"Alpha, I have discovered a new threat to our galaxy. There has been a disturbance in the Power Grid."
"Aye aye aye, Zordon. Aren't there enough troubles on Earth?"
"Earth is safe as long as the Power Rangers are here, Alpha. But we must find someone to defend a distant planet from this new threat. It is far off now, but I feel that if its power is unchecked, it will go on to overcome the whole galaxy. Alpha, open communication with Ninjor."
"But Zordon-no one knows where Ninjor is-"
"He will be where he needs to be. Search for him in the Ecto 7 quadrant."
Alpha pressed a series of buttons on the command pedestal, flailing his hands with exaggerated movements. Static appeared on the communicator screen. The fuzz slowly resolved into the staunch, majestic face of Ninjor.
"Old friend," Zordon addressed the screen. "It is time. Take your new Power Coins to the world of Thera."
Ninjor nodded solemnly.
Jack ran down the stairs. "Mom, mom, mom! Today I get my Pokémon! Today I get my Pokémon!"
She laughed warmly. "Of course. It's an exciting day, hon. Here, don't forget your running shoes."
"Can I go? Can I go?"
"Sure. Go right on ahead and make sure you get in line. I'll be right behind you."
Jack had turned 10 a month before, and today was the day when Professor Pine gave away starting Pokémon to the town's youth, a new generation of Pokémon trainers. Excited, he ran out the door, still halfway through putting on his left shoe. As he approached the professor's lab, he was dismayed to find the other kids from the town already there, clamoring for their Pokeballs. He had wanted to be the first. He guessed he had overslept a little, but that was only because he couldn't get to sleep the night before. This was such an important day. He didn't want to screw it up. This first Pokémon would define him as a trainer. The bond he could form with this starting Pokémon would last the rest of his life. He had to make sure it counted.
Professor Pine surveyed the room, a smile in his eyes. "Calm down, everyone. Calm down. No one gets their Pokémon until 10:00. You're all a few minutes early. This is an important moment, and we must act in an orderly fashion. Children, take that as your first lesson as Pokémon trainers. Everything has a time and a place. Acting too quickly, without thought, will get you into trouble."
Jack pushed through the crowd and met up with the others. There were four of them in all. They were close friends, as they had grown up in Underbrush Town together. James, Trevor, and Cate stood around chatting excitedly
Jack's eyes went back to the clock on the laboratory wall, watching the second hand crawl toward the top. Right as the clock struck 10:00, punctual Professor Pine turned to address the gathered crowd. The four kids were clustered around his table with their friends, families, and others from the town behind them. Jack looked back over his shoulder to see his mom waving at him, a proud smile on her face.
"Good morning, everyone. This is the largest group of kids we've had in a long time here in Underbrush. This is an important moment in their lives. Today, each of these children will gain a lifelong friend, a companion. The road of a Pokémon Trainer is long, and they have much to learn. The Pokémon they acquire today will aid them in this journey. A Pokémon is not a tool, only to be used for battle. It is a partner, to be loved and respected. Only through learning this will the children of our town become great Pokémon Trainers. These children are our future Gym Leaders, and there might even be a Pokémon Champion in our midst." The crowd began to clap as the kids stood proudly, if a little impatiently.
"Without any further ado, the presentation of the Pokémon." He pulled out a case and set it on the table, opening it to reveal four Pokeballs inside. "I have gathered these Pokémon from all over. Some were particularly difficult to obtain. But they have been selected with care. As of today, they are yours-you are free to name them. James, take this." He handed one of the Pokeballs to James, who turned around as the crowd backed up to clear the area. James threw the Pokeball to the ground, and out came a Growlithe, calmly licking its paw. Ryan knelt down, patted its head, then stood up again proudly. "A strong fire Pokémon. I like it," he stated, calling the little dog back into its Pokeball. "I'll call him Shisa, a mighty guardian."
"Trevor, this one is for you." Pine held out the next Pokeball. Trevor took it and spun around, lobbing the Pokeball into the air. It hit the ground, opened, and out came a tiny Azurill, crying a fountain of tears and bouncing on its oversized tail.
