Chapter 0

Standing in front of his very own parade. People from all across the region would see him named the new champion of Kalos. All the people who thought he couldn't - all his peers who looked down on him in the past - all their eyes would be on him. He would stand out amongst the masses of average trainers as the best of the best. That was his dream.

He rises with the sun every morning. He trains hour after hour and doesn't stop until the sun has set and his team is as exhausted as he is. If exhaustion is what it would take to reach the top, he would gladly push himself there and his party of loyal Pokémon would comply.

Calem was naturally talented as a trainer. That, on top of his tireless training routine indeed made him a formidable opponent.

At least, to everyone, but that new girl.

Chapter 1

The sun shined brilliantly through the slight crack in her sheer white window curtain. She swore her bed comforter had never felt so soft - so fluffy - in all her years of sleeping with it until now. Her bed hugged every curve of her body so perfectly; nothing could disturb her.

"Serena! Come down here."

Well, maybe one thing could.

Serena groaned as she covered her head with her comforter - more inviting than ever right now.

"Mm," she grumbled through closed lips and squinty eyes. "Mom, I'm still sleeping."

"You have visitors! Your neighbors want to welcome you to the neighborhood." Her mother shouted from the first floor.

"Tell them I'm not home." She shouted back.

"They can hear you, dear. Get dressed and come on down."

"Fine," Serena sleepily mumbled to herself as she left the shelter of her blankets and stepped onto the floor of her new room. Maybe she would have appreciated waking up in her new, beautiful house if it were not so early, but she was never much of a morning person.

After getting herself ready, at least enough to look presentable, she was already feeling slightly less morning grumpiness.

"Good morning Serena. Did you sleep well?" Grace asked her daughter as she entered the living room.

"Good morning. And yeah, I slept wonderfully until I was woken up." Serena huffed out a bitter chuckle.

"It's already ten! You've slept enough." Grace laughed as her daughter yawned.

"I know, I know." Serena watched her mother pour a cup of coffee into a paper cup. There was still so much unpacking to do, they'd probably be dining on paper utensils for at least a day or two. "How are you feeling, Mom?"

"Hm?" Grace looked up to see a slight look of concern in Serena's eyes. "I'm fine, Sweetie! I can't have you talking to me like I'm about to break all the time." She laughed at her own words for a few seconds, although Serena did not join in the laughter. "Now, stop worrying about me so much. Two kids from next door are waiting outside for you, so please go say hello."

As soon as she opened her front door, a bright, perky smile of a young girl instantly greeted her.

"Hi! My name is Shauna! It's so very nice to meet you!" The pretty young girl extended her hand to Serena.

"It's nice to meet you, too." Serena gave the girl a friendly smile as she shook her hand. Wow, she seems really nice.

"And I'm Calem." The dark brunette young man next to her also offered her his hand. "Welcome to Vaniville. Shauna and I grew up here together and we are your neighbors."

"Thank you for taking the time to introduce yourselves," Serena said politely.He's kind of cute.

"While we did want to meet you, we have something important to ask of you." Calem explained. "Are you familiar with Professor Sycamore?"

"Professor Sycamore?" She repeated. "No, I don't think so."

"You're not!?" The girl shook her head. "He's a world-renowned, highly esteemed Pokémon professor. I find it rather odd you've never heard of him. And yet oddly enough, somehow he's heard of you." Okay, maybe not that cute.

"Oh?" She quizzically looked at him with a strong, arched eyebrow.

"Yes! And guess what?" Shauna chimed in excitedly, oblivious to the boy's snarky comment. "He wants to give you, Calem, and me our very first Pokémon so we can go on a Kalos-wide journey with our two other friends to help his research!"

"W-woah, wait. What?" Serena's eyes squinted in confusion. "Um, no, sorry. There has to be a mistake. I've never even thought about going on a Pokémon adventure. And besides, my mom and I just moved here! I can't just up and leave her!"

"But Serena, it'll be so much fun if we all go on an adventure together!" Shauna frowned. "It would be nice having another girl in our group of friends."

"I'm sorry, it's just really, really sudden, and not to be rude, but I don't even know you very well. There's no way I can. My mom … well, she needs me right now."

