Chapter One
I should've known that when my mother brought home a bountiful amount of brown cardboard boxes one day that my life was going to change forever. We met at the end of our driveway where my best friend Parker and I were playing with his pet Growlithe. My mother's face colored rosy with excitement.
"What's going on, mom?" I asked her innocently.
The middle aged woman couldn't hold it in her any longer. She burst into a delighted laughter and then explained, "Your father just got a job offer to work with the renowned Professor Oak,"
I frowned, "So… does that mean we have to move?"
"I'm afraid so," my mother informed.
I turned back and looked at Parker. He had his head bowed and remained silent. I could tell he was just as sad as I was that we would have to move away from one another. Not only that but my dreams of traveling the Hoenn region, since we lived in Fallabor Town, were crushed. We ended up moving that early spring to a town that I had never even heard of, Pallet Town.
It was a small village with quant homes that all looked the same. They were widely distributed through out the farm land, with those adorable picket fences and vegetable gardens in the backyard. The roads were made of packed dirt and there were only about five trees within the entire town, because of all the acres of farmland. My father drove beside a small, white cottage with old-fashioned trim which was printed with flowers and swirl designs.
"What do you think?" my father asked me as the three of us climbed out of the car. I didn't answer. I had to take a moment to soak it all in.
Soon after, the mover's truck arrived and Machoke began to help unpack our boxes and furniture. I walked inside to inspect the tiny house. It was definitely a lot more petite then our old house. To my right was the cramped kitchen and to the left was the empty space for the living room. In the far corner I could see a closet and sitting before me a short case of stairs. I scaled the diminutive staircase and it opened up to a narrow hallway. At the end was a bathroom and there were two more doors leading out of the hallway. I suspected those were the bedrooms.
I went outside to see my parents smiling while analyzing the outside. Once again, my father asked what I thought of the unsurpassed home and I did not reply.
"Kylie, stop being so grumpy," my mother ordered.
She was on the shorter side and had shoulder length, brown, curly hair. She wore an orange, floral blouse with jeans and Nike flip-flops. Not the best matching outfit. My father stood beside her. He was tall with broad shoulders and wore a green T-shirt with jeans and worn sneakers. He had long, graying hair which he wore in a low pony-tail, reminding me of director's pony-tail. He's also always had that bushy mustache above his lip since I can remember.
"Why don't you like it?" my father asked sadly.
I responded in a muffle, "I don't know…"
"Well, shape up. I'm sure Professor Oak will be coming to visit and I do not want the world's most famous Pokemon researcher thinking my daughter is emo!" my mother ranted, her arms flopping through the air. I was very surprised my mom even knew that recent term. The woman stomped into the house leaving me and my dad alone to gaze up at our new home.
"Hello, pardon me but are you the new family that has moved in next door?" a woman's voice greeted from behind.
We wheeled around to see a middle aged woman facing us. A warm smile persisted on her triangular face. She wore a pink, cotton shirt with a mocha brown pencil skirt. Her reddish, brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she had brown eyes too.
"Yes we are. The name's Red," my father politely introduced, shaking the woman's had gently. "And this is my daughter Kylie,"
"Nice to meet you both," she smiled warmly. "Well, I'm Delia. I just thought I would bring you some casserole as a welcoming to the neighborhood." She handed my father a platter with a yellow and green substance in it.
"Where do you live exactly?" my dad asked, looking around to spot the household.
"Right over the hill," Delia pointed to the mound behind us.
"MR. MIME!" a sudden shriek startled us, almost causing my father to drop the casserole dish.
"A Pokemon!" I cried happily, clapping my hands together at the sight of the clown-like creature. He had a pale face with red orbs around his limbs. The goofy Pokemon wore an apron and pointed black shoes.
"Oh Mimie, I told you to stay at home while I visited our new neighbors," Delia giggled, patting the Mr. Mime on the head. "Mimie is the only company I get these days since my son is always out traveling. Each time he comes home he just tells me that he's setting off on another journey," the woman sighed.
"So, your son is a Pokemon trainer?" my dad questioned, nudging me lightly in the side. "Kylie has always dreamed of becoming a Pokemon trainer,"
"Is that right? Well, you'll have to pay a visit to Professor Oak. He can give you a starter Pokemon and then you'll be able to travel through out Kanto," Delia explained.
"I'll do that," I smiled halfheartedly to the woman, still upset about moving away from my friends in Fallabor Town.
"I'm sure your parents will miss you as much as I miss Ash," she sighed, staring down at her Pokemon.
"Wait, your son is Ash Ketchum!?" I shrieked, leaping into the air out of pure joy. "I am a huge fan of your sons," I told her, practically shaking in excitement.
"I'm sure he'll be happy to know he's inspired some little kids like you out there," Delia smiled sweetly before waving good-bye and heading back home with her Mr. Mime.
