The morning was bright and clear on Astra Redwood's tenth birthday. The bright, silvered eye girl woke up with the sunrise, excitement not letting her sleep any longer. Not only was it her birthday but it was also the day that Professor Oak was giving out Pokemon and she was able to get her Trainer License. She slid out of her bed with a huge grin on her face. She couldn't wait to head over to Pallet Town. She had no clue what Pokemon she would get but she knew that she would get the right one for her. She doubled checked her backpack, making sure everything was packed. She added a few more potions and poke`mon food. Being the daughter of the Nurse Joy in Viridian City taught her that she should take great care of the creatures she would travel alongside with.

Astra lived on the top floor of the Pokemon Center, no trainer was allowed up there. Her room was across the hall from her sister, who following tradition was also named Joy. She looked the most like the kind pink haired woman who took care of sick and injured Pokemon. The ten year old on the other hand looked more like her father, a man she hadn't seen all her life. She had short, black hair and determined silver eyes that shined like the moonlight when in the right light. Her sister who is almost sixteen is following in Nurse Joy's footsteps, but Astra hadn't decided who she was going to be and thus decided that traveling would help her discover herself.

She ran down to the kitchen, knowing that her mother would be too busy too cook anything and her sister was probably still in her room studying to be a poke`mon nurse. She was just going to have a quiet breakfast to herself, but her plan was busted when she saw her sister cooking next to Chansey. She stood there stunned at the sight. The long, pink haired young woman turned toward the birthday girl with a gentle smile on her face that showed she would be a good nurse, just like their mother.

"Don't tell me that you are going to Professor Oak's Lab in your pj's?"

Astra shook her head, pulling out of her stunned expression. "I have plenty of time to eat breakfast and change before I have to get going. So what brought this on and what are we having, sis?"

"The birthday girl shouldn't have to cook on her birthday. We are having eggs. It is a quick meal so you can get on the road and visit Oak in time to get your very first Pokemon." She replied as she put a plate of eggs on the table in front of the black haired girl. She walked over and sat down, chowing down as soon as her butt hit the hard wood of the chair. She ate politely but quickly wanting to get on the road. Joy sat down beside her with her own plate, letting Chansey clean up. The two sister's ate in silence, like they did at every meal. It wasn't like they hated each other. They just felt like there was no need to fill the air with senseless jabber.

Once finish, Astra stood up and quickly cleaned her plate. She wasn't going to let Chansey do it since she would be busy carrying meals to sick Pokemon and to Nurse Joy. She left the kitchen, waving goodbye to her sister. When she was out of the room she could hear a muffled 'Happy Birthday' from Joy. She started running to her room, the excitement taking over once more. The smile on her face was as large as the crescent moon. She stopped long enough not to run into her bedroom door and to take a breath. She walked in casually and began to dress in a flash. She put on a pair of navy blue skinny jeans, a black tank top, an aqua blue short sleeved jacket, and a pair of black high tops which finished off her tomboy look. She ignored the one and only hat she owned. She wasn't a hat person and felt that the hood on her jacket would keep her head dry if it rained. She slung her black backpack over her shoulder and left her room, going downstairs once more.

This time the black haired girl went off to the front of the Pokemon Center. She had to tell her mother goodbye. It would be rude of her if she didn't. She knew that this wasn't going to be the last time she would see the gentle and kindhearted woman. After all Pokemon Centers were where trainers of all ages and skills came to take care of their Pokemon's needs. She walked up to the counter after a trainer left to wait on their Pokemon. She smiled as she leaned against it.

"Hey, I am going now."

Nurse Joy looked up from the computer she was at. She looked like an older version of Joy, her pink hair was pulled up into an interesting bun with two loops coming off the sides of it. She had a gentle motherly smile on her face. "Alright dear, I can't wait to see your first Pokemon. I hope you are well prepared to take on this responsibility."

Astra nodded, smiling as well. She was trying to contain her excitement. "I will come straight her after meeting with Professor Oak."

The girl turned to leave, waving goodbye to her mother and her life at the Pokemon Center. The warm morning air greeted her when she exited the building. She took a deep breath in as she gripped onto the strap of her pack. She then left the sleepy city known as Viridian City.

