The Journey Begins

Thomas was lounging in his armchair watching Cheren impatiently tapping his foot trying to hold back a smirk. Even after all these years Bianca was late, they had tried to change it but that had failed and now Thomas just accepted that they would always be waiting for her, Cheren on the other hand hadn't learnt that lesson yet.

A few more minutes of waiting and Cheren leapt to his feet and started pacing, Thomas just chuckled. He knew how Cheren felt, waiting for Bianca was sometimes tiresome but Thomas always had a source of entertainment when it was the two of them waiting for Bianca: Cheren was far less patient than he was and so would eventually get frustrated and Thomas just sat there and enjoyed it.

"Of course you would laugh Thomas, you never seem fazed by anything but in case you have forgotten today is the day we get our first Pokémon." Cheren said as he continued pacing up and down the room.

"How could I forget that considering there is a massive box in the middle of the room you dolt? And as entertaining as it is could you please stop trying to turn my rug into two pieces please? I happen to like that one." Cheren looked down and saw his pacing was taking him right across Thomas' new rug. They had 'accidentally' destroyed the old one because...well, it was ugly. Bianca fell through the door as Cheren had been about to reply effectively ending that conversation.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late. Are the Pokémon here already? I do still get a choice don't I? Please I won't be late again." Bianca was pleading and oblivious to the large box with an untouched gift ribbon on top but Thomas couldn't help himself.

"Yeah the Pokémon are here but there was a mistake at the lab and there were only two so Cheren and I took them. Sorry Bi guess you'll have to come with us to the lab later today then." Thomas laughed as he got up, cracking his stiff shoulder as he opened the box.
"Only joking Bi they are all still here Cheren was nice enough to keep me in check waiting for you. I was ready to grab one and go as soon as they arrived." Bianca beamed at Cheren, there was definite adoration in her face but Cheren seemed to miss it every time.

The three of them gathered around the box as Thomas opened it with all three of them reaching out for the same Pokémon with Thomas' hand on the ball. He gave the pair of them a grin and pulled his chosen ball out of the box.

"My house so I get this one that ok by you two?" He was grinning as he pressed the button on the ball and released a Snivy. There was something different about this one though: instead of mud brown they eyes were a beautiful blue and there were thin white lines over her body with a strong pattern on the tail leaf.

"Hey there little fella, looks like I'm going to be your trainer." The Snivy looked quite annoyed at his comment and turned to face him.

"Ok first off my name is Flick and secondly I'm only going to tell you this once so please pay attention, I am a female Snivy" Thomas fell over at hearing human speech from the Snivy who apparently wanted to be called Flick he turned around to see that Bianca has chosen Oshawott and Cheren had Tepig.

"Did either of you hear my Snivy speak just now?" Thomas asked, trying to regather himself from the shock watched as both his friends shook their heads. He turned back to Flick "Why am I the only one that can understand you Flick? I'm sorry for calling you a guy." Flick looked as surprised as Thomas must have when she first spoke.

"Ok so you can understand me and no one else has before, this is interesting. Can you understand what the other two Pokémon are saying?" Flick was over the shock already and wondering why so Thomas just listened but all he could hear was the other Pokémon saying their names over and over.

"Nope can't understand a word, I've also never seen a Snivy with markings like yours Flick, you think they might be related?" Flick looked at herself for the first time and noticed the white markings and looked shocked again.

"They were not there this morning, you don't think it's something that comes with being your Pokémon does it? I kind of like it, makes me different from other Snivy. " Flick gave a nod of approval and Thomas grinned. Bianca raised the topic that everyone was hoping for.

"Who wants a battle? I want to see how this little guy goes. It should be fun." Bianca smiled at everyone in the room and waited for someone to make their move. Thomas was pumped he got up and accepted her challenge.

Flick and Oshawott lined themselves up in the middle of the room Flick looking confident and ready for action. At a word from their trainers the two Pokémon charged at each other and met head on, Oshawott coming off the worse for wear. Standing up Oshawott shook his head to clear it then charged again. Flick used her speed to easily dodge out of the way and slam her tail into Oshawott, knocking it out of the fight.

"Oh bad luck there Neptune". The Oshawott, apparently known as Neptune got up and gave a small bow to Flick as Bianca tended to his injuries. Thomas looked at Flick and raised an eyebrow.

"Neptune? So do all Pokémon have names?" Flick rolled her eyes in response.

"Well duh, or are you telling me there are humans without names out there? I only know the names of these two because I've been with them for a while. Neptune is nice, he's good to hang out with but Chris over there isn't nearly as much fun." Flick looked like there was more to the story but didn't continue.

"Chris? Really there's a Tepig called Chris?" Thomas laughed at the simplicity and at the same time humanity of it. Flick wasn't as impressed.

"His dad wasn't the nicest Pokémon in the world, and Chris was the less able of his four kids so he got called Chris P. Bacon. Poor guy can't exactly live down the shame of it now." Thomas stopped laughing.

"Hey guys according to Flick who speaks English to me for some reason your Pokémon have names. Bianca yours is named Neptune and Cheren your Tepig is named Chris." Thomas left out the rest, trying to spare the poor Pokémon. "Say Cheren how about we have a battle now?" Thomas flashed a grin, ready for anything.

"Of course, let's see if you two are as good as you looked in your battle." Again at a command from their trainers the two Pokémon charged at each other head on, Chris having more power behind his Tackle, knocking Flick aside and coming back for another hit. Flick managed to dive aside and started using her superior speed to lead Chris on a merry chase around the room until he stopped for a moment, panting. Flick then unleash a vicious attack that knocked Chris out of the fight.

"What the hell is going on up there?" Thomas's mum was yelling from downstairs, obviously the battles had been pretty noisy.

Thomas and the others looked around the room which was now a total mess, which Thomas would probably have to clean. An idea came to Thomas "Hey, since we got our Pokémon how about we go see Professor Juniper and thank her, in person, before mum notices this mess, like now?" Thomas was nodding furiously, trying to get them to agree. He burst out laughing when they both nodded.

"Mum we're going to Professor Juniper's to thank her for the Pokémon." Thomas yelled as he came down the stairs, and was almost to the front door before his mother caught his attention.

"Thomas you forgot your phone, it's on the table. If you do have to go on a journey let me know ok. Now run along I'll see you again soon." His mother smiled as they raced out the door. As the door closed behind the three kids Thomas' mother said to herself "Odds are one of those three will have to take on the same role as Thomas's father. I can only hope that they are up to the task."

The three teenagers arrived at Juniper's lab to find her waiting for them. "So are you three happy with your choices?" The three teens all nodded "Good now I have some Pokéballs for each of you. I also have these letters for each of you to give to the Striaton Triplets. Take care you three." Juniper smiled as Bianca and Cheren left but Thomas remained behind. "Can I help you Thomas?"

"Yeah my Snivy; Flick has weird markings on her and I was wondering if you know what it means." Thomas released Flick from her ball. Juniper knelt down and looked at Snivy seeing the strange markings.

"I'm sorry Thomas, I have no idea what those markings are. Best of luck on your journey." Thomas recalled Flick and left the building, racing to catch up to his friends. Juniper pulled out her mobile and called someone. "I think it's starting again, he's coming with a letter, let me know if I'm right." Juniper hung up the phone and went back to work.

The journey of Thomas, Cheren and Bianca had begun and Unova would never be the same.