Grace pushed her hair back as she studied the Koah region map. She traced her finger along the route she would go...on her Pokemon journey. Eyes gleaming proudly, she glanced at her Polywhirl clock. It was 5:50. In just ten minutes she would go to Professor Gold's lab to choose her starter Pokemon.
I hope there isn't a crowd, Grace thought fretfully. Glancing out the window, she saw that the Prof.'s lab was completely deserted. Good, thought Grace. It was helpful to have a Pokemon lab right next door.
She turned back to the map. She put one finger on Bronze town, and then traced it to Flaghandle City. That's a long way, Grace thought worriedly. But I'll make it.
She glanced at the Polywhirl clock again. 5:55. She'd better be the first in line to get her Pokemon!
Stuffing her map in her backpack, Grace swung it over her shoulder. She marched out of the house with an excited gait.
Skipping down the roadside, she whistled merrily. Today! Today was the day!
There she stood, at the sliding glass doors of the Prof.'s lab. She briefly went over in her mind what Pokemon she would choose.
-()-
There were three choices; Charmander, Chikorita, and Mudkip. She had asked and tallied people's answer's when she asked them about her decision. Most of them had answered immediately-Charmander. They claimed fire-type Pokemon were the best way to go. Then Grace asked them about Mudkip and Chikorita. Mudkip, they answered, was a so-so Pokemon, and they didn't really recommend it. Chikorita, on the other hand, was just plain weak- according to them.
After thinking about it for a long while, Grace had decided on what she thought was the best way to go-Chikorita. She had no idea what drew her to this decision, but she was sure this was the...right thing to do.
-()-
Grace's thoughts were interrupted by the sliding of the glass doors. Prof. Gold appeared. "Well, well, aren't we the early bird?" he said, smiling, his gold mustache curling.
Professor Gold, by his full title, was a skinny, middle-aged man with gold hair and a gold mustache. Gesturing for Grace to come in, he and the 10-year-old girl walked among the latest and greatest technology to reach the glass dome on the table, with three Pokeballs safely encased in it. Excitement pulsed through Grace. Now, she thought, now is the time for me to choose my Pokemon and start my journey! The glass dome parted and now Grace could see the names of the Pokemon engraved in a tablet beside them. Charmander...Mudkip...Chikorita. She stole a glance at Prof. Gold. He nodded. Swallowing, Grace put her trembling hand on the Pokeball that had the name Chikorita engraved on the tablet beside it. It felt good in her hand...like it belonged there. Raising it up above her head, grace declared, "Chikorita! I choose you!"