It was raining.
A man in a long white lab coat trudged through the downpour, followed by a pink quadruped. The man held an umbrella over his head, keeping all but his feet dry. The aforementioned appendages were thankfully sheltered by a pair of rain boots as they sloshed along. The quadruped had no shelter from the rain, nor did it need any – she was quite happy with her situation.
"Hydronia, does this seem odd to you?" the scientist asked the quadruped, turning to look at her.
"Sloooooooowpoke," she replied absently, head turned up to the sky. She was in her own little world, but could the man blame her? The rain was always a treat for water type Pokémon.
"Never mind, then," the man sighed. He rummaged in one of his expansive lab coat pockets, and, not finding what he was looking for, began to search the other. Finally grasping the elusive object, he pulled out a black Xtranceiver. "I suppose I'll just consult with the experts." He quickly dialed his supervisor and watched the screen intently as the device on the other side of the world began to ring. After three rings, a man, only slightly older than the first but with a very full beard, picked up.
"Hello? August? What's up?" the man asked.
"Hello Professor Birch," August replied, "I'm just calling to report my findings for the field study I've been doing."
"Yes? What did you find?"
August held up the Xtranceiver so Birch could see the scene around him and the mighty deluge that was occurring.
"As you can see, Professor, it's raining. In fact, it has been for days, and there's no end in sight. The storm doesn't seem to be moving and seems to be concentrated in this area. It's very strange."
Professor Birch scratched his chin. "It's not that strange, sometimes air masses can stop moving and simply dump all of their moisture where they rest."
"You have a point, Professor," August began, conceding that argument, "but I don't think this is one of those times."
"Have you found some evidence of that?"
"Well, not exactly," August admitted. "Then again, this is the middle of Route 111."
"Oh…" Professor Birch trailed off. "That's… the desert."
"Yes, it is," August affirmed, shifting his rainboot-enclosed feet in the puddle of wet sand where August had come to rest. "Records indicate that it hasn't rained here in about a century."
"In other words," Professor Birch began, trailing off.
"This is very strange," August finished.
Two days later, August was back in Professor Birch's laboratory. At his desk were vials upon vials filled with clear liquid. That liquid was known as water.
"It's water," Birch repeated, staring at August's lab results. Atop his shoulder sat a Treecko, and clawing at his pants legs were a Mudkip and a Torchic, just steaming over the Treecko's extra attention. "It's just water."
"Water," August repeated, picking up the Mudkip and gently stroking its back to get it to calm down. The Torchic was now positively boiling over and unleashed a plume of embers at the two scientists. Luckily, they fizzled out about half a foot into the air, and the Torchic sat down dejectedly. "There is absolutely nothing strange, special, interesting, or intriguing about the water. Except that there's tons of it, and it's still falling. I'm getting reports from Lavaridge Town that the clouds are starting to expand towards Mt. Chimney. We might have a crisis on our hands."
Professor Birch stooped and scooped up the sad little Torchic, placing it on his other shoulder. "I believe that Flannery can handle Mt. Chimney for now. But you and I need to get to the bottom of this. And that means more field work."
"Of course, Professor. I'll get ready to be on my way," August agreed. Hydronia looked up at him from her bed under his desk and yawned. "We're going again Hydronia, are you ready? I'll let you nap a bit more while I pack."
August quickly left the lab and returned to his home in Littleroot Town. It was a small house very close to the lab. He had been living there for two years (which was how long he had been working for Professor Birch). In his house there were pictures of his family: he and his brother together with the same short brown hair and cocoa eyes; he and his mother, she with her Slowking, Zeus, and he with Hydronia; his degree from the Academy of Pokémon Science in evolution; a letter from Professor Elm accepting him to his research team.
August quickly changed out of his labcoat and into blue jeans and a green and orange sweater. He pulled his lab goggles off of his face and replaced them with a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Into his earlobes went two graphics of the Bohr model of the atom. He put on a good pair of walking shoes.
He grabbed a backpack from his closet and filled it with the essentials: a small data analysis kit for all of his chemistry needs, a water bottle, Pokémon food, a compact sleeping bag and tent, an umbrella, food and cooking supplies, and Potions and other health supplies for Hydronia. Deeming his packing satisfactory, August headed back to the lab.
Upon entering, he found himself face-to-face with a beaming Professor Birch.
"Umm P-Professor," August stammered, a bit flustered, "what's up?"
"Professor Elm told me you'd never been on a Pokémon journey! When I hired you, he said 'this boy has never been on a journey. You should find an excuse to send him to see the world. His head is buried in books, like mine was. He needs to experience the real world, Birch!'" Professor Birch rambled. "In any case, he gave me two things to give to you for when I sent you on your journey." The ecstatic Pokémon researcher handed over an envelope. "The other gift is on your desk."
August looked over. "An egg?" he asked. It was a large, light green Pokémon egg. Hydronia was gazing up at it with mild interest (or perhaps boredom – how does one tell with a Slowpoke?).
"Yes," Professor Birch affirmed. "Go on a journey. Hatch the egg. Catch Pokémon. See the world! You're twenty-one, it's time you had an adventure!" He handed August a Pokédex and Pokéballs. "This doesn't mean you get to slack off on your research though. I want to hear from you once a week with progress updates."
"Oh definitely sir, of course," August replied, unsmiling.
Birch began to laugh. "Come on boy, lighten up! You need to learn to have more fun!"
"I-I know how to have fun!" August responded, embarrassed. "You'll see! Hydronia, let's go… see the world!"
The young man pocketed his Pokédex, attached the Pokéballs to his belt, slipped the envelope into his sweater, grabbed his egg, and walked to the door, his trusty Slowpoke on his heels.
A/N This is my first Pokémon fanfiction. Say whatever you want, please, I'm open to all kinds of criticism, tips, flames, or whatever. I'm also considering accepting OCs for traveling partners or rivals. Not sure if that's the best idea, but feel free to submit them and I'll certainly credit you if I use your ideas!