Last time, Jay Parker and Eevee both set out towards Littleroot Town, and met up with this other trainer. Embarassed of the Eevee, Jay denied the fact that he was the Eevee's trainer, as the other trainer then attacked it with his own pokemon. The other trainer had his pokemon attack the Eevee even after the Eevee had fainted and had enough, until Jay stepped in and saved the little Eevee. Jay is now rushing Eevee to Littleroot Town in order for Professor Birch to heal him up.

Chapter 3: Eevee's Reasoning

"We're almost there Eevee, don't worry!" Jay said, as he sprinted towards the nearby Littleroot Town. "I can't believe this little guy even had the strength to get up after all of that abuse that it took against that trainer's Treecko." Jay thought to himself.

Running through the tall grass, Jay accidentally trips over a wild Poochyena. Jay quickly gets up as he checks up on the Poochyena.

"You okay little guy? I'm sorry about that, I was just in a hurry." Jay said.

The wild Poochyena growled at the 14 year old trainer, and bit his arm.

"AHHHHHHH!" Jay screamed. "Never mind, I guess you won't take my apology!" He yelled, as he ran from the Poochyena.

The Poochyena chased after Jay, preparing for another attack. Jay ran faster than he had ever ran before.

"Great.. Not only do I have to keep Eevee from getting harmed anymore, I also have to watch out for that Poochyena chasing after me!"

Almost at Littleroot Town, Jay speeds up, as he almost loses the Poochyena that was chasing after him. Route 101 was coming to an end until a large Mightyena jumped right in front of him.

"Damnit!" Jay yelled. "This Mightyena is probably that little Poochyena's mother or something. There is absolutely no way I can get around it."

The Mightyena gave out a big roar, as he then charged at Jay about to hit the move Takedown!

"Kip use watergun!" A voice said.

Soon a blue pokemon jumped out. It was a mudkip and it hit the large Mightyena with a shot of water. The Mightyena got up and fled. The baby poochyena ran as well seeing that if it's much stronger mother couldn't handle the Mudkip, it couldn't either.

The trainer who used the Mudkip turned out to be a girl. 14 years of age with long brown hair and hazel eyes. She wore a green skirt, and white shirt.

"Thank you so much!" Jay said with relief.

"No problem. What's your name?" The girl asked.

"My name is Jay Parker." Jay replied. "And yours?"

"My name is Lindsey. Lindsey Mack." She answered. "You're headed towards Littleroot Town right? Or did the little Pooch and Mightyena get you to run over here?"

"Haha. Yeah I'm actually trying to get this little guy over to Professor Birch so that he can heal him up. He took quite the beating not too long ago. Plus I'm trying to get a Pokedex as well." Jay said.

"Oh well if that's the case, we should quit talking and get your Eevee over to the professor's lab right away!" Lindsey said, as both her and Jay ran over to Littleroot Town.

Jay finally makes it over to Littleroot Town alongside with Lindsey and her Mudkip. They rush over to the Professor's lab, as they ring the doorbell. A few seconds pass until the door finally opens, and a man in a lab coat opens the door.

"May I help you?" The man asks.

"I need to see Professor Birch so that he can heal up my Eevee." Jay replied.

"Oh right this way then." The man stated, as he let both Jay and Lindsey into the building.

There were so many pictures of Pokemon from the Hoenn Region hanged up onto the walls. There were even live pokemon walking around the lab as well. There was a Zigzagoon, a Voltorb, a Slackoth, and a Tailow. Jay was amazed at all of the Pokemon he saw. They weren't really the types of Pokemon he would normally be amused by. His taste was normally the big, strong, and intimidating looking Pokemon, but just the sight of all of these new Pokemon was enough for him to be amazed.

A much bigger man in a lab coat walked over. He had brown hair at medium length, and was on the heavier side. This man was Professor Birch.

"What's the problem again?" The Professor asked.

"My Eevee needs to be healed. He took a very bad beating on Route 101." Jay stated.

The Professor took the Eevee from Jay, and examined it. Examining the pokemon wasn't really necessary, since it's injuries were very noticeable.

