James: The Root of Friendship

A young twelve-year old boy named James Orland anxiously watched the waves from a small, white ferry boat. His gray eyes followed the bobbing motion as the ship sliced through the water. It was not only his first time out of his native region, but also his first time going to an entirely different part of the world. Even though he was two years older than the minimum Trainer age requirement and was already accepted to begin in the Hoenn Region, he only now had the courage to leave.

I wonder what awaits me in Hoenn… he pondered as he adjusted his brown jacket and adjusted his gray newsboy cap. I can't wait to start my own journey, but...I don't know much about that region, or even its starters for that matter...

He took out his gold watch from his thick blue jeans. Oh, it's almost time for dinner. We'll be arriving in Littleroot Town tomorrow. I guess I can figure out who to choose tonight.

He turned around, only for someone to bump into him. James fell on his behind and rubbed his right hand onto his short black hair. He snatched his cap, making sure not to lose it to the ocean breeze. Once the hat returned onto his head, he looked up and saw a boy around his age massaging his forehead. The boy had a black buzz cut, a white shirt, and black slacks, unusual for a normal kid.

"A-Are you all right?" James asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine…" the boy gruffly replied. They got up, and he added, "Hey, I never heard an accent like yours before... It sounds...very fancy..."

James chuckled. "I'm from the Galar Region."

The boy's black eyes grew wide. "Wow, really?! That's so cool! That region's really far away! Are you going to start your journey in Hoenn?"

James nodded. "How about yourself?"

The boy sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Oh, I already got my starter Pokémon in Kanto, and I'm going to do the Indigo League. I'm just going to Hoenn for this new Trainer Festival."

James stroked his chin. "Why yes. I have heard about that. I was planning to participate myself."

"Hey! Why don't we go together?"

The Galarian was surprised by his acquaintance's enthusiasm. "Um...can I get your name first? After all, I do not know you very well."

"Where are my manners? My name's Giovanni Razzuchi."

"G-Gi-o...vann-i? I apologize if I messed up on the pronunciation."

Giovanni chuckled. "It IS a little difficult to pronounce. You can call me 'Gio', if that's easier."

James smiled. "Yes, thank you, Gio. As for your last name, are you a member of the battling family who specialize in manipulation of the flow of battle?"

"That's the one! I'm the last in my family, so I'm going to be the best Razzuchi ever! How about you? What's your name?"

"James. James Orland."

"Nice to meet you, James! Want to have dinner too? It'll be kind of awkward for me to be by myself."

"That would be wonderful."

"Great, let's go!"

James followed the excited boy with a relieved smile, sparking the beginning of a long lasting friendship.

The next day…

It was a bright, sunny day in Littleroot Town, the start for many people in the Hoenn Region. Young Trainers gathered around the field near the Professor's lab, eager for a day of fun and for some, their first Pokémon. James was amazed at the nature around him. Growing up in the industrial city of Motostoke, he rarely saw any grass or even native trees. Giovanni was equally impressed.

He inhaled deeply. "Man, the air is so much cleaner here than at home! And we're not even in Verdanturf Town!"

James nodded. "I agree. There is no smog in this town, which is quite remarkable." He looked at the booklet he received before he left. "It appears I can obtain my Pokémon at the laboratory by the edge of the forest."

"Then let's go! Wouldn't want you to enjoy the festival with no Pokémon by your side!"

The boys ran towards a large white building, where a crowd of kids also waited outside. James was still anxious about which starter to choose when a pretty girl with long dark brown hair walked by. He was stunned; he'd never seen someone with eyes as blue as the sea and skin as light as a Ninetales' fur. A strange feeling crept over him; it was cold, yet warm at the same time. Only when Giovanni tapped his shoulder did he come back to his senses.

"Hey, James, you okay? You seem...distracted."

"No worries, mate. I'm fine. Anyways, I'd better join the rest of the new Trainers."

"Okay, don't keep me waiting! I wanna see which Pokémon you get!"

James nodded. He walked through the crowd, showed his brochure to a guard at the entrance to the lab, and joined a smaller group of about thirty standing in front of two men in lab coats. One had white slicked back hair and an air of nostalgia, and the other was a young adult with short brown hair.

The older man greeted the children. "Welcome everyone to my lab. I'm Professor Betula, and this is my assistant, Professor Birch."

The younger professor waved hello with a beaming smile.

The older professor continued. "I know you are all excited to choose your first starter Pokémon. We have three Pokémon here, the Grass type Treecko, the Fire type Torchic, and the Water type Mudkip. But please keep in mind the following. Each starter has their own strengths and weakness, especially when they are fully evolved, as well as their own personalities. Please treat them with respect and care, and they will become your greatest companion. We have plenty of each starter for you to choose, so if you would kindly follow Professor Birch, he will assist you in choosing your starter."

