Dawn broke over Pallet Town with clear skies and gentle warmth, perfect traveling weather. Sasuke had been awake since five-thirty, running through final checks on the Mobile Home's systems and ensuring everything was secure for travel. Victini supervised from various perches, occasionally chirping suggestions that were either helpful or completely random depending on the Victory Pokemon's mood.
By six forty-five, his companions emerged in various states of readiness. Miyuki appeared first, already dressed and organized with her silver hair pulled into a practical braid. She carried a detailed map of Kanto and a tablet loaded with route information.
"I'm navigating," she announced, claiming the passenger seat without discussion. "I've plotted the optimal route to Pewter City with rest stops and points of interest marked."
"Appreciated," Sasuke said. He'd planned to just follow the main highway, but having detailed navigation would make the journey smoother.
Kasumi bounded down the stairs next, practically vibrating with excitement despite the early hour. She'd dressed in comfortable travel clothes, leggings and an oversized hoodie, and her crimson hair was pulled into a messy ponytail.
"We're actually leaving! This is happening! We're on an adventure!" She bounced in place while Gardevoir emerged from her Pokeball and regarded the enthusiasm with patient tolerance.
"Try to contain yourself until we're at least out of town," Kiyomi said, descending the stairs with considerably more composure. She carried her tablet and a travel mug of coffee, already prepared for the day. "Some of us are still achieving consciousness."
"I'm conscious! I'm super conscious! I'm the most conscious person here!"
"That's not how consciousness works."
"You don't know that."
Sasuke started the Mobile Home's engine while his companions settled into their respective spaces. Miyuki spread her map across the dashboard, cross-referencing with her tablet. Kasumi and Kiyomi claimed spots in the living room, Kasumi on the couch with Gardevoir beside her, Kiyomi in one of the comfortable chairs with Ninetales at her feet.
"Everyone secured?" Sasuke called back.
"Ready!" Kasumi confirmed.
"Good to go," Kiyomi added.
Miyuki nodded. "Route is confirmed. Take the main road north out of town, then merge onto Route 1 heading toward Viridian City."
Sasuke guided the Mobile Home out of Professor Hiruzen's garage and onto Pallet Town's quiet morning streets. A few early risers were out, shop owners opening for the day, trainers heading to the Pokemon Center, elderly residents taking morning walks. Several people waved as they passed, probably recognizing the distinctive vehicle.
The road north led through residential areas that gradually gave way to open countryside. Buildings became sparser, replaced by rolling hills covered in grass and wildflowers. The morning sun cast everything in golden light that made the landscape look almost painted.
"It's beautiful," Miyuki said quietly, watching through the windshield. "I've traveled before, but always by train or ferry. Being on the actual road is different."
"More intimate," Sasuke agreed. "You see details you'd miss at high speed."
Route 1 stretched ahead in smooth pavement that curved gently through the hills. The highway was well-maintained, the League ensured all major routes received regular upkeep since they served as critical infrastructure for trainers traveling between cities. Traffic was light this early, mostly other trainers in various vehicles heading north toward Viridian Forest.
Wild Pokemon appeared in the fields alongside the road. Pidgey flocked together, rising from grass in coordinated groups. Rattata darted between rocks and bushes, purple fur catching sunlight. Oddish swayed in place near water sources, their leaves soaking up morning dew. A Nidoran pair, one male, one female, grazed peacefully until the Mobile Home's approach sent them bounding away.
"Look!" Kasumi had moved to press against the living room windows. "There's a whole family of Sentret! And, oh! Is that a Furret?"
"Where?" Kiyomi moved to join her at the window.
"Near that tree line. See the long body?"
"I see it. Interesting, Furret are usually more common further north. Seeing one this close to Pallet Town suggests their range is expanding."
They settled into comfortable rhythm. Sasuke focused on driving while Miyuki provided navigation updates and pointed out geographic features. Behind them, Kasumi and Kiyomi maintained running commentary on wildlife sightings and landscape changes, their Pokemon occasionally adding chirps or trills of agreement.
Victini had claimed a spot on the dashboard, pressed against the windshield to get the best view. The Victory Pokemon chittered excitedly every time another vehicle passed or a particularly interesting Pokemon appeared.
An hour into the drive, they merged onto Route 2, a larger highway that connected multiple towns and cities. Traffic increased noticeably. Other Mobile Homes appeared, along with standard vehicles, trucks carrying goods, and even a few trainers traveling on Pokemon-back.
"There's someone riding a Rapidash," Kasumi observed. "That looks terrifying and amazing simultaneously."
