Riley sighed and proceeded through Tempura Forest. Before long, he was back in Torutara town, where he grinned as the black-wearing boy he'd battled earlier walked into the Pokemon Centre. He walked right past it and proceeded to Route 3, where he crossed over to New Moon Town.
"Hey, Riley." It was a voice that he could never get tired of hearing. His dad. "I guess you're going on your Pokemon journey now?" His father smiled, and placed a big, strong, but soft hand on Riley's shoulder. "I'll miss you."
He brought Riley back home. "I wanted you to leave home on a good note, but I wasn't sure if you'd be back. I'm glad you did! I made you your favourite Oran pie."
Riley's dad smiled at his son with the utmost love in his eyes. He put a plate with a pie that had a bright blue, gooey filling on it on the kitchen table, where he'd sat Riley down. "I hope you enjoy it."
He sighed, "I met your mother while I was on my Pokemon journey. Did you know that?" He picked up Pupsky and pet the swirls of white fur on its temples. "She worked in the Pokemon Centre and I always flew back to that very Pokemon Centre when my team needed a good healing. Her only Pokemon was a Barksky. It had an egg with my Huskowl, and Pupsky here had hatched not even a day after you were born." Riley's dad laughed as his cute little Pokemon licked the scruff on his chin. "Ha, yeah, you did hatch that day, didn't you boy? I should really go see my Pokemon again... I left them in the Virtual Paradise and I only ever get the chance to see them when you're not home. Maybe I'll bring them all back home now that you're not going to be here for a while. But, if you do decide to come back and see your old man again, I'll make you your favourite meals and restore your team back to health."
Pupsky jumped down from Riley's father's arms and hopped up and down, scratching at Riley's pant legs, who was trying to get out the door. Riley smiled and pet the little puppy Pokemon.
"Riley," giggled his dad. "I think Pupsky wants to go with you. It's known you its entire life. You can't just not take it with you on your Pokemon journey."
Riley agreed, and picked up Pupsky in his arms, letting the Pokemon lick his face without any retaliation but giggles. "Baruof!"
"Heh, have fun, my son. Don't push yourself or your Pokemon too hard, okay?" In response, Riley nodded and put Pupsky on the ground. Its fluffy tail wagged as it hopped on its stubby legs to keep up with Riley.
Riley waved to his dad as he proceeded west to Route 2, which connected Chinocko's smallest town to its biggest city, Vancine City.
Through the middle of the route was the famous Fractal River, which was raging and splashing all about, just like always. The route had been split in half by the torrential river. It was too rough to even be swam in, even by Pokemon. But one of Chinocko's endangered species, Maskalmon, were jumping through the torrents over the river's path. If only Riley had a fishing rod.
Riley picked up Pupsky so it wouldn't accidentally be dragged into the raging river. Route 2 was divided into two sides. The right and left. And bridges were made out of everything on hand to keep the sides connected. Riley walked over a short bridge that connected the cliff right next to New Moon Town's wall to the right side of the main section of Route 2. He crossed over a hollowed-out tree bridge, too, which led him to the left side. There, he saw a tree that looked similar to the one that he'd just crossed. Maybe he could cut it down if he had a Pokemon that could chop trees. He'd have to come back later and see.
"Ah, the bridges here are even scarier than the one in Tempura Forest!" yelped a distressed Lilly who was sitting scaredly at the edge of a bridge that looked like it had been damaged quite a bit by the raging river below. "Riley, I know it's pretty ridiculous, but could I ask you to cross with me again?"
Riley smiled and put a hand on Lilly's shoulder, showing her that he thought that her fear was completely rational. "Thanks, my best friend," smiled Lilly. She grabbed Riley's hand, who was also holding Pupsky, and crossed the bridge. "I'm so grateful to be sharing this adventure with you. I don't know what I'd do without you!" She ran on ahead and walked into another forest entrance. It was a small break in the route that all trainers had to cross to make it to Route 1. He followed her in.
"Good luck on your way to Vancine City. Route 1's nature bridge is full of tall grass, which means it's also full of wild Pokemon!" Lilly walked ahead, out of the forest patch and onto the next route, Route 1.
Riley tried to follow her, but he was stopped by a curious bird-like Pokemon's silhouette that flew threw a thick patch of brush. As it did, a grey light glowed and the brambles and branches slithered back into the bushes, creating a path. He couldn't help but follow it, but when he did, the brush grew back into place, blocking him in.
