Saturday, March 2, 1996 / 10:00 A.M. / Pallet Town, Kanto, Japan


"Professor! I've got a package for you from Viridian City." I called out as I entered the lab. The Professor looked up from his computer.

"Ah, Mint. I heard you traveled all the way up to Viridian City by yourself. How was the trip, and how is Horsea doing?"

"Oh, it was terrible the way up, but not so bad on the way down. Deirdre's doing just fine too." I hand the parcel to the Professor. "And the clerk at the Pokémart wanted me to deliver this to you."

"Oh, those must be the Pokédexes!" He opened up the box eagerly, pulling out… a long, fleshy pink, rubbery tube thingy with a small hole in it. The Professor hastily stuffed the strange object into his lab coat, blushing slightly. He then quickly pulled out three red devices out of the box. Just then, Red and Laz walked into the lab.

"What's up, Gramps? Why'd you call us all here?" Laz asked impatiently. Red simply stood there curiously.

"Ah, now everyone is here." The Professor handed each of us one of the devices. "These devices are my invention, the Pokédex. It is an electronic Pokémon encyclopedia that automatically stores some information of the Pokémon that you have caught, like height and weight. Other information, however, is not automatically recorded, like habitat and behavior. Ever since the Great Universal Fracture 30 years ago, all the information that we've been recording for hundreds of years became useless. Only a few of the original species in this world survived the event. But we know very little about these new Delta Pokémon. So, I'd like you three to travel across the Kanto region and record the knowledge you obtain in this device."

"But Gramps, you're only 47 years old. Surely that's not so old you can't travel the Kanto region?" Laz asked, confused.

"I'll pay you, and you don't have to go to school."

"We'll do it!" Laz said immediately, eyes sparkling.

"Sounds like a good deal to me." Red said after some thought. He then looked at me.

"Um, I guess I can, but I don't know how much help I'll be…" I said with an awkward smile. The Professor clapped his hands together.

"Many, many thanks! I really appreciate it! Now, there's a few different areas of study that you can help me with. Who knows how many never before seen Pokémon are out there! Even the very environment has been changed due to their presence. We know nothing about their habitats, behaviors, and combat potentials. Obviously, some species are more understood than others, but there are still many mysteries still left unsolved."

Laz smirked. "Well, I call dibs on studying their combat potential! It'll be a piece of cake, and I'll become the Pokémon League Champion too." Red looked slightly disappointed.

"Which would you prefer to study, Mint?"

"Hmm… I guess behavior seems like my kind of thing." I replied.

"I guess I'm going with their habitats then."

"Now, whenever you catch a Pokémon, their Pokéball will sync with the Pokédex, recording the various individual traits of the Pokémon, like height and weight. The other data not automatically recorded will need to be inputted manually in the various fields. Red, you'll use the 'Range and Habitat' field, which has a map of the Kanto region that you can make notes on. Lazuli, you'll have to use the 'Combat' field. You'll need to make careful notes of the Pokémon's moves and stats. And Mint, you'll be using the 'Behavior and Reproduction' field."

"R-Reproduction?" I asked in surprise, blushing.

"Pokémon reproduction has not been covered by many studies, so much of it still remains shrouded in mystery, even for Pokémon of this world. It is also a very important part of behavior. You'll be taking notes on their diets, social interactions, and reproduction.

"Now then, more about the Pokédex. The casing is made of the most durable plastics that modern material science has provided. While extremely durable, it is not indestructible. Make sure to keep it safe. It is water, shock, and magnetism proof, so do not worry about those things. You can also use the Pokédex to view the status of the Pokémon in your party. It also has a detailed map of the Kanto region, so you shouldn't get lost. Any questions?" After about half an hour, we left the lab, Pokédex in hand, and with a mission.

"Hey, Mint! Wait up!" On my way to Route 1, I was stopped by Daisy Oak, Laz's older sister. She's pretty much Red and I's sister as well too, since she's always nice to us. She likes to dote on me in particular. Even so far as to kiss me, but I don't mind. She caught up, slightly winded. "I heard you're going on a quest to help Grampa. Are you sure you have everything you need?" Daisy occasionally helps out the Professor, but she mainly works as a masseuse for both Pokémon and humans.

"I'm pretty sure. I've got a sleeping bag and stuff." I replied, checking my bag.

"What about a tent? Spare clothes? Cooking ware? What about soap, period products, and other toiletries? Fire starters? Water purifier? What about―"

"Okay, okay! I get it! I'm not prepared." Daisy smiled.

"Oh, don't worry about that, I've got you covered!" She said with a wink. She brought me into her house and up into her room, which was a mess. There was clothes and gear everywhere! "Grampa and the boys just don't understand the troubles of traveling for a girl. Fortunately for you, I do." She handed me a cylindrical roll of fabric. "This here is a single sized pop-up tent. Just toss it and voila! You've got a tent to protect you from the elements." She then handed me a backpack. "And this is everything you need to make delicious meals! It also has a guide book on wild edible plants."

