N Harmonia woke to a feeling of emptiness. Of course, he woke every morning blearily realizing that the space beside him was cold and unoccupied, but the pain of losing Hilda had softened over the years. Today, it was the silence that pulled him from his dreams. Silence that signified the absence of Hazel.

She wasn't in the apartment. He could tell that he was alone. He wasn't a stranger to loneliness. He could feel it, just by walking down the hall and hearing the echoes of his footsteps against the hollow walls. But he searched for her nonetheless - to no avail.

Then he went to Edith Fay's apartment, hoping that Hazel had just paid Ebony an early morning visit. He knocked desperately on the door, and finally Edith Fay opened it, her hair in curlers and her face covered in green paste.

"Is Hazel there?" The question came out of him in a rush.

Mrs. Fay looked at him in disdain. "No. Why would she be here at this time in the morning?"

"I thought… maybe she was with Ebony," N Harmonia said, his chest tightening with every word.

"Ebony left a week ago on a Pokemon journey," Edith Fay said curtly. "Please don't come back again. And tell your daughter to stay away, too." She closed the door.

And then N knew.

Ebony and Aiden reached Littleroot just as the sun reached its pinnacle in the sky. The town was boring, Ebony thought, as they walked up the little path that led to the Pokemon lab. Things moved slowly here, away from the squabble of city life. People sat on their porches and rocked or ambled in the patches of grass that served as their front yards, as if they had all the time in the world.

"Wow, I would love to live here someday," Aiden said, taking a deep breath. "It's so peaceful. Just imagine settling down in a place like this."

Ebony raised an eyebrow.

"But, of course, that's not my life. I was meant to be a Pokemon trainer."

It was odd, the way he said it.

"How do you know?" she asked him.

"Well, I can feel it - the way people feel a cold coming on or whether or not a pair of shoes fit them. I was meant to spend my life with Pokemon, traveling around the world."

"A little bit early to think about it that way, don't you think?" Ebony said.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, never mind." They had reached Professor Birch's lab.

Ebony pushed the door open, and they stepped into the building. The interior was very bright and very cluttered. A man in a white coat was bustling about at the lab tables.

"Professor Birch?" Aiden said.

The man whirled around. He looked to be in his late twenties. He was wearing a pair of goggles much too big for his scrawny face, which in turn made his eyes seem much too big for his head.

"Oh, more Pokemon trainers!" he exclaimed. "What day is it… I seemed to have misplaced my calendar." He rummaged through the mess on the lab tables.

"The twenty-ninth of May," Ebony replied.

"That's right. The young fellow who came this morning told me." Professor Birch removed his goggles, revealing a pair of bright eyes. "What are your names? And from whence do you hail?"

"I'm Ebony Fay," Ebony said. "From Mauville City."

"And I'm Aiden Larksley."

"Oh!" Professor Birch shouted. "Mr. Larksley, I was wondering when you would show up. It's a pleasure, a true pleasure." He extended his hand, and Aiden shook it, smiling his dimpled smile. "You'll be wanting to see the Pokemon, won't you? I'll go and get them this instant." He scurried off to the back of the lab.

Ebony was utterly confused.

"Do you know him?" she asked Aiden.

"Not much more than you do."

But before he could explain further, Professor Birch came back, clutching a capsule in his arms.

"Here it is," he said breathlessly, placing it onto a spare spot on the table. He pressed a button on its side, and the capsule slid open, revealing three shining Pokeballs.

Ebony caught her breath. She reached out and picked up the ball on the left, feeling the cool metal slide against the palm of her hand. She couldn't believe she was finally living this moment - when she was about to become a Pokemon trainer.

Aiden had pressed the buttons on the other two Pokeballs, and the Pokemon inside emerged in a flash of light. One was a little orange chick, and the other looked like a blue doll with a fin on its head. The two Pokemon cried out in unison when they laid eyes on Aiden.

"Well, aren't you going to let that one out?" he said.

Ebony looked down at the Pokeball in her hand.

"Oh, right." She squeezed the button on the Pokeball and closed her eyes as it burst opened in a dazzling gleam.

When she dared to look again, there was a Pokemon standing at her feet. It was a green, reptilian thing with luminous yellow eyes and a lashing tail. It scowled up at her. She frowned back.

"Its name is Treecko," Professor Birch said, indicating the Pokemon Ebony had let out. "The orange one is Torchic, and the other one is Mudkip." He snatched up Torchic, who had made a dash for his goggles. "Make your choice, Pokemon trainers."

