My Johto Journey

Chapter Three

Izzy's POV

After healing Cyndaquil at Professor Elm's lab. We finally started our trip to Mr. Pokémon's house.

To be honest, I wasn't fully on board with this journey. The very thought of living out in the wilderness and outside the comfort of my own home was terrifying. I mean did you know that 4 out of 10 kids that are on a journey usually suffer some kind of injury or death. How, just how can adults allow kids to go out into the wild? Without any kind of adult supervision. We live in a world full of creatures that are capable of causing avalanches, earthquakes, and tsunamis. How is it that one test? Just one test is capable of determining that kids like me are considered legal adults and are capable of surviving this world. Hell, the test wasn't even that hard and even I, a dropout from school, was able to pass it. What are adults really so irresponsible? Why am I the only one that sees this? What I'm trying to say is that this world is fucking dangerous and I can die in any minute. Sure that could happen even in the safety of my room but at least there I would die in extreme comfort.

That's without mentioning the worst of it and by that I mean people. The strangers that I would meet on this trip. Oh god, even thinking about it is making me break down. You can never trust anyone. Sure they act all nice when you first meet them but it's all a lie and are just waiting for a chance to use and betray you. I can't trust any of them, except of course mom and Lyra. Maybe professor Elm but not too sure.

......

I'm ranting. Sorry.

My point is that I wasn't exactly happy to be on this journey but because of my mom and Prof. Elm. I didn't have a choice and unlike me, Cyndaquil completely wanted to go. Not to mention the promise I made to Cyndaquil to actually try to train him.

—

3rd POV

Izzy's legs burned, his breaths came in ragged gasps, and every step felt like he was dragging himself through mud. His backpack, which he had barely noticed when he started, now felt like a bag of bricks strapped to his shoulders.

"Cynda...quil..." His partner huffed beside him, barely keeping pace.

Izzy wiped the sweat off his forehead. "Just... a little... more," He panted. The moment he lifted his head, his breath was caught in his throat.

Before him stretched a town unlike anything he had seen before. Cherrygrove City wasn't much bigger than New Bark Town, but to Izzy, who had spent years hiding indoors, it felt huge. Buildings of different colors and heights lined the streets. There were people everywhere—trainers walking with Pokémon, shopkeepers chatting outside their stores, and kids laughing as they played near a fountain. Signs and billboards advertised Poké Marts, Trainer Services, and something called "The Best Fishing Rods in Johto!"

Izzy took a step forward, feeling as if he had entered another world.

"Cyndaquil... we made it," he breathed.

"Quil!" Cyndaquil cheered, his flames flaring up in excitement—only to fizzle out a second later as exhaustion hit him.

Right. His Pokémon had been battling all day, and Izzy had been walking for hours. The Pokémon Center should be the first stop.

That would be easy, right?

---

It was not easy.

Ten minutes later, Izzy found himself in an alleyway between two tall buildings, staring at a brick wall. He turned back the way he came... only to realize that he had no idea which way that was.

"Quil?" Cyndaquil tilted his head, clearly as confused as Izzy.

"I know, I know, I should've paid more attention," Izzy muttered, gripping his Pokégear. He tapped on the map app, but instead of showing a neat path to the Pokémon Center, it kept zooming in and out randomly. His sweaty fingers weren't helping. "Ugh, stupid thing—just show me where to—"