The Start of a Journey

———————-

[A Boat heading toward Kanto]

Currently on a boat sprawled out on the top deck watching the drifting clouds move by one by one a fairly tall youth with sharp features had but a dazed expression on his face. It is none other than our protagonist.

He is currently murmuring "How did it end up like this?"

———————

[Flash back 10 days ago]

Lan: Hey Old Man does Uncle Norman still have that Baltoy?

Professor Birch: Yeah ever since he came over and saw that you and your exercising in its gravity field he has asked me to use it every day for training his gym. I would forget sometimes and would get an annoyed call when that happened. So I just let him keep it there so I wouldn't forget to drop it off"

Lan: "Ughh I guess that s alright I just wanted to find something to do and I haven't seen it in a while."

Professor Birch: "Hey Lan I have something that you might be able to help me out with."

Lan: <sigh> mumbling "Do I have a choice? You always leave me to complete everything else around here why you run off into the forest in the name of your new research"

Prof. Birch: "Huh? Lan, did you say something?"

Lan: "…"

Prof. Birch "Okay then it is settled go grab your bag and pack it with a couple days of clothes"

Lan: <sigh> and walks upstairs

Meanwhile

Prof. Birch: 'This should help him come out of his shell' 'He is always talkative around the lab but once he is outside he keeps to himself' …<smirk>… 'now just how am I deal with that little girl May after sending him away on a journey?' A chill went down his spine.

————————-

[Lan POV]

He told me just to " pack a couple of days worth of clothes" "That was a complete understatement."

"Now I am being shipped to Kanto to deliver some eggs to a fellow colleague of that Old Man. Apparently, he is supposed to be one of the best league champions. But knowing Birch said that I really don't know what to believe."

"He also told me to help see what is going on with the Breeding facilities of the starters in the Kanto region. They are having the same shortage problem that we faced a couple of years ago".…...

'I guess that's enough worrying for today…. Now that I have no current responsibilities I should try to catch up on some much-needed sleep'

Closing my eyes and enjoy the sea breeze blowing my hair creating a comfortable atmosphere.

***Buzz*** ***Buzz*** ***Buzz *** ***Click***

Lan: "Hello ?"

May: "Lan!!!!! Why didn't you say anything to me about you leaving on a journey??!?!?! I am going to kill that Old Man!!"

Lan: "…" ***Gulp*** I got the goosebumps

May: "Just remember to call okay?!!!"

Lan: "Sure"

***Click***

"…"

Lan: ' May has gotten so loud over the years. She used to to be quiet and cute little girl and now she is just like her mother at 11 years old.' Shiver….

'Time for me to sleep'

...

…

…

Zzzzz

_________________

***Honk****

***Honk***

PA system: "Dear Passengers please pack up your belongings we will be arriving in vermillion city in twenty minutes. We thank you for choosing the S.S. Alexa which comes from the courtesy of United Seas Business Corp."

Lan woke up and started to gather his gear he had organized with this journey. It consisted of a leather expedition backpack, Researcher's identification card, 1500 poke dollars three sets of clothes (t-shirts, athletic pants, underwear), small wilderness survival gear, knife and a couple packages of compressed biscuits and a canteen of water.

Disembarking from the ferry he was greeted with a large port that hosted many different shipping and causing vessels. There were many bird Pokemon in the sky and many different water Pokemon swimming along with the boats. There was a tremendous amount of Magikarp and other fish.

The sky was very bright blue and the reflection of the sun on the water started to hurt his eyes. Lan looked around in order to find a place where he needed to check a map or transportation service to get to his destination. Lan then say a large building at the entrance of the bustling port.

…

Lan walked into the door of the building. There were many sailors sitting at the bar while it looked like their captains were off somewhere processing shipments. He looked around the lobby and found a help counter in the off corner next to an extremely large map of the region.

Lan walked up to the window and rang the bell. A petite woman came out from the back with a bright smile. She said, "Hello my name is Mary what can I help you with?"

Lan: " Hello Mary, my name is Lan this is my first time in the Kanto region and I was wondering if you could help me find a way to a research town called Pallet Town?"

Mary: " Ooooo , yeah I know the place it is where Professor Oak has his lab. He his our regions most famous researcher!!!! I love his granddaughter's competitions!! She is my Idol. I am trying to do enroll in all the beginner contests here. But I can't afford to travel and that's why I am here."

Lan rubbing his temples from how loud Mary was excitedly speaking.

Lan: " Umm yeah that is the place"

Mary: " Alright yeah so I can't help you"

Lan: "Excuse me ?"

Mary: "It is not that I don't want to help …it's that I can't. I just paused there for a dramatic effect. Did it work?"

Speechless Lan helplessly nodded his head in confirmation

Mary continued "You see Vermillion City is this region's main shipping hub so its main transportation line focuses on ships. There are no real ground transport companies here."

Lan immediately frowned and was quite puzzled.

Mary: " Even though we don't have a ground transport hub. There are many caravans that come from bigger cities such as Saffron and such. You might be able to find a transport there. I know there are Saffron there is an air service where you have Pokemon fly in a group to the next city but you need to be quite rich for that. I personally recommend for you to find one of the many small goods caravan that goes from here to Saffron City for shipments. They are usually waiting to leave at the northern gates of the city."

Lan let out a sigh in relief and said " Thanks Mary that is very helpful."

Mary: " No Problem. That's my job" while giving Lan a thumbs up.

Lan turned to leave and waved " Okay see you later good luck with your contests"

Mary: "Thanks don't forget to watch me on TV in the future!!"

Lan left and headed to the north gate. He thought to himself 'She was so loud and had so much energy it gave me a headache. She was really nice though'

...

Lan arrived at the northern gate where he waited for a while leaning against a post. About an hour later he saw an empty cart driven by an elderly man who had hooked two large bull Pokemon to the front of it.

???: "Hey young man are you in need of a ride?"

Lan looked around to see If he was talking to me and confirming that no one else was waiting around the gate he responded "Yes I am Sir"

???: " I have room if ya want it"

Lan: "Sure sounds good were you heading?"

???: "Ooo aren't we an eager one. Well, my family ranch is near viridian city. My name is James by the way, my friends just call me Old J."

Lan "Sure I can pay you if needed. I am headed that way also."

Old J: " Well why don't we discuss it later. I want to get home in a couple weeks so hop on.

Lan jumped up on the wooden cart and sat up front with Old J.

Old J: "Let's go Ole Blop and Bon" while snapping his whip at the two Pokemon who just grunted and started to pull the cart along the road.

Old J "Well just relax now we will be cutting past Saffron and camping outside that city. I'll wake you up when we arrive so you can help set me up camp and all those small things"

Lan smiling and looking up at the clear sky started to relax and drift to sleep.