Hey, my beloved readers! I know I am horrible at updating, but that can not always be helped. Also, these chapters DO take a while to come by, as I have to play the game, record what everyone is saying, make up things that Zoey would say, type it all up, and then add descriptions and dialogue clarification and what-not. Anyways, blabbing now, so I'll shut up! Do enjoy this chapter!

As soon as the laboratory door banged shut behind her, Zoey heard a faint rattling noise coming from her bag. She warily opened it to find the Pokéball containing the Torchic wobbling back and forth. Growling, she grabbed the ball and threw it to the ground in a rage, only to be even more angered when the ball flashed and Torchic leaped out.

"Aagh! You again!" Zoey accused.

Yes, it's me. The fluty voice spoke in her mind, as clearly as if she were listening to the Pokémon talk through headphones.

"What do you want? I didn't ask to be stuck with you."

You need me to go anywhere outside of this town!

"Oh? And why's that?" Zoey challenged.

Because I am a Pokémon, idiot. And you're a pokémon trainer now.

Zoey sighed. "Yeah, I never thought my life would end this way…" she mourned.

The Torchic looked scandalized. What are you talking about? This is only the beginning, the start of a new path filled with wonder and adventure! You get to travel all over the Hoenn region, catching and raising pokémon, ascending to higher levels of existence! It paused, staring up at her. Are you even listening?

Zoey shook her head as if waking up. "Sorry, did you say something?"

… Let's just go see Brendan.

"Okay… uh, aren't you, like, supposed to go back into your Pokéball or something?"

Nah, I like it better out here. He hopped onto Zoey's shoulder happily. Let's go!

Zoey growled, and trudged off through the town to the north exit.

As they rounded the small cliff and waded through tall grass, Zoey spoke resentfully.

"Uh… Tor… chic?" she said hesitantly.

Yes?

"Do all pokémon talk?"

No, only a rare few.

"Great…" Zoey muttered. Then, to her intense surprise, Zoey blacked out—again—and found herself—again—in a pokémon battle.

"Oh NO!" Zoey shrieked as a weird doglike creature appeared in front of them. "Another pokémon!"

"Poochyena!" it piped.

Yup, Torchic replied, hopping down from her shoulder. Here we go!

"But… how'd that happen? We were just walking in the grass!" Zoey protested.

Wild Pokémon hide in grass all the time. You walk around in tall grass to train your Pokémon. Again Torchic sounded as if he were explaining this to a very small child.

Zoey groaned. "Great, just great… well, let's get this over with. Scratch!" Torchic obeyed. Poochyena made it even using Tackle

"Growl, this time!" Zoey called. Torchic did so. Two more Scratches later and the Poochyena fainted. "Phew, glad that's done," Zoey muttered. Once again they set off through the grass.

"Hey, this actually looks like a town!" Zoey said upon entering Oldale town, noting the larger variety and number of buildings. "There's hobos in this one, too…"

Yeah, it looks more like a town because trainers come here. See that Pokémon Center? That's where weak or fainted Pokémon are healed. That Pokémart is where trainers buy stuff to aid them and their pokémon in battle. The lady over there in the white apron looks like a Pokémart manager. Go talk to her!

" 'Lady'?" Zoey wondered. "How can you tell?" she walked cagily up to the 'lady'.

"Hi! I work at the Pokémart!" the lady said cheerfully when Zoey went up to her.

"Good for you."

"Can I get you to come with me?" the lady asked.

"You can try," Zoey challenged, but an invisible force made her follow the lady up to a small, blue-roofed building.

"This is a Pokémon Mart. Just look for our blue roof," the Pokémart manager said.

"Gotcha."

"We sell a variety of goods including Pokéballs for catching Pokémon."

"Good for you."

"Here, I'd like you to have this as a promotional item."

"Ooh!" Zoey squealed. "What is it? What is it?" She accepted the strange bottle the lady gave her.

A potion, idiot, Torchic told her.

"Oh… thanks for the… potion," Zoey muttered.

"A potion can be used any time, so it's even more useful than a Pokémon Center in certain situations."

Disappointed, Zoey proceeded to walk across the town to the west exit.

"Aaaaah! Wait! Please don't come in here," a strange man standing near the exit yelped, stopping her.

"Uh… why?"

"I just discovered the footprints of a rare Pokémon!" the man explained in excitement.

Zoey looked at the ground. "They're your own friggin' footprints, dude!" she exclaimed.

"Just wait until I finish sketching them, okay?" the man insisted.

What the frick? Zoey thought, walking away to take the north exit instead. Am I surrounded by insane people?

They were wading once again through tall grass when she was jumped—once again—by a pokémon: another Zigzagoon.

"Another one!" Zoey cried. "My god this is getting so repetitive… just use scratch until it faints."

Lazy, Torchic muttered in her mind, but did so, and the wild pokémon fainted. In the process Torchic gained enough EXP. points to grow to level 6.

"Oh, neato, so you're like, stronger now?" Zoey inquired.

Yes, but I am low on stamina, so take me to the Pokémon Center.

