Next chapter is up! So how about we do a deal, the more you guys review, the faster I'll post more chapters :) and also, if you leave any questions I'll answer them at the bottom of the next chapter respectively, how's that sound? Hope you enjoy!


"Honey! What Pokémon did you get? Oh let me see, is it a Bulbasaur?" Mom demanded the moment I got through the door. Pidgey swooped forwards and chirped.

"Pidgey!" It nuzzled my face and I chuckled.

"Hey there Pidgey, miss me? I was only gone for an hour." I smiled then allowed myself to be ushered forwards by mom who still had breakfast at the table ready for me.

"Well go on then, let's see! Don't keep us in suspense!" Slowly I reached out and picked up Charmander's Pokéball.

"Just…don't freak out okay?" I warned then sighed, my face sliding down into a worried frown. "Charmander? Out you come. Meet my parents." I opened up the ball and Charmander flashed into being, blinking its adorable brown eyes up at me before snorting.

"Char! Char!" Mom's face went drastically pale and dad just blinked before chuckling.

"Oh ho! A Charmander. Very brave of you." He commented then stood up, his black hair neatly combed to the side. He knelt down then held out his finger to Charmander. "Hello there, welcome to the family."

"Char!" My Pokémon whipped around and dad had to leap back to avoid the tail that came dangerously close to its face.

"Agh!"

"Honey! Why did you choose a Charmander? It's dangerous! Go and take it back this instant!" Mom shrieked, leaping up onto the table as Charmander started to run about the kitchen, arms held high as its tail wagged.

"Charmander! No, stop running about! Watch your tail!" I yelped and dove after it, fingers stretching out but I missed by inches and my Charmander whipped its tail to the side and caught the tablecloth with its flame, setting it alight. "Argh! No!"

"Fire! Fire!" Mom shrieked and I scrambled to try and put it out but the fire quickly spread, sweeping up the table. Frozen in place I thought quickly, looking around for inspiration. "Put it out! Put it out!" Mom was screaming as dad wrestled to keep his favourite slippers away from the blast of fire whilst Pidgey flew around the Charmander, attempting to keep it in check.

"Pidgey! Use your Gust attack to put out those flames!" I yelled, pointing to the table. We very rarely used Pidgey's abilities but this seemed a good time as any to put in some practice. The bird Pokémon called out and flew up to the ceiling, aiming its wings down then began to flap up a sharp gust of wind which knocked over the flowers but the fire began to dwindle as I threw water over it from the tap and poured the contents of the tea pot out also.

"Char! Char!" Charmander chortled and I shot him a filthy look once the flames were gone.

"Stupid Pokémon." I muttered under my breath. "Can't you be a little more careful?" In answer it turned and paraded away, knocking past one of our cabinets and the vase on top wobbled. "Oh no!" Diving forwards with a cry I watched the vase fall, one of mom's favourites.

"Catch it Ruby!" She yelped as she held the broom, trying to push my Charmander back as it tried to head towards the stairs. The vase fell into my hands as I crashed into the ground with a grunt, feeling the wind get knocked form my lungs. "Ow…"

Gradually rising to my feet and shifting the vase into one arm I picked up Charmander's Pokéball then held it out towards him as he jumped up onto the sofa. "Charmander return, now!" I snapped and summoned him back. I put the vase in its place then turned to face my parents, nervously giving a laugh as I scratched the back of my head. "He's just a little over excited." I excused for him. "I'm sure with a little training he'll be fine."

"Fine? You think I'm going to let you go out there with only that little lizard thing to protect you?" Mom shrieked, her face turning red with rage and I watched as she seemed to grow larger by the moment. "It's dangerous out there, I'm not going to allow my baby girl to go out there when she could be attacked at any moment and that little creature will only sit back and watch her get scratched to death!" I hung my head, sadness swallowing me. Sure I knew Charmander was a little rude and careless, but surely I could train him up and he'll come to like me?

"Come now my dear, you're completely over reacting. I think it's wonderful how Charmander was energetic and enthused to see his surroundings!" Dad beamed, stepping over to my side and I looked at him hopefully. "He's strong too, just one tap of his tail almost had our entire kitchen alight. Our Ruby couldn't be safer."

"Exactly, I'll be totally fine." I promised, grabbing some cereal and quickly wolfed it down. "I'm going to get my first badge very soon and then I'll collect the rest of them with my Charmander. We'll make the perfect team!" I assured her but my mom was still giving me a disbelieving look, however it was beginning to waver.

"Well…I don't know…" She mumbled darkly then sighed. "Alright fine."

"Yes!" I cheered, punching the air with my spoon before wolfing down the last of my food.

"On one condition." I froze in place then carefully eyed my mother.

"…what condition?" I asked her slowly and she gave a quick whistle and held out her arm to which Pidgey flew and settled there contently, chirping softly.

"On the condition that you take Pidgey with you. I'll feel much better knowing that she's with you." Pidgey puffed out its chest then called out, flying over to me then settled on my shoulder carefully.

"Pidgey? Take her with me?" I blinked then looked at my parents. "But what about you guys? Won't you miss her?"

