A New Beginning: Steps in Harmony[MOD]

[Hana Saito]

Hana stood at the entrance of Professor Oak’s lab, her lavender ribbon sticking to her hair as the soft patter of rain filled the air. The overcast sky cast a muted glow over Pallet Town, and the steady rhythm of raindrops on the roof brought a sense of calm. She took a deep breath, the cool, damp air filling her lungs as she stepped inside the lab.

Professor Oak greeted her with a warm smile. “Hana! You’ve made it through the rain. Ready to choose your first partner?”

She nodded, her green eyes glancing at the three Poké Balls on the table. Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur. Her hand hovered for only a moment before she picked up the Poké Ball containing Bulbasaur. The choice felt natural, like the steady rain outside—peaceful and life-giving.

“I choose Bulbasaur,” Hana said softly, turning the Poké Ball over in her hand.

Professor Oak smiled approvingly. “An excellent choice. I can see you and Bulbasaur will make a wonderful team.”

With a respectful bow, Hana thanked him and stepped outside once more. The rain had softened, a gentle mist now drifting through the trees. She released Bulbasaur—Elowen—who blinked up at her, the raindrops sliding down her small, green body.

Hana knelt beside her new companion, shielding Elowen from the rain with her hand. “It’s a little wet for our first step, isn’t it? But rain brings growth. Let’s begin this journey together.”

Together, they set off down the rain-slicked path of Route 29, their footsteps quiet against the soft earth. The sound of the rain created a peaceful rhythm, as Hana and Elowen made their way toward New Bark Town, their shared adventure just beginning.

[Pixel]

New Bark Town was a quaint little place with only Professor Elm's lab really offering any reprieve from the small houses and trees. There was a waterfront to the far side, connecting this town via water to the Kanto Region if you traveled far enough. Not that new trainers aimed to go that way anyway. Those that came here were often starting off their journey, usually stopping by to see the professor, picking up a pokedex and starter kit, before heading out into the wider world. One of the reasons one could offer that the Lab was here was due to the relatively low level of the pokemon that roamed the area. Anyone with a starter could easily handle whatever jumped out of the grasses.

Such was the case today.

A new trainer ventured out of the town onto the route, heading into the unknown via the fairly straight forward path toward Cherrygrove. Despite the rain, the walk seemed like it would be as uneventful as the sleepy little town growing distant in the background. But suddenly, there was a blur of purple, and a rodent leapt from the grass to growl at the new trainer. White fangs cleaned, its whiskers twitched. It looked ready for a fight.

Armed with a bulbasaur and pokeballs, what would Hana do to handle the first obstacle on her new adventure?

---

A [LV 5] Rattata won't let you pass!

Please choose a move to start the battle

Shiny? NKvDJm_gp_1-42
Rare? p_1-6 Uncommon p_1-3

1-42·1-6·1-3

[Hana Saito]

The rain still clung to Hana's skin as she walked down the path, the peaceful rhythm of raindrops calming her mind. New Bark Town had quickly faded into the distance, its quiet charm replaced by the rustling of the tall grass and the soft tapping of rain on leaves. Hana glanced at Elowen, who seemed content to walk beside her, absorbing the cool air.

But then, a sudden blur of movement from the grass caught her eye. A Rattata, sleek and aggressive, burst out onto the path with a low growl. Its fangs gleamed white, and its eyes locked onto Hana and Elowen, clearly ready to challenge them.

Hana stopped, her heart steady but her mind sharp. She looked down at Elowen, whose gaze was fixed on the Rattata. "Our first test, Elowen," she said quietly, her voice carrying the same calm that had guided her through quick and daring dance routines countless times.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped back, giving Elowen space. "Vine Whip," she called softly, the rain creating a soothing backdrop to her words.

Elowen responded without hesitation, her vines lashing out with a swift, graceful movement. Hana watched closely, the rain continuing to fall as her journey began—not with hesitation, but with a firm, steady step into the unknown.

[Pixel]

The rain kept falling, cold and steady, heralding the ever nearer winter that approached. There was no thunder and the wind was gentle, painting the scene to be a little off-color, like glazed with a hint of somber grey, washing out the saturated hues of autumn. When Hana called out an attack, the rattata was already moving, a streak of vivid purple in the overcast gloom. Those pearly fangs flashed dangerously with the threat of a wicked bite should it be cornered. However, the little rat didn't chomp down on Elowen, rather it sped up as fast as it could go, becoming a blur and slamming into the bulbasaur before Elowen could move an inch. Rocking back a bit, Elowen was able to take advantage of the rattata's sudden closeness to strike with those vines and knock the rat back, putting some needed distance between them.

