It was the twenty-first century, the year 2016 of the current era. In this world, people and Pokémon alike have been living relatively peacefully; with the exception of some recent, sporadic conflicts to mar an otherwise uneventful history.
Pallet Town had been flat out since dawn, preparing to send the newest generation of Pokémon trainers out. The fifteen-year-old trainers were beginning their legacy, their journey to become legends. Some never made it at all.
Pokémon Masters were people who slept rough, ate lean, trained hard and lived harder. They never slept later than 8 A.M.
So, it was ironic that the hero of our story was still asleep at 9 A.M. Our hero's mother, having searched for him at the farewell gathering and not found him, climbed the stairs to his room and almost knocked the door down.
There he was, still fast asleep.
Now, Red, as you may not know, was Professor Oak's Field Researcher. Thus, he had been up most of the night with his mentor studying various Pokémon at Oak's Corral and was more than exhausted. Hence the reason why he was still in bed.
"Red, you've got to get up!" His mother, a woman with dark brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, a pink blouse and blue skirt cried. "I don't know why Samuel has you work so late. It's not good for your health," she murmured to herself. "You're already late! Please get up!"
Finally hearing his mother's voice, the teen groaned as he reluctantly sat up in his bed and glanced over at the Voltorb-shaped clock on his bed stand. He was beginning to regret staying up so late to help the Professor last night. Rubbing his eyes groggily, the boy's eyes widened in shock as he saw what was displayed there.
"Nine o'clock?! I gotta get to Professor Oak's lab!" Red yelped, falling over the side of his bed.
Tangled in a mess of blankets, Red felt like he had been caught in an Ariados' web.
Like many other children before him, Red wanted to cement himself in the history books by becoming the best Pokémon trainer the world had ever seen. He had grown up watching Pokémon battles ever since he could remember and it caused the life of a Pokémon trainer to grow on him. It had birthed his goal of becoming a Pokémon Master.
Red had grown up watching Champion Lance and the Elite Four and immediately wanted to be like them. He knew his goal would be possible once he got his hands on the Pokémon he had coveted for years: Charmander, the Fire type starter of Kanto.
Pallet was a quaint town, with a Trainers' Academy located near Professor Oak's laboratory. Oak's lab featured his home and research centre and The Corral out the back, where he and his Aides looked after various Pokémon owned by different trainers he's sponsored over the years.
For the beginner trainers who can't go to Professor Oak, they normally head to their local Pokémon Adoption Centre to obtain their first Pokémon that way. This was so they're not completely disadvantaged by being behind the Pallet trainers. The main Adoption Centre in Kanto was found in Saffron City.
Red scrambled into his clothes, after having a shower and drying himself off. He wore his favourite blue jeans and a black shirt. Over the shirt, he wore a red jacket with white highlights around the pockets and on the collar. The bottom of the jacket was also stitched with white highlights.
Red's cap was red with a white front and hung on the side of his mirror. The boy collected it and lay it on his backpack that sat on his desk. He finally pulled on his sneakers, which were starting to wear out, but not quite there yet. He knew they were going to get hard to walk in, let alone run. Red would need to do something about them, as he knew new shoes were expensive and he couldn't afford them right now.
Red checked himself over. Good, he was ready. He started to head out the door in a rush, but stopped himself just in time. The teen grabbed his cap and backpack from his desk. Red ensured he had his wallet and Potion, which he earned from acing the trainer exam.
With those in his backpack, he was down the stairs and out the door. Red yelled goodbye to his mother and was out of earshot almost before she could tell him she last saw Professor Oak near Route 1.
The path to Route 1 was simple enough. It was a straight road from the house where they lived. Red could see the last of the gathered people leaving the laboratory, as well as the electronic board showing the other beginning trainers and how they were faring. He stopped for a few moments to study the information.
A few Dark types, a Dragon and an Electric were given out.
Red wondered about the Dark types. They were normally hostile and disobedient. Very few trainers could successfully tame and control them. Actually, it was very difficult, but most trainers could own a Dark type. Training them, however; helping them grow into the powerhouse they should be, that'd be an interesting challenge.
