"Master Apocalypse, we've finished loading the specimen onto the ship."

"Perfect. Thank you, Namor. The pieces are coming together. Let me see our...collection."

"Right this way."

The Atlantean strode purposefully down the hallway to a room containing a holding cell and lots of scientific equipment. The cell in the middle of the room was full of slithering, black substances. They crawled up the sides of the cell only to tumble back down into the writhing mass. Tendrils lashed upwards, trying to escape, but they were always pulled back down by their spiteful brethren.

"It's terribly beautiful, isn't it?" Apocalypse mused. Namor remained silent. "And it holds up to the tests?"

"Yes, sir. This is the same symbiote we've seen before. It strengthens, enhances, and corrupts. It will prove a very useful tool."

"Yes. Yes, it will. Now, we continue to Thera."

James jumped out of the way, barely avoiding a pair of fiery talons. As he rolled away, he threw his Pokéball, "Go, Shisa!" The loyal Growlithe leapt out of the Pokéball, protecting his Trainer. Argo and Celeste were also sent out to defend against their assailant. The four amateur Trainers and their young Pokémon looked so pitiful against the majestic bird, fiercely guarding her nest. Cate scanned it with her Pokédex: "Talonflame, the Scorching Pokémon."

The Talonflame hovered in front of her nest, a majestic hawk with brilliant red flame patterns on her wings. James quickly took command of the situation. "Cate, Shisa isn't much use here. This Pokémon is obviously a Fire type; I don't know how effective we'll be against it. Your Mareep will have a much better chance. Have you figured out what moves it knows? Try something Electric."

Nervous, Cate put away her Pokédex and directed her Pokémon. "Argo, paralyze it with a Thunder Wave attack!" Electric energy emanated from the wooly sheep, traveling through the air toward the Talonflame. The wave hit the bird, and her wings locked up. She stopped flapping and tumbled to the ground.

"Now, catch it!" James yelled at her. "Quick, before it recovers!"

Cate, still looking nervous, rummaged in her bag for a Pokéball. Finding one, she tossed it at the paralyzed bird. With a flash of light, the ball closed around the Talonflame and began to shake. Once, twice...and then with a shatter the bird broke out of the ball, screeching angrily. It began to flap its wings, stirring up a vortex of flame.

"Run!" James tackled the other kids into the surrounding brush. The Trainers and their Pokémon scrambled away, putting distance between them and the protective mother Talonflame. They continued to run, through the tall grass, until they reached a path. Hoping they'd run far enough, they sat down by the side of the road next to a signpost:

"Route 1

Underbrush - Nightshade"

It wasn't until then that Trevor noticed the baby Fletchling on Shisa's back. "Hey James, look at that! You've got yourself a stowaway."

James looked at the little red bird in astonishment. "Wait, what is this doing here? I didn't battle or catch it, why did it follow us?"

"It must've fallen out of the nest and hitched a ride on Shisa. I think he likes you," Trevor noted. The Fletchling was happily chirping a tune. "On second thought, he doesn't seem to miss home too much. Maybe he didn't fall-maybe he jumped out on purpose. Either way, looks like you've got a new Pokémon."

"I...guess so. I didn't think it worked like that. I didn't catch it."

"Humans have always befriended Pokémon, even before Pokéballs," Cate proffered. "They certainly made things more convenient, but they're not the only way to create a bond. You think of Pokémon too much like weapons. Remember what the Professor said."

"She's right, James," Jack pitched in. "Befriending Pokémon is more important than catching them."

"Sheesh, okay, yeah, I get it. I somehow accidentally befriended a Pokémon. I get that I'm supposed to raise it, but I just don't see myself ever using it to battle. Shisa is much stronger."

"How you train your Pokémon is up to you," admitted Jack, "but just remember, they're friends, not tools."

"All right, we're officially done lecturing me." James pulled a Pokéball from his bag. He opened it and let the Fletchling hop in. He strapped the Pokéball to his belt and headed down the path. "Now let's get a move on. We're getting close to the forest. We can have lunch when we find the river."

The four Trainers set off along Route 1. James was in front, his red cap covering his messy brown hair. It was a beautiful day, and the friends walked in silence, the bright sunlight shining around them. Jack was a few paces behind the other three, aimlessly chatting with his Nincada. He could envision the rest of his journey unfolding before him. There were so many Pokémon for him to catch and befriend, so many adventures to have. And his Semy would be with him the whole time.

