~~~~(-•-)~~~~

I stared up at the full pin-up board. All the merit awards and great projects hung proudly gleaming in the light emitting from my desk lamp. I am Raiden. A 15-year-old high school student. I peer over to the other side of the board with long distinguishable cream burgundy hair. Two tufts point up curved forward while the rest is slicked to one side. The light reflects off the ice-silver necklace over my neck and hits an important page pinned to my board. I withdraw it from its grasp and look over it many times. It was my first wonderful drawing... a Pikachu.

I'd always loved Pokémon back then, buying all the cards, training my Pokémon hard in the old-style games and staying up late watching the Pokémon shows. I smiled at a sweet memory and put my drawing back up in its place staring at it with awe. A simple, messy drawing, yet it is so well drawn with love and inspiration.

A take a quick glance at my alarm clock: 2:37 am. I yawn and put aside my sleeplessness for a few moments to lay down back in my bed. Staring at the ceiling, I slowly start to loose consciousness. "I always wanted when I was younger...'yawn'... For it to be real. For me to be the trainer... Kids dream, and I move on.

Life.0

The Region of Unova

I awoke and instantly put on a vexed expression. This is not my bedroom! The room surrounding me has pale blue walls a white trim, contrasting to my grey walls. I sat up and winced when I saw the mirror, I was in my ten year-old body!

I heard slow footsteps coming up a flight of stairs, sounds like an adult's. I took one more look around my room and noticed posters of... Pokémon. Wow, there was every kind along with a small picture of the trainer in the bottom left corner. Wait, is this real?

"Raiden, come on! Today is the day you get your Pokémon from professor Juniper!" she knocked the door with smooth hands as she spoke. I decided to play along, "Ok Mum, I'll be right down!"

"I'll prepare some breakfast then, Patrat is hungry too," Her last words caught my attention and I then started to get worried. I am in a 15 year-old in a 10 year-old's body, I am awoken by my mother, who I don't recognize and am told that the existence of Pokémon is a natural thing to say!

I get myself dressed into traveling clothes of a ten year-old. A silver jacket with scarlet and cream Pokéballs on either side with a tight belt and black cargo shorts. I spin my cap that was apparently achieved from the Pokémon league. I ran down the stairs in anticipation, I can act along while making sense of this situation.

I was greeted on the bottom floor to a large table set with a classic home cooked breakfast of bacon and fried egg. I looked up from the food and froze in one spot. "Pat pat Patrat," there it stood in all my awe and confusion. So all my theories and worries are confirmed. I have travelled into an alternate universe, where Pokémon exist and I am in my ten year-old body about to get a starter Pokémon and embark on a journey! I shake my head of my thoughts and try not to make eye-contact with the Patrat, I have to play along... Acting like a ten-year old... I think I can pull it off without seeming like an idiot, and besides, with my almost obsessive knowledge of everything about Pokémon when I younger.

I sat down and smiled at 'Mum'. I decided to strike a conversation, "So, Mum what kind of Pokémon does professor Juniper have for me?" sounds like a ten year-old. She looked down at me with a warm smile and spoke, "Oh, aren't you eager! Well the professor usually has the standard 3 starter Pokémon. One, grass, water and fire." looks like its just as the game starts, although I haven't seen Cheren or Bianca in this universe yet, so maybe I might meet some different rivals. Still playing along I thanked my mum finishing my breakfast at the same time and leaving the table.

"I am going to get my Pokémon now and leave on a journey! I'll become a great trainer and explore new places with my Pokémon!" I went up to my mum and gave her a hearty hug as she planted a kiss on my cheeks, obviously proud of my earlier speech. I waved goodbye and left the house.

I looked around the small town, I saw few houses then came to gaze on a big two-storey building. The Pokémon Lab. I started my walk for the building taking note of the various Pidove and Patrat around the town. Something caught my attention, it was two trainers have a flared battle between a Lillipup and a Patrat. I should watch this and learn from it.

"Quick Patrat dodge that [bite] and then [tackle]!" Patrat nodded, "Patra! Pat, Patrat!"

