Originally I was planning on basing this solely on the games, but I decided to add a good mix of the games and anime so I hope you enjoy.
Rated T for minor swearing, suggestive themes and violence.
Celadon City, a rich rainbow colored city where people and Pokémon gather.
That was the motto of Celadon City the most populated city in the Kanto region and it wasn't just the most populated it was the busiest. Thanks to the Celadon Department Store and the Celadon Game Corner the city attracted attention not just from other cities, but from other regions as well.
And in spite of those attractions Celadon was arguably the most beautiful city in the Kanto region thanks to the leader of the Celadon Gym Erika. A young, quiet and beautiful girl who studies the art of flower arranging and uses grass- Pokémon to aid her in the many arrangements she makes in her gym and around the city.
Even though she was a quiet person often dozing off and day-dreaming she was very well known by the residents of Celadon City. She often teaches the kids of Celadon the art of flower arranging as well as telling them stories that bordered on fairy tales. Even with her passion for flowers and Pokémon Erika found another passion for teaching others the same things she had learned herself.
One of Erika's favorite students was a 14 year old girl named Kikyo Halberg a native to Celadon just like she was. Kikyo stood at 5'4 with shoulder length light brown hair that shined the same way her violet eyes did.
Kikyo had been attending Erika's classes since she was a child one of Erika's most attentive student quietly and patiently taking in everything she said, Kikyo looked up to Erika as an older sister figure and a role model as a Pokémon trainer.
Kikyo's only Pokémon was her Eevee which she named Izanami. A couple of years ago Kikyo's father a local Pokémon breeder gave her and her childhood friend Shawn both a Pokémon egg.
Shawn Helmsly like Kikyo grew up in Celadon City although he and his mother moved to Kanto from its neighboring Johto region when Shawn was still an infant. Shawn and Kikyo lived next to each other the two of them became fast friends sharing many interests the main one being Pokémon.
Shawn's mother worked as a receptionist at the Celadon Department Store providing her and Shawn a simple life, but Shawn seemed happy enough playing with Kikyo everyday.
When both Kikyo and Shawn turned 12 Kikyo's father gave a Pokémon egg to each of them. The egg was brown with a pale tan ribbon running across the middle both of them were anxious to see what kind of Pokémon would hatch from the eggs, but they could only wait.
A few weeks later the eggs did indeed hatch giving both of them an Eevee to look after. Kikyo's father examined the newly hatched Pokémon and determined their genders before revealing to both of them that the two eggs came from the same parents making the Eevee's brother and sister.
With that knowledge in mind Kikyo suggested to Shawn that they name their new Pokémon Izanami and Izanagi after the two deities who created Japan. Izanami and Izanagi the two Eevee's just like their owners became fast friends with each other constantly playing every time they were together.
Kikyo was attending another one of Erika's classes with Izanami sitting in her lap. Erika was explaining to her students the most important thing to consider when arranging flowers and that is to have them compliment their surroundings. Looking over to the clock on the wall Erika smiled at her students, "Well that's it for today everyone I'll see you again in two days".
Kikyo waited for everyone else to leave before walking over to Erika, "Excuse me Erika" she began, waiting for Erika to turn to her.
"Yes Kikyo?" the gym leader replied before seeing Izanami in Kikyo's arms, "Hello again Izanami how are you?" she asked petting the Eevee.
Izanami nuzzled against Erika's hand as she pet it, "So what do you need Kikyo?" Erika asked her.
Kikyo hesitated for a brief second before she looked up to her, "Will you battle me and Izanami?" Erika seemed surprised at her student's request, but Kikyo quickly explained herself, "I need to make Izanami stronger. I intend to challenge the Elite Four one day and to do that I need to become a skilled trainer".
Erika was silent as she thought about her student's request, but eventually she agreed, "Alright Kikyo I accept your challenge".
Erika led Kikyo over to the gym's battle area and took her place at the opposite end, "Alright Kikyo since you only have Izanami this will be a one on one battle before we begin though have you ever battled before?"
Kikyo shook her head, "No, but I know and understand the basics of battling".
Erika nodded, "Very well then I'll give you tips and advice on how to battle as we progress. Should you have any questions for me just ask" she told her as she pulled out a pokeball from her robe, "Now let's begin go Weepinbell!" The pokeball opened and emitted a bright flash of light as the Pokémon inside was released.
