A/N: I do not own Pokemon. Really wish I did, but I just own the OC Kira. I tried to keep an even balance between the anime and something resembling real life.

Pokemon Adventures: Indigo League

Legend in the Making

Chapter 1

The big day had finally arrived. The sun rose over the small town of Pallet, waking up the Dodrio perched on top of the town center. As it's three cries rang through the air, the citizens of Pallet began starting their day.

One household was already awake. As the sunlight poured over the Oak Pokemon Preserve, Gary Oak walked into the kitchen of their family home. His twin sister, Kira, was already sitting at the table, a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her.

Kira glanced up as her brother walked in. "Breakfast is on the stove," she announced.

"Thanks."

"Couldn't sleep?"

Gary shook his head as he poured himself a glass of orange juice. "Nope. You?"

Kira shrugged. "Me, neither. I'm too excited."

"Tell me about it. I can't believe it's finally here," Gary said as he sat down.

Kira leaned back in her chair. "It's our big day, Gary. We're finally going to be real Pokemon Trainers."

Gary nodded. "I can't wait to start. I'm going to catch every Pokemon and collect all of the Gym Badges, then compete in the Pokemon League. After I win, I'll come back and help Grandpa with his research."

Kira held up her hands. "Slow down, big brother. It's okay to have big dreams, but why are you in such a hurry?"

"I'm just ready to get going. We've waited so long for this. Plus, there's this kid in town. He's claiming he's going to be the best Pokemon Trainer in the world. I want to show him what real talent looks like."

Kira rolled her eyes. Even though Gary was technically older than her since he was born a few minutes earlier, he often acted much younger than his seventeen years. "Seriously, Gary? How old are you, ten?" She shook her head. "What's his name?"

"Ash Ketchum. He's been going on for weeks about getting his first Pokemon today."

Once a year, three kids aged ten and up from the town came to the twins' grandfather, Professor Samuel Oak, to receive their first Pokemon. Gary and Kira had just turned seventeen. They had spent the last seven years studying Pokemon with their grandfather, who was one of the foremost Pokemon researchers in the world. They were finally starting their Pokemon journey today.

The twins' conversation was interrupted as their grandfather walked into the kitchen. "Good morning, kids. You're up early."

"Morning, Grandpa." Kira got up to give her grandfather a hug, then poured him a cup of coffee while he fixed a plate of food. "We were too excited to sleep."

Professor Oak sat down at the head of the table. "With good reason. You two have been training for this for years." He sipped the coffee Kira set next to his plate. "I just want you both to know I'm proud of you. You both have worked hard for this, and I know you're going to be excellent Trainers." He picked up his fork. "But let's not talk about your journey just now. Let's just enjoy breakfast together."

The three ate breakfast, enjoying one of the last times they would be together as a family before going their separate ways. Because Gary and Kira had been together since the day of their birth, they had decided to go on separate journeys, each at their own pace. Professor Oak would remain at his lab here in Pallet Town.

At nine o'clock, a young girl named May arrived to receive her license and Pokemon. Professor Oak waited for a few minutes, as though he was expecting someone else to show up, but no one else came. At ten minutes past nine, he led the three kids into his lab, where three Poke Balls waited on a pedestal. Professor Oak looked at the new Trainers. "Alright, we'll start with the oldest," he said, nodding to his grandson.

Gary stepped up to the pedestal. "It took me a long time to decide, Grandpa, but I'll take Squirtle." He picked up a Poke Ball and pressed the button. There was a brief flash of light, then a small blue turtle Pokemon appeared in front of him.

"Squirtle, squirt!" it said, looking up at Gary. He smiled at his Pokemon and pressed the button on the Poke Ball again. A red beam shot out of the Ball. As soon as it hit Squirtle, he dissolved into red light and disappeared into the Poke Ball.

Professor Oak looked at his granddaughter as Gary stepped aside. "Kira, you're next."

