"Well Lumos, should we get going?" The little eevee gazed at her adoringly. He sure can be a tough little guy when he wants to be though. I have nothing to worry about. "I'm sorry, you'll have to stay in your poke ball most of the time until we get to Brendan. If my stepmom sees you, she'll make me give you back…" Lumos nudged against her as he dematerialized into the premier ball.

Getting through route 101 was much easier a second time now that she had a pokemon. She met a few zigzagoon and poochyena along the way, but Lumos chopped them down. Rue noted his brave nature, and his unusually high endurance. This is a strong pokemon, she realized after he took down another zigzagoon.

They finally arrived in Oldale Town. Lumos seemed a little tired out, so she decided to stop at the pokemon center nearby. Rue walked slowly up to the big glass doors, and they slid open when she neared. She had never been inside a Pokemon Center before. It had clean, neatly tiled floors with a pokeball design between her and the front desk. A nurse Joy with pink curls and a white outfit waited patiently behind it as she made her way there.

"Hi! Welcome, is there anything you need?" the kind nurse asked.

Rue pulled out the white premier ball. "Yes, my pokemon is a little tired out."

"I'll be just a minute then." Nurse Joy replied, as she placed the ball into the chamber. She typed a few things into the computer and the machine began emitting a soft glow.

When it was all over, the nurse handed back her poke ball. "Your pokemon is restored to full health." She smiled kindly.

"Thanks!" Rue started to walk out, but then paused. "Hey wait, Nurse Joy?" The nurse looked at her expectantly. "How do I get a Trainer Card?"

"You can get one right here!"

After a few minutes of conversation, she handed her the card, and they walked toward the exit. "Here you are! You can use that card to carry your earnings, instead of carrying your money around with you."

Rue nodded, "Thank you for everything!" as she walked outside. She strolled through the neighborhood of houses and made her way toward Route 103. A man in front of a shop with a blue roof stopped her as she walked by.

"Hi! I work at a Pokemon Mart. I'd like to give you this as a promotional item," the man handed her a potion, "it can be used anytime, so it's more useful than a Pokemon Center in certain situations. Come on by anytime!"

Sweet! Now I have two. Me and Lumos will be more than ready, she smiled, "Thanks!" shouting behind her as she entered the outskirts of Oldale Town into Route 103. Get ready, Brendan!

This route was much shorter than the last one, with an expanse of shining water to the right. She wondered if the majority of the route continued through there. Rue made her way through the only path, past patches of grass. She decided to avoid them so Lumos would be strong for the battle.

A little ways further she spotted Brendan focused on his notebook. He really is obsessed with that thing! He didn't even notice when she stood right behind him; Brendan continued talking to himself as he crouched on the ground.

"Okay, so it's this one and that one that live on Route 103…"

She poked his back with her foot. "Hey, nerdy guy! Up here!" She towered over him with a huge grin. Brendan stopped, and leaned back his head to look at her.

"Oh hey, it's Rue!" he laughed, "I am NOT nerdy, you.. Hey, did Dad give you a pokemon?" He jumped up. She showed him the premier ball. "No way! Dad gave you Eevee? That's so cool. You're probably more familiar with an eevee than with any Hoenn pokemon!"

"This is true." Rue laughed.

"Hey, since you're here, how about a battle? I'll teach you what being a trainer's about!" He declared as he expanded his poke ball.

Maybe Daddy was right, this boy is a bit too cocky for his own good! "Glad to see you're getting right to the point. Lumos, you're on!" She cried out, throwing her poke ball. Lumos burst from a flash of aqua, and gave a battle cry.

"Alright Mudkip, show her what you've got!" and a blue pokemon flashed out of the ball.

That must be a water pokemon, she remembered the blue droplet mark on the professor's poke ball. This must be a water starter! She quickly remembered the three pictures of the starters she saw in her guide.

"All right, Lumos, use your tackle attack!" she pointed.

"Mudkip, growl!" her eevee's attack did not impact as powerfully as it normally did. Growl weakens physical attacks! "Alright now use Tackle!" he shouted.

"Dodge it and jump on that rock!" Her eevee neatly jumped out of the way and stood on the rock as Mudkip did a faceplant into the grass. "All right, now jump down and use tail whip and tackle!" Lumos did a flip in the air and pummeled on Mudkip. He wasn't out of the battle as easily as the rabid zigzagoon. He stood up, panting, and Lumos jumped back.

