Chapter 1: Pokémon I Choose You

My eyes locked onto the Pokémon perched on my bedside table. "Okay, buddy, there are two kinds of Trainers in this world, ones who prepare for their journeys and ones who do not. We're going to prepare for this one, so let's get everything out onto the floor!"

Shinx barked happily, nearly knocking over a lamp in his enthusiasm.

We grabbed anything and everything that we could lift, tossing it all towards the center of the room. I cleared out my dresser, desk, and closet. Shinx pulled everything off the bed, sheets and all. Sprinkled on top, I dumped out the contents of my backpack: an infinite amount of pens, a notebook, and a granola bar.

"Gross," I gagged, wrinkling my nose and wondering how long the snack bar had been in that bag. It became the first item for the trash pile.

Hands on my hips, the messy junk mountain looked ripe for the picking. "Looks like everything's here!" I left the room for a moment and came back with a cardboard box. Upon spotting it, my feline Pokémon immediately jumped into the crate and sat. "Hey. This isn't for you."

Shinx curled up and yawned.

"If it fits, it does not sit. Now get out."

He fought back a laugh before bouncing up onto my head.

"So, here's how this is going to go." Adding my old bag to the trash pile, I placed a navy backpack onto the bed. "We pack anything we want to bring into this."

Admiring the bright material, Shinx pawed the bag. Traces of ice-blue and neon-yellow masked the pockets and zippers.

"Isn't it awesome? Volt got this for me. It even has our favorite colors."

He played with the zipper.

"Okay, come on. We need to get this done, and then we can play." I turned back to the empty cardboard box. "So anything for the journey goes onto the bed. Anything we don't want to take with us, but still want to keep, we'll put in this box. Everything else goes to the dump or gets donated. I don't care. Volt will take care of that. Sound like a plan?"

Shinx dove into the pile like a ball pit.

We agreed to first gather the essentials. "Let's set aside some clothes, and my jacket too." I put together a comfortable outfit for tomorrow and placed it on the bed, alongside a set of spares.

Shinx handed me a scarf. "Ooh, some clothes for different weather. Good thinking." I scratched his head as thanks, setting aside the scarf, a pair of thick gloves, a swimsuit, and thick socks.

A toothbrush and a hairbrush beckoned for me to free them from the pile. "We're going to need these too. My hair wouldn't last a day without being brushed. Can you gather some of the basic supplies for me?" We found a water bottle, a flashlight and extra batteries, a lighter, a multi-tool, and a first aid kit.

We examined the contents inside the kit. "Good, everything we bought yesterday is in here. I've got enough people and Pokémon medicine to last us a few weeks." I shoved the kit into my bag. "What else?" Shinx barked and pulled on my blanket. "Ah, yes, it might get cold some nights."

A tent, sleeping bag, and cooking supplies sat up beside the bed. "Right. We'll need those too." I packed them away with ease. Lastly, Shinx brought me his brush. We sorted everything else into either the keep box or the trash pile. "Ok, I think we've got everything. Good work, Shinx!" We high-fived.

We heard a knock on the door, and a head of spiky, blond hair poked through. "What's with all the noise, Rosa? It's the middle of the night!"

"Volt, did you really expect me to sleep?" I asked.

"Yes. Even the greatest of Pokémon Champions need to sleep," Volt said.

"I already told you. I'm not tired!" I sat on the bed and clicked on the TV. Shinx jumped into my lap. "I'm too excited to sleep. I have so many things to do, Pokémon to catch, people to meet, places to see. Starting tomorrow, I won't have time to sleep."

He sat beside me and cheerfully threw an arm over my shoulder. "Want to know something, Sparkler?"

"Yeah?"

"I have no doubt that one day you're going to be the strongest Trainer ever, maybe even tougher than I am."

I stood on my bed, making a fist. "I'm already tougher than you!"

He chuckled, scratching Shinx's head. "My point is that you know you're going to be super strong and unbeatable one day, you and your Pokémon, but you're still going to need to care about the small things of an ordinary life, like taking a shower, brushing your hair." He pointed out my tangled hair, making me blush. "And sleeping."

I frowned. "And talking to people?"

"Yes." He held my chin and smiled. "I know you don't trust people too often, but when it comes to going on a journey, you'll find those few gems among all the rest. They're the ones who'll listen no matter what you have to say, give you their shoulder to cry on, and be right at your side when you need them the most. It goes for Pokémon, too, so if you want anyone like that to be in your life, you have to find them."