"Alright, I think I'm going to go with you, Mudkip," Aiden said to the Pokemon that was already perched on his shoulder.

Ebony glanced at Torchic, who was squirming in Professor Birch's arms and chirping happily. Then she turned her gaze to Treecko. It looked frail and bony and very sullen, but there was determination in its eyes. That was what she wanted, Ebony decided.

"Treecko, I choose you," she said to it, and the Pokemon seemed to raise its eyebrows.

"That's decided, then," Professor Birch said, clapping his hands. "Say, why don't you two have a Pokemon battle?"

"A battle?" Ebony repeated. "But I don't know how."

"The best way to learn is to just do it," the professor said. "I'll walk you through the basics. First of all, you have to be aware of which moves your Pokemon knows. Treecko has already learned Pound, Leer, and Absorb. Mudkip knows Tackle, Growl, and Water Gun. Pokemon will learn new moves as they become more experienced, and as a trainer, you have to be ready for when this happens and help your Pokemon master its move. Battling is very simple. Just wear down your opponent's Pokemon until it can no longer continue. Are you ready?"

"Ready," said Aiden immediately.

Ebony opened and closed her mouth a few times. "I guess so," she said finally. Treecko did have a type advantage over Mudkip. She had learned that much in school.

"We're in a lab, so try not to get too rough," Professor Birch warned. "Alright, trainers… Get ready… Begin!"

"Mudkip, use Tackle," Aiden commanded.

The little Pokemon charged forward and slammed headlong into Treecko. Ebony's Pokemon was flung backwards and hit the floor with a screech.

"Okay, um, use Pound," she called.

"Get back!" Aiden yelled.

Treecko staggered to its feet and swiped at Mudkip, who jumped backwards nimbly.

"Water Gun!"

Mudkip opened its mouth and shot a forceful blast of water into its opponent's face. Treecko shook itself, growling in frustration.

"Tackle, once more!" Aiden said.

"Treecko, dodge it!"

Ebony's Pokemon tried its best, but it had acted too late. It crashed into the ground once more. Ebony could feel that Treecko was tiring, and its weariness was also dragging her down. But she brushed off the fatigue and pushed her Pokemon once more.

"Use Absorb!" She demanded.

Treecko raised its padded hands, and green light shot from its palms, preparing to suck energy out of Mudkip.

"Growl!" Aiden shouted. "Quickly!"

Mudkip unleashed a rasping snarl from its throat, bending Treecko to its knees, its attack forgotten.

Ebony clenched her teeth in frustration. "Come on, Treecko! Use Pound!"

"Tackle!" said Aiden.

Mudkip slammed into Treecko, who raised a feeble hand to fend off its attacker. Treecko was flown into the air and landed, limp as a rag, at Ebony's feet. Mudkip returned to Aiden's side, ready for another command.

"I think that should be it for today," Professor Birch said.

Ebony returned Treecko to its Pokeball. A part of her was laughing at herself, ridiculing the idea that she could become a Pokemon trainer.

"You did well," Aiden said.

She ignored him and glared at her shoes.

"Especially for your first time, Ebony," Professor Birch added. "You have potential."

"Whatever," she muttered.

"You shouldn't feel bad about losing against Aiden."

Ebony looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I thought you knew." Professor Birch looked surprised. "You see, Aiden's a professional Pokemon trainer."

"I wouldn't say that," Aiden said, smiling awkwardly.

"I would," the professor insisted. "He's come all the way from Kalos, where he was hailed as the strongest challenger of the Elite Four of the decade."

"I didn't defeat them, though," Aiden said.

"He came close."

Ebony looked at Aiden again. She began to see him in a new light. He had a powerful gleam in his eyes that she had failed to notice before. And his shoulders were drawn back and confident. He smiled at her as he pulled a Pokeball from his belt.

"Professor Birch, Ebony, I want you to meet a friend of mine."

And in a flash of light, a hulking dragon-like Pokemon appeared in the center of the room. It opened its wings and roared, embers shooting from its nostrils. Ebony recognized it in an instant. It was a Charizard, one of the three starter Pokemon in the Kanto region. She had never even dreamed of seeing one in real life.

"It feels good to stretch, doesn't it, old boy?" Aiden said, rubbing his Pokemon's long, sinewy neck. Charizard grunted in reply.

Professor Birch gasped. "Is that the one?"

"He's the one," Aiden confirmed.

