"The deep stares back, it speaks to me, I know my love can be the killing kind."

This was so stressful. Blue was starting to get frustrated with me, telling me repeatedly to throw the balls, but every time I did so I wound up hesitating and the pōkemon kept running away. I lost track of how many times I apologized, head ducking down and voice losing emotion, and Professor Oak had to keep scolding his grandson for losing his temper. The teen took a deep breath and brought his hands down in front of his face, eyebrow twitching.

"It's fine." He said. "I'm not mad. It just… It just takes time."

I crouched down in the grass, clinging to the pōkeball I was holding. They were trying so hard to help and I kept wasting their time. How was I supposed to travel to Hoenn if I can't even catch a single pōkemon? Whenever I go to throw it I always find myself holding back… unable to toss the ball at them. I felt so awful. I know that if I do end up catching one it will be only because they chose me, but growing up with Team Rocket and their rules of how pōkemon are meant to be used made it feel wrong to try and catch them.

Because… I would be using them. The only reason I'm trying to catch a pōkemon now is so I can get to Hoenn, otherwise I would be forced to stay with social services and get thrown in foster care- or even an orphanage! I have to help the other children and the mistreated pōkemon, but to do so I have to stoop so low and capture innocent creatures in the process. I hated it.

There were so many Pidgey and Bellsprouts, yet I kept scaring them away. Blue was determined to get me the bird pōkemon, but his yelling wasn't helping all that much either. Professor Oak was starting to get exasperated by his grandchild and turned to me, trying to offer encouragement. "Easy now! Come on, child, you can do it! Pōkemon can sense emotions just like you said, so they don't want to come near you when you are afraid! You have to be confident!"

Another Pidgey flew away. My knees were covered in dirt and scraped up from crawling through the grass. I was out of breath from running after Rattata. "They only like me in battle… because they know I don't want to fight. I-I can't… I can't catch one like this! Chasing them…"

I plopped down in the grass, wheezing, pōkeballs at my feet. This backpack was so darn heavy.

"They won't come close!"

Blue scoffed, standing up from his spot and the grass and crossing his arms. "I never said it was going to be easy. Weren't you taught how to catch pōkemon in Team Rocket?" He scowled at me when I didn't answer, giving the area a quick once-over and observing if there were anymore pōkemon in the area. "We probably scared them all off… why don't we try going further into that thicket? There might be something there to catch."

It was really hard not to huff in frustration. I was just about to get up to try again when I felt a hand on my shoulder, Oak squatting dawn beside me with a gente smile on his face. "You can do this, child. I know you can. Something tells me you were meant to have a pōkemon."

And what was that? Intuition?

"Uh, guys," Blue began, voice raising in volume again, catching our attention, "you might might wanna look out! Behind you!"

I whirled my head around, trying to see what he was warning me about, when the grass nearby began to rustle. Something jumped out of it and I let out a startled yelp when it tackled me hard in the chest- sending me sprawling onto my back. I groaned, coughing hard into my shoulder, opening an eye to see what had hit me. There had been no time to brace myself for the blow.

"No way…!" Blue was surprised. "Why is that pōkemon all the way out here?"

Professor Oak stood, staring at the newcomer with big eyes. He didn't seem as surprised as the rest of us, instead looking as though he had realized something the moment the creature appeared. It was a small pōkemon standing around a height of almost two feet, with brown fur and a bushy cream-colored mane. With reddish brown eyes and a tiny black nose, I dare say it almost resembled a cat if not for its long ears. The big tail swishing behind it was almost completely brown, save for the lighter cream spikes at the top. There were no visible claws on it, otherwise I would have felt them as they dug into my chest, and as it pawed at my face I could see pink pads on the bottom of its feet.

"That's an Eevee!" The old man said, smile wide. "They're normally found on Route 17 here in Kanto… I wouldn't have expected one to appear in these parts!"

Why was it staring at me? Its eyes were so intense. I struggled to sit up with my injured arm, biting back a hiss at the pain, and watched as the pōkemon scooted back into my lap. The way its tail was colored… was it a male Eevee? It had to be. Definitely. The pōkemon blinked at me, leaning forward and sniffing me, before bouncing off my lap and running in circles in the grass. "Vaa! Veeva!"

"...Hah?" I had no idea what just happened. "Uh, do you guys know what-"

"Don't just sit there!" Blue snapped. "Catch it!"

I fumbled for one of the remaining pōkeballs, smacking the button to enlarge it. The Eevee stopped running and turned to me, staring at the item with narrowed eyes. Its fur stood on it and it turned, and before I could even think about throwing it the pōkemon charged. My eyes went wide and Oak quickly moved back, getting out of the way, and he watched in alarm as Eevee dug its fangs hard into my right wrist. I grit my teeth and sat up, shoving my arm to the side in an attempt to get the pōkemon to let go. He had quite the bite.

I didn't want to hurt him, but I didn't want to sustain anymore wounds. As such I found myself flinging my arm to the side, elbowing the Eevee and forcing him to let go. He stumbled back and quickly regained composure, looking at me with fierce eyes. I stared him down, clutching my bleeding wrist, waiting for the pōkemon to make another move. Seeing him tense his muscles in preparation to charge again, I quickly held up the pōkeball and stood up. Eevee dashed forward, attacking quickly and without hesitation.

I slid my foot to the side and readied the ball, slamming my arm into his forehead. It caused great pain to spread through the limb, my burn aggravated by the action, but I ignored it. Eevee hadn't given up yet. Blue was yelling at me again to hurry and catch it, while Oak was freaking out about my wounds. The pōkemon hissed and stood up, staggering sideways, before facing me and baring his fangs.

"Veee! Veeva!"

"I don't want to fight." I told him, voiced low and quiet. I held the ball out towards him, squatting down and leaving myself wide open for attack. Eevee moved in place, debating whether or not to bite or quick attack me again. His eyes bore into mine, reading me for all I was worth. He was here for a reason; whether it be because he was an adventurous pōkemon and felt threatened, or if he wanted to be caught I did not know. "But if you want a trainer… then come on."

