Hey, there, this my first time posting on the Pokemon fandom. The reason behind this story is Max has always been a favorite character of mine, and I've always wondered what his journey would be like. And so, unable to find a good enough story to quarrel my needs to know his story, I wrote my own story about him. I hope you like it. Please review. And now...
Prince of Hoenn
Chapter One: A Kipping Start
"Mom, I don't see why you're so worried," said recent turn ten years old, Max Maple, as he zipped up his backpack. It was early morning in Pedalburg city, and Max, like at kids when they turn ten, was preparing to leave home and go on a Pokémon journey. "You weren't this bad about May leaving."
"That's because I had a 7 soon-to-be trainer still at home. Only the time for him to leave came sooner than I hoped," replied his mother, Caroline, with a sigh. His older sister, May Maple, had left three years ago, with Max traveling with her though Hoenn, their home region, until she left to challenge Johto and then Kanto, and now Sinnoh as a Pokémon Coordinator.
"Mom, I'll be back tomorrow to stay one last night before I leave," Max reassured her, "I'm just going to bike to Littleroot Town on bike, spend the night in Oakdale, and come back here tomorrow, drop of my bike, and leave the next day. So this isn't our final goodbye. Plus I'm going to call often."
"I suppose that's a little better," Caroline said with a sad smile, "Just make sure you call tonight as soon as you check in for the night at the Pokémon center in Oakdale."
"Don't worry, mom, I will," and with that the young, new trainer placed his pack on his back and left his room, his mom closing the door behind him.
He stepped into the bathroom to do his hair. It had grown a little longer in the back in last couple of years to the point it was just above the neck, with his side hair going back behind his ears and joining the hair on the back of his head. His bangs were still worn in the same fashion, with them in front of his forehead and a bit to both sides. After finish his hair, he took a step back and examined his clothing: a solid dark green shirt cargo jeans, black and white running shoes, and hand gloves, the palm being dark green and the figures and wrist being black. He still wore glasses, though now they were a metal-wire style of frame. Nodding in approval, he headed down stairs.
His father, Norman, sat at the kitchen table reading the newspaper. Norman was the leader of the Pedalburg Gym, and specialized in normal type Pokémon. "Well, look at you, Max, already heading off on a journey of your own. Seems like just yesterday you were asking to follow May around Hoenn on her journey. Now you're ready to do it yourself," he said with pride in his voice.
He stood and walked over so he was standing in front of Max, "When you get the required number of badges to do so, just know I'm ready for a gym battle anytime."
"Definitely, you'll be my first stop as soon as I'm ready, and I'll going to win it," Max stated with determination.
"That's what I wanted to hear, Max. Now get going, you don't want to be late to meet with Professor Birch," Normal pointed towards the door, ruffled Max's hair, and then walked behind Max to the door.
Max went to his bike that was leaning up against the house, and got on. He gave one final shout and waved goodbye, and began towards Oakdale, and then to Littleroot Town.
Max had reach Oakdale just after noon, and was reached Littleroot Town by mid-afternoon. "Alright, now just to find Professor Birch's lab, not like that will be hard."
Littleroot was a small town with only several residences and shops. The most famous of the residences was Professor Birch, a Pokémon researcher who gave out starter Pokémon to beginning trainers. His lab was the largest building in town, so it wasn't hard to find for anyone. This was a good thing, as most new trainers usually have trouble finding labs.
Max pulled up to the lab, leaving his bike near the side of the building, and knocked on the door. A lab intern answered, "Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes," Max replied, "I'm here for Professor Birch. I'm supposed to be getting my starter Pokémon today."
The intern signed, "Oh, not again. You see the Professor isn't here right now. He's out of Route 101 doing research. You're welcome to come in and wait, or if you prefer, you may go out and search for him, and if you don't find him, return here to wait."
"Oh, okay," Max thought for a second then decided on, "I think I'll go out and look for him. If I don't, I'll just come back." Max then briskly walked to his bike, hopped on, and left in search of the professor.
"Professor! Professor! Professor Birch, are you here?!" called Max repeatedly. He had been searching for the professor for only fifteen minutes, but to a ten year old wanting his starter, it felt a lot longer. And just as he was about to call out again, he got his reply.
"Help! Over here! Please! I could really use soon assistance! H-help!"
Max raced over towards the voice, and after several minutes, found who he was looking for. Standing on a lower branch of a sturdy tree was P Professor Birch. A broad man with brown hair, a beard, and wore a dark shirt. Khaki shorts, running shoes, a white lab coat. Below him, clawing at the trunk of the tree was several zigzagoons.
"Hey, Professor Birch, are you okay?" Max yelled at him.
Birch turned to look in his direction, "Oh, hello, Max, I'm doing fine at the moment. I'm seemed to have gotten myself a bit of a predicament, though." He gave a nervous smile and places a hand on the back of his neck. "I could use your help. You came for you Pokémon, right?"
