Moving into the front yard, Jacob and Natalie saw their grandparents dismounting their green Dragonite. "Good work, Emerald. Return," their grandmother said, returning their Pokémon to it's Pokéball. "Hi, Grandma! Hi, Grandpa!" "Oh, and there they are! Our two beautiful twin grandchildren," their grandfather said as the twins ran over to hug them. "How have you two been today," their grandmother asked. "Good so far! We fetched water, we found an old tree house, we fought grunts of a crime boss named Malus and saved those two kids over there from her, the usual," Jacob said.

Wait, say that last thing again?" "Found an old tree house? Was he really that hard to hear," Natalie asked. "Natalie, we know that's not what he said. What was it," their grandfather asked. "Okay, fine. While getting the water, Jacob heard a girl yelling for help from over the hill. We ran to see what was up, and saw those two back there were being chased by three goons. We defeated the grunts, and their boss, Malus, showed up. She beat us, but before she could kidnap them, Dad showed up and ran her off. The kids introduced themselves as Josh and Megan, and showed us their storehouse, the aforementioned tree house. They gave us both a starting adventure pack, I guess you could call it, with Potions, Escape Ropes, and Repels, as well as an assortment of Pokéballs. And now we're here."

"Well, that was certainly insightful. I never knew that you two could fight Pokémon," their grandmother said. "Um, well, we can't. We didn't beat them into submission ourselves. We had some help," Natalie said. "Well, from who?" "Alright, Corona, come on out," Natalie said, grabbing Corona's Pokéball. "You too, Voltaire! Time to meet someone!" The balls opened up, and the Pokémon, bathed in white light, jumped out of their containers and next to their trainers.

"So, you finally have Pokémon. This must be quite the red-letter day for you two!", their grandfather said. "Oh, most certainly, sir," they both replied. "So, who gave you those two Pokémon?" "That would be us, ma'am," Megan said, now approaching them. "Oh, yes, and who are you two?" "Well, sir, my name is Megan, and this is my brother, Josh. We stole those two Pokémon from a grunt who was mistreating them, before giving them to Jacob and Natalie." "Ah, you must be a Pokémon whisperer. So, why were you being chased by Team Sutilis?" "Well, my brother can..."

Suddenly, Emerald popped out of it's Pokéball, an angry look on it's face. "Emerald! What are you doing," their grandfather yelled. Emerald dashed towards Josh, grabbed him, and threw him into the nearest tree. "Josh! Are you okay," Natalie asked. "Yeah, that Dragonite may be Shiny, but he can't throw for crap!" The Dragonite rushed towards Josh, fist outstretched towards him. Right as the attack was about to connect, Josh grabbed the Dragonite's fist, spun him in a circle a few times, and threw him into the woods. "I'll be right back," Josh said, chasing after Emerald.

Josh apparently threw Emerald quite far, far enough that he wouldn't be able to see where he landed. Reaching an open clearing, Josh put his two first fingers to his forehead and concentrated. He heard Emerald's thoughts coming from behind him, so he ran up, grabbed Emerald, and slammed him into a tree. "Why, Josh? Why did you choose to fight me here," Emerald asked. "Because, my secret can't be revealed yet. I won't let it be again." "Ah, I thought this wasn't your first attempt at living a normal life." "How could you tell?" "Your eyes, they carry a burden heavier then a man twice your age could lift, let alone a child. You and your sister know what you truly are."

"And that's why they can't find out. Malus and Team Sutilis won't stop until she's dead or we're captured and used for evil, and them knowing our secret won't keep us safe any longer." "That's not entirely true, Josh. Jacob and Natalie know that kind of burden, and they carry on them more then they know. They will learn eventually, about you, about Malus, and about themselves, and you won't be able to stop it." "No, they won't find out. Even if we share a similar weight, it's not of the same caliber. I know that my burden will only hurt me, and will bring me no good in my life."

"Remember, Josh, that which can pull us apart can also draw us together. I know that you and Megan's ties to Jacob and Natalie can be truly strong, and able to withstand even the toughest of attacks. All you have to do is to forge them. That is, if you're strong enough." Josh, filled with a newfound rage, threw Emerald through a tree, into an old stone wall. Josh grabbed Emerald, preparing to knock him out, before Emerald stopped him. "Remember Josh, if you knock me out, you won't be keeping your secret any better hidden." Josh lowered his fist, his rage dissipating. "Fine, you win. Let's go back," Josh said, mounting Emerald.

"Man, how long are they going to be away? It's been like 10 minutes," Jacob said. He and Natalie were training Voltaire, trying to teach him Earthquake, with little success. "I wonder how Emerald is holding up," Megan said. Just then, a blast of wind came from the woods, flinging leaves from trees, and blowing everyone's hair behind them. "Whoa! What was that," Natalie asked, covering her eyes from the rushing air. When she lowered her arm, she saw Emerald, flying into the sky, with a person on his back. The person's teal hair was gleaming in the midday sun, and they were directing Emerald towards them. "Is that, Josh? And he's flying Emerald," grandpa Daines asked. "What can I say? My brother has a way with Pokémon," Megan said smugly.

Emerald touched down in the front yard, and Josh jumped off him and in front of the group. "So, anyone lose a Shiny Dragonite," Josh said, with a smug look on his face. "Josh, how did you do this? It took us more than 3 years to train Emerald," grandma Daines said. "As I imagine Megan said, I just have a way with Pokémon." "Well, she wasn't lying! Emerald, return," grandpa Daines said, returning Emerald to his Pokéball. "Well, if you guys have had enough time to talk to your family, could we go along and explore the route ahead," Josh asked.

"Okay, we might as well. Nothing we do today will top the shock of seeing you train a Dragonite in 5 minutes," Natalie said. "Children, I know that you have to start your journey now, but just know that your journey will be fraught with danger, and that your bonds will be pushed to their very limits, both as siblings, and as friends. But if you can forge those bonds, they will be truly unbreakable," grandma Daines said. "Thank you, grandma. We will be sure to remember that," Jacob said. They started for the route, also known as Route 0, due to how few people know about it, while the grandparents went inside to talk to their son.