The traveling girls have since left Oreburgh City and are continuing their way to Floraroma Town.

"How long until we reach the next town?" Lyssa asked while taking a few pictures of some wild pokémon in the area.

Kori took a look at her map again. "There doesn't seem to be a town nearby," Kori answered, "but there is a Pokémon Center that we'll reach soon." Kori could see Oshawott and Chimchar wonder off ahead, playing and making friends with some of the wild pokémon they saw. They were so social. Oshawott and Chimchar were both talking- or at least trying to talk to one blue pokémon. Kori didn't recognize it. She took out her pokédex.

Shinx- the Flash Pokémon. The extension and contraction of its muscles generates electricity. It glows when in trouble.

Kori watched as Shinx seemed to ignore both her pokémon. It made her wondered where Shinx had come from; it seemed to be the only one in the area. "I'm gonna catch it," she told Lyssa as she pulled out a pokéball. At that moment, another girl had ran towards them at a high speed and collided with Kori, causing Kori to fall on the ground quite hard.

"Why does this keep happening to me?" Kori groaned from the ground. Lyssa helped her up while the other girl bumped into her kept bowing and apologizing.

"I'm really sorry about that." The girl had long, blond hair in pigtails and wore a green skirt , pink shirt, pink and white sneakers. The girl kept twiddling the material of the skirt with her fingers. "I should've been watching where I was going."

Yes you should have, Kori thought angrily, but the girl looked so apologetic that it felt wrong to say that. Instead, Kori said: "It's alright. I'm fine." At that moment, Chimchar and Oshawott walked back, without their "friend", just as Kori was getting back up.

"I'm really sorry about this." The continued to mess with her skirt, eyes downcast. "It's just... I was trying to catch a wild Shinx. You haven't seen it have you?"

"Yes we did," Kori said, pointing. "It was there with my pokémon before... but it looks like it left."

The girl's shoulders sagged. She looked like she was going to cry. "Not again... I've spent days trying to catch it."

Kori and Lyssa instantly felt sorry for the girl. She looked so crushed. "Why don't we all go to that Pokémon Center?" Lyssa suggested. The girl nodded sadly and they all walked to the Center with Chimchar and Oshawott walking ahead of them.

They made it in time for Kori and Lyssa to reserve the very last room and for lunch. While they ate, Kori and Lyssa found out that the girl they just met is Diana.

"So you just left for your journey too Kori?" Diana asked.

"Yeah. I'm taking the gym challenge," Kori said proudly. "I recently got a badge from the Oreburgh Gym."

"Wow." Diana looked impressed. She then turned to Lyssa. "Are you taking the gym challenge too Lyssa?"

Lyssa shook her head. "Not me. I'm on this journey to be a battle photographer."

Diana eyes widened. "Really? Is it okay if I look at your pictures?"

"Sure." Lyssa went in her bag and pulled out a photo album. "It's always been my passion since I was a little girl."

Diana looked at each page. These were so good and she told Lyssa as much. There were pictures of Corsola swimming, of contest battles. They were amazing.

"Thank you." Lyssa smiled. "So what are you on your journey for?"

Diana lost her smile. "I don't know yet...," she answered slowly. "I lost an unofficial one- on- one battle against Roark at the Oreburgh City gym. Now I'm not sure I want the gym challenge. It wasn't something I liked. Right now I just like being with pokémon I guess..."

Both Kori and Lyssa nodded in understanding. Some people just need to figure out what they wanted.

"So about Shinx?" Kori asked.

"Shinx is a pokémon I really want," Diana explained. "I first saw it two days ago. I've been trying to get it since then." She looked pretty defeated by this point. "But it hasn't been working at all. Every time I get close, it manages to run before I can even release my pokémon."

"Hey just keep trying and you'll get it in no time," Lyssa said.

"Don't give up," Kori said encouragingly. "If you want, we'll help you find it again."

Diana looked hopeful. "You will?"

Kori nodded. "Uh huh and you'll catch Shinx yourself."

"Thank you!" They all were on their way to leave the Center when another girl walked in. Kori and Lyssa were both surprised while Diana looked extremely nervous.

The girl looked almost exactly like Diana. A more confident Diana anyway. Instead of wearing pigtails, her hair was out in waves. She wore a blue tank top, black skirt and black boots. Her face had been completely blank until she saw Diana. Her green eyes lit up with malice as she smirked.

"Well well well," the girl said with a hand on her hip. "If it isn't Diana. Fancy meeting you here."

"H-hey Juno..." Kori and Lyssa both noticed her discomfort.

"So how many pokémon do you have now? I have three," Juno bragged.

"I... still have... one..."

"Really?" Juno's smirk got bigger. "Then that probably means you don't have a gym badge yet. I have one."

Kori's eyes hardened. She may not have known this girl, but she recognized a bully when she saw one. This girl, Juno was going out of her way to make fun of Diana. Especially when she just pulled out her black case and pushed it in Diana's face so aggressively.

"Really?" Kori said, "Because I have one badge as well. And I have four pokémon."

