Hey guys I wrote a little earlier than I expected. I really needed a break from studying and I only have one exam left, which is on Monday, so I decided to post this new story's first chapter. This is a fanfic with completely original characters. I just wanted to try this out so let me know what you think in the reviews.

Chapter 1

Gaz was jolted awake by his screeching alarm. He groaned from the rude awakening and reached blindly in an attempt to halt the piercing sound. After a half minute of difficulty, he finally managed to turn it off.

"Finally." He muttered. He rolled over looking to once again veer off into sleep but bashed his elbow into the wall his bed was pushed against.

"Son of a-" He shouted, sitting up quickly and trying to stop the shocks shooting up his arm by stretching. He was well and truly awake now. He glanced at his clock and realised he was running a bit took him a minute to remember why today was so special.

"Oh crap, I almost forgot." He exclaimed. Today was the day. The day he and his friends have been waiting for for the last number of years.

It was the day they got their first Pokémon.

Gaz jumped out of the bed and pulled open the curtains. He glanced out the window and took in the peaceful and tranquil sights of Nuvema Town. The smallest town in Unova had developed over the years.

Gaz got dressed, quickly ate his breakfast and made his way into the bathroom. He looked into the mirror. He had jet black hair with the top combed over to the right and the back and sides shaved and faded. He had bright green eyes with traces of brown mixed in. He wore a tight, black, sleeveless shirt and black shorts. At 6'3 he was considered fairly tall.

Once he had everything taken care of, he put on his light blue trainers and exited his home.

Gaz strolled through his hometown taking in its surroundings. The town had changed a lot over the years. Gaz's house was situated right beside the Nuvema Port. Other than that, the town really expanded. There were many reasons for this. For one, the age that one could recieve their full Pokémon trainer license was pushed back from 10 to 18. Initially, this caused outrage within the public. Kids were devastated to find out they had to wait an extra 8 years to get their first Pokémon. It was a good policy though, as it was for the childrens safety. The idea of sending a 10 year old out into a world filled with potential dangers was kind of crazy.

So now, people tried to make up for the extra 8 years. The way done in Nuvemea Town took inspiration from an area in Kanto. Though they had a Pokémon Tech, Nuvema had a Presentation Pokémon School.

The schools function was to educate the students on all things Pokémon and non-Pokémon in order to get them ready for their adventures. Their were many diferent paths the scholl gave classes on. Training, Co-Ordinators, Breeders, Musicals, Conisseurs etc. One must take all classes for the first 4 years, then only your 2 preffered classes for the remaining years.

The school is situated right beside Professor Juniper's Laboratory. She sometimes comes in to give talks about different Pokémon and their abilities.

Gaz was on his way to said school when he heard a familiar voice call:

"Gaz, hold up."

He turned and smiled at the girl running quickly towards him. She finally caught up to him.

"You're late." She said between deep breaths.

"Yet you had to sprint to catch up to me. What does that make you?" Gaz asked.

"Fashionably late."

"What makes you fashionably late and me just late?"

She made a gesture that suggested. "Look at me and then look at you."

Gaz couldn't help but laugh. He took a good look at the girl. She was one of his best friends. Aoife Steel, a beautiful girl with flowing blonde hair and sparkling blue eyes. She was about 5'7 and wore a white blouse along with a short black skirt. Ever since they were kids, the 2 have been near inseperable.

"So, are you excited?" Aoife asked with a huge smile on her face.

"Definitely." Gaz replied. "Do you know who you're going to choose as your starter?"

"No." She answered. "It's such a tough decision. I mean, there are 18 to choose from."

"I know, that complicated things." Gaz told her.

In an effort to further exposure of other regions and allowing for the amount of students at the Academy, the graduating class now have a choice between all 18 different starters from all six regions. It's great in one way as it provides more variety but it makes the decision of who to pick a lot more thought-provoking.

"I mean they are all so adorable." Aoife said with her eyes glistening. She was imagining all the different traveling scenarios she would take part in along side her cute, new Pokémon.

"Well no-one can doubt your enthusiasm anyway." Gaz told her.

"What about you Gaz, did you decide which one you'll pick?" Aoife inquired.

"I've given it a lot of thought but I still don't know. I've narrowed it down to a few but picking one of them is the difficult part."

"Which ones are you considering?" Aoife asked.

"Squirtle, Torchic, Snivy and Froakie." Gaz listed.

"Not Charmander?" Aoife exclaimed, she was shocked that Gaz wasn't even considering the Kanto Fire Starter. "But it seems like every other boy in our year are adamant that they are getting Charmander!"

"I know, that's why I don't." Gaz admitted. "All of them aren't going to choose Charmander anyway. Most of them are just way too obsessed with how Charizard looks." This got a giggle out of Aoife. Both of them knowing full well how defensive people get if you make one derogatory remark about the Fire/Flying Type.

"I just don't want to be grouped with them." Gaz continued. "I want to be unique, you know? Stand out from the rest."

"Wow, that's deep." Aoife joked.

"Shut up." Gaz responded playfully.

After the 2 finished laughing, Gaz decided to turn the tables.

"So have you narrowed it down at all?" Gaz asked Aoife.

"Yeah, a bit." She responded. "I'm torn between Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Chimchar, Oshawott and Fennekin."

"Got a thing for Fire Types yourself, huh?" Gaz noticed.

"What can I say? They're hot and so am I." She joked.

"Did you really just say that?" Gaz asked incrediously, although with a smile at his best friends antics.

"Didn't disagree though did you?" She said with a wink.

"Yeah, because I'm that stupid. God knows what you'll do to me if I called you ugly." Although he had to admit, he didn't disagree with her.

