When travelling together, it becomes easy to travel alone.

Whatever that Tauros shit means. I just read it in a brochure once.

When I woke up, it was only because the sun had risen up beyond the tree line and had begun to shine directly on me through the opening of the shrine. It was obviously late morning, and I figured Kira would be one who didn't enjoy the prospect of sleeping in. Evidently, she didn't. When I sleepily sat up and looked over from my spot towards Kira's sleeping bag, she was missing. I deflated back onto the floor. For a short time, I thought she had abandoned me entirely. I believed this for entirely too long, until I remembered that I had stared straight at her gear, and had registered that I was staring at her gear. I wouldn't put it past her to take my component (which was still safe inside my pocket; I checked) and leave me in the dust. All that was left was to think about how to proceed without her.

Luckily, I wasn't left alone with my thoughts for long. I heard footsteps clunking on the wooden steps, and I sat up again. Kira walked in with a small brown sack full of something and sat down on her sleeping bag. She fumbled around in the sack for a couple seconds until she looked at me. She smiled a little. "Good morning, sleepyhead," she said as she threw something from her sack at me. I tried to catch it, but missed and it fell squarely in my lap. I cursed and picked it back up. It had a bright yellow hue, almost gold-colored in my lone beam of sunlight. "To eat," Kira said. "I'd rather not use up any more of our rations than is absolutely necessary, so I've been looking for these. Took me a while, so eat up."

"Are you sure these gold berries are safe to eat? I know Pokémon eat them and all, but is it safe for human consumption?" I asked. There's always plenty of horror stories about wannabe woodland survivors eating unidentified berries and dying horribly because the looberries were actually concentrated cyanide or something, and that's without factoring in if they had any knowledge at all. Me, Mister Desert Boy, I don't know berries.

"Oh, relax," she said. "If Pokémon can eat these things, then it should be fine. At the very worst it might give you, um, digestive problems, but it ain't gonna kill you." She took a big bite of a similar berry. "Amd it's uh Sitrus Berruh," she mumbled with her mouth full. I took a bite of my own berry, tasting its fruity goodness. It was surprisingly good for something grown specifically for Pokémon. It had a nice, tangy flavor to it, almost like citrus. I suppose that's why they call it a Sitrus berry.

"So," Kira began as we finished eating our berries, "we're still a couple days off from reaching Olivine. But if we continue due East, we should be able to reach a Pokémon Center by late afternoon, maybe early evening. Doesn't matter. It leaves plenty of downtime for us afterwards, unless you want to travel all night again."

"No, I'd enjoy sleeping on something other than the ground for once," I replied, perhaps a tad hastily. "But what are you implying we do with that downtime? Stare intently at a blank wall until we black out?"

"Noooo, I had something else in mind. Do you remember the PokéMart merger?" she asked.

"Of course I don't. That happened decades before we were born, unless you just look really young for a 60-year-old."

"You know what I meant. Anyway, all Pokémon Centers have a store section in them. That means while we're there, you can buy some Pokéballs. You can finally become a Trainer," she emphasized.

"Why do you care?" I asked. Like I said earlier, I wasn't convinced that Kira wouldn't just run off with the component if she was ever given the chance.

"Well, it was part of the deal. I drag your ass to Saffron City, and you get support becoming a Trainer. Whatever reservations you may have about me, I'm still a woman of my word. And rather than waiting until we get all the way to the Pokémon Lab in New Bark Town, wouldn't you rather start your journey now?" That part was at least true. It could be weeks before we reached New Bark, especially on foot. May as well spend that time doing something that matters.

Kira stood up, dusting herself off. "Well, we've wasted enough time dawdling here. Let's get a move on so we can reach the Pokémon Center before nightfall, regardless of whether or not we'll have time to get your Pokéballs."

"Way ahead of you," I replied. I had gotten up after her and starting tossing together her bag, though not excited at the prospect of carrying it all day again. "Just promise me you'll cover the cost of the balls."

She laughed. "Boy, if you can't afford a Pokéball, then you're worse off than I thought." She shrugged. "Regardless, I hope you're not too sore from yesterday, cause it's another long walk."

"I'm only doing this because I have to," I said in an annoyed tone. "But tomorrow, you're carrying the damn sack, bad knee or not."


It was early afternoon when we stopped for a lunch break, and not a moment too soon. What I wouldn't give for Kira's bag to be one of those wussy ones with little wheels on them. Of course, that wouldn't help much on a rugged forest path, or just rugged forest, but let a man dream. I sank down into the grass and Kira followed suit. I passed the bag over to her, with some effort. "Can you get out some of the food, please?" I asked.

"Yeah, I'd say you earned it," she said, digging through the bag. "But just barely." She threw a packaged item at me, and this time I managed to catch it.

