Delia glanced up into the compound eyes of the bug Pokémon perched atop her head. The Butterfree, a present from her father for her recent birthday, returned the curious look. It was a gorgeous if mysterious creature, its expression unreadable to the fledgling trainer.

Having only had the bug type for a few days, she was still getting used to its presence. Part of her wished her father had gotten something like a Vulpix or Jigglypuff, something with a face to smile with, but she knew she should feel grateful for what she'd gotten and even the fact she'd been given the chance to journey in the first place.

It had been her father's dream for nearly the whole of Delia's life. That she'd grow up to be a famous trainer, traveling the world and taking on challenges. He'd saved as much of his meager salary as possible each week since he'd found out he was having a child just to afford to send her out for a year. With her grades constantly hovering around average, she was unlikely to ever obtain a laboratory sponsorship. That was how most great trainers started. The private education, lift on catch restrictions and financial assistance did wonders in jump starting their careers until they were able to support themselves through tournament wins.

Butterfree were supposed to be easy beginner Pokémon, according to her father's research. They didn't need much special care and their food was affordable. Her new companion had been friendly enough for the last day and a half. Still, it was a little unnerving to be on her own for the first time in her life, especially as she stared out into the dense undergrowth of the Viridian Forest.

With a small gulp, she steeled her nerves and ducked into the brush. The grass appeared barely trodden on and branches pressed tightly against her hindquarters on both sides as she took her first steps in. Delia had crawled through tighter squeezes than this in her twelve years, but it was easier to be the reckless tomboy when you knew your parents were only a holler away. Not willing to admit fear, she quickened her pace and charged through until the path finally broadened and she stepped into a clearing.

"Is this where you came from Butterfree? I wonder what else we'll find out here," she murmured, receiving only a slight twitter from her partner.

Delia's ears perked as she heard the sound of running water in the distance. She swerved from the path in hopes of locating it and soon could taste the coolness of a river in the air. It reminded her of her home in Pallet and the creek that ran through her front yard and towards the sea.

As she came to a break in the undergrowth and got her first glimpse of the water through the bushes, an unexpected sight halted her in her tracks. Lying on the bank of the river was a large feline Pokémon napping lazily in a patch of sunlight. The Pokémon's whiskers gave a slight twitch in its sleep, making Delia wonder if it had sensed her presence.

As she attempted to get closer, she noticed the feline had curled itself around what appeared to be a bag. Unlike her heavy load, it seemed compact, the kind worn over the shoulder. Allowing her gaze to drift upward, she spotted its owner wading in the middle of the river. She kept herself hidden behind the cover of the trees as best she could, avoiding the trainer's feline companion in order to get a better look at its master and decide whether to make herself known.

His look was that of a foreigner, his nose large and rigid in shape and his jaw square. Delia couldn't help but feel her interest escalate as she took in his face. She'd never met anyone from further than Johto. At home she was sure she would have been scolded for even considering talking to such a person. Foreigners were not to be engaged with, her mother had always said, especially when you were a young lady. Yet like most girls her age she was intrigued by these small acts of rebellion.

The boy appeared to be concentrating on something in the water and was oblivious to her for the moment. Delia considered calling out to him. Would they even speak the same language? Before she could decide on her opening lines, something large and round shot out of the water.

"Woah!" Delia cried, tumbling out from the bushes. It was a fish of some kind, but different from the ugly Magikarp that seemed to spawn everywhere in Pallet. An elegant white and orange creature whose tail fin was cut like an elegant evening gown.

Her exclamation caught the attention of the stranger who's shocked gaze was now fixed on her like that of a cornered Ponyta. She had scarcely a moment to feel a twinge of concern for herself before another fish sprung out from the water. This one was even larger than the last, catching the boy off guard and knocking him off his feet as it rammed head first into his stomach.

He let out a startled cry before his head disappeared underwater. His shouts elicited a baleful yowl from his partner who had woken from its slumber and was thrashing its tail in indignation though seemed hesitant to dive into the water to confront its trainer's assailant.

Delia wasted hardly a moment. As soon as she'd seen the boy go down, she'd started taking off her shoes. Recalling her Butterfree, she tossed her bag onto the grass and dove into the water without another lick of hesitation. Immediately, her muscles were struck by the shock of the icy water, convulsing weakly before her body adjusted and she attempted to paddle towards where the trainer had been standing. The water was deeper than she'd expected. As she kicked and flailed against the current, not once did her foot strike the bottom.

"Hold on!" she cried as she saw the boy's head finally re-emerged. He eyed her with a completely horror struck expression before turning to attempt to paddle back towards shore.

Delia could feel the current grow stronger with every moment as every slight pause in her padding caused her to be swept further downstream. Starting to get tired she tried to stand, only to find her toes were unable to feel the bed underneath. How deep was this river and why had it seemed the boy had been able to stand in it so effortlessly?

Unsure of what to do and starting to panic, she turned to face the bank again and began paddling with all her strength back toward shore. Having already reached dry land, the boy shot a glance back to check on her.

"Watch out!" His sharp exclamation rang through the air just as something struck Delia with enormous force to the back of the head.

