Thankfully, it appeared the trainer had a better control of his partner than I had worried. The owl landed on his shoulder, hooting loudly as he finished approaching us. He offered a proud smile and did an odd hand wave.

"Alola! The name's Damon Matthews! Pleased to meet you. My Rowlet here is Fez!" He offered out a hand as he finished his introductions, his Pokemon (Rowlet, apparently) continuing to hoot as he does so.

I shifted Igor and accepted the handshake, deciding acting rude wouldn't get me anywhere with my excitable new companion. "Same to you. Cross Bellmere, Hoenn native. This one here is my partner, Igor. You're from Alola, I'd assume?"

Damon's grin widened. "Got it in one! Guess my greeting was a giveaway, huh?"

His attention quickly turned to our third.

"So you're Noel? Glad to have you along!"

Noel simply nodded back at Damon. "Charmed. Now let's focus on getting our equipment. I'm sure the Advisor here is ready for us to move along."

Now that she mentioned it, I could definitely see the polite smile of the Advisor starting to lose its luster as we continued to eat up her time. With our team's attention focused on her, though, it returned in full force.

"Ah, of course! Feel free to accept these parcels!"

She passed each of us a package.

"Each trainer kit will contain 3000 Kaidreachean dollars, 3 Basic Balls, 3 potions, and a voucher to redeem at the nearest Pokemon center for basic camping gear." She explained.

"Additionally, if you will please open them." I did so, only to see a rather familiar red device resting at the top.

"Each kit also comes with a Pokedex! While not allowed to be used in official League battles, these encyclopedias can give a broad range of information about both wild and your own Pokemon to you! Additionally, they are programmed to automatically warn you if a wild Pokemon deemed a threat to your safety is approaching you."

The advisor pressed a small button at her side, causing the three of our Pokedexs to begin beeping loudly. "That sound will alert you if you need to avoid a Pokemon near you. You can also send an SOS to the police and Advising Committee using your Pokedex. Please don't be afraid to do so."

The three of us nodded, though I followed that up by asking "How does the Pokedex deem a Pokemon to be a threat to our safety? Aren't most wild Pokemon potentially dangerous?"

"Excellent question. Assuming you regularly scan your own Pokemon, your Pokedex will know your approximate level. Should a Pokemon species known to be potentially hostile or naturally dangerous and of significantly higher level be detected within the dex's range, that will trigger the alarm. Do take it seriously, as at least a dozen trainers are retired from the circuit each year due to ignoring its warning."

I glanced at my two teammates. That warning somewhat worried me. Brendan had always told me that journey's could be dangerous, but I had managed to be just fine escaping wild Pokemon back home on my own. Thankfully, Damon seemed more excited than anything and Noel didn't seem to care.

The Advisor finished by taking out a map and showing us the local terrain. "Finally, I would like to inform you that you may challenge the gyms in any order with the exception of the 8th gym, which can be found north of Stenton."

She pointed to three cities west of Stenton. One in the mountains, one in the forest, and one that appeared to be on a river. "It is typically advised trainers first go to Stoncrag, Follitean, or Delthane for their first few gyms. Rathaid is also a good starting location to stop by and resupply after traveling through Follsteen Forest."

She rolled back up the map and said "With that, I wish you trainers luck! Feel free to stop by our local Pokemon Centers to pick up your supplies before you leave. Maybe have a friendly battle with another team to get use to Mass Multibattles before you go!"

The Advisor then quickly shooed us away, now holding up a sign that read 'Team 56'.

The three of us walked a short distance away before Damon whirled to face both Noel and I, Fez nearly falling off his shoulder.

"So, do we find a fight, or go ahead and leave? I don't really see the point in hanging around for too long once we get our stuff!" The Alolan bounced as he talked, clearly as full of energy as his Rowlet.

Noel raised an eyebrow in response. "Do you truly believe a battle to be best? We have only just now met, and you think getting in a fight is a good idea?"

I spoke up before Damon had a chance to respond. "Well, we are stuck with each other for at least a little bit. Might as well get a feeling for each other, y'know?"

Damon grinned at me. "Exactly! Now let's go find another team to become eternal rivals with!"

Fez screeched in agreement as Damon proudly marched us forward.

I quietly whispered "I think our teammate watches a bit too much anime." to Noel as we follow, getting a small chuckle from her and an approving hum from Igor. He did love jokes that poked fun. Maybe a hint of his future Dark typing?

