"Welcome to the world of Pokémon, this world is inhabited by mysterious creatures knows as Pokémon's. For some Pokémon are friends, family, partners in battle, for others they are a study of a life time."

In the town of Saffron, the biggest city in the Kanto region, in a dark alleyway, where card boxes are stacked together to try and create some cover from the weather, A dark-haired man sits in between two stacks of boxes looking at the other side of the alley. He looks at the Riolu in front of him that is making weird movements, signaling for him to stand up. The man's face looks rough. He has a scar over one of his eyes, there are a few stubs of a growing beard. The man looks at the Riolu with empty eyes, wondering what it wants him to do. As he tries to understand what the Pokémon wants him to do, he hears a howl that pierces his ear. The howl makes him realize what the Riolu has been doing all along. It had been trying to warn him of whatever was making that howl. He began to stand up when a black shadow jumped upon the Riolu. The man rushed to try and help the Pokémon who was trying to help him. He got a clear sight of the shadow; it was a dark looking dog, and from what he could remember it was probably a Houndour the dark Pokémon. Riolu tried to push the Houndour off, but the man could see it was failing. He ran with all the force he could muster and tackled the dark Pokémon. As he hit the dog, Riolu pushed as well, and succeeded in getting the dog off himself. Blood was running down Riolu's face where Houndour had clawed and bitten him. The man grabbed the Riolu put it on his back and started running as fast as he could. As he was running he could hear the Houndour, howling even louder than before.

As he was nearing the end of the alley, two more of the dark looking dogs appeared in front of the exit. "Shit" he thought. He looked for a way out of the alley, and noticed a nearby ladder. With the Riolu on his back he yelled "hold on back there!" He got to the ladder right before the dogs got to him. When he reached a safe spot he looked down and saw the dogs were waiting below. He put down the Riolu and noticed that the injuries that it had suffered were beginning to close. He decided to stay here and wait for help to arrive.

A couple of hours go by

Still sitting on the fire escape, it was starting to become dark and the Riolu had not woken up yet. He had sat there for the hours and had begun to wonder why the Houndours had attacked the alleyway. He hoped the other homeless people did not show up today. The Houndours were starting to get bored of waiting, as their prey was in a place they could not reach, but it seemed they did not want to leave yet. He heard a ruffling sound to his right, and he saw the Riolu opening his eyes. The Pokémon stared at him with its bright brown eyes, and started to look around to find out if it was in a safe spot. When it realized it was safe it looked at the man that had saved it from the Houndours. It released a small cry at the person that was staring at it, hoping it would bring the person out of its trance. The man looked at the Riolu and said with a warm smile, "Hello there, my names Drake, thanks for warning me." Riolu made a small squeal and put out a clenched fist. Drake understood what the Riolu wanted. They gave each other a fist bump. "So how did you end up in Saffron City? If I am not wrong Riolus are rare in Kanto," Drake said with a cheerful voice. Riolu responded with various movements. He pointed at Drake, and formed a ball looking thing with his hands. "Ahh you were once a trainer's Pokémon," Drake said, understanding the Riolu's motions. Riolu released a loud squeal, when Drake had understood him.

Hours went by sitting on the fire escape waiting for the Houndours to leave the area. Drake and Riolu kept communicating trying to understand each other as best as possible. When the Houndours had finally left it was a new day.

"Seems like they finally buggered off" Drake said with a very tired voice, Riolu released a yawn and stretched out from its slumber. "Let us get you to a Pokémon center so they can take care of those injuries" said Drake, and Riolu scratched its head, wondering what a Pokémon center was. Drake went over to Riolu, picked him up and asked him to take a grip around his neck so he could carry him down the ladder. As they slowly descended the ladder Drake noticed all the damage the Houndours had done to the nearby area. There were scorch marks around the area as they had waited for Drake and Riolu to come down. Drake hoped that no one else had encountered those Houndours. After leaving Riolu at the Pokémon center, he needed to get a hold of an officer and ask them to handle the Houndours.

Walking towards the nearest Pokémon center in Saffron City took around half an hour. Since Saffron was the biggest city in Kanto it had four Centers to accommodate the trainers and non-trainers living in the city. Saffron was as beautiful as ever. The skyscrapers cast off the sun shining upon them, a signature of Saffron City. Riolu was looking around with a shine in his eyes. He had not noticed all the tall buildings or the small parks where it seemed like other Pokémons were training, when he had overheard the Houndours talking about attacking the nearby alleyway that Drake was sitting in. They reached a big building with a red roof that had a pokéball logo on it the doors opened automatically and they entered the building.

