Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. Rights go to Nintendo, game freak Inc., and the people who were involved in creating the anime series.

1. First impressions and rivalry

I remember it well, like it was six days ago, but it was six years ago.

I was in Professor Oak's Pallet Town Summer camp, everyone around my age in the region who wanted to work with Pokémon came and had a whole six weeks learning all about Pokémon. My mother knew I wanted to do something with Pokémon so she signed me up. I was on a team with two of my friends, they were both girls. One was Leaf and the other was Rachel. Throughout the summer we learned what a Pokémon was how to care train and play with Pokémon, what the different types were. I learned a lot in that camp and that has pushed me in the direction I wanted to go. After the camp Leaf was moved to somewhere else in the Kanto region.

I was standing in a line-facing the famous Professor-with about twenty other children around my age, I was near the middle of the line.

The Professor was explaining what Pokémon were, and how they came to be.

I tried to listen, but Liam was standing next to me saying "Blah, blah, blah." Quietly.

A girl on the other side to me giggled, obviously they weren't trying to pay attention, of course Liam already knew all this because the Professor was his grandfather.

'So, now you know about Pokémon, you will be split into teams.' The Professor said before he counted all of us. 'There will be seven teams of three, I will give you a number between one and seven, you will go with the other people with your number.'

The Professor started counting going across the line, when he came to me he tapped me on the head and said 'Four.'

I stood still while the Professor continued down the line.

I started to wonder who I was going to paired up with, I knew one person I wasn't going to be paired up with, that was Liam. I knew this because I heard the professor say "Five" when he touched Liam's head. There were also two girls who lived in Pallet town, I didn't know who they were. I had never seen them before, but I didn't want to be paired with girls. Ew. Liam had said that they were disgusting people.

'Okay,' The Professor started. 'Everyone hold up your hand with the number I gave you with your fingers.'

I held up my hand with four fingers showing.

'Now, a few of you will hold up two hands because you have six and seven. If you see people with the same number of fingers up as you go towards them.'

The clamouring and shoving started as soon as the Professor finished.

I looked around and saw two hands with four fingers. I went towards one of them and found out one of the people I was going to be with was a girl. Well I hope she isn't as Liam said girls were.

She had chocolate brown, wavy hair that fell to her elbows, she had emerald green eyes and her skin was a little tan, she had a purple t-shirt with a green woolly cardigan, she was also wearing a blue denim skirt and green converse.

I went to grab her arm and take her towards the other person with four fingers, but she grabbed my hand and stopped me.

I looked to her.

'They'll come to us.' She told me.

Sure enough a few seconds later another girl emerged from the crowd next to me.

This girl also had brown hair, but it was darker, her skin was lighter than the other girls. She has brown eyes, she was wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt, blue denim jeans and black converse.

'Hey, I'm Rachel.' The girl told us.

'I'm, Leaf.' The other girl replied.

'I'm, Jordan.' I told them.

'You're a boy.' Rachel said.

'And you're a girl.' I told her.

Leaf laughed at us. I looked to her, but before I could ask what was funny the Professor spoke up.

'the people you are with will be your teams, every morning around here will be a table with the number I gave you today on it, you will sit by that table until I come and tell you what we will be doing for that day. But today in a minute we will be learning about the three starter Pokémon I give out to trainers on once they turn ten, if they live here, if you don't live here, you will be given a Pokémon by your parent to give you a Pokémon to catch your own first one.' The professor told us.

He told us a lot more about the starters that day and the Pokémon they evolved into. I hardly remembered any of it, but I knew it was interesting.

On the last day of the six weeks all teams were sent out on a scavenger hunt for a whole day.

Liam said there was no point in our team trying since we had two girls, but I found out these girls were nice, everything Gary told me about them was a lie, although some questions I asked them they didn't answer, but I figured they didn't know the answer.

I was sad that this was the last day. I was sad because tomorrow Leaf was leaving pallet town. At the start of these six weeks I didn't even know she lived here.

Rachel lived in Pallet town, I told her I would come and see her almost every day. Rachel and I made a promise to Leaf. We told her that when we became Pokémon trainers, we would come and see her as soon as we could. Although we didn't know where she was moving to, her parents told her it was a surprise, but Rachel and I still promised.

My team and I found eighteen of the things that were on the list, but we were missing two more, we were missing a standard Pokéball and a green scarf.

Rachel and Leaf volunteered to look for the Pokéball, while they suggested that I was to and find the green scarf.

I started towards the woods, not far from the Professors lab before I found a Pokémon. It was blue, it had a white circle on its belly with a black swirl on it. It had two eyes and pink lips in an "o" shape for its mouth, it had two blue feet and a tail that looked like a tadpole's tail.

