A sphere, half red and half white, with a little black band in between, was something very small and insignificant from a practical standpoint.  Sure, Olivie had seen them all her life, as well as the staggering varieties of creatures with which they were associated, but for nineteen years the entire concept of training Pokemon never garnered from her a second thought.  For too long, she knew, she'd concerned herself entirely with people—what they thought of her, in particular.  More than anything, Olivie celebrated the end of that chapter in her life.  All the same, she'd never realized exactly what she was missing until, from a birthday present given to her the evening of the day before last, she opened a measly little ball.  Sitting now on a wooden bench just outside Central City's signature locale Delphine's Diner, she remember having been acutely puzzled as to just why her parents gave her, of all things, a Pokeball.

What followed, Olivie thought with a smile, had been an experience that had most likely ingrained itself on her mind as an irreplaceable memory.  Her father, a quality assurance worker at a local corporation involved with Pokemon, explained his gift by telling her a story from his own youth, one never imparted to her before.  Though it lasted more than an hour, Olivie found herself enthralled.  The tale of a young man full of courage and ambition, traveling the world with a Pokemon friend by his side, seemed like something straight out of a story book.  Her parents finished by talking about [i]her[/i], and what she'd been through over the last few years.  As luck would have it, the very people she in her dark moments insisted would never understand her turned out to understand her even better than she did herself.  Olivie's heart had swelled with joy as her parents told her how proud they were that she'd managed to sort out her issues and discover her identity.  Recalling from their daughter's youth how much she treasured friends, they told her that the little ball in her hand would be the ticket to making friends to last her whole lifetime.  In that moment, looking at the Pokeball, Olivie understood how much that measly object really meant.

The sound of a bell jarred Olivie from her reverie with a start.  On her left side, the customer leaving Delphine's Diner gave her a quizzical look, hoping that he didn't scare her.  Rather than a reassuring smile, he earned from the sitting girl a glare with one corner of her mouth downturned, her teeth together but barely showing, and her eyes half closed.  [color=954535]“What're you looking at?”[/color]  Faced with the expression of a person pissed and being disturbed, the man did not hesitate in continuing on his way.  After watching him recede for a moment, Olivie stood up.  After submitting her notice of quitting to the diner, she'd parked herself here to collect her thoughts.  Now, after reliving the defining event of her birthday night, she felt more invigorated than ever to get started.  She allowed herself one moment to adjust her hair, then started to walk.

Looking with the eyes of a would-be Pokemon trainer turned up facets of Central City she'd never really seen before.  Practically everywhere she looked she could find a Pidove or two, picking at some scraps or waiting expectantly around picnic tables or cafes' outdoor seating.  Olivie passed by at least two dozen and was nearing the river that ran south through the town's middle before she suddenly remembered the little device she'd gone out and bought with her birthday money: a Pokedex.  Pulling it off her item band, she snapped the thing open.  An older model, it did not sport any holographic interfaces or super-advanced displays, but it would do the job.  Tickles ran down her spine as the Pokedex, aimed at a fat Pidove perched on a length metal rail along the edge of the river, dutifully recited, [b]”Pidove, the Tiny Pidgeon Pokemon.  These Pokémon live in cities. They are accustomed to people.  Flocks often gather in parks and plazas.  This very forgetful Pokémon will wait for a new order from its Trainer even though it already has one.”[/b]

Following the explanation, Olivie found herself looking at the bird in a new light: one that stank.  [color=954535]”Not just stupid-looking, it's actually a bad Pokemon.  Forget catching one of those,”[/color] she sneered.  Turning left, she started walking north along the river, leaving the Pidove none the wiser.  As she walked, she glanced into the water.  A small school of ugly brown fish with pink lips swam by, causing Olivie to furrow her brown.  [color=954535]”Pff.  I'm not even gonna think twice about any lame-looking Pokemon.”[/color]  Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she continued her northward trek with a bored expression on her face.  Perhaps better candidates could be found outside of town.