Noah woke up feeling refreshed, the exhaustion from the tournament finally gone.
As sunlight filtered through his window, he stretched and sat up, taking a moment to process everything that had happened. He had won his first real battle tournament, earned some prize money, and most importantly—Pidgey had learned Gust. Now, it was time for the next step in his journey.
His first destination: Petalburg City.
Noah got dressed quickly and headed downstairs, where his mother was already preparing breakfast.
She turned around as he entered the kitchen, smiling. "Good morning, champ."
Noah chuckled. "Morning, Mom."
She set a plate of toast and eggs in front of him. "Ready to head out?"
"Yeah. I'm heading to Petalburg City and ask the gym leader there for guidance"
Mrs. Carter nodded approvingly , setting a cup of juice beside his plate. "That's a long walk. Make sure you have enough supplies."
"I will," Noah assured her
As he ate, he mentally reviewed his plan. Petalburg City was home to Norman, the Gym Leader. Gym Leaders were known to offer advice to new trainers, and Noah wanted to see if Norman could give him some guidance.
Once he finished eating, he packed up his gear. His Poké Balls, prize money, and extra food were all stored safely in his bag.
Pidgey perched on his shoulder, ruffling its feathers eagerly.
Mrs. Carter walked him to the door, looking a little emotional. "You be careful out there and takes care of each other, okay?"
"I will, Mom.
She knelt down to Pidgey's level and smiled. "And you take care of my boy, alright?
Pidgey chirped in response as if understanding everything.
Mrs. Carter stood and gave Noah one last hug. "I'm proud of you both"
Noah hugged her back. "Thanks, Mom."
With that, he took a deep breath and stepped outside. His journey had officially begun.
The road to Petalburg City was longer than Noah expected.
The forest path stretched ahead, winding through thick trees and tall grass. He had walked these roads before as a kid, but never with the goal of traveling so far in one day.
Noah walked at a steady pace, with Pidgey flying above him.
The sun climbed higher in the sky as the morning turned into noon. He had made good progress, but his legs were starting to ache.He checked his map. Petalburg was still hours away.
Pidgey landed on a tree branch nearby, looking down at him.
Noah wiped his forehead. "Yeah, this is tougher than I thought."
He took a break under the shade of a tree, drinking some water and letting Pidgey rest.
As he sat, he watched wild Pokémon moving through the grass. A Zigzagoon darted across the path, while a couple of Wurmple crawled up a tree trunk.
Noah smiled. This was what being a trainer was all about.
After resting for a bit, he got up and continued walking.
By mid-afternoon, his legs were burning, but Petalburg was finally in sight.
As the sun started to set, Noah finally stepped into Petalburg City.
The city was larger than Oldale, with paved streets and more buildings. It felt alive—trainers walking around with their Pokémon, kids playing outside, and people shopping in the marketplace
Noah exhaled, hands on his knees. "We made it, Pidgey."
Pidgey chirped. It had flown for most of the journey and looked just as exhausted.
Noah glanced at the Petalburg Gym, a large white building with a green roof.
That was where Norman—the Gym Leader—was.
But as much as Noah wanted to visit him right away, his body had other ideas. His feet ached, and his stomach growled loudly.
Pidgey flapped weakly onto his shoulder, looking just as drained.
Noah sighed. "Yeah… we should probably rest first."
He spotted a Pokémon Center nearby and made his way inside.
The Pokémon Center was well-lit and welcoming. Trainers sat around chatting while Nurse Joy worked behind the counter.
Noah walked up to the counter and placed Pidgey's Poké Ball on it. "Can you take care of Pidgey?"
Nurse Joy smiled warmly. "Of course! Your Pokémon will be good as new in no time."
She took the Poké Ball and placed it in the healing machine. It beeped softly as the process began.
Noah sighed in relief. "Finally."
As he waited, he sat down in the lobby, stretching his sore legs.
A few minutes later, Nurse Joy called him back. "Your Pidgey is fully healed!"
Noah took the Poké Ball and released Pidgey, who flapped its wings happily.
He smiled. "Feeling better, buddy?"
Pidgey chirped and nuzzled his cheek.
Nurse Joy chuckled. "You must've had a long journey."
"Yeah," Noah admitted. "It took all day to get here."
She nodded. "You should get some rest. There are trainer rooms available if you'd like to stay overnight."
Noah blinked. "Really?"
Nurse Joy smiled. "Of course. Pokémon Centers offer lodging for traveling trainers for a night at affordable price."
That was exactly what he needed.
He thanked her and took a key to one of the rooms.
Once inside, he dropped his bag and collapsed onto the bed with a sigh.
Pidgey landed on the windowsill, looking out at the city lights.
Noah smiled tiredly. "Tomorrow, we visit Norman."