My head slumped forward. "It doesn't help that you won't be there."

"Oh, you'll never be alone. You've got Shinx."

Shinx nuzzled my chin.

"But he's not mine yet. I still need a Poké Ball."

"Then, you might want this." He took a Poké Ball out of his pocket, a black one with red and gold rings on the top, bottom, and middle. It glimmered in the light of my desk lamp.

My heart trembled with happiness. "Volt...?!"

He loved my reaction. "I found this around the same time I gave you Shinx, and now that you're a Trainer, well, here you go."

Jumping off the bed, the ball found its way into my hands. "You've kept it all this time for me to catch Shinx?"

"Go ahead. Catch your first Pokémon."

The pressure hit me like a truck, being able to actually catch a Pokémon!

I took a deep breath, placing Shinx on the bed and facing him. "Shinx, let's go on lots of adventures together. I want to be the strongest Trainer, but I can't do that without you." I glanced up at Volt, who stared intently at my anxious smile. "This is our debut. Are you ready?"

Shinx happily barked.

Nodding, I stepped back. "Okay… Go Poké Ball!" I tossed the ball at the Pokémon, who smacked it with his forehead and went inside. The ball rattled three times and clicked to signal the catch succeeded. "I… I caught Shinx. I did it! Shinx is my Pokémon now!"

"Feels good, doesn't it?" Volt said with a laugh.

I threw the Poké Ball into the air, calling out Shinx and catching him in my arms. "Shinx, I should've asked this too. You do want to come with me, don't you...?" His response, he brushed his fluffy head against my cheek. The warmth of his fur made me cry. Overcome with joy, I fell down on my knees. I hugged my Pokémon tight and gazed up at my brother. "Thank you so much, Volt!"

"You're welcome, Sparkler. Call it a birthday present." He ruffled my hair. "Now promise me you'll take good care of him."

Shinx licked my face. "I absolutely promise! With you, Shinx, we'll be the strongest team ever! What do you say?" He confidently bounced around.

"Then tell her to get some sleep. You two got a long day tomorrow." Volt tucked me in beside Shinx, turning off the light and closing the door. I wanted to talk to Shinx more, but we ended up passing out in seconds.

ooooooooooooooooooo

The next morning, Volt and I stood just before the gate to the plane. Shinx sat on my head as my brother went over some last-minute details. "You should be in Sandgem Town within a couple of hours," he said, "and the Professor is having one of his assistants pick you up from the airport.

"Make sure to call me before you leave from there. Whether you head to Jubilife right away or want to take the next ship over to Johto or something, I still want to know."

"Yes, I know all of that already, but why would I want to go to Johto?" I asked, adjusting the Pokétch on my wrist.

"Or something. It's just a thought, but with Pokémon, thoughts quickly become reality."

"Well, either way, I promise to call. You shouldn't worry about me though."

"I just care about you, and when you care, you worry more than you'd like."

"Don't forget. I have Shinx with me." Shinx barked at Volt.

He laughed. "Then Shinx has certainly got his hands full, huh? Make sure to watch over her. You know how she gets." The Pokémon nodded.

I made a pouty face. "You both suck…"

A voice came from the speakers all around the airport. "Last call for passengers boarding Flight 405 to Sandgem Town!"

"That's us. Got to go!" I lunged at my brother, squeezing him tight. "I love you, Volt."

"I love you too, Sparkler. Now go, or you'll miss it!" He gave me a light shove towards the plane. I raced up some steps, looking back and waving at Volt one final time before disappearing into the cabin.

Shinx picked a nice seat by the window for us. "Good pick," I said, throwing my bag into the overhead bin. I sat down and buckled up before gluing my face to the window, easily spotting my brother's spiky hair surrounded by a flock of fans. It made me a little upset to be leaving.

Feeling Shinx's nose against the palm of my hand cleared away that sadness. When I stared at him, he frowned. "I'll be fine. Thank you." I squeezed him tight and watched him fall asleep in my arms. After we lifted into the sky, I followed suit, dreaming about the many possibilities awaiting my future.

ooooooooooooooooooo

The feeling of tires hitting the runway startled me awake. "We're here!" As soon as they cleared the passengers to get up, I bolted outside with my bag slung over my shoulder and Shinx running at my side.

