Your name is John Egbert and you are ten years of age. In reality, you were not supposed to be given a name until thirteen years of age, but once you hit ten years of age, a very special time comes in your life. This time is so special that it was decided that you would be given a name early. When a young child such as yourself becomes ten years of age, you then become a Pokémon Trainer. Becoming a Pokémon trainer would be a growing moment in your life in which you would demonstrate that you are becoming independent. It would be a step towards manhood, but whoa there, young man. You are only ten years of age and have not hit puberty, yet, so don't throw yourself too far out there!
What is a Pokémon trainer? One may ask this question quite frequently. A Pokémon trainer captures and enslaves wild creatures known as Pokémon to battle and forcefully become friends with them to do everyday tasks for their own personal amusement. Is it illegal? Maybe it is. Is it inhumane animal cruelty? Perhaps. Is there law enforcement around to stop these sorts of horrendous acts? Fuck, no! This is a free country, or free region, if you so call it. There are some people that call themselves "officers," but they kind of just sit back, relax and enjoy the music while eating their invisible popcorn. They don't do squat. The place is run by people ten years of age and older that travel with creatures that do their bidding. Who does that? Well, you will be doing that soon. Really soon. Also, if you don't know what a Pokémon trainer is, you probably shouldn't be reading this…noob.
You know that there are many regions in the world of Pokémon. Many of which include Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, and Unova regions. You live in a different area way off of the map from the rest of the Pokémon world: Skaia. This planet, known as Skaia is now known as the "Skaia Region." Many years ago, Skaia was a planet of a war. A large war happened and once the fighting came to an end, silence swept the land of awhile. Since then, the planet somehow sustained life and is now inhabited by people and creatures known as Pokémon. The only place in Skaia that has survived hundreds of years and still remains to this day is a place known as "The Battlefield," which is in the center of the "Skaia Region," the largest and main island on Skaia. The planet itself is orbited by two moons: Prospit and Derse, which control light and darkness. An old legend says that two legendary Pokémon battled over daylight and darkness. Both of the legendary Pokémon were equally strong in combat and strength, in which neither could be declared the winner. Due to this, they exhausted themselves from fighting so much that they fell into a deep sleep, in which they turned into the planets, Prospit and Derse. Many mysteries await you and many more are out there to be discovered.
It is now eight at night. You planned on going to bed early so that you are well-rested the next morning. Tomorrow would be a day to celebrate your freedom and begin your Pokémon journey. However, you are way too excited to sleep. You lay across your bed daydreaming about what your new life is going to be like. In the morning, you would be meeting Professor Oak, first thing. Professor Oak used to live in another region, but you heard that he came here to Skaia to do some more research. You sometimes wonder why they are called "Pokémon professors" when they don't even do any work of their own. They kind of just shove some field materials at you and throw you out into the wilderness, tell you to have fun on your journey…without giving you any bugspray or any other useful items or moral support. No, just their fucking research materials and then they kick you out the door and expect you to be gone for two years as they sit behind their "research desks" enjoying a hot cup of coffee and donuts every hour. Do they do any real work? Hell no. They throw it all at small young children and take away their childhoods. This is something that you do not take too lightheartedly. You are just excited to get out of the house. Speaking of which…
Living in this house has been a real pain in the ass. You live with your dad. He kind of walks in and out of the house every day in a casual shirt and tie and pressed jeans. He is a salesman of some products geared towards Pokémon. He can be very conservative and overprotective and secretive. You honestly have no idea what he markets. About a year ago, you brought this up and he sat down beside you and said, "Sonny, I will let you know the answer to that when you are older." Yeah, when you are how old? The guy is a nut. For all you know, he could sell porn. This you do not want to think about. Other than your dad going to this mysterious job every day, he also likes to bake a large amount of baked goods. He makes them for no good apparent reason. Your birthday? Baked goods. Hanukkah? Baked goods. Christmas time? Baked goods. The number of baked goods never varies and they are always the same.
You wake up to the light streaming in through your window. Were you up late last night thinking too much? You believe so. At this time, your dad is off at work. Wait, this must mean that you are late going to Professor Oak's lab. This is the moment in which you are supposed to run down the road shouting, "Oh shit, oh shit, I'm late!" You quickly reach across your bedside table and feel around for your glasses. Ah-hah! You grabbed them by the handle and put them on. After pulling them off slightly and rubbing your eyes, you check your bedside clock. Holy shit, it is eight! You are late and you were supposed to be at Oak's lab an hour ago!
