Author's Note: Heya all! It DAY, your author here! This is my first
pokémon fic, so cut me a little slack if it's not so good, okay? This is
really based more off the anime, but there wasn't a section in anime, at
least, not what I saw . . . newayz, I bet y'all wanna get down to business
and read my story, right? *no answer* okay then. Uh . . . have fun
reading . . .?
Disclaimer: I don't own Ash, Ash's Mom, Gary or Professor Oak, or any pokémon. Storm is mine . . . and maybe a couple new gym leaders or something, but not much. Ask if you want to borrow, okay? But it should be fine. Just ask . . .
Newayz, here we go . . .
Prologue
Do you know how hard it is to have a famous little brother? I mean, as soon as people find out my last name's Ketchum, the first thing they say is, 'Oh, are you related to Ash Ketchum?' Of course, I suppose people had never heard of Ash before he made his way through Kanto and Orange Islands. But sometimes I envy him. Other times, I'm glad I'm me, and I do what I do. Some people say that I could never beat Ash . . . well . . . that's not true . . . Most people don't know what I am . . .
Storm's Story
Chapter 1 - The Journey Begins
"Hey, Ash!" I remember calling to my little brother one day. "Guess what it is in a week's time?"
Ash, in his typical eight-year-old way, didn't answer me straight away. "What, Storm? Is there going to be food?"
Trust Ash to think of food at a time like this. I was trying to tell him something important! "Yes, there's gonna be food, stupid! How can you forget my birthday?"
"Oh yeah! I remember now! You told me yesterday."
"And the day before, and the day before! But you always forget! You wanna know why my birthday is extra special this year?"
"Um . . . why? Do you get an extra big cake?"
I was getting exasperated. All I wanted to do was take his little head full of black hair, and pound it against the wall. Then maybe he would get some sense knocked into him.
"No, idiot. It's my tenth birthday!" I called out triumphantly. Surely he had to know what I was talking about now.
"Oh," Ash replied uncertainly. I flipped my long sandy brown braid over my shoulder and glared at him with my intensely green eyes. He still didn't know what I was talking about.
"How can you be so clueless? I'm going to get a pokémon." I made sure to speak nice and slowly. Then maybe he would get it through his thick skull.
"Oh!" He finally got it. "Which one are you going to get?"
"I don't know yet . . . Squirtle's the cutest, but Bulbasaur would be the strongest, I think."
"Here's a tip, o braided one." Gary had walked up behind me and Ash, and we both jumped. Neither one of us had heard him coming. "Don't get a pokémon that you don't like. When you're up there, you'll know what the right choice is."
"And how do you know?" I retorted. Gary wanted something. He wasn't often nice to me for no reason.
"Gramps said. And you know Gramps is the expert." Of course I did. I wasn't stupid. Professor Oak was the leading authority on pokémon.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
I spent the days leading up to my birthday in tense anticipation. I thought about what Gary had told me. He was right, even though I didn't like to admit it. If I didn't like the pokémon I chose, then there was no way I could work with it. I had already decided to love my pokémon, not put them through harsh punishments or training they were doomed to failure in. My pokémon would be my life.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Storm, honey, it's time to get up," Mom called through the door of my room on my 10th birthday. She had no way of knowing that I had already been up a full hour, dressed and ready to go.
I ate my breakfast quickly, without so much as a single word to Mom or Ash. As I finished my cereal, I sat in silence and stared at my empty bowl.
(Today's the day!) I thought nervously. (I'm going to get my very first pokémon today!)
I glanced at the clock. Even though I wasn't expected to meet Professor Oak for another half an hour, I couldn't sit still any longer.
"See you later, Mom!" And I ran out the door. Into the last person on earth I expected to be standing there.
"Gary? What are you doing here?"
"Just making sure you don't forget. Don't sound so grateful. Oh, happy birthday, by the way." Then he did something I'd never seen him do before. He smiled at me.
(Wow, he looks so much different when he's smiling. He should do it more often . . .)
