A Rising Star

Scottie had made [EN:Gen Ref="255" M="his" F="her" ] way to the forest to do some intensive training with [EN:Gen Ref="255" M="his" F="her" ] Pokémon...

when suddenly, [EN:Gen Ref="255" M="he" F="she" ] heard the sharp cry of a different Pokémon nearby!

Torchic, wait for me!

Torchic, wait for me!

*pant pant* I...finally...caught up to you!

You...you all found him for me, didn't you? How can I thank you?

That Torchic... He's my partner Pokémon!

I'm still an evolving Trainer, just a beginner, really. I've heard people call me a Rising Star, but...

I'm not very confident in my battling skills yet... My Torchic doesn't really listen to me.

I only looked away for a moment earlier, and he ran away from me...

Wait... Where's Torchic now?! Don't tell me he already ran off again!

No way! I can't believe this... Wh-where in the world did he go this time?!

Y-you're right... Panicking isn't going to get me anywhere. I need to go find him!

Y-you're right... If I run now, I should still be able to catch up with him!

Th-thank you so much! That would be amazing!

Th-thank you so much! That would be amazing!

Seriously, where did Torchic run off to?

I'm not really confident in my skills as a Trainer... What if Torchic doesn't think I'm a good partner?

Um...Scottie? Can I ask you a favor?

While we're searching for Torchic, do you think you could give me some tips on how to become a better Pokémon Trainer?

If I gain some more confidence, maybe Torchic will finally acknowledge me.

I'm sure I could learn so much from you and your partner, Scottie! Will you help me? Please!

You want to know how to be better friends with your Pokémon? Well, for starters, you can't be uncertain or anxious.

Pokémon can tell when their Trainer is feeling out of sorts.

You've got to brush off that negativity, walk right up to the Pokémon you want to befriend, and then...

Ahhh! Yesss... What a sweetie you are!

I know it looks like she bit me, but she didn't. She's just showing me affection.

There, see? Look at what good friends we are!

Man, ain't she a piece o' work! Sheesh!

When I was her age, I'd duke it out with any Trainer I saw, no matter how strong they looked.

What she needs is to buck up and fight a bunch o' different sync pairs! Grow some...guts, if ya know what I mean!

There you are, Torchic! Oh, thank goodness.

This cute li'l Torchic belong to you, dollface? It came runnin' outta nowhere... Bumped right into my leg.

Eeeek! Y-yes, he's my p-partner! S-sorry, mister! I'm sure T-Torchic didn't mean to run into you! It was an a-accident!

What do you look so scared for, huh? It's fine! I ain't even mad about it!

If you wanna be a Trainer, you gotta stand up 'n' fight, no matter how strong your opponent looks! C'mon, yo! You can start with me!

Wha, ?! B-but I...

Uh...Scottie? What are you doing?

Hah! Your friend in the hat's got the right idea! C'mon! Don't hold back, I ain't gonna go easy on you!

Uh...Scottie? What are you doing?

Hah! Your friend in the hat's got the right idea! C'mon! Don't hold back, I ain't gonna go easy on you!

Whew! Your friend 'n' [EN:Gen Ref="255" M="his" F="her" ] Pokémon are beasts, dollface! You should buck up 'n' learn somethin' from 'em while you can. You got this!

O-OK! I promise...I'll try!

He's totally right. You two are sooo strong, Scottie!

You and your partner are so in sync with each other. I wish we could be like that, too!

Right, Torchic? Do you want to be like Scottie and...

T-Torchic? Torchic! Where are you?

Ah! There you are! What are you doing all the way over there?!

Wait for me, Torchic!

Torchic is actually the first partner Pokémon I've ever had.

He's so small and cute. I love him to bits!

But I get scared and run away every time I see a strong Trainer.

My lack of confidence probably makes things a lot harder for Torchic... No wonder he doesn't listen to anything I say.

... ... ...

Did you hear that?! It's Torchic! He's calling for me! I shouldn't be moping around like this.

I need to be better and try my hardest, just like you, Scottie! Wish me luck!

Hm? You want to know about the bond I have with my Pokémon? Well, we actually started off as partners at work.

Bulbasaur's always had an easygoing nature, and I'm his super-perfectionist polar opposite. We were never in sync...and it showed.

I figured the best way to get in sync with Bulbasaur would be to get to know him much, much better.

So I did! We went out on the weekends together, hung out, and just spent more time together in general.

Before I knew it, we understood each other like we never had before, and we'd become the best partners ever!

Come on, you're a Rising Star! Calm down, and take a deep breath! You can do this!

How many times have I told you to be bold, have confidence...

Wh-what? I'm n-n-not doing anything weird or s-s-suspicious at all! Nope!

See that g-girl over there? I'm kinda like her mentor... So I'm just trying to keep an eye on her, OK?

You look like you could help her grow as a Trainer... Here, take this!

Just don't tell her you saw me, OK?

There you are, Torchic! I'm so glad you're OK. We've been looking all over for you!

Thank you so much, Scottie! I couldn't have found him without you!

... ... ...

Wha, ?! What's gotten into you, Torchic? I didn't even say anything...

What? H-hold on a second! I never said anything about a battle.

Challenge? As in a battle?! Hold on a second! I never said anything about a battle.

Wait... I don't even know why I said that. I DO want to battle you, Scottie. It's just that...

I think my gut reaction is still to be nervous and afraid. But deep down, I want to battle you more than anything!

Torchic could sense what I was really feeling, couldn't you, buddy? Thanks for giving me the push I needed.

All right! Get ready for a battle that's as good as, no, BETTER than that last one with the scary guy!

I believe in my partner! If Torchic wants to win, I'll be right there, fighting hard with him.

Great! Neither do I! Torchic and I plan to show you everything we've got!

Sure, I can do that! Torchic and I are ready whenever you are!

Hehe... It looks like we lost this time.

I'm sorry, Torchic. Either way, it was an amazing battle!

Yeah! I never knew Pokémon battling could be this much fun!

Yeah! I honestly never knew Pokémon battling could be this much fun!

I think I have Torchic to thank for that. After all, it was his confidence in me that encouraged me to jump into the battle.

The old me would have just run away.

I would have been way too afraid to challenge a strong Trainer like you.

Thanks, Torchic. And thanks to you for such an amazing battle, Scottie!

Torchic and I are going to keep getting stronger and stronger. Next time we battle, I bet it will be even more fun!

That reminds me... Can I ask you a big favor, Scottie?

I know it's a lot to ask, but I have this Pokémon that I really want you to raise.

Oh, no! It's not my buddy, Torchic!

It's actually a second Torchic that I brought with me to Pasio.

Meeting you and getting the chance to battle you has really changed me for the better, Scottie.

You're the perfect person to raise this Torchic! I really hope you'll consider it.

I'm sure that during my adventure with Torchic I'll still come up against things that make me feel nervous and afraid.

But when that happens, I'll know that somewhere out there, you're doing your best with Torchic... just like me!

And knowing that will encourage me to stand up and fight hard, too!

So what do you say? Will you raise this Torchic for me?

Phew! Man, it feels good to be out of that dark cave and back in the sunshine!

Yodel-ay-hee-hoo! Hey, you over there! You're out here for some Pokémon battlin' today, aren't you?

Feels like days since I last saw another human! Let me yodel y'all a fightin' song to boost your morale! Yodel-ay-hee-hoo!

Gahaha! Now y'all are ready for any challenger comin' your way! Good luck!