AN: This will mark the first time I'm jumping backward in time. There will be a lot of this in the other chapters as well, so look forward to it!
Also please leave reviews if you've reached this chapter, it'll help me get better at my writing and to see what works and what doesn't. And with that out of the way. Please enjoy!

May 19, 2021 (Pokemon Center, Rustboro City)

Dear Diary/Journal,

This is annoying, even though I now have a pokemon I still don't have an endorsement. I don't have any famous or rich connections so I'm not yet applicable for the gym challenge! The Rustboro gym still has a slot open for the 21st so I have 2 days to get acquainted with someone who can help me but what are the odds of that happening!... These were my thoughts today morning. But ya boi has managed that impossible task.

Around Lunchtime I went back to Petalburg woods to catch my final team member for the match, even though it was going to be near impossible to actually participate. Wallowing in the impossible-ness of it all I mindlessly looked through the grass searching for pokemon when I heard "Someone stop that goon! He stole my goods!" I quickly stopped the sailor-looking dude but then he sent out a Poochyena to fight me.

Not how I thought my first pokemon battle would go but it was an emergency so I didn't complain. He didn't seem too experienced but it was still a hard battle for an amateur like me. But since I had 2 pokemon I was still able to get the win.

Unfortunately, the sailor dude quickly got away but not before spouting some nonsense about the ocean or something. The guy whose things I had gotten back looked like a businessman. He thanked me and insisted that I go to his boss with him for a reward. I was a bit suspicious of the guy. I mean, who hands out rewards for defeating a thief who couldn't even beat a kid, but I still went with him. Imagine my surprise when he took me to Devon corps! Actually, I wasn't that surprised for some reason... something about the situation being fairly familiar.

A few flights of stairs later and we had reached the room of the founder of Devon Corp. Mr Devon Stone himself. The man was nothing like what I expected, a lot more child-like and surprisingly fun to speak to. When I said that I have yet to be endorsed he seemed quite surprised, "Such a good trainer but no sponsors!" Like the world was falling apart he quickly made a few calls, presumably to the Pokemon League, and turned to me and asked me for all my details, experience, name, current team and all that. He looked like he was about to fall off his chair when I said I only got my first pokemon 4 days ago but that only made him more interested.

Devon Corp's backing really helps me a lot! An increased budget said he'd base it on my performance in the gym battle on 21st but anything is better than nothing at all, if it goes well I could be eating from fancy hotels for my entire trip! And since I'll have his name attached to my matches other sponsors are likely to give me a call as well. The budget not only helps with the travel but even held items and such, there are only a few battle item shops though so I'll have to remember to make stops at Mauville or Lillycove or Mossdeep. My life just got a whole lot better.

I've decided! I'm going to name this book "Goods", to always remember the Devon goods that turned my life around. Okay! Now the night is still young so I'm going to develop a strategy to beat Roxanne. I only have a day to prepare so wish me luck Goods-kun!

May 23 2021 (Petalburg City)

Daniel Todd was today days old when he realized that not all gyms were the same. He had confidently gone to the Petalburg gym to book a match, he dressed nicely with his new budget from Devon Corp, he laminated his trainer license to make it more appealing and make himself look more official-looking than he was and all that jazz. However, when the receptionist working at the gym bluntly told him that he needed at least 4 badges to challenge the gym all he could do was stare blankly while trying to hide his embarrassment, he was almost certain that if his grandfather knew of this blunder he would never hear the of this.

"Don't worry, it's a common mistake." the receptionist tried to reassure Daniel but she was only making it worse.

"The pretty lady is taking pity on me! Kill me already!"

"Umm can you tell me which of the gyms have such restrictions?" asks Daniel, determined to not let this ever happen again.

"Sure sir, Mauville Gym requires a minimum of 3 badges, Mossdeep, Petalburg, and Sootopolis gyms requiring 4 each. All of the above-mentioned gym leaders are of the upper echelon of trainers in the world so not only are they busier but they also don't want to waste their time on rookie trainers since they'll have to reduce their strength."

"I see... I'm not worth their time is it..."

A dejected Daniel quietly walked back to his hotel mumbling about the unfairness of the world so into it that he doesn't notice when he bumped into another person.

"Oh my God. I'm so so so sorry, I wasn't paying attention to where I was going!" Daniel frantically apologizes to the man in front of him.

The man was dressed in beachwear and had sunglasses on, not quite suited for tourism. When Daniel was about to walk into the pokemon center the man called out to him.

"Hey kid, you wouldn't happen to be a pokemon trainer, would you? You look like you've traveled a lot."

"Uh, yes sir I'm a novice though just got my starter last week," he replies, not exactly sure why the man was inquiring this of him.

"Last week? Must've been one hell of a week if you look like that! Well then, good luck on whenever your first gym battle is kid, I'll be going then, sorry to take your time" the man still looks confused about something but brushes it off.

"Oh but I already got my first badge two days ago?"

"WHAT! That means you beat a gym leader with less than a week of experience! Kid this ain't anything to be joking about you know! Wait a minute... unless... Are you the Devon Corp kid? Daniel was it? This is such a lucky encounter! I wanted to meet you at some point but I guess that's now. My names Scott the Hoenn region head of the Pokemon League."

"Head of... the POKEMON LEAGUE? WHAT!" Daniel couldn't believe his ears, this meant he had met two of the most influential people in the region in less than 5 days, first and now Scott.

"Haha, I see you're surprised kid but it's not a lie, I roam all around the region searching for good trainers. And here I am in presence of one. So kid here, have my number, I'll be getting in touch soon. The worldwide pokemon league has a surprise coming and if I'm right about you, you just might qualify for an invite." And with that Scott was off. He'd gone as quickly as he'd arrived leaving behind a very confused teenager.