Leaving the airport, I stopped myself from wandering too far from the front doors. "Volt said that the Professor was sending one of his assistants. Keep a sharp eye out for some old guy in a lab coat." Shinx stood on my head to get a better look. Soon enough, he tapped my head and pointed off to the side. "Lead the way."

We met up with Professor Rowan's assistant, some guy named Ian, and he drove us over to the lab. Its size startled me when I first stepped out of the car. "Wow! I bet there's a lot of cool science stuff in there," I said, following Ian inside.

"The Professor is still out running a few errands. He should be back in a bit," Ian said. "I guess we've got to wait for the other Trainers anyways."

"Other Trainers?" I asked.

"Oh, yeah, I guess you didn't know. You're one of three beginning Trainers today."

I got excited. "Three? Who are the others?"

"Don't know. The Professor never gave me any details about them. He did mention that the Trainers will all be receiving a Pokémon in addition to a Pokédex."

"You mean one of the starter Pokémon? Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup, right?"

He laughed. "I see you do your homework. New Trainers in the Sinnoh region come here to get a Pokédex and a Pokémon unless they already have one." He pointed at Shinx. "They can choose from the three you mentioned: Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup."

"That's so cool! Is there any chance I can see the Pokémon?"

"I see no trouble in that." He paused when we heard the front doors open. "Oh, it looks like the second Trainer has just arrived."

I turned around to find a boy with purple hair. He approached us, looking at Ian and bowing his head slightly. "Hello. The name's Paul."

"I'm Ian, one of Professor Rowan's assistants. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Pleasure's all mine. I'm here to get a starter Pokémon from Professor Rowan."

"Sorry to bring bad news, but Professor Rowan isn't here right now. I know you've waited a long time for this day, but I hope you don't mind waiting a bit longer."

Paul stuffed his hands into his coat pockets. "Well, I guess I have no choice then, do I?"

Watching Ian walk away, I turned to Paul. "So, hey, I'll bet you were so excited last night you couldn't sleep a wink. I was the same way."

He stared at me, confusion written all over his face. "Who are you?"

"I'm Rosa from Sunyshore City. It's nice to meet you." I held out my hand.

It took a second, and then Paul laughed. "Sorry. I don't shake hands with amateurs."

Something snapped in the back of my mind. "What was that?"

"You heard me. You are a new Trainer, aren't you?"

I raised an eyebrow. "And you aren't?"

"Well, of course. I'm here to get a starter Pokémon, after all."

"So what makes you different from me?"

"I have potential, but when I look at you, I can't say the same."

"Hey! Who are you to tell me that?"

"Just a fellow Trainer from Veilstone City." He looked at my Shinx, also getting angry with him. "You see, you and your Pokémon have no skill whatsoever."

My head exploded in a fit of rage. "Hey! You can make fun of me all you want but don't you dare talk that way about my Pokémon!"

He put his hand in my face. "Whoa! Just calm down, Girlie."

"Don't call me Girlie! And I'll show you I have some skills of my own!"

Paul grinned. "Are you challenging me to a battle?"

"You know it! As soon as you get your Pokémon."

"Sounds convincing. Fine, you can battle me, as long as you know you're going to lose."

"In your dreams! My first battle is going to be my first win, you'll see!"

"In that case, your opponent will need a Pokémon. Am I correct?" An older gentleman in a lab coat approached us. He had an intimidating expression, with a scruffy white mustache and hair. Ian stepped up behind him.

"Are you Professor Rowan?" Paul asked.

"Indeed, I am. I take it these kids are two of the new Trainers I'm seeing today."

"Right you are, sir. This is Rosa from Sunyshore City and Paul from Veilstone City. They arrived not too long ago," Ian explained. "The third Trainer hasn't shown up yet."

"So it seems."

"Does that mean we can't get a Pokédex until they show up?" I asked.

"I'm afraid so," Ian said. "Professor?"

He tapped a hand to his chin. "Well, the rule is I'm supposed to wait for all Trainers to be present, but it's also not fair to you both if someone else forgot to set their alarm. And something tells me that there's a battle that needs to begin soon."

"You bet!" Paul and I shouted, glaring at each other.

"You snooze you lose," I laughed. Paul nodded his head.

"Then let's get started, shall we?" The Professor turned to his assistant. "Ian, please go and bring in the starters. I'd like to give Paul a chance to meet his future partner before picking it."

