Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any references to the TV show or game. I do own the bulk of the characters in this story, as they are my OCs. The plot follows the game/TV show, but with my own twist.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! Click!
I rolled over and began stretching out my muscles. Yawning, I sat up and looked at my alarm clock. 6:32. 'Why the blazes did I set that thing so early?' I thought, my tired mind already working to figure out the answer. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes, yawning again as I got up and walked over to my calendar. I turned on my desk lamp so I wouldn't blind myself with the overhead light, blinked a few times until my eyes adjusted to the light, and looked at the calendar I had pinned to the wall on the left side of my desk. Squinting my still-tired eyes, I read what was written on today's date. 'Go to Porfessor Oak's lab when you read this and get your Pokémon! - Mom'
Suddenly wide-awake, I tossed off my pajamas and threw on a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. I grabbed my PokéDex, given to me when I had passed the exam to become a Trainer, and flew downstairs. Mom was already up.
"Come home before leaving, Nozomi dear," Mom reminded me, handing me a piece of toast as I ran out the door. I ran up the street as fast as my legs could carry me, holding the piece of toast in my mouth as my arms pumped at my sides, helping me breathe. I wanted to be the first pick. No, I HAD to be the first pick, or else the Pokémon I was going to choose might get a poor Trainer, and I couldn't allow that. I took the numerous stairs leading up to Professor Oak's lab three at a time, tossing out my toast along the way, finally reaching the lab's front door. I knocked on the door as hard as I could, before my hands fell to my knees and I stood there, shaking and gasping for air. Tracey, Oak's assistant and enthusiastic Pokémon Watcher, answered while I was still recovering. He looked at me as I took deep breaths with my hands still on my knees, waiting with an amused smile at my condition. I finally stood up straight, my heart rate and labored breathing having returned to normal.
"Ran that whole five miles, Nozomi?" he grinned.
"And up all those stairs," I admitted. Tracey's grin grew wider, and I knew he was trying not to laugh. "I didn't want that Pokémon winding up in the hands of someone who would abuse it."
Tracey nodded, no longer looking gleeful because I had sprinted that large distance without stopping for such a serious let me in, closing the door behind me, and led me to Professor Oak's storage facility where the good professor waited. Three PokéBalls were lined up on a table behind him. One had a leaf etched into it, the middle had an etching of a few bubbles, and the third one's etching was of a flame. I sighed with relief. I was the first one.
"Miss Nozomi, have you decided which Pokémon you would like to have?" Oak asked cautiously. I nodded and picked up the PokéBall on the far right. "You've chosen Charmander?" Nod. "I see..."
"I chose him to protect him from a Trainer who might abuse him," I said meekly. Oak raised an eyebrow. "I had actually planned on getting a Bulbasaur for my first Pokémon, since they're said to be easy to raise. However, I heard Zachary Bell saying how he was going to get this Charmander to sell for a lot of money, and I couldn't let him, I just couldn't..." I looked at the PokéBall in my hand. "He's a living creature too, and I couldn't let him suffer."
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up to see Oak looking at me with tears of joy glistening in his eyes. "You'll do fine," he said smiling. I nodded and let my Charmander out of his Pokéball. His coloration was indeed different than a normal Charmander's: Instead of a fiery orange, his was more of a pale yellow-orange. I opened my PokéDex for some more information and to record the data on my Charmander.
BEEP! "Charmander. The Lizard Pokémon. From the time it is born, a flame burns at the tip of its tail. When it rains, steam is said to spout from is flame. The flame is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is happy and blazes when it becomes enraged. It has a preference for hot things because its life would end if its tail flame were to go out."
I blinked after that last part. He would DIE if the flame on his tail were to go out? 'Guess it was more important than I realized to protect this little guy,' I thought, kneeling down so that I was at eye-level with him. He looked a bit nervous, but I smiled gently and pat his head. He closed his eye and cooed with happiness. "I think I'll name you Flame King," I said to him, standing up. Flame King squeaked his delight.
"No fair!" roared a boy's voice from the doorway. I turned to see Zach Bell storming into the room. Tracey looked at Oak helplessly. Oak nodded to Tracey and sighed.
"Mister Zachary, I'm afraid you'll have to decide on another Pokémon, this Charmander now belongs to Miss Nozomi Higarashi," Oak said gently, yet firmly. Bell wouldn't have it. He rounded on me.
"Give me my Pokémon!" he ordered.
"I'm afraid you're mistaken. Flame King is my PRICELESS partner," I stated simply as Tracey ran in to keep Bell from wrenching Flame King's PokéBall from my hand. At the word "priceless", Bell stopped struggling and glowered at me.
"Fine! Have it your way!" he snorted and picked up the PokéBall with the bubbles engraved on it. "I'll take this one! Now let's battle!'
He released his Squirtle from its PokéBall. I pointed my still-open PokéDex to it calmly.
BEEP! "Squirtle. The Tiny Turtle Pokémon. After birth, it's back swells and hardens into a shell. Squirtle's shell is not merely used for protection. The she'll rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds. When Squirtle retracts its long neck into its shell, it squirts out water with vigorous force."
Bell snickered. "You honestly need that thing to tell you about a Squirtle?" he laughed. I narrowed my eyes.
"No," I smiled slyly. Bell stopped laughing. "I was simply recording data. Flame King, use Scratch!"
Flame King charged at Bell's Squirtle, scratching it severely while Bell was still dumbfounded. His Squirtle, caught off-guard, fainted.
"Hey,no fair!" Bell argued. "Give me a different Pokémon, old man!" he demanded of Oak. Professor Oak shook his head sadly.
"You challenged her. You picked that Squirtle. I'm afraid that Squirtle is stuck with you now," he said sadly. Grumbling under his breath, Bell recalled his Squirtle and, shooting a deadly glare at me, left the lab. Oak sighed. "I can see why you wanted to save his intended target. I just hope he treats that Squirtle better, and soon."