She gave me several other very useful things. From fancy things like instant fire starters and a special bag that leaks water to be used as a shower, to relatively normal things like rope and a shovel. Even a small bag full of toilet paper, soap, tooth paste, and…

"What's this?" I asked, holding up a slender, white crocheted thingy.

"That's a reusable crochet tampon. Very useful when out in the middle of a route. Just use it like normal and wash it after a couple of hours. There's a bunch of them in that bag."

"A tampon…?" I asked confused.

"Oh yeah, you haven't started your periods yet, haven't you? Well, basically, once you're a little older, you'll start bleeding from your vagina, about once a month for three to five days. But that's totally normal! It just means you're becoming an adult. Anyways, you just get this, roll it up a little, and carefully insert it up there. There are disposable tampons, but they aren't very good for the environment, or your body. Plus, they cost money and everything."

"I see… Does it hurt?" I asked, slightly shaken.

"It can. Everybody is different. It's easier on you if you eat well and drink lots of water." Daisy said with an understanding smile. "It can be scary at first, but if you're all prepared for it, then you should be fine."

"Thanks so much for all of this, Daisy. It was terrible when I went to Viridian City! This should make traveling much more comfortable." I said, hugging her.

"It's the least I could do for my favorite little sister who actually isn't my sister." She replied, hugging me back. "How about I give you one last massage before you go? How does that sound?"

"Oh, that sounds wonderful! My shoulders have been sore ever sense I had to sleep on the ground." I said as we headed down into Daisy's massage parlor. Inside, there was a table in the center of the room, with small tables of bottles full of various oils and lotions.

"Okay, get naked! You're getting the full package, oil and everything. You'll feel better than ever after that." She said, winking. I nodded and started taking off my clothes. Since I've known Daisy for so long, we were comfortable around each other, even when naked. We even used to bathe together. Once I was fully nude, I laid face down onto the table. Daisy started off by rubbing my shoulders.

"Ah…" I groaned as the fatigue melted away. Daisy's strong, yet delicate fingers easily dispelled all ill feelings, replacing them with a fuzzy warmness.

"So, what exactly is Grandpa having you do?" Daisy asked as she moved down my back.

"He wants me and the boys to travel around the region and study the new Pokémon, since we don't know much about them. We're all taking different parts of the Pokédex to finish. Mmm…"

"Oh, Grandpa, always so lazy. Making some kids go do his work for him." She laughed as she finished up on my arms. She then began on my legs.

"Yeah, so Red is doing habitats, Laz is doing battle, and I'm doing 'Behavior and Reproduction.'"

"Ooh, sounds interesting. I've done a little research into that myself, for my furrier customers." Daisy said as she finished up with my feet. She opened up a bottle of oil, pouring some into her hands.

"Oh really?" Daisy then began massaging my back with the oil, and a soothing wave spread down my back. "Would you mind sharing it with me? Give me a head start?"

"Absolutely, anything for you." She replied cheerfully, rubbing the soothing oil into my shoulders and arms.

"That'll show Laz and his stupid mean face!"

"Haha! He bugging you again?" She asked, just finishing up massaging my feet.

"Yeah, I don't know what his problem is!"

"Well, you guys are almost adults now. Hopefully he'll mature soon." She smiled. "Can you turn over for me?" I turned over onto my back, and she began rubbing the oil onto my belly.

"Why can't he be more like Red?" I asked. Daisy laughed.

"Those two are a lot more alike than you think."

"W-what? No way, Red isn't a jerk to me!" Daisy giggled again.

"Does someone have a cruuuush?" I blushed as she poked my cheek, and she giggled again.

"I do not!"

Daisy giggled again. "You're so cute! Anyways, I'm all done, you can get dressed now." I got off the table and started getting dressed with a huff.

"Though Red has been a little weird lately too…" I finished getting dressed. Daisy giggled silently but said nothing. She then handed me a notebook. "And this is all my research on Pokémon reproduction."

"Thanks again for everything, Daisy! I love you so much!" I hugged her tightly.

"Aww, I love you too!" She said, returning the hug. "You best be on your way now, Mint. You'll wanna get to Viridian before tomorrow night after all." She handed me my hat and bags with a smile. She walked me to the front door. "You're in for some really fun adventures, I can tell."

"Haha, hopefully not too crazy." Daisy gave me one last hug and kiss on the cheek.

"You better come and visit me whenever you're close by, alright?"

"Of course I will. I'd never just pass my wonderful older sister who actually isn't my sister by without stopping to say hi!" We then said our good byes, and I set off onto Route 1, with skip in my step, humming cheerfully.