Panicking like the insecure nerd you are, you run across the house and out the front door. You did not bother to change out of your pajamas, which were "Ghostbuster-themed." Flying down the road like derpy gazelle and flailing your arms, you set your sights at the building at the end of the horizon, which is the end of the road. Professor Oak's lab is down there. He is supposed to give you your first Pokémon, but he is most-likely all out, but you already knew that didn't you? The neighbors gawk at you as you rush past and you pray that you do not have an asthma attack to avoid embarrassing yourself any more than what you already have.
Five minutes later, you reach the end of the road. You race up the steps and walk into the lab. Several scientists are working inside. Desks are lined up neatly against a wall with scattered research papers covering them.
"Hey," a male assistant called out to you. "You must be the new guy starting your new journey today."
"Yes, that is me," you said.
"Hey, buddy, can you help me over here for a second?" a female assistant asked the guy you were talking to.
She appeared to be in panic as she tried looking behind a desk as she shuffled around with some fallen papers.
"Professor Oak will be with you shortly," he said to you and then he turned to the other assistant. "What is it?"
"I need you to help me pull this desk out, I dropped a test tube of important specimens back here accidently," she said. "It actually rolled off of the table."
"Coming right over!" he called as he raced over.
The two assistants heaved and put their backs into the job as they pulled the heavy desks towards them. They grunted out of pain, only succeeding to move the desk about a half of an inch and they then gasped for breath.
"What the hell is going on?" came a voice from a separated cubicle. "It sounds like you are having sex in there!"
A taller gray-haired guy came out and introduced himself as Professor Oak.
"Gee Oak, we have a kid in here, watch your mouth," the female assistant said.
"Oh, right," Professor Oak said casually. "I mean, hello there, young child, I am Professor Oak and this is my man cave."
"Hi Professor Oak!" you said with excitement.
Professor Oak rubs his chin.
"Let me guess," he said. "You are Ash!"
Your smile faded.
"No, I am-"
"Wait," Professor Oak interrupted. "Don't tell me, I know this deep down. You're Max!"
"No!" you exclaimed. "I'm Egbert!"
"Oh, you are John!" Professor Oak exclaimed. "Pleasure to meet you. You are a bit late!"
"Yes, and I am terribly sorry," you apologized.
"Apology accepted," Professor Oak said as he smiled. "Unfortunately, all of the Pokémon are gone. I may have one left. Come back with me and we shall check my other office just to be sure-"
The front door flings open, cutting off Professor Oak in mid-sentence.
"Ah, my grandson has returned!" exclaimed Professor Oak.
You turn your head to look. A blonde boy wearing shades and a long-sleeved t-shirt with red sleeves and a broken record on the front entered the lab. He had his hands in his pockets. You wish that you could be as cool-looking as him. Also, you can sense your homosexual tendencies raging on the inside and your kokoro is going all "doki doki." Damn your pants…why are they tightening? You bend over slightly, hoping that nobody will notice.
"Hey, sup," the blonde boy said.
"John, this here is my grandson, Dave," Professor Oak said.
"Oh," you said in awe. "Nice meeting you."
"Fieldwork sucked," Dave said coolly. "I had a bunch of Pidgeys pecking me in the ass."
"I am sorry, but that is sometimes a part of fieldwork," Professor Oak said as he raised his pointer finger. "Anyways, I was going to get John here his first Pokémon…if I can find one, that is."
"Oh, right," Dave said as he leaned up against a desk nonchalantly and tucked one foot behind the other. "Don't we still have Pikachu?"
"Hey, didn't we say that he is highly dangerous and we can't give him away?" Professor Oak said.
"I don't know," Dave said coolly.
He pauses and bites his lip.
"Or did we?" Dave asked as he pulled off his shades in a ninja-like fashion.
Dave has the most beautiful crimson-colored eyes that you have ever seen. They were the only crimson-colored eyes that you have even seen.
"I suppose we can give it a shot," Professor Oak hesitated.
"Don't worry about anything, Professor," you said. "I can handle anything."
