A Fearow sat on a bridge crossing over a river on the outskirts of Littleroot Town, fast asleep. Suddenly, the sun's rays stretched across the peaceful town and touch the Fearow's eye. It slowly opened and the Fearow woke up. It crowed in a piercing tone, alarming Littleroot that it was morning.

In a small house in New Bark Town, a 13-year-old boy named Myke Zypher lay asleep in a Poke Ball spotted bed. A harsh beeping noise came from the alarm clock on his bedside table. Myke groaned and reached a arm out. He pushed the off button on the radio and the sound ceased.

Rubbing his eyes, Myke rose from the blankets and sat up. He tore another day off of his calender that was sitting on his desk. It was the eighth of October, Myke's birthday. However, Myke was too tired to notice this. He slowly walked across his room and grabbed the pile of clothes he had prepared the previous night and changed. Myke wore a gray nike shirt, blue jeans, and a pair of white socks with gray heels and toes.

Dressed, Myke threw his pajamas in the hamper by the door and walked down the staircase to the kitchen, his stomach growling. He passed through the living room where his little brother was playing Pokemon Colisseum on his Gamecube.

"Good morning, Myke," his brother said, without lifting an eye off the television screen.

The lights were off in the kitchen when Myke arrived. Wondering why, Myke flipped the switch and was suddenly showered in confetti.

"Happy Birthday, Myke!"

His mother and father where standing in front of the dining room table. It had a small heap of wrapped parcels and a small chocolate cake. They were holding a very long banner that was glittered with colorful dots made from a marker that Myke guessed his bother had made. The banner, in bold red paint, said "Happy 13th Birthday, Myke!"

Myke was very shocked by this. Not only did he forget it was his birthday. He had forgotten that he was finally old enough, in his parent's point of view, to get a license and begin his Pokemon journey. His neighbors, the Birches, were his family's best friends. The husband, Prof. Birch, gave a test for beginning Pokemon trainers for them to get a license. He also passed down his Pokemon to new trainers and provided Poke Balls, small red-and-white balls used to capture wild Pokemon, and Poke Dexes, small computers that held information on every Pokemon in the world.

After eating a breakfast of eggs and cake, his family in turn passed their presents to him from the other side of the table. His brother insisted that he should go first. So, his brother passed him a small rectangular box and another one that was a small square. Myke first teared the wrapping paper off of the rectangular parcel. It was a Game Boy Advance SP. His brother new Myke had always wanted it. Then, Myke removed the paper from the square. It was Pokemon Fire Red for the Game Boy Advance.

"It was perfect to go with the Game Boy Advance," his brother said.

Myke thanked his brother for the gifts and his mother's turn was next. She passed down her present. It was another rectangular box but larger than his brother's gift. It was also very heavy. Myke pictured one of his mother's homemade bulky sweater that itched your neck. It was what she gave him every year for his birthday and Christmas. But it wasn't. It was "The Ultimate Guide to Everything Pokemon, by: Prof. Oak". Myke thought his mother must have known it would come in handy when he started his Pokemon journey.

After thanking his mother for the book, his father pushed a very large box toward Myke. There were small wimpering noises and a couple of air holes. Myke got excited.

It might be the dog I've always wanted! he thought.

His heart pounding against his ribcage, Myke tore off the ribbon decorated paper and opened the box that was inside. To his joyful surprise, it wasn't a dog but a Pokemon! A small gray-and-black colored dog pounced out of the box and into Myke's lap. The Pokemon started licking Myke's face. It was a Poochyena.

"I caught this little guy in the wild this morning and decided to give it to you," his father said. "I hope it becomes your greatest partner in your journey!"

Myke hugged the Poochyena and pat it on the head.

"Thanks, dad," he said. "This was the best present I got today!"

He smiled at Poochyena who returned it by panting and wagging its tail excitedly.

"Will you be my partner, Poochyena?" Myke asked.

Poochyena barked in reply and licked Myke on the cheek.

"I'll take that as a yes!" Myke said happily.

Myke's father grinned at the two of them and got up.

"Why don't you get packed, Myke," he said.

