James POV

  The first rays of sunlight filtered through the tent’s thin fabric, nudging me awake. I blinked, squinting against the morning light, and stretched, feeling Dune’s warm presence curled up next to me. He seemed so peaceful and content, even letting out a little snore. I couldn’t help but smile as I gently patted his back, not wanting to disturb him too much. Outside, I could hear faint rustling; Alex was probably up already.

  “Hey, Dune,” I whispered, giving him a gentle nudge. “Ready for another big day?”

  Dune stirred, blinking his eyes open and giving a wide, sleepy yawn before nudging me back. I could tell he was already eager to get moving, just like me. After all, today was going to be another step closer to my goal.

  I carefully got out of the sleeping bag, letting Dune stretch his legs as we got our things together. By the time we stepped out of the tent, Alex was sitting by the remnants of last night’s campfire, already tending to breakfast. He flashed me a grin as I walked over, Dune right by my side.

  “Morning, James,” Alex greeted, pushing a strand of his messy blonde hair out of his face. “Figured you could use some food to get going. Route 102 waits for no one, right?”

  I chuckled, taking a seat next to him as I pulled out Scorch’s Poké Ball. “Yeah, you’re not wrong. Thanks for handling breakfast.” I released Scorch, who burst out of his Poké Ball with a chipper chirp, bouncing around with his usual fiery energy. He immediately sniffed the air, spotting the food Alex was preparing and giving an approving nod.

  “What’re we having?” I asked, trying to make out the mix he was cooking up.

  “Just some oatmeal for us and berries for the Pokémon,” Alex replied, stirring the pot. “Not exactly gourmet, but hey, it does the job.”

  As we dug in, our Pokémon settled around us. Dune and Scorch dove into their food, and Alex’s Lotad and Grovyle watched them curiously before joining in. It was funny how we all had our different ways of doing things, but somehow it worked. I looked over at Alex, and he met my gaze, smirking.

  “So, James, any ideas about what kind of Pokémon you’re aiming to catch next?” he asked, sounding genuinely curious.

  I thought about it for a moment, watching as Scorch enthusiastically pecked at his food. “I guess… I’d love a well-rounded team,” I said. “Someone to cover for Scorch and Dune’s weaknesses. Maybe a water-type, but I haven’t settled on anything specific yet.”

  Alex nodded. “Makes sense. I’m really aiming to put together a solid grass team, but I’m planning to be picky. That Shroomish we talked about, definitely on my list. And a Tropius, if I can ever find one.”

  “Good luck with that,” I laughed. “A Tropius won’t be easy to come by, but I guess it is possible here in Hoenn.”

  He shrugged, giving me that confident smile of his. “True, but you gotta aim high, right?”

  As we finished eating, Alex and I packed up camp, sharing light banter as we went. I watched as he handled his Pokémon with ease, joking with Grovyle and gently patting Lotad on the head. There was a strange, casual confidence to him, something I admired even if I’d never admit it outright.

  “Alright, let’s hit the road,” Alex said, finally hoisting his bag onto his shoulder. “I think we’re going to run into some cool trainers on this route. Maybe even some wild Pokémon to battle. Ready, rival?”

  I grinned, shouldering my own bag as I gave him a nod. “You know it. Let’s show Route 102 what we’ve got.”

  With our Pokémon by our side and the morning sun casting long shadows, Alex and I stepped forward, side by side, ready for whatever the day had in store.

  The air was crisp as we headed deeper into Route 102, sunlight filtering through the trees and casting dappled patterns on the path ahead. Birds chirped from the branches, and every so often, we’d catch a glimpse of a wild Pokémon darting off into the bushes. Scorch trotted beside me with a spring in his step, while Dune perched comfortably on my shoulder, his eyes scanning the surroundings with quiet curiosity. Alex walked nearby, his Grovyle striding confidently by his side, while Lotad wobbled along with its usual slow but determined pace.

  As we made our way down the trail, Alex nudged me with his elbow. “Think we’ll find any trainers up ahead? Wouldn’t mind a quick battle or two.”

  I shrugged, a grin tugging at my lips. “Maybe. There’s bound to be other people starting their journeys around here. We could give them a little surprise.”

  “Surprise, huh?” Alex smirked. “Pretty confident there, aren’t we, Mr. Second Place?”

