The Odyssey Begins

"Today marks the two-year anniversary of the historic battle between local hero, our Unovan champion Hilbert, and the man who nearly brought Unova to its knees in fear, the mysterious N. The two commanded the legendary dragons Zekrom and Reshiram, once thought to be nothing more than folklore, and fought over the fate of Unova itself. Since that day, the green haired-"

"Just turn that off Mom, please." Nate rolled his eyes as his mother hushes him, her eyes locked to the screen. He spooned a bite of cereal into his mouth, beginning to speak before he had fully chewed it. "I'm leaving in a few minutes Mom, don't you want to give me any last minute goodbyes? Any words of advice? Tears because I'm leaving you forever?" The volume from the TV suddenly shuts off, as the older woman stands up and sighs.

"You will come back and visit, right? I'll get lonely if I'm here alone until your father returns." Nate smiles wanly and stands up from the table, pushing his chair back.

"I'll come visit, promise. You know, it would certainly be easier if I had something like... I don't know... An Xtranceiver?" His mother shook her head, laughing gently.

"You know we can't afford one of those, especially if you're just going to lose it after a week like all the other things we buy you. Speaking of, do you even know where those new Victini's we bought you are?"

Nate rolled his eyes and lifted up one of his legs, showing off the brand new shoes. His mother had given them to him as a birthday present a few days before, and he had yet to seriously break them in.

"All ready to leave with me, I'm not just going to leave them here." Nate glances away, a more somber expression washing over his face.
"I'm going to miss you, Mom." His mother's face split into a sympathetic frown, as she moved to embrace him, squeezing him tight.

"You're going to have so much fun on your journey, I just know it. And if you ever need me, you are more than welcome back home. Your mom will always have a spot at the table for you."

Nate hugs her back, trying to hold back tears as they embrace.

"Thanks mom. I'll be back, I promise. And you can always have Cheren over if you get lonely. He's practically family now." His mom smiles at him as she steps back.

"I know you will. Now go, you're going to be late to meet with Bianca and the Professor!" She ruffles his hair as he pulls back, playfully swatting at her hand.

"Ok, ok, I'm going." As Nate shifts his bag further up onto his shoulder and waves one final goodbye to his mom, the TV continues to play muted in the background, showing images of a tall old man with light green hair and a square red monocle over his right eye. The final image shown is blurry, and includes another figure, with long green hair, overshadowed by a large black shadow.

000

"Since that day, the green haired man of mystery hasn't been seen by any credible sources. This man is still wanted by the authorities, but is known to be highly dangerous. Any sightings are to be reported to the authorities immediately, and for your own safety, do not approach. As for the Champion, Hilbert, I know you are all wanting a selfie with him today, but I've got bad news-"

Rosa switches off the TV, rolling over in bed as she groans. Why did she have to stay up so late last night? She peers with bleary eyes at the alarm clock sitting on her desk, reading off the time in her head. Five more minutes is enough time for more sleep, right?

Groaning again, she forces herself to sit up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes as she glares at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was a total Patrat's nest, and the dark circles under her eyes were exceedingly obvious. She swings her legs out off the side of her bed, and slips her feet into her slippers. Taking care not to step on anything, she leaves her room, stepping carefully over the precarious pile of dirty laundry. In the bathroom, Rosa looks at herself in the cracked mirror, trying to cover up the dark circles as much as possible, and wrangling her hair into two messy buns on the sides of her head. That would have to do.

She quietly picks her bag up and slips into the kitchen, snatching up a rage candy bar and a lemonade. Careful not to disturb her snoring father on the couch, Rosa exchanges her slippers for her beat up sneakers, and slips her visor onto her head. The sound of a door swinging open behind her makes her flinch, and she slowly turns around to see her mother standing in her doorway, hands on her hips.

"Planning on leaving without saying bye, huh?"

"Not at all, I was just getting ready." Rosa's mother scans her up and down, before sighing dramatically.

"Where did we go wrong with you..." She shakes her head, moving into the kitchen and starting to shift dishes around, clearing last night's pans off the stove into the already full sink.

"Well, go on then. If you're so intent on leaving this family, then go right ahead. Don't forget to send home money every week, and if you ever run out, just don't forget that Pokémon battling isn't the only way to make money, especially once you get to Virbank and Castelia."

Rosa's face contorts in disgust.

"Thanks, mom. If I don't send money, assume I'm dead." Rosa slips out of the door before her mother can say another word and sighs. She was finally out. Thank Arceus. Now all that was left was to receive her Pokemon and officially be off.

000

"As for the Champion, Hilbert, I know you are all wanting an autograph, or a selfie with him today, but I've got bad news. The champion has become elusive in the previous months, rarely even showing up to defend his title, leaving many aspiring trainers unsatisfied. As far as we at Ninetales news are aware, the next time we see him may well be at the PWT next month, but whether-"

"Just shut it off already Pij." The Zoroark snorts, but complies, switching the TV off as the young man who gave the command lays flat on his back. Multiple small Pokémon populate the room, an Eevee curled up at the man's feet. The Zoroark, Pij, shuffles over towards the man, stepping around two wrestling Sandile. Pij headbutts the man gently, nuzzling his furry head against the man's face as he pulls away.

