AN: If you want to see Daniel's progress and team I'll be putting that at the end of each chapter so you don't have to keep a mental note of it every time. At the time of releasing this second chapter, the next day of the first, there have been 15 views. 15 in less than 24 hours. That is something I did not expect.

Thanks for reading!

May 15, 2021 (Pokemon Center, Oldale Town)
Dear Diary/Journal,

Today I got my first pokemon! I made the near-impossible choice of choosing my starter pokemon. All my 15 years of life led up to this moment. I'll take you through it.

Let's paint the scene, shall we? You've lived 15 years, most of those years watching pokemon battling. And pokemon trainers got you curious, a lot of them seemed to have a pokemon in common! Either the water/ground type Swampert, or the grass type Sceptile, or the most common among the 3 the fire/fighting type Blaziken. Now around 10 years old you realize that these three are called 'starter pokemon' which even then you realized meant you could get them. And thus 5 whole years of careful planning and deliberation has led to this choice.

I had already made my choice the day I left home. Now was no time to waver. I walked out of the pokemon center of Oldale town and into route 101 with determination.

I calmly made my way to the lab, it was quite hard to miss, by far the biggest building in Littleroot with it's own pokemon ranch though oddly small. I had heard that the professor preferred to observe pokemon in the wild but I had expected it to at the very least be bigger than the one at the daycare. There were very few pokemon in the ranch and none too big. I saw a Marill and a Zigzagoon running about from the outside but not more. I entered the lab with bated breath.

It was bigger on the inside than out. There were a number of machines lining the walls, the only ones I could recognize were a PC and a healing machine. Multiple assistants were running around in their lab coats each one either holding a bunch of papers or a laptop. At the far end of the lab stood 3 figures, two of them were kids who couldn't be much older than me and the other one was the man I came for, Professor Birch.

He was not a very tall man he stood at my eye level which I found surprising for such an outgoing person. His beard was surprisingly well kept, but the same couldn't be said for the rest of his appearance, his coat was quite dirty and it's sleeves were folded which probably meant he only just got back from one of his research trips. The girl standing next to him seemed to be lecturing the professor about his dirty state but didn't look much better herself, the bow on her head was a faded red and the white of it now looked more brown. Her attire and demeanor told me exactly who she was, May, the professor's main assistant and only daughter. I looked at the boy next to them who stood awkwardly in front of them not quite sure what to do.

I called out to them and introduced myself. The professor said he was expecting me and that the boy next to me, Alastor was also to get his starter today. He quickly went through the formalities of explaining the rules and responsibilities of having a pokemon. He handed out 10 pokeballs, a potion, and a Pokedex then leading us to a table with three pokeballs. This was it. This was the moment. Without a doubt in my mind, I chose the pokemon I knew would lead me to victory on my journey.

And now becoming the very first member of my team was Fin the Mudkip.

May 21, 2021 (Rustboro Gym Stadium, Rustboro City)

A cheering crowd can be heard in the distance. It's so loud one can barely hear themselves. Walking onto the field is Roxanne the Rock-type gym leader in her classic outfit, a mix n match of grey and pink. She smiles and waves to the crowd, anyone could tell that she was a pro. The way she walked to her calm smile told anyone who was watching that she was ready for victory.

Our protagonist Daniel Todd was not as carefree. Watching from the waiting room he saw trainer after trainer going out to battle her, most of them amateurs like he was with only the occasional experienced trainer coming in almost just as confident as the gym leader. 'Maybe choosing to go last was not the best idea' thought Daniel as he could now see what other trainers like him were going through. The last out of the 10 challengers for today Daniel got a first-person look at how different he was from the other challengers. Some were even more nervous than he was and others keeping calm while revising their strategies. He did not feel ready. The only solace he found was that Roxanne had indeed been defeated 3 times today in a 3v3, the format he was going to participate in. The crowd roared and the 9th challenger came back into the waiting room hanging his head in defeat, it was his turn now. Clutching his 3 pokeballs in his hands he silently calls out to his pokemon, Fin the Mudkip, Trip the Shroomish, and Serene the Tailow, each having been given their own respective roles to play in the upcoming match.

He slowly makes his way down the corridor, he can see Roxanne at the opposite end of the field, confident in her ability. When Daniel enters the field and the spotlight hits his face for his introduction, "Welcome Daniel from Mauville City an amateur trainer who aims to make a splashing debut here at the Rustboro gym! The format will once again be 3v3 in consideration for the limited experience of the challenger. Everyone make some noise and let the battle begin!"

Daniel looks around the stadium, all different kinds of people cheering him on. From adults to children every single person there wanted to see his skill, everyone wanted to feel the thrill of an exciting match. Wonderstruck at the atmosphere of the stadium, he readies himself. Pokeball in hand he once again goes over the strategy in his head before telling the referee he was ready.

"The rules are simple, a 3v3 format. The gym leader is not allowed substitutions for trainers having less than 2 badges. The battle will be on a rocky field as no special requests were made by the challenger. Gym leader Roxanne, please send out your first pokemon." The referee then calls the start of the match and the crowd goes silent, waiting for the match to begin.

"Go! Aron!"

Closing his eyes Daniel finally realizes, 'My first gym battle'. Feeling the weight of that finally hit him Daniel takes in a deep breath to calm himself. An unusual amount of confidence surges through him as he takes the Pokeball in his hand.

"Trip, it's go time!" these words are followed by a splash of light and the sound of a whistle.

Daniel's first gym battle had begun.

Daniel's Team:

Fin(Mudkip)

Trip(Shroomish)

Serene(Tailow)