AUTHOR'S NOTE: Greetings, readers! This will be my fourth Fanfiction story. I call it "The Adventures of Tristan, Hillary, and Pikachu in Hoenn." I decided to base this story on my experiences with the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald version games. In this story, Tristan and Hillary won't only have to deal with Taz occasionally, but they will also have to deal with the Team Rocket Trio as well. Not only that, they'll be doing their best to help stop two villainous teams from attaining their goals in the Hoenn region: Team Aqua and Team Magma. Tristan will try and earn the eight badges he needs to qualify for the Hoenn League while Hillary finally makes up her mind and decides to try her luck at being a Pokémon Coordinator, competing in Pokémon Contests along the way. But she will compete in special contests called Second Chance Contests, which are for Coordinators who either missed their chance by not making it to their destination or didn't win the first time. Plus, Tristan and Hillary will try and befriend all the Legendary and Mythical Pokémon in the Hoenn region. Lots of new Pokémon, lots of surprises, and lots of things I didn't even know about when I first started playing the games all those years ago, plus Tristan and Hillary will have occasional run-ins with their cousins, Wayne, Marc, and Lisa, as well as their Aunt Amy and Uncle Greg. And as a friendly reminder, I don't own Pokémon. Pokémon, Pikachu, and all other character names are trademarks of Nintendo. I think this story will be great. I hope you'll agree. Here is the very first chapter. Please feel free to read and review responsibly at your leisure.

TEASER: Tristan and Pikachu finally arrive in the Hoenn region and see brand-new Pokémon. But a thunderstorm frightens a Mudkip that Professor Birch has been looking for, and Pikachu takes the lightning blast to protect Tristan and Mudkip! Will it be okay? Plus, Tristan's cousin Wayne picks his very first Pokémon, and he and his siblings, Marc and Lisa, also become Trainers.

Chapter 1: WELCOME HOENN!

(Music Cue: Opening Selection A 2002-2005)

The Hoenn region: a place thriving with many dramatic environments with Pokémon living in every one of them.

From hot, dry, and sandy deserts to the wettest rainforests, you can be sure there's a Pokémon just waiting to be seen.

Much of the region is covered by water, which, thanks to Mother Nature, is in abundance. Needless to say, it's almost equal in size to the mainland.

There are also interior areas that are situated in forests or mountains. As a result, most of the cities are located on coastlines.

The residents of some of the towns and cities near the mountain often have to adapt to its harsh climate.

The weather varies depending where one goes in the Hoenn region. For instance, ashes fall near Mount Chimney in the northwest while in the central portion, vicious sandstorms take place in arid areas, which are perfect for certain Pokémon to live. Frequent rainfall in the northeastern areas allows the trees and plants in the rainforests to flourish.

Some newly discovered Pokémon in the Hoenn region reflect on the area's warm and tropical climate. But there are other places in the Hoenn region are cold, too, like high mountains.

But that doesn't stop the people from learning to become experienced Pokémon Trainers.

Each Trainer, when they turn ten years old, picks one of three Pokémon to begin the very first journey. And when they do, they share a friendship that will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

A Trainer battles, catches, and makes friends with new Pokémon on their journey. Sometimes, they play together; other times, they battle together; and on certain occasions, they face danger together. And whether the weather is hot or cold, rain or shine, they'll find their way to make it through the elements together.

But make no mistake, there will be many memorable moments on the Trainer's journey and new friendships waiting to be made. And with each new friend that's made, a new adventure lies just ahead. One thing's for sure, every day is an adventure.


(Music Cue: Opening Selection B 2002-2005)

Here, we find a certain young man, who's getting ready to make his arrival. Still continuing his quest to become a Pokémon Master, our young hero, Tristan from New Bark Town, along with his best friend, Pikachu, are flying toward the Hoenn region with their great friend, Lugia, happily escorting them, and sharing in the excitement.

"Look there, guys!" said Tristan excitedly. "The Hoenn region! We're finally here!"

Pikachu was just as excited as he was.

So this is what the Hoenn region is like, replied Lugia. It looks very nice.

"And look!" added Tristan. "There are tons of new Pokémon we haven't even seen before!"

Sure enough, there was a flock of Wingull flying with them on all sides.

There were schools of Wailmer and Sharpedo swimming below them as well.

They look like an honor escort or something, remarked Lugia. It's nice of them to be with us to celebrate the occasion.

Tristan and Pikachu could feel the energy in all the Pokémon flying and swimming along with him.

"This is awesome!" said Tristan. "I wonder what other kinds of Pokémon we'll see there."

Presently, a Wingull landed in Tristan's left hand.

"Hi there, little guy," whispered Tristan.

Pikachu quietly greeted the Wingull as well.

The Wingull tilted its large head from side to side, admiring the view. Then it flapped its wings and took off into the air again to join the other Wingull.

Tristan could barely contain his excitement. He'd made friends with a friendly Wingull even before he set foot on dry land in Hoenn.

So remind me, where is this town that we're landing at, Tristan? asked Lugia.

