So, I have the motivation to write. Hopefully, it continues. Thought I should follow through with the quote down below.

…

"A plan is only as good as those who see it through."

Chapter Five

Today was the day, I was going to be a Pokemon trainer at the tender age of 16. After completing my high school diploma as well as the almost endless tests and vaccines to become a trainer I was finally allowed to get my career. My five years of working for Professor Oak left me with a huge amount of savings to fall back on. Specifically, $81,400, enough for a budgeted journey if I didn't earn any winnings from battles.

It was seven a.m when I left the house, Sauron vibrating behind me. I couldn't tell who was more excited, me or him. Gary and I had made plans to receiving our sponsored starters. Apparently, not everyone and their grandmas got a rare Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander. You needed to be sponsored and within the top three sponsored scorers to get one of the Kanto starters.

I didn't exactly need a starter since I had Sauron who agreed to be captured once I got my pokeballs from the Professor on the terms of me not becoming a complete failure and waste of space, but that didn't mean I was going to say no to one.

Of course, the pyro in me wanted an awesome Charmander but I came in third overall so I had the last pick. Turns out just watching the show wasn't going to give you the tiny details on medical knowledge and the laws. I guess I should've studied a bit more.

Gary assured me he was going to pick Squirtle but I didn't know about the examinee who came in second. I guess I'll need to cross my fingers for this one.

The road ahead of me seemed more and more looming as the lab came into sight. Was I strong enough mentally and physically to become a Pokemon trainer? Would I be able to protect myself and my pocket monster companions? Was I enough as I was?

A scream ripped out of my throat when Gary practically committed a hit and run. The brat had obviously been waiting for me so he could viciously attack me. I ran after him, smiling a little because he brought me out of my anxious thoughts. As I chased him to the front door I slowed down and braced myself.

Taking a deep breath I held my head up and walked in, my ever loyal steel type right behind me. The fluorescent lights almost blinded me but I almost forgot about them once I spotted Gary smiling like he didn't just barrel into him.

Huffing, I stomped up to him and jabbed my thumb into his chest. Just as I opened my mouth we got interrupted.

"Am I interrupting something," Behind us stood a green-haired eighteen-year-old? She looked a little amused by our display but seemed overall serious. I couldn't believe that she was Leaf, she seemed so serious and was older than Gary and I.

"No, not at all. We were just about to head over to my Grandfather," Gary answered before me. Quickly recovering, I shook my head and started to walk towards the Professor's office, with the three following after me. (Can't forget the Grandpa sword).

Finally, I was just about to be in the room where it would all start. Somehow, my previous anxiety and nerves seemed to have disappeared as I made my way to my beginning.

Smiling, I took that final step into the room.

And was greeted by the sight of Professor Oak's back frantically shuffling through his papers and files. He had some documents hastily shoved in his cabinets with the corners giving away the mess.

The office smelt like something burned in there with suspicious-looking ashes scattered on a desk. The office was in complete disarray and it looked like the Professor tried to organize (cough, hide, cough) some things but it only gave a more disorganized look.

What kind of tornado hit this place?

Turning around I could see Gary's confused face and Leaf's unamused expression. Coughing into my fist, the Professor turned around fast enough to give himself whiplash. He chuckled nervously before he raised his right hand to scratch at the back of his head.

"I didn't expect you guys to arrive so early. Just give me a second to bring out your starters," he said hurriedly before hurriedly leaving the room.

Gary walked up to me and lightly elbowed me on the side to get my attention, "What do you think happened? It's not like Gramps to be so…" he trailed out and just waved his hand around the room to speak for him.

Leaf sighed and kept checking her watch, it was obvious she wanted to already be on the road because she already had her bag packed with her. I guess she was just really excited inwardly to start one of the most memorable experiences in her life.

It wasn't like Sauron was any better, he kept making disapproving huffs as he spun around the room. Honestly, that sword could be more judgemental than my past life's grandpa, and that man literally judged the Tv with his arms crossed and everything.

Just as Sauron was about to start cleaning up the office a little, the elder Oak hurried back into the room and was carting a few things with him. The cart was rolled about four feet in front of us but only had two Pokeballs on it.

I swear this better not be some excuse the universe is trying to give me to get Pikachu or something.

Gary and I exchanged looks but we held our tongues, we were bound to find out soon enough.

"I know you all know your responsibilities as a Pokemon trainer so I'll start by congratulating you guys on making the top three. In just a few moments, you'll be making the first choices of your journey," he raised his arm and swept to the cart, "Gary, you got first. Who will be your starter?"

