Chapter 2: The First Day

Sunlight peeked through my window. I squinted in the morning light, wondering about what was to happen in the coming day. I could dimly remember mum waking me up earlier – I didn’t know when. Adam had probably gone to a friend’s house when mum had left for work, as usual. And I was still here lying in bed. I yawned and turned over onto my stomach. So tired… A few minutes later the door creaked open, and I looked up to see mum staring down at me.

An outfit of casual clothing fell on my bed. I was going to wear it today; I had already decided that last night.

"Well I’ll bet Adam put sleeping powder in my water last night to purposefully make me late. He knows how quickly I can get ready." I muttered, pulling my clothes on.

"Well do one of your miraculous get-ready-in-five-minutes routines! If you’re ready quick enough I’ll give you a lift there!" Mum retorted, and I could here her opening the fridge in the kitchen. How did she get there so quickly?

I grabbed my bag and stuffed it with clothes. Even though we got an official Jalare league trainer’s backpack from the lab when we got our first Pokemon, that didn’t include clothes or anything like that. I would have to bring what I could and then somehow manage to fit them in my new bag. My hands flew in all directions, when they hit something hard and round. I picked it up and stared, biting my lip. It was a pokeball, the texture golden as the sun, with a look of liquidity for some reason. It shone in the light, blinding me momentarily. I snapped out of my thoughts and stuffed it in my bag. It was the master ball dad had given me for my birthday three years ago. It had always reminded me of how kind and compassionate he had been.

I stumbled out of my room to have a plastic container full of mum’s cooked food thrust in my face. Even though it was cold, mum cooked the most legendary food you’ve ever eaten. I took it with a thanks and dropped it in my bag.

"Hurry up, let’s go. It’s already nine o’clock." Mum said, turning to leave.

"Wait!" I said, and ran to the back door. I swung it open to see the lawn swarming with Pokemon because it was a sunny day. "Bye, I’m going now!" I yelled. I didn’t even have time to see what they would say in return, just ran back to where mum was waiting.

We arrived at the lab in mum’s car ten minutes later. I swear that it’s too far away from our house. All the while when we were driving mum just kept on going on and on about how I had to be careful, not trust any shady-looking people, choose my friends wisely, about how I should travel around with at least one girl if there’s more than one guy in my little group, and that I should visit home at least once a year, unlike my older brother Matisho who was one year older. We hadn’t seen him for two years now, and mum was getting upset. Worried and annoyed. It was a lethal combination, and Matisho was going to get a long lecture when he finally returned for a visit. If he ever did.

"Okay," Mum said when we had parked, "I’ll wait here. When you get out, put all your stuff in your new bag and be quick about it. I’m supposed to be at work. Do you know how angry my boss gets when I take my time?"

"Yeah, I’ll be right out." I said, rushing over to the large white building, glaring brightly in the sun. I shielded my eyes and ran through the open double-doors. Then with a shock I sort of half-tripped over nothing. Don’t you hate it when that happens? I stumbled and caught my footing before I fell over, and stood straight again to find ten pairs of eyes looking at me. Woah, de-ja-vu! Nine were of the newly accepted Pokemon trainers like me, and the other was Professor Alaia, with a slightly irritated look on her face.

"Akima, isn’t it? Please take a seat. We were about to choose starter Pokemon." She said, and I nodded stiffly, sitting down next to some girl I didn’t know. I put my head I my hands and felt like screaming. This was meant to be the greatest day of my life so far, not the most embarrassing. I couldn’t believe it. I was late, and I would have to pay the price. "Your starting Pokemon is your most important at this point in time." The professor was saying. "You must choose carefully, and I’m sure you all have a good idea of which to pick if you were hear earlier." She shot a deliberate glance in my direction. I sank lower into my seat, caught Adam’s eye and glared acidly at him for no reason. I needed someone to take my frustration out on. "Unfortunately, as some of you know, the night before last the lab was raided and the original starter Pokemon stolen by who we suspect to be Team Rocket. We had to have suitable replacements sent over from the Southern Island though, fortunately. The Pokemon will be chosen as to the times that you beginning trainers arrived here, starting with the first." I buried my face in my hands again. This was what I was afraid of. This was why it was essential I got here early. It was like the very first test, and I had failed. I eyed the starter Pokemon jealously, knowing that I would be getting the very last one left – the one whom everyone else rejects.

They all sat or stood around in a large glass compartments with an open ceiling, some looking at us curiously and some looking as excited as the teenagers next to me. All of us were sitting in chairs against the wall, some of us listening to Professor Alaia’s words carefully, others being sidetracked and looking bored, the rest watching the Pokemon intently.

I glanced over all the Pokemon. They were a Treecko and Chikorita, Charmander and Growlithe, Electrike and Pichu, Mudkip and Azurill, as well as Cleffa and Poochyena. I noticed that seven of these evolved twice, while the other three only evolved once. That was a little unfair, I thought. But perhaps the Pokemon that evolved but once made up for it with extra strength in their first stage. Perhaps. As well as that, the three Pokemon in question were all dog Pokemon. This cheered me up a little. Having been around dog Pokemon all my life, I felt rather at home with them around.

