There is a world that exists somewhere in the folds of time (don’t ask me where to find it exactly), that is very similar to our own, though very different at the same time.

For in this world are very strange and wonderful creatures called Pokemon. Like our own animals many of them are, but these creatures posses magical powers that they use to help themselves in life, and also to play the great sport of Pokemon battling.

It was nearly two thousand years ago that Pokemon were first discovered by the people of this world, and at first they thought them nothing more than normal animals, for they were exposed only to common Pokemon such as Pidgey or Caterpie.

But it soon became clear when more and more of the creatures appeared that there was something else to them. Much more.

When the first humans to come into contact with them succeeded in befriending Pokemon, they were able to train them and for hundreds of years humans and Pokemon helped each other in life with their unique talents.

Then, mostly when fights broke out between Pokemon owners, the humans would fight their adversary and would command the Pokemon to fight for them because of their powers. This became popular eventually as a way to compete, and soon the sport of Pokemon battling was born.

Now it was the hobby, life and passion of thousands of people all over this alternate world and people spent their lives trying to understand the secrets of the mysterious creatures and also care for them.

And on this day one more person was going to begin his journey to become a Pokemon Master.

In the lovely small town of Pine Falls, Nick Samuels stood on the balcony of his home which was built near one of Pine Falls’ famous falls. The constant sound of rushing water down into the woods that surrounded the town was very soothing.

He was 16, had blue eyes like a deep pool and wavy brown hair. He had always been very quiet, had never had too many friends, but had always dreamed of having a great adventure. This day he decided he was going to see the fulfillment of that dream.

Nick had only to go to the home of Professor Pine (the descendant of the founders of the town), who was an expert in all things Pokemon having been a trainer himself and now a Pokemon scientist and get an official license, not to mention his starting Pokemon.

As a rule of the Pokemon League a trainer could not start with a Pokemon that he or his family had raised. Instead a local Pokemon expert who was with the league (such as Professor Pine) would give the trainer a Pokemon and they would raise it from its earliest stage.

Nick was going to go see the Professor when he opened his doors later that morning. But for the moment he stood on his balcony for what would probably be the last time in a while. Pokemon journeys generally were long by nature, the trainer in question having to walk for miles and miles from town to town, capturing new Pokemon along the way, training them to use their powers.

It was going to be a big change, and a large responsibility, but Nick knew that he was ready for it.

His heart yearned for a quest like this, and he couldn’t rest until he had tried it and tried his best.

As he stood looking at the falls alone with his thoughts, he was suddenly surprised to hear a voice behind him.

"So, getting ready to leave us already?"

Nick turned around to see his big sister Tabby standing at the door to the balcony. She was twenty-one, had short brown hair the same color as his, and deep brown eyes. She had a nice smile, and at the moment her own Pokemon Butterfree was standing on her shoulder, its beautiful colored wings folded behind its back.

The little insect Pokemon squeaked merrily as though it was adding a remark to Tabby’s question.

Nick sighed and looked out over the green woods.

"I guess I’m surprised how I feel. I thought I would feel more confident about this when it came right down to it. But now I’m strangely nervous."

Tabby stood next to him and patted his shoulder in encouragement. "Hey, don’t sweat it. I was just as scared the first day I left. Of course I never went the whole way to get to the league competition, but that’s where I’m hoping you’ll make it up for me and go all the way. I know you can do it, and mom and dad think so too."

Butterfree squeaked again. Nick looked at his sister. They got along quite well compared to most brothers and sisters, and he was finding that he was going to miss her more than anything. Tabby had been one of his best friends in the light of his other failed friendships, and he did love her as only family did.

"I’m really gonna miss this place," he said in the end, not wanting to get all mushy. "But I pleaded with dad and mom forever to let me do this, so there’s no sense in getting cold feet now."

Nick looked sadly at the floor for a second and then asked Tabby in a quiet, serious whisper, "Hey Tab, you will take care of Pidgey for me won’t you?"

Nick had captured a little bird Pokemon named Pidgey a long time ago and kept it as a pet. But because he had raised it for a long time he wasn’t allowed to take it on his journey until he met certain requirements.