Gary stepped up, his face torn into a large smile as he confidently said, "Squirtle". He reached for the Pokeball that had a water drop on it and pocketed it. He probably wanted to meet his starter alone so that it didn't confuse the rest of us as it's trainer.

The Professor handed him a blue backpack and his Pokedex and Gary nodded to the rest of us before he left the room with a bounce in his step.

Leaf stepped forward before Professor Oak could call out her name and stated, "Bulbasaur", for once she was smiling and showing all of her teeth. It was obvious she was excited to finally start her journey.

She walked forwards and grabbed the Pokeball with a plant sticker on its front. She grabbed her original backpack and shoved it into the green backpack that had almost unlimited space in it. She took her Pokedex and attached it to her hip with her Pokeball on the opposite side. She almost ran out of the room after she said her thanks to the Professor.

Finally, it was time for Sauron and I to find out what was going on.

Before I could speak up, Professor Oak raised his arm and started to speak, "While I do have the Charmander you want I'll let you decide if you can raise him. You see, the Charmander that was sent to me has a disability," my eyes widened and I'm sure my face looked more confused than ever, "His breeding was with a Charmander mother and a Salamance father, you see dragons take a long to evolve but the Charmander line evolves really fast. However, if you do choose him it'll take years for him to fully evolve into a Charizard." He sighed, before continuing.

"Think of it like this, you know how video game characters need the experience to level up?" At my nod, he continued. "Well, at the set experience they level up and become more powerful right? This can apply to most Pokemon's evolutions however, this Charmander needs almost ten times more experience than a normal Charmander to evolve from a Charmander into a Charmeleon. It'll take years for him to evolve into a Charizard and I know you wanted to complete the Kanto League this year and move onto Johto in the next. However, I wanted to give you this choice because I know you can help him achieve his dreams. The choice is yours to take," he said his voice uncharacteristically solemn.

I didn't need to hesitate in my decision.

"Professor," I said smiling, " Sometimes you have to choose what is right, not what is easy. To be honest, I'm not starting my journey to gain power, instead, I just want to make some friends and a fun time. I'll gladly accept this Charmander on my team as long as he agrees."

The Older Oak smiled and he handed me a friend ball. "How about you meet and catch both him and your Aegislash." Then he grabbed the last remaining orange backpack and orange Pokedex and shoved them in my arms.

We walked towards the room Charmander was held in or floated in Sauron's case.

"It's just through there," Professor Oak gestured through the door and made no indication that he was coming with me. Sauron, for the first time ever, didn't follow me either.

I walked towards the door and glaed back at them before opening the door and closing it behind me.

#-#

Compared to the Professor's lab, this room was small and organized. I couldn't see the little fire type but I knew he would eventually approach me.

A small scuffle was heard to my left and looking over to that direction I could see a little fire on a tail blur past and hide behind the desk. Smiling a little, I crouched down and sat on the floor.

There, a little orange fire type cautiously approached me. He had a little creme white belly and was bipedal. What really stood out to me was his glowing blue eyes. I'm not even joking his eyes were colored like Gojo's from Jujutsu Kaisan but glowed like a lightsaber.

When he was about five feet from me he stopped. I took that as my cue to begin.

"So, I'm not really good at giving speeches so I'll keep it simple so I don't embarrass both of us" I really was terrible at giving speeches and presentations, they required talking a lot and I wasn't exactly good at peopleing," Do you maybe want to be friends? We could go on a journey together and meet lots of cool pokemon and eat lots of tasty food and even battle if you want. What do you say?" I looked into his eyes and felt my heart start to hurt when he looked down.

Did I say something wrong? Was I too awkward? Was I expecting too much?

Charmander's gaze was on the ground before he looked back up at me and gestured to himself. Before either of us knew what I was doing, I reached out and hugged him against my chest. Both of us froze but I didn't let him go.

"You deserve the world, the stars, and every single grain of sand. Don't let yourself think otherwise. So what if you'll take a few years before evolving into a Charizard, we have all the time in the world."

Charmander froze before staring at my genuine face and looked down at my side where the friend ball was. He reached out and tapped the button in the middle. A bright blue white light attached itself and surrounded Charmander before sucking him into the ball with no shakes.

"That went easier than I thought."

#-#

Welp, we're about to start the journey. Please let me know how I can improve my chapters for future reference. Thank you for reading!

Salamance or Charmander?