A/N: So this is my first time tackling a Pokémon story and I decided to base it on the Fire Red and Leaf Green games. I hope you enjoy it!
Summary: Finally she was 16 and could get her very first Pokemon. Along with her good friend Red and her rival Gary, Leaf travels around Kanto, battling gym leaders, Red and Gary, Trainers and Team Rocket. She soon discovers how deadly the world can be, how friendships can be dissolved over a single battle and things about herself she never knew. Including falling for her asshole of a rival. OldRivalShipping, one-sided BurningLeafShipping
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
The sun was shining in a beautiful morning in Pallet Town. The Pidgey's were chirping and all was peaceful. In one of the houses that was home to some of the residents of this sleepy little town near the ocean was sixteen year old Leaf Green. Opening her forest green eyes, she suddenly shot up from her bed in excitement. "Today's the day!" She squealed, running towards the window of her bedroom and opening it.
Looking out of her window, the teenager saw the familiar sights of her beloved little town. There were kids playing with a soccer ball, her mother's garden, Professor Oak's world famous lab, the house of her best friend, Red, the ocean...
Leaf sighed as she continued to gaze out of the window, the light breeze coming down from Mt. Silver ruffling her light brown hair which reached her mid back in length. Today was the day that she was finally going to go on her own journey, traveling across the Kanto region with her very own Pokémon! The young woman was so excited, she had been waiting for so long to finally have her own Pokémon. Now the day was finally here!
"Leaf! Are you up?" Her mother's familiar voice echoed through the house.
"Coming!" Leaf replied as she skipped down the stairs, still in her pyjamas: An oversized shirt and some shorts underneath.
"Good morning, sweetie, did you sleep well?" Leaf's mother asked as she turned around once she heard her daughter coming down the stairs.
"Sure did!" Leaf nodded heading towards the kitchen in search for some food. But before she could do anything, an orange, white and black blur barrelled into her. "Whoa! Hey there Growlithe!" She laughed as the puppy like Pokémon licked her hand in excitement. Growlithe was her mother's Pokémon that was incredibly loyal to both her and Leaf.
"Well someone is excited to see you." Her mother laughed as Leaf picked up the fire type and cuddled it.
"Why can't he sleep in my room?" Leaf looked up at her mother, pouting slightly before giggling as Growlithe licked her face.
"Because you know he'll rip up your pillows." Her mom replied as she looked at her daughter fondly. "Alright Growlithe, let Leaf eat, she's got a big day today." Growlithe yapped in excitement before jumping out of Leaf's arms and running outside, clearly wanting to play.
"Cutie." Leaf smiled affectionately after the Pokémon before grabbing some toast. "But I still don't know if I want a Fire type to be my first Pokémon." She admitted, taking a bite.
"Why's that?" Her mom asked.
"One word: Red." Leaf said simply and her mother laughed and nodded. She knew that her daughter's best friend had been wanting a fire type to be his first Pokémon for all of his life. "Speaking of which…" Leaf added as she heard the doorbell ring. Looking down, she realised what she was wearing and her green eyes widened considerably. "Crap! Mom can you keep Red busy for five minutes!" She yelled as she ran upstairs to get dressed while Growlithe came tearing in from outside, yapping at the door.
"Sure honey." Her mom chuckled and answered the door. "Hey Red! Come on in!" A friendly smile came to her face as the teenager stepped inside.
"Thanks Ms Green." Red replied politely. Red was a quiet young man, just a year older than Leaf with dark messy brown hair and fiery red eyes that were his trademark. He smiled faintly as he said hello to Growlithe who was demanding pats.
"Oh Red, how many times have I told you to call me Jen." Leaf's mother smiled. She really did like Red, he had taken Leaf under his wing and taught her all she knew about Pokémon. And she was certain that he had a bit of a crush on her daughter.
"Sorry Ms Green… I mean Jen… it's a habit." Red replied. "Is Leaf awake?" He asked.
"I'm here!" Leaf skidded to a halt at the top of the stairs in a blue tank top, red mini skirt, blue slightly scrunched socks with white shoes and a white hat with a Pokéball symbol on the front. "Hey Red!" A bright smile came to her face as she bounded down the stairs and gave her best friend a hug.
"Good Morning Leaf." Red said, hugging her back.
"So are you all ready for today?" She asked, waving goodbye to her mother as the two headed out the door.
"You bet." A rare but excited grin came across his face. "I can't wait to meet my new Pokémon." He continued as the two walked towards Professor Oaks' lab.
"I'm so grateful to Professor Oak. I still can't believe I'm getting my own Pokémon!" Leaf squealed. "So I'm assuming you're getting Charmander?" She nudged Red playfully, knowing his love for the fire type.
"You know…"
"But what if I want Charmander?" An annoyingly obnoxious voice cut into their conversation and Leaf's cheery smile and attitude turned south as Gary Oak started walking next to her.
Leaf, Red and Gary had been the best of friends when they were kids. But then Gary's attitude took a turn for the worse and by the time the three were ten and eleven, he started to bully the two, calling them losers and not wanting anything to do with them. It had taken a while for Leaf to get over losing one of her best friends but thankfully, she still had Red.
"Gary." Red nodded coldly at his rival as they continued to the lab.
"You know that Gramps will give me the first pick right? After all, I deserve it." Gary continued arrogantly. He knew it was true, being the grandson of a world famous Pokémon professor had its perks.