From the window, a pair of sharp cerulean blue eyes gazed in on the scene. The boy looking in was thin and pale, his wispy silver hair laying untamed around his face. His blue eyes were vibrant against his wintry complexion. He scrutinized the Charizard carefully. It was no different from others of its kind, he thought, except…

Inside the lab, Ebony felt a prickle on the back of her neck. Out of the corner of her eye, she thought she saw the form of a boy at the window. But when she turned, there was no one there.

June 1st.

The tour bus pulled into Littleroot Town under a sky streaked with pink and blue clouds and a sun that had not yet risen. Hazel jumped off the bus before it creaked to a stop.

"Be careful," Mr. Truesdale called after her.

"I will! And thank you!"

And with that Hazel rushed up the dirt path that led to the Pokemon lab. She was a day late, but she still clung to the hope that she would receive a Pokemon. After all, going back was not an option.

Hazel burst into the lab. It was quiet and dark, and the lab tables were all set up, as if frozen in a moment of time.

"Hello?" she called. "Is anyone there?"

Her words echoed in the empty lab, as if they were jeering at her. Hazel decided that she would wait. She sat down in a leather swivel chair before a computer desk. It was too comfortable, she thought, before she drifted asleep.

Hazel woke to the slamming of a door. She blinked and rubbed her eyes, willing herself to spring fully awake, but the clouds of sleep was slow to recede from her mind.

"How in the name of Arceus did you get in here?" a voice shouted.

Hazel yawned. "I opened… the door…"

"It was unlocked?" the voice inquired again.

"Yeah… I think -" Another yawn broke off the rest of her sentence.

"Who are you, then?"

Hazel struggled to open her eyes. When she could finally see clearly, she noticed the man standing before her, looking at her as if she had two heads.

"Are you Professor Birch?" she asked.

"I am," the professor said, a little irritated. "Would you mind telling me who you are?"

"My name's Hazel Harmonia. I've come for my starter Pokemon."

"Oh," Professor Birch muttered, glancing down at his feet sheepishly. "I'm afraid you won't be getting a Pokemon. The trainer yesterday received my very last Torchic."

"What?" Hazel gasped. "Really? You don't have a single Pokemon left?"

"I'm afraid not," the professor said again.

Hazel shot to her feet, dread enveloping her. She ran her hands through her hair with worry. Tears pricked her eyes.

"What's the date, Hazel?" Professor Birch asked.

"It's June the first!" she exclaimed. "I'm sorry I'm a day late, professor, but it was the fastest I could get here. My dad forbid me to go on this journey, but I couldn't miss this chance. I can feel that I was meant to be one of the best Pokemon trainers. I can feel it in my blood. It's been my dream ever since I could remember. And now I can't go back to my dad. I just can't! Not when I've come all this way."

The professor listened intently as Hazel finished and looked at him with watery eyes. He nodded.

"I see," he murmured. "Becoming a Pokemon trainer has been your dream?"

"My only dream," Hazel confirmed.

"And what did your father say when you told him this?"

Hazel gulped. "He said that I wasn't strong enough."

Professor Birch folded his arms. "Then I will help you."

"You will?" Hazel gasped. "Oh, thank you!"

The professor nodded and smiled before disappearing another room. He came out with a trainer card, a Pokedex, and an empty Pokeball.

"This is the best I can do," he said, handing the items to Hazel. "But your determination will do the rest."

Hazel looked up at him gratefully. "Thank you," she said again.

"It was my pleasure," the professor answered.

Neither of them noticed the pair of cerulean eyes at the window. The boy outside quickly ducked away as the door to the lab opened and Hazel Harmonia stepped out under the stormy skies of Littleroot Town.

The Pokeball trembled feebly for a third time. Then it was still.

"Yay! We did it!" Ebony exclaimed. Treecko jumped into her arms, grinning smugly. She rushed forward to pick up the Pokeball containing her newly caught Poochyena.

"Congratulations," Aiden said to her, smiling his dimpled smile.

"Thanks," she beamed at him. "I couldn't have done it without you."

She and Aiden had reached Oldale Town the day before, and Aiden had insisted to teach her how to catch a new Pokemon on Route 103. Ebony gazed proudly down at the Pokeball in her hand, her cheeks flushed. Maybe the promise she made to herself wasn't that far away from being realized.

"Say, now that you have two Pokemon, why don't we battle again?" Aiden suggested.

Ebony's eyes gleamed. "Of course. I'm ready when you are." She was determined not to lose now that she had an even bigger advantage.

Aiden took the single Pokeball from his belt and released his Mudkip.

Ebony threw the Pokeball in her hand. "Go, Poochyena!"

The small wolf-like Pokemon appeared in a flash of light. Its eyes landed on Mudkip, and it was growling at once, the fur around its neck sticking straight up.