"Travis Svanberg." I almost choked. Him?! That little square in my school form? Well, I should have expected it. He’s always getting his work in on time, gets top marks and gloats all the while. I fumed a little as I watched him pick up the tiny little Azurill, which fitted comfortably in the palm of his hand. It squealed cheerfully and somehow scurried up over his shirt, considering it had no paws to act as hands and perched on his shoulder, bumping into Travis’ dark brown hair as he walked to receive his new dark-blue backpack and pokedex from Professor Alaia.

"Matt Hikaru." I blinked. I knew that name! The blond boy who I had seen earlier on in the year sitting next to Adam during the essay stood up and made his way over to the glass pen. I matched the name to his face, and instantly I remembered. Memories tumbled into my head. Adam and Matt as little kids tripping me over as I walked out the door. Adam and Matt bombarding me with countless water bombs out in the backyard. Matt’s stuck-up little Vulpix tackling me into the rose bush. Me running to my older brother Matisho crying. Matisho yelling at the other younger boys. My teeth gritted and I glared at Matt, even though he wasn’t facing me. Then my mind filled with thoughts. He didn’t look too bad right now – perhaps he had changed. It was a possibility. He leant down and scooped up the Charmander. I watched dejectedly as he sat down with his things. Charmander had been one of my favourite Pokemon there. Aside from the fire lizard, there was also Growlithe, Cleffa and the Azurill on my mental list. My hopes fell and I knew I wouldn’t get any of the ones I wanted.

"Adam Oronar." I clenched my hands into fists and watched him with anger as he picked up the Cleffa. It was as if he had been reading my mind and choosing the Clefairy pre-evolution just to make me upset. He held onto his new Pokemon proudly but frowned in distaste as he picked up his bag, coloured black and a soft, pink-purple combination, although his pokedex was a deep, dark violet. I smirked and had to catch myself from bursting out laughing. I had to cover my mouth so he couldn’t see my grin, and somewhere down the line of the other trainers I heard a barely suppressed chuckle.

"Aw, that’s so cute!" The girl next to me chirped, and Adam went red. This spurred on a couple more people to make amused comments, and I laughed out loud like I had wanted to. The girl next to me flicked her shoulder length dark blue hair and smiled at me, her crystal-blue eyes glittering. "You’re related to him?" She asked quietly as Professor Alaia motioned for silence.

"He’s my twin." I said, stifling my smile. "Unfortunately."

"Ah." The girl said, and held out a hand. "The name’s Shenae. I’m from Tor Chame." I took her hand and shook.

"Akima. From right here." I smiled just as the next person was called up.

"Amanda Child." I knew Amanda from school. Even though she wasn’t really my friend, I liked her. She stepped forward and took the Pichu, who sent a brief but kind shock over her, setting the loose hairs from her long, blond-streaked brown plait standing on end. The little electric mouse slid down her back and clung to the end of her plait happily.

"Jake Wisley." Jake was a tall guy with thick, wavy forest-green hair and the most liquid chocolate-brown eyes I had ever seen before. I stared at him for a moment, then snapped out of it as he chose Electrike.

"Nikki Tristesse." Nikki got up and chose the Mudkip happily, who spurted water at her playfully with a cheeky expression on it’s features. Nikki scowled, wiping her now dripping-wet blond hair out of her face and picked the mud Pokemon up. It growled and slipped out of her wet arms, and was happy to just trot along by her side. Nikki had this incredulous look on her face. I knew what she was thinking. What on earth am I getting myself into? Perhaps I should pick a different Pokemon… But she just walked confidently to get her turquoise backpack and pokedex. Well, she couldn’t be any worse off than me.

"Amy Uematsu." A girl I hadn’t seen before stood up. She was shorter than anyone else in the room except the Pokemon, but she had a confident smile and pushed her long fringe behind her ear, before picking up the Growlithe carefully.

"Richard Matvey." I watched the blond boy from school as he crossed the floor and took the Treecko contentedly. Even though I didn’t know him much at all, I still admired him. For his good looks. His blond hair had flecks of light brown and gold in it, and his eyes oddly changed shades in the light. I’ve noticed that sometimes they are a sky-blue, other times very light, almost grey.

"Shenae Brookes." Shenae cheerfully picked up the Chikorita, who welcomed her with a wave of the long leaf on it’s head. She received an emerald and olive-green bag, and her pokedex was of the same colours. I looked at the Chikorita as Shenae sat back down next to me. This close, it didn’t really look that bad, actually very cute. I had never really appealed to grass-type Pokemon, preferring elementals of fire, flight and thunder mostly.

"Don’t worry, you’re not alone." Shenae said to me. "I came only minutes before you. I really wanted the Mudkip." Chikorita started and looked up at it’s trainer accusingly. "Oh no, Chikorita, I’m still very happy to have you." She said, giving it a hug. The grass Pokemon smiled again and snuggled into her jacket. I looked back up to see the only Pokemon left. The little Poochyena, sitting on it’s stomach and looking around, catching sight of me.

"Akima Oronar." I walked towards the pen. The Poochyena never let his eyes stray from me, and so I glared back at him evenly. That would show him that I wasn’t afraid. I reached down toward him, his red eyes flashing at me dangerously. I hesitated, then went to pick him up. He growled then snapped at me ferociously. I quickly moved my hands away out of impulse, then glared at him angrily. He glared at me right back. I reached down again, forcing all fear to empty from my mind, and I thought about how nice and kind I was going to be to him if he would only cooperate. I filled my head with these thoughts until I could feel the very tips of my fingers tingling, then I picked him up. His whole body was tense, but he didn’t resist this time. It was a theory of mine that dog Pokemon could tell what your feelings were out of instinct. I walked over to Professor Alaia, feeling a little confidence building inside me. But I was worried. I had taken the only choice left, and this Pokemon didn’t like me at all. I took my completely black and dark grey backpack and metallic black pokedex, grimacing at the bag. I had never really liked black bags. I preferred something brighter; more colourful. When I sat down the dark dog Pokemon wriggled out from under my arms and just lay at my feet.

