Episode 1
The Ultimate Decision:
Grass, Fire, or Water?
"What a beautiful day!" Ethan McCann sighed as he got out of bed and stretched. "Oh, crud, I missed a call!" he looked down at his pokégear. "Professor Elm called? One new voicemail." He typed in his password and the voicemail played: "Hello, Ethan, this is Professor Elm. I'm calling because there was an errand I was hoping you could take care of for me. My aide and I are far too busy with preparations for Trainer's Week coming up to go and tend to it ourselves. If you'll come over to my lab I'll make it worth your while. Thank you so very much! Hope to see you soon." Ethan sighed. Oh that Professor, always needing me to do odd jobs for him. "Well, I might as well at least go and see what he wants." Traveling to Professor Elms Laboratory was no difficult task for Ethan as he lived right next door. He walked downstairs to see his mother who was in the kitchen preparing lunch. "Hey Mom!"
"Hi, sweetie. I'm making chicken salad for lunch; sound good?"
"Sounds awesome!" Ethan smiled. His mother always made the best food. "Hey, Mom, after lunch I have to go see the Professor."
"Again? That's what? The third time this week?"
"Yeah, but he said he'd make it 'worth my while'."
"Doesn't he usually pay you for assisting him?"
"Yes, which is why I think this may be something more."
His mother gasped slightly. "You don't think…"
"Well, with Trainer's Week coming up, ya never know." He said with a smile.
"Hmmm, well don't get your hopes up dear. You know how odd Professor Elm can be sometimes."
"Yeah, I know. Thank you for lunch, it was delicious! Need help cleaning up?"
"No thanks, I should be fine. You just run along, dear."
"Okay. Thanks, Mom!" He hugged her and then dashed out of the door.
"Professor, I'm here!"
"Is that you, Ethan?" Professor Elm's voice echoed from somewhere above. Ethan stood in the entrance to the Elm Laboratory Library which had two floors the top of which had a big square hole in the center so that the library was technically one room instead of two.
"Yes, where are you?"
"I'm up here!"
"Here!"
"Where?"
"Up-!" the Professor's words were cut short as he fell off the lader and landed on his back. "-here." He continued weakly.
"Oh no! Professor, are you alright?" Ethan rushed over to him.
Elm sat up and adjusted his glasses. "Yes I think I'll be fine. Thank you for your concern. If you'll follow me, I'll tell you what mission I have in store for you today. I think you'll like it."
They exited the library and went into the main laboratory. Ethan looked around at all the different machines and test tubes. It never failed to amaze him no matter how many times he came here. Professor Elm broke their silence as they walked. "I believe you are familiar with Trainer week, Ethan?"
"Y-yes, sir! That's a very important event in New Bark Town! That's when three new trainer's receive their first pokémon and start their quest to be a pokémon master!"
"Very good! And I believe you're one of those three this year, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir! And I can't wait!"
"Well, you might not have to." Ethan's heart leaped. So I might have been right after all!
"What do you mean, Professor?" They came to a stop in front of a cylindrical machine with a red dome over it. Professor Elm pressed a button and the dome split in half revealing three pokéballs.
"Within these pokéballs are the three starters."
"Chikorita, Cyndaquil, and Totodile!"
"Indeed!" Professor Elm couldn't help but smile at Ethan's enthusiasm. "I would like you to both assist me on an errand and do a little experiment for me." Ethan's heart was almost pounding out of his chest at this point. "Firstly, the errand: I need you to go to Route 30 where my old friend lives. This certain friend is so in love with pokémon that almost everyone refers to him simply as Mr. Pokémon. Mr. Pokemon always claims to find these weird specimens and odd information and he's constantly contacting me to check things out. Although, this time it appears he actually has something solid for me to look at. Your mission is to travel through Route 29 on the outskirts of town here, go through Cherrygrove, and then head north through Route 30. Halfway through Route 30 there's a small hut that you can't miss. This hut belongs to Abe the Apricorn Man. Abe is a bit of an oddball but he should be able to direct you to Mr. Pokémon's house. Can you do all that for me, Ethan?"
"Well, I think I can, but isn't that a bit of a distance? I mean, I could get jumped by wild pokémon at any time."
"Indeed, which is why I've decided to send our 'experiment' with you. Today, you, Ethan McCann, shall, prematurely, begin your pokémon training. You will pick one of these three pokémon and travel with them to Route 30."
"Awesome! But how is that an experiment?"
"Well, normally, pokémon stay inside their pokéballs, but not you and your companion. I want you and whichever starter you choose to walk side-by-side as partners like the great Ash Ketchum and his Pikachu did. Normally I'm a man who tests pokémon physicality and a pokemon's behavior in general, but when I saw how powerful that Ash had become with his pokemon's trust and friendship it made me curious. So, Ethan, will you do it? Will you walk beside a pokémon for me as a friend and equal?"
"You know I will! I view pokémon that way anyway, so this'll be great!"
"Alright, looks like there's only one thing left to do then, Ethan. Pick your partner. You have three to choose as you already know. There's Chikorita which is a grass type, Cyndaquil which is a fire type, and Totodile which is a water type. Choose wisely, for this pokémon will be yours to keep."
"Hmmm… Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile… Can I see them, Professor?"
"You sure can. Just press the button in the center of each pokéball and they'll be released."
Ethan did as Elm said and three flashes of light unleashed three small pokémon. Chikorita was cute, it had small beads around its neck and a big leaf on its head and big, cute, red eyes. Cyndaquil was also cute with four spots on its back that spewed fire a couple of seconds after it was released. Totodile was cool looking with fangs and claws that looked menacing.
"Hmmm… it's so tough! They're all so awesome!"
"Yes, they certainly are." Agreed Professor Elm.
"Hmmm… I'm gonna have to make a decision though…" His eyes darted between all three. First to Chikorita, then to Cyndaquil, and then to Totodile, then back to Cyndaquil, and then to Chikorita again. Then his eyes stopped and locked onto one of them. He looked it square in the eyes and shouted "I choose you!" He picked the pokémon up, bid farewell to Professor Elm and then left the Lab. On his way out the Professor shouted after him, "this errand may take a couple of days. Don't forget to tell your mother!"
"Thanks, Professor, I'll tell her!"
"Well, Cyndaquil, our adventure starts today! I can't wait to show you to Mom, she'll be ecstatic!"
"Cyn!"
"You're so awesome! All you can say is your name, right?"
"Cyn! Cyndaquil!" it squeaked.
"Right, I'm sure I'll get to understand you someday!" he laughed.
They arrived back at Ethan's house and he entered to show his mom his new Cyndaquil and, as he predicted, she exploded with joy.
"Oh honey! It's such a darling! Just look at it! So cute!"
Cyndaquil's black and white face got a tint of red as it blushed and looked down bashfully. "It's okay, Cyn, I think you look cool!"
"Cyndaquil!" it perked up and gave a big smile.
"Well, we should start out before it gets too dark!"
"Right, take care of yourself, dear!"
"Cyn!"
"Oh, and you take care too, Cyndaquil!"
"We will! Be back in a couple days!"
And so Ethan and his new Cyndaquil set off into the sunset-lit Route 29. What excitement will await them on this journey to Mr. Pokemon's? Only the future will tell!
To Be Continued…
