Chapter One: The Start...
Green awoke in her bed, awoken by the bright sunshine gleaming through her window, and onto her face. The warmth from her heat trapped in her blankets felt almost comforting enough for her to go back to sleep, but, today was an important day. Today was her tenth birthday. As a tradition in Pallet Town, children who reach their tenth birthday are given the option of going to the local laboratory, and receiving their very own Pokemon to go out on a journey. If they choose not to, they cannot leave the town until they become an adult. Of course, they need their parents permission to head out into the world. And Green was very excited about this day. She was ready to get out and see what the other towns and cities and countrysides had to offer. She was ready to go on her very own Pokemon adventure.
Green slowly crawled out of bed, and stretched her arms and legs out, wiggling her toes, and then her fingers as she felt the blood rush in to fuel the once inactive parts of her body. A small smile grew on her face; she knew it was time to get ready for the day. But where would she go? Would she go as far as Fuschia City? Or would she just make a trip to the nearby Viridian City? When would she stop? Would she ever come back to Pallet Town? What Pokemon would she meet? Who would be her first? All this and much more flooded her mind as she made her way to her dresser, and picked out her outfit. A sky blue tang top, her red skirt, and and blue knee socks to go along with her tan carrier bag, and white running shoes.
Once Green was finished with her outfit, she made her way to the bathroom to straighten out her hair, and make sure everything was packed inside her bag. She had two extra sets of clothes, a sleeping bag and pillow, her hair brush, toothbrush and toothpaste, her potion for her first pokemon, and her good luck charm. She looked down at the charm as she finished going over her bag, staring at the outlines of the image engraved in the small stone. It was a small sone coin, with the image of a Kabutops on it, or so her father told her when she was little. She didn't know where he went, but he had told her to hang onto the charm until she met him again someday. Green didn't understand what was going on at the time. She thought he was simply leaving to go pick up food or something like that, but when he never returned, she realized what he meant. And now, she was leaving this place too.
"Green!" A voice called from downstairs. "Green are you awake? I made breakfast! Come down and eat!" It was her mother. Green smiled and stood up, grabbing the charm from her bag, and placing it around her neck, then closing the bag, and making her way downstair to the kitchen. "Well good morning! I made your favorite, blueberry pancakes." Green's mother was in a particularly cheerful mood this morning. Maybe it was just her being happy it was her daughter's birthday, or maybe it was that her daughter was about to go on her very own journey. Either way, it made Green smile as well. It was a slight improvement on how her mother usually acted around the house, usually spending her time keeping the place as clean as can be, and as organized as possible. Green honestly thought her mother stressed herself out over the smallest little smudge sometimes. But at the end of the day, when she saw her mother smile from the house being so clean, it made her smile as well.
"Good morning, Mom. And, thank you. I really appreciate it when you cook. You always make the best pancakes. Or, maybe that's just 'cause I can't get the batter right." Green said jokingly, setting her bag down by the table, and pulling out a chair to sit in. She smiled brightly at her mother, looking over every feature of her face and memorizing it. It could be a long time before she saw her mother again. But after a minute or two, she looked away to the pancakes, and then took two of the larger ones onto the plate set before her. She could already taste the pancakes, her mouth watering in anticipation of eating them.
"I hope you enjoy them, honey." Her mother said, taking a seat across from her, and grabbing a plate of two pancakes herself. "I woke up early just to make sure this morning would be special for you. I know how much you wanna go out there and travel like your father did."
"Y-yeah. He um, I have something I wanna give him if I meet him out there." Green said rather quietly. Talking about her father was always a heavy topic for the duo, even if in this situation it seemed light, the underlying thoughts and memories of him were still there, and were carried with a heavy heart.
Green shook the thoughts of her father out of her head, and then looked down at her untouched pancakes, picking up her knife and fork, and begun to dig in. The sweet and fluffy taste of the pancake mixing with the sugary flavors of the syrup. Her mother always knew how to make her happy with food. And once Green's mother saw that she began to eat her meal, it wasn't long before she began to eat hers as well.
…
"Alright, Green. Do you have everything for your trip?"
"Yes, Mom."
"You've got your clothes? Your toothbrush and toothpaste?"
"Yes, Mom."
"Your trainer card too? You've got that too, right?"
"Yes Mom. I checked everything before breakfast. Don't worry so much! I've got it covered." Green said, leaning in to embrace her mother in a hug. After breakfast, they had cleaned up, and met by the front door where she would leave. And now, her mother was simply going over a few last minute things before she left for her journey.
