My first published Pokemon fanfiction.

This first chapter may be slow, but that's because it's an introduction. The story is based around the time Hoenn was founded, but it takes place in Kanto. Kanto is still technologically behind, and they like it that way. The children set off on their own journeys at fourteen instead of ten. Also, this fanfiction is based more off of the games than the anime.

I plan on Beth being the main character and narrator for the entire story. Whether it's going to be more mainstream, as if you're playing it on a Gameboy, or more unique like the anime, it will only include elements of the Red/Blue/Yellow Pokemon world, and there will be no original pokemon, cities, or gym leaders/Elite Four members.

Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon, or its affiliates, and I probably never will. I do own original characters, though.

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In our world of Kanto, the region of colorful journeys, there are five heroes...

We are all told this story.

Many years ago, back when the world was fresh and undiscovered and the Pokédex was considered high-tech, there were three children born in Pallet town on the same day. When they turned ten years old, they began their journey, as back then that was the age you were required to be before you could venture on your own with a Pokémon.

The first young trainer, Red, was a pretty girl with bright crimson eyes, wavy brown tresses, and a nasty temper. She chose Charmander, the fire lizard Pokémon.

The second trainer was Blue. He had docile sapphire eyes, short-kept brown hair, and a quiet personality. He chose Squirtle, the water turtle Pokémon.

The final trainer was named Green. He was very stubborn, but attractive with emerald optics and soft blonde hair. He chose Bulbasaur, the grass seed Pokémon.

They left on the same day with the same dream, but they didn't know they would change history. Unknowingly, they paved and stamped the paths through tall grass and treacherous seas for future travelers. They taught lessons to the poor, who couldn't afford to carry Pokémon, and whose children wander the world as successful trainers today. They battled the rich, who were the only ones back then who owned Pokémon, and the rich, in turn, established gyms for the best of the best to show their skills, and manufactured badges as symbols for those who proved their worth.

Unfortunately, as the trio and their Pokémon partners grew and matured, they never met up. Those who used to be friends were now strangers. They built the first cities, gather and documents the most Pokémon at once in history, and became the best and the strongest. But something was missing from their lives, even through the tight friendships formed with their Pokémon partners.

Eventually, they each returned to their homes in Pallet, one by one. Red was first to come back. Her hastiness had led her Pokémon to have high attack and speed stats, and so those Pokémon's descendents also have high attack or speed stats. Red had caught a mystical bird Pokémon, Articuno, while traveling through a cave in the middle of the sea. With her fire-type Charizard, the battle was not difficult because the bird was part ice.

Green returned second, two years after he'd left and a year after Red returned. His craftiness showed his Pokémon how to develop non-physical attacks, and their special stat excelled. And so, their descendents had high special stats. Green had also caught a mystical bird, Zapdos, while exploring an abandoned Power Plant. It was a difficult battle, but his Venusaur won in the end, as its Grass element was resistant to Zapdos' high-voltage Electric attacks.

Blue returned last, yet another year after Green had. His withdrawn personality had also given his Pokémon high defense stats, and their descendants had high defense as well. And therefore, diversity was given to all the Pokémon in the world. Blue had caught a mystical bird as well while journeying through a massive cave near Pallet Town's neighbor, Viridian City. The fire bird Moltres was discovered at the end of the long path that had taken many weeks to traverse and chart, though the Pokémon was easy to capture with Blue's water-type Blastoise.

For the first time in years, the young adventurers spoke. Blue told his friends of a large empty plot at the end of the treacherous cave, which he had named Victory Road because of its difficulty of passage. Now they discussed what the plot would be used for.

All three immediately agreed it should be a highly regarded place of rest and celebration. One would only be able to enter even the Victory Road if they had all eight badges from the established gyms, since the wild Pokémon of Victory Road were so powerful. The building built there would be a showcase of the most experienced and strong trainers. And then there would be a final battle, much like a gym battle, at the end of which a trainer would be crowned Champion of the Pokémon League.

But from there they differed. Being thirteen years old, their opinions were wise beyond their years, but varied greatly. Hours were devoted for conference until, late into the night, they reached a compromise.

Their decision of the regulations and rules are in place today at the Indigo Plateau, Headquarters of the Pokémon League. They are many and very lengthy, but by sunrise the trio was finished. Their dream was taking figure.

For another three years, the trio constructed the building that would later be the symbol of hopes and dreams for many new trainers. Crews of both people and Pokémon helped with the project, and after the long years the Indigo Plateau was complete. Red suggested building shrines for all who helped, and it was so.