Juno lost her smirk. "I don't remember addressing you." She smirked back at Diana. "You need other people to fight your battles Diana? You're so pathetic."

Diana opened her mouth, but couldn't seem to find the right words. She looked to be on the verge of tears.

"Hey!" Kori yelled angrily. "Don't talk to her like that!"

Lyssa glared as well. "That's right!"

Juno glared at the other girls. "Or you'll what?"

"Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?" Kori was beyond angry at this point. "Battle me, right here, right now. Three- on- three battle."

"Chim!"

"Oshawott!"

Juno just snorted. "Like I have the time to waste on you, loser." Kori growled in anger. Lyssa grabbed her arm as she tried to walk up to Juno's face, almost like she was afraid Kori was going to slaughter the other girl.

"Let's go Kori," Lyssa said with a slow smile. "She might be too scared to battle you."

Juno growled. "Say what?"

Lyssa growled as well. "You heard me."

"Please stop arguing," Diana said. Everyone just looked at her, but she stared at the table top. "We have to go now Juno. Goodbye." Without another word, Diana ran out of the Center.

"Whatever," Juno whispered. She pushed past the two girls and didn't give them a second glance. Lyssa and Kori ran outside to catch up with Diana.

They didn't have to run far. They found Diana just outside the Center, crying. Lyssa handed her a tissue and Diana took it after mumbling a quick "Thanks."

"It's nothing you should listen to," Lyssa said, patting her on the back. "She was just being nasty."

"But she was right," Diana said. "I'm not good at this... Can't even catch a pokémon."

Kori held Diana's shoulders to make sure she was looking at her before speaking.

"That girl was just being nasty," Kori stated. "You'll get better at catching pokémon in time. I mean, even though I have four pokémon, I really only caught one on purpose. That is just something you can get better at and you can get stronger. How do you even know that loathsome girl?"

Diana sniffled. "She's my sister; we're twins. She always been like that." Diana cried harder. Lyssa and Kori tried to comfort her but it didn't seem to work.

Both Chimchar and Oshawott heard and were angry. That other girl was mean. This one was nice and got hurt by the mean one. The two pokémon got close to Diana and started hugging one of her legs each. Diana looked down at them as they both tried to comfort her in their native pokémon language. They weren't sure if she understood them, but she seemed to feel better now. She even smiled at them.

"Thank you," Diana said to them.

"Your welcome." Kori smiled. She pulled out a pokéball. "Now let's find that Shinx." She threw the pokéball to release her Swablu.

"Swablu!" The flying- type flapped his fluffy wings.

"Swablu," Kori called. "Go find Shinx."

"Swablu." Swablu flew around the area, circled around, looking for the electric- type. The girls, Chimchar and Oshawott didn't have to wait long. Swablu came back and flew away again.

"Swablu found it." They ran after the flying Swablu.

Juno watched from inside the Pokémon Center. "What losers," Juno whispered nastily before heading over to her room.

The group outside stopped under where Swablu was circling around. Shinx was running around, chasing its tail. "We found it," Diana whispered. Shinx hadn't noticed them so far

"Now release your pokémon Diana," Lyssa whispered. "You need to weaken it first."

Diana nodded her head and pulled out a pokéball. "Go Turtwig!" She threw the ball and Turtwig was released.

"Turtwig!" Shinx then noticed the other pokémon and growled. It was ready to battle. Kori pulled out her pokédex.

Turtwig- the Tiny Leaf Pokémon. The shell on its back is made of soil. On a very healthy Turtwig, the shell should be moist.

Kori looked at Turtwig's back. Certainly looked healthy then. Shinx used Swift on Turtwig, effectively hitting its target,

"Tur!" Turtwig was thrown back by the Swift.

"Turtwig!" Diana called, panicked. Shinx looked rather smug about it all.

"It's okay Diana," Kori called. "Now take a deep breathe and call an attack."

Diana took a breathe to calm herself. She can do this. "Turtwig use Razor Leaf!"

"Tur!" Turtwig used Razor Leaf on Shinx. Shinx used Swift; stars and leafs collided and destroyed each other.

"Wow." Diana noticed how pretty it looked. "It's beautiful." The contrast of colors looked amazing.

"Use another attack Diana," Lyssa advised.

"Okay," Diana said with a smile. She was beginning to feel good about this. "Use Razor Leaf again!"

Turtwig used Razor Leaf and the attack connected this time, causing Shinx to fall to the ground. Diana pulled out an empty pokéball, ready to throw it.

But it wasn't over. Shinx slowly got up and ran over to Turtwig, hitting the other pokémon with its shoulder.

Kori recognized it as Tackle. "One more attack Diana."

Diana nodded. This time for sure. "Turtwig use Earth Power!"

Turtwig's body became surrounded by a gold glow. The ground under Shinx became surrounded by a gold glow. The ground under Shinx glowed and cracked. The cracks then continued towards Shinx, causing a lot of damage. "Shinx!" Shinx fell to the ground, completely exhausted. Diana stood there, waiting.

