Sunlight peeked through the curtains and crept on the sleeping Hilda's face. Her only response was to scrunch up her face and roll over on her other side. "Fuck off, morning," Hilda moaned, pulling her comforter over her head.

Hilda's mother let herself into Hilda's room. "Wake up, Hilda," she whispered, rocking her shoulder.

"It's too early."

"I made French toast," she enticed. Hilda's only response was to bury her face in her pillow. "Well, whenever you're ready you can come down to the kitchen and eat. After that you can leave to go to Professor Juniper's lab to get you—"

At this news Hilda sat straight up, magically awake. Mom chuckled. "Why didn't you say that before? Let's go!" Hilda ran out to the kitchen in her pajamas.

"Remember to change into proper clothes before you leave for the lab," Mom called after her.

After Hilda wolfed down her breakfast and rocketed off to the lab. "My body is ready!" Hilda declared, striking a dynamic pose in the doorway. Prof. Juniper's assistants just stared at her.

Prof. Juniper walked over, laughing. "Well, you got moxy! Let me show you the starters."

"I want a Snivy!" Hilda said, obviously very excited.

"Okay, okay!" Prof. Juniper handed her a pokéball. "Here's a Pokédex. I know I don't have to tell you much more because you've been asking me questions for the past year."

Hilda ran back into her room with her newly acquired gear and released her Snivy.

"Snivy?" Snivy quipped, looking at Hilda and tilting its head.

"Hi, my name is Hilda," Hilda introduced herself, extending her hand. "I'm your new trainer. Nice to meet ya!" Snivy ignored the handshake and just jumped into her arms. "Wow, you sure are friendly! We'll get along just fine! We won't be leaving on our journey for another week so just unwind and acclimate yourself to my house. Well, it's not my house it's my mom's, but you get the idea."

Hilda placed Snivy on the floor and took out her Pokédex. "Let's see what this thing says about you."

"Snivy: the Grass Snake Pokémon," the Pokédex began with a male robotic voice. "It is very intelligent and calm. Being exposed to lots of sunlight makes its movements swifter. They photosynthesize by bathing their tails in sunlight. When they are not feeling well, their tails droop. Being exposed to sunlight makes its movements swifter. It uses vines more adeptly than its hands."

"Sweet! It also says that you're a boy and it has your footprint. This thing is awesome!" Hilda took off her shoes and socks, sat down at her desk and began poking through her new toy, crossing her foot over the other.

Snivy crawled everywhere and anywhere where his stubby limbs. Hilda glanced at him every so often to make sure he's in trouble and she thought the way he crawled all over was incredibly cute. She had to restrain herself from gushing as he flicked his tongue. The Pokédex told her that he does that to taste the air.

While Snivy was flicking his tongue, he tasted a smell that was very interesting. Walking around in a circle on Hilda's bed and flicking his tongue, he finally found the trail. It seemed to be coming from her. He followed it and stopped at her bare feet. Snivy nuzzled his head against her soles and hugged them.

The sudden attention brought her gaze below her. "Aren't you an affectionate one?" Snivy purred and flicked his tongue on them in response. "That tickles! You are one awesome dude, Snivy." She picked him up and he puffed his cheeks in agitation. "Let's go have some lunch or something."