[color=9e0b0f][center][h1]Veronica Sand[/h1][/center][/color]

Her legs dangled over the crowd of people rushing from Naran's stadium, kicking back and forth. Froakie let out a croak quietly from his frequent perch: Vern's shoulders. His arms were draped over her neck, his legs around her waist, and his little blue head peeked around her head. Froakie and Vern were watching the passersby and eavesdropping on their conversations. 

[color=f7976a]"Did you hear about that Alfonse Frederikton?" 
"Alfonse? I thought it was Alberto?" 
"No, no, no it doesn't matter. He went missing, Shirley!" 
"That's the boy who won, huh?" 
"Hey, what do you want to eat?" 
"Brucie, give me that water gun!" 
"Mom, he just shot me!!"[/color] 
[color=9e0b0f]"Tune it out, Froakie."[/color] 
[color=f7976a]"Have you heard of that Team Noble group?" 
"Yeah, seems like a real scary bunch of pansies! There is no Team Noble!" 
"No, no, my friends are saying that they were behind this. They finally came out of the dark!" 
"Huh? I haven't technically seen any Team Noble members..." 
"That's because they work in the shadows! I'm telling you, that group is kidnapping Pokemon trainers!" "You're insane, Gil. For all I know, there is no secret group of trainer kidnappers and you're making most of this shit up." [/color] 

Vern turned her head to Froakie. [color=9e0b0f]"Team Noble kidnapping trainers? What do you think?"[/color] "Froak, froak!" [color=9e0b0f]"I guess we'll have to stay on our toes as usual, then, Froak. Since we need the money, we'll play along until we have enough for ourselves. Really can't trust anyone nowadays. Except you, of course!"[/color] She reached over her shoulders, grabbing Froakie in a bear hug. Vern had just gotten out of the mysterious Team Noble recruitment session, but technically, she still did not have the job. The man on the podium told all of the new recruits that their task for now was to lay low until Team Noble needed them, training and building their Pokemon teams (technically just Froakie). Vern reasoned that the best place to go was the great oasis city in the desert, Valencia. There, she would get a set of Pokegear from her friend in the Kosei Underground. After six years, it was finally time to train Froakie to become stronger.