Jeremy and I both took a deep breath, then we walked into the forest. Trees all shapes and sizes towered over us like skyscrapers. A few Pokémon scattered around, having a great time in the outdoors, away from Pokémon Trainers.

"Wow look at all the different Pokémon!" I cried out, accidentally scaring a few of the Pokémon making them run out of my sight. "Great , I scared them."

Jeremy chuckled. "It's fine, lets just get threw this forest so we can get to Rustboro City for you first gym battle," I nodded in agreement with Jeremy's response. He then pulled out a map and unfolded it, examining the forest's exits. "It says here that the only way out is here." Jeremy pointed to the only exit, farther from where we were.

"Great, that's gonna take us the whole day to find it!" I said furiously.

Jeremy looked around the forest, carefully trying to find something. "Maybe we can ask someone who might also be in here."

I face palmed. "Are you kidding me? This place looks deserted! We're not going to find a single human soul besides ours!" I shouted. A few Flying type Pokémon flew out of the high trees at my echo. Suddenly, a loud scream coming from a young woman was heard from a distance. Jeremy and I both exchanged looks in astonishment.

"Someone's in trouble!" Jeremy recalled. "We've got to help her!" I nodded then we both ran off towards the direction of the scream.

Jeremy and I ran through the forest, then we spotted a man in some sort of blue pirate suit standing in front of the young woman. The woman cowered in fear while mumbling a few words. We had to think fast, the man in the pirate suit seemed like he was going to hurt her!

"Hey you!" I bravely called out. "Get away from her now!"

The man looked over, his dark blue eyes flashed with anger. Slowly, a smirk grew on his face, then he started to laugh. "Or else what? You're just a little rookie!" The man let out an evil laugh.

I clenched my fists at that word. Rookie. Did he actually think I was a rookie trainer? Well I'll show him! "I want a battle! Right now. If I win, you scram and leave her alone...!" I yelled at the man, making a bet with him.

"Okay rookie," he began. "If I win, I take your Pokémon and this woman's Pokémon too." The mans mouth turned from a smirk to and evil grin. I stepped back a bit.

"You can do it Luna, defeat this guy because your a great trainer." Jeremy said, which boosted up my confidence.

"Thanks Jeremy, I'll do my best." I stepped forward, clenching my Pokéball in my hand. The woman stepped away from the man with coffee brown hair, then sat near a tree closely watching the battle.

"Ya ready rookie?" The brunette asked, chuckling with a sinister grin.

"Ready as I'll ever be," I said, positioning my Pokéball in the right hand to throw it out into battle. I held the Pokéball right in front of my face and closed my eyes. "Let's do this," I whispered to my Pokéball. "This challenge is leaving our friendship hanging from a thread. I know we can do this together....Treecko."

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Oooooohhhhhhh cliffhanger!!! Don't worry, I'll update the next chapter soon. I have a lot of free time today because I have a snow day so I'm not at school. But, I'm gonna have to make it up in June, sigh. Hope you enjoyed the chapter! ^^

~Nicoletta