AN: Hey Everyone, I have the next chapter here. I really like writing this series, so I apologize if I am spamming it a lot. This chapter, while a little shorter than the last two, does do a lot I liked. In it, two of our heroes catch their first partner. As well as the proper introduction of the companion that puts them on a certain path. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.

Chapter 4 – Make like a Tree

As the three girls gathered at the beach; a picnic blanket spread over the sand as they had meal of sandwiches. Neo and Yang ate theirs as fast as they could, while the girl in the white hat remained slightly shocked, "Wow, you two were hungry." She said seeing the blond brawler finish hers first.

"Sorry, we didn't have a chance to eat yesterday." She said before scratching the back of her head, "Thank you, it really helped us out."

"No problem," the girl in the white hat said with a giggle, "My name's Leaf."

"I'm Yang, this is Neo." the blond brawler introduced while the mute girl was still chewing, "She doesn't talk."

"Oh," Leaf said before seeing the pintsized creature next to Neo. The mute girl broke off part of her sandwich, then held it near the creature's mouth. It ate the food, then smiled with a little dance at the delightful taste. Neo giggled as Leaf smiled, "Well, I think I see why that Hatenna likes you. That Pokemon typical only warms up to calm people."

"Pokemon?" Yang inquired, "Is that what you call these types of odd Grimm?"

"Grimm?" Leaf asked, "No, I don't know what you're talking about?"

"H-hang on," Yang spoke, "What kingdom are we in?"

"Kingdom?" Leaf responded.

"Oh no," the blond brawler said before turning to Neo, whispering, "Hey, I don't think we're in Remnant anymore." She said with the mute girl slowed her chewing, "Look, after that thing ate us, we might have been brought to this world instead of dying." She said with Neo looking back with eyes half-open, "Yeah, I know that makes zero sense, but hear me it. We learn more about this world, we might find a way back to ours." She said with Neo now focused, slightly nodding, "Okay, that's our plan, but we should keep it between ourselves to not freak her out." Yang then cleared her throat, turning back to Leaf, "So, yeah, we-"

"I overheard all of what you just said," Leaf interrupted with eyes half open, "You need to work on your whispering voice."

"Oh…" Yang said as Neo looked on, shaking her head in disappointment, "You're…. not weirded out?"

"Over course I am, what you said is wild." Leaf said before smirking, "But I like wild." She then reached into her bag, "The way I see it, you two would be perfect for me to recommend for a Pokemon League for newcomers." She said before taking out a flyer, handing it to Neo and Yang, "Winners get a trophy and Champion battle, but also a nice chunk of money." She said before crossing her arms, "I was planning to go in under a false alias, but I've used so many now that they would recognize my plan." She then pointed at Neo and Yang, "So, you two will enter this tournament, win it for me, and allow me to finally afford my own villa."

"…" Neo scowled before pointing to herself.

"What's in it for you?" Leaf commented, "Well, to participate in the league, you need four gym badges attained from four different regions. While traveling, we can ask around to find out some useful information to send you back home."

"You do have a point," Yang responded, but crossed her arms, "But the two of us know next to nothing about Pokemon."

"That's fine, neither did I before I started my adventure," She said before winking, "Now, I'm one of the toughest trainers you'll meet. Teaching you everything I know will make you into champions… Well, at least one of you."

Yang sighed, "There is still the chance we get nothing out of this whole thing. No information or no prize money." She said before smiling, "However, this does sound like it could be a lot of fun. I know if Ruby was here, she would be all over this idea." the blond brawler said before cracking her knuckles, then hitting her fist together, "Okay, I'm in." She said before pointing at Leaf, "But while traveling, you have to help us find what we need to get back home."

"Fine by me," Leaf said before turning to Neo, "I technically only need one of you to enter and win. And since you cannot talk, it's going to make battling even harder."

Neo pouted as Yang started to pat her head, "Yeah, you can just sit back and relax while I do all the cool stuff." She said before the mute girl swatted away the hand.

"…!" Neo stood up as she pointed to herself. The Hatenna stood by her side, standing proud as well.

"Well, you can join if your determined," Leaf responded before grinning, "It does double my chances of making bank on this deal."

"And if the two us make it to the finals," Yang offered with a grin, "That's when we can settle the score." She said with Neo smirked back, then looked over to Leaf, "So, how do start?"

