Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon


Pushing myself to my feet after my tumble from the tree I hid in, I looked down at Chikorita. I finally noticed something in her mouth. She dropped it in front of me.

"Hey, what have you got?" I said, reaching down to pick it up. I looked at it. I was a small cartridge that can be inserted into a Pokegear to load programs onto it.

"Ah, so you're its trainer. I thought this little one might have picked up my map card." I heard a man's voice and saw an old guy now coming towards me. I remembered him being the guy Chikorita had bumped into while looking for me during hide-and-seek.

"Oh, so this is yours?" I asked, ignoring his calling me Chikorita's 'trainer'.

"Yes, I think I must have dropped it when your little one bumped into me. Just an accident though, no harm done." She said, adding the last part when he must have noticed the worried look I probably had.

"Oh, well… here you go." I held it out for him to take.

"It was going to be for my grandson, but as it turns out, he already has a map on his Pokegear. I see you have a Pokegear," He does? Oh, right, it's around my neck. Sometimes I forget it's there. "Why don't you use the map card? It'll do you more good than me."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes, go ahead. I don't need it." He walked away, leaving me standing there, still holding out the map card like an idiot. After a moment I looked down at Chikorita.

"Well, it looks like we've got a map." I said. I inserted the small card into my Pokegear and it automatically loaded the map program so that I wouldn't need the cartridge anymore. I slipped the cartridge into my bag and looked at the Pokegear's screen. It now showed a map of the Johto region. It was similar to the one that was on the wall in my room, except I could hover the cursor over a place and it would give a small description. I checked the description for Route 30 since that was where I had to go next. It said, 'a grassy path where you can battle other young trainers.' 'Other'? Great, now the Pokegear is assuming I'm a trainer! Why?! Well, because they're mostly designed for trainers, I answered myself. I think all the trainers I've met have had a Pokegear. In fact, Mum gave me mine for my tenth birthday.

After returning Chikorita to her Pokeball, I finally headed into Route 30. To go around a small cliff, I walked up a short incline. I noticed the tall grass brushing against my feet, and looked around warily in case of Pokemon attacking, but made it through without any hassle. Then I saw a house. Maybe it's Mr. Pokemon's! Suddenly feeling brave (and excited for some reason), I knocked on the door. A man answered. I'd never met Mr. Pokemon, so I had no idea I this was him or not.

"Hey, um… Mr. Pokemon? I mean, is this Mr. Pokemon's house?" I asked.

"No, he lives just up ahead." The man said. I saw him glance at Chikorita's Pokeball, which was still in my hand, I never bothered to put it back in my bag. "So, you're raising a Pokemon, huh?" I was so glad he didn't say, 'So you're a trainer, huh?'

"Yeah, I'm taking care of Chikorita, so I can go to Mr. Pokemon's and back for an errand for Professor Elm. I live back in New Bark Town."

"It's nice to see younger people helping out. I like to grow berries, which are really good for Pokemon. Here, I'll share some with you." He leads me to the tree next to his house, where I could see some bright blue, clearly ripe Oran Berries growing. He picked one and handed it to me. "Feel free to pick from my tree whenever you're nearby."

"Thank you, thanks so much," I said, not really knowing what to say but being polite as I always was.

"Mr. Pokemon's house is just up ahead. It's in a clearing just past some tall grass. He grows his own berries too, so you could recognise it by the Pecha Berry tree near his house."

"Thank you, bye."

"Good luck on your errand." He went back into his house as I headed off. Well, that was awkward. I mean, I know he was nice about it, but that was still stupid of me to go and knock on his door. Whatever, let's just forget about it and move on. Time to find a house in a clearing past tall grass with a Pecha Berry tree. Pecha Berry. That's the pink one, right?

I went past the house, going around through a grassy path on the right to avoid the small cliff on the left. I felt a shot of slimy thread hit my leg just below where my shorts ended. I instinctively reached down to wipe it with my hand before looking for where it came from. I spotted a small, green Pokemon with large yellow eyes and pink antennae on its head, somewhat camouflaged in the grass. But by now I knew what to do. I reached for Chikorita's Pokeball.

"Come on out, Chikorita!"

"Chiko!"

