Authors Note: This story takes place about… six years after Ash and the trio. 
Criticism welcomed!

“Rachel, can you come and help me please?”
It was Gran. I got to my feet from my bed, the egg still snuggled beside my two 
Pokémon, my Growlithe and my Slowpoke, as I slipped my Pokédex back into my bag. 
It was around 8:00am, and it was time to start the day. I lived with my Gran and 
Gramp, who ran the Day Care center by Goldenrod City.
My parents died when I was seven, which was about…six years ago. I used to live 
in Ecruteak City, but when my Parents died, I was sent my Gran and Gramps. I was 
their helper, and as a reward, got to keep the eggs that the trainers didn’t 
want. The very first Pokemon I had ever hatched on my own was my Growlithe. If I 
liked the Pokemon, I kept it, or we hatched them, and then kept them, until they 
were ready to be released into the wild.

“Coming, Gran!”
I called, as I quickly scooped my dark brown hair up into a loose ponytail, and 
slipped my shoes on. Checking over my clothes, I fixed my dark blue vest, and 
pulled my long sleeved white shirt down a little more over my jeans. The usual 
clothing I wore. Looking back over at my Pokemon, I headed downstairs, jumping 
the last two.
“Rachel!”
It was my Gramp. He was always scolding me for something or another, but I still 
loved him.

“Sorry Gramp.”
I apologized, as I scampered out into the back, seeing my Gran there. Once the 
door was shut, I looked over the small field, with its small pond, our garden 
and out Berry trees. We loved where we were. It was quaint, and lots of trainers 
came and left.
“Rachel, I need some help gathering some herbs from out garden. Can you do that? 
I also need the Berries picked, as a treat for the Pokemon.”
I nodded, watching as my Gran left, and I began my chores. I really didn’t want 
to, but I had to.

I began to pick the herbs from our garden, 

With that Egg still up in my room, I was sure it was never going to hatch. I had 
only gotten the first two Gym Badges, Falkner’s and Bugsy’s. I still needed 
Whitney’s, just to keep my Pokemon in battle shape.
“Growl?”
I looked over my shoulder, and smirked when I saw my Growlithe. He was my first 
Pokemon, since I was too far away to receive one from Professor Elm.
“C’mere, Growlithe.”
I called, as he padded over to me, tongue lolling out the side of his mouth, 
eyes glinting.

Together, for about half an hour, we picked out Berries and gathered the herbs, 
before heading back inside. My knees were dirty, from kneeling, and Growlithe 
was just dirty from rolling around in the dirt.
“Rachel, what were you doing out there? Having a dirt fight with Growlithe?”
My Gran exclaimed. I blushed, before walking over to her. I was only another 
three inches taller then her, she stood at 5’0”, and I was 5’3”. My Gramp was 
5’1”
“Gran, can I please go out and train my Pokemon? Please? I need to so I can face 
and beat Whitney!”
I asked, as my Growlithe gave a happy bark. My Gramp was always telling me to 
get out and train, while my Gran kept me in and helped with chores.

“Please Gran?”
After much begging, my Gran finally nodded, and I cheered, hugging her frail 
body and my Gramp.
“Thanks! I’ll be home before dark!”
I said happily, smiling widely as I ran up the stairs, Growlithe close on my 
heels. I heard my Gramp chuckle, before I shut my door. Quickly, I pulled my bag 
out from my desk chair, and looked through my Pokemon. I had lots, almost 
twenty. Half of them were from eggs that were left behind.

“Okay. I need… Onix, Geodude…”
I muttered, picking out the two Pokeballs, before looking at Growlithe. He 
whimpered, jumping up onto my bed, and nuzzling the Egg. I nodded.
“I know, Growlithe, I know.”
I said, smirking, as I picked out another two Pokemon. That’s four… Turning back 
to my bed, I picked up an empty Pokeball.
“Return, Growlithe!”
With a happy yip, Growlithe returned to his Pokeball.

