When Emma Quinn wakes up on the second most important day of her life, she takes the batteries out of her alarm clock and goes back to sleep.
It's not very effective. Minutes later, her sister Louise bursts into the room, armed with breakfast.
"Happy birthday!" blares Louise as Emma coccoons herself in her quilt. "And don't be like that. Today's the day!"
Today is specifically Emma's tenth birthday. As far as Emma's concerned, that should mean bed until midday, burgers for lunch, and TV until midnight. But for Louise, it means only one thing - the day Emma gets her first pokémon.
Louise is the sort of person who can name the first pokémon owned by everyone in the city. From their great-grandfather's wurmple, nearly eighty years ago, to their next-door neighbour's whismur last month - Louise knows them all.
Emma is the sort of person who can name every item on the menu at Caroline's Pizza Paradise.
"Get up, get fed, get dressed," says Louise. "This is happening."
Half an hour later, Emma drags herself out of the small house she shares with her sister in Mauville City.
"Finally!" says Louise. "What took you so long?"
Emma grumbles incoherently.
She looks at Louise. She's wearing big brown walking boots, a dark purple waterproof coat, a sensible rucksack, and three poké balls on her belt.
She looks down at her own battered trainers, torn jeans and her trademark ruby-red T-shirt that's far too big for her. Well, she feels comfortable in these clothes. That's the main thing, isn't it?
As usual, Machamp is out of his poké ball. He was Louise's first pokémon, six years ago - then a machop. Together, they'd travelled western Hoenn, winning four gym badges.
Louise politely says nothing about Emma's clothing. Instead, she says, "North or south?"
"I don't care," says Emma.
"Oh, come on!" says Louise. "Show a bit of excitement. You're about to meet your new best friend! A partner to see you through -"
"South," says Emma, rolling her eyes.
The coastal route to the south of Mauville isn't unfamiliar to Emma. When she was younger, she'd sometimes accompany Louise on trips to the seaside. Then, of course, they'd taken their bikes down the purpose-built cycling road.
Today, they're heading into the untamed wilds instead.
It's a dangerous environment for anyone without a pokémon to protect them, and Emma's never been here before. Mostly because of its lack of sofas or wifi.
With her hands on her hips, Louise takes a deep breath of fresh air. "Machamp will keep us safe while you find a pokémon."
"Alright, fine," says Emma. She realises she'll get no peace until she's fulfilled Louise's heartfelt desire to see her sister catch a random wild animal. She might as well catch the first thing she -
"How about that gulpin?" asks Louise.
"Don't make me throw up," says Emma.
"There might be some wurmples in the trees."
"I'm not catching a stupid wurmple."
Louise grins. "Emma! You care!"
"Pfft."
Emma looks towards the coastline, and spots a wingull.
"That'll do," she says, heading towards it.
Behind her, Louise removes her rucksack and hands it to Machamp. She starts to rummage inside it as they walk.
"Okay, here you are," she says. "I got you plenty of poké balls to be on the safe side."
Emma turns to grab them, and -
"What the - How many did you GET?!"
"Sixty," said Louise. "I'm sure it'll be enough."
"You expecting my first pokémon to be an absol or something?"
Emma takes a single ball from her sister.
"Now," says Louise. "Remember to -"
The ball's already flying towards the wingull.
"Emma!"
Wobble. Wobble. No! The ball pops open, and the wingull flies away.
"Easy come, easy go," says Emma. "Let's find another one."
Emma starts walking along the coastline, almost absent-mindedly throwing a poké ball whenever she sees a wingull - or, on a couple of occasions, an oddish.
"You're not taking this very seriously," says Louise.
"Yes I am," says Emma. "Very serious business. Gotta catch one of 'em."
"The pokémon has to want to come with you," says Louise. "And the best way to convince it is to prove your skill in battle." She smiles at Machamp.
"Nah, I'm good. I've got my technique." Emma hurls another ball at another wingull. Yet again, it's not meant to be.
