Melanie walked slowly towards the Professor's Lab, contemplating what pokemon she should get. From what she had picked up from her mother, the starters were Totodile, a water type, Chikorita, a grass type, and Cyndaquil, a fire type. Groaning, and stopped in front of the PokeMart. Deciding to stall a bit, she went it.

"Hey Luv!" The cheerful shopkeeper greeted her.

Mel smiled back and raised her hand in greeting, "Hiya Jack." Jack (AN: Jack has a British accent) was one of the few people that knew everybody and everybody knew him. His easy-going and friendly personality made it easy to get along with him, so Mel had asked for a job a few months earlier. While she had the job, she met plenty of intersting..and some not so interesting people. But she was glad she'd met Jack, he taught her plenty of things about the pokemon world. Like when was the right time to use a potion on a pokemon, as to not waste a good potion, when a pokeball is most effective, what items will help you win a battle quicker and things like that.

Mel leaned up against the counter and looked sideways at Jack. He looked at her quizzically, knowing about her pending appointment.

"Well now, don't you have somewere else to be, Luv?" He asked, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow. Mel cringed a bit and sighed.

"Yeah I do." This time his other eyebrow rose.

"Then what are you doing here, Luv?" Jack asked, his curiosity rising. Mel looked away and took in the sight of the small, but well stocked, PokeMart.

"I dunno. Stalling I guess." Jack's face turned to one of understanding. He patted her head, much to her dislike.

"Whats this? First you won't stop talking about how you're going to start your journey. And now that the day has come, you don't want it? Whats wrong luv?" He said, trying to help her out.

"I guess the main thing thats bugging me is what I should choose. Its such a hard choice." Jack nodded in understanding, but still jumped over the counter and started to push her out of the store.

"And the choice won't get any easier here, Luv. Now you go out there and become the Champion I know you'll be." He said cheerfully, skillfully shoving a bag that appeared out of nowere into her backpack without her noticing it and closed the PokeMart's door.

Mel stood there slightly stunned. She was just kicked out by Jack. JACK! The kindest guy she knew!

At least...he believed in her. Sighing shecontinued her trek towards the Lab.

Her mood got even darker as she neared the Lab, and before she knew it, she was there.

Without her knowing, someone had snuck up behind her and soon she felt the weight of someone's arm around her shoulder. Her green eyes turned to glare at ther interupter, but that soon changed when she noticed who it was.

"Seemed a bit furious there, Mel." Aaron Kaitou stated. He dwarfed her plain 5 feet with his 5'8" and had to bend dow a bit to be able to put his arm against her shoulders. Aaron was Professor Elm's only nephew, and one of New Bark Towns' most loved people.His dark grey bangs fell over his crimson colored eyes and darkened to black as it moved back. He was also starting his journey today, along with another person.

"Ready to go?" He asked cheerfully. It was obvious he knew what he was going to choose. Mel shifted slightly under him and shook her head.

"I have no idea which one to choose. Do you?" Aaron looked at her slightly curious before he broke into a dazzling smile.

"I'm not 100 sure, but I was thinking either Chikorita or Totodile." He said.

She tilted her head, "Why not Cyndaquil?"

"A fire type just isn't for me." He explained for her as to why he wouldn't pick that pokemon. He looked her over and said seriously, "I would think either a Cyndaquil or Chikorita for you. It seems to me that you'd get along best with them." Mel's cheeks gathered a bit of pink at what he said. Finally, he stood up straight and greeted a passerby. He looked down slightly at her.

"Well, I'm going in. See ya there!" He said, anxious to get his pokemon. As he walked in, Mel wished she could be as confident as he was. With one final sigh (AN: She's doing that a lot!) she walked in.

The Lab wasn't something breathtaking, but it was still something to see. Row, upon rows of pokemon books adorned the walls, and his assistants seemed to search for something. They ignored her, too caught up with their search to notice Mel, something she was grateful for. She hadn't even gotten halfway there when someone bumped into her and nearly threw her onto the ground. She thought it was an assisstant too busy to look were he was going, but as Mel turned around, she frowned when she was proven wrong. Standing there with her hand on her hips was Susana 'Susie' Bille. Susie's shiny waist length blonde hair matched with her cerulean blue eyes. She wore a bright pink skirt and white shirt and pink sandals.

"Watch it Winters!" Susie yelled. Mel resisted the urge to yell something back at her. Without another word or look, Susie walked past. Mel followed, trying to glare a hole through Susie. They finally arrived at the end of the Lab were Aaron and Prof. Elm were talking. The second she saw Aaron, Susie's eye lit up and she ran towards him, latching onto his arm. He gave a startled yell while the Professor gave a nervous laugh.

Mel walked up to them at a slower pace, looking with disgust at the sight, while Aaron gave her a pleading look. Clearly saying 'HELP ME!'. Mel simply shrugged, a silent response saying 'Sorry. Can't.'

A cough got their attention, and all three teenagers looked over to Prof. Elm. He calmly walked over to a shelf that contained three pokeballs. Mel's heart started racing, and her palms got sweaty.

"Well, its time for you three to begin your exploration of the wonderful world of pokemon. Pokemon of all shapes, sizes and colors await you. As well as those that wish to challenge you. Here are three pokemon, one for each of you." The Prof. said calmly as he put dow the pokeballs in a neat row. From were she was Mel could see that they each had a sticker on top, a water drop, a leaf, and an ember.

"Now. I'll do this like I do every year, opposite alphabetical order. So Melanie. You're first." He said and held out his hands towards the pokeballs. Mel gulped visibly and looked over to Aaron and Susie, who was still hanging on. Aaron gave her a thumbs up with his free, and only usable arm, while Susie gave her a glare. Now was her moment of choice. What was she to choose?

Ruba: So yes! My second chapter! I left it off because, again, I'm giving the readers the choice of her starter pokemon. So far the vote is as follows

Chikorita - 1

Cyndaquil - 1

Totodile - 0

This is the last chance to vote before she gets her pokemon!