CHAPTER TWO: JUBILIFE JUBILATION

Andrew and Dawn walked through the tall grass of Route 202. They encountered numerous Shinx, Bidoof, and Starly. They battled them with Chimchar and Piplup.

A youngster was sitting near the tall grass, playing with his Starly. Andrew made the mistake of looking into his eyes.

The youngster shot up to his feet. "I'm Tristan, let's battle!"

"Uh, what?" Andrew was confused.

"It's a rule that whenever your eyes meet with another trainer, then you have to battle with them then and there," Dawn explained. "It's kind of dumb though, you should avoid other trainers if your Pokemon are low on health."

"Well lucky mine aren't," Andrew grinned. "Go Starly!"

His Starly appeared to be much stronger than Tristan's.

"Starly, quick attack!" Starly launched at the enemy, knocking it back.

"Tackle!" Tristan commanded. His Starly tackled Andrew's to the ground.

"Starly, Tackle it back!" Andrew commanded. When his Starly used tackle, he knocked out Tristan's.

"Good job," Andrew told Tristan.

"Thanks," Tristan replied. He gave Andrew money and headed back to Sandgem Town to heal his Starly.

John and Dawn continued on Route 202.

"I want to catch every wild Pokemon we run in to," Dawn stated. "Then I'll complete the Pokedex for sure."

"But are you going to use all of the ones you catch?"

"No, I'm going to give the ones I don't want on my team permanently to Professor Rowan."

"Oh, okay, I guess that's better than leaving them in the PC to rot."

Dawn nodded,looking at the ground, then she quickly walked into the tall grass.

She was quite successful in battle with her Piplup. Dawn managed to catch all of the wild Pokemon on Route 202: Starly, Bidoof, Kricketot, and Shinx.

Andrew battled against a lass named Natalie and a youngster Logan. His Chimchar made quick work of Natalie's two Bidoof, and Starly beat Logan's Shinx despite the type disadvantage.

By the time they entered Jubilife City, Andrew's Pokemon were exhausted.

Andrew looked on in awe at the most modernized city of the Sinnoh region. He had only seen Jubilife City on TV, which was where the TV station was located. There was also the Poketch Company where you could buy a Poketch, and the Trainer's School, where you could brush up on how well you know about Pokemon.

Andrew and Dawn walked into the Pokemon Center. While Andrew had Nurse Joy heal his Pokemon, Dawn sent all of her Pokemon besides Piplup to Professor Rowan.

The two walked outside and saw a Clown handing out posters. He handed Andrew one but Dawn refused.

"Hey look, they're having a contest to win a free Poketch. All you have to do is find three clowns and answer their questions about Pokemon," Andrew read. "Sounds easy enough."

"You should enter it," Dawn told him. "I've already got a Poketch."

"How come you don't show it off?" Andrew wondered.

"Because…it's not the latest model," Dawn replied. "I mean, you've got to have the latest stuff, am I right?"

Andrew raised his eyebrows at her.

"Alright," he finally said, "let's go find some clowns."

The clowns were relatively easy to find. One was in front of the Trainer's School, another was outside the TV Station, and a third was near the Jubilife Condominiums.

Unfortunately Andrew could not go on a tour of the TV station because they were having technical difficulties. He left Dawn at the Trainer's School who was reading books about the different types of Pokemon.

With the three coupons that the clowns gave him for answering their questions correctly, Andrew walked in to the Poketch Company building.

It was three stories high, filled with offices of all of the different members of the Company. The Poketches themselves were manufactured in Oreburgh and Canalave City in order to get the proper materials and shipped to Jubilife City so the workers could install new apps on them.

"Hi I won the contest for a free Poketch," Andrew said to the receptionist.

"Take the elevator to the third floor," she instructed him.

Andrew did as she asked, feeling awkward being in an elevator with all of the other adult employees.

They all got off on the second floor. The elevator lurched up once more, and Andrew walked out of the elevator into the owner of the Poketch Company's President's office.

"Hello, hello!" The man greeted Andrew. He had bluish black hair that was beginning to gray.

Where have I seen that hair color before? Andrew thought.

"You must be the winner of our contest," the man said. "I am Mr. Platinum, the President of the Poketch Company."

He handed Andrew a blue Poketch.

Andrew's eyes widened. Was this man…Dawn's father?

"I hope you enjoy the Poketch," Mr. Platinum told Andrew. "It features the latest new apps."

"Thank you sir," Andrew smiled politely and returned to the elevator.

"Well, now I know why Dawn stayed behind. I wonder what happened between them…"

Andrew found Dawn at the Pokemon Center.

"Are you ready to go to Oreburgh City?" Dawn asked him.

"What?"

"Oreburgh City, the mining town where the first Pokemon Gym is. Didn't you say that you wanted to be the Champion of the Sinnoh region?"

"Yeah-"

"Well, we need to get there to start," Dawn said quickly. "Let's get going."

"Alright," Andrew said. "Let's get going…"

Why was she in such a rush to leave Jubilife City? Did she really not want to see her father that much? Something really bad must have happened to their family…

They passed the Jubilife Condominiums on their way out of the city.

"Hey, they're looking for tenants!" Andrew read the sign.

"The condominiums look pretty nice, I wouldn't mind living there," Andrew said. "Would you want to?"

"No," Dawn coldly stated.

She walked ahead of Andrew, out of the city on to Route 203.

A young man ran directly into Dawn. He had blonde hair, wore a white and orange shirt, a green scarf, and jeans.

"I'm so sorry," he began. Then he saw who he it. "Oh, it's you."

"Lucas," Dawn glared at him. He gave her an icy stare in reply.

"So the Professor is letting you travel, huh? Took you long enough."

"I'm going to catch all 203 Pokemon of the Sinnoh region," Dawn bravely claimed.

"Oh yeah? Well so am I," Lucas replied. "Want to see who can do it first?"

"You're on."

"Alright, but let's make it interesting."

"Okay, what are your demands?"

"If I win…you have to…well, I'll think of something later!"

"Alright, then, if I win, you have to participate in the Hearthome City Contest with a Magikarp."

"Good luck," Lucas gritted his teeth at Dawn. He grudgingly shook her hand.

"Now, if you'll excuse me," Lucas said, "I have Pokemon to catch."

"Next time watch where you're going!" Andrew called. "And don't run in to people!"

"Why'd you do that?" Andrew asked Dawn.

Dawn shrugged. "I'm sick of him being annoying. Catching all 203 Pokemon will finally shut him up."

"Then let's reach our goals."

"We will. I'm sure of it."