Chapter 1- new arrivals

The Riolu was sitting in a tree over looking the valley, unaware of the trainer and his pokemon that were watching it.

"You use thunder wave to paralyze it, ok Draeka?"

The Dratini nodded as Adrian whispered his plan to her. When he was finished she looked up the tree again, the Riolu either didn't notice or didn't care that they were there.

"Now!"

The Riolu almost fell out of the tree by just hearing Adrian yell, the bolt of thunder that Dratini used secceeded in this and Riolu lost his grip on the branch. Before it could reach the ground however the Riolu was lost in a flash of red light and was replaced by a red and white ball. The button in the center ring of the ball pulsed a dull red while it shook a few times but eventually settled and stopped. Once it was finished Adrian picked up the pokeball and looked back to Draeka, "Do you think we should let him out now, or wait till tomorrow when he's recovered some?"

It might be better to wait, that was a rather sudden attack.

"Yeah, well we finally have someone else. Hopefully Riolu won't be angry, this being my first catch I don't know how a pokemon would react."

It wasn't that bad for me, although your dad didn't knock me out of a tree.

"True, well like I said; I hope he won't be angry."

We'll find out tomorrow then won't we? Draeka replied playfully

Adrian looked at his watch; almost seven o'clock. "We still have about an hour before the sun goes down, what else would you like to do?"

Maybe up to the springs, a swim sounds nice.

"We're in the mountains at the end of winter, I'd freeze."

You asked what I wanted to do, not what would happen to you while we do it. She replied laughing now.

The valley was at the southern most point of the spirit mountains, that occupied the north-western corner of the Tridea region. Adrians hometown was just at the opening to enter the valley. It was late winter and the snow was beginning to melt, most of it ran into artisian springs that were usually very comfortabl and warm but combined with the running water that was by far below freezing mad e the springs just as cold.

"I forgot, the dragons den in johto was in a mountain range so your probably used to the cold."

yes plus the water is so clean and fresh, it feels really good whether its warm or not. I just can't wait for summer when you said they get all hot and steamy. she said very excitedly.

"Yeah, then I'll get to relax with you, but right now I'd be lucky not to wind up an icicle."

At least one of us will get to enjoy herself. She said jokingly.

"Lucky you." Adrian replied now scooping the Dratini up in his arms. "Your getting heavy." He grunted as he struggled to balance himself.

well your almost fully grown for a human, I'm barely even six months old yet.

"Yeah and your still an incredible fighter."

Wow, knocking unsuspecting Riolu out of trees is incredible fighting? Now I can't wait for you to start your trip.

They both laughed as they continued up the trail towards one of the springs. It was lower down than the rest and adrian was hoping it wouldn't be as cold. There were several wild pokemon along the way but none of them had any appeal to Adrian, the Riolu he caught was a very rare pokemon, the mountains were rumored to house several packs of Lucario but there hadn't been many sightings. Because of that Adrian was very happy.

Before long the spring came into view, the deep pool of water was crystal clear and to Adrians delight had a waft of steam rising off the surface. This was as much a suprise for Adrian as it was for Draeka, she had been in the spring before but it was while the ice had frozen over it and was equally cold below the ice.

"Looks like you won't have to wait 'till summer." Adrian said with a smile, Draeka was giggling through their bond, apparantly she was very happy to see this. "Still want to swim?"

Yes! She answered him in a mocked anger.

Adrian set Draeka down on the springs edge and she happily crawled in. Adrian took his shoes off and soaked his feet in the water while he watched Draeka enjoy herself.

Almost an hour later the two had begun to climb back down the mountains before it got too dark and too cold, Draeka was very saisfied by her swim in the spring and was draped over Adrians shoulders as he carried her home. When they got into town the cut across the main road to get to their house, the light was getting dimmer all the while. When Adrians house came into view he was a little suprised to see a moving truck parked in front of the house at the end of the road, it had been up for sale for almost a year now.

Look new neighbors. Draeka commented happily.

"Maybe we'll greet them tomorrow." He replied.

That would be nice, and maybe they'll have pokemon too.

"Yeah that would be nice."

They finished up their conversation as they got to the front door, inside was much warmer than it had gotten outside. "Adrian?"

"Its me mom, you'll never guess what I caught up the valley."

"Tell me while we eat dinner ok."

I smell spaghetti! Draeka commented excitedly.

"You do? I can't smell anything."

And sure enough, after he took off his coat and shoes he walked into the kitchen where his mom already had the table set with two plates of spaghetti. Adrian was kind of suprised both by his mothers perfect timing and by Draeka's being able to tell what it was by smell. His mother was getting a pair of forks for them to eat with. His father was a trainer and was currently in he Johto region on his way to the indigo plateau. He had caught Draeka after beating Clair in Blackthorn city for his second to last badge and sent her to Adrian for a birthday present to get him ready for him to start his travelling.

"So something finally caught your interest?" His mother asked him.

"Yep, any ideas what it is?"

"Suprise me."

"Well you know how there are supposed to be Lucario deeper into the mountains?"

"mhm." She said nodding.

"Well I caught a Riolu."

"Really, that really is something." His mother replied as she sat down. "did you see someone had finally bought the Jeffersons house?"

"Yeah, me and Draeka were going to welcome them tomorrow." Adrian answered.

"Their going to be building a gym. Although when I told them that you were about to start your journey they wouldn't tell me what type preference they had. They do tag battles, I can tell you that much." She said chuckling to yourself. "They also have a daughter, about a year younger than you."

Adrian was suprised to know that there was going to be a gym in town, but was even more suprised to learn that they had a daughter. "Is she a trainer?"

"No, not yet anyway, they had moved here from sinnoh because the Tridea league gave them permission to build a gym here and because of the different varieties of pokemon that appear here."

"Oh, well I'll get to meet her and her parents tomorrow, maybe I'll figure out their type preference before I go." He said, still joking a little.

They stopped their conversatin there so they could eat. When they finished Adrian had to give Draeka a bath because she mad a mess of herself while eating off of his plate. He didn't mind it at all because she didn't like the pokemon food, he couldn't help but tease her about the tomato sauce cover her face though.

Sorry, I don't have hands like you do. she said laughing.

"Someday you will, of that I'm sure."

But until then I'm going to be sure to leave more spaghetti stains on your shoulder. She was laughing very hard now.

Once she was clean Adrian decided it was a good time to go to bed, his mother was already doing the same. Adrian crawled into his bed and lay flat on his back so Draeka could have her favorite spot curled up tightly on his chest.