The blow forced her face underwater where she was blinded by a torrent of bubbles. Desperately trying to claw her way back to the surface she found that something was blocking her way, a strong and forceful stream of bodies passing overhead and shielding the surface of the water from being broken. Everytime she felt herself on the verge of breaking through, another wave passed over her and she was again dragged under.

She could feel the irresistible urge to fill her lungs until finally she instinctively drew breath. All at once it was as if her chest had been set on fire. She wanted to choke but there was nothing but water all around her. She continued trashing in desperation but had lost all sense of direction she might have once had. Having nothing left to run on, she felt her body start to take another breath.

Tears started to well in her eyes as she heard her own hoarse choke and felt the water around her be curbed to a spray of mist. Her eyes still shut, she clung to whatever had appeared in front of her, doing everything to keep her head about water as she let out a second and third choke.

"Are you okay?!" A voice hollered close to her ear and above the roaring of the rapids. She nodded vigorously, her lungs still not up to the task of forming words. She could feel the current pulling her and the stranger along.

Fighting the sting of water in her eyes, she forced them open, only to find herself surrounded by hordes of the elegant fish Pokémon. They were collectively swimming upstream, jostling the two children as they passed and frothing the water to an extent that it was impossible to avoid being swept in the opposite direction.

Not far in the distance in the direction the current was carrying them, Delia was met with a sight that made her stomach drop.

"Waterfall!" she alerted the boy whose eyes were darting to and fro as if trying to come up with an idea. "We have to find something to hang onto!"

"Like what?"

Delia removed her hand from his shoulder and dunked it into the water, fishing out the empty pokeball on her waistband. After raising it high, she brought her fist down, punching one of the fish in the nose with the button of the capsule.

A beam of light shot out from inside, engulfing the creature and capturing it within. The pokeball twitched in her hand for a moment before going still.

Faster than an electric type, Delia slammed her other hand against the button, releasing her newly captured partner, praying that the creature's disposition would lend it to be helpful in the current circumstances.

"I choose you—"

"—Goldeen!" the boy finished, catching on to her slight hesitancy.

"Hold on," Delia cried as she transferred herself from the boy's grasp to the Pokemon. The water type was small enough for her to have some doubts it could support them both, but she'd run out of time for brainstorming.

They were floating dangerously close to the edge of the falls, where she was stunned to see swarms of Goldeen leaping up to meet them, all swimming against the tides.

"Take us to shore! I'm counting on you, Goldeen!" she said, as the boy grabbed onto the fish from the other side.

The water Pokemon let out an indignant yet stubborn exclamation before thrashing its tail fin up and down and wiggling towards shore, managing to squeeze itself between rows of its comrades. But despite this, the current was still tugging at them and though Goldeen was moving them closer to shore, they still drifted nearer and nearer to the edge of the water.

"We're not going to make it!" the boy hollered.

"We are!"

"We're not!"

Delia bit her lip as the current continued to pull them towards the falls, kicking and flailing her legs with everything she had to lend Goldeen every bit of help possible.

"We have to jump!"

"What?!"

"Grab Goldeen and jump!" the boy repeated. "Goldeen, about face!" He attempted to get the fish to move, only to realize it wouldn't obey his commands. He looked up at Delia, his eyes alight with the fever of resolve.

Even as she shook her head, the incredulity of the situation still screaming at her, she found herself bending. Something about the conviction in his tone and the determination in his eyes made her trust in whatever result he foresaw for them.

"Golden, do it!"

Delia had to wonder if the fish had somehow been able to foresee the result of the scheme as well, for no sooner than she'd given her command did the fish swerve and barrel over the edge of the falls, using the force of the current to launch itself and the two youngsters a considerable distance before gravity finally overtook them.

Delia shut her eyes, feeling the force of the water against her shoulders as she plunged into its icy depths at nearly a ninety degree angle. They'd only fallen a few dozen feet and despite a stinging on the surface of her skin, she found herself unharmed once the water around her ceased in its fervor. Propelling herself up to the surface, she let out a loud gasp for air, her heart racing with adrenaline from the fall. The boy had landed not far from her, his shoulder length black hair clinging to the sides of his face.

"We made it," he breathed, a slight chuckle on his breath, as if even he were surprised they'd survived the encounter.

His words snapped Delia out of her daze as she suddenly remembered who'd been the one to get them into this situation in the first place. "I'm so sorry!" she cried, doing her best to bow and give apologies while still being chest deep in water. "I thought you were in trouble and I panicked! I was afraid that Goldeen knocked you out. I didn't think the water was that deep."

"It's okay," the boy said. Delia was about to protest further, but his passive tone made her stop. Instead she followed his gaze as it shifted upwards and towards the top of the falls.

Although the mass of the swarm seemed to have passed, a few scraggler fish could still be seen swimming upwards and over the edge.

"Look at them go. Amazing," he murmured, seeming to be genuinely transfixed by the spectacle.

Delia turned to look at her newly caught friend still bobbing up and down beside them on the surface of the water.

"Is that how your friends train, Goldeen?" the young trainer asked. "You must be really strong."

"Goldeen."

She glanced over at the boy, a smile crossing her face for the first time as she felt the euphoria of relief wash over her. "I'm Delia by the way. What's your name?"

The boy was silent for a space. The question seemed to surprise him and for a moment his eyes were clouded by thought.

"I'm… Giovanni."