Tabby smiled at him and nodded. "Of course I will. Heck, your Pidgey and my Butterfree are pretty much best friends, so that won’t be too much of a problem."

Nick was confident she would live up to her word, and so he decided it wasn’t much good hanging around. He still had a while to go until Professor Pine would receive new trainers, but he had other things in mind.

"Well," he said, "I guess I’m just going to go take one last walk in the old forest before I go. I’m going to miss it too. See ya Tab." He walked back into the house to grab his backpack and other traveling essentials.

Tabby looked on sadly as he walked away, and she said quietly with a little wave, "So long little bro. It’s going to be different without you."

Butterfree made a sad sounding series of chirps and looked at its master with its large red eyes. Tabby sighed and patted the Pokemon’s head.

"Don’t worry about Nick, Butterfree," she said. "He always was good at taking care of himself. He’ll come back to us soon. Come on. Let’s grab some lunch.

That statement seemed to instantly cheer the butterfly Pokemon up.

The golden sun bathed the old woods with a warm blaze and the filtering light gave the leaves an emerald glow. It was what Nick loved about his walks in the woods. They made him feel so alive, and he loved the beauty of the country around his home.

He looked back sorrowfully at his house, standing on top of its hill like an old fortress. He saw the waterfall swishing down in its eternal way, and he realized he was going to miss falling asleep at night to the sound of rushing water.

It was almost second nature by now.

As he went along Nick closed his eyes and stood still, listening to the leaves rustling above him. Suddenly he jumped in fright and surprise when in the silence a loud shriek could be heard.

"Chuuuuuuu!!!"

Nick did not know what it was. He had heard bug and bird type Pokemon chattering in these woods before, but this was something totally different. It almost sounded to him like a Pokemon screaming in fear or pain.

Nick moved around, searching for the source of the noise, and when it sounded again he easily was able to track it down. He ran to a small clearing in a ring of tall trees, and Nick gasped when he saw two shapes in the grass.

One was a tall green colored bug type Pokemon with yellow wings, a snake-like head and long shiny blades for arms. A Scyther.

It was like a small mouse, with big black ears and big eyes. It had pink cheeks, and its short fur was yellow. It was apparently bruised and beaten, and it weakly lay beneath the snarling glare of the Scyther.

The bug Pokemon then lifted one of its bladed arms above the little yellow creature’s head and was almost ready to bring it down.

Nick panicked, realizing that this Scyther for one reason or another was prepared to kill this little mouse. Nick knew that Scyther were territorial bugs, but he was unaware that they were prepared to kill weaker creatures that didn’t stand a chance against them.

Before the Scyther could deliver its deathblow though, Nick cried out, "Hey! Leave that little guy alone!"

Scyther jerked its green head in Nick’s direction and stared hard at him with black pupils. It then growled and hissed, "Scytherrr!"

The little Pokemon beneath the Scyther looked in wonder at Nick and said in a high little voice, "Pichu?"

The Scyther in the meantime seemed to have completely forgotten its prey and instead looked to be preparing to attack Nick.

Nick gulped, thinking to himself, ‘Oh, brilliant move, Nick. You just angered a Scyther unarmed and without anything to protect yourself with. This is a great start to your Pokemon career.’

As Scyther hunched back to leap at Nick, the teen hastily grabbed a long thick tree branch that was lying nearby and held it before him as a desperate defensive measure. But with a swift slash the Scyther cut the branch cleanly in two. The upper half of the stick fell uselessly to the ground and Nick was once again exposed.

He tried hopelessly to run out of Scyther’s arm range, but the bug was too fast and made another lightning fast cut with its left arm.

Nick was extremely fortunate, however, for the slash only scratched his chest. It wasn’t deep, and though he yelped it didn’t hurt badly. But Scyther was not finished, and seemed quite ready to take Nick’s head.

Nick fell to the ground, trapped and unable to run from his attacker. He feared that he was about to have his Pokemon journey end before it had technically started.

But as Scyther raised its right arm again and cried out angrily, Nick heard the little yellow creature cry, "PICHU!!!!" and a stream of yellow electricity shot out from it. The energy hit Scyther and the bug was trapped in the painful blast, paralyzed and its attack failed.