"Oh, you poor thing" fawned Trevor. "Come here, sweetie," he said as he wiped his new Pokémon's tears away. He was rewarded with a faint smile. "You're such a pretty blue. I'm calling you Celeste. We're going to be good friends, Celeste."
The third Pokeball went to Cate, who found a fluffy Mareep inside. With a smile, she reached down and picked it up, cradling it in her arms and burying her face in its golden yellow fur. "Argo, your name is Argo."
With one Pokeball left, Jack walked up to the table. Heart beating, he took the Pokeball in both hands. With intense determination, he threw it, picturing himself facing the Pokémon Champion. What emerged, to the crowd's surprise, was no more than a foot long. A small white bug Pokémon, a Nincada, crawled toward Jack, who hesitated before picking him up and exclaiming, "Thank you, Professor! He's perfect!" He put the diminutive Pokémon on his shoulder and looked back, smiling exultantly at his mother. "Mom, I'm naming him Semy, how does that sound?" Jack's mom flashed him a thumbs up in approval.
With the Pokémon distributed, Professor Pine called the four back together. "Ok, Trainers, you know what these are, yes?" He displayed four Pokédexes out on the table, one for each of them. "With these and your new Pokémon, you are equipped for the journey ahead. Remember to record information about all the Pokémon you meet. Remember, you need to go south to Axis City. There you can officially register as Trainers and stock up on everything you might need. With your Pokémon by your side, you will be ready to face whatever you find in the tall grass. Now come on, get out of here! Your journey awaits!"
The crowd cheered, then began to thin out as the new Trainers remained to say their farewells to their families. Jack's mother wrapped him in a tight embrace. "Be safe, Jacky. You have everything you need, right? Pokeballs, potions, socks? Don't forget to call. I can't wait to hear all about your adventures."
"Thanks, Mom. I'm gonna make you proud! I'm gonna be the best Pokémon Trainer there ever was! I love you!"
"I know you will! I love you too, Jacky!"
She continued to wave until Jack and the other three Trainers were no longer visible.
"Okay, guys, so what we need to do is head into Nightshade Wood until we find the river. We can follow that straight south to Axis." James was leading the other three Trainers as they left Underbrush and headed out into the tall grass.
"So why do we need to go to Axis, anyway?" Trevor asked. "We have our Pokémon, can't we just start challenging Gyms and catching Pokémon?"
"Did you listen to anything, you idiot?" Cate responded. "We're not registered Trainers. Professor Pine can give out Starting Pokémon, but he's not allowed to register us. We have to go to Axis for that. That's where we'll get our Trainer cards, and we need those to challenge Gyms and to buy things like Pokeballs."
"Okay…I guess I just feel like if I have a Pokémon, I'm a Pokémon trainer. Right?"
"You're both wrong," Jack piped up. "Being a Trainer isn't about paperwork, and it isn't about just having Pokémon. It's about your relationship with your Pokémon. It's about helping them grow and evolve, watching them become stronger, bonding with them through battle." Unlike the others, Jack didn't have his Pokémon in its Pokéball. Semy was still perched on Jack's shoulder, its tiny wings fluttering inconsistently.
The two of them sighed at Jack's preaching, but they were interrupted by James, who was ahead of them in the grass.
"Shh! There are some wild Pokémon up here. We can battle and try to catch them. Get your Pokémon ready." James was calm yet tense, ready to engage in a battle. He led the young Trainers into a small clearing where they saw a large nest balanced in the branches of a tree. Broken egg shells littered the ground, and coming from the nest was a cacophony of squawking.
"What are those guys?" whispered Trevor.
Cate had already pulled out her Pokédex and pointed it up at the nest. The display came to life and displayed a small, red-hooded bird. "Fletchling," it read across the top of the screen, "Tiny Robin Pokémon."
"They're so cute," affirmed Trevor.
"And they should be easy to catch," agreed James as he readied his Pokéball. As soon as he had finished speaking, a mighty screech came from above them, and a flaming bolt of claws and feathers plummeted toward them.