It has begun.

James woke up early that morning, the sun had barley even begun to rise and he was already getting dressed in his traveling gear.  He looked at his dresser and smiled as he saw the six pokeballs there. Five were empty, but one of them had his partner in it, a charmander named Volcanik, the little guy was James' first pokemon. James grabbed his pokeballs, ate breakfast, and left the house with a smile on his face. He said good bye to his friends, and left town, enjoying his first time on his own. He stopped walking after a while and looked around to get a good view of his surroundings...

The surroundings were ample with life. Trees glistened in the light from the beautiful dewdrops clinging to their vivid leaves. The rustling of grass gave way to families of Rattata while the trees lay home to ample Pidgey. It was the perfect day to start a journey. The Pokemon closest to James was a plump Rattata enjoying a feast of nuts spread across the grassy landscape. He was nibling on one happily, and paid the trainer no mind.

Rattata, Male, level 3

James looked at the rattata and smiled, he picked up a nut from the ground and held it out to the little pokemon in the palm of his hand. "Hey there, you're a hungry one aren't you?" He chuckled as he spoke to the pokemon. He glanced around at his surroundings and sighed, he loved being outside sometimes. Volcanik was sleeping inside his pokeball.

The Rattata perked his ears when James spoke, and his nose frantically scented the air while his eyes locked onto the nut in the trainer's hand. He finished his own and took a cautious step forward, toward the trainer. After a few moment's hesitation, he craned his neck forward and took the seed nimbly between his powerful teeth. Sensing no hostility from the trainer, he happily consumed it.

James petted the Rattata gently and smiled, he chuckled. "That's a good Rattata, see? I don't want to hurt you, if you stay friendly to me, I'm friendly to you. Hey, how would you like to come with me? What do you say?" He patted the Rattata on the head and smiled.

Rattata finished off the seed and blinked a few times, as if in thought. He scratched his ear with one hind leg and sat next to the trainer, unsure of his answer. He sniffed the air and perked his ears toward a nearby berry bush, thoug the fruit grew too high for the small rodent to reach. He hadn't accepted Jame's offer yet, but perhaps a savory bribe would do the trick...

James took the hint and smiled. "Oh, I see, clever one arent you? Ok, I'll get you those berries." James went over to the bush and picked some of the berries growing from it, he sat back down near the Rattata and held out a hand to it, he placed the berries in his open hand. "Here you go little guy."

Wagging his tail furiously in a very un-Rattata like fashion, the small rat devoured all but one of the berries, which he gently held in his jaws and offered to the trainer in a sign of friendship. A bond had formed between the two even through a simple means of kindness and food, and it would only grow as they traveled together.

Rattata would like to join you!

James smiled and took the berry that the Rattata offered him, he ate it and savored the sweet juices. "Thanks buddy, you and me, we are going to go places, literally." James took a pokeball off of his belt and tapped the Rattata with it, the red beam of light engulfed the small pokemon and drew it into the pokeball.

The Pokemon inside put up no struggle, and was swiftly caught.

Rattata was caught! Would you like to give him a nickname?

No nickname given.

James put the pokeball back onto his belt and smiled, he stood up and walked slowly down the path, he was excited now that he had captured his first wild pokemon. "I wonder what I'm going to run into next." As he walked he tightened the red bandanna he was wearing.

The next noticeable sight was something odd for the area. A Manky lay nestled in a nearby tree, perhaps having wandered to it from a different route. Unlike the Rattata, Manky were famed for bad tempers, and he would surely dive into a fight if provoked.

Mankey, Male, level 3

James saw the Manky and froze in his tracks, he knew how rare these were for this area, but he also knew about their nasty temper, if he could catch it...they would be like two peas in a pod. "Ok...lets see here, how do i get close to this thing without angering it?" He slowly walked over to the tree and leaned up against it, he took a riseball out of his lunch he had packed and held it under the pokemon's nose.

The Mankey perked up it's ears and cautiously sniffed it. Eyeing the trainer with a glint in it's eye. Then nimbly leaping up to the branch, it clung with a hang and huddled up again, having given no response. The Pig Monkey pokemon's trust seemed to be harder to gain than the Rattata's.

James sighed and grabbed the manky by the hand, he then put the rice ball in the hand he had grabbed, after that he let go. "I get that you don't trust me, but do you really want to pass up free food? How about a battle? If i win you come with me on my travels, we could be a good team, but if you win, I give you another rice ball and you get to chose weather or not we travel together. Sound fair?" He held out a hand to the Manky, hoping to shake on the agreement.

Mankey flew into a rage at being grabbed like that but suppressed it long enough to hear out the trainer. It appeared to be in thought and even glanced at the rice ball. It made up it's mind. It was up for a challenge. Nodding, it set aside the rice ball for later eating and took a ready stance.

James smirked. "Now that's more like it!" He stepped back from the Manky and selected a pokeball. "Here goes nothing! Rattata! GO!" He threw the pokeball and a white beam of light shot out and Rattata came out, it looked at James with an 'are you nuts?' look and shrugged. "Rattata! Show me what you got!" Rattata nodded and took a deep breath, as it exhaled it jumped into the air and flames engulfed it, it then rolled straight at the Manky.

Mankey was narrowly outclassed by Rattata in Speed and was hit, fortunately not burnt. Twirling around, it rushed forward with a Low Kick.

Rattata was hit by the low kick and skidded back a bit, it wasnt knocked out yet, James growled a bit. "Rattata, return." He held up the pokeball and a red beam of light drew Rattata back inside of it. James looked at the Manky. "Not bad, Volcanik! Come on out partner!" He threw out another pokeball and his partner came out tail burning birhgt as it should. "Ancient Power!" Volcanic nodded, a glint in his eye, he focused and ancient power kicked in

Mankey was impressed. Dodging the stones, it kicked back a few with it's Low Kick.

(May I ask why your Charmander is level 1?)

(I wanted a challenge! ...don't judge me...lol)

Volcanik barely managed to dodge the rocks that were sent back his way, James sighed and returned Volcanik to his pokeball. "We have to work on that one obviously, but he means well. Rattata, come back out! Flame wheel!" He sent Rattata back out and smiled as the little guy burst into those spinning flames once more.

Mankey jumped away, singed a bit, the cream fur quickly turning brownish. It came closer with a Low Kick.

Rattata jumped and avoided the kick, it ran back to James. "Flame Wheel! One more time! Rattata nodded and he combusted again, running and spinning at full speed towards the Manky. "Do it! Lets win us a new team mate!"

Mankey was thrown back but suddenly slammed it's hand down, trying to slam Rattata in close range with Counter (EM). The power would be increased since Mankey just took on a Flame Wheel.

Rattata tries to dodge but still gets hit hard, he slowly gets back up. "Rattata, return! You don't need to get too beat up now ok buddy? just relax. Manky! You're, pretty good, lets see if you can win though. Volcanik! Use Shadow Claw!" He brought out volcanik and smiled, the little charmander ran at the manky, and slashed at it with black hazy claws.