Nick was amazed that the little Pokemon still had the energy to make an attack considering how beat up it looked, but he took advantage of the opportunity.

As soon as the Pokemon’s powerful attack ended the Scyther looked with fury at it, almost forgetting about Nick. Too late it remembered and turned back around to face him, only to see Nick’s fist meet its face, knocking it out cold to the ground.

Breathing hard, Nick saw that there was a little blood coming from the front of his shirt, but otherwise he was okay. He was more concerned about the little Pokemon. He looked down at it, for it was breathing hard too, and he asked, "Are you alright little friend?"

The yellow Pokemon tried to make a response, but it was very weak, and with a little squeak it fell unconscious. Nick suddenly grew alarmed, and leaving the knocked out Scyther behind he picked up the other Pokemon carefully and held it in his arms, making a run for it.

It was a little early, but he knew the only way he could save it would be to get it to Professor Pine’s laboratory. He had a Pokemon healing device, such as the Pokemon healing centers used, and he could revive the little creature, provided Nick could get it there in time.

"Hang in there, little friend," he said through his panting, knowing it couldn’t hear him. Nick couldn’t believe what had just happened. He had just saved this Pokemon’s life, and it had saved his.

They both really owed each other, but that didn’t matter now. Nick just ran as fast as he could for the lab.

Five minutes later, panting heavily, sweating, with a bloodied T-shirt, Nick arrived the front door of Professor Pine’s home and lab and banged on the door. He didn’t get a response at first, but then a little speaker next to the door came to life and the distinct voice of the town’s residential Pokemon expert could be heard.

"If you’ve come for a Pokemon license you’re going to have to wait a few more minutes. I’m not ready to take trainers yet."

Still breathing hard Nick punched the reply button and said, "Professor, this is Nick. I have an emergency that needs your attention! A Pokemon’s life in hanging in the balance."

This obviously changed Pine’s tone, and he said, "Alright, hang on. I’m coming."

In about fifteen seconds the front door opened and Professor Pine stood in the entrance. He was in his mid fifties with graying hair, and he had a tiny pair of glasses. He always wore a pocket watch that hung from his lab coat, and he was especially tall and lean.

When he saw the battered little Pokemon he gasped and quickly looked it over, and then said, "Hurry, get it inside! You were right about the life thing. If this Pichu doesn’t get some help soon it won’t be seeing supper tonight.

‘ Pichu?’ thought Nick. So that was its name. Now that he thought about it that was what it sounded like when the little thing spoke. Most Pokemon only had the ability to speak their own name, and this Pokemon was apparently no exception.

They both went inside quickly and disappeared.

Meanwhile, standing not far away in the bushes surrounding Professor Pine’s house was another young man, about Nick’s age. He had long dark hair that curled in threads about his face. His eyes were equally dark, and deep. He had a thin, pale face and wore mostly gray.

He had a toothpick sticking out of his mouth, and as Nick wet inside he sneered. His name was Jack Devlin, and he had been a sworn rival to Nick Samuels as long as he or Nick could remember. What started it? No one could recall. All Jack knew was that he was dead set to prove himself better in all things Nick did, big or small, and he had been waiting for the chance to follow Nick into becoming a Pokemon trainer so to do just that.

He decided it best to wait to go in. He could see that Nick had an emergency, like he cared about that, but he felt one way he could prove himself better already was by coming at the appointed time the Professor had set.

After all, the real winners knew patience…

Inside the Professor’s lab fifteen minutes later, Nick had changed out of his ripped and bloodied shirt and cleaned his cut and put on a fresh shirt. Meanwhile the Professor had put himself to work helping the Pichu.

Pine put the little creature in a metal chamber and activated some controls. After that all he did was watch it to make sure its progress was steady.

"It’s a good thing you brought that Pichu here when you did, Nick," he said with relief after a moment. "A little longer and I daresay we would have lost it. But that was very brave of you to confront a wild Scyther like that for this Pokemon. Maybe a bit foolish, nay, TERRIBLY foolish, but I can’t say I disagree with your motives. Well done."

Nick was never very good with praise, even when he deserved it, but he was just happy that the Pichu was okay. "Professor," he asked, "what will you do with it once it’s all better? Will you release it back into the wild?"