"Don't worry, I'll take care of him right away. Does he have his own Pokeball?" The Professor asked.

"Yeah" Jay said as he handed it over to the Professor. "He hasn't been inside of it since I got him this morning."

"So this is a young Eevee. I see. Well, I'll heal him up soon." The Professor said, as he walked into a different room.

"Can you go into detail as to how his injuries came about?" Lindsey asked.

Jay froze for a second, since he knew that what he did to the little Eevee was wrong. Letting it battle the much stronger Treecko without a trainer.

"If I tell you the truth will you be mad?" Jay asked.

"I can't make any promises, but I will try." Lindsey replied.

"Well to be honest, I let Eevee get beaten by this one trainer and his Treecko. I denied the fact that the Eevee was actually mine, and made it fight the trainer and his Treecko alone. The thing is.. For some reason, even without a trainer, and anyone rooting him on, he still kept fighting. He would get knocked down, but would get right back up to his feet and fight some more." Jay said.

"Did you ever think that Eevee might have just been trying to obtain your acceptance?" Lindsey asked.

"Never thought of it that way." Jay replied.

"Because I am pretty sure your Eevee knew that you thought it wasn't good enough. And so, you're little Eevee risked everything just so that you would accept it as a friend, instead of despising it..." Lindsey said.

Lindsey walked off and left the professor's building, as Jay walked over and sat in a chair. He thought about what Lindsey had said, and realized she was right.

"All this time, I was acting like a child and taking Eevee for granted. I wanted a pokemon that was more masculine and intimidating. I wanted a pokemon that was powerful, and Eevee knew that, and went beyond it's limits against a much stronger pokemon just so I could accept it." Jay said lightly in his seat, as tears ran down his cheek.

Professor Birch walked out of the room, as the Eevee was fully healed. Eevee stood right beside the professor. Jay saw this, and ran over to Eevee, picked him up, and gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry Eevee!" Jay cried. "You are the strongest pokemon ever. I am glad to have you on my team and as a friend." Jay said and he hugged Eevee tighter.

Eevee smiled, as this is the first time he has ever felt cared for by Jay. For the first time Eevee was loved. Eevee then licked Jay on the face, while Jay laughed.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to ask you. What's your name again?" The professor asked.

"Jay. Jay Parker" Jay replied. He then asked "You wouldn't happen to have an extra pokedex would you?"

The Professor laughed a little and said "Of course Jay. I picked one up just for you while I was healing your Eevee. I overheard you saying that you just got Eevee, and so I assumed that you are a new trainer starting your adventure." The professor handed over the pokedex. "Now there are many kinds of Pokemon in the Hoenn Region, and many more in this Pokemon World."

"Thanks Professor!" Jay said. "Now I'm off to the Pokemon League!" Jay says as he walks off before being interrupted.

"Wait a second! You don't expect to compete in the Pokemon League without any gym badges do you?" Professor Birch asked.

"Gym badges?" Jay asked.

"What city are you from again?" Professor Birch asked.

"Oldale Town." Jay replied.

"That explains it. Oldale Town doesn't have a gym of its own. You probably have very little to no idea what a Pokemon gym is then." Birch said. "Well to compete in the Pokemon League Tournament here in the Hoenn Region, you are going to need proof that you are highly skilled and qualified to compete at such a high level. To do so, you will need 8 gym badges. There are 8 gyms throughout this entire region, and inside each one is a gym leader. They are very skilled, and will test your abilities against them. If you are to beat the gym leader, you will be awarded one of the 8 gym badges. Once you defeat all 8 gym leaders, you are qualified to compete in the Pokemon League Tournament that should be taking place about 10 months from now in Lilycove City."

"I see. 8 badges." Jay said. "Are you up for the challenge Eevee?"

"Eevee!" Eevee replied looking determined.

"Alright then, lets do this!" Jay said. "Thanks professor!"

"Anytime Jay. I'll be checking up on your progress and expecting you at the Pokemon League Tournament in Lilycove City." The Professor said.

"Oh trust me. Eevee and I will be there." Jay said, as he walks off and leaves the professors building with Eevee sitting on his right shoulder.