The kids could barely contain their excitement as they followed Professor Birch through the large lab and out to the large pasture surrounded by the forest. There, the starters were playing with each other, about ten of each. Everyone except James and the girl rushed out and examined their potential partner.

He glanced at the girl then looked away. She seems...so unsure... What do I do? Should I say something to her to help her relax?

"Hey," she asked. Her sweet voice made his heart skip a beat. "Do you know which starter you want to get?"

Darn it. She beat me to it. "Um… I have still not decided on one yet...in particular…"

Her eyes widened. "Are you from the Galar Region?"

"Y-Yes, I am…"

She smiled, making his heart beat faster. "I thought so. I've always wanted to visit that region, but it seems so far away."

"Oh," he replied with a chuckle. "It is not so far, about six hours of travel. But my trip seemed much longer than that, with all the packing and transfers."

She let out a soft laugh, making James feel much more at ease.

He continued, "Do you know which starter you'll get?"

The girl put her hair behind her left ear. "I'm leaning more towards Treecko. My family tends to pick Grass type starters. I also like their silent strength and physical power. But Torchic is much faster as it evolves, and its power almost rivals some of the best Fighting types around. Then there's Mudkip's solid defenses and Water typing, which is one of the most versatile types out there."

James grinned. "I never knew you were so insightful about battling."

Her eyes grew wide. "Oh no!"

Her shock startled him, and his heart dropped. Did I say something wrong?

Seeing that the boy didn't understand her response, she modestly replied, "I did it again, didn't I? Talking about competitive battling, I mean."

"It's quite alright. I enjoyed listening to your opinion. Although my region has a strong affinity for battling, I never wanted to actually be a competitive battler." He stopped himself when she shifted uneasily. "Oh, fiddlesticks. I'm digressing... Please forgive me, I didn't mean to upset you."

"R-Really?"

He beamed. "Of course. Besides, your analysis is helping me decide on whom to pick."

"Oh," she breathed a sigh of relief.

"My name is James by the way."

"Camilla." She gazed ahead. "Looks like there's only a few left. Do you want to find our Pokémon together?"

He nodded blankly, which made her laugh.

"Come on!"

They walked towards the gathering, where some Trainers began to leave after selecting their first Pokémon.

James scanned the remaining creatures. So just two Mudkip and one Treecko left?

A Mudkip and the Treecko approached them, curious of these new humans. Camilla knelt down and leaned her left arm out to the Grass type. She sniffed the girl's hand, then the young Pokémon eventually climbed onto her shoulder. The two smiled, and Treecko nuzzled her cheek.

"I take it you want to be my partner, Treecko?"

The Gecko Pokémon nodded fervently.

"Great! I'll name you Rhoda!"

"Rhoda, like the rhododendron?" James asked. After she nodded, he replied, "What a fine nickname." He then noticed the Mudkip walk towards him.

Suddenly, a ten-year old boy dashed in front of him. The Mud Fish Pokémon became frightened and scurried away.

"Come back here, Mudkip!" the boy screamed. "I choose you!"

He chased the Water type around the pen but couldn't catch him.

Professor Birch tried to save the scared starter. "Please stop. It's obvious Mudkip doesn't want you as his Trainer."

The boy stopped, then stomped on the grass. "You can't tell me what to do! I'm Philip Matterson!"

The girl muttered under her breath, "That nagging sensation I felt earlier; I was right after all."

"Did you say something?" James asked.

Startled, she replied, "Oh, nothing."

Mudkip, free from his pursuer, happily leapt into James' arms. He felt the Pokémon's smooth cool skin and looked at his large black eyes.

"Are you all right, Mudkip?" the Galarian asked.

The Water type nuzzled his chest, and a warm feeling swept over him. This...This could be my first Pokémon.

"No fair!" Philip shouted. Then he scoffed, "Who needs that Mudkip anyway? I'm gonna find a much stronger Pokémon than that puny thing!" He stomped back into the lab, leaving behind a dumbfounded group of people.

Professor Birch rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about that. Hopefully, he'll learn what having a Pokémon really means. Are you happy with your choices?"

James looked at the sad, forgotten Mudkip. "Will he be all right?"

The assistant picked up the Water type and tickled his gills. "Don't worry. He'll find a Trainer who will give him the proper care and attention. Thank you for worrying about him though."

"Of course." He then turned to his own Mudkip. "What shall I name you? Hm...you remind me of the seaweed growing in Hulbery. How about Cuvie?" He beamed at the boy's name choice, making the latter laugh. "Very well then! Cuvie, it is!"

He looked up and, to his disappointment, saw that Camilla and Rhoda were gone. I...I thought she was going to wait for me. Oh well, at least she can start her journey now. I do hope we can see each other again soon.

James carried Cuvie back to Littleroot Town, where Giovanni was waiting for him.