Pidgey chirped in agreement.
With that, Noah closed his eyes and drifted into sleep.
The next morning, Noah woke up feeling refreshed and ready
After grabbing a quick breakfast at the Pokémon Center, he checked his map and made his way toward the Petalburg Gym.
The gym was an impressive building—its clean white walls and green roof made it stand out from the rest of the city. As he stepped inside, the air felt calm and professional.
Unlike the loud and bustling Pokémon Center, the gym had a quiet, serious atmosphere
A man stood at the far end of the gym, watching as Noah entered.
He had short brown hair, sharp eyes, and a strong presence. His uniform—white and navy blue—gave him an air of authority.
This was Norman, the Petalburg Gym Leader
Norman crossed his arms as Noah approached. "You must be a new trainer.
Noah nodded. "Yeah, my name's Noah. I came from Oldale Town to get some advice before I start my journey.
Norman studied him for a moment before nodding. "Good. Many young trainers rush into their journeys without proper preparation."
He gestured toward a seating area, and Noah followed. They both sat down, and Norman leaned forward slightly.
"So, what do you want to know?"
Noah thought for a moment before answering. "I want to get stronger, but I also want to take care of my Pokémon properly. What's the best way to do that?"
Norman smiled slightly. "That's a good question. Strength isn't just about battles—it's about how well you understand your Pokémon. A strong bond between trainer and Pokémon is the foundation of power.
Noah nodded, listening intently
"The first thing you need to know," Norman continued, "is food.
Noah blinked. "Food?"
Norman chuckled. "Most new trainers underestimate its importance. In the wild, Pokémon survive by hunting or foraging for food. Their strength comes from what they eat. If you want your Pokémon to be at their best, you need to take care of their diet."
Noah tilted his head. "So, I should feed them high-quality food?"
Norman nodded. "Yes, but it's more than that. You should also let them hunt for themselves when possible. In the wild, Pokémon develop their skills by finding their own food. If you assist them instead of just handing them meals, it will strengthen their instincts and your bond with them.
Noah thought about it. It made sense. In nature, Pokémon didn't just wait for trainers to feed them.
Norman continued. "That being said, you can still provide market food as a supplement. There are high-quality Pokéfoods that can enhance your Pokémon's stamina, strength, and even battle performance.
He leaned back. "It's all about balance. A mix of natural hunting and high-quality meals will help your Pokémon grow stronger."
Noah nodded slowly, absorbing the information. He had never considered that before
"Got it. I'll make sure Pidgey gets to hunt for itself.
Norman smiled. "Good. Now, onto something just as important: training discipline."
As the conversation continued, Norman shared more valuable advice—how to track a Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses, the importance of rest, and how to read an opponent's battle style
Noah listened carefully, making mental notes.
After a while, Norman leaned back and sighed. "It's a shame you arrived today instead of yesterday."
Noah blinked. "Why?"
Norman gave a small smile. "My daughter, May, and my son, Max, just left on their own journey. If you had been here a day earlier, you could've traveled with them."
Noah paused, thinking about it. Traveling with others… he hadn't really considered that.
Norman studied his expression. "Do you prefer traveling alone?"
Noah thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I don't mind being alone. I think I'd like the freedom to move at my own pace."
Norman chuckled. "That's fair. Traveling solo has its own advantages—you learn to rely on yourself and build a stronger bond with your Pokémon."
Noah smiled. "That's what I'm hoping for.
Norman stood up. "Then I won't keep you any longer. Remember what I said—food, training, and discipline are the keys to success."
Noah stood as well, bowing slightly. "Thanks for the advice, Norman. I really appreciate it."
Norman smiled. "Anytime. Good luck, Noah."
With that, Noah turned and walked out of the gym, feeling more confident than ever.
Leaving the Petalburg Gym, Noah felt a new sense of responsibility settle over him.
Norman's advice had opened his eyes—food wasn't just nutrition, it was fuel for strength.
He glanced at Pidgey, who sat comfortably on his shoulder.
"Alright, first thing's first—we need to get you some high-quality food."
Pidgey chirped excitedly, flapping its wings in anticipation.
Noah made his way through Petalburg City until he found a supermarket. It was much larger than the small stores in Oldale, with automatic glass doors and neatly arranged shelves.
As he stepped inside, the cool air washed over him, and he immediately spotted the Pokémon Nutrition Aisle.
The sheer number of choices overwhelmed him
There were basic PokéChow packs for trainers on a budget, specialized blends for different species, and even luxury-grade meals for high-performance Pokémon
Noah scanned the shelves, reading labels:
"Budget Bird Blend – Good for Basic Nutrition!" (500 Pokédollars)
"Advanced Avian Formula – Enhances Wing Strength!" (2000 Pokédollars)
"Premium Avian Blend – Supports Feather Growth, Stamina, and Power!" (5000 Pokédollars)
"Ultra Elite Flight Blend – Used by Ace Trainers!" (15,000 Pokédollars!)
