The soft glow of dawn filtered through the thin fabric of Jun’s tent, casting gentle patterns of light on the tent walls. He could hear the sounds of nature awakening around him—the chirping of what he presumed to be Rookiedees and the rustle of grass as small Pokémon scurried about. The vibrant scent of dew-kissed earth seeped in, mixing with the faint aroma of the lake nearby. He took a deep breath, ready to embrace the day ahead.
With a yawn, Jun peeled himself from the warm cocoon of his sleeping bag and crawled out of the tent. Immediately, the serene view of the small island in the lake greeted him. The sprawling water glimmered like a sheet of glass, reflecting the clear sky above. It was the perfect backdrop for his first day of searching for his starter, something he had yearned to do ever since his transmigration.
“Morning, Gardevoir,” Jun said, smiling as he spotted the elegant Pokémon lounging next to the tent. Her delicate frame hovered, the ethereal light glinting off her gown as she turned her head towards him, eyes radiating warmth and understanding.
A quick breakfast consisted of the freeze dried berries Jun had prepared before his departure. He had to admit he was way too excited to begin the search. This was his chance to finally bond with his own pokemon, he had spent many days at the Trainer School envious at the other students and their pokemon, but his meager stipend and scholarship could barely make ends meet, there was no way he could have supported the cost of raising a pokemon back then. And so his character page in his SystemDex had always shown a 0 for pokemon owned.
Now, things were different, he had a salary and a promising career in front of him. He sat cross-legged on the ground, sharing the food with Gardevoir, who always managed to eat daintily, even when her appetite seemed insatiable. Jun couldn’t help but laugh as she savored each bite, her fine features focused and poised, as though eating was an art form.
After cleaning up and packing his gear, he glanced at the map Professor Magnolia had given him before he left the day before. Areas that Blipbugs were known to appear in were circled, coincidentally, Route 1 and Route 2 directly adjacent to the Pokemon Research Lab were both home to the Larva pokémon.
Taking a quick moment to deliberate, Jun decided that he would first head into Route 1 to search.
The short hike to Route 1 was filled with fleeting moments of beauty—a family of Skwovets darting about, their chubby cheeks puffed with berries, and a lone Nickit, watchful and sly in the tall grass. Jun took his time, adding the two pokemon to his SystemDex. He absorbed every detail he could observe, his focus shifting from the Pokémon to the world around him once their silhouettes had lit up. Gardevoir drifted beside him serenely, content to let Jun do his own thing.
“Okay, Gardevoir, I'm heading into the grass, please keep any pokemon that isn't a Blipbug away from me.” he said, determination lighting his gaze. The Pokémon nodded, ready to protect him in his search. As they entered the grassy expanse of Route 1, Jun immediately sensed the vibrant energy that brimmed in the air. The landscape was alive.
Hordes of Wooloo rolled playfully behind a nearby bush, bleating loudly, while the sporadic rustling in the grass hinted at the movement of wild Pokémon just beyond sight. Jun felt a rush of excitement; Professor Magnolia had assured him of the abundant Blipbugs hiding amongst the undergrowth.
He ignored the other pokemon for the moment, there would be plenty of time later on to *observe*. Now he just wanted to find his partner.
As he ventured deeper into the towering foliage, some even reaching over his height of 1.6m, Jun crouched down slightly, moving through the grass with heightened senses. He recalled the images Professor Magnolia showed him of these Pokémon, their adorable oversized heads perched upon their stumpy little bodies, their eyes showing boundless curiosity to the world around them.
“Where are you, little Blipbugs?” he murmured, more to himself than to Gardevoir, who remained vigilant by his side.
Suddenly, movement caught his eye. There, nestled amongst the blades of grass, he spotted a flash of yellow. Heart racing, Jun edged closer, arms outstretched. Gardevoir’s presence calmed him, radiating an aura of reassurance.
With a swift motion, he gently scooped up the Blipbug, feeling its weak struggles. Compared to many other pokemon, Blipbugs posed no threat to humans. Their base stat total is tied with Sunkern for second lowest in the Pokemon world, the only pokemon with weaker stats is a single individual Wishi-Washi. The captured bug wriggled in his palms, its oversized head bobbing almost comically. “It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you.” he whispered gently, quiet laughter spilling from his lips. Adjusting his grip, he cradled the bug pokemon, it was softer than he expected, and he could see its massive silver eyes blinking nervously at him, though it had calmed down, no doubt the effects of his [Bug Affinity I] kicking in.
