Htee knew that a first battle was almost a rite of passage for new trainers, and facing Brendan, the Professor's own son, was the perfect way to kick things off. It would give him a chance to see how Mudkip performed and to get a feel for Pokémon battles in this new reality.
With his new Pokédex and a single Poké Ball containing his Mudkip, Htee made his way out of Professor Birch's lab. He spotted Brendan waiting just outside, leaning against a tree, his own backpack slung over his shoulder.
"Hey, Htee!" Brendan called out, a confident grin on his face. "Got your starter, huh? Ready for a quick battle? My dad told me you were quite resourceful out there, but let's see how you do in a proper Pokémon battle!"
"You bet," Htee replied, a competitive spark igniting within him. He was eager to see what this "Diamond (with Hidden Legendary Potential)" Mudkip could do, even at its base level.
Brendan chuckled. "Alright! Let's head to Route 103 then. It's just north of here, a good spot for a first battle."
They walked past the familiar tall grass of Route 101, then turned east onto Route 103. The path widened slightly here, offering a bit more open space, perfect for a friendly spar. They stopped near a small patch of clear ground.
"Alright, Htee, ready?" Brendan asked, pulling a Poké Ball from his belt. "I'll go first!"
"Go, Treecko!" Brendan yelled, tossing his Poké Ball. With a flash of light, a sleek, green Treecko appeared, standing ready.
Htee focused his Potential Sight on it.
POKÉMON: Treecko
TYPE: Grass
POTENTIAL: Diamond
"So, Brendan got a Diamond
potential Treecko," Htee mused internally. "That's a strong start for him. My Mudkip is currently at Diamond too, but with that hidden Legendary tier... I need to be careful." He knew that while Mudkip had higher ultimate potential, at this early stage, a Grass-type like Treecko had a type advantage against Water-types.
"Mudkip, let's go!" Htee called out, releasing his first Pokémon. The little blue Mudkip landed on the ground, its tiny fins twitching.
"Alright, Treecko, use Pound!" Brendan commanded, making the first move.
Treecko darted forward, its tail raised, aiming a direct strike at Mudkip.
"Mudkip, dodge it, then use Tackle!" Htee responded, trying to mimic the quick commands he'd seen in the anime.
Mudkip, though small, was surprisingly nimble. It waddled to the side, narrowly avoiding Treecko's attack, and then charged forward, ramming into Treecko. Treecko stumbled back, but quickly regained its footing.
"Treecko, follow up with another Pound!" Brendan urged.
"Mudkip, use Water Gun!" Htee countered. This was Mudkip's first ranged attack.
Mudkip opened its mouth and a small stream of water shot out, striking Treecko head-on. Treecko cried out, shaking its head as if to dislodge the water. It was super effective! Even a weak Water Gun from a starting Mudkip packed a punch against a Grass-type.
Brendan's eyes widened slightly. "Whoa, that's a strong Water Gun! Alright, Treecko, hang in there! Use Quick Attack!"
Treecko glowed faintly and shot forward with incredible speed, slamming into Mudkip. Mudkip slid back a few feet, letting out a small cry of pain.
Htee quickly assessed the situation. Mudkip was a little bruised, but still standing. Treecko looked a bit dazed from the Water Gun.
"Mudkip, one more Water Gun!" Htee commanded, betting on a knockout.
Mudkip gathered its energy, and another jet of water arced through the air, hitting Treecko squarely. The Grass-type Pokémon cried out one last time, then slumped to the ground, unconscious.
"Treecko is unable to battle!" Brendan sighed, but a smile soon replaced his frown. "Wow, Htee! That was impressive! Your Mudkip is really strong! I guess my dad was right about you."
He recalled his Treecko. "Thanks for the battle, Htee. That was fun! I've got to go tell my dad about this." He then jogged back towards Littleroot Town, leaving Htee with his victorious Mudkip.
Htee knelt down, gently patting Mudkip's head. "You were great, Mudkip! Excellent job!"