"First, we need to restock on food." Leaf said before reaching her in her bag, "Then, we can get each of your first Pokemon. But since that Hatenna really likes Neo, I think it's a perfect fit for her starter." She said before taking out one of the balls from before, handing it to Neo, "So, you can catch her in this Pokeball."

Neo accepted the Pokeball, then looked back to Hatenna. The pintsized Pokemon looked back up at her with a smile, causing Neo to smile back. She gently tapped the ball on Hatenna's forehead. The red energy emerged and absorbed the Pokemon into the ball before closing. After three shacks, the click was heard. Neo looked back at the ball and giggling, now having more than one thing to look out for.

"Cool, now when do I get mine?" Yang asked Leaf who was standing up.

"Supplies first, catching later." Leaf said before the others got off the blanket, "But if we're lucky, we might get both done at the same time."

Neo and Yang then stood up as they got off the blanket, "What do you mean by th-" The blond brawler was saying until her body pulsated with pain.

"What's wrong?" Leaf asked in concern before remembering, "Wait, did that Bewear I caught hug you?"

"Yeah, but I'll be fine." Yang said as she caught her breath, "Wow, I do I really miss have an aura."

"…" Neo looked on before having an idea. She opened the Pokeball, causing Hatenna to reform. The mute girl knelt to the pintsized Pokemon, pointing to Yang in pain. Hatenna turned to her owner with sight fear the blond brawler, but Neo nodded with a smile. Slowly, Hatenna nodded back before Neo picked her up.

"Huh?" Yang turned to see Neo holding Hatenna up high. The tip of the pintsized Pokemon glowed a light blue, causing a droplet to fall. It landed on the blond brawler's forehead, which then encompassed her body in a green light. After the light had faded, Yang's stance improved, "Wow, I feel a lot better." She said before looking Neo, who smirked, "Uh, thanks." She said before looking at Hatenna, "And thank you also for coming to our rescue before." She said before reaching out her hand to pet the pintsized Pokemon. However, Hatenna shuffled back into Neo's chest, it's body slightly shaking in fear, "I-I didn't mean to scare you." Yang said before sighing, but Leaf patted her on the back.

"It's okay, give her time." Leaf offered as she finished back, "Let's go find what we need." She said before walking. Neo followed while Yang sighed, then joined the group on their search.

A short walk later, the group stopped at a tree with yellow leaves. "Uh," Yang spoke up as she and Neo had an unpleasant memory return. "The last time I hit one of these trees, I crazy bee lady thing came out and sent her swarm on me."

"You mean a Vespiquen. Yeah, those things can be very scary." Leaf responded, "Don't worry, they shouldn't be in this part of the forest." She then stepped away from the tree, "In any case, you shake it while we pick up the berries that fall."

"Fine," Yang said with a sigh as Neo smirked, "To be fair, I wouldn't mind catching that Bumblebee Queen as my first Pokemon." She said before putting her hands on the bark, they started staking. However, she felt the sugary substance between her fingers, "And this one honey on it too, great." She sarcastically spoke with a sigh before shaking more.

Neo and Leaf watched as berries fell onto the ground. They knelt to pick up the fruits, storing them in the yellow bag. Neo looked over to see Hatenna nudging over the round berries. The mute girl smiled as she picked up the berries and put them in the bag, causing Hatenna to cheer.

Leaf looked over to see more berries fall, "Okay, we should be good. You can stop shaking." She said before seeing the yellow leaves still vibrating, "Hey, I said were good. You can stop."

"I did," Yang said as she was cleaning her hands with a handkerchief. The trio then looked up at the still shaking tree, "Oh, cra-" Suddenly, something fell off the tree and bashed into the top of Yang's head, "OUCH!" she recoiled in pain before the object fell to the floor.

Leaf and Neo looked over at the object, discovering it was a Pokemon. It was a small, bear-like creature with greenish-blue fur body. There was yellow fur on its lower jaw, feet, and part of its chest. The ears were large and pointed up, but his eyes were closed. However, upon sniffing the air, the eyes shot open, "Munch!" it spoke before sitting up, "Munchlax." He said before seeing the berries on the ground, eating them one after another without slowing down, "Munch Munch Munch Munch!"

"What?" Yang said after she finished rubbing her head, "These things speak?"

"Some can say their name, others can only cry." Leaf said but was fixed on the Pokemon, "That one is called Munchlax. It's a rare find here."

"Really," Yang said before smiling, then turned back to the still eating Munchlax, "How about you come along with me?"

