CHAPTER ONE: THE JOURNEY BEGINS
It was a clear, cool Spring day in the Sinnoh region. Twinleaf Town had been experiencing a perfect growth of new berries thanks to the great weather, and the hard work of people and Pokemon working together to get the job done.
A young man, twelve years old, shot up in his bed. His alarm clock was ringing on snooze, he was late and slept through the original alarm! That served him right for staying up late watching the news about rare Pokemon.
Fortunately he was finally allowed to go on a journey with a Pokemon after he was contacted by Professor Rowan to request to have a starter. His parents gifted him a red bicycle for his birthday to travel to Sandgem Town to meet with Professor Rowan, the resident Pokemon professor of the Sinnoh region. Professor Rowan was said to be an expert on the study of Pokemon evolution.
He pulled a white envelope out of his pocket that invited him to Professor Rowan's Lab. "Andrew Allen, you have been chosen as the recipient of one of three Pokemon to go on a journey." Andrew looked at his options: Piplup, the water penguin, Chimchar, the fire monkey, and Turtwig, the grass turtle.
It was a hard decision, but Andrew knew what Pokemon he wanted to choose. He had to have the Pokemon that would help him become Champion of all regions.
Andrew pumped his legs on his bicycle and managed to skirt around the tall grass where wild Pokemon were. It would be stupid to go in there without any Pokemon. Andrew didn't want to get himself killed!
It took around fifteen minutes for Andrew to bike through Route 201 to Sandgem Town. Sandgem Town was…well, like its name. It was a quaint little town, much like Twinleaf Town, except it was on the beach and had Professor Rowan's Pokemon Laboratory.
Andrew quickly set his bike down and ran into the lab. He was already late, due to the fact that he had overslept that morning.
"I'm here, sorry!" Andrew cried rushing through the door.
A young man with black hair looked at Andrew in disdain. His brown eyes were cold and calculated. He knew what his strategy was to be the best. All he had to do was beat bumbling idiots like this.
"Yes, well, thank you for finally arriving," Professor Rowan stated. He sounded slightly annoyed. Of course, this was to be expected as the Professor was constantly dealing with new trainers taking time away from his research.
"I'm really sorry," Andrew repeated. "I overslept, my parents are off sailing on the S.S. Aqua to Johto."
"Yeah, yeah, we get it," the young man rolled his eyes. "I don't know about you, but some people have things to do."
"Who are you?"
"I'm Nico."
"Andrew." He thought about extending his hand for a handshake, but decided against it.
"Now, since Nico arrived in time, it is only fair that he chooses the first Pokemon," Professor Rowan decided.
Nico smugly smiled. He walked over to the desk where the three starter Pokemon were.
"I know exactly who to pick," Nico stated. "Turtwig, I choose you!" He sent Turtwig out of the Poke Ball.
"You're the strongest, because of your hard shell," Nico said to Turtwig. Turtwig smiled at Nico as he patted him on the head.
"I don't know…" Andrew said. "All the types have a weakness."
"Did I ask for your opinion?"
"No, I just thought I would…you know what, never mind."
Nico turned to Professor Rowan. "Thank you for the Pokemon, Professor."
"You're welcome," Professor Rowan replied. He gave Nico five Poke balls.
"Take this Pokedex as well. I would like for my trainers to gather data on as many Pokemon as they can."
Nico nodded and walked outside the lab.
"Do you have a choice yet?" the Professor asked Andrew.
"Yes," Andrew nodded. "I choose Chimchar."
"A good choice," Professor Rowan noted. He handed five Poke balls to Andrew, who placed them in his blue bag.
Andrew released Chimchar, and the little guy jumped with joy. He was happy to have a trainer.
"So, how does a Pokedex work exactly?" Andrew asked.
"A Pokedex is a way for scientists to gather data on all of the known species of Pokemon. In Sinnoh, there are 203 Pokemon currently known to be in the Sinnoh region. Since every Pokemon is different, numerous amounts of data can be obtained from even a single species. This is why I entrust a Pokedex to each new trainer."