Later that day, after exploring the unbearably boring town of Pallet, I decided that I couldn't wait any longer to become a Pokemon trainer. So, I marched inside my house to find my parents starting to unpack things from our piles of boxes. I told them that tomorrow I was going to visit Professor Oak's lab and receive my first Pokemon. Tomorrow was the commencing of my dream.
When I was little I went to see my grandfather battle one day and he just happens to be the illustrious owner of the Pokemon Gym on Cinnabar Island. I was ten years old so I was still living in Fallabor Town in the Hoenn Region. For generations the Scorch family has trained fire type Pokemon and made themselves known for it. I wasn't about to let this tradition die. I was raised next to a volcano and around tons of different fire type Pokemon. I had known ever since I was little that I wanted to be a fire Pokemon trainer.
I desired this even more after witnessing the grand power fire type Pokemon truly have when watching my grandfather battle. He was the owner of a Ninetails, Magmar, and Arcanine. His best Pokemon by far was his Magmar. It was an obscure looking creature with fiery red skin and yellow flames printed all over its body. It had razor sharp claws on its paws and feet and two weird looking orbs stuck out of its forehead. Although Magmar appeared weird, it had remarkable strength. At that moment I knew for sure that I wanted to raise fire type Pokemon just as my father, his father, and their fathers did.
It was the next morning after telling my parents the news of my departure around the region. I had collected all my things in a black messenger bag that slung around my shoulder. I wore my favorite black tank top which had an image of a flame on the front. I also fashioned jean shorts along with that. My long, dark brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and I placed the plastic, orange watch which my father had given me around my wrist. I was all set to go.
"Oh Kylie, darling, why do you have to leave so early after our move?" my mother asked, dabbing her tears away with a handkerchief.
The three of us stood on our front steps. The golden rays from the sun were stretching over the hills of Pallet and Pidgey flew above our heads, chirping songs as they sailed in the wind. The morning dew dampened my orange sneakers and the humid, spring air made my hair stick to my throat.
My father wrapped his arm around his wife, "She doesn't want to stick around here. Kylie just lost all of her old friends in the move and now she wants to go make new ones on her journey,"
"I can't wait any longer, mom. All the other kids from Pallet have already left and started their journey. I'm already behind," I explained sadly. "I can't stick around here any longer,"
"Alright, just be careful," she wept, embracing me tightly. "Do you have all your things?"
"Yeah, I think so," I nodded, looking down at my filled messenger bag.
"And remember, Kylie, if you meet a nice, young lad don't get any ideas," my mother wagged her finger at me, causing me to burn red, "No kissing, you might catch a cold,"
I wiggled free of her embrace and shouted in embarrassment, "Alright, mom!"
I hugged and kissed both my parents once more before stepping down the steps and waving to them sorrowfully as I walked down the dirt road. I heard my mother burst into tears, her sobbing echoing in the sky. I turned my head to see my father rubbing her shoulder comfortingly, and setting eyes on my parents for the last time for the next year made tears draw to my eyes. They rolled down my cheeks but I quickly smeared them away. If I was going to travel by myself I was going to have to toughen up.
My mind got sucked into the world of Pokemon and I got lost from daydreaming of all the different fire types I would love to own someday. I found myself in the middle of a meadow, a few trees poking out of the tall grass here and there. Pidgey and Spearow pecked at the ground, hunting for bugs and purple, rat Pokemon scurried through the weeds. I collapsed to my knees, clueless of what direction I should head in order to reach Professor Oak's laboratory.
"HELLO!? IS ANYBODY OUT HERE!?" I shouted, my head cocked back up towards the sky.
Suddenly, I heard a bustle in the bushes near by. The leaves scratched on one another until finally numerous yellow jacket-like Pokemon emerged from the bush. They had long, sharp pegs as hands and beading, red eyes. The swarm raced towards me, aiming their pointed dowels forward.
"AHHHHHH!" I screamed, scrambling to my feet and starting to sprint in the opposite direction.
Luckily, I spotted a bag which contained three Pokeballs inside. So, without thinking I clutched one of the shinning spheres and chucked it towards the pack of bees. An explosion of ashen light shattered from the storage device and an orange, lizard-like creature with a flame on the tip of its tail appeared.
"Awesome, it's a Charmander!" I exclaimed happily, snapping my fingers in delight.
I quickly thought up a move of Charmander's that he could use on the pack of Beedrill. First, I instructed him to use ember. A few got pelted with the fiery specks and others dashed away in fright of the attack. However, some remained unharmed and attack the Charmander from behind. The fire type panted as he tried to swipe at those Beedrill with a slash attack, but there were too many. He was getting struck from every direction with their poisonous daggers. Finally, he was able to defeat all of them with ember, but the Charmander was exhausted and greatly injured.