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “Hey, second place isn’t too shabby. Besides, I learned a lot from that battle. You’d better watch out next time.”

  He laughed, a sound that echoed through the trees. “I’ll hold you to that. Just don’t be surprised if Grovyle and I come at you even stronger.”

  As we kept walking, I noticed Dune’s eyes narrow slightly, like he was honing in on something. I followed his gaze and spotted a small group of wild Zigzagoon rummaging through the undergrowth up ahead.

  “Hey, Alex,” I whispered, nodding towards them. “Looks like we’ve got some company.”

  Alex’s eyes lit up, and he turned to Grovyle. “What do you say, Grovyle? Up for a little warm-up?”

  Grovyle gave a confident smirk, crossing his arms as he watched the Zigzagoon with sharp, calculating eyes. Scorch, on the other hand, was bouncing on his toes, clearly itching to jump in.

  Before we could make a move, one of the Zigzagoon spotted us and froze. It sniffed the air cautiously, then barked out a warning to its friends. They scattered, darting off in different directions—except for one brave (or stubborn) Zigzagoon, who held its ground and narrowed its eyes at us, clearly not intimidated.

  “Alright, Scorch,” I said, feeling a surge of excitement. “Let’s see what you can do!”

  Scorch chirped with enthusiasm, launching himself forward with a burst of energy. The Zigzagoon let out a snarl and braced itself, clearly ready to defend its territory.

  “Quick Attack!” I called, and Scorch became a blur of orange, streaking towards his opponent. He struck the Zigzagoon, who staggered back but quickly shook itself off, clearly tougher than it looked.

  “Not bad,” Alex remarked, watching the battle unfold. “Let’s see how this plays out.”

  The Zigzagoon, undeterred, dashed forward and tackled Scorch with surprising speed. Scorch let out a surprised chirp but quickly regained his footing, a determined glint in his eye.

  “Alright, Scorch, time to show them what you’re made of! Ember!”

  Scorch opened his beak and released a flurry of tiny flames. The Zigzagoon yelped, dodging a few of them but getting singed by the rest. It shook itself off, looking a bit wary but still ready to keep going.

  Just then, Alex nudged me with his elbow. “Hey, wanna make this interesting? Grovyle wants in.”

  I smirked, nodding. “Let’s see if we can finish this quickly, then. Scorch, Quick Attack again!”

  Scorch bolted forward, striking the Zigzagoon and knocking it off balance. This time, it didn’t get back up, opting instead to turn tail and dash back into the bushes, disappearing into the undergrowth with a frantic yelp.

  Scorch puffed up his chest, letting out a triumphant chirp as he looked back at me, clearly pleased with himself. I grinned, kneeling down to give him a pat. “Nice work, buddy. That was awesome.”

  Alex clapped me on the back. “Not bad at all. I think we’re off to a pretty strong start, don’t you?”

  I laughed, glancing over at Dune, who looked equally pleased. “Definitely. At this rate, we’ll be ready for anything.”

  As we continued along the route, the excitement from the battle lingered, filling us with a renewed sense of energy and purpose. With every step we took, I could feel the thrill of the journey settling in. The path ahead was still long, but with my friends by my side, I was more ready than ever to see what awaited us.

  Dunes POV

  It had been a few hours since we’d woken up and started trekking through Route 102. The day had been mostly calm so far, with only a few encounters from low-level wild Pokémon and no sign of other trainers yet. I didn’t mind the slower pace, though; it gave me a chance to take in the surroundings, which were far more stunning than anything I’d ever imagined.

  The path was lined with lush, towering trees, their leaves casting a comforting shade over us in places. Bright wildflowers of purple, yellow, and blue dotted the grass, and sparkling lakes appeared every now and then, their surfaces glistening under the sun. It was easy to see how vibrant and alive this world was, and the route felt more like a hidden paradise than a simple trail.

  The only downside? The heat. The sun was blazing, and I could see that both James and Alex were feeling it. Alex would occasionally wipe his brow, and James had taken to fanning himself with his hand from time to time. They were both trying to act like it wasn’t bothering them much, though, and they seemed to handle it better than I would’ve expected. To be fair, I could handle the heat pretty well myself; it actually felt kind of nice. Trapinch live in deserts, where it’s not unusual for temperatures to soar over 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit).

