This is my first story in almost a year after my last update to Grudges.

It comes curiously at a time where I'm going into my sophmore year, and summer is almost over. Call it procrastination, and you wouldn't be too far off the mark.

Pokemon has always been a source of fascination to me, the infinite ways battles can go as well as how moudable stories centered in this world can be, so I've decided to take one of those ways and bring it to life through writing.

Happy reading everyone, and please review!

His name is Zirienji Axlhedron. But for the sake of simplicity, he's known as Ziri.

He lives pretty much alone with his mother; His father died years ago thanks to complications of a deadly duo of diseases. The two- Heart failure and lung cancer, came from smoking. He found this out when he was ten. He's now fifteen, living in New Bark Town.

He's a shy youth, always feeling at home on the sidelines as he watches the cute girls get snapped up by the buff but idiotic (And in some case plain ugly) jocks. He's been declared cute by many, many girls- But, for the sake of popularity, nobody sticks long to this scrawny nerd with the top grades in New Bark Junior High. They say scrawny. That's what they say.

Today is the day that he gets his first Pokemon. Today is the day of his journey to begin, to rise above the crowd, to embrace destiny. Because looks are never to be trusted, and that has never been more true when you talk about Zirienji Axlhedron.

That day, he woke up in bed- And promptly rolled off.

After he was finished yelling curses not meant for the young to hear, he picked himself up, groaning as he went. Sweeping his eyes across the room, past the Treecko plushy, the Jigglypuff poster that his mother had bought for him over his pitiful protests, and the mat emblazoned with a Relicanth- He liked ancient Pokemon, so he had chosen that particular one. Over his mother's pitiful protestations. Payback, but at least these days they were on speaking terms.

He sighed, and sat on the bed's edge, drawing a calloused hand through his wavy, sandy-brown hair. Some days back then, after his father's death, the grief had seemed so palatable in the house that he swore, that when outside, he could see a sort of aura. His mother had taken it quietly- Until a Shuppet had moved in, and they were forced to get over it. Well, she was- He had yelled at it with such fury over disturbing his mother's mourning that it instantly fled, but he had then proceeded to tell her to get over her husband's death in such direct terms that they couldn't speak to each other for a month without at least a few angry glares- His reasons being her bringing a Shuppet into the house with her stupid grieving, and her reasons being that he wasn't respecting her or his father's memory- To which he hotly retorted he had never really met him.

The clock read 8:43 A.M.; it was almost time to go. It was his appointed day to go beyond the safety of New Bark Town, with a partner Pokemon.

He looked at his right fist, clenched it, and stood up. Time to get going.

He left the house with a backpack over his shoulder, light blue cargo pants, and a white shirt that had three red bands on each sleeve, arranged laterally. The backpack contained three day's worth of light meals, a spare potion for his Pokemon, which ever one that might be, and finally some freshly picked berries.

"They're my last gifts to you."

"Mom, they aren't! I'll come back, I swear!"

"Well… they'll be for the next few months. Use them slowly, will you?"

"I will. Wish me luck!"

The excitement was gone, but the drive was still there. Just, in a different form. Time to get away from the wasted years here on the sidelines.

He turned to the lab, as he looked around, past the houses lining the street. Memories. Unpleasant ones, mostly. Down the memory lane, literally and metaphorically.

The meadow in front of Professor Elm's lab took up an entire block, but it, alone, had at least some happy memories for him. The track, where he had woken up at six in the morning just to have for himself. It wasn't a large block, one fifty feet to a side, but a hundred laps in twenty minutes gave him endurance and lung power to match or even exceed those jocks that had so tormented him. And the children, just watching them, he couldn't help but smile. It was July, a warm morning morphing into a hot day. Classic Johto.

The lab door was almost in front of him as he took one last look at the meadow, before he heard the automatic door slide to admit him.

A deep breath, and he stepped in.

Unbeknownst to him, or the inhabitants of the lab within, there was another boy outside the lab, on the other side exactly from where one Zirienji Axlhedron was entering. This boy had short, spiky green hair. No, he did not dye it nor was he on drugs. He was simply naturally a green-headed young man of fifteen.

As he peered at a table where three indentions were made, of which only two were filled…

"Hey, professor," he called through the lab as he walked in, "What's new?"

The aides looked at him and rolled their eyes. "He's been nursing his hand ever since the Totodile bit him on the hand," one hissed to Ziri. "I almost died laughing."

Ziri sighed. "Does he ever learn?"