Mudkip chirped happily, rubbing its head against Htee's hand. Htee's Potential Sight flared again, showing Mudkip's current status.
POKÉMON: Mudkip
TYPE: Water
POTENTIAL: Diamond (with Hidden Legendary Potential)
EXP GAINED: [Amount]
LEVEL UP! Mudkip is now Level 6!
Htee grinned.
This was just the beginning. A single battle, and Mudkip was already leveling up. The journey to unlock that "Legendary" potential would be long, but with every victory, with every step, he was getting closer. He looked back towards Littleroot Town, then east towards Oldale. He had a world to explore, and a legendary Pokémon to raise.
After the First Victory
Htee and Mudkip stood on Route 103, the scent of fresh earth and damp leaves in the air. The thrill of their first victory still hummed through Htee's veins. Mudkip, though still a tiny creature, seemed to exude a newfound confidence.
"Great job, Mudkip," Htee praised again, patting its head. Mudkip responded with a happy "Kip!" He opened his new Pokédex, fumbling with the unfamiliar device, and aimed it at Mudkip.
MUDKIP, the Mud Fish Pokémon.
It uses the fin on its head to detect movements in the water and air. It can also foretell the tides with this fin.
The electronic voice was clear and concise. Htee then checked Mudkip's summary, seeing its new Level 6 status and the stat increases. The "Potential: Diamond (with Hidden Legendary Potential)" remained, a constant, gleaming reminder of the ultimate goal.
Now that the initial battle was done, Htee considered his next move. Littleroot Town was behind him. To the east lay Oldale Town, the next logical stop on a typical trainer's journey.
"Alright, Mudkip," Htee said, looking down the path. "Time to head to Oldale Town. We need to register properly and maybe get some supplies." Mudkip gave an eager chirp, as if understanding.
The walk to Oldale Town was short, much like the path to Route 103. The landscape was still green and lush, but the presence of civilization grew steadily. Soon, they saw the distinctive red roofs and more varied architecture of Oldale Town. It was larger than Littleroot, with more people and, crucially, a proper Pokémon Mart in addition to a Pokémon Center.
Htee decided their first stop should be the Pokémon Center. He'd seen nurses Joy and Chansey in the games, and knew they were the backbone of any trainer's journey.
Inside, the Pokémon Center was clean and bustling. A Nurse Joy, with her signature pink hair and kind smile, stood behind the counter.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Center!" she greeted warmly. "Are your Pokémon in need of healing?"
"Yes, please," Htee replied, holding out Mudkip's Poké Ball. "My Mudkip just had its first battle."
"Oh, wonderful!" Nurse Joy took the Poké Ball and placed it in a machine. "Just a moment, and your Mudkip will be feeling refreshed and ready for more adventures!"
While Mudkip was healing, Htee took the opportunity to look around. He saw other trainers, some seasoned, some looking as new as he felt, discussing strategies or just resting. He felt a sense of belonging, a quiet excitement for the journey ahead.
A few moments later, Nurse Joy returned with Mudkip's Poké Ball. "Your Mudkip is fully recovered!"
"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Htee said, taking the Poké Ball. He felt a moment of hesitation. He had no money. How was he going to afford anything?
As if reading his mind, Nurse Joy added, "And since you're a new trainer, Professor Birch has already taken care of your initial registration and provided you with a starting fund for supplies. You can check your Trainer ID for your balance!"
Htee pulled out his Trainer ID. It was a sleek, digital card. He tapped it, and a holographic display popped up, showing his name, Htee, and a small amount of credits. It wasn't much, but it was enough for basic supplies. Relief washed over him. Professor Birch truly thought of everything.
With Mudkip fully healed and his financial worries temporarily assuaged, Htee knew his next step: the Pokémon Mart. He needed Poké Balls, Potions, anything that could help him on his way to evolving Mudkip and unlocking its legendary potential. The world of Hoenn lay open before him, filled with challenges, discoveries, and countless Pokémon to encounter. And now, he was truly ready to meet it head-on.
What will Htee do at the Pokémon Mart?