The trainers battle on the side of the route.

"Go Teddiursa!" Shouted the dark brown hair girl and tossed out a Great Pokeball.

"Teddiiiursaa~" said the small teddy bear Pokemon.

Serena took her Pokedex and pointed at Teddiursa.

"If it finds honey, its crescent mark glows. It always licks its paws because they're soaked with honey." (Pokedex entry X)

"Pancham, go!" Serena shouted

"Pppanncham~," said Pancham with a red sunglass on its forehead.

"How cute~," Said Molly admiring. She took out her Pokedex and scanned Pancham.

"Entry unknown,"

"Thank you," said Serena

"Unknown?" said the frustrated girl

"Are you ready?" asked Serena

Who cares. The girl nodded and answered, "I'm ready. Teddiursa uses leer,"

"Pancham use stone Edge,"

~Pancham attack was lowered~

Pancham maintained eye contact with Teddiursa, ran towards it, and jumped into the air. When Pancham landed, the ground shook, and sharp-edge rocks formed out from the ground toward Teddiursa.

~Landed a hit~

"Teeeddddiurrssaa,"

The girl bit her lower lip from the inside and said, "Fury swipe!"

Teddiursa dashes to Pancham, and claws three times at Pancham but barely leaves a dent in the body.

"Pancham use arm thrust,"

Pancham raises the two arms, strikes with a palm hand, and thrusts forward at Teddiursa's belly.

"Teddiursa use Feint,"

"Teddiursa~" the small teddy bear strikes Pancham in the chest. The small bears stare each other down.

"Ppppaaancham,"

"It didn't work?" said the dark brown hair girl

"Pancham is a dark-type Pokemon," said Serena, "Pokemon of the same type of elemental damage is ineffective,"

The dark brown hair girl's face showed concern.

"Finish using arm thrust," Serena commanded

The black and white Panda Pancham force palm on Teddiursa's spine and chest.

"T-t-teddiursa," she said and fell to the ground.

"Return Teddiursa," said the girl and faced the Pokeball at the fallen Pokemon. When Teddiursa came back inside the ball. The girl briefly looks down, "you did great,"

"Pancham, return," said Serena, "Do you want to forfeit the match?"

"No way," said the girl, "I have one more Pokemon. Go, Clefairy!"

A small pink Pokemon with black tip pointy ears.

"Clefaairy,"

"Go, Sylevon!" A slender fox in a tri-color of pink, blue, and white jumps out of the Pokeball. She had a makeshift fur bowtie on the left ear.

The dark brown hair girl uses the Pokedex to identify the opponent's Pokemon.

"Entry Unknown,"

The girl smiles at the welcoming mystery of the opponent's Pokemon. "I see, you're not from here nor your Pokemon,"

"I'm from Kalos," Serena said

"Where is that?" asked the dark brown hair girl

"Beyond the ocean and across many continents," answered Serena

The girl's jaw opens wide with her head tilted in awe. In a split second regain her posture.

"I want to travel across the world too," said the girl pumping the fist close to her chest with sparkling eyes.

"You can as long as you're prepared for the journey ahead,"

"Alright, Clefairy, use double slap,"

Clefairy charges Sylveon with a raised tri-sharp fingernail hand.

"Double team, Sylveon,"

"ssssyyyllvveeon,"

The fox Pokemon quickly circles Clefairy creating several duplicates of itself. Clefairy looks side to side in a state of confusion and attacks one of the illusions.

"Quick Attack,"

"Pound!"

Both Pokemon exchange blows but, Clefairy lands a distance from Sylveon.

"Fairy wind, Sylveon,"

"Clefairy use sing,"

A gust of pink wind surrounds Sylveon, elevates above her head motions the head slightly backward, and thrusts forward to Clefairy. The pink Pokemon didn't have a chance to dodge since it stood in place to clear its throat and began to sing a melody.

"Cccccleefairy,"

struck by fairy wind Clefairy knocks backward in a tumble motion. Next, the pink Pokemon lay still on the grass.

"Clefairy!" shouted the dark brown hair girl and aid Clefairy, "Are you okay?"

"Cl-clefairy,"

The girl was relieved when Clefairy spoke and replied, "Let's go heal you at the Pokemon Center," the Pokemon returned to the Pokeball.

Serena and Sylveon rush to the girl, pat her on the shoulder, and show two small crystal rocks, Revive.

"Take these to restore health to your Pokemon," said Serena

"Thank you very much,"

"It's my pleasure to help,"

The girl grabs Serena's hand firmly and instinct Serena supports her off the ground.

"My name is Molly Hale,"

"Serena, nice to meet you,"

The girls shakes hands firmly with determined eyes and smiles.

"Are you from here?" asked Serena

"I am," answered Molly, "My family lives close to Pallet Town,"

"I'm heading to Pallet Town,"

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to visit a childhood town and go see Professor Oak,"

"I know where it is,"

Serena reaches into her purse to pull out a Kanto guide. She flips open to the map.

"I need to go north to Cerulean City," Serena glides her finger on the map, "After I arrive there. I travel west to Pewter City. After that go south to Pallet Town,"

Molly looked at Serena and said, "Do you like shortcuts?"

"I do when it can help us,"

"Great! I know a shortcut to Pallet Town,"

"Ah, would we be able to get there tonight?"

"No," said Molly, "would take a few days but it's an underground passage,"

"So a cave?"

"Yup!" said Molly holding up one finger with a closed fist, "In fact, this passage is called the Diglett's Cave on the east side of Vermilion City,"

"I didn't know that"

"Mhm- but," said Molly, "It's a very long passage and filled with Digletts and Dugtrios,"

"So, we should be extra careful and pack a lot of supplies to last us through," said Serena beginning to count her fingers to recall her items.

