Okay, I got some spare clothes, food, blankets, and my money that I have saved up (my dad tells me it's 3,000 Poke dollars). I don't think I need anything else. It sure is a pain trying to get everything to fit my backpack. It's a good thing dad had some extra belts, where you can attach Poke balls to them, or I would have no room for Torchic's ball. His belt probably doesn't go with my outfit but I couldn't care less.

While I'm getting everything ready Torchic is off exploring my unpacked room. I'm glad; he shares my love for exploring. We make a great pair! He pecks at some boxes, which causes them to fall over but he never runs to me for protection. He's strong. We'll beat Brendan for sure!

"Torchic! The little chic shouts with a muffled mouth-er-beak. He hopes into my lap and places a thin smooth cloth onto my open hand. I rub the cloth between my fingers to get a feel for it. It's the bandana; dad bought me for moving here. I guess he wants me to wear it but I don't really know how to put it on. So I shove it into my pocket and this doesn't please him. He's trying to pull it out.

"I'm sorry, but I don't know how to put it on," I admit and he stops; I'm forgiven. He jumps off my lap to go back to investigating.

I go through my bag again to double check. I'm sure this everything I'll need for now. I wish I knew what people bring on their journey. I throw my backpack over my shoulders and stand up. My Pokemon stops whatever he's doing to come by side, like the loyal guy he is.

I need to leave before my mom realizes I'm not at the neighbor's. It's now or never! If-no when-I defeat him my journey will finally begin. I'm getting super excited! "Lets do this!" I cheer and Torchic joins in. He rushes to the door, he's just as excited, good.

Seesh, I'm just getting all giddy just leaving town by myself. I don't think my smile will ever leave my face. I take back all the bad things I said about Hoenn before arriving. This is the best place ever!

Huh? Growling? It sounds familiar. "Pooch!" the mysterious Pokemon howls. This familiar smell and sound it's gotta be the same Pokemon from before. So it's come for revenge. Bring it! Its four legs are pounding against the ground, it's using tackle. Wait a minute! It's coming for me! Fine than, if that's how it wants to play.

"Torchic use scratch!" I command and my starter complies. Torchic charges at my attacker and flails his legs around. The strange Pokemon cries and turns its sights on my Pokemon. "Don't back down!"

The fire chic growls and his opponent counters with howl. Pesky attack. My determined little chick keeps up the growls and the other keeps up the howls. It has come down to battle of who's the loudest. Not the most interesting battle but I'm still exhilarated!

Finally the unknown Pokemon's voice gives and Torchic can finally do a successful growl. Not wasting this chance the fire bird goes in and takes out the Pokemon. My little chick tries to cheer but his voice is harsh, poor thing. I give him some water to drink and message his throat and this nearly perks him up. I congratulate him with a scratch near the puff on his head and he erupts in cheers. I swear he's too cute for words!

Trying to pat the head of the loser I'm nearly bit in the process. He's a sore loser. I poor some water into a bowl for him and he angrily drinks. "We're always up for a rematch whenever we are in the area, okay?" The Pokemon huffs at me and walks away. It'll be back, that's for sure. But the thing is when will we be back? Hopefully it won't be to soon. I want to enjoy and take my time on this journey but I need to rush to get my parents' approval, oh well...

Oldale Town really isn't that far from Littleroot. Why don't the people of Littleroot just merge with Oldale, seeing as how it's just a skip and a hop away? There's nothing here either; it's not like they'll be giving anything up. I don't see what's so great about small towns.

"You there! Are you a new trainer?" some man asks as he approaches me. Torchic stops wondering around to stand protectively besides me, my little bodyguard. I nod yes and for some reason this excites him. He grabs my wrist and starts to drag me away, with Torchic struggling to keep up.

From what I can hear he's wearing pants, short sleeves, and some weird long outfit that only covers his front. He also has short hair. His hand his much larger than mine and his voice is deep so he's gotta be taller and older than me. There's also the distinct smell of Pine-sol. I think he works at some market. Than that weird outfit is probably an apron or something.

Finally we stop at his destination, right in the middle of this small town, and he lets go of my hand. "This is the Poke Mart where trainers come for all their needs," he explains. I already know this but I let him continue, he sure seems happy. He places a strange device in my hands; it feels kind of like a spray bottle. "That's a potion. Use it to treat small wounds for Pokemon."