Kira stepped up. This was it. A moment seventeen years in the making. She was getting her first Pokemon that was entirely her own. Not her grandfather's. Not her brother's. Hers.

She looked at Professor Oak. "I didn't have to think about it. I've always known which one I wanted." She picked up a Poke Ball. "I choose Charmander."

She opened the Poke Ball. There was another flash of light, and a small orange dinosaur with a flaming tail appeared in front of her. Kira had always loved Fire-type Pokemon, and Charmander was one of her favorites.

"Charmander!" it said happily as it looked around. Kira knelt in front of him and held out her arms. The Charmander looked at her for a moment, then gave a happy cry and leapt into her arms. Kira laughed and hugged her new friend, then moved out of the way. While she got to know her new Pokemon, May met her first Pokemon, Bulbasaur, a Plant-type Pokemon. After giving the kids and Pokemon a few minutes to get acquainted, Professor Oak stepped forward and got their attention.

"Now that you all have your Pokemon, it's time to begin your Pokemon journey. Viridian City is less than a day's walk from here, and there are plenty of Pokemon between here and there that you can catch and learn about. Battling with wild Pokemon or other Trainers will make your Pokemon stronger, however, be careful not to wear out your Pokemon." He held up three red electronic devices. "These Pokedexs will help you along your journey. They will tell you about all of the Pokemon you meet, as well as give you advice from time to time. They also function as your Trainer Identification."

He handed a Pokedex to each kid, along with half a dozen empty Poke Balls. "You'll also need these. Poke Balls are available at just about any Pokemon shop. As you journey, you may find different types of Poke Balls are available in different cities. Some work better than others against certain Pokemon, so you'll have to learn what works best for you.

"Trainers can only use six Pokemon at a time in battle. When you've caught a seventh Pokemon, you can choose to send one back here. Using your Pokedex, you can choose to program your Poke Balls to automatically be teleported here. I'll take good care of any Pokemon you send me. You can exchange your Pokemon at any Pokemon Center, or with these white buttons here on your Pokedex." He held up another Pokedex and indicated the correct buttons. "Any questions?"

May held up a hand. "What if we choose to hang onto our new Pokemon?"

"You may carry as many Pokemon with you as you choose, however, according to League Rules, you can only use a maximum of six Pokemon in an official Trainer battle. Gym battles have their own unique sets of rules set by the Gym Leader, so you may find yourself fighting with fewer Pokemon. Any other questions?"

The kids didn't have any more questions, so May went home to get ready for her journey. Gary and Kira brought their gear down to the kitchen and began packing. It was going to be a long journey, so they had to make sure to bring the right equipment while still keeping their packs fairly light. Gary was in a hurry, as usual, so as soon as he was ready, he said goodbye to his sister and grandfather and left.

Kira was still packing, her things spread out on the kitchen table. Professor Oak came over to help her. He loved both of his grandchildren, but Kira had always been special to him, although he'd never admit out loud that she was his favorite. "Now you're sure you've got everything?"

Kira nodded and opened her bag to start putting things in. "I think so."

"Sleeping bag?"

"Right here." Kira strapped the sleeping bag to the bottom of the pack.

"Extra clothes?"

Kira tucked a bundle of clothes in the bottom of the bag. "Check."

"Food and water?"

A small insulated pack of food went into the backpack, followed by a pack of Pokemon food. "Got 'em," she said as she clipped a small canteen to the side of the pack.

"Flashlight? Map? Rope?"

Kira slipped the items into the pockets on the outside of the pack. "Check, check, and check."

Professor Oak thought for a moment. "A jacket?"

"Wrapped around my sleeping bag." Kira patted the bundle.

"And you have your Pokedex and Poke Balls, right?"

