"I believe the most important part of my first year was when I participated in the CURT. The tournament was my introduction to the world stage."

-A quote from Austin Brickwork when commenting on his first year.

I awoke to the sight of the sheriff gently shaking my shoulder. He smiled and stroked his blond beard as he settled into a seat near me, "Good morning."

Shaking off my drowsiness I looked around and noticed that it was still dark out, "Good morning?"

"It's three am," he pointed to a clock and continued, "It sounds like you've had an exciting night, could you tell me about it?"

"Is vanillite alright?" I asked instead, "I remember that he had some cracks on him."

"It was nothing a potion couldn't fix."

I sighed in relief and told him about my night, bumping into vanillite, running from the poachers, our short break in the outhouse, and our battle to escape.

"So…" I hesitated, laws pertaining to using pokemon moves on humans popping into my head, "Fighting those poachers counts as self defense right?"

The Sherif's warm smile widened, "No, you are not in trouble for attacking those poachers. Actually you and vanillite have helped us a great deal, we've been looking for these pokemon poachers for the last few months and with yours and vanillite's testimonies we can finally move against them."

I smiled back, "It's great that you guys can catch the poachers, but I never intended to get involved with them."

He nodded and reached into his pocket and pulled out a wad of cash.

"This might not have been your intention but you did help us catch these poachers," he handed the cash to me, "This is your reward for assisting us with the capture of these criminals."

What? I get paid!?

"Why are you paying me?" I gasped.

"We often have open bounties for information on criminals, and this group of poachers had one such bounty. I don't recommend going out of your way to hunt bounties or become some sort of vigilantes. But you did good work last night," he pushes the cash into my hand, "Take it, you've earned it."

Numbly I took the cash and idly counted how much. $2000 pokedollars, a whole month's worth of work in a day. Trainers must make a lot of money if that's how much they can make simply by giving up info on criminals.

My thoughts come to a crashing halt.

Trainers make money.

Of course they make money, but the idea of making money as a trainer never occurred to me until now. You can bet on matches, tutor others, and win tournaments. You can even get sponsored by a company and make a lot through merchandise and PR. A good trainer can make a lot of money, and with more money I could cure Mum.

"Ah, looks like you have a visitor."

I looked up and made eye contact with vanillite across the hall.

I quickly pocketed the cash and dashed over to give the ice type a big hug. "It's good to see you again vanillite, how have you been?"

"Van, Van," he smiled.

I smiled back and caught sight of the sheriff heading back to his office. He gave me a simple nod which I returned.

Turning back to vanillite I felt a wave of affection flow through me. We had only met a few hours ago and yet it felt like we had been friends for months. With my newfound determination to become a pokemon trainer I knew I wanted him to be my starter, but I wasn't sure what to say to him. How do you ask for a pokemon to become your starter, your partner for life? Does he even want to go on a journey? He was recently imprisoned by the poachers. What if he wants to go back home? What if he already has a trainer?

Stop it Sam, you're spiraling, I chided myself. Gathering my courage, I decided to ask him outright.

"How would you like to make your position as my partner a permanent thing, and go on a journey with me?" I held out the pokeball mum gave me.

The ice type's eyes shimmered with excitement, "Vanillite!" he declared instantly, tapping the pokeball vanishing in a flash of light. A satisfying click followed and I had caught my first pokemon.

After scrolling through my phone and settling upon my plan I released vanillite. "Okay, I planned out my big goal and budget outlines, is there anything you want to do?"

"Lite?"

"Like what you want to do on our journey, like…" I waved my hand through the air, "Seeing a specific place, doing something, or any other goal."

Vanillite twirled in place, then performed his best approximation of a shrug.

"That's fine, you don't need a goal. I'm happy that you'll be joining me anyways, just if you ever want to do something just let me know and I'll see what I can do. On the note of goals I'll tell you mine. My goal is to get rich."

