Chapter 1: The first Pokémon

The sun send her warms rays of light to the earth below her, caressing the leaves of the tree, the grass, the rocks. she shone done on a picnic blanket where two boys, aged 13 and 14 were sitting.

"Ah what a great day!" the 14-year old Andy exclaimed, turning his face to the sun. "You're free to say 'Wow Andy, this was a great idea of you! Fantastic! You rock!' at any time now," he said to his friend, who grinned and shook his head.

"Wow Andy, this was a great idea of you! Fantastic! You rock!" Mike said, still grinning and Andy chuckled.

The two boys were friends for years and were enjoying a picnic on this fine summer day.

Andy watched as Mike fed his pink Nidoran, who seemed to enjoy the food and happily munched it away.

"I heard you got third place in the Pokémon trainer competition in Mesperit city."

"This little Nidoran did great."

"I'd like to be a trainer." Andy folded his hands under his head and was lying on the grass, watching some clouds drift by. "But I'll need a Pokémon first. And those that professor Maple offered for beginning trainers just don't appeal to me."

"Then you'll have to find a wild one."

"Hm. Oh! I know! I'll catch myself an Articuno. That shouldn't be to hard, right?"

Mike was rolling in the grass from laughter and Andy himself was laughing as well. Mike's Nidoran looked from the one to the other and turned his attention to his food Mike had given him.

"If you catch a legendary Pokémon just like that..."

"No, not just like that," Andy interrupted his friend. "with a plain Poké Ball, in one throw."

Still laughing, Mike continued: "Right, if you catch a legendary Pokémon just like that, you can skip being a trainer and call yourself Pokémon master from the start."

"Pokémon master Andy...I like that." Andy knew very well that what he said would be impossible, but he liked to exaggerate and joking like this was one of his favourite past-times, although it could annoy people that he was so rarely serious. That also made it more fun for him.

"You know," Mike said suddenly. "If Articuno fails, you can always go for Entei."

As soon as Mike was done talking, Andy burst out in laughter, as did Mike.

Mike often went along in his jokes, that was what Andy liked so much about him. But he was also a friend he could turn to when he needed help, as he would be there for Mike.

Remembering he had sandwich with honey lying there, Andy got back up and reached for it, but his hand stopped half-way through.

A Caterpie was munching on his sandwich.

"What is this?"

"That's a Caterpie," Mike told him.

"You know, it may be shocking, but I know some Pokémon by name. I meant: what is that Caterpie doing here?"

"Eating," Mike replied, very helpful.

"You're no help at all." Andy leaned over to watch the Caterpie, who had stopped eating and looked at him. "You like that sandwich, little one?"

The Caterpie looked at him with his big, black eyes and nodded.

"You can have it." Andy shoved the sandwich a bit in his direction. "There's plenty more for me."

Taking another sandwich from the basket, Andy looked at Mike. "It's not an Articuno, but I like it. You think I should catch it?"

"Do you have a Poké Ball?"

Andy shook his head, while swallowing a mouthful of his chicken-curry-salad sandwich. Mike reached into his backpack and threw a Poké Ball to Andy, who plucked it from the air with one hand.

"You can try to catch it," Mike said to his friend, scratching the head of his Nidoran, who enjoyed the treatment, "but you can also see if he wants to come with you. There have been Pokémon willing to go with humans before and this one doesn't seem afraid."

Andy nodded, looking at the Caterpie while rolling the Poké Ball from one hand to the next. Then he pushed the button to enlarge it. The Caterpie, who was done eating, watched him.

"I'm Andy," he said to the small bug Pokémon. "And I want to be a Pokémon trainer. But for that I need a Pokémon, like yourself. Why don't you come with me? We can explore the world together, go on adventures, save the world and retire when we're 30!"

Mike sighed and Andy grinned.

"Or, you know, participate in battles, get stronger and generally just have a good time together."

The Pokémon looked at him.

"If you're wondering what I can offer you, except for my awesome personality and stunning good looks, I can help you get stronger and i can offer shelter, food and friends."

"Prieee?"

"Not quite convinced? Hm, let me see." Andy watched the Pokémon as he was watching him and he reached out to it, to pet it on the head. "I'll take care of you, little one. You won't have to do anything you don't want to." A grin appeared, as Andy never stayed serious for a long time. "Or I can bribe you with honey!"

Mike laughed when he heard the last remark, but stopped when he noticed the Caterpie crawl closer to Andy.

"Don't say the honey bit did the job," Andy said, as surprised as Mike was.

"No, I'd say he just likes you. Pokémon aren't stupid. Well, of course he likes honey, but I think you earned his trust with everything you said to him."

Andy offered the Caterpie his hand and the Caterpie crawled on it and moved over the arm, straight to the shoulder.

"If you want to come with me, you'll need a name." There was a serious look on his face, as he nodded to his own words. "I've got it! I'm going to name you Benny. What do you think?"

The Caterpie nodded and a broad smile appeared on Andy's face. "Benny it is then. Welcome to my team...which consists of just you."

Mike chuckled as he handed Andy a berry to feed his new found Pokémon.