Chapter 1  - Burned Toast 

P.O.V. ???

In front of me, a monstrous bipedal Pokemon emerges in a flask of red with a bellowing thud. The stadium lights shine brighter than the sun obscuring our opponents' hulking form. Its armored silhouette loomed in front of us, failing to hide its horns adorned on its head and spikes jutting from its back as it towered over me in the trainer's podium.

Without flinching, I stared down at the massive figure as I casually tossed my pick. 

“Go Donny!!” I said with still calmness.

“Don, Don PHAAN!!!” Roared my Donphan, Donny, who trumpeted his name with a thunderous echo. 

My ever trusty Donphan burst onto the scene with an explosive Earthquake that launched our foe into the air, with them matching our tremors as it crashed back to earth. Our opponents vanished in a flash of red light as they recalled their Pokemon.

“And the winner of the Silv@#$%%^ande Conference, at an astounding 6 to 0!!! TYSON ABE!!” The Blair over the stadium speakers was just as deafening as the crowd’s applause. I straighten my back proud. I did! I conquered the region! After many months of traveling through…

“What region was I in again?” panic filled my thoughts as a familiar feeling of anxiety crept into my chest. I took a long, deep breath, letting the air of the region fill my senses. I was expecting the fresh mountain air of Mt. Silver or the salty ocean breeze of Ever Grande. But I didn’t smell a mountain or the ocean, I smelt iron. A deep rich iron so potent I started coughing.

I sat straight up wheezing and coughing on my bed. A thud and a shocked bark alerted me to my Aron rolling on the floor like a rolling soda can until he stopped, now lying on his back. The poor thing wobbled as it tried to get back on his feet looking more like a helpless Squirtle.

I was about to get up and help the little guy until a blue blur ran over joyfully to help him. My little Donny the Phanpy rushed out from under my arms from where I was cuddling him and over to Aron with his constant smile. “Phanpy,” he greeted a good morning as he gently flipped Aron back onto her feet.

“Thanks Donny. Sorry Tet, but you know not to sleep near my head at night especially since you're gassy when you sleep,” I softly reminded Tet, “We both know I could have woken up with tetanus.”

Tet barked a happy yes but I could tell that she was not paying attention. I’ll just have to hold her when we sleep like Donny. “Well it’s a good thing that she’s cute,” I chuckled to myself as I petted the bipedal armor creature as she affectionately nudged my knee. Donny clamored onto my bed to receive some head pats as well. I then turned to my third partner, technically my first.

“Hi Tyke,” I greeted as I turned my desk chair seeing a snoring Cyndaquil, my starter. He was curled on top of the seat of my desk chair and somehow got a small blanket that fit him perfectly. At the sound of my voice, Tyke raised his head slightly, “Cynda!” he returned the greeting as he rolled over to show me his belly. To which I gently rubbed. Tyke got a little fussy but that was to be expected.

Tyke was a wild starter Cyndaquil I found around Goldenrod. He is still a bit distant from me, I don’t know much about his past but I could tell he wasn’t originally wild. It took me a year just for me to touch let alone ask him to be my starter. Although we aren’t the closest yet, there is one thing that we do share a love over. However, that has taken a back seat for me which Tyke is still grumpy about. It wasn’t hard to notice that my desktop was still logged in to Hoenn Leagues website -- with a paused video of one of Brawly’s Gym battles -- with a thin metal case resting on the side of it, one that is a bit light.

I ignored it. Glancing at my phone seeing it was a quarter to six, I decided that it was about time to start breakfast. “Guess it's about time to start preparing breakfast” I gestured to my companions at my feet then to Tyke on my chair, “After that, we can do some training on the beach.” After hearing the word “training” Tyke perked up a bit. He gingerly slid down my chair before lazily waddling out the door Donny and Tet just bolted out of. 