He'd never smiled at me before. Whenever he was out playing with Ash, when they were still good friends, he would always glare at me with some comment like, 'This is a boy's game. Go away!' or something of the sort. He never gave me a chance. Until now, I guess.
So Gary escorted me, or walked beside me, whichever way you want to think of it, to his grandfather's house. I knew already that this day was a turning point in my life. I knew that this day would be important. I just didn't know how important.
"Heya, Gramps! Guess who I brought," Gary yelled in a voice that was sure to carry throughout the whole house. I suppose that was the point.
Professor Oak bustled out from where he was working in a back room. "Ah, hello Storm. A little early, I see. Nervous?"
All I could do was nod. I didn't exactly trust my voice.
"I see. Seeing as you're the only one with your birthday about now, I guess you can go ahead and pick now. They're right through there." He pointed back towards the room he had just come from.
I walked through the doorway to see three pokéballs on a stand. Where were the pokémon? I thought we got to see them, and choose for ourselves.
"Uh, Professor? Can I see the pokémon? I'm not exactly sure which one I want yet."
"Of course. It's important to have a pokémon that suits you. Gary, if you please."
I didn't know what Professor Oak wanted Gary to do, but it appeared that Gary did. He walked over to the stand and pressed a little button in the front of the balls, and after he did, each one opened, and a pokémon came out.
The first thing Squirtle did was run up to Bulbasaur and butt it with his head.
"Bulba! Bulba, Bulbasaur!" it called in protest. But Squirtle kept at it. I didn't really like it much, a pokémon that didn't know when to stop . . .
The one that caught my eye, though, was the Charmander. It just stood there, ignoring the other two fighting, and looked at me. It cocked its head to one side.
"Char?"
I laughed and squatted down so I could be closer to its level. "Come here, little Charmander. I won't hurt you, I promise." I was surprised when the Charmander waddled closer towards me. It held out its arms to me.
"Charmander, Char, Char!"
I picked the adorable thing up and held it close to me, making sure its fiery tail was away from my clothes. It was nice and warm. Probably due to its fire type.
"You want the Charmander, then?" Professor Oak's voice brought me back to reality. I nodded emphatically, and he walked over to the stand, picked off a pokéball and handed it to me.
"Charmander is now your pokémon. Train well. And don't forget, pokémon are your friends as well as your battle partners. Good luck, Storm." With that statement, the pokémon Professor led me to the door. I was still holding onto Charmander as if it was my lifeline.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
Some people thought I was crazy for choosing Charmander like that. I heard Gary say so as I walked out the door. 'She's crazy! That Charmander was a puny, weak little sod. I would have chosen the Squirtle.' I think Mom was a little apprehensive about me getting the Charmander too. 'Just make sure it doesn't set anything on fire, honey.' Ash just wanted to steal my Charmander away. 'Aw, such a cute little thing. Here, let me hold it.' When I refused, Ash tried to grab Charmander from my hands. And nearly got his fingers bit off. As I'm telling this to you now, I'm laughing my head off remembering the look on his face. 'Are you sure you want such a vicious little thing?' I just laughed as he ran away calling for Mom.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Charmander, are you a boy or a girl?" Charmander cocked its head and looked at me kind of funny. Maybe it didn't understand the question.
"Char?" I listened carefully to its voice. It sounded kind of like Ash's voice. It was high, but like a boyish high, not like a girl. If you get what I mean.
"So, you're a boy, then? Well, you're going to have to turn around." I was in my room, about to change into the clothes that Mom had bought me to travel in.
"Char? Char, Charmander, Char?" I guess he didn't understand what I was saying. But I didn't want a guy in the room while I was changing. I begged him to turn around, but he still wouldn't, so I had no choice but to put him in his pokéball.
When I was changed into my traveling clothes, just a simple loose skirt and flowery T-shirt, I braided my hair and put on my silver wire-rim glasses. I attached Charmander's pokéball to my belt.