As they entered Drake, noticed that there was not a lot of people or Pokémon in line for treatment. They got to the nurse quite fast, and asked if they could treat this Riolu. The nurse asked for a trainer ID and the pokéball for the Riolu. Drake told her that he had no trainer ID and no pokéball, and that this Riolu had gotten injured saving him from a pack of wild Houndours. The nurse told Drake that the Riolu could get treatment here. but suggested that he afterwards made sure that it was returned to the wild if he had no plan to keep it as a Pokémon. Riolu looked at Drake with gleaming eyes that shined with the hope that he could get to stay with Drake. Drake asked the nurse where he could get ahold of a cheap pokéball since he was quite short on money now due to the financial crisis that had recently hit Kanto. The nurse replied with a smile on her face, "wait here". The nurse returned holding a red and white ball in her left hand, gave it to Drake and said, "here you go young man, help this Pokémon." Drake looked at Riolu and asked if he wanted to be his first partner. Riolu nodded, extatically. Drake stared at the pokéball, trying to figure out how to use it, and the nurse explained that he should press the middle button that separates the red and white parts, and it would expand. Drake did so, the pokéball expanded, and a red beam came out and sucked Riolu inside. Suprised Drake dropped it on the floor. Nearby people noticed and let out a slight giggle. The ball made a clicking sound, and then the nurse explained that Riolu was now officially captured. Drake handed over the ball to the nurse so she could take care of Riolus injuries.

A couple of minutes later

"Thanks for waiting, give him a few days rest and he will be fit for fighting again" the nurse said. Drake nodded and thanked her all the help. Once he exited the center he released Riolu, and Drake was just as surprised as he when the ball had sucked Riolu. Riolus face, was healed, and it seemed like he had suffered no scaring from the claw marks he had endured. Drake looked at Riolu, and asked "so what shall I call you from now on?". Riolu laid his head in Drake's hands wondering what he meant. Riolu started to run towards a park nearby. Drake could nearly not keep up with Riolu, but luckily Riolu did not run too far. Riolu entered Central Saffron Park. Central Saffron Park was located near two of the four Pokémon Centers in town to accommodate all the training that went on in the park. Riolu squealed at Drake and pointed towards a punching bag. The punching bag was in a small training field meant for human use and not for Pokémon as far as Drake knew. Riolu ran towards the Punching bag and started to do various punches on the punching bag, until he hit it so hard that it flew straight back into his face

"Riolu!" Drake yelled. Riolu flew back one meter and steadily got back on his feet and started moving back towards the punching bag. Drake was running towards Riolu when he realized that Riolu was about to do it again. He got between the punching bag and Riolu's face before it flew this time. "Riolu, if you want to train, let me hold the bag for you", Drake said with a determined voice. Riolus eyes shined brighter when he heard those words from his new friend.

Riolu and Drake stayed in the park for many hours training on the punching bag. Even though there were no more face plants, Drake was starting to feel the fatigue kicking in from a bad night's sleep and the vibrations the bag was sending towards him. Riolu too looked like he was about to collapse from all the combos he had been laying on the bag.

"Riolu's let quit for today and find a place to get some food". Drake said with a clearly fatiued voice. Riolu's ears peaked up when he heard "food." He squealed and started to climb Drake's back, very much to Drake's surprise. Riolu sat down on his shoulders. Drake started to laugh, he could not remember the last time he had had this much fun.

Drake started walking towards the nearest homeless shelter, where he an Riolu could get a warm meal for the night.

The homeless shelter was in an old hotel building that had been abandoned when this part of Saffron had crumbled to the depression. The exterior paint had started to crumble under the weather effect. There were only slight pieces of the once red paint on it, the door into the building had cardboard over the places where there once had been windows. As Drake and Riolu entered the building they instantly got hit with the smell of a meal being cooked. They followed the arrows that said "Cantina."

