Pallet was a quiet town at the best of times and a ghost town at the worst of times. There were very few families with children and most of these families seemed to keep to themselves most of the time. There were very few landmarks of any mention. The Viridian River made its lazy way just outside the town and at high tide your nostrils would be filled with the smell of the sea. The forests surrounding them were dead zones, the Pokemon present were not as exciting as somewhere like the Viridian Forest or Mount Moon after all. In the distance loomed the Indigo Plateau, a large grey blemish on the landscape, save for a few hours every morning and evening when it turned a lovely blue in the golden halflight. Behind that was the triangular peak of Mount Silver, along with many other mountains that lay in the far distance. It was small and communal enough so that everyone knew everyone else but everyone was highly respectful of each other's privacy.

That was why Samuel had built his lab here. It was far away from the chaos of the city, where everyone would consider coming at him with research proposals. Pallet had no Pokemon Centre, Gym or anything else that people would come for. Granted there was a small youth hostel for people wanting to challenge the league but that was empty most days anyway. This meant that he could continue his work in peace, without his research being leaked to the press before announcement.

Come to think of it, the majority of other Kanto based researchers did the same. Bill lived on Cerulean Cape, Fuji in Lavender town, heck Blaine even moved his entire lab onto an island in order to get away from people.

Additionally, the silence allowed for ample time for focus an concentration on non-research related matters, some good, some bad. The one that he was sitting in his back garden pondering right now was the latter.

Three weeks ago, he made a call purchasing some eggs from a few friends around Kanto. There was a breeder in Vermillion who was handing out eggs, a ninja in Fuschia who had a clutch of Bulbasaur eggs and a solitary Charmander egg, the offspring of a dragon clan member from Balckthorn in Johto. He had them all collected in one place at a Pokemart in Vermillion and had asked Lorenzo Ketchum, a friend of his that lived a few doors up the street from him, to deliver them. However, on the drive home, his car crashed in Pewter central. Eyewitnesses reported that a man had used a Rhyhorn to attempt to crash the car, though he was never caught. The man reportedly stole what was confirmed to be the incubator with the eggs in it which, combined with the crash and the assault of a trained Pokemon outside of a sanctioned battle, would be an easy life sentence if he was caught.

Oak didn't really care about what happened with him right now though. Those eggs had cost him way too much money and he probably wouldn't come across good choices for starter Pokemon in a long time since. Additionally, two of the Pokemon came from incredibly suspicious clans and he didn't want to know what would happen if either clan got pissed at him for losing their Pokemon.

He also didn't want to delay the accepted starting date any longer. This would be the fourth time that he would have to extend the amount of time that his hyperactive grandson had to wait for, but he also didn't want to throw in the towel and find him a Rattata or Pidgey either. He knew that would probably lead to his death, especially after keeping the starter as a surprise to Blue and his friends for so long.

Samuel stared at the dirt for another minute, shifting in his seat a bit before looking up to see his granddaughter walking down to him. Daisy was five years older than Blue and dressed in a green summer dress and white cardigan, her long auburn hair tied backwards in a ponytail. Her Sylveon leapt after her as she ran out of the doorway, a smile on her face. "I think I've figured it out!" She announced proudly.

"Figured what out?" Samuel raised and eyebrow in confusion, chuckling at her erratic behaviour.

"The starter crisis," She replied, handing him three pokeballs. Daisy had coined the term "starter crisis" after she heard about what happened with Lorenzo. She had been discussing what to do about it with Delia, Lorenzo's spouse.

"What's in these then?" Samuel inquired.

"Remember a few months back, when I sent Silver to live with that Kalosian family? The one with the Umbreon?"

"Sort of... yes I do now I think about it," Samuel didn't have the best memory in the world.

"Well, earlier I just received a parcel from them. They said they were appreciative of the time that Silver spent with them. They also asked if I could give these three Eevee a home,"

"So your suggesting we give these three to the new trainers?"

"Of course,"

"And your perfectly sure you don't want to keep them for yourself? They're your Pokemon after all,"

"Well..." Daisy stuttered slightly and looked down at the her feet. Silver stared back at her, a jealous look in his glassy blue eyes. "Ok yeah you can take them. I already have Silver after all," Silver tackled her to the ground, assaulting her with kicks.

Chuckling at this display of affection, Samuel chuckled, scratching his short, grey hair. "I guess it's settled then. I'll find time to train these three throughout the week and hand them out in a weeks time. Thank you very much Daisy. I'm sure Red, Blue and Leaf will be grateful as well. Anyway, in the meantime I was considering ordering pizza. You'll want your usual, I presume?"