  James let out a sigh, glancing over at Alex. “You know, Hoenn really lives up to its reputation,” he muttered, half to himself. “I mean, I remember reading and hearing about how warm it always is here, but now that we’re actually out in it…”

  Alex chuckled, nodding in agreement. “Yeah, Hoenn’s kind of known for it. It’s practically a tropical region – lots of beaches, rainforests, even a desert in the north. The climate here can be pretty intense.”

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  I could tell that they were used to it by now, though. Living in Petalburg, they’d grown up with this weather, and it was probably second nature to them to power through it. Plus, it didn’t hurt that they were both clearly determined not to let a little heat slow them down.

  After a bit more walking, we came to a lake with a quiet, shaded clearing nearby – a perfect spot to rest. James and Alex dropped their bags by the water’s edge and took off their shoes, dipping their feet into the cool lake with a sigh of relief.

  “This is more like it,” Alex said, grinning as he leaned back, enjoying the refreshing contrast. Scorch, looking thrilled by the water, flapped his wings and chirped, while I took a seat on a rock, basking in the warmth.

  As they relaxed, Alex turned to James, breaking the silence. “Hey, have you thought about what kind of team you want to build? You know I want to be a grass specialist. But I don't know what you want to be.”

  James smiled, gazing thoughtfully at the lake. “I think I want a balanced team, something versatile that can handle any type. I’ve been thinking a lot about it, but I guess I’m still figuring it out as we go.”

  “Yeah, I get that,” Alex replied, nodding. “For me, it’s all about grass types. They’re adaptable, tough, and they just have this calm strength I admire.” He gestured to Grovyle, who’d stretched out nearby, giving his usual cocky smirk. “And this guy here is proof of that.”

  James laughed, giving Scorch a little scratch under his beak. “I see the appeal. Grass types are tough, but fire types, like Scorch here, are passionate. Always ready for a challenge, and I kind of like that.”

  Alex chuckled in agreement, then asked, “By the way, I noticed you named both your Pokemon. Are you planning on naming all of your Pokémon?”

  “Yeah, if they’re up for it,” James replied. “I want it to feel right, though, like something they’d choose for themselves.”

  Alex thought about it, a small smile playing on his face. “I’m not sure about names for Grovyle or Lotad yet. I think if they want one, I’ll let them choose. Otherwise, I’ll just leave it as is.”

  The lake’s cool air was refreshing, but soon, they both stood up, stretching and packing up. As we continued on Route 102, the day felt lighter, and the excitement of our journey began to build. There was so much ahead, and I had a feeling this was just the start of something amazing.

  We walked for what felt like a few more hours, taking in the vibrant landscapes of Route 102. With every step, the path seemed to reveal new, hidden beauties: patches of wildflowers that bloomed along the trail, the occasional flutter of a Beautifly passing by, and the warm rays of the sun filtering through the thick trees. Finally, as the sun began to dip, James and Alex spotted a small lake tucked away in a quiet clearing. It looked like the perfect spot to set up camp for the night.

  Alex dropped his pack with a satisfied sigh. “This place has ‘camp’ written all over it. Let’s get everything set up before it gets dark.” He pulled out his tent and started setting it up beside James, who had already unpacked and was rummaging for the cooking supplies.

  Just as they were working, something caught my eye — a bunch of little blue figures skimming across the surface of the lake. With thin, long legs and bodies shaped almost like small, glossy teardrops, these Pokémon seemed to glide effortlessly over the water, their yellow eyes sparkling in the late afternoon light. It was a group of Surskit, probably around ten or so, darting playfully back and forth across the lake.

  James noticed them too and turned to Alex, a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Hey, I’ve got an idea. Let’s see if these Surskit can help us out with a bit of training.”

  Alex looked over, curious. “You think they’d be willing? Surskit aren’t exactly known for hanging around with trainers.”

  James shrugged, reaching into his bag and pulling out a few bright blue Oran Berries. “Worth a shot. I’ll try bribing them a bit.” He chuckled, tossing a wink in my direction. I tilted my head, curious to see where he was going with this.

  James carefully approached the edge of the lake, calling out to the Surskit in a friendly tone. “Hey there, little guys! You look like you’re having a good time. Think you’d want some berries?”

  At the sight of the Oran Berries, the Surskit stopped their darting movements and turned, their yellow eyes gleaming with interest. A few of them edged closer, their tiny legs creating ripples on the water’s surface. James held out a berry, which one of the bolder Surskit skated over to and sniffed, before taking a nibble.