I was ready to go. I was now a pokémon trainer.
I said good-bye to Mom and Ash and assured them that I would keep in touch. Then I headed out the door. Guess who was waiting outside, yet again? None other than Gary. I fleetingly wondered why he was here, again, but I didn't have to wait long for the answer. He walked alongside me as I left the house.
"Nicely done, genius. You were in such a hurry to go and adore your Charmander that you totally forgot your Pokédex. It's a good thing Gramps looks after you so well." He handed me what looked like a little red calculator, you know, the ones that you have to take out of the case. I flipped it open and saw a screen that took up about half of the area and a variety of buttons. I heard Gary's chuckle beside me. "If it was up to me, I would have left you and seen how long it was before you realized you forgot it and came running back."
"Gary! That's so mean!" And all he did was laugh. He really was a mean little boy. But still, he walked me to the edge of Pallet Town, and when I reached the road at the end, he almost looked concerned.
"Be careful, Storm. It's dangerous. Come back, okay?"
I smiled at him. I couldn't help it. Worry was a new look for Gary. It didn't suit him. "Of course I'll come back. I'm only 10, after all. Don't worry. I have Charmander to look after me." Then I turned on my heel and left. Gary shouted something after me, but I didn't hear what he said.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
I never found out what he said. Still to this day I don't know. But then again, I'm not 100% sure I want to know. Knowing Gary, it could have been any number of insults. But then again, he had just been nice to me, for some unknown reason, so it might have been nice.
Anyway, that was how my adventure began. With a Charmander and some oversized dreams. I had no idea that some of my dreams would actually come true . . .
Author's Note: What do you think? Drop by and review! Tell me exactly what you think so far. I have in my head the basic plot until Storm is 19. Please review! Constructive criticism is good, compliments are good, and if you're gonna flame me, at least give a reason why, okay? Well, bye bye!
I know my italicized stuff isn't working and I don't know really how to do it. If you guys know how to do that, please tell me cuz it's driving me INSANE! Not that I'm sane the way it is . . .
[edit] thanx for pointing out the clothes thing, omi. I changed it later, apparently after I posted this . . . whoops!
Disclaimer: I don't own Ash, Ash's Mom, Gary or Professor Oak, or any pokémon. Storm is mine . . . and maybe a couple new gym leaders or something, but not much. Ask if you want to borrow, okay? But it should be fine. Just ask . . .
Newayz, here we go . . .
Prologue
Do you know how hard it is to have a famous little brother? I mean, as soon as people find out my last name's Ketchum, the first thing they say is, 'Oh, are you related to Ash Ketchum?' Of course, I suppose people had never heard of Ash before he made his way through Kanto and Orange Islands. But sometimes I envy him. Other times, I'm glad I'm me, and I do what I do. Some people say that I could never beat Ash . . . well . . . that's not true . . . Most people don't know what I am . . .
Storm's Story
Chapter 1 - The Journey Begins
"Hey, Ash!" I remember calling to my little brother one day. "Guess what it is in a week's time?"
Ash, in his typical eight-year-old way, didn't answer me straight away. "What, Storm? Is there going to be food?"
Trust Ash to think of food at a time like this. I was trying to tell him something important! "Yes, there's gonna be food, stupid! How can you forget my birthday?"
"Oh yeah! I remember now! You told me yesterday."
"And the day before, and the day before! But you always forget! You wanna know why my birthday is extra special this year?"
"Um . . . why? Do you get an extra big cake?"
I was getting exasperated. All I wanted to do was take his little head full of black hair, and pound it against the wall. Then maybe he would get some sense knocked into him.
"No, idiot. It's my tenth birthday!" I called out triumphantly. Surely he had to know what I was talking about now.
"Oh," Ash replied uncertainly. I flipped my long sandy brown braid over my shoulder and glared at him with my intensely green eyes. He still didn't know what I was talking about.
"How can you be so clueless? I'm going to get a pokémon." I made sure to speak nice and slowly. Then maybe he would get it through his thick skull.