"Alright, now that you all have your Pokemon, you can do whatever you want. The usual main objective of a trainer is to travel all around their League, which in your case is the Jalare Region, catching and training Pokemon, winning badges from Gym Leaders and competing to win in the yearly Jalare Pokemon Tournament. Whether you will choose to do just this, or you have some other objective, I encourage you all to do it to the greatest of your abilities, bring out the best in your Pokemon, and love them. I know you’ve all heard this time and time again, but Pokemon are not just tools that lead to greatness, they are your friends, your greatest allies. You might be surprised. Now, go forth, and do what you must! I believe in all of you, but most of all, you must believe in yourselves. Thankyou." Professor Alaia finished. Instantly the hall erupted into chatter, and Pokemon and trainers alike were already rushing out the door. Shenae and I stood up, but we had to wait for everyone else to go past. As Adam and Matt walked out the door, I called to them.

"Hey, Adam! Mum’s waiting in the car." I said, and saw him nod. I caught Matt’s gaze for a moment, then they were gone. Shenae smiled excitedly and looked ecstatic as she hefted Chikorita up, who squealed in delight.

"So Akima, where are you going first?" She asked. I looked down at my new Pokemon and frowned.

"I really have no idea." I said flatly.

"Well… I have to go home to pack. I might see you on my journey sometime, huh?"

"Yeah." I replied.

"Okay, seeya!" And with that Shenae was gone. I stared after her out the doorway and glanced down at the Poochyena. He was staring out the door like I had been, looking distant.

"Not going yet, Akima?" Came a sudden voice. I couldn’t help a little jump, and I swung around as I realised it was the Professor.

"I… um…" I went red.

"Would you like to come with me?" Professor Alaia asked.

"Uhm, okay." I said, telling my Pokemon to stay with a little pat that was returned with a growl and followed her to the other end of the room.

"About your Poochyena…" She trailed off, then started again. "His name is Rory. A man found him a few weeks ago a little way into the Forest and brought him here. He was brutally beaten and whipped, mostly on his stomach for some reason. Since then his fur has grown back on his sides and back, but he still bears scars on his underbelly. That would explain why he was so untrusting with you – he doesn’t want it to happen again." I stood in silence, contemplating all this. So all I needed was to gain his trust, then I was home free. "He may be reluctant to follow orders, or he may do it without question. But just try not to push him too much until he trusts you, okay? The only reason we had him here today was because we were one Pokemon short. You understand?"

"Yes." I said, feeling a rush of sympathy for Rory the Poochyena.

"Good." There was a silence for a moment, then Professor Alaia spoke again. "Let me guess, you have no idea what to do now?" I nodded solemnly. I felt really quite miserable. "Would you like some ideas? Let’s see… I suppose you aren’t really very keen on becoming a Pokemon breeder like your mother."

"How did you know that my mother was a breeder?" I asked.

"I read your essay."

"Oh." I thought for a moment. "My mother used to know that Ricky guy, the new head of the Jalare Elite. Do you think…? Do you think I was only chosen because she knew him?"

"What? No! I’m sure it’s not that. I think you’re fully capable of being a Pokemon trainer, you just need a little more confidence in yourself. I’ve met many young people like yourself who feel like you do, not knowing where to go, where to turn. But most of them have turned out all right. My advice is that you should just travel around, collect the badges and get into the tournament. If by then you haven’t worked out what you want to do, then… I don’t know."

"You make it sound so easy! Like it could be done really quickly."

"You misinterpret my words. As you wrote yourself, a trainer’s life is full of danger, adventure and fun. Anything can happen in a year. You could be a Pokemon Master, you could be with Team Rocket or something, you could be a complete failure, or you could be dead! There are infinite possibilities. All you need to do is follow your heart, your intuition, and take the right paths. It’ll come to you. Just believe in yourself, Akima, and everything will turn out okay." I was silent again. She was right. I just had to go for it, whatever I want, and in the end everything should be all right.

"…Thankyou."

Once outside, I found that half the trainers were already gone. Matt and Adam were standing next to mum’s car, talking about something. Oh please, don’t tell me those two are travelling around together… That’s two evil little monsters teamed up together to cause havoc wherever they go. Hah, yeah right.

"Well, if it isn’t the cute little Clefairy venturing out into the wide world with his adorable little Cleffa." I smirked. "And a pink bag too!"

"Wrong. It’s purple and black."

"Lavender and black."

"Then why did you call it pink in the first place?"

"To irritate you."

"Hey Akima, do you remember me?" Matt suddenly asked, and I looked up at him from opening the back door and grabbing my bag that was already in there.

"No way, mate. Who the heck are you?" I retorted sarcastically, unzipping both of my bags and transferring all my stuff from home into my new bag.

"Matt, she means yes." Mum said, smiling nicely. I scoffed. Most likely she was thinking about when he was a little child and what a bad influence he had been on Adam. Or had Adam passed it on to Matt? It was hard to tell.