"You don't deserve anything." Leaf glared at the seventeen year old.
"Harsh words Leafy, it breaks my heart to hear them from you." Gary grinned at her.
"At least I know I've broken something of yours." The teenage girl snapped before Red placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Not now, Leaf." Red muttered to her. Leaf sighed and nodded before proceeding to ignore the other male in her company. The trio continued to walk, with Gary making obnoxious comments here and there about how he was going to become the new Pokémon League Champion while Leaf and Red were going to be in his shadow. That they were never going to become champion while he was around.
By the time they reached the lab, Leaf was looking like she wanted to punch Gary in the face. Red as usual didn't show much anger on his face but his eyes were a whole different story. If there was one place that Red couldn't contain his emotions, it was his eyes. One glance and someone could tell whether he was happy or not.
Gary breezed into the lab, not before purposely hitting Red with his shoulder when he went to open the door for Leaf.
"You ok?" Leaf asked her best friend in concern.
"I'm fine." Red answered through gritted teeth as the two walked into the lab together.
"Arrogant asshole." She muttered under her breath as they reached the back of the lab where Professor Oak and Gary were. Gary gave them a cocky smirk while his grandfather's back was still turned.
"Ah, there you are!" Professor Oak turned around, a slight smile on his face as he studied the three teenagers before him. There was his grandson, Gary, with a slightly cocky smirk on his face while he watched his grandfather. Then there was Red, a mysterious boy with amazing red eyes and a love of Pokémon that rivalled his own. And Finally Leaf. The female of the group who was eager to learn everything there was to know about Pokémon. She was going to be a force to be reckoned with when she became a trainer.
Moving to one side, the Pokémon Professor revealed three Pokéballs on the table behind him. "There are three Pokémon there, one for each of you." He gestured towards them. "Ha-ha! The Pokémon that are held inside of these Pokéballs. When I was young I was a serious Pokémon Trainer. But now, in my old age I only have these three left." He continued and Red felt Leaf trembling in excitement, mirroring how he felt. Looking over to Gary, he noticed that he had a look of anticipation of his own.
"All three of you can have one. Go on, choose!" The Professor grinned.
"Ladies first." Red said to Leaf and the teenage girl bolted over towards the desk along with Gary who wasn't going to let her be the first one to choose.
"I didn't know you were a girl." Leaf looked at him smugly. Flushing, Gary stepped back and Leaf surveyed the Pokéballs that were in front of her. There was Bulbasaur on the left, Squirtle in the middle and Charmander on the right. Leaf frowned briefly before making up her mind. "I know who I'm going to choose!" She smiled before taking a Pokéball. "Come on out Bulbasaur!" She cheered.
Red smiled slightly as he saw who Leaf had chosen. She and Bulbasaur would make a great pair. Making his way over to the table, he quickly grabbed Charmander's Pokéball before Gary took it. "Let's go Charmander." He said simply and released the fire type.
"Heh, whatever, I wanted Squirtle from the start." Gary said as he grabbed the last remaining Pokéball. And I've got a type advantage over Red! He thought smugly.
Leaf squealed once she saw her new Pokémon. "It's so cute!" She cooed as the grass Pokémon looked at her curiously. "Hi Bulbasaur, I'm Leaf!" She held out her hand and Bulbasaur sniffed at it curiously before looking up at Leaf again.
"Would you like to give her a nickname?" Professor Oak asked her.
"I got a female?! That's really rare, right Red?" She asked her best friend who nodded. "Um ok, nickname… I think I'll call you… Roza." Leaf smiled.
"Bulba! Bulbasaur!" The grass type responded, smiling as she heard her new name.
"What a stupid name." Gary commented and Leaf glared at him. "My Pokémon looks a lot tougher than both of yours." Gary said as his Squirtle cried out its agreement.
"Wanna prove that in a battle?" Leaf challenged him.
"What Leaf said." Red joined in.
"Three-way Battle then?" Gary asked, smirking. He knew he could beat both of them blindfolded!
"Three-way Battle." Leaf agreed and Red nodded his agreement.
"I've got a battle field set up outside." Professor Oak said and the four went outside.
"Ready Roza?" Leaf asked her starter who looked up at her trustingly as they took their place on the field with Gary and Red taking two other sides.
"Ready to lose, losers?" Gary called out and Red narrowed his eyes. His Charmander stepped in front of him, looking incredibly eager to battle. Red looked up at both Leaf and Gary and smirked. He and Charmander were ready.
"Battle begin!" Professor Oak called out. Leaf's eyes lit up. She was about to participate in her first battle!
"And we're going to win." She whispered as Roza charged onto the battlefield looking ready. She knew with her Bulbasaur by her side, she could do anything.
Leaf's Team: Bulbasaur (Roza), Naïve Nature, capable of taking hits.
Red's Team: Charmander, Serious Nature, likes to fight.
Gary's Team: Squirtle, Rash Nature, strongly defiant.
A/N: So what did you guys think? I'm currently playing through the game for this fic so it will be updated quickly… I hope lol. And yes, I got a female Bulbasaur haha. I'm going to nickname the Pokémon Leaf catches because that's what I do with every Pokémon game I play lol. Anyways. Please drop me a review and let me know! Thank you so much for reading! xx