Red woke long before his alarm sounded. His Bulbasaur was curled up against him. It didn't seem to like the name it was given. He would have to think of another one. A better one. He petted the Pokemon and thought on it. "Shizen." Red said aloud. Bulbasaur's head perked up. "Do you like it?" In response, the Pokémon's tongue darted out and licked the boy's face. 'I'll take that as a yes.' He petted the creature again. He yawned and put his head down on Red's chest. "You can rest in your ball. I need to get to the lab." He reached over to the counter, where the green ball rested. He returned the newly named Shizen before removing his covers and standing. He dressed, attaching the Bulbasaur's ball to his belt, before heading down the stairs. The Pokemon were all still sleeping in the living room, so Red was quiet as he made his way to the kitchen. He wasn't too hungry, so he decided to have something small and quick. He moved to the fruit bowl, and took an apple. His breakfast now in hand, he moved to the house main door, and slipped through.

He had completely finished the fruit by the time he reached the lab. As he entered, he threw the core into the trashcan. Looking around, he glanced at Oak's other assistants, all of whom were working at computer terminals. The boy didn't focus on them for too long. He walked straight towards Oak. The old scientist turned as he heard him approach. "Ah, Red, you're here. Just in time too." He warmly greeted. "There isn't much work to do around the lab today." He scratched his chin, "but I do have a parcel coming into Viridian today. Could you pick it up for me?"

Red nodded, "I'll get right on it." He replied as he turned, and began to walk to the exit.

"Oh!" Red quickly stopped, and turned back to the man. "How's Bulbasaur doing?"

"He's alright."

"Have you thought of a name for him yet?"

Red nodded. "Shizen." He answered.

"Shizen." Oak repeated. "Fitting. Well, I don't want to hold you up. See you soon.' Red nodded as he turned around again, and made his way out of the door. He made his way to the main entrance, reaching for Shizen's ball. As he approached the wild grass, he continued without a single threat. If anything came at him, he would be ready. As it so happened, as he walked, nothing attacked. That was pretty unusual. Given the number of Pokemon that inhabited this area, he should have been spotted by now. Perhaps he didn't have anything to worry about after all. His grip of Shizen's ball loosened. Still, he was slightly disappointed. He wanted to test his Pokémon's ability out a bit more. Oh well. He'd have to come back later. Hopefully then there would be-

A sudden scream broke the relative silence.

Red suddenly stopped as the scream cut through the air. Someone was in danger. A Pokemon attack. That was the most probable possibility. From the sound of the voice, it belonged to a young girl. A child. He quickly forced his body to run. He grabbed his Pokeball, and pulled it from his belt. He ran at full speed, and prayed that he wasn't going to be too late.

XXX

The Rattata snarled and growled as it pursued its prey; a young girl, her blonde ponytail swayed as she ran as fast as her legs would allow her. The Hem of her yellow sundress rode up and down as she ran, underneath which she wore black a shirt and pants. Tears ran down her face as she let loose another scream. No one could hear her. She was too far away from town. She shouldn't have come alone. She should have waited and asked her uncle to come as well, but he wouldn't have. 'Too dangerous.' That was what he would have said. All she wanted was a Pokemon of her own. She'd even saved all her pocket money for a Pokeball. Now this was happening. Being hunted down by a crazed Rattata. The Pokeball in her hands was no good to her, but still she carried it. Suddenly, she tripped over her own feet, stumbled, and slammed face down. The Rattata pounced, fangs ready to strike. Her eyes closed tight. This was the end. She was sure of it.

"Shizen, tackle!" A body slammed against another, and the Rattata let out a grown of pain. The girl's eyes opened, and, trembling, she turned around. The Rattata had been sent to the ground, and was now getting back onto its feet. Opposite it was a Bulbasaur, ready to strike at a moments notice. Her eyes rose, and she soon spotted him. The boy in red, perhaps a few years older than herself. He had a certain appeal to him. The way his bangs fell down his face. The stern concentration he had pointed towards the Rattata.

The purple Rat growled as it lunged forward at Shizen, who jumped to the side. The Rattata quickly spun towards the Bulbasaur and snapped at his throat. He quickly evaded. "Use stun spore!" Shizen's owner called out. The Pokémon followed the order, quickly pointing its bulb to the Rattata's face, and pushing out a yellow powder out at it. The rat stumbled backwards, snarling, before it fell, still as a statue, groaning in fury. The girl rose to her knees, watching the boy intently. "Shizen. Let's end this."

"No!" she cried urgently. The boy's eyes shifted to her for the first time. "Don't hurt him!" He looked from the struggling rat, to the girl, then to what she had in her hand.

"The Pokeball. Catch him with it." She looked down to the object in her hands, then back to him. "How?"

