Adventures in Hoenn
Chapter One: A Special Gift
*Alex's p.o.v*
I was lying on my bed in my upstairs room reading the latest issue of Pokémon Weekly when my parents came in.
''Hey sweetheart,'' my dad said lovingly.
''Hey,'' I replied looking up from my magazine.
''Your mother and I have a wonderful surprise for you,'' my dad said.
''What is it?'' I asked intrigued. My dad reached into his pocket and pulled out a ticket.
''Tada!'' he said. ''It's a cruise ticket for you.''
''Really?!'' I asked snatching the ticket from his hand. ''Where's it going?''
''The Hoenn region,'' my mother said. ''That's just apart of the surprise. You're father and I are sending you on your first Pokémon journey in the Hoenn region!''
''Hoenn?'' I asked.
''Yes,'' dad replied. ''Professor Birch is expecting you in two weeks. We figured that it'd be a good experience for you rather than you staying home all summer doing nothing.''
''What am I going to do there?'' I asked worried. ''I'll be away from my friends!''
''There are Gyms in the Hoenn region,'' dad said. ''You can challenge the eight Gym Leaders and become the Hoenn Champion! You may even learn some important skills and lessons! Won't that make a fun story for the grandchildren?''
''You'll have fun, sweetie,'' my mom said stroking my spiky, black hair. ''I promise. Good night.'' My mom kissed my forehead and my dad rubbed my hair.
''G'night, future Hoenn Champ!'' he winked. I wonder what Hoenn is going to be like, I thought getting under the covers. What Pokemon will I get? I then drifted off to sleep.
*Anthony's p.o.v*
The day for Alexandra's journey has come. Larraine and I were there to see her off. I was both excited and worried for her. ''Be sure to call us when you get the chance,'' I said to Alexandra. ''Don't eat any strange plants in the forest, make sure you're packed with all you need, don't talk to strange boys, and-''
''Dear,'' Larraine said mildly annoyed. ''Alex knows how to care for herself. Don't worry so much. She's fifteen after all.''
''You're right,'' I sighed. ''I just can't believe that my little girl is growing up so fast. She'll be in a new land with Pokémon we haven't seen before! Most of all Alex have fun and make good friends!'' I hugged her and she kissed me. Larraine did likewise.
''Good-bye, mom and dad!'' she called out climbing up the ramp to the boat. ''I'll call you tonight!''
''Take care, sweetie!'' Larraine called back.
''We love you!'' I yelled before she disappeared. The boat then departed. She'll be okay, I thought. She's a strong and intelligent girl.
*Alex's p.o.v*
The sea was a gorgeous sight. It glittered in the sunlight. Small seagull-like Pokémon rode the wind.
''Wingull!'' the cried as they flew by. They were pretty cute as the chattered amongst each other. Hours passed.
''Attention ladies and gentlemen,'' the captain announced over the intercom, ''we are now arriving in Hoenn.'' I ran to the front of the boat excitedly. I bumped into a person in a red cloak.
''Watch where you're going, miss,'' the man snapped.
''Sorry,'' I said timidly. I quickly forgot about the man when I saw the docking port and Hoenn. ''Here I come, Hoenn,'' I said to myself. ''Hope you're ready to meet your new Pokémon Champion!'' I got off the boat and found myself in a cute little town called Littleroot Town. ''Not much of a town,'' I said to myself while walking through town. ''It's just a few houses.'' I then noticed a moving truck coming down the road. It stopped itself outside of one of the houses. A boy about my age came out of the back of the truck. He had a white cap on his head which had a Pokeball insignia on it, a red-and-black shirt, black-and-yellow, somewhat baggy pants, blue-and-yellow gloves, blue eyes, and red-and-black sneakers. ''Kinda dangerous to ride in the back of a moving truck, don't you think?'' I asked him as I walked up to him.
*Brendan's p.o.v*
I turned my head as I heard a girl speaking to me as I got out of the moving truck. She had spiky, black hair and blue eyes. From her shirt's collar, she had a pair of black sunglasses dangling. Her shirt was black with yellow stripes to accompany her black shorts (which were held up by a brown, leather belt with clips on it for Pokeballs) and white-and-black sneakers. On her hands, her yellow-and-black gloves shone. I just stared into her eyes. Their beautiful color made my heart beat a little faster.
