"Wake up!" Melanie shouted. Anjali groaned and pulled the covers over her head. "Anjali! Don't make me get The Bucket."
"You wouldn't..." Anjali said quietly.
"We're going to be late!" Melanie yelled.
"Late? For what?" Anjali asked in confusion.
"We're getting our own Pokémon today!" Melanie exclaimed.
"TODAY?" Anjali screamed and immediately hopped out of bed. She made it quickly then ran into the bathroom to wash her face. She quickly changed into the outfit she had picked out the night before: a white top, black shorts, light blue cardigan, white ankle boots, a light blue necklace, and her light blue ring that she always wore. She smiled at the color coordination in her outfit and brushed her teeth.
"I made breakfast!" Melanie shouted from the kitchen.
"Thanks!" Anjali shouted back and hurried to the kitchen. She sat down and ate the plate of pancakes that Melanie had made.
"I'm so fucking pumped," Melanie enthused. She had somehow changed out of her pajamas and into a white shirt with only the collar revealed underneath a black sweater, a black skirt, black stockings, black ankle boots, a necklace with a dusty gold rose inside silver plating, and a silver rose ring while also managing to make breakfast.
"Me too. I wonder what Pokémon my parents got for us," Anjali replied. Anjali's parents took care of both Anjali and Melanie, since Melanie's parents weren't around. Unfortunately, both of Anjali's parents were busy and couldn't come to see them off, so they got special starter Pokémon for the girls.
They finished their pancakes and Anjali washed the dishes while Melanie checked their bags to make sure they had everything they needed to set off on their Pokémon journey.
"We're ready," Melanie said. Anjali nodded and they started walking to Professor Oak's lab.
They saw a huge crowd of people standing around.
"What is this bull?" Anjali asked.
"What the fuck is happening?" Melanie asked.
Nevertheless, they headed inside.
"Melanie, Anjali, I've been expecting you," Professor Oak greeted them.
"Hello," Anjali said as Melanie nodded and smiled.
"Here are your Pokémon," he said as he handed them two Pokéballs.
They opened them excitedly. "A Togepi! Aw, it's so cute!" Anjali exclaimed. "Hello there. We're going to be great companions, I'm sure," she said to her Togepi.
"Togepi," it smiled.
"A Gastly? Awesome!" Melanie said. "It's kind of cute. I'm naming it Zeref."
"I hereby nickname thee, Hatch," Anjali said as she hugged her Togepi.
"Here are five Pokéballs for each of you," Oak said, handing the Pokéballs to the girls.
They put the Pokéballs in their backpacks. "I'm also giving you your Pokédexes."
They took the Pokedexes and a boy walked in.
"So, you decided to show up after all," Professor Oak remarked.
"Professor Oak! Where's my Pokémon?" he asked excitedly. "I'm ready!"
"You look like you're ready for bed," Melanie said sarcastically as Anjali stifled a laugh.
"I hope you aren't going to train in your pajamas," Professor Oak said.
"Oh, no, I woke up late and got messed up this morning, but I'm definitely ready for a Pokémon!" he shouted excitedly.
The professor showed him the three Pokéballs. "It took me a long time, but I finally decided on Squirtle! Huh?" It was empty.
"Taken by someone who was on time."
"Oh, then I'll have Bulbasaur! Um..."
"Also taken by someone on time."
"Alright, then I'll just have Charmander!" Again, there was no Pokémon inside.
"The early bird gets the Pokémon, I suppose."
"Isn't there any Pokémon I can have?" the boy asked.
"Well, there is one, but-"
"I'll take it!" the boy shouted immediately.
"I should warn you: there is a problem with this last one," the professor said.
"I have to have a Pokémon," the boy replied.
"Well, in that case, here," he handed the Pokéball over.
A flash of light blinded everyone in the room for a few seconds as a Pokémon materialized.
"Pikachu," the Pikachu said. Anjali put her hands over her mouth to keep from squealing from the cuteness. Melanie was questioning why they were still there.
"That's a Pikachu."
"It's so cute; it's the best one of all!" the boy exclaimed, hugging the Pikachu. The Pikachu shocked him.
"They're usually shy but can sometimes have an electrifying personality," the professor said.
"I see what you mean," the boy said.
"How shocking," Melanie said. Anjali elbowed her while giggling.
"Here are your Pokéballs and Pokédex," the professor said. They both got shocked by the Pikachu.
"Thank you," the boy said through electricity.
"You're welcome," Oak replied.
"Are you alright?" Anjali asked the boy.
"I think so," he said, putting down the Pikachu. "I'm Ash Ketchum."
"I'm Anjali," she replied, putting her arm out. They shook hands.
"Melanie," Melanie said briskly.
"What Pokémon did you get?" Ash asked.
"This is a Togepi. I named it Hatch," she said, showing Ash.
"It's so cute," Ash commented.
"Isn't it?" Anjali smiled.
"How come you didn't get one of the three usual starters?" Ash asked, starting to walk slowly to the exit of the lab. The others followed.
"Well, my parents weren't able to come see us off so they-" Melanie elbowed Anjali.
"Don't reveal so much information about yourself to strangers, idiot," she chided.
"He's ten, what will he do?" Anjali defended herself.
"Aren't you ten, too?" Ash asked.
"I'm eleven, actually," Anjali said.
"Why are you getting your Pokémon now?" Ash questioned.
"I'm a year younger than her, and she didn't want to go off without me," Melanie explained.
"Wow, you got a crowd for you too," she remarked.
Ash stood in shock. "Goodbye. Maybe we'll meet again," Anjali said. She and Melanie headed off toward Viridian City.