Tet and Donny were already down the stairs by the time Tyke and I were only a few steps down. Tet managed to stumble down the stairs and land her back again. Thankfully Donny was able to tilt her back onto her feet again by the time Tyke and I met them on the first floor. She wasn’t hurt thanks to her natural metal armor but the floor did get another new scuff, as did some of the steps. Tetsu (or Tet as I call her) was caught fairly recently in our first exploration of Granite Cave just a few days ago, she is still fairly new to living in a man-made infrastructure. Although she has gotten used to human food.

After a few minutes of waiting after entering the kitchen, the three small Pokemon's patience was rewarded. Placed in front of Tet was some standard PokeKebble for rock-types with some iron dust blended in giving it a silver hue with some slices of sweet Pecha berries, mixed in the kebble were slices of pancakes with more diced Pecha berries. I made sure there was a single pancake at the bottom. 

Donny’s breakfast didn’t have iron dust but dirt from Granite cave, and instead of Pecha Donny had sour Aspear berry slices on top of the dirty dish. Donny usually had a few pieces of toast with Aspear jam as a treat but I burnt the first batch and was making another. After placing a pair of bread slices in the toaster I handed the last bowl to Tyke.

Tyke didn’t like store-brand kebble so he had a mixture of root slices, Combee honey with non-sentient larvae, chopped fish, Bitter Rawst berry slices, and two strips of bacon on top.

Luckily Tyke’s tastes aren’t very extravagant; ginger roots that are commonly eaten by fire Pokemon in the field egg group can be from in most forested places, non-pokemon fish meat is rather cheap due to its abundance, and unfiltered Combee is oftentimes unsellable and can be bought from the source at half the price. 

Although it is difficult to have it shipped outside of Sinnoh at a reasonable price due to lack of demand, it can go to triple the price of regular Combee honey. Unfortunately, our stash of unfiltered honey is running low. Might have to switch Tyke to kibble soon unless we can find someone to battle. 

I went to check on Donny’s toast when the sound of footsteps caught my attention.

A shuffling from the kitchen doorway altered me of our other “roommate” entering the kitchen. “Morning Kid,” yawned a man past his mid-thirties. The man, Singh, was hired essentially as my babysitter. He kept an eye on me whenever I left the house and prevented me from leaving the town unaccompanied. Although he feels more like a prison warden with how intensely he did his job, the first day we met he told me that he’d sick his Kingdra on me if I thought about boarding a boat or swimming off the island. 

Plus, Singh didn’t look like the friendliest, the man had light-tanned skin, not uncommon in a tropical region like Hoenn, however, what was uncommon were his tattoos. Not many people in Indigo have them, although I can’t the same is true for Sinnoh or Hoenn, the tattoos are strange and visible from his wife-beater (white tank top). From his left shoulder, all the way down to his elbow are three perfect circles in a line connected by lines in between them.

Singh's tattoos aren’t the scariest thing about him his build was lean but he is not thin, more of a sleeper build I believe. His dark-colored hair in long braids was tied back in a Ponyta-tail. The man sauntered over the only other empty chair across from my Pokemon with his permanent scowl plastered on his face. 

I’m pretty sure Singh is a thug hired to keep me on the island rather than a guard.

My team didn’t like him either. 

Tet looked a bit scared as he sat down but relaxed when she remembered food was in front of her. 

Donny was intimidated but he still attempted to be cordial as he waved his trunk to greet Singh while he was shaking. 

Tyke, on the other hand, although he was still bothered by Singh’s appearance, he didn’t show an ounce of fear. I’m sure Tyke was angry at him more than anything. He glared at Singh as best a perpetually squinty-eyed little fire creature could, all taking bites out of his food.

All of them went unnoticed. In an attempt to be civil with him, I placed a plate of food in front of Singh. It was just the leftovers from Tet and Tyke's breakfast and Donny’s second batch of toast I burnt again. Slightly burnt. 

We were staying at his place after all so I had to show some gratitude. Although all I got was a yawn in return. 