"According to what Grandma said, we should be arriving in Littleroot Town," answered Tristan. "That's where Aunt Amy and Uncle Greg live, as well as my cousins, Wayne, Marc, and Lisa."

Whoa, an aunt, uncle, and cousins? gasped Lugia. Wow! Uh, what are they?

"An aunt is a woman who is a sibling of a parent while an uncle is a man who is a sibling of a parent, too," explained Tristan. "Cousins are children of uncles and aunts."

Wow, Tristan! replied Lugia. I never knew that you had such a big family!

"And that's not all," added Tristan. "Cousin Wayne is supposed to pick his very first Pokémon today!"

His very first? Now that sounds exciting!

"It sure is," agreed Tristan. "I just wish Hillary was here so we could share the excitement with her. All right, Lugia, full speed ahead to Littleroot Town!"

Okay! agreed Lugia.

As Tristan and Pikachu held on tight, Lugia increased its speed and flew toward Littleroot Town's port.


They arrived at the port a few minutes later.

Tristan and Pikachu quickly dismounted.

(Music Cue: Encounter Pokémon (full version))

"Now let's go see Aunt Amy and Uncle Greg!" said Tristan excitedly. "Coming, Lugia?"

Lugia then yawned and walked over to another spot near the port. It had been a long flight, and it was very tired. I'll try to keep up.

"You must be exhausted," said Tristan. "Why don't you rest in the ocean for a while? Then you could join us later when you're feeling a little more refreshed."

Thanks, Tristan, I'll do that, agreed Lugia. Besides, I could use a refreshing dip in the ocean. And it flew into the air, folded its wings and dove into the sea. Once it was miles below the surface, it closed its eyes and fell asleep at once.

"Have a nice sleep, Lugia," whispered Tristan. Then he suggested to Pikachu, "We'd better call Grandma and tell her that we arrived safely."

Pikachu agreed as it tagged along to the nearest video phone to call his grandmother.


"Oh, I'm so glad to hear you've made it," smiled Veronica on the video phone. "Did you see anything interesting?"

"Yeah," replied Tristan. "Several Pokémon I've never seen before were flying and swimming alongside us just as we were landing."

"And there's plenty more where that came from," said Veronica. "I'll be sure to let your aunt and uncle know you've arrived safe and sound right away. Do you need directions to get to their house?"

"No, thanks, Grandma. I think I can manage."

"Okay," smiled Veronica. "I'll let Aunt Amy and Uncle Greg know you're on your way to see them. Oh, by the way, Hillary just helped finish building Silveena's nest. Silveena felt right at home in there."

"That's great, Grandma."

"There's a good chance that Silveena will lay an egg later tonight, but you and Lugia can spend a little time together until then. Be safe and take care. I love you."

"I love you, too, Grandma," replied Tristan.

Pikachu agreed as the video transmission ended.

(Music Cue: Sneaky (full version))

Suddenly, dark clouds began to cover the sky.

"Uh-oh," said Tristan worriedly. "We'd better hurry and get there before it starts raining."

Sure enough, the clouds were covering the sky at remarkable speed.

Tristan and Pikachu raced through the woods to Amy and Greg's house as fast as their legs could carry them.

Presently, they bumped into a tall large man with a square face and a beard. He had short and slightly wavy brown hair, and was wearing a blue navy shirt and shorts, and a white lab coat.

"Oh, sorry about that," said the man. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, we're fine," answered Tristan. "Could you tell us the way to Aunt Amy and Uncle Greg's house?"

"Yes, it's just over this hill," replied the man. "I've been looking for a Mudkip that suddenly ran away from my lab when the storm clouds started coming in. Have you seen it running around by any chance?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid we haven't seen it," said Tristan. "I don't even know what it looks like."

"Oh, that's too bad," said the man. "I was hoping it would be found by now. It's been afraid of thunderstorms for some reason, but I can't seem to figure out why. By the way, my name's Professor Birch."

"I'm Tristan," replied Tristan. "And this is Pikachu."

Pikachu greeted Professor Birch warmly.

"It's nice to meet you both," smiled Professor Birch. "I'm sure your aunt and uncle are looking forward to seeing you, especially since the storm is getting closer. I'm going to keep on looking for Mudkip, but I'll let you get to shelter at your aunt and uncle's house. If you see Mudkip, let me know as soon as you can."

"Okay, good luck, Professor Birch!" called Tristan as he saw him run off in search of Mudkip.

A moment later, there were flashes of lightning followed by rumbles of thunder.

"Come on, we've gotta get out of this," grunted Tristan as he and Pikachu continued running.

Presently, a big flash of lightning was seen followed by a loud thunder crack, causing them to stop dead in their tracks.

"This is bad," said Tristan. "The lightning's getting closer."

Suddenly, they heard a loud, terrified voice coming from another part of the woods.

"What's that?" gasped Tristan as he and Pikachu stopped and listened.

The same terrified voice came again.

"We'd better check it out," suggested Tristan as he and Pikachu dashed posthaste to the source of that sound just as big drops of rain began to fall.