Erika's Weepinbell entered the field bouncing up and down as it waited for its opponent.
"Alright Izanami you ready?" Kikyo asked her Eevee.
Izanami growled happily as she jumped out of Kikyo's arms and stared down Erika's Weepinbell.
Kikyo smiled as she threw her arm out and pointed at Weepinbell, "Alright Izanami let's go quick attack!"
Izanami growled as it charged forward with incredible speed and rammed its body into Erika's Weepinbell sending it flying to the side.
"A good opening attack Kikyo" Erika praised, "But it'll take more than that to keep us down. Weepinbell use razor leaf".
Weepinbell turned to the side and threw its leaf shaped arms out spawning a wave of razor sharp leaves that flew toward Izanami.
"Izanami dodge" Kikyo yelled, "To the left".
Izanami followed its trainer's orders and jumped to the left avoiding the sharp leaves as Kikyo gave her next order, "Izanami go in for a tackle!"
Izanami began running toward Weepinbell, but Erika had no intention of making it easy for her student, "Weepinbell use razor leaf".
Weepinbell flung another wave of razor sharp leaves at Izanami and just like last time Kikyo called to her to dodge to the left just like Erika was expecting.
"Weepinbell quick use vine whip"
Weepinbell jumped up and sent out two long vines from under its leaf like arms. The vines intercepted Izanami as she dodged the razor leaf attack and quickly wrapped around her and lifted her into the air.
Erika apologized to Kikyo, "Sorry Kikyo, but I'm afraid I cannot allow myself to go easy on you".
Kikyo shook her head, "No if I'm going to learn I need you to come at me with everything you've got so don't hold back" she quickly looked back to Izanami, "Izanami use bite!"
Izanami struggled and reached its head forward as it opened its mouth and bit down on Weepinbell's vines causing the Pokémon pain and making it release Izanami.
Izanami dropped down and landed on its feet as Kikyo issued her next command, "Izanami quick attack, go!"
Once again Izanami charged forward with incredible speed ramming into Weepinbell and sending it flying to the side.
Erika smiled at Kikyo, "It seems I've underestimated you Kikyo even though this is your first battle you're pretty good". Kikyo thanked her for her praise, but Erika told her she had no intention of losing as she ordered Weepinbell to attack again, "Weepinbell get in close and use vine whip".
"What?" Kikyo thought to herself, "Why have Weepinbell get in close? It can attack from a range that gives it an advantage. Getting in closer means it has a better chance to connect with its attacks, but it leaves it more vulnerable to Izanami so why would she risk getting closer…Oh no!" Kikyo yelled as Erika ordered her Pokémon to attack.
"Weepinbell ensnare Izanami with vine whip".
Weepinbell shot out its vines just as Kikyo called for Izanami to dodge.
Izanami jumped out of the way, but Weepinbell's vines kept striking out at her until they eventually caught her. Once Izanami was caught Erika ordered her Weepinbell to hit it with stun spore paralyzing its foe.
"Izanami!" Kikyo cried as the cloud of spores fell around the two Pokémon, "Izanami use bite try to get away!"
Izanami opened its mouth to bite the vines holding it, but the paralysis it suffered from kept it from reaching the vines that held its body.
Erika held out her arm, "Now Weepinbell use giga drain".
Kikyo froze when she heard the attack Erika ordered, she had seen Erika battle before and giga drain was the strongest move any of her Pokémon knew. She had seen that move alone change the tide of an entire battle and completely shut down some Pokémon who were fresh into the fight.
"No stop!" she yelled just as Weepinbell was about to begin the draining attack. Hearing Kikyo cry for her to stop Erika quickly ordered her Weepinbell to halt its attack and release Izanami.
Weepinbell stopped its attack and gently set Izanami back on the ground as Kikyo ran over to her and scooped her into her arms, "Izanami I'm sorry" she cried, "I got overconfident please forgive me".
Izanami was still suffering from the paralysis, but managed to tilt its head back and lick the side of Kikyo's face letting her know that she didn't blame her.
Erika recalled her Weepinbell to its pokeball and quickly walked over to Kikyo who was still cradling Izanami, "You have nothing to worry about Kikyo, here" she handed her a small spray jar filled with a dark yellow liquid, "It's an item called a paralyze heal it'll neutralize the paralysis".
