I felt Salamence's warm breath on my neck as I kept my grip. Its fur was smooth and soft and I nearly forgot that I was hugging a Pokémon that could fry me in a second.

Chikorita and Phanpy looked stunned. Salamence let out a growl.

"I remember you," I whispered. "You were that small Bagon who wanted to fly. Then you became that Shelgon who would face other Pokémon 10 times bigger than you. Finally, you evolved to a powerful Salamence you are now."

I took a step back, holding out one of my empty Pokéballs. "We knew each other since we were young. I know you always wanted to come with me. I understand your actions. You weren't trying to be mean; you were only trying to get attention. You were cast out by the others, weren't you? You don't have to be alone again with you come with me - if you are willing, of course."

Salamence let out a roar.

"Chi," Chikorita gazed up at me with a worried look.

"Phan," Phanpy said.

I closed my eyes, waiting tensely. Salamence glanced at me before pressing the button on my Pokéball. It shook a little, but it stopped moving.

I sent out Salamence and hugged it again. "I'm so glad you are coming with me," I whispered.

Salamence roared as a reply, taking off into the sky.

I wasn't worried - somehow, I knew that Salamence would come back.

"Chikorita!" Chikorita suddenly said, pointing in a direction with its leaf.

I turned to look at the direction that Chikorita pointed and spotted someone walking towards me.

"Is that your Chikorita?" the person asked.

"Well, yes," I replied to the girl who looked older than me.

"It looks like it just had a big scare," she said. "Did anything happen here?"

Well, she didn't see Salamence, I guess.
"Not really," I said, bending down to grab Chikorita and patting it.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot to introduce myself," the girl said. "I'm Emily and this is my partner, Cyndaquil."

"You must be a new trainer like me," I said as Chikorita leaped onto Emily's shoulder to greet Cyndaquil. "Chiko!"

"Cynda," Cyndaquil said.

"Not really," Emily said, smiling at the two Pokémon on her shoulder. "I spent many years trying to decide what to do."

"What to do?" I asked.

"I'm not like other trainers who want to be a master Pokémon trainer," she explained. "I wanted to do something different, and today, I finally find out I'm doing to do. I'm going to research on the problems that Pokémon - wild or not - are facing."

"That's cool," I said as Phanpy nudged me, wanting to be carried like Chikorita.

"Phanpy, phan!" Phanpy said happily as I carefully carried it.

"Oh, that's a Phanpy," Emily said, looking at Phanpy carefully. "Where did you get it?"

"My grandparents gave me an egg that hatched into Phanpy," I replied.

"Chi!" Chikorita leaped back onto my shoulder.

"I know, why don't we have a battle?" Emily suggested. "This way, you could train your Phanpy since it probably haven't been in a battle before."

"Okay," I said. "Phanpy, go ahead."

"Phanpy, phan!" Phanpy leaped forward excitedly.

"I'll use Cyndaquil," Emily said as Cyndaquil jumped off her shoulder.

"Phanpy, let's start with Rollout," I said.

"Phan!" Phanpy rolled into a ball like shape and began charging towards Cyndaquil.

"Cyndaquil, use Flame Wheel to counter," Emily said.

Both attacks collided, sending both Pokemon flying. I quickly caught Phanpy. "Are you alright?" I asked worriedly.

"Phanpy!" Phanpy said in determination.

Meanwhile, Emily had caught her Cyndaquil and was patting it lightly. "Can you continue?" she asked gently.

"Cynda," Cyndaquil nodded, jumping back onto the ground.

"I can see that you care a lot about your Cyndaquil," I said.

"You too, with Phanpy," Emily smiled.

"Phanpy, let's do this," I said. "Use Take Down!"

"Phan... py?" Phanpy tried to use the attack but it barely affected Cyndaquil.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "We'll get it the next time. Now, use Rollout again!"

"Phan!"

This time, Phanpy's Rollout was faster and it landed a direct hit on Cyndaquil.

"Cynda!" Cyndaquil fell backwards from the blow.

"Cyndaquil, are you okay?" Emily asked.

"Cyn..." Cyndaquil got up, but it looked shaky.

"I forgot that Rollout was a Rock type move," she said apologically. "Okay, now use Flamethrower!"

"Phanpy, dodge it!" I said.

"Phan!" Phanpy jumped up to dodge but the flames still managed to reach it. "Py.."

Phanpy ran around, trying to extinguish the flame on its back.

"Cyndaquil, now's your chance," Emily said. "Use Flame Wheel!"

"Phanpy, calm down and counter the Flame Wheel with Rollout," I said, trying not to panic.

Phanpy hesitated for a second, and one second was all Cyndaquil needed to hit Phanpy.

"Phanpy!" Phanpy cried as it was thrown.

Phanpy fell on the ground, knocked out.

I quickly rushed over to Phanpy's side and carried my injured Phanpy in my arms. "You battled hard, now take a good rest," I whispered as I returned Phanpy to its Pokéball.

"That was a great battle," Emily said, walking towards me. "Honestly, I was surprised that I won. I zoned out at one point and caused Cyndaquil to take a lot of damage."

"Cynda," Cyndaquil said, as if to comfort her.

"It's Phanpy's first time battling, and I think it did well," I said. "Looks like there's a lot of things we need to improve on."

"By the way," I said. "Do you know where is the nearest gym here?"

"Let me check," she replied, grabbing out a map.

"The closest gym is the one in Violet City," Emily said finally. "They say that the gym leader there is very strong."

"Strong or not, with my Pokémon, I will win my first badge," I said in determination.

Perhaps, I may even get into the Johto League one day!