Zoey scowled. "Fine, gosh! You are so high maintenance…"

Zoey trudged back to town with the exhausted Torchic slumped on her shoulder. She walked hesitantly into the Pokémon Center.

Once the automatic doors had slid shut behind her, the eleven-year-old tapped quickly up to the lady behind the counter. Next to her was an odd looking machine, with several pokéball-shaped indents on a steel-like surface and an illuminated screen propped behind it. The whole room was clean and elegant in a crisp way.

Deciding to ignore the other people in the room, Zoey cleared her throat significantly at the lady behind the front counter.

"Hello, and welcome to the Pokémon Center." The lady was annoyingly cheerful. She wore a white apron and her reddish hair up fancily.

"Um, hi," Zoey replied warily.

"We restore your Pokémon to full health."

"Okay…"

"Would you like us to rest your pokémon?"

"I guess…" Zoey looked around to see that Torchic had disappeared into his ball. She handed the Pokéball to the woman, who in turn placed it in the machine. The screen behind it flashed a few times, and the machine beeped. Then she gave the Pokéball back to Zoey, and Torchic popped out.

"Thank you for waiting," the lady said cheerfully as Torchic hopped back up to Zoey's shoulder.

"You're welcome."

"We've restored you Pokémon to full health. We hope to see you again!"

Zoey nodded, not trusting her mouth, and then quickly left.

They went back through the north exit and waded through the tall grass, ascending a small hill as they went. As they rounded a small cliff, Zoey caught sight of a familiar white head facing away from her.

"It's Brendan!" she whispered to Torchic. "Let's go annoy him!"

What? Wait! Torchic protested.

"What?"

Don't you see? He's gonna want to battle us!

"So? We'll kick his butt!"

But you should still train me. That way, it'll be even easier.

Zoey thought for a moment. "Oh, fine, then. I guess I see your point." She made her way back down the hill to the patch of grass at the base. They trained together for the better part of an hour, until Torchic grew to level 9. At level 7, he learned the move Focus Energy.

Finally, after coming back from the Pokémon Center for the umpteenth time, it seemed to Zoey, Torchic tugged on her hair with his beak to get her attention.

"Hey, watch it!"

I think I'm strong enough now! Torchic ignored her protests. Zoey brightened.

"Really? Great! Finally. Now, let's go kick butt!"

She raced up the hill and snuck up behind Brendan. They heard him muttering something under his breath.

"Okay, so it's this one and that one that live on Route 103…"

Zoey chose this moment to shout in his ear. "BOO!!"

Brendan didn't even flinch as he turned to face her. "Hey, it's Zoey!"

"That's what they call me," Zoey said cheerfully.

Brendan saw Torchic bobbing up and down on her shoulder. "Oh, yeah, Dad gave you a Pokémon."

"Unfortunately, yes," Zoey thought sadly.

"Since we're here, how about a little battle?" Brendan asked, a challenging glint in his eyes.

See, told ya, Torchic said imperiously.

"Heck yeah, baby!" Zoey crowed. "Prepare to get thou butt kick-ed!"

Brendan unclipped a Pokéball from his belt. "I'll teach you what being a trainer's about!"

The battle commenced. Brendan threw his Pokéball into the air coolly; it bounced and erupted with a flash of light, and a strange blue pokémon stood in its place. Orange spikes jutted out of its cheeks, and a blue fin stuck straight up on its head like a Mohawk.

"Alright, here we go! Let's do this, Torchic!" Zoey shouted. Torchic hopped down from her shoulder. "Use Scratch!" Torchic obeyed, and Mudkip cringed from the onslaught. A flash of shock traveled over Brendan's face, but he regained his composure quickly.

"Mudkip! Tackle!" he commanded. Mudkip did so; Torchic merely blinked.

Zoey laughed evilly. "Scratch again, Torchic!"

Brendan now looked very worried. "Oh, no… Mudkip! Tackle again!" Again, Torchic barely blinked.

Zoey shook her head sadly. "Sorry to do this, bud, but—Torchic, finish 'im off with Scratch!"

Mudkip kneeled over, its eyes little x's, after Torchic's last attack. Brendan's eyes might have popped out of his head if he'd opened them any wider.

"Boo-yah!" Zoey punched the air, and then did her victory dance.

"Huh, Zoey, you're not too shabby," Brendan admitted as he returned Mudkip to its Pokéball.

"What are you talking about? I totally owned! Ooh, I get money, too?!" she squealed when Brendan reluctantly handed over 300… something. (I don't know what the currency is!)

Brendan gave her an odd look. "Um, yeah? Every time you win in a trainer battle, you get money."

"Sah-weet! I'm rich!" Her vision blackened again, and then she was standing, as before, in front of Brendan at the top of a small hill. Zoey packed the money safely in her bag. She looked up when Brendan began talking.

"I think I get it," he said. "I think I know why my dad has his eye out for you now."

"Ew," Zoey thought. "That just did not sound right..."

"Look, your Pokémon already likes you, even though you just got it."

He's over exaggerating a bit.

"Hey!" Zoey said.

"Huh? Who're you talking to?" Brendan asked.

"Myself. Go on?"