“We’re heading to the beach outside to practice,” I said neutrally shortly after I handed Singh his breakfast. I am not his maid or servant though, if he wanted eggs he could make them himself like the adult he is. I said as much as I and my team went out to the beach after finishing eating and cleaning.

Singh’s House was on a secluded beach north of Dewford and Granite Cave, the beach we were practicing on was an hour away from one of Granite Cave’s entrances.

We traveled south of the beach between the water and a nearby forest. My team is weak to water but since I plan on training Tyks fire-type move I don’t want to risk starting a forest fire. Plus Tyke isn’t the most graceful when it comes to training his fire attacks. He can be very gung-ho when it comes to shooting his Embers without any instruction.

For today I Tyke a bit away from the shore facing the water to prevent any accidents. We were working on ways to have his Embers come out in streams instead of bursts as well as increasing the flames' intensity to hopefully transition into Flamethrower. But so far Tyke’s Embers have been coming out as large bursts after he started charging them for a few seconds.

It’s not Flamethrower but at least Tyke is happy about it.

I left Tyke to it as me and Donny went to the sand a little ways away to have him train Rollout. Tet, despite being part Rock-type, was playing in the shallow water close to shore. It took a short call to have her run back to shore and dry her off before having her practice training her Tackles on a nearby tree.

“Hey, Kid!” An hour after training on the beach Singh came down to me wearing the same thing except added some sandals and an overcoat made for humid weather. I nodded back, not saying anything focused on training my Pokemon.

“Y’know, I get yer ya on yer journey and what not but you have to realize you ain’t competing in this year's conference.” A shit-eating grin on his face as he taunted me.

I turned to him more than a little irritated.

This is not the first time he tried to get under my skin, and will probably won’t be the last unless he gets bored. And when he does he just half watches me from the porch while he is on his phone or something.

The narcissistic old man has nothing better to do than look down and threaten a person half his age. I did my best not to give him a reaction as usual. 

It may seem hopefully optimistic or naive but I know I can complete the Hoenn circuit and compete in the conference if I just keep training.

Just another day of training, hopefully, we can schedule a gym challenge this week. Singh hates going into town so he hasn’t let me register. Hopefully, when my father gives the okay I can finally go back to my journey. Maybe I can rush and participate in the Ever Grande Conference if I get the okay within the week.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

But…

It’s been a month since I came to Dewford. The Hoenn League Season is already three months in. Trainers around my level have been appearing less and less. 

I’m pretty sure most trainers have at least half of their required badges to compete in the Conference while I still don’t have a single Hoenn badge!

Should I just quit being so hopeful I can compete this year? I’ve already come to terms with not being able to participate in the Silver Conference since my uppity father pulled me out of Johto and into Hoenn of all places.

“Oui Kid!” Singh yelled as I shook out of my daze.

“Yeah?”

“If ye goin to keep staring out into space like that at least don't do it when I’m talking to ya.” Singh chided then his shit-eating grin grew into a smirk, “But I get it, Hoenn’s already a third into the current League season. By this time people who haven’t gotten any gym badges are rushing to get at least one so they have at least a chance to qualify for the tournament. And that is true for some.”

He finally got my attention as I turned to him.

“It is a bit outside of the traditional gym order. But obviously, yer best option would be to challenge the gym here in Dewford. Since we’re here on Dewford, east of Mt. Chimney, it is a straight shot north to three of the other major gyms like Petalburg, Rustborro, and Lavaridge. Hell after Lavaridge you can head to Mauville and Fortree which are close to port towns that have easy access to the traditional final two gyms. Which is a boat ride away from the Evergrande. ”

Most regions like Kanto or Johto have a traditional order on when to challenge each major gym. Some link it to a trainer -- said to be the first trainer -- who established the Pokemon League in their region or the order in which each tribe or settlement agreed to unite as a single country. 

Not a lot of people follow the traditional gym order since not everyone starts their journey in the same place. Most just challenge the gyms closest to them and then work their way to the ones farther away from their starting point.

