After arriving in Johto, Summer met Samir, Professor Elm's Junior Research Assistant, and caught a Hoothoot. It turns out Professor Elm asked her to accompany Samir to pick up an item. Although they successfully retrieve it, some people want to steal it from them. Will Summer and Samir be able to stop them?

Chapter 3: The Birth of Two Pokémon Trainers

Samir and I arrived in New Bark Town, a small town with homes similar to Littleroot Town. I noticed it was almost lunchtime, and I was starving. I followed Samir to Professor Elm's lab, a large laboratory with little outside space. We saw Professor Elm waiting outside the lab and walked towards him. He was a tall, thin man with round glasses, brown short hair, and very clean lab coat.

Professor Elm saw us and said, "There you too are! I was getting worried. You must be Summer. I heard a lot about you from Professor Birch. Thank you for stopping in Johto to help me for a little while."

"It's no problem at all, Professor," I said. "I'm happy to help in any way I can."

Samir said, "Sorry we were late, Professor. We ran into the thieving Hoothoot."

"Oh really?" Professor Elm asked. "Why don't we talk about what happened during lunch? I bet you two are starving."

"Thank you, Professor Elm," I said. Yes, food!

Professor Elm led us inside his lab. His two-story lab was filled with books, papers, and data sheets. His computer station was covered with papers, and a table where the Johto starters are presented was covered with data sheets.

"Sorry for the mess," Professor Elm said, putting his hand behind his head. "We collect so much data that it's taking a while for us to put them into the computer. Go ahead and heal your Pokémon at the healing station next to my computer. I'll get lunch ready."

Professor Elm went upstairs into a room, and I heard something crash, startling me.

"Did something happen?" I asked Samir.

"Oh, don't worry about it," Samir said. "He's a little clumsy in the kitchen."

I walked over to the healing station and healed my Pokémon. "You two look a lot better," I said to my two Pokéballs, and my Pokémon smiled.

I put my Pokéballs back on my belt and saw Samir putting the stolen items on the table. He sighed and looked sadly at Chikorita. I wanted to talk to Samir about that when Professor Elm hurried down the stairs and said, "Lunch is ready, you too. Let's go upstairs."

Samir and I followed him up the stairs into the kitchen. It was a small room with a fridge, sink, and microwave. On the table were several sandwiches and an assortment of Berries. I let out Blaze and Errol on two of the chairs, and we sat across from Professor Elm and Samir. I gave my Pokémon two Oran Berries each while I picked up a sandwich. As we ate, I noticed Samir and Chikorita sitting far apart from each other. Wow, I thought. Those two don't have a bond with each other. I should help them establish one.

After lunch, I helped Professor Elm and Samir clean the table. The professor then led us downstairs and brought us two chairs. I sat down in the left chair, and my Pokémon sat on my lap. Samir sat on the right chair, but Chikorita stood on the floor. Professor Elm sat his moving chair and moved towards our chairs.

"I left the items on your table, Professor," Samir told his supervisor.

"Thanks, Samir. I'll give them to new Trainers in the future," Professor Elm said.

Errol felt really bad, but the Professor told him, "Thank you for returning the items. Please don't steal again."

Errol nodded, and I smiled.

"Now then," Professor Elm said. "This is what I need your help with, Summer. A friend of mine, Mr. Pokémon, asked me to retrieve an important item from his house on Route 30. He received a threat from a mysterious group, demanding him to give them the important item or else they'll attack him. Mr. Pokémon feels I'll keep the item safe and wants someone from my lab to come get it."

Professor Elm told me, "You see, I wanted Samir to go to Mr. Pokémon's house. I gave him Chikorita to help him, but I feel he might need another person to go with him. When I heard from Professor Birch you're going to Kanto, I asked him if you could visit Johto briefly to help us out first. Sorry this is taking you away from your journey."

I smiled and said, "Oh, it's no problem at all, Professor. I'm glad to help you and Samir."

Samir became embarrassed. Professor Elm said this and told him, "Don't be so embarrassed, Samir. It's not your fault. Why don't you go get ready?"

Samir nodded and went into a room upstairs. Professor Elm made sure he closed his door and motioned me to come closer.

"Summer," he whispered. "I need to let you know about something. Can you keep this between us?"

"Sure," I whispered back.

Professor Elm took a deep breath and said, "Please watch out for Samir. As you can tell, he enjoys research but doesn't like traveling far. He received a recommendation to intern at the Pewter City Museum in archaeology. I thought he would be excited, but he said he doesn't want to do it. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity and I know he'll enjoy it. Can you help convince him to go?"

"Of course, Professor," I said, knowing how that feels like. "I can travel with him to Pewter City if he wants to go to Kanto with me."

"Thank you, Summer," he said.

