Cheren and Bianca returned shortly after N's disappearance. I was still standing in the same spot, staring ahead of me and pondering his words. He was going to keep an eye on me? Why? He was with that team, right? But he seemed rather nice. I wouldn't pick him as the evil type.

"What's your problem?" Cheren asked, moving to stand in front of me.

"Huh? Oh." I blinked a few times, "Nothing."

He rolled his eyes but didn't retort. Instead, he tucked his hands away in his pockets and turned his back on Bianca and I, "Well, I' heading out now. There's a lot I want to do. I'll be seeing you guys around."

Bianca and I watched in silence as one of our best friends departed. I couldn't help but smile a little. Cheren would be different the next time I saw him. He'd be stronger, more confident and more fulfilled. He'd still be my best friend, though. And I hoped I'd be different the next time I saw him.

"Is this where we say goodbye?" Bianca cried.

I turned to smile at her, "It's not permanent. We'll be seeing each other throughout our journeys I promise."

She smiled brightly back at me, "Yeah, we will! We just each need to figure out what we want to do, right?"

"Exactly. And I'm excited to see what we all choose," I replied casually.

"You're going to become something great, White. I just know it." She shot me an all-knowing look before exiting.

I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I looked down at my Snivy, who was asleep in my arms. I unhitched a pokeball from my belt and put Snivy inside, allowing him to have a nice, long rest. While he slept, I decided to explore.

I walked around Striaton city for a while, just getting acquainted with the area. Many of the people I passed smiled at me and greeted me. After awhile I ended up down a short path, battling the different people I found along the way.

Upon reaching the end, a young kid smiled at me, "Hi! I have a favor to ask of you."

"What might that be?" I asked, smiling warmly at him.

"I have these pokemon and I was hoping you could take and raise one for me!" The kid smiled, holding a pokeball out.

"Oh!" I couldn't deny that I was surprised at his request, "S-sure. I could do that! Are you sure you want to give it to me?"

He nodded vigorously, thrusting the pokeball into my hands, "Yes! Please. I'm unable to train him right now. And I want him to have a chance to get out there."

I took the pokeball carefully from his hands and released the pokemon inside. A Panpour stood before me, "Hi there!"

I bent down to his level and reached out to pet him. He reached his hands out and grabbed my own and began to play with it. I laughed a little, letting him do as he pleased.

"He likes you!" The little boy cried, "I'm so relieved!"

"Thank you," I looked up to him and smiled, "I promise I'll take great care of him."

"I know you will."

I turned back to the Panpour, looking him in the eyes, "You want to come with me, little guy?"

He jumped up and down a few times before wrapping his arms around my neck and allowing me to pick him up. I smiled and he climbed onto my shoulders and settled down.

"Alright. Let's go, then!" I smiled, patting his head and running back towards the start of the trail.

I wandered around the city a little more, eventually stumbling upon a gym. The leaders of this gym happen to pick which one of them fights based on what type of pokemon you have. I smiled to myself, walking out of the battle, thankful that the little boy had just given me the Panpour. He had saved me back in that battle.

"Great job, you two! I'm so very proud of you!" I cried, hugging the two of them to my chest. "And now I think we're done in this town. What do you say we go on ahead?"

They cooed at me before returning to their pokeballs. I clipped both of them safely on my belt before heading back to the pokemon center. Once I was safely inside, I stopped by the mart and picked up some pokeballs, potions and antidotes.

I headed back out of the center and off towards the next route. I got a few feet in, looking ahead of me at al the trainers that were waiting to fight me and ready to take on any challenge. However, before I got to the first one, I was stopped by a familiar voice.

"Congratulations on your first badge," The voice sounded from my right.

I stopped and looked over towards the shadow, "Thank you."

N emerged from the shadows, smiling crookedly at me. He paced in a slow circle around me before stopping and looking me in the eyes, "Just a day into your journey and you're already achieving. I was right about you."

I stared at him stubbornly, "Right about me how?"

"You'll be something great, won't you? You're determined and strong with a pure heart. Yes, you have the potential…" His voice trailed off carefully.

I could feel my eyebrow raise in slight confusion, "Potential to be what?"

N chuckled lowly under his breath and reached up, pulling my hat a little lower over my eyes, "You'll find out soon enough."

"I hate that," I grumbled, pushing my hat up and fixing my bangs, "I just met you and already you're annoying."

He laughed openly at me, "I wouldn't exactly say I'm fond of you, either."

"You don't even know me!" I growled, stepping up to him, "You're just weird."

"That may be," He shrugged casually, "Or you might just not know me yet. We'll be spending enough time together. Let's see if your opinion changes."

And for the second time that day, he left me standing, baffled and slightly frustrated.