"Yeah, but what's that got to do with anything?" Max asked.
"Now's the perfect time to choose your Pokémon," said Birch, "See my bag over there?" He pointed to a tree a few yards from Max. Lying on the ground at the base of the tree was a brown messenger bag. Max set his bike on the ground, walked over to the bag and opened it. Inside were three stranded Pokeball. All three had a sticker on the front of it. The first had a small red and orange flame, the second had a small green leaf, the third had a blue rain drop.
"The Pokeball with the flame is Torchic, a fire type. The Pokeball with the leaf is Treecko, a grass type. The one with the rain drop is Mudkip, a water type," told Birch, "Chose your Pokémon."
"Right," Max reach down and pick up the Pokeball containing the one he wants for his partner, and, throwing the ball, called out, "Mudkip! I chose you!"
A light flashed, and a moment later, several feet in front of him, sat a
a small, blue, Pokémon with a large head, wide mouth, black, beady eyes and orange, star-shaped external gills on its cheeks, as well as a fin on the top of its head, a light-blue tail fin, and has a light-blue underside.
"Mudkip!" It yelled in high pitched voice. He looked at the zigzagoons clawing at the tree, looked up and spotted Birch stranded in said tree. He turned back towards Max, with a questioning look, and waited for a command.
"All right Mudkip, use... growl!" order Max, as he pointed at the Zigzagoons attacking the tree.
"Mudkip!" The Mud Fish yelled, and ran up to the Zigzagoons, gaining the attention of the Zigzagoons. Mudkip then promptly growled, all began to back away, except one that ran.
"Use growl once more," he yelled. A moment later, Mudkip growled at the Zigzagoons, and another ran, and the remaining three were weakened. Now he had all of theirs' attention.
"Good, now use tackle!" Mudkip took off and rammed into the first Zigzagoon, knocking it down, and then proceeded to do the same to the second and third. The second was knocked out and took off running as soon as it could. "Repeat tackle on them until they leave, Mudkip!" It only took one more tackle to get the third to leave, and two more, with Mudkip taking a bite attack as well, to get them to leave.
When the last of the Zigzagoons fled, Professor Birch climbed down from his tree. "Well, Max, that was some battling. Thanks for your help. And you too, Mudkip."
"It was nothing, Professor, glad to help," said Max modestly, grinning.
"Mudkip!" The small Pokémon called happily.
"Now come on, let's head back to my lab and finished what needs to be," said Birch, and with that the three headed back. Max picked up his bike and pushed it along beside him as they walked back.
"So Mudkip is your choice, correct?"
"Yes sir, I want Mudkip," answered the new trainer, now holding Mudkip in his arms against his chest.
"Alright then, you're all set," said Professor Birch turning from him computer he was typing on. He stood up, picking up several things. "Here's your Pokedex," he handed Max a curved rectangular device with a tilted silver Pokeball with a light blue dot in the middle of the left side of it, "and here's your Pokeballs, Mudkip's included along with five empty for future catches," he handed Max several small balls with the top half red, the bottom white, and a white dot in the center. "And here your badge case," handing him a silver rectangular case. "Now I believe that's it."
"Thanks so much, Professor Birch," said Max gleefully. Mudkip also gave a happy shout of his own.
"You're very welcome, Max. I look forward to seeing what you're capable of," Birch replied with a laugh. "Now, it's getting late, you're not going to try to be get back to Pedalburg tonight, are you?"
"No, I'm going to spend the night at Oakdale," answered Max.
"Well, then I guess you'll need to be off then if you want to get there before dark."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," said Max as he stuffed his Pokeballs in one pocket and his Pokedex in his other, and placed Mudkip's Pokeball on his belt.
Birch walked towards the door with Max following behind. He opened the door and stepped out, holding the door for Max. Max set his bike up, places Mudkip in the basket on the front of his bike, and got on.
"I guess this is goodbye for now, Professor Birch," said Max as he finished getting ready to leave.
"That it is, be sure to call me anytime, Max," said Birch nodding his head.
Max gave a small grin, "Goodbye then. I'll call you after I get my first badge. See you soon," And with that, the young trainer bike away with his Mudkip yelling back a goodbye as well.
Birch yelled back, "Goodbye for now, take care. I'm expecting great things from you Max," He waved until the boy was out of sight, and then said, barely above murmur, "very great things."
Thanks for reading, I hope you liked it. Please review. Also, if you any ideas for the story, it would be welcomed, I still need ideas for a villain or villains. Also, I plan to bring in Tori Lund, the main character from LaRouss City in the Pokemon Movie, "Destiny Deoxys". So, I think that it's it. Please review, and I'll see you soon.