Embarking on their adventure without a single hitch, Noah and Riolu enthusiastically plunged into the depths of the Viridian Forest, their spirits soaring.

 

Riolu took to his training vest like a seasoned warrior, practically bounding ahead of Noah, who was struggling to keep pace.

 

Noah decided to give the training vest a shot too, but a mere 10 minutes into wearing it, he was gasping for air and drenched in sweat.

 

Yet, he persisted, unwilling to throw in the towel, especially after seeing Riolu’s display.

 

The number of trainers they encountered started to thin out as they approached the ominous Diglet’s Cave, and any Trainer battles that presented themselves were swiftly accepted. Riolu, unfazed by the added weight of his training vest, dominated his opponents with little effort. Their Pokemon didn’t stand a chance against his sheer ferocity.

 

By the time they’d arrived, he’d earned(beaten down and stolen) 50000 Pokedollars from the many trainer’s he’d defeated. Seriously, why don’t people just do this as a career? Noah wondered as he marveled at the 50000 Pokedollars add to his card. Maybe this is why Red was so rich.

 

The sky was veering into twilight, and for the first time since embarking on this Pokemon journey, Noah noticed Riolu displaying signs of fatigue.

 

Sweat glistened on his fur, and his usually sturdy legs trembled subtly. It didn’t matter whether the weariness was a result of the vest or the constant battling; either way, it was an eye-opening sight.

 

Deciding to take a breather, they camped out for the night at the entrance of the Diglet’s Cave, preparing themselves for the journey to Pewter City come morning.

 

 

 

The night passed without incident. Waking up, Noah’s muscles screamed in agony, tempting him to collapse back onto the ground.

 

Riolu, on the other hand, was already up and active. Somewhat comically, he was navigating through the forest with his training vest still on, all while attempting bicep curls using a pair of dumbbells.

 

Actually, I have no idea on how to use these. Noah thought. For all I know, Riolu might be using them to their maximum efficiency.

 

Munching on a bun from the PokeMart, Noah watched Riolu complete his workout. He offered a similar bun to his partner before they set off to explore the dark, musty, and incredibly humid cave.

 

The cave was musty, humid and very, very dark. He could barely see in here, much less know where he was going.

 

The cave was crawling with Pokemon. Geodudes camouflaged among rocks, Zubats clustered upside-down across the ceiling, and Diglet, the main star of this cave, was everywhere. From the entrance of the cave all the way to the end, Noah had to use everything in his power to not step on a Diglet.

 

Riolu, on the other hand, had no trouble avoiding the many threats and obstacles. He held Noah’s hand, guiding him directly to the exit of the cave.

 

Attacks were frequent, but Riolu had no problem. In fact, the entire cave had practically been catered to him. A fighting type that could sense subtle waves that essentially provided him a sixth sense that was particularly useful in a dark cave filled with Rock and Ground types.

 

“Aura sensing sure is a useful skill, huh.” Noah muttered as they finally reached the cave’s exit, welcomed by the beckoning light of day.

 

Stepping out onto a hillside, they were greeted by the sprawling expanse of Pewter City. Smaller than Viridian City but no less captivating, its countless glass panels reflected sunlight, making the city shimmer like a colossal lightbulb in the distance.

 

Without missing a beat, they made a beeline for Pewter City. Passing through security with a flash of their IDs, they immediately headed to the Pokemon Center for some much-needed R&R. Despite its resemblance to the one in Viridian City, Noah still found himself in awe at its gargantuan size.

 

While waiting for Riolu to be healed, Noah perused some of the infographics on display, gleaning a few interesting nuggets of information.

 

Trainers with IDs didn’t get special treatment, as the Pokemon Centers were primarily run by the Pokemon Association. The League had simply mandated their services to be available for all.

 

But one line at the end of the infographic struck a chord.

 

What is your reason to become a Pokemon Trainer?

 

It was a banal, almost cheesy question, yet it prompted him to introspect. Why am I even doing this? he pondered, his eyes glazing over. Initially, joining the Pokemon League had seemed like the natural path in a world obsessed with Gym Badges and tournaments. But was it his true calling?

 

Battling was fun, more fun than anything he’d ever done, but that was too vague. If he became a criminal, he’d probably have the chance to battle more as compared to a law-abiding trainer. Maybe becoming a Pokemon Hunter would be better, even granting him more money along even more battles to experience.

 

He was in an dilemma, he couldn’t come up with a reason. He had no reason.

 

Lost in a maze of uncertainty, Noah found himself at an impasse. “What should I do?” he murmured, biting his lip, a nervous habit he’d developed as a child.

 

The sound of a beep jolted him back to reality. He ambled over to the reception desk to retrieve Riolu, who was fully healed and raring to go.

 

As they strolled down Pewter City’s bustling streets, Noah’s thoughts still swirled in turmoil. The allure of becoming a Pokemon Hunter tugged at him, promising fortune and countless battles. after all, Poachers in a world of mystical beasts seemed like the most profitable business.

 

Yet, his life had always been guided by a moral compass, making such a choice feel inherently wrong

 

He sighed, he always laughed when other people contemplated their life choices, but now that it was his turn, it wasn’t all that enjoyable.

 

Riolu watched Noah with eyes filled with concern. He sensed Noah’s emotional tumult but was unsure how to console him.

 

Noah rarely opened up, preferring to wrestle with his issues in solitude. However, Riolu felt that it was time to break that pattern.