A girl walked down a path in the near dark. She wore torn jeans and a shirt so faded it was grey instead of it's usual blue. The girl had long shabby hair pulled into a ponytail that went to her mid back and her sharp hazel eyes looked around for pokemon. Her name was Ariana and she is the main character of this story.

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I sighed tiridly as I walked down the dark path of Route 1, towards Pallet Town. Heading towards my house, where my parents and i lived in the far outskirts of town, and no one came by because everyone knew my parents were rough drunks.

They would usually take their drunken frustrations out on their daughter but without any proof they were doing something illegal, the other people of Pallet Town just pretended they, and their daughter didn't exist. And Ariana was warned that if she ever did tell, they would make sure could never speak again.

I looked up at the stars and thought about today.

*Mom smacked me as I handed her what I had made the other day and she spat at my feet, counting it, "This will hardly buy anything, go get more."

I fought with my temper and turned and walked out the door to head to my second job, cleaning up Proffesor Oak's lab, and helping with the was by far my favorite job, and I could be around pokemon that didn't help my parents smack me around. *

My father had a Scyther, and would make it chase me if I made him mad. I was terrified of it's claws and would almost run at the very sight of it.

My mother had an Ariados, that would slam into me and tie me up if I tried to run from my mother. I got chills just thinking about the bug type pokemon.

But today, after I got done with my first job, where I had to walk through the dangerous tall grass on Route one to get to it in Viridian City, was a job as a garbage girl in a resurant.

But one of the waiters had not gotten the hint to leave me alone and I had given him a black eye, and thus was fired. Now I had what I had earned and now had to go home and listen to the music.

I sighed again and froze when I saw a figure in the moonlight kick something small on the ground. The person snarled, "Worthless!" He kicked it again and it whimpered. I gasped and thought fearfully, "A pokemon!"

I ran up to him and yelled, "Hey! Leave it alone!" The man turned, a scruffy guy with ratty hair. He growled, picking up the pokemon by it's scruff and I saw it was a small Growlithe! He snarled, "Mind your own buisness girl! I'm getting rid of this piece of trash!"

I said angrily, "You have no right treating pokemon like that! So, I'll." I felt the money in my pocket and said quietly, thinking quickly, "I'll buy it from you, how much?" The man stared and I saw the Growlithe look at me before closing it's eyes in pain and the man gave a snort and said, "50 bucks!"

I flinched enternally, I had only made $60 at the restaurant. But I grit my teeth and pull out the bills and the man returned the pokemon into a pokeball and we traded and he laughed, "Nice doing buisness with you." He stalked off and I looked down at the pokeball in my hand in wonderment, and a bit of exitement. Then I grew serious and I bolted down the path, hoping Professor Oak was still awake.

I raced as fast as I could and ignored the pain of my bruised back and stomach from my previous beatings and skidded to a stop in front of the lab, only a small light was on. I pounded on the door and said urgently, "Professor Oak, please open up!" I looked down at the pokeball worriedly, feeling myself growing more urgent and worried by the second.

I jumped when the door opened to a angry and tired looking Professor. He looked me up and down and yawned, "Ariana, you don't come till tomorrow." I interuppted and babbled urgently, "I'm sorry sir, but I bought a pokemon that was being abused by it's trainer! So I bought it with money I shouldn't have and it's badly hurt and please help it!"

He suddenly became serious, and ushered me inside and he turned on the lights and led me to where I knew he helped injuried pokemon, since I helped him with them. I held up my pokeball as he gathered potions and supplies and said, "Alright, lets have a look."

I nodded and held up the ball and said nerviously, "Growlithe, I choose you." Oaks eyes widened as the pokemon emerged on the table, now in the light I could see it's fur matted with dried blood and dirt. He snarled as it eyed us and Oak let out his breath and said, "Oh dear, it's beaten pretty badly. You better step back Ariana, he must not trust anyone anymore."

I looked down at the puppy pokemon sadly as I saw it's eyes glare at us with smoldering anger, fear and pain. I knew those eyes only too well. They were the same eyes I had.

