"Bulbasaur, Charmander, or Squirtle."

The 3 Pokeballs lay in front of my eyes, begging for me to take one of them. Make one of them mine.

"Go ahead Red, pick any one you like," the professor urged me.

One of these will be mine, help me find a home in Kanto or Johto. Butterflies rammed into the sides of my stomach, making me feel giddy.

I glanced up at the professor, then my rival since birth, Green.

Picking up the Pokeball with Charmander inside, a rush of accomplishment and pride swelled inside of me. Something I haven't felt in a long time.

"Hey, Gramps. Can I pick my Pokemon now? This loser is taking forever." Green pouted, crossing his arms in agitation.

Flinching from the rude words, I looked up Green. In a response, he just glared down at me. Why did he have to be so mean?

"Go ahead, Green. Pick the Pokemon of your choice. Bulbasaur or Squirtle."

Green glanced at me before choosing the Pokeball containing Squirtle. He grinned down at me with a sickening laugh.

He did that on purpose, just to piss me off. I had a feeling he chose Squirtle just to give me pain in the future. What a sick fuck.

"Well Gramps, Red. Smell ya later." Green sniffed before whipping around and sashaying out of the labratory in a selfish fashion.

Without saying anything, I followed him out of the lab slowly towards my mothers house to pick up my things to start my journey.

Stopping halfway, I looked at the Pokeball, rolling it around in my long, slender fingers. I clicked the button out of pure curiosity. All of the Pokemon I knew didn't live in one of these.

The Pokeball grew and opened, a red light emerging out of it onto the ground where a silhouette leading to the ground, appearing at my feet, still in the red glow.

The glow faded, and an orange figure grinned up at me happily.

"Charmander!"

Leaning down, I sighed, readying for my "speech" to the Pokemon. "My name is Red, I'm 17. And I'm starting my journey... to find a home somewhere in the Kanto region or the Johto region, unlike these fag around here who rant on and on about becoming the very best, like no one ever was. I'm not your master one bit; I'm your partner if at all means."

The Pokemon smiled at me again. "Char, Charmander!"

"Follow me. Who knows bud- maybe we'll show those pathetic trainers and become the Pokemon champion one day."

Stuffing a couple of sweaters, shirts, socks, and pairs of jeans, some cans of Pokefood, and a blanket in my backpack, I looked up at Charmander who was up on my bed, stretching to look out of the window. Probably a flock of Pidgeys caught it's attention.

Slipping on my backpack and scooping up Charmander, I sprinted down the stairs and over to my mother.

"Bye mom," I murmured, kissing her forehead. "I love you."

"Red, my baby.. all grown up, leaving home.." she whispered, looking up at me. I could see tears springing up in her eyes.

"I love you. Please visit your old mom some day."

"I promise to." I sighed, kissing her forehead again before backing out towards the door, and running towards Route 1 with Charmander on my shoulders.

I saw Green entering the route. It looked like he was frantic; looking for someone. I wonder what it was. Whatever it was, I couldn't care less, so I started walking the opposite direction he was going in.

Returning Charmander to his Pokeball, I walked along myself with my eyes closed, the wind blowing around, threatening to rip my hat off at any moment.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waste and spin me around, grabbing my hands in a loving manner. A pair of warm, soft lips met mine. Realizing this was my first kiss, I opened my eyes and saw Green. I groaned, about to pull away, but Green beat me to it and started running off.

"Smell ya later, loser."