Disclaimer: Pokémon is owned by The Pokémon Company and was created by Satoshi Tajiri et al. any recognizable content is credited to the original creators. The author earns no profit for this fanfiction.

On Writing

An Introduction

I lift my arms above my head, yawning quietly as I stretch. Airplane flights aren't something that I enjoy, especially long trips like the one I took. With two layovers, the first being Nimbasa City in Unova and the second as Phenac City of Orre, I'm absolutely tired of flying. Don't get me wrong, it was definitely really nice seeing the paradise city of Unova, right outside those airport windows. Yeah. Sure.

Now I'm taking my first steps forward into another region, Hoenn. Leaving Lumiose City in Kalos was a hard decision to make, but I'm excited to be exploring Hoenn in my Pokémon Journey. Having spent so much time with my sister, Annabelle, reading about the different legendary Pokémon of the world, how could I not be? And, well, Jirachi was always her favorite.

Anyway, I leave the airport heading toward Professor Birch's branch lab in Lilycove City north of the museum.

Entering the lab I step up to the receptionist, clearing my throat "Ah, excuse me, I'm the trainer from Kalos, Theodore Blackwater, here to update my Pokédex and get a Traveler's Starter?"

"Oh, of course! Give me one moment and I'll check if you're on the list," with a pretty smile she turns to the computer on her desk, pressing keys and clicking the mouse for a second, "it looks here like you're registered and barely qualify for the Traveler's Starter. If you'll follow me I'll take you to the Professor."

The Traveler's Starter Initiative is a practice that was implemented by the Pokémon Alliance. With the success of the Pokémon Journey Movement, the Alliance wanted to encourage the development of the National Dex along with the International Dex. Because I'm from Kalos and I've not completed the regional Pokédex nor the National Dex prior to arriving I want to have my own 'dex upgraded to an International Dex (which it would be even if it was completed; if a trainer wanted to for some reason–few do–they could instead get another 'dex after completing one).

In any case, the Traveler's Starter Initiative is a program that grants Pokémon to a traveling trainer. When the trainer arrives in a new region, whether visiting or moving there, the trainer is given a single choice out of three Pokémon. The three are always rare Pokémon that are only found within that region. They are different from the Pokémon Journey Starters, but similar in that they tend to be strong and/or unique. To meet the conditions for receiving a Traveler's Starter a trainer must have earned at least half of the gym badges of their home region. Or, if they've moved on to a third region, they need to get all of the badges of the last region they visited. This ensures that the Pokémon Alliance is not giving out creatures that'll be endangered by the amateur trainers.

The receptionist, whose name I didn't catch earlier, leads me down a hallway to a room larger than the lobby, "Professor Fern? Theodore Blackwater is here to update his Pokédex and get a Traveler's Starter." Lucky for me she doesn't seem busy, just looking up from a paper she's reading on her desk.

"Thank you, Samantha," so that's her name, " um . . . do you know if anyone else is expected to come in today?"

"Not that I know of, Professor." Samantha shakes her head and short blonde hair sways with the movement.

"Alright. That'll be all, thanks again Samantha," the girl turns away with a quiet acknowledgment and returns to reception, "So you're Theodore Blackwater? It's nice to meet you, Mr. Blackwater." She says this with a smirk.

I'm assuming she's amused because she has read some of my work. I'm not well known, but I've written a fair few pieces on the relationship between humans and Pokémon. I was inspired by the works of Professor Oak, in part. Nothing extensive, or professional really, not enough for me to really count as a Pokémon researcher. But my writings have gotten around.

"Uh, yeah, that's me. It's nice to meet you too." Dear Arceus, this is embarrassing. Can it get any worse than mumbling?

I turn away from her to lessen the awkwardness. In the back of the room I can see all the different machines that I don't understand, and along the right side are tall glass-door cabinets filled with Pokéballs. Behind us are bookshelves loaded with, you guessed it, books. They're probably all centered around Pokémon communication, considering that's Professor Fern's focus. On the opposite side of the cabinets is her desk, which is cluttered with paperwork and the like. Next to the desk is a hall leading who knows where, and finally on the left of the entrance is a coffee table with three chairs around it.