I waited.

"No?"

Eevee kicked its hindlegs and ran towards me. Blue was shouting at me to fight and Oak panicked- hurriedly telling me to dodge. I ignored them both, narrowing my eyes and spinning the pōkeball around in my hand. I held it out, using it as a barrier between us, and we all watched as the pōkemon's forehead rammed hard into it. Suddenly, upon contact, there was a bright red light. Eevee blinked when he was sucked into the ball and I let go immediately, startled that it had actually worked.

The pōkeball rolled along the ground and flashed several colors, Professor Oak, Blue, and I all watching with bated breath as it shook. Three seconds passed, then four. Five. Six… whoa. Holy frick. The ball stopped moving and the light turned green, a clicking sound echoing from the object as it snapped shut. It had worked.

I… caught a pōkemon.

Eevee chose me.

The shock on Blue's face faded away, gradually being replaced with an ecstatic grin as he threw his fists into the air. "Yes! You did it! You actually caught a pōkemon! It's about time!" He pumped his arms out, grinning smugly. "I told you that you could do it!"

"Very well done!" Professor Oak praised, making his way back over. He pulled the bag off of his shoulder and took out a small medicine kit, opening it, and held a hand out. "Why don't you hand me that wrist of yours? It's bleeding quite badly…"

O-Oh, right. That was a thing, wasn't it? I had forgotten.

He wasted no time in rolling up my sleeve and dabbing at the bite marks with medicine. My jaw tightened in response, teeth gritting together automatically in response to the pain. Oak watched me carefully, reading my expressions, and pulled out nylon sutures. I quickly turned my head away, jaw clenching tighter when he began to stitch the wound shut. Eevee had bitten me deep. Having learned a Dark-type move already… what level was he?

"There we go." He wrapped some bandages around it, smiling warmly. "In a few days your wrist should be as good as new! You really are prone to danger, aren't you?"

I closed my eyes and let out a breath I was holding, sighing in relief now that he was done. How I hated that. He checked my burn real fast before rolling my sleeves down and packing up his supplies. Professor Oak picked up the pōkeball at my feet, holding it towards me with a soft smile.

"It was a bit unorthodox in the way it was done, but you caught it! What a strange Eevee, too. Why don't you release it now and interact with it?"

I stared at the pōkeball, uncertain of if this was truly the right thing to do. What if I was making another mistake? The light had turned green, so the pōkemon wanted to be caught… but did that mean he would be alright fighting for me? I didn't want to hurt him at all and Team Rocket was a dangerous group. If my ambush fails and we're forced to fight… there could be some serious injuries. Reluctantly tapping the button, I watched as a red light came forth. From it Eevee took shape, the pōkemon wagging his tail and looking around curiously.

Calm down. Control your emotions. I clapped my hands together softly to catch his attention and Eevee whirled around, barking at me. "Hey." I said. Eevee looked up at me and lunged at my legs, nearly knocking me over as he leaned all his weight against me. "Wh-Whoa, okay. Hi."

Blue laughed. "I think he likes you."

Ah, yes. He only tried to bite my wrist off- surely that's a sign of affection. My expression became harder to read at the teen's words and I rested a hand on Eevee's head, petting the small creature. The pōkemon gazed at me, eyes boring into my own, sensing my emotions despite how easily I changed my expression. Pōkemon truly were incredible.

Eevee moved closer and pressed his forehead into my palm, giving me permission to scratch behind his ears. His fur was so warm and soft… it reminded me of the Skitty I used to have. "Vee… veva!" His ears twitched and he smiled, tail wagging back-and-forth happily. To my amusement the pōkemon began to kick its leg like it was some kind of dog, moving closer and purring. "Veeva!"

"Why don't you give him a name?" Professor Oak suggested. "I'm sure he would like that."

I tentatively picked Eevee up, feeling his weight properly this time, and held him against my chest. He nuzzled my neck in contentment and I had to wonder why he was being so docile all of a sudden. Was he only attacking me to show off his strength earlier so I would want to catch him? Did he feel threatened at all? Had I earned his respect by battling him the way I did? There were so many possibilities.

And… giving him a name… that would only set up for me to get attached.

But I suppose… if I'm going to meet up with that boy one day and travel the world with him… I would need a pōkemon. Eevee would be a great start. I won't ever allow anyone to take him from me the way Team Rocket took Belle- my most precious Skitty. This pōkemon I would be determined to protect. There won't be much I can do in actual battles, but I can prevent him getting stolen away. I was quite agile.

"A name…"

What should I call him? I barely knew anything about this Eevee other than how obviously proud he was of his own power. He must have travelled all the way here from route 17 to find a trainer, levelling up all the while. He had already learned the Dark-type move bite which was fairly impressive, though I questioned how much danger he got in just to get here. The pōkemon was determined and proud, maybe even a little arrogant of his abilities.

"Darkness…"

Eevee stopped twitching his ear and blinked curiously, red eyes bright. I stared at him, taking note of his long bangs that seemed to frame his face, and something tugged at the back of my mind. A familiar sensation. I was trying to remember something- but what? Eevee came all this way to seek a trainer, searching and battling, and now he had been caught. A pōkemon that could use moves of almost any type, but had been most keen on showing off the dark.

Realization hit me and I held Eevee up. He blinked at me. "I know what to call you."

"What is it?" Oak asked, grinning, though he looked almost as if he already knew the answer. Strange. Blue moved over, standing beside his grandfather. The teen pulled out a pōkedex, readying to hand it to me, and I looked at them when I saw the movement. My expression was neutral when I answered the professor, even with the way Eevee had pressed a paw to my cheek to catch my attention.

"Ansem." It was simple, elegant, and got the point across. Feeling Eevee continue to paw at my face I lifted him up, and the pōkemon took that as initiative to climb ontothe top of my head. He was quite heavy, especially when he plopped himself down on my skull and decided to just sit there. At least I was used to heavy objects, not that I was very physically strong in the first place. I was above average, at the most, with most of the muscle in my legs. A small child can only get so strong. I scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward as I did so due to the angle, but his purring made it worth it. "That… is a good name, right?"

