Chapter 2: First Day at Pallet Town Pokémon School
A crisp morning breeze rustled the leaves of the tall oak trees that lined the narrow dirt road into Pallet Town. Jayde's heart fluttered with a mix of excitement and nerves as he climbed down from the family carriage, clutching his small satchel. Today was his first day at the Pallet Town Pokémon School—the very place he'd dreamed about ever since he could remember.
He paused at the gate, taking in the sight of the modest brick building ahead. A faded sign above the door read "Pallet Town Pokémon School", and beyond the windows he caught glimpses of bustling activity: children greeting one another, teachers arranging rows of desks, and the distant laughter of young trainers. Jayde straightened his shoulders, tightened his grip on the satchel, and pushed the gate open.
Inside the courtyard, a cluster of children milled about, some chasing each other playfully, others practicing pokéball throws with their partners. Jayde's eyes grew wide at the variety of Pokémon in evidence: a Pichu skipping alongside its trainer, a sleepy Jigglypuff curling up near the steps, and even a pair of Totodile sparring in the grass. Though he had spent countless hours with his family's ranch Pokémon, this was his first glimpse of a school full of wild—and partnered—creatures.
He took a deep breath and made his way to the main entrance, where a kind-faced woman in a white lab coat greeted him.
"Good morning," she said, smiling. "You must be Jayde Jade. Welcome to Pallet Town Pokémon School. I'm Nurse Willow, one of your teachers. Let me show you to your classroom."
Jayde followed Nurse Willow through a hallway adorned with colorful posters: the life cycle of a Bulbasaur, the anatomy of a Goldeen, and famous battles in Kanto's history. At the end of the corridor, she paused before Room 2B.
"Here we are," she said. "Take a seat—class will begin in just a moment."
Inside, a dozen desks were already occupied by eager faces. Jayde found an empty seat near the center and slid into it. He set his satchel on the floor, smoothing out his jacket. Around him, students whispered introductions and speculated about their first lessons. Jayde's palms tingled with anticipation.
Moments later, the door opened and a tall, energetic man stepped in. He wore a crisp blue blazer embroidered with a Poké Ball on the breast pocket. Clearing his throat, he addressed the class.
"Good morning, Trainers! Welcome to your very first lesson at Pallet Town Pokémon School. I'm Professor Rowan—no relation to any famous professor, mind you—and I'll be teaching you the basics of Pokémon care and battling this term."
He swept a hand toward a large chalkboard, where he had drawn a simplified diagram of a Poké Ball. Underneath, the words "Bond," "Care," "Strategy" were neatly lettered.
"Today we'll cover how to understand your partner Pokémon's needs," he began. "Feeding, training, and knowing when to rest are the pillars of a strong bond. By the end of this year, each of you will demonstrate your ability to care for and form a partnership with a wild Pokémon." He paused, scanning the room. "Any questions?"
A hand shot up in the front row. A boy with round glasses and a stack of notebooks said, "Professor, will we learn about rare Pokémon, too? I've read that Hoenn and Sinnoh have amazing legendary species!"
Professor Rowan chuckled. "We'll cover the legendary Pokémon of Kanto first—artifacts like the Saffron Relic and the stories behind Articuno's first sighting. But our primary focus will be understanding and respecting the day–to–day needs of the Pokémon you'll encounter right here in Kanto."
As the lesson continued, Jayde listened intently, jotting down every word in a small notebook. He was already familiar with feeding schedules and habitat care thanks to his parents, but hearing it all in a formal setting made it feel official—this was truly the path he wanted to walk.
When class ended, Rowan dismissed them with a friendly clap. "All right, everyone—lunchtime! Feel free to explore the grounds or spend time in the Pokémon pen to your left. I'll meet you back here in an hour."
Jayde gathered his notebook and stepped outside into the bright morning. He scanned the courtyard for a quiet spot—and then noticed three other students heading toward the pen.
The first was Ethan, the bespectacled boy from earlier. He carried a bulging backpack stuffed with books and looked every bit the enthusiastic scholar. By his side bounded Marcus, a tall, lanky boy with a shock of red hair and a broad grin, who was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. Bringing up the rear was Lily, whose bright eyes and quick smile made Jayde think she'd already decided the whole school was one big adventure.
"Hey there!" Marcus called, waving Jayde over. "You're in 2B, right? I'm Marcus, and this is Lily and Ethan. Wanna join us?"
Jayde nodded, relief flooding him. "I'm Jayde. Nice to meet you."
They made their way to the small fenced area where a few gentle Pokémon—oddish, geodude, and growlithe—roamed under the supervision of a caretaker. The students in each group had been assigned one Pokémon to feed and observe during lunch, learning firsthand about diet and behavior.
"My name's Ethan," said the bespectacled boy, carefully measuring out a bowl of pokéfood for the oddish. "I can't wait to write my report on its chlorophyll response. Did you see how it stretched its leaves when we put it in sunlight?"
Lily giggled. "We spent five minutes already watching it wiggle around. I think it's ready for a nap!"
Marcus chuckled. "I'm just glad we don't have to run laps with a geodude—those things are heavy!"
Jayde smiled, enjoying the camaraderie. As they worked together—observing, recording data, and discussing their Pokémon's needs—he felt the first sparks of friendship. These were the people he would confide in, who would share in his triumphs (and his secrets) as his journey unfolded.
When the bell rang to signal the end of lunch hour, Nurse Willow appeared and waved them back toward Room 2B. The four friends walked side by side, chattering excitedly about what they had learned.
"Tomorrow," Marcus said, "we're going to finish our first mini-project—mapping the habitat needs of our assigned Pokémon. I call dibs on growlithe next time!"
Lily rolled her eyes playfully. "Don't you ever stop? I'll beat you to it."
Ethan tucked his notebooks under his arm and smiled at Jayde. "You're really good at writing detailed notes, Jayde. I hope we'll be in the same group for that project."
Jayde felt a warm glow at the compliment. "Thanks. I've watched my mom take care of baby Pokémon since I was little. I guess I'm used to it."
As they stepped into the classroom, Jayde realized that this new chapter of his life—surrounded by friends, teachers, and Pokémon—was just beginning. He glanced at his three new friends and silently vowed: whatever lay ahead, they would face it together.
And somewhere deep inside, Jayde knew that these early days in Pallet Town Pokémon School would shape the trainer—and the person—he was becoming. The world of Kanto was vast and full of wonder, and he could hardly wait to see what the next lesson, the next friendship, or the next Pokémon encounter would bring.