I peeled back the wrapping and was exposed to a rugged brown bar. I sniffed it and recoiled slightly. "What is this stuff?" I asked. "Smells like shit."

"That," Kira replied with a mild air of superiority, "is a Nova-produced protein bar. With a mere few bites, it can substitute an entire meal." She dug another out of her bag. "Our scientists have been trying to pack enough calories into them to substitute an entire day's worth of calories, but so far it just ends up causing heart attacks in their lab Ratatta." She unwrapped her bar and sniffed it as well. "I do wish they'd spend more time making them taste better, but I play the hand I was dealt. So do the rest of my fellow specialists." She bit into her bar. I began chewing on mine as well, but had to fight the urge to immediately spit it out. She wasn't lying about the taste.

"You talk about your job a lot, but you never really say anything about it. What is it that you really do?" I asked. She had mentioned bits and pieces about her profession before, even if only to brag about her skills, but never really gave specifics.

"Well, I've already told you what it is I do. More than a few times, for sure. I track down and capture wayward defectors," she said, sounding mildly annoyed. I think she was getting tired of giving her mantra to me. "Sometimes, scientists, grunts, guards, and other workers have disagreements with their superiors and the projects that they are tasked with, so they go rogue. It's not common, but the numbers are still high enough that there's an entire branch dedicated to finding them."

"Not to be pushy or anything," I pitched in, "but do you hear yourself right now? You're literally hunting people for leaving over a job disagreement. Don't you ever feel like some sort of…" I paused for a beat to find the right words. "…some sort of secret police?"

"Sometimes, yes," she conceded. "But I do it because it's…" Kira paused, assumedly also trying to find the right words. "I don't want to say 'for the greater good' because generally no one with actual good intentions says that shit, but only good things have come out of their reunion with us. It was thanks to an escaped technician that we were able to develop the same tracking device that allowed me to find you in the first place."

"Alright, I can tell you feel very, uh, righteous about your cause. I'm not gonna bother to keep fighting you on it, because otherwise we're going to be here all day. But I still want to know more about how your job works. Is there just a select group of people that they choose from to become a specialist, or can anyone just decide to join?" I asked. I at least wanted to know more about the type of person I was trusting to get me all the way to Kanto.

"It's a mix of both, actually," she responded. "Anyone can apply to join, but there's quite a long process involved to actually get in. There's an extremely difficult training regimen involved, and we lucky few that don't wash out end up as part of the team. It's all overseen by the head of the department himself."

"You say that like I should be impressed," I pointed out. "What makes your boss so important?"

Kira slowly nodded. "Yes, of course you wouldn't know the significance. I'm not saying that as an insult to you," she added hastily. "It's just something that is important to our group. We're actually an extremely small branch. There's a high enough demand to necessitate our existence, but not enough to keep our numbers above a couple dozen. Anyway, our boss was the original retrieval specialist 10 years ago, right after the end of the Software Wars. When his best friend and colleague abandoned their post, he abandoned his as well, for the sole purpose of tracking them down and bringing them back to justice. It took months to track him down, and he had nothing with him besides the clothes on his back and a few hundred Pokén in his pocket, but eventually he returned to his boss in Mauville, physically dragging his former friend behind him. Leadership was so impressed with his work that they gave him the title of Sigma and the leeway to keep tabs on anyone who even had thoughts of dissent. I guess in a way, he was kind of a secret police. Anyway, after a while, he decided that his job was too hard to do alone, so he started recruiting some grunts that were good at tracking and formed our branch. He retired from tracking earlier this year, giving up his rank, but he still comes in for training. I think he mainly retired because he wanted to focus on his team."

"Wow," I said. "That actually is pretty impressive. You said he had no gear on him at all? He sounds like me in that regard."

"Yes, but unlike you, he had basic survival skills," Kira replied, smirking. "You probably would've only lasted another couple of days out there without me."

I gave a good, strong "hmmph" and sat down in the dirt. "Have you ever even met this guy before? How do you know if he's actually all that?" I asked.

"Not personally," she said, "but I've seen him a few times when he oversaw my own training. The ones he personally recruited years ago insist that everything we hear about him is true, but the rest of us only know him through his reputation and code name: the Kaiser."

"Figures that someone like him would have an equally pretentious name," I muttered. "Well, in any case, I'm just glad that I got someone equally as incompetent as I to come chasing after me. I don't think anyone else would've given me the chance to come quietly."

Kira looked at me quizzically. "Am I supposed to take that as an insult or a compliment?"

"Take it as both," I said, standing back up, "But we should get going if we want to hit that Pokémon Center any time soon."

"Finally, taking some initiative. I was waiting for you to have an original thought," she bantered back. "Well, saddle up. Lunch is over."

