Rise of a Champion
Chapter 1: Happy Birthday
He awoke with exciting gasps, thrilled to receive his very first Pokemon! It was his 10th birthday, the day his journey to become a Pokemon champion, like his father, began. He quickly got dressed in his green gym shorts, white tank top and white shoes. Just as he slung his black bag on his shoulders, his parents walked in, his father's hands hidden behind his back.
"Happy birthday dear! It's a very important day for all of us."
"Yes, son. Your mother and I are so very proud of you! We can't keep this a secret anymore. Here, we got you something." Ray revealed what he was hiding. A poke ball.
"Wow! Thank you guys so much!" said Champ. He quickly snatched the red and white sphere from his dad's grasp. He fondled it, feeling the etched flame on the button of his present. "What's in it?"
"I guess you'll have to wait and find out!"
Champ put the poke ball into his bag, ran to the kitchen, and wolfed down his breakfast. He walked into his parent's room. "Mom, Dad, I'm ready!"
"One more thing before you go," said his father. He reached into his dresser and pulled out a necklace. There were six loops on it. "I made this when I was your age on my journey around Kanto, to hold onto my poke balls. Your journey throughout Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn will prove difficult, but you are strong." He handed Champ the necklace. "Do not sway in the face of danger. Be kind and gentle to your pokemon. Do not look at yourself as their master. Rather, their friend."
"Thank you Dad. I won't let you down!" Champ left the room and headed to the front door, putting on his new necklace and attaching the poke ball to the rightmost loop. He stopped, taking a deep breath. He thought about what life was going to be like once he walked out of his house. It was a new life he would be entering if he took that step. He had dreamed of this life but was now thinking it over. Champ had trained for this day for as long as he could remember, reading Professor Oak's books about Pokemon and studying the type differences. He knew all there was to know about battle, but now it all seemed so useless. "I'll never become what my father is," he muttered under his breath.
"You already are," replied a voice behind him. Champ turned around to see his father smiling at him. "You've been preparing for this day since you were able to walk! I've never seen as much dedication in anyone as I see in you. Not even myself! You've got this."
"But dad, I..." began Champ.
"Go," whispered Ray. He wrapped his arms around Champ and squeezed. That was all Champ needed. He turned and took that final step out the door.
The sun was bright in the clear sky and the trees were bending with the wind. Spearow squawked overhead and Rattata scurried out of the unstoppable force coming down the mountain. Champ was on his way down the mountain above the Indigo Plateau. Branches scratched him as he headed for his dad's pokemon arena, but Champ didn't notice them. He was filled with too much adrenaline to feel it. He reached the flat piece of land just below their house. He grabbed his poke ball off the necklace and stared at it, craving to know what it held. He pressed the flame-scarred button and threw it. The poke ball opened and a red beam of light shot out of it. At the end of the beam formed a scorching, orange lizard. Champ had recognized this pokemon from all of the notes he read in Professor Oak's lab. "Charmander!" cried the pokemon. Charmander turned to him and they locked eyes for the first time. Champ new this was going to be a lifelong friendship.