Proffesor Oak talked gently to it and tried to get it to let him treat it. But the pokemon lunged and bit at him, then shrank back in fear. I bit my lip as it held up it's hurt paw and snarled again. I straightened in determination and slowly went up to the table and said gently, "Growlithe, I know you've been hurt in the past."

It spun on me and I looked at him sadly, feeling his pain as if it were my own, "I know you feel like you can't trust or love anyone ever again. But I swear to you Growlithe, I will never hurt you. We just want to help."

It was looking at me with the same eyes, but I saw a hint of uncertainty and I found the courage to slowly hold out my hand. The uncertainty vanished and it lunged and clamped down onto my hand. I froze as Oak gasped, "Ariana!"

I stared at the pokemon and said gently, "It's alright Growlithe, your safe now. It's alright." I thought to myself, "It's teeth are sharp! But stay calm, I can do this." I kept repeating myself, as it's grip loosened and then it let go, seeing that I wasn't going to hurt him and licked my hand in apology. I couldn't help the smile that broke across my face and I gently pet the Growlithe and said, "Now will you let us treat you?"

It sighed in defeat and I giggled and motioned for Oak to come over and I helped him as we worked to treat every injury. As I gently wrapped its paw it licked my cheek in thanks and I smiled and kissed his nose, "Your Welcome sweety." I couldn't believe how much i loved this little guy, even though we had only just met.

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Professor Oak had gone to get another potion and smiled at the sight in front of him, for he hadn't seen the girl so happy with a pokemon, even the one's here. She was practically glowing with joy. "She'd make a great trainer someday. And she'd do well to go on a journey."

Then he frowned as he thought about her parents, "Though getting her parents to agree is a whole different story." He looked at the girl sadly and let out a sigh before bringing the potion.

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I looked up as Oak came up and I asked sadly, "Um, can you take care of him tonight, if I don't get home." I left the sentence hanging and Oak gave a snort that made me stare at him as he said, "I'll call them and they'll live if I'm having you work here for extra cash." I stared some more and said worriedly, "But, um." He handed me the potion and said, "You worked hard tonight and that deserves something. I think your parents will understand.."

I couldn't help the snort that came out and he chuckled and said, "Besides, your Growlithe isn't letting you out of his sight." I looked at my pokemon, and I smiled, "My pokemon, I like the sound of that." And Growlithe barked happily and I used the potion with a chuckle.

Then I suddenly realized what my parents would do if they found out and and turned to the Professor fearfully and said urgently, "Um, please don't tell them about Growlithe! They'd be really mad! And they'd make me get rid of him, and I'd sooner jump off a cliff and!"

Professor Oak held up his hand and I stopped and he looked at me sadly and smiled, "I'll be sure to keep it our little secret. And I'll be sure to mention your working over time tomorrow." I smiled thanks to him and he pointed down a hall and said, "You know where I keep the guest room, you and Growlithe can use it tonight."

I smiled big and gently picked him up and he sighed tiridly and I giggled as I carried him to the room, and set him gently on the bed and lied next to him and he snuggled as close as possible and I gently put a hand on him as we both sighed and slept.

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Oak sighed tiridly, rubbing his head in worry and picked up the phone and dialed. As it was answered on the 7th ring he automatically held it away from his ear as a male voice screamed, "WHAT?" Oak siad calmly, "Hello Dirk, Professor Oak here. I'm having you daughter work over night and overtime tomorrow. Is that alright?"

He held the phone away as the man yelled, "GOOD! YOU WORK THAT GIRL TO THE BONE IF YOU HAVE TO! IF YOU CAN GET ANY WORK OUT OF HER! SHE'S A LAZY LITTLE.."

Oak said hurriedly, "Right, thanks Dirk." He hung up and rubbed his forehead and headed out the door, locking the lab as he went and thought, "Poor child, maybe there's something I can do for her." Idea's raced through his head as he walked to his house, smiling as a great idea began to form.

So what did you think? Plz R&R, i want to know what you think.