'Poli.' It said.

The professor had told us about this Pokémon, but I forgot what it was called.

I racked my brain trying to find out what it was called.

Suddenly I remembered something the professor said. "Most Pokémon say their name when a human is near them or if their alone and lost."

'Hello, Poli.' I said.

'Wag?' the Pokémon said.

Wag I thought.

'Your name is wag?' I asked it.

'Poliwag.' It said.

'You're a Poliwag?' I asked.

'Poliwag.' It replied jumping before it ran into the woods.

'Poliwag wait.' I called after it before I followed it.

I ran into the woods after it.

'Help.' I heard a girl yell.

Hello, my name is Jordan Hale. I have this dream of becoming a Pokémon master. Not just any Pokémon master, the world's greatest Pokémon master. I want the world to know my name. I want young children to look up to me and say "I want to be like Jordan Hale"

I want to challenge and beat every Gym in the world, starting with Kanto.

That is where I live in a small town in Kanto, it is called Pallet town, people say it's the place of new beginnings. I hope that saying is true.

I'm in my bedroom at the moment, you would know I am a fanatic about Pokémon, I have so many posters of my favourite Pokémon, and I have figurines all over my floor. You could call me a Pokemon-aholic, probably not. One of my walls also had a large painting of the standard Pokéball.

My father painted that…before…

It's not like I can't talk about him. I can I just prefer not to, he talks to me occasionally through letters, I've never seen him, but his letters always say the same thing: Sorry, I can't make it to your birthday this year, Somethings come up, I'm too busy. Those are the usual's, but he sends three pages, one page is full of an apology, the second is how much he misses us and loves us, and the third is blank, it's for me to write back, but this year I haven't written back, I was a little angry at him, he couldn't show for just one birthday.

My birthday was a few weeks back, everyone in Pallet celebrated, but my father didn't show, my mother wasn't surprised and I had just got used to believing that he didn't even exist.

Sorry about that rant.

Onto tomorrow.

Tomorrow is supposed to be the best day of my life. Tomorrow I will start my very first Pokémon journey to become the world's greatest Pokémon master.

I cannot wait until tomorrow, but unfortunately...

As I am starting my journey tomorrow, I am too excited to sleep. I am up now and the time had gone midnight so guess my Pokémon journey is starting today. My friends are probably already asleep, I bet they aren't as hyped as I am right now. If my mother found out I was out of bed, she would kill me.

So at the moment, I am watching Professor Oaks show, tonight's show is about him giving three Pokémon trainers their very own, first Pokémon later this morning.

'Maybe you will pick Bulbasaur, who's leaves can cut through the thickest of forests, or Charmander, who will keep you warm in the coldest of climates, or maybe Squirtle who can get you across any surface of water.' Professor Oak said.

I know I need to sleep, as I need to get up early tomorrow morning so I can get the Pokémon I want.

I have shifted through all of them, but I can't make up my mind, they are all good Pokémon.

Bulbasaur the grass Pokémon is great because it is good against water ground and rock types. It is the easiest to train, but I don't want something easy. It has five weaknesses which are fire, ice, poison, flying and bug types.

Squirtle the water Pokémon is good against fire ground and rock types. It is harder to train than Bulbasaur, but it still isn't enough of a challenge. It is only weak to two types which is Grass and electric types.

Charmander the fire Pokémon is good against grass, ice, bug and steel types. It is the hardest and I don't want something too challenging to train. It has three weaknesses which are water, rock and ground types.

I can't figure out which Pokémon I want.

If you had to pick out of three amazing wonderful powerful creatures you couldn't, there is no way a decision could be made in a few days, but I hadn't been waiting for a few days, no. I have been waiting since I was three years old. Seven years I have waited for this moment.

'So, till tomorrow, this has been Professor Oak, thank you for watching.' Professor Oak said and the channel changed to adverts.

The screen turned off not a few seconds later.

I froze.

I turned around sharply, and I was greeted by the fuming face of my mother.

Uh oh. I thought

'Jordan, get to bed.' She ordered me.

I got into bed rather quickly, not wanting to be yelled at.

I needed to be at the lab by 8:00am later this morning, or I wouldn't have a Pokémon to use on my journey and I'd have to wait a whole year to get a starter again. I couldn't wait until I was eleven to get a starter Pokémon, that's too long, besides, my friends Rachel and Liam would be long gone by then. I may never see them again.

I picked up my alarm clock from the bedside table and set it for 7:30am. My mother would probably try to get me up earlier, because of my breakfast, but I'd be back to pack my bag and say a proper goodbye after I got my Pokémon, besides she'd want to know what Pokémon I picked. I couldn't really go without saying goodbye, now, could I?

