There is a knocking on the door. I really don't feel like getting up and walking 5 feet. My bones are too old for this. "I'm coming!" I call out. I can feel every bone snap as I get to the front door, only 4 steps away from the couch. When I open the door I find a young - cute - boy standing there with a Houndoom next to him. I almost start to cry right there.

"Excuse me," said the boy (he only looked to be about 16), "I've come here to find Arianna Steinback." The Houndoom sat next to him.

"You've come to the right place. I'm Arianna Steinback. But just call me Ari alright?" I spoke. "What would you like?" I motion my arms around the room for him to pick a chair and sit down in the living room. The boy looks like he's gonna burst from happiness. He picks a chair across from me and the Houndoom lays at his feet.

"Scout and I wanted a story out of you," the boy said, motioning towards the Houndoom, "The name's Roy. I've heard many stories about you. People say you were one of the greatest trainers in the whole world, you-"

"Hey," I interjected, "I still am the greatest Pokemon trainer in the whole world. I haven't died yet… but I probably will soon. Age has been creeping up on me like a Persian stalking its prey."

"Aww! Don't say that! You're not gonna kick the bucket just yet," His eyes glimmered with amusement, "At least not until you tell me about your life."

"So you don't consider 86 to be old? I feel like a rusty bucket. But if a story is what you want, then a story is what you'll get," I give a slight cough, "It all started on a dark and stormy night… just kidding, that's too cliche."

"Before you start Ms… Ari, could you tell me why there's hardly anybody living on this island? I thought this place was supposed to be thriving. But there's only maybe 20 people left."

I snort. "That's because you younger kids are so obsessed with big cities and huge buildings, you've forgotten about the greatest thing- mother nature. So while everyone of the new generation of offspring has moved to Cianwood City or Cinnibar Island across the water, the rest of my generation is spending the rest of their days here on Mystery Island."

"Well, for the record, I like Mystery Island, and I would have gladly lived here in its heyday."

I smiled. Maybe this kid wasn't too bad after all. "Alright, let's start this story… but just so you know, you're probably getting more than you bargained for. My life story has a bunch of tragedy in it, so who knows, maybe both of us will shed some tears. Just be prepared for anything. Now, I'm going to start after the death of my mother, since that just brings back terrible memories. I think we'll start the day before my fourteenth birthday."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I woke up with a start. Today was almost the day. Almost the day of my fourteenth birthday. No more would I have to stay in Little Root Town. Now I could finally go out and see the world. It was my biggest dream to see every region. I felt movement to the left of me on the bed. I turned my head and woke up my Eevee. "C'mon Eevee, it's almost the big day!" I squealed. I started to giggle and hugged her.

"… Eeevvvee…?" Eevee yawned.

"C'MON TIME TO GET UP!" I half yelled and laughed. Eevee jumped out of bed and curled around my feet. "This is no time to sleep! We have to get to the lab!" Eevee finally fully woke up and we headed to the kitchen. On the way there I checked to see if my dad was still sleeping, but his bed was empty and I knew he was already at the lab. The note left on the kitchen table confirmed this.

"At the lab already sweetie. Happy day-before-your-birthday

day! Eat some breakfast and come see me, maybe we'll

finally find the perfect nickname for Eevee. I mean, it has been

7 years hasn't it? I love you my dear."

Love, Dad

I grinned and grabbed my cereal from the cabinet. Next to mine was Eevee's special food and I grabbed that too. I poured each of our breakfast into separate bowls and laid them on the table. My dad had made a special chair just for Eevee and she jumped on it and ate her food. I poured some water for her and myself and we finished our breakfast in silence while the radio played some alternative music. My dad and I liked that kind of stuff. Guitars with nice riffs. It was pleasing to my ears. When Eevee was all done I grasped the bowls and left them in the sink. I turned off the radio and I went to get changed into a light blue t-shirt and black skinny jeans.

Now I know what all of you have been wondering from the start: Why am I still home when I'm waayyyy over ten? It's because Professor Birch and my dad needed me to stay and help them with chores at the lab. And plus my dad is over protective since my mom died from an illness almost nine years ago. So I guess he has good intentions.

As Eevee and I walked to the lab, the usual neighbors said "hi" and "hello" to us as they went to Oldale Town. They were so lucky. My dad hardly ever let me go to Oldale Town, only when he needed to go himself, and that wasn't very often.

The lab was a nice, cool atmosphere and Eevee and I quickly walked to the back of the lab. There I found Professor Birch and my dad tangling with a treeko and trying to get it back into its pokeball.

"Here, let me try." I said, prying the Professor's and Dad's arms off of the poor Pokemon. My dad gave me the pokeball and I walked slowly to the cowering treeko.

"It's okay Treeko. I'm sorry the Professor and my dad are meanies, but we just want you to go into the pokeball, that's all." I whispered. The treeko looked up and stared into my eyes, trying to judge if I were good or bad. I saw what looked like its head nodding and I returned it to the pokeball.

"Now that's how you do it ladies," I laughed, smirking. My dad grinned and gave me a hug.

