CHAPTER 2: Almost There!

"Wake up! Wake UP!" Alto screeches excitedly.

Rubbing my eyes, I sit up. "Huh? Oh, right…" Absentmindedly I get up and open the window for him. "Reee!" He screeches happily as he darts out. He turns around midair and stares at me expectantly.

"What? Am I for-HOLY CRAP I FORGOT! I HAVE TO PACK! WHAT TIME IS IT? I NEED BREAKFAST!" I start bolting around, getting dressed at some point. It's all a blur, until I come downstairs.

"Hey honey. I made you breakfast to save time. Your meeting is in half an hour, be ready! You excited?" He pats my back as I inhale the eggs and toast waiting for me.

"I was born ready for this!" I smile, looking up at him. He looks back with tear filled eyes.

"Dad, whats wrong?" I envelop him in a hug. "Oh, don't mind me! Its just that… my baby girl is all grown up, and somehow I missed it…" He sniffles.

"Dad! I'm going to call you every other day, and I promise to visit once I can Fly!" I say, squeezing him like I used to when I was a kid.

"I know… its just… I wish your mother could see how amazing you turned out to be…" Now he's full on crying onto my shoulder. "Daddy…" I'm about to say more when Hilary walks around the corner into the kitchen.

'Hey, whats for- Oh. Um…" She goes to back away again, as I'm pointing and mouthing the words 'GET BACK HERE AND HELP!'

Sighing, she puts a hand on Dad's back. "Yeah, she's pretty cool, isn't she Dad?" She rubs his back, knowing exactly what we are talking about.

He cries for a couple minutes before he can compose himself. "Alright! Enough being emotional! It's time to get going! Hilary, you coming?" He wipes his eyes.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world! Let me get changed!" She runs out then back in in less than a minute.

"Alrighty! IM STOKED!" I run for the door, Alto barely holding on.

Since Pallet town isn't a very big town, the lab is maybe a five minute walk.

"Are you nervous?" Hilary asks.

"A little, to be honest…" I say, initial excitement worn off.

"Well, don't be! Its honestly no that bad. There's some papers, then your off!" She says, throwing her hands in a grande gesture.

"Well that's good, I don't want to be bored haha!" I laugh nervously.

"We're here!" Dad says as we knock.

Now, I'm not sure what I expected for a Pokemon Laboratory, but this sure wasn't it. It's a dilapidated old building, where the gray paint was washed/rubbed off years ago. The roof sags in some places. But, I mean, its almost homely, in a way. Makes you feel… hm… welcome!

"Hello!? Oh dear, just give me two seconds… Ash, wait here! Who is it…? Oh!" An elderly looking man opens the door. "Hello and welcome! You must be Serena! Oh, and Hilary and Gerald! Come in! Make yourself at home!" He waves us in.

We go and sit down in a living room looking area, with an ecstatic young man, wearing an ugly white hat with a green mark, who's practically bouncing out of his chair. Wow, he's weird…

"Hello, Professor Oak…?" I say politely, not sure since there was no introduction.

"Oh good gosh! I forgot to introduce myself! My name is Samuel Oak, but you may call me either Oak or Professor. Or Pr. Oak! Whichever is easiest for you to remember!" Smiling, he sticks his hand to me, Dad, and Hilary respectively.

"Oh, and this young man right here! His name is As-"

"-h Ketchum! Ash Ketchum, at your service!" Grinning from ear to ear, Ash shakes our hands. He's smiling so huge I'm almost scared he'll hurt himself. He takes his hat off to be polite, revealing his unkempt black hair, which automatically flies out from its woolen cage.

"Alright, so! Let's get right to it! First of all, starter pokemon!" He claps his hands, walking over to a table with three pokeballs, all of which have a label, a red wallet-looking device, and a small bag.

"I have Alto, but thank you for the offer!" I say, pointing out the window to where an excited Alto was chittering nervously. "I wasn't sure if he was allowed inside, so I let him fly around while we are in here…" I chuckle nervously.

"Oh, dear! Of course hes allowed in here! All pokemon are welcome in my lab! Well, except for Gyarados… but that's another story!" He says, flinging the window open and putting a hand out for Alto climb on to.

Gently, Alto climbs on, being careful not to hurt the nice man.

"What kind of pokemon is THAT!?" Ash asks amazed, slowly walking up to the strange blue and black bird pokemon.

"HE is a Chatot, a pokemon indigenous to Sinnoh, the region I come from." I inform him.

"Can I… um… pet him?" He asks sweetly.

"Of course! Actually, here! Want to let him on your shoulder?" I snap my fingers and point to Ash, who is nodding vigorously, and Alto flutters onto the boy's shoulder.

