Hey there. This is the first piece of fanfiction I've ever written. I've loved both Pokemon and creative writing since a I was a kid, and it just felt like it was time to combine the two. Hope you enjoy ;-;

Green's Adventures in Kanto – Chapter 1: "Green and Moon"

The first time Red let it slip, Green had been nearing fifteen. Father and son relaxed together after dinner, couched among shelves of books in the front room. Red had been reading; Green had flicked idly through his phone. A fan turned slowly overhead, and a restless Wendy, the family Persian, entered and left the room many times. Green had looked up at some point, sighed and muttered, "I can't believe it's still over a year away."

At first, his father hadn't even bothered to meet his gaze. "Could be worse. They used to send us out as children." Green recalled how, judging from his father's face, Red must have remembered suddenly. "My god, we were only ten." He had scoffed at this. "We didn't know what the hell we were doing at that age. Trust me, you're better off waiting."

It had sounded like a joke. Ten? He was supposed to believe that back in the day, a ten-year-old could apply for a Pokemon Trainer's License. Wow, good one, pops.

Red had just shaken his head, assured him it was true. "Things were different then. I don't know quite how to explain it." He closed his book. "Look. Back then, you could almost think of Kanto as one big community. People in Viridian knew people in Pewter, and vice-versa. It was like that with all the towns. It's just the way things were." He had gestured out the bay window of their townhouse toward the dim, crowded street. Sorrow had surfaced in his voice. "I mean, look at this place. Your grandma's home is long-gone, steamrolled over by those Kakuna Condo towers. There are almost as many people in Pallet as there used to be in Saffron. The Saffron of those times, I mean—we all know how massive Saffron's gotten now."

Green had long since disregarded his phone. "I can't believe this. You're actually serious."

Red had shrugged, as if the age disparity were somehow a minor one, a technicality.

"Ten years old? I'm almost fifteen. Fifteen, Dad. I'm still stuck here waiting. It just doesn't seem fair."

"I know, Green." He sat back in his armchair. "Like I said, it's a different world now. It's amazing how quickly people forget the old days. Don't let it get you down. There are many advantages you'll have, being older. Your adventure will unfold along with experiences I was far too young to encounter."

Green's shoulders had slumped; his chin rested in his hands. "I guess."

"Don't worry, Green. You'll see what I mean in time."

So, the minimum age really was once ten. It was probably for the best that Green hadn't found out earlier. The wait would've driven him crazy. But by that time, to a teenaged Green, the thirteen months remaining had felt manageable.

;-;

Now? His fateful sixteenth year lay just a night's sleep ahead. Green was excited—ecstatic, actually—and of course, very nervous. That evening, he moved south along the busy streets of Pallet toward the Southside Pier, seeking relief from his anxiety. He was accompanied by his best friend, Moon, who lived in the same complex just a few houses down. It was early-June, and a warm, clear evening eagerly welcomed the boys to summer.

Strapped as it was for unused land, Pallet Town had spent the intervening years expanding north toward Viridian City, which had, of course, also expanded south. What little natural habitat remaining between the two was set aside for the Pokemon who called it home: protected wilderness lands. Catching remained unrestricted, but further city development had been absolutely banned. Brief forest on the east and west sides of the Pallet peninsula was mostly clear-cut, and the town, quite literally out of space, had begun expanding skyward. The boys passed under the long shadows of these new gleaming buildings as they walked.

Out on the pier, a permanent night market brimmed with Palleters who bustled through its narrow lanes, as Pidgey ruffled their feathers and twitched their necks from bright fabric awnings, and Rattata roamed in scavenging clusters along the wooden floor.

As it became dark, the boys bought pretzels and cotton candy, faces awash in the multicolored bulbs that beaconed from booths and small amusement rides. They moved to a quiet spot down the boardwalk. Moon pointed to where the glow of Cinnabar Island was visible across the dark waters of Route 21—an uncommon sight.

"If you swam far enough, you'd reach it," he said, nudging Green with his elbow.

"Bullshit." Green tore off a piece of pretzel. "You wouldn't make it a hundred feet. A horde of Tentacruel would carry you off and have their way with you."

Moon dangled his legs over the edge of the planks. "That's gross."

They finished their treats in silence, soaking in a warm northerly breeze.

Moon's blue-and-white-striped t-shirt billowed. His black hair peeked from under his hat, ruffling endlessly. The boy cleared his throat. His voice had recently plummeted to a new, unstable depth, and it cracked as he said, "Can't believe you're leaving so soon."

"Don't worry about it. You'll be joining me in another year. I'll show you the ropes."

"I don't know. My mom's really wanting to get out of here. Way out of here."

"Yeah, but by then, you'll be old enough to do your own thing. Make your own choices."

Moon just sighed. "Maybe."

Green turned to him, stole his hat and snugged it over his own ash-blond hair.

"What the hell, man? Give it back."

Green fought Moon's arm away. "Just let me wear it for a minute. I like how it feels."

Moon's hand landed against the oily oak surface of the boardwalk, just barely overlapping Green's, pinky resting on pinky. Green tensed for an instant, then felt himself relax. There was nothing especially strange about it. They were close, after all, and something about it made him feel warm, cared for. With his free hand, he removed the hat and placed it back on the head of its rightful owner, eyes trained the whole time on Moon's pale face. "If you stay, we'll look after each other, okay?"

Moon's little finger moved twice over the top of Green's, then he lifted his hand away. He sighed. "We'll see what happens. She hasn't even found a place she likes yet, so who knows?"

The night air grew cold, and the boys headed home. They stopped at the bottom of the concrete steps leading up to Green's front door. The wind moaned up through the dark streets.

"Promise you'll text me when you get it."

"I promise," Green told him.

Green sat in bed, huddled over his phone, and when the clock ticked past midnight, he submitted his application form. He hardly slept. The next morning he joined his father in their small kitchen.

Red set down his coffee. "Do I even need to ask?"

"Still processing. What could be taking so long? It's all done by computer anyway."

His father lifted a section of the Saffron Sun and read absently. "I'm sure a human has to look it over at some point."

Green's phone buzzed in his pocket. An anxious pang leapt through him. It was an email from New Trainer Processing in Vermillion City. "Congratulations, Green," it read, "Your application for Pokemon Trainer's License has been processed and approved. All associated apps, including Identity Card, Pokedex, and Kanto Region Map have been made available to you for download from our servers (see links below). Please report to your local Lab or Training Center for further instruction and starter Pokemon."

"Oh my god," Green said, stumbling a bit, nearly losing his mind in excitement. How could something that was out of grasp for years come so easily to him now, simply from one day to the next?

He was steadied only as his father stood and pulled him into a solemn hug. "Well, I take it you just got it. I don't need to say to you that this is a big day. Congratulations, kid."

"Thanks, Dad."

Red stepped back, resting his hands on his son's shoulders. "I just want to tell you to be careful out there. Pokemon will be your life, Green. Catching and training them will be your primary focus. I know it's what you've always wanted, and now you'll have it. But you're going to learn about other things, too. Other life experiences and lessons will come your way as you travel. I want you to know that, and to be prepared."

"I understand, Dad. I won't let you down."

Tears welled in his father's eyes, but did not spill over. "I know you won't, Green. I've never doubted that for a second."

;-;