Chapter 1 Serah and Andrew

Andrew increased his pace and soon he was basically running through the forest. He passed the trees at fast pace as he anticipated a sharp curve in his path. He jumped over a log and barely evaded a tree standing a little too close to the path. Andrew decreased his pace and anticipated a small bump into the road and landed his foot right on top of it using it as leverage for a quick leap forward. He laughed fondly at the feeling of going fast as he avoided another log. Just a little longer and he would be in Pallet Town.

Andrew has been in Pallet Town before, just like his father and Professor Oak was no stranger to him either. His father visited him often. Mostly just because his father were friends with the professor, but also to exchange Pokémon from one ranch to another and the transfer system wouldn't work.

He knew the way he had to walk to get to the professor's laboratory and so he did and did so in a steady pace. Soon he saw the famous windmill rotating above the equally as famous lab on the hill. He went up the stairs leading to the Professor's house and rang the doorbell. Andrew took a deep breath, while he waited for the Professor or one of his assistants to appear at the door. The door opened and it was indeed one of the assistants who answered. The nice man was tall, taller than Andrew's father, which says a lot. His hair was short and dark.

"Hello there," the friendly man answered. "Please come in, the professor is expecting you,"

"I know," Andrew answered.

"Professor!" the assistant called through the lab. "You have a visitor,"

"A visitor?" a raspy voice emerged from the room ahead. "Ah Andrew," the old professor said when he entered the hallway. "Tell me, Andrew, how is your father,"

"He is doing fine, professor," Andrew answered. "Busy as always,"

"Your father is happy when he is busy," the professor said calmly. "That's the way I've known him since he was younger than you and when he started his journey. I remember he rarely staid at one place for longer than three days and now he lives in Viridian for half his life,"

"Viridian City is a busy place, professor," the assistant butted in.

"It sure is," the professor confirmed. "Alright Andrew, time to go to matters why you've come here, your first Pokémon. I'm sure you're ready for it?"

"I am, professor,"

"Good, one should always be ready before starting a journey," the professor answered. "Have you given any thought on what Pokémon you want to start with?"

"I have, professor," Andrew said. "I wanted to start my journey with a Bulbasaur,"

"A Bulbasaur," the professor mumbled. "The Grass-type, an interesting choice. Many trainers choose Charmander or Squirtle, so I'm sure I have one. Follow me, please,"

The professor opened the glass door to his ranch. The professor's ranch was way larger than William's. While William's ranch was as big as a spacious backyard, this ranch had the range of a wide barn. The professor's ranch was beautiful and there were Pokémon everywhere. The professor entered the ranch through the glass door and Andrew and the assistant followed.

"Are all those Pokemon from trainers?" Andrew asked in curiosity.

"Most of them," Professor Oak said. "Some are wild,"

"How do you keep them apart?" Andrew asked.

"I don't know, I just do," the professor explained as he started to move toward a specific area of the range. "The Bulbasaur are this way,"

"There are more?"

"New trainers come every day," the professor told the young trainer. "I can't catch these Pokémon that fast, so I breed them. Let's say I learned the hard way not to settle for one specimen per species,"

"Yeah, that would be pretty stupid, I guess," Andrew said awkwardly.

"Heh, yeah," Oak said. After an awkward silence the two continued. "This is the well where the Bulbasaur reside," he said as they entered an open place with a small lake in the middle. "Some of them aren't ready for a journey though. Some are capable of attacking their own trainers. I still learn more every day, so I know when Pokémon are ready for their journey. Let me get one of the ready ones,"

"I'd recommend 2, 6 and 9, professor," the assistant advised the professor.

"I agree," the professor answered.

"You number them?" Andrew asked.

"Some trainers give their Pokémon nicknames. If we name them here and they get a different name out there they grow confused. We don't want that," Oak explained. "Let's see, number 2 is the oldest, the strongest and knows the best attacks, but he has grown quite the ego. He might be easy to train, but he might have trouble obeying a beginning trainer and a little rough to young Pokémon" he said as he pointed to one of the Bulbasaur. He just tackled one of the other Bulbasaur and smiled wickedly.

"Looks like Bart in disguise," Andrew commented.

"6 is the one over there," Oak pointed to another Bulbasaur, "He's a little shy, a little slow, but can take quite a hit,"

"Continue…" Andrew urged.

"9 is one of the younger ones," Oak said. "He's talented and probably loyal towards his future trainer, but he lacks experience and it could take a while until he evolves to Ivysaur, he also knows the fewest moves: Tackle, Growl and Vine Whip"

"I believe a trainer and a Pokémon should grow up together as a team," Andrew considered. "I'll take that one," he said as he shortly pointed towards Bulbasaur 9.

"You chose well," the professor smiled. "Philip,"

"At once, professor," Philip, the assistant apparently, approached 'Bulbasaur 9'. "Bulbasaur, it seems you have new trainer,"

The Bulbasaur smiled. Oak patted Andrew's back encouraging him to approach his new Pokémon. "Hey Bulbasaur, you want to be my first Pokémon? I'm sure you can get very strong with enough training,"

The grass Pokémon cried friendly.

"Here is his Poké Ball, Andrew," Philip said awarding Andrew the Poké Ball. "You know how it works,"

"I do," Andrew said. "Bulbasaur, return,"

The Poké Ball's beam reached Bulbasaur and absorbed him into it.

"Welcome to our new team, Bulbasaur,"

Andrew, Professor Oak and Philip returned to the lab. "Here are some Poké Balls," Philip said, "You also downloaded the Poké App?"

