Good afternoon, readers. Haji here with another chapter. I had actually started writing this after I had finished the first one, but I didn't want to continue working on it because I got lazy and I had to ink in a hundred frames. I still have about six hundred to go, but I think I might only be able to do three hundred...sorry.

So, I'm glad Hardison was rather well received, and I wanted to kind of describe him to you, but I wanted to be a little more clever about it. I don't know if anyone will get it. Aww well.

Enjoy.

"Your Solosis is…" Professor Juniper moved the small Pokémon around in her hands. "A girl. Congratulations, Hardison."

Hardison was hesitant to touch Solosis. It looked so frail and weak that he was afraid that he was going to hurt it.

"Is she okay?" Hardison asked.

Professor Juniper placed Solosis on a small table and wrapped it in damp towels. Solosis squirmed slightly, but otherwise was compliant. Hardison smiled repeatedly, but upon glancing at his mother and father, he frowned.

Hardison's father kept his arms folded. He seemed angry, but there was no obvious reason why. Professor Juniper sat at a computer and typed quickly, taking her time to answer Hardison's question. She wasn't entirely sure if Solosis was okay. She had never really worked with a Pokémon like Solosis before, and she didn't want to have to deliver any bad news. The last time she had done that, it didn't turn out so well.

"Solosis appears to be fine," Professor Juniper said finally. "She has a healthy rhythm, her skin is firm, and she is keeping her shape nicely. I'd say she is okay, but I'm not an expert on Northern Pokémon. I would really want to have a second opinion."

Hardison breathed shallowly. "So…does that mean I get a license?"

Professor Juniper nodded. "Yes, but there are a few rules I must go over with you first. And I called a PCC representative. He'll be here tomorrow to witness your contract signing as well as check on the health of Solosis. I suggest you get some sleep, and prepare for your journey."

Hardison's father grunted in disapproval and guided he home, his wife following solemnly.

"Dad?" Hardison asked. "Can I ask you a question?"

"I suppose so."

Hardison looked down for a long time. The dirt crunched underneath his feet, and in the silence of approaching night, it sounded like teeth chewing on rocks. He was taking his time, a little afraid of what the answer to his question was going to be even though he had not spoken yet.

"Why do you not want me to have a Pokémon partner?"

Hardison's father groaned softly. "It's not that I don't want you to have a Pokémon. It's just I think you have an over glorified idea of what this will actually entail. You're too eager to get started and you don't even know how hard it really is out there."

"Then why don't you tell me?" Hardison growled. "I can handle it. I'm an adult now."

Hardison's father narrowed his eyes. "You want to know how it is?"

Hardison nodded, slightly apprehensive. He could hear the subtle anger in his father's voice.

"It's like war your first time out. You take your first few steps, and you think you'll be okay, until your first wild Pokémon attacks you. And when you send out yours, it becomes so weak and damaged in battle that you have to go back home to heal. And then you do it again. And again until you make it to the next town.

"Trainers are always lurking around, searching for a newbie so they can hurt your Pokémon and take your money. And they are worse than the wild Pokémon. They'll gang up on you, even though it's against PCC regulation, and they'll break you down."

Hardison frowned. It really was a dangerous world out there, but he felt as if he hadn't been given a proper chance. He hadn't even step foot outside of Nuvema except for the one time he made it a few feet until Professor Juniper stopped him.

"It can't be that bad," Hardison said after a while. "I mean, Andrea and Daniel made it just fine."

"Andrea and Daniel had to scurry back home every other day. You don't remember?"

Hardison closed his eyes. "Well, they always said they were just visiting their parents. They said they just wanted to make sure everyone was okay. They told me Accumula Town was awesome, and that they were having so much fun."

Hardison's father groaned again. "They were lying. They were having fun, until their Pokémon almost got killed, or they almost got killed. Then it wasn't so fun."

"Why are you against it though?" Hardison argued. "Didn't you go on an adventure? Didn't you travel and battle and make friends all over the world?"

"But, you're not me!"

Hardison flinched slightly. "So, it's because I'm not as tough as you."

"It's not that." Hardison's father fell silent, though his demeanor was still overbearing. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Hardison chewed on his lower lip. "Would it make you feel better if I promised that I would be careful?"

"Not really."

Hardison thought for a second. He guessed that he could see where his father was coming from, but he still felt that swell in his chest upon the realization that he would be free to travel come the morning time. And he already felt empty not having Solosis near him. But, he thought that he could at least lessen his father's burden.

"I promise to be careful."