  Once he had their attention, James explained his plan. “Alright, here’s the deal. My Pokémon and I are training, and I was hoping you could give us a hand. Nothing too intense, just some Water Guns aimed at us to help build up our resistance.”

  The Surskit chirped in their high-pitched voices, sounding almost like they were discussing it among themselves. After a moment, a few of them seemed to nod — or, at least, I thought they did. Pokémon like them were pretty expressive in their own subtle ways.

  With a grin, James pulled out his Pokédex to scan the Surskit, confirming his suspicions: they were low-level, so their Water Gun attacks wouldn’t be too overwhelming. I knew James had thought this through — he was skipping Alex’s Lotad because Lotad’s Water Gun was way stronger, and probably would have knocked Scorch and me out too fast to really be helpful. These Surskit, though, were just right for this kind of practice.

  As the Surskit gathered around, James knelt down beside me, giving me a quick scratch on my head. “Ready, Dune? This’ll help you handle water types a little better.”

  I gave a determined nod, though I couldn’t deny the thought of facing down Water Guns made me a bit nervous. Scorch, meanwhile, looked downright fired up. He was bouncing on his little talons, wings spread wide, practically daring the Surskit to bring it on.

  “Alright, Surskit,” James said, pointing at us. “Let’s start off easy — just a light Water Gun at Dune and Scorch here.”

  The first few streams of water hit me, and wow, it felt like ice. I clenched my jaw, trying to hold my ground and not flinch away. Scorch didn’t seem to fare much better at first; he yelped slightly as the water splashed over him but quickly shook it off, glaring at the Surskit with a defiant gleam in his eyes.

  Alex, who had been watching with interest, chuckled. “You two look like you’re ready for a full-on splash fight.”

  I shot him a look, trying to keep from looking too ruffled. After a few rounds, I started to get used to the Water Guns. Sort of. It was still uncomfortable, but at least I wasn’t jumping back as much. Scorch was holding his ground, too, his face scrunched up with focus as he braced himself against the steady streams.

  James gave us an encouraging smile. “That’s it! You’re both doing great.”

  After a little while, James tossed a few Oran Berries to the Surskit as thanks, and they happily skated away across the lake. Both Scorch and I were dripping wet, but we felt oddly triumphant. We’d managed to endure the water attacks longer than either of us had expected.

  With a satisfied smile, James looked between me and Scorch. “You two did awesome. Next time, water types won’t seem so bad, right?”

  I chittered proudly, while Scorch gave a happy squawk, puffing out his chest. As we settled down by the lake, I had to admit that James’s idea had worked pretty well. This journey was just beginning, but I already had a feeling we’d be learning a lot along the way.

  After those last splashes, though, I felt exhaustion creeping into my limbs. It was strange—after only a short round of Water Guns, I was wiped. Type resistance training, I’d heard, was one of the most famous kinds of special training out there. The goal is to get used to a weaker, controlled form of the type you’re weak against, building resistance little by little. With enough practice, you could even take hits from stronger opponents without fainting immediately.

  James seemed pretty pleased with our first attempt, though, despite the fact that we were drenched. He ruffled Scorch’s feathers, laughing as my feathered friend puffed up, shaking water everywhere. Scorch, for his part, was loving every second of it, hopping in place with a renewed fire in his eyes. I couldn’t help but chuckle at his enthusiasm, even as I felt myself slowly drying off under the warm Hoenn sun.

  “That was… interesting,” Alex remarked, brushing a stray piece of hair out of his face as he looked over at the lake where the Surskit were now peacefully gliding. “But I have to say, type resistance training is usually better in a controlled environment. If we keep pushing them too hard out here, they’re going to burn through their energy pretty fast.”

  James nodded thoughtfully, glancing over at me and Scorch. “Yeah, you’re probably right. But I figured we could start small. They did pretty well for their first try, don’t you think?”

  Alex laughed, crossing his arms with a grin. “Yeah, they did! But just imagine if we run into other trainers out here—don’t want to go in tired. Besides, once we hit Petalburg, there will be plenty of opportunities to get into some proper resistance training sessions at the gym.”

