I looked down at my Charmander as it chased it's own tail, smiling when it finally caught it, and waving it around like a torch.
"Playful little thing, isn't he Cameron?" the Professor called to me. He was going through a desk in the corner of his lab. I walked over and casually observed the computer screen and the assembled essays scrambled all over the desk. I was shocked to see hundreds of applications on his screen, all being updated constantly. I saw the title "PKDX-" followed by a name for most. I realized that all the Pokedex data he'd ever compiled was on this computer, and the essays were backup hardcopies. I'd never really looked through his office in the years I'd hung around with him.
I was a bit startled when he spoke again. "Through all my years, I've learned that every Pokedex has gathered knowledge that none other has. So, I'm giving you my newest version." He straightened up and handed me a square red device, that I knew recorded data on every Pokemon I encountered and captured. "Every Pokemon is different, even of the same species. The Charmander I've entrusted with you had a very peculiar skill set... so I entrusted him with a trainer who I think will best train him.You don't have to take that out every time, it automatically records data, so don't worry. And now, go. Your journey takes you far beyond these walls."
I called Charmander back into his Pokeball and walked out of his office. As I did so, I looked through the pictures on his walls. There were a few of the professor and I, training Pokemon in his field, reading through books, and even doing experiments together. I realized that I had a decent amount of knowledge of Pokemon, but it was all bookwork. I now had my own Pokemon, and was going out into the real world. I was probably the oldest new trainer, considering many 10 year-olds had got their first Pokemon and left a week or so before. I certainly didn't feel like a great trainer. But Professor Oak had deemed me worthy for the "special" Charmander I now found myself in possession of.
I opened the door and saw the backpack my brother left for me, and there was a box with a note tied to it beside it. I bent down to pick it up, and realized it was actually two notes. The first read:
"Hey bro. Told you it'd work. I thought the items in the box would help you out as well. Use them wisely. --Stain." I reached for the box and picked it up, it wasn't very heavey, and I heard what sounded like multiple items banging into one another. I decided to read the other letter before I opened the box.
"Cameron! Your brother told me about the deadline to get to your new school, so I understand your quick departure. Your father and I are so proud of your newfound rebirth in your education, and judging from the brochure, I can look forward to the day you're working with your mother. Love you! Stay safe, tell Stain to take care, he told me he was taking you. Love always, Mom."
... my brother really did know what he was doing. With his trickery, I wondered why he never went into business, or politics, himself. I reached for the box and opened it. Inside were 5 Pokeballs, and a belt. Another note rested on top. "Figured you'd need these, use the belt to hold them, remember to buy more, and the Pokemon you catch after 6 will be sent to Prof. Oak. You can get in contact with him at Poke Centers to switch them out. Peace bro, I'm sure I'll see you someday."
I switched my current belt for the official Pokemon trainer one, it looked more expensive than most, and attatched the five extra Pokeballs to it, and put the one containing Charmander in the front right. I looked straight ahead, and noticed that my brother had positioned his gift so that I was staring straight down the path that led to Viridian City, and Viridian Forest after that. I reached for my Pokeball and through it. My Charmander emerged from a ball of white, as the ball returned to my hand. I minimized it and reattatched it to my belt.
"Well buddy, this is it. We're partners from here on out." The flame Pokemon looked up curiously at me, seemingly measuring me up. I pulled out the Pokedex and opened it. 'Charmander. Flame Pokemon.' It quipped. 'The flame on it's tail can be attributed to it's health, power, and happiness. If the flame were ever to go out, the Pokemon would die.' I glanced down. Charmander was walking around me, looking entertained. I clicked on 'Skill Set'. 'Charmander may learn many moves, the current one has the ability to use Scratch, Leer, Smokescreen, and Ember.' That was good news, at least I'd know what to command in battle. "All right Charmander, you ready to go?" I pulled out the Pokeball, but my only Pokemon seemed a bit down when he saw that. So I put it back. What trouble would it be to let it walk with me for a while?
We set off for Viridian. The road was a bit rocky, and it caused me to slow down many times. Charmander, however, just got down on it's four legs and ran up these parts, and seemed proud of it's ability to do so. Many sounds came from the woods on either side of us, none threatening really, but all reminding me of the wild Pokemon we would encounter.
I decided it was time to sit down and rest, we were about halfway to the city, so after plopping down on a rock, I pulled out a sandwich for me, and gave half to Charmander, who snacked happily. I laughed at him, and went to take another bite of my sandwich.
And it was gone.