"Hey Aki, I’ll swap bags with you." Adam said. I looked from him to his new backpack, then back at his face. I raised an eyebrow.

"You serious? The black’s alright, but purple doesn’t go with Rory." I said flatly, chancing a glance at the Poochyena. He was sitting on the grass trying to ignore Adam’s Cleffa bouncing all about everywhere giggling hyperactively and Matt’s Charmander, who was trying to pick a fight with him. "Matt, I’ll swap bags with you? Because I really don’t like the one I’ve got now. Seriously, look at it. Black and grey. Ugh. While you have this nice, bright red and orange bag! It’s not fair!" I moped.

"Well too bad." Matt snapped back. I glared at him.

"Enough, children. Aki, why don’t you use your bag from home?"

"Because it’s too small!"

"Okay then." I stopped loading all my stuff and looked at Adam.

"Alright, I'll swap bags." I took all my stuff out and we switched bags with him. Now I had this purple and black backpack. Oh well. It has to be better than grey.

"Look kids, can you hurry up? Oh yeah, Adam, I have a present for you." Mum said, and placed a Master Ball in his outstretched hand. "Now use it carefully this time. You won’t get another one from me. No throwing it over a cliff at a wild Pidgeot only to miss, alright?" Adam went red. Matt arched an eyebrow at him.

"And how long ago was that?" He asked, grinning with amusement.

"Two years…"

"Man, I didn’t know you were so stupid…"

"Shut up!"

"Whatever."

"And Aki, something for you too." Mum said, catching my attention just as I finished packing my new bag with my things.

"You’re giving her another Master Ball?!" Adam cried incredulously. Mum held up a necklace.

"If this looks like a Master Ball to you you’re delusional." She said flatly, and gave it to me. It was a gold chain necklace, with a crystal embedded in gold on the end. The crystal was of a clear, wine-gold texture, and shone beautifully in the sun. I had an intake of breath as I surveyed it.

"Oh thankyou, it’s beautiful!" I gasped. "Thankyou so, so much!" I said, leaning into the window and hugging her tightly.

"No worries, kid." She said, smiling. "I knew you’d like it."

"Thankyou again!" I said, caressing the crystal carefully, before fastening the clasp so the chain hung around my neck comfortably. Adam put the Master Ball in his brand new pokeball belt around his waist, included in the whole official trainer deal.

"Adam, you’re not going to give your mother a hug?" Mum asked.

"Mum…" He moaned, before she leaned out the window and hugged him, a wide grin on her face.

"Now remember what I told you two. Come and visit! And you’re welcome anytime too, Matt." She said, a contented expression on her face.

Then she drove away, calling out goodbyes.

"So where are you two going first?" I asked. Adam and Matt looked at each other.

"I dunno." Matt said.

"Well, you’re both very confident, aren’t you?" I asked flatly.

"Oh, yes." Adam replied in the same tone of voice. "Very confident. I was thinking…" He and Matt huddled over their map for a few seconds, "… Tor Gamar?" I looked at them for a few moments then got bored by their grinning, up-themselves faces. I picked up new bag and glanced at Rory. Charmander was openly taunting him for no reason, I could see that clearly enough. The dark dog Pokemon growled and took a swipe at the fire creature’s nose. Charmander growled in return and grabbed Matt’s trousers, giving them a few small tugs and pointing at Rory in complaint.

"Yeah, what is it?" Matt asked, not understanding a single word said. Before he could challenge me to a Pokemon battle, I called Rory and started to walk off. He gave Charmander one last warning growl before trotting off after me. Don’t get my wrong, I did want to train up Rory – just not now. I was almost completely confident that Charmander would kick his arse for some reason. I didn’t even say goodbye to them both. I was probably going to see them again too soon than I wanted to. I had only just been given complete freedom. I didn’t want my twin to spoil it.

We walked and walked, all the way to the edge of town, my new Pokemon lagging behind me. It felt wrong; he was still pretty much a puppy, and should have been full of boundless energy at the adventure lying ahead of him and I. But he just walked along, dragging his bushy tail in the dirt, head down, eyeing the ground and sniffing. Then I remembered that his previous trainer had abused him, and a wave of sympathy arose in my throat.

I could just imagine his thoughts now. I have a brand new, innocent little unfit weakling of a trainer who didn’t even challenge those guys back there to a battle. What’s with that?

I smiled. These were my own thoughts, actually, pretty much. I was quite fit in fact, my breathing just gradually gets harder if I walk for too long. Running around for a short distance is okay, but long distance really isn’t my thing. I don’t know how I’m going to survive running around for a whole day.

The city of Tor Kawais, my home for fourteen years, was almost out of sight. I breathed out a sigh. It was like I was at a crossroad. On one side was my family, my friends, and my old life. On the other side was a completely unknown path, shrouded in doubt, confidence, happiness and fear all bundled up into one. I shook my head to clear it all. What was I doing, having second thoughts about all this now, of all times? I had already made the choice, and I couldn’t go back on it. I had only just begun, and already I was scared. But of what? The unknown? Change? That was it. I was afraid of change because it represented the unknown. You don’t know what comes from change. It’s all a mystery. But I suppose that’s what makes it interesting, right? Right?

