When Samson said that he wanted to dress me, I was confused and ever so slightly scared, but after he led me into his gym and into the store located just inside, I mostly just felt confused. I hadn't heard of a store inside of a gym, sure, pokemon centers had started to have stores inside them a while ago but gyms had always just been gyms.

"Umm, so, why are you selling clothing at a gym?" I called through the curtain once I had on the first layer of clothing. A pair of black tights clung to my legs, feeling slightly restrictive, but actually allowing me a full range of motion that my normal pants would blush at. The material was stretchy, breathed well, and just felt really high quality. The top was made of a similar material but looser so it didn't cling to my waist and made every single bag of potato chips evident.

"It's a Galar thing!" I heard Samson clap from just beyond the curtain. "They sell all kinds of merch at their gyms! Mostly because they make gym battles a huge event there! I figured I'd start that trend over here too! I mostly just got stuff for trainers at the moment, and if it goes well I'll expand it for spectators."

"Well, I think it's high quality." I muttered and ran my finger along the bottom of the sports bra that I had plucked from a box. It was comfortable. I bounced on my heels and watched my silhouette in the mirror. It was really really comfortable. I wanted a dozen.

"Only the best!" Samson shouted back. "I met this researcher in Kalos and helped her out with making a new style of clothing that's enhanced with pokemon. Most of the fibers are from Furfrou and Wooloo coats! That stuff will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter, all while being highly protective!"

"Why doesn't it itch?" I had a Wooloo sweater and I needed two layers between me and it if I were to wear it. Was warm though.

"Goodra goo."

"What?"

"Oh, it's a dragon type native to Kalos, they're sweet hearts!"

That wasn't what I was asking. But, it was probably best I didn't know the exact process of how things were made. There was only so many times I could change my life after a documentary, like why I never ate hot dogs. I placed on the shorts, a rich navy blue that was highlighted with black and lighter blue. With new shorts there was always something important that every girl had to do. I shoved my hand into the small pockets and found that my fingers barely reached the ends! "They have pockets!"

"Of course they have pockets!" Samson clapped and let out a loud woop. "Bitches love pockets!"

I found it hard to disagree. I reached over for my pokedex, my phone, and my wallet and found that they all easily fit in one pocket. So cool.

"The vest is even better!" Samson's booming voice could easily be heard from the otherside of the gym. "All weather resistant, and studier than a mega steelix using iron defense. It's got six slots for your pokemon on the inside, additionally the systems inside will link with your pokeballs allowing you to see your pokemon's status on the arm band. And it even has a hood!"

Fully dressed I looked at myself in the mirror, and I looked like I had nothing better to do than hang out at victory road and challenge people in my free time to prepare for the pokemon league. Which was to say I looked like a pro, which was drastically different from my usual 'this was what was clean' look I had going on.

Honestly, the clothing felt more qualified to be a pokemon trainer than I did.

"Welp," I swallowed and stepped out into the partially constructed store, boxes of clothing and other products were sat on top of the few stands that were set up, and Samson stood in the middle of it all looking like a proud father. Standing beside him was his Polywrath and my Vulpix. "How is it?"

"Hmm." Samson rubbed his chin as he inspected me.

I felt my face burn under his scrutiny, which since even on a good day I could be easily confused for a Froslass, meant that my face was likely as red as a Chamander's.

"Ah ha!" Samson snapped his fingers and spun on his feet and ripped open another box. He tossed the plastic to the side and pulled out a blue cap. "Bam! Here we go."

There was little room for protest as the cap was smooshed down onto my head.

"A cap, seriously?" I asked, taking it off. "Are these even in style anymore?"

"Hey, don't be disrespecting the cap, it's a classic look for trainers, besides, you look like you'd burn in the moonlight, something to keep those U.V.'s out of your face is going to help you a lot." Samson looked genuinely offended by me disrespecting the cap.

It wasn't a bad look by any means, especially with my hair that made it look like a white veil following me around. I leaned down and handed the cap to Vulpix, "Here hold this for a moment."

"Vuuuul!" She chomped down softly on the hat and watched me with her great big blue eyes. I still had no idea if Zen was a mastermind for sending me Vulpix or not. On the one hand Zen said that Vulpix reminded her of me, which, given how we both had snow white hair and blue eyes was a bit like saying a Voltorb looks like a Pokeball, on the other hand however, she sent me a pokemon that I would find cute.

"What'cha doing?" Samson asked.

I stuck my tongue out and grabbed a hair tie from my bag. "Something you'll never be able to do Mr. Clean."

"Oi!" He ran a hand over his buzz cut and gave a great big huff. "I'll have you know it's either strong and bald or an afro that'll do an Eldegoss proud." He thumped on his chest twice and winked at me. "There is no inbetween, and I know I made the right choice."

