Third Person POV

Issei: "So Misty, tell me a little about yourself"

Currently, Issei Hyo-Reyes was sitting on a log around a small campfire he had constructed, attempting to keep his hands warm. Night had descended upon Viridian Forest, and not wanting to get lost, Issei decided that it would be safer to set up camp for the night.

Sitting to the left of Issei was the wild Caterpie, who was curiously gazing at the night sky much to Issei's curiosity. He wondered what the Pokémon was staring at; all he could see was merely the moon and the stars, but maybe Caterpie saw something different.

To the left of Issei was his newest addition to his team, Pidgeotto. While Issei was glad to have such a strong Pokémon early on, if he had to be honest with himself, a part of him regretted capturing her.

Yes, he said her-turns out that Pidgeotto is a female. When Issei brought her out of the Pokéball, he accidentally called her a 'He,' and she didn't take that well. However, he managed to calm down the Avian by saying that he was grateful to have such a powerful Pokémon on his team. It worked, and Pidgeotto wasn't as angry with Issei anymore, but she seemed to have an expression that said, "Why, of course, after all it's me." It was at that moment that Issei realized that Pidgeotto was a Tsundere.

And finally, sitting in the boy's lap was none other than his starter, Tana. Currently, she was curled in a little ball, and Issei was trying his hardest not to pet her, not wanting to disturb his partner's slumber. After all, a lot has happened to her in such a short period of time-from being attacked by Spearows to defeating Team Rocket.

Misty looked up from the fire and raised an eyebrow.

Misty: "Why do you want to know?"

Issei shrugged.

Issei: "I just thought that if we're going to be traveling together, then we may as well get to know each other."

Misty: "No offense, kid. But we only know each other after you stole my bike."

Issei couldn't help but deadpan.

Issei: "First, I had a very good reason. Second, will you stop calling me 'kid'? I'm 17!"

This caused Misty's eyes to widen.

Misty: "Wait, you're 17!"

Issei nodded his head, confused about why Misty was so surprised by his age.

Issei: "Yeah, why are you so surprised?"

Misty: "Y-you look younger than me! How are you a year older than me!?"

Hearing this, Issei merely shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't sure what to tell her, but at least he now knew how old Misty was. It would have been weird if she were like 10 years old or something-what kind of parent would send their child into a world full of creatures that could end their life?

Also, what kind of 10-year-old is capable of traveling the world? They should at least be in school before they set off on their journey. That makes the most sense to Issei. Then again, not a lot has been making sense lately for the brown-haired boy. He got killed by a Fallen Angel, met a literal God, found out he had a dragon in his arm, and was now in a totally new world. Yeah, the concept of logic went out the window a long time ago.

Misty: "A-anyways..."

She sighed.

Misty: "I guess you're right. If we're going to Pewter City together, then we may as well learn a little beforehand."

This caused Issei to smile a little.

Misty: "So, what do you want to know?"

Issei: "Do you have any siblings?"

Misty sighed and nodded her head.

Misty: "Unfortunately, I have three older sisters."

Issei: "Wow, and you're the youngest?"

Misty nodded again before she gave him a small glare.

Misty: "Don't even think of asking for a picture of them."

This caused Issei to flinch as sweat rolled down his forehead. While Misty's words were harsh, it wasn't the entire reason Issei flinched. The other reason was that her threat brought back some unpleasant memories for the brown-haired boy, memories he wanted to forget.

Issei: "D-don't worry, I'm not looking for love..."

This gained Misty's attention, as well as the Pokémon, including Tana, whose ear twitched a little.

Misty: "What do you mean? Why aren't you looking for love?"

She crossed her arms.

Misty: "Am I not pretty enough?"

This caused Issei to chuckle.

Issei: "No, you're pretty. Probably one of the prettiest I have met, but let's just say..."

Issei grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled it down a little, catching Misty off guard as a crimson-red blush grew on her face.

Misty: "H-Hey, don't just do that out of nowhere! Didn't your mom teach you any ma-"

Misty soon paused what she was saying as she got a closer look at Issei's chest, her eyes widening in a mixture of shock and horror as she saw what appeared to be a large scar on his chest.

