"Have fun exploring, kids!" Yelena called out from the front door.

The six of us waved as we descended the hill.

Yesterday, while helping Rina with the outfits, we agreed to take some time to explore Johto. Yelena recommended that we explore Cherrygrove City since it's the closest to her villa.

"So, what do you think we're gonna see once we get to Cherrygrove City?" Rina asked.

"I don't know, but I can't wait to explore it!" Nina said excitedly.

I smiled as the six of us reached the foot of the hill.

"Cherrygrove City should be to the west of us," Eric said, "Yelena said we can reach Cherrygrove quicker if we travel through New Bark Town and pass through route 29."

"Then, let's get going," I said, "Look out, Johto! Here we come!"

The others, our Pokémon, and I cheered as we merrily skipped down the dirt path.

I can't wait to see what kind of Pokémon live here in Johto. Maybe I'll be able to find some Dragon-type Pokémon!

The others and I soon looked up to see towering buildings and crowded paths.

"This is a town?" Rina asked, "This looks more like a city."

"Stole the words right from my mouth." Eric said.

We soon entered the town and admired the many buildings, the people, and the Pokémon.

"Wow! New Bark Town is huge!" Nina said, craning her neck.

"No kidding," I said, "Let's try and find the Pokémon Center to at least rest our Pokémon."

My friends nodded, and we began searching for the Pokémon Center. Fortunately, the Pokémon Center was in the middle of town. We walked inside and saw a familiar face and smile.

"Welcome to the Pokémon Center!" Nurse Joy said.

The Chansey next to her smiled and let out a cry. We handed over our Pokémon and Pokéballs to Nurse Joy, and she and Chansey disappeared into the back. I breathed a heavy sigh as I looked around the Pokémon Center, my eyes locking with every Pokémon I saw.

"So, what else is there to in this little town?" Kat asked, her voice snapping me back to reality.

"Not much, I don't think," Eric said, "As big as this town is, there's gotta be more to it than just being... big."

"Agreed." Elsu said.

Looking back, I saw Nurse Joy and Chansey come out with our Pokéballs and Pokémon. Libby smiled as she hopped out of Nurse Joy's arms and into mine. I chuckled before placing her on my shoulder.

"Nurse Joy, can you tell us what New Bark is all about?" I asked.

"As well as Johto in general?" Rina asked.

"Not from here, are you?" she asked.

"We're from all over," Nina said, "Elsu, Eragona, and I are from Ezonia; Kat and Rina are from Kalos, and Eric here is from Unova."

"Oh, my! Well, welcome to Johto, then!"

Chansey smiled as it let out multiple cries.

"New Bark Town is known for being a starting point for many new trainers," Nurse Joy said, "If you'd like, you can drop by the Pokémon Research Lab and say hello to Professor Elm. He studies Pokémon breeding, as well as Pokémon evolution and unusual abilities."

Similar to what Professor Cherry studies.

"As for Johto as a whole, it's a very traditional region that honors two very powerful Pokémon: Ho-Oh and Lugia," Nurse Joy explained, "As I was healing your Pokémon, some of you have Pokémon that are native here."

Nurse Joy then smiled at Kat, Nina, Rina, and Elsu.

"Really?" Rina asked.

"Indeed! Rina, was it? Your Snubbull, Jumpluff, and Furret are from Johto. Elsu, your Yanmega," Nurse Joy said, "Nina, your Togepi. And Kat, your Chikorita is one of Johto's starter Pokémon."

"Really? That's amazing!" Kat said happily.

Who would've thought they had Pokémon native to Johto before we arrived here?

"Nurse Joy, do you know of any Dragon-type Pokémon native to Johto?" I asked.

"As well as Fairy-types?" Nina chimed in.

Nurse Joy crossed her arms as she hummed in thought.

"For Fairy-types, besides Snubbull and its evolution Granbull and Togepi, there's Cleffa, Igglybuff, and Togepi's evolution, Togetic." Nurse Joy said.

Cleffa is the Pokémon Caps had with him. I didn't know it was from here.

