Sorry I took so long in updating, but school has kept me busy. I had a history project due, a lot of reading for my english class, and the like. The semester's almost over, so there will be less updating for me on all of my stories. I even put two of my Naruto ones on hiatus and I already started writing my seventh story. So that one will start to get updated too. I'm also slightly depressed right now because the semester's almost over and I still have an F in Algebra 2...And I need to get at least a C to earn my credits and not go to intersession to make up that class. Ugh...school is so stressful...

Joey

Zoey panted as she climbed up the dirt road with Charmander.

"Man, this mountain sure makes you hike!"

"Charmander!"

The little orange lizard continued walking when she tripped over something.

"Charmander, are you ok?!"

Charmander got up and rubbed her head. She looked back to where she tripped and saw something sticking out of the ground. She walked over it and began to dig with her claws.

"Hmm? What are you doing?"

Zoey bent down to see what her Pokemon was digging up.

Charmander widened her eyes. "Char!"

She struggled to pull something out of the ground. It was a stone plate of some kind, with a spiral-like imprint in it. Charmander carried the object to Zoey.

"What's this?" She studied it carefully. "This looks weird. I have no idea what it is."

"Char."

"A fossil?"

Charmander nodded.

"Hmm. I wonder what this was doing here? Usually fossils are suppossed to be deep underground."

That's when Zoey heard a sound that seemed like a mortorcyle.

"Zoey!"

Zoey turned around and saw Officer Jenny.

"Hey!" said Zoey. "Officer Jenny, what are you doing here?"

Jenny stopped the bike and said "I came to give you this."

The woman handed Zoey an orange oblong object.

"What's this?" asked the girl.

"It's amber."

"Um...why do I need it?"

Jenny smiled. "Well, while I was on my way back to the station, I passed by the museum when a scientist came up to me. He asked if I could take the amber to regenerate whatever is in it. I asked him where and he said I had to take it to Cinnabar Island, but I can't go that far. And it takes a while to get there from here. I also can't leave Pewter City now that I know Team Rocket is on the loose again."

"So what does this have to do with me?"

"Well, since you are on your Pokemon journey and you are trying to get all of the Gym Badges, you need to go to Cinnabar Island and I was thinking maybe you could take it. The amber has prehistoric Pokemon DNA, but I'm not sure which Pokemon it is."

"And Cinnabar Island has a place where the Pokemon can be regenerated?"

"Yes. So, will you do this task for me?"

Zoey smiled. "Of course!"

"Thanks!"

Jenny smiled back in return and noticed the rock in Charmander's hands.

"What's that?"

"You mean the thing that Charmander has? I think it's a fossil. She tripped over it while we were walking."

"The Cinnabar Lab can restore fossils too. Maybe you should take it there and see what you find."

"So I'm gonna have to carry both the amber and the fossil?"

"Yes."

Zoey groaned.

Jenny laughed. "It's worth it though. You 'll be able to see prehistoric Pokemon. And I bet that the scientists will even let you keep them."

"Really?!"

The woman nodded.

"All right then! I'll do it!"

"That's the answer I was hoping for! Now Zoey, would you like a ride to Cerulean City?"

"Yes! Charmander and I are tired from walking so far."

"Char!"

--

About fifteen minutes had passed when Zoey and Officer Jenny got to the city. They stopped in front of the Pokemon Center.

"Well, here's your stop."

"Thanks Jenny!"

"Don't mention it! Now, you take good care of those fossils. Understand?"

"Yes. But what I don't get, is why you are entrusting to me these things."

"It's because I know you can do it and I know that the amber and fossil are safe in your hands."

"Gee, thanks!"

"Well, I better get going. If you need anything, just ask the Jenny here in Cerulean. The police force is very tight here, so not much criminal activity goes on."

"Roger!"

Jenny got on her bike and started the motor.

"Zoey, I wish you the best of luck on your journey. By very careful and stay cautious of Team Rocket!"

"I will. And tell Cindy that when I get back, I expect a full grown Clefable!"

Jenny smiled. "Ok, I'll tell her."

And with that, Jenny left.

"Well Charmander," said Zoey. "We're finally here in Cerulean City. It's time for our next badge!"

"Char..."

"Oh. Sorry. You probably want to rest. Well, that's ok. I'm not in a hurry. I actually wanted to get Clefairy introduced to the other Pokemon."

"Char!" The lizard smiled.

"Ok," said Zoey as she took out her Pokeballs. "Come on out!"

All three Pokemon emerged.

"Pidgeooo!"

"Nido!"

"Clefairy!"

They all smiled at their master. "Ok guys, I want you to get aquainted. Pigeotto and Nidoran, this is Clefairy, our new member of our team. She'll be traveling with us, so I want you girls to get along."

The bird and rabbit smiled happily at Clefairy. "Clefairy!"

"Now who wants some fruit?"

The Pokemon all replied in unison.

--

After eating a quick snack, Zoey returned her Nidoran and Pidgeotto. She was about to return Clefairy, when the pink Pokemon snatched Zoey's hat off her head. This Clefairy was the mischevious type and she loved to play.