Hardison's father didn't answer, but the tension in the air eased. Hardison wished he could be a little more convincing, for he felt a tingling fear in his heart as well. The thought of being alone in the world where he could be killed at any moment shook him, but he was sure his father was exaggerating, even if it was only a little.

"Goodnight, Hardison."

"Goodnight, Dad."

Hardison's father frowned and stared at him. "I have a busy day tomorrow, so I won't be there for your application process."

Hardison shrugged. "You're a busy guy. I understand. I love you."

"Goodnight."

Hardison felt a cool sting as his father trudged up the stairs without saying anything back. His mother placed a hand on his shoulder and hummed softly. Hardison avoided looking at her, turning into her arms for a hug.

"Why is he so mad at me?"

"Your father just has a hard time accepting that he's going to lose you." She ran her fingers through Hardison's hair. "He loves you so much and doesn't want you to get hurt. He was the same way with me when we were dating."

"But, he's so…angry."

"That's just how he is. He wants the best, and it really is dangerous out there." Hardison's mother nudged him upstairs. "He just thinks you don't fully understand how it is. You're growing up too fast for him."

"But—"

"He doesn't want you to be broken. Being a trainer is a lifestyle choice most people don't take well. It seems okay in the beginning, but after a while, battling becomes so much more. Like a fight to the death in most cases. It becomes something else entirely, and then you lose your best friend. And you feel terrible about it, and it breaks your spirit."

Hardison frowned. "Did that happen to Dad?"

Hardison's mother nodded slowly. "He's still reeling from it. He doesn't want it to happen to you."

"But, I don't want to be a trainer," Hardison said. "I just want to travel. See some amazing places. Then I'll come back and take care of what it is I need to here. I'll get a job and go to college, and then do something with my life. I promise. I just want to travel."

Hardison's mother smiled. "We'll talk about it later. I love you, honey. Goodnight."

Hardison smiled back. "Goodnight. I love you, too."

The next morning, Hardison woke up early. The sun hadn't quite risen yet, but the sky was painted a pale blue, with the nighttime stars still glimmering faintly. For a while, Hardison sat in his bed. He had had a dream about his egg, and woke up to reach for it, only realizing a few minutes later that it had already hatched.

He threw his feet over the end of his bed and stretched. He had to pack for his journey, though he had no idea how to go about doing something like that. Should he bring clothes? Food? How much money should he carry?

But, nevertheless, he showered, dressed and browsed his room for things to bring along. He folded some shirts and pants. An extra pair of sneakers, socks, boxers. After an hour, the sun was shining a little brighter, and nearby bird Pokémon were singing in the trees.

"Hardison?" His mother cracked the bedroom door open and peered inside. "Are you ready?"

Hardison nodded. "I think I packed everything I need. Clothes, shoes, a little money."

"I have a present for you."

Hardison smiled and grabbed his backpack. It felt a little heavy, but he was just having morning jitters, and he sure it would lighten up as soon as he was on his way. He followed his mother downstairs and sat at the dining room table. Mightyena was curled up in the corner, snoozing.

"What's Mightyena doing here?" Hardison asked.

"Your father thought I should have some kind of protection if I'm going to be alone from now on. Mightyena wanted to stay. It's also going to see you to Route 1."

"Oh, that was nice." Hardison muttered under his breath.

"Your father also wanted to give you a little something, but he had to leave early." Hardison's mother placed a small tray on the table. It had a couple bottles and some small spherical capsules in the middle, and a black belt curled around them.

"Some potions and pokeballs for your travels." Hardison's mother smiled. "And this is his competition belt. He only used it for competitive battling, so it's a little worn. He wanted you to have it."

"But, I thought he didn't want me to go."

Hardison's mother chuckled. "He doesn't, but he said last night 'If he's going to leave, he might as well be prepared.' I promised I would give it to you."

Hardison beamed. He felt good as he wrapped the belt around his waist. It was a little too big because it had been crafted for a muscular man, and his thin waist wasn't really big enough yet, but he appreciated it nonetheless.

"Even though you don't want to be a trainer, you need easy access to your Pokémon, especially if you get ambushed. Take care of it."

Hardison nodded and tightened the belt. It had two lines of attachments in it. One side for empty pokeballs, and one for occupied ones. When the pokeballs were collapsed, they easily fit into the compartments. Hardison pushed each empty ball into the slots with and audible click.

"You want to get going?" Hardison's mother asked. "The PCC representative should be there by now."

