First ever fic, please review with tips to improve my writing. Anything positive and negative (as long as its constructive) would make me feel great! Hope you enjoy! 3
A gentle breeze swept across the town as a young, red headed trainer stood outside the lab of Professor Juniper. He stood staring at the final barrier to becoming a trainer, the door that once opened would begin the rest of his life. A hand gripped his shoulder as he swallowed hard.
"It is natural to be a little nervous, Chance, but I don't want to stand out here all day." The redheaded boy glanced at his older sister who looked down at him. He rolled his eyes and reached out to ring the bell next to the large blue doors. Almost immediately the doors opened and revealed Professor Juniper standing with her hand on her hip.
"And here I was starting to think you would never show up." She smiled as her guests entered her lab. She looked past Chance at the two women behind him, "Anna, how good to see you again! How are you feeling now that your baby boy is old enough to go off on his own in the world?" She smirked.
"Well, you know I went through this almost three years ago, Aurea, so I am prepared. It is bittersweet though." The older woman put her arm around her son's shoulders as she spoke.
"As long as he is as good at keeping in contact as your daughter I know you will be fine!" Juniper grinned as she turned her attention to the younger female in the room "And Becca! You did fantastic in your second league challenge! You improved from top 8 to top 4! Next year you and Serperior have a real chance to win it all!"
Becca blushed as she looked back at the professor, "Thanks Professor. My team really improved a lot over the past year. If I wouldn't have gone up against Darien in the semifinals I would have gotten to the final round this year!" She grimaced as she remembered going up against this year's champion.
"Well, I believe that is enough of the pleasantries. This young man looks like he is about to burst with excitement!" Juniper smiled brightly at Chance. "Through here are the pokemon that I keep for the new trainers. Follow me and I will introduce you!" The group walked through another set of doors and into a large room of the lab. Machines lined every wall and many scientists and younger interns were at work studying the ancient pokemon world. As they approached the back wall of the room Chance's eyes quickly found the three pokeballs sitting alone on a table. The professor laid her hand down on the first one and turned to him, locking eyes "Before I open these, remember, being a trainer is a lot of responsibility and takes a lot of work. You will be in charge of the lives of every pokemon you capture and you must treat them with compassion and kindness at all times. Although, with your mother and sister around, I am sure you have been taught this since the day you were born!"
Chance's face began to relax finally at her words. "Yes Professor, I promise to always love and care for my pokemon. My Mom taught us well, and I plan to use what she taught us to surpass my sister and then her!" He beamed up at Juniper, who was rather pleased with his response.
"I look forward to you eventually going after this old Unova region champion! It is the responsibility of her children to keep her on her toes!" Juniper smiled as she lifted the first pokeball. "And now here they are!" She tossed the first pokeball into the air and quickly followed it with the second and third.
A small, green bipedal snake emerged from the first, followed by a small orange pig, and a blue otter pokemon. "Here they are! Oshawott, the water pokemon, Tepig, the fire type pokemon, and if you want to follow in the footsteps of the rest of your family, Snivy, the grass type." Juniper introduced the three small pokemon.
Chance kneeled down next to Snivy and extended his hand out to it. "I have known for years that I would stick with this family tradition. Snivy, if it is okay with you, I would love to have you along for my journey." Snivy sniffed his outstretched hand and looked deep into the young man's eyes. It closed its eyes for a moment in quiet contemplation and without opening its eyes extended its own hand into Chance's. Chance's face instantly began to glow as he looked at the grass pokemon, who opened its eyes and hopped up his arm and found a perch on his right shoulder.
"Well then! She seems to be rather fond of you! Snivy are known for being rather stubborn so I am shocked to see her warm up to you so quickly!" Juniper said as she grabbed Snivy's pokeball and a small red and gray device. "Here are her pokeball and a pokedex. Once you get to Johto you will want to head straight to a pokemon center to register for the Johto league and download the region's information onto your pokedex."
Chance took the items and thanks the professor while Snivy stretched out on his shoulder and swatted at Becca's hand as she reached up to pet her. "Well, she certainly has the trademarked snivy personality!" Becca grinned at the little pokemon who responded with a slight glare. The group talked for a bit longer about Chance's and Becca's plans for the following year before they departed the lab. The family headed straight towards the Nuvema Town port.
As they approached the awaiting ships Chance felt his mother's grip tighten on the shoulder that wasn't occupied by his new pokemon. He instinctively reached up and put his hand on hers. "You know I will call all the time and I will be back soon." He said softly to his mother.
"I know dear, but it will just be so quiet at home now without you playing with the pokemon. With you off in Johto and your sister headed off to Kalos to compete in the gym challenge there and train for next year's Unova League.. I don't know what I will do with all of my time." A bit of water collected in her eye as she spoke, but her smile never wavered. "I am proud that I raised two kids that aren't afraid to follow their dreams though." She reached her other arm around her daughter and pulled both her kids closer to her as they walked.
They approached a ship that passengers were already filing onto and the trio stopped and stared out over the sea for a moment. "I will make you even more proud, Mom. Just you wait." Chance's blue eyes shined as the sun reflected off the small tears that had built up as his departure neared. He hugged each of the women with him and stepped back, preparing to enter the line to board his ship. "Becca, don't forget, you promised to catch me a noibat while you're in Kalos!" He grinned at his sister.
Becca flipped her long, blonde hair over her shoulder as she stared down her brother. "I will keep an eye out for one, but you better make me proud over in Johto, squirt, or no noibat for you!"
"It's a deal then!" He extended his fist which was met with his sister bumping hers into his. They grinned at each other as Chance turned and entered the line of boarding passengers. His family waited until he appeared on the deck and waved while Snivy lounged on his shoulder. They waved and shouted goodbye to him one last time as the ship pulled out of port and began to make its way towards the Johto region.