A/N: Well, welcome to my story! It's my first stab at fanfiction so please leave a review, constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, but I do own my characters.

I was on a beach, and the sun was just rising. The tide weakly flowed onto the sand, revealing bits of wood, and various debris.

My head pounded, and my joints felt sore.

I opened my eyes slowly, squinting as they adjusted to the light.

"You're awake! Thank goodness!"

Next to me a was a Quilava. He was wearing a bandana around his neck. He stopped poking me after he noticed I was awake.

"Where am I?"

The weasel shrugged. "I think it's called Treasure Town or something. I'm not sure, I'm just passing through."

"Oh."

"Well thanks for checking on me."

The Quilava smiled. "No problem. It's what I do." He held out a hand to help him up. "My name's Ray by the way."

"My name's Ryden."

He nodded. "Was that your boat?" He gestured towards a small boat that had be destroyed by the elements. All that remained was a bag, which Ryden picked up. Inside it was a small sheathed-sword, some food, and a rope.

He rummaged through the bag some more before sighing a bit.

I looked over at the water,and at my reflection. My face was scruffy, my hair needed trimming, and the scar on my right eye seemed brighter that usual.

Looking to my hips a feeling of dread took over when I couldn't find my scalchops.

I let out a long groan.

Ray scratched his ear. "Well, like I said I'm just passing through town. You look like you could use a drink or something. There's probably a place in town."

Ryden kicked a piece of wood before turning to Ray. "That, sounds really good right now."

"So...What happened?"

Ray sat on the chair opposite to me, sipping away at a smoothie of some sort.

"Huh?"

"You were out cold on a beach. Maybe you were swimming and got carried by the current? Do you remember anything?..."

I sipped loudly from the smoothie. "I was exiled from my clan."

"Why?"

"It's a long story. So I'll shorten it. I didn't want to be leader, and the elder didn't like it, so he exiled me."

"Don't just shorten it."

Ryden laughed. " Alright."

"When a Dewott in my clan reaches a certain age-"

"I don't wanna hear that."

Ryden waved his arms wildly. "No- no. Let me finish. When a Dewott in my clan reaches a certain age, you're eligible for the 'Test.' It's a series of challenges to determine who inherited the clan's best genes. He or she, that is chosen, is most likely the next Alpha. It's honestly just back to back battles and the like."

He paused.

"I was chosen but I didn't want to be alpha. I was known throughout the clan as the trouble maker. I was always out after curfew exploring and whatnot... I expressed on many occasions that I hated being cooped up on that cove. So being there for the rest of my life as alpha was the last thing I wanted to do."

Ryden shook his empty glass, before drinking the last of it. "When the current alpha heard, he gave me two choices. To follow tradition, or be punished for disobedience. Which in my clan is a duel."

"Did you win?"

Ryden laughed. "I had the upper hand when it came to special attacks. But he specialized in close combat, and most of the fight was, close combat. When he won, he took my scalchops and I was given a week to recover, and leave."

He smiled. "Afterwards my family and friends saw me off. My mom gave me her old katana, and my dad taught me a technique that he came up with. And that was it."

"So how'd you end up on a beach?"

"My boat must've capsized or something. It's a little hazy to be honest."

He gave me a look of pity. "Must be hard."

Ryden shrugged. "I wanted to leave someday anyway."

He stared out the window, sighing a bit. "Not the way I wanted though... Anyways, enough of that. What's your story?"

Ray took out a small prism. He held it up, and it protected a globe. He spun it around, and tapped on an area called Dusk Mountain. It zoomed in showing a huge meadow with grey grass, which transitioned to caves, then a huge mountain.

"This is, well, was my home. I left a month ago, to track down my brother, who left a long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"Almost two years? I'm not sure, but it's around there."

"Why do you want to track him down after all this time?"

"Well, my Mom passed a few months ago. I never knew my father, so he's the only family I've got now."

Ryden scratched his head. "Do you have any idea where he went?"

Ray shrugged. "I think so. A couple months back I heard about a Raichu with a star like mark on his back. A birthmark my brother and I share. So I know he's out there."

"So how are you going to find him?"

"Well, I already have an explorers badge. So I can go anywhere I want. The only problem is most areas need a minimum of two members in a team until your a certain rank..."

"Where's your other team member?"

Ray smiled. "I don't have one, but I remember you saying you wanted to see the world, right?"

"I did say that, yes."

"Well, why don't you join me? We could find my brother, and you get to see the world along the way."

Ryden scratched his head. "Eh. Sure. I guess that's cool."

Ray ran to the other side of the table and hugged Ryden. "Thank you thank you thank you thank you Thank You!"

"Can't... Breathe..." Ryden wheezed.

He let go quickly, and patted down his fur. "Sorry. "

Ray smiled and handed Ryden a badge. "Take this badge, and pin it to your fur. It's your escape route, as well as a means of communication from afar."

Ryden flinched a bit as he pinned it to his fur.

"For now, we're technically registered as team PokePals, but we can change that if you want."

Ryden grimaced. "PokePals?"

"It's just a default name. "

"A bad one."

Ray rolder his eyes. "Let's try to get some distance, before setting up camp. We can book an inn at the town after that."

Ryden nodded getting off his chair, following Ray.