I went into my bed to get some sleep. Once I fall asleep it will be no time at all till the morning, when I would wake up, I would start the greatest day of my life.

I was still pondering through the three Pokémon, one of them would be my Pokémon partner. The one I would train. The one that I would become a Pokémon master with.

I was in front of the famous Professor Oaks lab. I was itching to go inside. I couldn't believe this was the day I was going to get my first Pokémon.

I opened the large door that separated me from my best friends, and my new partner.

The scene that greeted me was brilliant, this was the first time I had been in the professor's lab and it had machines whirring, with experiments going on.

One of the Professors assistants was working with a machine conducting an experiment.

There were bookshelves of the latest news on Pokémon readings. I knew the Professor had friends who lived in far off distant regions. They had written books on Pokémon sightings and Pokémon information. Some of the books probably had trainer's information on going on a Pokémon journey. I didn't need to read I already knew exactly what I was going to do.

Both my friends looked at me and showed me their Pokéball's, they had already picked a Pokémon, but that left me without an option, I would have to take the last one.

It really didn't matter which one I picked because I would like it no matter who it was.

I walked over to where the last Pokéball was situated.

I picked it up uneasily.

What if I wasn't ready for this, what if I had a huge mistake and left the house too young, what if my mother couldn't take care of herself while I was away, what if I couldn't take care of myself. "What if"?

No, Jordan, you have been waiting for this your entire life, don't back out now because of a couple "What if's". Open the Pokéball and show the world who you are going to become the Pokémon master with.

I opened up the Pokéball and a white light appeared before a distorted shape appeared…

I woke up with a jolt, excitement must have got the best of me, I threw off my covers before looking at my alarm clock. It was 7:29, and my alarm would go of any second.

'Jordan!' My mother yelled to get me up and out of bed. If I wasn't downstairs within a few minutes, she would come upstairs and wake me up herself. I didn't want a repeat of what happened last week.

Last week I went to Rachel's house and we read books on Pokémon. She was reading a fictional story, while I was reading facts on Pokémon evolution, but that morning-because I didn't get up-my mother threw a cup of water on me, I did not want a repeat of that.

Anyway, not a second later my alarm went off. My mother must be Psychic or something.

I got up, fumbling to turn my alarm off, but unfortunately it fell off my bedside table and broke as it hit the floor, Cogs screws and springs fell out onto the floor. I picked up my broken clock and put it in the bin. Well I wouldn't be taking that with me.

I got out of bed-not wanting my mother to come upstairs-and quickly got dressed.

I decided to wear a black, paint splattered, red t-shirt, the paint wasn't real, and it just looked like splattered paint. Faded blue jeans and yellow and green sneakers, I was also wearing a black, white and red logo cap, with the standard Pokéball stitched onto the front, on the left side.

I rushed downstairs, as soon as the cereal was in the bowl I ended up golfing it down, but I was excited.

I bounded upstairs to grab my already packed bag and green jacket, before coming back down and placing them next to the front door.

My mother said goodbye to me, but she wasn't sad. She knew her little boy had grown up and he was going to go out on an incredible adventure. My mother always knew I was the adventurous type. She would always let me roam, but not too far. And now she had to let me go wherever the road took me, and who knows when I will return.

I put my jacket down on top of my bag, before I rushed to get out of the house and towards the famous Professors Pokémon research lab.

Today was finally the day. I couldn't believe it. It was all happening today. I was going to get my Pokémon, going to get my friend for life. I was going to embark on the greatest quest ever, and I was going to become a Pokémon master.

I ran through the open gates and up the stoned hill towards the lab that stood atop of the hill.

Why the professor lived up on a hilltop I didn't know, but apparently when I was a little younger Liam told me that behind the professor's lab was a huge open space where trainers Pokémon roamed free. I didn't know what they meant I still don't have a clue to this day.

I stood in front of the big red door. I couldn't wait any longer the suspense was killing me. I couldn't wait to meet my partner. I sighed in happiness and opened the door to start my journey.

Now, I have never seen inside the professors Lab and, it's even better than as I dreamed it.

He has two plants, one either side of the door. Two of his assistants were looking in books, checking off things on a clipboard. A girl was reading the books, probably researching something for the professor, as he was busy this morning.

There was a row of bookshelves that were across the lab blocking me to see what was behind them.

I saw Professor Oak with his back turned, he was checking his laptop, probably going over some final checks. I looked up at the clock, not quite 8'o'clock yet.

As I walked past the bookshelves, I saw a large, circular, transparent blue, cylindrical machine, opposite was a table, all three Pokeball's were still there. I can't have been late then.