On an important day like today, Astra had expected the road to be busy with trainers and would be trainers, but it was quiet. Not a soul was in sight. It was sort of eerie for the ten year old girl. She gripped tighter on the strap of her pack. She made sure to stay on the road, avoiding places where poke`mon liked to hang out. Over head a flock of Pidgey flew overhead, relaxing her a little bit. A few Ratatta ran across the road, playing with one another. It was a good thing that no wild Pokemon attacked, for until she could get a Pokemon of her own, she could not defend herself. She didn't let that thought damper her mood, because after she sees the professor she would be able to protect herself and capture more Pokemon.

A few hours had passed and nothing happened. A few flocks of Pidgey flew over her head, adding more to the peace. Astra smiled as she took a break beneath a tree that was near the river. She pulled an apple from her pack, hungry from the long trek. As she shined the apple against her jacket, she looked at her watch. She figured that she still had plenty of time. It wasn't like Oak was going to run out of Pokemon. After an incident a few years ago that had to do with a wild Pikachu going to a beginner trainer, he made sure to have more than enough Pokemon to go around. She leaned against the tree as she took a bite out of the apple.

A small splash could be heard in the quiet. Astra looked over at the water, startled slightly by the sound that cut through the peaceful morning. Poking it's head out of the water was a blue Pokemon. It had small fin like projections on the side of it's head. It's blue body was long and slender, probably to help it cut through the water when it swims. It was unlike any Pokemon she had seen before.

The Pokemon looked at the apple in Astra's hand with hungry eyes. The girl broke the fruit, holding the bigger piece out toward the pitiful thing. It looked between her and the food that was in her hand. It seemed timid and afraid of her, making her think that it was a young wild Pokemon. The girl frowned a little with worry.

"It is okay. Go ahead and take it." She said as she leaned forward. The strange water Pokemon shrank back from her. She frowned as she put the apple in between it and her, closer to the shore than her. She then leaned back against the tree, watching it with gentle eyes. She hoped to show it that she wasn't going to harm it. She wondered if it was lost or something. It definitely didn't fit in with the Pokemon that was around Viridian and Pallet.

"Are you lost, little one?"

"Dra." It nodded sadly. It moved toward the shore and the bit of apple that Astra had laid in front of it. It ate quickly. The girl put the piece of apple that was for herself down, closer to her. The poke`mon moved closer to her to eat it. It was close enough for her to touch it.

"You poor thing. I promise that I won't harm you, little one."

"Tini?" The Pokemon tilted it's head as it finished the apple. It looked like it was still a little afraid of her. The girl reached out her hand toward the strange Pokemon to gently touch it. It sniffed her hand, testing to see if she was trust worthy or not.

After a few minutes of taking in her scent, it butted it's nose against her hand. Astra smiled and ran her hand over it's head. The skin was smooth and wet, and yet it was still warm to the touch. She wondered if all water Pokemon felt like this. She felt it tremor a little but the longer she petted the Pokemon the more it relaxed and soon it warmed up to her. Maybe she had a bit of her mother in her after all. That was a good thing in her mind and it made her chuckle lightly.

"Maybe I can help you find your home, little one."

"Dra!"

Astra turned her head and put her hand to her chin in a thoughtful manner. "Where would your home be? I have never seen any Pokemon like you before."

"Dra?"

The girl sighed. She figured that this Pokemon was far from home. She smiled as she turned back to the young Pokemon. "Maybe Professor Oak will know. I have to see him anyway."

"Ti!" It waved it's tail happily and seemed to smile. Astra hoped that it was smiling, though it was hard to tell with it's large nose blocking it's mouth from view.

Astra stood up and brushed the dirt off her clothes. She slung the bag back over her shoulder. She moved back onto the road. The strange Pokemon was hesitant to follow, though when she turned back to the tree it gained the courage to go to her. There was something about her that made it feel safe. It rushed to her side. It climbed up her and wrapped it's tail around her waist, resting it's head on her shoulder as she headed toward Pallet.