"Well, you could guarantee that it won't be pretty." Aoife assured him.

Gaz was about to open his mouth for a smart retort when he was interrupted.

"And if you say "like you" I swear to god you won't live to choose your first Pokémon."

"You know me too well." Gaz commended as the 2 turned the corner and the school came into view.

"Well, here we are." Aoife commented as both her and Gaz stood outside the front gates of the school."

"Was there really any need to say that?" Gaz questioned. "I mean we've been coming here every day for the past 8 years."

"Shut up and stay walking." Aoife said, annoyed.

"Yes ma'am." Gaz replied jokingly.

The 2 began to walk toward the front yard when they heard a shout.

"Gaz, Aoife, hold on."

Gaz turned and saw his other best friend.

Seán Bledsoe, a 5'10 boy with brown hair and blue eyes. He wore a white zipped hoodie with black jeans and trainers. Gaz and Seán went way back. Best friends since they were toddlers, the 2 had a sturdy friendship/rivalry going on. There was a sense of competition between them during anything they did. Any sport, anything Pokémon, grades etc.

Though Gaz had to admit, Seán always seemed to have his number.

"So, are you guys ready?" Seán asked when he caught up to the duo.

"You know it." Aoife replied.

"Made a decision yet?" Seán asked the 2.

"Kind of." Aoife told him.

"Not exactly." Gaz answered.

"I should have already known. I've known you all my life and you've never been prepared Gaz." Seán joked.

"And you have?" Gaz asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Of course." Seán told him. "I already know who I'll be choosing as my starter too."

"Really? Who?" Aoife asked curiously.

"You'll see when the time comes." Seán explained with a wink. "I'll be first to choose anyway, since I'm top of the year."

"The rankings haven't been decided yet." Aoife mused.

"Come on, you know I'm number 1." Seán said confidently.

"Hey it's still pretty open at the moment." Gaz commented.

"Whatever." Seán said. "Shall we go in, school is going to start in a minute."

The 3 walked in and continually joked and laughed until they walked through the front door. The long, clean hallways that led to the various different rooms were packed with students. The 3 graduating students made their way through the mass hoarde towards the senior year area.

Gaz, Seán and Aoife began to socialise with the other students in their year. This was the last day they would be spending together before going on their seperate paths. Many people in the group were emotional, but there was also an air of tension in the room. Only 30 people out of the 68 students will be eligible to receive their traveling licence and be able to go on a Pokémon journey. There were other career prospects of course, but at the top of nearly everyones list is to get their starter today and begin their journey. Add that to the slemn feeling already in the room due to the fact everyone has to say goodbye and it is a less than joyful feeling.

Gaz walked over to one of the other students he got on quite well with.

"So, how are you feeling ahead of this?" Gaz asked him.

His name was Liam Galloway. He and Gaz had alwas got on, though they appear to be opposites. Liam was vey charismatic and felt almost no shame where as Gaz was quiet and occasionally awkward.

"I'm nervous but I think I may have made the cut." Liam told him.

"I say you did. You've been near top of the class all along." Gaz believed.

Liam had black hair and dark blue eyes. He was the type of guy all the girls loved.

"You 2 ready for this, because I'm not." Came another voice.

Both Gaz and Liam turned to see another male walking toward them. He had blonde, curly hair and green eyes. His name is Andrew Kennedy.

"Why are you worried?" Liam asked. "You'll surely be in the top 30."

"I'm not so sure to be honest." Andrew said, he was clearly worried.

"Relax, you'll be fine." Gaz told him.

"I'm not like you Gaz, you just seem to be able to do anything when it comed to Pokémon." Andrew praised.

"Top 30 though. That's a tall order, I'm not sure if I can make it." Gaz admitted.

Just then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned and saw it was Aoife.

"You will." She said with confidence. "And now we'll find out for sure."

Gaz looked up to where Aoife was currntly looking. On a raised platform stood the Headmaster of the institute, Gerry Wallace. He was a quite short man with white hair and was wearing a fancy suit.

This was the moment they found out if they were worthy to receive their first Pokémon.

"This is it." Gaz declared.

"Moment of truth." Seán added.

The 2 looked at each other and nodded to say good luck. Neither of them wanted to go on to the next stage of life without their lifelong friend.

Aoife gave a Gaz a quick squeeze of his hand.

"Good luck." He whispered back.

"You too." She responded with a smile, she did not let go of his hand however. Gaz knew she just needed someone to steady her nerves and not to make too big a deal out of it.

Mr. Wallace started talking.

"Well boys and girls we have finally reached this day." He said. "The day the last 8 years led up to. You have been such a fantastic group."

Apparently he says that to every year group so there was no real pride felt.

"Unfortunately, only 30 of you can receive Pokémon today." Mr. Wallace continued. "But you should know that your journey is not over. There is many different paths you can take and if you don't get a Pokémon today, you almost certainly will get one in the future."

Nobody wanted to be in that scenario though. Everyone wanted a Pokémon today and to start their journey as soon as possible.

The nerves have fully hit Gaz now. He had a huge lump in his throat and was pretty sure his palms are sweating. Probably causing Aoife some repulsion.

It was either his or her hand sweating he wasn't entirely sure.

"So without any further adieu." Mr. Wallace continued, immediately getting Gaz's attention. "Taking into acount your performances in the 4 different classes. Training/Battling, Co-Ordinating, Breeding and Musicals, here is the overall Top 30 in the year."

Gaz looked up behind the headmaster to see the blank, white screen light up with the 30 name with pictures beside them. He felt Aoife's hand squeeze tighter.

Gaz's eyes widened at the results.

Sorry to leave it on a cliff hanger lads. Please review and I'll update this and my other stories sometime after Monday.