“Rachel? What are you doing up there?”
My Gramp called, as I scooped the Egg up, and carefully placed it into its 
special pocket I had made. Silently, I re-checked the Pokemon I had in their 
Pokeballs.
“Rachel! What’s going on?”
My Gramp called again, as I shook my head and walked out of my room, taking the 
stairs carefully.

“Yes, Gramp?”
I asked, as I sat my bag at the table, and quietly pulled out ten empty 
Pokeballs. I always tried to catch new Pokemon, and it was always an achievement 
to catch one I wanted badly.
“Do you have everything? Do you need anything before you leave?”
Gramp was always like that. Asking if I needed anything; if I had enough 
supplies. Nodding to his question, I looked back at him, then nodding.
“Yeah, Im good. Thank you, Gramp.”
I said, smiling before hugging him. With a smile, he patted my shoulder and let 
me go. Gran was beginning to set the resting areas for the Pokemon.

“Bye Rachel! Come back when you want something to eat, okay?”
I nodded as I went over my items in my head. I cleared my head and walked to the 
door, opening it, to come face-to-face with another trainer, about my age.
“Oh, Im sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
He apologized as I shrugged, and opened the door wider. My Gramp was behind me 
in a minute, and he smiled at the trainer.

“Andrew! Good to see you again!”
Andrew? Who was he? Quietly excusing myself, I slipped out into the fresh air, 
smiling to myself. It was a great day to train my Pokemon to beat Whitney. 
Walking to the nearby city, I thought to myself, well, since I have Pokeballs, I 
might run into some Pokemon that aren’t going to be caught in Pokeballs.
With the little bit of money I had saved up, I guess it was time to upgrade to 
Great Balls.

*

When I came back, about two hours later for some breakfast, that Andrew guy was 
still there. With a quizzical look, I headed to the door of my house. He was out 
in the backyard with Gran, with a Pokeball offered out to her. What could they 
be talking about? With my curiosity, I walked inside of the house, and slipped 
my shoes off, and put my bag by the door, scooping the Egg out, and walking to 
the door, to the backyard.

“Gran?”
I called, poking my head out the door. Y Gran stopped the conversation to look 
over at me and smiled.
“I’ll be there in a minute, Rachel. Give me a few minutes to talk to Andrew.”
I nodded and went back inside, holding onto my Egg a little firmer. It was close 
to hatching. Although it was making no noises inside, it was moving frequently.
I sat at the table, watching Gran make some Pokemon food. Although I had only 
been training for two hours, both my Pokemon and I, needed a rest.

“Rachel, call your Pokemon out.”
Gramp said, balancing four dishes on his arms, the bigger one still on the 
counter. I pulled four of my Pokeballs out, and called them out, Growlithe, 
Geodude, Slowpoke, and Nidorino. As Gramp set their food down, they rushed over 
and began to eat loudly and nosily, little noises like, ‘Nid...’ or ‘Grrr...’ 
coming out as they ate.
“If you have Onix, call him out, outside.”

“Yes, Gramp.”
I answered, as I got up, and stretched, picking my Last Pokeball up, as well as 
the Egg, and heading to the backyard, just as Andrew and Gran came back in. With 
a glance, I went outside, and let my Onix out.
I was proud of my Onix. Other then Growlithe, he was the first Pokemon I had 
caught.
Gramp brought out the large bowl of Pokemon food, and Onix began to eat 
greedily. Smiling, I patted his rocky back, or side, and went back inside.

“Okay, tomorrow then. Thanks, Alice.”
“No problem, Andrew. See you tomorrow!”
I tilted my head to the side, as Gramp chuckled and looked at my Gran, smiling.
“You’ve got it all worked out?”
He said. I couldn’t take it anymore. Standing upright, I crossed my arms over my 
chest, and fixed them with my Pokeslot face.
“Alright, what are you two hiding from me?”

Gran just smiled.