I am glad to be getting some views and some reviews. Still getting some of the rust off my fingers as I write, so I do apologize for any mistakes. I keep going back and forth about how long I want to make chapters. Currently I am sitting around 1500 words per chapter, but part of me would like to make them a bit longer. That or potentially keep posting more frequently than most do. I plan to slow down once a few chapters are out so people can better decide if they want to stick with the series. Would be happy to hear opinions on chapter length. Thanks for reading, enjoy!

As the afternoon sun shone brightly over the vast hills that stretched out across route 30, Chance and Snivy walked cheerfully through the grass and took in the scenery that surrounded them. Snivy had already begun to form a habit of riding on Chance's shoulder as they walked, however, Chance was making sure she did a fair bit of walking as well to keep her from getting too lazy. According to the map that Nurse Joy had given him, Violet City was only a few days walk away, so he didn't have too much time to prepare for his first gym battle and he wanted to make sure Snivy was in top form.

After several hours of walking, Chance happened upon to boys who were only a few years younger than himself. The boys were just finishing up what seemed to be an intense pokemon battle when Chance spotted them. The dark-haired boy's rattata had just defeated his opponent's ledyba.

"You know, Snivy, we haven't even battled together yet. Maybe this is our shot to test out our skills." Chance grinned at the grass pokemon that stood by his leg. Snivy responded by looking up at him with a look of pure determination and nodding her head. At her approval Chance approached the two boys. "Hey! That was a nice battle you two had!" He greeted.

"Thanks!" The dark-haired boy replied happily. "If you want Rattata and I still have enough steam in us for another round!" He grinned.

"Sounds good to me. I will take your challenge! Snivy and I are ready for a battle!" The boys spread apart in the small clearing and their pokemon met between them.

"Wow, I have never seen a pokemon like that one." The boy marveled. "Alright! Let's start this off with a tackle Rattata!" The boy commanded.

"Dodge it and retaliate with a vine whip!" The rat pokemon was fast, but Snivy was faster. Just before it made contact with Snivy a strong green vine swatted it aside. Snivy stood her ground and stared her foe down.

"Wow, that's fast! If speed is your game, Rattata and I can play just as well. Use quick attack, now!" The boy shouted out. Snivy tried to just out of the way, but the small purple pokemon was too fast and slammed into her side and threw her across the field. "Now, before it gets back up, use your super fang attack!" The rat jumped towards Snivy and its large fangs began to glow.

"Snivy! Quick, use your leaf tornado!" Snivy quickly jumped into the air and began to spin as bright green leaves surrounded it. The barrage of leaves slammed into the rat pokemon and tossed it back to the ground. "Now, let's finish this up! Hit it with another vine whip!" Chance commanded his starter pokemon. Before Rattata could get back up to its feet a thick green vine was slammed hard against its back, and then circled around its stomach and tossed it back towards its trainer. The rat pokemon bounced once off the ground and slid to its trainer's feet. The battle was over.

The dark-haired boy raised the pokeball that was in his hand and recalled his injured pokemon. "Return, Rattata. You deserve a nice long rest." The boy smiled at his pokemon as it disappeared in a flash of red energy. When he looked back up from where his pokemon had been on the ground he saw a hand awaiting him.

"That was a great battle. I will always be proud that it was our debut battle." Chance smiled happily at the boy. The boy grabbed his hand and shook it firmly.

"It was really fun!" He beamed. "You better keep getting stronger because I definitely plan to battle you two again in the future!"

"It's a deal!" Chance nodded. "The name is Chance, and I am just starting my gym challenge here. Maybe we can battle again at the Johto League!"

"Sounds good to me! Just keep your eyes peeled for Kyle from New Bark Town! By the time the next Johto League Conference is held my name will be everywhere!" The boy boasted. The boys eventually parted ways, promising to battle once again in the future. Chance was very proud of his starter pokemon's debut performance and was glad his own pokemon journey seemed to be off to a good start.

