This is my first published fic in quite some time, and definitely the first posted to since the big purge of '08 or whenever it was I deleted all my old stuff. I got nostalgic for Sinnoh and I'm going to try and update this to cover all of the little adventure plot bunnies I had about obtaining new Pokemon, visiting game locations and interacting with the world in general, so expect this to be pretty self-indulgent. But hey, that's what OC trainer fics are for, right?

Agender trainer, they/them pronouns might feel a little awkward at first for some readers and while I get used to using them in prose. Nickname will probably be explained later. Just roll with it! :^)

Edit: now with 100% less HORRID FORMATTING what on earth was going on there I mean really

"Yeah, dad, I'll call when I hit Oreburgh later. Listen, I've got to finish getting ready, we're almost at the Lab…"

"Yeah, no worries, we'll speak to you later on. Your mother says be careful."

"I will. Love you. Bye."

Bug tapped a button on their old PokeGear and powered it down, sticking it in a side pocket of their bag along with a couple of extra PokeBalls.

Normally, a trainer preparing for their first foray into such a big journey would be far more excited, or perhaps nervous. Bug, however, was feeling fairly calm about the whole thing. Aged a full seventeen years old, they'd already been through the whole thing a few times before - once in Kanto, once in Johto, and a half-hearted stumble through Hoenn had left them feeling pretty accustomed to the Pokemon trainer life.

Still, it was national League rules that if a trainer chose to tackle the Elite Four outside of their home region, they had to start fresh - only new Pokemon they'd never trained before were permitted to be added to their team from start to finish. It was only fair to the local competition, after all, and it was good incentive for trainers to get to know some of the regional Pokemon.

Despite this, no one had said anything about the starter Pokemon being regional. It was trainer's pick, after all, and a lot of people considered this to be the most important choice in a trainer's life. Getting to make it all over again didn't lessen that impact any.

"Toto! Toto-to-todile!"

Bug grinned and bopped the little alligator Pokemon on its nose, shooing it away from their belongings scattered all over the back seats. "Yeah, I'm working on it! Keep your scales on, pal. I'll be done soon. What, you want to jump out of the taxi without snacks?"

Instantly the Totodile hopped backwards, and frantically waved its claws back and forth. "Toto!"

"That's what I thought. Paws off until I'm done. If you want to help…" Bug pulled a wad of paper from their shorts pocket, holding it out for the Totodile to grab. "Take this and make sure I don't put it in my bag. That's my passport, my documents, and everything I'll need to hand to Professor Rowan in about five minutes. Don't lose it. Okay?"

Eyes glittering at the prospect of being trusted with something so important, the Totodile gave a happy leap and dodged forwards to take the papers in its jaws, stepping back into place a moment later and giving an awkward salute with one stubby arm.

Bug smiled again, going back to shoving a stubbornly oversized sleeping bag into their backpack. "Good girl. You're gonna be a winner, I can tell. Psyched?"

"Brrgh!"

The taxi driver leaned back in his seat, giving a low whistle. "Heh, I was sorta worried about you starting all over. Y'know - Sinnoh ain't a cakewalk. But you seem pretty seasoned. He angled the mirror to take a quick look at the trainer in the back, winking when they looked up in surprise. "You sure you ain't breaking any rules with that Totodile? She seems pretty accustomed to you already."

Bug grinned nervously. "Yeah, she's new, I promise. But I'm glad you think so. I'm quite happy with her, and I'd like to think she is with me."

"You got that right. Y'know, my mom always said Pokemon could sense if their handler was competent."

"Whatevs. I'm just happy to be back in the game. I made kind of a lazy mess of it in Hoenn."

"New start?" the driver hazarded.

Bug nodded, managing to stuff a couple of chocolate bars in with the rest of their things. "You can say that again. Hoenn just didn't take to me, I suppose."

"Well, no better place than Sinnoh. Just make sure you wrap up warm. It's gonna be a long winter this year."

Half an hour and a rather bumpy country track later, Bug stepped out of the taxi and set foot into Sandgem Town, the Totodile standing on the top of their bag and expressing its excitement with happy little chomps of its jaws.

Once the driver had been paid and the taxi sped off the way it had come, Bug turned in a full circle, savouring the frosty air and trying to get a feel for the place.

There was only one real reason they'd started off in Sandgem, and they headed straight for it: the Laboratory building.

After a couple of knocks, an Aide let them into the warmth of the Pokemon Lab, and they began the process of filling out paperwork.