"Of course we will, but we know you'll take good care of her." Dad said as he came forwards with my backpack. "Now, we've packed you plenty of supplies. There is food, water, sleeping bag, a change of clothes, your toothbrush and toothpaste, brush, a map and enough money to get you by comfortably." He told me, shaking the red backpack and I grinned.

"Thanks dad!" Taking it from him I looked to mom as she drew something out of her pocket with a sniff.

"I wore these when I was a trainer, I want you to have them now. They're lucky and will bring you luck too." She held out some fingerless gloves meant for Pokémon trainers as they had pads on the bottom to help grip onto the Pokéballs and also a red neck scarf, which I smiled at before tying it around my neck then pulled it to an angle so that the knot rested just to the side at the back of my neck.

"Thanks mom." I told her then hugged both my parents, turning my face into their warmth as they embraced me tightly.

"And remember, no matter how tough things get, always remember that we're rooting for you." Dad said to me but mom quickly interjected.

"But if things get too tough, you can always come right back home. We'll even come and get you!" She babbled. "And remember, don't talk to strangers unless their other trainers, then you battle them and absolutely annihilate them." I blinked at her manic expression before laughing nervously.

"Sure mom, I'll do my best." I promised her with a firm nod of my head. "I'll call you when I get to Viridian City." Looking to Pidgey I smiled. "You ready to go on an adventure?" Spreading its wings, Pidgey nodded its head then flew towards the door, chirping as if to tell me to hurry up.

With a laugh I hurried over to the door and opened it, letting Pidgey fly outside but I paused to wave back at my parents. "Goodbye! I love you!" I called then began to run down the path, heading for Route One.

"Goodbye sweetie! Take care! Don't forget to brush your teeth!" Mom called and I grinned again, racing away with Pidgey flying overhead. The path turned into a trail and I stopped running, taking a deep breath of the open space before walking onwards.

"So Pidgey, if you're going to be my partner, I should really catch you in a Pokéball, is that okay?" I asked and my bird Pokémon nodded its head, banking down and landing gracefully on the ground. "Oh wait! Let's see what Dexter has to say about you." Remembering that I had to record every Pokémon that I see, I pulled my PokéDex out from my pocket and flipped it open, directing it towards Pidgey.

"Pidgey is a flying Pokémon. Among all the flying Pokémon, it is the gentlest and easiest to capture. A perfect target for the beginning Pokémon trainer to test his Pokémon's skills. Pidgey's Gust power creates tornadoes. It also has a Sand-Attack." Smiling I put Dexter away then turned to face Pidgey.

"Well, here goes." I drew out a Pokéball and clicked it. "Okay, Pokéball go!" Flinging it forwards I watched as the cap opened and it caught Pidgey with the light, drawing her in and the ball fell to the ground neatly, the centre glowing red with flashes as it quivered infrequently. Would it work?

After a few moments it went perfectly still and I yelled in victory, punching the air with a leap. "Alright! It worked! I caught you Pidgey!" Laughing I ran towards the Pokéball and picked it up. "Alright, you can come back out now, nice work!" I let Pidgey back out and she flew up into the air then circled me three times, whipping up a whirlwind which caught some fallen leaves, making me giggle. "Okay I know, I love you too." Looking down to my belt I then hummed. "Should we let Charmander out too? Perhaps now that we're out in the wild he'll be a little friendlier."

Encouraged by this thought I let Charmander out of his Pokéball. "Be nice now." I told him sternly as he turned those gorgeous brown eyes up at me. "No tackling me or setting my hair on fire." I warned then crouched down. "How about you and I start over, hmm?"

"Char! Charmander!" He crowed then snorted, throwing his head forwards slightly as if trying to spit something out. I frowned.

"Huh? Can't you use Ember yet? But you're a fire Pokémon." After a brief pause the answer was a scratch to the face, causing me to leap back with a yell. "Argh! Okay I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings." Charmander snorted then folded his arms, turning his head away from me. With a sigh I looked to Pidgey who cried out indignantly then landed beside me, turning a soft coo to me.

"Pidgey?"

"I'm fine, it's okay." I assured her, stroking her head. "At least I know he can use Scratch. That must mean you're only a little baby, no more than level five at least. That means you should know Growl as well." In answer I got a blast of sound that hit me full in the face and I was doubled over. "Ow."

With an affronted cry Pidgey swept up into the air then turned, angling her wings downwards then with a single strike against the air with her wings, a gust of wind shot down and struck Charmander, who cried out in shock. "Char!"

He struck a tree as I sat up, rubbing my head. "That's what you get for not playing nicely." I told him as I got to my feet then placed my hands on my hip. "Now I chose you, which means you and I are a team. Like Pidgey and me here, we work together and look after one another because we're friends. Now if you want to enjoy life and have some fun, then you'd better start learning some manners." I told him as he picked himself off the ground, rubbing his head.

Shooting me a snort Charmander folded his arms then turned his head away from me. Groaning I gave up and returned him to his Pokéball to have some time out. "What am I going to do Pidgey? If Charmander won't listen to me then I can't battle him!" Shaking my head I began to walk, Pidgey flying close to me. "Maybe I should have fought over Squirtle with Gary after all…"