[b][color=0076a3][center][i]Kanto International Airport, Celadon City Outskirts, one day earlier[/i][/center][/color][/b] With her passport and international arrivals card in hand, a young woman with a suitcase stepped up to the security checkpoint when one of the men on duty waved the queue forward. [color=8882be]"Anything to declare, Miss... Tatsuyama?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"One Pokémon, sir,"[/color] she promptly answered, presenting the passport and card for inspection. [i]When in doubt, declare it,[/i] she remembered her parents saying. That was just one of the considerable number of recommendations she'd taken on board while making final preparations for the trip. So she had chosen not to pack any foodstuffs, in the hope of finding suitable ingredients after passing through Customs. [color=8882be]"Pawniard species, young female, hatched in the Sengun region. That correct?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"Yes, sir."[/color] [color=8882be]"And you're here to take on the Indigo League?"[/color] He surveyed Hana with what she thought was a look of curiosity as he asked this question. [color=00aeef]"Yes, sir."[/color] [color=8882be]"Do you have any food or similar on you? A sandwich from the flight?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"No, sir."[/color] [color=8882be]"All right. Take the first left, follow the blue line to Pokémon screening."[/color] [color=00aeef]"Thank you, sir."[/color] There was no need to be overly formal in her dealings with the airport staff, but Hana wanted to make a good impression. She was quick to collect her things and move along. No need to cause a disturbance; everyone else in the queue just wanted to get through and out to the airport proper as soon as possible. She soon found that Pokémon screening was a similar experience, though a smaller queue had formed here. People had Poké Balls close to hand, or containers holding large Eggs. Eventually she found that the queue split into several smaller lines. A computer terminal featuring recessed spaces to scan Poké Balls was installed at each line, with more staff on hand to check over the scan results. This time a woman was on duty to double-check the details. Soon Hana's turn came around, and she presented the arrivals card and Satomi's Poké Ball, the latter typically secure on her belt. [color=8882be]"Any internal modifications to the Poké Ball?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"No, ma'am."[/color] [color=8882be]"Has your Pokémon contracted any diseases recently? Infections, viruses, open injuries?"[/color] [color=00aeef]"No, ma'am."[/color] [color=8882be]"Place the Ball in one of the slots for examination."[/color] Hana did so, and soon enough, a green tick mark showed up on the screen along with a Pawniard stock image. The attendant waved her through; with a brief word of thanks, Hana collected Satomi's Ball and began making her way to the designated carousel for baggage claim. She passed another security team with a pair of Growlithe on leads, and smiled at the sight of the hard-working Pokémon. One briefly pointed its nose in her direction and sniffed, but didn't react in any particular way. Unfortunately, there had been several signs in the area discouraging people from giving the dogs on duty a scratch behind the ears. Hana didn't have to hurry. But she wanted to make sure everything was all right. She hadn't packed her cooking tools in her carry-on. That much metal, especially the knives, would have set off about a dozen red flags the moment it went through a metal detector. She knew she could be trusted with such things, but security staff didn't, and they held higher authority than she did in this situation. Others from the flight were already here, having cleared security before her. So she simply took a place by the carousel and waited. She had patience. It ran in the family. Her first priority after collecting her bag was to find a decent meal. Then she had to make her way into the city, where she needed to find a supermarket. There she would buy staple travelling needs according to the list she'd written on her phone. And then... The first few bags were making their way along the carousel. Hana briefly studied them, looking for a familiar shape and colour. None to be had just yet. So, not for the first time, she reviewed her plans. She had to set out for Celadon, then Vermilion, she remembered. And from there, a ferry to Pallet Town to meet with Professor Oak. He would be able to point her in the right direction. And then she would travel on foot throughout Kanto, to explore and begin training Satomi against the local Pokémon. Perhaps catching some of the local species to start building a team. The idea of adventuring in a new land, sleeping under the stars, was exciting. Minutes passed. Some folks were fidgeting with their bags or trolleys. Hana was comfortable with waiting, even if she did pace back and forth while she did so. That wasn't because she was restless: it was to help bring back the feeling in her legs. Being stuck in a plane for hours on end was not something she was used to. The skyship on which she'd travelled to Eyria from Platinos had been much more comfortable. And eventually, there it was: a black, white, and silver backpacker's pack, with the Tatsuyama family's silver shield emblem sewn prominently into one side. [hr] [b][color=0076a3][center][i]Pallet Town, present day[/i][/center][/color][/b] Dressed in her usual style of a white T-shirt with black hem, blue ankle-length skirt, running shoes, and lightweight coat, Hana Tatsuyama was among the first off the hourly Vermilion-Kanto ferry, making her way off the wharf and onto land as soon as possible. Travel by sea was [i]not[/i] something she was used to in the slightest, as she found a bench and sat down to collect herself. She didn't even bother to shrug the backpack off her shoulders. Several minutes passed as she attempted to gather herself and get reacquainted with solid ground. [color=00aeef]"All right... all right,"[/color] she eventually said to herself as she pressed the base of her palms to her temples, holding it for a few seconds before letting go and finally opening her eyes again. She felt better for doing so. At least it was a reasonably short trip; all the fitness training and mental preparation for this adventure hadn't saved her from the unfamiliar experience of travelling by boat. But what mattered was that she was here now. The first leg was done: actually making the trip to Pallet Town for League registration. She got back to her feet, lifting the backpacker's pack with no difficulty and collecting her suitcase in one hand. With her free hand, however, she took the Poké Ball from her belt and released Satomi. Eyes narrowed, the young Pawniard raised her bladed arms as if to start a fight, but Hana intervened. [color=00aeef]"Patience, Satomi, we're just going for a walk right now. Stretching our legs after the ferry. Okay?"[/color] Satomi's combat tension began to fade away as she turned to face her Trainer, stretching her limbs for a second before she lowered the sharp edges. [color=de0000]"Pawn... Pawn-ya."[/color] Hana quickly translated: [color=de0000][i]Okay. But we haven't properly trained in some time.[/i][/color] She just smiled. [color=00aeef]"I know, Satomi. We haven't had the time, what with the flight and everything. We'll go as soon as we meet with the Professor. And that's our first priority. Stay close, I'll lead the way."[/color] With that, she led the way to an intersection, and from there began to find her way. The streets were labelled, and additional signposts pointed the way to notable buildings. [b]Oak Pokémon Research Lab[/b] was one of the most prominent signs, well-maintained with a clear arrow pointing the way. Perfect. Content to let the signposts guide her, Hana soon spotted the research building that was quite apparent as one of the major features of Pallet Town. But as she walked, she began to fidget with small things about her person, making sure her shield pin wasn't crooked, tucking loose hair behind her ears, and double-checking the clasps on her suitcase were properly secured. [color=00aeef][i]Everything squared away? ... I think so. Okay. Nothing to worry about.[/i][/color] This was a Professor she was about to see, after all. She had to make a good impression. She'd do the same for either of the Ilex siblings back home - fidgeting included.