I suddenly broke out of my thoughts and realised that I had stopped and was staring back at Tor Kawais wistfully. A cold chill was in the air, goosebumps rising on my bare arms. The wind blew strongly a distance away, the only sound I could hear aside from the usual chirp of birds and chittering of ground Pokemon. I suddenly looked down to find Rory staring up at me, his head tilted a little. I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them again, trying to cease the flow of memories of the past. I shifted the pack uncomfortably on my back. Since when had it been so heavy?!

I looked around and saw a large boulder covered in moss lying near the side of the path that lead into the forest of Tor. I knew by common knowledge that in a couple of hours or so I would reach a fork in the road. One lead south-west, the other leading straight north toward Tor Gamar, where Adam and Matt had been thinking of going.

"Hey Rory, you need a rest?" I asked, settling down on the cushioned boulder on a flat, upward facing facet of it. He looked at me with those bright ruby eyes and growled in return. Not a menacing growl, though. I wished I could understand him. "Take a seat." I said anyway. He plonked himself in the middle of the dirt path right where he was and stared at me defiantly. I dropped my pack on the ground and stared right back at him. What was with him? "Rory, if you’re going through some kind of rebellious teenager stage you can tell me, because I understand how you feel, alright?" His stare turned to a glare. I frowned. "Fine then! Ignore me! Be as bloody up yourself as my brother!" He probably hadn’t even known Adam was my brother, but then again, we do share some likeness. Many similarities, actually.

I scowled at him and unzipped my bag. "Now, let’s see what we have in here…" I murmured, digging through all the things that had been given to me, courtesy of the Pokemon League. Potions… super potions… hyper potions… antidotes, blah blah blah… I searched for something interesting. A trainer belt! I picked it out and stood up to put it on. It fitted nicely. It was soft and flexible, yet a metallic-black texture. I liked it. It had six little slots in it, each to hold a pokeball. I fitted Rory’s shiny black pokeball into the first slot, filling the rest with empty ones. Two ordinary, two great balls, and the last was an ultra ball that I was reserving for emergencies. I didn’t put my master ball in the belt – I could grab and throw it at a weak little wild Pokemon without realising until it was too late, having mistook it as a different pokeball or something. I had a tendency to do those sorts of things when I’m caught up in the moment.

I struck a pose. "Whadya think?" I chirped to Rory. He just snorted and turned his head away. I could feel anger and frustration building up inside me. "Hey, what’s your problem? I’m just trying to have fun, orright?" He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. I threw my arms into the air in exasperation and sat down again, pawing through the rest of my new belongings for something that caught my interest. Then my hands closed over an adjustable red collar. Nearby I found a small, square piece of black metal – an attack-proof Pokemon Translator. I took it out with triumph, clipping it to the collar. "Hey Rory, would you like to come over here?" He noticed what I held in my hand and suddenly growled. I frowned. "Don’t you want to be heard or anything?" I asked. "This is a Pokemon translator, so I can understand you if you put this collar on." He sat up and his eyes flashed, then he trotted over to me, allowing the red collar, matching his eyes, to be slipped over his head and adjusted to fit his neck size. "There you go!" I said. "How does it feel?" Rory scratched at the collar with his hind leg. "Hey, don’t do that! You might accidentally kick the translator off-"

"You think I don’t know that?" He suddenly asked, his voice quite deep, but not that of an adult. As much as I expected it, it still shocked me a little. "I’ve had one of these before. Don’t think I’m stupid." I smiled, a strange feeling building inside me. He oddly struck me with the impression of Adam, and now I felt like I could converse better with him now that I could understand what he was saying.

"Alright!" I said. "Now that I can understand you…" I took out the large map of our island, Tor, and laid it out on the path. "We’re here." I pointed to a spot a little out of Tor Kawais. Rory actually looked on with a little interest. I pointed to the other towns and cities on the rest of the island, indicating Tor Gamar and Tor Chame to the north, and Tor Traniar to the south of the island, as well as other small towns in-between. "Where are we going first? I’m terrible at making decisions. You pick." I said. He looked at me strangely, and after a moments’ contemplation, he pawed Tor Chame.

"There." He said simply. I smiled.

"Okay!" I chirped. "Now, if we cut straight through the forest and across the Tor River from here, we’ll cut our time walking by at least almost half. What do you say?"

"It’s up to you."

"Okay, we go that way. Now, that’s almost exactly northward from here." I surveyed the scale. "And… it’s roughly about 100 kilometers from here. So, let’s get the odds together. I’ve got a heavy backpack, we might get lost, plus all the training and battles you’ll get, as well as variety in terrain and the way through the mountains… It should take us up to a week at the most, you think?" I asked Rory. He shrugged. "Well you’re a lot of help, aren’t you?"

"Very." Was his reply.

"Okay… the problem now is keeping straight north…"

"In the bag." I looked at Rory, then dug through all my stuff again, and this time I found a compass on a thick string so I could hang it around my neck. I did just that and packed my things.

"Thanks." I said. Rory just grunted. My hand rested on the black pokedex, and I lifted it up and looked at it glinting in the light. I smiled and placed it in my pocket. I was sure it would come in handy very soon.

*****

From there we trudged through the forest along an unmarked path for quite a few minutes. I was careful to always keep heading north with the compass around my neck, and so far I had tripped over, run my head into a low-hanging branch, and had three frights when Rory had disappeared only to turn up a few seconds after I had realised he was gone.