"Van," was all the ice type had to say on the matter.

I shrugged, "You probably don't understand the concept of money all that much, but basically money is what runs the world and the more you have, the more you can do," I pointed at vanillite, "What this means for you is that you need to become strong."

"Lite?" He pointed to himself.

"Yes, strong. The main way pokemon trainers make money is by battling other trainers. Whoever wins the battle also wins money from the loser. Generally you can win a few hundred to a grand in pokedollars, which is nice but the real prize is winning tournaments," I show him my phone and press play.

Horns blared in an epic uplifting tune. A camera showed flashes of battles. A chameleon blasting fire, A Staravia whooshing past the screen, A krokorok breaking apart the battlefield, and a druddigon roaring.

The camera shifted to the view of an arena as four words boomed onto the screen.

Celestia's Ultimate Rookie Tournament.

Vanillite oohed and ahhed at the visuals of the short promo and clapped when it came to an end.

"This is Celestia's Ultimate Rookie Tournament or CURT for short. It's the biggest tournament in Unova besides the conference and it is only open to first years. The grand prize for the whole tournament is ten thousand dollars!" I nearly shouted, my excitement getting the better of me. I blushed, a little embarrassed at my own excitement but continued, "That's our goal, winning the CURT and collecting that prize money."

"Van!" He cheered. I could tell he still didn't quite understand money but was enthusiastic nonetheless.

"Great!" I cheered with him, "Lastly, do you want a nickname?"

"Vanillite?"

"You know, like something to call you other than vanillite."

"Van, Van," he bobbed up and down.

"Now what should I call you? Frosty? Snowy? Cones?" I wondered.

Vanillite twirled considering the names.

"Hhmm, none of those really fit you," I mused, "How about Nicholas. You feel like a Nicholas, bright, cheerful and determined, like that delibird that delivers gifts in winter."

He stopped spinning and considered the name. "Vanillite," he bobbed.

"Great! It's good to meet you again Nicholas," I held out my hand for him to bump.

Nicholas smiled brightly at his new name and gave me a little bump.

The rest of the walk we spent in a comfortable silence, Nicholas's chill infecting night air caused me to shudder. Is he uncomfortable out in this temperature? Even at four in the morning it's still 50 Fahrenheit, far above his species preferred climate. Deciding to ask, I broke our silence, "Would you like to rest in your pokeball?"

Nicholas considered for a moment before nodding and in a flash of light he was once again in his pokeball.

I made my way back home and silently slipped through the door, and was greeted to the sight of a frowning Mum, and Elizibeth sleeping on the couch. We both stared at each other as a heavy silence fell between us.

"Umm…" I shifted from one foot to another, "Sorry I'm back late, but umm it's not my fault."

Mum slowly stood up and walked over, her greying eyes locked onto my own.

I'm taller than her, when did I get taller than her? Looking at Mum now I reaffirmed my decision to gather enough money for her treatment.

"Samantha," Mum called, snapping my attention back to the present.

"Don't you dare worry us like that again," she pulled me into a hug, "Do you know how worried Elizabeth and I were when you didn't come back home last night."

I hugged Mum back, "I'm sorry for not coming back sooner, but I have a good excuse for coming back late. I'll let you and Elizebth know in the morning, or I guess soon-ish. I'm going to shower and change, but the short version is that I've decided to become a pokemon trainer."

"Oh," Mum smiled as she pulled back from her hug, "That's good to hear. Elizabeth and I would love to hear about that."

I return her smile, "I'll fill you both in at breakfast."

One hot shower later I was in my room packing for my journey. I got the basics down a water bottle, a toothbrush, a hair brush, and some toiletries. I'll have to pick up some food for the road from the pokemart later, but right now I was trying to decide on my trainer outfit.

Looking at my closet was a sad sight. Most of my clothes were simple shirts or jeans I got from the thrift store. I never really cared about my appearance before, but having a recognizable look as a trainer is important for attracting sponsors and standing out among the crowd.

