These first few chapters were originally done
quite a few years ago, and I've recently decided to re-read and revamp
them for submission. So don't expect anything AMAZING from these first
few chapters (the meat of the story, actually, doesn't happen until
after she gets out of the Orange Islands) So for now, it will be a bit
sappy and cutesy, but hey, my lead girl is only 11 years old.
So, read what I have for now, and enjoy.
She raced around the house, Blaze trotting at her heels just inches away from tripping her, she got her things together to finally start her journey. Due to some problems the year before, she was unable to start her journey when she was 10, so now she was even more thrilled to at last do what she had been waiting anxiously for, for a year now.
Her parents also helped in gathering her things, though still apprehensive about letting their only child go out on her own like this, but at the same time, just as excited about this as she was. She shoved item after item into her backpack, thinking of everything that she would need, that would fit anyway, into her pack. When she finally had made the conclusion that she had all that she needed packed away, she said her good-byes to her parents, and was going to start on her way.
"Armaina! The boat will depart in a half an hour, and from the port, I want you to go right to Prof. Ivy to get whatever it is you need for your journey…" Her mother hugged her teary eyed.
"Contact us every now and then, keep us up to date on how things are going." Her father hugged her as well.
Armaina smiled proudly.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine!" She reassured her parents enthusiastically. "Plus, with Blaze around, and I still get a starter pokémon, so they'll keep me safe."
"I'm sure sweetheart…"
Was all that her teary-eyed mother could say, as her good-byes were wrapped up and Armaina set off to catch her boat to get to the Island where Prof. Ivy lived.
After the hour long trip to Prof. Ivy's home, Armaina's excitement was almost uncontainable, and keeping herself calm was beginning to get hard, and was quite grateful when the trip ended. Within a few minutes of running, Armaina reached the home/lab of Prof. Ivy, and sharply rapped on the door, still wired with the day's excitement. The door was answered by one of Prof. Ivy's assistants.
"Oh, you must be the new pokémon trainer!"
Armaina smiled broadly.
"Mm Hmm." She nodded, as the assistant let her in.
"I'll tell Prof. Ivy you're here, justa second."
With that, the assistant disappeared through the door into another room. Within a few moments, Prof. Ivy's assistant returned.
"Come on in here." Not taking a moments hesitation, Armaina did so, waiting to officially start her journey.
Prof. Ivy turned away from what she was working on.
"Armaina, it's good to see you, ready to register and start your journey?"
Armaina nodded excitedly.
"Why else would I be here?"
Prof. Ivy smiled.
"Right."
Then turned to the computer to enter in her registration, as well as picking up a red item from off the table.
"Here, this is a pokédex, I just received some Prof. Oak. It'll give you information on the pokémon you've encountered, as well as help in our research."
Armaina took the pokédex, examining it.
"Cool."
Prof. Ivy noted Blaze.
"I'm, guessing he will be in your team."
"Yep." Her answer shortened by her preoccupation with her 'new toy'.
"Well, you'll need these then." With that, she handed Armaina six pokéballs. "Even Blaze will have to be contained in on of those at one point in time, to be considered as an official member of your team."
Armaina nodded, taking one of the balls and holding it up to Blaze.
"Yeah, I know, I've been learning as much as I can before I started my journey." As she spoke, Blaze let himself into the pokéball, thus being 'captured'.
"You know, even though you already have a pokémon in your team, you are still entitled to one of the starter pokémon if you want." Prof. Ivy motioned for Armaina to follow her, then stopped at a place with three pokéballs.
"Would you like a Squirtle, or a Bulbasuar?"
Armaina thought a moment.
"Uh… do you have a Charmander?" Armaina smiled hopefully, mainly wanting a Charmander because of its final form: Charizard. Prof. Ivy hesitated.
"Well… you already have a fire type…"
"I know… but I really want a charmander… if you have one."
Prof. Ivy sighed, picking up on other pokéball.
"This one is a charmander, but it has a few problems… I got it from Prof. Oak, he said that it had been through 4 trainers, and not one of them could tame it, although it was sought after by all of those trainers."
"Sought after?" Armaina looked confused.
"This charmander is unlike any other charmander ever seen… it's skin has more golden tones in it than a normal charmander, not to mention it's over a foot bigger than other charmanders."
"Oh, cool!"
"Yeah, 'Cool' was just what the other trainers thought, only this charmander wouldn't heed them in the least, and in some of the cases, turned on the trainer. Although no one was severely injured by it, both Prof. Oak and I are baffled as to why it acts in such a manner. Prof. Oak had mentioned that when he first had it, and it was out among the other pokémon, it was perfectly fine, and didn't even act hostile to him. But something happened when the first trainer had it. It became very temperamental, and would get worse every time it was returned from another trainer. But, anyway, I hope you understand why I am skeptical to giving you this pokémon."
Armaina nodded.
"Yeah, I understand..."
Armaina contemplated all that she had heard, thinking that the charmander's problem was rooted in the actions of its previous trainers, how exactly, she had some ideas, but wasn't sure.
