Yes! It's done! Actually, I completed it during the summer, but then I had to type it up, and I'm just too lazy. I'm sorry for basically not doing anything during the summer. Now that school has started, you'll probably see more updates from me.

Also, this is more a fanfic for me. So...the fact that other people are reading this makes me unbelievably happy.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.


Route 2

I stared at the sign. It wasn't special, just a plain, beige sign with some words on it. But I smiled to myself.

"Route Two," I murmured.

"Hey!"

I jumped, and looked around. A young girl, a little younger than me, was staring at me with intense curiosity. "Do you always talk to yourself?"

"No," I said politely. "Besides, how do you know I was talking to myself? I could've been talking to my Oshawott."

"You're a Trainer, too?" the girl's eyes gleamed at me. She pushed her brown hair out of her face. "Cool!"

"I know. Right now, I'm trying to get to the next town. Can you point me in the right direction?" I asked, my stomach growling. It better have some good restaurants, too. I'm starving.

The girl heard my stomach. She smiled. "The next town is Striaton City. There's a pretty direct route there through this tall grass. And, as luck would have it, the Striaton Gym Leaders are also excellent chefs!"

"Thanks, um…what's you're name?" I asked embarrassed. "Mine's White."

"That's a pretty strange name!" the girl laughed. "I'm Emily."

"Thanks, Emily!" I grinned. "Now, I'd better get going!"

"Wait!" Emily ran after me. "Um, would you mind giving this to one of the Gym Leaders?"

"One of them?" my eyebrows disappeared into my hair. "There are more than one?"

"Well, yeah!" Emily shrugged. Then, blushing, she handed me an envelope. "Can you, um, give that to Chili? I, uh, kind of, uh….."

"I understand," I said kindly. "I'll be sure to give this to him the moment I step in the town."

"Thank you!" Emily jumped up and hugged me.

"You're welcome," I said, finally released from the girl's grip. "Bye! I hope we meet again!"

As I ventured into the tall grass, I sighed. Emily had distracted me from what I had been thinking before I read the sign, but it all came flooding back. Team Plasma. Ghetsis. Pokemon liberation.

N.

At least she knows where her crush is, I thought sorrowfully. I have no idea when or where I'll meet N again.

I looked up. If I didn't want to trip and injure myself this soon in my journey, I should look where I was going.

"What the – ?"

A lone Pokeball sat in the middle of the grass. I cautiously approached it, not wanting to be jumped by a wild Pokemon. I picked up the Pokeball, and released what was in it. A Potion materialized on the ground.

"OK, this is just weird," I muttered. "I didn't even KNOW you could do that." Putting the Potion in my bag(What? It wasn't theft! It wasn't, I swear by Arceus!), I continued plodding through the grass. I could see the end now.

"Lilli!"

I turned around, swearing. A tiny puppy flew past my head. My Pokedex beeped, but I had better things to worry about.

"Go, Sam! Use Water Gun!" I released my Oshawott, and he immediately ran toward the enemy, screaming bloody murder. He shot a beam of water at the dog, but it wasn't discouraged, though injured. It glared at Sam.

"Arceus, I can't deal with this right now," I moaned. "Use Water Gun again, Sam!"

"Oshawott!"

The puppy was out in no time. As I checked my Pokedex, Sam jumped around, squealing. I could understand that he was happy about winning, but…still…he didn't have to get that excited every time we battled.

"Return, Sam," I commanded. He gave me puppy eyes, wanting to stay out, but

eventually returned.

Sheesh, I thought to myself, grinning. I don't see why Ghetsis wants to 'liberate' Pokemon.

And my thoughts landed back at square one: N. Oh well.

I continued through the tall grass. No other wild Pokemon jumped out at me. Soon enough, I was back on the normal grass. I could even see a path ahead.

"Hey! HEY!" a voice shouted at me. I turned, startled. A young boy was running toward me, Pokeball in hand. "A Trainer *pant* catches another Trainer's *pant* eye. That is the start of a *pant* Pokemon battle!"

"Huh?"