"Hey! Clefairy, give that back!"

Clefairy only smiled. "Fairy!" The Pokemon started to flee.

"Come on Charmander!" said Zoey. "Let's follow her! I need my hat back! It keeps the sun out of my eyes and it's the only hat that matches this outfit!"

Zoey and Charmander began to run through Cerulean City, chasing Clefairy. People were staring, but Zoey didn't care. She was gonna get her hat back.

"Clefairy! Give me back my hat!"

Clefairy only smiled and started to run faster. She started towards the cape, until she bumped into another Pokemon. She fell down flat on her face.

Zoey saw her fall, but she was running so fast that she bumped into the Pokemon's owner.

"Ow!"

Charmander only sweatdropped.

Zoey rubbed her head and said "That hurt! Oh..."

The other trainer sat up.

"Ow. My head..."

Zoey got up and said "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you. Honestly." She helped the trainer up. "It's just that my Clefairy was being naughty and she took my hat--"

"It's ok."

Zoey looked at the person and realized it was a boy her age. His outfit had all the same colors her's had. He had blue pants, with a black shirt and a red vest. He also had a cap to match. His hair was the same color as Zoey's, a light brown, and his eyes were the same shade of blue as hers as well.

He looked at her and blushed. He had never seen such a pretty face before. And she had never seen such a cute boy before.

"Um, no it's my fault. Sorry."

Zoey blushed and said "No, I should be the one who's sorry."

The Pokemon that Clefairy had bumped into was a Squirtle, who had retreated inside his shell. He popped his head out, and then the rest of his body. He walked over to his trainer.

"Squirtle!"

"Oh, there you are Squirtle. Are you ok?"

The turtle nodded.

"I'm really sorry," said Zoey again.

"It's ok. I'm sure you didn't mean it."

Zoey looked over to Clefairy who had gotten up and started to cry. Her face hurt. Zoey felt sympathetic and picked her up.

"Well that's what you get for being a bad Pokemon Clefairy!"

Clefairy sniffed and cried more. Zoey felt bad.

"Oh, I'm sorry. But if you do bad things, something bad will happen to you in the end. What goes around, comes around." Clefairy continued crying. "Oh, let me see."

Zoey looked at Clefairy's face and kissed her forehead. Clefairy wiped the tears from her eyes. "Clefairy..." She hugged her trainer.

"Oh, I forgive you."

"Wow," said the boy. "You're really good with Pokemon!"

"Um, thanks..." said Zoey shyly.

"My name is Joey. I'm from Pallet Town."

"Really? My name is Zoey and I'm from Pallet Town too. When did you get a starting Pokemon?"

"A few days ago."

"Then you started just before I did."

Joey picked up Zoey's hat while she put her Clefairy down next to Charmander.

"Here's your hat," said Joey shyly.

Zoey blushed and said "Thank you." She put it back on her head.

"So your starting Pokemon is a Charmander?"

"Yes. You see, she was the only option I had." Zoey told her story how she had to pick Charmander. But she didn't mind. She loved the little orange lizard.

"So you have two rivals?" asked Joey.

"Yes. Jessica is a pain and she's always trying to put me down. She's so ruthless that, it kinda scares me. And Gary, well, he's just a jerk."

"Have you battled any of them yet?"

"Yeah. I battled Jessica twice and Gary once. My Pokemon had lost all three battles..."

Charmander looked sad. Joey bent down next to the lizard and stroked her head. Charmander cooed and her tail swayed, as if she was wagging it like a dog.

"She's a cute Charmander," said Joey. "Especially since she has that pink bow on."

"Thanks. She's my strongest Pokemon I have. She helped me defeat the Pewter Gym."

Joey stood up. "You took on Brock with a Fire Pokemon?"

"Yes. I didn't have any other type of Pokemon. All I had at that time was my Pidgeotto, Nidoran, and my Charmander."

Joey smiled. "Wow, I'm impressed!"

Zoey blushed again. "Thanks."

"I'd love to hear more about your adventure," said the boy. "Want to take a walk?" His face became slightly pink.

"Um..." said Zoey as another pink blush appeared on her face. "Ok..."

--

Both Joey and Zoey had been walking around Cerulean, talking about their lives and what they plan to do as furture Pokemon trainers. Zoey had talked about her parents and her history in Pallet Town.

"Wow, your mom and dad are cool!" said Joey. "A professional Pokemon Coordinator and Pokemon Master!"

"Thanks. That's what everyone says, but I don't plan to get their same kind of attention."

"Well, you seem to get it from what you've told me. Your mother is May from Petalburg City in the Hoenn region and your dad is Ash, who's from the same town we're from. They've accomplished a lot from what I've heard."

"Yeah, that's the problem..." Zoey suddenly felt sad. She sat down next to a water fountain. Joey sat down next to her, as well as Charmander, Clefairy, and Squirtle.

"What's wrong?"

