Truck driver Ken Worth's first day on the road kept going further into the bizarre. He understood Mack's logic in requiring his drivers be Pokémon trainers to protect their trucks from incidents or attackers. He was however having a hard time though understanding how the first one to try and mess with his rig had somehow ended up being a pre-teen trainer with a misguided at best approach to locating legendary Pokémon.

Young William was bound and determined to catch the Pokémon Mew and thanks to a rumor that was getting out of hand he was now convinced the legendary was, for unknown reasons, hiding under Ken's truck parked near the S.S. Anne on the Vermilion City docks. Having now pressured the trucker into a one-on-one battle he'd sent out his Bellsprout to whoop his little Jolteon's tail only to have Ken accept the challenge then tell him his Pokémon wasn't a Jolteon. As the battle begin William used his Pokédex to identify Ken's Pokemon as a fire-type Fennekin, only now realizing he'd made a serious tactical error sending out a grass type against a fire type instead of an electric one.

On the other side Ken was reluctant to send Fennekin into battle after they'd only known each other for just a few hours but the little yellow fox was ready to rumble. His losing streak that ended his tenure with his first trainer burned in the back of his mind and he was bound and determined to end it the first time he got a chance. He was going to make sure this would be that moment. Ken could pick up on the fox's need for a fight and now found himself ordering the little guy into action.

"Fennekin, drop the hammer," Ken said. "Scratch attack now!"

"Fen," Fennekin responded.

With several of the longshoremen who worked on the dock now watching on Fennekin ran toward Bellsprout and launched himself skyward with claws bared. William immediately tried to have his Pokémon counter it.

"Bellsprout, wrap it up," William shouted. "End this quick or you aren't going to like how this one could go."

The two Pokémon both connected on their attacks. Fennekin slashed his claws right across Bellsprout's face only to get tangled up in the vines the grass type deployed. Ken started mentally going through the trio of attacks Mack told him Fennekin had.

"Fennekin, give it a tail whip and bust loose," Ken said.

"Fen," Fennekin responded.

The little fox threw the weight of his body into it as he used his tail to smack Bellsprout. It didn't have much if any effect. William had a smile on his face. Type disadvantage or no, he and Bellsprout likely had the edge in battle experience here and they could use that.

"You'll have to try harder than that you pair of big rig boneheads," William said. "Bellsprout, vine whip!"

The grass type started swinging Fennekin around in circles with its vines before releasing it. The little fox flew through the air right into the front of Truck #2,013, connecting with a loud thud before falling to the ground.

"Whip it good," William quipped.

Ken dashed over to check on Fennekin.

"You okay buddy?" the new trainer asked.

The little fox pulled himself up. He was a little dazed for a moment but shock it off. The look on his muzzle was one of pure rage. There was now a fire burning in his eyes.

"Fen," Fennekin said.

"You want to keep going?" Ken said.

"Fen fen," the little fox responded.

Ken gave him the thumbs up to do so. He then glanced over at his truck and noted the impact had dented his rig just above the left side headlight. Now it was Ken's turn to get a burning fire in his eyes.

"HEY," Ken yelled. "Watch the paint job kid! I just got this both truck and Fennekin today!"

"You just got that fire type today?" William asked. "Is this your first battle ever?"

"Yes," Ken replied. "I had to become a trainer for my new job."

"Well let me show you how this is done then," William said, his confidence rising. "Bellsprout vine whip it again."

"Bellsprout," the grass type replied.

"Fennekin, ember to counter," Ken said.

Fennekin took two hits from Bellsprout's vines but cut loose his sparking attack on them as they connected. The flower Pokémon winced and William took note. Fennekin looked back at Ken with a smile on his maw. Ken got the message and stared over at William.

"You're messing with the wrong over the road warriors," Ken said. "If you want to forfeit now we'll take it."

"No way rookie," William said defiantly.

"Okay, I hope they taught you in school about how if you play with fire you get burned," Ken said. "Fennekin, ember attack!"

"Fen," the Pokemon replied as he opened his mouth and let loose another round of orange sparks.

"Bellsprout wrap him up," William said. "This isn't over yet."

The little flower Pokemon took some serious damage from the sparks but still had some fight left in it as it deployed its vines. Ken and Fennekin knew they were pulling ahead and both were ready to end this with a coup de grâce.

"Fennekin, ember again," Ken said. "Turn up the heat!"

Before the grass type's vines could wrap around its target Fennekin let loose and an even larger shower of sparks. There was no escape as Bellsprout took a direct hit, its vines falling to the ground as the super effective attack finished it off. Bellsprout became dazed then passed out on the dock, its eyes taking on a spiraled look as it fainted.

"Bellsprout is unable to battle," said one of the longshoremen. "Turn out the lights, the party's over."

