The path down Route 101 had never felt longer. This could be because I prioritized using repels and taking as many shortcuts as possible, but now I actually wanted to try a Pokémon battle.

  Romeo and I would soon encounter Zigzagoons, Wurmples, and Poochyenas.

  I was unsure about some of these fights, but Romeo was acing them with my leadership, and he was getting stronger and stronger.

  As we were about to reach Oldale Town, Romeo suddenly stopped, turning around and growling. I soon turned around to meet his gaze, and what we saw was a Poochyena. This one looked smaller than the others we had faced, and he had purple eyes, and he shyly walked over to us. Romeo was cautious, but I knelt down and gave this little pup some pets. He really embraced my touch.

  I decided to take him to the Pokemon Center; they might be able to give him better care.

  The nurse soon came up to us, and she was happy to see us. Romeo quickly ran up to her and started giving the nurse a loving hug. I then introduced her to the Poochyena.

  Nurse Joy: Oh my, now you have a new Pokémon by your side. This is unexpected.

  Rose: What do you mean this little guy came up to me of his own accord?

  Nurse Joy: Hehe, I see. Well, why don’t you add him to your team?

  Rose: Well, I don’t know; it just seems too soon, and plus, he might be too little to join at this time.

  Nurse Joy: Well, Rose, right now you're going to need a lot of help. I mean, right now you have only a Budew, and I worry you may come into more danger because of it.

  I would look down at the little Poochyena, and he looked up at me with huge puppy eyes, and how could I say no to that?

  I decided to take this little Poochyena along, and I pulled out one of my Heal Balls and I used it on him. The ball shook twice. I thought it wasn’t going to work, but the third shake signaled that he had accepted being caught.

  Romeo: Angry and jealous, Dew Dew Dew!!

  Rose: Romeo, don’t be like that; we’ll need help further down the line.

  Romeo would then let out another jealous huff.

  I would then release our new ally from his Heal Ball, and I knelt down to his level and proceeded to get a lot more attention from him. I decided to name him Alexei.

  The nurse soon told me to wait, and I sat in the waiting room with my two Pokémon. Alexei was resting his head against my knee, and Romeo was sitting on my lap.

  The two then started to have a conversation.

  Shifting to Poke Vision

  I glared at this new guy cozying up to Rose, and I hated him. I am her prince, her sweet Romeo. Why do we even need this guy with us? He’s weird, and he’s probably friends with the Poochyena that attacked me ages ago.

  Alexei: Are you going to keep glaring at me, or are you going to say something?

  Romeo: Why are you even here?

  Alexei: Because Rose brought me here.

  Romeo: Because you followed us.

  Alexei: because she seemed super nice and warm

  I snapped and yelled.

  Romeo: I don’t want you here.

  This shocked Rose and several other people in the Pokémon Center; it even scared this interloper. He soon started to back away, and he was crying. He eventually ran off. Rose then stood up and looked at me, and she got really mad.

  Rose: What did you say to him? Romeo

  I could say nothing. All I knew is that I was in trouble. I soon started crying. I didn’t want Rose to be angry with me; I just wanted her to be mine.

  Rose soon carried me and left. I thought we were going home, but Rose started asking around for Alexei, and I cried even harder, squirming and getting free and running off. Rose wanted Alexei more than me; she doesn’t love me anymore.

  I didn’t know where I was running; I just knew I had to go far away. I soon found myself in front of a body of water, and I just sat there crying.

  I cried for hours, but then I sensed someone walking by.

  He soon comes over and sits next to me; he looks concerned.

  ????: Hey there, little one, what are you doing here alone???

  I just keep looking away from him. I don’t know what to do. My tummy then started to make the rumblies.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  ????: Ah, I know that noise. Here, have this.

  The man then handed me a strange cake. I soon ate it, and I started to feel a bit better.

  ????: Do you have a trainer?

  I looked up at him and nodded my head.

  ????: Did they abandon you?

  I shook my head furiously, turning to meet his gaze. Rose would never ever abandon me.