  He had a point, and I think James could see it too. Type resistance training usually builds up over time. High-level trainers—even gym leaders and Elite Four members—put their Pokémon through it until they can withstand their weaknesses from Pokémon of similar strength. But that kind of advanced training was far down the line for us, and right now, conserving energy on the route was just as important.

  “Alright, you’re right,” James conceded. “No more water training for now. I’ll wait until Petalburg to really work with these two on it.”

  Scorch and I exchanged a relieved look, both of us thankful that we’d been spared any more impromptu showers—for now, at least. Alex seemed pretty amused, especially since I knew he could have used his Lotad for our training. But he didn’t, and I figured it was because Lotad was around our level. Its Water Gun would probably have been a bit too much, considering how tired we already were from the Surskit.

  “Guess we’ll save Lotad for when we’re a bit tougher,” James said with a grin, looking down at us.

  The idea made me a little nervous, but there was also a twinge of excitement. Maybe in the future, I could become the kind of Pokémon that could withstand my own weaknesses. It was an amazing thought.

  As we continued to dry off, James took out some treats from his bag and tossed one to me and one to Scorch. I munched on it gratefully, feeling a little strength return. We’d still have to keep moving to reach Petalburg before sunset, but at least I felt a bit more prepared, knowing that we’d keep getting stronger, one step at a time.

  As the sun began to set, casting a warm, golden glow over Route 102, James and Alex decided it was time to set up camp for the night. They found a nice clearing by the lake, surrounded by tall trees and soft grass, where they began unpacking their gear. Alex unrolled their sleeping bags and set up the small tent he and James would share, while James got a little fire going to cook up a simple dinner.

  Scorch, in typical fashion, was bouncing around excitedly, even though he’d had quite a long day. I, on the other hand, stretched out on the grass, watching as the last light faded from the sky, feeling the weight of the day in my limbs.

  Dinner was a relaxed affair. Alex passed out some Pokémon food to me and Scorch, as well as Lotad and Grovyle, who he let out to enjoy the evening. They eagerly gathered around, happily munching away and occasionally chattering to one another.

  James leaned back, taking in the quiet scene around the campfire. “So, tomorrow we’ll make it to Petalburg,” he said, sounding both excited and a little nervous. “Feels like a milestone, doesn’t it?”

  Alex nodded, smiling in agreement. “Definitely. It’ll be our first big stop. We’ll get to rest up, maybe do some training, and check out the city gym. I wonder if Norman’s around; I’d love to see a battle there, even if we’re not ready to take him on just yet.”

  James chuckled, his gaze turning thoughtful as he looked up at the stars beginning to twinkle above. “Yeah, Norman’s a big deal. I still can’t believe he’s Petalburg’s gym leader. It’d be amazing just to see him in action, even if it’s from the sidelines.”

  Hearing them talk about it made my heart race a little. This whole journey felt like a dream come true, but now, with Petalburg in our sights, it was starting to feel real.

  After finishing up dinner, everyone began to settle in for the night. Alex and James retreated into their sleeping bags inside the tent, while Scorch and I nestled close outside. Scorch was already dozing off, his soft snores filling the quiet air. I curled up beside him, feeling the warmth of the campfire start to die down, and let my eyes close, letting exhaustion finally pull me under.

  The next morning, we were up early, eager to get moving. The dawn was cool, the sky streaked with shades of pink and orange, and everyone seemed to be in high spirits. We packed up camp quickly, and soon we were back on the trail, the path winding through lush trees and the morning mist adding a quiet beauty to the route.

  As we walked, Scorch and I occasionally darted ahead, sniffing at interesting scents or chasing after tiny bug Pokémon that skittered across the path. The conversations between James and Alex were light-hearted, full of plans and jokes, with the two of them clearly getting more excited the closer we got to Petalburg.

  After a few hours of walking, the trees began to thin out, and the road opened up. The city’s skyline came into view, faint but unmistakable, with Petalburg stretching out before us under the bright morning sun.

  “There it is!” James shouted, his face lighting up with excitement as he pointed ahead. Alex’s face broke into a huge grin, and without another word, they both took off running, their footsteps echoing along the path.

  Scorch and I exchanged a glance and then raced after them, feeling a thrill of excitement. This was it—our first big stop, the beginning of something incredible. With the city of Petalburg ahead and the promise of new adventures waiting, I couldn’t help but feel that this journey was going to be everything we’d dreamed of and more.