''Is something wrong?'' she asked impatiently with her hands on her hips.
''Oh no,'' I said snapping out of my daze. ''I'm okay. I'm Brendan! As you can see, I just moved here from Celadon City in Kanto.''
''Oh, I'm from Kanto, too!'' the girl said happily. ''I don't live here though. I came from Vermillion City to go on a quest to defeat the eight Gym Leaders here.''
''My dad is a Gym Leader!'' I said quickly. ''He's Norman of Petalburg Gym. His specialty is Normal-type Pokémon.''
''My mom is a Gym Leader, too!'' Alex replied excitedly. ''She's Larraine of Vermillion City. She took over the Gym for my Grandpa, Lt. Surge. She uses Electric-types.'' Looks like we already have a lot in common, I thought smiling.
''We'll make a great couple,'' I said thinking out loud.
''What?'' Alex asked.
''I-I mean as in a great couple of Pokémon Trainers,'' I said laughing nervously. Alex just looked at me quizzically. ''I'm hoping to be the Hoenn League Champ one day!''
''Well, looks like you have yourself a rival,'' Alex said crossing her arms smiling. ''Good luck to both of us!'' she said shaking my hand. Your hands are so soft, I thought dreamily as my heartbeat picked up in pace.
''Brendan!'' my mother called. ''Come help me with unpacking before you go on your journey!''
''Okay, mom!'' I called back. ''I'll see you later,'' I said. She's so cute! I thought to myself.
*Alex's p.o.v*
What a strange kid, I thought. I then walked off to look for Professor Birch. ''Excuse me, sir?'' I asked a man. ''Where's Professor Birch?''
''He's out doing a field study on Pokémon habitats on Route 101 with his daughter and assistant, May,'' the man said. ''He's famous for getting out in the field to do his Pokémon-related studies y'know.''
''Thanks!'' I replied as I walked towards the route. As I got near the forest on the route, I heard a man and a girl scream. Instinctively, I ran towards the sound. I saw, up in a tree, a man in his mid-thirties and a girl trapped in a tree by a pair of black hyena-like Pokémon and two men in red.
''We'll be takin' your Pokémon now, Prof,'' one man said.
''They'll really help Maxie in his quest for world domination!'' the other said.
''I don't know who you men are, but you can't take those Pokémon!'' the Professor said.
''Yeah, they're meant for trainers!'' the girl snapped. ''Not you crooks!''
''Aw, shaddap, you brat!'' a man said to the girl. ''They'll be put to good use! Don't worry!'' I needed to figure out what to do and fast before those criminals got away with the Pokémon. I picked up a rock and flung it at the man holding the briefcase. The impact caused him to drop the briefcase which opened up upon impact with the ground causing two Pokeballs to come flying out. I quickly grabbed them.
''Another one?!'' the man asked referring to me.
''Yeah,'' I said. ''I guess no one ever taught you to not go stealing other people's stuff. I guess I'll have to teach you!''
''Poochyena, attack!'' the man commanded. The Poochyena came rushing at me preparing to bite me. I randomly picked a Pokeball and tossed it. The ball opened up revealing a small, blue fish-like Pokémon.
''Mudkip!'' the Pokémon said before getting bit by the Poochyena.
''Mudkip, Tackle Poochyena!'' I commanded. Mudkip rammed into Poochyena knocking into a tree and knocking it out.
''I still got my Poochyena,'' the other man said. His Poochyena charged at Mudkip before being intercepted by an orange-and-yellow bird Pokémon. The man and girl climbed down from the tree and we stared down the red man.
''Retreat! Retreat!'' the men said calling back their Pokémon and running off.
''Get back here!'' I yelled. But it was too late. They disappeared. ''Drat,'' I said to myself.
''That was some impressive battling, miss,'' the man said coming up to me. ''What's your name?''
''Alexandra,'' I replied.
''Oh, you're that girl from Kanto that was coming today!'' the man said. ''I'm Professor Birch and this is my daughter, May.''
''Nice to meet you,'' May said shaking my hand.
''You too,'' I replied.
''Let's go back to my lab,'' Professor Birch said walking back to town.