Aiden wasted no time. "Use Water Gun, Mudkip!"

"Dodge that!" Ebony commanded. Poochyena darted nimbly away from the stream of water. "Now, Tackle!"

Poochyena streaked across the field and slammed its body into Mudkip. Aiden's Pokemon let out a startled cry.

"Keep yourself together, Mudkip," Aiden said. "Use Growl!"

Mudkip's exclamation of surprise now turned into a deep-throated yell, forcing Poochyena to retreat.

"Water Gun!"

Aiden's Mudkip shot a blast of water into Poochyena's face. Poochyena shook itself off, snarling in frustration.

"Use Bite," Ebony commanded.

The little Pokemon obeyed, charging forward with its jaws wide open.

"Get back!" Aiden yelled.

Mudkip jumped backwards, and Poochyena's teeth snapped at thin air.

"Water Gun," he continued.

"Dodge, Poochyena!" Ebony screamed, but she was too late. A wet Poochyena washed up at her feet, unable to continue. Ebony sighed and returned her Pokemon to its Pokeball.

"Good job," she said to Poochyena.

"Indeed, for its first battle, it did extremely well," Aiden agreed.

"But we're not done yet. Are we, Treecko?" She looked at the green Pokemon perched on her shoulder.

Treecko leaped onto the ground, its arms folded indignantly across its chest.

Aiden's eyes gleamed. "Alright, Mudkip, let's show them what we've got. Use Tackle!"

"Dodge, Treecko!" Ebony commanded.

Treecko jumped aside as Mudkip lunged for it, avoiding the attack.

"Absorb!"

Treecko's padded hands glowed, and tendrils of green light hit Mudkip. The blue Pokemon cried out as its strength was sucked away by Treecko.

"Growl!" Aiden shouted.

Mudkip shook off the attack and snarled ferociously at Treecko, who staggered backwards.

"Use Absorb!"

"Dodge and Tackle!" Aiden commanded.

Mudkip flitted away from the incoming attack and slammed its body into Treeko.

"Use Absorb once more," Ebony said to Treecko, who struggled to its feet and shook itself off.

"Water Gun!"

The two attacks met in the middle of the field in an eruption of a cloud of dirt. Ebony strained her eyes against the flying grit, trying to get a glimpse of her Pokemon. She hoped that Treecko had tanked the attack. But when the dust cleared, she saw two prone forms lying in the field.

"Treecko!" she shouted as she crouched beside her Pokemon. Treecko opened one luminous eye wearily and shut it again. She returned it to its Pokeball. "Take a good rest," she murmured.

"It was a draw," Aiden said, returning a fainted Mudkip to its Pokeball.

A draw? Ebony blinked, not sure whether to be frustrated or glad. I guess there's still more room to improve, she decided finally.

"Congratulations," Aiden said, offering her a hand.

"Thanks. You, too," Ebony replied. She took his hand and felt a blush spread across her cheeks as he hoisted her to her feet.

Their eyes met, and Ebony marveled at how blue Aiden's looked as they reflected the clear sky. She wasn't sure how long she stayed captured in his gaze. It could have been hours, or mere seconds. The moment with him seemed timeless.

Aiden eventually cleared his throat, breaking her from the spell. "We should head back to the Pokemon Center. Our Pokemon need to rest after that battle."

"Right," Ebony said, blinking rapidly. Her heart fell when he released her hand. She hadn't realized he was still holding it.

They began to walk back to Oldale Town in silence.

"Aiden?" Ebony began awkwardly.

"What is it?"

"Why didn't you bring your Charizard with you?" she asked.

"Professor Birch wanted to spend some quality time with it," Aiden said, choosing his words carefully.

Ebony frowned. Must he always beat around the bush? Ever since Aiden had left his Charizard with Professor Birch, Ebony's curiosity about his actions had been insatiable.

"Why?" she pressed. "What's so special about your Charizard?"

Aiden sighed. "Charizard can undergo a miraculous transformation during battle called Mega Evolution. For a while - or at least until the battle is over - Charizard will be extremely powerful, almost undefeatable by any normal Pokemon."

"Wow," Ebony gasped. "And your Charizard can do that all by itself?"

"No," Aiden laughed. "The Pokemon can only Mega Evolve if it holds a Mega Stone - which, if you had noticed was attached to a choker around its neck - and if its trainer is carrying a corresponding Key Stone. So, Mega Evolution draws on the bond between the trainer and the Pokemon. Not everyone can achieve it. The bond between you and your Pokemon must be extremely strong."