"Let me lend you Chingling. Use his yawn technique - it'll be much easier to catch a sleeping opponent."
"Who's that pokémon?" asks Emma softly.
She's looking away from the coast, towards a cluster of trees seventy feet away from them. Among the roots of a large birch tree is a pool of water - maybe rainwater that's filtered through the leaves, or maybe a spring.
Sitting in front of the pool is some kind of dog with a glistening green coat and yellow tail. Her large crested head is bowed over the water.
"That's an electrike," says Louise.
"I think I ..." says Emma. She pauses. "Um, yeah. I suppose I'll try and catch it."
Emma's walking more slowly now - carefully, tentatively.
"Want to use Chingling?" asks Louise.
"Shh!" snaps Emma. Then, in a whisper: "If it makes you happy, fine. I'll take Chingling."
Louise unclips Chingling's poké ball from her belt and hands it to Emma.
"What do I do?" asks Emma. "Do I just release Chingling straight away?"
"Wait until the electrike spots you."
Moments later, the electrike sits up straight, alert. She turns her head, glimpsing the two sisters.
"Okay, be careful Louise," says Emma. "I don't want to scare it awAAAAY!"
Emma falls back as the electrike is suddenly running at incredible speed, making a crackling sound as her fur produces static electricity.
She comes to a sudden stop in front of Emma.
"Trrrrrrrrrike."
"Go on!" says Louise.
Right, yes.
Emma releases Chingling.
Chingling bounces ridiculously, making a ringing sound as he does so.
"Okay, Chingling, do a yawn," says Emma.
Chingling starts to open his mouth -
But the electrike's running again, and she tackles Chingling to the ground.
"What else can Chingling do?" asks Emma.
"Its other attacks are astonish and confusion."
The electrike takes a moment to howl.
"Confusion, Chingling!" says Emma.
Chingling hits the electrike with his psychic attack. Not the most powerful hit, but enough to knock her off-balance.
Louise tries to hand her sister a poké ball, but Emma ignores her.
"Use astonish!"
Chingling lets out a quick shout so loud it makes Emma jump. It startles the electrike so much that she flinches.
"Now yawn!"
Chingling opens his mouth wide in an incredibly dramatic yawn.
The electrike, already dazed from the confusion attack, has to fight to stay awake. She tries to tackle Chingling again, but halfway through the attempt, she starts to wobble on her feet. She shakes her head a few times. Eventually, she collapses to the ground, asleep.
"Do you think that's enough?" asks Emma.
"Believe in yourself," says Louise.
"Don't be corny."
Emma takes her time. She aims, and throws a poké ball at the electrike.
Wobble. Wobble. Wobble.
The light on the ball turns green.
"Emma. You caught your first pokémon!"
"Ma CHAMP!"
Emma picks up the ball.
"An electrike!" squeals Louise. "Such a cool first pokémon. And your first battle too!"
"Yeah, I'm a genius. Whatever."
Lacking an appropriate belt, Emma shoves the poké ball in the pocket of her jeans.
"What are you going to call your new partner?" asks Louise.
"Nicknames are stupid," says Emma. "She's called Electrike."
After catching Electrike, Louise insists they head back to Mauville Pokémon Centre. After healing Electrike and Chingling, they head to the shopping centre for some well-earned birthday donuts.
Then they head home. Louise heads straight for the shower, and Emma goes to her room.
In the bedroom, Emma releases Electrike.
The dog seems so different from before. All the aggression's gone. Instead, she sits proudly, without moving a muscle.
Emma puts her hand on Electrike's head. She half-expects a static shock, but no. She runs her hand along the short fur on Electrike's crest, and then strokes under her chin. Electrike closes her eyes, and as Emma continutes to stroke her, her tail occasionally twitches.
"Okay," says Emma. "You're my pokémon now. No point keeping you in that ball when we're at home, I reckon."
"Lec."
Emma kneels to be on the same level as her new pokémon.
"Raika," says Emma decisiely. "Your name is Raika."