Morning sunlight poured into the small inn room, waking me before I was ready. My arm throbbed from last night's encounter with the Spearow flock, a sharp reminder that this world was not the safe, cartoonish version I'd grown up watching.
Charmander was curled at the foot of my bed, tail flame small and steady. It stirred when I sat up, chirping softly as if to ask, Are we going?
"Yeah," I muttered. "We're going."
Downstairs, the innkeeper handed me a small satchel. "Professor Oak left this for you—said you'd be heading out today."
Inside were the essentials: a Pokédex, five empty Poké Balls, a map, and a modest pouch of local currency. The Pokédex flickered to life when I opened it, showing Oak's face.
"Kai," his recorded voice said, "welcome to your journey. This device will catalog Pokémon you encounter, provide health data for your partners, and—if you're smart—keep you alive."
That last line wasn't comforting.
Outside, the dirt road leading north stretched far beyond what my eyes could follow. This was Route 1.
I looked at Charmander. "Ready to meet the world?"
It puffed its chest and nodded.
We walked.
Not long into the route, I saw my first wild Pokémon in daylight: a Rattata, nibbling on some berries. It froze when it saw us, tail twitching.
This was my chance to catch something—but for the first time, I felt hesitation. Did I really want to just throw a ball at it?
"Alright," I whispered, "let's do this properly. Charmander, scratch—but don't hurt it too badly."
Charmander darted forward. The Rattata squealed and retaliated with a quick tackle, knocking Charmander back a step.
"Hang in there! Ember, now!"
A small burst of flame hit the Rattata, making it stumble. Perfect. I grabbed a Poké Ball, pressed the button to expand it, and threw.
Shake. Shake. Ding.
I picked up the ball slowly. I'd done it—my first capture.
Charmander hopped excitedly, chirping a proud "Char!"
I smiled despite the unease in my chest. "Good job, buddy."
We continued toward Viridian City. I kept glancing at the treeline, alert for any more surprise attacks. Wild Pokémon cried in the distance, and every shadow made me tense.
By noon, we stopped under a tree to eat. My food came from Oak's pack: simple bread, dried fruit, and water. Charmander happily devoured its share, licking its claws afterward.
As I leaned against the tree, I stared at the Poké Balls on my belt. Two Pokémon. Just two. And the road ahead? Dangerous.
I wasn't ready. Not yet.
But I didn't have a choice.
The afternoon sun burned hotter as we approached Viridian City. My legs ached, but adrenaline kept me moving. Every rustle in the grass still made me tense.
Charmander walked beside me, tail swaying, but even it kept glancing at the treeline—more alert now after last night.
"Hey," I murmured, "we're gonna need to get stronger. Both of us."
Charmander chirped softly, as if it understood.
We reached the city's edge just as the sky began to darken. Viridian wasn't huge—smaller than the suburban towns I'd known in my old life—but compared to Pallet, it felt alive. Trainers with belts full of Poké Balls walked confidently past, some accompanied by Pokémon far larger than mine.
A man strolled by with a Machoke carrying crates. A girl laughed as her Butterfree perched on her shoulder. They all looked like they belonged here.
I didn't.
The Pokémon Center glowed warmly on the corner. I stepped inside, hit by cool air and the faint hum of machines. Behind the counter, Nurse Joy smiled automatically.
"Welcome to the Viridian Pokémon Center. Are your Pokémon in need of care?"
I handed her Charmander's and Rattata's Poké Balls. "Just a check-up. We… had a rough night."
Joy's expression softened slightly. "First journey?"
"Yeah," I admitted.
"You'll get used to it. The first few days are always the hardest."
While my Pokémon were treated, I wandered to the trainer's lounge. Maps of Kanto hung on the walls, and a bulletin board listed quests and jobs—escort missions, pest removal, delivery requests.
One notice stood out:
Bounty: Wild Spearow flock on Route 1 causing injuries. Experienced trainers needed. Payment: 3,000 Poké Dollars.
I shuddered. I knew exactly which flock they meant.
Later, Joy returned my Poké Balls. "Both are healthy now. Try to let them rest before heavy battles."
"Thanks."
I released Charmander, who blinked sleepily before climbing onto a chair beside me. I stroked its head absently, staring at the bounty notice in my hand.
If I was going to survive here, I couldn't keep running from threats like those Spearow. I had to be strong enough to face them head-on.
Tomorrow, I'd start training. Hard.