Blair simply couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at the route in front of him. He didn't understand why, he had seen it many times before. It was the same green grass, same tall wheat, same water. What was so different? While thinking about this, a tall woman who was wearing a long white lab coat lectured him, but he wasn't paying attention. Blair looked to his sides. His friends, Bianca and Cheren, were. Blair just nodded his head in approval. Suddenly, the woman approached Blair.

"Excuse me. Is everything ok, Blair?" she asked.

Blair, now aware of his surroundings, responded, "Y-yes. Sorry, Professor."

Professor Juniper smiled, "Good. Now, I better show you how to catch a Pokémon, huh?" She looked around, inspecting the area around her. She then exclaimed, "There!"

Blair looked to where she was pointing, only to see a Patrat. "Quite a mediocre Pokémon to be honest" he thought as he examined the small rat. Its physique was quite thin, it was maybe a foot and a half in height, and the most threatening aspect of it was its bucked teeth, which, Blair thought, probably would scare a dentist, but not anything else. Suddenly, the rat focused on the boy. Blair was stunned. "W-what?"

The Patrat ran towards Blair, and, in response, he quickly started running. The Patrat wasn't attacking him as much as it was taunting it. "Hey, guys." Blair forced out, panting, "I know…you all are busy…but some help…. would be great!" Professor Juniper sighed, while Cheren and Bianca couldn't hold back their laughter and began to chortle. Juniper threw a pokeball towards me, and when it opened, a slim furry rodent appeared. Unlike the Patrat, this one at least had some appeal. It had large ears that perked up with each sound. Its body was about the same size as the Patrat, but its body was much more visually appealing, especially to the average little girl.

The rodent ran towards the Patrat. Suddenly, it sped up tremendously. In an instant, it rammed into the Patrat, knocking it backwards several feet. "Thanks, Carson" yelled Professor Juniper to the Minccino, who then ran towards her. "Now pay attention, kids." She ordered, looking at me specifically. She grabbed a pokeball and chucked it in the direction of the Patrat. The ball let out a shining light and then closed, the Pokémon having disappeared. The ball fell to the ground. One, two, and then three shakes. The ball let out a click. Juniper smiled, "Not too hard, huh?" Blair, still panting, dropped his head.

"Hey, it's not that bad." Cheren consoled as he walked over, "You just lack the experience." Blair looked back at him, "Well then…guess I'll have to change that." Blair then smiled, letting out a small, short chuckle, a signature move for him.

Professor Juniper approached the boys, "Now, this is my gift to you." She held in her hands about fifteen pokeballs, which she then proceeded to distribute between the three of us. "Now, I am not trying to sound cheap, but it took me a lot to get these Pokémon for you, so I expect you to work your hardest at finding what it is that you want in life." The three teens nodded in approval. "Good, now I have to go back to my lab. Don't worry though" she then held up her arm, showing her Xtransciever, "I'll keep in touch."

"Thanks again, Professor." Blair said politely, and Bianca and Cheren followed with a nod. With that, Juniper took her leave.

"Alright, I guess the best place to head to would be Accumula Town." Cheren stated while examining a map, "We should make it there by nightfall, and we can find a place to stay, possibly grab some dinner?"

"Sounds great!" exclaimed Bianca, "I bet that I can beat you both there!"

Blair and Cheren remained silent for a moment, but then proceeded to giggle.

"Hey, don't underestimate me. Are you scared?"

Cheren became serious, "All right then, let's hold a contest. Whoever makes it to Accumula first wins. However, to make it a challenge, you must at least catch one Pokémon."

"One? That's all?" Blair scoffed, "Its almost as if you want me to win."

"Well, rather than talking, why don't you get started?" Bianca inquired. Both Cheren and Blair nodded. "Ok then, on the count of three, this contest begins. Ready? One, two, three!"

The three kids then ran off in different directions. Blair, wanting a challenge, ran off towards the wooded area. He looked around. Even in the treetops, he couldn't see any Pokémon. "That's odd." He then called Kaito out. The otter hopped over towards Blair. He seemed happy to be outside as he smelled the grass and more of his surroundings. However, the otter suddenly stopped and looked forwards. Blair, confused, looked in that direction. Then he saw it.

It was a small bird pokemon known as Starly. It had a black and grey body, an orange beak, and a lone feather that swirled above his head. Blair stopped. He didn't want to scare it off. Considering how the area looked, he thought this might be his only chance. He quickly grabbed a pokeball from bag. The Starly had no reaction. Blair arched his arm back, still, no reaction. He then threw the ball, and it hit the bird. Blair held his breathe. "One shake, two, the-" when suddenly it broke out. The once quiet, calm bird now held a look of anger. It extended its wings, and then flew towards Kaito. The otter was shocked, but ready. He ran towards the bird, then proceeded to use Water Gun, shooting a jet of water at it. It hit the bird, but had little effect other than stunning the bird momentarily.

"Alright then." Blair murmured, "Kaito, Tackle!" The otter ran at his command and struck into the bird, who fell from fatigue. Blair took the chance and threw another pokeball at it. This time, it shook the full three times, proceeded by a click. Blair couldn't express how happy he was. Instead, he just stood there and shouted into the sky, "Hah!"