"Simba! There you are! May and I have been waiting for quite a while now. Anyways, seeing as you two are going to be off on a journey against your parents wishes...might as well make it worthwhile for me as well, eh?"

Birch seemed to drone on as I stood next to May, waiting for him to finish so we could leave. I yawned, giving out a small grunt of thanks as May and Birch handed me Pokeballs and a Pokedex respectively. I turned and left, not wanting to drag out this event to much. The dark sky was a testament to the long day, telling me to rest up a bit before I left. I altered my course as to head for my house instead of the path.

My mother was waiting for me, a tear in her eye. "Simba..." she choked."I really am sad that you have to leave once again, but-"

"Mom!' I shouted, interrupting her mid-sentence. "I know the drill...we've done this before, only a few years before...remember? Johto?"

She sniffled. "Ah, well. I tried. Keep it up for appearance, you know?" She wiped a sleeve across her eyes. "Well...won't you at least spend the night? It's getting late..."

I nodded. "Sure thing, Mom. Least I can do." With that remark, I stepped over the threshold of my home and spent what would be the last night I would ever spend there.

"At least the footprint freak moved..." Rwint commented as we stepped onto Route 103. After leaving my house in the morning, I ran through Route 101, catching a Wurmple, Kyla, on my water on the surface of the nearby pond rippled. "I wonder what the rest of the team will end up being...mayhaps you'll find me a nice Gardevoir, eh? Ow!" Rwint yelped as I slapped him.

"Aren't you a little young to be thinking about that?" I stated. "Besides, Ralts are very rare, and the likelihood of me finding one as the first Pokemon on this Route is very...slim..." I trailed off as I spied a flash of blue in the grass. "Rwint...get ready..."

As we both stood prepared, the blur slowed enough for me to see it. "Holy...a Surskit? What are the odds! Rwint, Pound!"

Luckily, Rwint could be very quick when he wanted, but this bug was comparable to Sonic, and the light drizzle wasn't helping. "Rwint, intercept it! It favors right turns!" He automatically knew what I meant, as we spent nearly an hour going over battle strategies. Juking right, he surprised the water-bug, knocking it onto its side. Capturing it was a matter of hitting it with a Pokeball. And thus I added Morna to my team.

The route was simple enough, and by the time I reached Petalburg, they were well-trained, Kyla having evolved. After a quick run to the Pokemon Center, I walked up to the pride and joy of Norman; my father and the leader of the local Gym. However, a young brown-haired boy beat me to the door. "Sorry!" he panted. "I need to get help with my first Pokemon!"

Not understanding what he meant, I followed out of curiosity. Once inside, I saw my father handing the kid two Pokeballs, one of which I knew held a lower leveled Ziggie. As I walked up to them, Norman called me over. "Simba! My son, how are you doing! I see you finally moved in! Anyways, would you mind helping Wally catch his first Pokemon? You should be his escort, just in case. C'mon, get out there!" Now I saw why there weren't that many Trainers my age. Adults never gave you a chance to talk. Is that why Red was like that when I fought him?

Shrugging, I followed Wally to Route 103, where he managed to catch Ralts, completely on his own, no help, with it being the first thing he saw, and in one Pokeball. Lucky bastard. After returning Ziggie to my father, he explained to me that I had to get four Gym badges before I could challenge him, the first of which should be from Roxxane in Rustboro. With that helpful tidbit, I made my way to Route 104, where everything would change...

Kyla was bouncing along behind me, being a Cascoon and all. "Simba..."she said. "Can't you feel it? Something's going to happen...the air is...stiff, and static-y..."

"I know what you mean...I'm sending out the others, just in case..." Upon coming out of their Pokeballs, the three Pokemon huddled together, the clouds seeming to darken and the air becoming cooler. To my right was a patch of tall grass. I avoided it like the plague and headed left to the beach in order to go around. However, I wasn't expecting a trainer out here today, especially a Youngster so upbeat. As we made eye-contact, a silent pact was made and we both sent out our first Pokemon.

It was Kyla versus Seedot. It's only offensive move was Bide, and that could be countered with Harden and String Shot. You know, I was going to get rid of those moves as soon as possible. I mean, really, who though of that combo! In between Bides, however, Kyla Poison Stung the acorn until it fainted.

My knees buckled as he sent out his only other Pokemon, Tailow. It was only now I realized my mistakes. Every one of my three Pokemon were weak against Flying Types, and this one was the same level as my Pokemon. This could not end well. I switched to Morna, praying the Tailow would forget it knew Peck. My luck ran out on the second Bubble attack as the Tailow as it assaulted my Pokemon, blood appearing from where it struck. My jaw dropped. Since when were Pokemon actually harmed in battles? Morna managed to glide over to me on her own blood, her blue coloring becoming paler as time wore on. As she collapsed on my foot, I heard her sigh. "Simba...please win this...for me...don't...give up...stay...strong..." She gave one last endearing look before her small eyes clouded over, her body lying crumpled pitifully at my crimson-soaked feet.

"You...bastard...you actually killed her..." I looked up, an evil grin on my face. "And you shall pay...Rwint, you're up..."

Rwint stood shaking on the blood-soaked grass, scared out of his life, but still willing to fight and, if need be, die for me. The only option was complete offense, hoping the Tailow wouldn't use Peck. For about four turns, Rwint pounded it over and over again, silently praying, until he too was pecked. The sheer force knocked him back over to me. Grunting, Rwint pulled himself off the ground, wounded with blood staining his green shoulder, and shifted into battle stance, startled as I recalled him. "Sorry, another Peck will kill you...Kyla...please win this..."

As the pink cocoon fell in beside me, we looked at each other, both knowing what would happen. "Kyla...please forgive me, but this is the only way..."Instead of fighting, I reached into my bag and dug out a Potion. However, I didn't heal Kyla, instead using it on a very confused Rwint.

"Simba! What are you doing! I'm not in danger, and Kyla is already weakened! If you do this, she'll die for sure! Please, heal her instead! Please don't do this!" Rwint was in tears as the stinging spray was applied.

"Rwint," I started, wanting both him and Kyla to understand. "I need to do this, because Kyla souldn't be able to take a Peck at full health, unless she used Harden, but Tailows are too quick, and being a cocoon doesn't help none. By healing you, Rwint, there is a chance we can pull this off. t's health is low enough to faint from two Pounds...and Kyla..." I stopped, pulling her into a tearful hug. "Just know I tried, okay? If you...die...know that I'll never forget you...now...let's do this together, one last time!"

Me and Kyla stood side-by-side, the wind blowing across the sand and waves. Technically, it was the other Trainer's turn, as I had used mine to heal Rwint.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I watched Kyla be ripped apart from the Tailow, her pained cries echoing in my ears. As the hollow shell was thrown to my feet, the transparent blood everywhere, I snapped.

"Rwint..."

The lizard looked at me expectantly, his look of determination being replaced by one of shock.

"Kill it. Now..."

Rwint was too shocked at the command to even argue, and his face changed to one of anger as he remembered the blood that had been shed. He wanted vengeance. He wanted revenge.

As his eyes reddened, he lunged at the unsuspecting Tailow, teeth bared,as the Youngster stood paralyzed with profound fear. A harsh cry ripped the air, and Rwint looked up as he finished the fight. Standing up, scarlet blood dripped from his body, forming a pool at his feet. He grinned, blood dripping from his red teeth, as he chuckled. As he took a step forward, crushing the small bones of the bird underfoot, he said one word to the Trainer.

"Run..."