Oak rubbed his chin, seeming both amused and deep in thought. "Yes, it is a wonderful name. The ones that come from the heart are the best, and it is clear that the Eevee already has taken to it. Isn't that right… Ansem?"

"Veee!"

Oh my goodness. That sound was adorable. Blue held out the pōkedex and his grandfather took it from him, the old man walking over and kneeling down in front of me. "Here- for your journey. The pōkedex I promised." I took it, turning it around to observe it. It was red and a bit bulky, but otherwise would fit in my pocket. "I'd like to ask for your help with something, but… I'd understand if you don't wish to do it."

I tilted my head, confused. That was new.

Oak took that as a sign to continue, standing up and lacing his hands behind his back. "When you encounter any pōkemon you don't recognize hold this pōkedex up to it; it'll collect data on them and make an entry for each one. To make a complete entry and get all the data to understand them you'll have to actually catch them, which is… where my request comes in." He turned away, looking up at the sky above us. Blue shoved his hands in his pockets, expression darkening in what almost looked like guilt. "My grandson gave up pōkemon training, so my only hope of ever having a complete pōkedex is by relying on the other trainers. Unfortunately, they've seem to have given up after reaching Johto or Sinnoh… and there are still so many pōkemon out there we know nothing about! So, when you get to Hoenn… could you do me a favor and collect as much data as you can?"

Understanding dawned on me and my expression became blank. He wanted me to catch every pōkemon out there? Is he serious right now? I had plans. I wasn't going to force pōkemon to bend to my will; I'm not Team Rocket. I refuse to be anything like them.

"As long as it's convenient for you, of course!" He added, glancing at me from over his shoulder and seeing the look I was wearing. Oak faced me, turning back around. He smiled and pointed at my right jumper pocket. "I know you have dreams of your own. That person who gave you the dawn stone… you want to find him, don't you?"

"Yes." There was no hesitation. For once I answered confidently and without fear; a fire burning inside my heart. Eevee let out a small vee and looked down at me, tail swishing when he sensed the change of emotion. Blue grinned upon seeing the intensity in my gaze and snapped his fingers, pointing at me.

"Then you better get going, squirt. Hoenn will be there, but that kid might not be if you keep dawdling. Although if you really wanna impress him- try and get some gym badges. There are some moves pōkemon can't learn without 'em. It'll make getting across regions easier too if you're lucky."

Hmmm. That would require battling. Although… if my ambush did fail and I would have to fight I would need the skill necessary to win. Rescuing everyone was not going to be easy- far from it- and I had to be prepared. I wasn't keen on battle; I would very much prefer to avoid it, but if Eevee desired to stay by my side and wanted to fight then so be it. "...Right. I'll think about it."

Blue tapped my shoulder and held a hand up in farewell. "Good. Smell ya later, Grunt."

He took off then, heading back into Pallet Town with his grandfather right behind him. Oak waved at me, smiling warmly. "Take care, young one! Good luck on your journey; I'll be waiting to hear about your arrival to Viridian!"

I waited until they disappeared to stare at the forest before us, uncertainty finally settling in my stomach now that I was alone. Eevee pawed at my hair and let out a sound- as if informing me that we needed to get going. I made a face and sighed, packing up the forgotten pōkeballs and slinging the backpack over my shoulders. I strapped Ansem's pōkeball to my belt, forcing myself to walk forward.

I reminded myself that I had a map, folded up and tucked into my pocket, and that if I ever got lost I could just look at it. Viridian City was just a few days ahead of now- it'll be fine. I can do this. I have to. The further away from Pallet Town I got the more pōkemon seemed to appear, though I had feeling that was because they were the ones I had scared away earlier. "You… sure you wanna stay with me, Ansem?"

Eevee's tail swished, not that I could see it. "Vaa!"

"...Okay." I came to a halt, taking a deep breath, and reached up to pluck Eevee off from the top of my head. The pōkemon let out a complaint and pouted at me, stopping only when he saw my serious expression. "I'm going to tell you now… what I'm going to do is dangerous. There are… There are some really evil people I'm gonna go up against. You… You might get hurt. Are you alright with that?"

"...Eeva!" He exclaimed, nodding his head. "Eevee! Vaa!"

He looked so intense. Fierce. Like he was ready to take on any challenge. This pōkemon… it was a bold one, wasn't it? That or very brave. "Alright then… I-I suppose that works as an answer. So long as you're prepared." I held him close and glanced around the forest, seeing several Bellsprouts dancing amongst the tallgrass and sunbathing. "It'd be nice if you had a friend…"

Hmm. It would be best to have several pōkemon that can help each other out when the going gets tough. Strength in numbers.

"What do you think?" I asked. Eevee let out an small bark, agreeing with my idea. "Shall we catch ourselves a Bellsprout?"

"Veeva!"

Alright. They only get caught if they want to be caught, so I might as well try and catch one. Two heads are better than one and I want to take precautions against any possible worst case scenarios. I refuse to let Eevee be taken away or hurt by Team Rocket once we get to Hoenn; for that reason we need to train and get stronger. One way to do that is to gain experience, which is by battling, and the easiest way to start a battle is by encountering wild pōkemon.

I just… need to not feel too guilty about chasing them down. Now which Bellsprout? I suppose any would do, but I don't want to hurt them all unnecessarily. I crouched down in the grass, observing them all, trying to take note of their personalities from their behavior. My eyes landed on one that was carefully laid out amongst a small boulder, taking a nap as it soaked in the sun's light. Each step I took was planned, stealthily placed down against the earth. If I moved too fast the grass would crunch loudly and startle the pōkemon.

"Lower, Grunt! Watch the ground- keep an eye on your surroundings!"

I inched a bit closer and then paused, slowly sliding off my backpack. I took out a pōkeball and steadied my breathing, observing the pōkemon for a few more seconds. From atop my head Eevee shifted, and right when I was about to throw the ball he leapt off and barked- dashing right at the Bellsprout without warning. My eyes widened. "A-Ansem, no!"