Professor Fern decides to make my embarrassment worse by accurately guessing what's bothering me. With a more earnest smile she says, "Oh, there's no need to be modest Mr. Blackwater. You've done very good work," she looks back to her desk grabbing a rather simple magazine and I take in her appearance. Whereas Samantha is a youthful pleasantly pretty girl (not that I can say anything about age myself; I'm only 23), Professor Fern is a dark-haired mature beauty. She has light green eyes with a mischievous glint, as evidenced by her earlier smirk, and a figure that is certainly . . . voluptuous. My blush is never going to go away. By now she's turned back to me focused on the magazine in her hand, thank Arceus, "In fact, before you came in I was reading an article you wrote in Pokémon Today. 'Union of Communication and Intelligence'. You know, you really do bring up some insightful thoughts. It's brilliant, Mr. Blackwater!"

"No, no it's not, I didn't–"

She interrupts me with a shake of her head, "You're just not being confident enough. Here, listen to this: 'In the past ten years we have moved away from the assumption that Pokémon are unintelligent. So why is it that we believe they are incapable of using language? Everyone knows that psychics are able to speak with their Pokémon (telepathically, of course), one example being Sabrina of Saffron City in Kanto. Even the Elite Four member, Phoebe of Hoenn has claimed to be capable of communication with her own ghost-type Pokémon. All the best trainers will tell you that their Pokémon understand them better than they do themselves. Where is the prejudice coming from?'. And that's not even the best of all you've written here. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a man after my own heart." She says this, again, with that smirk of hers.

"Okay, maybe I threw a few clever phrases in there, but the whole article ends up going nowhere fast. I didn't know what I was talking about."

"Exactly! And that's why you're here in Hoenn, to find out what you don't know. I know in time you'll learn what was missing from that piece, and you will be able to turn all this around," she sets the magazine back down on her desk and leans against it, sighing with a dejected look about her, "Mr. Blackwater, do you know how much funding I'm allowed here in Lilycove? I get the bare minimum. The Pokémon Alliance told me research into Pokécommunication is 'not a priority'. Maybe if I'd been working under Professor Oak before he passed away I'd get the support I need to conduct my research, but I wasn't. Instead I'm working with Professor Birch. Don't take this the wrong way, he's a great man, but he specializes in Pokémon habitat. As a Professor under his division, in a region where the majority of funding goes into habitat, my work makes no breakthroughs," she steps away from the desk and places a hand on my shoulder, "Mr. Blackwater, I know you can do this. You may not realize it but your writing is getting a lot of attention. You're grabbing a hold of the public ear and you're coming into a position that'll allow you a good amount of influence over the scientific community. This is something you're capable of."

After all she has been saying I'm in a state of shock. I've never had anyone praise my writing or skill like this before. Sure, I've gotten support from my family and friends, and I've had the editors for magazines tell me they appreciate the articles I write for them, but nothing like this. And from a complete stranger? I have no idea how to take this, "I–", I choke on my words; typical, "I don't know what to say, Professor Fern."

"It's okay. I know you're not here today to talk about your writing with me. You're probably exhausted from your flight here from Kalos," she laughs, tugging at her ponytail, "Let's get your 'dex upgraded and your Traveler's Starter, yeah?"

"So– Sounds good." Honestly at this point I'm wide awake, and I really do want my new Pokémon. I've not gotten a new Pokémon since the two that were given to me a long time ago.

"Okay. If you'll follow me," with a nudge on my arm she turns past her desk leading me to a sleek futuristic pedestal with a glass dome built in. Within is a red cushion and three Pokéballs set on it. Fern presses a button on the side of the pedestal and the glass splits down an invisible seam retreating into the base. "Now, since this is your first time receiving a Traveler's Starter I'll have to go over the fine details with you. The most important thing I can tell you is that your Traveler's Starter is not free. You know this. You earned this privilege by challenging and winning against four gym leaders from Kalos. If there's a next time it won't be so easy. You'll have to earn every gym badge here in Hoenn, but you can worry about that later. For now, know that your starter can be taken from you at any time if it's found that you're abusing or mishandling your Pokémon. I believe I can trust you in this, but legally it's what I have to say," she gives me a kind smile, "Anyway, here are the choices you have.

"This Pokémon is a male Bagon. He's known as a rock head Pokémon and is a dragon-type," she shifts her finger, which was pointing to the 'ball on the left, to the one on the right, "and this is a female Aron. She, on the other hand, is an iron armor Pokémon and she's a dual steel/rock-type," Fern is smiling in a playful manner as she points at the center, "Finally, we have a female Ralts, the feeling Pokémon. She's dual as well, being psychic/fairy-type."

