Into Viridian Forest!

Standing on the outskirts of Pewter City, you stare into the entrance to Viridian Forest. It’s pretty dark… You gulp. Well, even if it’s a little spooky, this is still a well-traveled connection between Pewter City and Viridian City. Obviously, it’ll be safe and easy to navigate! Not to mention, you have a full team of six pokemon who you can rely on if anything happens. With your tank top, skirt, and backpack, you venture into the dimly lit forest.

You’re relieved to find that you can at least see in the forest, unlike Mt. Moon. Small pockets in the canopy of leaves allow sunlight to shine through, giving you some clue about your surroundings. You really expected some kind of a path, though. Maybe a dirt trail or something? But no, there’s nothing but grass, trees, and a bunch of other plants. You’re at a loss for where to go, unless…

Ah, a cute girl! …Did you always evaluate whether girls were cute as soon as you saw them? No matter. The girl you’ve spotted is wearing a white tank top with a plunging neck like yours. She has a pair of high-waisted denim shorts, and a beige baseball cap with a hole in the back for her brunette ponytail to stick out of. Most noticeable of all, though, is the big net she just swung at the ground. She’s not just any kind of cute girl. She’s a cute tomboy!

“Hey, uh, hello!” you call out.

“Yo!” she calls back. “You here to catch bugs too?” Her bright and energetic greeting feels pretty out of place in this shady, overcast forest.

“Bugs? N-N-No way! I’m just on my way to Viridian City. I’ve got Gym Leaders to defeat and badges to earn!” you declare proudly.

“The Gym Leader, huh? I bet you’re pretty strong! Hey, you oughta battle me first! Bug types are tougher than you think, y’know! Hope ya brought some Antidotes, too, or your pokemon might end up poisoned ‘til the next time you visit a Pokemon Center!”

It’s not really what you’re here for, but there’s no way you can turn down a battle after a challenge like that! At least this’ll be a great opportunity to improve your bond with Ninetales by battling alongside it!