We entered the Ilex Forest. Trees towered over us, creating a natural maze. Bug pokemon flew overhead, their buzzes being heard from the ground. The forest its self seemed to be completely empty of people.

"Well, lets do this. Be aware Kenji. You will be used for battles since you are effective against bugs," Lyra said.

I smiled and nodded. I couldn't help but feel like I was wanted. Needed almost.

Only the occasional bug crossed out path. Most sensed the strong levels and kept their distance.

"So who was that boy?" I asked Jay jay.

She shrugged her shoulders. "A rival, I think. I haven't been here that long." Her gaze drifted over to James. "He would probably know. Ask him, if you dare."

I looked at James and groaned. I wasn't in the mood to deal with any of his smart-ass comments. "Maybe later..."

We continued to walk. This place seemed to stretch on forever, by Lyra didn't seem to get lost once.

Then, I heard a faint tapping noise. My ears swiveled forward. I listened carefully. There it was again! Yes, it was a faint tapping noise, but it was close to us. I scanned the trees. Nothing was near by. I scanned the water. No, nothing in the water could make that kind of noise.

The noise started to get louder. I started to worry. I ran towards Jay jay. "Do you hear that?"

She looked confused. "Hear what?"

"Er, nothing." Of course. Growlithe had some of the best hearing in the whole Johto region. Of course she couldn't hear it. Hmm... but maybe Lyra could.

I jogged so I was next to Lyra. I pulled on the sleeve of her shirt. She looked down at me. "Hmmm? What is it Kenji?"

I looked around frantically and twitched my ears around.

Lyra cupped a hand to her ear. "I don't hear anything..."

The sound was very loud now. It sounded like a drumming in my ears. And no one could hear it but me! I was starting to get annoyed.

Then Lyra stopped walking. "Wait...I do hear something fait..." My face lit up. Finally!

"I think..." Lyra cupped her hands to her ears. But she didn't have to. I now knew where the sound was coming from. I sniffed Lyra's purse and poked at it with one finger.

Lyra went digging through her bag. Suddenly it all came together when she pulled out the egg. The shell seemed to be bending as the creature inside was trying it's best to be birthed.

Then, there was a crack in the egg, and almost right after, the shell shattered into a million pieces. There was now a small, baby pokemon in Lyra's hands. Its torso was a hard and white, with blue and red triangles on it. It was the same material as its shell. The hard shell part of its body ended in a sharp zig-zag at the start of its arms, legs and neck. Those parts of its body were a light peach, and slightly fuzzy. The hair on its head was spiked.

"Wow..." Lyra was amazed. The whole team, even James, gathered around to peek at the sleeping baby.

The baby opened its black eyes and let out an incoherent babble. "Awww!" Jay jay cooed. "Can I hold it?!" She held out her blue arms.

Lyra lowered the baby into Jay jay's arms. "Just don't drop her," she told Jay jay.

Jay jay spoke babble to the baby and dangled her finger in front of its face. The baby happily tried the grab it.

Mean while, Lyra slipped out her pokedex. There was a quite beeping noise. "Togepi. The spike ball pokemon. Type: Normal. A proverb claims that happiness will come to anyone who can make a sleeping Togepi stand up."

"Togepi, huh?" Lyra said, scratching the back of her neck. "Never heard of it. It must be a rare one. Guess it couldn't hurt to keep it on the team."

Jay jay let out an excited cheer. The Togepi, picking up this emotion, chattered excitedly.

Lyra patted the Togepi on the head. "You will be called Togi from now on."

The baby cooed. "Toeee. Geee?"

Jay jay was ecstatic. "Oh Lyra, if you could understand us, you would be so proud!"

Lyra laughed and patted Jay jay on her head too. "Someone sure is happy to have a new member on the team."

Jay jay beamed. "You have no idea." Jay jay looked over her shoulder. "Aaron, check out this cutie!"

Aaron came over and peered over Jay jay's shoulder. He smiled and held the back of his hand against Togi's forehead. Togi grabbed his hand with her small ones, and gnawed on it. Aaron winced and smiled. "She is diffidently strong, that is for sure." He drew his hand back, revealing little red marks on it.

I smiled, and then looked over at James. I caught it! He was smiling!

"What cha' smiling 'bout?" I asked him in a sing song voice.

James glared at me. He turned and walked away with Lyra. He held up his middle finger.

I caught up with him. "I knew you had some sort of emotion," I said when I was behind him.

I heard a low growl come from James. Then it disappeared. "Fuck off."

"And you're back to your old self." I sighed. There was a silence. I looked behind me. Jay jay wand Aaron were following us, just walking further back, both still ogling over Togi.

Now seemed like the best time. Sooner than later. "So who was the boy with the red hair?"

James scoffed. He slowed down his pace so we were now walking side by side. "Brandon. He is Lyra's rival. He is also a soulless thief." There was much anger in his words.

"A thief?"

"Yeah! A thief! And a coward! He was too scared to ask Professor Elm for a pokemon, so he stole one. One of my closest friends too!" James raised a clawed hand to his forehead. "She was a friendly chikorita. Now she is a heartless bayleef, thanks to her trainer. And I have to battle her too!" James's hands clenched into fists. He muttered something about how it wasn't fair.

I brought a hand out and gently touched his shoulder. He immediately recoiled from my touch. I withdrew my hand.

James gave me one last look before increasing his pace, and walking side by side with Lyra again.

I sighed. This guy was diffidently a tough one.