THE JOURNEY BEGINS
"SAUL, BREAKFAST IS READY!" Anne shouted from downstairs, trying to wake Saul up.
"Coming Mom!" Saul replied as he walked down the stairs.
"Your dad has already gone to Petalburg for his first day at the gym, he left a present in your P.C. item storage and a message in your E-Mail. You can go check on it after breakfast. I also put a clock in your room and set it for you."
Saul ate his cereal fast because he had to pick out a Pokemon today. He put his bowl in the kitchen sink and ran up stairs to get ready. Saul put on his gloves that covered a less than half of each finger and none of his thumb. He went to his P.C. and got out his dads present, it looked like a bag with a thick dust in it. He read the letter, "Here is a bag of Star Dust. You can sell this at the Pokemon Center in Oldale Town for a lot of Pokebucks."
Saul looked at the clock, "Danget! I was supposed to pick up my Pokemon an hour ago!" Saul grabbed his bag and put the Stardust in the front pocket beside his Pokedex and ran downstairs, "By Mom, I'll be back in a thirty minutes."
"By, honey."
Saul got his scooter outside, it had a piece of paper on it. He picked it up and read it, "Saul, I have gotten your scooter modified. It can now hover so you can go faster and you don't have to worry about hitting any Pokemon in tall grass." Saul smiled, his dad was always at work all the time, and now that he won't get home until 8:00 each night,...Saul won't be able to see him. Also, he won't see him at all for days at a time sense Saul would be going on his journey soon. Saul hopped on his scooter and rode down in the direction of the Birch's house. Saul looked up and saw the feathery figure he saw yesterday. He saw Prof. Birch's Lab in the distance, he got up near the front door and tried to open it, the door was locked and he saw a note above him saying, "Out doing field work." Saul hopped on his scooter and headed for Route 101. He saw the edge of town and the enrance to Route 101.
"HEEEELP!" Saul heard a scream from someone.
He ran into the route behind many thick trees and saw a bag on the ground. He looked around the corner and saw a Pokemon with spiky, bristling fur chasing a man, "Help me, grab the Pokeball out of my bag."
Saul unzipped the pocket and picked up the Pokeball. He pressed the release button and saw a Mudkip appear, Saul jumped.
"What's wrong, tell the Mudkip to use Tackle!"
"Uh, Mudkip...use Tackle." Saul backed up a little and fell.
The Mudkip charged at the Pokemon. Sence it was chasing the man it didn't notice Mudkip so the Tackle had a critical hit and it took down the other Pokemon.
"Good job." The man walked up and took the Pokeball from Saul. "Mudkip, return." The Mudkip went back inside it's Pokeball. "Thanks for saving me. I know it was only one move, but that Mudkip hasn't listened to any one's commands ever, it must have wanted a battle, or it likes you. Now, tell me your name."
"My name is Saul."
"Oh, you must be Norman's son." Saul nodded. "I'm Prof. Birch, your dad and I have been friends for a long time."
"What was that Pokemon that attacked you?"
"That was a Zigzagoon, there very common in Hoenn, especially in this route. Weren't you supposed to pick up your starter Pokemon this morning."
"Yes, but I was tired from moving in yesterday and I woke up late. Can I pick one up now."
"Well, yes, but let's talk about it at the Lab."
Saul walked his scooter beside Prof. Birch, "So, Saul, why were you nervous when you battled?"
"Well, it's because I'm afraid of Mudkips."
"Why, could you tell me?"
As Saul told Prof. Birch the story, they arrived at the Lab and walked inside.
"Wow, that was an interesting story. Well, that may be a problem?!? About your Pokemon..." Prof. Birch said.
"OH YEAH! So, can I have a Treecko?!" Saul asked exitedly.
"I...I'm sorry Saul but we have no Treecko left, they've all been picked out by the trainers that got here on time."
Saul shrugged at the added "On Time..."
"I can do with a Torchic, they're cute."
"I'm sorry Saul. This is a very unfortunate turn of events, but...the only Pokemn left is...," Prof. Birch picked the Pokeball out of his bag and pressed the release button, "this Mudkip."
The Mudkip appeared out of the Pokeball, "MUDKIP!" it squeeked in a soft high pitched sound.
"AHH!" Saul fell back and hit his head on the wall.
"Don't worry, this Mudkip is very calm. It is shy, though, and doesn't like to be touched much. Be calm around it and don't get scared or it can become very tempered." Prof. Birch pressed the release button, "Mudkip, return."
Even though Mudkips shyness made Saul feel a kinship, he was not so exited.
"Are you sure this is the only Pokemon you have left?! Maybe a Magikarp?!"
"I am sorry Saul, but we have no other Pokemon left. You'll have to take the Mudkip or wait for next year."
Saul thought for a minute, "I...I'll take the Mudkip."
Mudkip was cute. He would have waited until next year but Saul had a certain feeling for this Pokemon suddenly.
"O.K., here you go, this is Mudkip's pokeball."
"Thanks." He walked out the door, picked up his scooter, and road home.
When he got home, he set his scooter up and opened the door.
"Hey Saul, did you get a Pokemon?" Saul nodded. "So did you get a Treecko or Torchic."
"I didn't, I got this." Saul grabbed the Mudkip's Pokeball from his belt and pressed the button.
"Mudkip." Mudkip sounded a bit scared by the new surroundings.
Anne was a little confused, "Well Saul, I guess this means your over your fear?"
"No, but I think this Mudkip will help me get over it. I'm going to leave and try to beat the gyms in Hoenn, but I'm also going to go for the other regions afterward."
"So, your going to be leaving for a few weeks at a time, aren't you."
Saul sighed, "I guess so."
As Saul headed for the door to pick up the scooter his mom rushed out, "Now remember Saul, you can always come home if anything goes wrong or you get hurt."
"I'll be O.K., Mom. I'll call at every Pokemon Center, OKAY!"
Anne was deep in thought for a few moments, "Okay, Saul, go on, chase your dream and face your fears."
"By Mom."
Saul hopped on his scooter and headed for Route 101.
"By Saul, be safe."
Saul was already to far off to here his mothers voice, let alone the sadness with in it.
Looking at his waist with Mudkip inside the Pokeball on his belt with five empty slots. "I guess I better fill those up soon."
Author's Note: This chapter wasn't very good, but it was the best opening to the real story I could do. Please review.