The lab stood bright against the morning sky, its glass panels catching sunlight like wings. Grant slowed only when he reached the front steps, suddenly aware of how loud his heartbeat was.
This was it.
He pushed the door open.
Inside, the lab hummed with quiet energy. Machines clicked and whirred. Screens glowed with maps of Unova and charts of Pokémon migration patterns. Professor Juniper stood near the center table, adjusting a device on her wrist.
She looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, Trainer Calder."
Grant froze.
Trainer.
The word felt too big for him.
"Good morning, Professor," he said, standing straighter.
"On time," she noted. "A good start."
Then another voice chimed in from behind a shelf.
"Took you long enough, hero."
Grant turned.
Leaning casually against a desk was a girl about his age, with short dark hair tied into a messy ponytail and a confident grin that said she knew exactly how good she was. She wore fingerless gloves, a red scarf, and boots that had clearly seen more roads than Maplefall ever had.
She waved. "Hey."
Grant blinked. "Uh… hi?"
Juniper chuckled. "Grant, meet Nyra Vance. Nyra, this is Grant Calder."
Nyra pushed off the desk and stepped closer, eyes sharp and curious.
"So you're the Maplefall kid," she said. "I expected you to be shorter."
Grant frowned. "What does that mean?"
She smirked. "Means you've got long legs. Useful for running from angry Pokémon."
Grant crossed his arms. "I don't run."
Nyra raised an eyebrow. "Everyone runs. The smart ones run strategically."
Juniper cleared her throat. "Nyra here transferred from Castelia City. She's starting her League challenge today as well."
Nyra tapped her chest proudly. "Elite status. That's the goal."
Grant's eyes widened. "Elite Four?"
"Champion," Nyra corrected. "Why stop halfway?"
Grant felt something spark in his chest.
"Same," he said.
Nyra's grin widened. "Good. I was hoping for competition."
Professor Juniper gestured toward the center table.
Three Poké Balls rested on a silver tray.
Grant stopped breathing.
"Today," Juniper said, "you choose your first partner. Not a tool. Not a weapon. A companion. A teammate."
She touched the first Poké Ball.
A flash of light burst outward.
A small green Pokémon appeared, standing proudly on two legs with a leaf on its tail.
"Snivy," Juniper said. "Calm. Intelligent. Strategic."
Snivy crossed its arms and looked away, unimpressed.
Nyra leaned in. "Wow. That one's judging me."
Grant laughed nervously.
Juniper touched the second Poké Ball.
A bright orange flash.
A small pig Pokémon appeared,with springy tail and black accents.
"Tepig," Juniper said. "Powerful. Loyal. Strong-willed."
Tepig snorted and stomped once, sending a tiny puff of smoke into the air.
Grant felt the heat on his face.
Then Juniper touched the third Poké Ball.
A splash of blue light filled the room.
A small sea-otter Pokémon appeared, balancing on its tail. A pale shell rested on its belly.
"Oshawatt," Juniper said. "Energetic. Brave. A little dramatic."
Oshawatt puffed out its chest.
Then noticed Grant.
Its eyes widened.
It gasped.
And immediately slipped on its own tail.
It flailed. Spun. Hit the table leg. And landed flat on its back.
Silence.
Nyra stared.
Snivy sighed.
Tepig snorted.
Oshawatt sat up slowly, shell sliding off its belly and clattering across the floor.
It froze.
Then it waved awkwardly.
"Osha…"
Grant covered his mouth.
Then laughed.
Not a polite laugh.
A full, uncontrollable laugh.
"I'm sorry," he said between breaths. "That was just—"
Oshawatt jumped to its feet and saluted.
Then tried to spin its shell on one finger.
The shell immediately flew off and bonked Tepig on the head.
Tepig squealed.
Snivy facepalmed.
Nyra burst out laughing. "Oh I like this one."
Grant knelt down in front of Oshawatt.