"Um, okay... anyways, Zoey, I get the feeling that you could befriend any pokémon with ease."

"You go that right."

"We should head back to the lab." And Brendan turned and jumped over the small cliffs without another word.

"Wha—? Hey! Wait up!" She ran after Brendan, also hopping the cliffs.

When she had caught up with him at the south exit from Oldale town, he looked at her and said, "I'm heading back to my Dad's lab now. Zoey, you should hustle back, too."

Zoey was panting. "Why should I? Hey! Why do you keep running off like that?" she ran southward and entered her hometown. She walked quickly up to the lab and went inside, grimacing.

The Birch Tree and Brendan were standing at the end of the lab. Zoey walked up to them reluctantly.

"Oh, hi, Zoey!" The Birch Tree said cheerfully.

"Yo, Birch Tree," she replied amiably.

"I heard you beat Brendan on your first try. That's excellent!"

"Why thank you." Zoey stuck out her tongue at Brendan, who ignored her.

"Brendan's been helping me with my research for a long time. He has an extensive history as a trainer already."

"That's odd, 'cause he really sucked," Zoey muttered to Torchic.

"Here, Zoey," The Birch Tree went on. "I ordered this for my research, but I think you should have this Pokédex."

"Uh, thanks?" Zoey accepted the strange little gadget. It fit comfortably in the palm of her hand.

"The Pokédex is a high-tech tool that automatically makes a record of any Pokémon you catch..."

Zoey did not hear the rest of his rant, for she had dozed off in the middle of it. She was startled awake by Brendan talking right by her ear.

"Huh, so you got a Pokédex, too," he mumbled.

"Whazza?" Zoey blinked hard. "Oh, yeah, this thing." She tossed it into the air as if testing a new bouncy ball, then stowed it in her bag.

"Well then, here." Brendan took five Pokéballs out of his bag and held them out. "I'll give you these."

"Uh, thanks?" Zoey took the balls and clipped them to her belt. "Wow, I feel like it's my birthday or som—"

"You know it's more fun to have a whole bunch of pokémon," Brendan interrupted.

"Uh, it is?"

"I'm going to explore all over the place to find different pokémon," Brendan bragged.

"Good for you."

"If I find any cool pokémon, you bet I'll try to catch them with Pokéballs."

"Yeah. I... bet. Well, I'm leaving now." She walked out of the lab, Torchic shifting his position on her shoulder.

When she rounded the large building, Zoey saw her mom standing in front of her house. "Uh oh, I think I'll try to avoid this encounter..." She snuck back around the lab and followed the outer edge of the town to the exit.

"Wait, Zoey!" her mother's unmistakable voice called from behind her just as she was about to cross the boundary.

"God d—"

Torchic coughed loudly.

"—it!" Zoey swore under her breath.

"Zoey! Zoey!" her mom ran up to her. Zoey turned around slowly, gritting her teeth into a forced smile.

"Hi, mom," she snarled through her teeth.

"Did you introduce yourself to Professor Birch?"

"Yup. Demanding guy, isn—"

"Oh! What an adorable pokémon!" her mother cooed, patting Torchic on the head, who perked up and closed his eyes contentedly.

"He's not that cute," Zoey muttered.

Hey!

"You got it from Professor Birch, how nice!" her mother said.

"Yeah, it was pretty nice of him... oh, did I say nice? I meant cruel..."

Okay, this is the final straw! Torchic pulled a potion bottle out of Zoey's bag and began beating her around the head with it.

"Hey, ow!" Zoey protested, covering her head with her hands. Her mother seemed to take no notice, but rambled on.

"You're your father's child all right. You look good together with Pokémon!"

Zoey rubbed her head after Torchic applied one last wallop. "I do?"

Her mom ignored the question and pulled a shoe box out of no where, holding it out to Zoey.

"Here, honey! If you're going out on an adventure, wear these running shoes. They'll put a zip in your step!"

Zoey warily took the box. "Um... okay...?" she switched her shoes with the Running Shoes.

"Zoey, those shoes came with instructions." Her mother held up a piece of paper.

Zoey scoffed as she tied her left shoe. "I know how to use shoes, thanks!"

"'Press the B button while wearing these Running Shoes to run extra-fast!'" Her mother recited.

"'B button'?" Zoey asked. "What is this, a video game or something?" she wondered.

Her mother continued reading off the paper: "'Slip on these Running Shoes and race in the great outdoors!'"

"Wow," Zoey said after a pause.

Then her mom said, "... ... ... ... ... ."

"What?" Zoey asked.

"To think that you have your very own Pokémon now..." her mother actually spoke this time.

Zoey sighed. "Yeah, real shame..."

"Your father will be overjoyed."

"God dangit I still don't know who my friggin' father is!" Zoey thought angrily.

"... But please be careful," Her mother continued. "If anything happens, you can come home."

"Yeah, thanks, I'll remember that." "Not!"

"Go on, go get them, honey!" her mother urged, then turned and went back to their house.

"Um... yeah," Zoey muttered, and turned back towards the exit. "Whatever."

Little did Zoey know, she was about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime...

Tell me what you thought! Thanks for reading!