"Razor leaf!" After leaping into action, ready to go and looking excited, Chikorita immediately used razor leaf after I'd told her to, shooting leaves at the smaller Pokemon. It retaliated by shooting more of that icky thread, this time at Chikorita, but she managed to avoid most of it my jumping out of the way, getting just a small bit on one of her feet. She scraped her foot on the grass in an attempt to get it off. The small insect-like Pokemon (maybe it's a bug type?) slowly made its way towards Chikorita. It must be trying to go for a physical attack like tackle or something. Maybe Chikorita can hit it first. Maybe… "Chikorita, use…" Wait, what do you call it when she uses those vines on her neck? "Use those vines!" I called out. Wait she might not understand without the proper name! "Use vine… vine whip! That's it, vine whip." Upon hearing the name of the attack, she immediately pulled out one of her vines, which she used to reach over and knock the green bug away. "Now tackle!" Having finished scraping the thread off her foot, she ran over to the bug and tackled it. It stayed on the ground now, barely moving. "Nice one Chikorita. Return." I gave her a little pat on the head before returning her to her Pokeball. I always wondered why trainers always return their Pokemon after a battle, when they could get attacked again at any moment. Is it some sort of tradition? And I heard that trainers always say, 'go name-of-Pokemon' when sending out their Pokemon and they say 'go Pokeball' when catching a Pokeball. Why, though? Is that just some stereotype, or do they really do that? But getting back to my original question, why do they return their Pokemon when they could be attacked again? Is it comfortable in the Pokeball? Maybe I should ask Chikorita. Wait, what am I saying, she can't really answer me. Unless I asked all yes-or-no questions. That would be kind of difficult though…

My thoughts fade away just as quickly as they popped into my head when I took in my surroundings: the path was split in two. To my right was a path covered in tall grass. To my left was a path with a small cliff like the ones I've already seen. The was a small hill to get up it just to the side of it, where two trainers, each with a Pokemon in front of them, were… battling, it seems. But I wasn't sure which way Mr. Pokemon's house was. Maybe I could ask one of those trainers? I hesitantly walked towards them.

"Go on, Rattata!" The one closer to me exclaimed. "Tackle!"

"Uh… hey…" I said as I got closer to them.

"Hey, can't you see we're in the middle of a battle? Don't distract our Pokemon!" The other guy said. I stepped back. Maybe I should wait until they finish their battle? But how long will that take? How long do battles usually take. I mean, I've battled wild Pokemon, but a battle between two trainers is surely different, right? I look at them, then look towards the other path. Maybe I should just try the path they're not blocking? It would be a bit less of a waste of time, right? And if I think it's the wrong path, I can just turn back! Yeah, it'll be fine! After a mini pep talk in my head, I start walking to the path on the right. The trainers don't even notice me leaving. I really don't think they care.

I make my way into the grassy path to see it splits in two again. Slightly panicking in my head, I continue down the left part, with a bouncy skip in my step. I realise it's because I'm trying to avoid as much of the grass as I can. Luckily this works, and I make it into a small clearing where there is a house and a berry tree nearby. I noticed that both grassy paths would have led me here. Well, that solves that problem then. So then, that must be Mr. Pokemon's house, right? Looking around, I noticed a tree near the house. Walking closer, I noticed some pink berries growing on it. Looking behind me I just realised that I was in a clearing past tall grass with a Pecha Berry tree. This must be it. I nervously made my way to the house and knocked on the door. A voice said, "come in!" Well, I'm super nervous about this, but… he told me to, so I guess I should just walk in? I tried the handle, which turned, since the door was unlocked.

The room in front of me was small, similar to the type of houses you would find in New Bark Town. I strangely felt at home here. Various items relating to various hobbies were spread around the slightly messy home, and I could tell that studying Pokemon was more of a hobby than his life's work, unlike Professor Elm. In front of me stood a man dressed smartly with a blue hat. He certainly looks like an interesting guy. Maybe Professor Elm will send me to see him again another time. Wait, what am I saying? I can't do that. This is a one-time thing, I can't go leaving home like this again!

"Hello! Kristal, isn't it? Professor Elm told me you'd be coming." He said.