"Yes, sir!" Ian replied and hurried off.

"And I'll return in a moment with everything else." He walked off in another direction.

"Oh, this is so exciting! New Pokémon!" I squealed. Shinx nodded his head in agreement.

"I don't know why you're happy. I'm the one that's getting a Pokémon," Paul said.

"Well, one of us has to be excited and it's clearly not you." He grunted. "The thought of meeting new Pokémon is super thrilling to me, even if I don't get to catch them."

"Do you know what Pokémon they are?"

"Of course, I do. There's Turtwig, Chimchar, and Piplup. They're Grass, Fire, and Water-types, respectively. Do you have an idea which one you're going to pick?"

"Not a clue. I just know I can't pick the wrong one. That's for sure."

"And how exactly are you going to make sure you don't pick the wrong one?"

"Simple. They always give new Trainers their Pokédex before the Pokémon, right? I'll just scan each one and pick a Pokémon based on what moves they know."

"That sounds like a waste of time."

He scowled. "How would you do it then?"

"Well, first off, don't worry about picking the wrong one. There's no such thing."

"Yes, there is—"

I cut him off. "And second, you pick the one that appeals to you most."

"You mean to follow your gut?"

"Sure, yeah."

"What kind of method is that?"

"It's called being a Trainer. The Pokémon you pick today will stay with you forever, so it's important that you pick the one you're able to stay with forever. Hence you go with your gut, and what your heart tells you to do, not your brain."

We watched a door open. Ian walked out and gestured back at the door. "Ok, are you ready to meet them?"

I nodded back in excitement.

At his command, three little Pokémon sprinted up to us. The first was a green turtle with a brown shell and a leaf on its head, the second was an orange monkey with a tiny flame for a tail, and the third was a blue penguin with a cape on its back. "This is Turtwig the Grass-type, Chimchar the Fire-type, and Piplup the Water-type. While we wait for the professor to get back, you're more than welcome to say hi."

"They're all so cute!"

"Definitely girlie," Paul mumbled under his breath. I heard his comment, so I slammed my elbow into his stomach. "Ow!"

"Definitely rude!" I tried petting Turtwig, but it rejected my greeting. "What's wrong? Don't tell me you don't like a nice head scratch?" When I scratched the top of its head, a smile fought its way onto its face. "See?" I pet Chimchar's head with my other hand, who seemed like it would've rather gone and taken a nap than socialize. Noticing this, Turtwig slightly shoved Chimchar aside to get more attention. "You sure are a feisty one."

Paul knelt down to pet Turtwig, surprising me.

Piplup pushed the others clear out of the way so it could get my full attention. "Clearly you are, too." It puffed out its chest, only to fall backward; it got back up very quickly. When I didn't rub its head fast enough, Piplup grabbed my hand and placed it on its head. "And impatient."

"Yeah, this is why I'm picking based on facts not bonds."

"Are you sure that none of them appeal to you as of right now?"

"Not at all." He kept quiet, though I caught him glancing at Turtwig more than the rest. I stayed silent about it.

Soon enough, Professor Rowan came back into the room. "I see you've all been acquainted, so now let's move onto the fun stuff," Rowan said. Ian gathered the three Pokémon and stood them up on a table side by side. "First, you both get a set of five Poké Balls, and your Pokédexes as well."

"Here you are." Ian held out a tray with ten Poké Balls and two Pokédexes.

Professor Rowan gestured to the Pokédexes. "You see, these will provide you with information about the various Pokémon you're going to encounter while on your journeys. It's a high-tech encyclopedia." Someone painted my Pokédex a mix of light blue, black, and yellow, the colors of a Shinx. I giggled, thinking my brother must've been responsible. "And these are your Poké Balls, very useful items for carrying your Pokémon around in."

"Thank you, sir!" I smiled as I tucked the items into my bag.

"Thank you very much!" Paul said, accepting a dark blue and grey Pokédex.

I gasped. "You have manners?"

He shot me a look. "What was that?"

Professor Rowan ignored our squabble. "And now, Paul, it's time for you to choose your Pokémon." We all turned to the three starters.

"Each one of them would be great to train, so it's going to be one tough choice," I said.

"Don't forget I'm the one who gets to choose!" Paul snapped.

"Don't worry. I know that, but if it was up to me, well, that's a tough one."

"Do you know which Pokémon you would like?" asked the Professor.