"Munch?" the Big Eater Pokemon said before looking over to Neo. His vision turned into a fantasy. Munchlax saw the mute girl's multicolored hair like a river of ice cream flavors, "Munch!" He shouted before leaping into the air, his mouth wide open.

"…!" Neo gasped, but Hatenna stood in defense. From the top of the pintsized Pokémon's head, the pink beam shot out and collided with Munchlax's body.

"Munch!" Munchlax recollided as it was flung across the air, eventually landing onto the sandy shore. However, he rolled over to stand up, scowling at Hatenna, "Munchlax!"

"Well, he's a fighter," Yang commented before smirking, "I really need to catch him now." she then turned to Neo, "Let your Pokemon follow my orders for this battle, okay?"

"…" Neo scowled as Hatenna matched her expression.

"Hey," Yang said in slight anger, "We're supposed to work together. And it's not like you tell Hatenna what to do?"

"Actually, she can. I just realized it now," Leaf spoke up, "Hatenna can read people's emotions and acts accordingly. So, if Neo feels a certain way, she can command her Pokemon that way." She said before looking to Yang, "Once she beats Munchlax, you can throw the ball to catch it." the girl in the white hat then looked back to Neo, examining Hatenna with a red device, "According to my Pokedex, it looks like Hatenna knows Psybeam, Life Dew, Confusion, and Protect."

"…" Neo nodded before focusing on the battle.

"Tsk," Yang scoffed as she crossed her arms, "I could still handle it."

"Munch!" Munchlax ran in for a tackle, causing Neo to focus. In response, Hatenna's body glowed in a blue light. In the middle of his run, Munchlax also started to glow in that light, "Munch?" The big eater Pokemon said as his body lifted in the air, then was flung back into the ground.

"…" Neo smiled as before pointing. Hatenna's head protrusion started glowing as the Psybeam was fired.

While Munchlax was still recovering, he dodged out of the way of the beam, "Munchlax!" he said before charging again, this time clenching his right fist. Yang gasped as it suddenly caught fire.

"Wow," Leaf commented, "It knows Fire Punch."

"There's an attack called fire punch!?" Yang said as her eyes lit up with joy, "Neo, please let me catch this guy. He's awesome!"

"…" Neo smirked as Hatenna did the same. Suddenly, a green barrier formed around the pintsized Pokemon. The fire punch bounced off the barrier, but the barrier faded as well.

While Hatenna was still confident, she then gasped as Munchlax glared down at her. The big eater Pokemon's vision turned into a fantasy. Hatenna turned into a strawberry cupcake with blue frosting and a blueberry on top. "Munch!" Munchlax said as its mouth opened, biting down on the hat protection.

"…!" Neo panicked as Hatenna was being thrashed from the bite. The mute girl focused as Hatenna did the same. Suddenly, Munchlax's eyes widened as a Psybeam was fired into his mouth. The jaws opened as Hatenna was launch out of the air, then she crashed into the sand. Her body was somewhat damage and struggled to stand. Neo grit her teeth as Hatenna's head protrusion glowed again. This time, the droplet fell on her own body, healing her in a green aura. Neo let out a sigh of relief, but then gasped. Munchlax was charging in again with a fire punch. Hatenna was too busy healing to put up a protective barrier.

"Munch!" Munchlax spoke before it was about to land the punch. Hatenna sweat in fear as it could avoid the hit. Suddenly, Yang ran up and caught the punch in her right hand, "Munch?"

"Sorry buddy, but I'm not standing on the sidelines anymore," Yang responded before pushing Munchlax back. While her right palm was burnt from the fire punch, she still clenched it into a fist. "If you're going to be my first Pokemon, I should be the defeat you." The blond brawler said before hitting her fist together, "So, come on! Hit me with your best shot!"

"Munch!" Munchlax responded with a grin, "Lax Munchlax!" He said before extending his hands, then wagging his fingers, "Munchlax. Munchlax. Munchlax."

"Uh, what's he doing?" Yang asked Leaf.

"Metronome." Leaf said in a slightly serious voice, "It gives the user access to any move, but it is chosen at random." She said before crossing her arms, "If he hits you with something like Hyper Beam or Explosion, the result won't be pretty."

"Oh," Yang responded as a line of sweat ran down her forehead. However, she forced back on the Munchlax, "No matter what, I am not getting out of the way." She said as Neo saw Hatenna still behind the blond brawler.