He mentally flipped open his SystemDex to check out the Blipbug’s details.
Pokemon: Blipbug
Ability: Compound Eyes
Gender: Female
Level: 3
Moves: Struggle Bug
“Ah,” Jun sighed as he placed the small pokemon back near where he had found it. As he watched the Blipbug disappear once more into the undergrowth, he took out his journal, and briefly jotted down the blipbug’s details, he was a researcher after all. He muttered more to himself than to Gardevoir. “Alright, just gotta find one that can use Telepathy.”
‘Are they even capable of telepathy?’ Gardevoir’s voice rang out in his mind questioningly. “Yeah I think I read somewhere that some rare members of this species could use telepathy.” Jun replied, a little wary of outright lying to a pokémon version of an empath, except that they could actually sense emotions.
Jun refocused on his surroundings and crouch-walked in a direction opposite of where the previous Blipbug had fled, just to reduce the odds of meeting the same one.
Blipbug after Blipbug were examined and released, after roughly 20 catches and releases, Jun and Gardevoir left the tall grass for a break. Jun’s thighs were killing him from half crouching all morning and the weather has really earned up as the midday sun bore down on the duo.
As they settled down at the edge of the meadow for lunch, Jun took the chance to review the distribution of the 23 Blipbugs he had managed to examine. 11 were female and 12 were male, 8 had the Compound Eyes ability while the rest had Swarm. They all ranged between levels 2-5. To be honest, he wasn't sure that this information was even with writing down, considering the paltry sample size, but science had to begin somewhere, maybe this information would prove useful later on.
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After a half hour lunch break, Jun decided to get back to it, hours passed. The fierce midday sun slowly dipped, casting golden hues over the landscape, and the joy of discovery began to dull. Jun had examined over sixty Blipbugs by now, each revealed as either Swarm or Compound Eyes. The faint hope that one of them might possess the rare telepathy ability fizzled away like a candle in the wind.
“Okay, Gardevoir, let’s call it a day,” he sighed, glancing toward his partner. “We should head back, regroup, and get some supplies. Tomorrow’s another chance.”
With a soft nod, Gardevoir gestured to the path back to the lake by Route 2, Professor Magnolia had graciously granted them permission to use that site as a campground, as well as access to the amenities of the lab for the duration of their stay. As they retraced their steps, Jun reconsidered the difficulty of his self imposed task. However he wouldn't give up so easily, he had waited patiently for 15 years to find his first partner, there was no way he was giving up after a single day.
The following days merged into one long pursuit, with Jun returning to Route 1 and then venturing into Route 2, the air thick with anticipation each time he stepped into the foliage. The vibrant wild Pokémon around him gave life to his efforts, their playful antics momentarily drawing his attention as he plucked another listless Blipbug from the undergrowth.
“Nope.” he muttered under his breath, releasing yet another Blipbug that bore Compound Eyes. Gardevoir’s gentle presence provided him with the mental fortitude he needed to keep pushing forward, even when the dregs of fatigue began to seep in.
"Jun, focus," he whispered to himself, inhaling deeply, letting the crisp Galar air fill his lungs like a refreshing tonic. "This is the life you chose and the target you chose, I guess this is the truest facet of field research, just endless recordings of data. I haven't even started on the task yet but I'm already getting the full field researcher experience."
On the ninth day, exhaustion was creeping in, a gnawing emptiness in his belly that begged for a proper meal and a soft bed. Not only physically either, the endless field with Wooloo rolling across that so captivated him a week ago now felt almost like his prison, the playful Nicket’s vulpine laugh that would lift his mood a few days back now just felt like mockery. He flopped down under a tree, resting his back against its bark. Gardevoir sat primly down beside him, her eyes scanning the surroundings.
Suddenly, a Gardevoir stiffened then leapt to her feet, catching him off guard. “What is it?” Jun jolted to attention, eyes scanning the surroundings for danger. ‘I can sense it, the mind of a bug reaching out.’ Gardevoir whispered in his mind breathily, betraying her excitement.
Gardevoir fixed her eyes intently on something in the distance, and opened up her telepathic bond with Jun for just a moment. A tingling pull echoed in his mind, almost as if it was a weak cry for attention.