"Oh, so he figured out how to reply to your email alright? That's a surprise." I blurted out, without realising I'd said it out loud instead of just thinking it. Great, now he's going to think I'm some cheeky kid rather than a mature, responsible person. And then that's going to reflect of Professor Elm because he'll think less of the Professor for entrusting a Pokemon to an immature kid which I'm not, but he doesn't know that… While all these thoughts ran through my head, I tried to laugh off my dumb comment. Surprisingly, Mr. Pokemon laughed along with me. Maybe it's okay to make dumb comments sometimes? Maybe that was actually kind of funny? Maybe I should just stop overthinking these things. Is it so wrong to say whatever pops into my head? Of course, it is. I can't just say dumb things all the time, no one would think of me as mature or responsible.

"Actually, he called me with the Pokegear. It seems to be the only thing he can remember how to use." Mr. Pokemon said. I laughed a little at that. "So, here's what I want you to bring back to him." From his desk he cautiously grabbed… an egg? Was that really an egg? Where did it come from? The egg was small, probably about half Chikorita's height, maybe even a bit smaller than half. Maybe it's a baby Chikorita in there? I joked to myself, but I didn't really believe that. But wait… what could be in there? Maybe it will hatch into a Pokemon! Wait… he doesn't want me to look after it, does he? I only just started looking after a Pokemon raised by a professor, I can't take care of a newborn! Hang on, let's just see what he wants me to do first, I think, trying to calm myself down. Probably noticing me staring at it, Mr. Pokemon continued. "I have some friends who run a Pokemon day care, and they found this. I believe it is a Pokemon egg, but I have no idea what it could hatch into. I think it would be better off in the hands of Professor Elm. It could relate help him in his current research." He placed it into my hands and I held it, warily, as if it were about to explode. He must have noticed this because he said. "Don't worry, I don't think it will hatch right away. And if anything happens, you could call Professor Elm. You have his Pokegear number, right?"

"Right," I said, calming down a little. I put down my bag and opened it, but then decided against putting it in my bag and instead decided it might be less likely to get bumped and potentially break if I just carry it. I put Chikorita's Pokeball into my bag to empty my hand while imagining what would happen if I get attacked by a wild Pokemon while carrying the egg. I'd have to put down to egg, look in my bag, get out the Pokeball… I hope a wild Pokemon's attack won't damage the egg. If it actually is Pokemon egg, though, maybe the wild Pokemon will somehow sense that and not want to hurt the unborn baby? Or maybe I'm thinking this through too much. Besides, so far, the only Pokemon I've been attacked by were some brown furry thing, a small bird Pokemon and some little bug, which didn't seem too tough (I should probably find out their names later). We don't have a lot of big, scary Pokemon around this area. I suppose the bird could've broken the egg with its beak, but it probably wouldn't aim for the egg, and besides, the egg is in a case. Not a very protective looking one, but I guess it'll do the job for the short walk back to New Bark Town. Speaking of which, I should probably hurry up and get home before Mum finds out where I've gone. What if she goes into the lab to check on me and sees I'm not there? She's never come to check on me when I've been helping in the lab before, but what if she does? And why is my brain all of a sudden being so irrational? It'll be fine. I think. Okay, no it won't, I've left home without telling Mum and lied about where I am. This is not good. Okay, okay, I need to focus on one thing at a time. I should just focus on taking the egg back to Professor Elm.

"I trust you'll be careful with it, you look like a responsible enough kid." He said. I think I'm blushing, I think I'm blushing! Why did I think being seen as mature and responsible would be better than being cheeky and dumb? This is embarrassing. And why does he still think I'm 'responsible' after the dumb comment I made before? Did that not matter? Maybe my dumb comment didn't affect his impression of me as much as I thought it would.

"I actually really hope Professor Elm likes this. I enjoy helping him out when he gets excited about something new to research." 'Enjoying helping with research,' that should also help him think of me as mature. And it's not a complete lie either, I do enjoy seeing how excited Professor Elm gets when he has something new to research. And I do enjoy helping him out, even though it's usually just small tasks. Maybe one day he'll make some famous discovery and he'll be willing to mention that I helped. Maybe. Probably not. But that would be cool.

"Yes, I think he will definitely want to look into this. He's an expert on Pokemon evolution. Even Professor Oak recognises that." He looked to the side and I finally noticed there was someone else in the room. But not just anyone. It's Professor Oak! …He doesn't know I turned off the radio earlier, does he?