I sighed and shouldered her gear again. This was not the part I looked forward to.


Once more, the sun was setting on our day's journey. It shone through the trees, casting a golden glow on the path ahead. At this point, I was dragging Kira's bag behind me on the ground. I had every intent of making good on my threat from earlier, about how Kira was taking the next shift no matter what, but that would have to wait. We were finally here.

The Pokémon Center sat directly in front of us, its red façade gleaming in the dimming light. It was an older building, bearing scars from many decades of Pokémon battles fought in its vicinity, but it still appeared to be fully operational. The lights inside were already on, and there appeared to be a few other people milling about inside as well. Surprising, really. Last I checked with Kira, we were still about 90 or so miles from Olivine (I'm making an educated guess on that. Kira's a military type and only uses kilometers, so I had to make a rough conversion in my head), so there was probably a small town in the forest somewhere, too.

"Well, we're here," Kira said as we continued towards the building. "Let's head on inside and try to grab some lodging. I don't know exactly how well equipped this specific center is, but it's bound to have something."

"I'll just be satisfied if I can have somewhere else to put your stuff," I replied. "If I have to carry this thing along any longer, I think my spine will snap like a twig."

"Oh, come on. It's a great workout!" With that, Kira threw open the double doors with dramatic flourish. They loudly banged into the walls, causing everyone inside to snap their attention towards us. An awkward silence followed, but eventually they went back to their previous activities.

"Mmm, very smooth of you, secret agent lady," I mused as we resumed walking in. "Also, 'a great workout?' What are you, my dad?"

"I could be," she claimed. I shot her a look that asked for elaboration as what the hell that meant. Indeed, she did not elaborate. Instead, she sauntered up the front desk, where an oddly familiar pink-haired woman was working. "Hi, I'd like to have my Pokémon here healed. He's not injured, but I'd still like you to have a quick look at him." She produced her Pokéball from her belt and placed on the desk.

"Of course, ma'am. We'll get your Pokémon back to you as soon as possible." The pink-haired lady took the ball and handed it off to a Chansey. It waddled off with the ball and the worker began to follow it.

"Oh!" Kira exclaimed, slapping the desk a few times in quick succession to attract the lady's attention. "Could me and my friend here also have a room for the night? We've been travelling for a few days and could really use some good rest for once."

"Of course," the lady said. "Here's the keys for your room…" she dragged a keyring up from behind the desk (containing one singular key, of course) and set them on the counter. "…and it'll be room 006. Down the hall and to your left."

"Thank you," said Kira. She turned around to face me. "You get to shower first," she said, planting the keys into my chest. "I will admit that carrying around my things wasn't good for you in the smells department."

"Thanks for being so considerate," I retorted, grabbing away the keys. "But I'm still getting those Pokéballs later. How long is the Mart open?"

"This Center and everything inside of it is open 24 hours a day," she replied. Behind her, one of the pink-haired lady's eyes gave an almost imperceptible twitch. "I just wanted to get here before it got too late, because I think we both know how difficult traveling in the dark is."

Kira walked off down the hall, and I quickly made after her, grumbling and dragging her gear bag behind me. "Have fun in there, lovebirds!" the lady hollered after us. I sighed and continued on.

Kira was patiently waiting for me as I cleared the final few feet of space between us. "I forgot that I gave you the key. Would you kindly…?"

"Uh huh," I grunted, shoving the key into the keyhole. "Who is that chick at the front desk?" I asked. "She seems oddly familiar." The lock turned over, and the door opened into a medium-sized room with two beds. Surprisingly good digs for a backwater vet clinic.

"That would be Nurse Joy. Or at least, a Nurse Joy," Kira explained, correcting herself. "Every single Center is run by one. It's rumored that they're all related in some way or another, but I'm not entirely sure about that. Regardless, they've kept this joint running for 75 years without ever charging anyone, so whatever they are, they're doing their jobs right." She passed by me and wandered into the room. "Come on in and take a load off, sweetheart," she taunted.

"You're hilarious, sweetums," I shot back. "Just let me through. You gave me the keys, so I have a right to get through at least the threshold…"

"Oh, I forgot that you're so sensitive," Kira replied, deftly moving to the side of the hall. "Look, don't pay Nurse Joy any mind. We're a boy and a girl traveling alone at night. What else could we be but a young couple?"

I grunted, though mostly from the exertion of dragging Kira's gear along a carpeted pathway. "I'd say we're dressed too differently from each other to really bring about that idea. I mean, with your, uh, dark colored adventure garb and my street clothes. Not to mention our current state of cleanliness, or rather lack thereof." I indicated our heavily mud-stained apparel.