"It just..." began Zoey. "It's just that my parents have accomplished so much and have gone so far, that everyone who knows them expects me to turn out just like them. I mean, I want to become a Pokemon Master like my dad and a Pokemon Coordinator like my mom, but knowing so many people expect a lot from me, is putting pressure on my being. And now that I think about it, I don't know if I can go that far...I mean, I lost my first three rival battles for goodness sake!"

Zoey put her head in her hands and sighed. Joey looked sympathetic.

"But," he said. "You beat the Rock Gym with Pokemon who were all vulnerable to the opponents attacks. And yet you were able to succeed. Now tell me that's not amzing Zoey."

Zoey looked at Joey and smiled faintly. "I guess it's pretty cool..."

Joey smiled. "That's the spirit. Just don't get too overconfident. That's what my mom told me before I left on my journey."

"Joey?"

"Yes?"

"You warm up to people quickly huh?"

He blushed. "That's what I've been told..."

Zoey only smiled back sweetly. "So what Pokemon do you have Joey?"

"Well, there's my Squirtle and my Pidgeotto too. I also have a Nidoran, Mankey, and an Oddish."

"Which kind of Nidoran?"

"The male one."

"Just like Gary..."

"Gary has that one too?"

"Yup. And I have the female."

There was a pause.

"So..." said Zoey. "What do you plan to do now?"

"Well," began Joey. "I still need to beat the Gym here and now that I've trained my Oddish a little, I'm pretty sure we can beat the Leader." He paused and then said "Zoey, I think you should get an Oddish too. Even though your Pokemon are strong considering their vulnerablities, this Gym is tougher than the first one and you need a well balanced team."

"I do?"

"Yes. Your team is pretty good right now and it would be even better if you had a Grass type. You have a Fire, Poison, Flying, and Normal type. Nidoran can probably substitute for a Water type, since she can learn Water moves when she evolves into Nidorina."

"Like what?"

"Well, Nidorina can learn Water Pulse. But that's about it. And when she evolves into a Nidoqueen, she can learn so many more like Flamethrower, Earthquake, Surf, Aerial Ace, and the like. Nidoqueen is a good Pokemon to have."

"Wow, you know so much!"

Joey blushed again. "I learned a little before I set off on my journey."

"I learned a little when I was smaller, but I kinda forgot. Heh..."

Joey smiled. "You're fun to talk to."

The girl blushed. "R..really?"

"Yeah," said Joey as a red streak appeared across his face. "Well, I um...have to get going now. Maybe we'll see each other again sometime."

"O...ok."

The two stood up and shook hands. "I wish you the best of luck Zoey."

"Same here Joey."

"And if we ever meet each other in the Indigo Plateau..."

"...be ready for a battle!"

They both had a confident expression on their face.

Charmander walked over to Squirtle and hugged him as a sign of good luck, while the little turtle blushed at contact. Zoey giggled.

"Aww...isn't that sweet? Charmander is friends with Squirtle already."

Joey laughed.

"Hey," said Zoey before they parted ways. "Don't you think it's strange that our names rhyme? You know, Zoey and Joey?"

"Yes. That is strange."

"And we have so much alike."

Both of them blushed and said nothing for a few minutes.

"Well," said Zoey. "I guess I'll see you around then."

"Same here," replied Joey.

--

After saying goodbye to Joey and his Squirtle, Zoey returned Clefairy back into her Pokeball and walked with Charmander towards the cape.

"Charmander!"

"He was nice, wasn't he?"

"Charmander char char." Charmander smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"Wh-what?" said Zoey as she blushed. "I do not like him Charmander! I barely met him half an hour ago!"

"Char char mander char."

"Oh don't say such silly things! I mean, yeah, he was cute..." She smiled at nothing. "…very cute…"

Charmander began to laugh which made Zoey flush.

"Cut it out Charmander!"

The two began to walk around the city, searching for a way to Cerulean Cape. Zoey had met a new friend along her journey. He seemed very nice and he was also very wise for his age. Zoey didn't know why, but she had always noticed herself blushing whenever they made eye contact. She had got this feeling that she had never felt before, and didn't know how to describe it. It made her nervous around him. And she could tell he was nervous around her too.

Did she...Nah, she couldn't have. But then what was it? Charmander knew what it was. She knew her trainer had experienced her first crush. But of course, the lizard ceased with the teasing. Zoey's face still hadn't cooled down.

"Joey huh?" said a voice. The figure stood against a tree in the city, his back leaning against it, arms crossed across his chest. His amber eyes narrowed as he watched Zoey and Charmander walk towards the cape.

What they, and Joey, had not noticed, was Gary, eavesdropping on them the last five minutes of the conversation. His blood boiled when he had seen Joey with Zoey and he felt a sting of jealousy.

He was going to find out who exactly was this Joey guy.

Ooooooh!! I sense drama comming later! xD Yeah, Gary was watching them for a short while. Hmm, is he actually jealous or not? And why exactly? You'll find out in the future. But for now, this is the end of Chapter 9. Oh and Joey is basically the male character from FireRed and LeafGreen. I had to put him in here. And I named him Joey because it rymes with Zoey. Now why did I do that? Hmm. :3 Please review.