Meanwhile, at a big two-story house, a man and a woman were carefully watching the weather. They were Amy and Greg, Tristan's aunt and uncle, and they were expecting him and Pikachu to arrive at any moment.

Amy had brown hair with blue eyes while Greg had brown hair and brown eyes.

Amy was the caring soul of the household, just like a mother. "The weather's getting bad out there," she said nervously. "Tristan wouldn't even think to be out in this, would he?"

Greg, the expert on machines and electricity, replied, "I'm not sure. But what I am sure of is that he should be on his way to the house right now. Your mother said so herself."

Suddenly, an even bigger flash of lightning came, followed by an even louder crack of thunder, nearly making them jump.

(Music Cue: Desperate Situation (Hoenn (full version)))

"That's it, I'm going out there," said Amy, who was now full of concern. "Tristan may be in danger."

"But Amy...!" Greg began.

"But nothing! I'm going out there, and that's final! When Tristan's with us, it's our responsibility to make sure he's safe, and I'll make sure of it!" And before Greg could stop her, Amy quickly grabbed her raincoat and raced out the front door into the storm to find Tristan as fast as she could.

Greg nervously looked out the window as the thunderstorm continued. "Be safe," he whispered to himself.


Meanwhile, Tristan and Pikachu came to an open tree root, where a small, blue amphibious Pokémon was crying and shaking.

"Is that a Pokémon?" wondered Tristan.

Pikachu was wondering the same thing.

"It must be really scared of the storm," said Tristan sadly. Then he suddenly remembered. "This has to be the Mudkip that Professor Birch was looking for! I've gotta let him know!"

Just as Tristan was about to take his Poké Gear out of his new backpack, the biggest flash of lightning followed by the biggest thundercrack yet, caused them all to stop in their tracks.

Mudkip shook and cried with terror as it ran out of the tree root.

"Hey, wait!" shouted Tristan as he and Pikachu raced after it.

Mudkip had not gotten far when at that very moment, a big bolt of lightning struck a nearby tree, which toppled over to the ground just inches away from it.

Tristan and Pikachu arrived seconds later.

"Mudkip, we've gotta get out of here before it's too late!" encouraged Tristan as he tried to coax it into coming with him.

But suddenly, another big bolt of lightning came out of the sky straight toward Mudkip!

"Look out!" yelled Tristan as he rushed to shield it from the lightning.

Pikachu, not wanting either its Trainer or Mudkip to get hurt, jumped in and pushed them out of the way, just before the lightning struck it full force.

"Pikachu!" cried Tristan as he and Mudkip looked on in shock.


Meanwhile, below the ocean's surface, Lugia instantly opened its eyes. It sensed Tristan and Pikachu in danger from the lightning storm and immediately rose above the surface into the air. Don't worry, guys, I'm coming! it called as it flew toward the lightning storm as fast as it could.


Pikachu strained as it continued to take the full blast of the lightning. Then as the bolt dissipated, Pikachu collapsed on the ground.

"Hey, are you okay, Pikachu?" asked Tristan.

But there was no response.

"Pikachu, can you hear me? Say something, buddy," implored Tristan as he tried to nudge it awake. Just as he felt it, he felt hot blue sparks emerge from its body. "You must have a really bad fever!"

"Tristan! Tristan!"

Tristan knew that voice: it was his aunt. "Aunt Amy! Over here!"

(Music Cue: Despairing Moments (original (full version)))

Amy, coming into view, arrived on the scene and quickly embraced him. "That lightning must've been scary. Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine, Aunt Amy, but something happened to Pikachu."

"Let's see," said Amy. She carefully inspected Pikachu, but when she tried to touch it, she felt the blue sparks, which were hot to the touch, come out of its body. "This is bad. Do you know how this happened?"

"The lightning must've gotten into Pikachu's body after it shielded both Mudkip and me from the blast," answered Tristan. "I think Pikachu has a bad fever."

"I'm afraid it absorbed too much electricity," said Amy worriedly. "If we don't get rid of the excess electricity, and I mean fast, Pikachu could be in really big trouble. We've gotta get to the house and have Uncle Greg look at it right away."

Tristan agreed, and together, they quickly got to the house as fast as they could.


They arrived a moment later.

"Greg! Greg!" called Amy as she and Tristan entered the house with Mudkip close behind.

Greg came walking up and sighed with relief. "Thank goodness you made it back here safely. You're both soaking wet. Hey, what's going on?"

"Tristan's Pikachu took a big lightning blast while protecting him and a Mudkip, and it's in really bad shape," explained Amy.

"Please, you've gotta help it, Uncle Greg," implored Tristan. "Pikachu's my very best friend and my very first Pokémon."

"Let's have a look," said Greg as he felt Pikachu all over. He then felt the hot blue sparks coming out of Pikachu's body. "Yep, something's definitely not right here. "Quick, let's get it onto my machine."


Tristan gently placed Pikachu on the table as a machine was attached to its cheeks.

"Hopefully, this will rid Pikachu of all of its unneeded electricity," said Amy. "Start it up, Greg."

"Right," agreed Greg. "Okay, stand back, everyone." He turned the machine on.