"Veeeevaaaa!"

The sleeping Plant-type pokemon opened its eyes and blinked, startled by the noise. Bellsprout hurriedly jumped to its feet, yet was unable to move in time to avoid the tackle from Eevee. I flinched, regret washing over me instantly, but it was too late now. The battle had begun. I had to finish it, otherwise Bellsprout's suffering would be for naught. "O-Okay… um. Frick. A-Ansem, you got this!?"

"Va!" Eevee growled, threatening the other pōkemon. Bellsprout flicked its leaves and turned, pushing itself up and staring down my companion. It observed him for a moment, calculating, carefully considering all options. Then, without wasting time, it brought its leafy arms forward and extended them- creating vine whips that shot outwards. Eevee leapt out of the way via my shout and ran at the Bellsprout, jaws wide open for a bite. "Eeeva!"

Bellsprout cried out and crumpled under his grip, unable to withstand the pain from Eevee's fangs. "S-Stop! Ansem, let go!" I rushed over, panicking, the hurt in Bellsprout's expression twisting something in my chest. I couldn't stand it; it reminded me too much of all the battle lessons I had been forced into. Eevee confusedly released Bellsprout and I placed my arms between them, separating the two, and I carefully cradled the wounded pōkemon in my arms. "A-Are you okay? I'm so sorry…"

"S-Sprout…"

Frick, frick, frick. Okay. It was defeated. I don't have any healing berries or pōkemon medicine with me- what do I do? I could touch it with the pōkeball, but that would be cruel- wouldn't it? I have no idea anymore. It would certainly make the Bellsprout easier to carry until I found some medicine. Taking a shaky breath I brought the ball up to the pōkemon, tears stinging my eyes as I met its gaze. "P-Please work with me… you can hate me all you want later."

"Sprout?" It blinked when I pressed the ball to its forehead. A red light enveloped it and then the Bellsprout was sucked in, the ball shaking in my hold as the middle ring flashed multiple colors. I watched with great anxiety, heart racing, and counted the seconds it took before the ball clicked shut. My shoulders slumped and I let out a breath, clicking the button and watching as Bellsprout appeared again. "Sp… Sprout!?"

It worked. The pōkemon let me catch it. I pulled the pōkedex out of my pocket and flipped it open, holding it up to the Bellsprout, and quickly read the words that were on it. "Bellsprout. Also known as the Flower Pōkemon; it prefers hot and humid places. It ensnares tiny bugs with its vines and devours them." It was both Poison and Grass-type, which meant it would be a great asset to Eevee. Having the pōkedex scan the pōkemon completely it was revealed that this particularly Bellsprout was extra small in size and was of the female variety.

Alright. We're getting somewhere. What would be a good name for a plant pōkemon? I might as well name Bellsprout since I plan on keeping her. "Lily…? Nah. Bellsprout… you're poison, so- oh! Belladonna?"

Bellsprout tilted its head, before bringing up a leafy arm to touch its wounded stem. Yeah. I carefully hoisted Bellsprout up into my arms, surprising the pokemon, and I looked around the area once more. We needed to find berries of some sort to care for her. Of course, searching for them was quite challenging; I was still wounded myself, but I was also carrying a heavy backpack with a large Eevee on my head.

Eventually I found a bush with a couple razz berries thanks to Eevee, but they weren't what I wanted or needed. I plucked them and stuck the berries inside the empty plastic jar, before wandering aimlessly again in an attempt to find some food. I had been planning to capture Bellsprout without need for an actual battle, but Eevee clearly wanted to fight. He went ahead without my saying anything, too, which meant I had my work cut out for me…

Jeez, why am I like this? Oh, hey- that tree up ahead…

Perfect. I set Eevee and Bellsprout down, pulling off my backpack and staring up at the tree branches. The best way to climb them would be… hmm. After a few minutes I decided that whatever happened would happen and I would deal with the consequences either way. My numb fingers made it hard to get a decent grip on the branches and I ended up with several splinters in the process, but after around five minutes of climbing I managed to get up high enough to nab several berries.

Eight oran berries and at least two pecha… nice. This was good. Now how to get down?

I shoved the berries in my pockets and grabbed the branch, taking a deep breath before sliding my legs off. My body fell, but my hands holding on caused a jolt in my shoulders from the weight and I was left dangling, swinging until I could reach the next branch. Climbing down, I made my way back to my pokemon and sat down next to them with a huff. Eevee happily nibbled on razz berries while I shook Bellsprout awake, the pōkemon staring for a moment before hurriedly devouring the oran berries in my palm. It swallowed them whole, wounds fading away, the cuts healing due to the magical properties of the fruit.

I relaxed at the sight. "Good girl… feeling better?"

Bellsprout spread its leaves, doing a strange little dance. "Sprout!"

My lips twitched, daring to move upwards. I forced it back down. "Nice. Sorry about… earlier. You gonna be okay with me as a trainer?"

"...Sprout." It paused for a moment. Then it began to dance again, basking in the sun happily. "Sprout! Sprooouuut!"

I reached out and rested a hand on the top of its head, feeling the weird smoothness of its skin. It felt like a very thick flower petal. Bellsprout leaned into the touch, accepting me as a trainer even after the horrible way we met, and I couldn't help but wonder why. Pōkemon battling felt like animal abuse and I hated every second of it, and from the looks of it Bellsprout did as well. Eevee seemed to thrive from fighting, however, and I wish I knew what caused him to have such a violent nature.

"Hey, Ansem…"

"Vaa?" Eevee stopped munching, responding to the nickname, and blinked at me. "Vee?"

"...Please don't rush into battle like that again, okay? I don't want to fight unless we have to."

He tilted his head. "Eev…"

"...But you like battling, so you're not gonna listen to me, are you?"

"Eev!"

Of course I would happen to get the one pōkemon that wants to battle. Our personalities didn't match up at all. Okay. Well, we might as well train and get stronger- I have berries now, so we have medicine if they get too hurt. There are also candies to boost stats and fill their bellies if they get hungry, or at least until we reach town and I can buy proper food for them. Ansem and Belladonna… two out of six. What a crazy journey to Hoenn this is going to be.

