Author's Notes: Hey, RayTheZoroark here with the next chapter. Sorry, as I've said before, the wait tends to be long, but you know how it is. I don't have much time to write, but I do plan to continue writing. Well, with that out of the way, let's proceed.

Disclaimer:...um...no.

I made my way through Route 1, Kane easily defeating the moemon that sprang forward to challenge us. After a pitifully short walk, I entered Oldale Town...except, like Littleroot Town, it wasn't that big.

"Seriously, why don't they just combine them into one town? Maybe Littledale Town...or something like that." I thought aloud.

My musing was interrupted by someone running up to me. The woman looked to be in her early twenties. She wore a blue shirt and jeans, over which she wore, strangely enough, a white apron.

"Excuse me, sir, but have you heard of our Pokemart?" She asked.

"I..." I started, rather startled by the abrupt question.

"Oh, please come with me." She said, and, grabbing my arm in a rather tight grip, proceeded to pull me to a white building with a blue roof.

"All Pokemarts sell some type of potion, and pokeballs. However, we're out of pokeballs at the moment. But, as a consolation, We're providing a free sample of our potions to each trainer!" After that long speech, she handed me a potion, which a pocketed. Nodding a bewildered thanks to her, I looked around the town. Other than the moemon center and mart, There was a grand, huge total of...two buildings. Shrugging my shoulders, I headed towards the west exit of this pitifully small town. However, just as I was about to leave, I was startled, again, by someone racing up to me.

"Wait!" This time, is was a guy about my age, who wore a white button-up, jeans, and a pair of very nerdy looking glasses.

"What?" I asked irritatedly.

"Don't go any farther. I've found a pair of footprints from an extremely rare pokemon. Just, wait until I finish sketching it, okay?" The nerd said, turning back around and taking a few steps, before crouching down, looking at the ground as he drew on a sketchbook. I groaned inwardly, but turned, and headed north, because I'd seen another way out of the town.

This route was about the size of the last one, and there was hardly any change in the moemon found on this route, too. However, at the end of the route, I noticed a familiar female standing beside some trees, a red device clutched firmly in her hands as she peered down at it.

"Okay, the moemon on this route include..." She muttered to herself. Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and noticed me as I walked up.

"Oh, Nix? How're you doing?" She asked.

"Fine, I guess." I answered.

"Oh, my dad gave you a Moemon. Perfect! How about a little battle?" She asked.

"Well, that's the reason I'm here, so sure." I said, holding Kane's ball in my hand.

"Great! You're just a beginner, so there's no way I'll lose!" She exclaimed, pulling a pokeball from her waist.

"Actually I'm no-" I began.

"Go, Mudkip!" May shouted, interrupting me as she threw her pokeball, releasing her mudkip. she was dressed in a short blue dress, with brown spots on it.

"Oh whatever. Let's go, Kane!" I said, releasing my fiery pokemon onto our makeshift battlefield.

"Go, mudkip! Tackle!" May ordered.

"Use Scratch, Kane!" I commanded. I realized just how boring these first battles were going to be.

Either way, Kane dodged the Mudkip's attack, then used its talons to rake the water pokemon's back. The Mudkip gave a gasp as it tried to get away from Kane.

"Hang on to its back and keep using scratch!" I ordered. Kane grabbed onto the Mudkip's back, then, using its taloned feet, started slashing the Mudkip to bits.

"Oh my!" May gasped. "Shake him off, Mudkip!"

But it was too late. The Mudkip gave one last cry, then fell forward.

"That's enough, Kane!" I said, not wanting to kill the poor moemon. Kane dutifully stepped away from the fainted moemon, and moved to stand in front of me, a proud look on its face. I patted him on the head.

"Good job." I said, returning him to his pokeball. May returned hers too, and stepped towards me, a new look of admiration on her face.

"Wow," She said. "I can't believe you beat me. And you're a beginner too!"

"I'm trying to tell you," I started, "I'm no-"

"Oh well, we should be getting back to Littleroot Town. Meet me at the lab when you get back, okay? Bye!" She called, already rushing off towards Oldale Town. I sighed, shaking my head as I slowly followed her.

After stopping by the Oldale Town center to heal Kane, I headed back to Littleroot. A few more moemon challenged us, but they were quickly dispatched. Another short walk later, and I was standing in Littleroot, who's scenery was already getting boring. I headed straight for the lab, which was by far the largest building in this town. Inside, I spotted May talking to a middle-aged man in a lab coat, who I assumed was her father. She was speaking avidly, using her arms to provide visual support.

"...idn't even break a sweat! He was by far the strongest trainer I've ever seen!" She was saying.

Reluctantly, I approached them. When Prof. Birch noticed me, he waved me over.

"Ah yes, hello Nix. May here was just informing me about your battle, and I must say I am quite impressed! May has been helping me with my research since she was very young, so she's no stranger to battles. For you to have been able to beat her, you must be pretty close to your moemon, and in such a short amount of time! Quite extraordinary, I tell you!" He paused, then carried on, pulling a small, familiar red device from his pocket. "I ordered this for my research, but I'd like you to have it. It's a Pokedex, a really nifty tool that records the data of any moemon you catch. May goes everywhere with it!" He handed the dex to me. I nodded, eyes wide, and took the dex from him.

"Thanks, professor." I said, pocketing it.

May stepped forward. "If you're gonna have a dex, it'd be best if you had these!" She pulled out five Pokeballs, and handed them to me. "I know the mart in Oldale is out right now, so I gave you some of mine. She stepped back again, and Birch spoke one more time.

"Nix, with your moemon, you'll be able to go to even farther places. I suggest you take the Pokemon league challenge. The closest gym, as you know, is your father's gym, although I suggest you start with the gym in Rustboro City. But don't forget to tell your mother before you leave."

I nodded, thanking him, and headed back outside. My mom was standing outside our house when I walked up.

"Oh, welcome back Nix!" She exclaimed. Then, she noticed the pokeball on my waist.

"Oh, you got a pokemon from Professor Birch? that's good..." She was silent for a moment, lost in thought, before she shook herself and smiled again. "Well, I guess that means you'll be leaving. I just ask, when you pass through Petalburg, could you visit your father? I know he'd love to see you."

"Ugh. Do I have to?" I groaned.

"Well, no, but it'd mean a lot to me." She said.

"Oh fine." I grunted, and she instantly smiled again.

"Great! I look forward to hearing how my son became the champion! I love you!" She embraced me, then headed back inside. I sighed, and headed toward the exit of the town. As I left, I thought,

My journey has now begun.

End Notes: Whelp, that makes two done. I'm happy that I've gotten reviews, and I'll keep it all in mind when making the next chapter. Well, thanks for reading, and please don't forget to review! RayTheZoroark Out!

Got It Memorized?