To my annoyance, Paul scanned the three Pokémon with his Pokédex, paying attention to their moves. When done, he put away his Pokédex. "Well, I've decided. I'm choosing Turtwig," said Paul. Turtwig smirked, while Chimchar and Piplup both fell over in shock.

"Then here you go. You'll need Turtwig's Poké Ball."

Paul accepted the Poké Ball and approached his new Pokémon. "Well, I know we just met each other so we can hardly say we're friends, but I do want to get to know you better in order for both of us to become stronger. Would you like to come with me, Turtwig?" Turtwig nodded its head, letting itself into the Poké Ball.

"Well, you've got your Pokémon now," I said.

Paul looked at me with a wide grin. "Still want to battle, huh?"

"I'm ready when you are. I'm going to become the Pokémon World Champion, and the way to do that is to beat Trainers like you!" Shinx jumped off my shoulder, fiercely staring at our opponent with determination in his eyes.

"Then, it's off to my backyard," the Professor suggested.

ooooooooooooooooooo

We headed out to the grassy field behind the lab. Paul and I stood with a good thirty feet or so in between us, the standard length of a battlefield. To the left side, Ian stood. "I'll be the referee for the match!" Ian announced.

I jumped up and down, thrilled to have my first battle. "Winning this will definitely be the kick start to my journey!" Shinx barked at me, pointing at my pocket. "Oh, right. Let's try this thing out."

After a moment of holding the Pokédex in Shinx's direction, the device automatically brought up a ton of data on him and his species. "Shinx the Flash Pokémon. When Shinx flexes its muscles, it generates electricity. When sensing danger, its fur glistens."

"That's so cool! You're my first Pokémon and the first Pokémon in my Pokédex. We win this, and we'll have our very first victory, too." Shinx nodded his head. However, I heard Paul snicker from across the field. "What's so funny over there?"

"It's just that you look so confident like you're actually going to win," Paul replied.

"It's because I am going to win, even if I am at a disadvantage from the start!"

"We'll see."

Ian looked at both of us. "Are you two ready?"

"Yes!" We called back in unison.

"I'll explain the rules then." He cleared his throat. "The battle between Rosa and Paul will now begin. Both Trainers will use one Pokémon each, and the battle will be over when the Pokémon on either side is unable to continue. Begin!"

"Turtwig, stand by for battle!" Paul yelled as he threw the Poké Ball; out came Turtwig.

I turned to my partner. "It's showtime, Shinx! Let's show him what we're made of!" Shinx barked and leaped out in front of me, facing Turtwig.

"Rosa, since you're going to lose, you can go first!"

"Wow, that's so nice of you. Shinx use Tackle!" He raced towards Turtwig.

"Two can play at that game. Turtwig use Tackle!" Turtwig ran for Shinx. The two smashed into each other.

"While we're stuck so close, Shinx use Bite!" Shinx made his two fangs glow.

"Turtwig use Withdraw!" Turtwig made its shell glow just as Shinx clamped down. He jumped back in pain.

I panicked over the state of my Pokémon. "Shinx!"

"Hit it with Razor Leaf!" Turtwig launched a barrage of sharp leaves, sending Shinx flying.

Shinx landed in front of me, looking hurt. "Oh no, Shinx! Are you alright?"

"Come on. That was easy! I expected a lot more than that."

"Shinx, you've got to get up. Please!" He struggled to get back up.

"Turtwig, finish it with Tackle!" Turtwig charged.

"Please, Shinx! Get up!" I panicked more as Turtwig got closer. However, at the last second, Shinx popped onto his feet and jumped away, making Turtwig fly past him.

Shinx's quick reaction time caught Paul by surprise. "No way! That was fast!"

"Good job! Now give them Spark!" Shinx surrounded himself in blue lightning and slammed into Turtwig, sending him flying back to his Trainer. "Awesome job!"

"You're not going to win so easy. Razor Leaf!" Turtwig swung its head and fired Razor Leaf.

"Shock Wave!" Shinx growled and launched the blue lightning. Both attacks crashed into each other and caused a massive explosion. I braced myself to avoid getting blown off my feet.

When the explosion cleared, we found both Turtwig and Shinx lying on the ground clearly knocked out. "What?! Already?!" Paul and I screamed.

"Turtwig and Shinx are both unable to battle! This match is a draw!" Ian announced.