"Oh!" He finally got it. "Which one are you going to get?"
"I don't know yet . . . Squirtle's the cutest, but Bulbasaur would be the strongest, I think."
"Here's a tip, o braided one." Gary had walked up behind me and Ash, and we both jumped. Neither one of us had heard him coming. "Don't get a pokémon that you don't like. When you're up there, you'll know what the right choice is."
"And how do you know?" I retorted. Gary wanted something. He wasn't often nice to me for no reason.
"Gramps said. And you know Gramps is the expert." Of course I did. I wasn't stupid. Professor Oak was the leading authority on pokémon.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
I spent the days leading up to my birthday in tense anticipation. I thought about what Gary had told me. He was right, even though I didn't like to admit it. If I didn't like the pokémon I chose, then there was no way I could work with it. I had already decided to love my pokémon, not put them through harsh punishments or training they were doomed to failure in. My pokémon would be my life.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Storm, honey, it's time to get up," Mom called through the door of my room on my 10th birthday. She had no way of knowing that I had already been up a full hour, dressed and ready to go.
I ate my breakfast quickly, without so much as a single word to Mom or Ash. As I finished my cereal, I sat in silence and stared at my empty bowl.
(Today's the day!) I thought nervously. (I'm going to get my very first pokémon today!)
I glanced at the clock. Even though I wasn't expected to meet Professor Oak for another half an hour, I couldn't sit still any longer.
"See you later, Mom!" And I ran out the door. Into the last person on earth I expected to be standing there.
"Gary? What are you doing here?"
"Just making sure you don't forget. Don't sound so grateful. Oh, happy birthday, by the way." Then he did something I'd never seen him do before. He smiled at me.
(Wow, he looks so much different when he's smiling. He should do it more often . . .)
He'd never smiled at me before. Whenever he was out playing with Ash, when they were still good friends, he would always glare at me with some comment like, 'This is a boy's game. Go away!' or something of the sort. He never gave me a chance. Until now, I guess.
So Gary escorted me, or walked beside me, whichever way you want to think of it, to his grandfather's house. I knew already that this day was a turning point in my life. I knew that this day would be important. I just didn't know how important.
"Heya, Gramps! Guess who I brought," Gary yelled in a voice that was sure to carry throughout the whole house. I suppose that was the point.
Professor Oak bustled out from where he was working in a back room. "Ah, hello Storm. A little early, I see. Nervous?"
All I could do was nod. I didn't exactly trust my voice.
"I see. Seeing as you're the only one with your birthday about now, I guess you can go ahead and pick now. They're right through there." He pointed back towards the room he had just come from.
I walked through the doorway to see three pokéballs on a stand. Where were the pokémon? I thought we got to see them, and choose for ourselves.
"Uh, Professor? Can I see the pokémon? I'm not exactly sure which one I want yet."
"Of course. It's important to have a pokémon that suits you. Gary, if you please."
I didn't know what Professor Oak wanted Gary to do, but it appeared that Gary did. He walked over to the stand and pressed a little button in the front of the balls, and after he did, each one opened, and a pokémon came out.
The first thing Squirtle did was run up to Bulbasaur and butt it with his head.
"Bulba! Bulba, Bulbasaur!" it called in protest. But Squirtle kept at it. I didn't really like it much, a pokémon that didn't know when to stop . . .
The one that caught my eye, though, was the Charmander. It just stood there, ignoring the other two fighting, and looked at me. It cocked its head to one side.
"Char?"
I laughed and squatted down so I could be closer to its level. "Come here, little Charmander. I won't hurt you, I promise." I was surprised when the Charmander waddled closer towards me. It held out its arms to me.
"Charmander, Char, Char!"
I picked the adorable thing up and held it close to me, making sure its fiery tail was away from my clothes. It was nice and warm. Probably due to its fire type.
