Lucas sat in the grass with Growlithe beside him, the pup curled against his leg, warm and steady like a small living fire. For a while he simply let the silence stretch, listening to the wind rustle through the trees and the distant calls of wild Pokémon.
But the longer he sat there, the more questions filled his mind. This really is the Pokémon world… but which region am I in? Is it one I know, or something completely new? If it's new, then all of my knowledge my only advantage would be useless. I'd be walking blind.
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. He had been given this chance, but without his knowledge, he would just be another rookie trainer stumbling in the dark.
And then another thought struck him: Is Ash here too?
Lucas grimaced. The name carried weight. Ash meant chaos, trouble, endless battles against impossible odds. I really hope not… but if he is, I should at least be civil. Maybe exchange a few words, smile, and then get away before I get dragged into his mess.
He let out a shaky laugh at the absurdity of it all. Ash Ketchum. Here. That would be just my luck.
Shaking his head, Lucas pulled the Pokédex from his bag. The screen lit up immediately, crisp and modern. He scrolled through the menus until he found what he was looking for: Map Function.
When the regional map appeared, his heart skipped a beat.
Unova.
Relief washed over him like a wave. He exhaled slowly, gripping the device tighter. Good… I know this region. I know the routes, the Gyms, the League. I can plan, I can prepare. This isn't like Sinnoh with Galactic's madness, or Kalos with its disasters. Unova is still dangerous—but it's manageable. I can survive here.
The map pulsed, showing his current position as a small blinking dot. He frowned, zooming in. Looks like… a forest just outside Nuvema Town.
He glanced toward Growlithe, who yawned and wagged his tail lazily. Lucas smiled despite himself. "We don't have to go into town," he murmured. "But it might help to look around, get my bearings… and maybe find a battle. You could use the practice, and I need to see what you can do."
Growlithe barked once in agreement, ears twitching as if he already sensed the possibility of a fight. Lucas's stomach knotted, equal parts nervousness and excitement. He had seen countless Pokémon battles on screens, but to command one himself, in real life, was something else entirely.
Still, he couldn't back down now. He had been given this chance. And with Growlithe at his side, maybe he could make something of it.
Lucas walked slowly along the narrow forest path, the sunlight flickering through the canopy above. Growlithe padded beside him, nose low to the ground, sniffing every patch of grass, every broken twig, every new scent that drifted on the breeze.
It was almost endearing—no, it was endearing. Every wag of Growlithe's tail, every curious glance at a rustling bush made Lucas's chest tighten with warmth. This world was new for him, but it was just as new for Growlithe.
For a few moments, he let himself enjoy it. The sounds of chirping bird Pokémon above, the distant flow of water, and the steady presence of his partner at his side.
But just as the trees began to thin and the exit of the forest came into view, the peace shattered.
A sharp rustle tore through the silence.
Lucas froze. Growlithe stopped too, ears pricked, eyes locked on a nearby bush. The fur along his neck bristled, and a low growl rumbled in his throat.
Lucas's pulse quickened. "Something's there…"
The leaves shook again—and a small brown Pokémon burst out, standing on its hind legs, baring its teeth.
"Patrat!"
Lucas stumbled back a step. His mind raced. A wild Pokémon. My first real encounter…
Almost without thinking, he fumbled for his Pokédex. The device blinked to life, scanning the creature in front of him.
"Patrat. The Scout Pokémon. Using food stored in its cheek pouches, it can keep watch for days. It keeps a sharp lookout using its tail as a signal."
Lucas snapped it shut, his throat dry. The Patrat's eyes gleamed, its body tensing as if ready to lunge. Growlithe barked loudly, stepping in front of Lucas, tail stiff, fire burning in his eyes.
Lucas swallowed hard. "So this is it… our first battle."
He tried to remember everything he knew. Moves. Type matchups. Strategies. It was all in his head, but saying it out loud, commanding it—it felt terrifying. What if he messed up? What if Growlithe got hurt because of him?
Patrat screeched and dashed forward suddenly, teeth bared.
"G-Growlithe, stop it!" Lucas cried.
Growlithe reacted on instinct, leaping sideways. The Patrat snapped at empty air, its teeth clashing with a sharp click. Growlithe landed and barked, turning his gaze back to Lucas, waiting.
Lucas froze. Growlithe wasn't just fighting on his own—he was waiting for Lucas to give the order.
His stomach flipped. "Right… this is my job. Okay…"
Patrat snarled and prepared to charge again.
Lucas clenched his fists. "Growlithe, use Ember!"
Growlithe barked, his jaws glowing with heat before he spat a flurry of small fireballs toward the Patrat. The wild Pokémon squealed and darted aside, but a few embers struck its fur, making it stumble.
Lucas felt a surge of adrenaline. It worked… I gave the order, and it worked.
But the Patrat wasn't finished. It bared its teeth again, eyes narrowing with fury.
Growlithe lowered his stance, flames flickering at the edges of his mouth.
Patrat screeched, lowering itself to the ground before darting forward again, this time faster and more reckless.
Lucas's breath caught in his throat. "It's coming straight at us Growlithe, Bite!"
Growlithe lunged, jaws snapping shut around Patrat's shoulder. Thrashing as Growlithe held on for a moment before letting go. Patrat stumbled back, its eyes blazing with anger.
Lucas clenched his fists. This isn't like the games. That… that was real. Patrat looked like it was actually hurt.
"Patrat!" the wild Pokémon cried, and it launched itself forward with a Tackle, slamming into Growlithe's chest. The pup yelped and rolled backward, dirt flying as he scrambled to his feet.
"Growlithe!" Lucas's stomach twisted. He wanted to run to his partner, to check if he was okay but Growlithe shook himself off and barked, still eager to fight.
Lucas exhaled shakily. "Right… stay calm, stay focused. We can do this."
Patrat dug its claws into the ground, ready to charge again.
Lucas raised his voice. "Growlithe, Flame Wheel!"
Growlithe barked and leapt forward, his body wreathed in fire as he spun in a blazing wheel. Patrat's eyes widened, too slow to dodge, and the fiery impact knocked it sprawling across the grass. The smell of scorched earth lingered as Growlithe skidded to a halt, panting but standing tall.
The wild Patrat groaned, tried to rise, then collapsed back onto the ground. Its body twitched once before it went still, breathing shallowly but no longer able to fight.
Lucas's heart hammered in his chest. He stood frozen, staring at the downed Pokémon, his stomach churning. It's… over? Did we really win?
Growlithe barked, trotting back toward him with his tongue lolling out happily, tail wagging despite a few scrapes on his fur.
Lucas dropped to his knees and hugged him, burying his face in the pup's warm mane. "You did it… you really did it." His voice cracked, half laughter, half tears. "That was our first battle, and we won."
He glanced back at the fainted Patrat, guilt tugging at him. It wasn't just numbers on a screen it was a living creature, and it had felt every hit.
Lucas wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. " I won't forget this. Battles aren't just fun and games here. They're real. And if I'm not careful, someone could get seriously hurt."
Growlithe pressed against him, as if to reassure him. Lucas managed a small, determined smile. "Thanks, partner. We'll get stronger together. But I'll make sure we do it the right way."
The forest was quiet again, except for the sound of his heartbeat slowly settling. One battle down, countless more to come.