--Daisy Oak P.O.V--
Daisy Oak stepped into Moonwood Town, her backpack slung over one shoulder.
Her heart was pounding with a mix of excitement and nerves. As the granddaughter of Professor Oak, Kanto's first Indigo Champion and revered Pokémon researcher, she carried a legacy that felt both like a badge of honor and a heavy weight.
At twelve, she was late to the trainer's journey, her grandfather's overprotective nature delaying her start until her Pokémon were sufficiently trained. So she had waited two years since turning 10 to start the journey.
Oak was worried that she will be a target for his enemies or someone looking for leverage against him. Daisy understood this but she was not happy about it.
The league season was already halfway through, putting her at a disadvantage. When most people were at their fifth gym, she only had one badge under her belt.
But Daisy was determined to make her mark and her next target was the Moonwood Gym and its infamous gym leader, Gladion Vortex.
Moonwood Town was unrecognizable from her childhood visit years ago. Back then, it was a sleepy town, its beaches quiet and its streets with very few people.
Now, the town was filled with life. It drew tourists from Hoenn and Johto. There were towering glass buildings, bearing the logos of Vortex Corporation's social media ventures and other enterprises.
Stalls lined the bustling streets advertising exotic foods and trinkets.
The food stalls were a spectacle, offering dishes Daisy had never seen in Kanto's traditional fare.
Signs boasted "Pidgey Spicy Wings," "Magikarp Sushi Rolls," "Oddish Tempura," and "Vulpix Fire-Grilled Skewers," alongside exotic imports like pizza, pasta, sushi, and ramen.
Gladion had used his past life experience to introduce these new foods that became a bit instantly.
Daisy's stomach rumbled as she passed a stall advertising pizza with Cheri Berry and Bellsprout leaves toppings, topped with Miltank's milk cheese.
A food that was liked by Pokémon rights activists. Since no actual Pokémon were harmed, just their names slapped on vegan-friendly dishes.
But Gladion hadn't stopped there, he offered options for carnivores too, like "Spaghetti with Tauros Meatballs". His social media empire amplified the hype, turning Moonwood into a culinary destination for Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn.
Daisy couldn't resist. She approached a stall, the aroma of melted cheese and tangy Cheri Berries pulling her in. "One slice of the Cheri-Bellsprout pizza, please," she said, handing over a few Pokédollars.
The vendor handed her a steaming slice, the cheese stretching in long, gooey strands as she pulled it apart.
The first bite was heavenly the Miltank cheese was rich and creamy, clinging to her tongue with a savory warmth, while the Cheri Berries burst with a spicy-sweet tang that danced with the earthy crunch of Bellsprout leaves
She closed her eyes, savoring the perfect balance of flavors, the cheese pulling in satisfying strings with each bite.
'Arceus, this is divine,' she thought, licking a stray bit of sauce from her fingers. 'No wonder people flock here. Gym leader Gladion's a genius… to have come up with a recipe like this.'
As she munched, her eyes caught on photo booths dotting the town, each offering themed backdrops for trainers to snap social media-ready pictures.
'Gym Leader Gladion has got his claws in everything. He literally has entered every sector there is to earn money.' Daisy thought.
She made a mental note to visit a booth later, maybe pose with her Electabuzz for a post, but her focus was elsewhere.
The Moonwood Gym awaited her, and with it, a chance to test her mettle against Kanto's most formidable Gym Leader.
Her destination loomed ahead: the Vortex Emporium. Trainers streamed in and out, their bags bulging with purchases.
Inside the shelves lined with Pokémon-related items, Potions, Berries, TMs, and rare evolution stones.
Daisy's heart skipped as she headed straight for a display case, her eyes locking onto her prize. "Excuse me?" she said to a salesperson, "I'd like to buy an Electirizer."
The salesperson's expression brightened. "Certainly! I'll pack it right up for you. You can pick it up at the payment counter."
Daisy nodded. The Electirizer was for her Electabuzz, her second Pokémon, a gift from her grandfather when she was eleven. It had evolved into Electabuzz just weeks ago, a powerhouse she'd trained relentlessly.
'I don't know if it'll become Electivire on this journey, but I'm not taking chances,' she thought. The stone was insurance, a step toward unlocking her Pokémon's full potential.
At the payment counter, the cashier scanned the Electirizer. "How would you like to pay for the item?"
"Pokédex," Daisy replied, handing over the device. Gladion's Vortex Corporation had secured manufacturing rights from her grandfather for the Pokedex and upgraded it with payment features and pre-installed social media accounts.
'Of course he did,' she thought, rolling her eyes. 'He's turned Grandpa's invention into a cash machine.'
The cashier returned the Pokédex after a quick scan. "Pokédex payments are subject to a 10 percent discount."
Daisy's lips twitched. But when she checked her balance, her heart sank. :250,000 Pokédollars gone, just like that. Six years of pocket money, poof!'
She wanted to cry, the sting of the cost hitting harder than she'd expected. 'Electabuzz better evolve into a beast for this price,' she thought, clutching the packaged Electirizer.
Stepping out of the Emporium, Daisy's gaze settled on the massive stadium in the distance.
The Moonwood Gym was a fortress, home to the trainer publicly declared as Kanto's strongest, a prodigy who'd defeated the current Champion with ease and dismantled every elite trainer in his path.
Whispers abounded that Gladion hadn't revealed his full arsenal. Something that she believed since each public Ace Battle, he unveiled a new Pokémon or evolution.
A wry smile crossed her lips as she muttered, "Time to challenge him. I wonder if he'd give me a discount for future purchases if a trainer beats him in a Gym Battle."
-----Author Notes------
Thankyou Shay Cormac for supporting me!
The number of extra chapters have increased to 20. They already have been posted.
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