The air was still. A young man and his Shinx stood outside a log cabin deep in Viridian Forest- their old home. Having bid farewell to the man's mother and father, they looked out into the woods, eyes glimmering with excitement and determination.

"You ready, Dhani?" Mark asked his trusted pokemon.

"Shii-iinx!" Dhani mewed, nodding vigorously.

With that, Mark began to make his way through the overgrown forest, with Dhani trotting along behind. A few bird pokemon could be heard calling overhead as Mark began to wonder about what would lie ahead for him. Would he reunite with any of his old Pokemon friends who had disappeared post-disasters? Pulling out a granola bar and taking a bite, Mark pushed the thought away.

[I]No.[/I] he thought, [I]Don't think like that, it's beyond unlikely that you'd find any of those three in such an expansive forest.[/I]

With a sigh, he looked back at Dhani, the only one of his old friends who had stuck with him through the disasters. Stopping, Mark turned as Dhani ran to catch up with him. Knowing these were Dhani's favorite, he stooped and held the other half out for Dhani, who delightedly munched away on the bar.

"You're legs aren't made to keep up with my pace, are they, bud? Well, how's about you climb up here? I'll give you a ride!"

Dhani, looking relieved, sprang up into Mark's arms, and nuzzled the man's stubbly chin affectionately. Mark laughed, but as he carried on through the forest, he began to worry about just what he got himself into. The world is a vast, dangerous place. Who knew what lie in store for Mark and Dhani? Mark shook the thought out of his head and continued on through the woods, double-time.

[I]Whatever this new path holds,[/I] he reassured himself, [I]it's nothing Dhani and I can't handle!