"Do you know Rob?"

You spot a girl, red hair, face shaped like a heart. Stylish silver coat.

"Never met him in my life," you answer smiling. Ahead of you two Rob is under the spotlight, there's cheering. It's a local stadium; lively though.

"He's weak really. You'll see."

You don't respond.

"I'm Sam. After our fight we'll be travelling together, so I hope you're ready."

You desperately wish Sam would back off, leave, go away. You shrug and turn slightly. You see Sam watching Rob walking over. You'd only just met your camp mates, and already there was tension.


Nobody talked at first. Just sneakers beating pavement, three kids walking across the plains.

The weather didn't help. Wind whistled from the coast and you occasionally were spritzed by a shock of grey rain. A low siren blared as Olivine's trademark worked.

Rob's Oddish was out of its ball, resting in a pot of dirt he carried. Like it was nothing. Arms like cables.

"My Voltorb can't be out, but what's yours?" Sam asks during a break from the clouds.

Your Growlithe wouldn't appreciate this weather, of course.

It's a few minutes later you realize you didn't answer her. Damn.


"Hey, where'd you put my phone, Sam?" Rob's brown mophead ducked into the tent. A handbook flies past you at him. 101 Edible Johto Plants smacks his cheek spine-first.

"I didn't touch your gadget, dingus."

"There was no need to throw a book at me!" Said handbook sits forgotten on the lumpy floor.

Sam laughs meanly. "Hurt your poor little nose?"

You turn another page in your magazine. There was an article about common mutations seen in domesticated Tropius bananas.

Rob's head disappeared. Sam chuckled, the same way she did when Rob was scared by a Spinerak the other day.