Creidi dropped her pack on the floor and flopped onto the camp bed. It had taken her half an hour to convince her parents that she would be fine, and the exercise had left her a bit exasperated.

Glancing around the cabin, Creidi took in her surroundings. The cabin was divided into two wings. Each wing had one bed; hard, flat, and used. Under each bed were two drawers, and at the foot was a cubbyhole for shoes. On the far wall was a desk, chair, lamp, and small refrigerator. The floor was carpeted with warn green carpet. Windows ran the length of both of both wings. A healing machine often used by pokecenter nurses and a bathroom door separated the wings. The cabin as a whole looked ancient. So far she was the only one here.

Outside the cabin there were 15 other identical cabins set in a circle with one large cabin between cabin 1 and 15. The land in the circle and around was wooded. The only sign of life were a few kids moving along foot cut trails.

Creidi lay back on her chosen bed and let the mid-morning sun warm her face. Her long, black, curly hair sprawled across the pillow. Her deep amber eyes shone in the sunlight. She wore a dark red tank top, khaki shorts, and tennis shoes. She looked every inch of 15.

In the warmth of the sun her mind began to wonder. She had been one of only 32 beginning trainers attending the camp. The camp excepted trainers twice a year, and the test to get in was very strict. One had to prove that they not only had basic knowledge of pokemon but also pokemon (and human) first aid, nutrition, and in battle knowledge.

Creidi was just drifting off to sleep when the sound of the cabin door opening brought her back. Looking up she saw another girl about her age had entered the cabin. The girl had hair of light cerulean that fell down to her knees. It was pulled back in a large silver bow. The girl wore what looked like a kamono that came down to the mid of her thigh. The out fit was white with a blue lining and blue belt. She wore a thick silver bracelet to guard her wrist. She shoes were low boots of sliver, blue, and white. Her eyes were sapphire.

"Hello," The girl said in a kind voice, "My name’s Jace. What’s yours?"

"Creidi." She replied as she sat up and stretched, "I guess you’re my cabin mate."

"I guess so." Jace replied as she set her stuff on her bed. Before they could get any farther in their conversation the PA crackled and a voice boomed over.

"Campers. Please report to the main lodge ASAP."

"I wonder what they want?" Jace said standing near Creidi.

"I bet it’s to give us our pokemon!" Creidi said, jumping up from her bed. The two raced from the cabin in excitement. The other cabins were also emptying their trainers toward the main lodge.

Once inside, the potential trainers sat at the tables marked by their cabin number. Jace and Creidi sat at table 2. They didn’t have time to talk, because at that moment two guys in they’re late teens entered. One was a tall and thin with red hair and green eyes. The other was tall and well muscled with dark hair and eyes. The second guy raised his hand for silence, and quickly received it.

"My name is Phillip," Said the guy with dark hair, his voice was deep, "and this is Jeff. We will be your councilors. Over the course of the next three days we will put you through a series of tests to see if you are each physically able to be trainers. At the end of the three days we will determine whether or not to grant you your licensees."

"As Phil said, my name is Jeff." He said in a slightly higher voice, "Tonight we will be giving you the pokemon…" at this point he had to stop and wait for silence, "We will be giving you the pokemon that will help you through your tasks and will ultimately be your starting pokemon." Again the cabin exploded, "You each filled out a form as to what type of pokemon you wanted. You have been sorted into you cabins based on this, there is no Dragon cabin. The pokemon will be handed out by alphabetical order of the type. That means Bug is first. And please refrain from releasing you pokemon until you have returned to you cabins." A boy and girl from table 12 rose and approached the councilors. They were presented with a number of pokeball. They each took one.

"Electric." Phil called out. Two boys rose this time from table 4 and each took a ball from a selection of many.

"Fighting." Phil said. Again two boys rose, this time from 7, to select their pokemon.

"Fire." Jace and Creidi rose from their seats and walked to the front. Their hearts were in their throats as Jeff presented them with a number pokeballs, all bearing a fire symbol. Creidi let her hand glide over each pokeball, finally settling on one at the far end. Jace closed her eyes and grabbed one at random. Silently they returned to their seats. The councilors continued through the list until everyone had a pokemon.