"Perhaps we can fix one of those things. At least come with us to meet our first Pokémon, Neighbor?" Calem asked. "We can't force you to do anything you don't want to. But we can still introduce you to our other friends. I'm assuming since you're new, it wouldn't hurt to make some friends." Shauna's green eyes beamed in enthusiasm at the boy's proposition.

"Mm," Serena hesitated, although she wasn't entirely sure why. "That is true. Sure, I guess I can do that."

"Awesome!" Shauna's voice must have raised an entire octave as she squeaked in excitement. "Finally, I get to have a girl as a friend!"

Serena chuckled at the girl's enthusiasm, although Calem hardly seemed to notice her excitement. She thought he was probably used to it by now. It was a nice feeling to have made friends so quickly after moving to an entirely new region. And thank Arceus most people spoke her language very well. Even if her new friends would be leaving on a journey soon, it was nice to know she had friends at all.

"Finally, you guys came!" A large lad rose from his chair as the three entered a small plaza. "Took you long enough."

"Chill, Tierno." Calem said nonchalantly. "This is Serena, Shauna's and my new neighbor."

"Hi, Tierno was it?" Serena asked politely.

"Yeah, I'm Tierno. I'm on a mission to start a Pokémon dance crew. And this little guy is Trevor."

"H-hi Serena." The smaller redhead boy mumbled with a small smile, which Serena acknowledged with a friendly grin of her own.

"Show us the Pokémon that Professor Sycamore sent!" Cutting right to the chase, Shauna ran past her friends and towards the small tank on the café table.

"All right, all right. You three may choose from these three."

Tierno pushed a button on the tank, revealing three Poké balls which he opened individually.

"Aww, they're all so cute!" Shauna cooed excitedly. "Which one should I choose…"

"I already knew who I wanted." Calem said. "Fennekin, would you like to be my partner and come with me on my journey?"

'Yes! Thank you for choosing me!' The fire fox Pokémon exclaimed happily as it leaped from the table into the young man's arms. He smiled as he pet his new partner's head.

"I think I'll name you Cole." But the Fennekin frowned and let out a small growl. "Hm? Hey, what's the matter? Don't you like the name?"

"Um, Calem," Trevor interrupted, "that Fennekin is actually a girl. Maybe she wants a more feminine name?"

"A girl…?" Calem looked at his starter Pokémon in his arms. Its eyes grew round, suddenly feeling very self-conscious.

'A-are you disappointed I'm a girl?' The Fennekin whimpered.

"If you're a girl, then I guess I can name you … Maddy? Is that okay?" The Fennekin's smile returned and grew a mile-wide as it happily licked its new trainer's face. "Ahaha, I guess you like the name." Laughing happily, he put his new friend down. "It's an honor to have you on board, Maddy." Maddy wagged its tail playfully as Calem returned it to its Poké ball.

Serena watched the scene idly. Calem seemed to instantly bond with Maddy - like they were made to be each other's partner. He must really like Pokémon to be able to bond that quickly.

"Now it's my turn," Shauna turned from Calem to the remaining two starters. "You're a Froakie, and you're a Chespin. I hate that I have to choose, you're both so adorable!" The girl frowned. "Um.. eenie meenie miney … Froakie!" Her eyes shined bright as her finger landed on the small blue frog Pokémon. The Froakie croaked proudly as its new trainer picked it up. "Hi Froakie! I'm Shauna." She turned her attention to Tierno. "Is this one a girl too?"

"No, the other two are male." Tierno replied.

"Hm, okay!" Shauna looked her new friend in its eyes. She couldn't help but smile. "I'll call you Peanut."

'Then Peanut will be my name. It's a pleasure to meet you Madam." Peanut suddenly felt very warm as its trainer smothered it in a tight hug. It could hear its rival Chespin snickering from behind.

'Hahaha Peanut." Chespin mocked its water-type rival as it continued its laughter.

'Did you say something?' Froakie returned Chespin's mockery with its most intimidating death glare. 'You know, she did choose me over you.'

'Yeah yeah, Peanut. Looks like I dodged a fire blast there.'

Peanut scoffed and turned away from its laughing rival and allowed its new trainer to pet its head.

Again, Serena noticed how quickly Shauna and Peanut became friends. There's no way she could ever bond with a Pokémon like that. The only Pokémon she had ever been friends with was her mother's Rhyhorn, but that's only because it was around since her birth.