Kira lifted the bottom of her shirt enough to show the Poke Balls clipped to her belt. "Yup. I have extra Poke Balls in my bag, and my Pokedex is in my back pocket." She dropped a travel mug, some utensils, and a tiny pot and pan into the bag, then tucked a marker, some small labels, and a pocket knife into the outer pockets. Professor Oak handed her a small first aid kit. Kira tucked it in the pack, then closed the bag.

She turned to her grandfather. "I think that's everything."

Professor Oak gathered her in his arms. "You be careful out there, Kar-Bear," he said, using his pet name for her.

"I will, Grandpa."

"And call me when you get to Viridian City."

"I will."

"And don't forget, if you need more Poke Balls or potions, call me and I'll send some."

"I'll remember, Grandpa."

He held her at arms' length. "I'm so proud of you, Kira. I know you'll be a success."

Kira stood a little straighter. "Thank you, Grandpa. I'll do my best."

"I know you will, dear. I love you."

"I love you, too, Grandpa."

Professor Oak followed her out to the end of the driveway, where a small crowd was gathered. Gary was just leaving. He waved from his place in the back of a red convertible, and the crowd followed him as he rode away, leaving Professor Oak, Kira, and a young boy.

Kira glanced at the boy. He was about ten years old, with black hair and brown eyes. He was still dressed in his pajamas. As soon as he saw Professor Oak, he ran and stood eagerly in front of him. "Professor Oak! Where's my Pokemon?"

This must be Ash, Kira thought. He didn't look like much. He hadn't shown up to get a Pokemon that morning, even though he supposedly really wanted one. If he wanted one that badly, he should have been on time that morning. Still, Kira hoped her grandfather would be able to help him.

Kira waved goodbye to her grandfather and walked down the main road, putting Ash out of her mind. Soon, she had left Pallet Town behind and entered a meadow. After a few minutes, she stopped and took out Charmander's Poke Ball. She pressed the button and released him. Charmander appeared in front of her, looking around and blinking in the bright sunlight. He spied Kira and cried happily as he jumped up and down.

Kira laughed and knelt in front of him. Years of working with Pokemon had taught her to understand them pretty well. "I'm happy to see you, too, buddy. You wanna stay out here and walk with me for a while?"

"Charmander, char?"

"We're going to see if we can find some new friends. Ready?"

"Char!" Charmander jumped around in a circle, then fell into step beside Kira. The pair had been walking for about an hour, Charmander happily hopping alongside his Trainer, when suddenly he stopped and stood still.

Kira turned and watched him. "What is it? Do you hear something?"

Charmander nodded. He was staring at the brush along the side of the road. Kira noticed the branches moving, although there was no wind. Charmander moved to stand in front of her as the rustling continued. A minute later, a Rattata hopped out of the bush. It spotted Kira and Charmander and turned to run.

Kira wasn't going to miss this opportunity. "Charmander, stop it! Use Ember!"

Charmander instantly went into action. He ran forward and waved his tail, sprinkling burning embers in front of Rattata, cutting off its escape. Rattata turned around, clearly confused. It bared its teeth and growled at Charmander.

"Weaken it with Tackle!"

Charmander ran toward the Rattata. Rattata tried to bite him, but he avoided the attack and hit the rodent with his shoulder, throwing Rattata off its feet. Rattata flipped a couple of times, then lay there, dazed.

Kira pulled a Poke Ball off of her belt and threw it. The ball sailed through the air and hit Rattata on the shoulder. Rattata instantly dissolved into red light and was pulled into the Poke Ball. The ball fell to the ground and sat wiggling as the Pokemon inside tried to get out. After a tense minute, the ball stopped moving and the button glowed red, showing her successful capture of Rattata.

"Yes!" Kira shouted. She had caught her first Pokemon! She ran over and picked up the ball, then turned and showed it to Charmander. "Charmander, you did it! That was awesome!" Charmander jumped up and down, mirroring her excitement.

Kira sat down under a tree. "Let's meet our new friend, huh?" Charmander settled down a little and stood next to her. Kira pressed the button on the Poke Ball and watched as Rattata appeared in front of her.