What.

Half the reason I had decided on going to Hoenn was for the Ralts evolutionary line, being exactly the Pokémon I need to further my research into Human-Pokémon relationships. So having one given to me as soon as I get here seems a little unfair. But, I'm not one to turn down opportunities. I look up to Fern and there's a huge grin stretched across her face. It's cute, "I'll take Ralts."

"I had a feeling she was the one you'd choose. Well, go on, pick her up. Let her out." She laughs, leaning back against a table with a computer set up along with some box with a fairly large slot in the middle.

I grab the 'ball, and press the button in the center releasing the hinge and allowing a bolt of light to shoot out. Once she's finished forming I simply stare at her for a second. She's a tiny thing, being only about a foot tall with very slight features. She has two red triangular horns on her head, one facing backward and the other forward. Surrounding that head is thin green hair styled as a bowl-cut, and the rest of her body looks like an oversized white dress. Peeking behind her green hair are cute, shy eyes with pink irises, "Ralts?" she speaks with a high pitched voice and a curious tone.

I smile at her and say, "Hey, Ralts. I'm your new trainer." She returns the expression and raises her tiny arms, asking to be picked up. I do so gladly. Settling her in my arms, I turn to Fern once again.

Fern looks content, "Seems like you two are bonding quickly. Here, hand me your 'dex and I'll get it updated." I remove my Pokédex from my bag with difficulty, but I manage as I turn it over to the Pokémon Professor. She inserts it into the slot I had noticed earlier by the computer, and I turn back to my newest Pokémon. She's staring straight into my eyes, and it's a little creepy to be honest, but it's okay because she's adorable. Ralts cries out her name in glee and snuggles up even closer to me. I guess she caught my affection for her. Telepathy. This will take some getting used to but I'm looking forward to this.

"You gonna give her a name?" the Professor asks, still focused on the screen.

"Mm . . . No. What if she already has one?"

"Hm. Well, anyway here's your newly re-purposed International Dex," she hands the 'dex to me with a small smile and turns to Ralts, "and congratulations to you, Ralts for getting a trainer! Grats to you both," Ralts hides her face against my shoulder. After registering Ralts in my 'dex and putting it away, I thank Fern for everything she's done. "Oh, psh! It's no big deal. And it's my job. Just, before you leave Lilycove, could I ask you to come in again?"

"Of course. Don't hesitate to ask for anything."

Her smirk is in place as she says, "I'll keep that in mind. Now, go on to the Pokécenter, get some rest. I'll see you another time."

I give her a nod and a smile, and wave goodbye as I leave.

After I arrived at the Pokécenter I quickly found a room–free to any registered trainer. I do so enjoy the benefits of a Pokémon driven society–and got ready to go to sleep. Normally, I leave all my Pokémon out of their Pokéballs when I can, but I figured that since I had only just gotten Ralts that I'd leave it to just us for tonight so that we could warm-up to each other. And we did. One thing I had forgotten about Ralts is that when they sense warm feelings they literally warm up a bit as well. I suppose simple peaceful drowsiness constitutes 'warm feelings'. Anyway, with my own personal oven cuddling up to me in bed, I fell asleep pretty fast.

That's not the weird part.

I had vivid dreams. I can remember them even now, a few hours after waking up. In the dream I could see myself. It looked like it was only a little while ago, when I was at Fern's lab. I was looking up to 'dream' me, with this overarching sense of joy all around. To me, in the dream, this joy was something that I had to find. Then 'dream' me told me that he was my new trainer. That was the best thing ever.

Actually, I think that perspective is sorta hanging on to me, I can't seem to drop these urges to discover everything in this city that could be called 'happy'.

It's fading though, so I'm not going to worry about it. It's fairly obvious where this abnormal dream came from. Psychic-types are strange, really strange. This is something that I've researched before though, so it's not like I didn't expect it to be a different experience. When a trainer first captures or receives a psychic-type the Pokémon bonds with them. Even when the trainer isn't psychic the Pokémon creates a mental link to their trainer. It's not something the trainer can take advantage of unless they have psychic abilities, but it does allow for the Pokémon to grow closer with their trainer at a quicker rate than most, as long as that trainer isn't abusive. If the trainer is cruel, this actually weakens the Pokémon mentally, thus leaving them with less power than they would usually have. In that sense, psychic-types have a buffer against horrible trainers, since it's common knowledge so those sort of trainers avoid psychic-types.