Kikyo slowly took the paralyze heal from Erika and sprayed it on Izanami. Erika watched the way Kikyo's hands were shaking as she applied the medicine to Izanami it was clear that she was still in need of a bit of practice before she took on another trainer let alone a gym leader.
Placing her hand on Kikyo's shoulder Erika smiled at her, "Don't worry Kikyo you did very well for your first official battle you even managed to take me by surprise a number of times with your quick thinking. All you need to do is practice and you'll get better" she looked down at Izanami and pet her, "You did well to Izanami you're pretty strong already".
Izanami gave her a thankful yip before closing her eyes and nesting her head against Kikyo's chest.
Kikyo looked up to Erika, "I…I got overconfident and allowed Izanami to get hurt and when I heard you tell Weepinbell to use giga drain I…I".
"Its ok" Erika told her, "Just take your time. I was beginner at one point to".
"She right Kikyo" a voice said from behind them.
Kikyo and Erika turned around to see Kikyo's friend Shawn walking over to them with his own Eevee Izanagi at his feet, "Everyone has to start somewhere".
Kikyo's childhood friend Shawn was 14 years old the same as her and stood at 5'8 his jet black hair was always neatly combed forward and his dark green eyes seemed penetrative at times, but his calm demeanor generally made people feel at ease around him.
"Oh Shawn" Erika said as he walked over to them, "How are you and Izanagi?"
"Pretty good" Shawn answered as he looked down at his Eevee, "How about you Izzy? Feeling good?"
Izanagi made an energetic yipping sound before seeing Izanami resting in Kikyo's arms. Izanagi walked over to Kikyo and sat at her feet tilting his head to the side as he looked up to her as if asking if Izanami was ok.
Kikyo smiled as she kneeled down and rubbed the back of the Pokémon's ear, "She'll be fine Izanagi she just needs to rest for a little bit".
Izanagi yipped again as Shawn gently scratched Izanami's back, "While I'm sure you'll make a great trainer one day you did challenge an official league gym leader as your first opponent did you really think that you could win that battle?"
Kikyo looked away from him she knew he meant well, but Shawn had a habit of being a bit crass from time to time. "I…I don't know" Kikyo told him, "At first I was so eager to have my first battle I was focused on how great I felt and when I got the first hit I started getting caught up in the excitement and then I…"
"It's alright" Shawn told her, "It's just like Erika said you just need to take your time and ease into it and if you want I'll help you".
"I will to" Erika told her, "If you ever need help just let me know".
Kikyo looked to Erika and smiled, "Thank you…both of you".
"Hey that's what friends are for right?" Shawn asked her, giving her a thumbs up before an idea hit him, "Alright here's an idea tomorrow we'll go over to route 7 and see if we can't find any wild Pokémon. We'll train together and while we're making these two stronger" he paused to look at the two Eevee's "We'll see about catching some other Pokémon to add to our team. How does that sound?"
Kikyo smiled and nodded to him before looking back at Erika, "Will you be able to join us?"
Erika smiled at her, "We'll see how my day looks first. If I have time to I'll come with you".
"That reminds me actually" Shawn said sliding his bag off his shoulder, "I have a delivery for you Erika. I was at the Department store talking to my mother when she asked me to bring this to you".
Shawn handed Erika a small red, diamond shaped box. Erika took the box and untied the string around it opening the lid she saw a small crystal glass vial inside, "Oh so its here" she said taking the vial.
"New perfume scent?" Shawn asked her, "According to mom your perfumes are some of the biggest sellers in the entire store".
Erika smiled at him, "I work hard to bring beautiful scents to the world another reason I decided to specialize in grass Pokémon".
"Your hard work pays off" Shawn told her, "It's a very pleasant smell".
Erika thanked Shawn for his kind words just s Kikyo stepped back and looked at Izanami in her arms, "Are you alright Izanami?"
The Eevee nestled around in her arms as it looked up to her and yipped she was definitely feeling better, but she was still injured from the battle.
"Perhaps its time to call it a day" Erika said to her, "Take Izanami to the Pokémon Center and have them tend to her".
Kikyo nodded and thanked Erika for her time before leaving the gym with Shawn and Izanagi behind her. Arriving at the Pokémon Center, Kikyo took Izanami over to the nurse and returned to the bench next to the door where Shawn waited for her.
"You shouldn't feel bad" Shawn told her as she sat down, "You battled extremely well for your firs time".
"How long were you there?" Kikyo asked him.