Rattata looked around in confusion. He turned around a couple of times, trying to get his bearings. Kira leaned forward and picked him up. Rattata squirmed and tried to get away, but Kira gently stroked and petted him, slowly calming him down. Once he stopped wriggling, she settled him in her lap.

Rattata sat calmly for a moment, then he noticed Charmander. He squealed and started scratching at Kira's arms, trying to get away. Kira managed to hold onto him with one hand and fished out Charmander's Poke Ball with the other. "Charmander, you'd better go back in your ball. Rattata is still scared of you."

Charmander's shoulders drooped, but he nodded and stood still as Kira pressed the button. Once he was out of sight, she loosened her hold on Rattata. "Is that better, buddy?" Rattata calmed down again now that his opponent was gone. Kira reached into her bag and took out some Pokemon food. "Here you go. I bet your hungry after that."

As Rattata ate, Kira reached into her backpack and took out a bottle of Super potion. The spray medicine would sting a little, so she sprayed it on her fingers, then gently rubbed it into Rattata's scratches. Once she was finished tending the Pokemon, she put him on the ground in front of her. "Okay, I'm going to bring Charmander back out now, but you don't have to be afraid of him. He wants to be your friend just like I do. Understand?"

Rattata stared at her for a moment, then squealed and nodded. Kira opened the Poke Ball. With a flash, Charmander appeared next to Rattata. Immediately, Charmander started jumping around. Rattata started squealing and backing away.

"Charmander," Kira said sternly. "You're scaring him again."

Charmander stopped jumping and looked at Rattata. Both Pokemon stared at each other for several moments, then Charmander slowly reached out a hand. Rattata looked at it, then back at Kira. Kira nodded to encourage him, and after a minute, Rattata pushed his head against Charmander's hand. Charmander took that as encouragement, and started jumping around again, excited that Rattata seemed to accept him.

His exuberance caused Rattata to start edging away again. Kira laughed and patted his head. "Yeah, he takes a little getting used to." She looked up as a flock of Pidgey flew overhead and landed nearby. "You think you're ready for a battle, Rattata?"

Rattata squealed and shook his head before turning and hiding in Kira's backpack. "We're going to have to work on that." She turned to Charmander. "What about you? Think you can take on a Pidgey?"

"Charmander!" The little dinosaur jumped eagerly in place.

Kira sighed. "You are way too energetic. I swear, we could probably power Grandpa's entire lab on you alone." She stood up. "Okay, let's go. Rattata," she turned to her wiggling backpack, "why don't you stay here and watch my bag? We'll be back in a few minutes."

Rattata poked his head out of the bag and squealed. Kira took that as a yes and started walking toward the flock of Pidgey. Charmander crept along beside her. When they got close enough, Kira peeked through the brush.

The Pidgey were calmly pecking at the ground. None of them were really paying attention to their surroundings. "Okay," Kira whispered, "now, we're not trying to get all of them. Just single out one, and bring it down long enough for me to capture it. Got it?"

Charmander nodded. "Char," he said quietly.

"Go ahead. But be careful."

Charmander jumped out of the brush and charged into the flock. The startled Pidgey squawked and called out as they started taking to the air. Several of them started kicking up sand and blowing it around with their Gust attacks. Soon, Kira couldn't see a thing through the cloud of dust and bird feathers. She could hear Charmander and the Pidgey fighting, but she couldn't tell if her Pokemon was alright.

Just as she was about to charge in to help, a column of fire shot out of the cloud. The Pidgey scattered, and the dust began to settle. As their angry cries faded into the distance, Kira looked around for Charmander. After a minute, she saw him sprawled on the ground.

"Charmander!" As she ran toward him, she noticed that he appeared to be struggling. When she got closer, she saw feathers sticking out from under him. He was laying on top of a Pidgey to keep it from flying away. Kira pulled out a Poke Ball. "Get ready, buddy! Now!"

