I can't express in words how much I yearn to be with Pokémon. How I desire to catch and train and travel with them, just like my Father did before eventually settling down as the leader of the Petalburg gym. My very first steps, according to Mom and Dad, were nearly into a patch of tall grass. Most of my childhood was spent learning about them and observing them, even having mock-battles using the one's my Dad had caught. I'd watch every night, just as night fell to see the lights of the Volbeat and Illumise twinkling in the darkness just beyond the town border; I'd stay up till midnight to hear the howling of the Poochyena; and I'd wake up at dawn to catch a glimpse of the Yanma shaking the dew off their thin, multifaceted wings.

For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of following in the steps of my Father: catching my first pokemon and travelling across Hoenn, gathering more and more pokemon as I go, until, at last, I reach the Pokémon League and become the champion of this land.

But the world of Pokémon is dangerous. While I learned about the wonder of Pokémon, Mom and Dad made sure to pound into me the dangers lurking beneath its beauty.

But I'd seen floor after floor of the tiny graves, decorated with coins, treats, and beautiful smelling incense. I'd known for a long time the price that came with a loss.

My parents, though, still refused to let me start my own journey to the League. Mom just laughed it off, saying this family only needed one pokemon trainer. Dad, my one hope, always said that he thought it would be good for me to try my hand at being a trainer…when I was older.

Every year I begged them to let me go, and every year I received the same answers. So I had to be happy training with the pokemon dad left at home. And I was happy, I suppose, for the 18 years I was stuck in trainer's school, learning from white boards and old encyclopedias and getting my only field work from the same pokemon.

But today, things are finally changing. I've graduated from that musty, boring building and I've moved to a new town and within minutes, things have begun looking up…in a sense.

"Krystal! What are you waiting for!" Birch shouts, his back against a tree, his left pant-leg ripped and stained with blood.

Before him is a wild Zigzagoon. Normally docile, but in a frenzy right now. A few tiny pups are huddling together in the grass not far from the scene. How could a Professor have stumbled so stupidly into the nest!

The little striped dog howls with rage.

"Hurry! The briefcase!"

I look down. The little brown case is open at my feet. Three red and white Pokeballs sit atop a mess of papers. I glance from them to the growling pokemon, ready to pounce on the Professor the instant he moves.

Is it terrible that I'm suddenly feeling happy? Feeling overjoyed and excited so that I can hardly breathe?

No, I think. It's only natural. Pokémon's in my blood. And this…this will be my first battle!

The wild Zigzagoon lunges forward. Professor Birch screams. In an instant, my hand's in the briefcase, my fingers wrapped tightly around the sphere.

I don't know what it holds. And I don't care.

"Go!"

It lands in front of the rampaging dog. A bright red light flashes, forming the outline of my new partner.

The battle has begun.

Author's notes.

So I thought I'd do those this time cause…I don't know

And yea doth my Nuzlocke Challenge sort of begin! I'm not sure why I wrote it in present tense, and every time I look at it I HATE the present tense…ness…But I couldn't get out of it while I wrote, no matter what I did, and the usual past tense kinda thing just kept sounding wrong The rest of the chapters aren't present tense, though, so that adds to the weirdness but….*shrug* As I've said, I couldn't not do it and be happy. Maybe it makes it more tense and action right? RIGHT?