I ran along Route 29 until it turned into true wilderness. The grass around the path got taller and taller. It was so thick that you could hardly see through it, and it moved with the breeze ocean waves. It reminded me of my family's vacation on the S.S. Anne.

I remember standing on the edge of the ship's deck on a clear, sunny day, staring out into the dark blue ocean when I noticed a shadow beneath the surface. It wasn't easy to see, not because it was faint or small, quite the opposite, really. In fact, the shadow was at least as big as the ship itself - maybe bigger! I stood frozen in fear, watching the shadow move slowly under the surface. It had huge wings like a bird, but it's body was big and round like a sentret's tail. Eventually, it faded away into the deep and I was able to move again.

The tall grass caused a shudder to run down my spine. What could be in there?

Well, there was only one way to find out. I gripped the pokéball on my belt, swallowed my fear and stepped into the grass. I was a pokémon trainer now, I couldn't be afraid of some grass!

The leafy blades reached up past my waist as I waded through the foliage. I stepped slowly and carefully, paying the utmost attention to my surroundings.

Suddenly, there was a rustle nearby. I turned toward the direction of the sound, my hand still on my pokéball. I squinted and peered through the grass trying to make anything out. Then I saw it. A long, round shadow with wings like a bird. My stomach dropped. My palms went wet and clammy. How was was I seeing this again? How could it be here?

It moved and the grass shook around it. A gust of wind pushed back the grass round it as it leapt up out of the grass. I ripped my pokéball from my belt and threw it into the sky.

"GO, RAE!"

A flash of light burst from the pokéball as the power was released from inside. Like red lightning, the power crackled to the ground. I caught the now empty pokéball and watched as the power took form.

Rae, the tyrogue my late father gave me, stood before my the grass clearing. His eyes shot upward toward our foe as it dove toward him in a tackle, letting out it's cry.

"Piipipi!"

It was a pidgey! The small bird pokémon launched itself at Rae, but missed. I called out to Rae for his counterattack.

"Rae, use Mach Punch!"

Rae flashed his eyes my way and gave a quick nod before squaring up with the pidgey again. In a flash, he braced in a low stance and darted toward the wild pokémon. Rae's fist shot forward and connected hard on the pidgey's body.

"All right! Way to go, dude!" I shouted our success toward the battle. "Hit it again with another Mach Punch!"

Once more, Rae launched himself forward and socked the bird in the gut. This time, the wild pidgey backed off and then charged in for another tackle. Rae couldn't avoid this one, and took a direct hit. He did his best to absorb the blow, but it was clear that some damage was done.

I looked at the enemy pidgey and could see it was much worse for wear. We could win it with one more hit. I called again to Rae.

"One last time! MACH PUNCH!"

In a flurry of lightning fast movement, Rae released another jab at the wild pokémon and sealed the deal. The pidgey dropped out of the air and hit the ground in a heap. A solid KO. It quickly recovered and bounced away on it's feet into the trees.

I was overjoyed. I couldn't believe it. I'd come out of my first encounter victorious. I was a real pokémon trainer!

"We did it, Rae!" I exclaimed. I ran to Rae and threw a hard punch toward him. He jabbed right back and our fists cracked together with a loud snap.

"Yowch!" I yelled. "Maybe we should practice our fist bumps a little more..." I said sheepishly.