When Drake and Riolu entered the cantina, they were hit with a bright beam of light; the cantina's roof was made entirely out of glass. There were plenty of people in the room and luckily, also a few Pokémons. They noticed a short line of people standing in front of a serving cart. Drake walked over to stand in line to wait for his turn to receive food. As he got to the cart he was handed a tray with some brown porridge and a small piece of white bread. Drake asked for anything for his friend, and pointed at Riolu on his shoulder. The server placed a bowl of pokéfood on Drake's serving tray. Drake said his thanks and looked for a place to sit down.

He found a table in the rightmost corner where no one was sitting. He wondered why no one was sitting in this spot. The light had the perfect angle not to be annoying, but was plentiful enough to keep one warm. He put his tray down and placed Riolu's bowl right next to him on the table. Drake said, "eat up!" and began to eat the food, and Riolu followed suit. He squealed when the pokéfood hit his tongue. Drake wonder if it tasted better than his porridge. It was quite bland, after all, but he could not complain. A meal was a meal.

Suddenly, the door to the cantina swung open very violently. A bulky build man busted in, wearing a black leather jacket. The other people stopped staring after they saw who it was, but Drake kept starring and wonder why he had walked in so aggressively. The man started walking towards Drake, at a rapid pace, Drake could not stop staring.

"Hey idiot, what are you doing in my spot?" the bulky man said with a rough voice. When Drake heard the words, he just looked blankly at the man for a few seconds and went back to eating his porriage.

"HEY IDIOT, I ASKED YOU A QUESTION," the man yelled at Drake, Drake ignored him and kept eating calmly. The man walked over to Drake and grabbed him by the shoulder. Out of instinct, Drake grabbed him by the arm and flung him over the shoulder. The man crashed down on the floor, and the crowd gasped. Drake quickly got up from the bench, ready for whatever the bulky man was planning to do one he got up. Riolu wondered what was going on here. Drake had, with ease, flung a man double his size over his shoulder while sitting down. Riolu knew he had found the right person to befriend.

The bulky man got on his feet and began charging towards Drake. Drake dodged the man with ease, sidestepping him and putting his leg out to trip him. The man fell flat on the floor again. The man now got up in rage and took off his jacket. Somebody came running out of the kitchen.

"Toran what in the world are you doing?" the red-haired women asked. The bulky man looked at her. "WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE, AVIAN, THIS IDIOT TOOK MY SPOT!" he yelled with blood-sprung eyes. Avian looked at Drake and started to laugh, "Toran, you do know who this is, right?" she asked with a grin in her voice. Toran looked at Drake, and then it hit him. It was the combat journalist that had gone into a building on fire to save a kid and his Pokémon. Toran quickly calmed down and apologized to Drake and said that he was sorry to mess with the hero of the historic Saffron Hotel fire. Drake hated hearing that title it drew unnecessary attention, and after the crowd had realized who it was, clapped and yelled a big cheer for the hero of Saffron Hotel.

In the meantime, Riolu had finished eating, and wondering what all the loud noise was about. "Okay guys, please stop using that title. I do not like it, I did not do anything different than the average fireman would." Drake said with a shaking voice. Avian noticed the shaking in Drake's voice and reinforced "okay guys, leave the guy alone. He is here to eat, not be asked for autographs." Drake nodded to Avian and sat down again, hoping to promptly to finish his meal and leave.

Then Toran sat down in front of him. "So, you been in the field too?" Toran asked with a calm voice. Drake was surprised how quickly Toran had changed his attitude towards him, damn story he thought. "Yes" Drake answered, short and concise, hoping for no further questions. Toran however, was not finnished. Drake kept replying with short answers, he did not want to dig into that past right now. He had experienced things that he did not want to remember from his time as a journalist in combat zones.

As Toran's question started to thin out, Drake thought it was about time he found a place to sleep for the night. Drake stood up and Riolu climbed up to sit on his shoulder again. Toran noticed this and said, "So you are a Pokémon trainer too, I challenge you to a battle." Drake turned to him and said tiredly "My partner here cannot fight now, he got injured earlier today, and I do not want to put him in danger."

Toran looked at Drake and said, "I can wait for your partner to be fit for a fight. It does not need to be now." As the crowd started listening into the conversation, they looked at the two men that had a fought not more than 30 minutes ago. Drake started feeling all eyes on him, and pressure that he could not back out of this challenge. With a loud sigh Drake said, "I accept your challenge, but the fight will first be in five days to make sure my partner is fit to fight." The crowd boomed when they heard Drakes acceptance. Drake quickly left before the crowd charged at him for autographs.

