Disclaimer: Pokémon does not belong to me it belongs to the geniuses at Nintendo.

Short chapter is short.

"Mike we need to talk about next year." Mike looked up from the book he had been reading mildly surprised. In the backyard he could hear the faint yelling and shouting as his brother played with some friends.

"Yes?" He asked closing the book. His father sat down next to him on the back-porch.

"Next year you and your brother will be eligible to become pokemon trainers. Have you thought of a starter yet?" Mike raised an eyebrow. It was a bit early in the day for such future planning questions. But Mike obediently answered.

"Cyndaquil." His father hmm-ed'

"Any reason why?" Typical of his dad, a retired pokemon trainer, to ask the reasoning behind his choice. Mike was under no illusion he had to have a reason other than 'because it looked cool' thankfully his obsession with reading paid off.

"Challenge. Totodile evolves too easy and Chikorita is too…nice. Even after it's evolved all the way." His father nodded, settling down on the porch step next to him

"I want you to know, that this hasn't been an easy decision for us, your mother and I, to make." His father's voice was low causing Mike to feel slightly apprehensive about whatever he was about to be told. His father took a deep breath before continuing on. "The decision we've reached regards your brother." Mike rolled his eyes, would his dad just cut to the chase already? His dad sighed heavily. "Your brother is…well, let's be honest, he's not entirely there." Mike snorted. That was certainly true. In front of them Connor chasing after a friend tripped over his shoelace. He landed hard face first on the ground. After crawling back to his feet unsteadily and setting off again he promptly tripped over the same shoelace. Both of the watchers sighed.

"Your mother and I think that he isn't ready to go out journeying just yet." Mike shot him a disbelieving look. They honestly weren't going to… "We want him to stay here until he's twelve." Mike deflated, Connor wouldn't be happy to say the least. "That doesn't necessarily apply to you. If you want to go then you have our blessing." Mike tapped his fingers against his book's cover.

"But Connor can't."

"No."

"Not even if he stays with me?"

"Mike, Connor can't go. That's final." Mike sighed, that left only one option open to him.

"Then I'll be staying here with him." His father nodded and stood up, clapping Mike on the shoulder as he did.

"Thought you'd say that." Mike re-opened the book. "Connor! Come here for a moment please!" His father called. "I have to talk to you in the house." Mike turned to the page he had been reading, tilting his head in acknowledgment as his twin passed him on the steps. He didn't start reading again until he heard the raised voices coming from inside the house and the slam of a door.

It was true his brother wasn't an entirely responsible or terribly mature kid. Heck just last week Connor got lost on the way home from the school, when Mike had to stay home sick, he was even walking the same route he always had! He probably wouldn't last too long on his own. Even if Connor did wait two years, chances were things wouldn't change that much and he would still be a danger to himself and others. Mike could wait the extra two years to make sure his brother didn't wind up as wild pokemon food, lost in a safari zone somewhere or part of some kind of freak accident. Leave it to his brother to find some un-heard of way to die or get horribly maimed.

So that whole problem of how to keep both himself and Connor alive and in one piece to a ripe old age had just gotten a tad bit easier. But still needed some work, like how to convince Connor that Chikorita and not totodile was the starter for him? Honestly, any pokemon with teeth that sharp would wind up taking a chunk out of him sooner or later. Chikorita was a much safer choice by far. Of course Connor didn't see it that way Chikorita was just not 'manly' enough for him. The giant purple flower Meganium sported might have had a hand in Connor's steadfast decision. Flowers, he had claimed one bright sunny day, were for girls, not boys who were going to be powerful trainers. Mike snorted all this from the guy that still slept with his Pikachu nightlight on and stuffed Teddiursa bear firmly in hand. Chikorita was what his brother could handle, chances were one look at a real Totodile instead of a picture and his brother would be lunging for the Chikorita. And it would probably have been the teeth to set him off Totodile as well.

Author's Notes:

-Connor and Mike don't have as much 'extra stuff' as Tess does. It's also why I piggy-backed the two chapters together.

-I think sending a ten-year old kid out to traverse around the country with criminal organizations running around and armed with super-powered pets is probably irresponsible parenting. So my OCs' parents are a bit…more strict then other kids' parents. Also Connor's parents and Mike take a very…child-proofing the world approach with Connor. If it has sharp edges he's not allowed near it until he reaches a respectable age.

-Anyone find it a bit ironic that Connor, who's a pretty impatient idiotic kid, develops into a battle style that hinges on him being both patient and smart?