Serena's POV

"So are you two ready?" Amanda, the blonde assistant asks.

We've spent all morning buying supplies. Or getting I guess. President Triton gave us a special card to use while we're in Elemente to buy anything we need. Which was very nice of him.

"You bet," Ash and I smile at each other. "President Triton said to go to the Normal District first as a trial run. Then we can go wherever."

"That makes sense," She nods. "It's a straight road to New Oldton, where the leader resides."

"I can't wait!" Ash cheers in his usual outfit, dark pants, blue short-sleeved jacket, and red and white ballcap. He has a brand new green backpack on filled with supplies.

I decided to keep my pink backpack, also now filled with supplies. Apparently Elemente's cities are never too far from each other so we don't need to pack too heavy.

Amanda leads us presumably to the gate of the Normal District. Sounds and colours of the city surround us while we walk on the sidewalk. A crisp autumn breeze blows down the street, nearly taking my pink fedora with it.

Everyone walks around with business attire, usually a briefcase or coffee in their hand. Weird thing is that there's no Pokemon in sight. I think the only ones I've seen are Pikachu, riding Ash's shoulder of course, and a couple Furfrou.

A big white high-rise stands before us, a six-pointed emblem stuck on the side. "This is it," Amanda gestures to the building. "Your access is linked to your Pokedex so whenever you come to a gate like this the guards will scan it and let you through."

"Great," We walk through the huge doorway and scan our Pokedexes at the counter.

"You may pass," A gruff guard mumbles trough his thick mustache.

"Have a good trip guys," The blonde assistant waves. "I'll be waiting to see your battle on tv!"

"Thanks!" We wave back and turn towards the exit. There's no door, just a big gateway leading to an asphalt path.

A map catches my eyes and I walk up to it. "New Oldton," I trace my finger along the path to what looks like a big white square on the map.

"There isn't much past it," Ash notes and I nod.

There's only one other village on the map which is considerably smaller and very far into the district. Probably not worth walking all the way there.

"Let's go," I grab Ash's hand and pull him towards the exit. "It doesn't look far so we should be able to get there by dinner."

"See you there," Ash smirks and lets go of my hand, sprinting forward.

"No you don't," I run after the raven-haired trainer.

Green's POV

"I guess the forest is quiet in the morning," I say to Litleo while we walk through Maple Forest. "I was hoping to catch a least one Pokemon in here."

"Ideally a flying type because that would be a huge help with finding a certain trainer who is probably lost right now."

I forgot how dense and dark this forest was. Maybe the lack of foot traffic is allowing it to close up more. The green of the leafy trees makes everything look the same. There could be tons of Pokemon everywhere but just in the trees and completely hidden.

"We should probably do some training at some point too Litleo. I don't really know what I want to do but I know my Dad will be expecting me to challenge the Leaders in each district."

"I wish he'd understand that his battling child is Winter, not me."

"You're a good listener Litleo."

"Leo!" He smiles at me from below and I chuckle.

"Starly!" A Pokemon chirps and dives by us. It lands on the path ahead, a confident glint in its big beady eyes.

It's one of the more standard flying type bird Pokemon. Occasionally they roost in Maple Village.

"Okay Litleo," It runs ahead of me. "Use Tackle!"

The brown lion cub lunges forward but Starly flies up. The trees keep it low but out of Litleo's reach.

It starts brewing up a Gust attack, blowing leaves and a huge burst of air towards Litleo.

Litleo stands his ground as dirt from the path blows into it. "Stop it with Ember!"

Litleo's red tuff of fur on its head glows as little bursts of flames are breathed out. Starly stops its attack and tries to dodge but not in time.

Fire engulfs Starly and it falls to the forest floor. "Good job Litleo now Tackle!"

Starly had no defense and took Litleo's attack hard. It rolls along the ground until stopping in a motionless heap. 

I quickly find a Pokeball in my bag. "Go pokeball!"

With impeccable aim, the red and white sphere encapsulates Starly. I nervously watch it bobble before it completes the capture. "We did it!" 

I pull Litleo into my arms, giving the warm Pokemon a big hug. 

After letting him down, I pick up Starly's pokeball and release it as well. "Welcome to the team," I greet.

"Star," It shoots up a wing, content with the capture.

That was an easy first battle.

But I guess who would lose to a wild Starly?

Gold's POV

"This is a change," I note as the dirt path becomes gravel.

We camped out in the grassy plains following the forest, but the route didn't go very far before becoming a well manicured and fenced in path. "Route 12," I read off a sign.

"The path is completely fenced off," I note to Eevee. "Looks like it's going to be a pretty easy walk to Oldton or wherever Cedar told us to go."

After a minute or two along the path, it comes to a fork. "Hmm," I look down both paths.

Both are asphalt, with stone brick fences lining the way. One goes straight towards a mountain while the other seems to head back into a forest area.

"Okay Eevee what way?" 

She looks at me from my shoulder, her head tilted.

"Yea I don't know either," I shrug. "Let's go right towards the forest,  I'm sure they both go to the same place."

The sun beats down as we walk along the road, the asphalt making sort of a heat bubble. Good thing it's breezy today to help cool us off. Every so often a lamp post goes by, the only indication we're getting anywhere. 

The wide grassy plains are nice scenery but it sucks that we're confined to this path. Apparently Elemente loves to put up walls between things.