"Mudkip, use tackle!"

The attack slammed into eevee's side, weakening him.

"Use tackle!"

"Use growl!"

They both shot order after order and their pokemon could barely keep up, but Lumos and Rue were winning; they both knew it.

"Alright Lumos, finish Mudkip off with Tackle!" Lumos slammed into him, and Mudkip was knocked to the ground. He slid a few feet back, but did not get back up.

"…All right, we did it!" Rue shouted, as Lumos tiredly hopped around her. He was an endless fluff of energy!

Brendan returned his pokemon to the ball. "Wow, Rue.. You're not too shabby," he stared thoughtfully at them both. "I think I get it. I know why my dad gave you that eevee. Look, he already likes you! My dad can see the potential in trainers, and I honestly think you've got the stuff."

"Oh really? I feel normal to me.." Rue replied, turning her head away flattered. "Thanks".

Brendan looked to the sky; she suspected it was to hide his blushing. "We should head back to the lab, come on!" he turned away and began hopping down the ledges. It was definitely faster going down than coming up.

"Wait up!" she followed close behind. They healed up at the Pokemon Center and made their way back to Littleroot. Rue made sure to hide her poke ball in her bag before they took the long way around to the lab, and entered through the door.

"Well, how did it go?" the professor looked intently from his research.

"Rue beat me on her first try!" Brendan nudged her arm proudly.

"Really? Excellent!" the professor seemed a bit surprised. "He's been helping me out with my research for a long time, so he has an extensive history as a trainer already… I'm impressed that you bested him in a beginner battle."

Rue looked embarrassed, "maybe it was just beginner's luck…"

Prof. Birch cut her off, smiling. "No, I don't think so. Rue, I ordered this pokedex for my research, but I want you to have it.. You've clearly earned it," he said as he handed her the device. A pokedex? Even better than a guide! "I'm sure you know how it works already, don't you? Rue nodded. "Good. Brendan goes everywhere with it, it's a very useful device."

Brendan chimed in, "Wow, so you get a pokedex too? I guess that makes us rivals! But, I'll give you these, too!" he handed her five empty poke balls. "It's a lot more fun to have a bunch of pokemon. I'm going to explore all over the place to find different kinds!"

"Thanks a lot!" She said happily as she slipped them into her bag.

"Here, come with me," Brendan replied as they walked out of the lab and toward his house. "What are your plans for tomorrow? Are you just going to wake up early and ditch? I don't even think you've really planned this out, have you?" he asked sternly.

"What are you, my Mom?" Rue rolled her eyes, and smiled, "don't worry about me, I'm just going to slip out my window in the early morning. I could probably even walk right out the front door if I wanted. Caroline sleeps like a rock! Early experience from sneaking midnight snacks!" she assured.

"But Rue, what kind of shoes are those? You can't travel like that." He pointed to her grimy flats. "You need Running Shoes. Hold on a second, wait out here." Brendan ducked inside his house. He came out a minute later holding a pair of shoes. "My cousin came to visit last year and left these here, I'm totally sure they don't fit her anymore, and they're barely used. Mom won't notice they're gone. Your feet look just as tiny as hers; why don't you give them a try?"

Rue slipped them on. Oddly enough, they matched her outfit well and fit comfortably. "Brendan, you're a lifesaver.."

"Hey, don't even worry about it. I got your back. But from here on out, we go our separate ways," he said simply.

"Wait, why?" Rue lowered her head.

He reached over and lifted her chin up. "Hey… we're going for the same goal, right? Becoming Champion," Brendan replied gently, "so we can't travel together. We've already been rivals from the time you got a pokemon and declared victory over me! So don't take it personally," He added apologetically. "But, I'll be there to help you out of trouble if you ever need me!"

Rue smiled shyly. "Thank you for everything.." She glanced at the sky. The sun was a ruddy orange on the horizon. Thin wisps of cloud shown gold as it reflected the last of evening's light. "I need to go home," she slipped off the shoes and replaced them with her flats, slipping them into the green bag. "Caroline is probably furious by now!"

"Good luck, I know we'll meet again," Brendan waved at her silhouette that was gaining distance, then slipped inside his house.