As Damon led us along, I took a closer look at my teammates. Just like I thought upon first meeting him, Damon looked to be about my age. His brown hair seemed to be windswept back, though whether that was a purposeful style or the result of Fez, I had no idea. Despite assuming someone from Alola would be wearing an Alolan shirt, shorts, and sandals all the time, his rather basic t-shirt, pants, and tennis shoes was probably more reasonable for Kaidreach's temperate climate. A quick scan of his Rowlet also showed that the bird was apparently also a Grass type, meaning we had a bit of overlap in our team already.

Noel on the other hand seemed to ooze fashion. Her long dark hair went about half way down her back, her outfit seeming similar to a proper suit yet somehow still casual enough to work for a traveling trainer. Her Sandlle I had seen earlier was back in its Pokeball on her I had to guess from her accent and partner, she seemed to be from Unova. Unlike Damon, she seemed to be at least half a decade older than me, carrying herself with experience.

I was shaken from my musing by a declaration by Damon.

"Fellow bird spotted! Rivals acquired! Let's move, team!"

I followed behind Noel to see that Damon had indeed found another Trainer with a Flying type. A tall, rugged looking young man had a Rufflet perched on his shoulder and a camera dangling from his neck. He looked to us as we approached.

"Yo, wassup dudes. Your group looking for a scrap, too?" He drawled, each word lingering longer than probably necessary.

Damon preened. "You got it! Your group still around?"

The other trainer nodded. "Somewhere over by the training fields. Bern asked me to find a team since he didn't feel confident in talking to new people beyond us. Don't know where Marie disappeared to."

He seemed to realize something as he turned to lead us. "Oh, the name's Derek. Should have led with that. Follow me!"

Our team follows Derek, he and Damon chatting back and forth about the virtues of Flying types. Noel seemed to tune out their conversation. I, once again finding myself without an easy avenue to talk to my teammates, decided to just focus on Igor's humming as we moved through the crowd.

The training fields were not far at all from the town center, rather close to the Pokemon Center I had gotten my ID from. It looked like getting our supplies would be pretty easy after our battle. We maneuvered to one of the fields, where two trainers appeared to be waiting for Derek. One was the neighbor I had at the ceremony, Bernie if I remembered right. The other was an extremely cute woman with long, curly dark hair and a white, red, and black striped sweater.

'Oh wow, she's gorgeous.' I thought to myself. 'Her sweater fits her well and those boots look great.. Maybe I should ask her what she does with her hair. It looks like it'd feel so soft. Wait. Is that creepy?'

I was brought out of my thoughts out of my thoughts as she said "Y'know, when they say 'checking out the competition', they usually mean metaphorically, not literally."

My eyes, which had admittedly been probably not where they were supposed to be, snapped back up, meeting the smirk on her face. I felt my face heat up as I managed to stumble out a rushed "s-sorry" as I very smoothly averted my eyes to look at anything else besides the cute trainer that had caught me staring.. Fortunately, Damon, Derek, and Bernie seem to be discussing our battle and hadn't noticed.

Noel had though, and as I looked at her, I could clearly see the mischief dancing in her eyes. I could feel the teasing I was going to be hit with later. Just my luck. I could even feel Igor laughing at me, the Seedot vibrating in my arms.

"Hush, traitor. Aren't you supposed to have my back?" I whisper to him, only for Igor to vibrate harder, almost sounding like a maraca as he does.

I was finally spared by embarrassment by Damon, who loudly proclaimed "Alright, let's try our first Mass Multibattle guys! One Pokemon per trainer, first team of three wiped out loses."

Our team took to one side of the field, our opponents doing the same on the opposite. It was somewhat awkward, the trainer's box on either side of the field clearly being meant for a single trainer. Fortunately, we had just enough room to safely move around.

"Alright bud, remember, dodging is the name of the game, alright?" I tell Igor as I set him down, the acorn toddling onto the battlefield. Apparently his mirth at my embarrassment was enough to overcome any potential nerves he had for a fight.

Mine? Oh no. They were definitely still there.

As I expected, Fez flew from Damon's shoulder to take his place as 's Pokemon was too, her Sandile materializing from its Pokeball between our two Grass types.

Our opponents had a similar set up. Applin and Rufflet took off from their respective trainers. Marie grasped a Dusk Ball, lightly tossing it into the air. The dark light emitted from it quickly formed into a Pokemon, one that immediately increased the nerves I already had.

Marie's Deino roared as it appeared on the field.

Two dragons? For my first actual battle? With two trainers as allies that I've known for all of half an hour? Sure.

I nervously glanced at Noel, before deciding to put my battle knowledge to the test.

"Could you try to keep the Rufflet off of Igor? I don't know about Fez, but I don't really want my Grass type up against a Flying type right off the bat."

Before Noel could respond, Damon looked at me, confused. "Why would Fez be scared of a Flying type? He's one too! Aerial combat brothers!"

