Route 1

Your first day didn’t quite start as planned, between Blue and the pervs at the lab. However, you were determined to salvage the day and not make your first day as a full fledged trainer go to waste. Growing up in Pallet Town you spent a lot of your childhood playing on Route 1 just outside of town. You had always stayed close to town though only ever getting to go to Viridian City on a rare occasion and never unaccompanied. You knew the local pokemon population of Route 1 was mostly Pidgey and Rattata with the occasional Sentret. Maybe it was growing up seeing so many of them but you weren’t interested in catching any of them.

You spent the next couple hours battling a handful of wild pokemon. Squirtle was holding out much better against the wild pokemon on Route 1 than he did against Blue’s Bulbasaur. You found a berry bush that was ripe with berries. You and Squirtle ate them for your lunch. You realize that if you want to make it to Viridian City in time to go by the Pokemart before finding a room for the night you would need to pick up your pace.

When you make your way around the tree line that usually marked the limits of your journeys out of town, you pause. Looking at the field ahead of you with the footpath cutting it in two, it all sinks in that you are leaving the safety of home for a brand new world. You laugh at the concept of the safety of home, considering all that has occurred this morning. You continue down the path towards Viridian City when you hear a rustling from the bushes and a lot of barking. You call out Squirtle ready to battle off another couple of Rattata, but something seems off about their barking.

The bushes open in a flood of Poochyena. Surprised by the 4 dark type pokemon in front of you, you keep your calm and command, “Squirtle use bubble.” Squirtle reacts immediately having gotten the hang of battling this morning, he spews a swath of bubbles at the Poochyena hitting most of them. The smallest of the group managed to leap over the bubbles and leap at Squirtle with a tackle.

“Withdraw, now.” Squirtle pulls himself inside his shell absorbing the tackle before reemerging ready for more. Unfortunately, the other 3 Poochyena were also ready and mid charge. “Squirtle hit them with another bubble.” The bubble hits 2 of them, stopping them but that still left 1 tackle to land. The two injured Poochyena retreated into the bushes. “Squirtle grab him.” Squirtle grapples with the Poochyena that had just hit him. “Now bubble.” The held Poochyena takes the full **** of the bubble. Squirtle lets go allowing the fainted Poochyena to fall. Now it was just Squirtle and the smallest Poochyena.

The two of them dodge each others attacks for a while, before you command Squirtle, “Take the tackle hit head on with your own tackle.” The Poochyena collides with Squirtle, and you take the opportunity to throw a pokeball. The ball hits the Poochyena pulling it within its confines. You watch nervously as the ball rocks back and forth. Finally you hear the clink of the pokeball confirming your capture of the small Poochyena.

As you continue on your way to Viridian City, you get some battle practice with Poochyena. You are amazed by her speed compared not only to Squirtle but the wild pokemon on Route 1 as well. She is also rather small so you find yourself often calling her Runt.

The sun starts getting low in the sky approaching the trees. You can finally see Viridian City, you’ve done it, you’ve reached the first stop in your pokemon journey. Now you can stop by the Pokemart to get some dinner before getting a room at the Pokemon Center.

“Hey!” You turn to see a trainer coming from the tree line. You stop knowing that you’re about to be challenged. You feel confident with Runt’s speed and Squirtle’s defense. As the trainer approaches you see that he is surprisingly short, maybe only being 5’2”. He appears to be around your age but his face is covered in acne. “You’re a pokemon trainer, right? What am I saying of course you are I can clearly see you. I want to challenge you to a pokemon battle.”

He seems like a novice but you were worried at first, knowing that Viridian City often attracts expert trainers making their way for the Indigo Plateau and those who save the Viridian City gym for last. You had actually planned on leaving Viridian City as soon as possible to avoid those trainers that could easily take advantage of you.

“Alright let’s do this then.” You throw out Squirtle and await the challenger’s first pokemon. Is he the novice he appears to be? Or maybe he’s an expert here for the league? Can you beat this trainer or is your body forfeited yet again?