He looked around. He was at the steps of a ruined temple-like structure. The ceiling was hardly connected, and only the framework and a handful of bricks remained. At the heart of the ruins was a pedestal, and behind it was a small tree, into the bark of which was carved the image of a helmet that had wings coming out of its temple region. It was carved in the style of a totem pole, and it was coloured grey like the light that cleared the way for Riley to get here.
On the pedestal were two structures that looked like arms. On the wrists of them were wings, and in the hands of them was a pendant-like object that looked like it was cracked off of something larger. It was a pale indigo colour, like clouds on a cold winter night, and it had on it what appeared to be a back paw, like that of Pupsky's, as well as a big, fluffy tail.
Riley reached and picked it up. It hovered above his palm, astonishing him. The image of a humanoid Pokemon that had wings on its wrists and a helmet over its eyes and nose that looked like a bird's skull, complete with an intimidating beak, appeared in the air between the pedestal and the totem. It spoke to Riley in the language of Pokemon before disappearing in a storm of feathers. As it did, the brush that Riley had walked through to get here separated again. He put Pupsky in its PokeBall and put the Mysterious Pendant in his bag, and walked back through the pathway, the brush closing behind him again. Perplexed, he proceeded out of the forest patch and out to Route 1.
On Route 1 was a nature bridge that crossed over a highway. On it ran cute wild Pokemon like Raindeer. He curiously scanned the long-legged Pokemon with his PokeDex and it read out to him, "Raindeer. Water- and Normal-type. The Tiny-Horned Pokèmon. Their tiny horns grow slowly as they age, and are used for storing water that they drink. Raindeer can launch water at a pressure strong enough to cut sheet metal, but because they are so docile, they only use this ability in extreme danger. Their speed is unrivaled in their habitat, and their fur is softer than dandelion fluff." He fell apart as the image of the adorable Pokemon was projected on the screen before him. He wanted to pet it so bad, but it would have just run away from him.
Other Pokemon were on the bridge, too, like a Pikachu that had a red maple leaf pierced around its ear. He scanned it with his PokeDex. "Number 25, Pikachu. The Electric Mouse Pokemon. Native to Chinocko, the Pikachu in this region wear red maple leaves around their ears as a sign of their cultural identity. Pikachu brought into Chinocko from other regions are often perplexed by the trend."
Riley chuckled, fascinated. He crossed the grassy bridge, looking over the moss-covered railing at the cars passing below. What caused cars to run? Riley hadn't been exposed to that knowledge, as he'd always been living in a town small enough that he could walk through it conveniently without ever needing to drive a car. Even Sherrow City wasn't that large, and there was a skytrain system there so even if people did have a long distance to travel, they could just take that.
Whatever propelled cars, it stank and caused grey gases to escape out of the bottom of them. Riley didn't really ever want a car. He found them gross and unappealing. Pokemon riding wasn't out of date, either, so if he really needed to get somewhere quickly, he would rather just ride on the back of a Pokemon.
Without doddling on it, he proceeded into Vancine City, which had an Entrance Gate on it, which only the most high-end of cities had in Chinocko. The gate worker behind the desk waved. "Welcome to Vancine City, Riley! Here for some shopping as usual? Nalia, our Gym Leader here, just got back. She said to tell you to check out her gym."
Riley nodded at the familiar gate worker and walked forward, letting Pupsky out of its PokeBall so it could walk beside him. He proceeded into Chinocko's largest city. He looked around him. Even right out of the Entrance Gate, Vancine was huge. Towering buildings surrounded the street, and Riley could easily have gotten lost. Vancine City was so big that it had three Pokemon Centres. One in the very heart of town, one by the well-known Vancine Fishery, and one by the park. He walked through the town, scouting out for any shortcuts to the gym at the north side of town.
Beside a restaurant, Riley saw a small cat Pokemon, a Glameow, strut into a side alley. He decided to follow it, and was relieved to find that the fence in the middle of the alley had a hole in it just large enough for Riley to fit through. Pupsky followed behind him, so excited by everything going on in the city. "Woof! Woof!"
Riley turned around to look at Pupsky, who was barking at the Glameow. Riley decided to let Pupsky enjoy its first battle. He commanded it to use Bite, and the Glameow was so untrained that it fainted just after one Bite.
Riley scooped up the cat Pokemon in his hands and carried it with him. There it was, the heart of town!
The heart of Vancine City was circular and had streets leading to it from all sorts of directions. There was Vancine's own fashion store, Big City Fashions, a PokeMart that had its own lot right next to the Pokemon Centre, and several towers surrounding it. To the north was a tall tower that had a fancy-looking hall leading to its front door. There were steps leading up to it, and it had a large, accurate clock right above the arch that lead into the hall where the front doors were. It was Vancine City's City Hall. In the very heart of the city's center was a statue of a Pikachu with a maple leaf around its ear sitting at the foot of a random trainer that was probably dead by now.
