If I had learned anything by living in Pallet Town, it's that a small town is majorly restricting. Sure, having the Pokémon Professor for a teacher was a great honor, and the townsfolk were all friendly and knew his family well, but there were drawbacks.

The small town was barely on the map. Aside from being the home of Professor Oak, there was nothing worth mentioning; slightly depressing, really. For some, this loss of intrigue and excitement, and especially adventure, was a gain.

I can't say I haven't enjoyed my 10 years in town, but I'm anxious to leave. Sadly, Pokémon can be aggressive creatures, and you could only leave Pallet Town with repels. The town was only a small clearing with two houses and a laboratory. There were some houses out in the forest, but they weren't a main part of the town. Essentially, aside from hanging out with my friends Yellow Satoshi and Green Leaf, there wasn't a lot to do here in Pallet Town.

If I wasn't roaming around town with my friends, I'd be sitting here, as I am, playing with my Super Nintendo console. Unfortunately, playing video games was losing its luster as I thought of my limited environment. I decided that I'd rather see my friends than play my SNES games, so I headed downstairs to let Mom know I was off to visit my friend Yellow.

Stepping down the stairs, I saw her sitting on the couch in front of the big TV in the room. "Hey Mom, I'm going to go see Yellow, just so you know I'm gone." Yellow Ash Satoshi, despite the strange name, was a good friend and was a lot like me. He could be a bit too easygoing and lenient with some things, but he was cool sometimes, whenever he actually focused and didn't get sidetracked.

After a second of thought, she said, "Right." Her eyes seemed filled with tears, and it was scary to see her this way. She could get emotional sometimes, but there was almost always a reason for it. She was a strong woman, especially after her past experiences, so her tearing up was worth investigating.

"All boys leave home someday. It said so on TV." It was so confusing to hear her say that, so I turned to the television. A movie called Stand By Me was on. Mom's favorite. My eyes turned to slits in annoyance. Mom was just overreacting to the movie.

"Oh yes," she added, wiping the tears away, "Professor Oak, next door, was looking for you." Pallet Town, being as small as it was, meant that walking to Professor Oak's house, or even his laboratory, would take only a few seconds.

Still, I raised an eyebrow to the statement, but I suppose it wasn't too strange. This wasn't the first time the professor took an interest in me. I responded with "Okay" and left. I had the bizarre feeling Mom was staring at me, but I decided to just walk on.

Getting next door barely took a minute, and soon I was greeted by Daisy. Daisy May Oak was a pretty young woman, and she was a joy to be around. She was always very generous and always took a shine to me. I always loved hanging out with her, since she's done some professional Pokémon grooming before, and she's a former champion of Pokémon contests.

"Hi Red!" she said with that practically patented smile. She was sitting inside the living room of the Oak House, blond hair flowing down her chair, matching well with her typical green dress, and was drinking tea as usual. "Blue is out at Grandpa's lab."

Well that was a relief. I'd rather not deal with Blue today. Despite our past as friends, Blue's growing up somehow meant us growing apart. I'm not sure how much of that Daisy realized, but she couldn't have been blind to it. "Well Daisy, I'm actually here because Professor Oak asked for me."

"Oh," she responded. She seemed a bit dejected…although that may have just been wishful thinking. It's hard to tell when her teacup runs dry. "Well, he's at the lab. I was wondering why he was waiting. Guess it was for you!"

That was a little embarrassing, being teased by Daisy. Or at least it seemed that way. However, I realized I'd have to go find the professor at his lab, and that meant running into her brother. Now I felt dejected. "Thanks," I said in a low tone, and walked out.

If anyone couldn't find Professor Oak's laboratory, they had to be blind. And even then, it was so big that that wouldn't take too long before you ran into it. In such a small town, the lab was an iconic piece that took up the majority of the space. The houses in the open field and those hidden in the forest dared not try to topple the lab's status. As I walked around the giant lab's exterior and entered, I was faced with a horrific sight who stood in the back. It was Blue.

Now, Blue's not the worst person ever. But the blond boy had made it clear in the past year he really didn't like me. My only guess as to why was jealousy for his grandfather's attention, but I really had no way to affect what Professor Oak thought of me. However, since I considered myself friendly, I figured I might as well try to strike up a conversation and find out where the professor is.

"Yo Red!" Blue shouted. It wasn't so bad yet; maybe this could go well. "Gramps isn't around!" Well, so much for being helpful; I guess there's no sense staying here. Although, I do see an odd machine on the desk and three Poké Balls, but it's not my place to investigate. At least past eyesight.