Misty: "I-Issei...."

Issei: "Yeah, pretty disgusting, isn't it?"

He let go of his shirt's collar as Misty, Pidgeotto, Caterpie, and Tana all had their fair share of glances at Issei, their eyes full of concern.

Misty: "W-what happened?"

Issei went to speak, but before he could utter a single word, he stopped himself. Should he tell Misty? Would she even believe him if he told her what happened? He could just pretend that it was an accident in the past. No, he can't because he just indirectly told her that his injury had something to do with him falling in love.

It would probably be for the best if Issei kept his mouth shut for the time being. When the time comes for him to reveal who he truly was, then he'll tell Misty the truth. But for now, he shouldn't say a word. Plus, if he did tell her now, then she would probably think Issei was crazy and ditch him. He wouldn't blame her if she did, his old friends did the same back in Kuoh Academy.

Misty: "Issei?..."

Issei looked at Misty in the eyes, letting out a small sigh.

Issei: "I'll tell you another time..."

Misty: "Oh, okay.... Do you still wanna know some stuff about me?"

Issei forced a smile onto his face and nods, although both Pidgeotto and Tana could tell that the smile was fake. While Tana was very worried about her partner, Pidgeotto on the other hand merely huffed and looked away from the boy. Though she secretly glanced at him, a look of concern in her eye.

Issei: "So, do you have any hobbies?"

Misty: "Well, I like to go fishing and I enjoy swimming."

Issei nodded his head in understanding.

Issei: "I see... never done fishing before, though I have always wanted to try it."

This caused Misty to get an idea as she smiled.

Misty: "I got an idea, how about after we leave Pewter City I can teach you how to fish!"

Issei blinked.

Issei: "Really? You would do that for me?!"

Misty nodded.

Misty: "Of course, we are..."

She rubbed her arm a little, blushing slightly.

Misty: "Partners..."

Both hearing this and seeing the blush on the orange-haired girl's face did not sit well for the two Pokémon as they started to glare at Misty, Tana growling softly. This aggression didn't go unnoticed by Misty, who was at first taken aback for a moment, very confused. But when she put the pieces together she soon returned the glare at the two, neither side backing down.

Caterpie saw this and sweatdropped before he turned his attention to Issei, hoping that he would break up the fight. However, the moment he laid his eyes on Issei, the Caterpie saw that Issei wasn't paying attention at all to what was currently happening in front of him.

This caused the Caterpie to sigh of annoyance, knowing that this was going to be a very long night for them all.

Meanwhile in The Hall of Origins.

The Hall of Origins, the Domain of Arceus, the marbled Realm, and the Legendary meeting hall. It has gone by many names over the years, for it was a very unique place unlike anything else within the universe.

It was a place that just anyone can go to if they wished. The Hall of Origins was a special realm that existed outside of the known Pokémon universe. A place where only the strongest Pokémon in all of creation, such as the legendaries, could dare enter.

But there were extremely rare occasions where a human actually managed to step foot in the marbled hall, an experience unlike anything they could have possibly dreamed of. To some, it is known as Heaven, a place where the soul of either human or Pokémon go to after their time in the world had reached its end. While to others, the Hall of Origins was merely a myth, a legend that parents tell their children.

But for the Alpha Pokémon, the Hall was merely his home. A place of divinity and peace, where he could watch over the world of Pokémon and make sure that no harm was coming to it or the creatures he created. That is one of the many things that Arceus does within the Hall of Origins. He could also be designing brand new Pokémon to unleash upon the world, such as a Lotus Ninja Pokémon that is both Dark and Grass, or maybe another fossil Pokémon that is both Rock and Fire.

Another thing that Arceus can do, and by far the most important one, is doing absolutely nothing and merely sleeping without a care in the world. Like he was currently doing now, Arceus was laying on the ground and in a deep slumber. As he slept, the Alpha Pokémon felt his mind begin to wander back to memories of his life.