"There you are, James!" he exclaimed. "I wondered why you took so long! So, is this Mudkip your starter?"

"Correct. Cuvie, this is Gio, my friend."

Giovanni shook the Water type's paw. "Nice to meet you, Cuvie." The Mudkip nodded politely. "Oh yeah! I should show you who my starter is." He took the Poké Ball off of his belt and opened it. A Charmander appeared and gave a playful roar.

James was amazed. "A Charmander! They are quite popular in Galar! I heard those Pokémon are difficult to raise for new Trainers."

His friend puffed out his chest. "Not for me! I can handle it!" Suddenly, he stopped talking and looked behind him.

James looked in the same direction and saw Camilla and Rhoda exploring the booths. That was quick...

"So, that's her, isn't it?"

James stuttered, surprised to hear Giovanni's voice grow deeper, "H-Her?"

"Camilla Leland. The only child of Michael and Olivia Leland."

"Really? I met her when I was getting Cuvie. I had no idea she was from that battling family. They are one of the oldest, with their skill being the ability to pinpoint their opponent's weaknesses."

To his surprise, his friend's fist clenched then unclenched, as if he was debating about something.

"Is everything all right, Gio?"

"Yeah… It's just...something battling families go through…"

"What is it?"

Giovanni stroked his chin. "It's kind of hard to explain, but the gist is that whenever we meet a battling family member, we just have to battle."

"Oh. Is it a genetic trait?"

"Ge-ne-tic? Is that some special scienc-y thing?"

James shook his head. "Never mind. Are you going to battle her?"

Camilla noticed them, and Giovanni smirked. "It looks like it."

Camilla and Rhoda approached the boys. Her face was serious. "You're Giovanni Razzuchi, aren't you?"

The boy chuckled. "That's right, Camilla Leland."

James could see sparks shooting from their eyes. This is...really serious…

Giovanni cracked his knuckles. "You know what we have to do, right?"

"Of course." Camilla pointed to some practice battlefields on the grass. "Let's head over there."

"You got it."

James followed the two Trainers and their Pokémon, and they faced each other in the center. A crowd began to form once people recognized the participants. Giovanni and Camilla slid back to the boxes, leaving their Pokémon in the squares.

"Ladies first," Giovanni offered.

"All right then!" She waved her left arm forward. "Rhoda, Leer!"

"Charmander, Growl!"

The Treecko narrowed her eyes while the Fire type released a soft, yet sharp roar. Rhoda gritted her teeth and Charmander flinched slightly from her gaze.

"Rhoda, Pound!"

"Charmander, Scratch!"

The starter Pokémon lunged forward. Rhoda spun around and slapped the Kanto starter's face with her tail. Charmander withstood the attack and scratched the Hoenn starter's body. Rhoda rubbed her chest and stood on all fours. Both Pokémon continued their barrages of attacks, hitting and dodging efficiently.

James and Cuvie were amazed by the strategies of the two battling family members. Giovanni was manipulating Rhoda's movements while Camilla was targeting Charmander's weak points with her Treecko's tail.

After a few minutes, both Pokémon and Trainers were panting.

Giovanni grinned. "Charmander, finish this with Ember!" His Pokémon sprayed several flames at the Grass type.

James gasped. That would be super effective! Rhoda would never survive that attack!

However, Camilla smiled. "Rhoda, dodge and finish with Pound!"

Rhoda curled her tail and smacked it on the grass. Giovanni was stunned to see her leap over the Ember and slam onto Charmander's head. The Fire type wobbled and fell backwards, heavily panting.

Giovanni sighed, seeing his Pokémon couldn't battle any longer. "You win, Camilla." He ran over to Charmander and fed him some Oran Berries.

As the crowd clapped, Camilla walked to her Pokémon and praised, "Great job, Rhoda."

Giovanni then handed her some Berries, and she fed them to her exhausted Pokémon.

"You battled really well, Giovanni. I hope we get to battle again."

"Me too, Camilla!"

The two shook hands, and the people dispersed.

James approached his friends. "That was incredible! It felt like a high level battle!"

Giovanni laughed. "Come on, James! You're giving us too much credit!"

Camilla giggled. "We still need to hone our abilities. But thanks for the compliment. I had no idea you're friends with Giovanni."

James nervously chuckled, which caught Giovanni's attention. Suddenly, the boy who rejected the Mudkip earlier stormed towards him.

"There you are!" Philip roared. "I challenge you to a battle!"

James raised an eyebrow. "A battle? So you found a Pokémon already?"

"You bet I did! And, he'll wipe the floor with you and your Mudkip!"

Cuvie growled, and James clutched onto him. He didn't have much experience with battling, but he didn't have much of a choice. "Very well. I accept your challenge."

James stepped nervously onto the battlefield. Cuvie, however, leapt out of his arms and glared the arrogant Trainer.