"Well, could I at least try? Maybe see what's wrong with it, and if I start to have any problems I'll send it back to you."
Prof. Ivy studied Armaina's face a moment, a face that was looking up at her with large pleading eyes. And after a moment's consideration, gave into the girl's request.
"Alright, but I don't think you'll be able to find out much of anything. But please make sure to contact me if there are any problems. It isn't good for such and inexperienced trainer to have such an unruly pokémon when just starting out."
Armaina smiled.
"Well, I have Blaze, and he's a pretty tough pokémon all on his own, so it's not like this charmander will be my only pokémon."
"That's true. Well, good luck on your journey. Oh! And here's a map of the islands, so you know where all the gyms, and inhabited Islands are."
Armaina accepted the map from Prof. Ivy.
"Thanks, a lot! Bye!" Armaina released Blaze from his new pokéball, then headed a bit hurriedly out the door.
"Can you believe it Blaze! We're on our way to conquering the leagues of the world!"
Armaina proclaimed, lifting her arms upward toward the sky… just as she was tripped by something.
"Ow…" Armaina fell fast, planting her face in the dirt and grass, skidding to a stop.
"What tha…"
Armaina looked back to see what tripped her, though; she wasn't sure at first what she saw. It was something small, and white, with read eyes… it looked like a caterpie… a white caterpie. Armaina moved her feet, and went over to see if it was all right, and tried to pick it up. The odd part was, it didn't seem as though it noticed her coming toward it, only until her hand touched it, at which point, it squirmed franticly in her grasp.
"Hey, hold still, I need to take you to the pokécenter, I don't wanna hurt you... again..." Armaina then reached over and took out one of the pokéballs she had and contained the caterpie in her grasp.
Armaina picked up the pokéball and looked at it a moment.
"Well… this wasn't exactly how I have imagined catching my first pokémon…" Blaze also looked equally confused. Since she needed to build up her team anyway, and a capterpies would be a nice addition, since butterfrees were actually quite useful pokémon.
After a few more moments of walking, Armaina and Blaze made it to their destination, the Pokécenter. "After I get all of you guys checked out, we'll start training, as well as capturing more pokémon, to better balance the team." Armaina explained to Blaze, as she entered the building. Armaina walked over to the counter.
"I need a check up for all of my pokémon." Nurse Joy smiled behind the counter.
"Alright then, if you'll just give me your pokéballs, I'll give them a complete check up."
Armaina nodded, returning Blaze to his pokéball, and handing them all to Nurse Joy.
As her pokémon were being given a check-up, Armaina took the time to contact her parents, and let them know how she was doing. Armaina sat down at a near-by Vid-Phone, and dialed in her home phone number. After a moment, her mother then answered the phone.
"Oh! Hello sweetheart! How have you been? Are you alright? Have you registered already? Do you have any new pokémon with you? Where are you headed off next?"
"Sheesh mom! I've only been gone for an hour or so, not much has happened. I did get some new pokémon though, a charmander from Prof. Ivy, and I caught a rather odd looking caterpie."
"Well, that's great! I'm guessing you'll be taking the next ride out to the nearest gym, am I right?"
Armaina nodded.
"Yeah, Not sure where to though yet, there are some gyms I can't battle in yet because I need water pokémon."
Over the com, there was an announcement, stating Armaina's pokémon were checked out, and ready to be returned.
"Hey mom, I have to get going now, but I'll keep you up to date!"
"Alright then. You take care now. I don't want to get a phone call from the hospital or police or anything."
Armaina smiled, reassuring her mom.
"Don't worry, I will." Then hung up the phone and went back to retrieve her pokémon.
Nurse Joy stood at the counter with a slightly concerned look on her face.
"So you're the one Prof. Ivy has decided to give the Charmander to?"
Armaina nodded.
"Yeah, I want to see what's wrong with it, and see if I can do anything."
"Well, first of all, it's a she. Though, I hope you know what you are doing, you're a new trainer, and that charmander can be quite a handful, so I've heard. And there's something else I need to tell you."
Armaina looked up at Nurse Joy, slightly confused.
"Your caterpie is blind… If you keep her, she would be very difficult to train. So if you want, you may leave her with me."
Armaina looked down at the pokéball containing her new caterpie. She wasn't sure if she would be able to train a blind caterpie, or really wanted to all that much… but leaving the caterpie would be rather petty. Maybe she could look at this as a challenge… and who knows, maybe this caterpie may have some special attributes, like those who are blind have exceptional hearing.
"No… I think I'll try to train it… uh, her… right?"
"Yes, the caterpie is a female as well. You certainly seem to be taking a lot on so early into your training. Just don't overdo it, it would be bad for you as well as your pokémon" Nurse Joy said sweetly, yet firmly.
"Yeah I know, but I can't help it, I just really feel like I need to take care of them... But, thank you for the advise, and giving my pokémon a checkup." She made a slight bow and smile, then excitedly turned on heel and left the pokémon center, to 'meet' her new pokémon, and start some real training.