"Rory, you there?" I asked again, glancing behind my back over my shoulder, to see the black and grey dog returning me with a sturdy glare.

"Stop thinking I’m running away every five minutes!"

"Well stop disappearing!" He was really starting to piss me off. I sighed and took my eyes off the compass for a few moments to try and calm my temper and myself. I listened to the soft chittering of small forest Pokemon and the chirruping of birds. I sighed as I knew I should be battling them, but I was so afraid that Rory wouldn’t listen to me. And he seemed pretty confident when I had asked him about how strong he was; perhaps I had underestimated him. And I wasn’t really intent on capturing a few Rattata and a Pidgey or anything like that – it just seemed so ordinary. They were so common, and anyone could get one. I wanted something different. Perhaps a Pokemon I had never seen before up close with my very eyes. Something new.

Suddenly a shadow swiftly passed over us, trilling loudly. Rory and I both looked up just in time to see a Taillow fly southwards over the nearby trees and out of sight. As I watched, another followed it. I looked back down.

"The Taillow are flying south for the coming winter." Rory said knowingly. I nodded.

"So… that means all the flying Pokemon are on the move." I mused.

"Yes."

"Rory, do you know any attacks you could fire from a distance?" I asked.

"…I know shadow ball, but it may not be accurate enough to hit a bird on the wing."

"What about roar or something?" Rory was picking up on my strategy.

"No, that would frighten a Pokemon away. But growl would do the trick." He replied.

"Great." I said, looking around. "Birds forage as they go before they reach the sea, right?"

"Yes."

"What do they eat? Bugs and insects and stuff, right?" I asked.

"Yes…" I searched through my common knowledge until I hit the insect section. I looked around from where I was and saw a large, sturdy-looking tree with multitudes of branches both large and small protruding from its wide, knobby trunk.

"Stay here." I said.

"Where are you going?" Rory demanded.

"I’m going for a climb."

"How do you know I won’t just walk off?" He asked.

"Just don’t!"

"Well I will!"

"No you won’t!"

"Oh really?"

"What, you don’t want to be left alone?!" I retorted, dropping my bag and grabbing the lowest branch and hoisting myself up.

"Fine then! Just go!" I heard Rory growl before I pushed my way up and into the thick foliage, almost catching a mouthful of spider webs. I quickly stopped and carefully manoeuvred around the wide web in disgust. But then I smiled. Insects lived in here. I climbed a little more, tendrils of midday sunlight filtering softly through the leaves and branches. Then I saw it. Through an opening in the greenery, a bird circled in the sky. At least as long as my whole arm, it was a magnificent Swellow, winging it’s way through the air easily. It’s plumage, navy blue with red markings and a white and scarlet breast shone in the light, entrancing me with it’s beauty. Instantly I knew that I wanted it. I looked around for an insect of some sort to use for bait. It’s not like I would actually let it be eaten – it would just face danger and death for a few seconds. Then I made the mistake of looking down. I had climbed higher than I had anticipated, and the height was dizzying. My head spun for a moment, and I almost felt sick, when a pair of massive black eyes appeared right in front of my face. I jumped with surprise, but then smiled. Those eyes belonged to a bright green Caterpie. I slowly reached out my hand, grinning straight at it. I froze as it turned it’s back on me, not wanting to frighten it, but then the end of it’s tail twitched. Then before my brain registered what this meant a string of white goo shot out of the pick end, and I was blinded as it spurted all over my face and into my mouth and eyes. I screamed and reached up to claw it away, a putrid taste hitting my taste buds in full force. I ripped the result of the Caterpie’s defensive mechanism out of my mouth, choking and spitting down in a futile attempt to get the foul taste out of my mouth. I tore the sticky stuff away from my eyes and caught a glimpse of the caterpillar Pokemon attempting to escape, and I lunged at it angrily. My hands satisfyingly met something warm and soft.

"You’re gonna pay for that, you little…" I trailed off menacingly. I pushed through the leaves and was immediately free falling in a tumble past the tree. I let out a short scream, clawing at the bushy tree right next to me, trying to get a hold. I saw the Caterpie falling just above me, it being lighter. I hit something sharp and cried out in pain, before landing on my stomach on a larger branch that supported my weight. I gasped in pain as I was winded, grappling at the wood in desperation. The Caterpie fell toward the ground nearby, making high-pitched squealing noises. I looked down wildly, forcing myself to think about something other than the pain, but the only thing I saw was the ground. I almost felt like throwing up this time. Where was Rory? Then a blue, white and red blur shot past me straight toward the falling Caterpie, and the Swellow took it up in it’s sharp talons, but not piercing it’s skin, only a moment before it hit the ground. The bird immediately was soaring back toward the canopy.