“Is that what I think it is?” Jun asked, heart racing.
Gardevoir nodded, grabbing his hands and floating forward urgently. He followed Gardevoir deeper into a secluded patch of grass, surrounded by wildflowers swaying gently in the breeze.
There, nestled among the roots of the vibrant blooms, Jun spotted it. A newly hatched Blipbug, no larger than his palm, its yellow and gray body still glittering with fluid, its two comically large silver eyes shone like rare jewels. And, just as he had hoped, a faint spark of connection radiated from the creature.
Jun knelt down, heart full of hope as he extended his hand. The Blipbug looked up, its oversized head tilting with curiosity, unafraid, but cautious. “It’s okay little one,” he cooed gently, feeling the presence of Gardevoir behind him. “I’m not here to harm you. I’ve been searching for a Blipbug just like you.”
The Blipbug’s thoughts fluttered in his mind like gentle leaves caught in a breeze. ‘Lost…’ it seemed to convey, ‘Alone.’
“Alone?” Jun repeated, pain sparking in his heart for the little creature that had just come into the world. “You don’t have to be alone anymore. I'm going to be here for you.” He slowly moved to scoop the Blipbug into his palm, careful not to agitate it further.
Even though it was obvious that this Blipbug had telepathy, Jun still reflexively opened his SystemDex to double check.
Pokemon: Blipbug
Ability: Telepathy
Gender: Male
Level: 1
Moves: Struggle Bug, Sticky Web
The tiny bug relaxed in his grip, and at that moment, he felt something magical happen. The bond between trainer and Pokémon grew tangible, bug type energy coursed between them, bright and powerful.
His SystemDex blinked rapidly and stilled, his character page had finally changed and with it came a whole new section, he filed that away and reminded himself to check that out later before refocusing on the tiny pokémon cradled in his arms.
Jun grinned from ear to ear. “I knew you were out there! Welcome to the team.”
Making his way back to his modest campsite, Jun couldn't put the little Blipbug down. All his life, he had yearned for this moment, to finally have a partner to share his journey with.
The next day was filled with relaxation, they had simply existed together, reveling in the joy of newfound companionship. The little one’s telepathy had made their bond even deeper; a simple word or emotion in Jun’s mind would be reflected back, creating a dialogue that flourished without uttering a single spoken word, and so, he lovingly named the Blipbug Echo. When Jun whispered, “Let’s explore,” Echo responded with an exuberant mental echo, ‘Explore, explore!’
It was a language all their own, one woven from threads of trust and affection.
With the prospect of leaving the serene lakeside to finally begin his true task in Galar looming ahead, Jun decided postponing Echo's training, after all, the little bug had only recently hatched, and Jun’s primary focus was ensuring his little friend received the best possible nutrition to grow strong. And so, when he heard about the bustling farmer’s market in Turffield, Jun felt an irresistible pull.
Turffield burst with life that day, vendors peddling an array of colorful berries and fresh produce, the air heavy with sweetness. Jun navigated through the crowds, a sparkle in his eyes as he held Echo securely in his hands. The little Blipbug trembled with anticipation, sending pulses of excitement through their shared consciousness.
“Look, Echo! There are so many berries!” Jun pointed to a stall overflowing with an array of vibrant colors.
‘Berries, berries!’ Echo replied, relishing the thought as he wriggled anxiously.
Jun carefully selected various berries, paying close attention to Echo’s reactions. They sampled sweet, juicy Razz berries that Echo was ambivalent to but made Gardevoir practically hum with delight. When they nibbled on a Petaya berry, Jun gasped when Echo reacted almost theatrically.
‘Fire, Fire!’ Echo screamed in Jun’s mind, causing Jun to erupt in laughter as he placed the spicy berry down immediately. Gardevoir gave the half eaten berry a sniff, then turned away in distaste.
“Okay, no more of those! What about this?” Jun picked up a Salac berry, tempted by its sweet and sour scent.
‘Yum, yum!’ came the eager chorus from Echo. His little antennae twitched with delight as he took a bite, and Jun beamed at the sight. In that moment, they had created a joyful ritual of discovery, one that would fuel Echo’s training in the days to come.
With a small basket filled with their snacks, filled with tons of fresh Salac berries, as both Echo and Gardevoir seemed to quite enjoy the taste, Jun headed back to camp, excitement and exhaustion thrumming in his veins.