Samir came downstairs; he looked a little nervous, but when I smiled, he smiled a little. He returned Chikorita and waited by the door.

Professor Elm said, "Looks like you're ready. You should get going before it gets dark. Have a safe trip, and tell Mr. Pokémon I said hi."

"We will," Samir said. "Let's go, Summer."

I nodded, and we headed out of the lab, went through Cherrygrove City, and found Mr. Pokémon's house on Route 29.

Samir knocked on the door of the house. A short man wearing a brown suit and fedora quickly opened the door and pushed us inside. Samir said, "Mr. Pokémon, you didn't have to push us inside like that."

Mr. Pokémon shushed Samir and said, "I don't want anyone to know you and your guest are visiting me. It's scary enough being threatened and I don't want them to know you're a friend of mine. Speaking of friend, who's this young lady?"
"Oh," Samir said. "Mr. Pokémon, this is Summer. She's Professor Birch's Junior Research Assistant, and she came with me."

"Really?" Mr. Pokémon said and examined me carefully. This is getting weird… I thought.

"Mr. Pokémon? You should really stop examining people. And shouldn't you be giving us the item by now?" Samir said impatiently.

Mr. Pokémon chuckled and got the item from a safe hidden in the house. The item was an Egg that was yellow on top and black on the bottom.

"That's it?!" Samir cried.

Mr. Pokémon shushed us again and said, "This Egg is quite valuable. I found it outside my house, and I felt a strong power from it. I believe this is the reason why the mysterious group wants it so badly."

Mr. Pokémon gave the Egg to Samir and told us, "Please guard it carefully and take it to Professor Elm."

Samir took the Egg and said, "I promise bring it to Professor Elm safely."

I nodded and said, "Me too."

Mr. Pokémon put his hands on our shoulders and said, "Thank you both. Oh, it's getting late. You too better get going. You never know who's out late."

Samir and I said, "Thanks and bye."

Mr. Pokémon waved us goodbye and quickly shooed us out of his house. He's strange, but he is nice, I thought as we started our walk to New Bark Town.

While walking to Cherrygrove City, Samir said, "Summer, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," I said, "what is it?"

Samir took a deep breath and asked "How do you bond with Pokémon?"

"Oh," I said, surprised by the question. "For me, I grew up with the Hoenn philosophy of Pokémon and people working together as friends and partners. I learned from Professor Birch that because of this, wild Pokémon in Hoenn would choose people who treat them that way."

"Wow," Samir said slowly then smiled. "I really like that. I feel it's so hard for me to understand Pokémon since I'm always doing research and data analysis in the lab. That's why I don't know how to bond with Chikorita. And now, I have the chance to do an archaeology internship in Pewter City, but being in a new place scares me as well."

I told Samir, "It'll take some time, but it will be worth it, for both issues. I'm still nervous about participating in the Indigo League challenge and meeting new people and Pokémon myself. But I know it'll be exciting as I continue my journey."

Samir took a deep breath and said, "Thanks, Summer. I really need to hear that."

"No problem, Samir," I said with a smile.

We made it to Cherrygrove City and saw the sun starting to set. A small pod of round blue Pokémon with swirls on their body walked into the city and headed to the ocean.

"What's going on?" I asked Samir.

"Oh, that's the Poliwag pod that visits here every summer," Samir said. "They migrate from the Whirl Islands west of here. The citizens here make sure they're taken care of."
"That's so cool!" I said and took a mental note.

Just when we were going to Route 29, two people, a man and a woman, blocked our path. They were wearing black suits with red Rs on their shirts and black caps.

"Oh no," Samir whispered. "It's Team Rocket, the evil group from Kanto."

"Seems like we have to rough up some kids to get that Egg," the man said while cracking his knuckles. He was a muscular and tall man, and I felt he really liked physical attacks.

The woman softly sighed and told the man, "You need to be nicer to these children." She was slimmer and shorter than the man. Although her words were caring, I knew she didn't sound sincere.

Samir timidly asked, "Who are you two?"

The woman looked shocked and mockingly said, "How rude of us!" She then gave a sinister smile and said, "I'm Raven and this is my partner, Boulder."

Samir and I paused after the introduction. Raven and Boulder were confused. "What's wrong with you two? Aren't you going scream or run away in fear?" Raven asked, surprised by our reactions.

"Well…" I slowly said. "Don't you guys recite an original motto or something?"

"WHAT?!" Boulder shouted in anger. "We're not like those idiots with that talking Meowth!"

Raven sighed and said, "That's not really our thing."

Noticing that they're not going to be pushovers, I asked them, "Why do you want the Egg so badly?"

"None of your business, reference-maker," Raven said with a scoff.

"I-I refuse to give it to-to you too!" Samir stammered.