By the time Red had finished thinking the information on the Dark types over, he had reached the edge of town.
"Red! Wait! It's dangerous to go out into the tall grass. Wild Pokémon may attack you!" Professor Oak called out.
Red skidded to a halt, mere inches away from entering the tall grass outside. He turned and looked at his mentor. It seemed that Red had just passed him, lost in his own world.
"I did try and call out. You kept running." Oak grinned at Red. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have worked you so hard last night."
Red shrugged and faced the researcher properly.
"But that might be a good thing. Come back to the lab with me, Red. I've got something for you."
Cinnabar and Pallet have a mutual relationship. Cinnabar had both a good trade market in which it relied on Pallet to do business with and Pallet's trainers came to Blaine's Gym for their Volcano Badge. In turn, Pallet's trainers promoted Cinnabar Island as a tourist hotspot, while the trainers relaxed in the hot springs after their gruelling battle with Blaine's fiery Pokémon.
Poachers hired by Team Rocket a good couple of decades ago attempted to breach the security of the SS Aqua, while it was en route to the Orange Archipelago, to steal the rare Pokémon on board the speedy ship, but they failed. Red had been told a story by both his mother and Professor Oak that the trainer who stopped the poachers was none other than his father, Giovanni of the Viridian Gym.
He'd also been told to take the story with "a grain of salt", ie not believe everything or indeed anything his father did that day and that it was another trainer who stopped the poachers. Red had heard quite a lot about his father; hardly any of it was redeeming.
Red walked back to the lab with Professor Oak, as he studied the Pidgey flying from tree to tree. They were chirping happily as the day progressed. The skin on Red's neck prickled as if he was hot and he let out an impatient sigh. He couldn't wait to get going on his own adventure. He was really looking forward to leaving Pallet behind him for good and stepping out into the unknown beyond his hometown.
Oak stopped and glanced at the board when they strolled past it. "Hmm, looks like someone caught a Rattata. Can't be bothered with them myself."
The pair started walking again, as the researcher posed a question to his student. "What starter do you think you're getting?"
"I don't know, Professor..." Red answered as Oak opened the door to the lab.
His mentor turned as they entered, with a deliberate smile on his face. "What if you weren't being given one?"
"I thought I passed?!" Red cried, shocked. He had to have; he had the Potion to prove it.
"With the first one hundred percent the Academy had in three years. You hide your own genius, Red. I said, you weren't being given one." Oak chuckled at his student's horrified expression, before gesturing at the table where three Poké Balls sat.
"I get to choose?" Red couldn't believe what he was hearing. The Professor was really letting him choose his own starter?
Oak nodded. "When I was younger, I was a serious Pokémon trainer. I was even the Indigo League Champion for a short time. But enough about me. You get to choose now, since I bred my strongest to create these three."
"Hey! No fair, gramps! What about me?"
Red knew that voice very well. It belonged to his next door neighbour and rival, Green.
"Be patient, Green. I expected you'd have more patience, since you're my grandson. Can't you wait until Red has chosen?"
Yeah, Green was Oak's grandson. Favouritism? Nah. Red knew he was Oak's favourite from the beginning. Red was his best student, after all. Whereas Green... not so much...
Oak beckoned with his hand again and Red realized he'd been standing there like a stunned Feebas. He moved over to the table. Automatically, a screen came down from the ceiling and hovered over the closest ball.
~Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. This plant sprouts and grows with the Pokémon. This Pokémon is male, with the ability Chlorophyll.~
Red moved to the next ball. The monitor moved with him.
~Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. It obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam is said to pour from its tail. This Pokémon is female, with the ability Solar Power.~
Red refused to go any further. Charmander had captured his heart and was female. "Charmander, I choose you!"
After thanking the Professor for Charmander, Red turned to go as Green chose his Pokémon.
"Wait a minute, Red! Let's check out our Pokémon! I'll take you on!" Green called, holding out his starter's Poké Ball.
A/N: I have 5 chapters done atm, but I will be posting them one a fortnight.