I walked over to Shinx and picked him up. "Thank you, Shinx. You did an awesome job, and to think that was your first battle. I'm so proud of you." I touched my nose to him, making him purr.

Paul picked up his Turtwig. "That was good for the first battle. We'll work on it."

"Hey, thanks for the battle, Paul." He didn't say anything back, just stared at me. "What's wrong?"

He scoffed. "Nothing. I just wish that battle ended differently."

I grinned. "I guess you're not as strong as you thought."

"The same goes for you," I made an irritated growl, "but, either way, don't get used to our tie. We'll battle again another day, probably the Pokémon League. Maybe sooner. I'm kind of looking forward to it." He held out a hand.

Registering his words, I smiled and shook his hand. "Count on it, mister."

"Professor, thanks for letting us battle here. I appreciate it." Paul bowed slightly.

"It was my pleasure," replied Professor Rowan.

"Where are you heading to now, Paul?" Ian asked.

"The Kanto region."

"Kanto?" I repeated. "You're not traveling around the Sinnoh region first?"

"Nah. My brother is taking on one of the Kanto Frontier Brains and I'm gonna watch his battle. I figured afterward I'd start my journey there." He looked over at me. "If you didn't plan to go anywhere else, you should come. There's a boat leaving the docks later today."

I was shocked. "You want me to come?"

"Well, I would like to have another battle with you soon. Can't do that so easily if you're in another region, now can I?" He turned and walked away without another word, leaving me to my thoughts.

"One thing's for sure…" I glanced back at the Professor. "...On a Pokémon journey, you meet all sorts of people, and Pokémon, so anything can happen." He scowled at my puzzled expression. "My dear, you just made a rival, which is one of the many things that can happen on a journey. What do you think of it so far?"

It took me a second to respond. "It's wonderful, sir! Better than I ever imagined." I stared in the direction that Paul left. "And if going on a journey means meeting interesting people like him, I never want it to end." Shinx agreed with a cry.

"Well then, young lady, where are you off to now?"

Without hesitation, "the Kanto region," is what I blurted out.

The Professor nodded his head. "That'll be a long haul, but definitely full of new experiences and discoveries worth every second. Plus, lots of different people."

I nodded my head back. "Oh, do you mind if I use your phone?"

I called Volt to give him an update. I talked about meeting Paul and Professor Rowan, having my very first Pokémon battle, and deciding to go to Kanto. He sounded totally bummed we wouldn't be having a battle for a while, but seemed nonetheless happy for me and wished me the best of luck. In return, I told him he was the best big brother ever.

Soon, Professor Rowan, Ian, and I stood outside the lab. Shinx sat on my head, feeling better after a short nap. "When you arrive in Kanto, I recommend heading over to Pallet Town before anything else. My colleague, Professor Oak, lives there. He'll be able to give you some good advice about the region."

My eyes popped out of their sockets. "You mean the Professor Oak? The famous creator of the Pokédex?!"

Professor Rowan chuckled. "That's the one, and speaking of the Pokédex, I'm sure he'll be more than happy to update yours with information on Kanto Pokémon. Right now, it only contains data on species found in Sinnoh."

I gasped and looked up. "Hear that, Shinx?! We get to meet Professor Oak! Isn't that exciting?" He happily barked.

"Please say hello to Professor Oak for me as well, if you don't mind."

I grinned. "I have to go visit him now. Well, I better be off then!"

"Take care!" Both men waved me off. I waved back before racing into town.

Shinx and I easily found the cruise ship to Kanto, the only vessel docked at Sandgem Pier at the moment. I booked a stateroom with a single bed and a private balcony, and we rushed to check it out. Shinx bounced on the bed while I collapsed on it, enjoying the soft sheets and pillows. Then, I stepped out onto the balcony. Our room's position provided a beautiful view of an orange sunset over crystal-clear water.

I loved feeling the wind through my hair. "This is the life." Shinx climbed onto the railing beside me. "I'm glad I decided to go on a journey. Don't you agree?" He nodded his head.

We stayed in our room until the ship finally set sail. After the captain gave a few words on our voyage, I felt ready to get up and do something. "Well, what should we do first? The time suggests dinner, or we could go see if Paul's here." An angry growl from Shinx's stomach voted for food. I laughed at Shinx's embarrassed face. "Something tells me the better option is food. So let's go!"