As Elizabeth would say, 'image is everything.'

I huffed frowning over my limited selection when my eyes landed on an old brown leather jacket.

The leather was aged and worn yet was still in good condition. The inside was lined with a soft fur and its long collar flared out reaching the jacket's shoulders. On the left shoulder were red and white feathers crossed in an X.

Gently I reached out and grabbed Dad's old flight jacket and put it on. Surprisingly it fit me pretty well, it was a little big but nothing that would look ridiculous.

I ran my fingers along the X recalling when Dad explained its meaning to me.

"Eeeep!" A seven year old me squealed as two giant braviaries loomed over me.

Dad chuckled from behind me, "Lay off her you two. She's here to experience her first flight."

At Dads command the flying types suddenly seemed much more inviting. I squinted at the pokemon then back at Dad.

"You said your feathers represent two pokemon, are these the two?" I asked.

"Yup," he confirmed.

"Why these two?" I pointed at the pokemon.

"First of all it's rude to point Sam," Dad chided, "Second I got my callsign from these two. Twin Feathers is what other Rangers call me."

"Twin Feathers is lame name."

Dad chuckled again, "I wasn't my choice, but anyways are you ready for your first flight?"

Last I heard Dad's braviaries went to old man mustache's gym. I wonder how they're doing? Wait, isn't it Skyla's gym starting this circuit? I haven't talked to her in what? Seven years? I'll have to ask to see her and Dad's braviaries when I get to Mistralton.

I heard Elizibeth stirring awake, so made my way out of my room and started on a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast for everybody. After eating both Elizabeth and Mum looked at me with expectant gazes.

"Last night I got caught up in a mess with some pokemon poachers, you'll probably see them come up on the news within the next few days, but that's not what's important. As of today I am officially becoming a pokemon trainer," I declared, and reached for my pokeball releasing Nicholas, "And this is Nicholas, my starter."

"Vanillite!" Nicholas twirled in place.

"So that's why you're wearing Dad's jacket," Elizabeth deduced.

"What do you mean poachers?" Mum frowned.

I winced seeing my attempt to distract Mum from the poachers using Nicholas failed. Sighing I told them how I met Nicholas and our escape from the poachers along with the $2000 reward bounty.

"Wow," Elizibeth sighed, stars practically shining in her eyes.

Mum was still frowning. I looked at her waiting for her criticisms.

"I can't fault you for stumbling upon poachers," she sighed, "But promise me you won't get into any more trouble."

"Why would I get in trouble? I want nothing to do with trouble," I frowned.

"You made two grand yesterday," Mum pointed out.

I blinked.

Fair. I would totally get into trouble if I was paid, "Fine, I promise I won't get into trouble."

Mum stared back with her 'I don't believe you' stare, but she relented after a few seconds looking at the pokemon in the room, "Why don't you introduce us?"

I nodded, happy to move on, "Elizabeth, Mum this is Nicholas. Nicholas, this is Elizabeth and Mum."

The ice type floated over to each of them to give them a bump of introduction. Mum let Nicholas bump her, but Elizabeth leaned away.

"Sam, Keep your freezing snow cone away from me!" she shivered.

Nicholas floated back to me dejected, "It's not that bad, see," I gave the ice type a quick hug.

Elizabeth shivered again, "Ya, no. Remind me to never catch an ice type."

I chuckled at her reluctance to the cold, and Mum smiled fondly at us.

"So what are your plans for today?" She asked.

"Well," I hummed, "I need to get registered for the circuit and get Nicholas analyzed so I can plan out his training. Also look up more of his species. So I'll be spending most of the day at the pokemon center. I'll come back for dinner then leave for Striation."

Mum nodded, "Well before you go and register dear don't forget to tell Rob you going on your journey,"

I froze.

Oh right, Rob. I'll have to quit the job I begged for on short notice.

Great.