"And then we can go catch Legendary Pokémon together, Semy…"

Up ahead, Cate and Trevor exchanged a meaningful glance. Jack's enthusiasm was contagious; his eagerness was refreshing after James's hardcore approach to being a Trainer. James's only goal was to be the Pokémon Champion. Jack just wanted to meet Pokémon.

"So...Trevor, why do you want to be a Pokémon Trainer? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to learn?"

Trevor smiled. "I'm actually really interested in Pokémon trading."

"Oh, that sounds cool!" Cate enthused.

"Yeah, I mean, by seeing what people trade, you can see how valuable certain Pokémon are. It's kind of a cool idea. What makes Pokémon more valuable than other Pokémon?"

"I like that, Trevor. You know, you're not as dumb as you look."

Trevor glared at her with his dark blue eyes. "Hey, just because I'm not a nerd, doesn't mean I can't be smart, too."

Cate flushed, her fair cheeks instantly turning red.

Wincing, Trevor apologized. "Sorry, Cate, I…that was rude. You're not a nerd. You're just really smart."

"Thanks," she muttered, her voice softer than before. "Sorry I called you dumb."

"It's all good. Now come on, your turn. I've told you my deal, and I think we both know what James and Jack are all about. What are your goals, Smarty Pants?"

"Well, I want to be a researcher," she admitted. "I want to study all kinds of Pokémon, see what makes them tick. I want to study their Types, their Moves and Abilities, their Natures. It all fascinates me."

"That's cool, Cate. You're going to be great at that. I know it."

"Thanks, Trevor."

James came to a stop as they reached the edge of the forest. "Ok, guys, here's Nightshade Forest. There might be some dangerous Pokémon in there. I think we should have a practice battle before we go in, just to make sure we're ready."

"Uh, okay, yeah, that sounds fun," agreed Trevor.

"Let's have a Double Battle," suggested James. "Trevor and me against Cate and Jack. Sound good?"

"All right, let's do it." Trevor pulled out his Pokéball, ready to throw. The four Trainers split up into two teams and faced each other. As Pokéballs flew, out came their Growlithe, Azurill, Mareep, and Nincada.

Jack was the first to give a command. "Semy, use Harden!" The tiny Nincada dug its claws into the ground and crouched, hardening its carapace.

"Ha. That won't be enough. Shisa, use your Ember attack!" The Growlithe lunged forward, fire starting to form in its open mouth.

"Stop him, Argo!" As before, waves of thunder began to emanate from Mareep's soft, golden wool, and Shisa was stopped dead in its tracks, its fire sputtering out.

"Celeste! Use your Bubble attack!" The Azurill spun around, sending frothy bubbles at Argo. They pummeled into him, knocking the sheep over.

"Uh, Thunder Shock!" Cate yelled to her Pokémon. He got up and glowered at the Azurill. Static built up in its wool and started sparking out toward Celeste. "Reep!" he yelled as electricity arced to the Azurill, knocking her out completely.

Trevor gasped. "No, Celeste! Return."

James, fuming, finally got a response out of his Pokémon as the paralysis wore off. "Shisa! Use your Bite attack!" The Growlithe lunged at the exhausted Mareep, sinking its fangs into Cate's Pokémon.

"Argo! Hold on!" Cate yelled, but it was too late. Shisa released his bite, and Argo fainted. Head down, Cate called back her Pokémon.

It looked hopeless for Jack and his Nincada, but he continued issuing commands. "Semy, use Harden again, then attack with a Leech Life!"

James's Growlithe was weakened as its life force was sapped by the tiny insect.

"Argo! Ember!" The loyal puppy Pokémon obeyed quickly, summoning its reserve of fire to attack the Nincada. Gouts of flame issued out, enveloping the bug. When the fire passed, Semy looked unscathed. It had been protected by its iron-hard shell and healed with the Leech Life."

"Now, Semy! Go! Fury Swipes!"

The Nincada leapt into action, its claws zipping with furious speed. The Growlithe was caught completely off guard, and he fainted from the onslaught. James was seething. "Argo, return." He stepped forward begrudgingly to shake Jack's hand. "Perhaps...perhaps I underestimated you."

Jack shook his hand graciously. "Semy was lucky to survive that Ember attack. Your Growlithe is really strong. It was a good battle."

James snorted, clearly bothered by the outcome. "Yeah. I guess."

The Trainers fished out potions from their bags and restored their Pokémon. James, still upset, led the way into the dark forest.