Morning came slowly. The soft rustling of leaves and distant chirping of Pokémon stirred him awake. He opened his eyes to find himself lying in the same grassy clearing where he had summoned Riolu the day before. For a moment, he had hoped this was just a dream. But the chill of the morning air, the ache in his limbs, and the soft snoring of the little Fighting-type curled up beside him confirmed reality.
He was here. In the Pokémon world. Alone—except for Riolu.
He sat up, stretching out his stiff muscles. Sleeping on the ground was rough, but there was no use complaining. The first order of business was clear: survival.
Riolu yawned and stretched, blinking up at him.
"Morning, buddy," he said. Riolu gave a small bark in response.
His stomach growled, reminding him that berries alone wouldn't cut it forever. He needed food, water, and shelter. More importantly, he needed to understand the dangers of the wild. Pokémon weren't just digital sprites here—they were real creatures with instincts and territorial behavior.
His knowledge of the games would help, but it wouldn't be enough.
"Alright," he muttered. "First goal of the day: water."
Riolu's ears twitched, then the little Pokémon stood up and sniffed the air. Without hesitation, it turned and started walking in a specific direction.
He raised an eyebrow. "You found something?"
Riolu nodded.
Well, that was convenient. He followed, careful to step lightly. The forest was alive with sounds—rustling in the bushes, distant calls of Pokémon he couldn't yet see. He felt exposed, but Riolu walked with confidence.
After a few minutes, he heard it—the faint trickling of water. Pushing past a thick patch of ferns, they emerged at the edge of a small, clear stream.
His shoulders sagged with relief.
"Good job, Riolu," he said, kneeling down. He cupped the cold water in his hands and drank, savoring the freshness. Riolu joined him, lapping up the water eagerly.
With water secured, the next priority was food. He still had some Oran Berries from yesterday, but they wouldn't last long. He needed a more sustainable food source.
He glanced around. If this world was anything like real nature, the best places to find food were near water sources. He scanned the trees, looking for Pecha, Sitrus, or any other berries he recognized.
"Alright, let's see what we can find."
Riolu perked up, eager to help. Together, they scouted the area, looking for edible plants. They found a few bushes with round, dark berries that he vaguely recognized as Bluk Berries. He knew they were safe to eat, though they wouldn't provide much nutrition.
As he reached out to pluck one, the bushes suddenly rustled. He froze. Riolu immediately dropped into a defensive stance, growling softly.
A moment later, a small, chubby Pokémon waddled out.
A Sentret.
The brown-furred scout Pokémon blinked up at them, its large ears twitching as it assessed the situation. He stayed still, watching. Sentret weren't aggressive, but they were cautious. If this one felt threatened, it would run—or worse, call others.
The Sentret sniffed the air, then looked between them and the berries.
Oh… it's protecting its food source.
He slowly raised his hands, showing he meant no harm. "Easy, little guy. We don't want trouble."
Riolu, though still tense, didn't make any sudden moves.
The Sentret stared for a long moment before chirping softly and retreating a few steps. It wasn't outright hostile, but it wasn't about to share either.
He exhaled. Fine. No need to fight over berries.
"We'll find food somewhere else," he said to Riolu, who gave a reluctant nod before following him away from the bush.
He didn't want to start unnecessary fights, especially since Riolu was still weak. There was no healing center nearby, no potions, no escape ropes. Every battle had consequences.
They spent the next hour searching and eventually found a tree filled with Pecha Berries. These would help in case of poisoning, and they tasted sweeter than the Bluk Berries.
With food and water handled, that left one more thing: shelter.
He glanced up at the sky. The sun was higher now, meaning it was mid-morning. If he wanted to be safe when night came, he needed to find or build a place to stay.
He considered his options.
A cave would be ideal—solid protection from the elements—but it might already be occupied. A simple lean-to shelter could work for now, but it wouldn't be sturdy against rain or Pokémon attacks.
He sighed. "One step at a time."
Riolu barked in agreement.
By afternoon, they had found a suitable spot—a large tree with thick roots creating a natural alcove. With some effort, he gathered fallen branches and leaves to create a makeshift shelter. It wasn't much, but it would do for now.
As the sun began to set, he sat down beside Riolu, chewing on a Pecha Berry. The events of the day settled in.
He had survived.
It wasn't much, but it was a start.
Riolu curled up beside him, its breathing steady.
He stared at the darkening sky.
Tomorrow, they would train