As Drake and Riolu got outside the hotel, the sun was beginning to set.

Drake had a spot in mind for a good night sleep. Where no Houndours would appear, to attack him and his new partner. They began their walk towards Saffron City's Pokémon Hotel for new trainers. Drake did not have a trainer ID, since he had never had a Pokémon before today. The Pokémon hotel was a beam of light when Drake and Riolu finally arrived at it. There was so much light it nearly hurt their eyes, over the entrance to the hotel it read, "For all trainers from beginners to champions."

As they entered the hotel, Drake noticed that inside the building the light was weaker than on the outside, perhaps due to the dark paint on the wall that absorbed much of the neon light that was over the lobby area. Drake went up to the receptionist and asked if there were any cheap rooms available for a new trainer without a trainer ID. The receptionist told him to wait for a few minutes. As the minutes went by Drake and Riolu sat down on a nearby sofa, and Drake was nearly falling asleep when the receptionist returned. He told Drake the cheapest room he could offer the two of them would cost around 200 pokédollars per night. Drake had in his savings roughly 1000 pokédollars that he had saved up from working cheap labor. He booked the room for 5 nights. The receptionist welcomed to the Pokémon Hotel where beginners and champions can enjoy a stay.

Drake and Riolu were led to their room, where they were told that baths of course was included in the price of renting the room, and cleaning would be done every day at 10:00 PM. When the receptionist was about to leave, he put his hand out waiting to be tipped, Drake slammed the door in his face thinking"fucking leachers".

"Okay Riolu, tomorrow we wake up early go and get a good breakfast before we go train in the park." Drake said. Riolu heard him and jumped with happiness as he had heard about their plans for tomorrow. Drake said his goodnight to Riolu, got into the bed and was fast asleep. Soon after Riolu followed when he had gotten the excitement of training out of his body.

The next day

Drake and Riolu had woken up early to get breakfast at a small place. After finishing their meal, they went to the Saffron Central Park to begin their training. "Okay Lou, were starting todays training of with a light warm up run, then we move into building on what you were doing yesterday" Drake said, and Riolu wonder who Lou was. Drake saw that Riolu did not understand what he was talking about. "I thought Lou sounded like a nice nickname for you, is that okay?" Drake asked Riolu, who responded with a nod.

Drake and Riolu started running in the park. They followed the gravel path, it led them around different places and Drake realized that he was not in shape and had trouble keeping up with Lou. After their run they went over to the training area where they had trained for some hours yesterday. There Drake instructed Lou how to optimize his punches. As Drake was holding the punching bag he felt how hard Lou could hit.

They countuned like this until midday.

Drake and Lou were both starting to feel the fatigue of training for many hours in the sun. Drake told Lou to stop punching, they were going for a break. During the break, Drake told Lou what they were going to be doing the next 4 days. Tomorrow they would be focusing on building up stamina by running long distance and sprints. The day after, they would be focusing on evasion techniques. The day after, they would work on learning how Lou could fight more independtly. Drake had once seen one of the top tier trainers focusing on looking at the battlefield instead of shouting order to his Pokémon all the time. This had led the trainer to notice a small crack in the opponent's defense which he used against the opponent and had won the match. Drake of course knew that this was a high-level technique. Rather than starting late with that kind of training Drake thought starting early would give both him and Lou an edge in the upcoming battle. Hopefully this training program would properly prepare them for the battle against Toran.

The days went by starting their days with early morning, and a break a midday to regain some stamina. After their breaks they trained until dinner time, where they went and ate at different homeless shelters. After dinner they traned again into the late evening, when they went back to the hotel and slept as soon as they hit the bed. Finally, the day of the battle had arrived.

Thanks for reading the first chapter of my story, I hoped you enjoyed it and somewhat got what I wanted to show with the first chapter. As you probably noticed, there been a depression in Kanto, and the world is not as in the games. This will be showed more in next chapter where Drake and Lou will be having their battle against Toran. More of Drake's backstory will also be explained and the story will dive deeper into how the world works and what Drake will be doing in his adventure. If you're pleased with the story, please leave a review and a follow! I hope to entertain you with a good story.

Drake's active team

Lou (Riolu): Known moves ?, ability ?, gender male. Caught first chapter.