Episode 1: The Trial

"Mercury city seems like a fine destination, but we just got our trainer licences. I've bearly even had time to strech my legs, so is challenging the gym the best first step?"

Keno swung his pack around, sifting through the contents, taking inventory, and ensuring everything was in order after the cave dive. He continued to speak as he completed his task, "first stop is a poke center, you've got one here, right professor? After that, I need a coat... this region is... a lot colder than I was expecting."

Zipping up and moving to a window to look out, "I think befor we hit a gym we shoud make sure, our pokemon are ready for it, that is, if we are traveling together."

"Are we meant to work together as part of the internship professor?"

The professor nodded and said, "Yes, it would be preferred if you could work together on this matter. Having multiple trainers together can help test new ideas and you can train with each other to strengthen your teams in any future obstacles."

Keno thanks the professor again, then tries to find that rascally Rufflet, to say goodbye and give it a pat on the head. His next thought was of finding a warmer coat, not fully prepared for what nature was offering; the lack of a fire type pokemon didn't help the situation. Following the Professors advice, he made his way to market to purchase something to keep him warm, and possibly add a few zippered pockets to add safe storage. Barring any incident, he would make his way to the poke center. There he would get acquainted to his pokemon as a whole group, and let them stretch their legs in the sunlight. He was mindful of Corphish's reaction to the light.

Keno, you make your way to the town square, there, you catch sight of the thrift store, nestled between a cafe and a lawyer's office. Entering inside, you hear a bell ring on the door. The smell of aged clothing and toys lingers in the air as you see lines of shirts, coats, pants, dresses, and other items on the shelves, each with tickets of varying colors and handwritten prices.

John, you find the Pokemon Center rather easily despite the vague directions since all the roads converged in the same spot there. It was a rather small one with a pokeball painted above the main entrance. Inside, you find a pokemon behind the counter with an egg-shaped body, wearing a nurse's hat. It waves to you before returning to its duties of cleaning the counter. To your right is an old PC that looks like it was from the early 2000's. After booting it, it was apparent that the operating system was old, but still usable for you to browse and register an account with Bill's storage. All that was required was a trainer ID, an email address, and a password before you were able to deposit our squirtle. A device sat next to the monitor, where you could place the pokeball before it vanished. While you trained outside, you could hear a band playing music that sounded like it would come from a school football field.

Many people were gathered around in their winter gear to watch the event as the band played. In the middle of it all, a well dressed man, who was middle-aged and balding, emerged from his limousine and waved to his audience. Everyone cheered as he began to make his announcement.

"Well, I'm glad to see you all here to help see my son off on his journey and I'm also sure that he is glad to see his fans giving his support for his decision to take on the league challenge! Now, before he says his goodbyes, I would like to say how proud I am that he has decided to carry on the Burton family legacy to strive to become the regional champion, such as I was myself in my youth! Who knows? Maybe he will be elected as mayor of our fair town as well?"

Keno, you approach the counter, where there is a small elderly woman, reading a book. She looks to see you are ready to purchase your items and checks the tags before adding their prices and discounts to the register.

"That will be $15." she says in a withered voice.

She says to you, "I'm sorry, but we don't have anything for pokemon in this store. We just have stuff for humans. Maybe one of the other stores have what you're looking for?"

As John returned to the Pokemon Center, the gentleman announces, "So, for this momentous occasion, my son is eager to test his first pokemon right here before he takes his first steps on his path. Are there any trainers in the audience willing to take his challenge? The winner will earn a cash prize of $1000! Who among you have the mons to face him?"