"Yeah,"

"I don't want to be a burden or intervene in whatever activities you have going on,"

"Since you mentioned Professor Oak I want to go too,"

"What for?"

"To ask him for a Pokemon,"

"I'm sure he has plenty to give away,"

"Mhm-hm, let's go!" shouted Molly cheerfully

"First to the Pokemon Center to heal,"

"Then to the PokeMart to stock up on supplies,"

"Next to the Diglett's Cave," said the girls in unison.

Sylveon circled between the girls' legs and made adorable noises.

"Sorry, girl, we forgot about you," said Molly

Serena pets Sylveon.

"What kind of Pokemon is it?" asked Molly

"This is an evolved form of Eevee," answered Serena

"Woooww~ An eeveelutions!" Molly said adoring the beautiful creature

"Uh-huh,"

"How did you capture it? Where do you find it?"

Serena waves her hands and says, "I captured an Eevee during my adventure. Then it evolves into a Sylveon... I'm not sure how it's triggered but she was so happy,"

"Happiness trigger an Eevee evolution?" Molly places a hand under the chin, "That's the first time I heard of it. I know some Pokemon evolve during weather and the time hour,"

"I'm not the best person to explain it," said Serena, "Sorry for the lack of information,"

"No need to apologize," said Molly cheerily, "I learn something new about Pokemon every time,"

They walk to the Pokemon Center with Sylveon dashing around them. Once in a while, Sylveon runs into the grassfield and returns to Serena's side. When they arrive at the Pokemon Center, each girl heals their Pokemons and checks their bags.

"I have three max revives, ten mega potions, and three each status healing sprayers," said Serena

"The only thing I forgot to buy are reviving stones," said Molly, "other than that I have plenty of healing items and berries,"

"What about sleeping bags, an extra pair of clothes and pillows?"

"Ooohh, I don't sleep outside," said Molly, "I sleep indoors at hotels and occasionally at the Pokemon Center,"

"We should hurry to the PokeMart to find survival products,"

"No, no, we should be fine,"

"But, then, what about you?"

"I-I will make a few purchases of all that,"

The two girls went to the PokeMart.

"Welcome!" said the male cashier, "How can I help you lovely girls,"

"Would you have any traveler sleeping bags and pillows?" asked Serena

"I do,"

"Great," said Serena edging Molly to make the purchase, "Go on,"

"Um, okay, how much is it?"

"$2,000,"

Molly opens her wallet and hands over the cash. The cashier brought out the sealed sleeping bag and pillow.

"Thank you," said Molly

He smiled and replied, "Come again, and thank you," The girls exited PokeMart.

"We can roll up the sleeping bag and place it on top of your bag," said Serena circling Molly, "I have extra ropes to secure it too,"

"Okay," said Molly

Serena assisted Molly in securing her sleeping bag and pillow onto her bag. The two girls were ready to take on the big journey.

"Come this way," said Molly guiding Serena to the cave entrance. A small stake sign, "Diglett's Cave. Caution: Diglett and Dugtrio can cause rock falls," The girls look at each other.

"It's not that bad,"

"In case of rock falls Pancham can rock smash,"

"That's great,"

Next Serena took a cellphone from her bag and twirled her hand on the device, "Would you want to take a picture of me?"

"A picture, where?"

"In front of the Diglett's Cave,"

"Oh! Sure, I can help," said Molly extending her hand to Serena. She adjusted the cellphone to camera mode and gave it to Molly. Serena stood in front of Diglett's Cave while Molly took several steps back to get an amazing photo of Serena.

~Snap, snap, snap~

Molly took three pictures and showed them to Serena. She chose the best one and deleted the other two.

"The best one is going to be sent to mom," said Serena

Molly cast her eyes to the ground and asked, "Would you take a picture of me too?"

"Sure,"

Next Serena steps in close to Molly and says, "Ready to pose?"

"Yeah,"

Molly and Serena look at the camera and smile. Serena snaps a selfie of them in front of the Diglett's Cave. Serena taps on the picture and shows it to Molly.

"We look amazing," said Serena

"We sure do,"

"What's your cellphone number so I can send the picture to you?"

"I-I don't,"

"Hmm, do you know where we can print out photos?"

"No, I don't,"

"In that case, I will hold onto the pictures,"

"Th-thank you, Serena,"

"No problem,"

When the girls walk into Diglett's Cave they reach a spacious rock chamber. In the middle is a man-hole with a sturdy ladder drilled into walls.

"I will go first," said Molly positioning herself on the ladder then one foot at a time going downward, "see you at the bottom," When Molly is out of sight Serena follows down. The girls reunited at the bottom of the ladder.

"The path is straightforward," said Molly

"You have been here before?" asked Serena

"I did a bit of cave exploration and this one here is one of the safest caves. Many trainers have set up portable lights and even left behind old camping equipment for others to use,"

The cave has a long stretch of wires running on both sides of the cave walls. The portable lanterns hung at a distance every five feet. The cold air sets on their skin, and they shiver. They hug their arms and rub with their hands to stay warm.

"Go, Delphox," said Serena. The tall fox Pokémon appears and holds a stick with a continuous flame.

"Come closer to Delphox to warm up, Molly,"

"Mhm,"

The girls huddle close to Delphox's stick of fire.

"Deellphox,"

"Thank you, for warming us up," said Serena

"Thank you," said Molly

The fire further illuminated the cave. The soft gravel ground had many shoe prints from previous people and holes in the wide passage. The walls are sturdy rock formations.

"Come this way," said Molly leading in the front.