Once the two were done eating and were feeling a lot better we continued on our way to Viridian. Along the way we ended up getting attacked by some wild Rattata, in which Ansem wasted no time in attacking. He even egged him on, growling and barking, attempting to encourage the other pōkemon to battle him. "N-No! What did I say!?" I hurriedly knelt down, trying to place a hand on his head to placate him, but he wouldn't listen. "Stop it!"

"Vaaa!"

"We need to get to Viridi-whoa!" I threw myself back, narrowly avoiding getting whipped in the face by a tail. Those Rattata were not holding back. Some even tried to bite at my ankles, leaving me stumbling over my feet as I attempted to run away. Belladonna held her leaves out and extended them into vines, grabbing at the wild pōkemon to stop their attacks. "Th-Thank you!"

"Sprout!"

Ansem attacked quickly and dug his fangs into one of the Rattata, biting it hard on the shoulder. The pōkemon cried out in response, pained yells reaching my ears and causing me to flinch. Seeing another stray pōkemon, one that wasn't being binded by Belladonna's vines, head straight at me I panicked and threw my leg out- loudly apologizing to it as I sent it flying with a kick. "S-Sorry!"

My leg throbbed at the action, but I ignored it. I had more important things to focus on. Rattata was weak to Fighting-type pōkemon, but all I had was a Normal-type and a Plant/Poison-Type. We don't actually need to win the battle with a Fighting-type move, but if either of them had known one it would make this a whole lot easier. From the distance one of the Rattata broke free of the vines and moved out of the way to avoid Ansem's next attack, watching as he slammed into a tree. The Evolution-pōkemon stumbled, dazed from the self-inflicted blow, and the Rattata charged with its mouth wide open.

"L-Look out!"

Ansem staggered sideways and shook his head, blinking. He turned just in time to feel his tail get bit on- hard- and in response he let out an ear piercing cry. My eyes widened and I cringed, barely able to bring myself to watch the match take place. Ansem thrashed and kicked with his hindlegs, smacking the Rattata in the face, and the Mouse-pōkemon let go when it was temporarily blinded by getting poked in the eyes. Ansem tackled his opponent once he regained his bearings and sent the Rattata flying back, the pōkemon having a hard time getting back up. Belladonna released the second Rattata and used its vine whips as an attack, smacking her opponent repeatedly until it was forced onto the ground.

The third pōkemon- the one I was fighting- was charging at me again. I scrambled onto my feet and grabbed my backpack, swinging the object as hard as I possible could in a desperate attempt to remain unharmed. It made contact and I flinched, trying to ignore the guilt and regret, and watched it fall to the ground unconscious. Ansem smacked the Rattata and Belladonna spat out a purple liquid- some kind of acid- that sunk into the Rattata's fur and poisoned it.

Shortly after the two Rattata fainted, and Belladonna and Ansem stood in triumph. They were exhausted, definitely, but they were victorious. I slumped over, breathing heavily with my hands on my knees, backpack sliding down my arm from when I had used it as a weapon. "I… hate this… so much." I wheezed, coughing. "I just want to go to Hoenn."

My pōkemon steadily made their way back to me, Belladonna mostly unharmed while Ansem was sporting several injuries. He was covered in dirt and teeth marks; the poor thing wasn't the only pōkemon that knew how to bite. I reached out and caught the pōkemon when he fell forward, eyes closing as he took a nap. I ran my fingers through his fur, petting him gently and holding him close.

"Easy now… it's okay." I stood, pulling my backpack on carefully so not to drop my companion. Belladonna looked at Ansem worriedly, having grown attached in the few hours they were together. My voice was soft as I reached into my pocket, pulling out some oran fruit. "Eat some berries and rest. I've got you…"

"Va…."

Such a strong boy. He fights with his all everytime. I was going to have to raise him carefully. By now, according to the pōkedex, Belladonna was now level 14 and Ansem was 19. Looking back on it now it was no wonder why Ansem defeated Belladonna so easily- he had been around 17 while she was only 10 when I caught her. She was underleveled, or rather… he was overleveled. Poor thing; she really didn't stand much of a chance. At least she was catching up to him now- she was growing rather fast.

Nightfall came quicker than I had expected it to and before long we were forced to make camp. The darkness was extremely unnerving, but Ansem seemed to be thriving in it. He woke up and started dashing around, chasing after all the fireflies. He tried to bite at them, but they always flew out of reach. Belladonna, on the other hand, rooted itself into the ground and wouldn't move. It was fast asleep, simultaneously collecting nutrients from the earth in the process.

I curled close to myself, hugging my exposed legs and shivering a bit as a cold wind settled in. There was no way I was going to be able to sleep tonight in this weather. A part of me… almost missed the bed I had back in the Hoenn base, as it had been softer than the grass with a thin blanket for protection from cold. Even more than that- I missed the couch from Yuna's house. She had given me such a thick quilt to burrow under then and… it was nice. She was nice.

Even if she could freak me out sometimes…

My hands grabbed at my braids, thumbs running across the strands and feeling the bumps in the hairstyle. "Am I doing the right thing…?" Leaving Pallet Town, catching pōkemon, and making my way towards the gyms to get to Hoenn. They would certainly be good practice for any Team Rocket goons I might bump into in the base, but was it truly necessary? Forcing these wonderful creatures to fight.

Well, forcing Belladonna to fight. Ansem would just charge right in without thinking; he loved battle. I don't know. It feels like there should be more that I need to be doing. Sitting here in silence… oh. Are those stars? I blinked and sat up straight, staring up at the dark blue sky. They were so pretty; I've never seen real stars before. I spent my entire life in the underground base and I never thought to look out the windows last night.

"Wow…"

To be honest, I really didn't know much about myself… but I decided that I definitely liked the sight of the starry sky. They were beautiful. I reached a hand out, imagining myself being able to grab hold of one of those stars, and curled my fingers into a fist close to my chest. My eyes slid shut and I went deep into thought, hoping that maybe…

...just maybe…

...that the person who gave me the dawn stone was staring up at the same sky, remembering me.