"Now, I know you are all excited about getting back to your cabins, there are just a few more things that need to be said." Jeff spoke over the trainers. "First, you will be given time during the day to train and capture pokemon. But you will only be given 5 pokeballs to start with, so don’t waste them. Second, you each will have a trainer care package on your beds when you return to your cabins. Now, you may go." The poor councilors were nearly run over as the trainers ran back to their cabins.

Jace burst into the cabin followed closely by Creidi.

"Pokemon Go!" They yelled together. The two balls erupted in flashes of red light. Jace’s took the shape of a Cyndaquil and Creidi’s became a Growlithe. They greeted their pokemon with excitement.

On each of their beds was a crimson pack. Each pack had 4 regular pokeballs, 8 potions, 2 super potions, a first aid kit, a two-man tent, and a special holder for the pokedex that would be their license.

"We still have an hour before lunch, and Cyndaquil and I are going to try catching some new pokemon. You want to come?" Jace asked.

"Absolutely!" Creidi replied, "Come on Growlithe."

The two girls darted out of their cabin. It hadn’t taken long for battles to erupt all around the campsite. The two and their pokemon slipped off into the woods without being noticed.

"So who catches the first pokemon?" Creidi asked.

"First to see it, is the first to try and catch it." Jace replied.

"Fair enough."

They set off at a trot, and quickly were out of earshot of the camp. It wasn’t long after that that a small round bird thing crossed their path. The creature was approximately the size of a softball and deep green. The tiny bird had red and yellow wings, a red single feather crest.

"What’s that?" Creidi asked.

"A Natu!! I’ve always wanted one of those! But you saw it first so it’s yours…" Jace replied.

"No way, I don’t want any thing to do with birds. You take it."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive. I’m going to see what else I can find, good luck."

"Thanks, I owe you. Go Cyndaquil!" The fire rodent moved in front of its trainer as Creidi moved off to the left of the path.

Creidi could hear the battle behind her start, Jace was winning, but she soon moved out of earshot. She walked for what seemed like an eternity with out seeing any thing. Just as she was going to turn back she found her self on the edge of a clearing. Standing in the middle of the grass was a small heard of horse pokemon. Creidi had a sudden desire to take a picture but didn’t own a camera.

She moved slowly into the clearing. The stallion, and Articorn, raised its head and looked at her. He snorted and the other horses raised their heads to look at her. The stallion nickered and the herd moved off at a tremendous speed, except one. It was a young Artico with a bad limp. It right flank shown with fresh blood. It desperately neighed after its mother, who stood at the edge of the clearing. She clearly looked torn between her herd and her baby.

With much reluctance the Rapidash suddenly turned and followed the herd, abandoning her baby. Creidi felt kind of sick. The baby stood and nickered after her for a minute and then lay down in the grass, resigning itself to death.

Creidi slowly approached it. The little horse raised its head, looked at her, flicked its ears, but made no attempt to get up or escape. She knelt next to the horse and gently stoked its neck. He felt warm, too warm for an ice type. Creidi knew that this horse was going to die if she left it. She drew a pokeball from her pocket and tapped it against the horse’s shoulder. The Artico was turned to red light and sucked inside, the ball didn’t even shack. She clipped it to her belt and headed back to camp at a jog.

Creidi entered the cabin but took no notice of Jace playing with her new Natu and her Cyndaquil.

"Hey Creidi, lunch’s in 10, I was…" She hesitated, "Creidi, what’s wrong?" Creidi didn’t reply, but moved strait to the machine and dropped Artico’s pokeball on to it. The pokeball glowed brightly as the machine went to work on it with a gentle hum.

"Creidi?" Jace said softly. Creidi looked up and seemed to notice her for the first time. Then with the hum of the machine in the background Creidi related what had happened. Just as she finished the machine gave a soft ping.

Creidi picked up the ball and tossed it to the ground. Artico materialized in a standing position. He looked at his new surroundings and then at Creidi. He walked straight up to her and rested his head on her shoulder, nickering softly and nuzzling her ear. Creidi gently stroked his head, neck, and shoulders.

The bell sounded for them to go to lunch. The two recalled their pokemon and headed to the main lodge. The meal was ravioli. Creidi listened to how Jace caught Natu. Then they listened to the stories being told around them. They seemed to have had the best luck in finding pokemon for the day. Most of the pokemon that had been caught were pidgey, spearow, rattata, caterpie, weedle, and the like.