Philip threw a Great Ball into the air. "Go, Nidoking!"

The Poison Pokémon slammed onto the grass and roared, shaking the nearby buildings and trees. James was astonished. How...How did he get such a powerful Pokémon?

Giovanni and Camilla frowned. "That's not even your Pokémon, is it?" the latter said with disdain.

Philip laughed. "Of course it is! My brother, Paul, kindly gave him to me to start my journey. Now, prepare to lose! Nidoking, Poison Jab!"

James braced for the powerful move, but to his and Cuvie's surprise, the Poison type yawned and proceeded to take a nap.

"Nidoking! What are you doing?! Destroy that Mudkip!"

But he refused to comply.

Giovanni shouted, "James, hurry up and take advantage!"

"Oh, right! Cuvie, Water Gun!"

The Water type sprayed a stream of water at Nidoking's face. The latter opened one eye, then fell back asleep.

Philip stomped his feet. "Come on, Nidoking! Earth Power!" When he didn't budge, the boy walked over and kicked him in the back. "MOVE IT!"

Nidoking quickly stood up and roared. Instead of attacking Cuvie, he charged at the trees, causing the people nearby to flee.

"Oh, no," he whimpered. "Paul, help me!"

After he ran away, Giovanni and Camilla stepped forward.

James asked the more experienced Trainers, "What can we do to stop Nidoking before he decides to attack the festival?"

Camilla stroked her chin. "I have an idea. Can you two distract him for me?"

Giovanni nodded. "Follow my lead, James. Charmander, use Growl!"

"Cuvie, use Growl too!"

The young Pokémon opened their mouths and growled, causing Nidoking to clasp his ears and roar in pain. Camilla scanned the immobilized Pokémon and pointed to his horn. "Rhoda, use Pound!"

The Treecko ran forward and leapt into the air with her tail. She then swung it at the horn, making Nidoking lose his balance.

As the powerful Pokémon growled at them, Camilla shouted, "Now!"

Giovanni shouted, "Ember!"

James added, "Water Gun!"

The fire and water hit the horn, causing Nidoking to remain powerless.

Camilla then pointed to his chest. "Pound!"

Rhoda jumped again and hit their opponent. However, Nidoking grabbed onto the Treecko's tail and threw her back to her Trainer. Both tumbled to the ground, and the Poison Pokémon charged at them.

"No, Camilla!" James and Cuvie ran in front of the injured pair.

"James, it's too dangerous!" she warned. "I'll be fine!"

He smiled. "Please trust me, Camilla."

She was taken aback, but she said, "O-Okay…"

James shouted, "Cuvie, use Water Gun!"

The Mudkip sprayed the water at Nidoking's chest, not only weakening him further, but also pushing him back.

Giovanni took advantage of this. "Charmander, Growl!"

Another sharp cry made Nidoking take a knee.

Then someone shouted, "That's enough!"

A teenager ran forward, with Philip following behind. The former held up the Great Ball. "Nidoking, return!"

He willingly returned to the safe haven of his ball. Everyone around them was speechless, and Professor Betula and Professor Birch ran over.

The old man questioned, "What happened here?!"

The teenager sighed, "I'm sorry, Professor Betula. It seems my brother here decided to 'borrow' one of my Pokémon to battle a new Trainer. He didn't realize that my Pokémon wouldn't listen to him, so my Nidoking caused this damage. Thanks to these Trainers, they stopped him before he could do more."

He then glared at Philip, who gave a deep bow. "I'm sorry, Professor…"

Professor Betula sighed. "At least no one was hurt. Philip, it seems you need to assist in the cleanup here."

Camilla said, "Professor, can we help?"

"But why? You and your friends saved everyone."

James sheepishly replied, "Well, we did contribute to this mess. It is the least we can do."

Giovanni nodded, although he wasn't as enthusiastic. "Yeah, James and Camilla are right."

The professor nodded. "Very well. We shall all help. After all, this is a great way to meet new people. Everyone, let's begin cleaning this up."

People cheered and, once armed with gloves and trash bags, proceeded to clean the battlefields and move the trees off the paths.

As James and Cuvie, picked up trash from the battlefield, Camilla and Rhoda joined them. "James," she whispered. "Why did you help me like that?"

"Oh. It is just...just you were in trouble. I could not let someone I care about get injured." He blushed. That did not come out correctly…

She giggled, surprising him. "Thank you, James. No one has done that kind of a gesture for me. I'm so used to people doing things for me and expect me to help them with my abilities, or even judging me because of my family lineage that I just...well...I tend to not trust others. But...I'm glad I can trust you and Giovanni."

His heart skipped a beat. "M-Me too… I am glad to have met both of you."

They then touched the same piece of rubbish and stared into each other's eyes. Both of them blushed and fell back. They laughed and continued the cleaning. It was the beginning of not only their own journeys, but also their relationship.