Many smaller machines, bookshelves and a few cluttered tables were at the back of the lab.

I saw Liam, one of my friends standing next to the machine, tapping his foot, while the professor-his grandfather- told him about the Pokémon league.

'Come on Gramps, you've told me a million times, and a million times I have listened, can I have my Pokémon now?' Liam was being as impatient as ever.

Liam was one of my childhood friends, but now, he's less of a friend and more of a competitor.

He has always competed since he was little, when we were younger it was just banter, but now…Liam does not like to lose. And he hasn't lost since he told me that.

He competed for everything, the Pallet Town Pokémon quiz winner, the attention seeker. He was a bit full of himself, he didn't know he had that much of an ego. All he saw, was him humiliating me, which is what he seemed to do a lot, but I didn't act interested, so he quickly got bored.

He has light brown spiky hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black long sleeved t-shirt and blue jeans. He was also wearing red sneakers.

'Not now Liam, we have to wait till Jordan and Rachel get here.'

So Rachel wasn't here yet, I can't have been the last to arrive then.

So I wasn't late.

'Oh, look gramps it's Jordan.' Liam announced with his eyes, showing that he cared nothing about my presence.

The professor turned and I felt the essence and power of the greatest Professor in the world of Pokémon.

If he wasn't here, how would we know what Pokémon were, would we have gyms or a Pokémon league?

'Jordan, is Rachel not with you?' The professor asked.

'I didn't know if she was here yet.' I replied.

'Well no matter, we shall wait for her.'

'Come on Gramps it's almost eight, do we have to wait?' Liam asked impatiently.

I looked back at the clock, almost eight? Rachel had three seconds to come through the door.

The red door opened and in came Rachel.

Rachel has red curls that fell to just below her shoulders. Her hair isn't ginger, it's actually red. She asked her mum to dye it red. She also has brown eyes. She was wearing a short sleeved shirt with a black tie, tucked in her dark blue, knee length skirt. She was wearing her signature, black fedora hat. She wore black zipped up boots.

'So are you ready to meet your Pokémon?' the professor asked.

'Come on gramps, what's the hold up?' Liam asked impatiently.

'Please be patient, Liam.' The professor said. 'Jordan, would you like to go first?' The professor asked me, he knew how badly I wanted to grab the first Pokémon. I looked at the Pokeball's for a few seconds, but it didn't matter to me which Pokémon I had, I would be happy with whoever I had.

'No thank your professor.' I replied.

My mind was screaming "You idiot, you've been waiting your whole life for a Pokémon and, you just said no to going first?" What was I thinking? I didn't regret my decision though.

'I will let Rachel choose first' I told him.

Rachel looked at me with wide eyes. As did The professor, but Liam's facial expression didn't falter an inch. 'But you've wanted a Pokémon all your life.' Rachel said turning to me. 'You said no, so I could pick first, but you deserve to get which Pokémon you want.' Rachel told me.

'Go ahead Rachel.' I said gesturing towards the Pokeball's.

She walked to the table and picked up a Pokéball.

Liam didn't wait for me to choose, he just picked one off the table-being as impatient as ever-and I was the last to choose. I didn't mind, but I guess he didn't care, neither did I, I was happy with whichever starter I received.

I opened up my Pokéball and a red beam shot out revealing the Pokémon I chose as my partner. The disfigured image became clearer before I saw my Pokémon partner.

A small Pokémon that resembles a light blue turtle came out from within the Pokéball, but it stood on two legs. It had large brown eyes and a curved upper lip. Its hands had five small pointed fingers. Its tail curved inwards at the end. Its shell is brown on the top, pale yellow on the bottom, and has a thick white ridge between the two halves.

'Squirt, Squirtle Squirtle!' The Pokémon exclaimed.

I crouched down towards the Squirtle and it looked at me curiously.

'A Squirtle, an excellent Pokémon.' Professor Oak praised.

'Hey Squirtle, I bet you and I are going to make a great team.' I told it.

'Squirt.' It said holding up a peace sign to me. It seemed to trust me already, I must have made a good impression. My mother always said "A good impression is vital on establishing a strong friendship.

Liam's let his Pokémon come out of the Pokéball.

A small quadruped Pokémon with bluish-green skin and dark green patches came out. It has red eyes with white pupils. It has two small pointed ears atop its head. Each of its thick legs has three sharp claws. It had a small green bulb upon its back.

'Bulba, saur, saur.'

'A Bulbasaur?' Liam questioned, as if his Pokémon was under par for his liking. He could have picked Squirtle, but he took Bulbasaur, if he was lucky he might have had a Charmander, but Rachel seemed to have that instead.