"Rapid transport but zero protection from weather," Kiyomi said. "I'll take the Mobile Home's comfort."
"Agreed. Though riding a Rapidash would look really cool for Contest entrance dramatic effect."
"You're not entering Contests on a Rapidash."
"I could though. Hypothetically."
"Hypothetically you could also enter on a Gyarados. Doesn't mean you should."
Sasuke smiled at their banter. The easy back-and-forth suggested they were getting comfortable with each other, moving past polite acquaintance stage into genuine friendship territory.
By mid-morning, they'd covered significant distance. The landscape had shifted from the gentle hills around Pallet Town to more dramatic terrain, rocky outcroppings, steeper slopes, and denser vegetation. This was the approach to Viridian Forest, though they wouldn't reach the actual forest for another hour.
"Rest stop ahead," Miyuki announced. "There's a Pokemon Center at the Route 2 junction. Good place for lunch and a break."
"Sounds good," Sasuke confirmed. He'd been driving for three hours and could use the movement break.
The Route 2 Pokemon Center was larger than Pallet Town's facility, built to accommodate the higher traffic volume from travelers between southern and northern Kanto. The parking area held dozens of vehicles, and trainers clustered in groups outside, sharing stories and comparing Pokemon.
Sasuke found a parking spot and shut off the engine. "Thirty-minute break. Lunch, bathroom, stretch legs."
They exited the Mobile Home and were immediately hit by the noise and energy of the busy rest stop. Music played from somewhere, a trainer with a Kricketune providing entertainment. Food vendors had set up portable stands selling quick meals. Pokemon of all types wandered around with their trainers, socializing and playing.
"I'll grab lunch from one of the vendors," Kasumi said. "Anyone want anything specific?"
"Whatever looks good," Kiyomi replied. "I'm going to check the Pokemon Center's archives for information about ruins near Pewter."
"I'll make sure our Pokemon are healthy," Miyuki added. "Quick checkup after being confined in Pokeballs during travel."
They dispersed to handle their respective tasks. Sasuke found himself gravitating toward a group of trainers who were engaged in animated discussion near the Pokemon Center entrance.
"-no chance against Gaara," one trainer was saying. "His Tyranitar is a monster. I brought my full team of six and still lost within ten minutes."
"Ten minutes?" another trainer asked. "I heard someone lasted fifteen."
"That was probably Naruto Namikaze. He's one of the Four Supernovas." The first trainer shook his head. "Regular trainers like us don't stand a chance. Gaara's undefeated this entire season."
"What about the Supernova heading toward Pewter right now?" a third trainer chimed in. "Sasuke Uchiha. Think he can beat Gaara?"
"Maybe. He's supposed to have multiple Legendary Pokemon. But even Legendaries might not be enough against Gaara's Mega Tyranitar with Primal Reversion and Dynamax."
Sasuke considered walking away before they noticed him, but too late, one of the trainers had already spotted the distinctive crimson eyes.
"Wait, is that-"
"Sasuke Uchiha! Dude, you're actually here!"
Suddenly he had an audience. Six trainers crowded around, asking questions rapid-fire about his team composition, his battle strategies, whether he thought he could actually defeat Gaara.
"I haven't challenged him yet," Sasuke said carefully. "Can't make predictions about a battle I haven't fought."
"But you're confident, right?" one trainer pressed.
"Confidence doesn't guarantee victory. Strategy and bond matter more than raw power."
"That's what all the strong trainers say," another trainer observed. "But having powerful Pokemon definitely helps."
Before Sasuke could respond, Kasumi appeared with bags of food. She immediately assessed the situation and inserted herself smoothly into the conversation.
"Sorry to interrupt! Sasuke, I got you the grilled Tauros sandwich and berry salad. We should eat before the food gets cold." She smiled at the other trainers. "Nice meeting you all!"
She physically steered Sasuke away from the group, Gardevoir following with an amused expression. Once they were out of earshot, Kasumi handed over his lunch.
"You looked like you needed rescuing," she said.
"I did. Thank you."
"No problem. Being recognized everywhere must get exhausting."
"I didn't expect it to happen this much. I'm not even famous, I'm just related to someone famous."
"You're also one of the Four Supernovas with a team of Legendary Pokemon. That's inherently interesting to other trainers." Kasumi took a bite of her sandwich. "You'll have to get used to the attention. It's only going to increase as you collect badges."
They found Miyuki and Kiyomi at a picnic table near the Pokemon Center. The four of them ate lunch together while their Pokemon socialized nearby, Victini had already made friends with three different Pokemon and was showing off aerial tricks.