Ansem stopped playing and observed me for a few minutes, the pōkemon tilting his head and making his way back over. He pawed at my leg and I shifted, allowing him to climb into my lap, and the pōkemon nudged my fingers with his nose. Glancing back up at the sky and closing my head, leaning against the tree, I pet the pōkemon slowly as I drifted into sleep. The nightmare I had was the same as always save for one thing- and that was the fact that Adrien was there this time. He was in the cold watery abyss, reaching his tiny hands out towards me, yet no matter how I tried to save him I only sank further down.

I snapped out of my dream when I heard a barking sound. Groggily opening my eyes, I was surprised to see Ansem snapping at something nearby. I snapped my fingers to catch his attention and the pōkemon blinked. "Vaa?"

"Be nice…" I sniffled and yawned, forcing myself to stand up. "W-We need to… head to Viridian. Come on."

"Veeva!"

Ansem barked and ran in a circle, chasing his tail, before tackling my legs and nearly knocking me over. "Wh-Whoa! Okay. Hello." That woke me up. I looked down at the pōkemon, seeing him standing on his hind legs with his front paws pressed against my knees. "Morning to you, too."

"Va!" He smiled. Belladonna wiggled and unlatched her roots from the ground, twisting her stem and stretching out her leafy arms. Ansem barked at her and circled the pōkemon. "Vaaa! Veevaa!"

He was a very energetic Eevee. My goodness. I reached into my bag and pulled out several candies, knowing that they needed to be fed. Ansem ate out of my palm, but Belladonna seemed to prefer having the candies tossed at her so she could catch them in her big mouth. My lips threatened to twitch upwards again. "Ya'll ready? I need to find a stream or something so I can brush my teeth."

"Vaa!"

"Sprout!"

I nodded at that. "Okie dokie. I'll take that as a yes then."

Onwards we marched. We ran into several more wild pōkemon and they, to my horror, decided that they would attack us. Ansem and Belladonna made quick work of them and as we walked over their unconscious bodies I quietly apologized. I know some wild pōkemon could be jealous of trainer pōkemon and that was why they attacked, but for so many? It was ridiculous. There had to be more to it than just that.

"Um… we want to go… that way?" I stared at the map, eyebrows furrowing. We were getting lost. "Frick. Viridian is… oh. Okay. I think… over here. Come on."

I never expected travelling to be this complicated. Two more days this went on and by then both my pōkemon were over level 20. The amount of fighting was insane; I ended up running out of Oran berries. They kept trying to pick fights and it got to the point where I was carrying them in each arm, making a break for it as fast as I could. My burn really didn't like that, but there wasn't much I could do about it. It was either run away or let my pōkemon faint, and quite frankly I refused to let them get so badly hurt.

We ended up dashing into Viridian City on day three, Ansem clinging to my hair so tight that it hurt and Belladonna curled up in my arms. I huffed and puffed, wheezing, and looked around the city entrance with wide eyes. There were so many people- even more so than what was in Pallet Town. A lot of buildings, too. I walked around for a bit, trying to figure out what each place was, only to be stopped by a young girl.

"A-Are those your pōkemon?" I stared at her blankly, wondering where that question came from. Was it not obvious? They were travelling with me. "They look hurt…"

"...Yeah. I'm looking for a place that sells medicine."

"Wouldn't it be easier to just go to the pōkecenter?" She asked, a hand curled up to her cheesy in worry. "It doesn't cost anything; they heal your pōkemon for free there. Are you new to Viridian? In that case- the pōkecenter is just down the next block. Take a right. Nurse Joy will heal them up for you."

What? That name… it stirred something inside of me. I recognized it.

"Nurse Joy…" She was the one who took care of me all those years ago. I'm certain of it. "D-Did she come all the way from Hoenn?"

"Huh? No." The girl looked weirded out by my question. "There are Nurse Joys in every region; each pōkecenter has one. They're all related, so no Nurse Joy is the same. It's kinda hard to tell them apart, actually; I don't think anyone has been able to. Unless, of course, you know… you're married to one or are one of the Joys… it's just how it is. Where did you come from? How did you not know that?"

I didn't answer. I was too distracted processing this new information, having just learned that the person I met all those years ago… wasn't actually here. I should have known better than to have gotten my hopes up; I was never that lucky. I held Belladonna close, the pōkemon wrapping her leafy arms around my shoulders. She blinked, tilting her head in concern when she saw my empty expression.

The stranger said the pōkecenter was just up ahead, right?

My feet began to move. The girl blinked and looked at me in alarm, startled that I was ignoring her. "H-Hey! Where are you going? I wasn't done talking yet!"

"They need medicine." I said, eyes focused on what was ahead of me. "Sorry."

She was not a figure of authority; I did not have to wait for her. My pōkemon were my priority right now. As such I walked away from the stranger, the weight in my arms and on my head reminding me of my newfound purpose. I had to help them. The pōkecenter was a large white building with a bright red rooftop, almost identical to the one in my hazy memories. Or perhaps it was identical and I just can't remember the details, so it's hard to be certain? Either way, it was a big building.

I held Belladonna close and pushed my way through the doors, feigning confidence as I marched right into the pōkecenter. There were several people inside, kids trading stories, adults gossiping about the latest news, and a familiar young woman standing behind a counter with a large Chancey beside her. As her eyes trailed across the room and met mine I found my feet coming to a halt, heart nearly stopping as I saw that gentle smile. That stranger said it was impossible and yet… it was really her.

My memory was a haze, but I recalled enough to know that this was the woman I met back then. The one who took care of me. I just… can't believe it; the fact that I'm here and standing before her now. I've come so far from back then- I wasn't the same person. So much has changed. Would she remember me?

"Oh, hello!" She greeted warmly, watching me approach. Each step I took was a cautious one, slow and uncertain, many emotions mixing and conflicting. "Are you a new trainer? I haven't seen you around here before…"

My heart caught in my throat, stomach feeling a bit like it had just gotten punched. "Y… You don't know me?"