"Good morning honey."

"Good morning Dad."

"Good morning Ari."

"Good morning Professor Birch."

"So," the Professor went on, "How does it feel to be almost fourteen?"

"It feels so great, and I can't wait to get out of this tinier than a diglett town." I exclaimed.

"And I see Eevee is doing well. Have you really not come up with a good nickname?" The Professor asked.

"Nope, I guess the time just isn't right."

"But you've had plenty of time… In fact you've had seven years' worth of time to nickname Eevee." he chuckled. I didn't find this funny. It's just that no name seemed good enough for Eevee. Ever since I got her for my seventh birthday, I just couldn't come up with a name. There seriously must be something wrong with me.

"Anyway, because I'll probably be out researching most of the day tomorrow, I thought I'd give you your present now." Birch announced. Now this was a nice surprise. A present before it's even my birthday! So far I was starting to like this day.

"Now," Birch started, "You have 3 choices and you can only pick one, okay?"

"Why? I'd like to have all three."

"Well you can only have one so deal with it. The first choice is the power of the sea, being able to wield the water and ocean at your finger tips. The second choice is electricity, being able to zap enemies like lightning, making everyone's hair stand on end. Or you could even choose fire, being able to start something raging, for fire is the strongest of them all."

Well this was a hard choice. Water, electricity, or fire? All seemed like a great choice. I didn't know where Professor Birch was going with this little Q&A, but I wanted to quickly make a decision. I needed an opinion, especially if she was coming with me on my journey.

"So Eevee, which choice do you think I should pick? Water, electricity, or fire? They all seem great so I need your help. Say your name once if I should choose water, twice for electricity, and say your name three times if I should pick fire." I explained. Eevee looked up at me expectantly, well really she seemed like she was thinking.

"Eevee….. Eevee.." So it looked like we were picking electricity. "Eevee." Oh well, then.

"Professor Birch, the Eevee has spoken, we'll choose fire." I said. Birch smiled and reached into his pocket. So what the heck was this guy gonna give me? He pulled out a red rock, and what looked like flames in it.

"This, Ari, is a fire stone," Birch told me, "This stone can evolve certain Pokemon, including your Eevee."

"My Eevee?"

"Yes, you can evolve her into a Flareon." A Flareon huh? That sounded pretty cool, but I've never actually seen one. But people say they're pretty strong.

"Will Eevee still be nice? I've heard of trainers saying a Pokemon's attitude can change if it evolves…"

"I swear," Birch concluded, "Eevee will still be as sweet as always, but you don't have to use the stone on her." I looked at Eevee and she gave me a happy look back. I knelt down next to her. "Do you want to be a Flareon?" Eevee looked up at me with expectant eyes. Then I saw what almost looked like a nod of some sort.

"Alrighty then, Eevee, you'll become a Flareon." I took one last look at the stone and Eevee, then held out the stone. Eevee touched noses with it and there was a bright flash of white then red. I had to shield my eyes from the harshness of the glow, and when it went away it was hotter in the room. I looked down at Eevee, but Eevee didn't seem to be Eevee anymore.

In her place, there was a taller, goldenish-tannish creature that looked a lot fluffier than Eevee was. There were sparkles falling all around her, Eevee - Flareon now - looked breathtaking. This girl's got some serious style.

"Well Flareon's sure got some… flare." I mumbled. And that's when it hit me.

Literally. Flareon rolled on top of me and licked my face, only she was searing hot.

"OWWWWW!" I screamed. "FLARE STOP IT!" Flareon immediately got off of me. Birch and my dad were just staring.

"What are you guys looking at? I just gave her nickname, geez…" I looked down at Flare. There was amusement and apology in her eyes. I broke out into a fit of laughter. Flare joined in with me, realizing the joke.

"Huh, I told ya," Birch stated, "I knew Flare's love for you was too strong for her to change her personality. But you do need to watch out for that heat. It seems Flare hasn't learned how to control it. Let me take her back to the examination room for a bit… And now that I'm actually getting a good look at Flare… Howard, do you think Flare is shorter than the average Flareon?" I nodded and looked back at Flare. She seemed normal to me. Maybe she was just a runt. But I didn't care, she was so perfect.

"I think you're right Birch," My dad answered, following him to the examination room, "Flareons are supposed to be two feet and eleven inches, but this one looks to be only two feet tall…." The two guys walked down the hall in the very back of the lab, past all of the enclosures with starter Pokemon in them, and went into the examination room. I sighed, sauntering into the room behind them. While passing the enclosures I looked at all of the different Pokemon newbie trainers could choose from- a Treeko, Mudkip, or Torchic. All three of these Pokemon were cool, but my heart was with Flare. For my seventh birthday my dad had rescued an Eevee in the wilderness and gave her to me. Eevee had been like a best friend to me, and I'd almost stretch that as far as her being almost like another mother to me, since at that time I was still missing my real one. Now Flare and I could go anywhere tomorrow, and now that she was stronger, we were going to knock some people's socks off, she and I were going to do great things!