"I heard trainers talking about Gaara," Miyuki said. "Apparently he's particularly strong this year. Hasn't lost a single gym battle."
"That's not unusual for Rock-type specialists in the early season," Kiyomi noted. "Most new trainers start with Grass or Water types, which gives Rock a natural disadvantage. Gaara probably faces a lot of opponents with type weakness."
"Sasuke doesn't have that problem," Kasumi pointed out. "His team covers pretty much every type."
"Still doesn't guarantee easy victory," Sasuke said. "Gym Leaders are experienced and strategic. I'm expecting a real challenge."
"But you'll win," Miyuki said quietly. It wasn't a question.
"I'll do my best."
After lunch, they resumed travel. Route 2 continued north, the terrain becoming progressively more interesting. They passed through a small town, barely more than a Pokemon Center and a few shops, where they stopped briefly to let Kasumi buy local berries from a farmer's market.
Early afternoon brought unexpected delay. Traffic ahead had stopped completely, forming a long line of vehicles extending around a curve in the road. Sasuke slowed to a stop behind another Mobile Home and tried to see what was causing the backup.
"What's going on?" Kasumi called from the living room.
"Traffic jam. Can't see the cause yet." Sasuke opened his window and leaned out, trying to get a better view.
A trainer from the vehicle ahead walked back and stopped at Sasuke's window. "There's a Snorlax blocking the entire highway. Been there for at least an hour. Nobody can get it to move."
"A Snorlax?" Miyuki leaned over to hear better. "Those are notoriously difficult to relocate once they've settled down to sleep."
"Yeah, and this one's huge. Completely blocking both lanes. Some trainers are trying to battle it awake, but Snorlax's defenses are too strong."
The trainer returned to his vehicle. Sasuke shut off the Mobile Home's engine, no point wasting fuel if they'd be here a while.
"Should we go look?" Kasumi suggested. "Maybe we can help."
"Worth investigating," Kiyomi agreed.
They exited the Mobile Home and walked up the line of stopped vehicles. Other trainers had done the same, creating a crowd near the obstruction. As they got closer, the scale of the problem became apparent.
A massive Snorlax lay sprawled across the entire width of the highway, sound asleep and completely immovable. The Pokemon had to weigh at least a thousand pounds, and its body blocked both lanes plus the shoulders. Several trainers stood around it with their Pokemon out, clearly having just attempted to wake or move it.
"We tried Flamethrower," one trainer explained to the crowd. "Barely singed its fur. Then we tried Ice Beam. Nothing. Snorlax just keeps sleeping."
"Someone tried Earthquake," another trainer added. "The Snorlax rolled over and started snoring louder."
"Can't you just catch it?" someone in the crowd asked.
"League regulations say you can't capture wild Pokemon that are blocking public infrastructure unless you're authorized personnel. We'd need to contact Rangers, and they're hours away."
Sasuke studied the Snorlax. Fighting it awake would work eventually, but would likely damage the road and possibly injure the Pokemon unnecessarily. Physically moving it would require Pokemon with incredible strength and leverage, his Machamp or Groudon could manage it, but using a Legendary Pokemon to move a sleeping Snorlax felt excessive.
"I have an idea," Kasumi said. She'd been examining the Snorlax thoughtfully. "This is actually a perfect opportunity to demonstrate Coordinator techniques."
"You're going to use Contest moves?" Kiyomi asked.
"Exactly. Give me a minute." Kasumi moved to the front of the crowd and released Togekiss. The elegant Fairy-Flying type appeared in a flash of light, immediately understanding the situation.
"Okay, girl," Kasumi said to her Pokemon. "We're going to do the Sweet Dreams combo. Remember how we practiced it for the appeal round?"
Togekiss chirped agreement and began to glow with faint pink energy.
Kasumi addressed the crowd. "Everyone stand back. This requires precision and we don't want to accidentally affect other Pokemon."
The trainers backed up, curious about what she had planned. Sasuke noticed several pulling out phones to record, this would probably end up on social media within the hour.
"Togekiss, Sweet Kiss!"
The Fairy-type released pink heart-shaped energy that floated gently toward the sleeping Snorlax. The hearts circled the massive Pokemon, creating a soft pink aura. Sweet Kiss typically confused opponents in battle, but at lower intensity it could create feelings of pleasant drowsiness and happiness.
"Now, Sing!"
