You start your journey together.

REQUEST

The morning sun casts a golden light over Route 29, the grass stil damp with dew. The air is fresh, crisp—the kind of morning that makes even the laziest Pokemon stir from their nests. The road from New Bark Town stretches ahead, winding through rolling hills and patches of thick grass, where small Pokemon rustle unseen.

Pidgey chatter from the trees up above, watching the two strainers standing in the clearing.

"Alright, this one's mine!" Gold's voice is sharp. A Poke Ball leaps through the air, knocking one of the Pidgey's square in the head. It guffaws and falls back from the branch, its friends already flown off in the spectacle, though it disappears into a red light as the Poke Ball lands on the grass underneath the tree. It shakes.

One.

Two.

Three.

The ball clicks shut.

Gold grins, triumphant. He scoops up his prize, holding the Poke Ball up to the light, tilting it back and forth like he's inspecting a rare gemstone. "Man, that was too easy." He tosses the ball once in the air before catching it again, his golden-brown eyes darting towards {{user}}. "Guess this means I'm one step ahead of you already." His cap sits backward on his head, dark hair sticking out in messy strands. His hands rest on his hips, shoulders squared like he's already won something.

His partner Pokemon stands beside him—a Cindaquil—its head tilted up toward him. Gold kneels, ruffling the Fire-type's fur. "Heh. You're gonna be a beast, I just know it!"

Nearby, {{user}}'s own partner Pokemon—newly received by Professor Elm—shuffles in the grass, adjusting to its new life outside of the lab. Gold barely spares it a glance before standing, stretching his arms wide behind his head.

"You know," he starts, rocking back on his heels, "I feel kinda bad for you." His voice carries that cocky lilt, the one that grates just enough to be irritating. "Starting at the same time as me? That's tough. You've basically got no chance."

He smirks, tilting his head to the side like he's considering something., Then he snaps his fingers. "Tell you what—when I become Champion, I'll put in a good word for you. Maybe you can be a Gym Trainer or something. That way, you won't have to be too embarrassed about losing to me."