Regrets
I left the Pokemon Center on Historical Trainers Day; the day various 10-year-olds of Kanto leave the comfort of their homes to be 'the very best'. Joy waved off our bet, muttering something about over-eager trainers and their monstrous Zubats.
After spending some days with Joy, I genuinely liked the woman like a big sister. So, seeing the worry on her face when I was leaving, I promised her I would buy food for myself before leaving the town, prompting a hug and a relieved sigh from her.
I went into the city's Pokemon Mart, with Cet hanging upside down on my back using my backpack as leverage, to purchase the ingredients of a recipe, recommended by the Poison master Koga himself for poison and flying types.
Most of the recipes in the Pokenet can only be bought, but the former Gymleader and member of the league's elite four, Koga, posted his recipes intended for wildlings for free, supporting new trainers.
As I was looking at the last ingredient, which is super expensive, I debated whether I should buy the cheaper substitute or brave the wild, knowing the danger.
I too knew going into the wild when I had only one Pokemon was risky, but it is the principle of things stopping me from buying the cheaper alternative.
If I compromise on not giving the best to Cet at the very beginning of my journey, how many more compromises will I have to make on my journey?
Compromises lead to regrets, however small, which accumulate.
'When I look back will see nothing but my regrets and compromises. Will I see how I shied away from the first risk I faced?' I thought morosely.
I do not regret purchasing the TM's, because if I lose my first trainer battle, my first gym battle or any battle in the future, I want to lose after giving it my all, not because of my Pokemon lacking some moves, invalidating my whole effort and those TM's will be useful for my whole journey.
Generally hunting for food in the Jungle is arguably safe, with rangers patrolling the routes and ready to rescue and most common Pokemons being non-territorial.
But not if we mix some variables like battles for berries, protectiveness of their eggs and rare territory battles that occur between strong Pokemon of Alpha and rarely Apex stages.
If a territory battle occurs, your best hope of survival would be sending distress signals and hoping a ranger will pick you up.
As these battles rile every nearby Pokemon into a frenzy.
And we cannot forget about the very rare Elite Pokemon battles, which can the shape change of whole ranges.
A Snorlax blocking a route comes to my mind when I think about this.
For a wild Pokemon to become an elite, it requires decades of survival, i.e., surviving dozens of dark-month frenzies.
So, the power they yield ranges from tournament winner to region champion range.
My problem was that I had enough money to buy the ingredient, but if I bought more than a single meal for myself, then I wouldn't be able to afford the item anymore.
As I was glaring at the Dagra berry, specially grown for poison and flying type Pokemon, hesitating, and thinking whether the league gives loans, my dex got a notification.
"Oh!...Oh!" I exclaimed upon reading it.
The notification was from the Pokenet forum, where I posted the sightings of Altaria and Staraptor's fleet.
Somebody purchased the information, giving me money to buy salted meat enough for 3 days.
I giddily purchased the Dagra berry, the 3-day meal package and left the Pokemart, ignoring people who were looking at me weirdly.
I took a picture of me grinning in front of the Pokemart holding the meal package and sent it to Joy. She will be busy as the Pokemon Centre officially opens today.
I grinned widely and started towards the city's exit, knowing that I didn't have to compromise on Cet food. Even the thought that I would have to adjust the 3-day food for 4 days, as it would take me 4 days to reach the more populated Celadon route where I could challenge people, didn't diminish my spirit.
'I can keep a condition that If I defeat them in a battle, they must provide a meal. Nobody will say no to one meal,' I thought nodding happily and started jogging.
I utilized my time in the Pokemon centre very efficiently, researching Pokemon food and doing exercises, I did not waste a single minute.
So, I know that I can jog for hours on end, without feeling too much difficulty.
One more thing Aura changed about me, I guess, or people here are hardy than people on Earth.
...…
As the sun was setting, I was busy cursing everyone in the league, to appreciate the beautiful sunset.
The forest doesn't have any officially maintained road, having flying Pokemon the size of helicopters and teleporting shenanigans makes use of road somewhat obsolete, I guess.
I had to travel on a slightly visible dirt path, leading me to lose my way one too many times, if not for the marks on the trees I would not even know whether I was on the correct path.
As far I can see, trees were very sparse with bushes and grass covering most of the land.
Cet, the traitor, escaped into his Poke ball when the sun was reaching its apex in the sky, leaving me to its mercy.
Travelling without shade and having to take detours around bushes, in fear of provoking an Ekans or Rattata was wearing me down.
The food I bought was bland, I couldn't even drink cool water with the cheap bottle the league provided me with.
The sun glaring at me like somebody gave 'him' the cheap gear did not help at all.
With the sun disappearing on the horizon, darkness enveloped the surroundings.
I set up my tent to rest for the night, releasing Cet from his ball.
The little bugger flapped excitedly for a while, he was right in his element in the dark, silently gliding around.
After I fed him, I recalled him to his Pokeball.
'Now, my nightmare starts,' I thought solemnly staring at the bland jerky.
On earth, I was a foodie; a particularly independent one. I didn't particularly dislike cooking, but I mainly cook food to enjoy eating it.
Even the food I eat was decided by my parents, it's for you to grow healthy they say.
So, I decided to secretly make myself meals at night when the cook leaves. I always played with various ingredients to create different tastes.
I ate my dinner and went to bed, murmuring.
"Next time, I will buy some seasonings."
...
The next day I woke up to fast knocks on my tent.
I came out of my tent to see two girls arguing about something near two bikes, on seeing me one girl pointed her finger at me and spoke.
"You! Did you see any lone Ducklett here?"
The girl who questioned me rudely looked like a stereotyped water-type trainer, with an air of arrogance. She has blue hair and eyes, both of which complement her attire- a sleeveless blue dress adorned and white leggings with delicate blue lines tracing their length.
I ignored her and stared at the bikes, they looked expensive.
The second girl spoke.
"Don't be rude, Madlyn."
"Hi! I am Amanda," she introduced herself, her auburn hair shining in the sun and her green eyes glinting mischievously.
She wore a loose grey dress with black leggings, exuding a sense of casual confidence.
"If you want answers you have to defeat me," I said.
Cliché, I know. But there is a reason why it is a cliché – it works.
"Get on with it then," The blue-haired girl spoke, taking a Pokeball from her belt.
"Oh! Awesome!" Amanda exclaimed and jumped back as I and Madlyn made our way for the battle, to act as referee.
"Before we begin," I have an additional condition. If I win, I want one of your costly meal packages." I shouted.
She beckoned her hand, without even considering what I asked.
'Oh! Someone is arrogant. Whatever, more meal packages for me.' I thought excitedly and grinned.
Amanda started stating the rules for our match.
"On the count of three, both of you release your Pokemon at the same time."
"The match will be of the standard one vs one format. The winner is decided when the other's Pokemon faints or can't get up."
"The match winnings will be calculated by the official trainer's app."
Calculation of winnings is one of the functions of the trainers' app. After we upload parameters such as Pokemon's typing, duration of the match, and number of badges owned by both trainers, terrain etc., the app will generate the match winnings and automatically transfer the amount to the winner.
A trainer can issue a challenge through their Pokedex and if both parties accept, they can enter their match's basic parameters into the dex. Thus, avoiding any hassle betting with a stranger in the wild can cause.
I accepted her challenge notice and we filled in our details.
Amanda started the countdown after we both nodded.
"3".
"2".
"1".
We both tossed our Pokeballs, releasing our Pokemon for the battle.