Sparks came out of the machine as it began draining the electricity from Pikachu's body.

A door quietly creaked open and a teenage boy with blonde hair in a sporadic hairstyle peeked in as he watched the operation unfold.

"Just hang in there, Pikachu," said Tristan. "It'll be okay."

Amy and Greg watched hopefully as the machine continued its work.

Mudkip hid behind Tristan's leg so it wouldn't get zapped by the nearby sparks.

Presently, the machine turned off, indicating that all of Pikachu's unneeded electricity had been drained.

Seconds later, Pikachu opened its eyes.

"Pikachu," smiled Tristan.

Pikachu, who was healthy again, leaped into Tristan's arms, and they embraced.

Amy and Greg sighed with relief.

"Thanks, Uncle Greg," smiled Tristan. "Your machine got Pikachu back to normal."

"No problem," replied Greg. "I'm just glad we were able to help."

"We're just glad we have a technical expert in the family," corrected Amy. "Professor Birch had asked us to repair his machine after it blew up due to a similar incident that took place just a few days ago. It was harder to repair than we thought, but we wanted to test it to make sure that it was operational." She then turned to Tristan. "Your grandmother told us you were coming here today, and you said that a Lugia was going to bring you. So is it nearby?"

"I think it's still resting in the ocean," Tristan began.

(Music Cue: Fortree City (full version))

Presently, the teenage boy leaped into the room. "Wow, now that was awesome!" He then embraced Tristan, unintentionally squeezing his neck.

"Hey, Wayne, good to see you," grunted Tristan. "Can we let go now, please? I can't breathe."

"Ugh! Wayne!" exclaimed Amy. "Take it easy, will ya? Tristan just arrived with an injured Pikachu. Could you please just give him a little space?"

Wayne suddenly realized that he was squeezing Tristan too hard and let go.

"Sorry about that. Hey, long time, no see, Tristan."

"Same here, Wayne, it's nice to see you again," replied Tristan. "So, I heard today's the day you're getting your first Pokémon."

"That's right!" smiled Wayne. "I've been wanting to get my first Pokémon and become a Trainer for years, but never had the nerve to ask my mom and dad if I could go on a journey by myself."

"Yeah, you'd probably come crying home to mommy," smirked Greg.

"Hey!" Wayne was obviously offended by Greg's remark.

"By the way, where are Marc and Lisa?" asked Tristan, who was trying to change the subject before things got out of hand.

"Oh, they're stopping at the Poké Mart in Oldale Town to get some supplies. They're wanting to go on journeys, too. Marc is a really great chef, and Lisa can help anyone when they're sick or injured."

"Oh, I almost forgot, I have to make a phone call," said Tristan as he took out his Poké Gear and tried to call Professor Birch. But unfortunately, all that came of it was static. "That's weird, the Poké Gear must not be working."

"That's because the Poké Gear's signal is out of range," explained Greg. "The signal from Johto and Kanto can't reach all the way out here in Hoenn."

"That's just great," sighed Tristan. "I was gonna tell Professor Birch that I'd found a Mudkip that ran away when the storm arrived."

Mudkip came out and stood in front of Tristan.

"Wow, that's a nice Mudkip!" said Wayne. "I think it really likes you."

"I promised I'd call him as soon as I found it," continued Tristan.

"Oh, that's no problem," smiled Amy. "We can use the video phone to get in touch with him."


They called Professor Birch's laboratory a few minutes later.

A man with green hair and glasses was on the video phone. "Oh, thank goodness that Mudkip has been found safe."

"We had an emergency to deal with before we called you, Joshua, but I hope now's a good time to come to the laboratory," explained Amy. "Wayne's been wanting to choose his very first Pokémon."

"Yes, now's a great time to come to the lab," smiled Joshua, "especially now that the storm will be over soon. I'll get in touch with Professor Birch and let him know that Mudkip has been located safe and sound."

"Thanks, Joshua," said Amy. "See you soon."

The video transmission ended.

Presently, the clouds cleared up outside and the sun began to shine again.

"Well, it looks like the storm's over," said Amy. "Let's go to the lab."

Everyone agreed, and together, they set off for Professor Birch's laboratory.


At the lab, Professor Birch was told the whole story. "What a relief," he sighed. "I'm so glad Mudkip is safe and sound. The only thing I don't understand is why it's so afraid of thunderstorms."

"Well, I have a pretty good idea why," said Tristan. "I think it's because Mudkip's a Water-type, and it's weak against Electric attacks."

"Yes, that's a pretty good theory, Tristan, which would explain Mudkip's fear of thunderstorms and electricity in general," replied Professor Birch. "But I don't know if it tells the whole story. Still, that's a pretty good explanation. Now we just need to figure out the rest." He then turned to Wayne. "In the meantime, Wayne, what do you say we get you your first Pokémon?"

"You bet!" agreed Wayne.

(Music Cue: Today's Hoenn Pokémon Curiosity (full version))

Professor Birch introduced Mudkip to Wayne first. "You've probably met Mudkip, which, as you know, is a Water-type."

