I put my shoulder bag down and make a final check to make sure I haven't forgotten anything: camping equipment, Pokéballs, food, supplements, fishing rod and a large quantity of iron sulphide with a kiddie pool, and that's it.

Now that I am fully equipped, I place my two Pokéballs in my trainer belt, remembering how I got little Bel two days ago.

*Flashback*

In the Pokémon Center, a phone with a transferring machine.

"*Yawn* Marcus, I was up last night waiting for Sycamore to send me that Goomy." Professor Birch tells me.

"Sorry for the inconvenience."

"Don't worry, I was also caching up with this year's batch of starters."

"This late? Doesn't the season start in two days?"

"Tell me about it." He slumps into his chair.

"Thanks for your work, who are this year's royal trainers by the way?"

He gives me a proud smile.

"First of all my son Brendan, he has a great talent, I mean he takes after his dad."

"… I bet he does."

So Brendan exists, but Red doesn't? Maybe I was wrong about Team Rocket's movements, this could mean that Kanto is keeping the whole thing under wraps, but that will not be Lance's style, he is as flamboyant as Wallace.

"The second is Norman's daughter, she and her mother arrived in Little Root a few days ago, the little one is with him.

Now May lives in Little Root, is this the game world? But he mentioned Max, I am confused.

"And finally, the third one is the only one who made the cut to win a place this year, he is from Lilycove."

"He has to be good to get that spot."

"I hear he wants to be this year's Grand Coordinator."

"The Activities Committee must be salivating to get him."

"Hahaha, I remember, Oak's kid is coming too."

"Oh, Daisy?"

"No, I mean his sponsored Ash Ketchum."

There he is.

This can be both good and bad, on the one hand he can deal with most of the legendary bullshit, on the other hand there is a lot more legendary bullshit if he is involved, not to mention other factors like that poacher in Sinnoh.

"If Oak sponsors him, he must be exceptional."

"He participated in both the Indigo and Silver Conferences, he is still learning, just like you, he started as a youngster."

"Really?"

"Yes, but it is a popular mystery why Oak is sponsoring him."

I bet it is for anyone who can't see the beacon of aura he is.

"Mmm, this year's conference should be interesting."

"It is, now it's time to send you the Goomy."

With that, he placed a Pokéball in the machine and after pressing a few buttons, it materialised in my side.

"It's arrived, Nigel."

I grab the ball and release my new companion, a small purple snail with a relaxed expression, you would not believe it was about to become a pseudo-legend, let alone the fact that it was a dragon.

"Hello little one, I'm Marcus your trainer, nice to meet you."

"Gooooomy."

He drags his words out in a cute way and lazy too, mmm lazy, slothful.

"From now on your name is Belfegor."

"Gooo." Didn't like it?

Let me check you out, I take out my Pokédex and scan it.

"Goomy. Female. The Soft Tissue Pokémon: The weakest of the Dragon-type Pokémon, it lives in damp, shady places to keep its body from drying out. Its source of protection is its slimy, germ-laden mucous membrane. Anyone who touches it needs to wash their hands thoroughly, etc". I better get some gloves.

This Pokédex is certainly complete.

"Uh, sorry about that, your name is Bel from now on."

"Myy." She looks pleased.

"Thanks Nigel, I'll talk to you soon about submitting a new thesis for a project."

"I'll be waiting, Marcus, have a nice day."

*Present*

I take one last look around my now empty room and think that this bag can hold all my things except the books and rock collection, which are now in Roxanne's care until I get my own place.

So I leave, we have a farewell dinner at the orphanage last night and Alan goes to the ranger camp the week before, it seems that losing the fight against Roberto has ignited his desire to be the strong one. I better step up my training or he'll wipe the floor with me and my pride won't allow it.

I just need one last stop at the gym to say goodbye.

And after a while I reach my destination, only to open the door and find my friends waiting for me.

"You spoil me."

"If not you, then who? Tommy?" Mark teases.

"Hey."

"You may go first, but wait for me, I'll make you eat the dust one day." Josh is still salty from this month's mock battles.

"Yeah, go first and prove we are the best." Tommy, for all his clumsiness, is a good kid.

"We'll be rooting for you, now get back to work, the season has just started."

Roxanne dismisses everyone.

"Call me as soon as you get to Petalburg and remember to come back often, I have your stones!"

"Yes!"

-------

On the bridge in Route 104

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

"Rith?" Roberto asks me, looking at Bel Pokéball.

"She's delicate, at least until she evolve, so it's better for her to only go out when it's damp, like the forest we're going to."

"Anorith."

Roberto climbs on my shoulder as I walk along the north side of Route 104, the wooden bridge, the road, even the flower shop was there. After passing a few information signs, I enter the Petalburg Woods.

One of the first things you notice about this world is the fact that there are real animals, in regulated farms of course, but there they are. The thing is that there are insects too, and in a tropical forest that means mosquitoes, lots of them. And this place was damp and hot, maybe it's not too late to go back.

"Rith, riiiith." Roberto got down and started tugging at my trousers.

"I know, Bel, let's go together." I released her.

"Goomy."

"Anorith, rith."

"Myyy."

