Disclaimer i don't own pokemon. i made this for fun

Jackson Kingsley trudged through the waist deep snow on route 217. He was wearing a blue and black coat that he luckily changed from a light coat back in Celestic town. Jackson also had a white ascot and traded his normal hat for a much more appropriate toque. He also had on a pair of snow pants and finished of his winter outfit with a pair of nice warm boots.

Unfortunately the boots were anything but warm as the waist deep snow had decided it liked the snug inside of Jackson's footwear and then promptly melted inside them. Alas Jackson trudged on. He needed to get to Snowpoint City to challenge the gym there to get his 7th Sinnoh League badge.

"Whose bright idea was it to put a city way up here in the far north?" Jackson mumbled to himself.

"Just be glad you're trudging through the snow and not climbing up Stark Mountain" A voice behind Jackson replied.

Jackson turned around quickly. Struggling behind Jackson was another Pokémon trainer like Jackson. He was of similar height and build. His eyes were brown unlike Jason's blue ones. He also had on winter clothing but his coat was a bright red and white. Everything he owned was in much better shape then Jackson's.

"Who are you?" Jackson asked.

"I ask you the same question" The trainer replied

"Uh… I'm Jackson Kingsley from Solaceon Town" Jackson answered, "Who are you?"

"Thee name is Liam Backlot, I am son of thee Mr. Backlot who owns the Pokémon mansion."

"Wait What?"

Liam snickered. "What you bought that crap, you really are that stupid. The name is Liam Flanagan, and I'm from Jubilife."

Jackson spun back around. He couldn't be bothered to deal with someone like Liam, as he wanted to get to Snowpoint before it got too dark.

"Normally I would challenge a fellow trainer like yourself to a battle but I also need to get to Snowpoint like you." Liam yelled from behind Jackson.

Jackson spin around quickly "Wait how did you know that?"

"Come on Jacky-"

"Don't call me that."

"You clearly don't look like a local because you're not even walking the fastest route right now" Liam noted.

"Wait what?" Jackson said "Can you just leave me alone why are you picking on me"

"Look my bad Jacky but I can tell you need some help correct?"

"Help with what?"

"I don't know that's why I've asked you"

Jackson turned away and continued moving slowly through the snow. He grasped a pokeball from his belt. Inside was his Roserade. He was going to fight Liam if he tried to talk to him one more time.

Yet Liam continued to walk behind Jackson much to his displeasure. He keep muttering to himself that if they walked a bit to the right they would get there quicker.

"Ok Jacky-"

"That does it go Roserade" Jackson yelled.

Roserade burst out of the pokeball and yelled its name out into the blizzard.

"Whoa Jackson calm down ok I don't want to fight right now" Liam pleaded

"You've left me no choice" Jackson steamed "I told you to stop following me and annoying me and I've had it"

Liam sighed. Jackson noticed and immediately returned his Roserade.

"Look Jackson the reason I keep on annoying you is that I was just dropped by my 'friends'" Liam put the last word in air quotes.

"Oh really man that's a shame" Jackson said.

"Yeah they didn't want to be friends with a Pokémon trainer after on of my buddies was mauled by a wild Luxray"

"And they hate Pokémon?"

"Look Jackson I don't know what life is like over in Solaceon town but most people in Sinnoh don't really like Pokémon that much"

It was true. The people of Sinnoh would not rather have their children become Pokémon trainers. It was a very demanding life style that required a lot of work and money was hard to earn. The minimum age was technically 10 but most didn't start until they were 15 or 16. Most parents wanted their child to go to public schools run by the Sinnoh Government that also owned the Sinnoh League. The Sinnoh league didn't make it any easier as they needed to keep a revenue stream and so they charged every Pokémon trainer a fee every year to keep their official league license which allowed trainers to use Pokémon centres for free, get discounts at pokemarts and most importantly battle fellow trainers and challenge gym leaders. Turnover was high as most kids dropped out after they turned 18 or 19 if they hadn't made serious money. Which was common because gym only gave out so much for winning and the league tournament every 6 months wouldn't give a lot of money unless you placed well.

Jackson also hated the trainers who were considered prodigies. They were given a rare Pokémon by professor Rowan and were given a scholarship that the league paid for almost all of their food. They were also forced to participate the league to battle in the bi annual tournaments. But most of them ended up getting busted by the police for drug abuse problems or rape accusations.

Luckily Jackson's father had been a pokemon trainer for 3 years and he allowed Jackson to become one and drop out of school.