"Thanks and yes I did," Andrew said as he put the Poké Balls on his belt.

"Also, if there are any questions, you know what number to call," the professor continued.

"No problem, professor,"

"Well, I guess you're good to go," the professor said as he lead Andrew to the door.

"Thanks for everything, professor," Andrew said and waved, before making his way to Route 1.

Instead of running, like he did on his way to Pallet Town, he decided to take his time getting back to his hometown, Viridian City. After all, he just received his first Pokémon and although he has been warned that Bulbasaur wouldn't at his strongest at the moment, he felt more confident that he would be able to defend himself.

Suddenly he heard a noise, a movement.

"What's that? A Pokémon?" Andrew asked to no one in particular. He rested his hand on Bulbasaur's Poké Ball. The noise repeated, this time from behind Andrew. It was like something was moving between the bushes. Then it repeated again, only closer this time. "Come on out!" Andrew demanded, but there was no response except for another noise, again out of his sight. "Alright, Bulbasaur, I choose you!" Andrew yelled, summoning Bulbasaur from his Poké Ball. "Bulbasaur, use Growl!"

Bulbasaur took a deep breath and growled into the depths of the woods. There was a flock of Pidgey flying of dozens of meters away, but they were too far to be the source of those sounds. Suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Tag!" she called. Andrew turned around.

"You're no Pokémon," he pointed out. "You're a girl,"

"I know," the girl chimed. The dark blue haired girl was smiling friendly at the fresh Pokémon Trainer. "My name is Serah. What's your name?"

"It's Andrew," Andrew said, not moving a muscle.

"Well Andrew, I just tagged you, so you should battle me. It's a game!" she shouted in jubilee.

"Fine," Andrew said. "Bulbasaur, you're ready?" Bulbasaur cried affirmative.

"Alright," Serah said as she created distance between her and Andrew. "I'll choose Rattata!" she called as she hurled Rattata's Poké Ball forward. "You go first," she said excitedly.

"Rattata. Shouldn't be too difficult. A nice start," Andrew strategized. "Alright, Bulbasaur, use Tackle,"

"You too, Rattata!"

Bulbasaur and Rattata ran towards each other heads first and with a thud the two Pokémon made contact. Both Pokémon bounced back.

"Use Tail Whip," Serah said. Rattata violently wags its long tail in front of Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur looked at Rattata's tail anticipating its next move. "Now Tackle," Rattata quickly dashed forward smashing Bulbasaur with his head. Bulbasaur took quite a hit and was forced back a little.

"Vine Whip!" Andrew said.

"Dodge it," Serah responded. Bulbasaur released its vines and desperately tried to hit Rattata. Andrew encouraged Bulbasaur to hit his opponent, but as much Bulbasaur tried, Rattata was fast enough to maneuver between Bulbasaur's vines. "Now Tackle again!" Serah commanded again and with a new smack, Rattata landed another hit at Bulbasaur's skull. Bulbasaur cried out in pain. "Oooh, I'm gonna win! Gonna win!" Serah yelled in sheer excitement.

"Tackle it back, Bulbasaur!" Bulbasaur answered with a dash forward and caught Rattata off guard. The mouse Pokémon tumbled back, but got his composure back after a while.

"Finish it with Quick Attack, Rattata!" Serah commanded. Rattata quickly leaped towards Bulbasaur, who was struggling keeping it together.

"Dodge it!" Andrew yelled at the top of his lungs, but it was too late. Rattata hit Bulbasaur with a thud, causing Bulbasaur to fall backward and end up defeated on the grass. "Bulbasaur!" he yelped and ran to his Pokémon. "I'm sorry, Bulbasaur,"

"Bulba…" the Pokémon groaned.

"Don't worry," Serah said with a comforting smile on her face. "Many trainers lose their first battle. You two just need a little more experience. That's all,"

"I know," Andrew said solemnly, while returning Bulbasaur to his Poké Ball. "You're quite a good Pokémon Trainer,"

"Actually," Serah said. "I'm not a Pokémon Trainer,"

"But you just challenged me for a battle," Andrew answered in confusion. "That's what trainers do,"

"Well, I challenge trainers to watch their Pokémon," Serah said. "If the trainer has a Pokémon I haven't seen yet, I record it in my Poké App on my phone. This way I want to meet every Pokémon. My dream is to meet legendary Pokémon like Mew and Zapdos,"

"Sounds exciting," Andrew said quite. "I've got to go to Viridian City to heal my Bulbasaur," he continued and started to walk.

"Let me walk with you," Serah said. "You'll never know when you get attacked,"

"Fine with me," Andrew said. "So, any luck, yet?"

"Not really," Serah said. "Most trainers only have one Pokémon, a Squirtle, a Charmander or a Bulbasaur, sometimes they have a Pidgey or a Rattata, if I'm lucky, but so far I only have recorded five Pokémon,"

"So why don't you go to the Viridian Forest?"

"It's way too dangerous to go there alone," Serah explained.

"But you have a Rattata," Andrew said.

"Yes, but he's no match against hordes of Beedrill," Serah said. "So, I guess I have little choice than to stay in this area,"

"I see," Andrew said. "Well, Viridian City is over there," he pointed towards the city displayed on the horizon. "It won't be long before we reach the Pokémon Center,"

"Thank you for waiting," Nurse Joy said. "It took a while, but both Rattata and Bulbasaur are as good as new,"

"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Andrew said.

"Yes, thank you," Serah repeated.

The two took their Poké Balls from the desk.

"Don't worry, Bulbasaur," Andrew said towards the Poké Ball in his hands. "You'll get stronger. I promise,"