Is this what I signed up for?
Chapter 1 – Better Late than Never
It had been a dreadful week. I had been ready to go and collect my first Pokémon from Professor Redwood a week ago, when I turned 17, but the night before, I contracted a particularly horrible bout of flu. Despite my resentment, I knew what my Mum was saying in the argument that ensued was true – I would be in no fit state to start my journey. In fairness, I could have begun the journey long ago. You are allowed to receive your first Pokémon from the age of 10, but when the time came, I didn't feel ready. Not prepared. I would worry that I would not be able to care for my Pokémon, that they would be mistreated, fall ill, and even die. I told myself then that I would start when I was an adult, and I could trust my judgement.
Now I was ready. I had everything packed, from the Pokémon food to the several sets of clothes (I could have lived without them, but my mum insisted). I picked up my bags, and strolled downstairs, where I saw my parents. Mum looked at me, and said 'You will take care, won't you? And call me if you need anything?' I looked into her blue eyes, which weren't full of the warmth they used to, rather filled with worry. 'Of course' I replied. 'Well, goodbye then.' She said, pulling me into an embrace. 'Bye Mum.' I turned to my Dad. 'Have fun then.' He said, with the air of someone with old envy, remembering his time as a trainer. 'I will', I grinned back. 'Cya Dad.' I called, as I started to turn to the door. 'Bye son', came his typical reply. I gave one last glance at the home I'd had for 17 years, and then made the way up to Prof. Redwood's lab.
It was a warm bright day, but it seemed like no-one had noticed. I was the only person out of my house, and there was a deathly silence, only broken by the soft thud of my feet along the path. I found myself at the bottom of the hill leading to the Professor's lab. To the right of me, the path to Route 1, which started to descend steeply, so steeply in fact, that you could just see the linking town, Brownstone. The lab was a magnificent sight. Once an old mansion, it had been taken up and renovated by the Professor. Brilliantly white, with tall, arched windows and similarly arched porch extending from the house by the front door. I wandered up the path, in my mind looking far more and impressive than I actually did. Eventually I reached the front door, and promptly rang the bell. A warm faced man, with long curly hair and a well maintained goatee, answered. 'Ah, Alex!' exclaimed Professor Redwood, 'Do come in!'
