Go go go!
It's been 5 minutes, yet Red's group keeps running into dead ends.
"Are we sure we're going the right way?" Misty asked Brock, who was looking at the map.
"Strange, we should be on the right path. Why are we ending up here?" Brock scratched his head.
"Maybe we should backtrack?"
Hearing that, the group turned around and walked for a while, only to reach another dead end.
"Why are we back at this spot again??" Brock scratched his head, examining the map more closely.
"Are you sure you're not directionally challenged?"
"Of course I'm sure! I used to come here when I was still a trainer!"
"That was when you were 10 years old! Time has passed; are you sure you're still right?" Misty retorted.
"Then how did you get to Route 1 so easily?" Leaf asked Misty suspiciously.
"H-how do you know?!"
"Red told me" (Red can talk?)
Misty glanced at Red.
"..."
Come on, don't look at me like that. She asked, so I had to answer, right? It would've been rude not to.
"I took the road used by people with bikes or cars."
Wait, there's a road like that?
Leaf and Red were confused, as they rarely left Pallet Town. Even when they did, they usually took Route 1 first.
Of course, Blue knew, since he was Professor Oak's grandson.
"That road makes the journey much easier, but doing so lacks the practical experience, which is why trainers often travel through the forest to reach another city."
'That makes sense,' both Red and Leaf thought.
"Alright, I think I've found the way out!" Brock smiled and told everyone, pointing at the map.
The three of them went over to look at where Brock was pointing.
...Isn't this the place where we entered?
"Brock, you're really directionally challenged."
"Maybe your eyes are like that because no one ever opened them wide enough."
"..."
Brock clutched his fragile, wounded heart.
He was deeply hurt but couldn't do anything about it!
"Are you guys lost?"
Suddenly, a chubby man in typical hiker attire approached.
"Uh, yeah," Leaf and Misty both nodded.
"If that's the case, let me help. Lots of people have been getting lost lately."
The man walked over, took the map, and pointed out the directions for everyone.
"This way? Are you sure?"
"Yes, it's the only way."
Hearing that, the group had no choice but to trust this stranger.
So Red's group followed his directions.
As they walked away, the man smiled, tore off his mask, and revealed a cunning face and purple hair.
"Next time, don't trust strangers, kids."
***
Lily lay flat on her bed, pulling out her phone.
She was exhausted after a performance on stage and signing autographs for her fans.
Nearly all of her muscles were sore.
After returning to the hotel, she had taken a long bath before coming out to blow dry her short, wet purple hair.
She hadn't eaten anything, but she was too tired to chew food.
She just wanted to rest.
Being an idol is really stressful...
*ting!
"Hm?"
Someone sent a message.
She opened the chat, which turned out to be none other than the Pokémon group chat.
Cuckmaster6969: Announcement, announcement! There's an urgent mission! Super special! Super, super—
Bigantiyellowhair: Basically, it's a big mission, and the reward depends on each person's achievements.
Bigantiyellowhair: And right now, it's down to just you two @Fairygothgirl and @Farmerlily.
Lily sighed as she read that. She was really tired and not in the mood to play.
Besides, it was already late; she should use this time to sleep.
Being an idol meant she was busy every day, and if she dared to take a break, her fans would definitely start speculating about why she was absent...
Fairygothgirl: No.
Bigantiyellowhair: Oh right, I just asked Nurse Joy, and Mount Moon, where we'll be doing the mission, has a special Fairy-type Pokémon.
"Fairy-type??"
Lily's account name also had "Fairy" in it.
Fairygothgirl: So...?
Cuckmaster6969: THAT MEANS THERE'S A CUTE POKEMON! GET IN AND PLAY, STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!
Bob: I have a picture.
Fairygothgirl: Send it.
Surprisingly, this game allows you to take pictures and save them on your computer, which is really cool.
Bob: [Picture] It's a Pokémon from a girl I'm trying to impress. She said it's from Mount Moon.
Needless to say, when Lily saw this pink creature, she had a nosebleed.
She always seemed cold, but cute things were her ultimate weakness, relieving much of her stress.
Bob: She called the Pokémon... uh, Clefairy.
The name sounds very fairy-like!!
She had to catch it at all costs!!!
Lily stood up, her face like a Jojo character, and walked over to her computer to grab her VR headset.
Oh, right, what about Yuna?
Fairygothgirl: @Farmerlily, where is she?
Bigantiyellowhair: No idea, she's been offline since this morning.
"Is she really that busy with studying?" Lily scratched her head.
Being the only girl among a bunch of guys was a bit annoying.
But for Clefairy! For cuteness! And cuteness is justice!!!
With that, she lay down on her bed, put on her VR headset, and drifted off to sleep.
...
In some apartment...
"Hic..."
A girl with pink twin pigtails lay on her bed, crying.
Her phone buzzed with messages, but she didn't read them. She had just broken up with her boyfriend.
For someone born in the city, this might seem normal or even something to mock her for.
But for a girl who grew up in the countryside, a breakup felt like a stab to the heart.
After all, life in the countryside is very different from the city.
She sniffled, wiping her eyes.
She loved him, but he was ready to break up with her just because he found someone he thought was a better match.
It felt like all her efforts and her heart were being trampled on.
She had studied so hard to get a stable job and earn enough money to support her parents and have a happy marriage. And yet, he treated her like she was disposable?
...Whatever, I can't take it anymore.
I just want to sleep and forget this terrible day...
*****
For some reason, i cant comment on the post unless someone else comments first (i'm using my phone; i was using a PC before so i can post it). So, could someone please comment here so i can post the art?