"Welcome to the world of Pokemon!"
Professor smiled down at me for a few seconds then frowned. His white hair was sticking up and he wore his lab coat with a pink polo. Everyone knew that he hated to say those words. He had said them to every kid of the age of 15 in Palllet town. Every kid.
I fidgeted as he frowned at me. His dark eyes made everything uncomfortable.
He turned around and sat in his swivel chair. I was in his small research lab with a few teenage interns doing whatever they did in different spots in the the bright room. I looked to the side and saw what I had come for. A small sampling table with three red and white spheres on them. Pokeballs.
" Okay, Kai, you know the drill. Pick your Pokemon and I will give you your Pokedex. Then leave. Got it?" Professor Oak leaned back in his chair and stared at me. I quickly nodded and looked at the table. Under each Pokeball there was a little label. They read:
Charmander : Fire Type
Bulbasaur: Earth Type
Squirtle: Water Type.
I examined each one and poked the one that said Bulbasaur. I picked it up and looked expectantly at Oak.
"Okay, I choose Bulbasaur" I said and pulled my black baseball hat lower.
I had a good feeling about this. Blubasaur was cute and powerful.
Perfect.
Oak nodded and handed me a little red metal book. There was no pages. It just opened and there was a screen and a few multi-colored buttons. I glanced a Oak who was already playing Solitaire on his computer. I would just have to wing it with figuring the Pokedex, the red book, out. All I knew was that every Pokemon you met would automatically be logged into this thing.
I walked out of the lab and was blinded by the light and pulled my cap down even lower. I looked at the Pokeball that was still in my hand and pressed the little button so that it would shrink and I could put it in my pocket.
Pokemon are these creatures that roam the world and there are so many different types. It used to be that you had to be at least the age of ten to be licensed to capture and battle Pokemon, but they raised the age minimum because some kids who neglect their Pokemon because they were not mature enough.
A person who goes out into the world and captures and battles their Pokemon are called Pokemon Trainers.
I walked along the dirt path that lead to the path to… Viridian City? I did not really know. I guess I would battle wherever I ended up.
I kept walking and looked around at my home town. It was tiny with small brick houses with gravel paths going around each one. We all knew each other.
I glanced at my house as I passed it. I had already said my goodbyes. By goodbyes, I meant that I wrote a note saying farewell and packed a bag and got the hell out of there. I can not stay in this town any longer. I don't care where I go as long as I am not here. I have to many bad memories. My father leaving to be a trainer and never coming back and… Gary…
I kept walking and looked down at what I was wearing. A red shirt and some black shorts. I had a utility belt on that had a rope on it and a potion, Potions heal Pokemon, that I got from the local market. My white-blonde hair was in a side braid that did not go far because my hair was only shoulder length.
I stopped when I saw a old brown wooden sign in front me that read:
" LEAVING PALLET TOWN - VIRIDIAN CITY: 1 MILE"
After I read the sign I broke into a run with my black sneakers punning against the, now dirt, path. I need to get out. I kept running and running. I was not going to stop until I saw the Pokemon Center of Viridian. I could run away from Oak and my mother and Gary. I could leave and make a name for myself. I smiled to myself and felt tears spring in my eyes. Pallet town… I was going to miss it. It had bad memories but I needed to leave. I knew what I was going to do. I would train my Pokemon, my Bulbasaur, and become the best trainer that anyone has ever seen. I would. I would make sure that people did not look at me and think of the girl who's father left her and became a failed Pokemon trainer. From now on. They will look at me and think, "That's Kai Ayame, the best Pokemon trainer in the world. Look how strong she is. "
Yes, that is what they would think. I pulled my baseball cap up and continued to run. My side hurt. From running, crying, or just nerves, I did not know. I stopped when I saw the stone buildings of Viridian. Here I was. I closed my eyes and took a step forward. This is it. As I took that fateful step I was suddenly pushed against the ground. My butt hit the dirt path and I opened my eyes only to be greeted by the gleaming sun in my eyes. I pulled down my hat and saw the per on who I hoped that I would not see. My childhood friend, now my rival, Gary.
"Baka! You don't just go crashing head on into people!"
I stood up and brushed off where I had been shoved. I looked at Gary. His touseled brown hair was sticking up and he had one hand shoved in his pocket. His dark eyes were glaring at me and his thin lips were in a frown. He wore his usual; a purple tee shirt with a skull design on it and gray jeans. Yep, this was Gary.
I looked at him with wide eyes. Why was he here?
"Gary, what the hell are you doing here? I thought you were in Vermillion. You beat the Viridian Gym months ago" I said and placed a hand on my hip. I did not want him here.
I remembered that fateful day in September of last year when Gary had turned 15. At the time I was 14 and was impatient and jealous that Gary was getting his first Pokemon before me. I had walked down to the lab to wait for Gary for when he came out. I had leaned against the wall and played with my newly cut hair At that time it was into a shaggy pixie. I always cut my own hair. I remembered the glass doors opening and Gary coming out in his usual outfit. His hand was clasped around his new Pokeball so tight that his knuckles were turning white. He had looked at me and for an instant and his face burst into a smile then he froze. He had shoved me against the wall with one hand and got his face so close to mine that I had started to blush. I still remembered those sharp words.
" Do you now what he said? My own father? He said that he did not think I would make it. But that girl, that stupid girl, Kai. She would amount to something. "
He released me and walked away. I sunk to the ground and peeked my head around the corner so that I could see inside the lab. Oak was sitting in the back in his chair playing online checkers. he did not seem to care that he just created a monster. When Gary wanted something or to prove someone wrong he did not give up until he had done just that.
I guess that was the day when we became enemies.
I snapped out of my memories when I heard Gary's voice.
I looked at him and saw his arms spread wide. "Eh?" I said and backed up a little. What was he doing?
" I said, where's my hug?" He said and smiled a little. I grinned and ran to him and wrapped my arms around him. I felt his arms go around me and then stop.
"Oooh, look what we have here." I heard his voice say and I jumped back but not fast enough for him to have reached into my pocket and grab my Pokeball. "Okay, c'mon, give him back. " I said and lunged for Bulbasaur but Gary was too fast. I saw him raise his arm up and I looked at his face. I had been stupid. There was no way that he would think of us as anything but rivals from here on out.
When his arm came down he had thrown the poke ball against the path and I was blinded by the bright light.
I stood there and watched as a figure was sucked out from the poke ball.
On the grass stood a little Pokemon. It was blue and had a green bulb on its back. It also had some thin vines that came out of the bud.
"Bulba-saur"
"Aww! You chose Bulbasaur. How cute. " Gary laughed.
I stood there looking at the Pokemon then glanced at Gary.
"So, You wanna battle?"