Route 1.
A calm, quiet, short route by comparison to many in the Kanto region. 20 miles was short, right? And along the way one could enjoy the beautiful blue skies, the sight of the majestic mountains to the West with Kanto's Pokemon League looming tall like a great overseer of all under its dominion. And to the East lay a smaller mountain range only bordering Route 1 and the edge of Pallet Town. Also on the Eastern side was a lightly forested section of the land known as Rey's Forest. According to a local legend, a massive Beedrill called it home and dominated a local Beedrill hive to become its leader. Nobody knew if this was true or not, however, as the forest received its name over 70 years ago. And Beedrill were known to live only 10-14 years at most. Surely that legendary bug wasn't still there... Right?
A shudder ran down Megumi's spine at the thought. She wasn't fond of bugs to begin with. Let alone ones with venom like Beedrill. And those two massive spear-like forelimbs it possessed were equally as intimidating as the thought of Venom. One good stab and it could gore a full grown man. And at only 5' 2" and 105 lbs, Megumi wasn't exactly built to withstand such a stab.
Pushing the thoughts of death and bugs from her mind she reached into her purse and retrieved a single Poké Ball, letting it roll around in her open palm as she walked. Inside was a gift from Professor Oak. Her first Pokémon for what she could only know was to be an incredibly long and arduous journey. Most received a Pokémon for the purpose of taking on a life with Pokémon, challenging the Gym Leaders, taking on the Pokémon Olympics, or other major competitions seeking fame and glory. But for Megumi, this Pokémon was her first step on a journey to find her mother who had mysteriously ceased communications only months into her own Pokémon journey almost fifteen years ago.
Inside the ball was a Ponyta. But not the Fire-type version found commonly in Kanto. This version had been imported at Professor Oak's request from the Galarian region just for Megumi. The Professor said he could sense a connection between this Ponyta and Megumi, and Megumi herself felt the same way upon seeing it released from its ball for the first time in the Professor's lab. The beautiful silver/white coat, the purple/teal mane and tail, the adorable horn on its head, and large, emotive eyes not only captured her heart the instant she saw them, but she sensed a kindred spirit in this poor creature as it shied away from her attempt to reach out to it and make contact.
Megumi knew all too well the fear of physical touch for... Her own reasons.
Putting the Poké Ball away for the time being, Megumi focused forward on the dirt road leading to Viridian City. She'd traveled around 18 or so miles of the 20 it was known to stretch, and she could see the city's silhouette on the horizon. Maybe an hour? An hour and a half? Ish?
Regardless, it wouldn't be long now. She could feel it. And with any luck when she arrived she'd be able to reach the Pokémon Marketplace to buy Ponyta some food. These marketplaces were special in that they weren't for every day consumers, but only to Pokémon Trainers registered with the Pokémon League, or organizations with ties to the Pokémon League such as the GPPF (Global Pokémon Police Force) which used Pokémon for their operations. These Marketplaces also did not take regular money, but instead processed Credits which were earned through Pokémon League registered jobs or by winning legal battles against other Pokémon Trainers. The battles of which would be recorded by the Pokédex carried by said trainers.
The winner of the bout would receive credits based on the number of Pokémon used during the bout. One on one bouts yielded 300 Credits for the winner, and 100 for the loser. Two on two battles yielded 600 Credits for the winner, and 200 for the loser. Three on three yielded 1,200 Credits for the winner, and 400 for the loser. Four on four yielded 1,800 for the winner, and 600 for the loser. Five on five yielded 2,400 for the winner, and 800 for the winner. And six on six yielded 3,000 for the winner, and 1,000 for the loser.
Megumi wasn't keen on battling. But eventually those 3,000 Credits would run dry. Maybe working a job somewhere would be more her speed? They didn't pay as much or as quickly as battling did by direct comparison, but they were safer and much more within her comfort zone.
As Viridian City grew in size in her vision, she took a deep breath and gave a tiny nod of her head.
"I'm on my way, mother."
Last edited: