It's hot. The air is burning, wet and humid, almost suffocating, and mixes with the sweat wetting his forehead and dampening his clothing and hair easily. They stick to his skin as he slouches on the curb. His lips are dry, and crack as they part to release a puff of air. He wipes his golden orange hair, slick with sweat, from his brow. His amethyst eyes dart back and forth anxiously. It truly was the hottest day of the summer, and he was stuck working 'Playground Duty' at the local daycare. Kids and their Pokémon were swarming everywhere, how they could move around so easily in this heat was beyond him. He checks his Pokétch quickly- the current temperature in New Bark Town was 106°F.
A bus drives past, sporting a banner of a slinky woman in a red and black striped jumpsuit; she was the latest model or singer or something- Harli Quinn. He coughs as the bus spews smoke over the sidewalk, adding to his discomfort. This was the worst, Alistair Morosé had to be out with these bratty kids and their pets, on a broiling Saturday instead of home, in front of an air conditioner with a soda and the Internet. He didn't even have any Pokémon to keep him company, his mother didn't believe he was 'Ready to have such a responsibility.' He sighs again, releasing another puff of dry air.
Meanwhile, a few streets down, a girl is sitting on her porch, Wartortle beside her. The sun is beating down and the rays are lapped up by her long, pin straight, burgundy hair. They're both flipping through magazines filled with makeup, clothes and fashion models. Suddenly the Wartortle stops and holds up her magazine to the girl, pointing at a white velvet flower clip. The trainer giggles.
"That's what Harli suggests, huh? For blue Pokémon?" She says, and checks the price. "Kinda pricey... Maybe when I get my allowance." The turtle-like Pokémon pouts a bit, and the girl's soft lips widen into a smile.
"Don't make that face, Raini. It'll stick like that." Her cerulean eyes sparkle mischievously. Raini the Wartortle gasps some, as the door opens behind them.
"Cathie!" Her mother peeks her head out into the scorching summer air. "Wheew! It's hot out here! Come inside a second, we need to talk."
"Kay." Cathie clambers to her feet and troops inside, the Wartortle at her heels. Inside, the cool scent of lemonade mixed with the warm smell of gingersnap hits her nose, and she practically jumps on the snack laid on the table. Her mother leans against the counter, watching amusedly.
"So what," Cathie begins between munches. "Did you want, mum?"
"You're wanted at Prof. Birch's office, he says he has a mission for you." She says. The young trainer looks up surprisedly.
"A mission?" She asks, mouth full of cookie. Wartortle looks just as shocked. "What kind of mission?!"
Her mother laughs some.
"He didn't say." She says. "Take some of those cookies to him." Cathie nods and brushes some into a plastic baggie, then downs the rest of her lemonade.
"Bye mom!" She says, taking off with Raini. Her mother chuckles again as the door closes.
"Have fun on your journey."
Back at the playground, another monitor approaches Alistair. He punches the orange haired boy on the shoulder, teasingly.
"Hey, boss wanted me to tell ya that some Professor wants you." The other boy says. Alistair perks up, ever so slightly.
"Prof. Birch?" He asks, and the other boy nods some.
"That's the name. He's waiting in the lobby." Alistair thanks the other boy and trots off to the schoolhouse. As he approaches, he sees his mother and the Pokémon professor sitting in the lobby, chatting about something. A tremor of excitement goes up his spine and his stomach begins to tie in knots. Quietly, he enters the schoolhouse. It smells like paste and musty books inside, and is considerably cooler. Upon his entering, Birch stands and smiles widely.
"Here he is; Alistair." Birch laughs a bit. "I'm Professor Birch!"
"I know." Alistair says. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Likewise." Birch smiles again. "I've been hearing some promising things from your mother here."
"Promising?" Alistair asks.
"That you're a good student, hold a steady job working with children, and, that you've yet to receive a Pokémon."
He glances at his mom, who was currently single after a messy divorce from his father. It was obvious she was head over heels for the Professor, the way she was staring at him and spouting praises about Alistair.
"Alistair, about three years ago a young woman about your age came to me looking for a rare Pokémon, a loyal one she could train and love. About a year and a half ago another young lady a bit younger then you came in and asked for the same. It's high time you caught up, my boy." He smiles some as Alistair begins to comprehend what the Professor is saying. "I have one of those rare Pokémon left, and, after some debate, the lab, your mother and I have decided to give it to you and let you have your Pokémon journey, on a few conditions."
"Anything!" The goldenrod-haired boy crows.
"First, you must accompany the first two ladies while on your journey. That was your mother's condition. Second, you must fill up this Pokédex as you go. And third, you must promise to always love and cherish this Pokémon." He hands the boy a small, rectangular box and a Pokéball. Alistair's eyes shine as he opens the Pokéball and a small, green frog-like monster with a bulb on it's back appears in a flash of red light.
"A bulbasaur?!" He exclaims happily. The Bulbasaur looks around, then smiles up at it's new master.
Suddenly the door flies open and a girl with dark, pink-purple hair and blue eyes enters, a Wartortle at her heels.
"Hey Birch! Got you some cookies WHAT'S MY MISSION?!" She tosses some gingersnaps in a baggie on the counter and bounces up and down some. Alistair feels a mite concerned.
"Cathie, this is Alistair. Alistair, this is one of the young ladies that will be accompanying you." Birch says.
"Wait what?" Both young people ask, and the Professor laughs some.
"I'll explain when our last teammate arrives. Why don't you make yourselves acquainted while we wait?"
"Sure." Cathie smiles and turns to Alistair. "I'm Cathryn Wrensten, call me Cathie."
"Alistair Morosé." He says, smiling a little, and looks down at the Wartortle. "Who's this?"
"Raini." Cathie smiles some and picks the Pokémon up. "What'd you name your bulbasaur?"
"Haven't decided yet." Alistair rubs the back of his head bashfully.
Suddenly something big lands outside the doors, and after a few seconds, the door opens. A dark skinned young woman in her early twenties enters. Her hair is in a HUGE, scarlet red afro, almost as big as the doorframe, and her bangs cover her eyes. She stretches lazily.
"Hey Birch." She drawls.
"Perfect, Kei's here." Birch beams, and turns to the group.
"Have a seat next to Cathie, we have a lot to talk about."