At that point, I stopped listening to this jackass. When I was battling some of the Dewford natives starting their journey many told me their path travel hoping to meet up when I started my journey around Hoenn. And most told the same thing Singh was telling me right now.

Just how little does this jackass think of me? Is he patronizing me cause I’m half his age or is it that I’m just not from Hoenn? Although I’m pretty sure he just does not care.

I side-glanced at him, seeing that he hadn’t realized that I completely stopped listening to the Tauros dung he’d been spewing. Seriously, he needs to start brushing his teeth more.

That and it was unrealistic. Just getting to the Petalburg, Rustboro, and Lavaridge Gyms will take three weeks from Dewford and that's not counting the time it would take to schedule the gym matches in a viable time slot. More trainers would be pouring in by now.

“It was the mid-season after all,” I muttered not knowing that thoughts were leaking out.

He then glanced back at me. Oh, I guess he heard me?

“Well, that's where you’re wrong, kid.”

Yeah, he did hear me.

“Ya see, the mid-season rush doesn’t happen until September and even then it happens the most in Mossdeep and Sootopolis. Ya see the end of September marks the start of thunderstorm season here in Hoenn. Plus most people who start their run of the gym challenge on the mainland challenge the Dewford gym last because of how out of the way it is, especially if they start in the mid-season late like you.”

I winced at that, but he did have some good points. Right now it was the end of July so I would have about a month before the rush.

“So that would mean you have about a week before you get stuck here on Dewford.”

Turned my head so fast that I thought my neck was going to snap off. Not paying any attention to his grin increasing into a smile.

“A week!?! It is only July, what do you mean by a week, Singh?” He got my full attention. He stared me in the eyes with a cockier grin than normal.

“Oh yeah,” His smile started to show some of his teeth, “because of the change in temps, August is the tourist season. Most if not all of the sailors who are not full-time fishermen head to either Slateport or Lilycove to act as ferrymen for tourists. There's good money to be made there after all.” He said in a sing-song voice as if it was a sales pitch, he even pointed out to the bay closer to the Dewford Harbor.

There were fewer boats out in the water than usual. The boats I recognize are still there parked at the docks and were showing more movement than normal.

“They tend to stay until the end of the mid-season rush. You’ll be able to get a ride to Slateport at a less-than-reasonable rate, but at least you'll get there. But Slateport would be crowded with tourists and trainers. Mauville tends to get hit early by trainers' rushes since it’s our largest city, so it could take months if not the whole mid-season. They’ll probably be gone in two weeks.”

I’d have half a mind right then and there to go over to the docks and check to see if Singh was right. But what he said next stopped me. 

“But hey it’ll all be alright I’ll help you, kid,” Singh said, showing more of his teeth.

“Help me with what?” I looked at Singh with more than a bit of suspicion. There is now the man who tiredly threatened me with his Kindra and would help me for free. 

“I’ll take you into town so ya can sign up for the Dewford Gym challenge of course. I’ll even cover the cost of the registration fee even if you lose so ya can rechallenge the Gym as many times as ya like. Hell if it takes you until the start of the mid-season to eke out a win and even take you to Petalburg myself on top of King, so you can continue on the Hoenn Circuit” He patted the Pokeball bulging out of his shorts. “I’ll do all of that for you and won’t tag along either.”

My suspicion was reaching a peak, but I couldn’t help but feel hopeful. I mean, even if he was underestimating me, I would have a security measure if I lost to the Dewford gym leader who was a former Elite Four. Not to mention transport to Petalburg. But it would be on the back of a crazed dragon and his equally sane owner.

“Buuut!”

He elongated but shifted me from my thoughts.

“I’ll only do it if ya can beat King and me in a battle.” He gestured to the ocean next to us as a burst of water rushed between Singh and me. 

Sand flared in front of me blinding me. I wiped the sand out of my eyes to see a crater big enough to fit my entire team.

I looked to the water to see the scowling face of a large, blue-scaled, draconic seahorse. Singh’s Kingdra, or King for short, was right there in the shallows where Tet was playing, staring at me with a savage look comparable to the one Singh had on his face at this moment.

