To family of the geeks: I've tried to put in as much filler as possible to lengthen the story, but I feel that too much just takes away from the main idea. And I don't usually update so soon, but why not? :]

To Zukone: Both Deerling and Sawsbuck are my favorites. I love their many forms; it's cool. And it's funny you should say that about Bambi, but you'll have to wait a little while longer for that. There's no real legit way of cheating. My friend has AR but only uses it for fun during ingame play. Not for GTS or competitive battling.

Let's see if I can make this any longer than usual!

Hima was glad that it was the last day of school before winter break. He'd had enough of the torment from people in his class who thought they were better than him just because they all caught their own pokemon. They would mock, "you need mommy and daddy to catch your pokémon for you, huh?" Hima couldn't wait to get home.

But before he could, his teacher had one last thing to say. "I want you to have fun on your break, but I will inform you that when spring arrives, I expect a presentation on your pokémon. It must include type, regional and national pokédex numbers and information, when and where it was caught, it's ability and nature, and statistics."

Hima groaned, thinking, "I don't know a lot of those things about boldore or palpitoad."

When the teacher dismissed the class Hima made his way for the exit, but was stopped short by some of the guys from his class. "Where do you think you're going?"

Hima sulked, "Well, I was going home, but obviously not yet."

"Nah," the apparent leader said, "you're gonna have some fun with us, aren't you?" The boys grabbed Hima by his bag and dragged him out toward the field next to the school. "You're good at battles are you not?" he joked.

"Wait," Hima put his hands up, "they're my parent's pokémon! I don't want to get them hurt!"

"Oh come on!" some of the boys would urge.

"We're not gonna hurt them. Just rough them up a bit!"

"Besides," the leader said, "You don't have a choice! It's either we beat up your pokémon, or we beat up you!"

Hima suddenly heard a familiar voice. "Come on, Hima!" Jessica shouted. "Don't be afraid! You can do it!" Hima was nervous, but he finally pulled out a pokéball and tossed it into the air, releasing Boldore.

The other boy threw his, saying, "Go, Duosion!" And out of a bright light appeared the green mitosis pokémon.

"Go, Axew!"

"Go, Leavanny!"

"Hey!" Hima cried out, suprised. "I only have two pokémon!"

"Don't you mean you only brought two of your parent's pokémon?" they taunted.

"Hey!" Jessica shouted. "That's not fair!"

But the boys ignored her and focused on the battle, "Duosion, use Reflect!"

"Axew, use Dragon Rage!"

"Leavanny, use Razor Leaf!" The two pokémon attacked the unprepared boldore, leaving him scuffed up.

"Go, Palpitoad!" Hima shouted, unsure of what would happen next. "Boldore, use Stone Edge! Palpitoad, use Hydro Pump!" Both Boldore and Palpitoad stood there with confused looks on there faces. "What? You don't know those moves? My parents have had you how long? And you still don't know them?"

"Duosion, Future Sight!"

"Leavanny, Struggle Bug!"

"Axew, Dual Chop!"

Suddenly, from the sideline, "Whismicott, use Cotton Spore!" And a windveiled pokémon floated in and released spores that clung to the three opposing pokémon, making them struggle to move around.

Hima was shocked to see that Jessica had run over to help him. "What are you doing?"

"Just relax," she said.

"This is ridiculous! Leavanny, Razor Leaf those rock and ground type pokemon!" The nurturing pokémon struggled to get free but was finally able to shoot out an attack, leaving Boldore and Palpitoad in serious trouble.

Jessica realized there wasn't much they could do anymore, "Come on, let's just get out of here. Whismicott, use Tailwind!" The puffball spun around and a sudden whirlwind gave them the speed to make a get away.

"This isn't over!" the boys shouted. "You've got to come back to school sometime!"

Both Jessica and Hima withdrew their pokémon and made their way to a pokémon center. Jessica asked, "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Hima sullenly said, "I guess."

"Ah, come on," she said, trying to cheer him up. "You were out numbered and that wasn't fair." Hima just looked at the ground as they walked. Jessica tried to change the subject, to make him feel better, "how do you feel about the assignment?"

Hima sighed, "let's just say I know more about a different pokémon than these two," he said, holding up Boldore and Palpitoad's pokéballs.

Jessica smiled, "well, maybe you can do your assignment on that pokémon instead."

Hima was confused, "I don't have that or any pokémon of my own though."

Jessica shrugged, "it's a long break. Maybe you'll get your chance." She held out an empty pokéball.

Hima stared in disbelief, "really?"

Jessica giggled, "yup!"

Hima smiled, "th-thank you!" He took the pokéball and put it in his bag.

Jessica had a bounce in her step. "I think that being a trainer isn't a privilege, but a responsibility. Having a pokémon will show everyone that you are ready," she said.

Hima was so glad to know that someone believed he was ready, but suddenly he started thinking about the battle, "am I ready?"

Mack was feeling uneasy about the issue he had with Hima. He decided that sometimes it's easier to talk to someone you hardly know; it's hard to talk to someone -whose opinion of you- you care about. He made his way up the hill to the top of the cliff, past the sawsbucks watching over the deerling below. He walked a little ways into the forest until he found a small cave with a chilling breeze coming out of it. An odd cone shaped pokémon came out and smiled when she saw Mack. "Well well! Long time no see, Max!" You're no young fawn anymore!"

"Actually I'm Mack," he corrected. "But, yeah," he laughed, "I've had a lot of experiences this past year." He turned serious, "hey, can I talk to you about something?" So Mack told the vanillish about meeting a human and all the things leading up to running away from Hima in the Fall.

Vanillish thought for a moment, then said, "you're not his friend?"

"Well," Mack was hesitant, "not really."

"But," the vanillish asked, "you would hang out with him and eat his food?"

"Yeah…"

"And," she continued, "you trust him enough to ask for his help?"

"I asked for your help," Mack pointed out.

"Well," she retorted, "there is a difference between asking for advice and asking if someone could save your family."

Mack looked down, "yeah, I guess… would you do it? Would you be captured?"

She raised her brow, "I'm not really the one who should be answering that question."

"I know," Mack sighed.

Vanillish smiled, "I think it's just your nerves. It may take some time, but I think you are ready."

Mack blinked, "I… I am?"

"That's the way it sounds to me. If not now, then soon," she assured him.

Mack thought to himself, "am I really?"

I think this counts for being longer :] Also, this is the first battle I've done. Though it wasn't a long or exciting battle, I think I didn't do half bad... I don't know, what do you think?