Chapter 2
Aly stood in front of Professor Elm's laboratory. Just as she was about to head into the double metal doors, something caught the redhead's eye. She turned and silently gasped at the sight of a boy crouching down at one of the lab's window. He had thick red hair with a red antenna sticking up. He wore a black jacket with red stripes, blue jeans, and black-red striped boots. Aly slowly and quietly approached the boy. Lucky for her, he didn't hear her. "So this is the famous Professor Elm's Lab…" He said to himself.
"Um…hello?" Aly asked the boy.
The red-haired boy turned around and stared at her. He had an annoyed look on his face. "What are you staring at?" He asked in a rude tone.
"What am I staring at?" She repeated with an irritated look and then pointed at the window. "I'm not the one staring into someone's window. Don't you know that's against the law?"
"I don't have time to deal with you, kid." He informed her bluntly. To her, however, he looked only a few years older than her. Who was he to randomly call her a kid?
Suddenly, he jumped towards Aly and shoved her to the ground. She landed on her back, immediately wincing at the light pain in her back. She looked up at the boy, who jumped back to his spot. Now she was really annoyed. "Hey! Who do you think you are, shoving people?" She demanded. Jumping to her feet, she raised her right arm and was about to shove him back, but he stopped her with his hand.
"If you don't want this to get ugly, I suggest you lower your arm and walk away. I'm too busy to be dealing with a little girl like you." He seemed to be disappointed that Aly didn't fight back, because he got up and walked away, not turning back.
She was finally about to say something, but when she saw he wasn't coming back, she took a breath and calmed down. She turned around and crossed her arms. "Fine. Stare at windows all you want." Once she saw he was gone, Aly scoffed and walked to the large door and entered the lab.
It was a large room with four bookshelves lined up. In the front was a PC computer, a large bed-like table that had six holes on the top, and a large machine that held three red Pokéballs. Aly looked straight and saw the man she was looking for. The Professor had short spiky hair, wore glasses, and wore a white lab coat.
Professor Elm turned toward her and smiled. "Ms. Gray!"
"Hello, Professor. It's been a while." Aly greeted back with a small wave.
"It has. I have not seen you since last year; when you overslept and missed your chance of getting your first Pokémon."
This made Aly smile nervously. "Umm, yeah. Sorry about that, Professor."
"That's alright." He suddenly blinked when he stood in front of Aly, revealing a guilty smile. "Ah, I forgot of the favor I would like you to do."
"Oh yeah. What do you want me to do?"
"Actually, before we get to that subject, I presume you are curious about getting your first Pokémon. Why don't you head over to that container over there and pick your starter?" He asked.
Aly smiled. "Really, Professor?!" When he nodded, the crimson-haired girl twirled around and shouted, "Yes!" She always dreamed of having a Pokémon, challenging gyms, and going on great adventures.
"Come with me." He said as they walked to the machine that contained the 3 Pokéballs. Professor Elm pressed the red button and the glass rose slowly.
"So I just pick a Pokéball?" Aly asked.
"Yes. I would like to give you some advice, if I may?" He asked her. She nodded, so he picked up the first Pokeball.
"A lot of girls around your age made a good choice and picked a Chikorita." He added on. "Chikorita is a Grass-type Pokémon. This one is female and she is two feet, eleven inches and weighs fourteen pounds. This one is very obedient and kind."
He put down the first Pokeball and picked up the middle one. "This is a Cyndaquil, a Fire-type. This one is a male. He is one foot, eight inches and weighs seventeen pounds. This one is also obedient, kind, and quite popular among trainers."
"They both sound so cute!" Aly admitted with a grin, already picturing what the creatures could look like. She then noticed the third Pokéball and picked it up. "What about this one?"
"Oh, about that one, I would think a little more. This one is…umm…you could say…special." Professor Elm stuttered.
Aly ignored him and pressed the small white button. The Pokeball lid opened and a large white light came out. The light landed on the floor, then it began to fade. A small figure stood before them.
The Pokémon had a light blue color and many red sharp spikes on its back and tail. Its eyes were large and red. "Totodile!" It announced, showing its large teeth.
"This Pokémon is Totodile, a Water-type. Also a male. He is two feet tall and weighs almost twenty-one pounds. He is really powerful with his water attacks, but I must warn you, he is very…"
He was cut off by Totodile, who jumped and used Water Gun at Aly and Professor Elm. Totodile jumped back down and giggled toward himself at the sight of them drenched. "Mischievous." The Professor finished saying as he removed his glasses and cleaned them with his sleeve.
"I'll take him!" Aly proclaimed, squeezing the remaining water out of her beanie cap.
Professor Elm's eyes widened, shock written all over his face. "Are you sure, Ms. Gray? Totodile would be a very hard challenge for you to train. He is sort of distant from humans. We haven't figured out why."
"That's why I want him. To show Totodile that humans are not all bad." She crouched down to Totodile. "Hi, Totodile. I'm Aly. I know you think all humans are bad, but not all of them. They're many kind and caring humans out in the world. I'm not saying everyone is not evil, that there might be some people who are evil, but I'm not evil. I'm very kind and would love for you to be my partner. So can we become friends?" She asked the small blue Pokémon.
Totodile looked up at her and started to open his mouth. Only, when he did a much larger and harder Water Gun came out. The water hit Aly and sent her flying into the wall.
"Ms. Gray!" Professor Elm yelled. He ran to the girl and helped her back to her feet. Her vision swirled for a moment, but she shook it off.
"This might need some work." She said as she took off her beanie cap to dry off.
"If that is your wish, Ms. Gray. Then Totodile is yours."
Totodile, who was laughing from his prank, calmed down and crossed his arms. When Aly walked over and picked him up, he thought of blasting her again, but then realized he could finally get out of this lab. "Toto." He shrugged his shoulder.
"So where does Mr. Pokémon live?" Aly asked Professor Elm.
"His house is past Cherrygrove City. Once you past there, just head north." Professor Elm explained. "I'm counting on you, Aly." Despite his serious tone, he gave her a small smile.
"Don't worry, Professor. I won't let you down." She responded, giving him her own grin. Bowing to him, she walked out the door with her new Pokémon and on to her important errand.