Togekiss began singing, a beautiful, melodious sound that carried across the area. Combined with the Sweet Kiss effect, the song created an atmosphere of peaceful contentment. The Snorlax's snoring changed pitch, becoming gentler and less aggressive.
"Here's the trick," Kasumi explained to the watching trainers. "Snorlax won't move if it's deeply asleep and comfortable. But if you make it just happy enough while it's sleeping, it'll naturally seek out a more comfortable location. Watch."
The pink aura intensified slightly. Togekiss continued singing, adjusting the melody to be more encouraging than lullaby-like. The Snorlax stirred, making a satisfied rumbling sound. Then, still mostly asleep, it rolled onto its side and began shuffling toward the roadside grass.
The crowd watched in amazement as the massive Pokemon relocated itself completely off the highway, settling into the softer grass and immediately resuming its deep sleep. The road was clear.
Spontaneous applause erupted from the gathered trainers. Kasumi blushed but smiled, recalling Togekiss and bowing slightly.
"That was incredible!" one trainer shouted. "What technique was that?"
"Coordinator Appeal combination," Kasumi explained. "Sweet Kiss to create positive emotions, Sing to encourage movement. It's usually used in Contest performances to create beautiful effects, but it works for practical situations too."
"You're a Coordinator?" another trainer asked. "That's amazing! I always thought Contest moves were just for show!"
"They're legitimate skills," Kasumi said firmly. "Contest coordination requires understanding Pokemon psychology and move combinations at a deep level. We can accomplish things pure battlers might not consider."
Several trainers wanted to talk more about Contest techniques, but traffic was starting to move. Vehicles ahead were pulling around the relocated Snorlax and continuing north. Sasuke touched Kasumi's shoulder gently.
"We should get back to the Mobile Home."
"Right. Sorry!" Kasumi waved to the other trainers and followed Sasuke back through the crowd.
As they walked, Kiyomi grinned at her. "That was perfect timing to demonstrate your skills. And you got it recorded for your Contest portfolio."
"I wasn't thinking about that," Kasumi protested, but she looked pleased.
"Well, you should. That video will show judges that you understand practical application of Contest techniques. That's impressive."
Miyuki nodded agreement. "The way you explained it to the other trainers was excellent too. You made Contest coordination sound both beautiful and useful."
"It is both beautiful and useful," Kasumi insisted.
"We know," Sasuke said. "And now a lot of other trainers know too."
They returned to the Mobile Home and resumed their journey. Traffic moved smoothly now, everyone grateful to the Coordinator who'd solved their Snorlax problem with elegance instead of brute force.
Inside the vehicle, Kasumi's phone began buzzing constantly. She checked it and laughed. "The video's already going viral. Someone tagged me and now I have like fifty messages from other Coordinators saying how cool that was."
"Viral before your first official Contest," Kiyomi observed. "That's good publicity."
"It's weird publicity. I just wanted to help with the traffic jam."
"Sometimes helping naturally leads to recognition," Miyuki said. "Be proud of what you accomplished."
The afternoon passed in comfortable travel. They made steady progress north, the landscape gradually transitioning from open hills to denser forest. By evening, they reached the Route 2 campground, an official League facility designed for traveling trainers.
The campground sprawled across several acres, with designated parking areas for vehicles, tent spaces for those without Mobile Homes, and central facilities including bathrooms, showers, and a small Pokemon Center station. Dozens of trainers had set up camp for the night, their Pokemon playing together while humans prepared meals or socialized around fire pits.
Sasuke found them a good parking spot with space on all sides, privacy while still being part of the community. He shut off the engine and stretched, feeling the stiffness from hours of driving.
"First day of actual travel," Miyuki said. "We made good progress."
"And had our first adventure," Kasumi added, still checking her phone where messages continued arriving. "The Snorlax incident is being shared across Coordinator forums. Someone called it 'proof that Contest skills have real-world value.'"
"Which is exactly what you wanted to demonstrate," Kiyomi pointed out.
"Yeah, but I didn't expect it to happen on day one."
Evening settled over the campground. Sasuke prepared dinner using the Mobile Home's kitchen, curry rice with vegetables and protein, simple but satisfying after a long day of travel. They ate outside at a picnic table, enjoying the cool air and watching other trainers' Pokemon play.
Tomorrow they'd continue toward Viridian City. Then through Viridian Forest with its ancient trees and abundant Bug-type Pokemon. And eventually to Pewter City, where Sasuke would face his first gym challenge.
But tonight, they were just four trainers on a campground, sharing a meal and enjoying the simple satisfaction of a successful first day on the road.