"Well, it does look nice, but I don't think I'd want a Pokémon who's afraid of lightning," replied Wayne.

Mudkip sadly and quietly walked and hid behind Tristan's leg.

"Wayne, don't be so rude," scolded Amy in a hushed whisper. "That Mudkip just returned to the laboratory in one piece. Don't give it a hard time."

"Sorry, Ma," said Wayne.

"That's no problem at all," smiled Professor Birch as he took a Poké Ball from the table. "Mudkip's not the only Pokémon you can choose from."

A small green reptilian Pokémon emerged from the white light that shot out of it. It had yellow eyes with long, narrow pupils, a red neck and stomach, and a large, dark green tail with two lobes.

"This is Treecko," continued Professor Birch. "Treecko is a Grass-type."

"That one's a little better," said Wayne. "Do you have another Pokémon to choose?"

"I sure do," answered Professor Birch as he took another Poké Ball from the table. "I have a feeling you'll warm up to this one."

A small chick Pokémon with stubby yellow legs and orange feathers emerged from the white light that shot out of it.

"This is Torchic," continued Professor Birch. "Torchic is a Fire-type."

Wayne thought long and hard about his three choices. He then made his decision. "That Torchic looks so cute and so warm. So I'll choose Torchic."

Torchic leaped into Wayne's arms with delight.

"Looks like you made a great choice, Wayne," smiled Greg.

"Thanks, Dad," replied Wayne. "I promise to treat it well. I want to help it grow big and strong, and battle alongside it." He turned to Torchic. "You'll help me out here, won't you, Torchic?"

Torchic nodded in agreement.

"I have a feeling you two will be great friends, just like Tristan and Pikachu are," agreed Professor Birch. He took a handheld device and six Poké Balls and handed them to Wayne. "Here are your six Poké Balls and your Pokédex. The Pokédex will help you learn about many different kinds of Pokémon you meet along the way."

"Wow, Professor Birch, thanks a lot!" smiled Wayne.

Presently, a loud stomach growl was heard near Tristan's feet.

Mudkip came out from behind Tristan's leg and groaned.

"Aww, poor Mudkip," said Tristan. "I bet you're hungry, right?" He opened his backpack and opened a can of homemade Pokémon food. "This should help you feel better."

Mudkip took a taste of the Pokémon food, and it enjoyed the taste so much that it had a second helping.

"Wow, Mudkip must really like the food you gave it," smiled Amy. "I'm impressed."

"Thanks, Aunt Amy," replied Tristan. "I learned some great cooking skills when Hillary and I first met Brock at the start of our journey."

"Hey, Tristan," said Professor Birch. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, what is it, Professor Birch?"

"That Mudkip seems to have gotten attached to you after you helped it out. I realize that Trainers can choose a Pokémon to start their journey with, but sometimes, a Pokémon can choose a Trainer. What do you think about taking Mudkip along with you on your journey?"

"Wow, do you really mean that, Professor?"

"Of course. I've got plenty of Mudkip to give to new Trainers from a good friend of mine on Dewford Island."

"That's great! Thanks so much, Professor!" Tristan turned to Mudkip. "What do you say, Mudkip? Wanna join me on my new journey through the Hoenn region?"

Mudkip nodded and leaped into Tristan's arms.

"All right!" said Tristan excitedly. "You and I will be great friends, Mudkip."

Mudkip nodded in agreement.

"That's awesome, Tristan!" smiled Wayne. "Just wait till Marc and Lisa hear about this!"

"Hey, Tristan, would you like to stay over at our house tonight before you set off on your journey?" asked Amy. "I'm sure Marc and Lisa will be wanting to know what happened while they were gone. Plus, they could use a going-away party before you set off."

"I'd be happy to," agreed Tristan.

"Then that settles it," said Greg. "I'll get an extra bed ready for Tristan to sleep on."


(Music Cue: Lilycove City (full version))

At the house, Lugia arrived, and was waiting anxiously for them.

"Hi, Lugia!" said Tristan as he and Pikachu ran over. "Did you have a good nap?"

Yes, I did, thank you, replied Lugia. Sorry I couldn't help you with that big storm back there. I was afraid I'd come too late, so I flew here as fast as I could.

"That's okay. We managed."

Lugia saw the group of people. Those must be the people you mentioned to me earlier.

Tristan nodded. "They sure are." He turned to his family and friends. "This is my good friend, Lugia. It's a Legendary Pokémon that I met while I was on the Whirl Islands in the Johto region."

Amy was amazed. "So this is the Lugia you've been talking about. Your grandmother is quite familiar with the lore surrounding Lugia." She slowly and carefully touched Lugia. "This is quite a special occasion."

Tell me, Tristan, who's that blue Pokémon you're holding? asked Lugia.

Wayne was clearly surprised. "Whoa, that thing can talk?!"

"It's Lugia's telepathy," replied Tristan as he turned back to Lugia. "This is my new Mudkip."

Lugia leaned in closer as it tried to gently stroke Mudkip with one of its wingtips. Hi, Mudkip.

Mudkip, startled by how big Lugia was, hid itself in Tristan's arms.