"Just throw it straight. The ball will do the rest." She slowly stood, her body shaking. She pulled her hand back, and threw. The ball soured, and slammed into the Rattata. It opened, and the rat was engulfed in smoke. It dissipated, and the Rattata vanished from sight. The ball closed, and fell to the ground.

"He's in there?' She asked. The ball suddenly shook, and she jumped back, expecting it to open, and the Pokemon to jump at her. Nothing happened. It shook again. Nothing happened. It shook a few more times, before coming to a stop. "You did well, Shizen." He stated as he recalled his Pokemon, putting the ball back onto his belt. He walked forward towards the ball, and picked it up. He moved towards her.

"Are you alright?" She nodded slowly. He extended his hand, which held the Pokeball.

"You're giving him to me?"

"Yes. You caught him, so he's yours." She reached out slowly, taking the sphere into her hand. He released his grip. "I recognise this one. He was aggressive, and stronger than the others. That was the leader of the heard. Promise me one thing."

"What?" She questioned with a sideways glance.

"Take good care of him. Be kind, and treat him with love and trust. He's a friend, not a slave. Not an object. An equal. An equal, breathing creature just like you and I." She nodded her head.

She looked down at the ball, eyes sparkling. Her gaze quickly returned to him. "My name's Yellow."

"Red." He replied. "Where do you live?"

"In Viridian city with my uncle." Red nodded.

"I'm heading that way." Red offered his hand, gesturing for her to take it. "Come with me, in case you get attacked again." She nodded her head, and grasped his hand. The two made the rest of the journey to Viridian without trouble, coming across the entrance after a few minutes. "You're uncle's probably worried."

"Yup." Yellow mentioned, "You should come with me and meet him."

He shook his head. "I need to pick up something."

"Oh, alright." She looked down, releasing his hand. Red looked to her, and sighed.

"I can come back after-"

"Red!"

Oh no. Red's eyes closed and he pinched the bridge of his nose. The girl's head perked up, looking over to the voice. A brunet was coming there way, a giant grin on his face.

"Is that your friend?" She questioned,

"Unfortunately." Was Red's response. The boy turned as the brunet approached the two. His eyes moved to the blonde.

"Hey, what's with the kid?"

"Never mind. What are you doing here?"

"Training" Green answered confidently. "Hey, speaking of which, I need to test 'em out. Come on, let's have another battle. It won't be like our last!"

"No thanks." Red dismissed. "I'm in the middle of an errand."

"Yeah right!" Green snickered. "You're just afraid to lose." Red rolled his eyes.

"Fine, fine. I'll do it. Fine." It was easier just to give the brat his own way. He reached for the Pokeball on his belt, and threw it. Releasing Shizen.

"Oh yeah, get ready!" Green's grin widened as he pulled loose a red and white Pokeball. Red quickly studied it. That wasn't Charmander's ball. So, he'd been busy, and all Red had was his Bulbasaur. He'd have to be careful. Green released his Pokémon, a Pidgey. Yellow looked between the two Pokémon. They were going to fight, weren't they?

"Pidgey, take to the air!" Green growled. The bird did so.

"Watch it, Shizen." The Bulbasaur looked up at his foe, who flew in circles.

"Do it!' The brunet shouted. Pidgey spun, before charging and closing in on Shizen. The Pokémon evaded backwards, but the bird's attack did not stop. "Charge him with Peck!" Pidgey followed Shizen's retreat, and struck him with his beak. Yellow gasped, her eyes closing. Red bit his lip as his Pokémon skid against the ground. He should have countered, not evaded. The green frame came to a stop, his bulb pointed to his opponent. "Finish it!" Pidgey charged, closing in on his target.

"Poison powder!" Red countered. A thick, purple powder funnelled out of Shizen's bulb, and into the birds face. Pidgey cried as he stumbled back, and Shizen jumped to his feet. "Tackle him to the air!" The Bulbasaur lunged forward, striking the Pokémon into the air. "Now, Razor leaf." The blade-like leafs fired towards the bird, cutting him. He fell to the ground, and as he stood, Shizen lunged forward into his body, sending him back down.

Green growled as he recalled the Pokémon, and pulled out his Volcano ball. "Don't get too cocky." He threw the ball, calling Charmander forward. "I'm not gonna let myself lose twice! Charmander, charge." The lizard ran forward with a growl, claws raised.

"Razor leaf!" Pointing its bulb forward, Shizen fired its attack.

"Ember!" Taking a deep breath, Charmander shot forward several flaming bullets. They disintegrated the leaves and slammed into their target. Shizen let out a cry as he stood his ground. "Great work. Now, let's end this. Tackle."

"Quickly, Poison powder!" Red called. Another attack, and Shizen was done for. A purple spray launched from the Pokémon's bulb.

