"Here you go, son," my father said with pride. I was busy playing jacks on the back patio, but couldn't keep my attention when I was presented a gift. My name is Brian Born, and I was eight years old at the time, just turning nine the next day. I lived in a small town called Ivory Hills, just east of Pallet Town, with my mother and father. My mother was an artist and made some money selling her artwork here and there. She was so caring and always supported me, no matter what I wanted to become. She had long black hair that reached her mid-back and spent a lot of her time exploring the forests outside of town for more inspiration. My father was the highly respected police chief in the town. He always hoped that I would one day follow in his footsteps, but I wanted a different future. I wanted to be an icon for children everywhere. I wanted to be a soldier, a warrior, and a master. I wanted to be a Pokémon trainer.
"What's this, Dad," I asked when he gave me the present. It was a box, wrapped up in red and white striped paper, with a purple bow placed on the top. There was no tag, and the box was just a simple cube. It had no distinguishing marks at all.
"Son," he started, "I know what it feels like to dream of something. I don't want you to ever give up on your dreams. I only want what's best for you, and the life of a Pokémon trainer isn't an easy one. Your mother and I won't be able to support you forever, you know. Eventually you'll need some money for yourself, and that's something that is hard to come across as a trainer. Only the real bigshots can make money on their own out there as a Pokémon trainer." All of this information was nothing new to me. My father would tell me all the time the risks of being a Pokémon trainer.
"I know, Dad," I replied, itching to open my present. However, excitement had fallen after his speech. I assumed inside the box was a badge or something to try and steer me not his path, rather than my own. All my friends were playing with their new Pokedexes, which I could only stare at and admire. "I know you want me to be like you," I started, "but I know if I become a trainer, I can be famous and make lots of money. Enough to support all of us. You can even retire!" My Dad chuckled and stood up straight, after leaning over to give me my present.
"I hope that comes true, son," he added. "However, your not going anywhere without a Pokémon of your own. So you'll need one before you think about being a trainer at all."
"Yeah," I said excitedly, "I can't wait. I'm thinking I'll head to Pallet right when I turn 10 and pick up one of those three starters. I'm thinking a squirtle, because strategically I'll be one-upping all those kids that think charmander is so cool."
"Well, it's good to see your actually putting some thought into this, Brian," he said back to me. "I know how much your friends have been flaunting their Pokedexes around… so I thought I'd help even the score." Suddenly this moment became the best one of my life. Could my Dad really have gotten me a Pokedex? After all the months I spent begging him for one? I had been dying to look at all the known species out there and stat learning everything I could about them. I put the gift down and stared tearing the paper off of it.
"No way!" I kept screaming over and over. "You didn't! Did you?" Finally the paper was off and the plain box was revealed. I quickly tore it open and looked inside. I reached into the darkness, but instead of feeling the small rectangle I was searching for… I found something else. It was a smooth metal surface, like a Pokedex, but it was… round. I pulled out a ball, about the size of a grapefruit and stared at it. I had only seen them on TV, but never in real life, let alone held one. It was red on the top half, and white on the bottom, with that legendary piece of technology in the middle, separating them.
"Happy birthday, son," my Dad said proudly.
"It… it's a Pokeball," I barely mouthed out. "Dad… do you know what I could do with this? I could catch a Pokémon with this Dad! I could start my team right now! I could do it!"
"Take it easy, Brian," he butted in. "It's illegal for children under the age of ten to go out and catch wild Pokémon. As a police chief, I can't allow you to do that." Suddenly my dreams were dampened yet again. Here I was, holding the key to my dreams in my palm, and I wasn't allowed to use it.
"But Dad!" I yelled. "What am I supposed to do with a Pokeball if I can't use it to catch anything?" My father was about to answer, when suddenly the Pokeball began to quiver in my hand. I stared at it, wondering if it was defective in any way. Suddenly it jumped from my hand and flew into the air. It split in half and opened wide, as a blinding white light bathed the area around us. I fell onto my backside, barely managing to stay sitting upright. I wanted to shield my eyes from the light, but couldn't bring myself to look away. The light shot to the ground like lightning and made a glowing sphere. The ball fell back to Earth, but I was in too much awe to catch it again. It hit the ground next to my knee and rolled away. Instead I stared at the light as it morphed and began to take shape. Once a silhouette was created, the light started fading away until there was nothing left but a creature standing before me. It was about a foot and a half tall and stood on four legs. It was covered in spikes and its skin was made up of extremely small scales. It was a purple color with blue spots covering its body and bright blue eyes. I was in total shock. Not only had my father given me an actual live Pokémon, but I had never seen one this species before.
"Son," my Dad began, "this is your new partner. This is Nidoran." I looked at Nidoran who gave me a few questionable looks as well.
"A Nidoran?" I asked. My Dad nodded and knelt down next to the creature. He pet it a few times, being careful of its many spikes.
"You have to take extra precaution with him, son," he replied. "These spikes are very venomous. One prick, and you'll be sick for days." Nidoran started to purr as my Dad continued to pet it. "Wouldn't worry too much, though. Nidoran have a way of avoiding stinging people that they like." My Dad looked at me and threw me a bag filled with small brown pellets. Nidoran immediately lit up and jumped at me. He tackled me to the ground and stood on top of me, as he began nibbling on the treats all around me. I started laughing and Nidoran started nudging me for more. I pet him a few times, feeling how hard, yet smooth his skin was. His tiny tail started wagging and I looked up at my Dad in pure bliss.
"He likes me!" I yelled. "He wants to be my friend!" My Dad smiled and started laughing.
"I have a feeling that you two will be friends for a long time," he stated. I continued to pet Nidoran as he ran around me, almost skipping. I immediately jumped up and ran down the road to show my friends, with Nidoran following close behind. This was the best moment I can remember sharing with my father. Twelve years later, I wouldn't have many moments like this anymore.
Now I live at the police station, not far from my original home. Did I end up living my father's dream?... not exactly. I've been training Pokémon my whole life, while still upholding my father's dream of protecting the people of this town. This is how I earn money… this is how I earn my fame… and this is how I'm going to get my revenge. I'm going on a hunt… a bounty hunt. I'm on the hunt for a Pokémon that has 50,000 dollars on his head. I'm on a hunt for a Pokémon named Jack. I'm on a hunt for the Pokémon that murdered my father.