Memories of his past, memories that occurred so long ago before the world became what it was today. He remembered being born which in turn created the very universe itself, making his three children who he deeply cared for.

He remembered having to cast one of his children into another dimension, something that deeply hurt him, and he recalls when he went to the small planet called Earth, nearly giving up his life to save it from a large asteroid.

Arceus can remember it all, every single detail of his past events. He can remember being betrayed by the man he once called his friend. Arceus had been hurt before, but never in his entire life had such an event broken his heart.

It was that event, that one event that changed Arceus's opinion on humanity. For what they did to him, even after all the good he had done for them and their world. But he also can recall meeting Ddraig, a being on par with the Alpha Pokémon himself.

Never in his whole existence had he met such a formidable creature. Arceus grew to appreciate Ddraig and his power to the point he would even dub the Welsh Dragon his friend. A term that Arceus refuses to call anyone else. Ddraig helped Arceus when he was in need and owed the dragon a huge debt. One that he was grateful to have finally paid off.

Arceus: 'I wonder what Ddraig is doing now...'

Suddenly, a pink portal appeared before Arceus, which got his attention as he raised his head and stared at the vortex with a look of curiosity and annoyance.

Arceus: "Who dares disturb my slum-"

???: "Father..."

Immediately, Arceus halted his words as he felt a familiar chill run down his spine. His eyes widened as he stood up, slowly backing up until he was up against the wall.

From the portal came the dragon that had been watching Issei from a distance, her arms crossed as she stared at Arceus with a glare that terrified even the Alpha Pokémon.

Arceus: "P-Palkia! What are you doing here, daughter?!"

The dragon named Palkia tapped her foot on the ground, causing the room to shake and rumble.

Palkia: "Dearest father, please tell me..."

She tilted her head slightly as Arceus gazed into her cold, emotionless eyes.

Palkia: "Why is my beloved's aura on a human?"

Arceus gulped as sweat ran down his face, there was no way he could escape from this. His daughter, Palkia, was the Pokémon of space. She had full mastery of space in the universe. There was nowhere anyone or anything could hide from her, and unfortunately, Arceus can't escape by traveling into the past because if he does, then that will not only mess up the timeline but his other daughter, Dialga, will be very angry with him.

Arceus: 'Why did you have to banish Giratina? He was chaotic, but that was normal!!'

Back with Issei.

Ddraig: ['Hey, Partner']

Issei yawned.

Issei: 'Yeah, Ddraig?'

Ddraig: ['I get the sudden feeling that Arceus is in danger, like the same danger your in if you piss off a woman']

Issei grew a grimace expression as he shook his head, if that was what Arceus was going through than he felt bad for the Alpha Pokémon.

Issei: 'If so than I feel bad for him...'

Ddraig grunted in agreement with his partner. Speaking of him, Issei was currently walking down the trail he had been following for the past half-hour, hoping it would finally lead him out of the Viridian Forest.

Morning had risen not too long ago, and not wanting to waste any more time, Issei had quickly woken the others up, much to the annoyance of Misty and Pidgeotto. After they had their breakfast, Issei put his Avian Pokémon away, and his little group continued down the pathway.

While they walked, Issei continued to make small talk with Misty so the trip to Pewter City wouldn't be considered boring or awkward. Both he and Tana appreciated her company. Misty said that she was glad to be a part of the group. Although, there are times where Issei noticed both Tana and Misty glaring at each other, much to his confusion.

Why would they hate each other? Tana and Misty got along very well back in Viridian City and even halfway during their trip to Pewter City. So why were they suddenly trying to be at each other's throats? When Issei asked Misty about it, she just waved off the brown-haired boy's concern and said that they were merely playing with each other, stating that it was a girl thing or something like that.

Either way, Issei decided to ignore it as he kept walking down the path. During the walk, Issei and his group walked past what appeared to be a pitfall trap, and he could hear a familiar pair groaning from it. It looks like Team Rocket came back for revenge and apparently failed before they could even begin.

Shaking his head in disappointment, Issei walked past the remnants of the pitfall trap and continued his stroll until he noticed something off in the distance, which gained his attention.

