We neared Sandgem town and the scent of the sea filled the air. I like this town already! I thought as we came closer and closer. Further ahead was the town plaza with houses, marts, and a pokemon center. I checked my poketch and saw it was 6:00 at night.

"Jawk, go see if you can resupply us at the pokemart. I wanna check out the battles over by the park." I said, pointing towards the square.

"Oh fine. You're no fun. It's getting late though."

"We can camp out on the way to Jubilife. It's a long way, and I don't want to pay to stay at the center tonight."

"'Kay. See you."

We both went our separate ways for now, and I headed towards the park. Tons of trainers were battling there, but most of them just had a Bidoof or Starly, two easy pokemon to catch in the forest.

"Piplup, Zigzagoon, come on out!"

The two pokemon happily burst out of their pokeballs and nuzzled my leg. The entire crowd turned to me with bursts of "Rare pokemon!" and "Is that a shiny!?" and "Marry me!" One person, however, stepped through the crowd. Suddenly, everyone was quiet. He threw a ball up and down.

"So, rare pokemon, eh? Well, i've got a proposal for you. Around here, i'm the champ. No one in this town can beat me, and those little flashy pokemon of yours couldn't beat me." What a jerk!

"I could take you any day! Bring it on!"

"Heh. Your funeral. I've only got one pokemon, but I bet I could KO both of yours. Even at the same time. Carnivine, go!" Out from his pokeball burst a monstrous venus-fly-trap like pokemon with a huge mouth and vines for limbs.

"He's not that tough! Come on, Piplup and Zigzagoon! We can KO this guy!"

"Hah. Whatever you say. You can make the first move."

A few, stressful moments of silence ensued, but I broke it quickly.

"Piplup, bounce! Zigzagoon, double team!"

Zigzagoon used double team in a night circle around carnivine and Piplup bounced up high, and started screaming back towards the earth. I saw the look of surprise on my enemy's face.

"Carnivine! Use vine whip to hit all of the clones around you!" A mistake. By the time the vines got to my Zigzagoon, who bravely stood still, Piplup crashed into Carnivine .

"Piplup! Use water gun to trap Carnivine to the ground! Zigzagoon, use rollout!"

I said this before my enemy could do anything. Carnivine was still stunned by the bounce when water gun trapped it to the ground. Zigzagoon, far away, started rolling faster and faster towards Carnivine.

"Carnivine! Use razor leaf!" But it was too late. Carnivine couldn't move. Zigzagoon suddenly crashed into Carnivine with deadly speed and sent it flying into a tree, where it slid down, fainted.

The crowd was stunned. Almost every single one of them had been bulldozed by this guy who just got KO'd by two moves. How did I just beat him?

"Carnivine, return." He said, angry. "Would anybody like my Carnivine?" I was shocked.

"What did you just say? You're going to give him away just like that?"

"That's right. No pokemon is worth keeping unless he can win. That's that." He threw Carnivine's pokeball into the crowd, and walked towards his bike. He got on, and headed towards Professor Rowan's lab.

"You haven't seen the last of me. I'm Sean. Remember that name."

Silence ensued again. Then, an outburst of cheering rose up from the crowd as I solemnly headed towards my bike. Zigzagoon and Piplup got into the basket and promptly fell asleep. I smiled. I'd better head to Professor Rowan's lab. I rode uphill, and the Professor's lab came into view. I saw Sean coming back down the Hill, eyes closed, screaming "Worthless!" I noticed that he didn't have any pokemon. Rowan must have seen that he wasn't fit for a trainer. He'd have to catch his own. I neared the top of the hill, and got off my bike. Walking towards the door, I looked back at Piplup, realizing there's still a chance he could take Piplup away. I knocked on the door.

And again.

And again.

Was anybody here? Just as I was about to go around the house to see if he was in the back, the door opened.

"Hello?" A young man's voice said. I turned around and looked. It wasn't Rowan! It was the other boy who was at the lake with him!

"Oh, you're Dawn!"

"That's me!"

"Ah. The Professor told me about you. Unfortunately, he's not here right now. He's traveling in Hoenn. He told me, though, to take that briefcase, and to give you this." He held out a letter. I handed him the briefcase, and I took the letter.

"My name's Lucas. I might see you again. Anyway, thanks!" He closed the door. Ooookay. That was quick. I unfolded the letter, and read it.

Dear Dawn,

It has recently come to my attention that you've used one of my pokemon to defend your friend. I'd like you to know that I think that was the right thing to do. And although under normal circumstances i'd take away your pokemon. However, this is different. I understand from your mother you've shown a lot of affection for Piplup and it really loves you. So, i've decided to let you keep Piplup. I am sorry I was unable to see you today, but I have urgent buisiness with another Professor in the Hoenn region. I am sure I will see you again some time. Best of luck on your adventure.

Sincerely,

Professor Rowan.

I found Jawk by the exit of the town, training fighting moves with her Chimchar.

"About time!" she said, getting on her bike. Her chimchar jumped into the basket. Once again, like we had at the beginning of this long day, we got on our bikes and rode out of town. About a half an hour later of silent riding, we came across a clearing in the forest.

"This looks like as good of a place as any to set up camp." And we did. We set up a little tent, and made a fire and some dinner for both of us and our pokemon. A little later, we put out both of our sleeping bags on either side of the fire and put it out. Jawk fell asleep immediately, but I stayed up a little bit, gazing at the stars. Who knows what tomorrow could possibly hold?