- Vagabond - Male Reader x Pokémon

Chapter 13: A Brave Warrior

[THE NEXT MORNING]

[Route 202]

[Y/N] woke up with a singular goal driving him forward, catching his first Pokémon.

Technically, he already had three formidable partners, Piplup, Chimchar, and Turtwig, but there was a particular satisfaction that came with capturing a Pokémon yourself. A bond forged not through a professor's generosity but through the thrill of the hunt, the challenge of the battle, and the connection that came afterward. Among the supplies Professor Rowan had provided were five empty Poké Balls, pristine and ready for use.

It wasn't much, but it was enough for now.

As he packed up his camp, his thoughts kept circling back to the gaps in his team.

His starters were strong, no doubt about it, but they were all grounded, literally.

Chimchar could scale walls and leap from branch to branch with ease, but that wasn't enough. He needed something that could truly soar. A flying-type Pokémon.

The more he thought about it, the more it felt like an essential addition. Mobility in the air would add a crucial layer of strategy to his battles. A flying-type could strike swiftly, evade with precision, and take the fight to opponents who relied on the ground for stability. Sure, it would have its own set of weaknesses, electric-, ice-, and rock-types being the most obvious threats, but the benefits far outweighed the risks.

He'd seen flocks of Starly darting through the skies ever since leaving Sandgem Town, their chirps echoing across the open fields. They were common, but that didn't mean they lacked potential. A well-trained Starly could evolve into Staraptor, a powerful and reliable ally.

And besides, rarity didn't matter much to him, only capability and loyalty did.

The first rays of sunlight crept over the horizon as [Y/N] unzipped his tent, stepping out into the crisp morning air. The golden light bathed Route 202, the dew on the grass glistening like tiny jewels.

He yawned, stretching his arms skyward, the cool air chasing away the remnants of sleep.

The fire pit lay in disarray, blackened and ashy from the night before, with scraps of last night's meal scattered around. He frowned. If there was one thing Professor Rowan had drilled into him, it was to leave the wilderness as untouched as possible. The professor's voice echoed in his mind. A trainer should respect the world they share with Pokémon. With that in mind, he quickly set about tidying up, scooping up stray bits of trash and scattering the cooled ash into the underbrush where it would blend back into the earth.

A quick glance toward Cynthia's tent confirmed what he had hoped, she was still fast asleep, probably for a few more hours. He smirked faintly, knowing she'd likely tease him for his early start later, but he didn't mind. If he wanted to become the best, he couldn't afford to waste time lounging around. But he hesitated for a moment. A part of him worried about leaving her alone while she slept. What if something happened? But he quickly pushed the thought aside. Cynthia wasn't the type to be caught off guard, and with Gible at her side, there weren't many who could overpower the duo. Still, the thought lingered like a faint shadow in the back of his mind.

She'll be fine. He reassured himself.

Besides, this was a solo mission, his chance to prove he could handle things without any help. Catching a Starly was a task he wanted to accomplish using only his wits and the Pokémon already on his team. If everything went smoothly, he'd be back before Cynthia even woke up. And if he didn't succeed? Well, no one would be around to witness that, either.