His large sombrero and bushy black mustache flops up and down as the yellow and green poncho clad trainer waves his hand in the air gesturing to his Ludicolo who is out on the field. The apposing trainer a rather attractive red haired female dressed in tight blue jeans and a red vest shouts to her Scizor whom clamps in acknowledgement. The two Pokémon zoom towards each other attacking with all there might. Ludicolo dashes to and fro launching energy ball attacks at the Scizor whom dodges left and right slashing its mighty claws at the opponent.
The crowd goes wild as the two trainers face off in the opening battle of the Mazitec festival tournament. The Mazitec grand raffle winners are set to be announced at the end of the tournament.
Professor Hemp puffs on his corncob pipe as he watches the match on the huge jumbo TV mounted in the food court hallway. He glances at the time and then quickly dashes off. He soon arrives at the staff members only doorway leading into the prep room. A bunch of Pokéballs sit in a fancy holder awaiting there new owners. The Mazitec raffle has been advertising on TV in every region for months now. Thousands of trainers sent off for the raffle and have been talking about it at school and work. The winners will get a paid trip to the Mazitec region where they will be geared up and given a starter Pokémon. From there they will have the chance to explore the whole region and absorb the beauty that is the Mazitec region.
Professor Hemp finishes up with the work he was doing on his computer and hits the "send" button. Just as soon as the professor hits send a list of the gear the winners will be given pops up on the jumbo TV screens through out the festival.

Raffle winners GEAR

Hikers backpack that holds the following.
Seven Pokéballs
water flask
tent
sleeping bag
pocket knife
Pokédex
Holocaster(hologram cell phone)
flashlight
twelve foot rope
flint and steel /two boxes of back up matches
$1,000 Pokédollers$
Potion X2
Full heal
compass
___

Professor Hemp reclines back in his computer chair and says to him self. "Now for a nice rest before i'm due to announce the winners." Hemp rests his legs back on the makeshift desk and yawns. Suddenly with out warning the professors Emolga bursts out from under his lab coat and excitedly shouts "EeMo!" Hemp who is startled flies back crashing onto the ground. Emolga scratches her head squeaking cutely.

((Let's get this ball rolling, guys!))

Kai stood next to his mother, of course, as the battle raged through. He found his gaze, however, turning towards one of the many, large screens around the battle zone. Upon realizing what the randomized items stood for, he knew what they were a part of, and a small frown etched itself across the boy's face. The raffle winners' prize... To his dismay, Kai reminded his mother about sending his nomination in to the raffle address yet she forgot, as his mother was often clueless and sporadically lost her memory. He knew it wasn't her fault, but he couldn't help but force the tiniest bit of resentment towards her for it. Now, he had no chance of exploring the new region. Once more, he found himself frowning, not because of the raffle mishap, but because of a large and intricate statue painted a bright orange. Kai felt his heart drop in to his stomach as his mother soon looked in his direction, and prodded his arm with her hand.

He instinctively trailed behind his mother as they wandered aimlessly throughout the festival. His thoughts kept reflecting on the statue; its appearance, its flaming tail. Kai quickly shook the horrid thought from his head with a slight sigh as his mother turned to face him with a barely noticeable nod and smile. "Do you want something to eat, Kai-lyn?" The boy could only offer a subtle shake of his head, obviously not wanting to be called that; being referred to by his actual name in public was humiliating to the teen, though not even he knew why. Perhaps it was the fact nearly everyone mistook him for a girl when they first saw him? Maybe his mother was just getting on his nerves? Whatever it was, Kai offered a slight grunt after she spoke his name, and began walking forward once more.

"You know I don't like being called that, mother..."

His mother strode beside his right, attempting to keep pace with him as he paced up the cobbled festival street briskly. "I don't mean to call you by your full name, Kai-ly--," She stopped before she could say his full name once more, "Kai, I just... I don't know. Are you having fun, dear?"

"I dunno... As much fun as a teenager can have at a festival meant for people with Pokémon, I guess."

His mother responded with a slight shake of the head. "I'm sorry, but there was no sense in you traveling all the way to Pallet Town just to receive your first Pokémon."

Kai's head leaned towards his mother's direction, sighing heavily. "You realize I could've just ran out in to the brush and tall grass on the routes around town and caught a Rattata or something, permitting you bought me a pokéball to do so..." Kai's dear mother could only give a slight sigh and nod in response to his obviously correct, yet rude, statement as they slowly continued about the festival in silence.

The bushy yellow and green Ludicolo stands at the opposite side of the battle field from the bright red Scizor, there eyes locked. The poncho clad trainer punches into the air with a fist clenched tight signaling to his Pokémon. Ludicolo immediately raises both its hands and starts to rain dance. The red haired beautiful trainer quickly waves her hand through the air and shouts "NOW" The Scizor rushes towards Ludicolo with both claws crossed. Like a samurai in battle the Scizor uses the move X-scissor right as it passes by its opponent. The Ludicolo flies to the ground with a thud rolling to a painful stop.
A loud crack of thunder followed by a bright flash of lightning, rain drops that slowly start to fall turn into large drops that start to pour down over the whole festival. "Don't give in, X-scissor again!" The red haired trainer shouts as the rain runs down her face. Her Scizor dashes towards the downed Ludicolo and swipes another mighty X-scissor attack. Before Scizor can react he is his by a mighty wave of water that plows him to the ground.
Scizor leaps back up skidding on the now wet arena floor to find Ludicolo had moved out of the way before its strike even landed. The water type Pokémon's ability Swift Swim, witch doubles the Pokémon's speed had now activated thanks to the rain dance it had preformed the turn before. Now blindingly fast Ludicolo hops back and fourth mocking the Scizor. With one quick final command the Scizor rushes Ludicolo executing a perfect Bullet punch attack. An attack so fast it will always strike first. Ludicolo falls to the ground before turning into red energy and being sucked back into its owners Pokéball.
"Good work Bud you did well, have a nice rest." The poncho clad trainer says as he holds Ludicolos Pokeball in his hand smiling. The two trainers shake hands. "Great battle Señor
Vasquez, If I would not have had priority with the Technician boosted bullet punch you would certainly have won with your swift swim Ludicolo. Its quite a monster once you set up rain." The red haired female trainer says.
"Oh.. Thank you lady Xillia. Its always much fun battling with a fellow gym leader. Keeps the spirits high!" The tubby mans mustache bounces as he chuckles.



