Chapter 3: Gotta Catch 'em All

The area north of Vermillion City, while small, was a popular hiking spot. Far from the hustle and bustle of the port city, people could enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest. And of course, the Pokemon.

A Pidgeotto was nestled in the grass, resting after a long day of flying. Off to the side a few feet away, some bushes began to rustle and a black haired teen peered out at it, Pokeball in hand.

"At long last, you're mine."

He reeled back his hand, ready to throw it when...

"GOH!"

The teen, startled by the loud shout, dropped to the ground. In the commotion, the Pidgeotto had flewn away to find a better resting spot, Goh watching it leave in disappointment.

"Dang it Chloe, I almost had it! Couldn't you have waited until I caught it before giving me a heart attack?"

Chloe rolled her eyes before shoving the papers into his arms.

"We both know you wouldn't have caught it, so you might as well focus on what's important."

"Hey, it might've worked! You don't always have to weaken it in battle first, you know!"

"Maybe if it was a Caterpie, but not a mid-stage evolution like Pidgeotto! Why don't you just let my dad give you a starter? You know he'd do it in a heartbeat."

Goh stared up into the sky, deep in thought.

"Its not about whether he'd do it or not. I want my first Pokemon to be special, one I caught all on my own. Not just handed to me by a guy in a lab coat. If I'm going to be a world famous researcher one day, then I can't be afraid to get my hands dirty!"

Chloe smiled. As frustrating as Goh could be, she always did admire his optimism.

"You're lucky. You already know what you want to be when you grow up."

"You still haven't figured it out yet, huh?"

Chloe sighed sadly, and shook her head. In Kanto, children could drop out of school once they started their Pokemon journey. Unless one wanted to go into a field that required extensive schooling, like a Professor or Doctor, most kids dropped out when of age and went to conquer the world. Chloe and Goh had originally decided to stay in school to figure out/achieve their goals, but even they were beginning to get restless. Goh eventually stopped coming to class except to take tests, with Chloe giving and taking back any assignments for him while he was out busy trying to capture his first Pokemon. She, however...

"Hey, don't worry about it! Lots of people don't know what they want to do at our age. You don't have to choose right away."

Chloe smiled. As stupid as Goh could be, sometimes he knew just what to say.

"Thanks, Goh. I'm glad I have you as a friend."

"Same here, Chloe...woah, check it out!"

Chloe looked up to see a shiny Pidgeot flying overhead. Sure enough, Goh was already on his feet, Pokeball at hand.

"Now's my chance. Bye, Chloe!"

"Goh, wait!"

But Goh had already taken off for the city, leaving Chloe all alone. With an aggravated sigh, she followed suit.

"Oh, you are so in for it..."

Following his path of destruction, she made her way to the Pokemon Center before losing sight of it. Outside, she found a boy and girl a little older than her with a Pikachu and Alolan Vulpix, the girl helping the boy to his feet.

"Excuse me, have you seen a kid, about my age, with dark hair? Might have been chasing a Pidgeot, screaming like a madman?"

"That way."

Chloe sighed. Leave it to Goh to run into someone in his pursuit of Pokemon.

"Thanks, sorry if he caused you any trouble. Goh, slow down!"

Chloe set off once again, hoping to catch Goh before he caused anyone else more harm. Just another typical day for her, it seemed.