"Anything?" Dave asked.
"Anything," you repeated.
"Hhmmmm," Dave pondered as he tapped his foot.
"Well, let's go check this out, John," Professor Oak said. "Come to my cubicle-office with me."
"Okay," you said as you clapped your hands with excitement.
You follow Professor Oak into his unorganized cubicle. Dave did not come back. He is still out in the main room. Professor Oak opens up a big drawer on his desk and takes out a Poké ball.
"I have a question for you, John," Professor Oak began.
You are silent waiting for what there is to come.
"How would you like to travel with Dave on your Pokémon journey?" he asked.
Would you ever! That would be the miracle of your life!
"Of course I would!" you exclaimed. "The more the merrier! Safety in numbers, right?"
"Correct," Professor Oak said. "Dave will be thrilled. He is a bit shy about asking sometimes."
"No worries," you chuckled.
"Anyways," Professor Oak said. "Take the ball here."
He presents the Poké ball to you. You take it and hold it in your hands for a few moments, examining it.
"Just push the button," Professor Oak said. "Be careful though."
You push the button as you can feel static electricity flying every which-way and a lightning bolt zapped out as you stare into the face of a stubborn yellow rat. You do have to admit that he is rather adoreable and you can't help wanting to squeeze him.
"That's a Pikachu?" you asked in shock.
Coming from what just happened when you opened the ball, you thought that you just unleashed hell.
"Of course it is," Professor Oak laughed. "Go ahead, pick him up."
"Pika!" Pikachu squealed after scratching his ear with his foot.
You stared back into his eyes. Sweet, he would be like a teddy bear to snuggle with at night.
"Hi, Pikachu!" you said as you picked him up in your arms. "I hope we can be the best of-"
You feel a strong electrical shock.
"Friends," you finished.
"Pikachu can release thousands of volts of electricity," Professor Oak explained.
"So, now you tell me that," you muttered.
Your hair is sticking up in all sorts of odd directions.
"Also, I have a Pokédex and some Poke balls here," Professor Oak said to you. "Dave will explain everything to you."
You carry Pikachu out into the big room.
"I see he fried you," Dave commented.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," you said.
"That's why we are not supposed to let him out," Dave said. "He's dangerous."
"He's fine," Professor Oak reassured him. "Pikachu will eventually warm up to John. Right, John?"
"Right," you said.
"Dave," Professor Oak began.
"Yes?" Dave asked.
"You will be traveling with John," Professor Oak said.
"Oh boy!" Dave exclaimed.
"You are leaving right away today, I am assuming?" asked Professor Oak.
"Yes," you said. "As soon as I get my backpack from my house."
"Good, good, so I see that the two of you will get along quite well," Professor Oak said with excitement.
"Well, thanks for your time, Professor," you said with gratitude.
"As usual, now will you kindly get the fuck out of my lab?" he asked.
You laugh.
"Will do," you said.
You turn to Dave.
"Let's go," you said to Dave.
"Yupp, I am ready," Dave said as he grabbed his backpack. "John."
"Bye, grandpa!" Dave called.
You and Dave walk out of the door together. It is awkwardly silent for a couple of minutes while you begin to walk back towards your house. Come on, think of something to say to him to start off a nice friendship-based casual conversation…
"Do you have a starter Pokémon?" you asked Dave.
"Of course I do," Dave said calmly as he put his shades back on. "I choose Torchic."
You have this confused facial expression on your face.
"I shall show you," Dave said as he stopped walking and you stopped as well. "Come on out, Torchic!"
Dave takes a Poké ball out of his pocket and presses the round middle button and a orange-colored bird-chick-looking creature popped out.
"Torchic!" it exclaimed.
You hold Pikachu close to you as you and Pikachu are in awe.
"Yeah, I know, he's adoreable, right?" Dave asked.
"He's so cute!" you exclaimed.
Note to self: stop "fangirling."
"How are you doing, Torchic?" Dave laughed as he bent down to its level.
"Torchic!" it exclaimed.
"Yes, I know you are the boss, Torchic," Dave said coolly as he reached into his pocket and pulled out half a bar of chocolate and broke off a piece and offered it to Torchic. "Here, buddy. Have some chocolate."
