There comes a time in a boy's life when he's ready to face the world, to leave the nest and find his place, wherever it may be. When he's ready to leave everything behind, his home, his town, and surpass his own limits to go on his personal adventure, even if he knows that it won't be an easy one. And one of them is Nicholas, a young boy from Littleroot Town, who finally turned 12.

"I'm so excited! Now that I'm 12, I'm allowed to go on my own journey and get my first pokémon!"

His self-encouragement was soon cut short by a tapping on his left leg, where a small creature angrily pushed him.

"Dew, dew!"

"I'm sorry Budew, I meant second pokémon of course!"

Kneeling down, he took the small pokémon in his hands, and hugged her, the small rosebud pokémon happily nuzzling against the green-haired boy.

"Aren't you happy we're finally gonna go on our own adventure throughout Hoenn? I'm so happy professor Birch agreed to let me have one of the starters anyway, so you're gonna have a Treecko as a buddy!"

Budew was clearly as excited as her owner was, and almost jumped away from his hug, at which he put her on his desk.

"Together, we'll become the best trainers of the region, and I'll be the most skilled pokémon breeder in Hoenn, and then..."

"You're still awake, Nicholas? I told you to go to sleep, or no pokémon and no journey!"

Startled, in an almost comically fast speed Nick changed into his pajamas and turned off the lights, excited and dreaming about the adventures he would live from the next day forward.

The next day…

Standing in front of his house, Nick sighed, resigned to his mother inspection of his backpack and clothes, her Bellossom almost mimicking her and almost making Nick laugh.

"Let's see, first aid kit, map, underwear, repellent, toothbrush..."

"Mom, it's fine, you checked it yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that, I'm gonna be late!"

Smiling, she kissed him on the forehead and held a tear.

"Sure, now go, and remember, me and your father will always root for you! And don't forget to call from time to time!"

"I'll do my best! Bye mom, bye Bellossom, and don't forget to water my bonsai!"

And with a little sadness in his heart, he began walking to the southern outskirts of the town, towards the rather impressive building that housed professor Birch's lab, and at a crossroad, he found another kid, that was seemingly waiting for him.

"Hey there Alex! Going to the lab?"

Turning around, Alex smiled as he saw his childhood friend, taking his hands out of the pockets of his blue jacket and placing them behind his head, ruffling his dark blue hair in the process.

"Yeah, now that I can finally start my journey nothing is gonna stop me from becoming the Hoenn Champion!"

Right after that though, he stared at his friend through his bright orange glasses, and took on a puzzled expression.

"Are you sure you're gonna be fine with that huge backpack?"

Compared to Alex, Nick's backpack was definitely bigger and rounder, and made him look like green Blastoise.

"Sure, I think my mom packed half of my room in this… anyway, did you make up your mind on which pokémon you'll choose?"

As soon as Nick asked that, Alex's cocky grin came back, and pointed his finger to the sky.

"Of course! I'll choose the coolest pokémon that there is, Treecko!"

And as soon as he said that, silence fell down on the scene.

Meanwhile, at the lab…

"Where are those two? I swear, they were always late, even at trainer school..."

Looking out of the window, professor Birch looked at the horizon, not a sign of the two new trainers.

"I'm sure they'll come, professor. Nick has already proclaimed he'll be the best breeder in Hoenn, and I'm sure Alex will want to follow in his father's footsteps as a Pokémon Champion."

"But if they don't come in time, they'll have to wait until the breeder's farm sends me more starters… oh wait, maybe it's them… but what's going..."

Before the professor could finish his phrase, both Alex and Nick came in through the door running, brawling and bickering.

"I said it first, I'll have a Treecko!"

"No, you didn't I said it first! And you already have a grass type!"

"Well, I want another grass type!"

The two kept fighting, and Birch had to intervene to stop them.

"Kids, stop fighting! Another trainer already chose Treecko!"

Both of them immediately stopped fighting hearing that, looking a little disappointed and frustrated.

"So that means..."

Waiting for them on a table at the center of the lab were other two pokémon, Torchic and Mudkip, both looking happy and trying to look as awesome as possible in hopes of being chosen.

While Nick looked rather indecisive, Alex immediately got up, and approached Torchic, offering him his right arm, the pokémon happily jumping on it.

"Chic, chic, Torchic!"

"That's right little guy! I'll take Torchic, professor."

Following his friend, Nick approached Mudkip and patted him on his head, prompting him to playfully squirt water on his face.

"Perfect! These are their pokéballs, and these are your own pokédex."

Taking a box from near his desk, Birch handed them 6 pokéballs and a couple of pokédex, the latest models, both a blazing red and brand new.

"Ok, as you already know besides being a complete encyclopedia, it will help you take part in all events that take place in Hoenn, not only those related to the Pokémon League, but also Contests and acts as an ID!"

Both of them looked at him with rather bored expressions, as they had learned all of it already at trainer school, but knew that once professor Birch started with his explanations, there was no way of stopping him.

"Now, at the Pokémon Center in Oldale Town you'll be able to sign up for the Pokémon League! Now, good luck, and remember that pokémon are your friends!"

Excited, both of them rushed through town, finally able to start their own journey, more excited than ever before.

As the wind blew on the tall grass of Route 101, the old friends shook hands, knowing that from that day forward they would be rivals.

"So this is where our ways part..."

"But soon, we'll fight each other. Let's meet at the League, promise?"

Nick looked at him, and with a smile full of determination, he just said

"At the League!"

And so, with a promise, their journey finally began, the young birds leaving the nest to find their place in the world.