When I heard that I was getting a Pokemon, I was in denial. The second time, I thought that someone was playing a joke. When the ninth time rolled around, I finally believed. Not that I wanted to, of course. Unlike most of my peers, I wanted to have a nice, normal life without the stupid things. But no. Being in a well-known training family meant that I had to be one as well.
"Wakey wakey, little Noctowl!" My older brother, Jeremiah, was a jerk. I had been sleeping, and he just woke me up. Before walking out the door he managed to slap me a few more times.
I sat up and rubbed my stinging cheek. Stumbling over to my closet, I went to put on my clothes before stopping and realizing that they were all packed away in the large boxes.
Training.
Dear Arceus.
Training.
I'm leaving today. I'm leaving today.
I raced down the stairs and into our kitchen.
"Our little trainer! Have we told you how proud we are of you for making this choice?" My mother pulled me into a hug and ushered me to the table, where a pokeball and a steaming bowl of eggs awaited. All of my five brothers were sitting down, shoveling their food into their mouths. It wasn't really my choice, but whatever.
"Eat up! It may be the last big meal you have in a long time!"
I sat down numbly. This was happening. My bag was packed, and after I was done eating, I'd go get a training license and I'd be off on my 'wonderful journey'. As was the rules, I wouldn't be able to come home until I obtained all of my badges.
"Welcome to your introduction to the wonderful world of pokemon! My name is Professor Larch and I am the leading name in Pokemon adaption. In celebration of your upcoming accomplishments, each one of you get a free Pokedex. In order to use this..." I was standing in a small laboratory with five hyperactive children and two others about my age. The woman speaking was tall and muscular, but her excited talking cast her in a far less threatening perspective. Her Abomasnow on the other hand... Professor Larch bustled over to each of us and pressed a small tablet into our hands, "...and then it's registered! Do all of you already have your pokemon?"
A bushy-haired girl about my age sidled over to me, "Do you think that she's ever going to stop?"
I smiled wanly, "Maybe?"
"If you aren't listening, this could cost you later!" we snapped back to attention, "As I was saying, your licenses are stored on your pokedex, and digital copies of your badges can be found by touching your Trainer's License twice. As thus, please take care of it, as I am told that it is quite a pain to replace it. That being said, your adventure starts now!"
A heartbeat, and the little kids ran out of the room, cheering and shouting.
"Please stay back, the three of you," Professor Larch tapped my shoulder, "As you are older, there are other options. The little ones will either be successful or return to their home, but as you know, once you are 15 you can't go back. Thus, the other cities will be open and-"
"Open? What do you mean, open?" the bushy-haired girl interrupted. I was confused as well. What did she mean by open?
"The thing about training is that you cannot travel further than Jubilife City unless if you have experience or are older. This is to prevent younger trainers from being attacked and losing their Pokemon. On the Routes past Jubilife City, there are few people and help is scarce. "
"Do the rules still apply in the other cities?" the black-haired boy asked.
"Yes, with a few others as well. You know the main three, right? Rule one: Finish what you started. Rule two: Respect your elders. Rule three: Respect your partners. However, those are only the basics. You already know of one rule- the Fighting Rule. There are sixteen others, which can be accessed from your pokedex. Are there any questions?"
The other two trainers opened their pokedexes, and scanned through it. I copied their actions, and grimaced.
The Grass Rule: Only one pokemon may be caught per route (exceptions to routes with pokemon infestations and in the case of a life-saving act).
The Water Rule: Once you begin a battle, there is no backing out.
The Fire Rule: Dangerous pokemon may be put down with permission from the trainer.
The Normal Rule: Trainers cannot catch other trainer's pokemon.
The Flying Rule: Trainers must have battles with equal amounts of pokemon.
The Rock Rule: Noncompliance with Gym Leaders and the Police are punishable by PC.
The Bug Rule: PC disposal is illegal unless a Gym Leader or Champion give their written permission.
The Dark Rule: If a trainer is killed by his pokemon, it will be either Traded, killed or PC'd.
The Psychic Rule: Parties of over 6 are illegal unless stated otherwise.
The Electric Rule: Pokemon abuse is illegal.
The Fighting Rule: Any trainer over the age of 15 must complete their journey.
The Poison Rule: Using other's pokemon is illegal under all circumstances.
The Ground Rule: Trainers are not to travel together in groups of more than four.
The Steel Rule: Trainers must have battles with an equal amount of people.
The Ghost Rule: Contacting Spirits (not Ghost types) is punishable by death.
The Dragon Rule: All high-level pokemon must be registered.
The Ice Rule: Any suspected members of anti-League organizations must be reported.
What was this? What did it mean by punishable by PC? Either way, these rules didn't sound that appealing. Suddenly, I found myself dreading the upcoming journey even more. I looked around to ask the other two what they thought, and found myself alone in the lab with an irate Abomasnow breathing down my neck. They had just left me? I scampered out, and casting one last glance at my house and village, took my first step of my journey.
End of Chapter One
Hello. This is my first story that I've posted on Fanfiction. Hopefully, this will be at least readable. If you have any questions, comments, criticism, corrections- or dare I say it- complements, please PM me or review. Thank you for reading, and I hope that you enjoy! The other chapters will be longer. Plus, I know exactly where I am going with this.
Have a lovely day,
Jaguar