DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN POKÉMON


|VIRIDIAN FOREST PT.1

As Cross walked through Viridian City, the morning sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky.

Despite the early hour, Viridian City was already bustling with activity. People hurried about on their morning commute, while shops and restaurants opened up for business. In the distance, Cross could make out the tall silhouette of the Pokémon Gym, still closed.

Leaving the city behind him, he walked down the well-worn rural path that was Route 2 as he made his way toward the looming Viridian Forest standing between him and Pewter City. The weight of his overstuffed backpack made his pace slower than usual, but he was grateful for all the supplies Nurse Joy let him have.

It's always better to be overprepared than underprepared, Cross thought as he walked. He occasionally glanced down at the pokéballs attached to his belt. He now had three Pokémon companions—his starter Pokémon Charmander, a fiercely proud Pidgey, and the kind-hearted Chansey that he'd helped protect back in Viridian City. It was a solid start, but Cross knew he would need to catch and train more Pokémon to have a chance at competing in the Indigo League.

Charmander, Pidgey, and Chansey. It was an eclectic mix right now, but each one brought something important to the team. Which was important because he only had a few slots left.

At least until he found somewhere he could send the pokémon he caught once he had reached his carry limit of 6 pokémon. There was even an "in-universe" reason for only allowing trainers to carry 6 pokémon at a time.

It was something Cross had never even thought about when playing the games or watching the anime.

Apparently, decades ago there wasn't a carry limit at all and pokémon trainers could carry all the pokémon they caught with them. Which sounded amazing, but with every trainer traveling with so many pokémon, the natural habitats of native pokémon had been ruined.

So much so that the Pokémon League had to create the 6-limit carry law to preserve natural habitats.

He was about halfway to the forest, but he still had quite a ways to go. Maybe another hour of walking.

Deciding this was the perfect time to prepare, Cross stopped right outside the city gates and released his Pokémon—Charmander, Pidgey, and Chansey materialized in flashes of red light.

"Listen up guys, the Pokémon Gym in Pewter City is our next stop," Cross explained. "It'll be our first Gym Battle and it'll be against Brock for the Boulder Badge. Brock uses Rock types, mostly Onix and Geodude so we need to focus on learning Metal Claw and Steel Wing to counter him or we're not gonna stand a chance."

Turning to Chansey, he continued "I want you to use Gravity on all of us. That way we can train while we walk."

Chansey smiled and waved her arms, her pink, egg-shaped body glowing as she used her psychic powers. In an instant, the air grew dense, as if gravity itself had wrapped its arms around them.

Suddenly, Cross felt an immense pressure slam down on him, nearly driving him to his knees. Nearby trees creaked and groaned under the intensified gravity. "Okay, let's start walking," he said, sweat already beading on his forehead.

As they walked, each step was enormously difficult. The immense pressure pushed down on them, making even the most basic movement a challenge. It felt like he was moving through wet cement with lead weights strapped to his body.

Pidgey and Charmander struggled as well, their small bodies unaccustomed to the increased gravitational force.

As they continued on toward the entrance to Viridian Forest, Cross had Charmander slash at rocks and trees to strengthen his claws, which was one of the best ways to learn Metal Claw. And he had Pidgey practice Steel Wing by chopping her wings into the dirt like Ash had Staravia do in Sinnoh.

Ahead, he spotted a figure stepping out from behind a large tree. It was another trainer—a boy who looked to be around Cross's age, with a blue cap and a fierce glint in his eyes.

"You there! Trainer! Let's battle!" he declared. "My Rattata is in the top ten percentage of all Rattata!"

Cross couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. I doubt that's true, he thought. Nevertheless, he smiled at the chance to win some money. Nurse Joy had really helped him out, but his lack of funds was still a glaring problem.

"Alright, let's do it!"

The other trainer plucked a Pokeball from his belt. "Go, Rattata!"

In a flash of light, the purple rodent materialized, baring its fangs. Cross responded by looking down at his starter Pokémon.

"Think you can take him?" Cross asked. They had been training under double Gravity all day.

Charmander's eyes narrowed, the flame on his tail blazing higher.