He walked into the Pokemon Centre and smiled at Nurse Joy. "Hello, Riley. Nice to see you again. Not here with your dad this time?"
Riley shook his head and put the Glameow gently on Nurse Joy's desk, trying his hardest not to hurt it. He then gave Nurse Joy Pupsky's PokeBall, and sat on a couch that was placed in the waiting area.
"Alright, Riley. These two Pokemon are back to health. You're very sweet to have brought a stray Pokemon to my Pokemon Centre, youngster."
She handed Riley Pupsky's PokeBall and let the Glameow walk around her Pokemon Centre, following it fascinatedly with her eyes.
Riley left back into the heart of Vancine City. Carved into the street was a compass that helped Riley discern where North was. He followed the street in that direction and came across the doors to the University of Chinocko. "Hello, son. How may I help you today?" asked the secretary at the desk in front of the glass front doors into the school.
Riley asked her for directions to the gym, and she pointed him to a door to the right. "Please enjoy your gym challenge for the Beginner's Badge."
He walked excitedly towards the gym, when he encountered a familiar young girl. "Hey, RIley! Guess what badge I just got!" Riley looked at Lilly, smiling, as she held up the Beginner's Badge. "I'm finally a better Trainer than you! Isn't that so great!?"
Riley chuckled, rolling his eyes. He wasn't concerned with being 'better' than Lilly, he just was excited to get his first badge, the Normal-type Gym Leader Nalia's Beginner's Badge, and help protect more of Chinocko's long list of endangered Pokemon.
"Let's have a battle! You'll never beat Nalia if you can't beat me!"
The audience sitting in the gym's bleachers roared with excitement, totally ready to experience another battle between strong beginning trainers! "And so we watch another battle, my students! I'd be surprised if any of you had the courage to do what Lilly and Riley are doing right now!"
"Wow, harsh..." someone in the audience grunted.
"Riley, let's get right to it! This is the gymnasium of the University of Chinocko, but because Nalia is doing a lesson on the Chinocko League, she's temporarily repurposed it into a Pokemon Gym! Cool, right? Elelel, help me out!"
"And Lilly sends out her Elelel, the same Pokemon that she challenged me with! How will she fair against her best friend, Riley? Riley, what Pokemon will you be combating Elelel with?" Nalia's voice echoed through the room as it blared through the speakers of the gym. "And Riley sends out an adorable Pokemon, Concealpillar!"
"What a cute little thing!" Lilly giggled, pumping her fist and raising her knee in excitement. "Elelel, use Water Gun!"
Concealpillar tried to dodge, but failed. It was hit with Elelel's Water Gun and fainted, unable to handle the Water-type attack.
"And Concealpillar faints! How will Riley make a comeback!?"
He sent out Pupsky, and ordered it to use Bite!
"And Pupsky lands a critical hit!" Nalia yelled, rowdy. "And Elelel is down! Can Lilly recover with her strongest Pokemon unable to battle!?"
Lilly sent out her next Pokemon, Hermiflage.
"Hermiflage, the Normal- and Grass-type Pokemon! It blends in with grassy ponds, but Riley's Pupsky won't have such a hard time spotting it on the floor of my gym!"
Riley ordered Pupsky to use Bite, and it did. But unfortunately, Hermiflage dodged its attack! It countered with its Normal-type move, Scratch! It scratched Pupsky's chest with its rigid claw and scurried away, timid.
"Pupsky, how will you repay Hermiflage for hurting you!?"
Riley pointed his PokeDex at Hermiflage to try to get more information on how to beat it. "Number 18, Hermiflage. Grass- and Normal-type. The Camouflaged Pokèmon. Hermiflage are small, almost insectoid Pokèmon that carry chunks of ground on their backs. Their pincers are generally harmless to humans, and really only affect smaller Pokèmon, which in Hermiflage's case, are hard to come by."
Riley had Pupsky use Scratch back, and it hit Hermiflage with a powerful strike! Hermiflage fainted!
"Lilly, better luck next time!" Nalia announced. "Riley is our winner! Send out the next Trainer!"
Lilly waved at Riley as she left, leaving out into the foyer where Riley had entered. "Good luck on the rest of the Trainer battles!"
"Riley, there's no rest for the wicked here!" Nalia announced over the PA.
"Hey, you're Riley, right? Me and my Cottontuft are going to take you down! Macho Man Marcus wants a battle!"
Riley nodded, unable to turn down the next battle. He sent out Burndillo as Macho Man Marcus, who really was as strong-looking as he claimed to be, sent out an adorable little Cottontuft.