"Ohmygosh…" Ash whispers, in awe of the amazing pokemon before him… well, on his shoulder.

"Well, since you seem to have a starter figured out, why don't we get one for Ash here?" Oak laughs.

Alto rubs Ash's cheek with his beak, a sign of acceptance, then flies onto my shoulder again.

"Whoa… Miss! Your pokemon is amazing!" He bows quickly, then hurries over to where Oak is at the table from before.

Me, Dad, and Hilary follow, laughing at the name 'Miss.'

"Alright young man. You must choose between Squirtle, Bulbasaur, or Charmander! This decision can decide whether you make it to the Indigo League, or whether you fail at the first gym. Choose wisely!" Oak waves his hand dramatically, indicating the table.

"Oh, Mr. Oka sir, I spent a lot of time contemplating which starter I should start with, and my ultimate decision was…"

"…Charmander!" He grabs a pokeball off the table and opens it! Out of it comes…

… nothing?

"Oh, goodness! I forgot! Charmander was given away a couple days ago! Silly me!" He grabs the empty pokeball from the crestfallen boy.

"Well, okay… That just means I'll pick my second choice! And it is…"

"… Bulbasaur!" He opens the pokeball and out flies a…

… nothing, again.

"Oh! And Bulbasaur was taken yesterday!" Oak takes yet another empty pokeball from the crushed boy.

"Well, that's okay… I guess I'll have to choose…"

"Squirtle!" The pokeball opens, and for the third time, it is empty.

"Well for goodness sakes! I don't even remember when Squirtle was taken!" The professor takes that empty pokeball from the emotional wreck of a boy.

"So I guess I'll have to hold off on my journey for now…" He sniffles, walking towards the door.

"Hm… well… there is ONE more starter I have, but he has a horrible attitude…" Oak mutters, but its enough for the boy, who is already back at the table.

"Oh really Professor? That would be amazing!" He begs, wiping a tear from his cheek.

"Well… sigh… yes, I do. Here…" He presses an unseen button behind his desk, and a machine pops out of the ground. In it is a single pokeball with an electric type sign on the lid. He takes it, looks at is uncertainly, then hands it to the vibrating Ash.

"Holy Ho-oh, this is truly happening! Oh my gosh! Go!" He opens the pokeball, and out pops a…

… small yellow mouse looking pokemon.

"Pika pika!" It huffs, turning away from us and crossing its arms. But this doesn't stop Ash from running up to it and pulling it into a hug.

"ASH, DON'T! ITS-" Oak rushes forward, but its to late.

"CHUUUUU!" A field of electricity surrounds Ash and the small pokemon. "WAHHH!" Ash screams. It quickly dissipates, leaving a smoking Ash and an angry mouse.

"a Pikachu. An electric type pokemon that's known to shock predators, or unlucky trainers." Oak finishes. "Are you okay Ash?" He asks the stunned boy.

"Yeah, I'm fine… that was… AWESOME!" He squeals, squeezing the Pikachu again.

"DON'T DO-"

"CHUUUUUU!"

About an hour later, we've signed all the papers and grabbed all our supplies, and are just getting ready to head out.

"Alright, you both have your Pokemon, extra pokeballs, Pokedex, and trainers license! It seems you are both ready to go!" Oak smiles, patting both of our backs.

"Remember to call, and don't talk to strangers!" Dad sniffles, waving us off.

"Be safe, and if you need ANYTHING, let me know and I'll fly out to see you!" Hilary kisses my forehead, sending me off.

"Thanks so much, Professor! I'll see you soon!" Ash waves as we depart.

"Love you Dad, Love you to Hilary! We'll talk soon!" I say, heading off.

We walk for about 25 minutes when Ash turns to me and says…

"I sure hope you know where your going! I've never left Pallet town!"

"WHAT?!" I stare after the lucky-go-happy boy as he skips along.

Man, this is gonna be harder than I thought…

Sighing, I follow him.

Authors note:

ALRIGHTY! Serena is off! And with Alto, a young boy with a strangely familiar name, and a moody yellow mouse! What could go wrong? Haha! Hope your enjoying this so far! I don't write fan fics for other people very often, but lord knows I have like 32 finished. Would anyone be interested in reading them? Most of them are about pokemon, but some vary from Fairy Tail to Harry Potter. I need a life hahaha! Anyways! Expect at least one maybe two new chapters a week! Next chapter has some surprises, with some new faces, and maybe some old ones? Who knows? Oh wait, I DO! Hahaha! Any suggestions for Serena's journey? What flying types should she get? What about Ash, should he get a whole new team, or, for nostalgia's sake, should he have his original anime team? Review and let me know! Anyways, I'll see you next chapter, and we'll see what Serena gets up to! Until next time, bye!

~Austin