"So Serena," Tierno spoke up, "looks like you get to take Chespin." The Chespin gave Serena the biggest, most impressive smile it could. It had a very distinct twinkle of zeal in its eyes.

"Oh, I'm not taking a Pokémon." She said almost apologetically. "I just came along with Calem and Shauna." And with those words, the Chespin felt its heart break. Dejection and disappointment immediately took over its body.

'What?' Chespin whined. 'Y-you're not going to take me with you?'

"Are you sure? Professor Sycamore specifically asked for you to take one of his Pokémon. So clearly, there's something special he sees in you. He doesn't ask this of just anyone." Tierno scratched his head. How, he wondered, could anyone turn down an offer like this?

"Going on journeys, roughing it up, camping out… it's not really my thing." Serena confessed, hesitating to continue. All eyes were on her. "I don't mean to sound like a princess or anything, but besides that, there's no way my mom will agree to this."

Serena looked at the disheartened Chespin. Truly, she felt horrible about making the poor thing so sad. She approached the grass type and pet its head. It looked up at her with beating eyes filling with tears.

'I was really looking forward to finally starting my journey today… I'll become strong. I know I can…' Chespin whimpered quietly. Serena's heart truly broke at the sight.

"You know," Trevor spoke up, "I have a letter from the Professor, explaining his request. Why don't you give it to you mom and dad? Their answer may surprise you." He pulled the letter from his messenger bag and handed it towards the girl.

"I don't have to worry about my dad," she replied bluntly as she snatched the letter from his hands. "But it's because I'm worried about my mom, I can't do this."

"What do you mean?" Shauna asked. Chespin looked at the honey blonde girl curiously through sad eyes.

"Shauna, don't be nosy." Calem bit out his words. "Well Neighbor, why don't you keep Chespin for now? The professor wanted you to have him, so I think it'd be rather rude to decline altogether. Maybe he could keep you and your mother company while at home until Professor Sycamore says what his plans for Chespin are."

She looked at the grass type Pokémon, sitting anxiously on the table.

"Would you want that? To come home with me and meet my mom, even if you don't get to go on a journey with me?" She asked Chespin. Its eyes lit up instantly as its winning smile returned to its face.

'Yes! Please, I'll make a very good friend! I promise!' Chespin nodded frantically.

"Aw, he really is a cutie, isn't he?" Serena said aloud.

"Aren't you going to name him?" Shauna asked, slight disappointment underlying her words.

"Hm… I don't even know if the professor will let me keep him if I don't go on a journey, though. So, if that's okay with you," she directed her attention to Chespin, "I think I'll hold off on naming you, all right?"

Chespin was hesitant, but ultimately nodded.

'Yes, I understand.' It looked at the woman before him. 'I'm just so glad to finally have a trainer, even if only for a little while.'

Serena looked around the group of new friends, then back to Chespin. She had so much support all around her from people, and Pokémon whom she hardly knew.

"I can walk you back to your house, if you want. Then you can introduce your new Chespin to your mom." Shauna suggested.
"And if you want," Trevor joined in, "you can show your mom the letter from Professor Sycamore. Even if you can't leave home now, maybe you can introduce the idea for a few years into the future, right?"

"I suppose…" Pondering the thought, Serena broke her concentration when she noticed how happy her grass starter friend looked to her. She picked up Chespin in her arms as it nuzzled into her. "He likes to cuddle apparently." She giggled as she brought it tighter to her chest. "Okay. Shauna, let's go then?"

"You bet! Any of you guys want to come with us?" Shauna asked the rest of the group.

"Sorry, I should probably start training. Maddy and I have a lot of work to do." Calem said. Isn't he just a bundle of fun, Serena thought.

"Trevor and I are going to try to get through Santalune forest before sunset." Tierno replied. "It was great meeting you Serena. It's a shame you can't join us."

"Yeah…" Regretfully, Serena looked from her loving Chespin, then to the ground. "It's a shame."

The three young men waved as they left the two ladies.

"Serena?" Shauna asked rather shyly.

"Yeah?"

"I know you may only have Chespin temporarily, but I'd like Peanut and I to have our first battle with you both."

