Begin Part 4

You awaken the next day, incredibly refreshed after your recent victory. Making a rude, mouthy brat beg you to “punish her more” might have played a part in how great you feel. Of course, you would never do something like that normally, but she deserved it for her recruitment stunt! …You’re normally pure!

Considering you have good news, you find it only fitting to call Professor Stump. After all, going to Vermilion City and leaving Saffron for later was her idea. You dial her on video chat and put on a big smile. “Guess who won?”

Stump doesn’t mirror your enthusiasm. “Is it the girl who didn’t call me for over a week? The girl who didn’t return my calls for the last two days? Is that who won?” Gulp. You reach for your phone with a shaky hand, only to realize on trying to wake it up that it’s dead. Right. You used up the last of your battery looking at empowering quotes after the massacre your self-esteem received on the S.S Anne. And you haven’t charged it since.

“O-Oops…” you utter.

She sighs. “Well, whatever. It is you we’re talking about here. I should know that a few heart attacks come with the territory. So, you beat the Gym Leader in Vermilion City? Good job. I hear she’s an eccentric one.”

“You have no idea,” you say flatly. “The icing on the cake, though, is that my Diglett evolved into a Dugtrio!” You gesture behind you to the mole pokemon burrowing around your room energetically. You still haven’t figured out how it has a mound of dirt around it despite being on the carpeted second floor, but the last time you thought about that you started seeing green letters and numbers scattered across your vision, so you’ve decided to let it go.

“Wow, it actually evolved. I expected you to have given up by now. Or worse. Maybe you’re not completely hopeless.” You beam at her proudly. “Well, I’ve got patients to get back to, so I’m gonna let you go. Just… don’t die out there, alright?” You grumble an agreement, and the call comes to an end.

Some time later, you’ve gotten dressed in your cowgirl outfit. Something about yesterday makes you feel like taming a raging bull would be no problem. After that, you plot the course for your next destination: Fuchsia City! With your stuff packed and your phone on a full charge, you depart the Pokemon Ce-

“Bon voyage, S.S. Slut!” calls Nurse Joy.

YOU IGNORE HER AND DEPART THE POKEMON CENTER.