"Well, then," Boulder said with an evil smile. "Looks like we have a battle on our hands. Come on, researcher wimp! Battle me for the Egg!"

Samir gulped and said with a trembling voice, "O-Okay..."

Boulder smiled and said, "This should be a piece of cake."

"Don't get too cocky, Boulder," Raven said. "But let's teach these newbies how to battle."

"Go, Eric!" Boulder sent out a boulder-looking Pokémon I recognized the boulder looking Pokémon as a Geodude, one of the most common tripping hazards on mountainous areas.

"Let's go, Chikorita!" Samir sent out Chikorita. Chikorita looked scared but stood firm.

"Eric, use Tackle on that wimpy Chikorita!" Boulder commanded.

Eric nodded and hurled himself forward. Chikorita slightly backed up with a scared look. Eric hit Chikorita, and she fell back.

"Oh, no…" Samir said, scared that. Chikorita was hurt.

"Hey, the battle's not over yet," I told Samir. "Remember, trust in Chikorita and yourself."

Samir took a deep breath and said, "Thanks, Summer. Ready, Chikorita?" Chikorita saw her Trainer's confidence and nodded confidently. "Let's see, Geodude is a Rock and Ground type Pokémon… I know what to do. Chikorita, use Vine Whip!"

Chikorita nodded and sent out two vines from her neck. They hit the Rock Pokémon, knocking him out.

"Yes!" Samir exclaimed with happiness. "Great job, Chikorita!" Chikorita was surprised by his praise, but she smiled at him. Seeing the bond between Samir and Chikorita grow made me smile as well.

Boulder became angry and yelled, "Eric! Get up!" Geodude didn't move, making him angrier.

Raven got irritated and said, "Calm down, Boulder. Now it's my turn. Go, Tara!" A black bird Pokémon appeared from Raven's Pokéball.

Isn't that from the Johto Region? I wondered. I used my Pokédex, and it said [Murkrow, the Darkness Pokémon. Murkrow were feared as the alleged bearers of ill fortune. It shows strong interest in anything that sparkles. It will even try to steal rings from women.]

"Tara, use Peck on Chikorita!" Raven commanded. Tara pecked Chikorita on her leaf and badly injured her.

"Chikorita! Are you all right?" Samir said, worried. Chikorita nodded and slowly got up.

"Hey! Isn't this a 1 on 1 single battle? That's cheating!" I angrily said.

Raven scoffed and said, "Team Rocket never plays fair. Now Tara, use Peck on that girl!"

"Summer, look out!" Samir yelled as Tara got closer.

I was scared to move, and I was about to protect myself. Suddenly, one of my Pokéballs shook and Errol sent himself out and tackled Tara. Tara flew back but steadied herself.

Errol looked at me to make sure I was okay. "Thanks, Errol. Want to battle together?" I asked.

Errol nodded, and Raven laughed.

"What's so funny?" I retorted.

Raven said, "You've never been in a battle before, have you? You're not a real Trainer."

""I will be after I beat you," I said angrily.

Raven laughed again and said, "Bring it on, sweetie. I'd love to see what a newbie from Hoenn can do."

I was surprised and thought, How does she know where I'm from? It doesn't matter now.

I told Errol, "Use Tackle again!"

Raven commanded, "Dodge and used Peck!"

As Errol charged forward, Tara flew up and pecked him on the head. Errol fell to the ground and I ran over to him.

"Errol, are you okay?" I asked as I knelt down. Errol hooted softly, and I said, "You did a great job."

Raven laughed again and confidently said, "Doesn't this prove my point?"

"So what?" I said, standing up with Errol in my arms. "Just because I'm from Hoenn doesn't mean I don't know about battling. I'm going show you the strength of a Trainer from Hoenn!"

Raven gritted her teeth and said, "I'll make sure you never battle again! Tara, use Peck on both of them!"

Errol tried to fly but couldn't. "Errol, let me protect you this time," I said, clutching him tightly. Errol relented with a small smile.

I saw Tara fly towards us, I closed my eyes and braced myself for the impact. As I held my breath, I heard Tara being hit by a Water-type attack. I opened my eyes, turned to my right, and saw a tadpole Pokémon glaring at Tara.

Raven recognized her and told Boulder, "There's target P! We've been hunting you for weeks, you sly Poliwag!"

"Go get it, Raven," Boulder said, cracking his knuckles, "I'll get the special holding container ready."

Raven nodded and told Tara, "Use Astonish on that Poliwag!" Poliwag dodged the attack and used Bubble on Tara. Tara dodged the bubbles and pecked Poliwag. The Poliwag rolled backwards and lightly hit my leg.

"Are you all right, Poliwag?" I asked.

Poliwag nodded and quickly got up. She looked at me as if waiting for my instructions. These Pokémon in Johto really like staring at me, I thought. But I feel she really wants me to battle with her. I nodded at Poliwag and commanded her "Use Water Gun!"