The thing is, crazy dreams like the one I had are not associated with normal trainers. These kind of dreams happen when the trainer is psychic or if they are awakening their supernatural abilities.

I guess I'm a psychic.

This could be really good, or extraordinarily bad. There have been cases where a psychic has lost total control of their power, resulting in damage to the surrounding area and people. Most psychics don't have that sort of potential, but it has happened. The best case scenario for me would be if I were to only develop a limited telepathic power. It could be a huge help in learning more about our connection to Pokémon.

Either way I won't know until at least a week has passed, around that time is when the link finalizes and the trainer's power is established. One thing that's interesting though is that those Pokémon who aren't initially a psychic-type create links with their trainer at a much quicker rate. It seems to imply that the normal bond between a trainer and their Pokémon is in itself a rather mystic phenomenon.

Maybe it makes sense that I'm a psychic? I've always been in my head, lost in thought. Anyway, back to the present moment. Right now me and Ralts are standing on the beach at Lilycove, watching the boats sailing in and out of the harbor.

"So, Ralts, I decided that today I'd introduce myself and my team to you, since I didn't do so yesterday." The little Pokémon is staring up at me.

"Ralts?" she doesn't say anything more than that, but there's not much I could understand from her anyway.

"Right. So my name is Theodore Blackwater, and I am a writer. You can call me Ted though. I'm from Kalos and, believe it or not, I actually came to this region for you," she seems skeptical, and I wouldn't blame her if she were. Would you believe a stranger who said that to you? "No, really, it's true. I came here to learn more about bonds with Pokémon, and since you're the feeling Pokémon, you are the perfect candidate for learning more," I grin and she does too, "Well, since you have a better idea of who I am now, I'll introduce you to the rest of my team."

My Pokémon are very special to me. My younger sister and I had gotten our Starter's at the ages of 11 and 12. We didn't start our Pokémon Journey then, but we had two new friends in the forms of Fennekin and Froakie, the fox being mine. I didn't start my odyssey until much later.

I begin with Braixen, and release her from her 'ball. She stands at about three feet, two and a half shorter than my own height. She has yellow-orange fur covering the majority of her body, with an exception of white fur flaring out from her face and shoulders running down her arms. Her ears are large with wavy red tufts flowing out; the eyes and nose at the end of her snout match the color of the tufts. Braixen also have black fur covering their digitigrade legs and at the hips the yellow-orange fur sweeps to the sides like a skirt. Attached to her backside is a tail puffing out in a tear-drop shape tapering into a red-tipped end. Lastly, a twig is sticking out of the top of that tail, one that she uses for both combat and communication.

She's a fire Pokémon, although when she evolves (to note: this is actually metamorphosis. But who really wants to say 'my Abra metamorphosed and became a Kadabra!'?) into a Delphox she'll be a fire/psychic-type. Both my Braixen and Frogadier (who's a water-type) are rare in that they're both female, since their respective species have seven males to every one female on average. But my Frogadier is stranger for another reason.

Letting Frogadier out of her 'ball next, I finally have all my Pokémon together. My Frogadier, unlike most, has both darker and lighter skin. She's what you could call, 'shiny'. Since she sits back on her hind legs like most frogs she only measures up to two feet. She has a scarf of white bubbles around her neck that trails behind her about a foot long, and she has two short horns (only in the sense that it's a similar shape) extending backward from her globular eye sockets. Her eyelids are the same blue tint as the skin along her underside and lower back. Where you'll find fingers and toes on a human Frogadier has pads (they allow for suction and grip). The dark blue shade is the color of her 'toes' and the pads on her 'hands' are white. Above her mouth are two small bumps that are also white, next to her eyes with yellow sclera.

Once they're all out, my Pokémon begin talking to one another. Braixen is very obviously excited to meet Ralts and it looks like she (Ralts) is overwhelmed by the exuberant fox Pokémon. Frogadier is much shyer and less talkative but curious nonetheless; I'm very happy to see them all talking like this. Ralts looks up at me either noticing my cheer, or more likely, pleading for help.

I pick Ralts up to rescue her from the madness that is Braixen. After telling my two older Pokémon to settle down I say, "Now, you two, I'm going to need you to keep Ralts from getting hurt since she's young and weak right now, okay?" Braixen is nodding rapidly and Frogadier has a fierce look in her eyes, meanwhile Ralts is hiding her face under her hair. I guess that was a little blunt, "Not that you won't be strong someday, Ralts." There's that smile again.

