Author's Note: This is my first ACTUAL fic, so please review and tell me how I'm doin'. Flames, helpful criticism, and suggestions are very welcome ^_^ Read my bottom notes for details on how you can enter my upcoming interactive fic, "To Be A Pokemon Master".

Title: New Beginnings

Summary: Thirteen-year-old Nicole, who has worked as Prof. Oak's assistant, finally gets her chance to go out into the world and become a Pokemon Master!

Author: The Pokemon Breeder

Review Goal: 3

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[CHAPTER 1: CATCHING PIKACHU]

"Good morning, Professor Oak!" Chirped Lane as she walked into the professor's laboratory. She set her old gray back pack by the door, and tossed her Pokegear down on top of it. Although she wasn't a trainer, Professor Oak thought it would be a good idea if she kept a Pokegear device on her whenever she went to do errands for him, in case something went wrong.

Lane was a tall girl for thirteen, and had bright green eyes and extremely short dark brown hair. Today, she was wearing a plain orange t- shirt, with a Torchic symbol stitched on the breast pocket. Blue jeans and a pair of worn-out Nikes accommodated her rather casual outfit. She kept her custom-made Crystal Ball on a chain that she hung around her neck. It had been a gift from her late father; he'd told her to give it to her must trusted Pokemon once she became a trainer. Sadly, that day still had yet to come.

"Good morning, Lane," the professor greeted from his desk. "I have a special errand for you today." He got up from his comfy computer chair and turned to face her, his hands behind his back.

"What can I do for you?" The teen tilted her a head, a slight smile appearing on her face.

"Yesterday, when the new trainers came to choose their Pokemon, I happened to run out of Pikachu. Would you mind going to capture one for me?" He picked a package up off of his desk, setting it into one of her hands. "That parcel contains five Pokeballs. And this," he placed a Great Ball in her unoccupied hand, "is a Charmeleon. You shouldn't have any trouble getting a Pikachu, other than taking the time to search for one."

Lane tucked the package under her arm, and looked down at Charmeleon's ball. "Gee, Professor.... Will Charmeleon even listen to me?"

"I've told him to. Don't worry; you'll be fine," Oak smiled reassuringly. "Now go get me that Pikachu! One or two more would be wonderful, if you can find any."

"OK!" She nodded. "I'll do my best. See ya!"

And with that, she strapped her Pokegear to her wrist, stuffed the Pokeballs in her pack, and was out the door.

~~--Hours Later....--~~

"Ugh..." Lane complained as she plopped down on a tree stump. Charmeleon, who had been out of his ball for quite some time now, growled reassuringly at her, running one sharp claw down her forearm. The teen giggled a little, her arm being her most ticklish limb.

A few odd feet away, a bush began to rustle. Both Pika-searchers whirled to see what was hiding within the shrubbery.

"Pika?" A yellow head popped out of the top of the bush. It cocked its head, a few sparks dancing across its yellow cheeks.

"A Pikachu!" Lane grinned, excited. "Charmeleon, use your Scratch attack!"

With exceptional speed the fire Pokemon rushed forward, raking its claws at the yellow electric mouse. The inexperienced Pikachu didn't have time to dodge, so it hit Charmeleon with a light Thundershock. The fire Pokemon only hesitated a second, before using its Ember attack.

"CHUUUU!" It countered with Thundershock, again.

Meanwhile, Lane had been unwrapping a shiny new Poke Ball from the box. She got up from her back pack and threw the ball at the Pikachu while it was busy worrying about Charmeleon. In a flare of red light, the mouse's figure dwindled into the Poke Ball, which shook violently for a few seconds before settling down.

"Alright! Charmeleon, great job!" She grinned, shaking hands/claws with the fire Pokemon. "We got the Professor his Pikachu!"

The two headed back to the laboratory. When they got there, Oak was sitting in his study, reading a book. On the cover was a picture of a Houndour, Houndoom, and Mightyena. The book was entitled "Dark Pokemon and How to Raise Them."

"Hey, Professor! We got you the Pikachu you wanted!" Lane smiled as she set the Poke Ball on the side table next to the professor's chair. She stepped back, but Charmeleon went to stand behind his master's chair.

"Good," Oak smiled as he grabbed the ball and opened it. The same red light shot out of the ball, and slowly took the form of the Pikachu. The small mouse Pokemon blinked up, surprised, at Oak and titled its head. The good professor bent down to examine the newly captured creature. Lane couldn't help but notice that the Pikachu looked a little... fat, for the lack of a better word.

"Oh my goodness!"

"What is it, sir?"

"The Pikachu you caught for me is pregnant! I believe she'll be having her eggs any day now..." The Professor ran his fingers over the soft fur on the soon-to-be mother's back. "Also, do you see the stripes on her back? She has one more than a Pikachu usually should. Lane, you really found a rare one...."

Oak looked at the girl for a moment, his eyes resting on her custom- made Poke Ball. It glittered brightly, even in the soft light of his study. In his opinion, it was time the young teen got out and did what she'd promised to do for the past two years; become a Pokemon Trainer.

"As thanks, I'd like for you to take one of her Pichu when they're born. I know it won't be much help against the first gym leader, who uses rock Pokemon, but I'm sure you can manage to capture a Poliwag or something before you reach Pewter City." He hid a smile at the shocked expression on Lane's face.

"B-but, Professor...!" She was speechless. "Thanks, I guess...."

"Then it's settled. After you get your Pichu, you will start on your Pokemon Journey. You may go home now, Lane."

"OK, see ya later, Professor Oak." The girl said half-heartedly as she took her backpack and left the laboratory.

"And when is Ash going to get back with my GS Ball?" Oak sighed, as he picked his book back up and sat back down.

EnD cHaPtEr~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Author's Note 2: Okay, remember when I said read my bottom notes for details on how to participate in my upcoming fic "To Be a Pokemon Master"? Well, all you have to do is leave your e-mail in a review about this story (New Beginnings), and I'll send you the details on my other fic. Don't want to get in trouble with FFN ^^()

THREE REVIEWS AND I'll CONTINUE THIS FIC! Flames, suggestions, and helpful criticism are very welcome ^^ Don't forget to include your e-mail if you want to be in my other fic "To Be a Pokemon Master".