The slamming of the door made some birds fly from their nest, startled. Nick stormed down the garden path and followed the dusty road past the quaint houses of Twinleaf Town and through the trees surrounding his pleasant home. Mom and Dad had been fighting again… he was beginning to get tired of it.

Lake Verity had always been a good place to escape to and relax. He seemed to be depending on it more and more these days. A summer breeze danced through the woods as he focused on the sunset ahead, the water glistening as if diamonds floated on its surface. Strange creatures lived in these surroundings; different from normal animals, and dangerous if not handled properly. They had never interested him though, and so he ignored the frequent rustling in the bushes and treetops, ignoring the sense that something was watching him. As he approached the shore, the setting sun was in full glory on the sea's horizon. Perching himself on his favourite rock, he began to think. There was really nothing to think about, but enjoying the silence of the secluded, lush getaway would suffice.

Time passed as the sky burned a fiery crimson, marred by the clouds which heralded nightfall. Nick was feeling better now; coming here always helped to ease his mind and things at home would undoubtedly be calmer by the time he strolled back. The wind had picked up, and he had pulled a hat over his shaggy brown hair, absent-mindedly picking up stones from the moist sand and throwing them, watching them bounce across the waves. His record for the furthest distance a stone had skimmed was almost half way to an island in the centre of the lake, and he had become determined to beat this soon. Picking up another smooth but large stone, he sent it flying and watched it closely. A few metres from the shore, it suddenly sank. In a moment, something colossal, something frightening, emerged from the depths; Nick, terrified, stood to run, but instantly tripped and fell backwards over the rock, his eyes meeting those of the dragon-like beast that was now moving towards him. Its mouth hung open showing two glistening fangs, water crashing around its long, red-scaled, serpentine mass. Nick's heart raced, pounding as though trying to break free from his body as he tried to overcome his fear and make haste. But it was impossible. As it drew closer, it let out a thunderous roar and lunged at him, and he closed his eyes and raised his hands. From the safety of under his eyelids, he heard small footsteps race in front of him, then a crackling sound, and then the beast cry in a much less intimidating manner. The water splashed once more, then there was silence. When he dared to look again, foam slithered across the water where the monster had been – it was nowhere to be seen now. Breathing heavily, Nick observed the water, expecting it to pop out again any second. But the seconds passed, and it appeared that it had gone. His heart leaped again as his scared silence was interrupted by a loud 'ELEKID!'

Looking to his right, he tried to scurry backwards on his hands and feet to get away from the strange yellow thing that had just made its presence known. It was rotund, with two antennae-like points protruding from its head. Black markings were woven through its buttercup fur, reminiscent of a lightning bolt, and powerful-looking, claw-tipped arms swung from its sides. It grinned at Nick:

'Elekid!'

'W-What?' he forced back.

'Elekid, El!'

The creature ran around to his other side, where it giggled and waved its hands in the air with apparent glee. Nick, feeling less panicky now, stared at it.

'You're a… Pokémon?' he asked.

'Elekid!'

'And that other thing, it was one too?'

'Elekid, Elekid!'

Elekid – at least that's what its name seemed to be – directed its hands to the space above the water and in an instant let a bolt of electricity out of its body towards where Nick's assailant had towered over him. Initially taken aback by what this little Pokémon had just done, he soon realised what it meant by this gesture.

'You got rid of it!'

Elekid beamed.

'T-Thank you!' laughed Nick.

There was silence when he realised that he did not have much else to say to a thing that couldn't even talk back. He continued to smile at it, and with a glance at the sun that was now almost out of sight, got back onto his feet.

'Well, I… have to go. Um… thanks again.'

'Elekid!' it replied. It did not move, so Nick began to walk away, but maintaining eye contact; as nice as it may have seemed, he was still not completely fond of these characters he knew as Pokémon, and did not want to give it the opportunity to attack him from behind. It did not, however, and hopped into the bushes as Nick reached the path home.

He reached the front door just as the moon began to rise in the sky. He opened it slowly and stepped inside as quietly as he could. Walking into the dimly-lit kitchen, he found his father sitting at the dining table, looking over some sheets and forms.

'Hi, Nick.' was the greeting from a stern voice.

'Hi, Dad.' was the answer from a wary son.

'Where have you been?'

'Oh, just out… I went to Lake Verity.'

'I see.' said Mr. Azalea, sipping throatily at his tea.

'I heard you and Mom arguing,' fired Nick. His father made no response, not looking up from his paperwork, 'Again.'

The man took off his reading glasses and ran his hand through his short, greying hair.

'I'm sorry, Son,' he sighed, 'Things are just… difficult. You know how tight money is.'

'Yeah…' confirmed Nick, solemnly. Was it just about money anymore?

'Don't you worry about it.'

'I won't.' It was hard not to.

As Nick lay awake in bed, images of the huge, vicious monster from the water and the small, friendly one who had saved him ran through his mind. He knew that Pokémon could be kept as pets, and that some people used them for help or made them fight each other. This sounded brutal and cruel, but a curiosity had been sparked inside him. He would not be opposed to meeting a Pokémon again – especially the one called Elekid. Rolling onto his side, he was claimed by sleep, as the birds returned to their nest outside.