The morning rays enveloped Pallet, the sky a dazzling mix of blue and purple. The clouds were lit a fiery red colour and drifted slowly and methodically across the sky. The white walls of the houses were stained yellow in the sunlight, their windows still black and grey. The world seemed still asleep, a light summer breeze being the only thing making any noise.

Somewhere in the distance, a Fearow crowed.

Red sat on the front step, eyes fixed upwards. He traced the outline of each cloud, imprinted in the indigo above him. The Pidgeys had begun to chirp and soon birdsong filled the air. He unzipped his jacket slightly, feeling the increase in temperature.

Somewhere overhead, he heard the screaming of a couple Spearow, making about their daily business. A small green head popped out from the bottom of the garden fence. The small Pokemon clambered up one of the brambles at the bottom end of the lawn. Upstairs, he heard the click of a light switch and a rustling, presumably his parents getting out of bed. Red stood up, looking around the awakening world for what would probably be the last time.

He opened the back door and reentered the house. He was immediately greeted to the smell of smoky bacon. Mime stood at the kitchen, the Pokemon flipping four rashers of Tepig bacon over to the uncooked side of the pan, wincing slightly and the spitting oil made a bid for his eyes. Noticing the boy's entry, he moved two rashers off the pan and onto one of the four plates, each containing a piece of fried bread. He then picked the plate up and offered it to Red, eyes not moving from his cooking.

"Good morning!" Red said cheerily grabbing a knife and fork and tucking in. Presently his mother and father walked down the stairs in their dressing gowns and he greeted them in a similar way.

"You're up early," his Mum said , stifling a slight yawn as she picked up her own plate from the side and sat down opposite to him. His Dad seated himself at the head of the table and Mime carried the other two plates to the table, fully aware about his plaster cast arm.

Red had heard all about the experience that the two of them had had a few days back. After his Dad had been allowed to be let out of hospital, he and Mime had been virtually unfazed by the event. His arm had yet to fully heal but he was still well and would probably be expected back at work in a few days time.

After a few minutes of eating in silence, his mother spoke up again. "So," she said between forkfuls, "Big day today, I hope you're ready,"

"I think I am," He replied. "Or at least, I'm dressed and my bag's packed. I don't know how to be more ready."

Mime set down his cutlery "Are you absolutely sure about that?" He asked, fluttering his hands around, "because when your father started out..."

"Yeah yeah, he's heard this tale before. I see no reason of repeating it." His Dad interjected, blushing fiercely as he forced Mime's hand down onto the table.

His Mum giggled "Why not? You scared of being embarrassed in front of your son?" She teased.

"No," His Dad replied "I just think that Red's heard that story before, and I would be wasting his time in repeating it, that's all."

Red poked his bacon round his plate anxiously. Noticing his worried face, his dad put a hand in his shoulder. "You ok?"

"Not really,"

"Nervous?"

"Kinda, yeah,"

"Well don't be,"

Red snorted. "Easy for you to say."

His dad nodded. "Maybe a bit, yeah. But listen to me when I say you have no reason to be scared or nervous. You'll make good friends out of it, trust me. I probably would have died last week if I had never become a trainer."

His mother looked him the eye. "And failure is always an option. If you ever feel like you aren't getting anywhere or that this kind of life isn't the life for you, feel perfectly free to settle down again, either with us or on your own. We won't feel ashamed of you or anything," The phone rang and she stood up from her chair to collect it.

His father continued "That worked for me and your mother, it'll probably work for you. Besides you're gonna get further than me anyway, I'm sure of it. That's gonna be something to be proud of."

"You sure? Why?"

"You actually succeeded the trainer exams, that's for one."

Red chuckled at this. His mother put down the phone and went to the table. "The professor is waiting for you, Red, best not to be late. Good luck!"

The professor's laboratory was unmistakable, being visible from a mile away. Fifty metres of steel, concrete and white paint shone like a torch in the morning light. Far up in the sky, Red noticed the pair of Pidgeotto that nested on the roof. Through the windows he saw offices and workspaces, each with at least one person in it getting ready for another long and tiring at at work.

Red had been to Pallet labs many times in his life. After his Mum and Dad left the trainer circuit and settled down in Pallet, they befriended one Samantha Oak, as well as her fiancé Gerald. Samantha managed to convince her father, the renowned Professor Samuel Oak, to take his mother in as a researcher. Since Red's father inconveniently worked at the Silf Company headquarters in Saffron, he (and Mime by extension) was very rarely around much. This forced him to spend large amounts of the time not spent in school sitting around the lab or the adjoining ranch waiting to grow old enough to spend time on his own.

