Yes I know there's a lot of beginning trainer stories out there, but it's my favourite pokemon story type, so sue me. In fact don't, I don't have that much money =(
Anyway...
Disclaimer: I do not and will never own pokemon. If I did what do you think I would be doing here?
Edited: 13/12/09- Thanks to Silawen's helpful comments I have made a few grammatical changes to my work. Oh and sorry about the centred text before- hope this is easier to read!
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Peter stood nervously, near the back of the ever growing crowd. Why was he even here? He didn't even think he'd make it that long as a trainer. His own father had turned back after only a week, what was to say he wouldn't do the same?
He pulled the strap of his rucksack closer to his chest. Some boys in front jostled to get a better look at the closed door. One stumbled and almost fell into him. He pulled back, wishing he was somewhere else.
"Sorry, man." The sandy haired boy grinned.
He nodded, turning his attention elsewhere.
The glass door opened and a lively looking old man stepped out, dressed in a white lab coat and a pair of corduroy trousers. He held a clipboard in his hands and began to read out names. Three names.
Three children rushed to the door, each one desperate to get in first, to get the first pick. Peter sighed, this would take a while. He really couldn't be bothered to wait that long.
Maybe I should go and come back later. But no, he stayed. Something pulled at him, compelling him to stay. Perhaps it was what compelled every other child there to turn up. The thrill of having a pokemon by their side; the thrill of a journey. His thrill was a very small thrill; mostly he just wanted to get out of the small, lifeless town.
"Joseph Knipe, Peter Lancaster and Rebecca O'Neil," the professor called out.
It was his turn. He trudged to the front, weaving around those who didn't bother to move out of his way. He met the girl, Rebecca, by the door and let her enter first. The other boy had already rushed inside.
"Thanks." The girl smiled, tucking a lock of ginger hair behind her ears. Rebecca was a short, slightly plump girl of around thirteen, similar to Peter. Her ginger hair was long, past her shoulders, while her eyes were brown and stood out against her pale skin.
Again he nodded and again he wasn't particularly interested in the response.
Walking inside was a breath of relief, away from the cold October wind and away from the rowdy crowd atmosphere. The lab was very festive this time of year, small pumpkins sat atop the computer monitors and zubat dolls poked out from every dark corner, goofy grins sown on to their faces.
"This way, children," the old man called. He motioned them into a smaller, side room.
At once it was clear pokemon lived there. There was a slight odour in the air and small strands of hay littered the floor. That and the three bright eyed pokemon that turned their attention to the door as soon as the professor walked in.
"Here we have a charmander, bulbasaur and a squirtle. Rebecca would you like to choose first?" Oak asked politely.
"Sure, professor," the girl nodded, walking up to the young pokemon. She looked at each in turn and then patted each to see their reactions.
The charmander squeaked, coiling away from the touch, while the bulbasaur shook its head in a similar fashion to a poochyena. The squirtle on the other hand, leaned in, a shy smile brushing its features.
Peter looked at each pokemon's reactions closely, he didn't really care, but then again who would want a pokemon that was too nervous to battle?
"I'll take him!" Rebecca smiled, pointing to the shelled creature.
"Her," the professor corrected. "And that is an excellent choice. Be sure to treat her with respect. She is after all a living creature."
"Yes, yes I know all of that, professor," the girl replied cheekily.
Oak frowned. "Yes, well here is your pokedex and a few pokeballs to start you off. Contact me at a pokecentre if you need anything."
"Yes sir!" Rebecca saluted. She and her squirtle chuckled as they walked out.
"I swear these kids get nuttier each year," Oak mumbled. "Well Peter you're next."
The boy nodded, walking up to the remaining pokemon. What did he really prefer- fire or grass? Fire could beat grass, but grass could beat water which meant he could beat that annoying girl easily if he came across her again.
"I'll take the bulbasaur sir."
At the sound of his name, the young bulbasaur glanced up, a wild look in his eye.
"Are you sure?"
"Yup."
"Alright then. Be careful and take good care of your pokemon," Oak said sternly, handing him a pokedex and pokeballs.
"Thank you," Peter said.
He used the first one to return the bulbasaur to itsball. The small pokemon would probably get lost in the crowd if he left it out.
He nodded at the professor and Joseph, before walking out. Peter exited the building swiftly and edged he way round the crowd, ignoring calls several calls of 'what pokemon did you get?' and 'can I see it?'
The boy fingered the shiny ball, before clipping it to his belt. He would look at his new pokemon later. He then made his way back to his own house, he wanted to say goodbye before setting off.
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"I'm home!" Peter called. He stepped into the tiny semi-detached house and looked around. His mother was no where to be found. His brothers though, they were already running to the door.
"What did you get?"
"Can I see it?"
"Course he ain't gonna let you see it, he's only going to show me," Ben, the older of the two, said smugly. He was nine years old and soon would be following Peter out the door to start his own adventure.
Timothy, the youngest, scowled. "Peter you will show me right?"
Peter sighed and crouched down. "Be gentle with it," He said, handing the pokeball over.
"Yeah!" Timothy grinned and blew a raspberry at Ben. He ran into the living room, quickly followed by the now annoyed Ben.
"Oi, give it to me!"
"Nu-uh! Peter gave it to me!"
"Boys, stop fighting!" Jane Lancaster called. She was a spritely woman in her mid-forties; her haired tied up in a tight bun and a pair of glasses perched on her nose.
"Hey mum," Peter said.
"Son," Jane smiled softly, before wrapping her eldest son in a tight embrace. "I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you to mum, but..."
"You're still going," she finished for him. "I know. I know."
Jane turned to her younger sons in the living room. "Boys give Peter back his pokemon now. He's going to need it."
"Aww mum." Ben wined.
"No buts."
"Fine, Tim hand it over."
"Aww."
Timothy did as he was told though and handed the orb back to his brother. "Bye, bye little pokemon."
"You better get going son, to make to Viridian before night fall."
"Yeah," Peter whispered. He clipped the ball back to his belt and lifted his bag back on to his shoulders.
"W-we won't miss you, will we Ben?" Timothy said, his little eyes growing watery.
"No way. We're not going to miss you a-at all."
"Then I'm not going to miss you either." Peter smiled.
"Well, we'll all not miss each other together." Jane grinned. "Say goodbye boys."
"Bye Peter!" The two chorused.
Peter smiled and stepped out of the house. Jane followed him and shut the door behind her.
"See you, mum," he said softly.
"See you." Mrs. Lancaster smiled, as Peter began to walk away.
She was soon out of sight and he was alone once more.
-
He stood at the edge of Pallet town, facing route 1. The wind blew roughly at his hair. Peter shivered. The sun was at its peak, but he felt no warmth from its rays. He wrapped his jumped tighter round his body and wished he'd packed a thicker jacket.
He promised himself he wouldn't cry. But now, with his family and his hometown behind him, he wasn't sure if he could keep it. He fingered the ball at his belt. He couldn't keep it, but he wouldn't turn back either.
He wouldn't turn back until he'd done his family proud.
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We put up our Christmas tree today! It looks kinda small, but it's pretty. I'm feeling really Christmassy right now. And it's the first fanfic I've done in a long time. So how was it? Like it or hate it? Review to help me improve!
Oh and I'm accepting OC's, if anyone wants to submit some. If some are good enough, I may use them as main characters.
The OC Form is now found on my profile.
- Snowy-Leopard