The professor got a sly look on his face that Nick had seen before. It was a look that indicated the Prof. was contemplating something that he didn’t plan on revealing quite yet.

"Oh, we’ll see," he answered. "First I’ll just make sure it’s going to be okay. Well then, you are about a half hour early Nick, but I suppose since you’re here I could go ahead and give you your Pokemon registration and other things you’ll need."

Nick shrugged, suddenly not in a hurry to get it done. "That’s okay. I can wait until the others get here."

The professor smiled. He had patience, and that was good. The qualities of the person often showed the quality of their Pokemon training,, and from what Pine was seeing he was confident Nick would become a great trainer.

"I don’t think we need to wait," the Professor said. "I think you deserve it. Here, takes these…"

He reached over to his computer desk and grabbed a small silver box. Opening it the Professor revealed the basic essentials for any Pokemon trainer; six red and white Pokeballs, a map of the entire country for Nick to use on his travels, and a red rectangular device with a black screen, which was a PokeDex, an electronic encyclopedia that gave information and statistics for any Pokemon.

The Professor took them out and handed them to Nick with a smile. "My boy, you are venturing forth on a great quest. A marvelous adventure that will change your life, and introduce you to new things you’ve never dreamed about. You’ll discover many new things about Pokemon, and also new things about yourself and your character. I look forward to seeing you succeed in all your adventures and hearing about your discoveries."

Nick looked at his gifts and pondered their purposes. He knew he would never be the same after this quest, but if anything the Professor said was true he didn’t have a clue just how much.

He clipped the Pokeballs on his belt, pocketed the map and put the PokeDex in his backpack.

"Now there’s only one thing left," the Professor said with a grin. "You have to choose your first Pokemon. Now, you will need to wait for the other trainers for that, but in the meantime there’s no harm in seeing your choices."

Pine grabbed a little booklet from his desk and handed it to Nick. Inside were pages of pictures of several different Pokemon, all of whom the Professor had in his possession and would give freely to any trainer that needed them.

There was a plant type, Bulbasaur, which looked like a chubby lizard with a plant bulb on its back. There was a Charmander, an orange colored reptile with a burning tail. It was a fire type. There were two water types, a blue turtle with big red eyes called Squirtle, and a blue skinned little creature with a big, tooth filled jaw and red fins on its back called Totodile.

The last two were Cyndaquil, a fire type that looked like a dark colored mouse without the ears and a long snout, and finally Chikorita, another plant type that had a long shapely leaf on the top of its head.

They were all wonderful and strong Pokemon, and many trainers would gladly take them, but somehow Nick was finding that none of them turned his fancy.

"So what do you think you’ll want?" the Professor inquired after Nick had looked through the booklet.

Nick closed the book and handed it back to Pine. "They’re all wonderful, but…well, I’m not sure if they’re the ones for me."

The Prof. looked confused. "Well my boy, these are all I have. If you don’t choose one of them I afraid I can’t do anything for you to get you a starting Pokemon."

Nick looked over to the healing machine and saw the little Pichu within it, now seeming to be sleeping peacefully with its wounds all healed. He pointed to the chamber.

"What about that one?" Nick asked. The Prof. looked at the chamber, then looked at Nick curiously.

"That one? Are you sure? It’s only a little Pichu, and it’s not exactly in the best shape."

"I guess I just have a feeling about it," Nick answered. "Something tells me that if that Pichu is willing, it would make a good partner for me. It does kind of owe me its life, as do I, and so I thought because of that it might gladly come with me. Don’t you agree, Professor?"

Prof. Pine stared at Nick for a moment, and then a smile spread over his face. "In fact I do, son. And truth to tell I was hoping you’d choose that one. It’s only a little thing right now, but under your care I know it will grow large and strong. But maybe we should see what Pichu thinks…"

He went to the chamber and opened it up, the device making a soft hiss as it did. After a second the little Pichu stirred awake with a yawn, and then it rubbed its eyes as it adjusted to the light.

The professor smiled at it and said, "Hello there, little one. You should be feeling much better now."

