Introduction:
The world of Pokemon. It is a vast and wondrous place, inhabited far and wide by the creatures we call Pokemon. Humans and Pokemon have learned to coexist with each other. They help us realize our goals, and in return, we help them unlock their full potentials. The bonds we forge with our Pokemon are what drive us toward success. Many kinds of Pokemon live out in the wild. In total, 721 different Pokemon have been discovered, along with several Mega Evolutions. Some people keep Pokemon as pets. Others battle them competitively. Pokemon Trainers put themselves to the ultimate test by challenging Gyms all throughout their home Regions in order to battle the Elite Four and become Pokemon Masters. The Olympia Region is no different than any other. From the quiet snowdrifts of Arendelle Town to the raging seas of Gulfstorm City, every Trainer's journey is sure to be filled with excitement! I should know. I challenged the Olympia League once. The friends I made and the foes I defeated will always hold special places in my memory. But what really happened goes much deeper than that. This is the tale of my journey.
Now that I'm done with this prolonged and unnecessary introductory monologue, I'll just get into the story. You probably don't want to hear me ramble any longer.
Chapter 1: Small Beginnings
The massive overhead lights flickered on in the huge stadium. There I stood, at the northern end of the arena, across from a man in a black coat, who had just been introduced as Bob Jones. The announcer turned his attention to me. "And in this corner, we have a young man from Oceanic Town! You all know and love him! Please welcome... GRIFFIN SEQUOIA!"
The crowd roared. I waved and bowed, enjoying the attention. "Yes! You all love me!"
Bob and I stepped into the center of the arena and shook hands. "May the better Trainer win," Bob said.
"Count on it," I replied. We walked back to our corners.
"Battle begin!" the announcer cried.
"Nidorino, I choose you!" Bob cried, throwing a Pokeball.
"Go, Gengar!" I cried.
"Use Bite, Nidorino!"
"Gengar, Shadow Claw!"
The two Pokemon clashed in the middle of the field. Gengar threw Nidorino back and floated back over to me.
"Horn Attack!" Bob ordered, and Nidorino began charging.
"Gengar, hit it with a Shadow Ball! Then an ironically learned Dazzling Gleam!" I yelled.
Gengar fired a ball of dark energy and unleashed a bright glow. Nidorino fainted.
The crowd cheered. I bowed several times. But then the cheering died down, and it was replaced by... a xylophone tune?
"What...? No! Not my alarm!" I cried. "It was just getting to the good part! I can't wake up yet!"
Too late. I blinked, and the arena vanished, replaced by my bedroom in Oceanic Town. I was at home and without any Pokemon at all. "Damn it. Why do you have to be like that, you stupid alarm?" I grumbled. "I frickin' love that dream. It makes me feel normal."
And it did. My life was tougher than some other people. My dad had disappeared without a trace when I was only four, so my mom had to raise me (and my sister until she left on her journey) by herself. And if that wasn't enough, I was practically a Tauros's eye with legs when it came to being ridiculed at school. This was partly because I'm socially awkward, but I also didn't have any Pokemon yet, as I... may have... already mentioned. I'd held off on getting my starter for six years because the one I wanted was never available, but my peers all thought I was unable to get my Trainer's license. I did have it, though. It just sat on my bedside table until I got my starter. My driver's license was a different story. I got a C- in that class...
At least there was Umbri. She was the only one in town who really got me. She had also put off getting her starter for the same reasons I did: the one she wanted was never there. We were also both pretty good Kalosian Horn players, but she's way better than me.
I was about to turn off the alarm on my iPhone when I saw the label I'd put on it. Just two words that marked a major turning point in my life: "It's time."
Quickly, I jumped out of bed, showered, and dressed. I never dressed too fantastically. Just jeans, black tennis shoes, and a black cardigan sweater unbuttoned over a Crobatman shirt. I also had a "Lord of the Mello" marching band tag necklace, a faux-gold Pidgeot pin, and my class ring, which was black with an orange stone. Today was the day! Professor Blackthorn had finally brought in the right starters!