Somewhat shocked, I tried to gather my thoughts on just how bad of an idea that was. Fortunately Noel beat me to it.

"I can handle the bird. Have fun with the Dragons.* She said calmly. A small quirk of a grin briefly shined on her face for a brief moment before she followed with "And Cross? Don't get distracted by Deino's trainer."

Embarrassment once again flooded me, but I had no time to dwell on it as the opposing team appeared to get tired of waiting. With a quick command, Derek's Rufflet came hurtling toward Igor. My partner rattled in worry as the bird closed the distance way faster than I expected. No amount of watching professional battles could prepare me for actually being in one!

Noel seemed to have it together, though.

"Osushi, catch it."

That simple order was enough for her Sandile to burst into movement. Just before Rufflet could reach Igor, the Sandile, or Osushi I suppose, latched onto the Rufflet with its jaws. Dark energy seemed to coat its fangs as it caught the bird, the Bite attack landing cleanly.

Shaken into action, I decided to take out a Dragon, we had to be fast. "I-Igor! Before Deino starts moving, hit it with a Leech Seed! Damon, back me up!"

"You got it! Fez, smack 'im!"

Our two Grass types moved to face the Deino. Fez quickly moved right into its face, pecking at it with his round beak. The Dragon roared as Marie ordered it to Bite back, the two quickly getting into a scuffle. Said scuffle was enough to distract Deino enough for Igor's Leech Seed to land perfectly, vines quickly growing over it.

I sighed in relief, knowing that now we at least had the dragon on a timer. That relief didn't last long as it promptly grabbed and threw Fez over to the Applin, focusing on Igor. Damon yelped an order as Fez righted himself, quickly diving down to attack the other Dragon.

'Oh no. We made ourselves the target.' I thought, panic once again rising.

"Igor! Stay way from it! Use Harden if you can!" I yelled out.

"Chase him down Deino! Take him out!" Was Marie's response.

As fast as Igor's evolutions may be, he isn't right now. Even with the Leech Seed, Deino quickly gains on my partner as he wobbles over to the half of the field occupied by Osushi and Rufflet. It looks like Osushi hadn't let go yet, continuing to shake the poor bird even as the Rufflt tried to beat it off with its wings.

Having Igor run that way appeared to be the wrong decision, as the Dieno decided to bowl over Osushi in its attempt to reach the Seedot. Noel didn't look particular pleased with me, but I was a bit too focused on panicking to be worried about it for now beyond a simple 'sorry!'

Rufflet managed to free itself, though, allowing Osushi to focus on the Dragon currently trampling it. Good! Not good is the bird immediately chasing down my acorn. Quickly seeing that I only had one way out of this, I called out for the only move Igor could use to actually deal some damage.

"Brace yourself, Igor! Bide!" I yelled, maybe a bit too loudly, as I could hear Derek yelling at Rufflet to pull back.

A bit too late.

The Rufflet's Aerial Ace collided with Igor just as Bide started, my Seedot absorbing the hit as a white glow began to surround his body. I could almost feel the battlefield stop for a moment as the glow slowly became brighter, Rufflet not fast enough to avoid the flash of power that erupted right after.

As the light dissipated, Rufflet was officially down and out. Igor looked to only still be up due to his Sturdy ability supporting him and the Leech Seed draining the Deino. The Leech Seed also looked to have done enough to support Osushi's bout, as the crocodile's flame filled mouth chomped down on the Dieno with much more force than I expected from such a small Pokemon.

The last bit of its strength depleted, the Deino fell as well. Both defeated Pokemon were recalled, and I felt myself untense slightly, knowing only the Applin was at that side of the field, Fez was simply kicking the Applin around, the worm having Withdrawn into the apple to hide from the terror the bird was raining down upon it.

"I don't think Applin can win this, so I'll go ahead and recall him. That's a win for your team." Bernie called, recalling Applin just as it looked like Fez might start just eating the apple.

As his words sunk in, Damon cheered beside me, and Noel congratulated her partner, I felt an odd feeling of pride settle in.

Was this what it felt like to be an true, actual trainer?

'Well,' I thought to myself, 'I certainly could get used to this.'


And the team is together! Now that we have met our fellow teammates that will be traveling with Cross, I will be ending each chapter with their current teams. This will include their moves and abilities, but only what Cross is aware of at the time.

Cross:
Igor (Seedot). Moves: Harden, Growth, Leech Seed, Bide. Abilities: Sturdy

Damon:
Fez (Rowlet). Moves: Tackle, Peck.

Noel:
Osushi (Sandile). Moves: Bite, Fire Fang.