"RORY!" I yelled, looking around for him. My voice shocked the Swellow, and it paused in midair before it's eyes settled on me. I chanced a glimpse at the squirming Caterpie in it’s talons, feeling only a little sorry for it, but then I heard a deep, throaty, menacing growl nearby that was so loud it felt as if it were right behind me. The Swellow and I both froze with a sudden fear, then a large ball of pure black energy slammed into the former. It screeched and the attack hurled it backward into a tree. It’s talons opened and the Caterpie raced out as fast as it possibly could away from the bird of prey, but now the Swellow had forgotten about it. The bird in question seemed to get over it’s shock and pain, and stumbled along the branch it was on and hastily launched itself off the edge to fly away. It’s flight was shaky with quite a few wing-feathers twisted in the wrong positions, but it was gradually recovering. I looked down again from where I was hanging and saw Rory growling and he threw another devastating shadow ball into the air. The Swellow saw it this time and swerved to avoid it, but the dark energy still hit it’s wing, causing it to fall a couple of meters with an ear-piercing screech. I gasped and went to cover my ears before realising I had let go with both hands, and I was falling again. I screamed and again reached out to grab onto something, and this time I did. My hands made contact with a branch that abruptly snapped loudly, and then I landed on a cradle of leaves. There was something hard underneath the mass of foliage, but I was glad for the softer landing than the last I had experienced. I caught my breath and clutched my still-pained stomach, catching a glance below of Rory leaping into the air and sinking his jaws with that pair of massive teeth into the Swellow’s injured wing. I rolled over onto my back, only to have the leaves give way beneath me. I cursed as I fell yet again, but this time it only lasted a couple of seconds before I hit the ground hard. I landed on my left arm and shoulder, and I cried out as an excruciating pain shot through both. I rolled onto my back and clutched at it, tears wet in my eyes. Then I saw Rory’s grip of the Swellow loosen, and the bird raked at his soft underbelly with it’s sharp talons before fleeing into the bushes nearby.

"Come on!" He growled to me, racing into the bushes with a slight limp after his adversary. I cursed and picked myself up, glad I had only fallen a couple of meters onto my shoulder. But it still gave me a fair amount of pain as I grabbed my pack and ran through the forest after the two Pokemon. Why me, why me, why me? My eyes were blurry as I stumbled and fell countless times over rocks, sticks and roots and thin, whip-like branches stung as they lashed my body mercilessly. I strained to hear for the sounds of the pursuit, it’s only indications the sounds of crackling plants and sticks and Rory’s growling.

I stopped briefly to wipe my eyes dry, and saw the bloody footprint of a large bird. They were smudged by Rory’s paw-prints. I used them to follow, as all sound had now ceased. Less than a minute later I could hear the sounds of rushing water, and then I emerged from the forest to find a rather small (compared to others I’ve seen) but raging waterfall right in front of me. A thick, water-covered log reached halfway across the width of the falls, and on the very end was Rory.

"Rory!" I called, fear suddenly filling me. "Come here!"

"The tracks end here! Do you think it went over the falls?" Rory called back. I looked down into the rushing water and regret filled me. Would the Swellow have really forfeited it’s life to avoid capture?

"I don’t know! Just get back here! And be careful!" Rory turned and slowly started making his way back to where I was along the fallen log, gradually increasing in pace as he gained confidence.

Just as I was sure he could make it across safely, I turned around to deposit my pack on the ground. I was going to have a rest. Suddenly a bundle of a blue and red blur propelled into my face, and I opened my mouth to scream but only got a mouthful of feathers. Claws or something raked my front, digging into my skin. I heard Rory’s angry barking and wings flapped against me, forcing me backwards. I reached up and attempted to wretch my attacker off, but then my foot stepped onto thin air. I waved my arms around in an attempt to keep my balance, but without my sight I was helpless, and the familiar feeling of falling backwards occurred again. Whatever had been on my face let go, and it was revealed to be the very beaten-up Swellow. In that same instant, out of the corner of my eye I saw Rory running along the log. Then he slipped and pushed himself off it just as he fell, paws reaching in front of him as he aimed for the rock floor on the edge of the forest. But he missed, and instead hit the black stone face and was falling just like me toward the water below. My arms flailed wildly and I filled my lungs with air just before hitting the water.

SPLASH!

The water stung my skin on impact, and cold, chilly wetness seeped through my clothes in seconds as the force of the waterfall pushed my deep underwater. Bubbles and white foam obscured my vision, and I caught a glimpse of something grey. Rory! Suddenly panicking more than I already was, I kicked desperatly. I had to find him! But my efforts did nothing, the forceful water just kept on pushing me around and around in circles under the waterfall. Then I hit something hard, and I was instantly moving somewhere other than downwards. My lungs were screaming for air, and my head was somehow filling with pressure. It felt like it would burst. My life flashed before my eyes – mum was there. So was Adam, and Matisho, and… dad. Where was he at the moment? Safe and dry, doing whatever he pleased? Hatred filtered through my head, a new burst of energy entered me, and with one last effort I kicked my legs and pushed my arms through the water, aiming anywhere. I could no longer tell which way was up, down, or anything. Then I saw a little light through my squinted eyes, and I reached the surface. Cold wind blasted my face, and I gasped the sweet air eagerly as if it were wine. Then just as soon as I was above the surface, I was below again. Water went up my nose, causing a very unwanted sensation, then I tasted air again. I was floating down the river in the rapids that came after the falls. I waited for the next time I was pushed above the water, then forced myself onto my back so that I floated. I could only hope I didn’t hit a rock or anything. I was shivering with cold, and my teeth were chattering. I choked on water as it washed over my face, and suddenly checked that my bag was still on my back. I sighed with relief as I felt it pulling down on my shoulders and mentally thanked Professor Alaia, then corrected myself and thanked the Pokemon League, for it being waterproof. I took another mouthful of air, rolled over from the position on my back and struggled to keep myself above the water. I looked around for Rory, but my heart fell when he was nowhere in sight.