The young boy glared at me. "How clueless can you be? I just challenged you to a Pokemon battle!"

"Oh! Um, sorry," I hastily apologized. "I'm kind of new at this kind of thing."

"But you're like….a teenager!" the boy wrinkled his nose. "You must have started your journey at least three years ago!"

"Actually, I'm fourteen," I corrected. "And my mom wouldn't let me leave. It wasn't my fault!"

"Fourteen?!" the boy gaped. "My mom kicked me out at age eight! She told me that my dad did the same thing when he was my age!"

"I thought they only did that in other regions," I muttered. "Like Kanto."

"Dad is from Kanto," the boy explained. "Anyway, what's your name?"

"White," I smiled. "And yours?"

"Jimmy," Jimmy replied. "White is such a strange name."

"I've been told," I muttered. Jimmy continued.

"The last guy who defeated Alder was named Black. Ever heard of him?"

"Black's my brother!" I exclaimed. "He's in Sinnoh right now."

"Awesome!" Jimmy's mouth hung open. "And he's sixteen?"

"Yup."

"Hey, about that Pokemon battle now?" Jimmy said. "I didn't just challenge you for no reason."

"Oh yeah" I giggled. "Well then, go, Samuel!"

I sent out my Oshawott, much to Jimmy's surprise.

"Woah!" he gasped. "That's a starter, isn't it?"

"Yeah," I smiled smugly.

"Well, he might look cool, but I'm sure my Pokemon can take him down!" Jimmy answered defiantly. "Go, Patrat!"

"Oh great," I groaned. "Another demon chipmunk."

Jimmy looked insulted.

"Hmph. Use Tackle, Sam!" I ordered.

"Osha!"

Jimmy's Patrat bounced off the ground, thrown by Samuel's Tackle. It must have done critical damage.

"Hey!" Jimmy said in protest. I just grinned.

"You challenged me to a Pokemon battle," I pointed out. "Now you're paying the price."

"Fine then," Jimmy said. "Patrat, Tackle!"

Jimmy's Patrat shook off the pain and Tackled Sam. Not managing to dodge it, Sam uttered something that sounded like, "Sha!" Growling, he stood up and regained his footing.

Jimmy smirked. Sweating, I swallowed and said, "Tackle again."

Samuel jumped on Jimmy's Patrat with teeth and claws. When the shrieks and thumping sounds stopped, I knew Patrat had fainted.

"Osha!" Sam jumped around, excited. I smiled at him, automatically knowing that he had leveled up. Jimmy stared at his Patrat.

"What just happened?" he asked bleakly. "I guess you're too strong…."

"Yeah, you did kind of get creamed," I shrugged, returning Sam to his Pokeball.

"Dad would be ashamed of me," Jimmy said sadly. Then, brightening up, he continued, "But he was beaten once too! By a REALLY famous Trainer!"

"Really?" I asked curiously. "By who?"

"Um, Reggie or Ronald or something like that," Jimmy muttered. "I don't remember exactly…."

"RED?!"

"Yeah, that was it!" Jimmy said happily. "My dad's name is Joseph, by the way. As a kid, he went by Joey."

As my mouth hung open in shock, Jimmy dug around in his pocket. Pulling out some loose change, he gave it to me. "Here you go!"

"What? No, I couldn't…" I said, pushing the money away. I still wasn't used to the standard issue of the loser giving the winner money.

"No, really! Take it! It's part of the Trainer's code to give the person who beat you something," Jimmy explained. "It used to just be items, but nowadays Trainers use money. You know, so you can make a profit."

"Arceus, I've got a lot to learn…" I sighed. Taking and pocketing the money, I smiled. "Thanks, Jimmy. I'll use the money wisely!"

Laughing, Jimmy headed to the right, toward Accumula Town to heal his Patrat.

Sam wasn't hurt that badly, I thought to myself. So I don't need to even give him the Potion I picked up.

I looked inquisitively in the direction Jimmy went. When I had talked to Emily, I'd seen a little ledge. That was probably the way there.