But Professor Oak was definitely hidden away well. Even checking with my friends Yellow and Green and their families living in the forest, none of them knew where he ran off too. I soon had the feeling he was out catching Pokémon, so I decided to head to the edge of town and look for him.

Looking past the trees and into the grassy fields ahead, I still didn't see him, and this whole experience was getting annoying. At that point, I figured if Professor Oak was hidden somewhere out there, and that I'd just have to look for him. After all, the chances were low something would attack me…right?

With a deep breathe and a brave step, I stepped into the waist high weeds, when a cry came from behind. It couldn't be…the professor?

"Hey! Wait! Don't go out!" Professor Oak shouted. But…where did he come from? Despite looking grandfatherly with his gray hair, his lab-coat swishing in his mad dash made him look smarter and slightly disheveled.

"It's unsafe!" he continued. "Wild Pokémon live in tall grass! You need your own Pokémon for your protection."

I definitely knew that. Even baby Pokémon could cause some serious pain. The only person I knew in town with Pokémon was the professor himself, and he kept them to only showing them off for lessons. Despite several lessons in how the creatures act, what they need for survival, items that work on them, and other miscellaneous information, he never really got into the more interesting details behind Pokémon battles and becoming a master of Pokémon. Perhaps he was saving that information for when we got older, but it's also possible he just forgot. He may be highly knowledgeable and wise, but he can be very absentminded and forgets to sit back and listen sometimes.

I meant to give him a response, but I took too long. "I know! Here, come with me!" he said with a triumphant voice. Not like I had anything to lose. We walked all the way back to the lab and into the backroom. He turned back to me and Blue as we stood side by side.

"Gramps! I'm fed up with waiting!" Blue shouted angrily. Gosh, he shouts a lot. I could only give another slit-eyed stare of irritation.

"Blue?" he said in odd curiosity. Did he forget Blue was waiting, or was he just distracted by my reckless charge in the grass? "Let me think...Oh, that's right, I told you to come! Just wait!" I seriously hope it's the latter, or Blue is going to chew me out more.

Professor Oak motioned to the table near us holding up three Poké Balls. "Here, Red. There are three Pokémon here. Haha!" I wanted to respond, but the joke flew over my head, so I let him continue. "The Pokémon are held inside these Poké Balls," he said, mistaking my confusion.

"When I was young, I was a serious Pokémon trainer!" Quite a big surprise to unveil, but I suppose it's believable. Professor Oak wouldn't lie, and he is super-smart when it comes to Pokémon. But how serious is serious, really?

"But now, in my old age, I have only these three left. You can have one." I was going to be speechless a lot today. "Go on, choose!" It was an honor to even see his Pokémon, but to be given the chance to own one…it was enough to make any kid overjoyed beyond words.

But the mood broke as Blue yelled, "Hey! Gramps! What about me?" Blue Gary Oak knew that, regardless of how annoying he could be seen as, he could grab attention with ease. It annoyed me, and hopefully others, but he wouldn't cease until he had what he wanted.

Professor Oak turned a frustrated eye on Blue and said, "Be patient, Blue. You can have one too!" Blue seemed relieved, but I can tell he's still a little mad I'm choosing first.

Blue saw me staring. "Heh, I don't need to be greedy like you!" Yup, Blue is still a jerk. And it's not even noon. "Go ahead and choose, Red!"

"Now, Red, which Pokémon do you want?" Professor Oak asked. I never expected a question like this. There were so many Pokémon in Kanto, so even if the choices were narrowed to three, I wasn't sure what to choose. All I had to judge them on was their looks, so I had to rely on that, even if looks alone is not a good way to make a decision.

I started on the right side of the table. Bulbasaur, a small, green dinosaur, classified as a seed Pokémon, looked cool, but I decided to keep checking my options. Squirtle, a blue tiny turtle Pokémon, looked cute, but I wasn't super psyched for it. And then there was Charmander. I don't know what it was about him, but the red lizard Pokémon looked both cool and cute to me. And, thinking ahead, that fire coming from its tail tip must be useful for an attack! Once again, it was crunch time. A deep breathe, and a brave grab.

"So!" shouted Professor Oak. Why do the Oaks always shout? "You want the fire Pokémon, Charmander?" I nodded. As I picked up the ball, Oak added "This Pokémon is really quite energetic!" And just like Charmander, a surge of energy began flowing through me too. Yes, I finally had a Pokémon!

I barely noticed as Blue walked around me and stood by my side. "I'll take this one, then!" he said proudly. Blue grabbed the ball holding the tiny turtle, leaving behind the seed Pokémon Bulbasaur. I felt bad for it, having to not get a chance to be chosen, but I was happy with my choice.