"So why does Professor Birch have Charizard?" Ebony asked.

"There is still much more information to be discovered on Mega Evolution. Charizard and I have barely scraped the surface," Aiden explained. "I wanted Professor Birch wanted to run some tests on the Mega Stone and Key Stone to find out how exactly they were connected and how that power enables Charizard to Mega Evolve."

Ebony was stunned. She could hardly believe that something as powerful and incredible as Mega Evolution existed.

"Aiden, promise me you'll show me Mega Evolution one day," she said breathlessly.

He smiled his dimpled smile, but didn't answer.

"Please?" Ebony asked again.

"Alright." Aiden grinned. "I promise."

She had a Pokedex, a Trainer Card, and a single Pokeball. She had a start.

Hazel started down the path from Professor Birch's lab. But when she reached the spot where Mr. Truesdale had dropped her off, there was no sign of him or the tour bus.

"Excuse me," she said to an old man ambling down the street, "there was a bus here a few minutes ago. Do you know where it went?"

"It probably drove off." The old man gave a grunt. "Most tourists don't like Littleroot Town anyhow."

"Where do you think they would have gone next?" she asked desperately.

"Oldale Town, most likely. They might stop there for the night."

"How far away is it?"

The man scratched his chin. "About two hours' walk. You'll want to make it quick. Sky looks like it's about to pour."

"All right," Hazel said. "Thanks a lot."

The old man merely grunted.

Hazel had just started on her journey through Route 101 when thunder boomed. The rain came down in icy sheets. And by the time she reached the Pokemon Center in Oldale Town, she was soaked and shivering.

Hazel set her bag down in one of the armchairs in the lobby of the Pokemon Center and went to the counter. She rang the bell several times before a ruffled Chansey appeared and glared at her.

"Could you get Nurse Joy for me, please?" Hazel asked the Pokemon politely.

The Chansey huffed and disappeared into the back room again. It was quite a while before the nurse came out.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

"Have you seen a tour bus around here today?" Hazel inquired. "I was supposed to be on it, but they accidently left me at Littleroot Town."

"Not any of my business," Nurse Joy said gruffly. She turned to leave.

"Wait," Hazel called. "But have you seen -"

"I've already told you no. Now get out of my sight, kid!"

"Wait," Hazel said again, her voice small. "Could I stay here for the night?"

The nurse whirled around, her eyes narrowing. "Are you a Pokemon trainer?"

Hazel nodded silently.

"Do you have Pokemon?"

Hazel balked. "No…"

"Then you're not a Pokemon trainer," the nurse said, "and you can't stay here." She stalked away, leaving Hazel at a loss for words.

Hazel wandered back to her bag, still mystified at Nurse Joy's attitude. She'd heard that all the nurses were kind and never lost their temper. But here she just managed to encounter one who decided she was going to defy stereotyping. Hazel sighed as she reached in her bag for her water bottle.

But instead, her hand met a hard, round object. She pulled it out to discover that it was a strange Pokeball, entirely red, with a note attached to it. Hazel pulled the piece of paper off and discovered that it was creamy and thick, with a gold embroidered border. It read:

Keep it.

Her head spun. Who would give her such a gift? Surely it wasn't Professor Birch. The Pokeball must a joke. A terrible joke that was meant to raise her hopes and then have them plummet again, lower than ever before.

Nevertheless, Hazel decided to open the Pokeball. She pressed the button, and squeezed her eyes shut as it opened in a flash of white light. When she dared to look again, she saw a strange Pokemon before her.

It was a Beldum.

But it was unlike any Beldum she had read about in books. Its tube-like body was silver, and its three small claws were golden. It glistened more brightly than anything she had ever seen and seemed to radiate an aura that told her it was extremely special.

Hazel gasped as realization dawned upon her. Normal Beldums were a gray-green color, but this one… This one was shiny.

Hazel reached out a tentative hand and laid it on the Beldum's head. The Pokemon seemed a little confused, but its single red eye smiled slightly as it gazed up at her. Hazel stroked its small body gently, amazed at how brightly it shone in the dim light.

"There," she murmured to the Beldum. "I know we're both surprised to see each other, but everything's going to be fine."

The shiny Beldum made a few whirring sounds and smiled again. Hazel returned it to its Pokeball. Then she went up to the counter again and rang the bell. Nurse Joy stormed out angrily, this time with her Chansey in tow.

"What?" she snapped.

"I have a Pokemon now," Hazel said, holding up the red Pokeball.

Review to keep it going?