Shades Of Grey

Chapter One: New Perspective

My name's Grayson and today is my 15th birthday.

After the Plasma Rebellion 10 years ago, the age for heading off on a journey was changed. The new age is, as you might have guessed 15.

Which means I'm of age.

Which means I get my first Pokemon.

Which means I can set off on my journey and escape this hellhole I call a home.

I live in Nuvema Town, where the people are nice but OH MY VICTINI SO BORING.

My journey will fix that.

Today I get to pick my lifelong partner, companion, and friend: I get to pick my first Pokemon. Of course, I'm picking Tepig. Who wouldn't? Strong, dependable, great evolution. You can't lose!

Of course, someone else will want Tepig, which is why I'm rushing to the lab right now. I will be the first there and I will get my Tepig! I run up to the glass doors of the lab and shove them open when my heart sinks.

"Grayson! Hi!" Standing in front of me is Alicia Juniper-the professor's daughter, who was of course grouped with me to receive our starters. She was the only person who could've gotten here before me to ruin it all, and, of course, Tepig was on her shoulder.

I huff before grunting "Snivy" and sinking to the floor. Professor Juniper laughs and calls "Reuniclus!" I open my eyes and see a green blob of a Pokemon levitate into the room. Juniper raises an eyebrow at me and Reuniclus surrounds itself in purple aura, lifting me up and propping me on my feet, albeit a little unsteady.

Alicia sticks her tongue out at me as her mom gets Snivy's ball ready. I notice that Tepig's a little excited, as its embers have already scattered themselves onto Alicia's light brown skin and chocolate-colored hair. Alicia blows smoke out of her hazel eyes as Tepig coughs, slightly easing me up. Finally, Professor Juniper returns.

She hands me Snivy's Pokeball and nods. I smile sincerely, now genuinely excited to have a Pokemon, especially a Snivy. A close my eyes and toss the Pokeball in the air. Halfway to the ground, it opens, releasing a ray of light that forms into Snivy. I smile. "Hi Snivy. I'm your new trainer, if you'd like. My name's Grayson." I sit down, so i can be closer to my starter. Professor Juniper quickly hands me a black pokedex and I scan Snivy.

"Snivy, the Grass Snake Pokemon. Being exposed to sunlight makes its movements swifter. It uses vines more adeptly than its hands. This specimen is male with the ability Overgrow and known moves Tackle, Leer, and Vine Whip." I grin and Snivy nods, smirking. I make note of the cool, calm, mature, humorous tone his movements are and decide his nickname.

"Ren," I say, breathing heavily. "What?" Alicia asks, confused. I turn to face her. "That's gonna be his nickname," I turn back to Ren, "Is it okay?" Ren nods and I log it into my Pokedex: First Pokemon: Snivy, Male. Nickname: Ren. It's mandatory that all Pokemon are logged. The penalty for not doing it is, like, jail and loss of custody of your Pokemon. It's pretty bad. Needless to say, that's not my plan.

Alicia turns on her Pokedex and scans her Tepig, who is now on the floor. "Tepig, the Fire Pig Pokemon. It can deftly dodge its foe's attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It roasts berries before it eats them. This specimen is male with the ability Blaze and has known moves Tackle, Tail Whip, and Ember." Alicia smiles. "Do you want a nickname, Tepig?" Tepig tilts his head and smiles, clearly not comprehending the sentence. I laugh and Alicia glares at me before cracking a smile. She turns back to Tepig. "No nickname then!" Tepig cheers, but I figure he just sensed the tone. Alicia turns back to me finally and puts one fist up. "Wanna battle, Grayson?"

I look down at Ren and raise my eyebrow. He looks at me and grins before nodding. "You're on, Juniper Junior." Alicia squeals and runs out the door, Tepig in tow. I look at Professor Juniper and she smiles at me, nodding. Ren follows me as I walk out the door. Alicia is ready on the practice field across the dirt road. She waves and yells, "Come on, loser, we don't have all day!" I smile and shake my head before making my way across. Alicia claps her hands impatiently as I stand behind Ren on my side of the field. Professor Juniper walks out of the lab and across the street before stopping in the Referee Box in the middle.

"This is an unofficial one-on-one battle between Alicia Juniper and Grayson Follet! Each side may use only one Pokemon, and the battle has ended when either side is out of usable Pokemon! BEGIN!" She shouts the last word so loud that I flinch, which gives Alicia an advantage. She commands Tepig to use Tackle so fast that, despite Ren's best attempt to dodge the attack, the Snivy is still clipped and sent sprawling. But I'm not giving up yet.

"Ren, use Vine Whip, throw Tepig!" I shout, determined to beat the Professor's daughter. Ren nods and a vine comes out of each side of his collar and extend towards Tepig. Tepig panics and tries to escape but the vines entangle him and lift him in the air. I grin as Ren prepares to launch Tepig across the field when Alicia yells, "Ember!" Tepig exhales and small fire balls cover the vines, freeing Tepig but dropping him forcefully, hurting him. Ren then tackles Tepig, knocking him back. I smile at his battle initiative.

Alicia sighs and raises her hand. "Why are we doing this?"

I raise my eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"These are our first Pokemon. This battle is so boring. They only know three moves and if we keep going like this, we wouldn't be able to leave today; it'd take forever to finish this fight."

I nod thoughtfully. "Yeah, I guess." I turn to Professor Juniper and raise my eyebrow. She nods and guides us inside. "I'll heal your Pokemon for you guys." I smile. "Thank you," I turn to Ren. "You ready, buddy?" Ren nods and jumps into his Pokeball.

I follow Professor Juniper into her lab, smiling, and excited for the journey ahead.

AN: Hey guys! This is my first story so I hope you enjoy it! I actually really like it, but feel free to leave any constructive criticism you want to! I hope I can finish the next chapter by next week!

QOTD: Favorite Color

AOTD: Black

P.s. The title isn't a reference to 50 Shades of Grey, it's because of Grayson's name and the fact that it takes place in Unova, which was Black and White, and that this story is all about the moral gray areas.

P.p.s I think I'm going to have a theme that all the chapter names are song titles.