"Munchlax. Munchlax. Munch," The big eater Pokemon said before pointing up. "Lax!" Munchlax declared as metronome picked a move. Yang braced herself, fearing the worse. However, nothing appeared to happen. Munchlax lowered his arms. "Munch…. Lax…" He snored as with his eyes closed.

"HUH!?" Yang commented in shock, "He's sleeping?"

"Look at that, it randomized into Rest." Leaf said as Neo looked on with half-open eyes. "Lucky you, all you need to do is throw a ball at him." She said before tossing a one to Yang.

Yang caught it in her left hand before glaring at Munchlax, "Okay, you're mine!" Yang said as she tossed the ball as hard as she could. It collided with the big eater Pokémon's head, bouncing off before opening. The red energy ensnared and absorbed Munchlax, then closed. The ball shock once, then shock twice.

"…Hey, can it break out while sleeping?" Yang asked.

"Well, yeah. But we can throw another ball." Leaf was saying as they all watched the ball shake a third time. After a dead silence, a click was heard, "Never mind, you caught him. Congrats!"

"Yes!" Yang said as she ran over to the ball, picking it up and raising it hit into the sky, "I caught a Munchlax!" She said as the sun gleamed off the Pokeball. She then heard a slight applaud, looking over to see Neo clapping with a slight smile. Yang smiled back before looking down, seeing Hatenna walking up, "Thanks for softening him up for me." Yang said as Hatenna looked over to the right hand. The blond brawler noticed it as well, the burns still stinging. She extended her hand to the pintsized Pokemon, allowing life dew to be used to heal the palm. Yang smiled as she felt the pain go away, then moved to pet Hatenna as thanks. However, she hesitated upon thinking it would scare the Pokemon again. But to her surprise, Hatenna smiled as she lowered her head. Yang let out a giggle before petting Hatenna on the head.

"Okay, we're already ahead of schedule." Leaf as said as she and Neo walked over to Yang, "We'll do a little bit of training before moving on to catching some more members."

"Sounds like a plan," Yang said as Neo nodded. The blond brawler then tossed her Pokeball into the air, "Munchlax, come on out!" She said as the ball open, causing the big eater Pokemon to reemerge.

"…Munch?" Munchlax said as he awake from his sleep, then saw Yang kneel towards him.

"Okay buddy, you and I are partners now. So, let's show this world how great we are." She said before winking with a smile, "Don't worry, I'll make sure you're well-fed."

"Munch!" Munchlax cried out in joy as he smiled and nodded, "Munchlax Munch."

"Good." Yang said before standing up, turning back to Leaf and Neo, "So, where should go next for training?"

"Well, I was thinking maybe-" Leaf was saying until the unexpected happened.

"Munch?" Munchlax said as he focused on Yang's hair, his vision turning into a fantasy. The long locks turned into strands of angel hair pasta, "Munchlax!" He said before jumping and biting into Yang's hair.

"AAAHHH!" Yang screamed as her hair was being chewed, "Get him off! Get him off! Get him off!" She said while swinging her head, grabbing her skull in pain.

"…!" Neo panicked as she grabbed Munchlax, trying to pull him.

"AAAAAHHHH! Not like that!" Yang screamed, "You're going to rip off all my hair!" She shouted as Munchlax continue to chew, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"

Leaf watched on as she sighed, "It's gonna be a long road ahead for them." She said before smiling, "But it should be fun." She said as just watched the duo try to figure out this situation with the most hair saved as possible.

AN: There you go, Neo and Yang each have their first Pokemon. Hatenna is a perfect fit for a mute character like Neo, who I will keep mute for this series. It is the defining trait of Neo, and I personally like writing her without speaking, as it forces me to be a bit more creative. Yang gets her own mini bear in the form of Munchlax, one that appropriately knows fire punch. Despite this rocky start, I cannot wait to show how that pair grows together. And their third companion is Leaf, who I am not calling Green in this context, but she is based in part on the Green from the Pokemon Adventures manga, (If you have not read that manga, it is very good). She is very fun to write as a laid-back girl who simply knows what she wants. Like I said before, this group is the one I am most fascinated by and think will be very entertaining. In the next two chapters, we go to the final duo sent to the Pokemon world, Weiss and Blake. However, something might have happened to the faunus friend, (Before it is commented, I did not turn Blake into a Pokemon).That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.