Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Into the Unknown
I pushed my sneakers hard into the dirt, feeling the crunch beneath my feet as I walked. Pallet Town was already behind me, just a speck on the horizon now, and the forest ahead stretched endlessly. The trees loomed like silent sentinels, the afternoon sunlight cutting through their branches and casting long, flickering shadows on the path.
A faint breeze stirred, ruffling my hair, and I stopped right where the road met the treeline. My fingers found the edge of Bulbasaur's Pokéball, the smooth surface cold against my palm. I held it there, the weight of it heavier than it had any right to be, like a reminder of all that lay ahead.
"Alright," I muttered, taking a deep breath. "Here we go."
With a flick of my wrist, the Pokéball snapped open with a sharp click, the red light beaming out and materializing into the familiar, squat form of Bulbasaur. The little Grass-type blinked up at me, wide-eyed and curious. I could almost see the question in his gaze: 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘣𝘰𝘴𝘴?
I couldn't help but smirk. "Let's see where you're at, little guy."
I swiped my hand in the air, activating the invisible menu only I could see—a perk of being transmigrated, I guess. The glowing stats flickered to life before me: 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘭, 𝘛𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦.
I frowned, my brows pulling tight. "Not exactly champion material, are we?"
Bulbasaur cocked his head, his tail twitching slightly, as if sensing my thoughts.
"Well," I said, rubbing my chin. "I could push you into evolving into Ivysaur right now, but that's reckless. Evolving too early could get us killed. We need some experience first."
I glanced through the holographic list of moves Bulbasaur could learn, my finger hovering over 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘱. It was a simple choice, nothing fancy, but it was practical.
"Let's go with this," I muttered, and tapped to confirm.
Bulbasaur just stared up at me, blinking, like nothing had happened. I crossed my arms, waiting for… well, something. A flash of light, a sound effect, anything.
Nothing.
I scratched my head. "Wait. Shouldn't something happen?"
"Bulba?" He tilted his head, his eyes mirroring my confusion.
I let out a sharp breath and slumped onto the ground, running a hand through my hair. "You've got to be kidding me. I'm in another world, with cheat abilities no less, and I can't even get a decent light show out of this?"
Bulbasaur tilted his head the other way, offering a soft "Bulba" like he was mocking me.
I threw my hands up in frustration. "Unbelievable."
Pulling myself to my feet, I brushed the dirt off my jeans and nodded toward Bulbasaur. "Fine. Try using Vine Whip."
I didn't expect much, not after that pathetic lack of fanfare, but to my surprise, two slender green vines shot out from Bulbasaur's sides, slicing through the air with a sharp crack.
My eyes widened, a grin tugging at my lips. "Alright, not bad. Not flashy, but it works."
I folded my arms and studied Bulbasaur. No magical auras, no over-the-top transformation scenes like I'd seen in anime. This wasn't some fantasy. It was real.
"Guess this isn't a game after all," I muttered, a new fire lighting inside me. I nodded to Bulbasaur, determination setting in. "Alright, we've got work to do. Time to hit the forest."
We turned and headed into the trees, the shadows growing darker, more ominous with every step. My mind churned with strategy. I wasn't like Ash, with his overpowered Pikachu. I wasn't Gary either, with his Squirtle and smug grin. No, I had to play smarter, faster. Bulbasaur and I had catching up to do, and we didn't have time to waste.
As we walked, my thoughts drifted. This world was familiar yet different. The anime had shown it as so clean, so simple. But here… everything was raw, sharp, real. The bark of the trees was rough beneath my fingers when I reached out to touch it. I could hear the faint rustle of Pokémon hidden in the underbrush, the sound of the wind tugging at the leaves.
"This is no cartoon," I muttered, more to myself than to Bulbasaur. "We're in the thick of it now."
The further we ventured into the woods, the quieter it became. The sunlight struggled to break through the canopy, casting everything in dim, greenish light. My grip on Bulbasaur's Pokéball tightened. This place wasn't just peaceful; it was tense, like something was lurking just out of sight.
"We're close to Viridian City," I said, my voice low. "Once we get there, we'll stock up, maybe hit a few wild battles. We need to toughen you up."
Bulbasaur let out a low growl, his wide eyes scanning the shadows. He was ready, I could feel it. This world didn't scare him.
Suddenly, a rustle in the bushes to our left caught my attention. My hand snapped to the Pokéball at my side, ready for a fight. "Stay sharp, Bulbasaur."
A wild Rattata darted out from the underbrush, its tiny fangs bared as it charged toward us.
"Vine Whip!" I commanded.
Bulbasaur reacted instantly. The vines whipped through the air, cracking down on the Rattata with brutal precision. The wild Pokémon yelped and rolled back into the underbrush, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as it had come.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding, adrenaline still pulsing through my veins. "Not bad," I said, looking down at Bulbasaur. He was panting slightly but stood tall, his eyes locked on the spot where the Rattata had vanished.
"We'll have more of that soon enough," I muttered. "But we need to be smart about it. Viridian City's where we'll regroup."
We started walking again, the forest closing in behind us, the shadows lengthening as the sun dipped lower in the sky. But despite the growing darkness, I felt a renewed sense of purpose burning inside me.
This wasn't some anime I could watch from the safety of my couch. This was real. And I wasn't just another ten-year-old trainer. I had an edge, and I was going to use it.
"We're just getting started," I said under my breath, glancing down at Bulbasaur. "Let's show this world what we can do."
Bulbasaur growled softly in agreement, and together, we marched forward into the forest, leaving behind the last remnants of Pallet Town and stepping into the unknown.
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