[Akari]
The moment my boot touches the sand of Route 4, a sigh escapes me. Why did there have to be a desert between Castelia and Nimbasa? I really should have taken the ferry for Driftveil instead.
"First time braving the desert, miss?" a jovial voice calls from the side and, as I turn to it, I'm met by the sight of an approaching police man. I stiffen in place upon seeing his uniform, but when I see the way he casually strolls toward me, I feel relief wash over me and my stance relaxes. Hopefully he didn't notice any of that.
"Not exactly," I reply, trying to match his tone, before turning my head to the sandy landscape ahead. "It's just…I don't like the sand. Or the heavy sunlight. Or the heat."
How did May and Brendan ever stand it all?
The police man chuckles at my response. "From a region close to the poles, are we? Let me guess, Sinnoh?"
Uh-oh, did he recognize me?
I try to keep my composure as I answer him. "Not exactly. I was born in Sinnoh, but my parents moved to the Moscow region when I was little."
The man shrugs at that reply. "It was a close one," he chuckles, and I internally sigh with relief.
"So, what takes you to Unova, miss?" He glances down to my belt and the wooden Poké Balls strapped to it. "Here as a Pokémon trainer? Gotta say those are some peculiar balls to keep your Pokémon in."
"I am," I reply. "There was a craft store in my town that sold old style Poké Ball. I thought they looked neat, so I bought a few."
"That so? I guess I'll have to look them up if I ever visit Moscow."
I almost feel bad at the thought that he won't find them even if he tries. Unfortunately, I can't tell him I crafted them myself.
"Speaking of traveling, this is the correct way to Nimbasa City, right?" I ask as a way to veer the conversation away from that subject.
"Sure is, miss." He points forward. "If you're moving on foot, it's a couple of days straight ahead of us. A few hours if you've got a bike or something like that." He turns to me, a concerned expression on his face. "You do have a means of transportation or at least a tent for the night, right?"
I nod and better adjust my backpack. "My Arcanine can carry me with no problem."
He nods back. "Good, then the only other recommendations I can give you is to watch out for the local Pokémon and take cover in case of a sandstorm. Trust me, you do not want to be caught off-guard by a sandstorm."
I smile at him. "I appreciate the warning. I'll be careful if one comes."
"Good to hear. Good luck in Nimbasa, miss," he says, briefly tipping his hat before walking away.
Once he's far enough, I reach for Marley's Poké Balls and open its lock, allowing the Hisuian Arcanine to come out. She barks happily as we make eye contact.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," I chuckle before I reach for the back of her ears and start rubbing them. She lets out a pleased wimper. "I can tell the average trainer you were revived from a fossil, but I can't risk the police looking into that."
Her next wimper is more sorrowful.
"I know," I sigh. "I don't like it either, but saying we're from Hisui is more trouble than it's worth."
Just as I say that, I feel two other Poké Balls wiggle. I look down and - to my mild annoyance - they turn out to be Barry's and Mars'.
"We've been over this you two," I tell them. "You can't be seen in public."
Barry thankfully calms down not long after, but Mars doesn't. If anything, her Poké Ball shakes more.
"Look, it's just a few more days," I try to reassure her. "We reach Nimbasa, we find Emmet and then we'll go back to Sinnoh. I'm just asking you to be patient, alright?"
Slowly, Mars' Poké Ball slows in its tremors until it stops entirely. While it's a relief that she has calmed down, my thoughts drift to what I told her, and my teeth grit. In a few days we'll be back to Sinnoh, where the hard part is going to be.
Damn it all.
A lick from Marley breaks me out of my thoughts, and I notice the puppy eyes she's giving me.
"Sorry, sorry," I chuckle while patting her head, my earlier concerns pushed to the side for now. "Didn't mean to get all gloomy there."
A happy bark is her reply before crouching down. I take her invitation and get on her back, after which she turns toward our destination.
"Alright, then," I declare while pointing forward. "To Nimbasa."
After a proud howl, Marley starts running forward.
[Nate]
"But dad, I'm of age now! Ruffles and I can take the Gym challenge!"
"Ruf!" Ruffles adds from above my shoulder.