"Rory!" I called, my voice a little hoarse. I cleared it and yelled again. "RORY!!" There was no answer, and I felt grief and fear enter me. If anything had happened to him I would never forgive myself. Then I filled with anger and hatred. This was that Swellow’s entire fault! If I ever saw it again I would make it pay if Rory died!

Thoughts of revenge imprinted in my brain, I set about swimming toward the rocks on the riversides. At one point a jolt of pain shot through my shoulder, causing me to drift away, and I had to start all over again. Finally I reached the rocks and grabbed onto one, but my fingers couldn’t get a grip. The stone was smooth and slimy, impossible to hold onto. The river continued to sweep me downstream, so even if I could hold onto the rocks I didn’t have the chance to, both my heavy bag and soaked clothes trying to drag me down all at the same time.

Then horror suddenly seized me as my right leg cramped up from the cold, pain seizing it. Tears pricked my eyes, only to be washed away with the water as I held my leg in an attempt to stem the pain. I knew very well that the way I was, this cramp would probably drown me. In a last attempt to save myself as I went underwater, I forced myself back to the surface. "HELP!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, then I went under again. I clenched my leg as tightly as I could, trying to cut off the circulation and numb it, anything to stop the pain coming. It didn’t work, and I knew I was going to die. Then a distant memory entered my mind.

Our whole family was down at the beach for the day. It was our own special beach we had found while exploring on the massive granite rocks that lined the seaside next to the beach we had originally come to swim at, but when we had found this small, deserted, secluded place with it’s little cave to protect us from the sun and small rockpools with little blue and white crabs and sea anemones, we just couldn’t resist. I had been only seven at that time – half my life back from now. Dad and Mum were lying in the shade of the overhanging rock talking and laughing, while my brothers and I ran across the squeaky white sand and into the clear blue water. A little way out into the water was a large, rough granite boulder, and beneath our feet were depressions in the sand. Countless times when I was running around and splashing in the water would I step into these little depressions, causing me to cry out in surprise and sink deeper into the water, but they would never do anymore than that. Then Matisho and Adam went out deeper into the water, and because it was too deep, I could not follow. I yelled at them, begging to come back closer to shore so I wouldn’t be alone. They would just laugh at me, saying I couldn’t swim and taunting me. Angrily I splashed them from where I was, water hurling in all directions. Adam stepped backwards against the granite rock to get out of my range, and suddenly screamed. I looked on fearfully as Matisho pulled Adam away from the rock. My twin was crying as he lifted one of his feet above the water, and we could see the horrible, bloody scrape all over the sole of his foot. Forgetting my fear of the water being too deep, I quickly made my way forward to help, when the sand disappeared from underneath me and I instantly sank. Both of my brothers’ backs were to me as I thrashed around in the salty water. My life flashed before my eyes briefly, and I could feel nothing. I was praying and crying in my mind that I was too young to die, but then I felt something come underneath me, and I was lifted above the water and into the air, gasping gratefully. I looked down to find myself sitting in a piggyback on Matisho.

"What were you doing?" He had asked worriedly.

"I almost drowned!" I had replied, choking on water and trying to get it out from my nose. Matisho had turned to the beach and yelled to our parents.

"Adam’s hurt himself and Aki almost drowned!" He yelled, and immediately mum and dad had gotten up and started making their way toward the water.

A wave of sorrow rushed over me as I broke out of my memory that had only seemed to last a brief moment. I was about to drown again, but this time in a river seven years later, without anyone here to rescue me. I felt faint. The pain from both my cramp and my shoulder was gone. I felt… at peace.

Then something grasped my arm and I was suddenly jerked. Pain shot through my injured shoulder again, bringing me back. The instinct to survive instantly set in, and I kicked with a feeble effort. Then I gasped fresh air again, but this time I wasn’t alone. A hand firmly held onto mine, and I was dragged along as I choked up water and gradually recovered. In a few moments I opened my eyes as I was pushed up and onto one of the lower stones on the side of the river. I managed to reach the top of the rock only just, and I grasped dry earth. I gasped in relief and clutched onto it gratefully, but I could do no more than that. My rescuer gave my feet an extra push, indicating that I had to keep going. I nodded absently and summoned the remaining energy I had left in my good leg to push up from the person’s hands and then I scrabbled up the slippery rock in an attempt to reach the top. Then I heard a happy cry. I looked up to see an Electrike and Rory running toward me from the forest. A smile broke out onto my face, and a new strength filled me. I forced myself up, and in a moment I was lying on my back on the ground, my bag lying nearby, trying to regain my breath and clutching at my cramping leg. In an instant Rory was on top of me, licking my face and going on and on about how he had been so afraid I had been drowned when Jake and Electrike had snatched him out of the water. Jake? I coughed, pushed Rory away from my face and turned my head. Jake, with his forest-green hair and chocolate brown eyes, was pulling himself up from the river with a minimum effort. He crouched down next to me.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"I’m freezing… and I’ve got a cramp…" I murmured, clenching my teeth against the pain.

"Okay…" Jake was keeping a cool head as he cleared away the leaves and sticks from the little clearing we were in and using them to kindle a small flame, which gradually was built up to a roaring campfire. I welcomed the heat happily as it started to warm me, and I curled up on the ground. I was exhausted, and finally I was safe. I sighed, then looked up and met Jake’s gaze.

"Thankyou." I whispered, and then I closed my eyes and slept.