It was in this time he befriended one Blue Oak, son of Samantha and Gerald, with whom he soon formed a fast friendship. However, following the death of Blue's parents three years ago, the two had grown more distant. Red had not visited the lab in at least three years, not since he became legally old enough to stay at home unprotected. He didn't consider himself a shut-in and enjoyed being outdoors. He just recognised that Blue probably didn't want him around anymore.

Red's feet quickly met maroon carpet as he found himself standing in the bright, cheery reception office. The receptionist turned to facets him, shifting his spectacles slightly, which upset the Hoothoot resting on his shoulder. The flying type's eyes snapped open and it made the most tremendous fuss, circling his head several times and letting out an earsplitting shriek before finally landing on the man's shoulder.

The man rubbed a hand through his messy brown hair. "Sorry about that Red. You looking for someone?" Red recognised him as Joseph Elm, a researcher from New Bark in Johto who was studying under Oak for a phd in Pokemon science.

"Yes. Is the professor in? I'm told he's ready for me." Red scratched the back of his head in anticipation.

Elm grinned. "He's in his study. Blue and Leaf are already up there. I think they're waiting on you,"

Red rolled his eyes at this. "I'm on my way,"

Elm chuckled. "I'll tell them you're coming up. You remember the way, don't you?"

Red stare up in anticipation at the large wooden door in front of him. This was it. Behind this door was his partner for life, his future best friend. Behind this door was the Pokemon that would carry him to the league - and maybe even beyond that! What it was he had no idea.

It could be literally anything, aside from a dragon or fairy type, that had a certain statistical level. Unlike his father, who had failed his initial exams and ended up with a relatively weak Mime Junior as a result, Red had just about succeeded and could now claim a Pokemon of basically any kind for his starter. Of course his sponsor decided what that kind of Pokemon was, but he trusted Professor Oak well enough that he probably wouldn't start with a Weedle or Caterpie. Red, slowly opened the door, ready to meet destiny...

... to have a dark brown shape knock him square on his back.

His vision blurred and then slowly came back into focus. He could barely process what was happening, only that he was lying on his back, with the wind knocked out of him and that there was something heavy lying on his midsection. Suddenly, he heard a shrill female voice call out. "VeeVee, use quick attack back!"

Red groaned in pain as whatever was on top of him dug it's legs into his belly before sharply leaping off of him. He clumsily got to his feet and peered into the office. When he used to spend time at the lab, Oak's office was strictly off limits. It was surprisingly disappointing. He wasn't expecting it to be so... blank. Most of the room was dominated by a large, empty space, with the same white walls and Maroon carpet as was in most of the office blocks. Squashed into one corner was a desk covered in paper, topped with a ginormous, boxy computer. The rest of the room was just empty. What really caught his attention was the people and Pokemon in the room.

On the right hand side was a boy, rubbing a hand through his auburn hair. Blue Oak regarded the battlefield with stern concentration, Sapphire eyes flicking left and right. To the left of the room stood a girl with long brown hair and deep brown eyes that peered desperately from under a large white hat. The professor sat at his desk, a stoic, observant look on his ageing face.

A sharp cry sounded from the middle of the room. There were two Pokemon stood there, both small, brown and fluffy with pointed ears and uncannily enormous eyes. Red immediately recognised the both of them as Eevee. They were at each other's throats, biting and snarling. Blue yelled out a command for tail whip, which caused the Eevee that was further away from him to bat its thick, bushy tail in its enemy's face. The other Eevee winced and recoiled, prompting another charge from its aggressor.

Above the noise of the conflict, Red could hear the Professor calling out to him beckoning him over. Neither of the other two new trainers could notice him, too enraptured in their battle.

Oak's face cracked into a smile "Hello there!" He chuckled. "You sure you're ready?"

Red heaved his rucksack, looking back anxiously. There was the real possibility that something in it had cracked in the fall "Pretty sure, yeah. Thanks for sponsoring me, Professor"

Oak snorted. "I've told you before Red! Please call me Sam next time. Nearly everyone does,"

"And does everyone include the news, my teachers, my parents and literally everybody else I've met?"

The old man shook his head, smiling. "Glad to see you haven't changed in three years then Red,"

"Um... you two I guess," come to think of it, he hadn't seen much of, let alone talked to, him for that long. "How's Daisy?"

