Chapter One
The wind blew lightly over the small town of Karetrel. Cries of Pidove and Starly could be heard overhead. People were bustling about, conversing with one another and getting ready to start the day. Yes, it was a rather ordinary day in Karetrel Town. But for one ordinary girl, it was the biggest day of her life.
Arianna was a bit older than most trainers are when they begin their journeys, but there had never been a Professor this close to her hometown before that was giving out Pokémon to start a journey with. At sixteen, she was beginning to give up hope on ever getting to go on a journey of her own. Then the news that a Professor by the name of Willow would be moving to the small town to conduct some research. She would also be giving away starter Pokémon to trainers in town. This weekend she would be giving away the starters that were native to the Unova region, meaning the trainers would have a choice between Snivy, Tepig and Oshawott. Arianna wanted an Oshawott, but Snivy would also be nice. So she got up early that morning to make sure she got the Pokémon she wanted. She was just about to walk out the door when her brother, Michael, came running down the stairs.
"Today's the day Arianna! Today's the day I get my first Pokémon!" he yelled cheerfully as he ran through the house. He was only thirteen, but sometimes he sure didn't act like it.
"Yes, now be quiet! You don't want to wake up the whole house!" Arianna hissed, attempting to grab her brother's arm. He jumped out of the way and Arianna decided it was best to just let him run around while she went to Professor Willow's lab. She slipped out the door without a word and walked calmly to the newly built lab in town. The doors slid open and Arianna saw a girl, about her age with tan skin, wavy brown hair and equally brown eyes, standing with a Pokeball in her hand. Arianna walked inside and turned to Professor Willow.
"Excuse me, but is it too late to get my first Pokémon?" she asked.
"Oh, of course not! Let me show you what I still have. Selena here just took one, but I still have two others. Let me show you this one first," Professor Willow said, picking up a Pokeball from her cart. She tossed it in the air and a small orange Pokémon came out. "This is Tepig, a Fire type." Professor Willow said.
"Can I see the other?" Arianna asked and the Professor nodded. Was Oshawott already taken?
"Of course. I have a feeling you'll like this one," she said, taking the other Pokeball in her hand. She tossed it in the air and a small blue and white Pokémon came out. It held a shell in its hand and gave a small bow. Arianna felt relief rush over her. "This is-" the Professor began.
"Oshawott. That's the one. I want Oshawott," Arianna said. Professor Willow smiled and handed Arianna the Pokeball that Oshawott had been in and then took out a small pink device.
"This is a Pokedex. It contains data on all the different Pokémon. Just point it at the Pokémon you wish to know more about and it will give a short description. It can also see which moves the Pokémon knows and which moves it can learn," she said, handing Arianna the Pokedex.
"Thank you." Arianna said, turning to the girl who had the third Pokémon. Selena, she thought her name was. If Arianna had Oshawott and Tepig still hadn't been chosen, then she must have chosen Snivy.
"So, you chose the little actress, huh?" Selena asked, not looking at Arianna.
"What?" Arianna asked.
"The Oshawott. She's nothing but a drama queen. She won't do very well in battle. My Snivy here, on the other hand, knows how to stay focused." Selena said.
"How do you know that?" Arianna asked. She did not like this girl very much.
"You have to take a Pokémon's personality into account when you choose it. Did you see what she did when she came out of the Pokeball? It just wants to put on a show. It won't be serious about anything," Selena said.
"Then I'll just have to work around that when I train her. I'm not one to take the easy way out," Arianna said. Selena regarded her but said nothing. Neither girl said anything and the silence was only broken by Michael running in.
"Arianna, why didn't you tell me you were leaving?" he asked as he skidded to a stop in front of the cart where Tepig's Pokeball sat, with Tepig safely inside.
"Are you here to get your first Pokémon too?" Professor Willow asked.
"You bet I am!" Michael said, nodding enthusiastically. Professor Willow smiled and took the Pokeball off the cart.
"Well you're in luck. I have one left. Here, why don't you let it out?" she asked. Michael took the Pokeball and tossed it in the air.
"Come on out... whoever you are!" he said, oblivious to the fact that both Snivy and Oshawott were standing by their trainers' feet. Tepig came out and promptly sneezed, sending a small cloud of embers and smoke at Michael.
"This is Tepig, a Fire type. Do you like him?" Professor Willow asked.
"You bet! Who did you get sis?" Michael asked as Tepig ran over to him
"I got Oshawott. She's a Water type," Arianna said.
"I know that. So who did you get?" Michael asked Selena, who had been watching the entire scene with interest.
"Who does it look like?" She asked, pointing to the Snivy at her feet.
"Oh, so that's a Snivy," Michael said, crouching down to look at the Grass type. Selena quickly returned the Pokémon before he could get a good look.
"Look, this has been fun and all, but I really have to go. It was... nice... meeting you all," she said, turning to leave. Michael looked at Arianna again.
"So, how about we have a battle?" he asked once Professor Willow had given him his Pokedex.
"Sure," Arianna said.
"Not in the lab you don't. You'll have to go outside for a battle," Professor Willow said. Arianna and Michael thanked the Professor one more time and left the lab to find a place for their first battle.