"What the-?" I looked around and didn't see anything, but Charmander was looking above me, growling. It's flame was bigger than I'd seen it before. I looked above me and saw a Caterpie snacking on my sandwich, apparently it had used String Shot to grab it from me when I was watching Charmander. "Give that back!" I yelled. The caterpillar Pokemon glanced at me, and nonchalantly continued it's stolen meal. I looked at Charmander, who had been waiting for me to give it a command. "Right... um... Charmander! Use Ember!"
Charmander reared back it's head and spun, and fire from it's tail flew and hit the Caterpie in the chest, knocking it from the tree. I heard my Pokedex recording data, reminding me of Caterpie's dual weaknesses to fire, because it was grass and bug.
"This is my chance to catch it! Charmander! Use scratch!" Charmander lunged at the Pokemon, but before he could attack, it disappeared in a ray of red light.
"Wha-?"
"I knew it wasn't strong enough." A trainer, about 13 by the looks of him, walked from the bushes toward me. He seemed like he knew a little bit about what he was doing. "I just caught it, you see, and wanted to see it battle, but it just stole your dumb sandwich! Sorry about that... my name is Eric."
"I'm Cameron."
"Sorry about the sneak attack, but I didn't see any way my Caterpie could beat your Charmander anyway. You must be pretty good to have trained one. How long have you been doing this?"
"Er... this is my first day, actually."
"Really? Have you even had a battle yet?"
"Well no, actually that Caterpie of yours was my first action ever."
"Wow! Well you were pretty quick then, if it really was your first time. I live around here, I've been training for a year, and I have a badge from Pewter Gym, but it really wasn't hard with a Bellsprout and a Goldeen. Heh. So... you up for a battle?"
"Sure!" I was eager to see if I could beat this kid, I knew my brother wouldn't have a problem with accepting a challenge, so I wouldn't either.
"Two-on-two?"
"Er... I only have Charmander here..."
"Oh, sorry I forgot you're new. Okay, one-on-one. I'll choose my first Pokemon! Go Diglett!" He through his Pokeball, but instead of a pokemon standing on the grass in front of me, instead one burrowed underground, until I could only see eyes and a red nose. I knew it was a ground type, and that it would have an advantage against my Charmander.
"Okay! Charmander use Ember!"
"Diglett, use Dig!"
My Charmander spun again, and flame erupted where the Diglett had been seconds before, but it had dug underground to evade the attack. Charmander was looking around him, but the burrowing Pokemon erupted behind him and knocked him to the ground. "Okay Charmander, try scratch!"
"Diglett, Dig again!" Once again Eric's Pokemon evaded attack by simply going underground, and it once again knocked my Charmander to the ground. My lizard looked confused as his opponent went underground again to avoid detection.
"Focus Charmander! You'll see the ground come up where he's about to attack you!"
"Diglett, go quickly so they can't react!" I saw the ground to the left of Charmander start to churn, but Charmander saw it before me and lunged out of the way, only to jump right into a bush. "Diglett! Use scratch while he's stuck!"
I was starting to panic, Charmander hadn't landed a single attack. "Use Ember!" Charmander tried to spin, but was too tangled in the bush, but what happened next was an even better result.
As the Diglett was about to attack, the bush erupted into fire, the Diglett was knocked backwards from the attack, which I realized was a result of using Ember. I got an idea.
"Charmander! Smokescreen!" Charmander opened his mouth, and a thick, black smoke covered the ground. Diglett, being close to the ground, couldn't see.
"Diglett, go underground and feel for him!" I was hoping he'd do something like that.
"Okay Charmander, jump and cut down some of the tree's branches!" He did so, and soon the playing field was littered with leaves and branches.
The Diglett came up to attack Charmander, but once again the lizard had known how to dodge. "Now buddy! Use Ember on the leaves!" As Charmander did, the battle field turned into an inferno, Charmander enjoying the tickling of the flames, and Diglett squealing in pain. "Finish him off! Use Scratch!" Charmander rushed towards the panicking burrower, and attacked him head-on, knocking him out of the flames, and into the area at Eric's feet.
"Wow." Eric said, as he called back his Diglett. "I didn't expect anything like that. But if we were at the Rock Gym, you wouldn't have been able to use those tricks. You were lucky." And with that he walked away. I waited for the flames to go out safely, Charmander occasionally blowing on them to see if that helped, and when they finally died down, I leaned down to my partner.
"You did great, Charm, have a rest." I took out the Pokeball, and he seemed almost relieved to be able to go in and relax. I found a space in a clearing under the trees and took out the small sleeping bag my brother had packed for me (I can't think of everything) and laid down. It had been a busy day, and I knew I'd have many more like it.
But for this day, I closed my eyes and was content (and very happy it wasn't raining), and as I lost conscienceness, I could only think about the successes my Charmander and I had accomplished, and looked forward to many more.