Miyuki was determined not to waste her head start. As she navigated her way through the dense underbrush, she hesitated, choosing the roughest path that promised more battles and faster growth. This decision led her towards Silk Road. With a quick glance around, she stealthily slipped under the fencing that marked this treacherous route—one that was extremely dangerous for rookie trainers.

As she ventured deeper into the forest, a smile spread across her face. Pokémon roamed freely, their playful cries echoing through the trees. Hanging onto a sturdy branch, she thought to herself, The DexNav picks up Pokémon in my general area. It gives rough info on them; catching them would provide more detailed information. But I’ve only been blessed with four basic Poké Balls. The catch rate on these sucks, meaning more prideful and stronger Pokémon will escape easily, leaving me alone in this forest with Pubcup fainted.

Miyuki's mind raced as she formulated a plan. “I need to catch weaker Pokémon—like babyish ones—and battle first-stage and middle-stage Pokémon,” she declared aloud, elongating her words for emphasis. “I was given five potions, so I should be able to do this.”

With newfound resolve, she leaped down from the tree, landing as quietly as possible. From this vantage point, she understood why this path was off-limits to rookies. The entrance had appeared lackluster, but within the forest's embrace, it transformed into a jungle alive with sounds—the rustling of leaves and the screeches of unseen creatures mixed with low light that would send shivers down anyone’s spine. Yet Miyuki felt no fear; instead, she brimmed with energy.

“Alright! I need to catch Pokémon that fit my ideal team,” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “So baby-looking water or ice types!” With determination fueling her actions, she began to push through the undergrowth, crawling and avoiding Pokémon at all costs while keeping her DexNav at the ready.

After some time spent searching without success, frustration crept in. “I’m not finding anything. Maybe I need to approach more infested areas…” Just as she was about to abandon her current location in search of better prospects, something caught her eye—a Pokémon not registered on her DexNav.

“Wait!” Miyuki whispered excitedly but quietly. “This one should do even if the typing doesn’t match up.” She spotted a Mime Jr., a Psychic/Fairy type. Taking a moment to ponder her next move, she retrieved a Poké Ball from her waist. Should she battle it first or attempt a capture from the bushes?

“Tch! Screw it!” Miyuki decided impulsively. “Come out, Pubcup!” “Use Dark Bullet/Dark type” The Pokémon barked in response to her command and launched itself at Mime Jr., catching it completely off guard.

“Critical hit!” Miyuki grinned as she threw a Poké Ball without hesitation, seizing the golden opportunity for an easy catch. Beep! It rolled left; beep! It rolled right; then—Gotcha! The ball clamped down securely.

“Yes!” Miyuki cheered softly as she called Pubcup back into his Poké Ball and rushed over to pick up her new capture. With first-time jitters coursing through her veins, she held up the Poké Ball triumphantly.

“Come out, Mime Jr.!” As it materialized before her, Mime Jr. looked around in confusion, tilting its head sideways as if trying to comprehend what had just happened.

“You shouldn’t be confused; I caught you, dummy!” Miyuki exclaimed before quickly covering her mouth in fear of being overheard. Realizing nothing was around, she let out a huge sigh of relief. Mime Jr., sensing her relief, began smiling and running in circles around her.

“I guess you trust me more now, Mimi! Now return.” She called it back and activated her Pokédex to read Mime Jr.'s info.

“Hmm… I got lucky with this find right here,” Miyuki mused while sitting on the ground amidst grass and dirt. “This isn’t even registered as a common or scarce habitat…” She contemplated aloud about her journey ahead.

“To reach the first gym in Sandevian from Silk Road will cut my travel time significantly compared to the other two paths,” she calculated thoughtfully. “If I take Silk Road, I’ll make it in two full days—seven days through Conon’s villages and five days via Elks’ rocky path… I’ll train here for three full days and then head straight for the gym in Sandevian.”

With determination coursing through her veins again, Miyuki stood up and declared loudly to herself, “Alright! That’s what I’ll do! I better get to it! Come out Pubcup! Come out Mimi! Let’s get stronger!”

Later that day…

“Bye Mom! I'm heading out now,” Tenzo called out as he waved goodbye to his mother. She waved back fondly as he walked away but was soon stopped by Professor Kosai.

“Hey Tenzo! Here’s the map you asked for,” said the professor with a smile.

“Thanks, Professor! Unlike Miyuki and Rin, I’m not really good with directions so this should help a lot,” Tenzo replied gratefully before waving goodbye again.

“Alright! Off to Elks we go!” he declared enthusiastically as he walked past Silk Road’s entrance toward his destination. I have a head start against Rin, he thought confidently but quickly reminded himself that he couldn’t underestimate either of them—Miyuki wouldn’t be far ahead either.

Stolen story; please report.

“I’m going through Elks to catch anything useful and battle everything else,” he planned with a smile on his face. “Better than any plan those two can come up with!”

A few minutes later…

“Finally! I’m actually on the path! I can’t believe this is the correct way; I walked past it several times!” Tenzo gasped between breaths as he continued onward.