Hardison nodded and stood up. That nervous feeling in his chest grew with every step he took towards Professor Juniper's lab. There was a large bird Pokémon perched outside. It was saddled, and Hardison had never seen something like it before. It had to have been from a different region.

"Pigeot."

The Pokémon looked at him and ruffled its feathers. Around its neck was a black sash with three yellow letters across the front. PCC. Hardison bowed his head to the strange Pokémon and stepped inside the lab.

Professor Juniper was standing at the table where Solosis was. Solosis was hovering just above the table, and as soon as it saw Hardison, it flitted over. A man caught Solosis before it got too far and looked it over. He looked stern and official.

"It looks okay. Moist coat. Good color, proper energy for a Pokémon its size," the man said. Professor Juniper nodded in response. "I approve it for travel. Now, let's get to the trainer, shall we?"

Professor Juniper nodded, though she didn't smile. "He's just arrived."

"Fantastic. Let's begin."

Hardison took a seat at a different table and waited for the PCC representative to sit with him. After gathering a stack of papers, some folders, and a pen, he sat down and looked at Hardison. He was scary, like he was destined to speak only of a trainer's failure.

"Okay, this is how it's going to work," the man said. "I'm going to ask you questions for your license. It'll be quick as long as you pay attention. I don't have time to waste. I must get to an appointment in Hoen before the day is out, and it'll be quite a trip."

Hardison swallowed nervously. "Okay."

"Name."

"Hardison Curcio. Eighteen. Brown hair. Brown eyes."

"I only asked you for your name. Please, do not jump ahead."

"Sorry."

"Height."

"Uhh…five feet seven inches last time I checked."

"Weight."

"I don't know. I haven't weighed myself recently."

"Your tone is not appreciated and not tolerated."

"Sorry."

"Occupation."

"What?"

The man looked at him. "What is it you plan to do with your Pokémon career? Are you going to run the gym circuit? Breed Pokémon? Are you going to participate in human-Pokémon marathons?"

"Well, I just want to travel really."

"Trainer."

"But, I don't want to be a trainer. I'm just going to sight-see."

"In order for you to receive a valid license, you must provide all information requested. Recreational travel falls under the trainer category because it requires you to hold a trainer license to access certain parts of the region. In order for you to use any of the train services Unova provides, you must have a trainer license. Do you understand, Mr. Curcio?"

Hardison nodded. "Fine. Trainer."

"Now, on to your Pokémon." The PCC representative leafed through a few pages. I've already looked it over, and approved it for travel. Now, there are a few details you must be aware of before you begin."

"Okay."

"Your Pokémon's name is Solosis. Species, Cell Pokémon. It is female. It has normal coloration, with no shiny attributes to speak of. Its ability is Overcoat, which will explain any slimy shedding that may occur during battle or during your 'recreational travel'. It is currently at level five."

"Level five?"

"Yes, the PCC has devised a leveling system for competitive battling purposes. It is based on the moves it is confirmed to know. Solosis is at level five on this scale. It knows the move Psywave, and Reflect."

"Okay."

The PCC representative stood up. "That's it. I trust you are familiar with a majority of PCC regulation, am I correct?"

Hardison turned a little red. "Well, I've read on it a little, but I'm not an expert."

The PCC representative pulled out a thick slab of paper. "This is the entire Pokémon Company Commission's trainer contract. It details every rule a Pokémon trainer must follow. But, there are three main rules you should be aware of before signing the contract."

Hardison stared at the pile of paper. The writing was incredible small, and went on for days. "Okay, and those would be…?"

"Rule number one, you must produce a valid trainer license whenever asked. Failure to do so will result in the confiscation and release of all Pokémon in your possession, and the nullification of your trainer license should you actually have one." The PCC representative paused. "There are no exceptions to this rule. Be sure to carry your card with you everywhere you go."

Hardison's mouth fell open. That seemed like an extraordinarily harsh rule. And the punishment felt unfair. But, he nodded and reached for a pen.

"Rule number two, Pokémon are not permitted to use two attack moves at the same time. For instance, Double Team and Quick Attack may be used together, but Quick attack and Flamethrower are not. This prevents faster Pokémon from killing slower Pokémon and protects trainers from moves that may have a larger range, such as Take Down, Double Edge, and Headbutt."

Hardison nodded. He flipped all the way to the last page and uncapped the pen.

"Rule number three, use of the move Explosion or Selfdestruct in populated or protected areas is strictly forbidden. Cities, caves, and densely populated forests fall under this category. We had too many instances where a trainer only cares about winning the battle, and those particular attacks have had devastating effects. Do you understand, Mr. Curcio?"

