It was another bright day in the Sinnoh region. People were hustling and bustling down the streets, and it was the start of the season where many children would become new pokemon trainers. Sandgem town was crowded with children of all ages, eager to pick out a starter pokemon to begin their journey. Sandgem town was the location of the Sinnoh Professor's lab. His name was Professor Rowan, and he was going to be a very busy man on this particular day.
Outside the commotion of Sandgem town, not too far, was the location of a quiet little coast development called Twinleaf town. This was the most southern and western town in the region. It consisted of a few small houses and cottages. Unlike all the other kids who were rushing to get to Sandgem, there was a boy camping out in the midst of a tall oak tree. He had silver hair, which was a quite unusual hair color. He was able to completely conceal his presence as he watched a Starly land onto the branch right next to him.
Starlys were pokemon that had sharpened senses. It was usually the first pokemon to notice danger, and would fly away in a heartbeat. However, this boy did not make a sound. The Starly was oblivious that a human was this close to it. The boy waited as he sensed the Starly was a bit jumpy when it first landed on the tree. This was due to the fact that the Starly was a prey, and there were many pokemon that were predators of its species. The boy waited patiently as the Starly began to relax. He saw the way the Starly loosened its posture and and sank its talons deeper into the tree branch that it was letting its guard down.
There was no moment to spare. As the boy saw the perfect timing, he sprang out of his hiding spot on the tree. The Starly was caught off guard and tried to fly away, but the boy was fast and grabbed a hold of the pokemon's feet.
"I caught you!" shouted the boy in excitement as he jumped down from the tree, dragging the Starly down with him by his feet. The boy landed on the ground in such a way that he was quickly able to spring up and stop the Starly from flying away. He held the bird pokemon between his hands as it tried to struggle and escape.
"Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you." Said the boy as he took the Starly with him and sprinted down towards his home in Twinleaf town.
The boy arrived at his family cottage and burst through the door. "Hey, Aunt Melissa! I caught a pokemon with my own bare hands!"
A woman dress in red walked down the stairs and saw the boy holding a struggling Starly in his hands. Shocked, she ran up to him and said, "What...What did you do, Ryo? It was a figure of speech. I didn't want you to actually catch a pokemon with your bare hands!" exclaimed the woman.
"But, Aunt Melissa. You said that I can't go on this journey until I show you I am capable of catching pokemon." said Ryo.
"Look, I know you are eager to go out and see the world, but it is never too late to do so. There are many dangerous people out there, like hostile wild pokemon and robbers, you don't know what you will bump into alone." said Aunt Melissa with worry.
"Most kids have already started their journey. I'm twelve right now. That's old enough. I even have my first pokemon right here!" said the boy as he pointed at the Starly in his hands. The Starly had given up his struggle and was now resting within the warmth of Ryo's hand.
"Well, you have to pick a starter pokemon down at Sandgem Town. Today is the day they are giving out starters and letting children apply to become a licensed trainer. The Professor's lab is going to close within an hour, so there is no way for you to make it in time. So either way, you have to wait another year." said Aunt Melissa.
"What! I have to go there to register as a trainer! Why didn't you tell me this sooner." said Ryo as he tried to dash out the door. His aunt grabbed him by the arm.
"Stop it, Ryo. I'm not going to let you run there just so you could cram in your registration at the last second. I gave you my final word. You will not start your journey this year." said Aunt Melissa sternly.
"Aunt Melissa, I waited so long to start this journey. I watch the pokemon outside our house everyday. I learn a lot from them. I have this connection with them that you don't understand. I really want to raise my own pokemon and battle with other people. I always found pokemon battling to be so interesting. Why can't you just let me go for once. You were always so overprotective." said Ryo.
Aunt Melissa was about to say something back, but she was swayed by the innocent and determined look in the child's eye. He continued. "You always told me great stories about my parents. You said how they went out on their adventure at a very young age. You told me how they were top of the league trainers who made it to worlds. Even you were a pokemon trainer when you were young."
Aunt Melissa looked out the window and sighed. "Yes, I know I've told you those stories, but those stories were meant to ease your curiosity, not make you more determined to go on your own journey. You're all I have, and I don't want you getting hurt. I just don't know what I will do without you."
"Aunt Melissa, I just want to be like my parents and start my journey. I want to be the best trainer there is!" said Ryo.
"You remind me of the way I thought when I was a child. I also believed I could be the best trainer when I was your age. But dreams are what they are made to be, dreams. And it is far from what the world would allow you to become." said Aunt Melissa.
