The evening shore of Pallet Town felt quite romantic. A gentle breeze toyed with Lindsay’s hair while she smiled contentedly into the void. The usual small talk was behind us, leaving us to simply enjoy each other’s presence in the silence. We both avoided the heavier topics—my departure and her feelings. There was still time for that.

  After a while, we settled onto the last bench overlooking the sea, right at the edge of town. Finally, we had some privacy. Lindsay looked truly beautiful. Honestly, as a young guy full of testosterone, I wouldn’t have needed much convincing. The only thing holding me back was our long-standing friendship and the fact that I didn't want to hurt her. Tomorrow, I was setting out on a journey where anything could happen. I definitely didn't want a serious long-distance relationship and, to be honest, I planned on enjoying a carefree life.

  Eventually, she decided to break the silence. "When are you leaving, Patrik?" she asked in a quiet voice, her gaze fixed on the calm water.

  "I plan to head out tomorrow morning, as soon as I wake up."

  "Do you have everything? Poké Balls, Antidotes, Potions? A tent? Sleeping bag?"

  I nodded dutifully at every item, but she couldn't help herself and meticulously continued the list.

  "Cooking set? Flashlight? Rope? Food?"

  "Got it, got it, and got it. I plan to hunt something in the forest. Caterpie is fairly easy prey," I replied matter-of-factly.

  She frowned at me and commanded in a serious tone, "You should take some non-perishable food too, just in case. If you don't have time to hunt or if something goes wrong."

  I raised my hands in surrender. "Yes, General!"

  She nodded with satisfaction and continued: "Bandages? Toiletries?"

  Shit... I forgot the toiletries. It hadn't really crossed my mind that I should bring shampoo, deodorant, or a toothbrush. She must have seen the expression on my face because she chuckled softly.

  "What did you forget?" she asked, amused.

  "Toiletries," I admitted with a smirk. "I'll have to go buy them quickly tomorrow."

  "Well, well... what do we have here? A pair of lovebirds?" a mocking voice rang out.

  I had been so preoccupied with Lindsay and our conversation that I had completely missed the approaching couple. Of course, it was Lily with her latest catch. Lindsay stiffened instantly. Whenever Lily appeared, I used to lose my confidence and fall silent. She likely expected the same, but those days were long gone.

  "Don't bother us, you slut," I replied coldly. From the corner of my eye, I saw Lindsay’s jaw drop in surprise.

  "Excuse me? What did you just say?" Lily shrieked like a fury.

  "Are you deaf? Go screw him in the bushes somewhere and stop bothering decent people."

  "How dare you?!" She immediately turned to her suitor. "Are you just going to let him talk to me like that?!"

  The idiot cracked his knuckles threateningly and slowly stepped toward me. He seemed confident, though I had no idea why. He was about the same height as me; perhaps I just looked smaller while sitting down.

  I stood up, and in that same second, Haunter slid fluidly out of my shadow. The guy stopped dead in his tracks, taking a step back with a terrified expression.

  "Easy, Haunter. Leave him to me," I commanded. The Pokémon watched me for a moment but obeyed. He trusted me.

  The guy stood there uncertainly, looking as if he couldn't decide what to do first. He didn't want to lose face in front of the girl, but he clearly had the fear of death in his eyes because of Haunter.

  "Jared! Don't be a coward! You see that Haunter isn't going to interfere. Defend my honor!" Lily exploded again.

  Honestly, I didn't understand these morons who acted so irrationally on a first date, especially over someone like her. There were millions of men and women out there. I would understand if he were fighting for a woman of quality—then it’s expected—but for a hussy like this? I had no doubt Jared knew her reputation. Was he just hoping for easy sex?

  He resolutely thrust his hands toward me. I stepped forward to meet him, ensuring Lindsay wouldn't get caught up in the scuffle.

  As soon as I got close, he tried to swing at me. It was one of those strange "hockey" swings—slow, predictable, and technically so poorly executed that he’d likely break his wrist upon impact. I dipped my head slightly, slipped under his arm, and with a lightning-fast pivot on my toes, I put my entire body weight into the counterattack.

  A left liver hook landed with a muffled, hollow thud.

  Jared collapsed to the ground instantly like a house of cards. He writhed in the dust, emitting only intermittent, high-pitched sounds. I could have hit him on the chin or the temple, which would have "turned him off" just as reliably. But if he fell uncontrollably, he could hit his head on the concrete, and who knows if he’d survive that. I had no intention of risking prison for one horny idiot.

  Now it was Lily's turn for her jaw to drop. With absolute indifference, I turned my back on her and looked at my companion.

  "Let's go, Lindsay. This company has stopped being pleasant."

  She obeyed immediately. She followed me with unconcealed surprise in her eyes, and I could feel her intense, searching gaze on my back. After a while, she caught up, and side by side we headed back home. Behind us, the whimpering of that poor wretch slowly faded into the silence of the night. But he brought it on himself. As they say—play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

  She couldn't stand the silence for long. "What happened to you, Patrik?" she asked curiously. "It's still you, but at the same time, you're completely different."