  ????: Ok, ok, I get it, but how did you get here? Did you run away?

  I started to tear up again and nodded my head.

  ????: How about I help you find your trainer then?

  I happily cried out, thanking this trainer. I soon jumped into his arms, and he carried me back to Oldale Town, where we started looking for Rose. The man holding me was very nice; he started asking around, and soon we came across a person who saw Rose, and he said Rose was worried sick, and I started to feel bad.

  What if Rose got even madder at me? Suddenly finding Rose didn’t sound like a good idea anymore, I soon started crying loudly. I didn’t know what to do.

  The man tried his best to calm me down, but I was too upset.

  Rose: Romeo???

  I soon heard Rose’s voice, and I looked up and saw her. She was with Alexei. The two ran over to us, and I never felt so happy in my life.

  Rose soon came over to the man and said,

  Rose: Thank you for finding him. I was so incredibly worried; you have no idea.

  Sprout: It was no trouble, really. I found him while I was doing my own thing. The name’s Sprout, by the way.

  Rose: You have my thanks, Sprout.

  Sprout then handed me to Rose, and I cried into her chest. Rose then began to shush and soothe me, and I happily began to relax. I soon tuckered myself out.

  I was so happy to see Rose. I thought she would be angry. I was worried she would abandon me, but in her eyes I saw nothing but pure love, and at that moment I felt the same way—so much love.

  Suddenly a strong energy began to well up in my heart, and that energy flowed throughout my entire body. I soon jumped from Rose’s arms and landed on my feet. I soon found that I had greatly changed.

  I was now a Rosealia!

  End of PokeVision

  I looked on at my little Romeo; he had changed into a Roselia, and I was completely blown away.

  Sprout: Well, then this is interesting. Romeo must really care for you.

  Rose: You mean you’ve seen this before?

  Sprout: Yeah. Budew evolve during the day when they are at their happiest.

  Romeo soon happily did a twirl and began to give a confident smile.

  Alexei soon started barking happily and, like any excited puppy, started running circles around Romeo, who got annoyed and started swatting at Alexei and Sprout, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the adorable exchange.

  Sprout: Hehe, anyway, I have to get going, but here, this is for you. It might help to give your two Pokémon a much-needed edge.

  Sprout would then hand me two TM disks before walking off.

  I watched Sprout walk off, and I soon looked back to my two Pokemon. They were still going at it, and I soon got the two to settle down, and we would make our way onto Route 102.

  I chose not to return Alexei to his Heal Ball for a bit, and it was about to get dark, and I thought it was best to set up camp for the night, and I would then start to set up a tent and the cookset.

  Alexei sat close to me, watching intently, but soon that puppy urge would activate, and he would try to run off, but Romeo was quick to redirect him back to the camp.

  When I had set up camp, I started cooking dinner. This is what really drew in Romeo and Alexei’s attention. Their mouths were watering heavily, and I couldn’t help but smile at their happy expressions. I would soon make a delicious herbal meat soup, and I gave two bowls to Alexei and Romeo and made a bowl for myself.

  I had just started to eat my soup when my two ravenous Pokemon were quickly asking for seconds. I would soon roll my eyes and give them another helping, and they would gobble it down so fast that I barely got to eat my own soup, and it amazed me that Alexei and Romeo would devour the whole pot of soup before being stuffed and soon napping next to me.

  I was silently crying because by now my soup was cold, and I began drinking it, and then I got cozy with my two Pokemon and began to enjoy the moment.

  As the sun began to set, I began to fully unwind. This moment was incredibly tender and loving, and I would then place Romeo and Alexei inside the tent while I cleaned up the cookset. As I was packing up the cookset, I would soon encounter another trainer. He had dark blue hair and green eyes.

  ????: Hello, sorry for intruding, but it’s getting dark, so may I hunker down with you? I’d be happy to sleep outside your tent.

  Rose: Oh sure, but can I know your name??