"Well, that last part could mean a couple of other things," she said, rather coyly. "In any case, it actually makes things easier." Kira flopped down on a bed and sank in. I set her stuff down in a corner and she sat back up. "What would you be more concerned with? A dirty couple coming in from a long journey, or a guy getting dragged around by a special agent who works for some organization no one has ever heard of before?"

"The two aren't mutually exclusive," I said, trying my hand at my own joke. "But I see your point. Shall we hug now?"

"We shall not. You're going to take your shower, and I'm going to go track down that PokéMart," she said. She went to leave the room, but paused before adding, "Don't touch my stuff."

"Yeah, I wouldn't assume you have a change of clothes in there, anyway," I muttered. Another thing I had forgotten to take with me was a spare set of clothes. Oops. Not like I really had another set, but my clothes had never gotten this bad before. Almost made me wish I still had that shitty guard uniform from the train.

"Not unless you can fit into a women's size," she hollered from the hallway. "There should be a bathrobe or something you can change into while you wash your clothes. Use that!"

And she was gone. Well, finally, I guess. Too bad she neglected to mention precisely where these robes were. Or the washers. Ah well, Arceus knows how long she could be out. Time for me to figure this out myself for once.


'Twas not that much of an adventure after all. I mean, what can I say? I showered, found the bathrobes Kira mentioned in the closet, and washed my clothes. Turns out there was a cute little brochure on the bedside table that had a map of the facility in it. Either Kira thought I was capable of finding these things on my own, or she just blew me off. Personally, I'm leaning towards the latter, but I was at least still capable of basic self-sufficiency. Yay for me!

I grabbed my meager collection of stuff (making very sure that I grabbed the key as well) and went off in search of either Kira or the PokéMart. Whichever came first. Indeed, I found the Mart first. The bright blue sticks out like a sore thumb in this sterile environment. Though that doesn't mean that I didn't have any trouble finding it. This damn center is practically a non-Euclidian structure. Every time I think I've seen the entire building, there's a new hallway. I know some older centers have more than one level, but this is ridiculous. Regardless of this mind-breaking clinic, I was still able to find the Mart and the poor sap still running it.

"Hello. I would like to have one Pokéball, please." Being polite never hurt anyone. If tough agent lady Kira could do it, then so could I.

"That'll be 200 Pokén," he said, his voice tired and monotone. Retail, amirite? Not that I've ever worked it, but that's because I know it sucks. And also…personal reasons. I placed the amount on the counter, and he took it. He dug around in the back for a minute and brought out a red and white metal ball. He placed it on the counter, and it began rolling off until I caught it. Simple as that. Huh. I really thought this event would be a little more…momentous. I guess I haven't actually caught a Pokémon yet, but there still wasn't any oomph behind this particular moment. Oh well.

It was at this moment Kira decided to show up. Finally. "Where have you been?" I asked.

"I've been asking around," she replied, vaguely. "There's a town about 16km from here. We can resupply there, get you some more stuff. I don't know if it's occurred to you yet, but you're woefully unprepared for this journey."

"Gee, thanks for the heads up," I said. "Also, you're resupplying? Already? It's been, like what, a day?"

"Two, actually. Remember when I said we only had 3 and a half days of food and water?"

"Yes, actually. I also recall that we didn't have any of our rations the first day, aside from water."

"Water is equally as important as food, you know," Kira said in a condescending voice. "We can feed off of berries and shit for a while, but unless you feel like drinking your own piss, we'll be dead of dehydration before we're even halfway to Olivine." She finally noticed the object I was holding. "Oh, you finally got a Pokéball? Nice!" she said. I could tell she actually meant it that time. "Maybe you'll get to catch a Pokémon tomorrow!"

"I dunno. What am I supposed to do, huck the ball at any random creature I see?" I asked.

"You can," she said, "but generally it takes a little more finesse than that. A good rule of thumb is that you have to weaken the Pokémon before you catch it, unless they're already really weak. However, that can be hard to judge from a distance. You're also at a disadvantage, because not only do you only have one Pokéball and thus only one shot at catching, but you also don't have a partner Pokémon to aid you in battle."

"Can I just use yours?" I blurted out. This time, I physically facepalmed. You can't just ask a trainer to give you their Pokémon. At least, not in Orre. I don't know how people in other reasons react to a random person snatching up their pet and leaving.

Kira surprised me. "I actually hadn't thought of that. I think Mightyena would trust you enough to take orders, but then again, maybe not. In any case, I'd still be on standby for support."

"Well, thank you in advance," I said, mildly relieved. "But that'll have to wait for tomorrow. For now, I'm beat. And it's your turn to shower. Hygiene is a two-way street."

And she agreed.

What? She did. I don't always need to end on something profound.