Pichu looked up at the Prof. with a curious stare, and then glanced around the lab apparently in confusion as to how it even got there.

"You’re very lucky to be here at all," the Prof. said, "if you hadn’t seen saved by Nick here your life may have been ended by that Scyther."

The Prof. pointed to Nick, and he smiled at the little Pokemon with a wave and he said, "Hi there little fella."

The second Pichu saw Nick, it’s big black eyes lit up and a smile spread over its face. "Pichu!" it cried, and leaped off the table to the floor. It ran up next to Nick’s leg and gave it a hug, softly whispering in seeming joy.

The Prof. laughed. "Well, I’d say this Pichu is definitely grateful to you Nick. I bet you wouldn’t have any problem getting it to go with you."

Nick knelt down so that his face was closer to Pichu’s, the little Pokemon being only a little over a foot high, and he looked into its eyes kindly and asked, "Pichu, how would you like to come with me on my Pokemon journey? I need a good Pokemon to be on my team, and I think you would make the best partner a trainer could have. What do you think?"

Pichu seemed to think about what Nick had said, and then it glanced up at the Prof. Pine smiled and gave Pichu a little wink, and then Pichu smiled and said excitedly looking back to Nick, "Pi, Pichu Pichu!!"

Nick laughed and picked up the Pokemon, giving it a tender little hug. Pichu returned it and said happily over and over, "Pichu, Pi-Pichu!"

The Prof. looked pleased. "I think you’ve made a good choice, Nick."

Nick nodded. "Me too."

"I don’t," came a gruff voice suddenly from the doorway. Nick and the Prof. looked to see Jack standing in the hall, his hands in his pockets. "I think you picked a real loser of a baby Pokemon, Nick. You don’t go with the dolls, you go with the powerful fighters."

Nick frowned, and Pichu looked confused at the new arrival. "It takes a lot more than their strength for a Pokemon to win a battle. It takes a good balance of heart, strength and knowledge. I think this Pichu has the heart, and soon it’ll have the other two."

Jack walked in and came closer, staring at Pichu. The little Pokemon looked at him with a cautious look, seeming afraid of him. Jack sniggered and added, "This little rat couldn’t take out a box of cereal."

Nick did not respond, but Pichu got an angry frown and growled, "Piiichu…!" Suddenly small short sparks came from the pink circles on its cheeks.

Ignoring the Pokemon Jack turned to the Prof. and asked, "So where do I get my superior Pokemon and gear?"

Reluctantly the Professor gave Jack the same things he had Nick, and then turned to a circular table that rose from the floor. On top were six Pokeballs with the names of all the Pokemon within.

"You may choose from one of these," the Professor said. Jack looked over all of the names, thought it over briefly, and then grabbed a Pokeball.

"I want this one," he said with a mean little smirk.

The Prof. looked at the choice and said, "Ah, interesting selection. I would have thought you would be more of a Charmander type of person. But I see that Totodile somehow appeals to you more."

Jack tossed the ball up in the air and caught it several times. "I go for power, like I said, and I’ve been informed that Totodile is powerful. And now to prove what I said about the more powerful Pokemon being better, I challenge Nick right here and right now to a battle."

This was a surprise for Nick, who hadn’t thought he would be challenged so quickly after getting licensed, but Jack had made the declaration, and unless the Prof. didn’t feel comfortable with them battling in his lab Nick believed he had no choice but to accept.

He looked at the Prof. "Is that okay, Professor?"

The Prof. scratched his head a little nervously, but shrugged and said, "I guess, though are you sure you want to battle with that Pichu so soon after it’s been healed?"

Strangely enough Pichu answered for Nick. It leapt out of his arms and landed easily on the floor, crying with anger at Jack, "PICHU!"

Nick was amazed that it wanted to battle, and kneeling beside his Pokemon he asked it, "Are you sure you want to fight? You may get hurt again."

Pichu smiled at its new master and declared with a nod, "Pichu!"

Nick smiled, and then standing back up he said to Jack, "We accept your challenge, Jack. Bring on your worst."

With a nasty smile Jack said, "That’s my full intention." He took the Pokeball he held and opened it, crying, "Come out, Totodile! We’ve got a battle to win!"