Shawn admitted that he had arrived right as the battle started, "Right as you called for that first quick attack is when I opened the door. You've got a natural talent to you I think you'll make an amazing trainer once you get started".
"What about you?" she asked him, "Are you going to be a trainer to?"
"Of course" Shawn said while Izanagi curled up on his lap to rest, "I plan on going to the top of the Pokémon League and then I'm heading to Johto and climbing their ladder to" Shawn looked down at Izanagi and scratched his ear while he rested, "I'm going to go to every region in the world and conquer each of their leagues until I'm known as the number 1 trainer in history".
Kikyo was impressed by her friend's declaration, "Dreaming a bit big are we?"
Shawn crossed his arms with a smile, "All-in or all-out I never go half way on anything. Speaking of which" he reached into his bag again and pulled out a handful of pokeballs, "These are for you we're going to need them if we're going to become trainers we're going to have to catch some Pokémon and build a strong team".
Kikyo took the pokeballs and placed them in her own bag, "Thank you, but you didn't have to get them for me".
"Then consider it my challenge to you" Shawn told her still smiling, "Once we've both built a team we're happy with we'll face each other in a match, how's that sound?"
Kikyo smiled back at him as the nurse called her name telling her that Izanami was healthy again. Kikyo quickly jumped up and ran over to the nurse who handed her Izanami and whished her good day before returning to work.
Kikyo returned to Shawn with Izanami in her arms. Shawn looked up to Izanami when he saw her, "How are you feeling Izanami?"
Izanami yipped just as Izanagi woke up and jumped off Shawn's lap and yipped at Izanami. Izanami jumped out of Kikyo's arms and began playing with Izanagi.
"Well they're happy" Shawn said as he stood up, "Ready to head back home?"
The two friends and their Pokémon returned to their homes early to rest intending to start their training first thing in the morning after they awakened.
Kikyo left her house dressed in a dark purple shirt with long blue jeans and black tennis shoes. Slinging her dark red bag over her shoulder she called for Izanami before running off to Route 7 to meet up with Shawn and Izanagi.
"Hey" she called to Shawn after exiting the city.
Shawn was dressed in a three piece suit consisting of dark black dress pants and a matching jacket with a white undershirt and a silver tie. He ran his hand over his black hair before he grabbed the sides of his notched lapel and quickly slid his hands down the side to straighten it before looking over to Izanami.
"Morning" Shawn called back to her as she ran over to him with Izanami at her heels, "Good morning Izanami" he said kneeling down to pet her, "You two ready?"
"What are you dressed up for?" Kikyo asked him, "Got a date?"
Shawn looked over to her with a sly smile, "Maybe.
Kikyo shook her head, "So where do we start?"
Shawn pointed over to a shallow field of grass where a flock of a very common Pokémon known as Pidgey was scratching at the ground looking for food.
"Pidgey?" Kikyo asked upon seeing the group of tiny bird Pokémon.
Shawn nodded, "Pidgey are generally pretty weak at first so they'll make a good first target. We can catch one and use it to further our team and then we can continue training".
Kikyo looked over to the flock of Pidgey grazing around in the grass before she looked down at Izanami, "You ready?"
Izanami hopped before running over to the edge of the grass and looking back at Kikyo to wait for her.
Kikyo giggled at her Pokémon as she followed after her with Shawn and Izanagi right behind her.
Slowly entering the shallow grass the two friends quietly crept up on a pair of Pidgey that were further away from the rest of the flock, "Alright" Shawn began as they kneeled down to watch the Pidgey, "You take the one on the right and I'll get the one on the left, last one to capture theirs has to buy lunch".
"You're on!" Kikyo said before they both jumped up and ordered their Eevee's to attack.
Izanagi and Izanami both jumped out of the grass and ran at the two Pidgey just as they tried to fly away, but the two trainers ordered them to use quick attack allowing them to both get swift devastating hits on their targets knocking them back to the ground.
"Alright there's our chance" Shawn yelled as he pulled out a pokeball and threw it.
"I won't lose" Kikyo said to him as she threw hers as well.
The two pokeballs hit the weakened Pokémon and opened up and sucked them in before closing. Once the Pokémon were trapped inside the pokeballs they dropped to the ground and began rocking as the Pokémon inside struggled to avoid its capture.
Both Kikyo and Shawn waited anxiously for the pokeballs to stop rocking it seemed to take forever, but eventually they pokeballs fell still and the light at their center stopped flashing signaling that they had successfully captured their new Pokémon.
