Hoenn Region - Lilycove City

Jessica was jumping for joy. She had just switched off the remote for her TV after watching the news, and what amazing news it was! Screw the normal Pokémon journey! She was going to make it big in the big bad black zone, get paid the big bucks, get famous and get some bad ass Pokémon.

She ran down the stairs from her bedroom, gave her suprised father who was reading his boring newspaper a big wet kiss, ran past her mother plating up breakfast of pancakes and strawberries and ran out the front door.... wait breakfast....ran back into the house and sat down at the table to eat breakfast.

Her mother gave her a smirk as she plated the table with the pancakes for the family. You think it was just normal boring pancakes??? WRONG. Nah were talking the good stuff, mum was a chef. These were blueberry pancakes and coconut pancakes with strawberry coulis, whipped cream and real maple syrup, not the store bought crap.

"Going somewhere in a hurry on the weekend honey?" asked her mother.

Jessica too busy stuffing her face to answer with human words just grunted in response almost choking as a result.

"Easy there honey, whatever has you in a rush isn't worth dying for!"

Jessica finished her plate in record time "Sorry mum, i've got some great news and I need you to sign some papers for me but i'm off to go tell Anna!"

With her food finished she quietly excused herself from the table and ran out the front door slamming it on her way out. Running to her best friends house and screaming at the top of her lungs "ANNAAAAA were going to be FAMOUSSSS!!!!" She opened the door to Anna's family house knowing that it wasn't locked and ran up the stairs past a suprised looking GROWLITHE. Opening the door to Anna's room to the sound of her snoring with a snot bubble coming out one of her nostrils.

"Anna no time to sleep" Jessica flings herself on top of her sleeping friend causing Anna to wake up in a panic.

"What the hell is wrong with you Jessica! Go away it's the weekend and I need my beauty sleep" She pushes her friend off her bed and dumps her unceremoniously onto the floor of her bedroom

"You won't bel..." *OOF* Anna hurls a pillow at Jessicas face as she tries to talk.

"Shut up and let me get dressed first, then you can talk, this better be good or i'm going to find your boy magazines when you are sleeping and burn them! NOW GET OUT" she yells as she shoos Jess out of the bedroom and slams the door shut.

A stricken Jessica sits on the floor as GROWLITHE walks into the hallway and plops himself down into her lap with a stick in his mouth.

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10 minutes later Jessica is sitting outside throwing a stick for the GROWLITHE to chase. She hates it when Anna is right and knows that some things need to be taken one step at a time. Anna casually comes down the stairs looking far more awake and less grumpy.

"So... out with it! What's got your knickers in a twist at 9am on a Saturday morning."

Jessica puts on a serious face and levels an intense look at Anna. "So you remember that we are going to go on our journey in a few weeks right, and we still haven't decided where we are going to head?" As she lets the information slowly sink in a feeling of apprehension washes over Anna.

"Well I heard the most wonderful news EVER! We are going to be Rich, Famous and Powerful! All we have to do is go to the BLACK zone in the antarctic region for at least part of our initial journey. And the best part is it's all paid for by Mr Ketchum!"

The reaction from Anna is not what Jess was expecting. From a look of suprise and interest to utter horror. "ARE YOU FREAKING CRAZY? Why the HELL would we go to a freezing death trap? It's a BLACK zone for gods sake, we are beginners and experienced veterans fear to go there. What were you thinking? If you want to commit suicide can you at least do it in a less dramatic fashion? How are we even going to get there? Where are we going to get starter Pokémon, nothing we get given is going to be able to match up to anything in the BLACK zone you imbecile."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Jessica has a huge grin on her face. She knows she's won. "Well my dearest bestest friend in the whole wide world, i'm glad you asked. Why go? Well again RICH, FAMOUS, POWERFUL!" She emphasises each word.

"Starter Pokémon well that's easy we can borrow a strong Pokémon from Mr Ketchum as a favour and get it to help us catch a BLACK ZONE STARTER POKEMON!!!!" The primal scream of excitement in her words leaves Jessica panting for breath.