"It can't hurt to investigate," I said aloud. Walking down the dirt path, I noticed a boy leaning on a nearby tree.

"Hi!" I greeted.

"Hey."

"So, do you know what's with this ledge?" I glanced at it, not turning my body.

"Yeah. It's a shortcut. You can jump down, but it's really difficult to get back up," the boy said sullenly. He had black hair that fell around his face and made it almost impossible to see his dark eyes. Both his skin shade, olive, and accent hinted that he had some Hoennese blood in him.

"Really?" I asked, intrigued. "I'm gonna try it!"

"Wait!"

Jumping down, I landed solidly on my feet with a thump. The boy was peering down, concern showing on his face.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm coming back up now!"

I threw my bag up first, so that it wasn't weighing me down. Then I stretched out my arms. My elbows reached the top of the ledge, and I hooked my arms on. Trying to pull myself up, I failed almost immediately.

"Ugh….hey, could you, um, help me up? Please?" I gave the boy puppy eyes. He rolled his eyes, grabbed my arms and started to pull me up.

"I'm White, by the way."

"I can see that."

"No, that's my name. Yours?"

"Eduardo," he grunted, pulling me all the way up. "Does your Mom name all of her children after colors?"

"I was actually named after White Forest. My brother was named after Black City," I explained.

"Why?" Eduardo asked, handing me my bag.

"Um, no reason," I lied. Dusting myself off, I stood up. "Thanks for pulling me up, Eduardo."

"No prob. Has anyone told you about something called listening?" he asked sarcastically.

"Very funny."

Smiling slightly, I waved good-bye and walked back in the direction I had originally came.

I can't believe Mom wouldn't let me leave before, I thought, adjusting my bag strap. Everyone seems so nice!

As I reached the split in the road, I turned right, toward Striaton City. I passed a boy going in the opposite direction, mumbling something to himself.

"Hey!" I shouted at him. He looked up, startled. "Wanna battle?"

He shook his head sadly. "Can't. All of my Pokemon fainted."

"Oh," I said, dejected. "Well, okay then."

"There's a girl up ahead who might want to battle you, though," he helpfully said. The boy pointed at a red-haired girl, who looked about twenty, who was further up the path.

"Thanks!" I exclaimed honestly. I energetically walked toward the girl.

"Hi!" I said, surprising her. The girl turned to face me, fumbling for a Pokeball. "A boy back there said that you might be up to a Pokemon battle?"

"Battle?" she asked. "Oh, battle! Yes! I love Pokemon battles! You know why?"

I opened my mouth, but she answered before I could speak. "'Cause my cute Pokemon will do its best in a really cute way!"

"You have a cute Pokemon?" I asked. "Me too!"

"OMA*!" the girl squealed. "Which one is it? Lillipup? Patrat?"

I made a face. "No, definitely not Patrat."

"Hmm. Bad experience?" she asked sympathetically.

"Almost bit my face off."

"Ah."

"Anyway, let's start!" I said. "Go, Sam!"

Samuel bounded out of his Pokeball with a happy "Osha!"

"OMA! IT'S ADORABLE!" the girl shrieked.

"Yep, he's pretty cute," I said smugly. "By the way, I'm White."

"The girl looked at me accusingly. "That's kind of racist."

"What? No! That's my name," I said exasperatedly.

"Oh!" the girl said, surprised. "I'm Mali."

"Nice name."

Ditto."

"OSHAWOTT!"

Mali and I looked down at Sam, and burst out laughing.

"Well, I guess we'd better star!" Mali giggled. "Come on out, Purrloin!"

The purple cat landed squarely on its feet. "Purr!"

"Okay Sam, use Tackle!"

"Senora Violet, Scratch!"

The attacks hit at the same time. Wincing, Sam took a step back.

"Sheesh, that didn't do much damage….." I grumbled. "Purrloin (Senora Violet?) still looks fine…so Tackle again!"

"Osha!"

"Flinching, Mali's Purrloin didn't have a chance to attack. Wide open, I told Sam, "Tackle!" one final time, and Purrloin was out.