From his side of the desk, dad massages the bridge of his nose as he lets out a sigh. "I know, Nate," he says. "Unfortunately, Unova is still not safe to travel. Professor Juniper and the Rangers are still taking care of the fallout with Team Plasma. Not to mention the rumors they are back to their old ways."
"But I want to do this!" I insist. "Everyone takes on their challenge at this point! Besides, Hilbert Hymerlay was able to beat Team Plasma and he was in my same shoes! How tough can they be?"
As soon as I ask that, dad's face sets into a frown and a knot forms in my throat as I recognize his "You just said something utterly stupid" face. When he speaks, his words are slow and cold.
"Before they were stopped, Team Plasma eluded the police and the Gym Leaders, successfully assaulted more experienced trainers than Hilbert and were able to put together the means to beat the Champion and occupy the League. Don't underestimate them just because they were beaten."
"R-right." I lower my head. "I apologize, dad."
"Ruf!" Ruffles protests in my ear.
To my shock, dad lets out a groan and massages his face with his hands.
"No, don't be sorry, Nate," he adds. "That was harsh of me."
Uh…
"N-no, of course not!" I reply. "I know you meant well, I just-"
His raised hand cuts me off.
"Look, I know how important the Gym challenge is to you. Believe me, I do. But neither I nor your mother would feel safe letting you wander Unova while it's in these conditions."
"Ruf!" Ruffles chimes in with his chest puffed, to which dad lets out a brief chuckle.
"Sorry," he says, "I meant you and Ruffles."
That seems to please the Rufflet, as he relaxes and readjusts on my shoulder.
"My point still stands," dad continues, "It's far too dangerous for you two to wander alone."
A pit forms in my stomach at his words. "When do you think it will be safe?" I ask half-heartedly.
He shrugs. "I don't know. From what I've heard from Aurea, she is close to completing an updated Unovan Pokédex, but the situation with Team Plasma is too uncertain to say."
So I will be stuck here in Nimbasa for who-knows-how-long. That…that's…
"But like I said," dad huffs out, "it's too dangerous alone."
Huh? "What do you mean?"
He hesitates before answering me. "Nature Today is about to sponsor a Trainer - a young lady from Galar - as part of a campaign about regional variants of Pokémon from her region. This trainer has quite the experience under her belt and was close to becoming the Champion of her own region once. I can call her and ask if she'd be interested in accompanying you."
My eyes widen. "Really? You'd do that?"
A small smile forms on his face. "Of course. I can't force it in her contract, but I can definitely ask it as a favor. And I see no reason for her to refuse."
I circle around his desk and reach him. Ruffles takes off from my shoulder as I wrap my arms around him.
"Thanks dad!"
His hand reaches into my hair and starts rubbing it. "You're welcome," he warmly says.
"Ruf!"
We both look up to Ruffles flapping his wings above us and see him with his cheeks puffed as he glares down at us. After my and his eyes meet he nudges to the door.
"Ruf! Let!"
"It sounds like Ruffles wants to get started with training right away," dad chuckles before lightly shoving me. "Go on, the Battle Subway should be open by now. I'm sure you'll find someone willing to fight."
I smile and nod to him. "Will do. Thanks again, dad!"
After saying that I rush toward the door and leave his office, Ruffles flying right behind me. Still riding high on the excitement, we arrive at the ground floor quickly and rush toward the Battle Subway.
I still can't believe it! After weeks of praying my parents to let me start my journey, I finally got their permission! Oh, I can't wait to meet this Galarian Trainer.
So, for those of you who have been following me for a while, you may remember another fic called "Underdogs". I ended up discontinuing it due to dissatisfaction wit how it was turning out, but I still liked some of its core ideas. Thanks in no small part to Legends Arceus, here we are with a bit of a rework of them.
Also, no Eugenio is not present this time.
As for this chapter...well, there isn't much to be said, it's just a prologue to get the main characters introduced. Unlike some of my previous works, I'm gonna try and stick to an update schedule of every two or three weeks (depending on how busy I am in real life), so here's to hoping this story gets to the end.
Thank you to Softandhappy and Krosrodes for betareading. If you're interested in some writing advice, you can find it at the Fanfiction Treehouse discord server at: 9XG3U7a
See you guys next time!