"Tuffu!" it chittered, its nose twitching rapidly as it tried to identify its surroundings.
"Dillo-burno!" Burndillo's voice was raspy, but also very high and cute. Riley gave it its order before Cottontuft had a chance to make a move. Bite! It rolled over to Cottontuft and bit it, clamping its jaw down hard.
The Cottontuft angrily countered it with a Hind Kick, a move that first came about in Chinocko. Cottontuft grabbed Burndillo's shell-covered shoulders and started kicking its gut rapidly with its strong hind legs. Burndillo also grabbed it and used Tackle, bashing its head against Cottontuft's.
Nalia was practically screaming with excitement. "There you have it! Cottontuft is now unable to battle!" She took a breath. "That means Riley is this battle's victor! Now, can he beat me?"
A door in the back of the gym slid open, and Riley curiously entered it. It lead into a gym office, and behind the desk in the back was Nalia, sitting in front of a screen and a microphone. "Riley, I will help you kick-start your Pokemon League journey, but you'll have to beat me first, and I won't be going easy on you! Put what you've learned from your adventure so far to the test and show me how you and your Pokemon have grown!"
Riley could feel adrenaline pumping through him, and he practically launched Burndillo's PokeBall into the battlefield.
By winning the previous battle, Burndillo had learned a new move. Ember. It would be useful in taking out the Hermiflage that Nalia sent out, as it was part Grass-type!
"Hermiflage, use Scratch!" Nalia yelled at her Pokemon, everyone in the gym roaring with hype. It waddled up to Burndillo, and scratched it like Lilly's had to Pupsky.
Burndillo countered the attack by using Ember on the Normal- and Grass-type Pokemon!
"No! Grass type is weak to Fire type! I should have seen this coming! But it's okay! I have another Pokemon! Go Stoath!"
She sent out the evolved version of Stoaf, the long-bodied Pokemon that Riley had encountered on Route 3. Riley pointed his PokeDex at it for info. "Number 16, Stoath. Normal- and Ground-type. The Longer-Bodied Pokèmon. Stoath are known for their powerful-looking fur patterns and their weapon-like tails, which they aren't afraid to use. They possess great power and strength, as well as a fantastic sense of smell, and fantastic digging ability. They often hide in the ground and wait for their prey to come. Stoath are popular because people find their movement cute."
"Stoath, use Dig!" Somehow, Stoath managed to obey Nalia's command by digging into the floor of her office. A Pokemon would have to be super strong to do that. And Stoath looked strong!
Riley ordered Burndillo to use Tackle, but Burndillo couldn't reach Stoath to deliver the attack! The long-bodied Pokemon jumped out of the ground and struck Burndillo with the claw-like structures on the end of its tails. There were chunks of rock and ground still in its weapon-like tail's 'palm,' and they too hurt Burndillo.
"Fire type may be strong against Grass type," Nalia said, clearing her voice, "but it's also weak against Ground type!"
Burndillo fainted from the super-effective attack, so Riley sent out Pupsky, who had been weakened by its fight with Lilly's Hermiflage!
"Stoath, use Dig again!"
Stoath dug into the office's rocky ground again. But this time, when it popped up, Pupsky dodged it, and lunged at it, its jaws open wide to strike with Bite! It landed its attack, thrashing the Pokemon in its jaws around aggressively. It landed a critical hit, and Stoath fainted!
"Riley, I knew you were a strong Pokemon Trainer. Here, this is the Beginner's Badge, the Gym Badge that proves you beat my Normal-type Pokemon team. Best of luck on your Pokemon journey, young Riley." She sighed and pinned a badge, which was made of a white square and a black square blending together in the middle of the badge to make grey over a golden backing, onto the strap of Riley's messenger-style bag. "The Beginner's Badge is now yours!" Nalia held up Riley's hand and cheered for him.
He walked out, proudly, of the university campus, and encountered none other than Professor Maple. "Hey, Riley. Hey, that's the Beginner's Badge, isn't it? Great job, Riley! I was actually waiting until you got that badge to give you this, so it looks like I came at the right time." She placed a diamond-shaped machine into Riley's hand. "This is your Pokemon Caller. It will let you call a Pokemon to ride on the back of. I already registered the frequency that Lapras comes swiming when it hears, so you can now use Lapras' Waves to get to Route 4, the water-based road that leads to Suncoast City, where you'll challenge your next gym!"
Riley took the device and looked it over, turning it in his hands. It had a couple different colours on a wheel in the center that was surrounding what looked to be an exclusive PokeBall.