Hello! This is my first fanfic and I hope you enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it! I do not own Pokémon, nor the copyrights to it.
This fanfic is based on the games Pokémon Red and Blue, with possible elements of FireRed and LeafGreen. Please read and review honestly.

Chapter 1 – The start of a great adventure

It all started out when I was just eleven years old. I woke up rather early, and with good reason. Today was the day I was to get my first Pokémon! I suppose I'd better introduce myself. My name is Greg, though all my friends call me Red. I live, along with my mother and the Professor, in the south of Kanto, in a little town called Pallet Town. I have a "regular" face, in that my nose is small and angular, my mouth is kind of wide and my eyes are in the right place. But my eyes are unusual in that they are a rather deep maroon red which, according to Green, sparkle.

Oh, I forgot to mention I'm not taking this journey alone. My two best friends, Blue and Green, who also live in Pallet, are coming with me too. There's Blue, whose real name is Tom, who is a smug, headstrong know-it-all; although his heart is in the right place. We've been rivals since we were babies, even competing to see who could walk first. Green is rather overenthusiastic and clumsy, but loving and caring too! She's often seen sitting in the town's park, staring into the sky, imagining herself surrounded by Pidgey, Pikachu, Nidoran and Clefairy. She's a rather happy-go-lucky person. However, she doesn't like her real name at the moment, so I won't mention it!

I walked downstairs to see my mum, next to the stove, making pancakes.
"Morning dear, I've got some pancakes on the go for you. Honey, right?" she asked.
"Yes, please. Could I have a glass of MooMoo Milk with that please?" I replied.
"Yes, but you're going to have to get it yourself," she hurriedly said, ensuring the pancakes weren't burnt. "You know, it was this day fourteen years ago that your father and I met."
"I'd rather not talk about him…" I coldly responded, remembering how he left.

It was a cold winter's night, and after coming into my room, kissing me on the head and whispering to me he would be back to see me, he left. I was 6 at the time. The only thing left by him to explain why he'd left was a note left on the table, reading, "Please find it in your hearts to forgive me, but I've become bored of Pallet Town, and have left to join Team Rocket, as they do high amounts of exploration. I'm sorry, Dad." It was upon finishing this that my mum scrunched up the note, threw it into the corner and stormed off upstairs. I can remember hearing nothing but sobs from my mum's bedroom for days, and how she only came downstairs to give us something to eat. Even when Professor Oak came over to visit, there was minimal conversation, and it was hard-pressed to get any emotion out of my mother, except grief. He never did come back…

I received a large plate of pancakes, with a small hug.
"It's best not to dwell in the past, son," mum said. "After all, it's the present that makes you who you are."
"Thanks mum. You're the best!" I exclaimed, bringing back her usual smile. I wolfed down my breakfast, as I didn't want to be late to the ceremony. I rushed back upstairs, shoved my shoes on the wrong feet then put my coat on. I then stepped down the stairs, wondering why my shoes felt funny to see my mum laughing at me.
"Oh dear! You've got your feet in the wrong shoes," she laughed. I looked down, blushed, put them on the right feet and headed for the door.
"Bye mum, I'll show you who I picked after the ceremony!" I shouted as the door closed.

After a short, uneventful walk through the central plaza and a small housing estate I arrived at the Laboratory, whilst simultaneously meeting up with Blue and Green.
"Hmh, so you got here then. That's a start!" exclaimed Blue.
"Hey, don't go being so harsh on him!" retorted Green, slapping Blue on the wrist. "Ugh, some people have no manners! Anyway, it's good to see you Red!"
"Heh! I'm so psyched to be getting my first Pokémon!" I replied offhand.

Suddenly, the Lab's doors opened and we all looked to see the big beaming face of Professor Oak.
"Come on gramps, I'm fed up of waiting…" stated Blue. Me and Green looked at him, rolled our eyes, and then looked back at Prof. Oak.
"Ahem, yes well… c-come in. I want to stick to the formalities today," he said, looking meaningfully at Blue. "This day will be a one you'll remember for the rest of your lives!" As he told us this, we walked over to the main desk which, for today, was cleared of the regular, boring equations and flasks of chemicals, and was replaced by three red and white spherical capsules. It didn't look too much like the ceremony I'd imagined; no banners, no balloons, not even a set of party poppers on the table next to the capsules.
"I won't keep you too long; as you can see we don't have many chairs…"
"You have none! But… thanks for not keeping us Professor." I said. He seemed very apologetic for this, but nonetheless, carried on with his talk.
"Well, as I'm sure you know, one of these three Poké Balls on the desk contains the Pokémon of whom your journey will begin with. Do you all know which one you want?"

Phew! First chapter done, redone and reuploaded. I'd like to thank Tyhe2476 for giving me helpful hints and tips as to how I can improve the story. I have a poll up on my forum for the Sevii Islands (link here myforums/Xerneas-For-The-Win/4506264/ ). Please review honestly. Bye!