Friday, June 23rd 2000
This is Red Ketchum, recognizable by his apparent inability to wear something other than red and white clothes. Red turned 14 yesterday.14 is the age which most people start their Pokémon journey. Some people start before, Some people start after. Red was always overshadowed by his next door neighbor, Blue. What Red did, Blue always did better. Red and Blue lived in the quaint little Kantoan town of Pallet with their families. Red was the son of Delia Awle, the owner of Pallet town's only restaurant, "Awle's Great Poutine" which serves the best poutine in all of Kanto Prefecture, and John Ketchum, whom nobody has had any news about after he was fired from his job at the Pallet Town post office. Blue on the other hand was the grandson of the famed Pokémon researcher ,Prof. Samuel Oak. Any occasion Blue had to rub this fact in Red's face he did. Red and Blue were starting their Pokémon journey on the same day.
Red arrived at the Oak Research Laboratory, a very messy place where research papers were piled up everywhere, computers with lights flashing many different colors and machines which Red didn't have the foggiest as to what their purpose was. Of course, Blue was already there, waiting for his grandfather to arrive." You're late Ketchup-Brain, were you too busy eating your Jumbo Poutine from your mother's Restaurant" said Blue in his most obnoxious snarky tone."Why would I eat poutine at 9 in the morning?" said Red, clearly not understanding Blue's Sarcasm. As he said that, Prof. Oak arrived at the lab. He had neatly combed gray hair. Well, better combed that his lab was clean, anyways. And was wearing a white lab coat and a red bowtie. although he was 64 he didn't look an year over 50 because of frequent exercise. "Red, Blue, I'm assuming you two are very excited to become Pokémon trainers." Said the Professor "Yeah, i'm going to be the best" said both red and blue at the same time "Now, now boys, don't get ahead of yourselves let's start by choosing your first Pokémon." said the Prof., " Let me choose first" said Blue without hesitating, "Since you seem to need help practicing your patience, Blue. Why not let Red choose First?" said the professor in an attempt to, once again try to teach his grandson what patience really is "I have 4 Pokémon for you to choose from" he continued "The grass-type Bulbasaur, the water-type Squirtle, the fire-type Charmander, and the electric-type Pichu, choose wisely... "he said to Red, "I want to have the Charmander! because Charizard is much better than Blastoise, Venusaur, and Raichu combined!" answered Red, not hesitating one second "As you wish, Red, but I must warn you: this Charmander does not like being in it's Pokéball" said the Prof., with slight unease in his voice "Now Blue, would you please stop laughing so much" added the Prof., "Hahahaha. Ketchup-Brain here fell into my trap! Now I will choose the Pokémon that is super effective against your Charmander. Squirtle! I choose you!" said Blue afterwards breaking into a laughing fit as his grandfather gave him Squirtle's Pokéball, "Now, I have 3 things I need to give you both before you start your journey." said the Prof. "Most important, here are 5 pokéballs for each of you with which to catch more Pokémon for your team." he continued "Secondly, here is a device of my own invention, the Pokédex Model A. This device can identify Pokémon and give information about them. It's like a high-tech encyclopedia!"he added "Last but not least,the Kanto Town Map. It has information on everywhere in kanto. Here, let me show you" finished the Prof., afterwards pressing a button on the Town Map
"PALLET TOWN, HOME OF THE OAK POKEMON RESEARCH LAB WHERE FAMOUS PROFESSOR SAMUEL OAK DOES HIS RESEARCH. I'TS MOTTO "PALLET IS THE COLOR OF PURE WHITE BEGINNINGS" REFERS TO THE MANY GENERATIONS OF THE OAK FAMILY WHO STARTED THEIR JOURNEY IN THIS TOWN MOST NOTABLY GERARD, REGINALD AND SAMUEL OAK"
"Aren't I glad to be an Oak and not a Ketchup-Brain" Blue said proudly,
"I...BEG...YOUR...PARDON? said Red in the most insulted tone possible,
"Okay, I understand, you guys want to fight. I know! Why not have a Pokemon battle, that charmander must be really eager to not be in that pokéball!"said the Prof., Red was fuming "You are ON!" said Red,still fuming "Charmander! I choose you!" he said while getting him out of the pokéball.
"Charmander-Char!" the little orange dragon said happily, finally delivered from his pokéball. "I will name you Drakey!" said Red, "Are you sure you don't want to name him "Poutine", Ketchup-Brain" said Blue,snarkily "Anyways , Akupara, I choose you!" said Blue, really proud of his squirtle's nickname. "Drakey, use Ember!" said Red "Mander-Char?" said Drakey, with a puzzled look on his face. "What?" said Red visibly puzzled. "Your Charmander is obviously far too weak to use a fire type attack, Heinz-Stein" said Blue "Oh yeah? Well then, Drakey, scratch that dirty turtle's face like there was no tomorrow" replied Red. The little dragon obeyed him and scratched Akupara's face like a madman, "Akupara, don't let yourself get beaten by that stupid little dragon who's not even a dragon-type, tackle him!" commanded Blue "Squirtle!"said the little turtle as he prepared to tackle Drakey. "Drakey! Don't just stand there! Growl at him and then scratch him again"commanded Red. Drakey obeyed and hurt Akupara's face so bad that he fell on the floor and was rendered unable to battle "Ha! I win! Feeling "blue", Blue?" said Red, really proud of himself defeating his rival, "Pah, beginner's luck. I bet you wouldn't even be able win a battle if you tried again" replied Blue, with his usual snarky tone "I'd be impressed if you were able to get a single badge" added Blue, "Sigh... Now, now boys. No insulting each other" said the Prof., once again trying to stop the rivals from quibbling
"Anyways, Gramps, Ketchup-Brain, smell you later!" said Blue before going outside to start his adventure."Bye, Red don't forget to call your mother and I if you miss us" said the Prof. "Yes, professor" replied Red as he left the laboratory.