Noah whistled at the prices. Some of these were insanely expensive. Still, he didn't want to cheap out on Pidgey's health
After a moment of thought, he grabbed the Premium Avian Blend. It was half of the prize money he had won at the tournament, but he felt it was worth it.
He walked over to the register, placed the bag down, and pulled out his Pokédex Wallet. The cashier scanned his card, and with a beep, 5,000 Pokédollars were deducted.
"Here you go, sir." The cashier handed him the bag.
Noah exhaled as he took it. "Thanks."
After leaving the city, Noah walked toward Route 102, a stretch of land between Petalburg and his next destination.
Tall grass swayed in the breeze, and trees lined the dirt path. The occasional trainer passed by, but Noah wasn't focused on battling right now.
Instead, he found a nice, quiet clearing where he could test Norman's advice.
He set his bag down and opened the Premium Avian Blend.
As soon as he poured some into a bowl, Pidgey immediately dove in, eating eagerly
Noah chuckled. "Guess that answers if you like it or not."
Pidgey chirped happily in response.
After finishing her meal, she flapped her wings and looked around.
Noah knew what she wanted. It was hunting time.
Noah crouched low, watching as Pidgey moved silently through the tall grass.
Wild Pokémon were scattered throughout the area—small Wurmple crawled along tree trunks, and a few Caterpie munched on leaves.
Pidgey's sharp eyes locked onto a target—a Wurmple lazily hanging from a tree branch
With a sudden flap of her wings, she dove forward and snatched it up in her talons!
Noah watched with interest as she swiftly took the Wurmple down. It didn't take long before she found another Caterpie, using her beak to finish it off quickly.
"Whoa…" Noah whispered. Seeing his Pokémon hunt for the first time was different from watching them battle.
It was… natural. Pidgey wasn't just fighting for sport—this was her surviving before she met him.
As Noah was about to call Pidgey back, something surprising happened
She suddenly took off into the sky, soaring high above the trees.Noah frowned. "Where are you going?"
He followed her with his eyes, watching as she scanned the area from above
Then—she dived down at full speed!
Noah rushed toward her location, pushing past the tall grass—just in time to see Pidgey standing over a wild Buneary.
The brown rabbit Pokémon twitched slightly but was completely unmoving.
Pidgey let out a victorious chirp, then nudged the Buneary toward Noah
Noah blinked. "Wait… are you offering this to me?"
Pidgey puffed out her chest proudly
Noah gulped. He had never prepared raw meat before just saw butchers at the market.
Up until now, Pokémon battles were just… fun. But this was different.
He knew Norman had told him to assist his Pokémon in hunting, but this felt so real
He crouched down, hesitantly touching the soft fur of the Buneary.
Noah took a deep breath. He had come this far. He wanted to be a real trainer.
So, he did the only thing he could—he steeled his nerves and got to work.
Noah started by gathering some dry branches and leaves.
With some effort, he managed to start a small fire.
Next came the hard part—preparing the Buneary.
He hesitated before pulling out his pocket knife. His hands felt stiff, but he forced himself to cleanly remove the fur and prepare the meat as best he could.
It was messy. It was hard. But he kept going.
After cutting it into small pieces and lots of it going to waste, he placed them over the fire, letting them cook slowly.
The smell of roasted Buneary filled the air
Pidgey watched with interest, waiting patiently.
After a while, Noah took the first bite. It was… actually pretty good. A little plain, but surprisingly tender.
He gave a few pieces to Pidgey, who happily devoured them.
As they ate together, Noah realized something.
This was real thing.
Battling wasn't the only thing that made a strong trainer. Hunting, cooking, surviving—all of it mattered.
As they finished their meal, Noah pulled out his Pokédex and scanned Pidgey
[Scanning Pokémon…]
Pidgey – The Tiny Bird Pokémon
Gender: Female
Nature: Brave
Ability: Keen Eye
Moves: Gust, Tackle, Sand Attack
Noah blinked. "Wait… you're a girl?
Pidgey chirped giving him a side eye, as if saying, Of course I am!
Noah chuckled. "Guess I should stop calling you 'buddy' then."He thought for a moment. Maybe she needed a real name
"Hmm… how about Aeris? Pidgey—Aeris—flapped her wings in excitement.
Noah grinned. "Aeris it is, then."
With their meal finished and the fire put out, Noah stood up and stretched.
Their journey had truly begun
Ahead of them lay the Gym Circuit, challenges, and adventure.
But for now. They were just two travelers, stepping into the unknown—together.