With a flash of yellow energy the ball opened and on the floor in front of Pichu a form took shape, eventually turning into the little blue reptile water Pokemon Totodile.

Pichu looked a little nervous now, but it was determined not to back down. Nick just hoped now that it had good enough moves to win.

"Okay, Pichu, start off with a Thundershock!"

Pichu closed its eyes, concentrated and then with a cry released a small stream of electric energy that zapped towards Totodile. But the water type was too fast and leapt away from it, the electric attack then simply disintegrating into the metal floor.

Jack smiled and ordered, "Totodile, use your tackle attack!" Totodile backed up and then leapt for Pichu, slamming its full body weight against the little mouse. Pichu was knocked back into the wall, but was not knocked out.

Nick looked to Pichu with concern, but knew that he had to act fast or he would lose the fight and Pichu would be beaten even worse.

Jack tried to press his advantage. "Totodile, use your tail whip on it!" Totodile prepared to rush over to Pichu and finish the battle, but Nick cried quickly, "Pichu, hurry and get out of the way! Use ,uh, Quick Attack!"

With a nod Pichu stood and zipped to the side just as Totodile shot over to the wall to use its Tail Whip. Now Pichu was behind the blue creature, and sparks flew from its cheeks as it prepared for another Thundershock.

But Totodile was too quick, and with a swift swipe it slammed its short tail into Pichu’s chest and sent the yellow louse flying into the circular table. Pichu looked very winded now, and almost seemed incapable of pulling itself up.

"Pichu!" cried Nick.

"Finish it, Totodile!" Jack yelled. "Bite it now!"

Nick knew that if the Bite Attack connected, Pichu would be finished. He couldn’t let his new little friend be hurt, battle or no battle. Suddenly he had an idea, looking at the metal floor and thinking of Pichu’s electric attack and the effect it had on it.

Quickly he called, "Pichu, aim a Thundershock at the floor in front of you! Hurry and fire!"

Pichu looked at Nick, then at the charging Totodile, and with a short cry it shot the floor directly before it. As Nick had hoped the metal floor carried the current for several feet, and Totodile stepped onto the electricity charged metal.

The water of its body absorbed the energy and zapped it, and Totodile’s attack and charge were broken. When the energy faded, Totodile looked weakened measurably, and before Jack could take action Nick told Pichu, "Now hurry and shoot one more Thundershock right at Totodile!"

Seemingly filled with new strength Pichu stood and fired, and the full blast hit Totodile and after a second the blue water type collapsed in defeat to the floor.

Jack gasped and went to Totodile’s side. He made sure it was okay, and then he glared in anger at Nick. He took his Pokeball and returned Totodile to the inside of it, and then he stood, breathing hard.

Joyously Pichu ran to Nick and leapt up into his arms, giving him a hug and chattering happily in its victory. Nick smiled at it and said, "Great job. I said you were tough." This brought a happy, "Pichu!" from the little Pokemon.

Looking to Jack, Nick realized his doubtlessly hurt ego was probably suffering and being generous Nick held out his hand and said, "Good match, man."

But Jack curled his lip and didn’t shake his hand. He grabbed his backpack and walked to the door, stopping under the frame to say to the Professor, "Thanks for the stuff, Prof." He then looked at Nick and said in a cold voice, "You got lucky, Samuels . But the next time we meet I’m going to challenge you again, and I’ll prove to you then how powerful my Pokemon are and will be. In fact I promise you that. Every time we meet, we battle. No exceptions. I’ll catch you later."

He walked into the hall and left the lab. Nick looked down at Pichu in his arms. The happy little Pokemon clung to him, looking a little tired, but still happy that it had won and pleased its trainer.

Nick didn’t want to be at odds all the time with Jack, but he couldn’t change Jack’s heart. He would just have to train hard, and be the best he could achieve, and prove himself every time Jack challenged him.

The road ahead looked very hard indeed.

A little while later the Prof. had healed Pichu again, and now Nick was ready to go. His backpack was strapped on, his gear was all accounted for, and little Pichu stood upon his right shoulder like Tabby’s Butterfree did. The sun was bright outside, and Nick was finally ready to leave.