“Huh? What’s that?” He quickly turned on his DexNav to identify what appeared before him—a Riolu in its Ivrian form.

“Here it is… but why isn’t it moving? Is it injured?” Tenzo pondered slowly as he approached cautiously.

“Well, I have plenty of potions and pokeballs thanks to my mother; I’ll treat you,” he said reassuringly as he scooped up Riolu into his arms and carried him toward his campfire despite Riolu thrashing about in protest.

“It doesn’t matter how much you squirm; I'm going to treat you first,” Tenzo promised soothingly once Riolu calmed down.

The next day…

“Riolu! Wake up!” Tenzo called cheerfully while holding food for both Riolu and his own Pokémon, Heibear. Though Riolu took its share of food and scurried behind a rock to eat privately, Tenzo began packing up his gear.

As he prepared to leave, Riolu dashed over and began following him closely. Tenzo turned around and pulled out a Poké Ball.

“Do you want to come?” he asked gently but was met with Riolu batting the ball away defiantly yet still trailing after him.

“Do what suits you,” Tenzo shrugged nonchalantly as they continued their journey together.

“What happened to you that left you in such bad shape?” Tenzo wondered aloud while shaking his head in disappointment at Riolu’s condition.

“Pokémon or not,” he said thoughtfully, “one's body is key—so don’t go breaking it!”

Suddenly Riolu tugged at Tenzo's pant leg insistently as if urging him somewhere important.

“Lead the way then,” Tenzo replied with curiosity sparking within him as Riolu bolted ahead eagerly.

“I didn’t say run!” Tenzo called after him lazily while struggling to keep pace with Riolu's enthusiasm.

Eventually arriving at the entrance of a massive cave, Riolu turned back anxiously when it didn’t see Tenzo right away—a distressed look crossing its face until Tenzo finally emerged around the corner.

“What is this?” he gasped in awe at the sight before him.

Riolu began acting out what had happened inside—the story of its injury unfolding through gestures and expressions that conveyed urgency and concern about its home being taken over by stronger Pokémon.

“Stronger Pokémon? Alright; I'll help you catch some while I'm at it,” Tenzo replied enthusiastically but then hesitated slightly at his next question: “Is there treasure in there?”

Riolu eagerly began wiping small rocks along their path as they walked side by side—a gesture suggesting shiny stones hidden within!

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Tenzo chuckled brightly. “Treasure? Strength? Companions? Sounds like every trainer's dream!”

“Come out Hei!” Heibear materialized from its Poké Ball beside him.

Tenzo then pulled out his DexNav again with excitement bubbling over inside him: "Let's find out who joins our team and what we fight!"

Totclops - Type: Fire

Triligo - Type: Grass/Ghost

Terekko - Type: Ground

Mawile - Type: Fairy/Steel

Skarmory - Type: Flying/Steel

??? - Electric/Steel (Danger level—Don’t approach)

"Danger level? Huh… pretty neat feature there DexNav," Tenzo remarked with a smirk on his face. “By the time I'm ready to leave this cave... I'll have defeated—no destroyed—whatever that is!”

With determination etched into his features, he stepped into the darkness of the cave alongside Heibear and Riolu trailing closely behind him...

The day before when Rin was walking home

I can’t just be all talk! His immediate thought was taking Conon Ledge through Conon Village where opportunities awaited him—like media blog posts filled with valuable information about happenings on the island or visiting the Poké Mart where he could buy better Poké Balls and healing potions since there wasn’t any Pokémon Center nearby!

Conon it is!

“Mom!” Rin shouted. “I’m home!”

The door unlocked promptly as Monika greeted him warmly. “You want to see my Pokémon?” Rin asked eagerly.

“Of course! This Pokémon will accompany you on your journey; both of you will watch each other's backs—it’s not even a question!” Monika smiled proudly at Rin's enthusiasm while gesturing toward Cubylly who wisps out from its Poké Ball beside them.

“Aww…” Monika cooed softly at Cubylly's appearance as Rin encouraged them both to bond more before rushing off again.

“Why are you in such a hurry?” Monika questioned curiously while watching Rin pace restlessly about their living room. “You’re leaving tomorrow right?”

“Yes Mom! I just have some research left before heading out,” Rin replied hurriedly while gathering supplies for his journey ahead.

“Alright Smarty Pants,” Monika chuckled knowingly before Rin hurried upstairs into his room where he began packing diligently for tomorrow’s early departure—the golden opportunity awaited him!

Conon is hosting a trainer event, he recalled excitedly; the winner gets either a Pokémon egg and a fossil! It was perfect timing since fresh trainers could only compete against three others before invalidating themselves for entry into that event!

The night passed swiftly until dawn broke—the moment had arrived for Rin’s adventure!

“I’ve already eaten breakfast without waking anyone up,” he whispered excitedly under his breath while preparing for final goodbyes before stepping outside into the bright morning light filled with possibilities ahead…

“Come on Cubylly! Let’s go!”