So this is really late. Sorry for the delay I legit could not get this chapter quite right. It's going to be a shorter one than usual too. Let's get right into it!

"Human speech"

"Pokémon speech"

'Thoughts'

'Things the characters read'

"Pokémon and humans at the same time"

(moves)

May 16, 2:30 Pm HST

As I left Littleroot, Sanguine perched on my shoulder, and I started to plan my route through Hoenn. Up first was Petalburg, Challenge my dad's Gym, then to Rustboro or Dewford. I was just about to enter Oldale again, when May came charging up behind me.

"Brendan!" She huffed, "I forgot to give you this!" She handed me a piece of paper with a QR code on it. Before I could ask why she gave it to me, she said:

"Pull up the Trainer ID app, and scan this." I did and a notification came up.

'Trainer Brendan Maple, you have hereby been permitted to enter Hoenn's next Ever Grande conference. Your main goal until the tournament is to collect the Badges of Hoenn's official gyms, train your team, and traverse the victory road to enter the tournament. Good luck challenger, and may fortune favor you!'

"Are you serious!? Thank you! Well San, guess we don't have to worry about registering for the league."

"You do still have to stop at the nearest Pokémon Center to get your badge case, but otherwise you're all set!" May explained.

"Thank you so much, this means a lot to me!"

"Yeah no problem," May giggled. Anything for a friend!"

"Thanks, if you ever need help with research, just ask. I would be happy to lend a hand."

We shook hands, May gave me some Pokéballs, we said goodbye and then she ran back towards Littleroot.

"Dad, we should get going!" Sanguine whined. "I wanna get to Petalburg already!"

"Calm down buddy. Be patient, it'll take most of the day just to get through route 102. Besides, I want to spend some time training up Flare."

Sanguine just grumbled and huffed.

"How about this, we'll get to the end of route 102 train for a few hours, then stop at the Pokémon center for the night."

"Alright… but I wanna start battling soon."

"I know buddy you have two days left as of…now!"

"Hell yeah! Time zone differences this is the one time you come in handy!"

I laughed and continued on.

May 16, 6 Pm HST

After picking up my badge case from Oldale's Pokémon center, we reached route 102.

"Well buddy, looks like we're here, what do you say we let Flare out and search for a spot to train?"

"Daaaaad, do we really have to stop, I wanna keep going!"

"How about this we go a little further maybe halfway through the route, stop traveling for the night, then train with Flare while I make dinner. Sounds good to you?"

"I find this agreement somewhat tolerable…"

I had to hold myself back from snickering at Sanguine's attempt to sound more mature than he was.

'It's funny, San is trying to act all big and smart, only to act closer to his age if he's excited or upset. I should probably make sure that it doesn't get too out of hand though. Don't want him turning into a brat.'

"Dad, let's gooo."

"Hey, be patient, I'm trying to plan things out."

"At least keep walking for a little bit. Please!?"

"Alright San. But only for an hour at most. I need to plan our route and training schedule. Unless you want to lose at a gym because we aren't strong enough?"

"No, I wanna be stronger! Sorry dad."

"It's alright San, but you need to remember to A, be polite and patient, and B, remember that there's usually a reason for what I do. Maybe it's not always a good reason, but still there's a reason." I explained.

"Ok, sorry dad."

I just chuckled and thought to myself 'Arceus, I hope I wasn't as big of a handful for my parents when I was little.'

An hour later we had sat down and I pulled out my cooking supplies and bowls and food for Sanguine and flare. Half an hour later I had our dinner ready.

"Alright you two, dinner is served!"

"Thanks dad!" Sanguine exclaimed.

"Thank you Brendan!" Flare agreed.

"Heh, no problem you two, dig in!"

We soon began chowing down on our food, and we were halfway through our meal, when all of a sudden we heard a familiar growl.

"Are you serious, not again!" Sanguine, Flare, and I shouted.

Out of the brush came a very beat up and angry Poochyena.

"I've finally found ya, bastard! You got my pack stolen away from me! On top of that I haven't eaten in two days now! It's time for some payback!"

"Hey your pack was attacking humans, if you actually hurt the Professor or myself, your pack would have been hunted and put down. Besides, your pack has been relocated, if you just calm down and relax we can give you some food and heck maybe we can even help reunite you with your family!" I desperately wanted to avoid a fight. I didn't want to injure the poor thing, after all it was all alone, really beat up, and hungry.

"Why should I trust you ya bastard! How do I know you won't attack the second I drop my guard?"

