Thirty minutes later…
I left the dirt paths of Pallet Town and stepped into the quiet forest of Route 1.
Tall trees arched overhead, their thick leaves filtering the late-morning sun into soft green and gold patches on the mossy ground.
The air carried a fresh scent of damp leaves and distant pine.
High above, Pidgey fluttered between branches, their cheerful cries ringing out. "Pid-gey! Pid-gey!" The calls echoed like friendly greetings on the breeze as leaves rustled around their wings.
I stopped and took a deep breath.
My eyes drifted back down to Charmander. She had fallen a step behind, her short legs struggling to match my pace.
"Char," she let out softly as she reached near me.
She looked around with big blue eyes, taking in the towering trees, rustling bushes, and distant flutter of wings.
Then she looked back at me, head tilted slightly as if wondering why we had stopped.
In her innocent mind, she wondered if Gil wanted to catch a new Pokémon.
Her tail flame flared brighter, claws flexing instinctively. She was always ready to battle for her trainer, eager to prove herself strong and useful.
I smiled at her expression and crouched to her level, placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
The warmth of her skin seeped through my palm, stirring that familiar dark heat in my chest.
Her body felt so smooth and warm under my fingers, like sun-baked stone.
"I don't want you to battle right now," I said softly.
"I want to check how strong your muscles are, so I can make the perfect training plan for you and help you become even stronger."
Hearing no battle, Charmander's eyes flickered with a moment of gentle confusion, her head tilting slightly to one side.
But then they brightened with quiet excitement.
The word becoming stronger, of growing into a powerful Pokémon, lit her up inside.
Her tail flame, which had dimmed a little when she thought there'd be no action, roared back to life, dancing higher and hotter than before.
She nodded quickly.
"Char!" she replied, her voice soft and agreeable, a faint warmth coloring her orange cheeks like a shy ember.
Seeing her so eager and trusting, that sweet, unguarded blush on her smooth little face made my pulse quicken.
I added, "Let's start by exploring your body a bit, to see which parts need the most training and attention."
Charmander didn't think much of it and nodded right away.
In her young, innocent mind, it made perfect sense.
Trainers always knew best, and if this helped her get stronger, why question it?
She trusted Gil completely, the way every loyal starter trusts the one who chose them. No suspicion crossed her thoughts; only excitement for whatever came next burned in her bright eyes.