"Hm? Should I?" She tilted her head at me. "I"m afraid I don't recognize you at all… oh! You must be thinking of one of the other Nurse Joys. I have a sister in the next town over and a couple of cousins that work in the other pōkecenters. Where did you come from?"

"...H-Hoenn…"

"Hoenn?" Joy was startled. "That's so far away! You must be quite the trainer. Oh, but your pōkemon… here- let me take care of them."

Expression dark and eyes half-lidded, I forced myself to move and placed Belladonna and Ansem carefully on the table. Nurse Joy pressed a few buttons on her computer keyboard and ordered two stretchers, and within moments a bunch of Chanceys came into the lobby. There they took my pokemon, carting them away into emergency care. I folded my arms across my chest, gripping at the straps of my backpack, disturbed by how painful the ache in my heart was.

That one girl outside literally just told me that there were several Nurse Joys- that they all looked alike! Why did I allow myself to believe that she was the one from when I was little? Jeez. I'm an idiot. I really need to grow up. I took a deep breath, bringing my hands up to my face and trying to fix whatever look was trying to form. Staying calm… neutral…

Wait. Why… do I still have to hide my emotions?

I blinked, disturbed by my thoughts.

Team Rocket was gone; I wasn't a part of their criminal organization anymore. There was no need for me to pretend to be someone I'm not… even if I don't really know who I am. Keeping my expression and emotions under control, as if I would suffer if I didn't, was unnecessary now. I had no one threatening me, nobody to fool. I was just lying to myself at this point by keeping up this apathetic act.

I should… be able to show my feelings.

Even if they're undesirable. Even if… I'm not deserving of any positivity.

I brushed my sleeves across my face, wiping away the tears as they fell. My lips curled back and I choked, eyes starting to burn as I slowly let the emotions leak back in to the surface. Memories of everything that had happened, of headquarters exploding and of the pōkemon I had to knock unconscious, and of the knowledge that my new Bellsprout and Eevee were current in the emergency room. These emotions should be allowed to show.

All this negativity flowing through me… it was overwhelming.

"H-Hey, hey. Are you okay, little girl?" A female voice called out to me and I hiccuped, turning to see someone with bright orange hair standing behind me. She was wearing a yellow crop top with red suspenders and blue jean shorts. Her green eyes were bright and caught my attention immediately, though I had to wonder where the heck she came from. The girl snuck up on me without warning. "Are you hurt…?"

Unable to provide a vocal answer, I simply shook my head. She frowned deeply.

"Is it your pōkemon then? Were they hurt really badly?"

I rubbed at my face and nodded, sniffling, only to tense when I felt her wrap an arm around my shoulders. What was she doing? Is she- oh gods, she's hugging me. Why is she hugging me? Please let go. I don't like to be touched.

"It'll be okay." She said, smiling softly at me. The girl pulled away, keeping her hands on my shoulders, doing her best to cheer me up me with her words. "Nurse Joy is really great at taking care of pōkemon! We can go check up on them later if you'd like? I'm sure they'll be in top notch shape soon!"

"Y-Yeah…"

This was so weird. The girl blinked and tapped her head, laughing a little. "Oops, my bad! I almost forgot to introduce myself- I'm Misty! What's your name?"

"...I don't..." I paused. Giving in to my fate, I let out a sigh and continued. "I'm called… I'm called Grunt."

"Grunt?" She blinked. "Okay then. Um, are you hungry? Why don't we go get some food from the cafeteria? I just got here myself and I'm starving!"

I lowered my head, thinking about it. My pōkemon were going to take a while to heal up judging by the way Joy had been behaving, so eating would do well to help pass the time. I wanted to be in the room with the pōkemon watching them recover, as it would ease my anxiety, but I doubted I would be allowed. I fiddled with my sleeves, glancing around the room before nodding at the girl and following her through the building.

She led me to the pōkecenter's mess hall and into the waiting line. I was surprised by how much smaller everything seemed compared to last time, but that was probably only because I grew a few inches since then. I was still small, unfortunately- though now I could at least grab the trays and pick up the utensils by myself. This wretched height of four nine was not going to stop me from dishing food myself. I paused when I recalled someone laughing, excitedly declaring me as a friend, and a pōkemon that acted quite fond of me. I wish I remembered their names…

"Come on, this way! You're gonna make the other trainers angry if you hold up the line, you know?" Misty warned. I nodded at her words and stepped forward, hurrying up and grabbing my food. "Be careful; this place is pretty easy to get lost in. Don't want a cute little kid like you getting kidnapped!"

I stopped.

"Hm? What is it?" Misty turned, confused by my behavior, eyes widening when she saw the dark expression on my face. "O-Oh, don't worry about what I said! It was just a joke! There's no way anyone would actually kidnap you here! The pōkecenter is totally safe! Besides, if anyone did try I would make quick work of them with my Staryu!"

She had no idea. Hmph. How old was she? Ten?

This person must have been one of the lucky ones. I closed my eyes and sighed, continuing to walk towards a booth, Misty following behind in concern. "Did I say something wrong…?" She murmured to herself, eyebrows knitting together. "Um, hey- speaking of pōkemon; what kind do you got? I prefer Water-types. You look too young to be a trainer… are they pets?"

"...I'm thirteen." I finally spoke up. She was surprised. I placed the tray on the table and sat down, grabbing my fork and picking at the rice with disinterest. "I have… a Bellsprout and an Eevee."

"Oh… I see. Wait- are you saying you're older than me? How does that work!?" She stood up, slamming her hands on the table. I flinched at the action, trying my best to stay still and not cower as she raised her voice. "I thought you were just a kid!"

"...Sorry."

"Don't apologize!" She sat back down, crossing her arms over her chest and pouting. "Hmm. That's so weird. But I guess that means you've heard the news then?" I tilted my head at her, not understanding. Misty continued, leaning forward, "Apparently there was an explosion in Viridian Forest! A building that was actually the secret headquarters of Team Rocket blew up! They say it was the work of a mysterious pōkemon. You… do know who Team Rocket is, right?"