"H… hi." I breathed, not sure what to say to Professor Oak, who was now standing in front of me. Get a grip, Kris! He's just a person, speak to him!

"I hear you've got a Pokemon now. Do you plan to raise it as a trainer?" Professor Oak asks.

"Uh um… I'm not sure…" What are you saying? Just say no! I tell myself. But I don't. I don't know why, but I feel like I shouldn't just tell him 'no, I'm not going to be a trainer.' Because it just doesn't feel entirely truthful to say so. I start to think about what I've experienced today. Maybe I do want to be a trainer. Should I tell him that? "Well… I think maybe I might want to be a trainer."

"Well that's great. You already seem like you've started to experience what it's like to raise a Pokemon. I would like to ask a favour of you." He picks up something that was on the table in front of him and holds it out to me. "This is a Pokedex, it automatically records data of Pokemon you encounter."

I nodded. "I think I've seen one in Professor Elm's lab before. I like to help out there a lot." I said. Then I remember he said he was asking me a favour, so I shut up, so he can continue.

"Well, I'd like you to take this Pokedex and use it to gather data on Pokemon." The Pokedex ends up in my hand before I realise I've taken it from him.

"O-okay…" is all I managed to say.

He turned to Mr. Pokemon. "Well, it was nice to see you again, but I have to get to Goldenrod City for my radio show." He turned back to me. "I hope to see you again, Kristal. Good luck filling that Pokedex." And with that he walked off, leaving Mr. Pokemon's house. ...What just happened?

"Well, uh… I'd better be heading back to Professor Elm now." I said, and awkwardly walked out the door without saying anything else. As soon as I got outside, I heard a loud, annoying noise, and after a few seconds realised it was the boring ringtone of my Pokegear. What if it's Mum calling to ask what I'm doing? I can't lie to her again, she'll hear it in my voice, I can't keep lying. Despite my inner panic, I simply put the egg down on the ground by my feet and looked at the Pokegear screen. It wasn't Mum, but Professor Elm. "H-hello?"

"Kris, it's a disaster! Uh, um, it's just terrible! What should I do? It – oh, no. Please get back here right now!" And then he suddenly hung up.


A/N: Okay, I'm not imagining it, these chapters are getting longer and longer. According to Microsoft Word, this chapter takes up 5 pages (font: Calibri (body), size: 11, if you want the exact size). It always looks like a lot on Word but then it looks like a lot less when I check the preview after uploading it. But that's okay, I guess. And sometimes it's hard to figure out where to split the chapters, but I thought Professor Elm's phone call would make a nice way to end this one.

Speaking of which, I wanted to just mention that of course, I'm not writing the exact same dialogue as what's in the games. I don't want to have to check every piece of dialogue, and more to the point, it would probably be a bit boring if it was exactly what they say in the games. I try to keep the dialogue fairly similar, keeping the basic ideas of the conversation in there, but I also try to add a little creativity to it, such as Kris and Mr Pokemon talking about Professor Elm not being able to use technology. Yes, I know he isn't known for not being able to use technology and this trait isn't shown in the games, but I'm adding in a little creativity, so these characters don't seem so bland.

While we're also still seeing Kris thinking about how she doesn't really consider herself a trainer, in this chapter we also see Kris thinking about how others perceive her. She's always tried to act like a mature, responsible kid and now she's started questioning what it really means to be these things. Can you make funny comments and still be a mature, responsible person? That's something we all probably have to think about while growing up, whether or not we are maturing and what that actually means. As mentioned in, I think it was the first chapter, Kris is eleven, so of course, she's growing up, and we'll see that reflected in her thoughts throughout her journey.

One more little thing I'll mention: I'm glad that the people who have reviewed so far have been fairly patient, not saying "why aren't you updating more often?" or anything like that. It takes the pressure off and allows me to update at my own pace. But even though no one's asked yet, I'll say it anyway: I don't have an updating schedule. I can't really schedule my writing, it just happens when it happens. Sometimes I feel like writing and sometimes I don't. And I'm currently a student in year 12, so I can't dedicate too much time to writing and neglect stuff like homework, I procrastinate too much already. So, I'll write whenever I can, and I thank you all for being patient like you are.

Anyway, I'm already part way through writing the next chapter, so hopefully it won't be too long before the next update. See you guys next time!