Pine stood on his front steps and looked at Nick with a trace of admiration. "Well my boy, you may not know yet what challenges await you, but I know you’ll beat them all if you are strong and wise. You and Pichu will become even better friends I don’t doubt, and your team will grow larger and stronger. Have fun, keep your mind on your training, and keep safe so that you can return to us."

Nick smiled back and gave the Prof. a small salute. "I’ll think of home every day, and I’ll try and keep in touch with you as often as I can. Thank you for everything Professor. I’ll see you."

He began to walk off, and waved to Pine. Pichu waved as well and called a farewell to him too. "Good-bye my boy!" Professor Pine called. "Have a good journey!"

Nick and Pichu walked out of Pine Falls, and soon they were at the edge of the Entorrin Forest that surrounded much of the town. Nick looked back on the fading sight of his hometown and sighed. Pichu looked at him and verbalized something that seemed to be question.

Nick looked at him and smiled weakly, saying though he was only guessing what Pichu was asking, "Oh, I’m just thinking about how much I’m going to miss this place. I’ve lived here all my life. But it’s time to move on and have my adventure, or I’ll regret not doing it years later. I know this will good, for both of us."

Pichu nodded in agreement and patted Nick’s head.

"Pichupi!" it said with a merry smile.

That afternoon they stopped for lunch under the bright sun. Pichu gladly ate a small sandwich, and Nick drank a bottle of juice. They had to be sparing, though, because it would take at least two days to walk through the Entorrin Forest. It was supposed to be filled with Pokemon, and Nick hoped to add at least one or two new member to his team in it.

Plus it would give Pichu some exercise. The more battles it had with wild Pokemon the stronger it would become, and the more powers it would discover.

Nick looked into the dark woods and said to Pichu, "Those look like pretty creepy forests, don’t they Pichu?" The little Pokemon looked up from its food and stared into the woods, saying in agreement though with a mouth full of bread, ""Pi-Pichu."

Nick smiled in amusement. Pichu was extremely cute, and he felt would give him much happiness just by being there with him. "Well," he continued, "I think we can get through them alright. Nothing’s going to stop us."

After they finished their meal Nick strapped up again and Pichu sat on his shoulder. The Professor had determined that Pichu wouldn’t like being confined within a Pokeball but would rather be free to walk about. Nick decided he would have preferred that anyway, so they agreed only to use the Pokeball in the event of an emergency.

Soon they were walking along the stony road again that ran besides the green valleys and woods, and by nightfall they would reach the forest. There Nick decided they would make camp and take the forest road in the morning. Wandering a forest at night could prove very dangerous, for they could get lost, or perhaps even attacked by some fierce nocturnal Pokemon.

The day passed by without any incident, until late in the afternoon they came by chance upon a wild Pidgey that was eating worms on a hill. Nick told Pichu to attack, and the little yellow Pokemon excitedly jumped off his shoulder to do battle.

The Pidgey did not run away, but rather stood willing to fight for its hill. Nick ordered Pichu to Thundershock it, and with only one the Pidgey was knocked out.

Pichu was very pleased by this, but Nick decided to let the little bird go. He didn’t want another Pidgey than the one he had back home, and Pichu had gotten some exercise so that was good enough for him.

Soon though the sun disappeared behind the mountains, and darkness fell quickly. Nick pulled a small sleeping bag from his backpack and rolled it out. Instantly Pichu ran into it and curled up with a sigh.

Nick rolled his eyes and thought, ‘Great. I’ve never slept with my pets before.’ But after a while he got on his nightshirt and shorts and pulled himself in. Pichu squeaked softly as he pulled close to its trainer and friend and cuddled against Nick’s chest.

Nick scratched Pichu’s head softly and said, "Good night, Pichu."

Pichu yawned again and said in a soft whisper, "Pichu."

Under the rising stars of the night they both fell into a peaceful sleep. But unknown to both of them, hidden in the trees of the opening of the forest, there was a figure watching them.

Next to that figure another smaller shape looked at the sleeping bag with large, round glowing red eyes. This creature looked to the larger figure, but the other character instructed it to be quiet. For a little while longer they watched Nick as he slept, and then disappeared into the shadows of the trees.

To be continued…