Chapter 2 Adapting to life
Three days flew by in a blink, and during that time, Evan had really settled into life in the Pokémon world.
He was no longer taken aback by the sight of Pokémon. In fact, he had gotten to know all his classmates, teachers, and neighbors quite well. Over these three days, he had been dreaming about catching his very first Pokémon.
Evan understood that given his family's financial situation, he needed to choose a Pokémon that was easy to care for—otherwise, they wouldn't be able to manage the costs.
Out of all the types, Bug and Grass Pokémon were the most budget-friendly and straightforward to handle.
After giving it a lot of thought, he realized there were only a handful of options in the Kanto region—he couldn't afford to be choosy.
To prepare for catching his first Pokémon, Evan had been saving up diligently. He often ventured into the forest to gather fruits to sell, and sometimes he took on odd jobs for neighbors in exchange for a little cash.
In the end, he managed to save up $200. A Poké Ball at the store was priced at $5, just like in the games.
A standard red-and-white Poké Ball could last up to 20 years if it wasn't damaged, so $5 was a pretty good deal.
However, other essentials, like healing items, were around $3 each, and those got used up quickly. And that was just for the basic ones—there were pricier options too.
An average family typically earned between $400 and $500 a month. Most could only afford to take care of one Pokémon, and some families didn't have any at all.
So, while owning a single Pokémon was doable, having more than one could really strain the budget. Becoming a trainer felt like a luxury dream.
Evan pushed those worries aside for now. Right now, his focus was on catching that first Pokémon.
He headed to the local store and picked up two Poké Balls, a bug-catching net, some Pokémon food, and a few basic trapping tools. All of that set him back $30.
Spending that much stung a bit, especially since it was all money he had worked so hard to save.
He remembered running around with the local kids who loved bug-catching, and the place they frequented the most was Viridian Forest.
Of course, they only explored the outskirts—they never dared to venture too deep.
Evan knew that the Pokémon lurking near the edges of the forest were pretty weak, and as long as he stayed alert, they wouldn't pose much of a threat.
But once he ventured deeper into the Viridian Forest, things changed dramatically. That's where the powerful wild Pokémon and their communities thrived. Without a skilled trainer by his side, stepping into that part of the woods felt like a one-way ticket to disaster.
Every time Evan spotted a trainer confidently striding into the heart of the forest, a pang of envy hit him.
He envied their strength and the freedom they had—to tackle treacherous paths, capture formidable Pokémon, and roam wherever their hearts desired. That dream was what fueled his ambition to become a trainer.
The bug catchers in town typically snagged their Pokémon near the forest's edge, where Caterpies and Weedles were plentiful and easy to catch.
Just thinking about finally capturing his very own Pokémon sent a thrill through Evan.
In his previous life, he had always dreamed of having a Pokémon companion. Now, that dream was on the verge of coming true—how could he not be excited?
His mind raced with possibilities—what would his first Pokémon be?
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, he summoned his determination and stepped into Viridian Forest.
As he crossed the threshold, his eyes began to itch. He rubbed them, brushed it off, and pressed on.
No one noticed the brief flicker of blue light in his eyes before it vanished.
The fresh scent of grass enveloped him.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a warm glow on the forest floor, while towering trees loomed all around him.
It felt surreal—he had seen forests like this countless times on a screen in his past life, but this was the first time he was truly experiencing one.
The rustling leaves and the occasional call of a Pokémon—it was all so real.
Now it was time to decide which Pokémon to catch.
Caterpie and Weedle were the easiest targets—common, weak, and unlikely to put up much of a fight.
Before they evolved into Butterfree or Beedrill, their combat abilities were practically non-existent.
Even a regular kid could handle one without breaking a sweat. That's why most bug catchers relied on them.
Other wild Pokémon posed a bit more of a challenge to catch.
Evan had done his homework and discovered that a simple trap with some Pokémon food could lure in the weaker pokemons.
Once they took the bait, that's when you could toss a Poké Ball. Most of the weaker Pokémon wouldn't break free, and even if they did, they were usually slow enough to give it another shot.
Evan stumbled upon a hidden patch of grass and quickly dug a shallow pit. He set up his trap and sprinkled some Pokémon food inside.
Then, he crouched down in the bushes, waiting patiently.
While he was hiding, he thought back to a conversation he had with his dad the night before.
At dinner, his father had asked, "Are you going to catch your first Pokémon tomorrow?"
Evan nodded enthusiastically.
"I've noticed you've always had a love for Pokémon since you were little. Now that you're older, just remember to stay safe. It's perfectly fine if you don't catch one. I can help you get one."
His dad then handed him a stack of cash. "How are you going to catch a Pokémon without some money? Here, take this."
...
Suddenly, a rustling noise snapped Evan back to reality.
Peeking through a gap in the leaves, he spotted a Pidgeot landing near his trap.
It wasn't anything too flashy—its wings and belly were white, while the rest of its feathers were a rich brown. Dark markings framed its eyes, and it had a purple beak and claws.
The distinctive crest on its head fluttered, giving it a serious look.
It swooped down and quickly gobbled up the bait.
Evan quietly reached into his pocket, pulled out a Poké Ball, and threw it.
But just as it was about to connect, the Pidgeot sensed the danger, swatted the ball away with its wings, and took off.
"Crap!" Evan exclaimed, sprinting a few steps after it, but it was already gone.
Back at the trap, he inspected his setup. "At least the trap's still in one piece."
He reset everything and crouched down to wait once more.
Before long, he noticed some movement in the grass.
A small green Caterpie had wriggled into the trap—it was stuck.
The little bug Pokémon had a wormlike body, with a red Y-shaped antenna on its head. Its back was green, its belly white, and yellow rings lined its sides.
This time, Evan sprang into action. He tapped the Caterpie with a Poké Ball—white light burst forth.
The ball shook
(End of Chapter)