"Finally how are we going to get there? Well if you have a look at the application I printed out earlier (one for each of us) all our expenses are paid irrelevant of wether we are new or veteran adventures. We just need our parents to sign an indemnity form in the case of our unlikely deaths."

Anna has a look of shock on her face. "You can't be serious, I'm not going to do it! No freaking way. You can't make me, I don't wanna and i'm too young and pretty to die so soon."

A wicked look with an evil glint in Jessicas eyes has Anna very nervous, sweat runs down her face even though it is a cold morning. "Jessica.... you wouldn't dare! ....I hate you so so so so much right now......." She pauses as she nervously fiddles with her hands, the Glint in Jessicas eyes somehow seems to be getting brighter.

"You know you are an asshole right. I knew doing something stupid like cheating off of your papers all year around was going to bite me in the arse!"

Jessica jumps around happily and grabs Anna into a huge hug. "I love you sooooo much, you are the bestest bestie ever! Now all you need to do is help me convince our parents since they listen to you and think I’m a terrible decision maker!"

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Later on that day Jessica and Anna sit down with papers on the desk. Across from them sit some very concerned parents but Anna is convincing in a way few her age could ever hope to be. She's smart and great at getting what she wants, but only for subjects she cares about. She would make a great politician or lawyer one day.

So with reluctance Jess and Anna obtain their parents permission to travel to the BLACK zone "protected" by the son of one of the greatest Pokémon trainers the world has ever known. With state of the art equipment and Pokémon (The girls conveniently omitted the fact that these Pokémon weren't caught yet and no promises had yet been made about lending out Pokémon to use for their first capture).

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Applications for the voyage were coming in little by little. Mostly experienced Veterans who had nothing else to lose decided to try their luck in helping to track and catch the legendary Atricuno and apparently some strange dude calling himself FoulDragon who apparently refuses to use Pokémon at all only his fists. Some social stars attempting to get more followers and somehow two girls who had yet to go on their Pokémon journey.

The PR team was delighted with the two girls although Mr Ketchum was worried.

"We are not here to baby sit! What if they get hurt?"

The PR teams head Miss Oak just stares at him "Well MR KETCHUM you do realise that your father went on his journey at their age and encountered a legendary bird on his first couple days and lived to tell the tale. Maybe they will be our good luck charm, additionally think of the RATINGS! Two adorable trainers going on their journey with us to a BLACK zone, the publicity will be through the roof. Apparently they even have asked that you lend them your fathers Pikachu to help catch their first BLACK zone starter Pokémon! Also they are both the top of their class and their application form submission was impressive and very well written, they clearly have a good head on their shoulders. Lastly their parents know the risks and have signed the indemnity form!"

"Fine! But if those girls die it's on your concience and the publicity will be horrendus! Just for the record I think this is a terrible idea."

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1 week later

"Honey you have mail!" shouts Jessicas mother. "And it looks important"

"Coming mum, lets see what it is." Jessica tears into the letter in excitement noticing the red embossed seal on the envelope with a capital K on the front.

Dear Jessica Ho, it is with great delight that we are happy to advise that your application along with your friend Anna Sioutos has been accepted to join in the expeditionary force heading to the Arctic regions BLACK zone around a months boat ride to the south of the Sinnoh region. Your flights have been booked from Hoenn to Sinnoh in one weeks time and the expedition is set to leave a week after this point on the 5th October on the specially designed SS KETCHUM. We look forward to talking to you soon and seeing you in action. Additionally Mr Ketchum has approved the use of his fathers Pickachu to help you catch your first Pokémon on your journey, however after your first successful catch it's on you to carve out a name for youself as is expected of any true adventurer.

As your parents have signed your indemnity waivers we would like to take a moment to thank them for their trust in us to take care of you two and congratulate them on helping you on your path to greatness,

Sincerly the PR teams head,

Miss Oak