''You did well, Mudkip,'' I said to Mudkip. ''Thanks.''
''No problem,'' Medkip said in a high voice. My heart practically stopped.
''D-d-did you just talk back to me?!'' I asked shaking.
''You can understand me?'' Mudkip asked shocked. How is this happening?! I thought trembling.
''Alex, what's wrong?'' Professor Birch called.
''N-nothing!' I called back. Mudkip and I proceeded to follow the Professor back to town. What's happening to me? I thought.
*May's p.o.v*
We arrived at my dad's lab. We saw a boy out in front of the lab.
''Who're you?'' my dad asked.
''I'm Brendan,'' the boy replied. ''I want to be a Pokémon Trainer and become the Pokémon Champion of Hoenn. I came to ask you about getting a Pokémon.''
''Sure,'' my dad said. ''I have one Pokémon left that you can have.'' We went into the lab where people were conducting research at many computers and machines. This guy's cute, I thought.
''Hey Alex,'' the boy said to Alex. ''You got your Pokémon already?''
''Yeah,'' Alex replied. ''This is Mudkip.'' Mudkip chirped obviously saying ''Hello''. Steal his attention away from me, eh? I thought angrily. Like I'll let that happen!
''Alright, Brendan,'' my dad said. ''Here's the last Pokémon I have.'' Brendan opened the Pokeball and a green lizard came out.
''Treeko!'' the Pokémon cried.
''A Treeko!'' I said happily. ''It's so cute!'' I reached down to stroke Treeko's head before Mudkip pushed him out of the way trying to get attention. Treeko and Mudkip growled at each other and got into a fight.
''You two!'' Alex said. ''Stop it now!'' The two Pokémon quickly stopped fighting and gave each other one last glare before going to be with their trainers.
''You really know how to handle Pokémon,'' Professor Birch complimented.
''Well, I did learn from the best,'' Alex said blushing in embarrassment. I just rolled my eyes.
''Alex saved us from some nasty men in red,'' I said to Brendan. ''But, I helped out, too,'' I said coming up to Brendan flirtatiously.
''Alex saved you guys?'' Brendan asked. ''That's really sexy-I mean swell!'' Brendan said turning red and causing Alex to turn red and cover her face.
''Okay everyone,'' my dad said to us. ''Here're your Pokedexes and Pokeballs. Be sure to collect lots of Pokémon and stay safe on your journey.''
''Thanks Professor,'' Alex and Brendan said.
''Thanks daddy!'' I said hugging him.
''Call me, sweetie!'' dad called as we went out.
*Alex's p.o.v*
''You got your first, Pokemon?'' my dad asked. ''Great! What is it?'' I picked up Mudkip off of the floor and showed mom and dad on the video phone. I was at a hotel in Oldale Town.
''This is Mudkip,'' I said.
''Aw, how cute!'' my mom cooed.
''Looks like a strong little guy,'' dad said.
''Thanks!'' Mudkip said.
''Oh, uh, guys?'' I asked.
''What's up?'' my dad asked.
''Something weird happened today,'' I said. My dad and mom looked concerned. ''Mudkip talked to me,'' I said biting my lip.
''It did?'' my mom and dad asked surprised.
''Uh, sweetie?'' my dad asked mom. ''Could you give us some privacy for a moment?'' Mom left the room.
''What's wrong, dad?'' I asked.
''I know how you feel,'' he said. ''I can talk to Pokémon as well.''
''You can?'' I asked surprised.
''It's a long story,'' he said. ''But, in short, I got the ability after being around Pokémon for so long. It's a harmless ability though so nothing bad is happening to you. But, let me know if something happens.''
''Okay dad,'' I said. ''I love you.''
''We do, too,'' he replied. ''Good luck and take good care of your Pokémon. And Mudkip, help look after Alex, okay?''
''Yes sir,'' Mudkip replied. We then hung up. ''So,'' Mudkip said to me, ''you and your dad can understand Pokémon?''
''I guess so,'' I responded. ''It must be genetic. We're going to head off for Petalburg City tomorrow to challenge the first Gym, so let's get some rest tonight so we can get up early and do some training.''
''Okay Alex,'' Mudkip said curling up at the foot of the bed. ''Good night.''
''Good night,'' I replied.