All the aides knew Ziri as the volunteer who fed, watched over, and generally took care of all the Pokemon the lab studied- Mainly because the lab was short-staffed and Professor Elm was too disorganized and spontaneous to note carefully the conditions of his Pokemon. He treated them timidly, when he first started, but now it was with tenderness so heartfelt and ridiculously loving that the aides commented on exactly how tearful the Pokemon were when they had to leave him. He shrugged it off, but deep inside, he felt a stab of pain every time that happened.

Not that he'd ever show it.

The head researcher so mentioned at Ziri's entrance into the lab crashed down the stairs, his glasses lopsided. "Did someone call?" He asked in a faraway voice as he straightened his disheveled clothes and accessory.

The boy sighed. "Yes, professor," he sighed, "Isn't today the day I get my Pokemon?"

The boy outside heard everything. And then, he felt the anger course through his veins.

He had already planned this moment, for a week now, and then someone, a rather pretty and voluptuous girl with long dark red hair had swiped the Chikorita. And now this scrawny nobody was here to take another one!?

He closed his eyes. "Can the table spin?" Ziri asked, his hand hovering over the table.

He heard machinery moving, and the three indentions in the table, one already empty, began to move as per their preset pattern, etched on the surface by whoever designed it.

This will be my partner for life.

I swear, whoever I choose, I won't let it down.

What was this fool doing? Closing his eyes and holding his hand over the table? Did he think this was a game of roulette?

It did seem like it, and the boy outside allowed a cruel smile to cross his face, as he imagined the one inside playing the Russian variety, with a fully loaded gun.

Zirienji Axlhedron made his choice.

He picked up the red-and-white sphere, and pushed the button, with closed eyes.

When he opened them, on the floor was an animal resembling an echidna, with a long snout, a large patch of bluish-black fur stretching across its back, where multiple patches of red lay on its main body. Stubby forearms and legs complemented this (Though no claws), along with curiously shut eyes that nonetheless viewed his new owner with curiousity.

"Cynda?" It inquired in a high voice, as it paddled towards the shaken boy.

Ziri dropped to me knees as he offered a shaky hand to it. Would it-?

It immediately jumped onto it. He was surprised by its light weight, for all it's stoutness, as it ran up his shoulder- Where it promptly clutched his head to stop itself from falling off.

Ziri couldn't help but laugh along with the rest of the lab as its stubby limbs tried to wrap themselves around his head, with little success.

"Here, little guy," He said as his arms gently took it off his right shoulder and cradled it within his arms. It squeaked contently at this warm hug, and…

Promptly blasted up flames from its back that missed singeing his face by inches had he not thrown it back at the last second.

Ziri glared at it, but the look shifted to a grin as it gave the look of innocence. THE look of innocence, so he had no chance to fight it.

Everyone in the lab began clapping, and out of instinct he looked around, to find everyone with smiles on their faces.

"Congratulations, Zirienji Axlhedron," Professor Elm declared, "You now own a Cyndaquil."

The boy in question took a bow, while he new Cyndaquil squealed happily.

"By the way," the head researcher said quickly, "Could you run an errand for me?"

He groaned, along with the rest of the aides. "What did you forget today?"

The boy outside only sneered at the boy inside, who now cradled his new friend within his arms.

"Fool," he murmured, "What do you think Pokemon are? Friends? Only idiots would think that…"

Outside, Ziri turned to his Pokemon, now happily chirping its name while following him.

Immediately stopping when it saw it now had the attention of its new trainer, it stared at him curiously, wanting to hear anything and everything he had to say.

"Um," Ziri said hesitantly. "I'm Ziri, and…"

"Are you hungry?"

Immediately it chirped a "Quil!" which he took to be a yes. Taking off his backpack, he rummaged through, until he found the Pokeblock case that he had found a few months ago in the grass of the meadow that he was standing in front of. It still had some Pokeblocks in it, but since he made his own anyway it was filled chock-full to the brim. The way his Cyndaquil acted, he was sure that it had a jolly sort of nature. However, just to be sure, he took out Professor Elm's second gift- The Pokedex- And pointed it at his new friend.

"Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokemon. It flares flames from its back to protect itself. The fire burns vigorously if the Pokémon is angry. ("Or maybe when it gets a bit overboard with showing affection?" He grumbled to himself.)When it is tired, it sputters with incomplete combustion."

Pushing the navigation buttons, it soon analyzed the nature…

Coming up with a dismal "Unknown. Further time needed to analyze. Please wait at least a day."

