This is the story of a boy, born and raised in Kanto. His name was Ren Masuta, though he hardly went by that. He's better known by his nickname, "Red". The boy, like many boys his age, dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Master. This is his journey, his odyssey, his quest to fulfill that dream. This is...

The Pokémon Master: Red's Tale

When he was a little boy, Red's best friend was a kid he called Blue Oak. They were friends since birth, until one day when both just suddenly stopped playing together. Red was only five years old. He and Blue were playing in Blue's grandfather's lab, when he saw a Poké Ball. Red was so exited, he let the Pokémon out as soon as he grabbed it. The Pokémon in the ball was a Charmander.

Blue sneaked up behind the Charmander and yanked its tail. The creature released a burst of flame that severely burned Red, especially on his neck and chest. Red was sent to a hospital where he needed heavy surgery. He recovered, but now he was completely unable to speak. The most he could mutter was a grunt or two.

Things continued to get worse for young Red. When he was seven, his father left on a business trip to the Johto region. He was never seen again after that. He would have gone insane if not for his new interest in Pokémon. He would study them every night, reading about all 151 kinds found in the Kanto region and about Professor Oak, Blue's grandfather and the man who tried to classify them all.

Now Red was turning 11. He woke up and crawled out of bed. Red had forgotten to turn off his TV. Now his SNES game was still on. He just ignored it and walked downstairs. There, he found his mom eating lunch.

"Happy birthday, Ren." His mother was the only one who called him by his real name anymore.

Red smiled at her before turning on the television. Some movie about four kids on a railroad track was on. It was nothing interesting.

"I think you should go to Viridian City today to celebrate," she said, "All boys leave home someday." She sighed. "Professor Oak is looking for you. I'll miss you."

Red gave her a hug and walked out the door. He was about to go to Route 1 when suddenly an old man stopped him. He was wearing a lab coat over a lavender shirt, with brown trousers and grey hair. He looked somewhat eccentric and very smart.

"Hey! Wait! Don't go out!" he yelled, running up to Red, "Wild Pokémon live in tall grass! You need your own Pokémon for protection. I know! Come with me!"

Red was confused by all this. Reluctantly, he followed the man into a lab. Professor Oak's lab. That when Red realized who the old man was. Professor Oak. The Professor Oak. Red was so excited he would scream if he was able to. Unfortunately, Blue had to be there.

"Gramps!" Blue screamed, "I'm sick of waiting!"

"Alright, here!" he said, directing Red towards a table in the back of the room. It had three balls, red on one half and white on the other. "These are Poké Balls. Each contains one Pokémon, back from my days as a collector. These are all that remain of those days. And now, I want each of you to have one. So pick one," the professor said.

"How come he gets to go first?" Blue asked impatiently.

"Be patient! You'll get one too!"

Red was hesitant. Which one? He pointed to the middle one.

Oak seemed happy about his decision, "Charmander, eh? Excellen-"

He didn't finish his sentence after he saw Red's face. The boy's eyes were at least twice as big as normal and he was shaking. Charmander was the Pokémon that caused the damage that made him lose his voice.

"Um...how would you like Bulbasaur? A very gentle Pokémon," Oak said, trying to calm Red down.

Red grabbed the ball with Bulbasaur in it.

"Ha! If you're taking him, I'm taking...this one!" Blue said, pointing at the Charmander.

Red gulped. He tried to walk out the door, but Blue stopped him.

"Hey, how about a little battle?" he asked. Red had no choice but to accept.

Blue sent out his Charmander. Next came Red's Bulbasaur.

"Why don't you try scratching that tree frog?" Blue commanded. The Charmander ran over to its opponent and drove its sharp claws across its face.

Red was frozen. What could he do to get the Bulbasaur to follow his orders? Giving them verbally was out of the question. He stomped his right foot on the floor in frustration. As if it understood that or something, Red's Bulbasaur charged towards the Charmander, knocking it to the ground. Tackle, Red thought.

For the rest of the battle, Red continued to stomp on the ground. Each time, his Pokémon responded by using Tackle. After four or five times, Charmander fell down and wouldn't get up. Red won.

"Cheater..." Blue muttered. He then exited the lab, saying, "Red! Gramps! Smell ya later!"

Red's adventure was just beginning. He knew that. What he didn't know was how it would unfold.