I got tired. I got so tired of living in this place.
All of my peers had no idea what the outside world was like. The imbeciles would go on about how they were so great for all of the shelter work they did when they went on family vacations to other regions. Did they forget that they can't even go a mile north because of the virus? Forget that they can't have the experiences children have in every other region?
The bubble known as Pallet Town was only bearable because Professor Oak lived here. I'd sometimes go to his lab to see if any progress had been made in regard to the virus. Nothing ever seemed to work though. The unaffected pokémon seemed to have a completely random pattern. Unless they find a connection between their subjects, they can't do a thing. Still, if anyone can do it it's Oak and his aides.
I can only think to help by doing one thing.
Going on my own Pokémon Journey to find anything they'd overlooked.
My name is Darren. Because I lived in Pallet Town, Route 1 was where my journey started. I told my mom my plans via note and headed out. I sat near the grass of Route 1 for several hours, to see if looked uninfected. If they were, then they'd stay near the town. That was my reasoning at least.
Eventually, who would show up but Oak. He got angry at me for being so reckless and we went to his lab. His colleague, Blake, was there too. Apparently he had some important business to conduct with Oak. He said there was no time to waste. Yet Oak decided to give me a pokémon first. I had the choice of three; all were the children of pokémon he had trained when he was younger.
*Bulbasaur, the child of the Venusaur that had singlehandedly saved a village in another region from a swarm of Beedrill large enough to break through the barriers set up around the barriers that were placed around the forests of the world.
*Squirtle, whose father now led the Blastiose Fire Squad in Saffron- an elite group that was in existence before the virus developed.
*Charmander, descended from the legendary Charizard that defeated the first infected group of Gyarados. In their natural habitat, no less.
Any one of them would be a great partner. Choosing one was the most difficult decision I've ever had to make. While Bulbasaur had a look of great determination shining through, Squirtle looked ready to learn whatever was needed to survive outside. Charmander… Charmander had a surprisingly calm disposition. Seemed balanced. Alert. Ready for action, but not about to take any unnecessary.
Charmander seemed to call out to me in a way the others didn't. And thus, I made my first true friend. I called him Kenner. I don't know why. I guess it's kind of like "kinder" and "mander". It just seemed to suit him.
And with that, we set off.