Torchic munches on the sugary treat. You have had enough of chocolate and baked goods for that manner.
"Why don't you carry your Pikachu in a Poké ball?" Dave asked.
You look at Pikachu and take his Poké ball out of your pocket.
"Okay, Pikachu, get in!" you said with excitement.
Pikachu looks up at you and shakes his head.
"Why not?" you asked. "Normal Pokémon are carried in balls!"
"Hmmm," Dave began. "Maybe Pikachu hates being contained like that. After all, there are a few exceptions and Pikachu was kept in Oak's drawer for all that time."
"I suppose you are right," you said. "Pikachu, you can stay out of the ball and walk, okay?"
You set Pikachu down on the ground and he sniffs at a pebble.
"Say, now that we have our Pokémon out, let's have a battle," Dave said coolly as he pointed at you. "You and me…"
"How do I know what moves Pikachu knows?" you asked.
"Just check the Pokédex," Dave explained as he thumbed at the belt loops on his pants. "Turn it on and it will tell you."
"Okay," you said as you turned it on.
You find out that Pikachu knows Thunderbolt, Quick Attack, and Iron Tail.
"Aren't Pokémon supposed to know four moves?" you asked Dave.
"Well, if he only knows three, like now," Dave began. "He will eventually learn a fourth. It's all good. Your move is first and we only have one Pokémon each. First ones to faint loses."
"Oh, it is on," you said as you slammed a fist into your open palm and gave Dave a death glare.
You are sure that behind his shades, he is giving you the death glare as well. Dave backs away about twenty feet to give a good "battlefield zone" with Torchic.
"Your move, first!" Dave called down to you.
"Okay, Pikachu!" you ordered. "Use Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's electrical energy seemed to charge and be quickly released, but then…
"Dodge it, Torchic!" Dave demanded. "Then, use peck!"
Torchic slid away from the attack as fast as the speed of light. Man, he is good. Torchic seems to be targeting Pikachu to "Peck" him.
"Cut it off, using Quick Attack!" you ordered as you pointed a finger.
Pikachu rams right into Torchic and he slides across the dusty road a few feet! Yes!
"Hang in there, Torchic!" Dave urged.
Torchic gets back up steadily. Dammit, this isn't over, yet.
"Torchic, use Flamethrower!" Dave said.
A steady wave of flames escapes Torchic's beak. That is a lot of flame from a little guy, holy shit! You are shocked.
"Pikachu, use Iron Tail to block the flames!" you commanded.
As this happens, a dust explosion occurs, obstructing some of your vision. You take off your glasses and use the fabric of your shirt to rub the dirt off. What happened? Once the dust clears a minute later, you realize that Pikachu and Torchic are both perfectly okay. They are merely exhausting themselves from defending from each other's attacks.
"Torchic, use Slash!" Dave called out.
Torchic scratches Pikachu with one of the claws on its feet. Right on the spot.
"No, Pikachu!"
Pikachu hits the ground.
"Don't give up, Pikachu!" you said. "Get up!"
Pikachu tries to get up, but he shakes like a rat with arthritis pain and falls back down and remains still.
"You killed my Pikachu, Dave!" you cried. "He's dead."
"He's not dead, pheasant," Dave said coolly. "He fainted and I won. God, you are such a noob…"
He is quite sarcastic in a funny way. You smile as you pick up Pikachu in your arms as Dave returns Torchic to his Poké ball.
"You are really good," you complimented Dave.
"Torchic, return, and yeah, you too," Dave said. "It seems like you have a bit of talent hidden in you somewhere. C'mon, let us hurry and get your things, and why don't you change out of pajamas once we get there while you are at it?"
"Haha, I should do that," you laughed. "Thanks, Dave."
"Yeah," you said as you and Dave continued to walk down the road. "My stuff is already packed up. I just need to grab it. Everything is in my backpack."
"I see," Dave said. "Do you need to say bye to your parents?"
"I just live with my dad," you explained. "I basically said bye to him last night. He knows where I am going and I shall give him a call later tonight."
"Oh, okay," Dave said.
"I am so surprised with all of this amazing technology that we have now, that we don't get to drive cars," you began to say. "I mean, not that there is any age limit that I know of to get a driver's license around here, but walking? Really?"