How did it even get there? I swore King should’ve been in his ball.

“We’ll battle at the end of the week. Ya won’t have to win per se. It will just be a simple battle for my enjoyment. If ya entertain me enough I’ll take ya to Petalburg. Although if you don't want me to tell your rich daddy that you ‘ran away’ to compete in the gym circuit of a foreign region, Imma gonna need ya ta send me whatever money you get from any trainer battles you manage to win.” He said the last part by using air quotes.

I was seething in anger. Was this thug just bored and saw battling me as entertainment? Was he threatening me to battle him so he could beat me with a stronger Pokemon?

My already low opinion of Singh went from rock bottom down into the planet's mantle. Battle coercion and extortion, I could just report him to the nearest Jenny if I could but I know for a fact that this guy has my father’s backing. Not to mention his number on speed dial. Foreign region or not my father is a Silvery influential man he’ll have some way of covering this up.

Not to mention King. I turned to the still scowling Kingdra just waiting for me to do something. A primal sense of fear took over as I started to tremble slightly.

That guy has to be at least a 5-star battler, maybe mid-tiered. My team is only roughly above the 2-star high tier maybe. Even if I use my whole team against him he’ll wipe the floor with us with his brute power alone.

These two were both unbelievable. I don’t even know how to go about beating a monster like King.

A hot burst of plumbing sand tore through and erupted between me and Singh again.

Soaring in between me and Singh a scorching fire hurtled into the crater King’s water attack created. Turning the crater into a pit of fire. Hot sand exploded out causing even Singh to flinch.

“CYNDA!!”

We both turned to the source of the fire. Tyke crouched down, the flames on his back roaring and flaring like a bonfire. His ever-squinting eyes glared at King, his action was clear as Tyke was saying ‘Bring it on’.

He was getting good at that larger version of Ember.

“What the hell!!” Singh yelled before turning to Tyke. The pompous piece of Tauros dung leered at the battle-ready Tyke as if he were a child screaming in the middle of his villain monologue. 

How does it feel to be interrupted now asshat?

“Oui, what kinda trainer has their Pokemon launched an attack at unsuspecting people? Get that thing under control” Singh snapped.

His reaction was different from King’s. The Kingdra just huffed like he was unimpressed. He shot a much weaker Water Gun at Tyke. The stream of water at his back flames and extinguished them. It wasn't enough to hurt him physically but I could tell it stung his pride.

Tyke’s glare deepened, I think. But it was easy to tell he was livid at King. Tyke sprang up over the fire pit he lit attempting to dive into the water where the haughty Kingdra was. 

I hurriedly plucked him out of the air and held him against my chest. He couldn’t swim or use any attacks without his back flames lit, I didn’t want to be in King's natural habitat. He wiggled wanting to fight King right there and now.

“You first! You started after all” I said, adjusting my grip on Tyke, “Picking a fight with a trainer weaker than you.”

“Yer the one picking fights. I’m just a humble trainer looking to educate a newbie from the kindness of my own heart. But I get it ya just don’t know how to treat yer seniors yet. I’ll give ya a week to train ya Mon ya are what 1-star or something. I’ll generously give you a week, then I’ll ya how to respect yer senior trainers.” The pompous man sounded offended.

Singh dusted himself off before showing me his back. He slouched and his hands in his pockets made him look like a thug that finished bullying a kid.

“Anyways, I’ll let you do yer training now, ya gonna need it against me. I’ll even give you a handicap by letting ya do yer own thing. I got something to do in Granite Cave. King watch’em.” Singh commanded as he started heading into the beachside woods. 

He walked past Tet still headbutting the tree. She was so focused on her task that she probably didn’t realize that we got pressured into fighting a much stronger trainer.

Singh didn’t pay her any mind but before completely entering the woods he turned his head to look at me, not bothering to slow his pace.

