After about twenty minutes of walking, the two new Trainers reached a blue and white one story house. Hanging above the door was a banner that read, 'Congratulations!'. As they stepped onto the porch the door swung open, and a pair of arms grabbed each trainer and pulled them in.
"Congratulations my boys!"
Their grandfather, Joshua, exclaimed, bringing them into an Ursaring hug. He was a short, dark and leathery skinned man, with gray stubble and balding hair. The two cousins were much closer to each other than they preferred to be and wriggled out of their grandpa's tight embrace and greeted everyone else.
"Welcome back, Marek!" Now it was Marek who would be pulled into a hug, this time by his mother, Myra. However, he had no problem returning it, since he had not seen his mom for 8 months.
"Come here Erick, don't think you can just stand there and not hug your own grandma!"
With a yank Erick was enveloped by his other grandparent, Carmela. She was also short, the dark red hair on her head barely reaching Erick's chin, although not as short as her husband. She was, however, just as enthusiastic as everyone else to have her grandkids back home after 4 years at the Academy.
With the hugfest over, Marek noticed the house felt a bit empty.
"Where's dad? And Aunt Lola and Uncle Emile?"
Myra's happy smile turned into a disappointed frown.
"Your father was called to the Lunao Islands about a week ago. He really wanted to be here for when you got back, but they said it was important." she said, with a sigh.
Marek's father was a Solacian Official, a high ranking and powerful trainer used by the League to handle Pokémon-related situations across the Region.
"And Erick, your family wanted to be here, but apparently something disturbed the Pokémon in the Eccentric Forest, and that whole route is closed."
Both trainers were visibly disappointed by the news. Marek hadn't seen his father in person since he started his third year at the Academy, and Erick had been away from his family for a year.
"Bah, to heck with them! More cake for us!" Said their grandpa, in between mouthfuls of chocolate cake.
"Joshua! Have some respect, it's their cake!" scolded Carmela, taking away her husband's plate of cake slices and slapping his hands away as they reached for more.
"it's ok mom, maybe we'll run into them on our journey." said Marek.
"That's right!" exclaimed Erick, "Appocrest City has a Gym, we'll visit my parents before we challenge it!"
"That's great, boys. However, just because they're not here doesn't mean they didn't send you guys a graduation present." Said Myra with a wink. The cousins looked at each other, and then to the two small wooden boxes next to the cake.
"Go ahead, open them!"
No sooner were those words said that each trainer had their corresponding boxes in their hands. Marek shook his box and heard something roll inside, bringing a smile to his face.
"Your Father didn't forget the promise he made you and Erick, honey."
As he lifted as lifted the lid off the top of the box, Marek looked in amazement. Inside was a beautifully crafted Pokéball, with a light gray bottom half and button in the center, and reflective steel band around the middle what caught his eye was the top half of the ball. Unlike the standard red Pokéball, it was a darker, deeper red, which seemed to glow and pulse slightly.
Taking it out slowly and carefully as if made of glass instead of durable steel, Marek, lifted his arm and aimed it at the space in front of him. A red laser came from the ball and began to materialize the creature within. Once it was done the Pokémon gave a high pitched growl. Marek didn't need his Pokédex to figure out it's name, he knew everything about this Pokémon's species.
"A Charmander." Was all he could say.
"Fahren laid an egg a few months ago, and this Charmander is the first one that hatched." Marek's mother informed him. Fahren was one of his father's Charizard, the name short for Fahrenheit.
"A Bulbasaur! How awesome is this!?"
Unlike Marek, Erick could not contain his excitement and knelt down in front of the four legged Pokémon, studying it. The Bulbasaur apparently did not like to have its personal space violated, and left a red mark on its trainers cheek as it extended a vine and slapped Erick.
"Well, the boy's certainly won't have any trouble controlling they're new Pokémon." Said Carmela with a chuckle.
"You know boys, this is a vast, untamed Region, maybe I should go on a journey and collect badges with you two!" suggested Joshua, with a big grin.
The two boys looked at each other, then at their grandma, silently begging for help. It would do no help to their popularity to be traveling with their grandfather.
"Oh hush Joshua! Traveling the Region is no adventure for a man your age!" said Carmela, saving her grandkids from that embarrassment.
"Nonsense, Poliwrath can handle any wild Pokémon!" The old man bragged, unclipping his oldest Pokémon's ball from his belt and holding it in his hand.
"You'll have a heart attack as soon as you have an exciting battle!"
"Ok! I say we have some cake before the boys leave on their journey!" Mayra said, breaking up the argument between her parents.
xXx
"How long will it take to get to the next nearest Gym?" Erick wondered aloud.
They both decided that leaving the Fire Type Gym in Kelso City for their last gym battle would he best, as they could come earn their 8th badge and revisit their families.
"Hmm, I'm not sure actually. Does Varsaville Town have one?"
After having left Marek's house and eaten a slice of cake (A Water Pulse accident from Grandpa's Poliwrath prevented everyone from getting a second slice), the two trainers were now walking by the city limits, and would be reaching the Gate.
Kelso City was surrounded by a large stone wall, like a lot of the big cities in Solacia were. It was a remnant of the Old Age, when Pokémon were more savage and humans had not learned how to train them. The Gate, once used to let travelers in and out, was not a necessity anymore but was kept manned by guards to continue the City's tradition.