"First off, what would we even gain from that? Second, because you're beat up, hungry, and alone, against two fed, healthy, and ready to battle Pokémon."

The poochyena paused, obviously considering my words.

"Look I feel bad about all that's happened between us and your pack. Least I can do is get you back to them. Hell, we can even help you grow stronger while we travel. So how about it, truce?"

"… fine. But don't expect me to be all grateful. After all, you owe me!"

"Alright then, come on over and sit down, let me get a bowl ready for you!"

"Fine… but just to be clear, I'm only coming over because I want to, not because I'm hurt or hungry." The poochyena huffed.

"That's Alright, I believe you."

I got a bowl ready for our new "acquaintance", and set it down near them. I then said: "Go on, dig in." They eyed it suspiciously before her hunger won out and they started to chow down.

"Damn, this is great, thanks!"

"Yeah no problem, do you mind if I scan you with my Pokédex? It'll help me gauge how strong you are."

The Poochyena eyed me suspiciously, but finally nodded in assent.

'Poochyena; the Bite Pokémon.

At first sight, Poochyena takes a bite at anything that moves. This Pokémon chases after prey until the victim becomes exhausted. However, it may turn tail if the prey strikes back. Poochyena is an omnivore-it will eat anything. A distinguishing feature is how large its fangs are compared to its body. This Pokémon tries to intimidate its foes by making the hair on its tail bristle out.

This Poochyena is a level 6 female, with the ability Quick Feet, and has the moves (Tackle), (Howl), and (Poison Fang).'

"Damn, You're pretty strong! That (poison fang) is going to be handy in a battle."

"I ain't quite got it down though."

"That's fine, we can work on it. So, do you have a name, or do you want one?"

"I don't have a name. If you want to give me a name, it better be cool, and I have to approve of it!" She asserted.

"Alright then, lemme think…how about Dokuga? It's Kanjosinnen for poison fangs."

"Dokuga huh? I think it suits me. Alright human, I will accept your name for me."

"Great, glad that's all settled! Now if you want to join our group, I am going to have to catch you, otherwise some other trainer would be well within their rights to try and catch you for themselves." I explained.

"Do I have to stay inside one of those damn orbs all the time?"

"Not if you don't want to. The only times I would ask you to stay in your Pokéball would be during a gym or league battle, or while you're being healed up at a Pokémon Center."

"Fine… but any other time I will be outside the damn orb."

"That's perfectly fine with me." I assured her.

I threw a Pokéball, three shakes later Dokuga joined the team.

Sanguine POV 10:30 pm HST

Dad went to bed about half an hour ago, and I started sizing up the newbies. Flare was aware of his position, but Dokuga needed to know her place in the group.

"Alright listen up!" I said, trying to make myself look bigger. "I'm Brendan's starter and the ace of his team, so don't go getting any ideas! Do you understand?"

She gave an odd look towards Flare and he just nodded. After a brief pause she turned back to me.

"Sure, whatever. I'm only traveling with you lot because I want to get stronger and return to my family."

"Oh… ok then?" I started to look away satisfied that the newbie knew her place.

"Heh, you try to act like an alpha, but you're still a mere cub." She smirked.

"What was that!?" I turned and glared.

"I'm just sayin, a real alpha lets others know their place by earning respect from their pack mates. They only resort to intimidation and coercion when a pack mate challenges them with violence." Her expression suddenly became severe.

"Your tactics are that of a cub, trying to secure power, but failing to realize that true strength comes from having allies in the pack." She gave me another stupid smirk, flicked her tail at me, then curled up and went to sleep.

I stormed off to curl up next to dad, but as I went to sleep Dokuga's words echoed through my mind...

Finally finished this chapter. Sorry that this one took so long, I could not figure out what I wanted to do with this one, but I know exactly how to proceed. I also think that I am going to start writing shorter chapters so I have an easier time with them.

Anyway, next time we get to Petalburg and meet Wally! As one other thing to note Kanjosinnen is the Pokémon world equivalent of Japanese, for convenience I am going to say it's lesser used than standard, or English. Hope you're all happy, healthy and doing well! Ciao and happy holidays!

Sanguine (Axew)- Lv 5, male. Ability; Mold Breaker. Moves; (Scratch), (Leer), (Iron Tail), (Bite).

Flare (Torchic) - Lv 7, male. Ability; Blaze. Moves; (Scratch), (Growl), (Focus Energy.)

Dokuga (Poochyena) - Lv 6, Female. Ability; Quick Feet. Moves; (Tackle), (Howl), (Poison Fang).

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