"Alright, dear. I just wanna make sure. Oooh you're such a big girl now. Your father would be proud. Alright, remember. If you even need a place to stay again, you can always come back home. I'll always be here for you, Green." Her mother returned the hug firmly, closing her eyes for but just a moment, and savoring every last second she could. "I hope you meet lots of Pokemon, and meet lots of friends, Green. Go out and enjoy yourself." And with those final words, Green's mother finally, and reluctantly, let go of her daughter, smiling, and holding back any tears that might make it to her eyes.
"Thank you, Mom. I promise, I'll come back sometime. I won't be gone forever. I'll even show you the Pokemon I've caught! I'll make you so proud!" Green said, letting go of her mother too, and beginning to approach the door.
"Now, before breakfast, I called Professor Oak. He should be outside waiting for you to guide you to his lab. He'll give you your first Pokemon."
"R-really? You did that? Oh mom, that must have cost you so much! You didn't have to! But, but thank you. You really are the best. I'll miss you!" Green opened the door to her house, and stepped outside, waving goodbye to her mother, and then shutting the door.
Right as her mother had said, Professor Oak was waiting for her at the end of her driveway by her mailbox. He was leaning against her white picket fence, dressed in his white lab coat, khaki pants, brown loafers, and a red button-up shirt underneath his coat.
As Green approached the end of the driveway, she chuckled to herself, and said, "It's a bit warm out to wear a coat, isn't it?" Green had placed her hands on her carrier bag, one arm crossing over her chest just like the strap, and holding on securely at the part where the strap meets the bag. A large smile adorned her face, and big, curious eyes had set their gaze on the professor, wondering what he had in store for her.
"Ahh, but if I did not wear my coat, how would people know I am the widely known Pokemon Professor I am? Wearing this coat is part of my job! If I did not, then I would be much like a police officer who does not wear their uniform while they're out protecting the people. And besides, it isn't too hot out for me to wear this. In fact, it's a perfect day overall. A perfect day for someone to start their journey as a Pokemon Trainer, no?" The professor responded, straightening himself out, and smiling down at the girl beside him. "Come now, I think you're rather anxious to see what kind of Pokemon I've picked out for you. But you can only choose one. I have to give another to my grandson, who's starting his journey today just like you."
"That's fine, professor! Being able to choose one of your rare Pokemon is almost too kind of you already!" Green said as Professor Oak began to move away from the house, and off towards his lab. Green followed shortly behind, her hands still on her carrier bag. "Erm, your grandson is Blue, right? And his sister is Cassie?"
"My my. You are well mannered. You will make a great trainer one day. Just remember to raise your Pokemon with love and affection, and they will do anything for you. If you raise them to only gain strength, and power, then they will be sure to seek out stronger trainers later if you cannot keep up with them. Pokemon grow at an astounding rate, you see, so if you aren't careful, your Pokemon can grow as fast as a Buneary or Lopunny makes new Buneary."
"Right, professor, but, what about your grandchildren?" Green asked, noting that Professor Oak had gotten rather carried away with his talk on Pokemon.
"Oh! Yes, my sincere apologies. Blue, er, he's been a bit of a troublemaker at recent times. But I think him being able to go out and see the wonders this beautiful region has to offer will make him see that kindness and love are much more appreciated than anything else. And his sister, Daisy. She shows much promise of being a great Pokemon researcher one day, even at the young age of sixteen. When she was your age, she went around as a Pokemon coordinator, and even held the title of Grand Master for a year. I think. Ah my mind is old. I may be twisting details unfortunately! But still, both Daisy and Blue have the potential to become wonderful people, just like you. And lucky for you, we're finally at my lab." Professor Oak said as they approached a large, yellow brick building. He opened one of the twin wooden doors, and gestured for Green to head in.
"Thank you, professor!" Once Green stepped in, she was greeted by a few research assistants scanning the nearby bookshelves, or writing things down on clipboards while they stood near complex machines. She couldn't possibly hope to understand half of what was going on inside this lab! Everything looked so amazing to her though. The white panel floors, tan walls, and the occasional green house plants mixed in with the machinery and books, it was like a dream to her. "Wow. It's amazing!" Green said in awe as she took everything in.
"Eheh, it's nothing compared to what some of my other fellow researchers have in other regions. I believe it was Professor Birch who has a lab quite similar to mine, and Professor Juniper who spends so much time in her lab, she lives in it!" Professor Oak said, giving a small chuckle. He followed Green in, and began making his way to the back of the lab where another kid in khaki pants, and a black long sleeved shirt was standing. "Come now. I think it's about time we get you your first Pokemon."