It was the next day, and Morgan woke up before the sun. He never had a fixed sleep schedule, it didn't matter if he slept before or after midnight, he was either waking too early or too late. Never at just the right and normal time.

He rather prefers walking than battling with his thoughts, except when he's not around people. That's why he spent a while wandering around the halls before the matron noticed and gave him a task so that 'he has something to do'. She really liked her morning solitude and didn't want to get bothered. At least not before the orphanage was ready to begin its daily activities. With feeding the kids and whatnot.

Morgan was ordered to sweep their backyard and gather the trash so that they could burn it later. Moon helped, though not in any particularly efficient manner. That bone of his was not a substitute for a proper broom. The Cubone had been following him since the moment his feet hit the floor, and mirroring everything he did.

They were almost finished, when once again reminiscent of the previous time, a shadow fell upon them. They looked up. It's Ranger Liam. What was he doing here, Morgan wondered.

Soon, Liam was standing in front of him, without his red jacket this time. "Good morning, Morgan. I hope you and your Pokemon are settling in alright?"

He introduced himself while they were on the flight yesterday, that's how Liam knew his name.

"Yes, thank you for asking," Morgan replied. "Are you here to check in on me?"

"That's correct," the man then grimaced. "And also that matron of yours convinced me to 'donate' a week of my free time to teach you what I know about Pokemon."

Oh, that's what usually happens when you allow her to talk. And a week, huh? That's the start of the new year, the day after which the Gym challenge officially began.

"Imagine my surprise," Liam continued, "When I meet her in the office just a few hours after I fly off from her house."

Morgan didn't say that he was sorry because when this kind of opportunity fell on his lap, he should thank the deities and take it with both hands. "So when do we start?"

"Right now."

"In here?"

"Yes, this place is big enough for our purpose."

"But I don't want to accidentally damage anything."

The matron would be cross with him if that happened.

"Don't worry, I'll keep it contained to this area."

"If you say so," said Morgan, glad that somebody else took responsibility.

"Are you ready?"

"Uh, are we going to battle Sunny?" He asked, staring at the Pidgeot warily.

Liam chuckled, "Oh, no. You're definitely not ready for that one. I have someone else in mind."

He returned his Pidgeot with a mutter of thanks and then picked up another PokeBall. He released a Pokemon that seemed like a small animated plant. Its body was blue, with two small feet and red eyes. On top of its head grows a large clump of five long green leaves.

"Meet Gladly," Liam said. "He'll be your opponent for today."

That was an Oddish, facing off against Moon, who stood tall in front of Morgan. Figuratively speaking.

"Alright," said Liam. "Start your move."

"Moon," Morgan instructed, "Fight."

"Wait, didn't you already know about what moves your Pokemon has learned?"

"No. We, uh, didn't have time to figure it out."

He sighed, "Teach me not to assume things again, I suppose. But, anyway, continue."

Moon, in the meanwhile, began by wagging his tail.

"Pokemon in the wild usually do that kind of posturing when they feel threatened," Liam explained. "It's their way to warn you not to approach them. It either means the Pokemon is actively hostile or they are protecting something. I would advise young and inexperienced trainers like yourself to keep away if you see it.

"The move is called Tail Whip, and in battle, it reduces the opponent's defense. Or boost the user's attack. Depending on your point of view."

"I'll try to remember it," said Morgan.

"Now, Gladly, show them your own warning."

Oddish planted his feet solidly on the ground and suddenly added half a size to his body. He simply got bigger.

"That move is called Growth, and it temporarily forces the user's body to grow and raise their special attack."

Morgan asked, "What does that mean?"

"Let me demonstrate," the young man said. "Gladly, use Absorb."

Green motes of light came out of Moon, forcing him down to his knee, and entered into the Oddish.

"It steals energy from the enemy, making them tired faster, and easier to take down. It also slightly heals your Pokemon."

"It looks powerful," said Morgan.

"It's not, actually. It only happens because of the type advantages. Are you familiar with it?"