"So, how about we all go get some training in?"

My Pokémon and I head out to Route 121, but because we don't want to get into any trainer battles right now we go into the woods and find a clearing not far off the path. While Braixen and Frogadier face off against one another in a friendly spar, Ralts and I find a nice spot on the ground and stare at each other for a moment. That is my fault for the most part, "Ah, so, Ralts. I'm not actually too sure how to train a psychic-type, I've read a few books on the subject and my mom is a psychic specialist herself, but I really don't know what I'm doing here. Especially since our mental link hasn't completed yet." I start off with a very confident outlook, obviously.

Ralts sighs and looks to my other two Pokémon. At the moment Frogadier is running rapid circles around Braixen looking for an opening while the fox maintains a ring of fire around herself, preventing the frog Pokémon from getting in close. It's amazing, what a Pokémon can do. Ralts turns back to me in hope.

"Alright, here. I've got something. We just need to figure out what psychic powers you have . . . ah! Take this acorn, and try to lift it with your mind. You know, like telekinesis?" I hand her the acorn. She holds it in her hands (how does she do that without any fingers?) and stares at it. Then she looks up at me. Finally back down to the nut.

"Ralts?" she says this in an entirely bewildered tone. That was a failure. It's alright though, this isn't something that'll work out immediately. Over time she'll learn what it is that I'm trying to tell her, and when the link is established we should be able to understand each other better, if you set aside the fact that our minds will be alien to the other.

Honestly the most recommended thing to do with a new Pokémon is to talk to it anyway. Before any sort of training can be done, the trainer needs to be able to say something and know that their Pokémon has at the least an idea of what the trainer wants. If there's something that's known to exercise a Pokémon's abilities it's also suggested that they do that. For my case, I can improve Ralts' psychic ability by exposing her to my own emotions. And what better way to do that than to tell a story?

I take the little seed of an oak from her hands. She's looking up at me curiously, "I wanna tell you a story Ralts. It's something I don't normally talk about, but I think it's okay to tell you. I'm pretty sure me and you will have a very special bond someday," she's getting more and more intrigued by the second, climbing up into my lap as I settle back against the tree behind me, "This story starts in the region of Kalos, at Lumiose City. Now, this city, it's the grandest I've ever seen, but I might be biased. A boy grew up in that city in a ritzy townhouse on Autumnal Avenue. He was always a very cheerful kid, liked to read legends of mystical Pokémon with his sister, Annabelle. Before his parents separated he spent a lot of time traveling the region with them and Annabelle. But, his life wasn't always so great. His sister . . . she was never very healthy. To this day no one really knows what was wrong with her, just that it . . . ended her life.

"After that, the boy was never the same. His parents divorced, and the boy couldn't understand why. Regardless, he closed off from people. When his friends came over asking about him he pretended to be asleep. His mother, who stayed when his father left, stopped trying to get him out of his depression eventually. The boy was lost. He didn't know what to do.

"Fortunately, there were two important Pokémon in his life that did," I take the time to send a look Braixen's and Frogadier's way. They're winding down from their fight, catching notice of the narration, "With a determined Fennekin and a heartbroken Froakie competing for his attention, he couldn't wallow in misery. He wasn't the only one hurting. So, he did his best to give his care to the two cute little Pokémon, and tried to be more like the way he used to be. In time, things got better and he found a path to take in life. Now, with his newest third Pokémon, he's looking forward to a better future."

By now my training duo walk over to us, and with my storytelling closing to an end they softly speak a few short words, addressing Ralts. Throughout my tale she's been on a transition from happy to sad, and now she's sitting up, with tears in her eyes. Ralts cries out her name and suddenly leans forward, attempting to wrap the sticks she calls arms around my sides. The other two watch us, each wearing a solemn countenance.

Author's Note: So, this is my first fanfiction. I'm hoping that you all enjoyed it and if you'd like, I ask that you take a moment to write a review. I'd really appreciate it.

Update 3/27/16: I decided that I'd switch over to informal writing instead. It doesn't come naturally to write or read formally. And this is fanfiction anyway, not like it's ever getting published eh?

Also for those of you who might have noticed a missing detail from my summary, don't panic, my plan for the story has not changed. I'll include a note in chapter 3 regarding pairing and related subjects.