I swooped the lizard up in my arms and started to run in the first direction my body faced. I felt guilty because if I had not gotten lost then this poor Charmander would've never gotten hurt. It was now my responsibility as a new trainer to take him to the nearest Pokemon Center. Strangely, after I started running, I passed this old man randomly standing out in the meadow. He was wearing a lab coat and that's all I was able to see as I hurried past him.
Eventually, I saw a city come into sight over a few hills. I estimated that I would be there in at least fifteen minutes. It was filled with buildings and populated with lights, so I knew right away it wasn't Pallet Town.
Everything was going well besides the fact that Charmander was about ready to faint and so was I. I had been running so long that I could no longer feel my legs. Suddenly, I heard a strange buzzing sound approaching me from behind. I peered over my shoulder to see the angry pack of Beedrill was back and they were gaining on us. I tried to sprint faster but I was falling short of breath. My heart sank when we arrived at a cliff. It was either slide down the rocky hill side or surrender myself to these enraged Pokemon. Might as well take our chances.
I leapt off the edge and slid down the cliff. Rocks and dirt were scraping against my legs and made my skin sting. Charmander and I reached the bottom of the cliff after numerous painful scratches to the legs. Once the Beedrill saw how much distance we had put between us and how close we were to town, they gave in and headed back to the meadow. My heart was beating like a bongo drum and my throat had grown dry. I would've rushed to the Pokemon Center but it was impossible for me to run any longer.
We finally made it to the Pokemon hospital. I placed the Charmander on the counter and the nurse gladly took him the emergency room for healing. I headed towards the lounge area to rest. The first day of my journey and already I was bushed. At least it wasn't boring. Now I had some stories to tell for when I went back home.
I sat next to an elderly man who looked exactly the same as the guy I ran passed in the field. I slapped my forehead in realization. It was Professor Oak. The man placed the magazine he was looking at on his lap. I could see from the corner of my eyes he was trying to tell if I was the weird-ass girl sprinting for my life with a Charmander in my arms that I didn't even own.
After a long wait, he asked, "I'm sorry to disturb you, but you look like the girl who was running away with my Charmander earlier today,"
I blushed in embarrassment, "Oh I am so sorry, sir. I didn't know it was yours. You see I got lost and this pack of Beedrill started to chase me, and then I found this bag with three Pokeballs in it and figured one of them could help me. So, I used your Charmander to defeat the Beedrill but he got hurt so I had to take him here," I explained speedily.
"Well, that is very mature and responsible of you," he noted.
I fiddled my thumbs while contemplating what to say next. I was wondering whether I should tell him that I was planning on visiting him in Pallet Town to receive a starter Pokemon.
"You want a starter Pokemon from me don't you, Kylie?" he asked with a smile.
I pulled back in shock, "How'd you know? And how do you know my name?" I questioned.
He chuckled, "Your mother talked with me on the phone and told me you were going to be seeing me today. So, I figured teenage girl with a fire type in her hands had to be from the Scorch family,"
I scratched the back of my head while laughing awkwardly, "Yeah, well, I was supposed to see you at your lab and choose a starter from you there…"
"But you want Charmander?"
Before I could answer, Nurse Joy brought the healed Charmander to me and then I handed him to Professor Oak.
"Kylie, I have no problem with you raising Charmander and taking him from here. There's no need for you to go back to my lab in order to make this done right," Professor Oak said.
"Thank you so much, professor!" I beamed. "So Charmander, how would you like to travel with me?" I asked.
Charmander leapt out of the professor's arms and clung to my leg while calling, "Char-Char!"
"Looks like he's thrilled that you are his new trainer," the Pokemon professor observed. "Oh, one last thing, Kylie. Luckily, I had a few stashed in my bag. Here is your state of the art Pokedex. It'll give you details on each Pokemon you encounter over your journey,"
"Thanks again, Professor Oak," I said showing much gratitude while placing the Pokedex in my jeans pocket.
"Now, the first gym in the Kanto region is in Pewter City which is just north of here. But be careful. The Viridian Forest is between here and there and it is a dangerous place filled with lots of different Pokemon," Professor Oak warned me.
"I guess that's not such a bad thing. More Pokemon for me to catch, right?"
"Just be cautious. There'll be lots of Pokemon trainers there as well who will want to battle you,"
I shrugged and assured the elderly researcher, "Hey, this is Kylie Scorch you're talking to. I'm ready for anything."
A/N: I finally re-re-rewrote this chapter. Still not fantastic but better than the last at least. I also rewrote the chapter following this one. Once again, even though I rewrote it, it's still not that good. However, they are A LOT better than the 30 or so chapters that follow them. So, let me warn you all about the next 30 chapters or so of my story. They suck. I wrote them all almost a year ago when I just started writing and had no idea what a nice detailed sentence was. Each one is like the fluffy anime series but later on is when things actually start getting interesting. I'm not telling you to not read my story at all. If you were to skip about 40 chapters ahead you'd probably still know what was going on. Anyway, enjoy at your own risk! :D