A/N: So, here's chapter 2! Hope you liked the first one, and thank you to Northstar Pokeshipper, the first reviewer. I was tossing up between two starters, but finally chose one, and then started planning out a bunch of other Pokemon Kris will have along her journey. But if you guys have any ideas or any Pokemon you really want to see in this story, just let me know in a review or a PM and I'll probably make it happen.

Disclaimer: I still don't own Pokemon.


Slowly, tentatively, I finally reached for one of the Pokeballs. My hand grasped it tightly as I looked down at the other two. Am I making the right choice? I'd seen pictures, but other than that I knew nothing about these Pokemon. Looking back at the ball in my hand I decided to just go for it. Yes, this is the one I want. I mean, all three of them are starter Pokemon, right? So, they should be easy to train. It's not like one of them would be more of a challenge than the others… would it?

"So, you're choosing the grass type, Chikorita?" Elm asked. He must have remembered which order they were sitting in on the table, because he couldn't have read the labels from where he was standing. I nodded. "I think that's a good choice too."

I put the Pokeball in my bag and looked back at Elm who continued talking. "I don't think you'll have much trouble, but just in case, I'll give you my phone number." I handed him my Pokegear and he registered himself in my Pokegear, which is something I taught him how to do when he first got his Pokegear a few years ago, even though I didn't have my own yet at the time. I guess I'm just good with technology, but I never really thought about it.

"Thanks, Professor. I'll be back soon." I said. 'Soon?' Is that really what I said? I mean, I know route 30 is pretty close by, but this is me we're talking about! Someone who's never left New Bark Town alone before! Do I really have that much confidence in myself that I think I won't take long? Won't get lost or confused on my first time going further than Cherrygrove? Or am I just delusional, tricking myself into thinking I'll be as good as all those other trainers I see? I dismiss these thoughts and head to the door. Elm's assistant comes up to me.

"Here," he says, handing me something that looked vaguely familiar, but I didn't quite remember what it was. "It's a potion, you can use it to heal your Pokemon if it's injured."

"Thanks," I Mumble, secretly feeling dumb. A potion. I should have known that, I think as I shove it into my bag. I've read books about Pokemon and how to take care of them. How did I all of a sudden forget about something as simple as a potion? I wonder. Nerves, I decide. Maybe it's just because I was nervous about leaving home for the first time or taking care of a Pokemon for the first time, and god, it's all just so overwhelming. How do other trainers do it? Most people start when they're ten. When they're ten! And I'm almost twelve! Come on, get it together, Kris! Finally, I leave the lab. I look back at my house, and suddenly, something stops me.

This is the moment where I should go and tell Mum I'm leaving on an errand for Professor Elm. How will she react? I wonder. Happily? No, she's never been too excited about travelling. She's never around Pokemon much, I think she's a bit scared of them. What if she's scared of Chikorita? What if she tells me to give him back? I am then surprised when the following thought pops into my head: I don't want to give back Chikorita. It's so weird. I've just got this Pokemon. I've never battled with it. I don't really feel like I can call it a friend. But that's just it. Chikorita's not my friend. But I want it to be. I want to be friends with a Pokemon. I am even more surprised when this next thought pops into my head: I want to go into route 29. Now. I look down at my Pokegear. It's 1:15 PM. I remember when I went to Cherrygrove with Elm's assistant. It didn't take long. In fact, it only took about 15, maybe 20 minutes each way. Mum usually lets my hang out in Elm's lab for as long as I want as long as I'm home for dinner. I could let her think I'm at the lab, go get whatever I need to get from Mr. Pokemon, and bring it back to Elm. I'll get the chance to experience what trainers experience, just for today. Then after I get back to the lab I'll give Elm his delivery and also… give back Chikorita. Then go home. Mum will never know, she'll think I was at the lab all day. She'll never know I ever left town. It'll be my little secret.

Whoa. What was I just thinking about? Leaving home without telling Mum? Lying? That doesn't sound like me. But they were definitely my thoughts.

I am snapped out of my thoughts by my Pokegear, which starts ringing with the most annoying sound ever. It's Mum calling. I answer.

"H-hey," I say, hesitantly, as if I'm worried she somehow knew what I was planning a moment ago.

"Hi honey, are you going to be helping out the Professor all day today? When he told me that he had something for you to do today, it, I don't know, sounded important, I suppose. He's got a lot of work to do, needs your help? I'm not surprised he's always asking you to help out, seeing as he's got a lot to do and just the one assistant." She rambles on. Funny, I think about what she said. That reminds me of something Elm's assistant once said. He said, "There are only two of us, so we're always busy." Although with how much I help out, sometimes I feel like it's the three of us.

"Y-yeah, he does." I say. It's not a lie, either. He does have a lot of work, he does need my help with something.

"Alright, that's fine, you can stay out as long as you want. Just be home for dinner, okay, honey?" She says. I take a second to process what she just said. I can stay out as long as I want, I just have to be home for dinner.

"Okay, I'll see you tonight." I say. "Bye." I add quickly before I hang up.

I look to the exit of town. I'm not breaking any rules, I tell myself. She didn't say I can't leave town. She didn't say to stay in the lab. I'm eleven, I allowed to go in routes as long as I have a Pokemon with me. And finally, I walk to the edge of town. I'm going to do it. I'm really leaving New Bark on my own. And then one more unexpected thought slips into my mind. This is gonna be so cool!