"Osha!" Sam cried happily. He had leveled up again.

"Oh…." Mali sighed sadly. "Oh well. Even though Senora Violet lost, she's still cute!"

Taking out a small purse, Mali handed me a dollar, a dime, and two pennies.

"Thanks," I said.

"You're very welcome," Mali smiled. "I might have had a chance if your Oshawott – Sam, was it? – had been at Senora's level."

"Yeah," I nodded in agreement. "What level is she?"

"Um, Level Seven, last time I checked."

And just like that I remembered N all over again. "ARCEUS DAMMIT!" I yelled in frustration.

"White, what's wrong?" Mali raised an eyebrow.

Sighing, I told her the entire story of meeting N just an hour or two before. By the end of the tale, we were both sitting down, and Mali was hugging me, murmuring, "Oh, poor darling…"

"Arceus, why me…" I grimaced. "I mean, I openly mock women who can't focus on anything but the love of their life. My friends and I would watch soap operas just to laugh at them. But now N just keeps coming back to me!"
I growled in frustration, and started hitting the side of my head with my clenched fist. "Get out!"

"How old is this heart throb anyway?" Mali asked.

"I don't know," I said, still hitting my head. "Maybe…..seventeen?"

"And you are…?"

"….fifteen."

"White, he's closer to my age than yours! And I'm almost twenty-one!" Mali exclaimed.

"But he's about two years older than me and three years younger than you."

"Details, details."

I laughed, but it contained no humor. Samuel looked at me, concern showing in his eyes.

"You're too young to have to deal with men like this," Mali decided. "Do you have a Cross-Transceiver?"

"It's on my wrist, Mali," I pointed out.

"Pff. Brain fart. Anyway, let's exchange numbers," Mali said. "So the next time you see this 'N' guy, you can call me. And I can call you to check in."

"Okay." I had finally gotten the frustration out of my voice. "My number is 555…"

"Yeah," Mali typed the number into her Cross-Transceiver.

"967…"

"Mm-hmm."

"8579."

"Great," Mali said briskly, looking at the name that popped up. "So you're…..White Parmention?"

Mali's eyes bugged out. "Like, Jushiro Parmention? The famous businessman that helped fund the building of Black City and the conservation of White Forest?"

"Shush shush shush!" I hissed.

"Ar-ce-us," Mali said the individual syllables in a hushed voice. "You're Jushiro Parmention's daughter. I didn't even know he was married."

"You see why I only give out my first name?" I sighed. "Dad lives in Black City, and Mom decided she didn't want that type of life for her children. That's also why my brother, Black, left about a year – "

"Wait," Mali stopped me. "Your brother is Black, who beat the Champion Alder and the Elite 4."

"Yes," I stood up and returned Sam to his Pokeball. "And my pen pal is Lyra Inuneko. She's the current Champion of Johto, and is engaged to some guy named Silver. Why must I know so many famous people? Now I need your number, Mali."

"Oh, I totally forgot about that!" Mali gasped. "It's 555…"

I hurriedly typed in the numbers.

"492.."

"492," I repeated

"3859."

"Got it!" I exclaimed. "Maliam Crusader?" It was my turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Don't."

Snickering, I set my Cross-Transceiver to sleep mode.

"So, do you know how far away Striaton City is? I'm starving," I groaned, stomach growling on cue.

"You're about half there already," Mali told me. "Keep in touch, okay? And the next time you see N, take a picture!"

"Bye!" I said, taking my Town Map out and heading in the direction of another, different ledge.

"See you around!" Mali waved, and headed in the direction of Accumala Town.

Walking further and further away from Mali, I though about how I had barely covered any distance, yet met all these amazing people.

And it's only noon, I thought to myself with a smile.


*OMA - Oh My Arceus

And done. Again apologies for the lateness. Yes, I did just add soulsilvershipping in there. And yes, in English Lyra's last name is Dog-cat. Also, Youngster Jimmy? His father is Youngster Joey. Ah, the subtleties of my craft.

I'll put Ash in the next chapter...though probably not in the way you expect.

Don't forget to review!