  I knew what she was talking about, but I gave her a questioning look to buy time and think of an answer.

  "You're confident, more ambitious... my mom said she saw you running. Since when do you run, for heaven's sake? You always avoided gym class!" She paused for a moment, then blurted out: "And since when can you fight?!"

  "It's a secret, so you'll have to keep it to yourself," I began cautiously.

  She nodded immediately. If I couldn't trust her in this world, then I couldn't trust anyone. I decided to tell her at least a basic version of the truth.

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  "Professor Oak revealed to me that I come from a powerful bloodline. That's actually where I got my starter from. I'm one of the last living members, and for safety, they hid me here in Pallet Town as an orphan," I explained. I hesitated for a second before adding: "And the change in behavior? A family gift manifested in me."

  She stared at me in wonder, finally asking with a smirk, "So you're basically a lost prince?" But she immediately continued: "I told myself Gastly was a strange starter. They're way more dangerous than average Pokémon for a beginner." Then she leaned in curiously. "And what kind of gift is it?"

  "Yes, a prince. Bow to me," I replied with an amused grin, my nose tilted up arrogantly. "I can't tell you that. Family secret."

  She punched me lightly in the shoulder. "The only one bowing here is going to be you!"

  Eventually, we stopped in front of her house. We stood there in silence for a while, gazing at each other until Lindsay took the first step and hugged me tightly.

  "What time are you planning to leave in the morning?" she asked into my shoulder.

  "Well, since I still have to buy those toiletries and some food, probably around ten."

  "Then I'll expect you here at ten. Exactly! We're going to say goodbye properly," she commanded strictly, though I could hear a tremor in her voice.

  "You got it, Lindsay. I'll definitely stop by before I leave," I promised with a smile.

  She reluctantly released me from the hug. She looked into my eyes, nervously biting her lower lip. After a moment, she plucked up the courage—she gave me a quick kiss on the cheek while I watched her with amusement. Immediately after, her face flushed red, she vanished into the house. I noticed a curtain twitch in the window. Her mother had clearly been watching us the whole time.

  I didn't wait around and headed toward home. I needed a good night's sleep for my big journey.

  I got up as early as six in the morning. Dawn was just breaking, which suited me because I had a lot to get done. I got ready quickly, splashed my face with cold water, brushed my teeth, and headed into town.

  "Haunter, do you want to come shopping with me, or will you go train?" I asked. I felt safe in Pallet Town even on my own.

  He immediately floated out of my shadow and looked at me questioningly. "Haunter?"

  "Nothing's going to happen to me in this town, so you can go train while I shop. I'll come get you afterward."

  "Haunter!" he nodded in agreement and immediately headed toward our usual spot by the shore.

  I headed for the center. On the way, I went over my shopping list in my head: food for myself, toiletries, and a travel cloak. I needed something that would at least partially cover the scabbard of the sword on my back.

  I went into the supermarket with a clear plan. Since I didn't have money to spare, I had to pass on the Miltank steak. Instead, I threw Magikarp fillets, rice, and Oddish leaves into the basket. I also added a pack of Bulba-stems, even though they were a bit more expensive. I rounded off the purchase with some pre-made food—a meat mix with rice balls. I could easily prepare all of it in the woods on a pan over a fire.

  Along with the food, I grabbed coffee and basic toiletries: toothpaste, shampoo (in the Poké-world, basically only bio versions exist), and deodorant. My memories told me that deodorants in my original world weren't worth much, but here they were top-notch. Manufacturers had invested a fortune in their development—one spray and you were free from the smell of sweat for the whole day. I briefly considered a disposable razor but eventually decided to let my beard grow. The three-millimeter stubble my older self used to wear worked great with women, according to my memories.

  I had seven hundred dollars left in reserve. Fortunately, food was cheap, so if I could get a cloak for under a hundred, I'd be in good shape. I headed back to the familiar Victory Apparel. They only had "cookie-cutter" cloaks, but that didn't bother me at all right now.

  I ended up buying a simple cotton cloak with a very thin layer of genuine leather. It was such a thin layer that it only cost me ninety-nine dollars on sale. The color was an obvious choice—black. I simply buckled it on and stopped by to pick up Haunter, who was finishing his training, before finally heading back home. I still had to fill out the departure papers and say goodbye to the headmistress.

  It didn't take long at all. So many children cycled through the home that I had absolutely no relationship with the headmistress. What did surprise me, however, was the five hundred dollars I received as a contribution for the future. It turned out that every orphan receives such a starting fund for life. I hadn't counted on it at all, so it genuinely pleased me.

  I was apparently the only one from our home heading out today. Several peers had already left during the week, as was custom. The only trainer still remaining at the home was Lily. I hoped she had trained her Pidgey at least a little and hadn't just been chasing other "birds." Even though I despised her, I didn't actually wish her any ill will.