"Y… Yeah."

Frick. News has already spread of it then; someone must have found the remains. Viridian Forest is nearby, which meant Mewtwo must have carried me all the way past this town to just outside of Pallet. But why there? Did he want to get away as fast as he could? Did he just get tired of carrying me and dropped me there? What went through his mind? I want to know. I have so many questions to ask him.

Most of the conversation Misty tried to have with me was one-sided. I ended up giving simple answers, either nodding or shaking my head most of the time, which… actually left her quite frustrated. When she snapped at me to start giving proper responses I ended up apologizing and awkwardly tried to hold up my side of the conversation. I had to act like I was back in the nursery with the little ones to speak my mind- and even then it was difficult not holding back my thoughts or opinions.

This was going to be a hard habit to break.

A couple hours passed and there was a voice on the intercom, one I quickly recognized at Joy's, and I bid farewell to Misty to head into the lobby. There Chancey escorted me to the back where my pōkemon were resting, and Nurse Joy gave me the rundown on their injuries. She said they would be better by tomorrow morning. "So I just… spend the night?"

"You can, yes. I'm sure they would appreciate having you beside them." She smiled. I looked down at my comrades, stepping close and resting a hand on each of their heads. They were sleeping so soundly. "There should also be some empty beds in the guestrooms. You can pick a spot to sleep there if you'd like."

"...Thank you. I'm… I'm gonna go look around the town a bit more first, if that's okay. I-I want to make sure I have medicine for them next time."

"Of course! It's good to see a trainer taking care of their pōkemon, though it would be best if you could prevent them from getting so badly hurt in the first place..."

Nurse Joy left the room, leaving me alone with Chancey and the other pōkemon. I scratched lightly behind Ansem's ears and gently pet Belladonna on the head. I felt so awful seeing them both all bandaged up. This was all my fault. "...I'm sorry you guys. I'll be back later, so just… feel better. Okay?" I pulled away and faced Chancey, staring at her for a moment, before turning and heading out of the room.

This place really was quite the maze. It took several minutes before I found my way out and to my shock the sky was already getting dark. Did the days always go by so quickly? It always felt like eternity back in the base. As I wandered the town I watched the sun set, intrigued by the colors. The entire sky seemed to be bathed in red, with shades of gold and pink brushed in. Dark clouds hovered above and it was only after they moved that I could make out the light blue of daytime. Evening was closing in fast.

So pretty…

Snapping out of the distraction I hurried to the pōkemart, having to get directions from a nice elderly couple because I was lost. I ended up buying several potions, burn heals, antidotes, and awakenings, not wanting to take any chances. Afterwards I searched for some easy meals, something to feed my pōkemon during our trip, and after paying for everything I shoved them into my backpack and took a deep breath, calming my racing heart as I headed back outside.

Thinking about the pōkecenter left me so scared. Was I truly worthy enough to be a trainer?

What if they don't recover…? What if it was all a mistake?

I don't want to lose anyone else.

"Lies! Grunt would never do something like that!"

I came to an abrupt stop and whirled my head around, staring with big eyes at the Viridian City exit. Two people were standing at the end of the road, blocking the path to the next forest, dressed in dark clothes and arguing with one another. For a moment I forgot how to breathe and I just stared, wondering if I was imagining things or if I had finally gone insane.

"I can't believe it…" Rich muttered, grabbing at his arms and holding himself. "Grunt betrayed us? Why? She was getting a promotion!"

Velga waved a hand through the air, huffing and rolling her eyes. "A brat is a brat; I told you not to trust her. Must you always get so attached to stray dolls?"

"But she was different!" He snapped. I saw him begin to turn around and I lunged to the side, back pressing against the wall of a random building as my eyes went wide. My heart was beating so loud- adrenaline rushing through my veins. My head began to throb and I started to grow dizzy as a result, hands and legs shaking. They were really here. This wasn't a delusion. "I raised her! More than anyone else in the goddamn organization; I took care to raise her into the perfect criminal! She may have been a doll, but she was my doll. Something must have happened to corrupt her!"

"As if. She was never perfect in the first place." Sweat beading down the sides of my face, chest heaving with each shallow breath, I peered over the corner to get a better look. There was no mistake; I recognized those uniforms anywhere. They had survived the explosion. Velga flicked her hair over her shoulder, purple lips coiled in a twisted grin. "I've know since the beginning, but you never listened to me, did you? Even Mistress Augusta knew- that's why we punished her so often. If not for that resistance she would have been a beautiful flower, but she ended up becoming just a weed. You really should have seen this coming, Richard."

I hid again, bringing the back of my hand up to my mouth as I squeezed my eyes shut. I felt like I was going to be sick if this kept up. Oh gods. I can't breathe; spots were starting to dance in my vision. It was as if the world around me was collapsing, closing in and suffocating me as it put pressure on all sides. Their voices were like sirens, deadly and very much a threat, yet the relief I felt at their being alive was almost uplifting. I hadn't killed them after all. Unfortunately, that just meant Team Rocket still existed here in Kanto.

"Just shut up! Once we're done with the mission at Mt. Moon I'm gonna find Grunt! Then she's gonna be heading back to the base with us where we'll clear up this misunderstanding!"

"Oh? So you're saying the boss lied to us about what happened at headquarters?"

"N-No, I just… think that maybe Mewtwo mind controlled her or something. The real Grunt would never do something like that!"

Mount Moon. What was that? It sounded important.

Whatever these two were up to could not be good. I was planning on taking my pōkemon in the morning and leaving, heading straight for the gyms so I could obtain whatever special abilities came with the badges in order to leave for Hoenn, but if Team Rocket was still functioning then there would be no point. Judging by the sounds of it Giovanni survived the blast as well, which meant the criminal organization was still up and running. I had to put a stop to it.

Ansem, Belladonna… please work with me. Get healthier and stronger so we can stop these evil people. We can't let them hurt anyone else- whether they be pōkemon or human.

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