He's giving me something this valuable for free? There's has to be a catch. "I can really have this for free?" I ask skeptically.

"Yup, it's part of a promotion. Stop by the Poke Mart whenever you need more."

"Thank you and I will!" I say and leave. I sure got lucky. With my newly acquired item, I'm even more prepared for Brendan!

I pass through the town just as quickly as I arrived and now I'm at the start of route 103. I rushed here in excitement but now my nerves are getting the better of me. This battle will make or break my journey. And it doesn't help that he has more experience than me.

Ow! Torchic is pecking at my leg and shoving his head into the same leg. He doesn't like me hesitating, what an impatient little guy. He's just my type, now if only he was a human. This isn't like me. I rush into things before thinking (or at least I want to start being like that). I pat my brilliant Pokemon on his head and we start to rush towards our future.

Is everything in Hoenn short? I got to the end of this route faster than it took for me to walk from one end of Littleroot to the other. Really! These people should just combine everything. Anyway, just like the professor said his son is here. I hear the sound of a pencil scratching against some papers, on something hard, a clipboard probably, and he's muttering about Pokemon (none of the names I recognize) and stuff. So, he's going to follow in his father's footsteps; that's a great dream. I'm going to surpass mine!

I walk harder so that he can hear my footsteps but he hasn't noticed, to engross in his work. He could get attacked like this. Time to mess-I mean-teach him a lesson! "Whatcha doing?" I say, stretching each word. He jumps and drops his pencil but he holds onto his papers, my plan succeeded.

"M-May? W-what are you d-doing here!" He stutters. Why is he nervous? Is it because he doesn't really know me? It's not like he took the time to get to know me. And even so, he's supposed to be cocky, cocky people don't stutter. I just don't get him.

"We're here to battle!" Torchic chirps in agreement.

"Hey Torchic, is she really your trainer?" He bends down to be eye level with the bird. Does he doubt me? Well, there's his cocky side. My loyal bird chirps again and stands by my side. "Dad actually gave you Torchic?" he says more to himself. I don't like his attitude.

"Yup! So, lets battle!" I'm going to knock him off his pedestal.

He gets up slowly and jitters around. What is wrong with him? "Are you sure?" he finally asks, weakly, after a moment of silence. Does the professor not know what cocky means?

"Yeah, I'm sure! Ready Torchic?" Singing happily my little fire bird hops in front of me. He's definitely ready.

Sighing Brendan and walks a bit in front of us. He unclips a ball from his belt and twirls it in his hands. He sure is taking his sweet time. I don't have time to be wasting! Tapping my foot loudly I hope he gets my need for him to hurry up. Still twirling the ball in his hands he's unaware of my growing impatience so Torchic takes matters into his own hands. He pecks at Brendan until he drops the ball and out pops his Pokemon.

"Mudkip!" shouts the Pokemon once it's freed. I don't recognize that cry! I have no idea what type it is or what moves it knows. Great, he has another advantage.

But I shall prevail! "Torchic use scratch!" I barely get to finish before the tiny bird is already in the process of attacking.

"Mudkip use tackle! No growl..." he commands poorly and the Pokemon is confused. You're supposed to dive into battles (or at least that's what dad tells me). Really now, where is his cocky side? At least I have some kind of idea what his Pokemon is like.

Right before the scratch lands Mudkip manages to growl and weaken the attack but not by much. The cries of pain from the foe fill this clearing but Brendan is doing nothing. I can sense that his Pokemon is well trained and loved so what's holding him back? Maybe this is a trap? I doubt it; I'm not getting that vibe. But I am getting the feeling that something is bothering him and it's not this battle.

"Torchic stops." Surprisingly my chic stops, he must feel the same. Both Pokemon go to their respectable trainer.

"What is wrong? This is my first battle and this isn't how it's supposed to go!" I roar at him. I won't feel proud of myself if I win this battle like this and my journey won't be as great...

"But-" he tries to start but I'm not going to let him.

"No buts! Right now you're letting your Pokemon down!" He quickly shuts up and turns to his Mudkip. The Mudkip coos softly as his trainer pats his head.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't being fair to you. But I'm the ready, the thing is are you?" he asks smugly. There's that cocky side, perfect. Now, here's the battle I've been wanting. Our Pokemon stand proudly ready to get things started.

