. Or if the human was looking to catch a new Pokémon. Not that I was, but to them it was possible.

  By evening, the lights of Petalburg were visible in the distance. The city was noticeably larger than Oldale Town, with proper streetlights and what looked like actual city planning. I could make out the distinctive dome of the Gym rising above the other buildings, Norman's Gym, if I remembered correctly. Normal-types. At least that was one type specialist who wouldn't immediately assume the worst about us. Or at least that is the general hope, even if I had no plans to battle him yet.

  We'd spent the night under the stars at the edge of the city limits. I'd been nervous about sleeping in the open with wild Pokémon around, but having Mightyena made for a great deterrent. Nothing had come near our little campsite. The few times I'd woken up during the night, I'd found her alert and watchful, scanning the darkness for any signs of trouble.

  Sleeping next to a heckin' big dog that could and likely would eat any Pokémon that got too close? It was pretty great actually. Like having your own personal security detail.

  The morning brought us into Petalburg proper, and the difference from Oldale was immediately obvious. More people, more buildings, more activity. But also more stares. Mightyena stuck close to my side as we walked down the main street, her body language tense but controlled. She was curious about everything. Stopping to sniff at interesting scents, watching other Pokémon with their trainers, observing the bustle of city life. But every time someone gave us a particularly hostile look, I could feel her muscles tense.

  A quick scratch behind her ears usually did the trick, redirecting her attention back to me instead of whatever had set her on edge. She'd lean into the contact for a moment, tail giving a small wag, before refocusing on our surroundings.

  "Easy girl," I murmured as a businessman crossed the road rather than walk near us. "Just ignore them."

  The Pokémart was our first stop. I needed food for Mightyena, the small amount from yesterday was already running low, and I had no idea when we'd next be somewhere I could buy supplies. The store was bigger than I'd expected, with aisles of Pokéballs, potions, and trainer gear stretching back further than I could see from the entrance.

  I grabbed a large bag of high-quality Pokémon food and approached the counter where a middle-aged man with thinning hair was organizing inventory sheets.

  "Just this today," I said, setting the bag down.

  The clerk looked up, saw Mightyena sitting patiently beside me, and his expression immediately soured. "We don't serve your kind here."

  I blinked. "Excuse me?"

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  "You heard me. Evil-type trainers aren't welcome in this establishment." He crossed his arms and glared down at me like I'd personally insulted his mother.

  The casual dismissal hit me harder than I'd expected. I kept my voice level, professional. "I have a valid trainer license and funds to pay for this."

  "I don't care if you have Champion-level credentials," the clerk said. "Store policy. No service to evil-type trainers."

  I pulled out my Pokédex, flipping it open to show my trainer information and account balance. 50,000 Pokédollars. Way more than I'd expected to have, apparently being Displaced came with some serious League backing. "Look, I'm not asking for charity. I can pay for this."

  The clerk didn't even glance at the screen. "Policy is policy. You can take your business elsewhere."

  For a moment, I just stood there, holding the Pokédex and trying to process what had just happened. I'd known there was prejudice, but I hadn't thought a store could just... refuse to sell basic supplies. Mightyena shifted beside me, a low rumble starting in her chest as she picked up on my frustration.

  I scratched behind her ears again, more for my own benefit than hers this time. "Come on," I said quietly. "Let's go." I knew one place that would help.

  The walk to the Pokémon Center was less than pleasant and full of controlled breathing. I'd never dealt with this before. Sure, it was one thing with harmless brats near Oldale. This was a Pokémart. A place where anyone should be able to go to buy food, grooming kits, toys, and gear pertaining to Pokémon and is essential for a trainer.

  The automatic doors of the Pokémon Center whooshed open, and I was immediately hit with that familiar clean smell. This Nurse Joy looked nearly identical to the one in Oldale, though her hair was styled slightly differently and the medical cross on her hat was a different color.

  "Good morning! How can I help you today?" Her professional smile was warm and genuine until her eyes dropped to Mightyena. The smile didn't disappear, but it became more guarded.