"It's okay, Mudkip," Tristan said comfortingly. "Lugia's my friend. It won't hurt you."

Mudkip slowly turned back to Lugia, who seemed very friendly.

Lugia slowly and gently stroked Mudkip with its wingtips.

Mudkip seemed to like it.

Tristan smiled. "See Mudkip? I told you Lugia was nice."

Mudkip agreed. It could tell that Tristan was right; it had found the right Trainer to bond with, especially after he saved its life.

Just then, another teenage boy and girl ran up.

"Hi, guys!" called the girl.

"We're home! And we got some great food for dinner!" added the boy.

(Music Cue: Oldale Town (full version))

Tristan knew who those voices belonged to. "It's Marc and Lisa!" And he excitedly ran up to them. "How've you been?"

"Hey, Tristan!" said Marc. "Wow, you have a Pikachu and Mudkip!"

"They're so cute," added Lisa.

Tristan nodded. "I just got Mudkip from Professor Birch's laboratory. And Pikachu's been with me for a long time. It was my very first Pokémon."

"You and Pikachu must be really close," said Marc. "We saw your performance in the Silver Conference on TV the other day, and we were impressed at how far you've come since becoming a Trainer."

"Thanks, Marc, that means a lot," replied Tristan.

Wayne was starting to feel jealous. "Hey! When are you guys gonna pay attention to me, huh?"

"Oh, hi, Wayne, sorry we didn't notice you."

"And the Pokémon I just got, too!" added Wayne as he held his Poké Ball.

"Oh, that's right," added Lisa. "What Pokémon did you end up getting from Professor Birch, anyway?"

"Just watch and you'll find out," replied Wayne as he tossed his Poké Ball.

Torchic emerged from the white light that shot out of it.

Lisa ran over to hug it. "Oh, it's so cute! I could just hug this thing all day!"

The warmth in Torchic's body was so loving that Lisa couldn't let herself part with it.

"Hey, it's my Torchic, you know!" reminded Wayne.

"Marc, could you start up dinner for us, please?" asked Amy.

"Sure thing, Mom," agreed Marc as he went into the house.

"I can help, too," added Lisa. "Here you go, Wayne." She handed Torchic back to Wayne as she followed Marc inside.

"Hey, Tristan, why don't you and Wayne have a battle in the backyard while you're waiting for dinner?" suggested Amy. "You can use Mudkip against Wayne's Torchic. That way Wayne will get some experience battling for the very first time. And Torchic and Mudkip will gain some battling experience for the first time, too."

"Okay," Tristan said excitedly. "Come on, Wayne, this'll be fun."

"Wow, you want me to battle you?" Wayne was surprised, then he said. "All right! I could use a warmup before dinner!"

"Greg, why don't you judge the match?" continued Amy. "I'm gonna help Marc and Lisa get dinner ready."

"No problem," agreed Greg.


Tristan and Wayne faced each other in the backyard

Pikachu stood beside Tristan as Lugia watched from a distance.

"This battle will now begin with both Trainers using one Pokémon each," announced Greg. He raised both arms in the air and shouted, "Let the battle begin!"

(Music Cue: Hoenn Wild Pokémon Battle (as heard in "There's No Place Like Hoenn"))

"Torchic, let's go!" shouted Wayne.

Torchic, feeling confident, charged into the battle.

"Go, Mudkip!" shouted Tristan. "Let's show them what you can do!"

Mudkip looked a little shy, but ran forward to meet Torchic in battle.

"Torchic, use Scratch, let's go!" ordered Wayne.

Torchic charged in towards Mudkip.

"Dodge it, Mudkip!" commanded Tristan.

Mudkip nimbly got out of the way.

Wayne was clearly annoyed. "That's no fair. I didn't know you could do that."

"Now, Mudkip, use Tackle attack!" shouted Tristan.

Mudkip charged in toward Torchic full-body style.

"Dodge, Torchic!" ordered Wayne.

Torchic quickly got out of the way.

Mudkip, however, got behind Torchic and tapped it.

Torchic quickly looked over, and as it did, Mudkip slammed into Torchic, giving it some damage.

"Torchic!" cried Wayne.

Torchic slid on the grass and got back up.

Lugia was amazed as it watched the battle. Those two battling for the first time really makes me excited. I wonder how strong they'll become. I have a feeling that both Torchic and Mudkip will gain valuable experience along the way.

"All right then, it's time to show you what we can do!" said Wayne. "Torchic, Ember now!"

Torchic fired multiple balls of fire from its beak at Mudkip.

"Mudkip, Water Gun, let's go!" instructed Tristan.

Mudkip shot a blast of water from its mouth at Torchic's Ember, successfully dousing it.

Wayne certainly is battling hard, thought Lugia. But he should know that water puts out fires. Tristan certainly seems to have the edge here, especially if Torchic comes in for a close-range attack, which could be big trouble for Wayne.

"That Mudkip's stronger than I thought," grunted Wayne. "All right, Torchic, let's get back in there. Show them your Peck attack now!"

Torchic charged in toward Mudkip.