"Rattata, use Bite!" the trainer yelled. Rattata scampered forward, leaping at Charmander with gnashing teeth.

"Dodge and counter with Ember!" Cross commanded.

With a nimble side-step, Charmander evaded the Bite. He then reared back and spewed a volley of small fireballs from his mouth. Rattata cried out as the Ember scored a direct hit, burning his fur and skin and leaving a burning smell in the air.

"Finish it with Scratch!"

Charmander rushed forward, claws glowing white. He raked down Rattata's side fiercely with his sharp claws, sending the rat pokémon skidding backward, burnt and bleeding.

"Grr, return!" The trainer recalled his injured Rattata. "You may have beat Rattata, but let's see you handle Caterpie!"

As the bug Pokémon emerged, Cross recalled Charmander. "Nice work buddy. Take a rest," he said, then grabbed Pidgey's Pokéball. A Flying-type would have the advantage here.

"Pidgey, you're up!"

The bird Pokémon appeared in a flash of white light, ruffling her feathers eagerly.

"Gust attack, let's go!" Cross ordered.

Pidgey whipped up a strong wind with her wings. Caterpie tried to brace itself, but the super-effective Gust sent it tumbling end over end.

"Now finish up with Quick Attack!"

In a blur of motion, Pidgey slammed into the vulnerable Caterpie at full speed. The bug pokémon collapsed, defeated.

|POKÉMON|

"It's getting dark, we should find a place to stay for the night," Cross said, breaking the comfortable silence he and his pokémon had been traveling in.

Charmander and Pidgey quickly agreed, both clearly extremely tired. They had been traveling through the forest for nearly six hours, although there had been constant breaks for Chansey to recover and to battle the "bug catchers"—new trainers who caught the easily available bug types and tried to train them into fighters.

They weren't doing a very good job, which was proven when Charmander singlehandedly wiped out a full team of three Beedril, a Caterpie, and a Metapod. Pidgey had defeated the others just as easily and she had seemed to take joy in beating the appalling weak trainers and their pokémon.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows through the dense trees of Viridian Forest, Cross looked around for a suitable campsite as the sun began to dip below the treetops.

Up ahead, he spotted a small clearing surrounded by tall oak trees that would provide shelter. "This looks like a good spot," he said, leading his Pokemon into the clearing. He slid his heavy backpack off with a grateful sigh, his shoulders aching after a long day's walk.

Cross quickly set to work, gathering dry leaves and twigs for a campfire which he had Charmander start with Ember. With the fire crackling Cross set up his tent. It was inflatable and all he had to do was press a button and step back. So much simpler than the pole tents he was used to struggling with.

Dinner was another simple matter. A can of stew he found in the lost and found for him and Chansey to share while Charmander and Pidgey ate the eggs Chansey had laid throughout the day.

While eggs cooked on the fire, he patted Chansey on the head. He was really lucky she had decided to travel with him because he had still been broke before leaving Viridian City and couldn't afford food for his Pokémon. Thankfully, the eggs Chansey provided were highly nutritious and delicious tasting so none of his pokémon would starve before they reached Pewter City.

Cross reached into his backpack and pulled out his pokédex to check his trainer's page. After all the battles he'd won a few hundred poké dollars, more than enough to buy real pokémon food in Pewter City.

Cross reached into his backpack and pulled out a worn notebook he found in the Pokémon Centers. He had been filling the journal all day, writing everything important that came to mind just so he didn't forget. Now the notebook contained sketches of the different Pokémon species he wanted to catch, training strategies he remembered from the anime, and personal notes about the places where he needed to visit on his journey.

As he wrote, he glanced up at his Pokémon. Charmander was lying on his belly, eyes drooping as he enjoyed the warmth of the fire. Pidgey was perched on a low branch, preening her feathers while occasionally casting a curious glance at the pokédex. Chansey was gently swaying back and forth, bumping into his side every now and then.


Cross's Pokemon Team!

Charmander: Scratch, Bite, Ember

Pidgey: Tackle, Gust, Quick Attack

Chansey: Gravity, Heal Pulse, Protect