Chapter 2: The Best Pokemon Ever!
"So, your saying that Piplup is a Pokemon? And there are hundreds of them all over this world?" asked Sora, looking at the small water penguin pokemon. Dawn had just finished explaining to him the types of pokemon, and how they co-existed with humans. She had told him the worlds lore, history, and all that she herself knew of the fantastical creatures around them. They had been talking and walking for nearly three days, mainly just around the two cities of Twinleaf and Sandgem town, as her mother wanted her close to home until Sora was properly educated. Between the two, Sora had learned enough information that he could pass as a simple citizen of Sandgem town himself.
"Exactly! Actually, come to think of it...you need a pokemon yourself! After all, no self respecting Trainer doesnt have a pokemon." Dawn said, eyes lighting up. Since they were in Sandgem town, she lead him to the largest building in town, which was, as she told him, Professor Rowans Labratory.
"wow..." was all he could say as he looked around the lab, seeing all the gadgets and gizmos in there "Cid would have a fit if he saw this.." he muttered, remembering the male from Traverse Town who loved electronics. He smiled, then nearly jumped as an elderly man with a big burly white mustache.
"And how can I help you two?" he asked them. Dawn smiled at the older man, and waved to him, as did Piplup.
"Hello Professor! I was just wondering if me and my friend could get his first Pokemon?" she asked him. He looked at them, then nodded, turning and motioning to them to follow. The two children followed him into the back of the building, where a small stand with three circular stands sat in the middle. On each stand, sat a pokeball each.
"What did you say your name was?" asked Rowan, looking at Sora with his eternal glare.
"My name is Sora, sir. Its a pleasure to meet you." he said with a smile. Rowan nodded, then motioned to the pedestals.
Sora nodded, and stepped up to them, picking up one of the three. He could feel warmth coming from it, like a warm ember, and smiled, opening the pokeball. In a flash of red light, a small monkey looking pokemon with reddish orange fur, a cream colored face, chest, and hands and feet, and a lit fire where his tail was appeared. He looked up at Sora with a smile.
"Chimchar!" cried the small fire type happily, then jumped on him, hanging around much like a normal monkey would. Sora couldnt help but laugh, remembering his friends from the Deep Jungle, Tarzan and Terk, one gorilla and a man who was raised by gorillas, who used to do the same thing in the thick trees of the forest. Sora smiled, and looked up as Prof. Rowan coughed.
"Chimchar, the chimp Pokemon. A common choice of starter, but an effective one none the less. Would you like him?" he asked "or would you like to see the others first?" he asked as well, which peaked Sora's attention.
"i'd like to see the others, sir." he said, letting Chimchar stay hanging off of him as he picked up the second one. It was heavy, and radiated an aura of power. As he picked it up, the scent of wildflowers surrounded them, causing some confusion on the Professors face, and a smile on Dawn's. He released the next pokemon, and blinked as the pokemon formed in the red light. It was a small quadruped, green in color, with a black and brown shell, and a large yellow jaw and feet. It was turtle like, if not for the strange twig growign out of its head, like a seedling tree.
"Turtwig!" it cried, then headbutted his foot in a hard, yet playful manner. Sora smiled, then crouched down, petting him gently, which brought a smile to his face.
"Turtwig, the Tiny Leaf Pokemon. Another common choice, and while a little harder to train, still a powerful pokemon to befriend. There is still one more, if you are interested." said Rowan, the mention of the last pokemon causing Dawn to smile, already knowing which one it was.
"of course, I want to meet them all." Sora said with a smile, then picked up the last ball. He froze as he touched it, feeling the powerful force of something within the ball, something that knew its power, and would use it only when needed. It also didnt help that as he lifted it, a voice spoke to him.
"hello trainer. Its nice to finally meet you." the voice said. Sora blinked, looking around who said that? He thought, then looked at the pokeball, which grew colder in his hands. Figuring out what to do, he opened it, and released a pokemon he was well familiar with.
"Piplup!" cried the pokemon, and jumped at him, embracing him in a tight hug. He automatically noticed a difference in this water type starter then Dawn's, and that was that this one was lighter in color, almost sparkling really. Dawn's eyes nearly bugged out of her head as she saw it, and Rowan simply smiled. He knew that this one had been special, but even he hadnt known it was this rare.
"Seems I had a Shiny Piplup. Thats a rare treat indeed." he said aloud, drawing Sora's attention.
"Shiny?" he asked, looking back at the Piplup. Rowan nodded, then walked over, holding a hand out to the Pokemon, who happily jumped into his arms for a hug. He then turned to Dawn, who nodded, and let her Piplup out, who nearly gawked at seeing the Shiny pokemon. He then was picked up by Rowan, and held beside the new starter.
"As you can see, Sora, some pokemon are born with a condition called "Shiny". It doenst make them stronger or anything, but it does give them a few little advantages in fights. Nothing major, of course, especially if the pokemon isnt raised properly. Shiny pokemon are rare, about one in every thousand, so many trainers breed, or search, for them intently, just to say they have something unique." he said, then put both water types down. Piplup ran back to Dawn, while the other jumped back into Sora's hands with a smile, happily nuzzling him. Both Chimchar and Turtwig looked sad, both figuring that he would choose the Shiny just because of its Rarity, and not either of them.
"guys, dont be so glum. Besides, if I could take all three of you, I would." he said "and besides, just because I dont pick you, doesnt mean you wont be picked by a trainer who could make you the coolest pokemon ever." he said with a smile. And, as if fate would have it, two young boys walked in..well, one walked, the other bolted into the room like a crazy person, causing all three humans and pokemon to jump.
"Hey Professor! i'm here to get my Pokemon!" said the first kid, with blonde hair, wearing a large orange and white striped jacket with a green scarf with a gray undershirt. He was also carrying a large satchel bag. The second, a more quiet child, had a red beret on his head, and a red scarf. He wore a black t-shirt, with dark blue jeans, and also had a backpack. He simply nodded to the professor, who nodded back, as the first one jumped and fidgeted, obviously a case of ADHD.
"Hello again, Barry and Diamond. Pleasure to see you both again." said Rowan, looking at the two. He then turned again to Sora "these are two other beginning trainers who were supposed to get their pokemon. Now you three can each have a trainer." he said, turning to the three starter pokemon. Piplup nodded, and sat firmly in Sora's hands, obviously knowing which trainer it wanted. Chimchar climbed up onto Barry's shoulder, smiling at the same time Barry did.
"I'll take this little guy!" he said, then snagged the fire types pokeball from the table "and i'm off!" he cried, Chimchar holding on as they took off, vanishing from sight. All three natives simply sighed, and face palmed in Diamond's case, who accepted Turtwig happily, and after accepting a small red device, left as well. Sora watched them leave, then grinned as he realized that he had been right after all. Those two would be amazing pokemon, he was sure of it. He then gazed down at the Piplup he held, and smiled.
"We're going to be a great team, arent we?" he asked, and received a nod from the water starter. It was then that Rowan spoke up again.
"well, I hope you and she are ready, because its time for you to start your own journeys." he said. It was seconds after he finished talking that Sora blinked.
"She? My Piplup is a girl?" he asked in surprise, and all present, pokemon and human alike, face palmed as one.