Still he crouched down and scratched behind one of its ears, The Bulbasaur seemed to enjoy that, it cooed in happiness.

'This leaves Rachel with...'

Charmander I thought, although I still knew.

Rachel opened her Pokéball to reveal a bipedal reptilian Pokémon with an orange body and a cream underside. It has blue eyes. It has short arms and legs. It had five small pointed fingers on its hand and three sharp claws on its feet. It had a fire burning at the tip of its tail.

'Charmander.' Rachel completed.

Rachel went down to Charmander's level before she examined it, the Charmander did the same.

'I bet we're going to be great friends Charmander.' Rachel said stroking Charmander on the head.

I was about to return Squirtle when Liam spoke up.

'What about it Jordan, why don't we have a battle as first time trainers to see who is the greater?'

I looked at Professor oak, he rolled his eyes at Gary's impatience and persistence. I asked the Professor with my eyes, he didn't rule it out, so I thought: Yeah. Why not?

'What a great idea.' I approved. 'Ready Squirtle?'

'Squirt, Squirtle.' It agreed with determination, it didn't seem like it wanted to lose.

'Bulbasaur, use vine whip.' Liam commanded before I was even ready.

'Squirtle dodge it.'

Two vines from Bulbasaur's bulb came out and attempted to hit Squirtle, but it managed to move out the way just in time. Thank goodness Squirtle and I were both alert, or that would have been disastrous.

'Squirtle, use pound.' I said.

'Counter with tackle.'

Both Pokémon ran head on at each other.

Once they connected they were both thrown back.

'Squirtle, quick tackle again.'

'Don't let it touch you, Bulbasaur'

Squirtle ran head on towards Bulbasaur.

'Squirtle jump into the air.'

I thought a faster tackle would cause greater damage, but I didn't know Liam expected I would make Squirtle jump.

'Just as I expected. Too rash Jordan, too rash.' Liam said shaking his head at my decision. 'Bulbasaur, use vine whip to bring it to the ground then lash at it.'

Bulbasaur's vines caught my Squirtle and brought it to the ground. Once Squirtle was down it was lashed repeatedly by Bulbasaur.

'Squirtle?' I cried.

After a few more lashes Bulbasaur stopped and Liam returned his Pokémon, he already knew he had won, so did i.

Squirtle was lying on the ground unable to move.

'Well done Squirtle.' I praised it and put it in its Pokéball.

My first Pokémon battle and I lost. What a great trainer I was turning out to be. How could I become the world's greatest Pokémon master if I couldn't even win a battle against Liam? Gym leaders were ten times as hard. I needed to train a lot before going up against a Gym leader.

'Well Jordan, looks like the greatest Pokémon trainer has to rise to the top, catch you later.' Liam said and ran out the lab.

'Don't feel bad Jordan. It was your first Pokémon battle.' Professor oak reassured me.

'Yes, but if I can't beat Liam, how am I ever going to become a Pokémon master?' I asked rhetorically.

A few seconds of silence filled the air and I needed to show my mother my Pokémon.

Rachel and I both looked towards the door.

'Before you go, I have something for you.' Professor oak started.

'Why didn't you give all three of us this thing?' I asked not trying to sound rude.

'Well, Liam left and besides I only have two, I thought you two would like one.' Professor Oak replied.

He pulled out two small rectangular devices with a round blue light in the top left hand corner.

'That is a Pokédex, it is a high tech encyclopedia that automatically records the data of any Pokémon you have seen or caught.' The professor continued. 'It is essential for any Pokémon trainer.' He finished.

'Thank you professor.' Rachel said as I agreed and nodded. I ran my hand across the front of the Pokédex.

'Why don't you try it out?' The professor asked.

I let out Squirtle and Rachel let out Charmander.

'Squitle's shell is not merely used for protection. The shell's rounded shape and the grooves on its

surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds.'

I then scanned Charmander.

'The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when

Charmander is enjoying itself. If the Pokémon becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely.'

I put my Pokédex in my pocket before I left.

I ran out of the Professors lab to start my journey.

'Jordan, wait.' Rachel called out to me, but I had already left.

Any questions or enquiries about this arc don't hesitate to PM me or leave it in a review.

You may be asking about Leaf, why have I included her? When will she make an official appearance in the Arc?

I included her because I wondered what you would think of her when we met up with her. Also, it would make this Arc longer, and I hoped it would more enjoyable for my readers. Remember if you want to see someone else's point of view, just PM me or leave it in the review section, if you want to know who is going to appear in the next chapter just ask and I will put that at the end of the chapter.

2. The Route to Viridian