I kept my tongue out, which was met by his Poliwrath mimicking me and turning to face its trainer. With a move that came natural to me, I gathered up as much of my long hair in one hand and slipped the hair tie through, I doubled the tie to make sure it would stay put, but, not so hard as to feel like I was squeezing my entire head through it. I grabbed the cap and put it on before guiding my ponytail through the hole in the back.

"Oh snap, crackle, and pop, that's looking hot Mel, you look like you've been on the pokemon trail for ages and just came across some fresh drip."

"What?"

"You look good."

"Ahh."

"You don't get out much huh?"

"Nope, I mostly spend my time at the lab, writing reports and looking at memes."

"Then how the hell do you not know what drip is?"

I could only shrug. "But thanks, glad I can at least look the part," I squatted down to get as close to Vulpix as I could and smiled at her. "Well, what do you think? Do I look like a trainer now?"

She just looked at me and blinked, her face somehow perfectly capturing confusion in its purest form. "Vul?"

"Thank you for the vote of confidence."

"Vul!"

I stood and gave a light stretch while looking towards Samson. "What now?"

"Well, you got the look, now you should hit the route and actually win a battle and catch a pokemon."

"Right, uhh, okay." I sucked my bottom lip and looked towards Vulpix. "Maybe we could uhh." I clapped my hands behind my back for no real reason. "Do that tomorrow."

"Nu-huh," Samson crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at me. "You still got daylight left and I got a feeling if you go home tonight I'll be dragging you out of the lab in a week when I find out you still haven't gone."

"Wow, way to have confidence in me."

He wasn't wrong.

"Ha! I got confidence that once you get going you'll be fine, but if I have to throw your skinny-self from your house to Route 101 I will."

Judging by how his arm was probably wider than my waist, I didn't doubt that he could accomplish that feat rather easily.

"Uhh, one question though."

"Shoot."

"Can I have a couple more of these sports bras? They're really comfortable, and it's hard to find ones my size." I felt my cheeks burn, just asking for them. But this bra was on the level of comfort that could only be achieved in a warm bath. I needed them. And more shorts!

"Oh, I'll let Jaenene know you like them." Samson turned his head, the over the top confidence she had come to expect from him was gone and she could see hints of the bashful boy he once was. "But sure, go ahead and take a few, just make sure you spread the word."

"Don't worry, the pockets alone will make any female trainer I come across come running." I smiled and nodded at him. "Bitches love pockets."

"That's what I keep sayin!"

XXXX

Route 101 was twenty three miles long with the main route going through several smaller valleys before it came to an end at Long Valley. In theory, a fast hiker could clear the route in a single day if they started early enough; most trainers on the route took it slower, taking the time to explore the area. With many tree covered mountains that never quite reached the snow line, an old quarry, an abandoned gold mine, a few rivers and ponds and even a large lake along the way the route had many branches along it. Some were maintained by the rangers, while others were hidden and little more than the trails that some pokemon took.

I let out my breath and stared up at the hill I hadn't crossed in years. This was the only route I had ever traveled as a pokemon trainer. I felt like I knew every pokemon type that lived along it. Part of me wondered if I could find the path to my old training spot, on the far shore of the lake where other trainers wouldn't bother me and beat me. That was also where I released my first pokemon.

Just like before I was going to have to avoid the fighting types that lived around here, mostly Mankey in the woods, some Machop and Timburr at the quarry, mine, and logging area. However, this time because of Vulpix's ice type, I'd have the advantage against the numerous grass type pokemon that lived around here, like Seedot, Oddish, and Chespin, though Lotad wouldn't be the best to fight against. The flying type pokemon would also be pretty easy, namely the Pidgey and Sparrow, but Fletchling could be problematic, I remember them learning Ember at some point.

"Just so you know!" Samson shouted a good twenty or so feet back from me. "I will make you sleep out here!"

I rolled my eyes and glanced up at the sky, the once blue sky was already turning orange.

I just had to go find a pokemon, battle it, and then, I really didn't know, feel better about myself? Was I supposed to catch a pokemon? No. Too soon for that. I glanced down towards Vulpix who looked up at me expectedly. I needed to make sure that I could handle the one pokemon I already had.

"Alright Vulpix," I leaned down and patted the icy fur on the top of her head. "We're going to have our first battle now, so I need you to listen to me."

"Vul?" She tilted her head to the side and looked along the trail, her tails standing up. "Pix!"

"Glad to see you have spirit." I muttered and took my first few steps towards my new pokemon journey. I wasn't going to run away this time. I wasn't going to give up and come running back home before I even got my first badge.

I was going to go all the way and meet Zen at the championships.

"Skaaaaar!"

All of that confidence vanished when I encountered my first wild pokemon, a rare one I hadn't thought of.

A Skarmory.

AN: Honestly have no idea how this is like 2k words.