"I know the basics. But please, explain it further."

They were interrupted by a noise from Moon. The Cubone made a low guttural sound, but because it also passed through the skull covering his head, it gained a hollow and echoing effect. It was honestly disturbing.

"I'll do it after this," said Liam. "That one was Growl, by the way. If you didn't know."

Moon ran toward the Oddish, whose tiny legs were not fast enough to avoid his charge. The bone in Moon's hand hit Gladly so hard that it sent him flying back.

"Ah," Liam exclaimed. "Bone Club, the signature move of Cubone and its evolution."

Gladly wasn't out for the count, though. He was still ready to continue, so Liam ordered him to use Acid. It splashed against Moon's stomach, but this time he was able to shrug it off. It did, however, serve to slow him a bit.

The minutes after that, they spend chasing each other. Moon tried the best he could to hit Gladly, with his bone, claws, and even his head. Meanwhile, Gladly interspersed his use of Acid, Absorb, and ran to stay in the fight. Until Liam finally put a stop to it, with neither side having fallen. But Moon definitely seemed worse off by the end.

"Alright," he said. "That's enough."

Liam threw a bottle to him, but Morgan was barely able to catch it. "It's Potion. Applied some to your Pokemon to fix some of the damage."

Morgan did as he was asked, then offered it back. "Here you go, thanks."

"No, keep it," Liam said. "Now, what have you learned today?"

"That my Pokemon is awesome."

"No, I want you to take this seriously."

"Moon doesn't know any ranged move."

"Exactly, he had to get closer. But the thing is, Cubone isn't known for its speed. Even later down the line. And their ranged options are limited too."

"So what does that mean for us?"

"If you ever face off against an enemy who's faster than you, let them come to you."

"You are saying that I should train Moon's defense," Morgan said, remembering what happened in the fight before. "He soaked up a lot of damage there."

"Yes, Cubone and its evolution have good bulk for their size. Also, learn how to dodge, he took a lot of unnecessary hits back there. Acid might not be very effective against him, but it's not a reason to take it head-on. And in the future, if possible, parry the attack. That bone of theirs is useful for a lot of things."

Moon eyed the bone like he just found out something new about it. Gladly meanwhile had already returned to his Ball.

"I'll write that down," said Morgan.

"Good," Liam said. "Speaking of attack, let me tell you about type advantages. Every Pokemon is either mono-type or dual-type. And each of those had their advantages and weaknesses. Moon, for example, is a mono ground-type."

"Oh, I know that one."

"Ground-type is good against electric, rock, and poison. But weak against water, grass, and ice. Further, Pokemon's moves also have types. If it happens to match the user's type, that Pokemon move receives the same type attack bonus.

"For example," he continued. "Absorb is a grass-type move."

"So that's why it seems super effective against Moon. He's weak against grass-type and then got hit by one from a grass-type Pokemon."

"That's correct," Liam answered. "But on the other hand, despite having the same property, Acid didn't have the same effect."

"Because ground-type is strong against poison."

"Yes. But I want you to understand this, type advantages are not always a hard rule. Stronger Pokemons will be able to mitigate their weakness. They'll have trained for it. But you're not at that level quite yet. Still, keep that in mind, kid."

"Yeah," Morgan replied. "I got it."

An alarm sounded out from his watch, so Liam said, "Well, that's all I have for today. You guys have a rest and then we will resume tomorrow, same time and place."

In the next several days, Morgan and Moon took lessons in the basics of Pokemon battling, and honing what they already had. Sunny helped with their dodging skill by hurling Sand Attack at them. Besides that, they also learned about beginner foraging skills. Like how to build a fire, find shelter, and recognize most common types of berries.

In the afternoon, he tried to memorize a book that Liam had lent to him. It was about type matchups, so it was kind of important for his future. His schedule had become full enough that he rarely left the building that week. Except for one occasion.

The matron found him while he was reading. She wore a severe-looking bun, and her clothes were freshly ironed out. She said, "Morgan, come with me if you would."

