The Journey Begins

After the tournament the professors guided the young trainers to the dining hall where a grand feast was prepared for them before they start their journeys the next morning. Titan decided to sit towards the middle next to Penny and Garrett.

He secretly hoped that Penny was impressed by the way he battled. The way that he connected with Chimchar in those first few battles felt natural, like he has been doing it all his life. Images from the battle with Sri began to play back and forth in his head. Sri was so harsh to Torchic when he started to lose, but why? The idea of being so negative to one's partner sickened Titan and he promised that he would never act the same way that Sri did towards Torchic.

"So Penny. Were you impressed by my battle style? Me and Cyndaquil did pretty good!" Garrett said to Penny who was sitting in between Garrett and Titan.

As soon as he heard this, Titan choked on the food he was starting to could Garrett ask her that? He lost in the second round and Jaymie didn't even use a water type attack either. Everyone stopped their conversations and stared at him as he collected a breath of air.

"Well that was an intense tournament and I want to express how proud I am of all of you! That was an impressive performance by all of you." the professor said as he placed his dirty napkin on his plate. "I suggest you all go to bed early tomorrow is a big day and you'll need plenty of sleep." The professor stood up from his chair and gave all of the kids a bow before turning around and walking away down the hallway. Soon after all the kids began to get up and retreat to their rooms.

"Well I'm gonna hit the sack you guys. All of that intense battling has made me tired! Oh and the food can't forget about the food!" Garrett said as he gave his belly a pat. Titan watched as he walked toward his room before slamming the door shut. He turned to Penny and said, "I'm not tired at all I am too anxious about this journey."

"I know what you mean. I won't be able to get any sleep at all tonight" Penny responded with a look of worry in her eye. "Do you want to walk around for a while and just talk?" She asked Titan.

"Yeah.. that sounds great, it will get my mind off things." He said. They walked out of the dining room and into a hall they haven't seen before. "This place is huge! I hope we don't get lost." Titan said. The hallway came out into the same large room where they received their Pokemon.

"I know! Listen it echos in here!" Penny raised her voice seeming amused by the echo. "It seems a lot bigger in here without all the people in here." She said. "I wonder what is up those stairs anyways."

"I don't know but lets go check it out." Titan responded as they began their way up the stairs. The doorway led to yet another hallway. They wandered down the hallway and came upon two large class windowed doors.

"Look outside! There's a porch and you can look over into the backyard where the field is!" Titan shouted. He opened the door and walked outside with Penny right next to him. He leaned over the railing and just stared out into the battlefield.

"What if that's the best I got? What if I never win again? What if I was just lucky?" Titan said out loud.

"That wasn't luck! You did awesome and you sure know how to battle." Penny said to him.

"Oh... sorry... I guess I was thinking out loud, but thanks. I mean like what if I am a complete failure and I actually don't know what I'm doing? I don't want to let Chimchar down, he went out there and fought his best for me and the last thing I want him to think is that I'm a loser." Titan said, staring at the ground.

Penny placed a hand on his shoulder, "C'mon, I don't see why you're down! You're the only one who didn't lose and I think you will do great things!" She snagged Titan's Pokeball from him and held it in the air.

"Hey! Give that back!" Titan shouted.

"Nope, cause losers shouldn't be able to have Pokemon!" She said playful. Every time Titan made a grab for the Pokeball she would move it away from him so he couldn't get it.

"Stop teasing me!" He complained, "That's my Pokemon!"

"Well let's see what Chimchar has to say!" She said as she pressed the little circle button in the middle of the contraption. The Pokeball grew bigger and she released it into the air, causing it to open and release Titan's Chimchar from it's Pokeball. It sat on the ground and stretched it's arms, making a big yawn.

"Oh, did I wake you Chimchar?" Penny asked. Chimchar just sat there and blinked it's eyes at her a few times. "Chimchar, do you think that Titan is a loser and that he isn't going to succeed and he's only going to fail?" She asked the little Pokemon. Chimchar's eyes shot wide open and climbed up Titan all the way to his head before making his perch there. It was at that moment when the little monkey started shaking his head. The small arms of Chimchar were making a flexing motion then started pointed at Titan.

"Aww. See? He thinks you're strong! He doesn't think you're going to be a loser. Know will you get out of this funk?" Penny said smiling. A tear was starting to form in Titan's eye. He wiped it away before it could fall and then shot up with his fist clenched.

"Alright, I can do it!" Titan said grabbing Chimchar from his head and holding it in his arms. "I can do it for Chimchar!"

"Now we're talking, and don't worry I'll be there every step of the way to cheer you on." Penny said with the smile on her face growing even bigger.

"Thanks a lot for the help, Penny. I would have been a mess without you." Titan said smiling back. The realization of what she just said hit him. "Wait, so does that mean you're going to travel with me? He asked.

"Only if you'll have me!" She responded.

"Of course! I'd love for you to come." Titan said, trying hard to resist hugging her. For the first time, he felt genuinely happy since leaving on this journey. The only thing that has been going on in his mind since leaving was is he going to fail? His parents were both successful at everything they have done, and he was more nervous to fail. Titan was worried that he would let his parents down, that he wouldn't be good enough to live in his father's footsteps.

He heard the story about how his parents met about a hundred times. His dad met his mom when he was on a journey of his own. She was his dad's biggest rival and always challenged him most. One day his mom had upset a heard of Ryhorn when she tried to catch the strongest one there was. The Ryhorn took out her entire team and aimed it's focus on her. Running away was useless as she knew she stood no chance of out running it. She stood there embracing herself for what would happen next. She heard the command Water Pulse being yelled out which made her open her eyes. A ball of water smashes into the Ryhorn. It turned around and fled from further action. His dad and his Wartortle walked up to her, stood her up, and asked if she was alright. The two were inseparable ever since. His mom finished in the top 16 and his dad finished in the top 4 of the country.

Titan found his way back to his room and fell flat on the bed. There was so much going on in his head, he just wished it would all stop so he could sleep. He sat up again and kicked off his shoes. He released Chimchar and watched as it yawn and then curl up on one of the pillows before passing out. He went to turn off the lamp before seeing an envelope with a small strange stone sitting next to it. He opened the envelope and read the letter:

Dear Titan,

Congratulations on winning the tournament, you did an outstanding job and I know you're parent's would be proud. I want you to take this stone that I have placed outside of this envelope. Don't ask what it's for... that is something you will find out in due time. Do not talk about it to any of the other student's either. I felt you were deserving of this stone after the way I saw you battle. Please, keep up the good job and I look forward to watching you and Chimchar grow as a duo.

Professor Smith

Titan had no idea what that was all about but he was too tired to focus and instead was ready for sleep. He laid down next to the sleeping Pokemon and was instantly overcome by slumber.