When Trucy and Apollo got off of the plane, Apollo almost fainted. Buizels in bow-ties ran around delivering luggage to the proper owners. One buizel came up to Apollo and held out a bright red suitcase. Hands shaking, Apollo reached out to receive it. While the transfer was being made, the Pokémon's hand brushed up against Apollo's. Apollo screamed, jumped about ten feet in the air, then collapsed, out cold.

In the Pokémon Center, Nurse Joy made a big fuss over Apollo. Although Brock would have enjoyed such a fuss, Apollo felt uncomfortable. "I only fainted," he assured, "It's no big deal, really."

"Yes, it is!" Nurse Joy laughed. "Do you hear yourself?"

"Yeah, Apollo, just relax." Trucy wore a tight smile, as she was jealous of Nurse Joy's practically fawning over her brother and crush.

"Well, I really have to go attend to Pokémon now." Nurse Joy responded to the hurried footsteps clattering toward the front desk. "Will you be all right without me?"

"Of course I'll –"

"Don't worry, Nurse Joy," Tricy butted in. "I'll take care of him."

As the nurse left, Apollo protested. "I don't need anyone taking care of me! I'm fine, I say! FINE!"

Trucy put a hand on the man's chest to keep him from getting up. The touch was warm and loving, and it calmed Apollo instantly. "Shh, now. You just rest. Trucy will take care of you."

Apollo smiled. "Thanks, Trucy," he murmered. They stayed like that, with Trucy's hand on his chest as he nodded off, for about an hour. Finally, Nurse Joy returned.

"Is everything all right here?"

Apollo awoke with a start. "Huh?"

"I said, is everything all right here?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. That nap really helped." Apollo rubbed his head sheepishly.

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. You make a great nurse, Tracey."

"Trucy." The girl in question looked rather unamused.

"Right." Nurse Joy laughed, as if it were actually funny. "Well, I guess you had better be on your way."

"Yes," Trucy emphasized.

As soon as the two were standing under the overhang outside of the Pokémon Center, Trucy took out her map. "Let's see. We're in Sunnyshore City now… The Pokémon I want is in Lake Valor…Let's head to Veilstone and stop at Lake Valor on the way. Okay?"

"Uh, that's fine, I guess." Apollo barely knew what she was talking about. He had only played the old GBA games when he was a kid. "But wait!" An idea struck him. "Don't you need a Pokéball to catch Pokémon?"

"Duh! That's why we'll go to the Mart!"

"And some Pokémon to weaken the one you want to catch?"

"…I have my ways."

After stopping at the Pokémart and renting bikes, the two were on their way. On their journey to Lake Valor the duo saw many Sinnoh Pokémon. At each sighting, Trucy gasped and smiled, then looked over to her companion, whose bike swirved as he attempted to regain control.

Lake Valor was huge, with an island cave in the center. "How are we going to cross this lake with our bikes?" Apollo looked annoyed.

"Easy," Trucy replied, bending over the grass at the water's edge. "Bibarel! Hey, bibarel!" Several brown Pokémon scampered out of the tall shrubbery. "Hey, guys!" Trucy held out her arms. The bibarel gathered around her in a group hug.

"Hey!" Apollo interjected. "Be careful, Trucy! They are wild animals!"

"Aw, silly Apollo! You're worried about me! How sweet!" She proceeded to lean over and kiss him on the cheek. Apollo smiled. After all, he did regard the girl as his little sister, even if he had no idea that they really were related.

"Aw, Trucy!" Apollo's face turned red, but out of happiness.

The bibarels followed Trucy's instructions to carry them and their bikes across. On the other side, Trucy turned to the bibarel she had ridden on. "How would you like to travel with me and my friend?"

The bibarel nodded enthusiastically. "Biba bi!"

"Okay, just stop talking about Justin Bieber." Trucy held out a Pokéball and the bibarel nudged his head against it, effectively becoming Trucy's first Pokémon. "Now we'll go to Veilstone City, and I'll challenge a trainer!"

"Don't you think you should train first?"

Trucy shot Apollo a Look.

"Okay, fine, whatever."

In Veilstone City, the duo met a boy with navy blue hair and highly reflective glasses. "Hey! Are you a trainer?" Trucy exclaimed.

"Yeah. What of it?" The boy seemed cool and collected, and he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Let's battle!" The girl's eyes were sparkling. "I'm Trucy, by the way."

"I'm Max." As an almost silent afterthought, he added, "And this will be an easy win. I can tell."

The two Gramaryes' perception senses tingled. This boy had just said something mean about Trucy. They could tell. Trucy's nostrils flared as Apollo thought, "Uh, oh."

"Let's get battling!" The brunette growled. She sent out her newly captured Pokémon. Bibarel grinned stupidly.

"Oh, so scary!" Max rolled his eyes as he sent out his latest catch, a Skorupi. It was almost at its evolution level.

"This is a one-on-one battle. Let's go!" Trucy was really fired up by this point.

This is her only Pokémon, isn't it? Max thought, barely suppressing an eye-roll.

Apollo stood at the side of their make-shift battlefield. "B-begin," he stuttered uncertainly.

"Bibarel, use Hyper Fang!"

Bibarel shook his head. He didn't know that move yet.

"Headbutt?" No. "Superpower?" Nuh-uh. "…Growl?" Bibarel prepared to execute his favorite move. But before he had a chance, Skorupi attacked with Poison Fang. Bibarel collapsed.

"Bibarel! NO!" Trucy screamed. "You can't faint!"

Bibarel's eyes started to swirl just as Skorupi evolved into a Drapion. Although Apollo was disappointed with the results of the match, he was proud of Trucy's screaming outdoor volume.

"Cool," Max commented on his Pokémon's evolution.

"Jerk," Trucy spat back.

Apollo walked over to Trucy and rubbed her back, causing the girl to shiver. "Let's get Bibarel to a Pokémon Center, okay?"

"…Okay."

To be continued...