“And hey, I’ll maybe go easy on ya if ya make me some damn eggs too. Sunny side up.” His cocky grin was plastered on his face. Singh disappeared into the woods.

I really hope he runs face-first into a tree.

Once Singh was gone I turned to King who was looking from the forest to me before resting his eyes on still seething Cyndaquil barley in my arms. Tyke managed to calm down and stopped trashing but he was still glaring at King. My hold on Tyke loosened but I was still holding him back from lunging at King. He had his front paws on my forearm ready to pounce at the dragon seahorse.

King once again huffed haughtily before silently diving into the wave.

I released Tyke from my grip as he kicked out of my arms. The little fire mammal turned and glared at me like he did King. His flames were lit again as he stood on his hind leg. There was less anger in his glare and it looked more like he was betrayed. Tyke started stomping his foot while puffing out more puffs of smoke.

I kneeled to be at eye level with Tyke, “Tyke, we both know you can’t swim. It isn’t smart to fight an aquatic Pokemon in their home territory, you’d just drown. You’ll just be hurting yourself.” 

That comment got me a puff of hot smoke straight into my face.

Tyke so far has been one of my more difficult Pokemon. His stubbornness and quick temper are something I’d expected for a Fire-type, although Tyke’s a bit more aggressive than the average domesticated Pokemon. At least compared to the rest of his species.

While I know this is typical behavior for Typhlosion and some Quilava, Cyndaquil are known to be more timid unless threatened. Even wild Cyndaquil isn’t as aggressive as Tykes. 

“Maybe that research paper written by Pr. Elm was slightly off. It could just be a personal characteristic of Tykes. One of his parents was a Houndoom or part of the Dragon family.” Despite being Tyke's trainer for almost a year now I can’t get a proper handle on his personality.

That last thought did give me an idea.

“Tyke, if you jumped into the water, you would have drowned before we got the chance to battle King.”

The rambunctious Cyndaquil dimmed his flames and stopped stamping his feet.

If there was one thing I know that would always calm down Tyke it would be a battle. Tyke has always been a battle maniac and a glutton for harsh training. 

Although that brash act of literally diving after a water Pokemon was new. 

“You good now Tyke?” I got a hesitant nod. 

“That’s good. Even if I said ‘a chance to beat King’ does not mean it’s a fair one. King is far above our weight class.” Tykes glare returned at that comment.

“But it’s still a chance. We’re all going to have to work extra if we want to win.” I gestured to the other two members of our team. While Te was blissfully headbutting a tree, Donny was training a little ways away from Singh’s confrontation so he heard about our upcoming battle. 

At that moment I wasn’t sure if I should be aiming to win against Singh because he said all we needed was to put up a fight and not win. It was for his entertainment. Although I can see Tyke is hyped up for the battle to come, I am not sure if Donny or Tet would be up for the challenge.

The little blue elephant was standing watching me and Tyke from a distance instead of training. I turned to where Donny was, he had a worried expression on his face. While I didn’t know which expression I should be wearing. But I did my best to console Donny with a smile.

Donny did not respond to my attempt to reassure him, as soon as I turned to him, he went right back to his Rollout training. I am going to have to ask him what he wants to do about this situation as well as Tet.

“We don’t have much time, go back to your Flamethrower training and I’ll think of something for King,” I said, returning my attention to Tyke.

The now calmed Cyndaquil nodded before walking back to his training spot. As soon as Tyke rushed back to his Flamethrower practice my legs gave up on me and I unceremoniously slumped onto the sand.

Too many things happened today and it was barely noon. I’m mentally exhausted. I feel like I popped a blood vessel. And I smell burned toast.

Am I having a stroke? What just happened?

I clenched my fist grabbing some sand in the process. Stilling my thinking I took a long inhale and then a longer exhale.

“It’s okay I’ll get through this,” I told myself.

I mean what else can happen?

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!! *SPLASH* 

Something just fell from the sky.

A person Just fell from the sky.

Is that burned toast I smell again?