Fennekin's face lit up proudly as the man said it. He hoped Bellsprout would be okay but right now he could finally celebrate as his losing streak evaporated. Ken couldn't help but smile too, his first time battling a Pokémon and he got a win if albeit a very lucky one. It was nice to see Fennekin getting so happy. The little fox ran over to its trainer and jumped into his arms in celebration.

"Fennekin fen fen Fennekin," the little fox said joyfully.

"You did great out there Fennekin," Ken said. "You're on a hot streak now."

"Bellsprout return," William said using its Poké Ball to retrieve his injured Pokémon. "I'll get you to a Pokémon Center pronto."

William turned to Ken.

"Well, you win this one," William said, accepting defeat.

Ken put on a friendly face. He didn't want to send the kid away angry despite what he had done, after all he was just going too far with a rumor. Fennekin smiled too, he didn't want to see the kid going off hurt either.

"You're a talented trainer kid but please remember to look before your leap," Ken said. "There's a lot to be learned from a loss. I wish you the best on your Pokémon journey."

"Thanks," William replied. "I think I'll have to get a bit more thoughtful on the draw for one-on-one fights after this. My Krabby would have smoked that little guy if I'd have thought out my selection more."

Ken reached into his starter kit and pulled out an item, looking for something he could give the youngster. It was labelled as a lava cookie.

"Hey William," Ken said. "Got any use for a lava cookie?"

"Sure," William replied. "You won though, why are you giving this to me."

"Eh, that was pretty fun so I figure I should send you away with a consolation prize for giving me a shot at my first battle," Ken said as he handed William the lava cookie. "Have a fun one but please don't go looking for legendries under my truck again."

"I won't sir," William said. "Stay safe and good luck on the road."

"Fennekin," Fennekin said.

"I think that's his way of saying thank you," Ken said. "Here's hoping you get Bellsprout healed up and have a good day."

"I will," William said as he walked off. "Catch ya later."

The crowd of longshoreman departed as William walked off with the battle now over. Many of the workers and even the passengers on the Anne were likely headed for lunch. Ken put Fennekin down as the two were now almost alone on the dock.

"Well that was unexpected," Ken said. "You're quite the battler buddy. Hopefully you'll hold your own if we end up against any real dangerous threats."

"Fen fen," Fennekin replied happily.

The little fox wagged its tail lightly as it looked at its trainer. Fennekin was ecstatic at finally getting another win under his proverbial belt. This trucker thing might just work out well for him.

Ken turned his attention to the dent on the front of his truck and began looking it over, it probably wasn't anything serious from what he could tell. Fennekin was still smiling about the battle when suddenly something caught his attention from underneath the truck, something very pink.

"Fen fen," Fennekin barked.

"Huh, what is it little guy?" Ken asked.

Fennekin kept barking as he ran around to the side of the truck. Ken followed but he didn't see anything.

"What's going on?" Ken asked. "Something spook ya?"

"Kin," Fennekin replied, pointing under the truck. "Fennekin fen ne."

"Is something actually down there?" Ken asked. "I highly doubt it but I'll check for you. It's the least I can do after you protected our truck there."

Ken started to bend over to look under his truck only to find a pair of blue eyes and a pink face looking back at him from underneath the chassis. Ken's jaw about hit the pavement as Mew floated out from under his truck. It gave a simple yawn, having apparently indeed apparently been napping under his truck the whole time. Both Ken and Fennekin were too awe struck to say or do anything but look on.

"Mew," Mew said with a laugh.

The trucker and his fox could not believe what they were seeing as the little pink visitor gave them a friendly wave and then took off into the sky, slowly rising above the city before darting off at great speed into the distance, leaving little but a twinkle in the sky. Ken tried to put together a complete sentence and failed.

"Wait, so he really was…with our truck…but why would…"

Finally Ken quit trying to make sense of it.

"Oh forget it," Ken said. "Something tells me this is going to be a very odd trip."

"Fen Fennekin," Fennekin replied.

"Come on Fennekin," Ken said. "Vermilion City is getting a little weird for my tastes. Let's get those Poké Balls and get back on the road."

"Fen," said Fennekin.

Ken opened the door and Fennekin hopped in the cab. He climbed in after his Pokémon and started the truck up. Popping it in gear they slowly drove off toward the GS dock and their next load.

AUTHOR NOTE

The bit with Mew and the truck being parked on the Vermilion City dock near the Anne are of course references to the long held rumor from the original Pokémon Red and Blue games that the player character could move a truck they found there and find a Mew under it they could battle under it. It wasn't true in the games but here I figured it would be a fun twist to play around with that idea a bit for a laugh. For Ken and Fennekin though their encounter with Mew also marks the point in this fic where things are going to get a bit more difficult for them. Keep reading, there's a good deal of fun ahead.