Muddy prints marked the scene where they now scuffled.

It showed the many little prints of tiny rat feet running and the slight skid of Elowen upon being struck.

Wild Encounter

---

Weather: RAIN

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Wild Rattata LV 5
HP 68% [13/19]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Elowen LV 5
HP 71% [15/21]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Wild Rattata [Ability]: Status
Elowen [Overgrow]: Status

SP13+ Rattata used 0QBaQHetp_1-3 Quick Attack [-6]
SP11 Bulbasaur used vine whip [-6]


1-3

[Hana Saito]

The cold rain showed no signs of letting up, pouring down in relentless sheets that blurred the edges of the battlefield. Despite the icy sting of water seeping through her clothes, Hana remained unwavering. Her focus was sharp, her gaze fixed on the challenge before her. She wouldn’t let the chill weaken her resolve. Her years of dancing had taught her that discipline was key—one moment of distraction could unravel everything, leading to a disastrous chain of mistakes. Precision mattered, especially now.

"Elowyn, are you alright?" Hana called out, her voice raised above the sound of the rain, her tone filled with worry. Her heart clenched as she watched her partner struggle in the downpour. Elowyn was more than just a Pokémon to her—she was her first friend on this long, unpredictable journey. Hana had always imagined meeting many companions along the way, people and Pokémon alike. She had dreamed of forging bonds, but so far, it seemed fate was more inclined to throw obstacles at her feet. Battles came before friendship. She knew it would be like this—trials before triumph—but a small part of her still longed for a more elegant, peaceful path.

"Elowyn, retaliate with a tackle of your own!" Hana’s voice cut through the rain, firm and confident. Without hesitation, Elowyn leaped into action. Her body moved with practiced grace, despite the fatigue beginning to set in. Every step felt heavier under the weight of the waterlogged ground, her leaves clinging to her body, slick with rain and mud. The cold gnawed at her bones, but she pushed the discomfort aside, focusing only on Hana's command. Her trainer's unwavering belief in her gave her strength.

As Elowyn charged forward, her thoughts briefly drifted. They were miles from the nearest town, far from any sanctuary. If they stayed out here too long, the chill would begin to take its toll. She could sense Hana’s weariness as well, though her trainer would never admit it. Elowyn hoped that they would find shelter soon, a place where both she and Hana could rest and recover. The rain was more than just a nuisance; it was becoming dangerous.

But Hana wasn’t worried. She had already formulated a plan in the back of her mind, even as she guided Elowyn through the battle. They would capture the audacious Rattata that had dared to challenge them, and once the battle was done, they would seek shelter. That was her priority—her partner's safety, and her own. The journey ahead was long and full of uncertainty, but if she had Elowyn by her side, Hana was certain they could weather any storm, literal or figurative. For now, though, the battle demanded her full attention. The rain would have to wait.

[Tarlar]

Where both Hana and Elowyn worried about the rain, the rattata seemed completely unfaced by it. But it was a wild pokemon, what else would you expect? It was used to weather like this and it was neither the first or the last time it was going to experience it, at least not if it stayed wild.
The rattata began circling Elowyn while glaring at her, it was strange what made it so angry as the rat pokemon weren't usually known for being aggressive, a pest and a nuisance yes, or protecting some food, but not territorial per so. So what was the reason for this ones behavior? Was it protecting something? In pain? Did it have a backstory with some of the new traveling trainers from New Bark Town? Did it have something it wanted to prove?
Whatever the reason, it could affect how it would act on the team if Hana planned on catching it. Elowyn was the only one able to ask, although she might not think that as an option now they were in the middle of a battle.

The rat seemed to have calmed down a bit, its eyes softened and it whipped its tail gently a bit which made it seem less threatening and Elowyn couldn't help but lower her guard a bit. Not that it would make her stop the battle of course, as neither Hana nor the rattata had made any indication of wanting to end it, and she wasn't going to to hold back either as they had been very equal in the first round.
She bulldozed forward and for some reason the rattata didn't even try to dodge it, but just stood still and waited, and was pushed backwards from the tackle. Its expression was unreadable, but it surely wasn't going to give up.


Wild Encounter

---

Weather: RAIN

[attr="class","qkt-bkgd"]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-pkmn"]
Wild Rattata LV 5
HP 42% [8/19]

[attr="class","qkt-wild-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-pkmn"]
Elowen LV 5
HP 71% [15/21]

[attr="class","qkt-trainer-imgbox"]

[attr="class","qkt-pkmn-img"]

Wild Rattata: Normal
Elowen [Overgrow]: Normal (-1DEF)

SP13 Rattata used Tail Whip!
SP11 Bulbasaur used vine whip