Ziri stared, flabbergasted-He was supposed to hold this thing up for a DAY? But that fear was soon dispelled, as the machine said "Please put away Pokedex and wait another day," with a hint of annoyance.

"Nasty beyotch" the boy muttered as he complied.

He decided to give a spicy flavor a shot, anyway. Wasn't this thing a fire breathing echidna or mouse, depending how you looked at it? He didn't know it's gender, but he'd find out later. Stooping down, he offered the purple block to the Cyndaquil, which, after looking at it curiously, snapped it up.

After munching happily for a few seconds, its back flared up, which he couldn't help but laugh at. "A recharge, huh?" Ziri said lightly, as he put away the case.

That's when he noticed the smoke- A whole lot of smoke coming from his new friend's back. Immediately backing away…

He suddenly stopped as he hit something.

He had been walking along the sidewalk though, so it either meant the walls had become alive or…

He slowly looked around to find one Norman Bentley and his gang right behind him.

If there was someone that he absolutely hated in New Bark Town, it would have to be Norman Bentley and by extension his gang of jocks. The way they carried themselves made Ziri's blood boil every time they walked by, but that wasn't the only reason- They were the main reason of his social isolation, giving everyone who even had a half-thought about associating themselves with him the cold shoulder. It got worse and worse through the years till nobody wanted to have anything to do with him anymore in this town. The children at least.

"What're ya doin', punk? Don't you know that this town doesn't permit air pollution?"

The words were out of his mouth before he knew it.

"That a lot coming from you the way you fart, burp, and smell."

The stupid grin on his face immediately dropped to an enraged snarl. "Care to say that when we break your jaw?" He said, as he began stalking forward.

Ziri had already begun backing away form them but now he realized that Cyndaquil was next to him- And the smoke had given him an idea…

"Cyndaquil… use, uh… Smokescreen?" He asked suggestively. He had never ordered an attack, after all, but television had given him the examples.

Immediately, the flames on its back flared up yet again, but this time it was pitch-black smoke- And it was shot dead at Norman's gang. Taking the opportunity suggested by the sudden burst of coughing, Ziri yelled "Run!"

Both of them- Cyndaquil and him- Quickly turned heel and sprinted away, Cyndaquil following him. "Oh," the boy quickly improvised, "And keep up the Smokescreen!"

That would be akin to leaving a trail, but if they tried to follow them, then they'd held up by the fresh smoke- And they would be well out of town by then.

The green-haired boy had seen everything. The feeding, the verbal tradeoff, and now the botched chase as Norman's gang tried to run through the smoke and choked every three seconds. He couldn't resist a sneer at them. Despite his immediate dislike for the new owner of the Cyndaquil, he couldn't help but admire the wise usage of a continuous Smokescreen.

He looked back into the lab and sighed. Only one Pokemon remained.

When they'd finally reached the outskirts of New Bark Town, Cyndaquil was out of breath, the smoke now coming out in inconsistent bursts just like the flames on its back.

"You can stop now," Ziri said, only slightly out of breath. A testament to the daily routine that he always put himself through (The classic four-and-a-half mile run in twenty minutes per day), he had the endurance to prove it. Scooping up his starter Pokemon in his arms, where it gave an exhausted, but pleased cry, he gave it another Pokeblock, but this time leaned his face away from the patch of red, laughing as it, predictably, reignited the flames.

"We're leaving now," He told it, as it snuggled against him. "We're leaving this place, and we might not come back ever again." The words sent a chill through both his body, despite the growing heat, and his soul, but he shrugged it off. There were more important things to do.

Besides, he had his Pokegear…

Quickly dialing up his mother, he was greeted by an immediate "And you are calling me two hours after you left because…?"

"I just wanted to check up on you," Ziri quickly fibbed.

"Are you homesick already?"

"Will you die after a week without me?"

"Possibly. But I have this number you know."

"True. Love ya, mom."

"Love you too, Zirienji."

He groaned at the last part but couldn't resist the smile spreading across his face as he put the phone away.

"Let's go!" He yelled, and both he and his Pokemon charged into the wilds of Route 29.

Cherrygrove City was not aptly named.

Declared a city, yet rather small, it had no true signs of a metropolis- Some townhouses, the mandatory Pokemon Center and Pokemart, a Contest Hall, of all things, and civilian houses- But no gym. Still, the cherry groves just outside city limits gave the place its name, along with beauty. The middle of summer, as the time was now, still had some white blossoms fluttering through the air, but most of them had long since fluttered away.

