The sun rose gently over Pallet Town, painting the sky in hues of gold and crimson as if blessing the road that stretched before Tharion and Nina. For her, this was the first true step into the wider world; for him, it was the rebirth of a journey in a land of endless possibility.
Nina walked close beside him, her eyes wide and filled with childlike wonder. Every fluttering Pidgey overhead, every rustle of grass that hinted at a hidden Pokémon, made her clutch her Pokéball tighter. Her Luxio trotted proudly at her side, a constant guardian and reminder of her progress.
"Big brother," she whispered, her voice light but carrying excitement, "this feels like a dream. Just us… traveling the world."
Tharion only smiled faintly. He looked ahead, the weight of his purpose burning in his chest, but his eyes softened as he glanced at Nina. For her, he wanted to build a world without worry. And for that, he needed power, recognition, and strength enough to carve a place where she would always be safe.
Their first stop was the tall grass beyond the outskirts. It wasn't long before a pair of purple shapes emerged—one smaller, with twitching ears, and one larger, with sharp eyes watching closely.
"Nidoran and Nidorina," Tharion murmured. His system pulsed faintly, already registering the pair.
Charmander stepped forward with a determined cry, fire tail blazing brighter in the morning air. The smaller Nidoran charged first, horns gleaming with poison. Charmander dodged, narrowly, and countered with a burst of flame that made the creature stagger back.
Nidorina leapt in defense of her mate, but Tharion's eyes gleamed with sharp calculation. He guided Charmander with precision—feints, well-timed embers, and decisive strikes that pushed the pair back without causing them true harm. Soon, both lay panting, subdued but not broken.
With two swift tosses, Pokéballs struck true. They rocked only once before the clicks sounded in tandem.
Nina cheered, clapping her hands. "You got both! A perfect pair!"
Tharion retrieved the Pokéballs, his system glowing faintly in acknowledgment of the successful capture. He closed his eyes briefly, and with the ease of thought, he teleported the Pokémon to his mountain villa. There, the Nidoran pair would be released into a safe environment, encouraged to train and grow under his quiet instruction.
The journey continued, and with every new route, Tharion followed this same principle. When a flock of Spearow ambushed, he captured the leading pair, sending them to the villa to strengthen a budding aerial division. When a Poliwag pair surfaced from a river, he added them too, forming the foundation of a water territory.
To Nina, it seemed like her brother was simply building a team. But Tharion, in silence, was forming an empire—every capture, every pair of Pokémon, a brick in the foundation of a future fortress.
As the days passed, Charmander grew swiftly under his relentless training. The little fire-type's determination burned just as hot as its flames, and when the moment came, its body shone in white light. Nina gasped, eyes wide as the small lizard grew taller, fiercer, wings beginning to bud faintly under its scales.
"Charmeleon!" it roared, flame blazing higher than ever.
Tharion knelt, eyes glinting with satisfaction. "Good. You're ready for the road ahead."
The world stretched before them—wild, dangerous, and full of promise. And with every step, Tharion knew his legend was only beginning.
The road to Viridian stretched onward, but the path was never straight. Curiosity pulled Nina to every corner—the glimmer of a stream, the rustle of trees, the shadows cast by towering cliffs. It wasn't long before they stumbled across a rocky mouth in the side of a hill, dark and silent.
"A cave!" Nina whispered, her Luxio's fur standing on end. Sparks danced faintly along the electric Pokémon's coat, as though warning them of hidden eyes in the darkness.
Tharion raised his hand, calming her. "Stay close. Not all caves are empty… and some hold treasures that aren't meant to be left behind."
They stepped inside, the cool air immediately surrounding them. The faint echo of dripping water filled the space, and deeper within, soft scratching claws met their ears. Charmeleon's tail flame cut through the gloom, illuminating stone walls dotted with crystals.
Then they saw it—standing on a rocky outcropping, watching them with gleaming red eyes. A Pokémon rarely seen in the wild, its stone-like body covered in jagged scales, its demeanor both regal and feral.
"Larvitar," Tharion whispered, his chest tightening. A rare one indeed. Not just any capture, but the kind of partner that could grow into an unstoppable force.
The little Rock Skin Pokémon growled, defensive but unafraid.
Charmeleon stepped forward, growling in answer. Nina gasped and tugged on Tharion's sleeve. "Big brother, that's… amazing. It feels strong already."
Tharion nodded once. "This one… I'll train myself."
The battle began in a clash of willpower. Larvitar lunged with surprising speed, stone fragments shattering from its body as it used Rock Slide to force Charmeleon back. The cavern shook with the impact, dust raining down.
"Dodge left—counter with Metal Claw!" Tharion commanded.
Charmeleon's claws glowed steel-bright, slashing through falling boulders before striking Larvitar across the chest. The small powerhouse staggered, but its eyes only blazed hotter. It answered with a surge of energy, a Sandstorm whipping through the cavern.
Nina shielded her face, Luxio bracing protectively in front of her. Tharion, however, stood calm in the storm, his eyes locked on his opponent.
"Good. You're stubborn. But so am I. Charmeleon—Flame Burst, now!"
The cavern lit in a flash of crimson flame as Charmeleon's attack collided with Larvitar's chest. The Rock-type fell to its knees, panting, but still glaring with ferocity.
Tharion pulled a Pokéball from his belt and tossed it. It struck true. The ball rocked once… twice… three times—then clicked.
Nina squealed, jumping into his arms. "You caught it! That's going to be your partner, isn't it?"
Tharion smiled faintly, holding the Pokéball with a rare softness in his gaze. "Yes. This one stays with me. We'll grow strong together."
From that point onward, their journey grew sharper in focus. Tharion continued his systematic captures—pairs of Zubat, Geodude, even a rare Onix deeper in the cave—all teleported back to his mountain villa, where their training would begin under the growing network of territories.
But Larvitar's Pokéball stayed clipped at his side. He would raise it with his own hands, test its limits, and mold it into the cornerstone of his true battle team.
As they stepped back into the light of day, Viridian's forests stretched ahead, shadows swaying between the trees. Nina shaded her eyes, her heart racing with excitement.
"Big brother… do you think we'll find more rare Pokémon like that?"
Tharion glanced at her, his faint smile carrying both warmth and steel. "We'll find them all. And when we do, we'll be ready."
With Charmeleon at his side, Nina's Luxio guarding her, and Larvitar's Pokéball secured at his belt, Tharion walked onward. The path to Viridian was not just the start of a Trainer's journey—it was the forging of a legend.