"Now throw the pokéball!" Kori yelled excitedly. "It's weakened now."

Diana nodded her head and threw the empty pokéball that was in her hand at Shinx. The tired pokémon was absorbed into the ball with a red light. The pokéball hit the ground and began to shake once. Twice. Three time and with a 'ding', the pokémon was caught. Diana recovered the pokéball and grinned.

"I can't believe it," Diana said, smiling. "I finally caught Shinx!" She picked up her Turtwig and smiled. "Thank you Turtwig!" They smiled and Diana jumped up and down. Kori and Lyssa smiled. They were happy for her.

Eventually it got dark out, so they went back to the Pokémon Center. Diana gave her two pokéballs to Nurse Joy. There was only one thing that ruined everyone's happy mood.

"Here are your pokémon Diana," Nurse Joy said.

"Thanks," Diana said.

"And there aren't any free rooms." Nurse Joy said. "So you may have a roommate."

Diana looked confused. "Roommate?" Lyssa and Kori shared a look.

"Nurse Joy smiled. "Yes. I usually wouldn't do this, but the girl said that she was your sister."

After hearing the word sister, everyone had reactions that ranged from extreme depression (Diana) to extreme anger (to the rest of them). Nurse Joy noticed the reaction. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes there-" Kori started.

"No, it's fine," Lyssa answered quickly, silencing Kori with a hand over her mouth. No need to make this worse.

Diana looked meek and silent. Kori grabbed one of her hands and walked to the room she shared with Lyssa. Lyssa followed.

"There is another bed here," Kori said, pointing. "You're staying here and I won't take no for an answer."

Diana's eyes widened and then she slowly smiled. Kori, Lyssa have been good friends to her; and she had only met them a few hours ago. "Thank you."

Kori smiled. "You're welcome."

Chimchar and Oshawott jumped into the bed with Kori.

Chimchar smiled. "Chimchar char."

Oshawott tapped his chest with his paw. "Oshawott." Oshawott then removed its scalchop and began cleaning it.

Lyssa went into the bathroom and changed into her purple pajamas with Jigglypuff on them. Then climbed on the top bunk. The other girls changed into their pajamas as well. Kori's was a green tank top, and shorts with little Snivy, Servine and Serperior on them. Diana was pink with green striped pajama set with Chansey on them.

The girls began laughing and talking about their plans.

"Me and Lyssa are going to Floraroma Town," Kori explained.

"Why? There's no gym there," Diana pointed out as she unbraided her hair.

"A friend of Kori's is competing in a Contest that's taking place there," Lyssa answered.

"A contest?" Diana smiled. "Sounds great."

Lyssa nodded. "So what are your plans?"

Diana just shrugged. She wasn't sure yet.

Kori looked at her. Diana was nice and it's more fun traveling with more friends. "Then come with us."

Diana was excited. "Really?"

Lyssa smiled. "Yeah, the more the merrier on this trip."

"Chimchar!"

"Osha osha!" They were both happy to be getting another traveling companion.

Diana was ecstatic. "Thank you guys!" Not only did she make new friends, but they wanted to travel with her.

After talking a little more, they started to get tired and they all started going to sleep. Kori took out her journal and she was sure her pokémon and friends were asleep.

Journal Entry, June 23rd, 2007

Today has certainly a busy day. We met a new friends, Diana. She seems really nice. Nervous and unsure about things, but a really nice person. After meeting that nasty sister of hers, I can definitely understand why she flinches all the time, almost, like she's waiting to be hit.

That Juno... I don't think I've ever been so mad in my life; not even at Dawn! I have fought with my sister all the time, but whatever is going on between these two is something I have never seen before. It's just not normal behavior between siblings. It was like Juno wanted Diana to know she was nothing but a failure. Poor Diana.

But she has all of us now and have no intention of letting Juno destroy that nice girl.

Plus both Chimchar and Oshawott both seem to really like her. I think they are very good judges of character. They both recognized that Juno was a mean bitch.

We also helped Diana catch a Shinx. Pretty good part of the day.

I should go to sleep now. Still need to make good time to reach Floraroma Town. Night.

-Kori

Note: Just wanted everyone to know that Shinx can actually learn Swift if it is hatched from an egg after breeding some pokémon like Cyndaquil and its evolved forms. Same thing with Turtwig and its Earth Power. Those are justs moved that it can be bred to do. Anyway. Please enjoy.

Kori's Pokemon

1. CHIMCHAR (female): (EMBER, SCRATCH, IRON TAIL, TAUNT, FLAME WHEEL)

2. SWABLU (male): (SING, FURY ATTACK, STEEL WING)

3. OSHATWOTT (male): (SCALD, AIR SLASH, RAZOR SHELL)

4. CHERRIM (female): (MAGICAL LEAF, PETAL DANCE, SUNNY DAY)

Lyssa's Pokemon

1. CORSOLA (female): (WATER GUN)

Diana's Pokemon

1. TURTWIG (male): (RAZOR LEAF, EARTH POWER)

2. SHINX (male): (SWIFT, TACKLE)