"What about Dragon-types?" I asked.

"I only know of one, and that's Kingdra," Nurse Joy said, "It's the final evolution of Horsea."

That's why there was a Horsea in the Dragonet Den. And I remember Kat telling me about Horsea and its evolutions.

"But, if you guys want to learn more about Johto, what better way than to explore it!" Nurse Joy said.

"We will! Thank you, Nurse Joy!" Elsu said.

We waved goodbye as we stepped out of the Pokémon Center.

"So, where should we go now?" Kat asked.

"Why don't we pay Professor Elm a visit?" Eric suggested, "I'd love to see his research lab."

"Then, what are we waiting for? Let's get going!" Elsu said, turning to walk away.

"Do you know where you're going?" Rina asked.

Elsu stopped in his tracks and turned back around with a sheepish smile.

"Come on," I said, "I'm sure we can find it. It shouldn't be that hard to spot."

The six of us soon wandered around the town, searching for Professor Elm's lab.

You'd think a research lab would be easy to spot in a place like this. Apparently not.

After some time, the others and I stumbled upon a large building on the outskirts of the town.

"This has gotta be it." Eric said.

"Well, let's make ourselves known." I said.

We walked past the brick walls and marveled at the large building.

It's as big as Professor Cherry's lab.

When we walked up to the lab's glass doors, they slid open and revealed a magnificent lab.

"Wow!" Nina cried.

Libby, Angel, and Snubbull let out cries as they looked around at the fancy equipment in awe.

"This is incredible!" Eric said.

"Thank you!" said a voice from above.

We craned our necks and saw a young man leaning over a railing, smiling at us. He had light brown hair with matching light brown eyes, shielded by a pair of glasses. He wore a turquoise shirt and sage green pants with a lab coat over them.

"Welcome to my lab!" he said, "I'm Professor Elm. I'm glad you kids have taken a liking to it."

Professor Elm smiled as he walked down the stairs to meet us.

"Of course!" Nina said, "It's almost as big as our professor's lab back home."

"Who's your professor?" Professor Elm asked.

"Professor Cherry," I answered, "We've arrived from the Ezonia region."

"Ah, I know the woman you speak of. She was my assistant for a time."

"Really?" Eric asked.

"Truly!"

We smiled when Professor Elm walked up to us.

"On behalf of Johto, welcome!" Professor Elm, "You were probably already informed, but I study Pokémon breeding and unusual Pokémon abilities."

"Just like Professor Cherry." Elsu said.

Professor Elm smiled as he walked over to a counter.

"Judging by your appearances, I can tell you guys are already seasoned Pokémon trainers." Professor Elm said.

"Yup! Not only that, Nina here is the daughter of a gym leader, and Eragona is the granddaughter of one of the Ezonia region's Elite Four!" Kat said, slinging her arms around our necks.

Nina and I smiled sheepishly at Professor Elm's shocked expression. Libby let out a cry as if she were laughing.

"Is that so?" he asked, adjusting his glasses, "That's amazing! It's an honor to be in the presence of young monarchs."

Nina and I only nodded and thanked the professor.

Why did you have to put us on the spot like that, Kat...?

Professor Elm looked back at his counter and smiled before turning back to us.

"Tell you what: I have these Pokémon here, just waiting for trainers to travel with," Professor Elm began, "Would you guys like to take them?"

"Really? Are you sure?" I asked.

"Certainly! Think of it as a welcome gift to Johto!"

"Thank you, Professor Elm!" Eric said.

Professor Elm reached behind him and came around with three Pokéballs. I smiled and took a step back.

"You guys can take them," I said, "Thank you for the generous offer, Professor Elm, but I'm pretty happy with the team I have now.

Libby let out a cry as she wagged her tail.

"Understandable," Professor Elm said, "As I said before, you're already seasoned trainers, not to mention you're the granddaughter of an Elite Four member."

I nodded with a kind smile.

"Well, don't mind me," Eric said, "I'll take... this one."

Eric picked up the Pokéball to the right before tossing it.