"Grr... Lillipup use a [tackle] then get close and end it with a [take down]!" The Lillipup abides the trainer's command and uses a [tackle] to get closer scoring a direct hit on Patrat. "Patrat is unable to battle Sryker wins!" I walk up to the winner surprising everybody. I must have a reputation, I'll change that good or bad. "Your battle was quite entertaining, your Lillipup ran with grace. Do some special training in the fields to build up speed and resistance. Oh, and your Lillipup will soon evolve into a Herdier with a small bit of training or a serious situation." Stunning everybody I turned to leave for the Pokémon Lab until a hand is placed on my shoulder, it was Sryker, "Who are you?"

"Oh, me? I am Raiden and I'm staring my journey as a Pokémon Trainer." I grinned and continued my walk to the Pokémon Lab. Little did I know that a golden-blonde haired trainer watched my evaluation from a tree, "It appears that he doesn't have a Pokémon at all, but it's like he knows everything there is to know about training Pokémon. Was this man's father a well versed trainer?" He left the scene just as stunned as everyone else witnessing his 'evaluation'. Sryker went off into the fields to train his Lillipup and the crowd dispersed but never stopped talking about the soon-to-be Trainer that knew almost everything about Pokémon.

I entered the Lab and startled the person inside. Instantly recognising the person inside I greeted her, "How's it going professor Juniper, extend your research on the origin of ancient Pokémon?" She looked at me with pure awe. 'How does he know about my research so well? It must just be information passed on from someone else to him.' She introduced herself again and gestured me to follow her to the next room. There on the table were three Pokéballs with all different stickers telling them apart. I spoke up surprising Juniper again, "Oh, so you have a Snivy, a Tepig and an Oshawott. I think I'll choose the Oshawott, I did like Samurott the evolved form." I picked up the Pokéball on the right, "I choose you Oshawott!" White light escaped the Pokéball as a form landed wondering why it was called out. I coughed and caught its attention, "Hello Oshawott, I am Raiden nice to meet you!" He smiled and looked at my strange haircut. "I'm certainly not like any other trainer in this world. I will raise you in all your base stats and prove that you can rely on me! Let's be a great team Oshawott!" I say with a determined expression pulled off with a smile, "Osha, Oshawott!"

I returned my first Pokémon to its home and turned

to Juniper who was about to give me a Pokédex.

"Of course, professor Juniper I will travel all of Unova and discover new Pokémon and fill the Pokédex! I will contact you when I come across any ancient Pokémon on my travels, so keep in touch." I leave the Lab with my full starter kit of: six Pokéballs, including my Oshawott, my Pokédex, ¥1000 and a Town Map.

I am about to head home for some lunch before I embark on my journey, until I am stopped by a golden-blonde haired trainer. He has a partially blue tank top with a Pokéball based necklace over his chest. He wears black cargo shorts, similar to my brand of shorts and white combat gloves.

"Let's have a Pokémon battle!" I put on a huge grin, little does he know that I finished Black and White 32 times with 156 different combinations of Pokémon.

"Haha I gladly accept, you will see a style that complements my abundant knowledge of Pokémon. Oshawott I choose you!" Oshawott escaped his Poke'ball and wondered why he was called out. I crouched down to his eye level and spoke in a calm tone, "This is our first Pokémon battle so let's do our best, ok?" He nodded, "Osha Osha!"

He pulled out a Poke'ball from his pocket, enlarged it and released his Pokémon, "Go Purloin!"

"Purr, loin loin!" His Pokémon cried. I started the battle, "Let's begin."

Life.1

The Life of a Pokémon Trainer

"Go Oshawott, use a [Tackle] but be ready," I made the first move, "Oshawa!"

"Purloin use [Growl] then counter his attack with a [Scratch]!" His Pokémon replied with a small meow.

"Now Oshawott, Jump into the air and finish the [Tackle]!" Oshawott dived into the air and skimmed past Purloin's [Scratch] attack and slammed into its side. I didn't get over-confident and said my next command, "Don't let up Oshawott [Tackle] once more while they're put off then finish with a [Water Gun]!"

"Oshaa, Oshawott wott!"

Purloin is hit again with [Tackle] and the blonde looks worried, "Purloin, stay strong dodge his attacks!" It was too late for him as [Water Gun] hit its target and Purloin lay on the pavement unconscious.

"Looks like I won this battle, my first real battle against a trainer! Thanks for the experience!" He removed the frown from his mug as he returned Purloin to its Poke'ball in a flash of crimson light.

"Strange... You say this is your first battle, but you battle as if you have done it a thousand times with many Pokémon..." I smile at him and tried to change the subject, "So, what did you say your name was again?"

