Chapter 2

A Week Later

Akio sighed. "Okay, so I guess we'll take a well-deserved rest now." He flopped down on a clearing. Tiredly he tossed out Froakie's Poké Ball. "Come on out."

Froakie sprang out of the Poké Ball eagerly.

Suddenly a quiet shriek was heard.

"I think we should see what's happening." Akio told Froakie.

After three wrong turns, they finally found the culprit. It was an injured Pokémon that had lots of purple bubbles around its head.

"Who's that Pokémon?" Akio wondered as he got his Pokédex out.

"Ralts, the Feeling Pokémon. Ralts is the pre-evolved form of Kirlia. It can use the horns on its head to read human emotions. Ralts rarely shows itself to humans, but may occasionally approach when it senses positive or happy feelings." the slightly robotic voice droned.

"It's been poisoned. We have to help it!" Akio told Froakie.

"Froakie!" Froakie seemed agitated.

Turning to face it, Akio saw a giant Pokémon looming in front of them. He quickly scanned it with his Pokédex.

"Arbok, the Cobra Pokémon and the evolved form of Ekans. The pattern on its belly appears to be a frightening face. Weak foes will flee just at the sight of the pattern."

"Ok, Froakie, Water Pulse! I'll go try and heal Ralts, okay?" Akio barely managed to get the words out of his mouth.

He scooped the little white Pokémon up. "Ugh, if only I could find a Pecha Berry right now..."

Akio stopped. How did he know what to do? He'd never seen a poisoned Pokémon before!

As if by miracle, he found a little bush growing in front of him. "Hooray! Thank Arceus!" he cheered.

Picking the ripest-looking one, he fed it to Ralts.

Almost immediately the purple spheres around its head vanished. Akio smiled, remembering that Ralts liked happy emotions.

Ralts happily sat up on Akio's lap. It sprang into his backpack.

"Whoa! My money!" Akio screeched. He'd only bought 200 PokéDollars with him.

Froakie facepalmed. Akio felt it was somewhat insulting for a Pokémon to facepalm at him.

Ralts finally found what it wanted. One of Akio's spare Poké Balls.

"Ok, I guess you want me to catch you." Akio shrugged.

He gently tapped the Poké Ball to Ralts's forehead. The little Psychic-Fairy type condensed itself in the device.

"Hooray! I have my first wild Pokémon!" Akio held up the Poké Ball excitedly.

"Okay now, Ralts, come on out!" He tossed the Poké Ball, and Ralts happily appeared.

"I'm your Trainer now. We'll have lots of great battles together!" Akio smiled.