Please note that this story is my first story and also a rough draft.
It was the day.
I knew it, I just knew it instantly when I woke, not because the alarm clock beeped one hour before it usually did, but because this was the day I had been so excited for, but it was also the day I was dreading.
Weak sunlight streamed in through the window, hurting my eyes. I rubbed them. This was the day this is it this is it…thoughts zoomed through my head, like I was thinking at double speed.
I jumped from my bed, which was in the bottom left corner of my room. It had sheets the color of ivory (an ink stain shaped like Hoenn in the middle, a reminder that writing at night was not a good idea.) This was the bed I might just never sleep in again, or at least not for a long time.
I fumbled around in my closet, still half-asleep, but right then a knock on my door made me hop through the roof. I had always been cautious, and who was it at this hour? It must be my mother, of course, she was the only one in the house besides me.
Only a few weeks ago that was not true…tears of anger came to my eyes at the mere thought.
"What is it?" I asked groggily.
In response, Mom opened the door and came in. She was already dressed as if she were going to restaurant, and she handed me a strange outfit. I examined it thoroughly. It was a red cap, a white jacket made of a strange stretchy material that was almost translucent, a black cotton t-shirt, and cargo shorts, which I hate.
"Uh…what-" I asked but I was cut off by mom. She hobbled over to me and ruffled my short black hair like she was proud of me.
"You're going be a Trainer today!" She said, the pride and happiness in her voice bubbling like a pot of boiling water. I smacked my forehead. Duh. That was my Trainer outfit. Who knew why Trainers needed stupid looking outfits, but it was in the rules, and I wouldn't trade being a Trainer for anything.
I looked up in her eyes, which were so happy, like they had never seen the events of weeks past. Was it pride only to make me feel better, and then would those eyes sink with sadness when I was gone? Her leg might heal…but would her heart?
Whatever, I thought, clearing my head of such dark thoughts. I was becoming a Pokemon Trainer!
"Well, put the clothes on!" Mom's voice snapped me back to it. She left the room, and I obeyed.
I stared at the electronic calendar on my wall
While I dressed, which read May 4. May…they say the month was named after the great trainer from a hundred years ago, who taught kindness to those she met, and finally stopped using Pokemon altogether, not wanting to harm them. What an idiot…Pokemon liked battling.
Ah, Pokemon. I smiled. I would have a partner today, one I could talk to, care for, protect and be protected. A trained Pokemon was as good as any gun.
I finished dressing and walked out of my room. I cheerfully walked down the stairs to my the kitchen where my mother always seemed to stay. She would sit by the table. Just sit, for hours. There she was again!
"Hey Chris," she exclaimed, "We're going to Professor Elm's lab first."
Yes! The start of my journey was drawing near!
I walked out the back door from our house and headed to the street. New Bark, the town where I live, is a very small town. There is literally 8, 10 houses in the whole town. To the west is Route 29, and to the east is a river. I look out there very now and then, and sometimes I see Tentacool splashing around.
Halfway to the lab, I met Don. He lives in the house next to mine, and we have been friends since we were toddlers. With Don I am very competitive, and Professor Elm made it so we will get our Pokemon on the same day, today. Imagine the battles we will have…at the thought of it I grin.
"Hi, Don." I greeted him, a bit awkwardly. My mom was around, and she didn't like Don too much, saying he was a "punk" and he will be in jail. One time Don came over, and he accidentally walked in on her in the bathroom…and she was furious.
"Uh…hi. You going to the Lab?" he asked. He was wearing a Trainer uniform.
"Yes, of course." He was saying little more than idle talk to pass time. He already knew I was going.
We turned onto a trail through the woods. Leaves crunched underfoot as we snaked through the dark forest. Mr. Elm moved his lab to the forest so he could be closer to the Pokemon he was studying. It didn't help much, but it was too late to move back to the street, as a store is being built in the empty lot. Anyway, that would be a lot of money going down the drain!
Finally, we saw the row of different trees that mark his driveway – oak, elm, birch, and rowan.
"Here we are!" Don yelled, his voice echoing. He was jumping up and down in excitement.
"Dude, chill out!" I told him, but deep inside, I was just as excited as he was.
We trotted up the driveway where Elm's car was parked. We just had to look at it, as we do every time we come here. It was a Silph Co. sports car, which are really expensive.
After that we entered the lab. Wow. I couldn't believe it, but I was here, and I was ready for my journey to finally, finally start.
In the lab I could see glass jars and the pristine white walls, and Poke Balls filled with Pokemon. This place was a wonder – there was always a couple assistants around, and Pokemon scurrying around the lab or in cages. A huge computer display was at the end of the lab, surrounded by several rolling chairs.
Professor Elm was there. He was a middle-aged man with receding brownish hair and glasses that made him look like an insect. He shook Mom's hand, with that everlasting smile of his, and said,
"Well, I need to get over some stuff with you too before you pick a Pokemon…take a seat." He waved his hand at the rolling chairs. We sat down.
Professor Elm launched into his explanation of Pokemon life, and badges, and all that crap. I was falling asleep when he finally ended. He also gave us a Pokedex, which is like an encyclopedia of Pokemon, and where we can check the statistics of our Pokemon.
"Now it is time to pick a Pokemon!" he exclaimed.