Chapter One: The Coming of Age
"Wake up, Valon," a woman's voice said. It was my cousin, Clair. Many pokémon trainers know who she was; the gym leader of Blackthorn City. I was still asleep when she cam into my bedroom.
"Valon? Don't you want to get your first pokémon, or not?" After a second, she raised her voice. "This is your initiation as a dragon pokémon trainer." After a few more seconds of strained patience, Clair released her Kingdra to give me a rude awakening with a Hydro Pump attack.
An hour later (after I got towel-dried), I was sent into the gym leader's office on the other side of the Blackthorn Gym. Clair was holding some mail and sitting at her desk with an eccentric-looking man in a lab coat. When he turned around to look at me, I knew for sure that he was Professor Elm; head of the Pokémon Lab in New Bark Town.
"Valon," muttered Clair, "before you choose your first pokémon, your brother has sent you some supplies for your journey."
Clair was right; it was from Lance. He was rather distant since he became a member of the Elite Four. The letter was on Charizard Stationery, saying this:
Dear Valon,
I know I haven't been there for you since our parents abandoned us at our cousin's gym, but I will keep on watching your efforts as you start your journey as a dragon pokémon trainer. I want you to take this year's Johto League Challenge. To help you, I sent you a PokéNav that has a map of the Johto region, and I have also given you clothes that a true dragon trainer would wear. Use them well.
I'm pulling for you, Valon. Make me proud.
Lance
After reading the letter, I opened the box. Lance neglected to mention in his letter that he added a badge case. I wasn't too happy with the uniform, either. I really liked wearing ancient Egyptian-style clothing. After a minute of deliberation, I knew how to improvise.
"Is it time to choose my first pokémon?" I inquired.
Professor Elm spoke first. "Basically, if you lived other parts of the Johto region, you would have to choose a non-dragon pokémon. However since this is Dragon City, I brought 3 pokémon that will evolve into dragon-types eventually."
"The only trick is," Clair interrupted, "you won't know which pokémon you will get. Each pokéball has a different species of pokémon. This is the true test of a dragon trainer."
I took my time, and reached for the pokéball at the right. When I had my doubts. I looked up at Clair. She had an evil grin that I never witnessed before. I knew for sure that I was choosing a Dratini. Then I shift my attention to the professor. He was watching contently, as if he had a special pokémon that he wanted me to choose. Out of impulse I grabbed the middle ball.
"I choose this one," I yelled as I threw the pokéball in the air. The ball opened, releasing a stream of light. Whatever the pokémon was, it will show itself when the light faded.