"I understand that, but I still want to explore it! I appreciate all that you did for me. I know I never really knew my parents, because they died when I was very young, but you were always there for me. I thank you for that. But now, I want to see the world for myself. But, that doesn't mean I will never come back and visit you." reassured Ryo.
Aunt Melissa tried thinking it over in her head. "Okay. No, you're right, Ryo. I shouldn't keep you here any longer. You seem to really have a passion for pokemon." she said as she saw Ryo playing with the Starly. She was quite surprised that the Starly no longer wanted to run from him. It was only with Ryo for a few minutes and was already getting attached to the boy.
Ryo stopped playing with the Starly and looked up at his Aunt. "Really? You're going to allow me to go?" he asked.
Aunt Melissa hesitated for a while and answered, "Yes."
"Yay!" shouted Ryo in happiness as he ran up and hugged her Aunt tightly.
After a long hug, Aunt Melissa pulled away and said, "Hey! You have to always remember to write me a letter about your journey every week. That is the condition."
"Sure. Easy." said Ryo as he ran in the kitchen to grab a bag with all he needs for his journey.
"You had all that prepared?" asked Aunt Melissa.
"Yep. I told you. I'm very excited about this day." said Ryo. They stood there staring at each other for a second, and then Ryo went in for another hug with his Aunt. After that final hug, Ryo turned and shouted, "Love you, Aunt Melissa! I promise I'll visit you soon!"
"Wait, one more thing!" shouted Aunt Melissa, stopping Ryo.
"What?" he asked.
Aunt Melissa pulled out a pokeball and summoned the pokemon within. A garchomp appeared between Ryo and Aunt Melissa.
"You can go, but you have to take Rick with you, or at least for the beginning of your journey." she said.
"What! Why? I want to capture and train my pokemon on my own. I don't need Rick to do battles for me. Plus, that would be cheating. He has already had so much experience when he was with you on your journey." complained Ryo.
"Rick isn't going to help you with battling." reassured Aunt Melissa. "All he is going to do is keep an eye on you and protect you from danger. You only have a Starly right now, and that pokemon might not be able to help you if you bump into trouble."
"Alright." sighed Ryo. "Rick can come with me."
"If you see Ryo in any trouble, I trust that you will protect him." she said to the Garchomp. Rick nodded to show that he understood.
"And also, Rick, you can't get in the way of my battling!" added Ryo. "I fight my own trainer battles with my pokemon."
Rick playfully patted Ryo on the head.
"Hey, watch it! Those claws are sharp, you know." said Ryo jokingly. "Oh, I almost forgot…." Ryo ran into the house and came back out with a head band.
"I surely need this for my journey. This is my lucky head band." said Ryo as he pulled it down over his hair. "Alright, well, Rick, let's get going." Rick growled in agreement as we headed off on the road.
Ryo looked down at Starly. "Hey, would you like to come with me on this journey" he asked the pokemon. The Starly nodded and chirped happily in response. "Alright then! Can I call you Ace?" The bird pokemon looked up at Ryo, and he hoped on his shoulder as if to give his consent to the nickname.
"Yes, so I guess I will call you Ace from now on." said Ryo.
"By Aunt Melissa!" waved Ryo one last time as they departed.
As the boy and the garchomp strolled down the pathway, Ryo began to wonder out loud. "I'm also very curious about legendary pokemon. It's so strange. Its written in ancient writing and it has been documented in the past, but right now, it seems that no one ever sees these legends anymore. I really want to learn more about them and found out what happened to them. Have you seen a legendary before, Rick?"
Rick looked down at Ryo and shrugged his shoulders. "Some people say I'm a fool to believe in legendary pokemon, but I'm certain they exist." said Ryo.
Ryo glanced down at his watch. "Okay, we have to hurry. I only have half an hour left before the lab closes. How far is Sandgem city from here?" wondered Ryo out loud as he pulled out his map.
"Oh, know! Can I really make it there in time?" asked Ryo. Rick stopped and motioned for Ryo to jump on his back.
"Really? You will do that for me?" asked Ryo.
Rick nodded and motioned for him to hurry.
"Starly, you should probably hold on tight." warned Ryo. He hopped onto the back of the land shark, and with great speed, Rick dashed across the land with his dragon strength. "This is so fun!" shouted Ryo in the wind as they sped through the woods. And just like that, the boy was off on his pokemon journey.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading my story. I will tell you in advance, this chapter and the next will be very underwhelming compared to the rest of the story. Please be patient, for in I need to introduce characters and the rules of the journey. The chapters after will be more exciting. Please review how it is so far.