"You want the Charmander, then?" Professor Oak's voice brought me back to reality. I nodded emphatically, and he walked over to the stand, picked off a pokéball and handed it to me.
"Charmander is now your pokémon. Train well. And don't forget, pokémon are your friends as well as your battle partners. Good luck, Storm." With that statement, the pokémon Professor led me to the door. I was still holding onto Charmander as if it was my lifeline.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
Some people thought I was crazy for choosing Charmander like that. I heard Gary say so as I walked out the door. 'She's crazy! That Charmander was a puny, weak little sod. I would have chosen the Squirtle.' I think Mom was a little apprehensive about me getting the Charmander too. 'Just make sure it doesn't set anything on fire, honey.' Ash just wanted to steal my Charmander away. 'Aw, such a cute little thing. Here, let me hold it.' When I refused, Ash tried to grab Charmander from my hands. And nearly got his fingers bit off. As I'm telling this to you now, I'm laughing my head off remembering the look on his face. 'Are you sure you want such a vicious little thing?' I just laughed as he ran away calling for Mom.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
"Charmander, are you a boy or a girl?" Charmander cocked its head and looked at me kind of funny. Maybe it didn't understand the question.
"Char?" I listened carefully to its voice. It sounded kind of like Ash's voice. It was high, but like a boyish high, not like a girl. If you get what I mean.
"So, you're a boy, then? Well, you're going to have to turn around." I was in my room, about to change into the clothes that Mom had bought me to travel in.
"Char? Char, Charmander, Char?" I guess he didn't understand what I was saying. But I didn't want a guy in the room while I was changing. I begged him to turn around, but he still wouldn't, so I had no choice but to put him in his pokéball.
When I was changed into my traveling clothes, just a simple loose skirt and flowery T-shirt, I braided my hair and put on my silver wire-rim glasses. I attached Charmander's pokéball to my belt.
I was ready to go. I was now a pokémon trainer.
I said good-bye to Mom and Ash and assured them that I would keep in touch. Then I headed out the door. Guess who was waiting outside, yet again? None other than Gary. I fleetingly wondered why he was here, again, but I didn't have to wait long for the answer. He walked alongside me as I left the house.
"Nicely done, genius. You were in such a hurry to go and adore your Charmander that you totally forgot your Pokédex. It's a good thing Gramps looks after you so well." He handed me what looked like a little red calculator, you know, the ones that you have to take out of the case. I flipped it open and saw a screen that took up about half of the area and a variety of buttons. I heard Gary's chuckle beside me. "If it was up to me, I would have left you and seen how long it was before you realized you forgot it and came running back."
"Gary! That's so mean!" And all he did was laugh. He really was a mean little boy. But still, he walked me to the edge of Pallet Town, and when I reached the road at the end, he almost looked concerned.
"Be careful, Storm. It's dangerous. Come back, okay?"
I smiled at him. I couldn't help it. Worry was a new look for Gary. It didn't suit him. "Of course I'll come back. I'm only 10, after all. Don't worry. I have Charmander to look after me." Then I turned on my heel and left. Gary shouted something after me, but I didn't hear what he said.
/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/*-*/
I never found out what he said. Still to this day I don't know. But then again, I'm not 100% sure I want to know. Knowing Gary, it could have been any number of insults. But then again, he had just been nice to me, for some unknown reason, so it might have been nice.
Anyway, that was how my adventure began. With a Charmander and some oversized dreams. I had no idea that some of my dreams would actually come true . . .
Author's Note: What do you think? Drop by and review! Tell me exactly what you think so far. I have in my head the basic plot until Storm is 19. Please review! Constructive criticism is good, compliments are good, and if you're gonna flame me, at least give a reason why, okay? Well, bye bye!
I know my italicized stuff isn't working and I don't know really how to do it. If you guys know how to do that, please tell me cuz it's driving me INSANE! Not that I'm sane the way it is . . .
[edit] thanx for pointing out the clothes thing, omi. I changed it later, apparently after I posted this . . . whoops!