Prologue: The First of Many to Fall

Reno Black scaled the wall of the huge Phantom castle, her best friend Arrow (Riolu) by her side. "We'll show Cheren and his stupid facts!" she snickered. She stood on the wall, hands on her six-year old hips. "Are you okay, Arrow?"

Could be better, he sniffed. Let's show that Cheren who's the best explorer pair ever. Her Riolu closed his eyes and concentrated his aura-seeking abilities.

Reno calmly sat on the five story stone wall, content to wait until Arrow had located her missing hat. "That guy knows nothing about being a Pokémon trainer but he acts like such a know-it-all! Just because he has the greatest grades in school…" she sulked.

You could too, if you tried! Arrow pointed out. You live in a Pokémon Ranch-slash-Pokémon lab.

Reno puffed up her cheeks and turned her head away from him. "That's nothing! I bet I could beat him in a real battle. And when we become trainers, I will."

Arrow rolled his crimson eyes and gestured to a far off tree. I found your hat. Let's go, and show Cheren who's the lame Fighting-type.

Reno beamed at her Pokémon friend. "Now who has a grudge against Cheren the Know-It-All?"

N walked around the with his Purrloin by his side. "I know that he's only trying to help, but he's so rude sometimes…"

Suddenly, Purrloin stopped in his tracks. "I sense a human."

N stiffened. "Is it Ghestis?" he asked of his best friend.

Purrloin shook his head. "It's a smaller one. And it's not alone. It has a Pokémon with it."

N straightened. "Intruders! This is perfect!"

At Purrloin's puzzled electric blue gaze, N hastened to explain. "If I can liberate this Pokémon from its trainer, then I can prove I'm fit to lead Team Plasma!"

Purrloin smiled. "I'm behind you."

N smiled. "Thank you, Purr."

Purr shrugged and gestured to a tree in the distance. "They're heading this way."

N nodded and together they took off toward the tree.

Reno proudly reclaimed her hat from its perch on a branch. She dusted a few leaves off the red and white material and smiled. "Mission: complete! Let's roll out, Arrow."

Yeah, and we'll still make it for lunch at home. Mmmm, I can taste those Castilla cones now… Arrow marveled from next to her.

Swinging down to land artfully on her feet below, Reno waited for her Riolu friend at the bottom as he tried to plot their route out without being seen. The guards she'd seen crawling the place from the air looked scary, like her mom when Reno had ripped her new party dress beating up Larry the bully.

She leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. An old Pokémon song came to mind. "I wanna be the very best, that no one ever was… To catch them is my real test. To train them is my cause…" Her stomach grumbled.

She checked her pockets for anything she and Arrow could share and eat. She found a Rage Candy Bar, her brother had given her. "Yum; Arrow, I have a candy bar! Wanna share it! It's got Oran Berry filling, your favorite."

Arrow was down is seconds. Oh, I want some! I love Oran Berry!

Just as she unwrapped it, a kid about her age and a Purrloin showed up. They both glared at her. Puzzled, she held out the candy bar to them. "You want some too? It has four pieces."

Arrow frowned. Don't share with strangers! They always take all of it and leave a little.

The boy with green hair frowned. "We don't want any bribery. We want your Riolu!"

That made Reno frown. "No way! He's my friend. I'm not giving him up."

These guys look like they mean business; when I use my Smokescreen pellet, you run. I'll catch up soon as I knock that prissy Purrloin into a stupor.

The green-haired boy pointed a finger at her. "Use Scratch!" he ordered.

The Purrloin leaped at her, eyes flashing. Reno jumped back and kicked out to block a second attack. "This isn't how you battle."

Arrow leaped into action and used Force Palm to send the Devious Pokemon back into the arms of the green haired boy. Then, he took a defensive stance between them. Change of plans then. We'll fight them!

Reno shook her head. "I don't want to fight them. I just want to get out of here. Tobey's gonna be back soon to pick me up from the playground for lunch. If I'm not back by then…" She turned to face the boy and tossed him the candy bar. "It's for your Purrloin. Sorry to cut this short but, Arrow, use Dig!"

In a flurry of dirt, the pair left.

Standing there with Purr in his arms and a candy bar resting in its back, N was baffled. That Riolu had protected the girl, even attacking without command. That was something he'd never seen a Pokémon, let alone the susceptive Riolu, ever do.

He plopped onto his bottom and let Purr rest on his lap. He read the candy bar wrapper. "Rage Candy Bar," it said, "The perfect pick-me-up for Pokémon and humans alike. If you love your Pokémon, feed it to it."

He opened the wrapper and broke off one-fourth, popping into his mouth to taste. He frowned. "Too sweet… Purr, you'll love this."

As he fed Purr the candy in increments, he thought back to the girl. She'd looked his age. And she seemed to really care about his Purr, even when he'd attacked her. "She was pretty, too…" he mumbled.

"Sounds like you have a crush on a girl from outside the walls."

N frowned. "I do not. I was just saying-"