"You okay?"
Oshawatt nodded vigorously.
Then tried to flex.
Its arms shook.
Grant smiled.
"You tried really hard."
Oshawatt's ears perked up.
Juniper watched quietly.
Grant reached out.
"Oshawatt… do you want to travel with me?"
Oshawatt stared at him.
Then threw itself forward and hugged his arm.
"Osha-watt!"
Grant froze.
Then gently hugged back.
"I guess that's a yes."
Nyra clapped. "Well, that was dramatic."
She walked over to the table and looked at the remaining Poké Balls.
"Guess that leaves me with a decision too."
Snivy smirked.
Tepig puffed smoke.
Nyra crouched down. "Alright, hothead. Show me what you've got."
Tepig stomped.
She grinned. "Fire suits me."
The Poké Ball clicked.
Juniper handed them both their Trainer IDs and Pokédex units.
"Your journeys begin now," she said. "Be smart. Be kind. And don't underestimate wild Pokémon."
Nyra snapped her Poké Ball onto her belt. "No promises."
Grant clipped Oshawatt's ball to his own belt, though Oshawatt refused to stay inside for more than ten seconds before popping back out.
"Osha!"
"Okay, okay," Grant laughed. "You can walk."
Nyra tilted her head. "So, Maplefall kid. First stop?"
Grant looked toward the window, where Route 3 stretched into the distance.
"Striaton City. First Gym."
Nyra smirked. "Perfect. I was going there anyway."
Grant hesitated. "You're not… going to race me, are you?"
She shrugged. "Maybe."
He groaned.
They stepped outside together.
The morning air was warm. The road shimmered faintly in the distance.
Grant felt like the world had grown bigger overnight.
Oshawatt trotted ahead, trying to look important. It tripped over a pebble and rolled into a bush.
"Osha!"
Grant rushed over. "You okay?"
Oshawatt popped back out, leaves stuck to its head.
Nyra laughed. "You sure you picked the right one?"
Grant brushed the leaves off its ears. "Yeah. I'm sure."
Oshawatt puffed up proudly.
Nyra crossed her arms. "Alright, Champion-in-training. How about a friendly battle before we leave town?"
Grant blinked. "Already?"
She smirked. "What? Nervous?"
Grant stood. "A little."
"Good," Nyra said. "Means you care."
She stepped back and tossed her Poké Ball.
"Tepig, let's see what you've got!"
The fire pig landed with a snort.
Oshawatt hid behind Grant's leg.
Grant knelt. "Hey. It's okay. We don't have to fight yet."
Oshawatt peeked out.
Tepig stomped.
Nyra grinned. "Your move."
Grant took a breath.
"Oshawatt… Water Gun?"
Oshawatt stepped forward.
It pointed its paws dramatically.
Took a deep breath.
And sprayed water straight into its own face.
"Osha—!"
It spun in a circle, dizzy, then fell over.
Nyra doubled over laughing. "Oh no. That's tragic."
Grant rushed forward. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean—"
Oshawatt shook itself and jumped back up.
It glared at Tepig.
Then at Grant.
Then nodded.
It raised its paws again.
This time, a clean stream of water shot forward, splashing Tepig and sending it skidding backward.
Tepig squealed.
Nyra's eyes widened. "Okay. Okay, that was solid."
Grant grinned. "Nice one, partner."
Oshawatt beamed.
Nyra recalled Tepig. "I'll give you that round."
Grant blinked. "Really?"
She winked. "You're fun. I want our real battle to be somewhere big."
Grant laughed. "You're strange."
"Get used to it."
They turned toward Route 3 together.
Grant adjusted his backpack.
Nyra cracked her knuckles.
Oshawatt marched between them, shell held high.
The road stretched long and bright ahead.
Grant looked at his new partner.
"You ready for this?"
"Osha-watt!"
Grant smiled.
He was finally a trainer.
And this was only the beginning.