"Push your head down and change your attack to a head-butt!" Following his trainers instructions, he lunged through the powder, and slammed his head into Shizen's. The Bulbasaur let out a weak growl as he was flipped through the air and landed at Red's feet. Yellow's eyes widened as she ran to the Pokémon's side. "Poor thing." She dropped, putting a hand on him.

Green returned Charmander. "Ha. Got you! I win." Red paid no mind to the boy. He looked down to his hurt partner. Then, his eyes widened. The girls hand lit up, and so did Shizen's body. His wounds disappeared. Yellow removed her hand, and the creature jumped up

"Okay," Green scratched his head, "That was kind of weird. Well, I'm off to the Pokémon center and then back to grandpa's lab. Smell ya!" Red watched his friend leave, before turning back to Yellow. How did she do that? Such an ability…He decided not to question it. If the girl wanted to talk about it, she would. "Where do you live?"

"Close." The girl responded, "I'll show you." She walked, Red followed with Shizen at his heel.

It was a good ten minutes before they came across the girl's home. She ran forward. "Uncle! I'm home!" A few seconds passed before the door opened, and someone stepped out. A man in fishing gear.

"Yellow, where the hell have you been?"

"Look." She enthusiastically raised the pokeball in her hands. "I caught a Rattata!"

The fisherman was taken aback by this statement. "Whoa-what. Is that where you went, without telling anyone?"

Yellow's face fell "Everyone was busy, uncle, and I wanted to do it myself."

Her uncle sighed. "Silly kid. You could have at least waited for me so I could watch out for you. Given you a few pointers."

"I'm sorry."

Then the girl's uncle seemed to notice Red, for his eyes shifted to him.

"So, what's your story? He asked curiously.

"My name is Red from Pallet town, sir." He responded to the man with a polite bow of his head. "I was on my way here when I heard your niece in trouble."

"Trouble, eh?" His gaze returned to Yellow, who wore a guilty grin. "I suppose I should thank you."

"There's no need. I'm sorry, but I came here on an errand."

"Right. Well, goodbye. "Yellow, come on inside."

"Bye." Yellow waved him off as he made his way to the Poké mart. As soon as he entered the shop, a voice called

"Hey, you're the boy who works for Oak, right?" It was the shopkeeper.

"Yes." Red answered, stepping forward. The woman reached under the counter, and pulled from it a package wrapped in brown paper. "The professor called ahead, here's his package." Red thanked her as he secured it in his backpack and made his leave.

The trip back was not as eventful. Save for a couple of attacks from wild Rattatas, it was uneventful. He returned to Pallet town, and went straight to Oak's lab.

The Professor turned as he entered, and happily took the parcel from the boy. "Thank you Red. I've been waiting for this for some time. Over a month." He looked down to Shizen, who was still by Red's heel. "How is my old Pokemon, by the way?" He bent down to inspect him, his brow raising. "It seems to be growing attached to you. I didn't expect that after a day." Red looked down at the Bulbasaur. It beamed up at him as Oak looked away. Could he really tell that from a single glance?

Just then, the door burst open. "Gramps!" Red didn't need to turn to see who it was. Green marched forward to where the other boy was standing. "I'm back."

"Yes, so you are. With good timing too." Oak replied.

"Good timing?"

"Yes, I have a request for you two." He moved to his desk, and took two red devices. "These two items are my creations. Pokedex's. They are electronic devices with a camera and data bank. He handed one to each of the boys.

"What do you want us to do with these?" Green questioned.

"I want you to make a detailed encyclopaedia of every Pokemon in the Kanto region. That was always my dream. To make a detailed list of every Pokémon in the world. It would be a ground breaking achievement in Pokemon history. However, I'm too old to do it alone. I need you two. Can I count on you?"

Green and Red looked to one another. "Of course you can, Gramps."

Red nodded.

"Excellent!" Oak beamed. "Set out tomorrow morning."

"No way!" Green grinned, "I'll go and pack, then set out today! Red, Smell ya later!" Then he spun around and left.

"Red. Good luck." Red nodded again as he and his Pokemon left.

Outside, red opened the Pokedex, and it came to life. He pointed it at Shizen and took a picture. Next, he began to type on the keyboard on its lower half. Over the time he'd spent as Oak's assistant, he'd learnt enough about the species, and so he typed.

Bulbasaur
A grass/Poison type Pokemon
The seed Pokemon

He pushed a button on the device, which scanned Shizen's details.

Height: 0.7 meters/ 2'04
Weight: 6.9 kg/ 15.2 lbs.

And then he wrote again.

There is a plant seed planted on its back from birth, which grows as it does. It can gather energy within it.

He saved the data and put it back in his pocket, and the two returned home.


Pokedex

Red
Shizen: Rank six

Green
Charmander: Rank nine
Pidgey: Rank six