I scratched the back of my head, staring down at the little monster before me. "Time to go see Dad, I guess. Return," I finished with, but it leapt out of the way of the ball as I tried to return it.

I tried again.

Again.

"STOP IT!" I said, giving up. "Stupid little…"

I stormed off, furious at the creature that skipped behind me. I walked towards the town exit, eager to get away from people and into the lonesome wilderness.

I was tackled as soon as I finally reached the exit. I screamed in surprise and saw a beaming brunette on my back as I lay in the grass. "What the hell, May?"

"We need to battle some time, okay, Vee?"

"Don't call me that," I growled.

"Sorry," she laughed.

I stared, glared at her, coughing, growling, she didn't get the hint as she continued to crush my back. "GET THE HELL OFF!" I finally erupted.

"Kiiip."

I growled some more as she giggled and stood up. "Your Mudkip is cute! You should give it a nickname."

I didn't stand right away… my bad. My Mudkip doused me… again.

"It's a little bastard, I am NOT nicknaming him."

"Aww…"

"Muud…" he said solemnly. I rolled my eyes and ordered it to shut up. Luckily, I didn't get doused.

I rose and stormed off into the wilderness as a soon cheery Mudkip followed me singing its name. May hollered at me, not like I paid attention to it.

I should have as she threw something that nailed me in the head. It hurt. "What the--"

"It's a PokeDex!" she screamed so I could hear it just fine.

I sighed, pocketing the item, then rubbing the large knob on my head.

I stared at the tall grass. "Shit, this is gonna be a pain," I mumbled as I began walking through the grass. My Mudkip followed along, but screamed shortly after as a wild Zigzagoon appeared. I turned around to see the Zigzagoon growling at my Mudkip.

Rolling my eyes, I commanded firmly a "Tackle." Which was obeyed no problems. As the Pokemon lay injured I felt kinda sorry for it.

"Dangit, I hate myself for this…" I said to myself, a bad habit of mine. I picked up the moaning Zigzagoon and carried it on my way to the next town, Oldale.

When I reached Oldale, I walked over to the Center, where I decided to let the Zigzagoon heal. Harder than it sounds, trust me.

"I don't get it! Why not?"

"Does this Pokemon belong to you? No, so it isn't your responsibility." The nurse glared at me, "So leave it be in the wild! I would have gone out and given it a berry later, now go away. This is for real emergencies!"

"Emergencies my--"

"Leave!"

"Fine! Maybe I will!"

I hate Centers now. I growled as my Mudkip continued to walk beside me as we headed out to another route that would some how take us to Petalburg… my dad's city. He basically owned it. Everyone knew who he was, everyone knew not to mess with him. I could get anything I wanted there just by saying who I was, but that got old since people soon got rude with me when I went somewhere without my father around.

I guess that is what happens when your father is an obnoxious gym leader who likes his Pokemon to have their freedom as much as humans have… meaning he refused to use PokeBalls. Surprisingly or not, it isn't a good thing to have random monsters like a lazy, facading, Slaking just lying around. Or a speedy Linoone who loved to attack people.

My dad wasn't very bright, sadly. He didn't seem to catch on.

I was interrupted from my thought process as I saw a trainer. I was about to walk past him when he pointed at me and yelled, "I challenge you to a-"

My Mudkip sprayed him mid-sentence. I glared at the little creature which sang its name again as the trainer growled at me. "I am the mighty Calvin, youngster of these parts who fights with... Poochyena! Go!"

He tossed a PokeBall to my feet. I stared as it opened and revealed a slobbering Poochyena.

"You've got to be kidding me," I muttered... but the boy, Calvin, just retaliated with a tackle, knocking my Mudkip into a daze.

Without ever ordering it, the Mudkip shook itself straight and rammed into the dog-like Pokemon. The two hada little spar, neither inflicting much damage, but still damaging each other oh-so-slightly.

"Dude, call your Mudkip off! I surrender! My poor Poochyena isn't strong enough!" cried Calvin.

"You challenged me, you moron!" I growled loudly.

He glared at me and his Poochyena let out a howl.

"Sit!" I ordered. The Pokemon both looked at me and both sat down. "Not you, you stupid mutt! I meant mine! There, now take your dog back and let me on my way."

Calvin returned Poochyena to its PokeBall, then threw money at me and ran off crying. I looked at the money, slightly confused, but picked it up anyways. I had heard about trainers paying the victor, but this was like stealing candy from a baby. It didn't feel right... ah, who am I kidding. I don't care about it much.

I continued on my way, now slightly richer.