Chapter 1 – The Journey Begins

Steven was walking home from the city after a long day at school. The afternoon sun warmed his back on this cool Friday as he marched along the well-worn dirt path. Leaves of every shade of red, yellow and orange crunched softly underfoot, a sure sign that winter was soon to come. He breathed in the clean, crisp countryside air, enjoying the weather on this peaceful, perfect day-

"Hey!" he heard someone shout nearby, hidden by the trees of the forest that lined both sides of the path he was on. "Over here!"

"I've got them cornered!" he heard another voice shout.

He ran into the forest in the direction of the second voice, keeping low to avoid being seen. He slowed down as he approached the strangers' location. He glanced over a bush to see two men wearing backpacks and holding tranquilizer rifles in a small clearing. Beyond them, he could see a net with something trapped under it writhing and struggling to get out. At first, he couldn't make out what was under the net. Then, when it stopped struggling for a moment, he saw what it was, and was furious over what these people were doing-an Arcanine and her Growlithe pups were trapped, which meant that these men were poachers.

I'm not going to stand for this! He thought furiously. Rage coursed through his body and he waited for just the right moment to pounce from his hiding place and strike them down. He didn't have to wait long…

"Hey, Jorge-why don't we go and celebrate after we wrap this catch up at-" one of the men started to say to his friend.

There was a loud crack that echoed through the forest, and that man fell forward, eyes rolling to the back of his head, unconscious. Steven stood there, with a thick branch held in his hands, his eyes burning with rage. The other man turned and sent out two Pokémon-both were Machamp.

"Machamp!" he ordered. "Take that boy out, now!"

They both lunged at Steven, who dropped the branch he was holding, not out of fear, but of common sense. They grabbed his arms with two of their hands each and got ready to punch him with their remaining two.

Do you think he really cares about you? Steven asked them telepathically.

It was all it took for them to loosen their grip just enough-Steven did a back flip, bringing them with him. He ended up landing on his feet, but the Machamp were not so lucky, and landed on their faces, one knocked out cold, and the other really, really dizzy. Steven started in the man's direction, but the man raised his rifle and pulled the trigger. Steven dodged the tranq. dart, which hit the Machamp that wasn't knocked out, whom had been coming up behind Steven, and kicked the gun from the poacher's hand. The poacher yelped in pain, and stumbled backward, drawing his tranq. pistol from its holster. He was about to fire, when Steven spin-kicked that too from the man's hand. Before the poacher could withdraw any more weapons, Steven kicked him in the chest, sending him flying backward. The poacher smacked his head on a tree and slumped over, out cold.

Steven went over to the net and freed the trapped Pokémon, throwing the net over the Machamps instead. Then he turned to the Arcanine and bowed his head respectfully.

I'm sorry for the trouble these men caused you and your children. Steven apologized telepathically. I can assure you that they won't be bothering you anymore.

The Arcanine bowed her head back in thanks. Thank you for your help.

It was nothing. Steven replied. They were trespassing on private property, and I personally hate poachers.

She nodded understandingly. Still-there must be some way to repay you-

I require no need for payment-saving you and your family from the poachers was enough.

I insist-here. She said, nudging one of her Growlithe pups toward him. Take him and raise him as your own.

I can't! I just can't take part of your family from you so that you can repay me!

Then he shall die. She said. He is unable to take care of himself, and I will leave him here, whether you take him or not.

The Growlithe pup looked up at him, oblivious to the conversation going on between his mother and me about his death. Steven sighed. Dad's not going to like this. I thought.

Okay-I'll take him. He told her. She just nodded and turned away, all her pups following her, except the one she had given to him.

He sighed once more, then, looking down at his new partner, said "I guess you'll have to come home with me, then." Then he remembered what had just happened and went over to the nearest poacher and stripped him of his bag, wallet, weapons, and his phone, which he then used immediately to call the police. He told them a summary of what had just happened and sat down to wait for them to arrive.

His new friend, however, walked around, sniffing the ground. After watching him (Or was it her?) for a few minutes, he began to whistle a song. Before long, he had a small crowd of Starlys around him. When the song restarted, they joined in, filling the quiet forest with the sweet sound of music.

However, the singing was interrupted by the sound of sirens only a short while later. As he got up, he whistled to my new friend, and the crowd of Starlys flew off. His new friend came up to Steven and he bent down and pet his (he was sure it was a he) head softly.

"Stay close," he whispered to him.

"There you are Steven!" Officer Jenny exclaimed. "So these are the poachers?"

"Yes, ma'am," he replied.

"Rrrr…" the Growlithe whimpered, hiding behind his legs.

"And who is this?" Officer Jenny asked.

"My new friend," he said. "I just met him…"

A couple hours later, and he was headed back home again, along with his friend, leaves crackling underfoot on the dirt trail. It didn't take them long to reach his house-and that meant that he would be able to smuggle Growlithe inside before his dad got home from work. He lived with his mom and dad in a modest 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house (which includes a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, and a laundry room). It was a small house, centered in a small clearing, just inside the forest. The entire forest was his family's property, but they left it alone, so as to preserve the forest as a nature preserve.