Author's Note: Here's chapter 3! There isn't too much that happens save for a new recruit and another reunion. But, things will eventually pick up in this story. I'll try and make it exciting even though it's not a Nuzlocke. Also, seeing them remember the protag is nice to see, so that's why Hynden's still the main character. But, I digress. Enjoy the chapter, and happy reading!

I easily found the Pokémon Center, and I went in to heal Tidus. When I entered the building, I saw Taylor conversing with a girl aged around 19 years who wasn't Nurse Joy, but I assumed she was her assistant. The girl had deep green shoulder-length hair and brown eyes, and she was wearing a light blue apron over a white T-shirt.

"I'll see you later, baby," the girl at the counter said to Taylor affectionately before kissing her on the lips as Taylor returned the favor.

"Yep. We're still on for dinner later tonight, right, Carrie?" Taylor asked when she pulled away from the kiss.

"That's right, Tay. See you then, sweetie."

When my roommate turned around, she jumped at my sudden appearance. But, she calmed down and handed me a Town Map, which I took and placed into my bag after thanking her.

"I've actually been looking for you, Hynden!" Taylor told me. "I figured you'd be at the Pokémon Center after a tough battle, but I couldn't find you. At least I was lucky enough to run into my girlfriend!"

"Did you come here to give me the Town Map?" I asked.

"Well, yeah. I let you take it after all! I thought you'd need the latest model of it since the region's changed since your last journey!"

"In that case, thanks, Taylor! Good luck on your hot date tonight, by the way!"

"Thank you too! Oh! I also wanted to give you these!"

Taylor handed me ten PokéBalls before leaving the Pokémon Center. Once they were stashed away into the specific section of my bag, I walked up to the front desk so Carrie could heal Tidus up. When that was over, I took Tidus' PokéBall back, thanked her, and left. Outside of the Pokémon Center, I saw that little Julia was standing outside with another Town Map.

"M-Miss Haley's girlfriend?" she asked innocently, handing me the Town Map. "Can you give this to my brother when you see him?"

"Sure, Julia," I agreed, taking the Town Map. "And please, just call me 'Hynden'. It's my name, after all."

"Okay, Hynden! I'll see you later!"

Julia ran back towards her home while I headed towards Route 19 to train. When I walked through the gates, I saw Bianca staring at the tall grass blowing in the summer breeze. She saw me joining her by her side as I walked closer.

"Just like Route 1, hmm?" she wondered.

"Yep," I agreed. "Brings back memories. Back when we were just a couple of kooky 16-year olds, not knowing what was in store for us."

"But now, we're older and wiser! And we know better on what to do now!"

"That's right! After all my soul-searching, I've been pushed a little further on what I need to do!"

Bianca was about to nod and agree until her eyes widened with shock as if remembering something. She began backing away from me and would have bolted off if not for my quick reflexes grabbing her.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Erm, I just remembered something!" Bianca answered, "I'm not supposed to be too close to you!"

"Why not? You're one of my best friends!"

"Yeah, but earlier… Haley threatened me and told me that I shouldn't get too close to his best friend in the world. Though now that I think about it, he seems to think you're much more than that to him. If that scary look in his eyes meant anything."

"What, Haley? C'mon, Bee! He was probably just messing around with you! He'd never physically harm a girl for no reason; it's against his code! Besides, it's fine to be around me; we're friends, remember?"

"Y-Yeah… I know. But, I have stuff to do anyways! Umm, see you later, Hynden! Train hard, and good luck on this journey!"

Bianca bolted back to Aspertia City in fear, making me scratch my cap in curiosity. I knew Haley was pretty attached to me, but I never recalled him to be the type of person to drive people away from me out of nowhere. However, I thought nothing of it and decided to see if Haley was in the next town over.

Along the way, I trained Tidus by having him fight off several different Pokémon we encountered in the Route. He found himself pitted against a Patrat, but the little rodent was defeated in seconds by Tidus' new Vine Whip attack.

"Great job, Tidus!" I encouraged him as he gave me a low-five with his vine.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said to me in his stoic tone and English accent. We both heard a rustling sound, prompting Tidus to prepare his Vine Whip again. "Hynden, stand back! I sense another threat!"

Out of the tall grass sprung a Purrloin, its claws sharp and pouncing straight at Tidus. Although it managed to use Scratch on him, Tidus fought back with Tackle and a Vine Whip. Before he could attack it any further, I held my Snivy back.

"I think we could use a new recruit," I told him, tossing the PokéBall at Purrloin.

Purrloin was sucked inside of the PokéBall in a red light. The Ball shook slowly three times before it finally clicked shut. I let my new teammate out of its PokéBall, only to find that Purrloin was asleep.

"H-Hey, wake up!" I said, shaking it awake.

"Nyah… can't a lady have a nice little snooze?" she asked. "After all, if I'm going to be stuck with you peasants, I deserve to sleep in a little."

