GOLD RESIDENCE

NEW BARK TOWN, JOHTO

Monday, September 1, 1989 PE

9:52 AM

Ninten Gold rolled out of bed, literally. The night before was pretty rough on him, but he was able to scrap together enough energy to get dressed.

He went downstairs to find his mother, Mrs. Gold, and two sisters finishing their breakfast; he was very late for his.

"You're finally awake," his mother noted.

"Told you he stayed up late again," the older, ruddy-haired girl told her younger, bluish-haired twin.

"Minnie, please," Ninten said "I don't want to talk about it." The boy looked at the food before him: his grits and bacon had gotten cold and his Apple Swirls had gone soft. It was just what he got for staying up until two o'clock bingeing the latest Mario game.

"Prof. Elm was here a little while ago," his mother told the mostly-awake boy. "He said he had a favor to ask of you."

Ninten raised his head.

"You know where his lab is, right?" his mother asked. "It's right next to the house."

"So much for breakfast," said Ninten, getting up.

"Do you have everything you need before you go out? Here." Ninten's mother handed the boy a backpack.

Thanking her, Ninten bolted out the door.

Minnie shook her head at the whole thing.

ELM LAB

NEW BARK TOWN, JOHTO

Monday, September 1, 1989 PE

9:54 AM

Prof. Elm's lab wasn't a very big place, but it was adequate for Pokémon research.

Elm was a bespectacled man in his upper thirties with golden-brown hair that puffed out at the temple. It is said that the man was the world's foremost expert in the fields of Pokémon evolution and breeding. However, pressing matters were keeping him from doing an errand, so he sent for his neighbor Ninten.

As he took a sip off coffee, the boy stepped into the lab. "Ah, Ninten, you made it," he said.

"You needed a favor, professor?" asked Ninten.

"I need you to pick something up from an acquaintance's house," Elm explained. "He's Mr. Pokémon and lives on the other side of Cherrygrove."

"His… name is Mr. Pokémon?" Ninten asked. It sounded like something a four-year-old would come up with.

"It's just a nickname," Elm explained. "He keeps finding weird things and raves about his discoveries. I just got an e-mail from him; he says that this time it's real. Could you pick it up for me? I'd do it myself, but I'm currently three days deep into an eBook I'm writing on Evolution Stones."

Ninten nodded, determined to see it through. "Done like dinner!" He made for the door just like at his house a minute ago.

"WAIT!"

Ninten stopped and turned around. Elm had a stern look on his face.

"Don't tell me you were going to rush through Route 29 without a Pokémon!" Elm said.

Ninten stopped and realized what he almost did. If he ran into a wild Weedle and got a Poison Sting to the chest, he'd be in big trouble. His family already owned a pet Growlithe, Mick, but getting his mother and sisters to let him take him on the errand would be a no-go.

Elm showed the boy a pedestal with three Poké Balls on it; the balls had an insignia on the red part of each: a flame, a raindrop, and a leaf. "I have three Pokémon here," said the scientist. "Choose the one you want to take with you."

Ninten thought for a minute, but couldn't decide. He closed his eyes, reached out and grabbed the first ball he touched. With a loud pop, the ball opened and out came a little, blue reptile with red eyes. It latched onto Ninten's leg and nuzzled him.

"So you have chosen Totodile?" said Elm. "Good choice."

"I think he likes me."

"As you know," Elm explained, taking another sip of coffee "Pokémon are carried in Poké Balls these days. Before Poké Balls were invented, people used to walk with them. The good thing about Poké Balls is that you can carry many Pokémon with you, but from my research has found that walking with Pokémon may have some advantages. Can you walk around with your Totodile for a while? I want to see what effects it would have on its growth and evolution."

"Well, if it helps with your studies, I'll do it," said Ninten.

"Great," said Elm. He directed Ninten's attention to what looked like a small tanning bed in the corner of the room. "If your Pokémon gets hurt, you can use this machine to heal it. It's operated by the PC at the desk."

"Thanks, Prof. Elm," said Ninten "I'll be back soon!"

"Ninten," said an aide just a few yards from the door. The man approached the boy and said "Your Pokémon is very weak at this point. Take these." Ninten was given five small, violet-and-white spray bottles with the label "Potion" on each one. "Don't hesitate to use them."

With that, Ninten was off. Mr. Pokémon was waiting for him to the north of Cherrygrove City.

Little did he know, somebody was looking in on Professor Elm's lab. Somebody with ill intentions.

NINTEN'S TEAM AS OF THIS POINT:

Totodile (M): L5