"I mean, I thought Rowan would oversee this, to be honest."

The Aide adjusted her glasses and nodded. "Normally. But he's away on business right now. I'm sorry if this makes it feel less special, but we are all in training - we know what we're doing."

"Oh, no! No, I didn't mean… I'm just used to the Professors giving their signatures, I guess. Sorry." Hurriedly, Bug scrawled their full name on the sheets, and slid them across the desk to the Aide.

She laughed, shaking her head, and began filling out the rest of the boxes. "No problem! But hey, if you want to meet him, take a look for him in Veilstone whenever you're passing through. He ends up there quite a lot." She glanced up. "Okay. Totodile, right? What level?"

"Five. No special moves. Female."

"She's cute. Where'd you get her?"

The Totodile looked away, snorting impishly. Bug smirked. "Actually, she's the daughter of a Johto starter. I didn't know the owner of the parent too well, but I got her father in a trade, and the egg hatched here in Sinnoh." Bug nudged the Pokemon forwards, encouraging her to make nice with the Professor's helper. "I spent a few months on a ranch just outside Floaroma while she hatched and grew up a bit, but it turns out she's just as eager to get going as I am."

The Aide offered a hand, which the little Totodile took suspiciously at first, turning it over and examining her palm. Then it shook it, enthused, and the Aide laughed.

"She's got quite the grip. I'm glad to see a Pokemon so enthusiastic."

Bug smiled sheepishly and stuck their hands in the pockets of their huge, puffy coat. Totodile snapped her jaws happily. "I may have told her a few stories. I'm not exactly a new trainer."

"Yes, I can see that from your paperwork. Just don't get too Tauros-headed. Sinnoh will be just as much of a challenge as your first time."

"Understood." Bug picked up the Totodile, turning it face-to-face and giving it a stern look. "You hear that too, right, Rexxie?" The Totodile blinked, unfazed, and stuck out its tongue.

An hour later, Bug was crouching in the grass on Route 202, one hand gently pressing down on Rexxie's head to keep her close to the floor, and the other digging in a bag pocket for a Pokeball.

"Stay still until I tell you, okay?" They were rewarded with a serious nod. "Okay. I want you to step out and Leer at it, then hit it with a Scratch. Don't knock it out, okay?"

Waiting for the Pokemon to nod again in understanding, Bug quickly lifted their hand from the Totodile's head. Raring to go, the little Pokemon leapt straight out of the grass and into action, giving a short call of attention.

The small, fluffy Pokemon that was being targeted raised its head lazily from its sprawled position on a rock, tail flicking uncertainly as it found itself being glared at with all the intensity a baby alligator could muster.

"Shi?" The Pokemon looked mildly unsettled, opting to hop to its feet and pose itself warily into a (clumsy-looking) defensive stance.

"Good! Now, go for it!"

"Dile!" The water-type dashed forwards, claws at the ready, and managed to strike the confused Shinx with a solid hit before it managed to shake off its surprise and rush in for a Tackle of its own.

It was at this point Bug tossed the Pokeball they'd been holding at the ready, and before its attack could make contact, the Shinx let out a cut-off cry as it was struck on the forehead by the Pokeball and disappeared into it in a flash of red light.

"Okay, now hold back! Don't approach until it-"

With a soft click and a familiar pinging sound, the Pokeball stopped shaking and went still.

Bug straightened up, feeling unusually excited about the capture, and found themselves unable to look away from the Pokeball, a slow grin spreading across their face.

"This is it, kiddo."

Rexxie turned to look back at her trainer, tilting her head questioningly. For her first battle, that had ended somewhat abruptly.

"This is what I've been chasing since Hoenn. I'm gonna do good here. I can feel it." Bug felt their excitement rise, both fists clenching hard and drawing close to their chest, and with an uncontrolled grin they let out a loud whoop of triumph, practically dancing forwards to scoop the Ball up off the ground. "This is it, buddy! You and me, we're gonna be marvellous!"

Sensing this was praise after all, the Totodile abruptly burst out into happy bouncing, joining her trainer in celebration. If that kind of a rush was normal, she was thrilled to be a part of it.

"Ha! Okay, let's get this newbie to a Pokemon Centre. I want him in top condition, stat!" Bug paused, glancing down at the Ball in their hand. "Stat. Like static. I kind of like that. What do you think?"

"Toto!"

R&R welcome. Let me know if there are any glaring errors. This one is short as openers go, but thanks for reading anyway!