"Are you sure you have everything you need, River?" Wake asks as he sits on an armchair in my bedroom. He was fiddling around with a toy Pokeball, his eyes on me. I sigh for the eighteenth time and nod.

"Yes, I know I do. I'm taking our vacation to Hoenn as packing guidelines. Pack what you need to survive and be comfortable."

He seems to like that answer as he nods and tosses the Pokeball into the air, catching it as it fell. I watched him for a few moments, before walking over to a counter. Pulling off the sash with little notches for Pokeballs, I sigh.

"What's up?" Wake asks, tossing the toy Pokeball at my head, hitting me in the temple.

After grumbling some profanities, I toss the belt over to him. "The latch is broken; I can't use this to carry any Pokemon." He picks it up and inspects it, before placing it on the nightstand beside him.

"Well, give me a second. Just keep packing kid, you have a hell of a long journey," he says, walking out of my room. Watching him leave just made me realize that it would be a while before I got to see him again.

I sat on the edge of my bed and grabbed all my hair, bringing it to the side so I could braid it. My eyes focused on a large map of Unova spread out on the wall, and all the tacks in place of the cities and towns with gyms. My journey would begin in Nuvema Town, the town that the Pokemon Professor lived in. It seemed like a good place to start in.

Sinnoh has dealt with me for long enough, plus it would be good to get more experience. I wasn't taking any of my Pokemon with me though. I wanted to start out like a beginner. Of course I'm not a starting trainer; I've gone through six of the gyms here, before deciding to call it quits. An organization called Team Galactic caused some hell, putting my journey in my home region to rest.

Wake then decided to enter, as he tosses a sky blue belt in my direction, with a golden "W" for the belt buckle. I catch it and blink, looking at him.

"Isn't this the belt you wore when you first became the gym leader here?" I ask, clearly confused. He laughs and nods, sitting on the bed beside me.

"Yes it is. It's brought me a lot of luck in the past, so I want you to have it. Carry on my legend," he grins as I shove him playfully.

"My legend, you mean."

"Of course."

After laughing for a bit, we both grow silent. I loved my brother. He was in his late twenties though, and I had only just turned nineteen, but we were close. He clears his throat, and hands over a small dark blue box. I examine it for a moment, before warily taking it from him.

"What is this?" I inquire, looking at the small box. He smiles and leans back, looking at the roof.

"Open it and find out."

Staring at Wake curiously, I lift the box and remove a piece of cardboard sitting over top of whatever was inside. Sitting on some black velvet-like material was a Pokeball.

"Are you giving me a Pokemon?"

He simply grins.

"Oh god, Wake, you don't have too," I mutter, running my fingertip over the top of the ball. He laughs and places a hand on top of my head.

"Of course I do. I think you'll like this Pokemon, either way." He smirks. "I'm in contact with the Pokemon Professor in Unova. I asked her last week to try to find a partner for you, and I just got the Pokemon today."

With a leap onto Wake, I hug him close and laugh. He pats my back and shoves me off, grinning. "Enough with the lovin', open the Pokeball. I don't even know what she managed to get for you."

I nod with excitement, as I expand the Pokeball. My dark brown eyes travel over to him, before pressing the button on the Pokeball. After the flash of light disappeared, a Pokemon appeared on the ground, shaking its head.

The blue and black Pokemon looks up at my brother and I, taking in our shocked faces.

'Who are these guys…'

I jump as my eyes go wide, not understanding where the deep feminine voice came from. My brother seemed unfazed though, which confused me even more.

"It's a turtle! That's so awesome," Wake exclaims, clapping a hand on my back. I flinch in the faint pain, before looking at my brother.

"Did you hear that voice?"

He blinks and looks at me like I've lost my cookies, as he raises an eyebrow. "What voice?"

"I think I just heard that Pokemons thoughts," I whisper, my eyes on the turtle. It watches us curiously, as we converse.

"You're losing it, River."

I sigh and shake my head. "Maybe I was just hearing things. It's impossible to hear Pokemons thoughts, right?"

'You can understand me?'

I jump and pull my legs up off the floor and stare at the Pokemon. Wake leans away from me and just watches.

"I can understand this Pokemon Wake, what's going on?" I ask frantically. He looks to the Pokemon, and back to me, before laughing.

"I don't know. Are you sure you're listening to this Pokemons thoughts? Can you prove it, just to make sure you haven't cracked?"

Glaring, I look to the Pokemon.

"Uhh, think of something and I'll repeat it out loud. Nod if I got it right?" I ask, as Wake nods, agreeing to this plan.

'Well, where am I for starters,' the Pokemon blinks slowly. I look at Wake and clear my throat.

"The Pokemon just asked where was it," I say slowly, causing the Pokemon to nod. Wake blinks and looks stunned, as he flicks his eyes between the turtle and myself.

"Holy shit, River, you can hear its thoughts. Can you do it with any of the Pokemon here?" He asks, growing excited.

Shaking my head I crawl down to the floor, looking at the dark colored turtle Pokemon.

"No, I've never had this happen before. Maybe it's exclusively Unova Pokemon. Or just this one, I don't know," I mutter, letting the Pokemon smell my hand to get my scent.

'I'm Tirtouga. Water and rock is my specialty.'

"She just said she was Tirtouga, and that she was a water and rock type Pokemon," I repeat so Wake can know. He nods and slides to the floor beside me. "My name is River, and this is my brother Wake."

Tirtouga looks between us and nods, kind of smiling.

'You're my trainer,' the Pokemon states, looking at me. I smile and nod, enjoying the soft sound of the Pokemons voice.

"Yes, we're going to be partners from here on out. How does that sound?"

'Perfect.'

With a smile, I reach over and pick up the heavy Pokemon, setting it on my lap. It sighs and lies down, allowing me to run my hand over its shell, taking note in the shape of it. Wake pats the Pokemons head and rises to his feet.

"I'll be downstairs, you only have about half an hour left before the ship leaves." Wake says, smiling at me. I nod as he closes my door behind him.

'Where are we going?'

I blink, still not used to this. "Unova, the region where you are from." The turtle Pokemon nods and props itself up using its flippers.

'The Professor there, Juniper, is nice.'

I smile and nod, placing my hand on its back. "I'm glad, it would be bad if she was a mean old hag."

The Pokemon smiles and lets out a slight purring sound. 'I'm glad you're my trainer.'

Needless to say, I was taken aback by that. We had only known each other for a few minutes, and it feels like the Pokemon and I have bonded already. I smile and nod.

"And I'm glad you're my partner, my friend."

After scurrying around the room for a bit, I hoist my bag over my shoulder, and clasp on the belt that Wake gave me, before looking at Tirtouga.

"Would you mind if I gave you a name?" I ask carefully. The Pokemon looks at me and tilts its head to the side.

'I would like that, actually.'

Thrilled by this, I examine the Tirtouga, trying to think of a fitting name. She seemed very regal, proper but stubborn at the same time.

"How does Delta sound to you?"

The Pokemon blinks in consideration, before nodding. 'That sounds like a good strong name. I like it.'

With a smile, I pull out her Pokeball and hold it out.

"Well, Delta. Our journey is going to begin shortly, are you ready?"

The Pokemon lets out a strong stream of water, so strong it just mists away.

'Of course.'