Chapter Four — The Price of the Road
Morning arrived quietly.
Grant woke to birdsong and the soft crackle of dying embers. The clearing was washed in pale gold, dew clinging to the grass like tiny mirrors. Oshawatt lay sprawled on its back beside the fire pit, shell balanced on its belly, snoring softly.
"Osha… wtt…"
Grant smiled and sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
Nyra was already awake, tightening the straps on her boots.
"You move in your sleep," she said.
Grant blinked. "I do?"
"You tried to apologize to a tree."
He groaned. "Please tell me Tepig didn't record that."
Nyra smirked. "No promises."
They packed up camp in companionable silence. Grant folded the tent carefully, checking the pegs twice before stowing them. Oshawatt insisted on carrying its own shell, nearly dropping it three times before Grant clipped it into a pouch.
When they stepped back onto Route 3, the road felt different.
Yesterday it had been exciting.
Today it felt real.
They walked for nearly an hour before Grant's stomach growled loudly enough for Nyra to hear.
"Did you skip breakfast?"
Grant hesitated. "I… might've forgotten to pack enough food."
Nyra stopped. "How much did you bring?"
Grant opened his bag and checked.
Two energy bars. One half-empty water bottle. Three berries.
Nyra stared.
"That's it?"
Grant winced. "I figured we'd stop at a town."
"We're two days from Striaton."
Grant's stomach growled again, as if to emphasize the point.
Nyra sighed. "Okay. New lesson. The League doesn't fund beginners. You earn as you go."
Grant frowned. "Earn how?"
She counted on her fingers. "Battles. Delivery jobs. Helping Rangers. Courier work. Trainer School tournaments. Side quests. You win, you get prize money. You help, you get paid."
Grant's eyes widened. "So… if I lose…"
"You still get experience," she said. "But not lunch."
Oshawatt looked between them.
"Osha?"
Grant knelt. "We're fine. We'll figure it out."
Nyra crossed her arms. "You better. Because Tepig eats like a furnace."
Tepig snorted proudly.
They reached a crossroads where a group of trainers rested under a large oak tree. A sign read:
Route Challenge Zone — Beginner Battles Welcome
Nyra's eyes lit up. "Perfect."
Grant swallowed. "Already?"
"Best way to learn," she said. "And maybe win enough for breakfast."
They approached.
A tall boy with a headband and a confident grin stepped forward.
"Looking for a battle?"
Grant nodded. "Yeah."
Nyra leaned close. "He's got three badges on his case."
Grant's heart skipped. "Already?"
"Relax. You need the experience."
The boy tossed a Poké Ball. "Axew, let's go!"
A small green dragon popped out, flexing its claws.
Grant stared.
"A Dragon-type?"
Nyra whispered, "Stay calm. Focus."
Grant took a breath. "Oshawatt, I choose you!"
Oshawatt stepped forward, shell raised.
The trainer smirked. "Axew, Dragon Rage!"
A wave of purple energy surged forward.
"Oshawatt, dodge and use Water Gun!"
Oshawatt leaped sideways, barely avoiding the blast, and fired a stream of water.
It hit Axew square in the chest.
Axew skidded back—but then growled and charged.
"Axew, Scratch!"
Grant panicked. "Oshawatt, block!"
Oshawatt raised its shell.
The claws struck.
Oshawatt was sent tumbling.
"Osha!"
Grant rushed forward. "Get up!"
Oshawatt struggled to stand.
Axew was already moving.
"Dragon Rage!"
The blast hit before Oshawatt could react.
Oshawatt was thrown backward and landed hard in the grass.
It didn't get up.
Grant's heart dropped. "Oshawatt!"
The trainer recalled Axew. "Good match."
Nyra knelt beside Grant. "He's okay. Just fainted."
Grant picked Oshawatt up carefully. Its chest rose and fell, slow but steady.
"I should've trained more," Grant whispered.
Nyra stood. "You just started."
The boy handed Grant a small case. "Potion. No charge. Everyone loses their first real battle."
Grant looked up. "Thanks."
The trainer nodded. "Come back when you're stronger."
Grant watched him walk away.
His first real battle.
His first real loss.
And no prize money.
They sat by the roadside while Oshawatt recovered.
Grant fed it a berry and poured water into its mouth.
"I messed up," Grant said quietly.
Oshawatt blinked and reached up, patting his cheek.
"Osha."
Nyra leaned against a tree. "You didn't mess up. You learned."
Grant sighed. "We need money. And training."
She nodded. "Good. Now you're thinking like a trainer."
Grant looked at the crossroads sign. "What options do we have?"
Nyra pulled out her Pokédex and scrolled. "There's a Ranger station nearby. They sometimes pay for scouting help. There's a berry farm that hires for harvesting. And there's a courier board at the next rest stop."
Grant's eyes lit up. "We could do all of them."
Nyra grinned. "That's the spirit."
Oshawatt stood and saluted.
"Osha-watt!"
Grant smiled. "You ready to work?"
Oshawatt nodded fiercely.
The berry farm sat on a gentle slope overlooking the river. Rows of trees stretched across the land, heavy with fruit. A middle-aged woman with a wide hat greeted them.
"You trainers?" she asked.
Grant nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
She smiled. "Good. I pay per basket. Watch out for wild Pokémon."
Oshawatt immediately tried to climb a tree.
Grant grabbed its tail. "Careful!"
Nyra laughed. "Let it try. Builds character."
They worked for hours.
Grant climbed ladders and filled baskets. Oshawatt carried berries in its shell, slipping only twice. Nyra and Tepig handled the spicier trees, Tepig warming frozen branches so the fruit would fall easily.
By noon, they had filled six baskets.
The farmer handed them a small pouch. "Good work."
Grant opened it.
Poké Dollars.
Real money.
He stared. "We did it."
Nyra smirked. "Told you."
They bought lunch at the next rest stop.
Grant held his sandwich like it was treasure.
"Best meal of my life," he said.
Oshawatt nodded enthusiastically, mouth full of berries.
Nyra sipped her drink. "Now. Training."
Grant leaned forward. "Yes."
She pulled out her map. "We start simple. Endurance runs. Accuracy drills. Type-match practice. And controlled battles."
Grant scribbled notes. "Oshawatt needs better balance."
"And better aim," Nyra added.
Oshawatt pouted.
Grant smiled. "We'll work on it together."
They headed to a nearby field.
Nyra set up targets using empty bottles.
"Water Gun, ten times. No slips."
Oshawatt squared up.
The first shot went wide.
The second hit the ground.
The third clipped a bottle.
"Osha!"
Grant clapped. "Nice!"
They trained until Oshawatt's breathing grew heavy.
Grant knelt beside it. "Rest. You earned it."
Nyra tossed Tepig a berry. "We'll spar later."
Grant hesitated. "You don't have to help me this much."
She shrugged. "Rivals push each other."
He smiled. "I like that."
As the sun dipped low, Grant sat on a rock overlooking the road.
Today had been hard.
He lost his first battle.
He learned the weight of money.
He worked for every bite of food.
But he also earned something.
Confidence.
Nyra joined him. "You're not bad for a beginner."
Grant laughed. "High praise."
She smirked. "You'll get there. Just don't quit."
Grant looked at Oshawatt, now practicing its balance on a fallen log.
"I won't."
The road stretched ahead.
Long.
Challenging.
Expensive.
Grant tightened his grip on his backpack strap.
The journey wasn't just about dreams.
It was about survival.
And he was ready to learn.