That was when Tristan smiled. He had Torchic just where he wanted it. "Mudkip, use your Water Gun attack!"

Mudkip unleashed another blast of water from its mouth. This time, it scored a direct hit on Torchic, sending it flying.

"Torchic!" cried Wayne.

Torchic fell to the ground.

"Come on, Torchic, please get up!" pleaded Wayne.

Torchic struggled to get back on its feet; however, the damage it took from Mudkip's Water Gun was too much, and with a dazed expression in its eyes, it collapsed again, defeated.

"Torchic!" exclaimed Wayne.

"Torchic is unable to battle...Mudkip it the winner! The victory goes to Tristan!" declared Greg as he raised his left arm in the air and in Tristan's direction.

"You were great, Mudkip," commended Tristan.

Mudkip gave a happy reply.

Wayne gently nudged Torchic, pleading for it to wake up. "Come on, Torchic, please say something."

Tristan, Pikachu, and Mudkip came to Wayne and Torchic.

"Is Torchic okay?" asked Tristan.

"Don't worry, Torchic's fine," Greg assured him. "All it needs is a good, long rest."

"See, Fire Pokémon like Torchic are weak against Water attacks," explained Tristan to Wayne.

Wayne sighed. He wasn't expecting his first battle to end in defeat. "I must be nuts to think I could ever learn about Pokémon."

"Don't worry, Wayne," Tristan assured him. "I've been out on a journey a long time, and there are tons of things that I haven't even learned yet. A journey goes on and on with seemingly no end. And things will get much better before you know it. You'll see."

Wayne felt better after that.

Just then, Torchic opened its eyes.

Wayne gave a sigh of relief. "How are you feeling, Torchic?" asked Wayne.

Torchic gave a weak, but happy reply.

"You were great, Torchic," smiled Wayne. "You just take it easy for awhile."

Just then, Amy opened the back door and called out, "Hey, everyone! Dinner's ready!"

"All right, I'm starving!" said Tristan excitedly as he, Pikachu, and Mudkip raced inside.

Wayne carefully picked up Torchic in his arms.

"Come on, son," said Greg. "Let's join the others. I'm sure Torchic could use a good meal after that battle."

Wayne nodded in agreement. "This battle really worked up an appetite."


A little while later, everyone sat down to dinner.

"Boy, this is great!" smiled Tristan as he happily feasted on homemade pizza.

"Thank you, Tristan," replied Amy. "But I can't take all the credit, for Marc and Lisa made dinner."

"Well, then, I should thank the both of you, too," said Tristan.

"It was nothing," replied Marc. "We were happy to do it."

"We're glad you like it," added Lisa. "If it makes Wayne happy, we figured it'd do the same for you."

Sure enough, Wayne was happily munching down on his pizza, although his table manners left something to be desired.

"Wayne, try acting normal...just this once," reminded Amy.

Just then, the video phone rang.

"Excuse me, that's the phone," said Amy. "I'll be right back." And she left the room.

"So, Tristan, what's your game plan?" asked Greg.

"Well, I'd been wanting to explore more of the Hoenn region and see what it has to offer," answered Tristan. "And I wanna get into the Hoenn League."

"Well, I've got a feeling you won't be disappointed," smiled Greg. "The Pokémon Center will let you register for the Hoenn League right there."

"All right, I can't wait!" said Tristan excitedly.

"Wow, Tristan, that's amazing!" smiled Marc.

"Now you'll be able to get more badges, and battle more great Trainers!" added Lisa.

"I can't wait to get started," finished Tristan.

Just then, Amy came into the room. "Tristan, Grandma's on the line for you."

"Grandma? What for?" wondered Tristan.


"What? Already? Silveena laid an egg?" Tristan could hardly believe his ears. "That's incredible!"

"Yes, it sure is," agreed Veronica on the video phone. "However, this leaves Silveena in a very vulnerable predicament. She can't leave it alone, even for a minute. And I can't stand guard forever. I'm not getting any younger, even though my energy levels have increased since I started training Pokémon again. I'm sure you know what this means."

Tristan sadly nodded. "I do. Lugia has to go back home to New Bark Town to help her, right?"

Veronica nodded. "It's time, dear."

Lugia sadly looked through the window. It could tell that Tristan was sad about it having to leave.


(Music Cue: Hope (full version))

Tristan and Pikachu ran outside to see Lugia as night fell.

The rest of the gang followed them.

"Lugia, there's something that I need to tell you," Tristan began.

I know, replied Lugia. You don't need to say anything. Silveena needs me.

Tristan was a little surprised. "How'd you know that?"

I listened in on your phone call with your grandmother, explained Lugia. And Silveena will most likely need someone strong to stand guard until her egg hatches safely, and even then, she'll still be quite vulnerable, especially with the baby. My mother would be very proud to know that we're raising a family together.

"That's great, Lugia," replied Tristan. "I mean, it's a shame that you have to leave, but I'm so happy that you're finally going to be a parent. But while you're at home, could you do me a favor?"

Sure, what is it?

"Don't forget about all the friendships you've made, and remember that there are people who love you."

Lugia nodded. I'll remember. Will you be okay without me?