  With a sense of a new beginning, I went to find Lindsay. Since she lived only a few meters from the home, I was ringing their doorbell almost instantly. I arrived a bit early, but I knew I wouldn't be bothering anyone. As soon as I rang, her mother opened the door. She was beaming with satisfaction.

  "Welcome, Patrik, come on in."

  "Good morning," I greeted with a curious smile. The intoxicating scent of fresh food wafted through the whole house. My mouth started watering, even though I wasn't hungry at all.

  Is she happy that I’m finally leaving? Or is there something else behind it?

  She noticed the unspoken question in my eyes and replied with an amused smile: "Lindsay has been busy in the kitchen since morning preparing treats for your journey. I'm so proud of her."

  Lindsay genuinely hated cooking and baking. She often had conflicts with her mother over it, who tried to teach her. Even in this world, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

  "Uh... is it going to poison me?"

  She laughed heartily, and it took her a moment to reply. "Don't worry, I was giving instructions."

  "Then I have no doubt it will taste perfect," I conceded. Her mother was a truly great cook, and I had been a frequent guest at their place in the past.

  As soon as we entered the kitchen, I saw a disheveled and tired Lindsay by the oven. We watched her in silence for a moment until she noticed us. She shrieked in horror and covered her face with her hands.

  "You were supposed to come at ten!" she blurted out and immediately snapped at her mother: "Why did you bring him in here?! Look at me!"

  "You look great, Lindsay. And the food will surely taste just as good," I reacted quickly and reassuringly. Her mother just gave me a satisfied wink and discreetly left the kitchen.

  Lindsay frowned for a moment longer but immediately started smoothing out at least the messiest strands of her hair with her hands.

  "Sit down, I'm still finishing the steak!" she commanded and promptly turned back to the oven.

  I sat down contentedly and watched her with a smile. Women like her were rare in life. My older self would likely have pulled out a ring at this very moment. It wasn't long before I had stacks of prepared meals, fruit cake, and gingerbread snacks in front of me. Good thing I paid extra for a decent backpack, otherwise I have no idea how I would have stuffed it all in there.

  Only one last thing remained—saying goodbye. We had privacy in the kitchen.

  With sadness in her eyes, she hugged me tightly. She still smelled great—fruity and fresh, despite having been in the kitchen all morning. After a moment, she pulled back slightly so she could look me directly in the eyes.

  "Promise me you'll stay safe and that we'll see each other again," she whispered.

  "I promise!" I agreed immediately.

  "Promise me you'll get in touch at least every week!"

  "I promise," I repeated firmly.

  In that moment, she was incredibly sweet and attractive, even with her messy hair and the fatigue in her eyes. I gave in. I slowly moved my lips closer, giving her the chance to pull away, but she met me halfway. I began to kiss her gently, and after a while, I tasted her more deeply. It was a long, romantic kiss. Her lips were soft and warm. I held her by the hips and for a moment felt a wild desire to lift her right onto the kitchen counter... but I resisted. It was hard to pull away from her. She was breathing raggedly and looking at me with a glassy gaze.

  I hugged her one last time and headed for the exit. I could still feel her longing gaze on my back.

  A few minutes later, I was standing at the far north of town by a large steel-and-wood gate. Police officers with their Growlithes kept watch in the observation tower; they provided security in case wild Pokémon decided to attack the town. After a brief check-in and an ID scan, I found myself outside. With one last look at the houses of Pallet Town, Haunter and I set out on the journey of our lives.

  TRIVIA

  From the age of seven, every child had a mandatory subject in school focused on the world of Pokémon. A few hours a month were dedicated to covering the absolute basics: from identifying danger and methods of catching or feeding to determining threat levels. The state ensured that every citizen had basic knowledge of survival in the wilderness. It was a strategic insurance policy—in case the cities fell and humanity found itself under threat, individuals had to be able to survive and rebuild functioning communities.

  At the age of twelve, it was time to choose a specialization. The options were wide—from various crafts and manual labor to medicine, law, or professional training. Every city placed a high emphasis on constantly raising the level of education. High school studies ended at age fifteen, and for those who wanted to reach the top of their field, highly specialized university followed.

  Author’s note:

  I’ve never understood desperate guys who’d do just about anything for some pussy. Women can be good or bad, high-quality or total trash. The most important thing in life is having a woman who’s actually worth it, and to me, Lindsay seems like exactly that. What do you guys think of her? It’s honestly a bit sad how he left her behind. We’re finally heading into the woods, though, and the real Pokémon journey begins! :D

  The shadows are shifting...

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  Upcoming Chapters – Already written:

  6. Lessons of the Wild

  7. Steelix Finish and Dirty Dealers

  8. Steel and Stingers

  9. A War of Wings and Blades

  10. Red "R" and Crimson Steel