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Jon Lastaire

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"Hm" Jon said as he came over the hill. Volatus City rose before him. It filled all of his vision. The buildings rose as high as he could crane his head back. It stretched as far he could see. The mountains were no boundary, either. Buildings coming from, or dug into the mountain sides and cliff faces. It was the greatest of mankind's achievements in the area, and Jon had longed to see it for years. Now that he was here, the words were hard to find. He just exhaled, smiling wide. "Some city, eh, Jinn?" He turned to his companion. The Ralts cocked his head inquisitively, before seeming to nod in agreement. He didn't know if the Pokemon was reading his thoughts and emotions, or if it actually understood his speech. He supposed it didn't matter.

He frowned. He could tell Jinn was tired, but he hadn't brought any Pokeballs along. Then, an idea came to him. He picked his companion up and placed him in his backpack, thankful that his uncle had chosen to give him such a small Pokemon. Then, he started towards where he thought the Pokemon Center was. He knew that he must look pretty strange. The boy in travel-stained clothes, carrying a Ralts in his backpack.

He also knew that he didn't really care.

Leisy couldn’t help a grin as the train came to a stop, the voice over the intercom announcing that they’d arrived at Volatus City. Well, here we are, Leisy thought, looking down at her pokeball. Her Charmander, Dei, was inside the capsule, and the simple press of a button would allow him to be released. Leisy’s fingers trembled in anticipation of releasing her pokemon again, but transportation regulation stated pokemon must be kept within their capsules at all times.

Stepping off the train, Leisy took a deep breath of the cold air, savoring the almost-minty feeling. She’d never been to the capital city, but looking around, Leisy could see why it was called such. Buildings raced against each other to touch the clouds above, and the faint outline of towering grey mountains in the distance spoke of mysteries to be unraveled.

Leisy examined her city map on her pokedex to find out where the nearest pokecenter was. Take a left, then pass an intersection, Leisy thought, walking quickly away from the train station. It’ll be on the left, right next to a pokemart.

The grin stayed on Leisy’s face as she pressed the white button in the middle of her pokeball, the red beam that emitted from it coalescing into the familiar form of her Charmander.

”Dei, you ready?”

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@bayaz

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"I'd like one Pokedex, please." Jon said, nervously looking at his wallet. He'd come to the Pokemon center to ensure that Ralts got healed up, but he also needed a Pokedex. "How much is that going to run me?" He looked into the blank eyes of shopkeeper. He had never before met someone so bored.

"It's free, sir." She said, pulling a device out from under the counter and handing it to him.

"Woah. Really?"

"Every trainer is entitled to one."

"Sweet!" Then he looked at the device. It was entirely foreign. He had no idea how to even turn it on. "Excuse me, but how do yo-"

"Next!" She called, loudly. Jon sighed and got out of line. The Pokecenter was surprisingly empty, for as big a city as this was, but Jon had never seen so many people at once. He began to sweat nervously as he tried to figure out the contraption. Jinn poked his head out of Jon's backpack and began to inquisitively gaze at passers-by.

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@Dusksong

Leisy was idly scrolling through the information stored inside the pokedex when she heard the shopkeeper cut off a customer after handing him a pokedex in order to get the line moving along faster. Looking up, she spotted a brown-haired boy who was looking down at his pokedex with what seemed like a confused expression.

”Hey, did you need help?” Leisy asked the boy. ”Shopkeepers in cities are usually crunched for time, so you’ll have to get used to them being rude,” Leisy said, offering the boy a friendly smile. ”So, did you want to ask something about the pokedex? My parents helped design some of its functions, so maybe I can help?”

A red-and-blue head popped out of the boy’s backpack, startling Leisy. A grin stretched over Leisy’s face after she recovered. ”Oh, are you a trainer too?” she asked, before rolling her eyes at herself. ”Of course you are—you have a pokedex. I mean how long have you been a trainer?” Leisy’s smile grew sheepish as she fidgeted with the pokedex in her hands. ”I just started today, so I’m sorta new, but...”

Leisy paused, looking at the boy again with wide eyes. ”Are you a new trainer too? If you just got your pokedex?” The grin on her face brightened again when Leisy realized that she’d found a fellow newbie. ”I’m Leisy Meagher,” Leisy said, sticking out a hand as she nodded to the Charmander at her side, ”and this is my starter, Dei. He’s a Charmander.”

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@bayaz

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Jon Lastaire

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Jon tried interjecting multiple times to answer her questions, but she seemed to follow up every question with another question.

