Book I - Celadon

Sun streaked through the bedroom as young Ochre, 18 years old, was fast asleep underneath his covers, a tuft of golden brown hair could be seen glowing from underneath. A sound of rustling could be heard from the closet. A Tangela flopped out, carrying a pair of pants, a jacket, and shoes.

"Tangela!"

The Tangela hopped up on the bed and began to slowly prod at the young man as he waved the vines away. The Tangela could be heard becoming more and more aggressive in its voice.

"TANG!"

A cracking sound followed by a loud scream was heard which seemed to resonate throughout the ranch house.

"Fine, Pascal, fine. I'm up." Ochre rubbed his arm, where a welt was already forming. "You excited about today, I guess?"

The Tangela nodded in agreement as he began to shove clothes into Ochre's face.

"Not yet, not yet. Let me get woken up first."

The Tangela moved a vine back behind it as if preparing for another strike.

Ochre quickly backed up against the far corner of his bed with his arm covering his face. "I'll hurry, I'll hurry!"

The Tangela let out a proud, "Tang!" Before jumping off the bed and running downstairs.

Ochre sighed and mumbled to himself, "You'd think that he was the trainer…"

He still stretched his arms up wide and took a look outside of the window. The sun added a warm tint to his already tanned skin. His father was already outside with his mother, tending to the Nidoran. They lived on a ranch, the NidoRanch, located on the outskirts of Celadon City. He lived on the ranch with his father, Crim, his mother, Isabel, as well as his kid brother, Burgand. Burgand had been much more into the ranch life, whereas Ochre never wanted to take on the reins of the ranch once his father grew too old. He wanted adventure. His mother tended to take his side on this, as she encouraged him to find his calling and use his talents as he saw fit. It was because of her that he was going on his trip today.

Ochre got dressed in the clothes that Pascal had picked out for him, shuffled out of his room and trotted down the stairs where Pascal was waiting for him. "Don't get your vines in a knot, we'll go in good time." Ochre grinned as he stepped out on the porch. His mother was holding a female Nidoran in her arms.

"I guess Pascal didn't let you sleep on your big day, did he?" his mother asked, giggling.

Ochre shook his head. "I guess he knew how important today was after all of the training we've been doing." He looked over at his pokémon, who was still anxiously awaiting Ochre to tell him that they were all set to leave.

"It's not every day that Erika allows a resident at her gym." She grinned, "I still can't believe that I'm letting my son stay at a gym full of young women…," her giggle turned into a cackle, "But of course since she's an old friend of mine, she'll be certain to report any misbehavior on my eldest son's part!" She snorted before clearing her throat and returning to her previous maternal state. "I am proud of you, though, Ochre."

Ochre's face turned red before he went in for a hug with his mother. The Nidoran had since jumped out of her arms and scurried around his father, who was feeding the mother Nidoqueen in the barn. Crim turned around to see his son outside with Isabel. He gave the Nidoqueen a couple of pats on the head and jogged up toward the patio.

"You goin', son?" Crim asked, placing a hand on Ochre's shoulder.

"Yeah, I guess I'll get on the road." Ochre looked back at the house as Pascal rushed out off the porch and waddled toward one of the ranch's trucks, hopping in the passenger's seat.

Crim looked up at the house and yelled, "Burgand! Your big brother is leaving!"

A loud thump could be heard from the window Crim yelled at as footsteps rushed down the stairs and outside. "Bye, bye, big brother!" Burgand ran to give his brother a hug, who picked him up and mussed his hair.

"You take care of Mom and Dad, 'kay?" Ochre asked his little brother.

"'Kay!" The 12-year-old replied.

Ochre nodded to his family as he proceeded to the truck Pascal was hopping up and down in.

His mother called out, "Are you sure you don't want to stay for breakfast?!"

The young man shook his head. "There's no time! There's an adventure to begin!"

With that, he started the truck, and sped down the dusty road away from the ranch, and toward Celadon City.