Melody sat in the shade of a tall oak tree, tapping gently at the buttons on her Nintendo DS whilst watching Emp play in the shallows of Lake Verity. Rei slumped gently against her arm as he slept, his calm telepathic waves relaxed the young trainer as she lounged, enjoying the beautiful summer day. She was slightly startled when she heard footsteps approaching from the direction of Twinleaf Town. She turned and saw Rowan, her childhood friend walking through the grass towards her.

@YamiNoNeko2341
Rowan walked towards Melody with his hands in his pockets in a cool manner, pausing slightly just to wave to her before continuing his gentle stroll. Once in front of her, he slumped against the tree and slid down it before finally sitting down at the base.
"So we finally have our starters huh?" He asked as he looked upwards, shielding his eyes from the sunlight filtering through the top of the tree.

"Yeah" Melody chirped with an excited grin, "I just absolutely adore my little Piplup already, how's Twig going?" She closes her DS with a gentle click and slides it into one of the pockets on her satchel.

@YamiNoNeko2341
"Pretty good I suppose." Rowan replied with a simple shrug
"Haven't really done much so far, I mean our journey has only just begun." He added with a small sigh before pulling out a pokeball from his pocket and threw it up and down a few times.

@Lunarlors34
"Have you been in any battles yet?" Melody asks while jumping to her feet "I think battling would be really cool... Although..." She lowers her eyes and fidgets "I wouldn't want Emp or Rei to get hurt..." She lifts the still sleeping Rei into her arms.

@YamiNoNeko2341
"None whatsoever, are you implying you wish to battle?" Rowan asked with an eyebrow cocked upwards in a questioning manner.
He twirled his pokeball a few times before letting Twig come out with a *swish* noise, the Turtwig shaking itself off slightly as if it was a wet dog coming in after being out in the rain.

@Lunarlors34
Melody giggled "You're not tricking me into facing me just yet, I know that grass has an advantage over water" She leaned down to pet Twig while cradling Rei in the other arm

@YamiNoNeko2341
"Ah you got me." Rowan shrugged with a slight smile on his face.
"So when do we even leave for this journey?" He asked with as he also got up and dusted his trousers off.

@Lunarlors34
Melody thinks for a moment while fishing a pokeball out of her satchel "Well I guess we should get some supplies and tell our parents first" she pressed the button, expanding the pokeball to it's full size before absorbing Rei in a cool burst of red light. The ball returned to it's normal size with Rei now safely inside and placed it back into her satchel. "Well I guess we'd better get going" she smiles at Rowan before calling Emp over and wrapping him in a towel she pulls from her trusty satchel, and lifting him into her arms

@YamiNoNeko2341
Rowan nodded quietly as he went to follow her back to Twinleaf town. He would have to write a good list of what he needed when he got back, along with making sure he told his parents.
Twig trundled along behind Rowan, looking quite content for some strange reason.

@Lunarlors34
As they completed the short walk to Twinleaf town Melody managed to make short work of towel drying Emp, as his feathers were somewhat hydrophobic and she returned her towel into her satchel after wringing it out and gently placing Emp on the ground besides Twig. Emp seemed happy enough to be making a new friend. Melody bumped against Rowans shoulder "Isn't it great that they're getting along?"

@YamiNoNeko2341
Rowan was a little lost in thought and seemed a little confused when Melody had suddenly bumped against him, looking at her curiously as to ask why she did it. That is before he looked down and smiled slightly at the sight of the two pokemon's blossoming friendship.
"Suppose it is better for them to get along." He replied with a slight shrug of his shoulders

@Lunarlors34
As they reached the town Melody scooped Piplup back into her arms. "Well I guess we've got to part ways for a little while, meet me back here once you've told your parents ok?"

@YamiNoNeko2341
"Yep see ya later." Rowan nodded before strolling off to his house with Twig in tow. When he got to the simple, two story brick house he called home he pulled out his front door key. Once inside he noticed that his parents weren't home, oh well. He got the stuff he thought he would need, clothes, food, water, tent, cooking utensils, metal crockery, sleeping bag, lighter, sunscreen, cooking oil and anything else he feels they would need on their journey. He writes a quick goodbye note to his parents before leaving to the meet-up place. He wasn't bothered if he got there early or not, he could wait.

While Rowan gathered the supplies at his house, Melody wandered into her family home, her father was still at work but her mother was in the kitchen. Melody strolled up and hugged her tightly.
"I see you finally got your starter Pokemon" Laura (her mother) observed.
"Yep, Rowan and I are going to train hard and get all the way to the Elite Four someday" Melody beamed
"Well your father and I have a lot of faith in you both, but please make sure you come home and visit sometime"
Melody nodded. "Also look on the mantle above the fireplace, your father and I prepared something for you"
She checked the mantle and found a large stack of supplies waiting for her, she packed the clothes, town map, Pokemon food and set of 10 pokeballs into her satchel then grabbed two packed lunches and handed them to Emp to hold. She changed out of her regular sneakers and into the much more comfortable running shoes that her mother had provided.
"Thanks mum" Melody kissed her mother on the cheek and races out the door to meet Rowan.
"Be careful" Laura called after her.

Rowan slumped against a nearby tree on the path that leads out north from Twinleaf town as he awaited the arrival of Melody. He was 10 minutes earlier than he should've been, so he made himself comfortable at the base of the tree with his large backpack placed next to him
He proceeded to pat Twig who sat patiently on his lap. He didn't have much else to do but wait.

@Lunarlors34
Melody ran at full sprint to the meeting place with Emp hot on her heels. 'I hope haven't made him wait too long' she thought to herself.
Just then she rounded a corner and Rowan came into sight a short distance away. "Rowan!" She called waving her arms as she ran towards him.

@YamiNoNeko2341
Rowan looked up as Melody called out his name and started waving to him, so Rowan decided to wave to her back.
She started running towards him as he now now contemplating telling her about the tree root she was about to trip over-too late. He barely contained the laughter which now threatened to burst forth from him as he raced over to her to make sure she was right.

@Lunarlors34
Melodys foot hit a tree root that was sticking up through the dirt and for a few moments she was airborne... Then the ground rose up to meet her and she skidded forward on her face. She sat up and frantically tried to get the dirt out of her mouth, tears welling in the corners of her eyes.

@YamiNoNeko2341
"Not hurt too bad are you?" Rowan asked with a hint of concern in his voice as he bent down to help Melody up and dust some of the dirt off of her.
While he thought about it he also pulled out a packet of tissues and handed her a few to dry the tears which had been shed.