Chapter 5: The First Catch

I leaned back against the rough bark of the oak tree, the texture pressing uncomfortably into my back. The heat of the afternoon bore down on me, stifling and relentless. Sweat clung to my skin, the damp fabric of my shirt sticking uncomfortably to my chest. I glanced at Bulbasaur, who lay sprawled beside me, his eyes half-closed in the oppressive warmth.

"How the hell do they walk for miles in the anime?" I muttered under my breath, glaring up at the thick canopy overhead. The leafy cover barely provided any relief from the sun's glare. I rubbed my aching legs, feeling the muscles twitch beneath my palms. My irritation grew with each passing second.

Bulbasaur, ever the stoic companion, responded with a quiet, "Balba, balba."

"Yeah, easy for you to say," I shot back, my voice laced with annoyance. "You're not the one who got transmigrated into a ten-year-old's body."

My words hung in the air, a bitter reminder of the reality I was trapped in. Sure, I had cheats—unlimited money, instant move learning, rapid evolution—but none of that made up for the sheer physical exhaustion I felt in this tiny, underdeveloped body. The world of Pokémon, once a place of dreams and adventure, now felt like a brutal, unforgiving landscape.

I pushed myself to my feet, the movement sudden and jarring. Bulbasaur startled, his eyes snapping open as he looked up at me in confusion. "Alright, enough whining," I declared, my tone firm. "We need to find a Pidgey. No way am I walking to Viridian City without a faster way to travel."

Bulbasaur blinked at me, his usual calm demeanor unshaken by my outburst. "Balba," he said, as if agreeing with my plan.

I nodded, slinging my black sling bag over my shoulder. The weight was familiar, a reassuring presence despite the fact that it was more of a disguise than a necessity. With unlimited resources at my disposal, I didn't really need to carry anything—but blending in was crucial. "Let's go," I said, scanning the dense woods around us. The branches above rustled in the slight breeze, but nothing caught my eye.

Hours passed as we trudged through the underbrush, my mood steadily souring with every step. The terrain was uneven, the thick roots and low-hanging branches constantly in my way. My mind wandered back to the anime—how they made it look so easy, so effortless. The reality was far from it. Every inch of progress felt like a battle in itself.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I caught a glimpse of movement in the tall grass ahead. I froze, my heart suddenly racing. There, pecking at the ground with a single-minded focus, was a lone Pidgey. It was small, its feathers ruffled slightly by the wind, completely oblivious to our presence.

"There," I whispered, dropping into a crouch. Bulbasaur followed suit, his vines twitching in anticipation. My pulse quickened, a mix of excitement and nerves. This was my first real encounter with a wild Pokémon—one that wasn't scripted or controlled by the rules of a game.

The Pidgey's beady eyes darted around, scanning the ground for food. I fumbled for my Pokédex, the smooth device slipping slightly in my sweaty grip. The second I pressed the button, the Pokédex chimed loudly, the sound ringing through the still forest.

Pidgey's head snapped up, its wings flaring wide. "Dammit!" I cursed under my breath. "The Pokédex isn't supposed to make noise like this!"

In an instant, Pidgey took flight, kicking up a cloud of dust as it soared into the air. The dust swirled around us, stinging my eyes and forcing me to shield my face. "Crap, Sand Attack!" I yelled, the grit scratching at my throat.

Bulbasaur reacted immediately, his vine whips lashing out in response. "Vine Whip, Bulbasaur!" I commanded, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaotic situation. But Pidgey was fast—too fast. It darted through the air with an agility I hadn't anticipated, dodging Bulbasaur's attack with ease.

My confidence faltered. This wasn't like the battles in the anime or games, where everything followed a neat, predictable pattern. This was wild, unpredictable, and I was barely keeping up.

Pidgey dove down, slamming into Bulbasaur with a powerful Tackle. The impact sent Bulbasaur crashing into a nearby tree, the thud echoing through the forest. I grit my teeth, frustration boiling over. "Get up, Bulbasaur! Use Growl! Then Vine Whip!"

Bulbasaur staggered to his feet, his breaths coming in ragged gasps. He let out a low growl, the sound barely more than a whisper. Pidgey circled above, unfazed by the weak attempt to intimidate it. Another gust of sand rained down on us, obscuring our vision.

"Don't aim directly at it," I muttered to myself, wiping the dust from my eyes. My mind raced, trying to find a solution. In the games, battles were all about strategy, about making the right move at the right time. But here, everything was happening so fast, so unpredictably.

"Listen for the wings," I said aloud, the idea forming in my mind. "Bulbasaur, use Vine Whip, but aim where the sound is coming from!"

Bulbasaur hesitated, his eyes narrowing as he focused. The faint sound of wings beating the air reached my ears, and Bulbasaur's vines shot out, striking towards the source of the noise. There was a sharp cry, followed by the unmistakable sound of something hitting the ground.

Pidgey lay sprawled in the dirt, struggling to get back on its feet. Its wings flapped weakly, but it was clearly too exhausted to take flight again.

"Finish it, Bulbasaur! Tackle now!" I shouted, my voice filled with urgency.

Bulbasaur charged forward, slamming into the weakened Pidgey with all the strength he could muster. The tiny bird let out a final cry before collapsing completely.

I reached into my bag, my fingers closing around a Pokéball. It felt heavier than I expected, the smooth surface cool against my palm. "Here we go," I muttered, enlarging the ball with a flick of my wrist.

With a practiced throw, the Pokéball hit Pidgey square on, drawing it inside in a flash of red light. The ball shook once, twice... then fell still with a soft click.

For a moment, I just stood there, staring at the Pokéball lying in the dirt. My heart pounded in my chest, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. Slowly, I approached the ball, half-expecting it to burst open at any second.

But it didn't. I crouched down, picking up the ball with a shaky hand. "Gotcha," I whispered, a grin spreading across my face.

I turned to Bulbasaur, who stood panting heavily, his body trembling from exertion. "We did it, buddy," I said, my voice filled with pride. I crouched down, gently patting him on the head. "Our first Pokémon together. You were amazing out there."

Bulbasaur's eyes closed as he leaned into my touch, his exhaustion evident. The bond between us felt stronger now, solidified by the shared experience of battle.

But as I inspected him more closely, my excitement faded. Scratches covered his body, and a dark bruise was forming where Pidgey's Tackle had landed. "You're tougher than you look," I muttered, reaching for his Pokéball. "But you need rest. Return for now. I'll get you to Viridian City in one piece."

With a flash of red light, Bulbasaur disappeared into his Pokéball, leaving me alone in the quiet forest. The woods seemed less oppressive now, the heat of the day giving way to the coolness of twilight. The sky above had begun to change color, streaks of orange and pink filtering through the trees.

I looked down at the Pokéball in my hand, a sense of accomplishment washing over me. First a Pidgey. Next... a Pidgeotto. Then we'd be unstoppable. I smirked at the thought, my mind already racing with possibilities.

The world didn't seem as intimidating anymore. I was starting to get the hang of it, slowly but surely. The forest, once a daunting obstacle, now felt like the first step in a much grander journey.

"We're just getting started," I muttered to myself, my eyes reflecting the last rays of sunlight. With renewed determination, I turned and began walking towards Viridian City, the path ahead no longer seeming so daunting.

My footsteps quickened, each step fueled by the burning ambition within me. I wasn't just surviving in this world—I was starting to master it. And with every victory, no matter how small, I was one step closer to my ultimate goal.