"Lucy. Are you ok? Lucy! Answer me, Lucy…" I cracked my eyes open. What had happened? I'm a player now, right? Then I fainted? Yeah, that sounds right… I think.

"Lucy! You're awake!" I looked to the side to find Ryan and Reed hovering over me, with Touko and N, plus two people I didn't know. The person who had been talking to me was Ryan. I smiled.

"Yeah… Sorry about that. I don't know what happened to me…" I let my gaze slide to the two unknown people. Touko was keeping her distance from the boy, and N was kind of watching him carefully. The girl was smiling like crazy at everyone, but especially at the boy. They were holding hands.

"Oh, yeah. This is Cheren and Bianca!" Reed introduced the two of them. He gave me a faint smile. I let my lips slip up to face the ceiling as I looked at him.

"Nice to meet you," Cheren held out his hand. I reached out to shake it, but the girl; Bianca snatched it away from him and shook it vigorously. I jumped in surprise.

"Hi, Hi, HI! My name's Bianca! Nice to meetcha! I'm one of Touko's friends, and so is Cheren! I'm also Professor Juniper's assistant!" She grinned and laughed as she talked. I…Um…

"Well, thank you for the biography," I stated. She gave me a thumbs-up.

"All you ever do is talk…" Cheren mumbled. Bianca cackled hyperly and hugged him.

"So, are you Ok?" I turned to face Ryan. He had worry etched out on his face, and he looked grim. I lifted my arm and touched his shoulder gently.

"Yes, I am," I removed my hand from his shoulder and tried to get out of the… Bed? Yeah, it's a bed. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and tried standing. I failed.

"A-Ah!" I stumbled. A strong pair of arms caught me in my clumsy blunder to the ground. I snapped my head up to find my self face-to-face with Ryan's bandages. He smiled and tried helped me stand up strait.

"Thank you..!" I blushed, quite flustered and embarrassed. Juniper stepped forward.

"Looks like you'll be in a wheel chair or something of the sort for a while. You seem to have suffered from some mental shock, but you'll be ok after a few days of rest. It is odd that this happened, but you're very lucky! If the shock had-" She was cut off by Reed.

"You'll be in a wheel chair for a little. Ok?" He simplified it. I nodded, still slightly dazed.

"Where is the wheel chair?" I asked. Juniper smiled sheepishly.

"I don't have one," She declared. Cheren face palmed.

"Really?" He asked. Juniper looked down in shame.

"I can help her around until you get one," Reed and Touko volunteered at the same time. They looked at each other oddly.

"Jinx! You owe me a soda!" Touko giggled. Her younger brother groaned.

I started to laugh, but was cut off by Reed walking up to me. He swept my legs out from under me, holding my in his arms, bridal style. Déjà vu.

"H-Hey! Where are you?" Ryan asked, slightly frantic. I blushed. He was hand was gliding softly through the air, trying to locate me.

"I'm right here," I called. He whipped his head around to face my voice.

"Oh…" He muttered, embarrassed.

"There's another problem. Who will help Ryan?" Juniper spoke up. Everyone looked around.

"Wait…" N muttered. Touko looked at him.

"What?" She asked lightly.

"Is he blind or something..?" He finished. Touko promptly smacked him in the face.

"DUH! YOUR stupid grunts did this!" She yelled. He flinched.

"O-Oh… Well, I suppose an apology won't do much now, but I'm sorry, Ryan…" He said. Touko glared at him a little before looking away.

"Yeah, it's… Fine." Ryan muttered. Lucy could tell it was most certainly NOT fine, but decided not to get involved too much.

"Back to the point. Who's helping Ryan?" Juniper re-stated.

"I will!" Touko said. N nodded, his energetic self back. That was unnaturally fast.

"Sure…" Ryan nodded as well. I smiled.

"One last thing! Ryan, Lucy, what are you going to do about starters?" Juniper cut us off just as we were leaving.

"What do you have..?" I asked. She smirked and ran to the back of her lab. Reed put me down gently onto the ground and then walked out to the door.

"See you later, Lucy," He bid me goodbye, and then left. My head shot up as I heard a squeal. came back holding way to many Pokéballs in her arms.

"O-One sec, I-" She dropped them, and they all clattered to the floor. I few actually opened, releasing some creatures I hadn't ever seen before.

"Oh, well. This one," She patted one of the Pokémon on the head, "Is Ralts. She can sense emotions," The Ralts lifted her hair that covered her eyes so she could look around. Her bright red eyes landed on me and locked in.

'You look like a w-worthy trainer…'

I… I do? Wait. Who are you? A voice was echoing in my head.

'My name is Echo. I'm a R-Ralts.'

Oh… Okay..! How exactly is this happening?

'…'

Um… Okay. You don't have to explain, sorry.

'Y-Yeah! I like your energy, it's v-very interesting…'

What..? Do you want to be partners, then?

'Yes, I would. I-I'm sorry. What's your name?

Lucy! Nice to meet you!

The Ralts, Echo, stumbled up to me, and hopped into my unsuspecting arms. She seemed like a very sweet Pokémon.

"Have you made your choice, Lucy?" Juniper asked, pulling me back into reality.

"Yes! I have," I smiled. Juniper walked up to me, forgetting all the Pokémon behind her.

"It's quite the surprise that she chose you. She's really quite shy," Juniper mumbled. I looked down at Echo.

"Oh, Lucy chose her Pokémon?" Ryan called out. Juniper turned around to face him.

"Yeah! What about-" Juniper slipped and fell down hard.

"A-Are you ok?" Lucy stammered. Juniper hopped up again.

"Sorry! I slipped on…" She looked down and picked up a Pokéball, "Huh." She threw it up in the air, and released the Pokémon inside.

A Riolu flew out of the bright red beam and landed on the floor gracefully. It looked around, taking a few steps towards Ryan.

"Wow! A Riolu. You don't see those very often!" Juniper giggled. Ryan grinned to the side of the Riolu. It tipped its head at him.

"R-Rio. Riolu." It stated and jumped right in front of Ryan.

"Oh, Hi there little guy. How are you?" Ryan reached his hand out, and kneeled down. Riolu glanced at his hand and then shot his paw out. His paw smacked Ryan in the middle of his forehead.

"W-What? I'm sorry, do you not-" Ryan tried to back up then froze. He turned his head around the room slowly.

"Hey, uh, Lucy…" He muttered quietly. I nodded, and then cringed again. He couldn't see me. I had to remember that!

"Yeah. Uh, yes, Ryan?" I looked at him. The Riolu was still pressing its paw into his forehead.

"I can-" Ryan began, but the Riolu moved his hand from his forehead to his mouth quickly. Ryan stopped talking abruptly.

"I think I've chosen my partner," He moved Riolu's paw from his mouth. The Riolu nodded and hopped around him.

After long last, this chapter is finally here! My apologies for the wait, my friends, but I'm back and more inspired than ever! Bye for now, and don't forget to smile:)