For those of you who don't know, starter Pokemon are a little weird in Olympia. We have a randomized set every year. When my sister had left, they were Chikorita, Piplup, and Charmander. Last year, they were Turtwig, Mudkip, and Cyndaquil. This year, they were Snivy, Squirtle, and Fennekin. Umbria was hoping for Squirtle. As for me, that Snivy was mine!
Brushing my long hair out of my face, I stampeded down the stairs like a Rhydon into the kitchen. Mom was already awake. She was making a pepper jack and bacon omelet. "Hey, you're up!" she said, smiling when she saw me.
"Morning, mom!" I said. "Today, it finally happens! I get my first Pokemon!"
"Yeah!" mom said, slapping me playfully on the shoulder. She moved my omelet from the pan onto a plate. "I can't put into words how proud I am! Now, eat up, hotshot. Even future Pokemon Masters need food." She put the omelet plate on the table.
I grabbed a bottle of Sriracha sauce from the fridge, sat down, and grinned. Mom had somehow made my omelet look like a bacon and cheese Pokeball. I drowned it in hot sauce, shoved it down my throat, ran upstairs to grab my phone, and sprinted outside to wait for Umbri. I decided to send her a quick text. "Good morning, exclamation point, colon, close bracket," I said into the microphone, using the dictation feature.
Her reply came within a minute. "Good morning, Griffin! On my way. 10 mins. tops."
Sure enough, she came to my front yard in ten minutes. I saw her approaching from a block away. We were about the same height, with me being ahead by an inch and a half. She had short brown hair and glasses, which glinted as the morning sunlight reflected off of them. She smiled in that awesome way that she does. "Awesome day for our starter Pokemon, don't you think?" she asked.
"I'm assuming that was a rhetorical question?" I replied.
"Well, we all know what happens when you assume."
"Yeah! It involves the word a-!"
"Come on, let's get to the lab!" Umbri said, grabbing my wrist. Together, we ran across town to Professor Blackthorn's lab.
Professor Blackthorn, by the way, was the Olympia Region's leading expert on all things Pokemon. He was actually born in the Kalos Region (his accent really shows it) and studied with the renowned Professor Sycamore. It would actually be a lie to say there was nothing I'd miss about school once I left on my journey, because he was the incredibly rare toleratablus educus, which is some language for tolerable teacher. I would even go so far as to say he was a cool teacher! He was definitely one of the good guys.
Anyway, when we got to the lab, the doors were already unlocked. "That's weird. I thought we were only late for being early," I muttered.
"Me too," Umbri whispered.
Our conversation was cut short as Blackthorn greeted us from inside. "Well, if it isn't Griffin and Umbri!" he called. "I'm guessing you two are here for the starter Pokemon?"
"You know it sir!" I said. Umbria and I stepped up to a table with three Pokeballs sitting on it. The first one was marked with a leaf. The second one, with a raindrop. The third, a flame.
"Um... about that..." Blackthorn started, but we cut him off as we made our selections at once.
"Snivy!" I cried, grabbing the first Pokeball.
"Squirtle!" said Umbri, reaching for the second one. We opened the Pokeballs simultaneously... and found that they were empty.
"Those were already taken by two kids who were early," Blackthorn finished unnecessarily.
Umbri and I were both eyeing the last Pokeball at that point. The one marked with a flame. I stepped forward to grab it, but stubbed my toe on one of the table's legs. The Pokeball rolled off the table and popped open on the floor. Out of it came... nothing.
"Let me guess," I groaned, almost feeling my dreams shatter.
"Also taken by someone who was too early for his own good," Blackthorn confirmed.
I jumped at one last hope. "Do you at least have some Pikachu?"
"Sorry. Taken as Well."
I dropped to my knees and started dramatically screaming at the ceiling. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"