"Do they all have to come to Sandgem town?" Andrew wondered.
"No, no!" Professor Rowan shook his head. "Can you imagine if a new trainer was from Snowpoint City and had to travel all the way down here? No, I send my assistants all over the region in order to give a starter Pokemon to new trainers."
"Not all your assistants…" a young woman muttered under her breath. She was the cute girl that smiled at Andrew when he walked inside.
"I'm Andrew," he shook her hand.
"My name is Dawn Platinum-Pearl," she told him. "I'm Professor Rowan's assistant."
"Yeah, I got that from the lab coat," Andrew chuckled.
"Dawn, take Andrew to the Pokemart. He'll need a demonstration on how to catch a Pokemon, and you can teach him how to properly spend money."
"Great…" Dawn mumbled.
"Come on then," Dawn grabbed Andrew's arm and led him out of the lab. "Let's get on with it."
Dawn led Andrew into a Pokemart. She showed him all of the items that healed Pokemon: full heals, paralyze heals, antidotes, potions. Andrew decided to buy two potions, an antidote, a paralyze heal, and full heal. After all, one could never be too careful.
"It's too bad you didn't choose Piplup," Dawn said. "Piplup is my starter Pokemon."
"Eh, I was torn between Chimchar and Piplup."
"Alright, let's go catch a Pokemon," Dawn brought Andrew back to Route 201.
They walked into the tall grass, and a wild Bidoof appeared.
"Go Piplup!" Dawn sent out the blue penguin.
"Bubble!" A spray of bubbles emerged from Piplup's beak.
"You have to weaken the Pokemon first," Dawn explained. She threw a Poke ball. The Wild Bidoof went inside, and the Poke ball rolled around three times.
"It's even easier to catch Pokemon if they have a status ailment, like poison or paralysis."
"Good to know," Andrew said. "Thanks Dawn."
"Are you busy right now?" Andrew asked her.
"Not at the moment," Dawn shook her head.
"Alright, then let's go to Lake Verity," Andrew said. "I saw a news story about some rare Pokemon at a lake in another region. Wouldn't it be awesome if there was one here?"
"Yeah but…I really doubt there's anything there," Dawn said.
Andrew and Dawn walked to Lake Verity. It was a large lake with a cavern in the middle of it on a rocky island.
"Wonder what's in there."
"I have no idea."
Then the two saw a blue haired man staring intensely at the island. He mumbled to himself, "...The flowing time... The expanding space... I will make it all mine one day... Cyrus is my name. Remember it... Until then, sleep while you can, Pokémon of the lake bed..."
The blue-haired man walked past them quickly.
"That guy was weird," Andrew said.
"Yeah," Dawn agreed.
The two walked into the tall grass to try to get a better look at the lake. That was a mistake.
A flock of wild Starly jumped out of the tall grass.
Dawn's eyes widened in terror as they surrounded her.
"Go Chimchar! Use ember!" Small flames emitted from Chimchar's mouth, hitting the wild Starly. Most of them fainted, except for one of them that became burned.
Andrew threw a Poke ball at it. He waited in anticipation for the poke ball to roll. Finally, it rolled three times.
"Yeah!" Andrew exclaimed in excitement. "I caught a Starly!"
"And you saved my life," Dawn smiled at him. "Thank you."
"You know, we could make a pretty good team," Andrew said. "Plus, I heard it gets pretty lonely on a journey."
"Well, I could see if Professor Rowan allows it," Dawn replied. "But I should be able to, to gather more data for the Pokedex."
The two returned to the lab. Professor Rowan accepted Dawns request for a journey.
"Thank you Professor!" Dawn hugged her mentor. "I won't let you down."
"Yes, yes, just make sure this young man doesn't get into trouble and running late to everything."
Andrew and Dawn laughed. "Yes, Professor."
"Good luck," Professor Rowan told the two.
Andrew walked with Dawn onto Route 202.
"This is going to be so fun," Dawn smiled.
Andrew nodded. First he would go through Sinnoh League, then all of the other regions..