Professor Oak smiled gallantly at the boys. Already retreating back to his role as educator, he decided to tell us what the Pokémon could be used for, as if we didn't already know. "If a wild Pokémon appears, your Pokémon can fight against it!"

I was so happy, I scarcely heard him. Unfortunately, Blue was loud enough that I could hear. "My Pokémon looks a lot stronger."

Tired of his boasting, I decided on leaving. With a wave good-bye to the professor, I turned to leave, but Blue wasn't done yet.

"Wait Red! Let's check out our Pokémon!" It took but a second to process what he meant. "Come on, I'll take you on!" For once, I finally felt like a gelling with Blue was occurring again. It wasn't the pleasant friendly thoughts we had as children; instead, it was the sparks of a rivalry, a beginning before a great flame could arise.

Blue walked up, the cocky smile never leaving his face. It was at this point I saw Blue as a rival, and nothing else in the room registered in my mind beside that. This was a chance to get back at Blue Gary Oak for all the transgressions he had put against me. At last, the rivals would face off.

With a joyous shout, Blue summoned his Pokémon. "Squirtle! I choose you!" The blue turtle zoomed out of the ball with a bright light. It was a beautiful sight to witness for the first time. I can't say why the radiance of a Pokemon releasing was so fascinating now that I was trainer; I just knew that now that I was one, I'd be seeing it a lot.

It was now or never…it was my turn. "Go! Charmander!" My lizard followed suit, and as promised, he was still awesome! I feel giddy, but no time to let me stick to that. I've got a battle to win!

"Oh, for Pete's sake," Professor Oak said from behind Blue. "So pushy, as always. You've never had a Pokémon battle before, have you?" Of course we didn't, but we were totally sure we could handle it. Professor Oak seemed to disagree. "A Pokémon battle is when Trainers pit their Pokémon against each other. The Trainer that makes the other Trainer's Pokémon faint by lowering its HP to '0,' wins." It was all basic information we already knew, and we both dreaded his speech. But we couldn't start with the distraction the professor was providing.

"But rather than talking about it, you'll learn more from experience." You're kidding me, right? "Try battling and see for yourself." I was ready to facepalm, since that was our intention from the beginning, but I had to focus on the battle before me.

According to the Pokégear cell phone I got for my birthday, I had an app for identifying Pokémon techniques. And apparently Charmander knows two moves: Scratch and Growl. What? Those won't use his tail! Ugh…so much for that advantage. In that case, let's just fight back with what we got! "Charmander, Scratch!"

Charmander dashed at Squirtle as Blue ordered, "Tackle!" Charmander managed to scratch Squirtle's face, but Squirtle wasn't out of it yet. He pushed into his whole body into Charmander and sent skidding back toward me. Charmander took some damage, but he was back up and ready to keep fighting. I guess I have no reason to worry after all.

"Inflicting damage on the foe is the key to any battle," the professor said in the background, but it hardly registered to us. "It's important to get to know your Pokémon thoroughly," he added, but our minds were set. "Keep your eyes on your Pokémon's HP. It will faint if the HP drops to '0.'" Another Scratch, and another Tackle. Squirtle was desperate to keep Charmander away, but there was no hope. Blue was getting frustrated. He knew that I was faster, and that would be enough for me to win!

But, Blue decided to do a twist. A smirk appeared on his face as he shouted "Tail Whip!" But nothing happened. We both looked in confusion at the battle, the fighting taking a brief pause.

"Um…what happened?" I looked at both Pokémon through my Pokégear to see if anything changed on one or both of them. No stat changes, no injuries, was it worthless?

"What happened?!" Blue shouted to the heavens. Professor Oak looked at the two and just sighed.

"Tail Whip would have made Charmander lower its guard, seeing such a cute attack. Except, Charmander blinked."

Silence overtook the lab. No one really wanted to move, not even Professor Oak's aides in the background. Still, we had an opening! "Scratch!"

Charmander was a little confused, but he obeyed and attacked. Squirtle tried to dodge, but he turned around again. The tail took the hit, but that didn't mean total victory.

"Tail Whip!" Blue shouted furiously. This time, Charmander saw the wagging tail, and sure enough, he seemed less tense and worried. Still, a few more hits, and I'll win!

"Scratch!" I said, continuing the loop. But as Blue ordered another Tackle, Charmander took the hit hard. Apparently, Tail Whip works very well. If only Charmander could whip that fire around…

Oh well. "Scratch!" Squirtle used another Tail Whip, but it was too late! Charmander's speed would lead me to victory! One more hit, and I'd win!

"End this, Charmander! Scratch!" It all depended on this. Charmander made one last dash. If he missed, he may very well faint! But no, I have faith. My buddy will win!