  "I need to buy Pokémon food," I said, trying to keep the frustration out of my voice. "The Pokémart refused to serve me."

  Joy's expression darkened immediately. "They what?"

  "Refused service. Said they don't serve evil-type trainers." I pulled out my Pokédex again. "Even when I showed them I could pay for it and am a licensed trainer."

  For a moment, Joy just stared at me. Then her professional mask slipped entirely, and I saw genuine anger flash across her face. "That's completely unacceptable. Pokémon food is a basic necessity, not a luxury they can deny based on type preference."

  She disappeared into the back room and returned a few minutes later with two large bags of premium Pokémon food. "This should last about a week," she said, setting them on the counter. "No charge."

  "You don't have to..."

  "Yes, I do," Joy interrupted, her voice still tight with barely controlled anger. "It's my professional responsibility to ensure every Pokémon in my care has access to proper nutrition. That includes making sure their trainers can provide for them." She paused. "I'll be having a very long talk about this with the League. Rest assured they will not be working at a Pokémart again."

  Nurse Joy might look sweet and gentle, but there was steel underneath that professional exterior. You have to be something else to work with all types of pokemon and get them to submit to being cared for. I get the feeling this is just a fraction of the anger, and I do not want to be the target of it.

  The food took up most of the space in my pack, but it was worth it. I'd have to figure out what to do with the spare Pokéballs Officer Jenny had given me. They were taking up valuable space that I needed for supplies.

  As I was adjusting the straps on my pack, I felt something being dropped in my lap. Looking down, I found a belt with Pokéball clips attached to it. Mightyena was sitting next to me, looking rather pleased with herself.

  "Where did you get this?" I asked, examining the belt. It was good quality, black leather with six sturdy clips designed specifically for carrying Pokéballs.

  Mightyena tilted her head toward a corner of the lobby where a cardboard box sat with a hand-written sign: "Free to Take - Donations Welcome."

  "Well, aren't you helpful," I said, scratching behind her ears. Her tail wagged once. She was definitely pleased with herself.

  I walked over to investigate the box more thoroughly. Along with the belt Mightyena had found, there were a few pieces of clothing that looked like they might actually fit me. A dark blue jacket that was definitely better than my current hoodie, some cargo pants that would be more practical for traveling, and a pair of sturdy hiking boots that looked barely used.

  Free clothes weren't exactly glamorous, but they were practical. And given that I had no idea how long I'd be traveling or what kind of situations I'd end up in, practical was exactly what I needed.

  "Mind if I take these?" I asked Joy, holding up the jacket.

  "Take whatever you need," she said. "People donate gear all the time when they upgrade or change careers. Better to see it used than gathering dust."

  I changed in the Center's restroom, and the improvement was immediately obvious. The cargo pants had plenty of pockets for supplies, the jacket was warm without being bulky, and the boots felt like they could handle whatever terrain I threw at them. The belt fit perfectly, and I was able to transfer my Pokéballs from my pack, freeing up a little space for other supplies.

  When I emerged, Mightyena looked me over appraisingly, as if evaluating my new appearance. She gave a small short woof that I chose to interpret as approval.

  "Thanks for everything," I told Joy as we prepared to leave.

  "Be safe out there," she replied. "Not everyone is going to judge you based on your Pokémon's type. There are good people in this world, even if the bad ones are louder about their opinions."

  As we walked back out into Petalburg's late morning and early afternoon, I couldn't help but think about her words. The prejudice was real and frustrating, but it wasn't universal. Officer Jenny had been fair, both Nurse Joys had been helpful, and even that Alakazam had treated me with something like respect.

  The world wasn't as black and white as some people wanted to make it seem. I'd just have to carve a place for myself and my Pokémon. One day at a time. If it came down to it, I'd leave Hoenn and find a place somewhere else... Possibly Jhoto or Unova? Both places have a Dark elite four... Maybe Alola? Nanu is the Kahuna of Ula'Ula Island... He specializes in dark types. Maybe I should look and see if other regions have dark type gym leaders too. I don't remember any... but at least there, in those places perhaps it wouldn't subject Mightyena and I to this hate.