Route 202. A place where many new trainers started their adventures, and where you could learn how to catch Pokemon from the random person who decided to help you. But in the Joey's case, no such person existed. Instead, he had learned earlier on in his life.

He watched the ball hit the ground and start to rattle. 1. 2. 3. There was a small ping and the ball became still once more. "And THAT is how you catch a Pokemon." His father said while looking down and smiling at him."

The Pokemon in question had been a Turtwig that had escaped from the lab. After an hour or two of hunting, they had finally found it and his father decided it would be a good learning experience. "Or maybe just a chance to show off…" the boy muttered as he recalled some that some trainers were also there as onlookers. He looked absently into the distance trying to picture where his father would be now. He knew that he had been invited to a tournament of some kind, but where, he wasn't sure. The letter had a seal that he didn't recognize from any of the other leagues on it. How he knew what the other league's seals looked like? Well, one didn't simply grow up in the house of a region's champion and not come to learn about the other leagues. But now that he thought about it, despite being the champion's son, he wasn't all that great at battling…

While he was lost in thought, he didn't notice he was wandering farther into the plains alongside the route then he should've, which often contained the more vicious wild pokemon. Through the power of plot convenience, As if on que, a wild Shinx jumped into his view snarling, bringing the trainer's thoughts back reality. He jumped back startled and landed on his rear as the Shinx let out a low growl before jumping at him. In a frenzy, he grabbed the first Pokeball he could reach on his belt and hurled it out. It slapped the electric type in the forehead before hitting the ground with a "PLUNK!" and realizing the Pokemon inside. Out came Leafy, ready for battle after the time he had spent within his Pokeball. Joey quickly scrambled up to his feet and focused on the Shinx opposite him, who had recovered from the surprise gift to the face.

Both Pokemon now in battle stances, the Shinx struck first, slamming into Leafy with a Tackle. The Grass type slid back a few inches before unleashing the same attack. Both Pokemon jumped back and glared at each other.

Having pulled out his PokeDex while the two had the brief confrontation, Joey allowed it to scan the Shinx and eventually got its data as both pokemon went for another round.

Shinx, the Flash Pokemon. The extension and contraction of its muscles generates electricity. It glows when in trouble.

Ability: Rivalry

Known Moves:

Tackle

Leer

Charge

The trainer looked up from the Dex to the battle, and the Shinx was indeed glowing. Then, in a moment of common sense, he scanned Leafy to find out what moves he knew.

"Tackle, Withdraw, and… Absorb."

Tackle and Withdraw he knew were both basic moves but Absorb was new. He decided to put it to use.

"Leafy use Absorb!"

The Grass-type had been dueling it out by himself without command, and was losing rather badly. Following his new orders, he tried using Absorb on the wild pokemon, and felt renewed as he recovered energy from the attack. He used it once more, and found himself feeling fresh, almost as if he hadn't battled a bit.

"An HP recovering move… that's good to have." Joey mumbled to himself.

The Shinx was on its last legs so he decided to go for a capture. Pulling out a Pokeball, he threw it with a slight curve and watched it intake the Shinx in a beam of red light.

1…

2…..

3!

The Pokeball gave a small "Ping!" and flew back to his hand. He looked at it for a few seconds with a smile before clipping it onto his belt. He bent down to Turtwig's level and gave it a small rub on the head.

"Good Job Buddy!"

It grinned at him as he returned it to it's Pokeball. He then turned around and looked at the open plains around him. "Now… how to get back to the route…" he glanced directly South, figuring that he hadn't turned that much and started what would probably be a long trek back. At least, he would've had he not heard a voice behind him.