"Mudkip use Watergun!" Watergun? It's a water type? Oh, come on! How many advantages does this guy have?

The little Pokemon has already unleashed the attack. The mist, it generated, feels nice against my skin in this warm region but I believe that my fire Pokemon will disagree. Will he be alright? Torchic cries out but it isn't a cry of pain but something else. Hissing follows the cry and then hot air brushes my skin. It's probably steam. Wait! Steam? Torchic must have just learned a fire move! The professor told me that Torchic was a young Pokemon so he probably learned the weakest fire move, Ember. That's my boy!

"Use growl and then tackle," Brendan quickly rebounds.

I can't fall behind! "Torchic, you too use growl and then scratch."

The area is filled with their growls before the sound of their stomping feet takes over. My light little bird is not match for the heavy, whatever type it is, as the tackle sent the wingless bird flying. But that won't keep us down! What Torchic lacks in weight he makes up with speed! Speed is a deadly advantage!

"Torchic run around him until you spot an opening!" I quickly shout and my Pokemon springs into action.

"Nice try. Mudkip use Watergun!"

"Ember!"

Again steam is the byproduct of the collision of the attacks. The steam is a good cover and Torchic realizes it too. He quickly ambushes the water Pokemon and scratches away. Mudkip desperately tries to knock away its attacker but is having no luck.

Time to finish this battle in my favor. "Ember!" The spew of fire does indeed end the battle. We won...We won! In celebration I pick up my little tiny fighter and spin around in joy with him cheering, greatly!

Clapping and mumbling stops our victory celebration as Brendan walks over to me, his hand outstretched. I shake his hand awkwardly, my first handshake. With the shake over with he immediately pulls his hand back and slips both behind his head. A sigh escapes his lips as he takes a few steps passed me.

"I'm a bit annoyed that you beat me. I've been a trainer a lot longer than you! But I deserve the lost for underestimating you," he says with the annoyance to match his words. That's what you get for underestimating me! There is nothing I can't do! "I'm also sorry for the way I've been acting around you."

"Why the weird acting?" I ask purely out of curiosity.

"I just didn't know how to act around a..." He shifts around nervously, unsure of how to phrase it. He knew? Of course he would... My parents never leave that fact out... "But I see now that it was wrong of me to assume you can't do anything because of it. You beat me fair and square."

"That's okay, Brendan," I say to comfort him from guilt. At least he realizes I can do stuff now.

"Call me Ruby, like my eye color." They must be pretties eyes.

"Well in that case you can call me Sapphire." I was originally going to be name that for the pretty blue eyes my parents were expecting, instead of the dull, dead gray eyes (as someone once told me).

"Hey, give me your trainer's card so that I can give you your earnings." His voice snaps me out of my thoughts. I completely forgot about those.

"I don't have one..." I reply sheepishly.

"That's okay. Lets go get one at the center and while we are there we can get our Pokemon healed." Sounds like a good idea so I nod yes, and have him lead the way.

I won! That means I get to go on a journey! All my excitement and giddiness from before has returned tenfold. I'm going to explode if I don't start soon! Hopefully getting my card won't take so long. Tomorrow never looked so bright before!

Getting my trainer's card is surprisingly easy. The nurse just asked me a few questions, like what's my name? age? and other similar things. Once the Q&A was done she just printed the card and that was it. I'm now a certified trainer with 3,300 poke dollars on my card! Look out Hoenn Champion I'm coming for you!

With our Pokemon healed comes a problem, ditching Brendan. It's getting late so he's suggestion that we go back to Littleroot together. I can't do that or I'll never get to live my dream! When I told him that I wanted to look around a bit and that I would go back later he offered to show me around. I'm down to my last hope!

"I have to go to the restroom," I quickly say and rush for it, leaving the boy behind.

Thank goodness this bathroom has a window, time to sneak out. Sorry Brendan I got a goal and nothing is going to stop me. Please understand and don't hate me the next time we meet!

Looks like on my first day of adventuring and I'm already camping. Perfect!

0-0 I thought the last chapter was hard to write this was so much worst! I really don't like how the battle scene turned out. Hopefully I'll get better!

On a different note, should May give nicknames to her Pokemon?

You know what will make my day? Reviews! So, why not put a smile on my face and review? Please!