"Fine, fine. Well enough with the chit chat. I suppose you came here to receive a starter, didn't you?"

Red grinned. "I sure did. I take it I've got an Eevee then?"

"Yes, I did," Oak replied, frowning. "I was hoping for some more, um, variety but this is all I have left. On the table for you is a Pokédex and six pokeballs. The one with your name on it has the Pokemon in it."

"Ok then Professor. And thank you again for everything."

The old man chuckled. "That is quite alright. Also, please. It's Sam,"

"Alright then." Red walked up to the counter and took the unmarked pokeballs and began to insert them into his bag, one by one, feeling them thud to the bottom of their pocket. He lifted the Pokédex in the air, opening the lid and watching the light reflect off of the blank, grey screen. He was about to press the button...

"What the... how the fuck did I lose that?"

"Because of your obvious lack of intelligence. Also because you lack guts!"

"Oh really? Lack guts do I? Meet me and VeeVee at the league. Then we'll see who really lacks guts!" Red looked up to see the girl in the white hat storm out, slamming the door behind her.

Red sighed. Five years ago, when Joseph Elm enrolled under professor Oak and moved to Pallet, he brought his sister Leaf with him. Leaf's family were Kantonian but she had been born in Johto. She moved with her brother after she had expressed her want to enter the trainer circuit. Unlike Johto, only one exam was necessary in order to become a trainer in Kanto. Leaf had never enjoyed tests, so she chose the option that involved less years of rigorous study, even if you could technically become a trainer a year younger than in Johto. She was characterised by her love of gardening, grass types and gym leader Erika.

Leaf's loud, outgoing personality led to clashes with the similarly brash Blue. The two of them ended up forming a friendly rivalry, constantly feeling the need to one up each other. However, following the loss of Blue's parents this relationship had morphed into something much worse: a hatred even. This was honestly one of the main driving forces that forced Red away from hanging out at the lab. He and Leaf were still good friends after all of this but he hadn't talked to Blue in ages. Hopefully, he was ok...

"Hey you Red? You got the puny one didn't ya?" Blue was staring at him, snarky grin on his weaselly face.

...or maybe he hadn't. "What do you mean puny? I haven't seen him yet and neither have you!"

Blue stepped forward with a snarl staring down on him with venomous grey-blue eyes. He had easily grown a good half a foot taller than Red, which was odd because Red had always been taller beforehand.

"Oh, I can tell. The weak will always attract to the weak after all," he spat.

Red stammered stepping backwards. "Sorry," he gulped, before standing tall again. He adjusted his cap nervously "Shouldn't you be on your way by now. I mean Leaf has already left and I'm about to. Viridian is a days walk away."

Blue's face faltered in thought for a second before straightening again. "You're probably right," he replied before a grin crossed his face. He dropped into a fight stance as his hand flew to the scarlet pokeball on his belt. "But if that Eevee you've got is powerful like you claim it is, then I would personally like a battle to test that,"

Red looked on in confusion. How much had his friend changed exactly? He couldn't guess.

"Um, ok I gue-"
"Most certainly not!" A loud, booming voice shot out across the room. The two boys stammered and looked up as the Professor stepped across the room towards them, a stern look dominating his sharp face. "Blue, your pokemon is barely able to stand after its last fight. Red hasn't even met his pokemon yet! I would highly recommend leaving this instant, at least to catch up with Leaf,"

"What the... Why should I! She'll just slow you down!"

"Are you arguing with me Blue?"
"Uh... No," Blue stammered. "I'll try and make it to Viridian," He then walked up to Red and grabbed the smaller boy, lifting him up to his eye level. "I'll be waiting for you, weakling," He then turned for the door, flicking his grandfather a casual wave as he left. "Smell ya later, Gramps!"

And then there was silence.

Red was stunned. He didn't know what to say. Eventually, Oak walked forward, resting a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't mind him, Red. He's been like this for Mew knows how long. It's best to just ignore it and continue on with your life."
Red let go of the breath he was holding in one long huff. "I just can't believe he's so... different. Was he always like this and I never noticed?"
Oak rolled his eyes, chuckling slightly "No, but it's not too far a stretch from before, I promise?"

"What do you mean?"
"Never mind Red. How about getting acquainted with your pokemon before you go?"

As much as he didn't want to change the subject, Red was excited enough to let it happen. He looked at the crimson orb in his hand, inspecting its curves. He still couldn't wrap his head around the fact that a sphere like this could hold so much power. He shifted it into his hand and threw it.

"Hello there, Eevee."