It was here that three weeks earlier, a certain dark-haired girl, with a hint of red there, and a voluptuous body and pretty face to back it up had moved in from Sinnoh, if only to get away from the hectic hustle and bustle of Jubilife City. Although she had initially protested moving to a "city," she immediately shut up as soon as she saw the size, and then, rather loudly, declared that whoever named the city was an idiot, a buffoon, a fool, a nitwit, a bonehead, and many other things.

She had already gotten permission to take her first Pokemon from the lab in New Bark, but she had ran off without getting an escort- And Route 29 had a lot of wild Pokemon. However, she somehow did not encounter a single one on her way to the lab.

And then she got her Chikorita, which she quickly named Flora, and took her time on the walk back. Which, technically was necessary, given she was wearing two-and-a-half inch sandal heels. You couldn't say stiletto, but you couldn't say flats either. Oh well.

She had cut a rather large swathe of destruction with her new Chikorita, intentional or not as she blasted her way through Route 29, with Tackles and Growls.

For that reason, Zirienji Axlhedron met the first wild Pokemon that he caught.

As he and his Cyndaquil looked around as they walked, they were assaulted.

By an Aipom.

Immediately flipping open his Pokedex and pointing it at the new face, which now chattered angrily at them, the electronic encyclopedia immediately stated "Aipom, the Long Tail Pokemon. It's tail ends with a dexterous, hand-like appendage. However, because it uses the tail so much, Aipom's real hands have become rather clumsy."

He looked up, as Cyndaquil stared at the dancing, simian Pokemon with curiosity. The Aipom, not liking the attention, immediately stopped dancing and began swiping with its forelimbs, in what he recognized as a Scratch attack.

"Cyndaquil, get back!" Ziri shouted. As it immediately complied, the Aipom made a dash towards the fire mouse…

...That ended in a fall-on-the-face on the ground.

Everything went silent- The birds, the insects, the rustling of the grass, even the wind. And then the further angered Aipom popped up, and life resumed.

He opened his mouth to order an attack…

When he realized that he knew no attack that Cyndaquil knew save Smokescreen. Whipping out his Pokedex in a hurry while his Pokemon led on the Aipom in a wild-goose chase, the boy quickly scanned the moves list.

Tackle, Leer, Smokescreen…

Leer?

This thing's eyes weren't even open! But he ignored this apparently physically impossible fact of life and called out, "Leer!"

Immediately, the Aipom stopped as his Cyndaquil looked at it in a rather demeaning fashion… Or so he thought. Capitalizing on his advantage, Ziri yelled "Tackle!"

Immediately, his Pokemon charged and slammed into the still frozen mini-ape, which bounced along the ground screeching "AiAiAipom!" Popping back up, it began to move its tail rapidly, this time, making Cyndaquil stand still in fascination. Now it charged-

"C'mon, Cyndaquil! Pull yourself together and get in one more Tackle!"

Shaking its head, the fire mouse threw itself forward, and before the Aipom realized it, it was thrown backwards again. As it got up woozily, he rummaged through his bag, intending to capture it like they did in the shows…

And realized in a panic the professor hadn't given him any Pokeballs to start, save Cyndaquil's, and he couldn't use that for reasons even half-wits should know.

That's when his fingers found a spherical object with a depressible button. In panic, he threw it, catching a glimpse of red and white, before it bopped the Aipom dead between the eyes.

Ziri, along with the entire world yet again, held his (And their) breath, as it shook once, twice, thrice, and stood still, the button glowing red for a second before fading.

"Cynda?" his partner inquired as he walked over, and unsteadily picked up the sphere.

He had caught it, fair and square. The boy held it above his head for a minute, as whoops of celebration burst through his head; then he calmed down, and pressed the button.

In a flash of light, the Aipom appeared and looked at him. "Ai?"

"Um, hi?" Ziri said suggestively.

The Aipom immediately held out its tail, which he instinctively took and shook. It then looked around, and finding the Cyndaquil padding its way over, it shrieked in fright, and turned to run, only to collapse.

"Hey, are you okay!?" Ziri practically shouted as he gingerly picked up his newfound Pokemon. It cowered away from his Cyndaquil, who looked on, bemused at the apparent fear. Cradling the Aipom in his arms, he opened his Pokedex to scan it, just for information.

Moves: Scratch, Tail Whip, Doubleslap.

Gender: Female

Nature: Timid.

Timid?

"That explains it," Ziri mused. "And it must be hurt from its battle with Cyndaquil…"

"But why was it so angry?"