As the afternoon sun faded into dusk, Chance and Snivy found a small cluster of trees on the edge of the nearby forest to make camp under. Chance set up a small camp site with his sleeping bag and pillow, as well as a small campfire to cook his dinner on. The two enjoyed a quiet and relaxing evening as the setting sun disappeared over the horizon and night fell over the land.

Shortly after trainer and pokemon had closed their eyes for the night Chance was awoken by a loud hooting noise. He groggily looked around for what was causing the noise, but his searching eyes found nothing in the dark forest around him. After a few minutes passed he closed his eyes once more to try and actually get some sleep that evening, but before long the noise rang through the area again. This time loud enough to awaken Snivy as well. Snivy huffed in annoyance as she stood up on the pillow where she had been resting and looked around for the one who dared to interrupt her sleep. Chance joined her in looking around the nearby area for whatever the cause for the disturbance was.

"Well, Snivy, I don't see a damn thing… Whatever it is I hope it shuts up soon so we can get some rest." Chance grumbled to his pokemon. As he complained the hooting began again, only this time much closer than before. Chance looked straight up into the tree that he and Snivy were currently standing under, but he could see no solid form among the dark branches. "See anything, Snivy?" He questioned his pokemon while he scanned the branches.

"Sni!" She cried as she jumped up onto the trunk of the tree and quickly bounded up into the foliage above. A brief rustling was heard and suddenly a brown mass shot through the leaves above and hit the ground next to Chance. The mass was quickly joined by Snivy, who made a graceful landing next to it and took a battle stance. She clearly had a grudge against this noisy pokemon.

The pokemon stood and faced its attacker. Before them stood a small brown bird pokemon, with large, red eyes. Chance quickly took out his pokedex to analyze this new pokemon.

Hoothoot, the Owl Pokémon. Hoothoot stands on one leg, but uses both its powerful eyes to see clearly even through the darkest night.

The pokedex chirped. "Well then, if this guy wants to keep us up all night then we may as well battle, right Snivy?" Chance smiled as he took a battle stance behind his pokemon. Snivy nodded in response and dashed at the owl pokemon. Snivy met it head on with a tackle, but quickly learned that close range would not favor the grass type. The two pokemon tumbled to the ground next to each other and the hoothoot quickly began to peck at Snivy's face.

"Snivy, quick, get some distance and hit it with a vine whip!" Her trainer commanded. Snivy jumped back away from the owl and tossed out its vines at the foe, however, they were easily dodged as the owl took to the air. Snivy kept up its assault and continued to try and smack down the flying-type pokemon with its vines, but the aerial advantage allowed hoothoot to easily maneuver out of harm's way. The bird pokemon then dove towards Snivy in an attempt to land a tackle attack in retaliation.

"Now is our chance!" Chance grinned. "When it gets close dodge it and grab its leg with your vine! Bring it to the ground!" At the last possible moment Snivy dodged out of the way and did as she was commanded. She slammed her opponent into the ground with everything she could muster. "Now, use leaf tornado!" Her trainer yelled with a grin across his face. The attack hit its mark and hoothoot laid on the ground gasping for breath. Chance reached into his pocket and withdrew one of his empty pokeballs and tossed it at the little pokemon. The ball bounced off its head and it turned into a beam of red energy and entered the ball, which wiggled a few times before the button in the center dinged. Chance stood in awe while staring at the ball for a few seconds. He had captured his first wild pokemon. He grabbed the ball with his left hand while Snivy jumped into his right arm. He embraced Snivy as the two rejoiced at their victory and the new addition to their team.

Chance and Snivy made the short walk back to their little campsite and curled up in his sleeping bag, ready to finally get some rest. Chance stared up at the stars and let a large smile break across his face. He was really a pokemon trainer now. He had won his first battle today and captured his first pokemon. His dreams were finally becoming a reality.