Rooming on the lido deck, we simply headed down the hall to reach the dining area. For not a very big ship, Shinx and I found a few hundred people at least. Most looked like Trainers of varied experience levels, talking about all things Pokémon or showing off. Waiters bustled about serving food and drink. A band played live music on a stage. "Wow! It's a Pokémon pool party out here," I gasped.

Shinx asked where to go for food.

"Not sure. There are so many choices. I expected just a simple buffet, not the massive selection you'd get on a cruise. The ticket wasn't very expensive, so why does it seem like we booked a ticket to Hawaii?"

A voice said, "I'm pretty sure you didn't if you ended up on this boat." I turned to find Paul approaching us. His Turtwig sat on his shoulder. "Actually, I didn't expect you to show up at all, Girlie."

"It's Paul." I got furious. "And don't call me that!"

"Whatever." Turtwig and Shinx jumped onto the ground to greet each other. Paul shoved his hands into his pockets. "So, have you eaten?"

"We were actually on our way now, but then I got startled by the selection. Anything look good to you?"

"There's a deli just past the buffet line. The sandwiches looked decent."

I gestured. "Lead the way."

Paul and I bought two turkey, bacon, and avocado sandwiches and found a table away from all the commotion. Shinx and Turtwig enjoyed the peace and quiet, but not so much their shared meal: a huge bowl of Oran, Sitrus, and Pecha Berries.

When Shinx pouted over having to share, I rubbed his head. "It's just for today. Once we make it to Kanto, I'll stock up on fresh supplies and work on a food recipe just for you. Sound good?" Shinx smiled and begrudgingly ate his meal alongside Turtwig.

"Mind if I ask something, Girlie?" Paul asked.

Picking off the onions from my sandwich, I flung a sliver at his face. "Only if you stop calling me that!"

He wiped at his face with a napkin. "Don't throw onions. What are you, five?"

I gestured to the sandwich. "Duh. I'm picking the onions off. Have you ever heard of a child actually liking onions? They're disgusting."

Paul rolled his eyes. "You're ridiculous."

Ignoring his disappointed scowl, I took a huge bite out of my sandwich. I chewed thoroughly and swallowed, and then said, "So, what did you want to ask me?"

"You said you were going to become the Pokémon World Champion. What is that?"

Hearing that, I grinned like a madman. "Oh, it's something I made up myself. It's the title beyond a Pokémon Regional Champion. You win it by defeating all current Champions in full six-on-six battles. If you defeat the strongest Trainers in all the regions, then, of course, you should be known as the strongest Trainer in the world, right? After all, I want to be...the very best!" I rose to my feet and cheered loudly, alongside Shinx.

People nearby gave us funny looks.

"So you'll be entering the Kanto League then, right?"

"Well, obviously, as in order to even have a shot at battling the Champions, I have to collect eight Gym Badges from every region." I sat back down. "What about you?"

He stared at his food. "I haven't decided yet. I don't even have a reason for going on a journey in the first place."

"Well, there must be a reason. Maybe you just haven't found it yet."

He nodded his head. "Guess you're right. Watching my brother battling tomorrow might just give me an answer."

"All the more reason to get there faster."

He finished his sandwich and stood up. "Well, I'll be seeing you."

"See ya, Paul."

"Turtwig, let's get going." With that, Paul and his Pokémon disappeared for the rest of the night.

"He sure is interesting, don't you think?" I stretched my arms and yawned. "Well, I guess we should get back to our room. We got a journey to plan." Shinx jumped up and down excited for the adventures awaiting us in Kanto.

We retired to our room, discussing where to go in the morning. "Before anything, we have to pay a visit to Professor Oak in Pallet Town. He's the creator of the Pokédex and one of the world's top experts on Pokémon. At the very least, Professor Rowan said he should be able to update our Pokédex with information on Kanto Pokémon. No doubt, he might provide us with other useful advice."

Shinx nodded his head.

"After that, we start collecting Gym Badges right away. We're going to need a map of the region to figure out the closest Gym from Pallet Town. A local store should have some for sale, or maybe the Professor will have one. Does that sound good?" Shinx looked content with the plan.

When it was dark enough outside, I closed the curtains, changed into pajamas, and climbed into bed with a bowl of popcorn and Shinx at my side. We stayed up watching recordings of Pokémon battles. The thrill of battle easily kept me awake, at least through the popcorn. Once I finished, I set the bowl aside and fell asleep in seconds.