Route 1 had suffered the least in Kanto. The lack of travelers after the Dragon Wars left it open to the rampant growth of trees and tall grass. The growth and scarring of the wars had left almost all of the Pokémon in Kanto scattered. Pokédexes had been issued to trainers over the last few years to finally start gathering information on the new locations of Pokémon. Roxas had yet to see any wild Pokémon, since he had stuck close to the road, but he knew he'd need a second Pokémon to help him against the first Gym Leader. He had some time though between here and Pewter. Normally Viridian City was between Pallet Town and Pewter City, but ever since the war no one went to Viridian anymore. It was one of the largest battle sites of the war and it was scarred. As I thought about the torn up city an idea came to me. No one ever went to Viridian so the place must be crawling with Pokémon.
I passed the time ideally daydreaming about my first Pokémon battle. The thought of using my first Pokémon would be like. As I approached the southern entrance of the city I was wonderstruck at what I saw. The town was littered with giant piles of rubble and some craters filled with water. Despite the fallen rubble and torn up road, you could hardly tell this place was ever Viridian City anymore. A couple of Rattata scurried to and fro about the abandoned city.
Roxas felt a shiver go down his spine. I had been here ten years ago. Back when the city was still whole. Back when the Dragon War had begun. I was barely eight when it happened. Two giant Dragon type Pokémon burst from the Viridian Gym and two men vowed to defeat each other. As enigmatic as the two men were the entire world became enamored with their views. Within two years the world was at war. After four everyone who wasn't a Pokémon Trainer lived in constant fear. The war waged on for nine years in all. When it was all said and done people returned to their daily lives. Even to this day people were wary.
I made my way over to one of the craters filled with water and filled my bottle. I looked down in the water cleaning my face only to notice that I was face to face with a Dratini. The little blue and white serpent was staring at me from the water's surface. I couldn't believe my eyes. Dragon type Pokémon were rare enough before the war, after they were all but extinct. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. I just knew I had to catch it. My hand went to my Pokéball, I breathed in, and threw it.
"Go, Cynder!" I yelled as the now red and orange ball made impact with the ground. A popping noise was followed by a white light. Out of the Pokéball appeared my first Pokémon, Charmander. The red-orange lizard had a small flame flickering from the tip of its tail. I was in awe of the tiny monster. It had razor sharp claws and its eyes were bright red, lit with a fiery energy. It stared down the Dratini in front of it, as if aware of my intent. The Dratini lunged out of the crater and tackled Cynder to the ground.
"Come on Cynder you got this!" Cynder stood up triumphantly and took the offensive with a flurry of scratches. "Yeah, that's it Cynder drive it home!" Dratini took a couple blows before getting itself around Cynder and wrapped its body tight. Cynder couldn't move its limbs at all. "Come on Cynder you can do it!" The flame on Cynder's tail began to blaze powerfully. Cynder opened its jaw and a small flame burst forward. The flame singed the Dratini's face sending it reeling back in pain. Cynder let lose another flame which was met with a stream of water propelled from Dratini's mouth. Both streams continued for what seemed like hours. Finally both streams died out, "Now Cynder us scratch!" Cynder moved in and landed a decisive blow sending Dratini back a few feet. My hand went to another Pokéball in my bag, I breathed in once more, and threw it.
The Pokéball soared through the air. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as I watched it sail towards my first capture. I could hardly breathe at all the ball made contact and popped open. A blue beam absorbed the Dratini. The ball hit the ground sat in complete stillness. I watched my body shacking with anticipation. It shook once. I could see Cynder shacking as well as if it could feel my nerves. It shook a second time. It was in the bag I just knew it! It shook a final time. I rushed to the Pokéball as it dinged. I could hardly believe my delight. I pressed the button on the ball immediately releasing my newly caught Dratini. I stared at the little serpent who was more than content to approach Cynder and attempt to make a new rival. They traded a few glares and a small strike or two and they seemed to settle down. I returned them both to their Pokéball, and looked up noticed the sun was setting.
Hurrying down the road out of the north side of town I barely made it to the Pokémon Center as the sunset just behind him. He was greeted at the front counter by a red haired woman in a white uniform. "Oh" She piped "A visitor! It's been some time since we had a visitor!"
"I hope it's not too late ma'am." I said instinctively. "I was just wondering is there a room I could stay in for the night."
"Of course" She smiled and pointed to a set of stairs leading to a second floor. "First door on the left" I turned to head up to my room when the nurse caught a glimpse of my belt that held my two Pokéballs. "Sir, are you a Pokémon Trainer?" I looked at her and nodded. "Here let me see those." She pointed to my Pokeballs.
I hesitated at first, Pokemon theft was common since the end of the war. But womething told me I could trust this woman. I handed her my Pokeballs. "Thank you." I turned again to head up the stairs. The room I was offered was nothing spectacular, but it was a soft bed and roof over my head. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.