"Packed?" Myke was confused.

"For your Pokemon journey!" his father replied, smiling.

"Really?" Myke cried. "I can really go?"

So, Myke ran back up to his bed room, Poochyena jogging at his side. They entered the room and Myke grabbed a bag. He filled it with food, clothes, and other stuff that he thought he would need for his journey. With his bag packed, Myke grabbed his yellow nike coat and slipped it on, unzipped. He hitched his bag over his shoulders and rested it on his back.

"Let's go, Poochyena!" he said.

Myke and Poochyena walked back down the staircase and they saw his father putting on a brown fall coat and grabbing his keys. After kissing Myke's mother, he walked to the front door.

"Are you ready to go, Myke?" he asked.

Myke nodded and followed his father out of the housed to his car. They climbed in, Poochyena lay down in the back seat. Myke's father put the keys into the slot and turned the car on. The car made vrooming noises as they headed toward Prof. Birch's Pokemon laboratory.

Myke looked out of the window at Littleroot Town. Littleroot was one of the smallest towns in the Hoenn regions. There were plenty of houses with small lawns, shaded by enormous trees. Little kids were playing at a playground. Myke silently laughed at a group of boys playing Pokemon with a dog. Poochyena hopped onto Myke's lap and started to snooze. Myke gently rubbed his hand back and forth across Poochyena's back.

After a couple more blocks, they had finally arrived to the road where the gigantic buidling sat. The car parked in front of the two glass doors. Myke and Poochyena climbed out and said goodbye to his father. His father drove back home and Myke, slightly nervous, walked up the stone steps to the doors. Poochyena was sniffing the air and marching by Myke's side.

They approached the doors and they automatically slid open. They walked in and Myke gasped and stared at the many computers, cases of Poke Balls, desks of Poke Dexes, a couple scientists dashing in and out every once in a while, and Prof. Birch sitting at a desk examining three Pokemon. Myke looked them up in the book his mother gave him. One was a green reptile; the grass Pokemon, Treecko. Another was an orange bird; the fire Pokemon, Torchic. And the last was a cute little reptillian; the water Pokemon, Mudkip. Myke walked up to Prof. Birch.

"I'm sorry if I'm intruding in anything, Prof. Birch, sir," he said. "But I would like to get a Pokemon license."

The three Pokemon turned around to look at Myke. Prof. Birch looked up and looked at Myke from head to toe.

"How are you?" he asked.

"Oh, excuse me for not introducing myself," Myke said, slightly blushing pink on the cheeks. "My name is Myke Zypher and this is my Pokemon, Poochyena."

Poochyena barked at Prof. Birch and the professor smiled at it. He walked around the desk to the side that Myke was standing on. He bent down and patted Poochyena on the head.

"Well, aren't you a cute little Poochyena," he said.

Poochyena closed its eyes and smiled back at Birch. It seemed to really enjoy the treatment. Prof. Birch then got up and went back to his side of the table. He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to Myke.

"Please, fill out this form," he said.

Myke did as he was told and filled in the blank areas with his answers. The test seemed really easy. With it completed, Myke handed it back. Prof. Birch stuck it into his computer and looked at the screen.

"You passed the test, Myke!" he said, getting up and walking to one of the desks that had Poke Dexes on them.

Myke followed him and Prof. Birch picked on up, put it in a slot in his computer and gave it to Myke.

"Here is your license," he said. "It is also your Poke Dex. It will give you any information you may need on any kind of Pokemon."

Myke took it and pocketed it.

"Thanks," Myke said.

Prof. Birch walked over to the cases of Poke Balls and took one that contained six in it. He handed it to Myke.

"These are Poke Balls," he said. "You use them to capture wild Pokemon. But you have to weaken them first!"

Myke added the balls to another pocket in his pants. With everything he needed, Prof. Birch guided Myke to the North exit of Littleroot Town.

"This is Route 101," he said. "It will lead you to Oldale Town, your first destination."

With a wave, Prof. Birch headed back to his lab. With a Pokemon, a license, and fresh excitement for adventure, Myke was ready to begin his journey in the Hoenn Region.