After a couple hours of walking I notice the tree line of the forest creep closer to the path. Soon, the asphalt is replaced by gravel and the path is a mess of broken stone bricks and lamp posts.

I slow my pace and carefully step around the debris. A tree blocks the middle of the path so I have to squeeze by between the fence and the trunk.

"At least it's shady," I comment as the man-made path persists but is completely overgrown.

"Woah."

A town, or what is left of a town, was on the other side of the trees blocking the path.

What used to be the town's gravel pathways are overgrown with grass, leading to farms full of weeds. There's a couple of obviously abandoned wooden houses along the way as well. Some are even missing chunks of the roof or wall.

"I guess that was a Pokemon Center?" I point to one with a faded red stripe around the building.

The door was missing so we walk right in. "Nope," I say and turn right around.

I don't do creepy dark buildings.

We follow what's left of the path around town. In the centre is a giant sinkhole I'm staying well away from. It's already taken a few houses into it so I'm sure it could erode further at any moment.

I'm guessing that's why the town was abandoned.

"The Oldton Pokeball factory," We make it to a grey warehouse. The door wavers in the wind, inviting us in. "It wouldn't hurt to see if there's any free pokeballs laying around."

I carefully push open the door and surprisingly the building still has electricity. Some of the overhead fluorescent lights are still working. Some of the concrete is cracked but otherwise the inside doesn't look too bad.

It's a pretty standard warehouse, with conveyor belts, some tables, and weird machines. Everything is covered in dust so it's all been here awhile.

"What's this?" I see a water tank at the end of the building. It has all sorts of levers and buttons on the wall beside it.

"Eevee!" The Pokemon points to the tank, more specifically a shiny object that floats inside.

"That's a master ball!" I exclaim. "Who would leave that behind?"

I study the tank and the multitude of pipes extending from it. A maze of pipework that must've been constructed by the least efficient person in the planet surrounds the tank. I do notice one that seems to spit out into a sink.

"If we can get the ball to that exit," I move to the wall of levers.

Thankfully the pipes are clear so I'll be able to see it move through. However, the levers aren't labelled to know what junction it controls.

"Okay what's the best way to do this?" I stare at the levers.

Eevee jumps up and nails one of them, causing a junction to open. Water starts to flood the corresponding pipe, taking the master ball with it. We watch it move until it hits a dead end.

"Go again," I shrug and Eevee hits another lever, causing a similar reaction.

Eevee continues hitting levers while I watch the pipes. Suddenly, water starts to flow out into the sink. "You did it!" I high-five Eevee's tail and collect our prize from the sink.

The purple ball with two magenta spots feels heavy in my hand. It has the ability to catch any Pokemon without fail. Gonna have to make sure I save it for the right moment.

"There's something else," I pull a silver key out of the sink. "Leap of faith," I read the inscription.

Eevee and I lock eyes and then look towards the door. "There's no way," I mutter.

I hate to say it but there's only one thing in this town I can imagine 'leaping' into.

We step out of the factory and creep closer to the sinkhole. The cliffs are mostly stone, with some topsoil dripping down into the pit. It looks very deep, and is way too steep to climb down. I can make out pieces of wood and stone from fallen buildings.

But then I saw my biggest fear, something that was purposely built down there. A little stone brick structure that surrounds a tunnel opening. Just like a pipe.

Beside it is a pool of water, a small glimpse of blue among the rock. "Oh boy."

I pull out the map Professor Cedar drafted and sure enough the path we followed led us towards a marked location. "Our first legendary is likely down there," I can hear how shaky my voice is. "You should get in your pokeball Eevee."

She shakes her head and jumps on my shoulder. "Okay we do this together."

I run to the side of the sinkhole closest to the water. It does look deep but it's hard to tell. I'm trusting the signs the universe is telling me to jump down there, but there's really no verifying until we do it.

It's either death or facing a legendary with my Eevee and Zorua. Lose lose situation.

I take a couple steps back, adjust my hat, take a deep breath, and run forward...

"AHHHHHHHHH!" I scream the whole way down, hoping my trajectory was right.

I hang on tight to Eevee and my hat while air rushes by us.

The water gets closer and closer until I close my eyes, not able to watch it anymore.

I've never wanted wet clothes more in my life.

Air stops flying by us but I don't feel any water.

I don't actually feel anything but Eevee in my arms.

This must be what death feels like.

Hello distortion world.

"Vee," Her yelp causes me to open my eyes.

"We're floating?" I take in the stone brick tunnel, dimly lit but not completely dark.

My feet hit the ground with a thud as we suddenly stop floating.

"Well that was kind of ideal," I laugh as the panic starts to fade away. My heart is still pounding though.

I guide us down the long tunnel until reaching a set of stairs. We climb up until coming back out into sunlight.

"Ah that feels great," I breathe in the freshest air I've ever breathed as the sun hits my face. We came up in a literal paradise with beautiful flowers, lush trees, and a sparkling stream.

A few Pokemon are running around but most have stopped to stare at us.

"Human," A low voice interrupts the peace.

I look all around the secluded area but can't find the source of the voice. 

Until I feel a presence behind me and come face to face with a Pokemon.

A scary looking Pokemon that looks like a red pyramid with legs and a giant ring on its back.

"Volcanion."