"Hey you two, We challenge you to a two on two battle." Creidi and Jace turned to see a boy and girl standing next to their table. "All your pokemon against all our pokemon."

Creidi surveyed the two. The boy was no older then her with straight, well kept brown hair and eyes. He wore a black T-shirt, blue jeans, and a belt with two pokeballs. The girl had shoulder length blond and blue eyes. She wore a green shirt, shorts, and a belt with one pokeball.

"What do you think?" Jace asked. Creidi nodded. "We accept." Jace replied.

"Great! You can use the arena out back." Phillip said. The counselors had been listening.

Creidi and Jace took their place on one side of the arena and the challengers took the other. Councilor Jeff’s voice boomed over the loud speaker.

"We were going to start this tomorrow but oh well. Starting with these two teams we will begin a tournament between the cabins. The winners will each receive a rare pokemon as a prize. Now I must ask that all trainers not participating in this battle leave the arena until called." An annoyed cry rose from the other trainers, "We do this so that you each have a fair fight, based on no prier knowledge of the pokemon your opponents posses." He waited for the trainers to leave and then raised a chart of who was to battle whom. "Now Grass vs. Fire!"

"Jace, you want to start?" Creidi asked.

"Thanks," Jace replied, "Go, Cyndaquil!"

"Go Oddish! Razor Leaf!" Said a male voice from across the arena.

"Cyndaquil block with Ember!" The oddish’s leaves shot off its head straight at the fire rat. Cyndaquil countered with tiny fireball that intenerated the leaves.

"Oddish! Put it down with Sleep Powder!"

"Cyndaquil, Fire Fountain!" The little plant shook violently, releasing a thick blue powder. Cyndaquil cocked its head back and released a volley of flames straight into the air that domed down to the ground as a shield. The flames hissed, spat, and crackled as the sleep powder touched it. The sleep powder was neutralized.

"Oddish Moonlight!"

"Now Cyndaquil, hit it with your Flame Wheel!" Oddish gave off a soft glow as it healed itself. Cyndaquil shot off a powerful fire ring. The little plant never saw it coming and its trainer was forced to recall it.

"Now it’s my turn," the blond girl said, "Go Bulbasaur!" Jace recalled Cyndaquil and Creidi released Growlithe.

"Growlithe, start with Flame Wheel!"

"Bulbasaur, wrap it up with Leech seed!" The two pokemon fired their attack at the same time. The leech seed passed straight through the fire ring and was ignited. The seed hit is target on the nose, but the fire had neutralized it so did little damage. Bulbasaur dodged the flames and escaped without a scratch.

"Growlithe, Agility and Bite!"

"Bulbasaur, stop it with your Vine whip!" Growlithe’s image blurred as it began to run in circles around Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur waited patiently for its opportunity. Then it happened, Growlithe vaulted at its opponent and bulbasaur was ready. Bulbasaur’s vines shot out and caught the pup in mid-air.

"Growlithe, Flame Thrower Now!" Bulbasaur had no chance to dodge and took the attack full in the face.

"Return Bulbasaur." The girl said sadly.

"Go Doduo!" the male voice called.

"You had better take this one." Jace said softly. Creidi nodded in response.

"Return Growlithe! Go Artico, Icy Wind!"

"Doduo, Fury Attack!" the two speed demons took off at each other. Artico began to gleam a soft blue, causing the air around him to form ice crystals. Doduo’s two heads pumped in a pecking motion as it charged its opponent. The two passed each other mid-field, both taking mild damages from the other.

"Doduo, Double Team!"

"Artico Powdered Snow!" Doduo made two copies of it self and stared at Artico, daring it to attack. Artico looked from one bird to another; then made several large snowflakes materialize at its side and shot them at the bird on the right. The Doduo fizzled out leaving two still standing.

"Doduo, Rage!"

"Artico hit them both with your Blizzard!" The twin birds charged the ice horse with their eyes glowing red. Artico reared back and shot off a huge flurry of snow and ice. When the snow cleared a single bird stood frozen in mid air.

"Fire cabin wins! Next up is Steel vs. Psychic" Jeff’s voice shouted over the PA. "The rest of the day may be spent as you wish, but Dinner will be served at 7:30." He said to the two teams, "The second half of the tournament will finish tomorrow."