"Guys! Wait up!"
The tranquility of the area was broken as the distant voice of a teenager called out to the cousins. Startled, they turned around to see who was trying to catch up to them.
A boy, in a white Jean jacket, dark blue jeans, black combat boots, and black shirt with the Fire Type symbol at the center was running towards them on the path. From a distance he was unfamiliar, but the two cousins could correctly guess who it was from a mile away thanks to his deep, blood red hair. It was flat in the middle but cane up in spikes around the sides, giving it a slight resemblance to horns.
Running a few feet behind him was a small blue Pokémon with stubby legs, and gray ridges on it's head.
"Ryu? I thought he'd be ahead of us by now." said Marek.
"Hey Ryu! What're you doing so behind us? You were one of the first of the boat!" Asked Erick, now that Ryu had closed the distance between them.
"Man, I'm glad you guys stopped, it isn't easy running in these boots!" said Ryu, catching his breath before answering the question. The Pokémon that was with him also tried to catch its breath as it panted heavily
"I wanted to visit some of my family before I left, I didn't plan on taking so long but I guess I took longer than I thought." He answered.
Ryu then noticed that both of his friends had TWO Pokéballs on their belt as opposed to his lone one.
"You guys have two each already?! We Barely got off the boat!"
"Yeah, we got one from the Professor and one from my dad." Said Marek, a little embarrassed that that his Pokémon were given to him instead of earned. He eyed Ryu's Pokémon with curiosity, noticing the teeth protruding from its mouth and it's reptilian features.
"Well, it just so happens that I also got my Pokémon from my dad." Said Ryu, gesturing to the Blue creature which was standing proudly. "One of his Pokémon laid an egg and I got to keep the Bagon."
"Ya know, it's a little known rule that trainers who make eye contact HAVE to battle." Erick said with a sly smile.
"No! You already had a battle today, let me!" protested Marek.
"Rules are rules!"
Ryu just stood there, nervously watching the two cousins argue.
"Alright fine! But I get the next two trainers we run into!"
"Deal! Now let's move to the side of the road so I can show Ryu how I'll dominate the League!"
xXx
"This will be a one on one battle between Ryu James Ushima, and Erick Castellan. Trainers, send out your Pokémon!"
"Bulbasaur, let's get 'em!"
"Bagon, go!"
Erick's Pokémon materialized in front of him, as the Bagon quickly moved onto the field and began eying Bulbasaur and it's trainer. The
Seed Pokémon returned the dragon's glare with an unflinching and determined stare.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!"
Erick wasted no time in going on the offensive as Bulbasaur released its vine in a blur and catching Bagon unprepared. Bagon did not try to dodge but rather lowered it's head and took on the attack, flinching but otherwise seemingly unharmed.
"Now it's our turn! Bagon, Dragon Rage!"
Bulbasaur scrambled to avoid the green draconic flames. It was not fast enough, and let out a cry as its hand legs were singed.
"Bulbasaur Tackle!"
"Use Headbutt!"
As both Pokémon charged towards each other, Bagon lowered its head again and leapt forward, slamming head on against Bulbasaur and pushing him back. The Grass type Pokémon was visibly stunned, it's legs shaky as it staggered back in front of its trainer.
'Bagon has a hard head, he wasn't even phased by the collision.' Thought Marek, watching the battle intently.
"Headbutt again!"
"Catch him with your vines!"
Bulbasaur's focus came back to him as he began to glow a bright green, signaling his Ability had come into effect.
Bagon leapt high into the air and came down like a torpedo, but just before he made contact again Bulbasaur managed to wrap his vines around its torso.
"Yes! Now slam him into the ground!"
Bulbasaur obeyed, flung the small dragon, and it landed on its belly instead of its head. This time Bagon was hurt, and stumbled to get up and continue fighting. Each trainer silently watched their own Pokémon, knowing it was a matter of time before they fainted.
"Headbutt/Skull Bash!"
Bulbasaur and Bagon charged towards each other once again, lowering their heads and bracing themselves. This time, however, Bulbasaur wrapped it's vines around a two trees and slingshotted himself, faster than Bagon had leapt. A loud cracK was heard, and both Pokémon fainted on impact.
"A draw?" Everyone wondered aloud.
"Well, this match ends in a draw!"
Declared Marek, raising his hand.
Erick recalled Bulbasaur and Ryu did the same, Bagon being too heavy to hold comfortably.
"Well, I guess we'll have a rematch later." said Ryu, smiling as he shook hands with Erick. "That Bulbasaur sure is tough."
"And Bagon has a rock hard head, he wasn't hurt by anything that hit it!"
The group of boys finished the remaining walk towards the city Gate, standing on the path that went two ways.
"Which way are you two going?"
"We're heading northwest, towards Hurlyburr City. Are you coming with us?" Asked Marek.
"No, I'm going to South, maybe to Coast City. I hear it has a good Gym for beginners."
"Oh, alright then. See you later man, maybe we'll run into each other again soon."
With that, the group split up, with Ryu going down a hilly path and the cousins heading into the woods.
"Hey Erick, have you ever been in these woods?"
"No, you?"
"Me neither. You think we'll get lost?"
"Nahh, we'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen, going off the path and getting attacked by a horde of rattatas?"
The two boys laughed out loud at that, finding it ridiculous that it could happen to them.