I watch them fool around, they are so cute, but I would rather not spend a second more than necessary in this place. I grab my PokéNav, set the map and tell my Pokémon to stay close.

The main path in the forest toward the south part of the route and the next track to Petalburg is keep in pristine condition and closely watched by the ranger station here in the woods, as it’s paramount to the trade between Rustboro and Petalburg.

So this trip is more like a tedious day's walk, as long as I don't disobey the map. But the reason I don't take a car or Pokémon is because of them.

"Is that an Anorith?"

A teenager with a big ass butterfly net comes running as soon as he sees Roberto.

"Yes, and the little one is a Goomy."

"Wow."

Bug catchers, which should come as no surprise given that the first four regions are based in Japan, where collecting insects and fighting bugs is a common hobby among the young, or at least it was in my generation.

"Hey, wanna battle"

"Eh?"

"The little one is a hatchling and needs experience."

"Sure, anything for a fellow insect lover."

I cannot blame this misunderstanding. We get some distance before he releases a Wurmple.

"Bel, you go, just remember what I taught you."

With a PokéNav to illustrate, she won't have the same problem as Roberto, who didn't know what his moves were.

"When I count to 3, we start, ready?"

"Yes."

"1, 2, 3."

"String Shot."

"Wait and Water Gun."

Bel waited impassively for the Wurmple to finish its move before firing the Water Gun, which hit it and pushed it back a little.

"It can't move, Poison Sting until he's finished."

"Water Gun."

The Wurmple jump aside, dodging the Water Gun before firing the stingers.

"Goomy!"

She was hit and possibly poisoned, and in her frustration she kept firing the Water Guns, but she was defenceless against the Stings thanks to the string holding her in place.

"Umple!"

She managed to hit the Wurmple before she was exhausted, and at that moment a white light enveloped the Wurmple.

"Silcoon."

A Silcoon? Doesn't Wurmple evolve into a Cascoon by day and a Silcoon by night?

"I forfeit, good battle."

I declare before putting on some gloves and starting to treat Bel with a potion and an antidote.

"Thanks, Mira, get some rest." He calls his Pokémon back.

After finishing, I recall Bel back and approach the teenager, wiping my Pokédex on the process.

"I'll send you the standard fee."

"Ah, sure." He takes his PokéNav to complete the transaction.

This kind of fee is a custom between Trainers, and the fees are calculated based on your time as a Trainer and your experience, which is measured in terms of how many badges you have.

"Why didn't you tell her to move?"

"She's still too slow and would struggle with the string shoot, so I thought it would be better for her to aim and shoot."

"I see, so she doesn't waste a move, are you one of those lab trainers?" He is sharp.

"No, I'm actually a professor."

"What?" He looks at me in disbelief before he has an epiphany, perhaps remembering that I am regional news.

"Are you Marcus Poplar?" He asks shyly.

"The same."

"OMG! Sir, it's a pleasure to meet you, can I have your autograph?" He begins to shake my hand enthusiastically.

"Fine, but let go of my hand." A month of training does not make up for the fact that I am fourteen.

"Sorry, I got excited. So it is true that you are a bug type specialist?" He begins to scratch his neck.

"I can see that, and where did that come from? I am not a specialist."

"The forums on the Pokénet have been heated about you being the next Rock-type elite, while others defend that you were a Bug-type specialist, and when I see your, Gommy was it?"

"Despite his appearance, Gommy is a Dragon-type."

"Dragon?"

"Yes, when she evolves it will be clear." Or not, but she will prove it with her strength.

"If you say so, Professor, here you can sing my cage."

I sign the bug cage.

"I'm on my way to Petalburg but I want to have a few more battles before I leave the forest, do you know a place where trainers gather?"

"Sure, I mean we bug catchers aren't trainers in general, but we can still put a fight." He pumps himself.

"Lead the way then."

And he took me to the bug catchers' meeting place, where it seems a lot of them get together to teach the young the hobby and hang around each other, showing off their bugs and Pokémon, and having battles with both Pokémon and beetles.

I stayed with them until the evening before everyone left. I managed to win some battles and lose others, of course Roberto being a rock type helped a lot, I did not have the balls to battle the one with the Heracross.

A month was not enough time, so I spent my time in the gym nailing down three moves on Roberto: Rock Polish, Iron Defense and Sword Dance, of which only Rock Polish is currently usable in battle.

He needs the experience of this battles together with Bel. While he grows quickly, the same cannot be said for her, she will take a long time to evolve and he will take a while as well.

With any luck, I will get my third Pokémon in Petalburg, hopefully a Ralts or a Ralts, yes, I will get a Ralts. After that, I will focus on training and my project.

I prepare the camp while my Pokémon play with each other, a feat I cannot explain after so many battles. When everything is done, I take out the kiddie pool and fill it with water and iron sulphide.

"Bel, come here."

"Goomy?" "Rith." They stop playing and come closer.

"Come in here and rest while I prepare the food, you should rest a bit Roberto, after eating I will write a bit before sleeping, we have an early day ahead of us."

They obey, though I have to explain to Bel that this will help her evolution in the future, but she looks happy playing in the water, and I get my folding picnic table out of my bag, Doraemon will be proud, I cook and then we eat before I finish the thesis I will present.