  Jonah: My name is Jonah. I’m a fisherman/water-type Pokémon breeder. Pleasure to meet you, miss.

  Rose: You can call me Rose I hope you ate something because my two Pokémon have cleaned me out.

  Jonah: Hehe, yeah, I’m fine now. I should set up my sleeping bag.

  I would nod and go into the tent and would begin to relax, and eventually I fell asleep.

  The next morning I woke up to my face being licked, and I soon woke up and saw Alexei. He was incredibly giddy, and I smiled and gave him some cuddles. I then got dressed and went outside of the tent. I saw that Jonah was gone, but his sleeping bag was still here. I looked over and saw that Jonah was over by a body of water fishing.

  Romeo and Alexei soon took notice of our new guest, and soon they rushed over to him, and I quickly realized that while Alexei’s intentions were purely wholesome, Romeo had other plans, and I would race after him before he did anything dangerous.

  I managed to quickly scoop up Romeo, who was actively throwing an angry tantrum.

  Rose: Romeo, calm down. It’s ok. Jonah isn’t going to harm us; he’s a friend.

  Romeo would soon let out a huff before calming down, and I still held him close and brought him over to Jonah, who was sitting Indian style in front of the lake. Fishing and interacting with Alexei, who was incredibly excited,

  I soon sat next to Jonah, who smiled at me and said

  Jonah: Good morning, Rose!

  Rose: Good morning. Looking to add some more Pokémon to your team?

  Jonah: Oh no, far from it. I’m looking to catch us some breakfast.

  Rose: Oh, that would be very nice.

  Jonah: Yeah, I thought I would go for the more traditional approach rather than my other, more fun methods.

  Rose: Other methods?

  Jonah: Oh yeah, I use fish traps, a mini harpoon gun, or I use a spear.

  I was completely shocked. Jonah looked at me and smiled, saying

  Jonah: Hehe, my family owned a fish farm. We mainly specialized in raising and selling Magikarp, and on top of that, my dad came from a long line of fishermen.

  Rose: That’s pretty intense.

  Jonah: Hehe, yeah, it is, but either way, I plan on journeying around the world, catching the best Water-type Pokemon, and eventually I’ll settle down and start my own fish farm.

  At that moment Jonah would pull out his fishing rod, and he would pull out the fattest Magikarp I had ever seen.

  Jonah would then fist pump and shout

  Jonah: Hell yeah, this morning we eat like kings!!!

  I looked to my two Pokémon, who shared my expression of pure shock. Either way, the four of us start walking back to the campsite, and I prepare the cookset. Looking over, I see Jonah pull out a knife set and then expertly slice and prepare the meat from the fat Magikarp at such a speed that it seems like Jonah is creating a small twister.

  Jonah then flashes a smile at me, revealing his Sharkpedo-like teeth. He then smiles and says,

  Jonah: Ok, then I’m going to pack up some of this meat for you to take, and I’m going to eat the rest.

  Rose: Wait, you eat raw fish?

  Jonah: Born and raised on it. Ever heard of sushi?

  I would then roll my eyes and start cooking the Magikarp fillets, and I ended up making another tasty soup for me and my Pokémon.

  I did notice that Romeo was happily monitoring Jonah carefully, as if he was trying to make sure Jonah didn’t try anything.

  Romeo was such a little guard dog, and I found it to be adorable, and Alexei was absolutely pure and innocent; he was hard at work trying to get a bite of sushi from Jonah, who was not affected by his sincere puppy dog eyes.

  But as I was frying the Magikarp fillet, it quickly caught Alexei’s attention, and going into full puppy mode, he began running around me yapping constantly, and it was starting to get a little annoying.

  Which only hastened my cooking, and soon he was happily slurping up a bowl of soup, but this time I actually got a good fill of the delicious soup, only made better by the Magikarp Fillets.

  Now full and happy Jonah would help me clean up the cookware and tent, and I soon called Alexei back to his Heal Ball, and we continued through Route 102 together.

  Where I would encounter my first Trainer battle

  End of Episode