The Water Gun hit Tara, knocking the Murkrow into Eric and Boulder. Raven was surprised and angrily asked, "How were you of all Trainers able to control Poliwag in a short amount of time!"

"Well…I'm not sure myself," I said sheepishly.

Raven growled and shouted, "Tara, return!"

Boulder gritted his teeth and said, "Eric, return! I can't believe we lost to these newbies…"

Raven said, "This isn't over! We'll beat you two the next time we meet. Move out!" She threw a smoke bomb on the ground, blinding us. When the smoke cleared, the two were gone.

"Are you two all right?" I asked Samir and Chikorita.

Samir nodded and told Chikorita, "Thanks for your help, partner. I'm sorry I haven't talked to you much since I got you. Can you forgive me?" Chikorita nuzzled Samir and they shared a warm embrace. "Thanks, Chikorita. Would it be all right if I give you a nickname?" Chikorita smiled and nodded. "All right! Banksia, let's travel and learn together." Samir extended his hand and Banksia extended a vine; the two shook on it.

"We should get going," I said, "Let's heal our Pokémon and Poliwag first."

Samir nodded and we went inside the Pokémon Center to heal the Pokémon. After that, we left the Center, returned our Pokémon, and got ready to head back to New Bark Town.

"Thanks for your help, Poliwag," I told her while petting her head. "Take care, okay?" Poliwag nodded but looked a little sad. Suddenly I saw these pictures of a mural and a strange coral crown. I quickly put my hand back, scaring her and causing her to run to the ocean. I felt bad about it, but it was too dark to find her. Samir and I then headed back to New Bark Town.

We arrived back at Professor Elm's Lab and Samir gave Professor Elm the Egg.

"Oohhh… what a magnificent Egg!" Professor Elm said ecstatically. "Thank you two for getting the Egg for me. I'll do some tests on it and hopefully I'll be able to find a worthy Trainer to take care of it. Did you two have any problems getting back?"

Samir and I smiled at each other and shook our heads.

"Well then," he said. "You too should get to bed. You'll need to be up early to catch the ship to Kanto."

"Thanks, Professor," we both said. "Goodnight."

We both went to the second floor and Samir showed me the bedrooms. After getting ready for bed, I realized Samir wasn't here yet. After 10 minutes, he came in and sat on a bed. I sat on the bed across from him and asked, "What are your plans now?"

Samir took a deep breath and said, "After what happened today, I'm going to take that internship."

I quickly clapped my hands and said, "Congratulations!"

Samir smiled and said, "It's all thanks to you. I do want to ask, though. Why didn't you use Blaze against Raven?"

I sighed and said, "I guess I didn't think clearly since that was my first Trainer battle outside school. I cared more about protecting Errol that I didn't send out Blaze. It's funny, though. I didn't expect the battle to turn out like that TV show episode when the injured Pikachu protected his Trainer from being attacked by Spearow. But at least everything turned out fine. I do feel bad scaring that Poliwag."

"I noticed," Samir said. "Did you have another flashback?"

"Yeah, but it was different. I saw images instead of past memories," I said.

"Why don't we see if we can find her tomorrow? Let's go get some sleep," Samir said.

I nodded, and we both fell asleep. We then woke up in the morning, ate breakfast with Professor Elm, and got ready to go. Professor Elm gave Samir his internship admission package and said, "I'm glad you're doing this, Samir. You'll learn a lot in Kanto."

Samir smiled and said, "Thanks, Professor, for everything. Is it all right if we keep in touch?"

"Of course!" Professor Elm said. "I'd love to hear about your internship. Oh, you two should get going. Thanks again, Summer. Farewell and good luck on your journeys!" We waved goodbye and walked to Cherrygrove City.

We had time before the ship came, so Samir and I searched around for the Poliwag. With the ship leaving in 10 minutes, we were forced to head to the dock.

"Oh no," I sadly told Samir, "I can't believe I scared her away. I feel so bad…"

Samir patted my back and said, "It's not your fault, Summer. I'm sure we'll see that Poliwag again."

I gave him a small smile and said, "Thanks, Samir. I hope so soon."

"Your attention please," the intercom at the dock announced, "The S.S. Kanto will now start the boarding process. All passengers, please form a line by the ship. Please show your ticket to the sailor and enjoy the trip to the Kanto Region. Samir and I boarded the ship after a short wait. After the ship left the dock, we stared towards the east, the first Region of our journeys.

Pokémon: Blaze (Torchic): Brave Nature, moves: Scratch, Growl, Ember

Errol (Hoothoot): Rash Nature, moves: Tackle

Questions for the Chapter:

What is inside the Pokémon Egg?

What do you think of Samir and Banksia?