Two Unexpected Companions

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It was a very quiet morning for the girl curled up under a tree in the woods surrounding the infamous Lake Verity. An old guy and another kid who looked like his assistant or something had come around earlier, but whatever. It had been hard, getting away from her parents at exactly the right moment, but.....

Now that didn't matter. Gwen was finally off on her own, ready to follow her own path and not her parents. She got up on her feet and walked over to the bank of the lake and looked around. It was all so beautiful, and no maids or people were there to screw it up for her. Gwen closed her eyes and took a deep, satisfied breath. When she she opened her eyes, however....

She wasn't alone.

Gwen locked eyes with a strange figure that appeared to be made of water. It hovered a few feet in front of Gwen, over the lake. It appeared to have two tails with hand-like tips and four...... ponytails, two on either side of its head? It appeared to be some sort of pokemon....?

Gwen stared unflinchingly at the figure, who mirrored the action, for what seemed like an eternity. The figure almost appeared to be inviting her to play a game... But when she blinked, the figure vanished instantly. "Wha-.......wha-....?" Gwen stuttered.

"WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!?"

"Hm..." Chris said, "Well I just need to stop by my house then we can head out to Sandgem which is where the professor should be."

"Alright!" Gwen grinned. She slowed down to let him take the lead again.

Chris led the two of them up to a small two floor house, "Well here we are." Chris said, he opened the gate and started walking towards the front door.

"Wow, what a pretty cotta- house!" Gwen grinned and laughed as she looked around. She was desparetly trying not to offend her new friend.

"Thanks," Chris said as he reached the door, "my mom is very proud of it." he paused as he started to open the door, "What's with all the noise?" he muttered to himself. He then opened the door and saw the three starter pokemon of the Sinnoh region, Chimchar, Piplup, and Turtwig, running around his living room. "Um... mom!... Why are the professors pokemon in the house!?" he yelled calmly, confused on the situation he just walked into.

"OMG, theyre all so cute!" Gwen squealed as she watched them all run around.

"Well I'm glad you like them," Chris said, "Because I was hoping the professor would give one to you." he then led the two of them inside, "But I have no idea why they are in my house..." he said scratching his head.

"That's because pokemon can't spend all their time in pokeballs," Professor Rowan said as he walked into the room.

Gwen saw the old dude walk into the room and imediatly recognized him as the esteemed
Professor Rowan. She had never personally met him but she had heard her parents talk bad about him before. Probably because of his pokemon research. She immediately straightened up in his presence, but she didn't know why. Maybe it was because he naturally demanded respect. This couldn't be the man her mother and father had been talking about!

"Professor what are you doing here?" Chris asked.

"I stopped by your house because I need something delivered and don't have the time do so myself." the professor sat down on the couch, "It needs to be taken to the Global Trading Center in Jubilife City. You can take who ever of the three here as your partner for the trip." he said.

"All right," Chris said, "And this needs to be done immediately?" he asked.

"Yes," the professor said shortly.

"Alright," Chris said, "Gwen sorry but this obviously needs to be done. Come on Turtwig, I'll take you with me this time." he said. Turtwig then stopped running with the other pokemon and walked over to Chris.

"That's okay, I understand if it's important." Gwen grinned. "I just wish there was some way I could help you with this. I mean you helped me when I was lost...." she sighed.

"Well hang on a sec," he said, "Professor, Gwen was wanting to start her own pokemon journey. Would you be willing to give her one of the other pokemon?" he asked.

"Well you know I can't just give on of these three away to anyone." the professor said.

"Yea I know," Chris said, "They usually go to assistants like me, but is there anyway around that?" he asked

"Hm..." Professor Rowan thought, "How about this. Gwen is it? Why don't you chose one of the other two pokemon here and join Chris to Jubilife City. When you get back and he says your worthy then you can take the pokemon you chose on your own journey." he said.

"Really?! Do you mean it?!?" Gwen exclaimed happily. She looked at the other two pokemon who were left: Piplup and Chimchar. She thought very hard, but ahe had known since she had entered the room who she wanted as her partner. "I'd like it if Piplup would come along along with me!" she exclaimed, "I mean, if that's alright."

The little pokemon waddle up to her cautiously, as if unsure about what to do.

"Don't worry Piplup," Chris said, "She won't bite. So Professor, what do you need me to deliver?" he asked.

"Just this parcel," the professor said, handing over a box wrapped in brown paper. "The delivery location is on the box, once it is sent you should recieve a parcel in return, I would like that back." he said.

"Alright no problem," Chris said, "Come on Gwen lets go." he said as he turned to leave.

"Good luck you too." Rowan said.

"Thanks!" Chris said as he waved.

"Okay!" Gwen griinned as she followed Chris out. Piplup walked beside Gwen, feeling a little more secure around her with someone who was familiar there.

Chris closed the door to his house, "Well then lets go," Chris said, "YOur first ever pokemon adventure."

"I know, I'm so excited! This is the first time I've ever been this close to a pokemon before!" Gwen smiled happily, looking down at Piplup. Piplup cocked it's head slightly at first, then smiled back at Gwen.

"Well get used to it," Chris said, "If I approve you after this journey then you and Piplup will be spending a lot of time together."

"Wow, really?" Gwen asked excitedly. She then turned her attention to the parcel theyy were supposed to deliver. "You know, I wonder what is in that package that the Professor gave you, anyways." she mused as the walked twoards Route 1.

"Eh..." Chris said looking at the package, "I never really question what I deliver or pick up. Mainly because I get to see what the Professor gets in return."

"Well, that is a plus!" Gwen laughed. She thought about how absolutely amazing it must be to be able to study pokemon up close with a brilliant gentleman such as Professor Rowan. "So, are you his assistant? Like, do you study pokemon with him?" Gwen asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"On occasion," Chris said, "I mainly collect the stuff and carry it from place to place." He looked down at the pokeball that contained Turtwig, "But the professor mainly studies the evolution of pokemon. So my job is also to train the pokemon he has so that they can evolve."

"Well that's cool!" Gwen exclaimed. "So, do you guys only research Pokemon that evolve, or do you research Unevolving Pokemon too?" she asked inquizzitively.

"Mainly evolving ones," Chris said, "The professors core focus is evolution so he doesn't study them." he said.

"Interesting." Gwen mused as they walked along. Suddenly, some bushes started to rustle and out popped two enraged-looking Bidoof. "Uh-oh, that's not good." Gwen commented. Piplup suddenly jumped out from where he had been walking beside Gwen and puffed out it's chest, taunting the Bidoof slightly.

"Not really," Chris said, he pulled out his pokeball and tossed it towards the Bidoof's. "Come on out Turtwig," he said as Turtwig came out of the pokeball. "Turtwig!" he shouted as he came out the ball. "Don't attack yet Turtwig, need a photo first," Chris said as he pulled out a small camera. He then snapped one photo of each of the Bidoof's, "There we go... these should be good for the data base." he said as he looked at the pictures.