The trio then began wandering the world for trainers who were not only the strongest and who had beaten all eight official gyms, but who were creative and willing to teach.

Finally, Red, Blue, and Green found the Elite Four. Lorelei, a headstrong eighteen-year-old, was an expert on ice Pokémon. Twenty-four-year-old Bruno had actually asked the trio to join, and it was the willpower and eagerness that allowed the black belt fighting master to join. Next was Agatha, who was forty-seven at the time. She was a master of ghost and poison types. Finally was Lance, a dragon-master who was only thirteen years old.

For ten years, the Pokémon League thrived. There were many challengers for the Elite Four, but no Champions. Red, Blue, and Green were famous, but humble. They dubbed their mystical bird Pokémon as Legendaries, and then released them back to their initial roots for other trainers to find.

Exactly sixteen years after the trio's journey began, two more heroes set out.

This was about six years ago.

Ash Ketchum had always been rivals with his neighbor, Gary Oak. On the day they embarked on their journey, both of them were presented with special Pokémon that were just as rare and unique as regular starting Pokémon. Ash received a Pikachu that refused to enter its Pokéball, and Gary received a versatile and adaptable Eevee.

They split as most trainers would, but they raised their Pokémon very differently. Ash caught few Pokémon, but took his time becoming familiar and friendly with them. Gary caught many and raised the strongest. Gary advanced faster than Ash, and was always a step or gym badge ahead. Their paths often crossed and every time they saw each other they fought.

Surprisingly, Ash always emerged victorious.

He and his Pokémon made it to the Pokémon League. The four battles were intense and ruthless, but ash managed to come out on top every time, Pikachu by his side.

When he defeated Lance, he was stunned to see Gary there, having just beaten the Elite Four minutes earlier. And while Gary wasn't technically the Champion, since his name had not been entered into the Hall of Fame yet, he still had to defend his title. Lance decided that with this final battle, the winner would become the first official Pokémon League Champion.

The battle was epic. Viewers around the world saw the fight rage on for hours. Many supported Gary the "true Champion", because he had fairly won it first. But many supported Ash, whose hard work and diligence just happened to pay off seconds after Gary had shoved his way in.

In the end, Ash emerged triumphant. He became the first official Champion of the Pokémon League.

Those who watched were amazed when he offered to share the title with Gary.

Conflicted, Gary left immediately after without another word. Few know why or where he went. Gary became known as the Pokédex Master when his completed Pokédex was found at the entrance of the Pokémon League. When it had seemed he was looking for quantity, not quality of Pokémon, he had been studying the wild and completing entries on Pokémon. Gary discovered two more Pokémon than Red, Blue, and Green: Mew and Mewtwo. Gary stated that Mew was a genetic creation from all of the DNA of Pokémon mixed together for one ultimate Pokémon.

Mew had been scientifically created, and was therefore sentenced to judgment from its scientist creators. They wanted to clone Mew and make Mewtwo, an ultra-powerful super Pokémon, as Mew was too docile for their tastes. Both Mew and Mewtwo supposedly fled from the factory after their creation. Whether these two Pokémon are real or not is yet to be seen.

In any case, Gary's meticulous detail has become the standard index on Pokémon around the world. However, since the Champion battle, he has not been seen since.

Ash remains to this day an adventurer, returning only to the Pokémon League as the undefeated Champion, ready to defend his title.

That is the story of the five heroes who changed the world.

Since then, new regions have been founded. They are more high-tech and wealthy than our region of Kanto, but we continue to perform things at our own pace. There are no berries, no special watches or PDAs, and each pack still holds only 20 items at a time. We don't have 300 extra species of Pokémon, or 100 more Technical Machines, or 10 contests in the cities, or even 5 new Hidden Machines. Here in Kanto, we play it old school, just like it used to be and just like it's supposed to be. Team Rocket still runs around causing trouble. Snorlax still block the roads. And trainers still roam the tall grass freely.

The only thing that had changed is the age of which we are allowed to depart.

Tomorrow, I turn 14, the minimum age, and I will start on my very own Pokémon adventure.

My dream isn't about becoming a Pokémon Master, or filling up my Pokédex. I could truly care less about finding and collecting all of the TMs and elemental stones. And I don't need to "catch them all" or whatever.

My name is Beth and my dream is to beat Ash Ketchum for the title of Champion of the Pokémon League.