"What's your name, cat?" Tidus asked.

"Eris. And who is it I'm speaking to presently?"

"I'm Tidus, and this is our Trainer, Hynden. Now that you're part of our team, you're coming with us to the town beyond this route."

"And what's in it for me?" Eris yawned.

"Uhh, new sights? Battle experience? Completing the League?"

"Nyah, not interested. But!" she spoke, "If you're completing the Unova League, then I wish to see the glorious sights and stars of Nimbasa City. After all, a queen such as myself deserves to see Unova's best city! Perhaps by then, I'll have more motivation to be of your assistance."

"Okay, I'll take you to Nimbasa…" I agreed.

I recalled the now-sleeping Eris back to her PokéBall and continued down the Route. Just as I was nearly out, Tidus and I encountered another Pokémon. To my surprise, it was a Patrat. Tidus was about to attack it with Vine Whip, but I quickly stopped him from doing so due to my memories of an old friend.

"Don't… don't hurt it, Tidus," I told him, my voice tone full of sadness. "I'll just see if I can catch it on its own."

"But that lowers your chances," Tidus insisted. "Why don't you want me to fight it?"

"Just don't, okay? Let me catch it."

When Patrat wasn't looking, I tossed a PokéBall at it. Luck was apparently on my side, because the PokéBall successfully clicked shut after shaking slowly three times in a row. As I did with Eris, I let my new catch out of its PokéBall, and he merely stared up at me.

"What was that about?" he asked, "If ya wanted me ta come with ya, all ya had ta do was ask, lady!"

"Sorry. I just didn't feel comfortable with battling you first," I sighed. "See, there's this late friend of mine who's a Watchog, and she-"

"Say no more! I understand. The name's Timon. What's yours, toots?"

"Hynden. Welcome aboard, Timon!"

"And I'm Tidus," Tidus introduced, extending his small hand until Timon shook it. "We're on our way to the next town over."

"Well, what're we waitin' for? Let's go!"

In the blink of an eye, Timon started running off, prompting Tidus and I to chase after him. But after a solid ten minutes of the chase, we realized that Timon was leading us in circles.

"Timon, are you certain you're aware of the right direction?" Tidus panted, him and I still chasing our swift new friend.

"'A course, kid! We Patrat and Watchog are born with keen senses of direction!" Timon insisted, still running the wrong way. "I just gotta find the rest of the path first!"

Seeing this wild goose chase going nowhere, I recalled Timon back to his PokéBall after he got lost for the fifth time. I placed the Ball back onto my belt as Tidus and I began searching for the correct way.

"Never before did I ever think I'd meet a Patrat with a broken inner compass," Tidus remarked with a bored and annoyed look in his eyes.

"At least Toothie knew where she was going…" I thought before speaking to Tidus again. "According to my Town Map, Floccessy Town should be right around the corner! All we have to do is pass this cliff!"

The moment Tidus and I found the cliff and started walking past it, we stopped dead in our tracks when we heard a loud male voice of excitement from above.

"And who is that lovely young woman I see below me?!" the voice shouted. "Why, it's none other than the one and only, the mighty heroine of Unova, Hynden!"

"Who's calling my-" I was about to ask until I looked up. "Oh my Arceus, Alder! It's good to see you again, sir!"

"The feeling's mutual, my young Champion-in-the-remaking!" he chuckled, leaping down from the cliff in front of us. Standing up straighter, Alder winced as we heard a few of his joints crack, but his smile never left his face. "Are you ready to take the League on again?"

"I… I think I am!" I answered a little hesitantly. "Hopefully my two years of training has prepared me for it."

"That's okay. There's no need to rush things. After all, Unova's at peace because of you, so there's no Team Plasma to spoil everyone's fun! Now, where are you headed off to, Hynden?"

"Tidus and I are looking for a place called 'Floccessy Town'," I told him as Tidus held the Town Map up with his vines.

"Floccessy Town? Hey, that's where I live! Lemme show ya the way!"

Alder herded me in his direction like a shepherd would their Mareep. Before I knew it, I finally reached Floccessy Town. I looked around at the simple and rural town. It was nothing out of the ordinary, but still a unique town in the Unova region I had never seen before today.

"Well, this is my hometown! It ain't much, but it sure is a nice place to live!" Alder said. "Say, why don't you stop by the Pokémon Center? Your Pokémon are probably tired by now. I'll catch up with you later for a special task, so see you then!"

When Alder left, I heeded his word and went inside of the Pokémon Center to heal my growing team's possible injuries. After that had been taken care of and I purchased a few Potions for the road, I left the building to start tracking down Haley in order to give him the Town Map Julia had entrusted me with.

Pokémon obtained: Eris the Purrloin, Female, Modest nature, Often dozes off.

Timon the Patrat, Male, Calm nature, Likes to run.