"Nicko, wake up! I'm not gonna to be late because of you!" A frantic voice shouted. Groaning, the10 year old brunette boy opened his eyes to see an excited looking blonde girl, about the same age as him, standing at the door.
"OK, ok, I'm coming, just give me a minute please," the boy replied. As soon as the door closed, Nicko leapt up and put on his usual clothes, black jeans and a red t-shirt, with a black, short sleeved jacket over the top. He pulled on his red and white cap, his red fingerless gloves, and raced out the room. "I'm ready Katie," he called, "Let's go."
A minute later, the two ten year olds rushed out of the small house, Nicko's home, and sprinted through the town towards Professor Juniper's lab. "So," Nicko asked as he ran, "Which starter pokemon do you want?"
The girl smiled at the question, "That's easy; Oshawott's the one for me. How about you?"
The boy looked extremely excited as he answered the question. "No-brainer, Snivy's perfect for me. It's so calm and cool."
Katie smirked at her best friends answer, "The opposite of you then?" She joked. Nicko faked an offended look at her question.
"I'm hurt Katie," he grinned, "I'm very calm and cool."
The two continued to run at a quick pace, until they found themselves outside the pokemon research lab. "Well, this is it," Nicko said, excitement written all over his face. "It's finally time."
"Yeah," Katie replied, her face mirroring the expression on Nicko's.
For a few minutes, the two just stared at the building in front of them, until... "Just get a move on," An angry voice snapped, "I haven't got all day you know!" behind the two friends was a boy who looked the same age, with black hair, and a bandanna around his neck. He glared at the two kids in front of him for a moment, before just shoving his way through.
"I see Jackson hasn't got any nicer since last time." Nicko muttered.
"Got that right," Katie growled, "Whatever happened to saying please?"
On that note, the two best friends followed Jackson into the lab, and were overwhelmed by the technology there. 'Wow,' Nicko thought, 'they sure spent a lot getting this place together.'
However, his thoughts were interrupted by a polite female voice saying, "Ah, Nicko and Katie, right this way please, it's time to get your first pokemon."
The two followed the women, Professor Juniper, to the back of the lab, where they saw Jackson, looking annoyed. "About time you two got here," he snarled.
"Now now, no fighting, Nicko and Katie are on time." The pokemon researcher said. "Anyhow, as you know, I am Professor Juniper, and, today is the day you choose your very first pokemon. So, why don't we get started right now? Here are the starter pokemon available. First, the fire pokemon, Tepig." A pokeball opened, revealing an orange and black guinea pig, with a yellow mark above its nose. Tepig shot sparks out of its nose and growled.
"The second available starter is the water pokemon, Oshawott." Professor Juniper released the pokemon in the second pokeball. A blue and white sea-otter like creature smiled at the new trainers and said "Oshawott, Osha."
"Finally, the last starter is the grass pokemon, Snivy." The third and final pokeball opened to show a green and cream coloured grass-snake like pokemon. The Snivy crossed its arms and lifted its nose upwards.
"Well, who am I to keep you waiting, Jackson, seeing as you were here first you get the first choice." The pokemon professor stated.
"Then Tepig is coming with me." The black haired boy said without emotion. The fiery guinea pig trotted over to its new partner's side and snorted.
"Ok then, Katie you can have the next choice," Professor Juniper smiled.
"All right," the blonde girl shouted, "that means that I get Oshawott." The water pokemon jumped for joy before running to the girl who chose it.
"Yes, then my partner's Snivy," Nicko smirked, before the Professor could say anything else. Snivy walked calmly towards the brunette, looking indifferent.
"So, now that you have your pokemon, you'll need these pokeballs, a pokedex and, I trust you taking the gym challenge?" The three new trainers, each holding 5 red and white balls and a small, black machine, nodded, "Then you could find these badge cases useful." The professor handed each of them a case, containing space for the eight gym badges. "Ok, best of luck with your journey and see you all again someday."
The three 10 year olds walked out the lab with their partners next to them, or in Katie's case, in her arms. "So Katie, you want to have a practice battle to see what these little guys can do?" Nicko asked his best friend.
"You're on," Katie smirked, "but me and Oshawott are gonna kick your butt."
Nicko shook his head and smiled, "We'll see about that, cause me and Snivy will take you down."
The two found some space and called on their new pokemon.
"It's all you, Snivy" Nicko shouted as the grass type starter stood a few meters ahead of him.
"Show them what you're made of Oshawott," Katie called out. The water type starter stood the same distance from Katie as Snivy was from Nicko.
"Ladies first," Nicko said as he quickly checked Snivy's moves on his pokedex. 'Hm, Oshawott's a water type, so grass type moves will be extra powerful against it.'
"Thanks for the honour of having the first move," Katie said sarcastically, "Now I'll show you why you should have taken the first move. Oshawott use Water Gun." A jet of water shot from Oshawott's mouth, straight at Snivy. "Quick Snivy, dodge it!" Nicko cried desperately. But he needn't f worried, as Snivy leapt gracefully of the water attack and landed with a smirk, "Snivy" it said, seemingly unimpressed with the attack.
"Alright, great job Snivy," Nicko shouted encouragingly, "Now follow up with Vine Whip." Green vines shot from Snivy's neck and lifted Oshawott into the air by its waist, before slamming it into the ground. Again, Snivy smirked victoriously.
"Hey, Oshawott, don't let it push you around. Take Snivy down with Razor Shell!" Katie shouted, looking angry after the previous attack. This time though, Snivy wasn't quick enough to avoid the attack, and the blue energy blade slashed it across the chest, causing the grass type to cry out in pain. "Oshawott," Oshawott said triumphantly, putting the shell back on its body.
"C'mon Snivy, don't give up, you can win this." Nicko encouraged. With effort, Snivy climbed to its feet. "All right," Nicko shouted, "Now, let's wrap this up. Finish it with Leaf Tornado." Snivy launched a cyclone of leaves at Oshawott, and it was hit by the full force of the attack, leaving it unable to continue.
"Oh no, Oshawott are you ok," Katie cried out. Oshawott groaned as it rose to a sitting position. "Osha," It said dejectedly. "Oh, it's ok that you lost, after all, you're new to battling." Katie comforted.
Nicko and Snivy wandered over, after the latter had been congratulated by the former. "Don't worry that you lost Oshawott," Nicko said, "I thought that you did great. Besides, you were at a type disadvantage, and you two did great."
"Nicko, that's so sweet," Katie said, touched by the words of her friend, "I'm glad that it's you that I'm going on this adventure with."
With that, the two friends left Nuvema Town, looking towards a future that was bright.