"Yeah," Dave began. "They make us fucking walk. How useful. We could probably fill out more pages on our Pokédexes if we could get sweet rides. After all, driving is faster than walking, right?"
"Right," you said.
"They just want to make our lives miserable," Dave said jokingly. "The longer we are gone, the more time the scientists get to have to party."
"Then there is us," you said.
"Exactly," Dave responded coolly. "We're cool though because we train creatures instead of drinking booze and acting full of ourselves and saying that we have Master's Degrees. We do the work."
"Right," you said.
"Do you enjoy living with your dad?" Dave asked.
"Sometimes yes and sometimes no," you explained. "He can be a bit weird sometimes and he sells things for a business and he never tells me what he is selling."
"It is probably porn he is selling," Dave said.
"Those were my thoughts," you explained.
"Face it, dude," Dave began. "A parent is never going to tell a ten-year-old child that he sells porn."
You laugh. Obviously.
"He can be a bit secretive," you admitted.
Deep down, more than "a bit."
"Parents are like that," Dave said. "Mine became drug addicts, so I came to Skaia to live with my bro, Dirk."
"Oh, sorry to hear about your parents," you said. "Where does your brother work, if he does?"
"At a gym in a town not too far from here," Dave said. "But he's awesome. He trains rock-type Pokémon and he is a gym leader. I strive to be as badass as him someday!"
You laugh.
"Wow, you must really admire him," you said in awe.
"Yeah, I do," Dave said. "He practically raised me, you know. Bro took me in after the law enforcement back on Earth discovered my parent's meth lab. My parents were pretty fucked up. However, my Bro was smart enough not to make stupid decisions like my parents. So, I live with him and come to town here to help Professor Oak with the work."
"At least you have something to do," you said.
"Yeah," Dave said coolly.
You and Dave reach your house. Pikachu woke up in your arms at this point.
"Okay, change clothes, grab your shit, and let us get rolling," Dave said.
"All right," you said as you set Pikachu down and look down at him. "Pikachu, stay here with Dave, I will be back in a couple of minutes."
"Pika," Pikachu said as he nodded.
You race inside, change clothes, and grab your backpack. Goodbye home, which was always filled with an over-excessive amount of baked goods. You look back one more time and walk back out the front door.
"Wow, you are fast," Dave said as you put one of the backpack straps over your shoulder.
"Yeah, I was already packed," you said. "Remember?"
"Oh, right," Dave responded. "Let's go!"
"Adventure waits!" you called out.
"We go through the forest, first!" Dave said.
"A…forest?" you asked in a bit of shock.
"Yes, John!" Dave said. "It will be fun!"
One thing that you are scared of is the dark and you fear that you will not make it through in one day, meaning that you will be stuck there overnight. You do not want to admit this to Dave since he might think that you are a wuss.
"It is two in the afternoon, already," you said. "The sun will go down soon and it will get dark in the woods. Is there any other way?"
"No, there isn't," Dave said. "Nothing bad will happen, I promise. Come on."
"All right, Dave, I believe you," you said. "Want to be carried, Pikachu?"
Pikachu hops into your arms. You are set.
"Trust me, our Pokémon will protect us," Dave said. "If worse comes to worse."
"I would rather not think about "the worst.""
"Sorry," Dave said. "If I am making you worry."
You and Dave begin to walk to the entrance of the woods, which is not too far off from your home.
"Are you ready for a childhood of badassness?" Dave asked.
"Hell, yes!" you exclaimed.
You and Dave enter the woods. It is rather peaceful. You can hear the sounds of chirping coming from many bug and flying-type Pokémon inside. Looking around, you mentally capture the scenery.
"Pretty cool, right?" Dave asked. "Don't worry about a thing. I know this place pretty well. The walk is long, but I know this well since I pass through here back and forth to go to my Bro's house."
"It's…awesome," you said in awe.
"Is this your first taste of freedom?" Dave asked you.
"Of course," you responded as you looked back down from looking at the treetops. "My dad is really over-protective."
"Some parental units come like that," Dave said as he looked around. "They all have a screw loose…sometimes a rusty screw. Then you have to scrape off all of the tarnished shit and once they get all out of your business, they can sometimes be cool, but I am assuming that your dad isn't a drug addict like my parents were."