With three claw mark straight in the face of Squirtle, it was over! Blue's face sunk, and Squirtle was returned into its ball. We won!

"WHAT?" Blue shouted, the loudest he'd ever been. "Unbelievable! I picked the wrong Pokémon!"

Professor Oak grunted, as though upset with what Blue said. However, he turned his mood pretty quickly, and went back into lecture mode. "Hm, excellent! If you win, you earn prize money, and your Pokémon will grow!" Professor Oak merely told his grandson, "Blue, you've lost. As a trainer, you're required to pay him a fair amount for his troubles." Blue shoved a measly 175 of his Pokédollars into my hand. But that wasn't important. What was important was that now, I was better than Blue! "Battle other trainers and make your Pokémon strong!"

I now knew what I was going to do next! But, as though Blue read my mind, he said, "Okay! I'll make my Pokémon fight to toughen it up! Red! Gramps! Smell ya later!" And with that, Blue walked away, never to be seen again.

I wish.

"Red, raise your young Pokémon by making it fight!" The last words of advice from the Pokémon Professor. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but there was no question that it would be fun! But first, it was time to show Mom!

I dashed back home to see my lovely mother, and she was so happy to see me as I walked in. "Red! You should take a quick rest."

While I sat back, I told her all about the battle I had in the lab and showed her Charmander. She had that motherly smile of 'I'm so proud.' Sometimes I felt a little embarrassing to see her reflect on me that way, but today, it was an awesome boost of morale!

After we sat and watched some more of Stand By Me, Charmander started stretching and I followed suit. Mom said, "Oh good! You and your Pokémon are looking great!"

"Thanks Mom," I replied. "Charmander and I are going to go adventuring! We won't be gone long."

She smiled and nodded. "Take care now!" And once I returned Charmander to his ball, we were off!

Route 1, I finally was on it, on my own. Well, sort of; I still had Charmander. And no repels to protect me like Mom and others used. It was a strange feeling of freedom, but I loved it. And now it was time to go even farther: Viridian City, baby!

But that energetic attitude didn't last long. A wild Pidgey appeared! I've seen them all the time, but now I was going to battle one! "Go! Charmander!" It was now time to put my new Pokémon to the test of the wild. "Scratch!"

His claws hit the bird's chest, and I was sure we were going to win. But it wouldn't be an easy win. Suddenly, a large burst of wind, almost like a dust devil, swarmed Charmander! It certainly hit harder than any of those Tackles. But this critical hit wouldn't phase me!

"Scratch!" That Pidgey was so close to defeat, but unfortunately, so was Charmander. Apparently Pidgey found Charmander's weak spot, and being so close, he was able to land another critical hit. That made me worried.

"Scratch!" I yelled in desperation. I couldn't see Charmander's face, but I bet he was worried too. That blasted pigeon osprey thing survived, but at least Charmander finally had the time to block before Gust could do severe damage. This was it, the last hit!

"Scratch!" Hopefully Charmander learns a new attack soon, but at least the enemy Pidgey fainted!

My second battle ever was a success, and it was a time to celebrate! But first, I saw a man walking around on Route 1. Not weird I suppose, but his clothes made it seem like he was supposed to be working at a store. I found it odd for him to be here, but I decided I might as well send a greeting his way.

"Hi! I work at a Pokémon mart!" he called to me first. "It's part of a convenient chain selling all sorts of items." I had only been there a few times. It was like a grocery store; at least, that's where Mom would get all the food and repels. "Please, visit us in Viridian City."

The guy was a solicitor, that was obvious, and he soon realized my thoughts. Worried to lose a customer, he added, "I know, I'll give you a sample. Here you go!"

The man gave me a Potion! I only knew a little bit about them, but they were very useful if you had a hurt Pokémon. I considered using it right there, but I decided to wait until I really needed it. "We also carry Poké Balls for catching Pokémon!" Hmm, more Pokémon? I was definitely going to Viridian City now; I said my thanks and continued the journey.

I decided I wouldn't risk going through too much grass to save Charmander the trouble of fighting so much. But this route has a very odd structure, pointless twists and jagged ledges getting in the way.

As I marched on through another patch of grass, I met a Rattata, but Charmander fought bravely. Thanks to his superior speed, he won, but clearly the wild Pokémon were taking their toll. I knew I had to hurry, but more Pokémon continued to come at us. I had two choices: use the Potion now and risk not having it against another trainer, like Blue; or run away. It seemed cowardly, but I knew I had to protect my buddy. So we ran, and got away safely!

And the reward? Just there, across the path, Viridian City!