You are the bread and the knife,

Red was a particular person. He was quiet and aloof. He didn't socialise much and he exuded an air of near absolute apathy. Most of the kids at school teased him about his laziness, but they couldn't have been further from the truth.

Red wasn't lazy or emotionless or indifferent. He just didn't wear his heart on his sleeve like most people. But while he wasn't a constant emotional wreck, he did still have emotions and feelings. Like right now, for instance.

He supposed he could actually officially be called a nervous wreck. His hands were shaking, his temple was beaded with sweat, and he just couldn't seem to swallow away the lump in his parched throat. He gripped the hem of his red shirt as he stared down at the three round white and red balls in front of him.

This was undoubtedly the most important decision Red would ever make. His entire life would be moulded around the choice he would make today. His future as a pokémon trainer came down to this one crucial selection. He took a deep breath in and began to reach for a pokéball.

"Come on, Red! Hurry it up – some people have a League to beat here!"

Red looked over to see Green smirking and behind him was a sheepish Professor Oak. Red turned back to the three pokéballs wordlessly.

(After all, Green had been acting the same way ever since he was eight and officially declared that they were 'no longer friends, but the bitterest of rivals'. Red suspected that he'd been mildly addicted to his sister Daisy's soap operas as a kid, and thought it would be an interesting twist to their friendship saga. Regardless, the two boys hadn't been true friends in a long time.)

On the table were three pokéballs. One contained a bulbasaur, one a charmander, and in the third a squirtle.

He was supposed to pick one, to share his life with one, to train and care and love one. But none of them felt right. None of them were 'the one'.

(And okay, so maybe while Green was watching 'Regions of our Love', Red was watching 'The Elite Bachelorette' with his mother. He didn't quite take away the right message the show was trying to convey, but he found it quite applicable in this situation. And he was glad Lorelei got a good man in the end, too.)

But he wasn't meant to have a bulbasaur or a squirtle or a charmander. He was meant to have something else.

He shot an almost panicked look towards Professor Oak. The man raised an eyebrow and Green scoffed, predicting his rival's thoughts without the use of words.

"He's too good for these ones, Gramps. Just give him that special one you're always complaining about."

Green didn't understand. Whatever pokémon Green chose today would be his official starter, but it wouldn't be his first pokémon. At that, Eevee zigzagged through Green's legs long enough for the boy to bend down a pick her up. Green already had his one.

Red's eyebrow raised just as Professor Oak's brow furrowed. "I'm not sure about that, Green. That pokémon is very dangerous..."

Green groaned. "Just do it! He obviously doesn't want any of these ones. He's weird, Gramps. He's difficult," he snarked and shot a sideways look at Red. "Plus, I wanna get first pick. Those other two trainers can choose between the last two later."

Professor Oak sighed and nodded, "Very well. I was actually considering giving this one to you in the first place, Red, but decided that you should at least have a choice. But if you'd rather have a different one..."

Red nodded solemnly in response as the professor opened up a drawer in his desk. He pulled out another pokéball much like the other three. There was nothing particularly special about this one. No extra markings or different colours – it was just a plain, old pokéball.

Professor Oak handed the object over to Red with a hesitant smile. "This is a pikachu, Red. It's an electric type. However, it's quite hostile and it needs a special trainer to own it," he smiled, and shot a look at Green who was fussing over which starter he wanted. "But I'm sure you're patient enough. You have put up with my grandson for over ten years. You'll be fine."

Red looked down at the pokéball with carefully concealed interest. He knew he was only imagining it, but he could almost feel the difference. Like there was a current of power running from his hand to the pokémon and back again. This was no regular bulbasaur. This was something special.

He looked up at Professor Oak who was smiling. Red nodded once and smiled back. This was a new beginning for him. He was going to be on his own with a pikachu at his side.

He was ready.