"Nope he isn't," you said. "As far as I know, he is perfectly normal, minus the secretive job and the over-obsessive baking disorder!"
"Is that even a real disorder?" Dave asked. "Because…fuck, that is just scary."
"With my dad, it is," you explained. "Sometimes I wonder if he wants a bakery instead of a child."
"If you see any Pokémon in here," Dave began. "Just take out your Pokédex and it will record the information for you."
"Oh, okay," you said as you toyed with the device.
"The more data we collect on our journey, the better," Dave said. "We want to make my grandpa happy."
"I understand," you said.
"Have you ever been on an actual Pokémon journey before?" you asked.
"I haven't ventured past this next town that we are going through," Dave said coolly. "Beyond this forest is going to be all new for me. We'll go through it, together. We're here for each other."
Being a young homosexual, there is just something about Dave that you love. He is just…so cool and collective and laid back. You wish you could be as chill as he is. Are you? No, you freaking idiot, you are a quirky, twitchy nerd with asthma. Of course.
"I need to catch another Pokémon sometime," Dave said.
"Me, too."
"You know what Pokémon I really want?" Dave asked.
"What?" you asked.
"An Umbreon!"
"I have seen one in a book, before!" you said. "They look really cool. I have never seen one up close before!"
"You will, someday," Dave said. "Once I capture one of my own, that is."
"That would be totally boss," you said.
"It would be," Dave said.
"Why did your grandpa think that I am Ash?" you asked.
"Ah," Dave began. "I honestly do not have a clue."
"I see."
You and Dave walk in silence for a few minutes. Enjoying the sounds of nature is one of the many things that you enjoy doing. You realize that it is getting darker out, fast and you silently begin to panic.
"Dave," you began.
"Yes, John?" Dave asked.
"It is getting dark," you began.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
"Yeah, so no biggie," Dave said in a chill manner.
You might as well confess your fear.
"Dave, I am scared of the dark…"
"You are?" Dave asked.
He probably thinks that you are a wuss. You want to bury your face into the dirt, but Dave smiles slightly.
"Don't worry, John," Dave said coolly. "I get a bit panicky in the dark myself."
Good to know.
"You don't think that I am a wuss, do you?" you asked.
"Hell, no!"
"I am relieved," you said. "I hope that you aren't mad…"
"Oh, no, it's all good," Dave said. "We shall stop soon and make a campfire and stay the night. Everything will be just fine, okay?"
"Okay, Dave," you said.
Your attraction towards Dave is unbearable, but at least your pants are not tightening like they did back in the lab. It is growing darker and at the same time, you are going to need some moral support.
"Dave, I'm scared," you said as you clung to him.
Dave puts his arm around you.
"It's okay, buddy," Dave said. "We will stop soon, okay."
Dave stops walking. You won't let go of him and you are rooted to the spot, unwilling to budge.
"John," Dave began.
You are quivering. This is so embarrassing…
"Come on, John, just a bit more," Dave urged.
"I. Can't," you stammered and panicked.
"Gosh, John," Dave began. "You are more paranoid of the dark than I am."
"I hope I am not too much of a burden," you apologized.
"No, don't say that, John," Dave said.
"O-okay," you stammered.
Dave tries to hold your hand for support.
"Dave, no homo," you said.
Why are you saying that? You are a homosexual yourself. At the same time, you are not sure as to what Dave's orientation is…so you decide to rewind and take everything slowly. Dave just laughs. You don't want to make things really awkward, for starters…
"I'm trying to comfort you, silly goose," Dave said as he half-dragged you to a fallen log and forced you to sit down.
"Oh, okay," you said with relief.
"I'll make a campfire, alright," Dave said.
"Okay," you responded.
"I'll be back," Dave said as he began to walk to some bushes.
He turns around.
"I am just getting some sticks and Torchic can light the fire," Dave explained. "Just hang tight and I will be back, soon."
"Soon?" you asked.
"Just a couple of minutes," Dave said as he disappeared into the brush and brambles.
Pikachu gets off your shoulder and curls up on your lap. You stroke his soft fur after he fell asleep. This will keep you distracted until Dave comes back. Good therapy, especially since you forgot to take your medication for your panic attacks before you left the house this morning. You are so forgetful and you hope that you will not have regrets about that.