"Phoenix." He replied simply, "Phoenix, I am embarking on a journey all around Unova and visiting many Pokémon in their homes. If you are also travelling it would be useful for us to travel and train together, no?" He put on a grin from ear-to-ear, "Yeah, I'll come with you on your journey. I'm sure my Purloin is up for it!"

"Purr Purr." It agreed, "Then from this moment forth we will travel around the Unova region together!"

I heard loud noises in the distance and looked over to see the trainer who I evaluated before walks up to us.

"Hey, wait!" Oshawott stops him in his tracks with [Leer], but I tell him to stand down.

"Hello Sryker, did you perhaps want to come with us?" He nodded his black-haired head and opened his silver jacket to reveal six Pokéballs. He grabbed one of them and released it from its home. White light enveloped us both as a rather large dog with purple-blue fur along its back and tough muscles.

"Herr Herdier!" I smiled, even though he was taller than me I gave him a fatherly smile to show that I was proud. Like a sensei congratulating his student I praised him noticing the stat. difference from before.

"Well, you did well training your Herdier I notice his change in speed, defence and special attack. I also see your Herdier has peaked its attack strength in this form." Both Phoenix and Sryker look at me in awe, "Oh gosh! You can tell the stats of my Pokémon just by looking at it, how?" I think up a plausible answer then come up with something believable, "My father was the Champion until he passed away when I was 7 years old." I look to Sryker, "I suppose we better introduce ourselves. My name is Raiden, I am ten years of age and am a new coming trainer who just picked a starter Pokémon." Phoenix steps forward and bows, "My name is Phoenix, and this is my partner,"

FLASH

"Pur loin loin!" I cough and get everyone's attention,

"Ha ha now that this is all said and done, how about we make our way through Route 1?"

"Yeah sure, let's go!" Sryker said not wanting to waste daylight. Phoenix looked far off into the distance, 'This guy is amazing, truly amazing! But, I don't really believe someone could know that much about Pokémon who just got their starter from professor Juniper. It's all strange... But I should just smile.'

Phoenix awoke from his daydream and turned to us smiling, "Let's go travel Unova, Starting at Route 1!"

With that we set off for Route 1, after some quick goodbyes.

Life.2

The New King N

The sun was setting as we camped in the fields of Route one for the night. Oshawott was relaxing while sketching something with his Scalchop. I guess some of my artistic tendencies passed to him. Oshawott had increased to become an all-rounder with a slight focus more on speed. He learned two new moves: [Razor Shell] and a move taught by me that does not exist on any Pokémon, [Battery Rain]. The aptly named move was something a stumbled upon while fighting a wild Patrat.

"Oshawott, lower its defences with a [Leer] then unleash a [Water Gun]!" He nodded in understanding,

"Osha...Waaa!" It was then that I noticed something, what if I charged his [Water Gun] with an electric current, the static would fall with a downpour of rain charged with electricity. An offensive move. I passed the instructions to Oshawott who looked at me like he believed in me. I took out a small disk that contained certain data. A Tm, [Thunder Wave]. I loaded the data into my Poke'dex and used the Tm on Oshawott.

"Now, Oshawott as I explained use the [Water Gun], charge it, then release it." He nodded determined to prove he could live up to my expectations. He built up an orb of water and, instead of releasing the attack at a concentrated point he made a wave like attack that was sent into the air. He jumped high and coated his body in electricity sending spikes of lightning into the wave the water sparked, then became dense discharging electricity. "Now Oshawott release the attack, use [Battery Rain]!"

"Oshaaaaaaaa Wott!"

Patrat instantly froze in his place twitching as electricity coursed through his body. He was dripping wet and had bruises from the water striking him.

"Pa...Patra...tt" The wild Patrat fainted and fell into sweet, deep unconsciousness.

Raiden's Pokémon Team

Oshawott: Water, Male

Level: 17

Moves: Tackle, Leer, Water Gun, Razor Shell

Thunder Wave and Battery Rain

Phoenix's Pokémon Team

Purloin: Dark, Female

Level: 13

Moves: Scratch, Growl, Assist, Sand Attack, Fake Out

and Pursuit

Sryker's Pokémon Team

Herdier: Normal, Male

Level: 16

Moves: Tackle, Leer, Bite, Take Down, Helping Hand and Odour Sleuth