"Come on out!" Eric cried.

At his command, an adorable blue Pokémon appeared. Kat took out her Pokédex and scanned the little Pokémon.

"Totodile, the Big Jaw Pokémon. It has the habit of biting anything with its developed jaws. Even its trainer needs to be careful."

The Totodile looked up at us and let out a cry.

"Hello there, little fella," Eric said as he crouched, "Welcome to the team!"

Totodile smiled as it bounced with glee. Snubbull, Angel, and Libby let out welcoming cries, to which Totodile returned.

"Professor Elm, I already have one of Johto's starter Pokémon," Kat said, "A Chikorita,"

"Really?" Professor Elm asked.

"Yes! It hatched from an egg given to me."

"Remarkable! Guess you're all set for Johto!"

Kat nodded with a chuckle.

"Rina, why don't you take one!" Elsu said, "It'd be a great start for you!"

Rina smiled back at the boy and nodded. Rina sighed before selecting the Pokéball in the center.

"I choose you!" Rina said, tossing up the Pokéball.

At her command, a Pokémon smaller than Totodile appeared.

It's so cute!

I took out my Pokédex and scanned the adorable Pokémon.

"Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon. It is timid and always curls itself up in a ball. If attacked, it flares up its back for protection."

"Aren't you the cutest thing?" Rina asked, reaching down to pet the small Pokémon.

Cyndaquil let out a cry as it leaned into Rina's touch. Snubbull hopped out of its trainer's arms and walked up to Cyndaquil, smiling as it let out a cry. Cyndaquil smiled and let out a cry in return. Libby, Angel, and Eric's Totodile walked and greeted their new friend.

"They all got along so fast." Elsu said.

"Let's hope our other Pokémon like them, too." I said.

The others nodded as Eric and Rina returned their new Pokémon to their Pokéballs.

"Professor Elm, thank you so much for your hospitality," I said, bowing my head, "As much as we would love to stay, we must be on our way."

"I understand," Professor Elm said, "Be sure to stop by and visit anytime and take good care of those new Pokémon of yours."

"We will!" Eric and Nina said.

With a final wave of goodbye, the six of us left the lab.

"Hey, do you mind if we head back to the Pokémon Center?" Eric asked, "I have to make a call."

"Sure thing," I said, "I have to do the same thing."

In accordance, we all went back to the Pokémon Center. Eric and I walked up to the phones and made our calls.

"Hey, Grandma Eli!" I said.

Libby popped in with a friendly cry.

"Hello, you two!" she said, "How's Johto so far?"

"Great! We met Professor Elm, and he gave us Pokémon to look after. He said to consider it a welcome gift to the region."

Grandma Eli chuckled with a fond smile.

"Well, I'm glad you're having fun," Grandma Eli said, "So, what can I do for you?"

"I want to send over some Pokémon to you if that's okay." I said.

"Of course! Who do you want to send over?"

"Ajax and Jawbreaker, my Sceptile and Fraxure. And can you send over Kaiba as well?"

"Sure thing."

I drew my Pokéballs and smiled down at them.

"We won't be apart long, you two." I said.

Breathing out, I placed the Pokéballs on the small platform in front of me. It was then caged in bright green static, disappearing a second after.

"Got them!" Grandma Eli said.

"Thanks so much, Grandma Eli." I said.

"Don't mention it. Remember, whatever you need, call me."

I nodded with a bright smile on my face. After Libby and I said goodbye, we met up with the others at the front desk.

"You all set, Era?" Nina asked.

"Sure am, right, Libby?" I asked.

Libby let out an agreeing cry as we walked out of the Pokémon Center, to which Angel and Snubbull happily joined.

"So, onward to Cherrygrove City?" Kat said.

"Onward!" Elsu said.

With smiles on our faces and hearts, we set forth to Cherrygrove City.

It was really nice of Professor Elm to lend us those Pokémon. Even though I've been a trainer for a few months now, I feel like a new trainer, starting a new adventure with my best friends. Look out, Johto; here we come!