"Huh, a battle?" Serena's eyebrows raised. "I don't think so. I've never had a Pokémon battle in my life - not even with my mom's Rhyhorn."

"Don't worry! I'm new to battling too! Please, Serena? It'll be a first for both of us."

"Well…" Saying Serena was apprehensive was a major understatement. "Chespin - what do you say? Do you feel comfortable battling?" Unlike its new trainer, Chespin nodded feistily and seemed more than ready for its first battle.

'Heck yes I'm ready! Let's kick some Froakie butt!'

"I think Chespin is ready." Shauna translated what was already obvious.

"Well, I guess I can try." Serena allowed Chespin to jump out of her arms and land firmly on the ground, more than ready for its first battle.

"Awesome!" Shauna yelled cheerfully. "Okay Froakie - come on out!"

"Um, tackle?" Serena commanded, although it sounded more like a question.

The grass type charged head first into the water type, effectively knocking it down. The impact caused both the Pokémon to tumble, although Chespin was able to recover much quicker.

"Oh no, Peanut hang in there!" Wiping a bead of sweat away from her forehead, Shauna shouted. "Use tackle as well!"

"Try to dodge it!" The older girl called out.

The Chespin successfully jumped over Peanut's attack, causing the latter to stumble a few feet forward,

"Now, uh, razor leaf!" She commanded once again, her eyes frantically switching from the battle to her Pokédex which listed Chespin's current move set.

"No, dodge it!"

But the Froakie was already off balance from missing its previous attack; it did not have a chance to see the barrage of sharp leaves storming towards it from behind. Shauna clenched her eyes shut as the her precious starter took the hit.

When she opened her eyes, she saw her Froakie lying on the ground, and the victorious Chespin standing over it, panting slightly.

"Peanut, are you okay boy?" Shauna ran towards her partner and scooped it up in her arms. Peanut gave her a weak smile and its best thumbs up.

'Sorry, Madam. Looks like I lost this time.' It squeaked apologetically.

"You did great, Peanut! Now return. You need to rest." With a sweet tone, she stroked her Pokémon's head and returned it to its Poké ball.

"We won…?" Serena nearly dropped her Pokédex as her grip grew loose. Chespin looked to its trainer proudly with a smile stretching widely across its face.

'We did it! We won!' Chespin began to jump up and down, parading its success. 'We're such a great team! We won!' Serena couldn't help but smile along with her partner as she felt an overwhelming rush travel throughout her body. Her heart pounded and adrenaline rushed through her blood.

"Congratulations, Serena and Chespin! You guys were amazing!" Shauna encouraged. "You must be a natural."

"Perhaps…" Still feeling as though her soul were on fire, Serena looked to her elated Pokémon once again, who was still cheering joyously. "It was pretty fun, wasn't it buddy?"

'The funnest!' Chespin chirped heartily.

"I guess this is where I'll leave you," Shauna frowned a little as the two girls stood between their houses. "I'm going to say goodbye to my parents before I leave for Santalune Forest."

"Good luck out there, Shauna. It was great meeting you." Serena went to shake her new friend's hand, but was caught off guard when the shorter girl pulled her into a tight hug instead.

"Let's keep in touch, okay? Hope to see you soon!" Shauna said with a smile that was both filled with sadness, yet excitement to begin her journey.

"Absolutely." Serena smiled as she waved to Shauna.

Both girls entered their respective front yards, one getting ready for the adventure of her life, and the other simply going home for the day.

"Mom?" Opening her house's front door, Serena searched for her mother with her new Chespin perched comfortably on her shoulder.

"Yes dear? Oh. Is that a Pokémon?" Grace's eyes widened as she ran towards her daughter.

"Yeah. It's a Chespin. Um, actually…" Her voice grew quiet as her mom greeted the grass Pokémon and playfully stroked its head. Serena wasn't quite sure how to tell her mom the rest of the story, but she may as well start somewhere. "Professor Sycamore actually gave it to me. He's apparently a big deal," she trailed off, remembering Calem's condescending manner of speech.

"Yes, Professor Sycamore. I've heard of him." Grace replied. Wow, maybe I have been living under a rock. "But why did he give you this little cutie?"

"Actually, mom," Serena began. Her nervous tone caught Grace's attention.

"Honey, what is it?"