At her command, Charmander jumped off of the Pidgey. As it rose into the air, Kira threw the Poke Ball. It hit Pidgey and opened, pulling it inside. As it fell to the ground, Kira knelt next to Charmander and watched the ball twitch. Another intense minute later, the button glowed and the ball stood still.

"Yes! Got him!" She picked up the Poke Ball and turned to Charmander. "You okay, buddy?"

Charmander was scratched up from the Pidgey's talons, but nodded anyway. "Mander."

"Let's go back to Rattata. I'll take care of your scratches and get you all some food and rest." She picked up Charmander and started walking back.

They got back to the spot where they'd left the backpack. As Kira set Charmander down, she saw Rattata's tail poking out of the bag. "Some guard you are, scaredy-mouse," she muttered. She sat down and pulled the bag toward her. Rattata squealed and tried to burrow further into the bag, but Kira pulled him out by his tail and took out the bottle of Super potion. "Okay, Charmander, you first."

Charmander obediently hopped over and sat in front of her. Kira sprayed the potion on his scratches and gently rubbed it in. While she worked, she said, "You used Flamethrower back there, didn't you?"

Charmander nodded. "Char, Charmander."

"Now that you've done it once, you think you'll be able to do it again?"

"Char."

"Well, you'll get plenty of practice before we get to Viridian City."

"Char?"

"Yup. There are plenty of Pokemon and plenty of daylight." She put down the Super potion." Okay, you're done. Now let's see if our new friend needs any." She picked up Pidgey's Poke Ball and pressed the button. The small bird appeared in front of her, cooing and standing proudly.

Kira reached out to touch him, but Pidgey back away. Charmander and Rattata sat and watched as she reached into her bag again and took out the bag of Pokemon food. She placed a handful in front of each of them, then held some in her hand and turned to Pidgey. "If you want some, come and get it."

Pidgey hesitated, but he was tired and hungry after the battle. He stepped just close enough to peck some food from Kira's hand, then backed away again. He repeated the motions several times, until Kira finally grabbed him when he came close enough. He kicked at her, but she pinned his wings down, keeping him from getting away.

"Oh, will you calm down? I just want to see if you need medicine," she said, holding him like a chicken. Her arms were getting scratched up from his talons, but she kept her grip. After several minutes of struggling, Pidgey realized he wasn't going anywhere and started to calm down.

"That's better." She quickly ran her hands over Pidgey's feathers, but found no injuries. She took out another small handful of food and held it in front of him. "Here."

Pidgey hesitantly pecked at the food, and Kira let her mind wander as she looked around. She was only a few miles from Pallet Town, and it was already after noon. She wondered where her brother was and how many Pokemon he'd caught. Knowing Gary and how much of a hurry he was in, he was probably already in Viridian City. She missed him already, but part of her also couldn't help feeling competitive.

A soft tickling on her hand jerked her attention back. Rattata had crept up and was trying to sneak Pidgey's food out of her hand. "You're not a rat, you're a pig," she said with a smile as she pushed him away. "You've already had enough. In fact, we should get going." She put Pidgey down and took out the Poke Balls. "Hmm. Charmander has already fought a couple of battles, so he could use a rest. Who's next?"

Pidgey stepped forward and cooed. Kira smiled. "Thanks for volunteering, Pidgey." She returned the other two Pokemon to their balls and picked up her backpack. "Let's go."

Pidgey flew into the air and settled on her shoulder, making Kira feel like a pirate as she got back on the road. For the rest of the day, she rotated her Pokemon every couple of battles. She ran into several more Rattata and Pidgey, as well as a couple of Pidgeotto, and managed to capture a Mankey and a Sandshrew along the way. Her Pokemon grew stronger and better with each battle. Charmander was still her favorite, but all four of the new ones had already carved out their own places in her heart.