Pokemon. It is a word that describes most of my childhood. From the first day I got to play for a few hours on the red game my brother had borrowed from school I fell in love and when I got my own red game I knew that it was going to last a long time. Now look at me, I'm 25 and still in love with the games however now that I am older I am able to look at the stories and the rules of the games in a completely new light and I can tell you now that there is no way that the Pokemon world can be all love, friendship and fluff clouds and still work. So I hope you can join me in exploring the darker side of the games.
My first really clear memory was my Granddad closing the door as I was lead away. Not exactly the most pleasant of memories but they do say that it is harder to forget the bad ones. I can't say at the time I hated the man, he had after all looked after me since I was three, I loved him even at that moment and still do. I think I was angry more then anything. Angry that he was doing nothing to stop the four people in suits who smelled of leather and smoke from putting me in to the mini bus. I know now that he closed the door to stop himself from snatching me back or sending out his Arbok to strike down the officials. Even so, at the time, it felt like he was abandoning me.
"You must be excited to be given a chance like this Karan" Smiled the one woman of the four adults. Fluffy blue hair with perfect make-up gave her a soft, clean look and her voice was friendly and encouraging but the firm grip on my ten year old hand let me know that she was no friend. I looked up at her but said nothing, I could already feel the sting of tears and I did not want to cry in front of these people.
"After all each quarter only three children in all of Kanto get to become Pokemon Trainers with one of Professor Oak's special Pokemon. Your Grandfather must be very proud of you" I looked down and nodded slowly hoping that my brown hair was long enough to hid my welling tears.
It is a cruel thing to do to a little girl. To take them away from everything they know just because their grades are not high enough and they can't afford to be sent to a decent secondary school. The Government calls it 'The second chance program' and say that it is a way for impoverished children to 'rise up above their humble beginnings', to try and become something great and a valued part of our region. From someone who has experienced the 'program' first hand I can tell you that it is a load of bollocks and is nothing more then a way for the Government to save money on more schools or benefits. After all why spend money on improving and helping people when you can just sweep them under the carpet. They may as well just toss us to the Gyarados and be done with it, at least that would have been quick and humane.
I was sat down near the back of the small bus next to the window. From what I remember the sun was shining that morning, a few birds flew over head and it looked set to be a lovely day but all I could look at was my Granddad's dingy little flat as it got smaller and smaller till I could not pick it out amongst the rest of the doors and windows. I made a promise to myself that day. That no matter how many battles I had to go threw I would get back to this street. I would run all the way from the market to the front door and when I saw my Granddad I would hug him so tight that no one would every take me away from him again. It was the first of many promises that I would make my self.
I had slept a little on the drive, mainly because I was not used to being in one of the motor cars and it was making me feel a little sick. Part of me had wanted to throw up on one of the men in suits just to get a reaction out of them or maybe for some payback but these was strangers and at ten I was still not confident enough to confront them even in that manner. The woman, who had told me to call her Miss Yunly, was friendly enough and kept trying to get me excited about what was to come but in all honesty it was not just the bus that was making me feel sick.
Lets get facts strait. Pokemon Trainers are fantastic. They are idolised by most and respected by everyone. They keep the routes safe, provide valuable Pokemon to everyday people and encourage trade and growth in all the towns and cities. Pokemon Trainers are the life blood of any Region and as a younger child I had dreamed to to become a trainer, to battle the monsters and tame them to fight for me. To roam the whole region and beyond, belonging to no one but myself and my team. Soon though I had realised that the dreams of a child rarely reflect reality and even at ten years old I knew the truth about Pokemon Trainers and the hardships they have to go threw. Training Pokemon was no Celebi tail. Most trainers don't last more then two years before they have to give up on the lifestyle and find a safer job though many more don't last long enough to make that switch. Pokemon Training was undertaken by the reckless and adventurous. Those that thought they had something to prove or maybe had no where left to turn. It wasn't the sort of lifestyle for a child of ten.
Over the coarse of the day we picked up two other kids, both boys. Jiro, who had seemed just are scared as I was about this ordeal, was a skinny kid with scruffy green hair. He clutched a small pack close to his chest as though it was his only life line. I had envied him at that point. Apart from the clothes I wore I had nothing from home.
The other lad was called Cody and he could not have been more different in his attitude to me and Jiro. To him this was an adventure, he was getting to live his dreams of becoming a Pokemon Trainer. His fast talking enthusiasm was annoying and with is spiky blond hair he reminded me of a Sunkern that had spent far too much time in the sun. Still he was very friendly and he soon had me and Jiro chatting a little more, though I can't remember if I had started speaking just to get some rest from Cody's constant nattering.
"...and after Misty's Water Gym you can then go strait to Sabrina's Physic Gym! Physic Pokemon are so cool, they can read you mind and talk to you!" The boy bounced up and down on his seat which I am sure was shaking the mini bus and while we did get a few glances from the four adults they mostly seemed pleased that there was a little bit of enthusiasm building up, after all there is nothing worse for publicity then having your 'specially chosen children' acting as though they were being led to the gallows.
The conversation had quickly lead to which of the three starter Pokemon we were each going to choose. Cody had his heart set on the Charmander and I had to admit that his energetic nature did suit the fire pokemon though it was a stupid choice, even at ten I knew that much. Not only were they hard to handle but they sucked at the first two Gyms that every new trainer had to face and if you could not get a gym badge you were limited as to where you could catch pokemon. A lot of kids picked Bulbasaur specifically because it had an advantage to the first two Gyms and while that was an advantage it did have a problem with being weak to most of the common wild Pokemon like birds. Charmander was fairly easy to train on wild Pokemon and thus could eventually beat Gym's down to pure power but Bulbasaur had to rely on it's type to take down opponents and that could only take you so far. No the Pokemon I had chosen to pick was the thinker's choice.
"Squirtle" Karan said matter of factly. "That's who I plan to pick"
"Aww you only picked the Squirt because you know it trumps my Fire type" complained Cody but he seemed good mannered about it and there certainly seemed to be no way to convince the boy to chance his mind...not that Karan wanted to.
"You happy with Bulbasaur" asked Cody as he stuck his face into Jiro's.
"Um sure" he said with a shrug "They have a good typeing and are easy to train from what I heard. I am fine whatever I get" The mood lightened a little after that conversation, now that there was a plan of sorts and we each knew what we were going to get we could see each other more as friends then rivles. I was so nieve back then.
Well now there is plenty left unsaid but I hope I have not left too many people confused about what is going on.