"Should we even show up for the Tournament Pij? We could always just give up the title and officially drop off the grid." The Zoroark looks at him reproachfully, masking his face to match that of a brunette girl about the man's age, with long hair that tumbled over her shoulders. The man quickly turns his head away, grumbling.

"She's practically off the grid herself. Besides, her whole business is finding people who are supposed to be hiding. I go incognito and she shows up two days later sending Sif after us." The man groans again, but is cut off from his pity party as his Xtranceiver starts to ring. He raises it to his ear, pressing the button on top to accept the call. A surprised voice rings out from the device.

"Wow, you actually picked up? I've been trying to get a hold of you for days."

"Nice to talk to you too Hilda." He can't stop a grin from splitting his features.

"Yeah yeah, now listen. I'm going to be in town tonight, and I have another load of rescues. Can you handle them for now?"

The man glances around his apartment, looking at the trashed decorations and the Minccinos crawling all over a slumbering Emboar.

"Yeah, totally. How many?"

"Three Sandiles, Two Trubbish-"

The man grimaces.

"Two Purrloins, and a Patrat." The man nods, glancing around his apartment again.

"That should all work... how long are you in town?"

"Leaving tonight after I drop them with you, why."

The man frowns slightly, but can't help his voice being laced with hope as he speaks.

"I was just wondering... I know this great Seafood place here?" Hilda sighs on the other end of the line.

"Hilbert, we've been over this. We've been over us. I'm too busy right now, I'm not going to have time."

Hilbert nods sadly, the champions eyes becoming downcast.

"Yeah, ok. See you tonight Hilda." Before she can speak again, Hilbert hangs up the Xtranceiver, dropping it and flopping back down to the floor.

"See Pij? She's too busy for me now anyways. Maybe we should go off grid, just to make her make time for us." Immediately after he finishes his sentence, the Xtranceiver buzzes. A single message crosses the screen, from Hilda.

'Dinner at 8. Don't b late.'

Hilbert's eyes light up immediately as he reads it, and leaps up from the floor, hugging Pij in joy and laughing gleefully.

"I guess we're staying after all Pij," Hilbert suddenly stops and looks down at his clothes.

"I need a new suit!"

000

"As far as we at Ninetales news are aware, the next time we see him may well be at the PWT next month, but whether the elusive Champion will show up is completely unknown. In other news, Professor Aurea Juniper has announced that species of Pokémon from Sinnoh have begun to show up in the Unova region, including the big city of Castelia! What this means for the future of Unovan trainers is unknown, but former Gym Leader Lenora has commented on the subject, saying that 'The new options for trainers should pave the way to more Gym challengers and more excitement around Pokémon training in general.' So this appears to be a good sign, though how it will affect the Unovan ecosystem is yet to be explored."

Bianca switches off the TV as the program ends, adjusting her glasses and standing up from the couch. She dropped her hand onto the soft head of the Munna resting on the back of the couch, giving it a pet as she walks towards the doorway. The sound of an Xtranceiver dialing made her smile inwardly. Hilda had been calling Hilbert so often in the past three days that it no longer fazed her, but Hilda said he has yet to pick up.

"Wow, you actually picked up? I've been trying to get a hold of you for days."

Now that brought pause to Bianca's step, as she listened to the conversation. She eased the door open and slipped through, nodding to Hilda as the Brunette girl listened to the other end of the line. Finally, Hilda sighed.

"Hilbert, we've been over this. We've been over us. I'm too busy right now, I'm not going to have time."

Bianca suppressed a snort, and as the sound of the Xtranceiver being hung up sounded, she punched Hilda in the arm.

"Thats Tauros dung and you know it. Go to dinner with him." Hilda gave her a bewildered look as she rubbed the spot Bianca punched.

"How did you know it was dinner... never mind. I am too busy, I have to go pick up a Fossil from Cynthia right after I drop the Pokémon off to Hilbert, and you know she's only in the country until tomorrow morning."

Bianca rolls her eyes, scanning the schedule pinned to the fridge.

"Yeah, but you can do that early this afternoon."

Hilda shakes her head, pointing at a post it note stuck to the bottom of the schedule.

"The Prof asked me to go to Aspertia and drop off some starters for some kids. Cheren apparently knows them, so it's a favor for him too." Bianca waves her hand dismissively.

"So what, I can take that while you pick up the fossil. Just admit you're afraid to go out with Hilbert, and go face your fear." Hilda blushed a deep read and splutters.

"I-I'm not afraid to get dinner with Hilbert, I'm just too busy!"

Bianca shrugs and grins slyly.

"Well, that's just been solved for you, and you're already committed to going to dinner with him, so you'd better pick out what to wear."

"Already committed-" Hilda slaps her hand down on the spot she left her Xtranceiver, but just hits the table. She looks around quickly, and notices a fluffy Cinccino holding her Xtranceiver up towards her, blinking at Hilda with the most innocent expression she can muster. Hilda snatches the device and flips it open, reading her recent messages befpre groaning.

"Sif, you little brat." The Cinccino squeals excitedly and hops around Hilda's legs in circles. Bianca grins smugly at Hilda.

"I'll take the starters, you go pick out what you're wearing."