Cedric sat at the kitchen table, staring at a familiar box on the metal surface. It was time. It was his time. He gulped as the Professor opened the box. Inside were three Pokeballs. He and Adeline had already discussed their choices to each other. They both didn't want to copy Beck and choose Totodile. Cyndaquil was the obvious choice. Its final evolution was powerful. It would be able to handle the first two gyms with no problem. But when it came down to it, Cedric wasn't so sure he wanted Cyndaquil. He looked to Adeline, who nodded in encouragement. He realized there was an awkward silent tension in the room. He sighed and smiled with relief. He was picking his Pokemon surrounded by his friends and family. He picked up a ball. He knew it wasn't the strongest. It didn't have the best resistance to other Pokemon types, but it was the one he wanted.
"Come on out… Chikorita!" He explained as he tossed the ball into the air, almost hitting the light fixture above him. There was a bright flash and a pale green Pokemon was looking up at him from the floor. He smiled from ear to ear as he looked into his Pokemon's russet eyes.
"Chikor…?" came a small voice. Another flash and a Cyndaquil appeared next to Cedric's Chikorita. Adeline had chosen Cyndaquil, as Cedric knew she would. They both picked up their newly acquired Pokemon to examine them. Cedric still had a hard time determining the gender of Pokemon, so when Adeline concluded her Cyndaquil was male, Cedric gave his Chikorita over.
"This Chikorita is a girl." Adeline said.
"Huh. What are the chances of getting two female starters? Like 6%? That would take at least 30 times turning the game on and off before that happened!"
Cedric's mom and Professor Elm didn't get the joke.
"Alright!" Professor Elm stood up. "Here are your licenses, five Pokeballs, a Pokedex, and a map of Johto!" They stuffed the stuff in their bags. "and for you, Adeline, a little going away gift for all your dedicated work at the lab." Adeline took the box and opened it. It was a used Pokegear; at least three years outdated.
"Um… Thanks, Professor." She examined it. "Why does it say 'Smell you later' on the back?"
"That's because it was used by a former Champion of Kanto."
"Whoa! Really! Professor, I don't know what to say!"
Cedric and Adeline packed clothes, supplies, and tools into the bags. They were going to leave following morning.
"So what are you going to name your Cyndaquil?" Cedric asked. They had consulted the whiteboard months ago, but is still was difficult to choose just one.
"I'm thinking of going with Hickory." Adeline said, looking up from her packing. "Either that or Flair."
Cedric nodded in approval. "I want to name her Dapple, but it doesn't seem… fitting."
"How 'bout Farore?"
"Adeline, stop trying to name things after Zelda."
"Whatever."
"Fleck."
"What?"
"How about Fleck."
"Okay."
"Okay?"
"She's your Chikorita."
"Alright. Fleck and Hickory it is."