"Apparently," she swallowed, "he has asked me to take Chespin and venture throughout Kalos to help his research." Extending the professor's letter out to her mother, Grace took it carefully and looked began reading.

A few seconds passed by as Serena waited for any reaction whatsoever from her mother.

Grace looked up from the letter, blinked a few times, simply staring at her beautiful young daughter in front of her.

"So," Grace finally said, "when do you leave?"

"What?!" No, she must have heard wrong. There was no way her mother would let her go off in a foreign land on her own. "Mom, I'm not actually going to do it!"

"Well why not? Lots of kids much younger than you go on journeys with Pokémon. Even I had my own adventure back in the day." She paused, giving a small, melancholic smile.

"But mom, I'm not going to leave you here all alone! Especially right after stupid dad lef- "

"Honey, I told you, you need to stop worrying about me, really!" Grace interrupted. "And besides, I won't be alone! I have Rhyhorn, remember?"

"I know, but I just… I want to be here for you."

"Sweetie, I'm fine. Truly. I can see how much this Chespin looks up to you already. You will make great partners for sure. It would be a shame to see such potential go to waste." She pulled her daughter into a hug. "Don't you want to get out and explore the world?"

"I don't know," Serena admitted, hugging her mother back. Had her mother asked this question just a day before, she would have easily been able to decline.

"You won't be alone. Chespin will be right there with you, as will any other Pokémon friends you catch. You can't put your life on hold forever just because one lousy guy let us both down, right?"

Pondering these words for a few long minutes, Serena couldn't deny the truth behind them. True, battling with Chespin just once filled her with a certain excitement she couldn't explain. Never would she have predicted that she'd ever feel that way about Pokémon at all, and certainly not battling.

"Take some time to think it over, all right?" Grace looked into Serena's eyes. She could see the longing for adventure deep down beneath her nonchalant surface. She, more than anyone, knew her daughter had more potential that anyone.

Serena took her Chespin up to her room, thoughts traveling a million miles per hour in her head.

"Chespin, how is it possible that my life could completely change in a matter of hours?" The honey blonde woman laid backwards onto her bed as she stared at the ceiling. Chespin watched the girl attentively as she spoke her thoughts aloud. "I never even considered going on a journey. But…" She looked at Chespin, "that was before I met you, of course."

'Aw, Serena, you'll make me blush," Chespin grew flustered. Serena did not have the gift of understanding her new Pokémon, although she somehow found it possible to understand how it felt.

"I don't know about you," she started, "but I think we made a pretty good team against Shauna, didn't we?"

'Yeah! I told you I'd be strong!'

"If I go on this journey, I'll see so much…" She took a moment to breathe. "We can see all the big cities of Kalos, meet so many people, and maybe even challenge gym battles." Chespin eyed her in anticipation. "But Mom… she says she's fine, but I think she's just putting on a brave front. There's no way she can bounce back so quickly from dad walking out on us.

"Then again, what would I do if I stay here? Let Mom keep cooking me dinner? Keep leeching off her money? Have her do my laundry for the rest of my life? I mean, I need to grow up eventually, right? I'm already eighteen… maybe it is time for me to be independent for once." She rolled to her side, clutching her Torchic plushie close to her body. She felt a nauseatingly painful twist in her heart. "It's kind of scary.

"Although," Gently biting her lip, she took a moment to calm her pounding heart, "this could be the chance I've been looking for - my chance to prove to my no-good dad how great I can be. How greatyou and I can be, Chespin." She grinned at her partner. "I'd like nothing more than to show him that he has made the worst mistake of his life."

'Serena…' Chespin cooed, sensing the solemnity in her quiet voice.

"This is completely new territory to me, Chespin," Suddenly, she sat up swiftly, "but I think we've been given a great opportunity…"

'What are you saying, Serena?' Chespin tilted its head.

"I think…." Serena turned her head to her window, seeing the flock of Fletchling fly by as they sang a song in perfect harmony, "... that our journey begins today. What do you say, Chase?'

Chespin's heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name. Black eyes beamed in joy as a huge smile crept upon its face. Chase pounced onto her lap as it pulled its trainer into the tightest hug possible.

'Yes! Yes, yes, yes!' it cried in delight. 'Let's show the world what we can do!'