Issei: "Misty..."

Misty looked at Issei.

Misty: "Yeah?"

She saw a small smirk grow on his face. Tana noticed this as well. The fox Pokémon instantly knew what this meant as both she and Issei ran ahead of Misty, who tried her best to catch up to Issei. They soon reached a clearing, signaling the end of the Viridian Forest as Issei jumped onto a rock and stared off into the distance.

Issei: "There it is..."

Down from where Issei currently was positioned was his destination: Pewter City. It wasn't as big as Viridian City, roughly the same size as his hometown if he had to take a guess. But it did have its fair share of buildings, with the biggest being around probably two or three stories tall.

Issei: "Pewter City, we finally made it!"

Misty smiled.

Misty: "Looks like we did."

???: "Pewter City is gray, the color of stone. This town has always been famous for its stone."

This sudden voice gained Issei, Tana, Caterpie, and Misty's attention as they looked down and were greeted by a bearded man who was sitting on the ground.

Issei: "Um, who are you?"

Flint: "The name's Flint, and you're standing on my merchandise, young man."

Issei blinked as he looked down at the rock he was standing on.

Issei: "Um... the rock?"

Flint nodded his head as Issei and Misty looked at each other, shrugging in confusion before they jumped down to where Flint was. Tana soon jumped, and Issei caught her, making the fox Pokémon smile as she nuzzled her partner, much to his amusement and to the annoyance of Misty.

Flint noticed this and couldn't help but chuckle.

Flint: "Quite a bond you got there, young man. Not many treat their Pokémon like that"

Issei: "Well, I guess I'm special."

Misty smiled.

Misty: "That you are..."

Tana: 'Fen... kin, Fen!'

Flint smiled slightly, but he soon cleared his throat.

Flint: "So, young man, what brings you to Pewter City?"

Issei: "Well, I'm a Pokémon trainer, and I came here to challenge the Gym Leader."

This got Flint's attention as he looked at Issei with a slightly surprised look on his face. Was this boy serious? Flint could tell by Issei's looks that he was brand new to being a trainer. Does he not know that Gym Leaders are more skilled than regular trainers?

Not only that, the Pewter City Gym Leader, Brock, used Rock-type Pokémon. It gives him the edge against the brown-haired boy's Fire-type starter. If it were a different type, then it would be a different story. There was no way that Issei's Fennekin could last more than a minute against Brock's.

Flint: "You're sure confident, but I'm afraid you stand no chance..."

Issei: "I know that..."

Flint: "Huh?"

Issei looked down at his hand.

Issei: "Ever since I started my journey, it's been one misfortune after another. I nearly lost my life and..."

He glanced at Tana, who was nuzzling his leg.

Issei: "And the life of my partner...."

Issei soon looked back at Flint with a serious expression, his eyes full of determination.

Issei: "But even if I get knocked down, I won't give up! This journey is a chance for me to be the very best!"

Issei clenched his hand into a fist as he raised it high into the air.

Issei: "If I lose a gym battle, I'll just try again. If I end up dying on this journey, I'm alright with that because...."

He closed his eyes as he grew a bright smile, one that caused Misty and Tana to blush slightly at the sight.

Issei: "It's my Dream!"

Flint was already taken aback by Issei's words, but hearing the word "Dream" left him absolutely speechless. He remembered hearing that very word a long time ago, dreams are more than just petty imagination. They held great ambitions, if one sought out to be the greatest Pokémon Trainer alive then there wouldn't be a man or Pokémon alive that could stop them.

Flint: "Dream, huh?..."

A small smirk grew on Flint's face as he reared his head back, letting out a small laugh.

Flint: "Haha, you're truly something else, Young Man. Never have I ever heard such dedication"

He soon stood up, dusting himself off.

Flint: "I'll take you to the Pewter City Gym, but that is as far as I can go"

Issei smiled and nodded.

Issei: "Thanks, Flint"

Flint shook his head.

Flint: "No, thank you..."

....

....

....

END OF CHAPTER