The referees voice booms through out the festival as the rain starts to slack off and the sun peaks back out bringing the day back to its former sunny self. "The winner is Lady Xillia leader of the Zastin City gym! Congratulations Ms. Xillia!" The announcer holds her hand up into the air as confetti sprays out from every direction. The crowd erupts into a strong cheer.
The announcer continues, "Next we have the results of the Mega Mazitec raffle that has been going on all year! We all know what the winners will get. As we speak professor Hemp is in back preparing the starter Pokémon. The winners of the raffle will be announced shortly. Right now please enjoy the music of Koffing and the Toxics. The stage darkens, the crowd gets silent. A huge Koffing is projected onto the back screen. Roxie the lead band member who just so happens to be a gym leader in Unova rocks her big guitar. "I'm Roxie. We are Koffing and the Toxics! I hope you guys are ready to be disgusted!" She shouts as the first song starts. "P - O K E - M O N POKEMON!"
Professor Hemp snores loudly as he reclines back in his chair. The professors tubby Zigzagoon cuddles in his lap all cozy and content. Momo the professors Emolga yawns with a long satisfying stretch, she had fallen asleep on top of the bookshelf. She rubs her hungry belly before leaping off of the book shelf and plopping down right on Hemps head. This scares Zigzagoon who leaps off of the professors lap. The professor is so startled that he flies backwards in his chair landing on the hard ground. Emolga lands safely to the side shrugging and whispering "whoops" in Pokémon language.
After the throbbing in his head subsides the professor gathers his equipment and supplies heading for the main stage. His bag filled with all the starter Pokéballs sway back and forth as he jogs to his destination. He zigzags through the hallways dodging other festival workers and news people as he goes.
The punk rock band Koffing and the Toxics finish up there set promoting there up coming album entitled "Toxic Smog"

The back stage guy starts to wave the professor onto the stage as the assistant scientists set up everything. A long table with Pokéball holders made from crystal is arranged with all the starter Pokémon set up in order. The professor walks calmly onto the stage and is handed a stack of index cards as he goes. He stops in the center and starts to address the crowd.
"The first Mazitec raffle has been going for one full year, all of the waiting has led up to this moment. I have here before me all the starter Pokémon displayed on this beautifully decorated table. Those of you who have sent off for the raffle know who you are. Are you ready!"
The professor picks up the first index card and starts the announcement. The back board is lit up with the names of the winners as they get called out. One by one they start to come up onto the stage accepting there starter Pokémon.

"Is he having a laugh?..."

Warm browns narrowed wearily towards a rather animated man and his 'Super Rare and Mega Powerful' Pokemon... from what Meryl could see, at every angle in every way, it was a Magikarp. She'd heard the rumours of this man, the one who tried to rip young and inexperienced trainers off by making them pay for the creature. Of course, it could evolve into something that terrified man and mon, but those silly enough to BUY a Magikarp usually weren't skilled or patient enough to reap the rewards of having enough time to put up with the countless, thousands of splashing. She had a good mind to call him out, but given the amount of sneers and tuts he was receiving around the small tank that had the poor, if somewhat vacant creature stuffed inside.

Maybe it would have been happier with whoever bought it.

"Hm?" Behind her, she could hear-- a girl? -- no that was a boy-- no a girl -- a -- no. Whichever gender, though certainly a person of the same or similar age to the mousey-blonde haired lass, was giving his or her mother a peice of his or her mind. A Rattata...? Perhaps they were from Kanto? Although Rattata's were wide-spread, it always felt like the trainers from Kanto made it a point to catch them when they first got their trainer licence.

Made a change from the Bidoof that waddled through the routes either side of her hometown-- and curse the trainers who looked into their beady, souless eyes and considered them cute. She had seen one pushed around in a baby-buggy, and she swore it was a were-baby when her eyes first laid upon it. In Hearthome, her home town, there were ALOT of babies.

'The first Mazitec raffle has been going for one full year, all of the waiting has led up to this moment. I have here before me all the starter Pokémon displayed on this beautifully decorated table. Those of you who have sent off for the raffle know who you are. Are you ready!'

"Oh!" It was the Raffle, she could hear it! Of course she'd put in for it (after six years of begging to have a Pokemon, certainly.) but like many, she didn't expect to win. It was one of those things that other people won, and never herself. All the same, Meryl held onto her light bubble-gum toned hat that was embroidered with a large, dark fuchsia hibiscus, and stepped through the crowds until she could atleast half-see the goings on of the stage.

A near painful gasp flew into her lips.

That was... that was her name! It was, wasn't it? Yes.. yes it was!

"Oh my...Oooh my.." Cheeks flushed with prompt confusion, the girl flapped around the crowds in poor navigation until she finally reached what she assumed was the /b]correct point to wander up to the stage. "..." Lost for words too, it would seem. "...I..." Very, very lost for words. "Is this.. I.. is this real...?"