Hey, guys (she says to the empty room that comes with random hiatus). So, the last few months have been pretty eventful and stressful, and it eventually just snowballed into me not updating for two-and-a-half months. Yay! But I'm settling down again, so hopefully this time I can try not to be a jerk and actually update on time. I'm going to devote this long weekend to writing the next several chapters, so I should be able to have a steady queue to update weekly again (with maybe another update in a couple days just to speed things along). I'd recommend maybe re-reading the last chapter if you haven't for awhile, since I pick up right where I left off. So now, without further ado...

Her reverie was broken by the light click and whisper of the opening door that marked Gary's return. He raised his eyebrow and smirked at her, seeing the obvious question in her eyes. In answer, he allowed the door to open more fully to reveal the small Pokémon sadly crouching on the cool floor. Gary knelt beside it and softly encouraged it forward. It glanced first at him and then back to the floor as it rose to its feet and trudged into the room. It spared a quick look to where the Professor stood… and then its eyes darted to its right and widened at the sight of Jayde.

A hopeful note escaped its parted lips, and it took a few tentative steps forward before breaking into a sprint, its stubby legs working furiously to reach her. Jayde dropped into a crouch and held out her hand, laughing. The ecstatic creature skidded to a halt in front of her, its short toenails scraping the linoleum, and gave her hand a series of short, excited sniffs before thrusting its greenish-blue head against it. She raised her other hand to scratch under its jawline and was rewarded by a sound of approval as the Grass-type tilted its head to give her more access.

Gary laughed. "This little guy had resigned himself to not getting a trainer. He was pretty bummed out about it."

Jayde winced and then smiled at her new partner.

"Sorry about that, buddy. I ran a bit late. But I'm here now, and I'm ready to go! What about you, Saur?"

He responded with a playful battle-stance and a sharp cry. Jayde laughed again and then glanced up as Gary tossed Saur's Pokéball to her. Her hands shot up to catch the ball before it bounced off of her head, and she looked down at Saur with a grin.

"Alright! We're ready! But first, I think you need a new name. How about it?

After hearing his excited chirping, she squinted her eyes and looked at him appraisingly. She debated between not wanting to be cheesy and also wanting to be clever… and then her mind flashed victory to the more fun side.

"Let's think of something to do with plants… hmmm….. How about… Synthesis? But Syn for short, since Synthesis sounds ridiculously pretentious."

This suggestion was greeted by laughter from both of the Oaks, but the young Bulbasaur rose up briefly on his hind legs in the closest approximation of a hop that he could manage and burbled happily. When he plopped back to all-fours, his name was Syn, and (though Gary was still sniggering) everyone in the room knew that he had accepted it.

Jayde smiled and rose to her feet, swinging her backpack over her shoulder. She held out Syn's Pokéball.

"Alright, Syn! Time to rock 'n' roll! Do you want to go in the ball or-"

Her words cut short with a snort of laughter as Syn bounded towards the door, completely ignoring his Pokéball. She shook her head and pressed the two small buttons on either side of the ball – the latter gave a small click and shrunk to the size of its ping-pong counterpart. She quickly clipped it into her belt, in the slot immediately right of the small buckle, and turned to Professor Oak, looking at him expectantly. He smiled and drew out a small bag from his lab-coat pocket. He handed to her, and she quickly tugged on the middle of the drawstring to open it, revealing a number of objects: five empty Pokéballs, a Potion, and – most importantly – a small pastel-green Pokédex.

She smiled at the realization of how perfectly the color she had chosen fit with her new friend, and she plucked Syn's Pokéball out of the belt for a moment to scan the ID into the Pokédex. All the information on Syn popped onto the screen, as well as a link to the more general species information on Bulbasaurs. Already familiar with all the knowledge she might glean from this, she hit the sleep button and pocketed the device. She replaced Syn's ball in its spot and filled the other five slots with the empty ones before popping the bag and Potion into her backpack.

Finally ready, she straightened and gave Gary and Professor Oak a wild grin.

"Time to go, then!"

Gary smiled and held up his hand.

"One more thing first," he said, and he too drew out a small object from his coat. The metal glinted in the sunlight, showing the intricate designs engraved in it. Gary held it out to her and raised an eyebrow.

"If that thing isn't full this time next year, don't bother coming back."

She took the badge-case and held it gently, exclaiming over it and thanking him. He smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

"It's an investment. When you go up against the League and the Elite Four, I'll be expecting invitations."

Laughing, Jayde carefully placed the case into a pocket of her backpack and turned back to him. She gave a mock-salute, raising two straight fingers to her forehead and jerking them away.

"Sir, yes, sir."

He laughed and pointed over her shoulder, where Syn had begun scratching at the wooden door and complaining loudly.

Jayde turned. "Be there in just a second, Syn."

Gary's smirk softened into a genuine smile, and he held out his hand.

"Good luck out there, short-stuff."

"Thanks, Gar-Gar," she said, taking his hand and shaking it.

He scoffed and reached out his other hand to flick her forehead.

"What did I tell you about calling me that?"

Laughter echoed in the Fishbowl, tinkling off the glass and dancing with the rainbows shining through, and somewhere in the fields, on a hill overlooking the sunlit grasses, trees, ponds, and wildflowers, an Arcanine howled his farewell.

Yeah, I did it. I went with Bulbasaur. Why? Because Bulbasaur's awesome, that's why. And yeah, I know that the name's a bit cheesy, but I couldn't resist! And yes, Bulbasaur's name came before the story name.

So we're finally off on a journey! Yay! The next chapter will see our new pair setting off down the road towards whatever awaits them, and it shouldn't take three months this time (hopefully)! Thank you for reading, and any and all feedback is much appreciated!