"Yep, clear as day." Hardison signed his name at the bottom of the contract. "When do I start?"

The PCC representative hummed thoughtfully, swiping a card at the computer. "You may leave as soon as you wish. Congratulations, Mr. Curcio, you are legally allowed to own Pokémon."

Hardison jumped out of his seat. "Yes! Finally!"

"Please, enjoy yourself, Mr. Curcio. But, be warned, it is hard out there. Be careful, stay alert, and be sure to familiarize yourself with PCC regulation. On behalf of the Pokémon Company Commission, I declare you a Pokémon Trainer."

Professor Juniper smiled at Hardison's excitement and walked the PCC representative out.

"I appreciate you coming out here on such short notice," she said. "You've made his day."

"It's no problem. I owed you a favor anyway. But, I really must leave. Meetings in Hoen."

The PCC representative mounted his Pigeot and belted himself in. Professor Juniper waved.

"You really must introduce me to some of the professors in your region. This Pokémon is amazing. I've never seen it before."

"Just a Pigeot, Juniper." The PCC representative smirked. "We're trying to control the population. We are not allowing it to breed in Unova. Have a good day."

The PCC representative gripped the feathers of the Pigeot and it rocketed off with one flap of its wings. Hardison stood just inside, and Professor Juniper reentered the building.

"Okay, let's get you ready, Hardison."

Hardison followed Professor Juniper to Solosis. It floated lazily, but it made small noises as Hardison drew closer. It seemed to like him, but Hardison was still apprehensive about touching it.

"Do you want to give her a nickname?" Professor Juniper asked.

Hardison shook his head. "I like Solosis." He looked around to his mother, who gave a small thumbs up. He looked back at Professor Juniper. "So, how to I capture it? Do I just carry it, or do I put it in a pokeball?"

"Well, that's up to you, dear."

Hardison blinked. "I think I'd rather keep it out. But, is there a rule regarding that?"

"Well, you should have it assigned to a pokeball, just in case there are any problems down the road."

Hardison reached for his belt and pulled out an empty pokeball. "Uh…come here?"

Professor juniper laughed, and Solosis jolted and pressed itself to Hardison, trying to hide. "You can't just say 'come here'. Just ask it nicely, and open the ball. Push the button."

Hardison tapped the pokeball on Solosis's head and it erupted into a bright light. A second later, Solosis was tucked safely inside. Hardison smiled as the pokeball shuttered in his hand and clicked. Not even a moment later, he released Solosis.

"Hi, I'm Hardison." Solosis looked at him. "I've been waiting a long time to meet you. We should be friends."

"Now, Hardison," Professor Juniper warned. "Pokémon is not a game, and you need to make sure you remember that when it comes to traveling farther and farther away. Pokémon should be friends."

"What else could they be?"

Professor Juniper sighed. "There are some moves that are more powerful when Pokémon don't like their trainers. These can be more powerful than moves that are the opposite. Some trainers don't care about the feelings of their Pokémon. Just be careful about that."

Hardison nodded solemnly, but a smile still crept onto his lips. "I'll be okay. I promise. I've gotta go soon though."

Hardison's mother sniffed. "Could you at least stay until the afternoon? I have one more surprise for you."

"Mom," Hardison whined. "Please, I'll stay safe, I'll pay attention."

"Andrea wants to see you though."

"Andrea?"

Hardison's mother nodded. "Yeah, but she won't be here until a little later. I thought you'd really like to see her so I sent her some mail via Pidove. She really wants to see you."

Hardison blushed. "Uh…fine. I'll stay to Andrea, then I'll leave."

"No longer than an hour."

Hardison looked at Solosis, who squeaked back. "No longer than an hour. I'm gonna hold you to it."

Hope I did better with this one. I really want to get my characters established, though this is mainly about Hardison. Just in case you didn't catch it. His description was designed to kind of poke fun at some of the people who give descriptions in a list and expect us to fully grasp what this character looks like. I thought doing it in the form of a trainer license application would be clever. Not sure how well it worked.

Hope you all enjoyed it. Feeling a little less scared of the fandom. If there is any Pokemon you would like to see on Hardison's team, let me know your thoughts. I think I'm going to limit it to three or four teammates. That's not final.

Yeah, that up there is my nonsensical rambling that I only do in the bottom author notes. This is essentially my thought process, so I don't forget stuff. You're welcome to comment on it.

Has a nice day. :)