"I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me, Lugia. But it won't be the same without you." Tears came into Tristan's eyes.

Then Lugia had tears coming into its eyes as well.

Then they both shared a long, tearful hug as Pikachu watched from Tristan's shoulder.

"I love you, Lugia," said Tristan. "I'll miss you so much."

I'll miss you, too, Tristan, replied Lugia. And I'll miss Pikachu and everybody else as well. But we'll see each other again. You can call your grandmother and I can be seen on the video phone occasionally. And remember, you still have that legendary Silver Wing hanging around your neck, and you can use it anytime you need to.

"Promise you'll remember me, won't you?"

I promise, Tristan. You have my word.

Everyone else was watching nearby.

"Boy, it's times like this that make me wanna cry, too," sobbed Marc.

"Me, too," added Lisa. "It's hard to say goodbye to a close friend."

Wayne, Amy and Greg agreed. They felt sad, too, but they proudly looked on as Tristan, Pikachu, and Lugia shared one last long hug together.

Then Tristan and Lugia let each other go, and as they did, Lugia flapped its wings and started rising into the air.

"So long, Lugia!" called Tristan. "Thanks for bringing me to the Hoenn region! Tell Hillary we say hi, and I miss her!"

I will, Tristan! replied Lugia. See you soon! And be safe on your new journey!

"I will! Thank you!" He and Pikachu continued to wave until Lugia disappeared out of sight in the night sky. I'm very proud of you, Lugia, thought Tristan. But more importantly, you should be proud of yourself.

Suddenly, Professor Birch arrived on the scene. "Hi, everyone! I just remembered something!"

Tristan was confused at first. "It's Professor Birch."

"I wanted to drop by because both Lisa and Marc expressed interest in becoming Trainers as well," explained Professor Birch. "So I brought over a Treecko and an extra Mudkip for them to choose from.

Everyone was surprised, especially Wayne.

"You mean you didn't tell us before now?!" exclaimed Wayne. Then he got excited. "Now we can travel together and battle all kinds of Trainers!"

Marc and Lisa had to chuckle at the surprise. "Well, the cat's out of the bag."

"There's never a dull moment, is there?" remarked Amy.

"Nope," agreed Greg.

"So which Pokémon would you two like?" asked Professor Birch to Marc and Lisa.

"I think I'll take this Treecko," answered Lisa.

"And I'll have a Mudkip," added Marc.

And they happily accepted the Poké Balls.

Tristan, Amy, and Greg stood together, looking proudly at Wayne, Marc, and Lisa, who stood together as brand-new Trainers.

"I think this is going to be a great journey," said Tristan. "What do you think, Pikachu?"

Pikachu gave a happy reply while Amy and Greg nodded in agreement.

"And Tristan," continued Professor Birch, "I have something for you, too."

"What is it?" wondered Tristan.

Professor Birch handed him a small red device. "This is your brand-new Pokédex. It will give you all the information you need to know about the Pokémon that live in the Hoenn region."

"Awesome! Thanks, Professor Birch!" smiled Tristan.

"It's my pleasure," replied Professor Birch. "It's the least I can do after you helped me out today."

Tristan just continued to smile. Now he could really feel the excitement of a brand-new journey.


(Music Cue: Petalburg City (full version))

The next morning, Tristan and Pikachu prepared to set off on their new journey.

"Now, Tristan, as soon as you get to Oldale Town, make sure you're registered for the Hoenn League," advised Amy.

"I will, Aunt Amy," promised Tristan. "Pikachu and Mudkip will help me remember."

Pikachu and Mudkip happily nodded in agreement.

"Well, I wanna register for the Hoenn League, too," put in Wayne. "I wanna see how powerful my new Torchic's gonna be."

"Hey, why don't we all travel together for a while?" suggested Marc. "That way we'll all experience something new until Hillary returns to journey with Tristan."

"That's a great idea," put in Lisa. "We can all look out for each other until Hillary comes back."

"All right, then it's settled," agreed Tristan. "The more, the merrier. Although I could sure use a break from cooking for a while. But that doesn't mean I'll stop."

Then they all said their goodbyes and started on their way.

"Bye, kids! Take care!" called Amy. "We love you!"

"And be safe out there!" added Greg.

"We will! Bye!" called Tristan, Wayne, Marc, and Lisa, as they waved back.

Pikachu waved its goodbyes to Amy and Greg as well.

Tristan turned to Wayne, Marc, and Lisa. "You know, guys, this is going to be a great experience for all of us."

"You said it, Tristan," agreed Wayne. "I can't wait to get started."

"We just have to work together as a team," put in Marc.

"And we'll help each other along the way," added Lisa.

"Great," smiled Tristan. "That's the way it should be. Right, Pikachu?"

Pikachu happily agreed.


Having arrived in the Hoenn region, Tristan begins his new journey with his best friend, Pikachu, and their cousins, Wayne, Marc, and Lisa. As they leave the comforts of Littleroot Town behind and head toward Oldale Town, they can only imagine all the new adventures that await just ahead!

TO BE CONTINUED...