"We did it!" Kikyo cheered after a brief silence before running over to her pokeball and scooping it into her hands, "I just caught my very first Pokémon".
Shawn picked up his pokeball and began spinning it on the tip of his finger, "Looks like we both won".
Kikyo turned to him, "Looks like it. So what should we do now?"
Shawn continued spinning the pokeball on his finger, "Head to the Pokémon Center to heal our new friends then get back to work".
On the way back into town Kikyo continued to gaze at the pokeball in her hand, "The first Pokémon I ever caught I'll never forget this day" that's when Izanami jumped up into her arms. Kikyo laughed, "Of course you'll always be my favorite".
Shawn was quiet on the way back to the Pokémon Center, but just like Kikyo he continued to stare at the pokeball which contained his new Pidgey.
"So should we name them?" Kikyo asked him.
Shawn lowered the pokeball in his hand and looked up to the morning sun, "Horus" he muttered.
"Horus?" Kikyo repeated as Shawn held the pokeball up to the sky, "The Egyptian god of the sky, war and protection?"
Shawn lowered the pokeball and smiled at her, "Pidgey's final evolution is Pidgeot and they are considered to be the masters of the sky".
Kikyo looked down at her pokeball again and then up to the sky, "Hmm…I think I'll go with Yuri".
"You're going to name a bird Lily?" Shawn asked her.
"Yeah, why not" Kikyo said as they entered the Pokémon Center and walked over to the nurse and after a short wait their new Pokémon were returned to them and they left.
"Shall we go back out?" Kikyo asked, "I'm getting pumped now and I want to catch more Pokémon".
Shawn chuckled at her enthusiasm, "You're pretty anxious to get back out there".
"Of course" Kikyo said jumping in front of him, "If I'm going to beat the Elite Four I'm going to need more than a two man team".
Shawn looked back out toward Route 7 and a big smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, "Alright let's go".
Over the next few weeks the two friends went out day after day to train their Pokémon and capture new ones. Kikyo had managed to catch an Oddish which she nicknamed Gaia, giving her the third member of her team and Shawn managed to catch an Abra as it was sleeping. Abra were a common sight on route 7, but they were hard to catch because they would teleport away at the first sign of danger, but Shawn managed to get lucky and scored his third Pokémon.
Now armed with three Pokémon each the two of them returned to Erika at the Celadon Gym to tell her the good news.
"That's great" Erika said praising the two of them on their progress, "I'm sorry I wasn't able to come with you, but I've been busy here".
Kikyo smiled and shook her head, "No its ok…" she immediately fell silent and her smile faded a little, "We actually came here to tell you that we're leaving tomorrow to start our journey to entering the Pokémon League".
"Is that so?" Erika asked her seeing the looks in both of their eyes.
Shawn looked around the flower filled lobby of the gym, "Unfortunately you're still a little too strong for us to beat right now so we're going to head on to Cerulean City and challenge the gym leader there. From there we're going to hit the Pewter City Gym before doubling back and heading toward Vermillion".
Erika smiled at them, "Well it sounds like you've got it all worked out I wish you both luck".
Kikyo bowered her head to her, "Thank you Erika. We'll come back soon".
Erika returned Kikyo's gesture before a thought crossed her mind, "Could the two of you wait here for a moment?"
Kikyo and Shawn nodded and Erika turned around disappearing into the back room of the lobby. The two rookie trainers waited quietly for Erika to return.
"Sorry for the wait" the gym leader said returning to them with a medium sized bag, "I wanted to give you some supplies before you left".
Setting the bag on top of a table Erika opened it, "I want the two of you to have these to help you on your journey".
The bad contained multiple potions and heals as well as extra pokeballs for each of them.
"Thank you" Shawn said immediately looking up to her.
Erika nodded to him, "You're welcome Shawn use them well and come back to see me. Just be sure to keep each other safe out there".
"We will" Kikyo told her after she finished placing some of the supplies into her own bag, "And thank you".
Kikyo bowed her head to Erika one more time before turning to leave with Shawn behind her. Once they made it to the edge of the city they both stopped to take one last look before they left.
"This is it" Kikyo said with a determined smile, "I'm not coming back until I know I can beat her".
With their goals in mind and the open path before them the two rookie trainers set off for Cerulean City marking the official beginning of their journey to the Pokémon League.