Morgan closed his book and placed it down. "Where are we going?"

"To the Pokemon Center."

"Oh," he then asked. "To get my trainer license?"

"Yes. Hurry up now, I'm still quite busy today."

Morgan and Moon scrambled to follow. But despite saying that, they actually took their time walking there. Morgan was forced to match the matron's steps, so they were moving very slowly. It was fine, though, the place wasn't very far anyway. Moon didn't seem to mind, or at least he didn't make any noise to signal otherwise. The Cubone was clutching his bone stick with one hand, and the other keeping a grip on Morgan's pants. He was probably wary of being lost.

The afternoon sun beating down on all the pedestrians, but they didn't care.

Amongst the moving crowd, the matron began a conversation. "Do you still remember the advice that I gave you?"

"Which one," he asked.

"Never, never trust the people in power to have your back."

Ma'am, you worked for the government, so what do you have against them? Morgan thought. But he didn't voice it, and instead said, "Yes, I remember."

"And the next part?"

"But if given a choice, I should do what I must, for myself."

That meant to never shy away from taking and using resources, no matter from where, even if it was from the government.

"Good," she said. "We are here."

They had arrived at their destination. The building, just like its ubiquitous brethren, all had the same red-painted roof. Clear glass covered the front wall to let in the light, and so you could see the room from the outside. They went in through the double door and approached the front desk. It was manned by a Nurse Joy.

"Welcome to the Pokemon Center," she said. "How can we help you?"

The matron nudged Morgan forward, he hesitated a bit before saying, "I want to register for my trainer license."

"Then you want to head to the second floor, right through that staircase."

They followed her direction and found themselves in an office area of sorts. Chairs arranged along the walls were presumably put there for visitors. On the back, stood a line of desks behind barred windows filled with regular employees. Some of them even had one of those new computer technology.

They joined the shortest queue, and soon they were the ones in the front and being asked by an employee, "Excuse me, can you please state your business?"

Morgan told him that he was there to get his trainer license.

The man offered him a paper, and said, "Very well. Then I'll need you to fill out this form, and to give me your PokeBall or PokeBalls if you have caught any Pokemon with it. For the purpose of our records."

"About that," said Morgan. "I have Moon here with me, but I haven't used a ball to catch him."

"Bone," Moon said, still attached to his trainer's leg.

"Actually," the matron said. "I have something for you."

She handed him a new PokeBall.

"What is this," Morgan asked, surprised.

"It's your graduation present," she said with a smile. "And also happy birthday."

Well, he was almost at that age when they kicked you out of the orphanage. But it was too early for his birthday. Then again, any resources. "Are you sure?"

"I'm very certain. Take it."

Morgan stared at the PokeBall, then asked his Pokemon, "How about it Moon, you ready?"

Moon looked up at him confusedly. Didn't he already see Ranger Liam used it before, so why was he acting confused, Morgan wondered. "If you press the white button, it would mean we are in it for the long haul, you and I."

Moon tapped it with his bone, and then he disappeared in a blue light. It shook once before it went 'ding'.

Morgan gave it to the employee and brought the form with him to an empty chair. It asked him questions like; date of birth, 28th of January. Place of birth, Pewter City. Current address, House of Gems. Number of Pokemon/s, a whole lot of… one. Number of Badges, none.

He needed help from the matron for some of the other questions. But he did finish it. He handed back the form then, and received his PokeBall in return.

"Head to room 12-C to get your picture taken, then come back tomorrow to get your license," said the employee.

That would become the only other time that he left the orphanage. He spent the rest of the week training with Ranger Liam and making his preparations. A few days later was the new year's celebration. And then the opening of the Gym Circuit.

There was no big fanfare when he was leaving. Only a vocal send-off from all of the people who reside at the orphanage when he took the first step out of the door. Even Ranger Liam decided to be there for some reason.

Morgan righted the straps of his bag and waved back, and so was Moon beside him. There was nothing else to it, so they turned away and kept walking.

That day, a boy and his Pokemon started their journey.

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