"I-"

"Well-"

"Not-"

Finally, he gave up and just let her finish. When she appeared to be done, he chuckled a bit. "Jon. Jon Lastaire." He said, before pointing a thumb at his backpack. "There in the backpack is Jinn. He's a Ralts, and my starter. My uncle game him to me." Jinn cocked his head at the mention of his name before nodding at the girl. He shook her offered hand. "It's a pleasure." He turned back to the Pokedex. Finally, he found a button on the sighed and clicked it, beaming as the screen lit up. "Yes!" He said, smiling. He turned it back off and stowed it in the backpack with Jinn. "Are you from around here? This is my first day in town. I'm from way west, on a farm. Nowhere near anywhere on the map."

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@Dusksong

Leisy smiled in amusement when the the boy—Jon—finally turned on the Pokedex. It reminded her of the day she got her pokedex—a year or so ago, as a birthday present from her parents. ”I’m from a city, but not this one,” Leisy said when Jon asked. ”Domara City—have you heard of it? It’s quite a bit southwest from here. On the coast.”

Leisy paused as she thought about the west side of the Shima region. ”Well, there’s one more place I should go as a trainer,” she said. Looking around, Leisy realized the line at the Pokemart was just about empty. ”Oop, it looks like everyone’s off at lunch. I’m going to go buy some supplies,” she said, looking back at the boy. ”You didn’t buy anything other than the Pokedex, right? You should probably stock up on some Pokeballs and potions if you’re going outside of town. The essentials.”

Lining up again, Leisy took out her wallet and pulled out a bill. ”Five pokeballs, please,” she told the clerk. ”And three potions.”

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@bayaz

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Jon watched as Leisy bought some kit. He thought about what she said, and cringed. He didn't know how he'd forgotten about such essential supplies. He sighed, getting in line after her. He waited until she'd finished her purchase, then moved forwards.

"Sir, I already told you. I can't help you with the pok-" The lady was cut off by Jon.

"Five pokeballs and, uh, three potions." He put a wide smile on his face, though it looked more like a grimace. "Please?" The lady muttered under her breath, but she got his things. He took Jinn out of the pack. The Ralts used one arm to hold onto his pantleg. The space that Jinn had once filled in the pack was now filled by his new supplies. He walked over to Leisy. "So, uh, where're you headed." He scratched the back of his neck, blushing. "I-i really don't know that much about this, and I was wondering if I could tag along with you for a while."

”Sure, why not? We could use the company,” Leisy said, grinning and looking down at her Charmander. ”Right, Dei?”

The orange lizard narrowed his eyes at the Ralts that was clinging to Jon’s leg before walking over and holding up a stiff hand.

”Well then,” Leisy said, amused at Dei’s antics, ”I suppose we’re all good to move on? I was hoping to grab a bite to eat and maybe stock up on food before leaving the city,” she said, looking at Jon. ”How’s that sound to you? We need to stock up on food as well, considering that it’s a overnight trek to the next town over.”

Leisy cocked her head, frowning. ”Which reminds me--did you pack camping supplies by any chance?”

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@bayaz

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"Was I supposed to?" Jon's face fell. "No one told me anything! I figured it'd just be as simple as getting a Pokemon." He sighed. Oh well. He ran a hand through his hair. "I've got some money left over. I'll see if I can't snag up a kit. Meet me by the Northern Road?" He didn't wait for an answer. He turned on his heel and sped off, searching for a camping store.

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He sat on a tree stump by the City's Northern Exit. It had been a bit of trek, finding the store and getting to the Exit, but he'd done it. His pack was now loaded with all sorts of camping goodies. He laid back and waited for Leisy.

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@Dusksong

Since she’d gotten most of her supplies at home, Leisy simply picked up some perishables in town—berries, granola bars, and other food supplies. She’d opted for lightweight camping gear, favoring fast travel over comfort and protection from natural elements, so she’d also emptied what remained of her wallet for a Blitzle-inspired black-and-white striped umbrella.

After stopping for a brief break in which she treated herself to an apple and Dei to a few Pecha berries, Leisy continued on to the agreed rendezvous spot in front of the Northern Exit. As she approached the city limits, Leisy spotted Jon and called out a greeting. ”Hey Jon!”

The two opened their Pokedexes to the map function and briefly went over their trail for the trek. It was almost noon already, meaning that the pair probably wouldn’t reach the next city over until the next day. They would have to camp in the fringes the small mountain range to the north of Volatus City, an area notorious for its variety of mountain-dwelling Pokemon.

Leisy couldn’t wait to get started.

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@bayaz