Alone

Something felt very wrong that morning. Rod had woken up from what seemed a night of horror, danger and loneliness, but things seemed to be unchanged. Everything seemed quiet and deceptive, and he kept pinching himself to feel further emotion in his body. His dark brown hair covered his eyes as he flicked it away and wiped the sleep from his eyes. Head spinning and arms mysteriously shaking, Rod coughed and pulled his legs out of bed. Sunlight struck through the cracks of his blinds as he raised a hand to block it away, but something seemed different on this day, and he couldn't put a finger on it. Rod's walls were littered with hanging posters and portraits of various Pokemon and Battles he had watched on television, and he had constantly added to them from magazines or cut outs of newspapers. Battling had been in his family for apparent generations, and his upbringing had been in a Pokemon Gym. However, this morning the normal sounds of a Pokemon Battle or Training was non-existent. Viridian City was silent, and even with the time well past the usual working hours, nothing seemed to move at all.

Curiously, Rod shook his head and stood up before wandering towards the blinds and peeking through at the City. The Gym stood in the central area, easy to access for trainers to battle and earn a badge, and was normally surrounded by market stalls and the general crowd of people heading to work or eating food. Rod glanced at the empty streets as not even any Pokemon seemed to be anywhere near, what had happened from the lively world that had seemed to only exist last night? Stepping away from the blinds, Rod began to call out various names of the Gym Pokemon he would see on a regular basis, but there was no response but the general echo of his own voice. Picking up his white headband from the bedside table, he held his hair back away from his eyes and got dressed quickly looking at the pictures of his family simultaneously.

His father, Blue, had been his only really known relative in terms of growing up. His mother, standing next to him in every picture, always seemed to be a ghost. Somebody that existed, but had been lost so quickly but never forgotten in his life. Rod had never really known her, she had passed away when he was so young, but he dreamt of her so often. Smiling to himself slightly, memories flickering into his mind, Rod placed on a new blue shirt and his usual black track pants and left his room behind into the strange darkness of his house. Shivering from the cool walls and wooden floor, that creaked below him loudly, Rod walked into the main living room utterly confused as to what happened.

He called loudly: "Father? Where are you? What is going on here?"

Voice still hoarse from the long sleep, his eyes trailed around the monotonous room until a small Pokeball appeared in his sight. Staring directly at the strange red and white ball, Rod wandered over and picked it up, feeling the cool metal of the ball. However, it wasn't empty as his hands shivered with the energy stored inside. There was a Pokeball within, and as he glanced down at the desk once again, a small note appeared in view as he picked it up, balancing both of the objects in the palms of his hands.

Rod read the note quickly as he mouth gasped and mind flexed into complete desperation and loneliness. Throwing the note to one side, fear gripped his heart and body as he began to run around the house calling for his Father and his Pokemon but still no response came. Desperation struck his heart and fear gripped every inch of his body as he kicked doors opened and ran through the backyard to no avail. There was nobody here, he was completely alone with tears beginning to fall from his eyes in panic and shock. Eventually, Rod slowed down, returning to the living room and picked up the Pokeball once again. It felt familiar to him, after all the battles he had watched in the Gym and on television, feeling the ball felt natural.

Raising it above his teary face, Rod cried: "Come out, I choose you!"

A white light appeared as the ball flashed open, almost blinding Rod completely, as it materialized into a small four legged silhouette. The light disappeared as the Pokeball closed, falling back into Rod's hand as he fell to his knees to see the Flash Pokemon Shinx appear. The Pokemon had been with the family for over a year now as it saw Rod, cried happily, and leaped into his arms as Rod held it back tightly as tears of hope appeared from his eyes.

Gasping, Rod held Shinx in front of him and spluttered: "H-he's gone, Shinx! Where has he gone? Why are we here alone?"

The Flash Pokemon jumped to one side and looked down upset and confused. Rod placed a hand on its head and gently stroked its hair as sparks of electricity sparked throughout. Before Rod could continue to speak, Shinx's fur began to stick upwards with electricity now becoming visible. A loud knock on the front door became audible, echoing around the whole house as Rod stood up feeling more scared than ever. Shinx growled as Rod cautiously approached the door as it prepared to attack on whatever intruder this may be.

Rod closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before opening the door. Shinx unleashed a powerful Discharge simultaneously as Rod yelled out in pain…

…

"Blue has fled sir."

It was not the news Giovanni had wanted to hear from his closest assistant, but he knew it was expected. The sun had only been up for a few hours, but Giovanni had been working ever since Celadon City fell to his sword, but the plan must continue in full flow. He knew the only trainer who ever opposed, and nearly defeated Red, was Blue. They were rivals once upon a time, but ever since Red went missing, the media and news stopped reporting about it. These were trainers of the past generation, those who fought with passion and unlimited power. Compared to the technical and strategic battles now staged worldwide, pure power and strength is what used to drive trainers to be the very best. Powerful attacks would be used constantly, but the world had changed around them all and Giovanni refused to adapt. He always saw the new style as very weak, and very little evidence of success with a luck-based game of new attacks and abilities.

He raised his hand at his assistant and muttered: "I expected he would leave Kanto, Daniel. Bring in Blaine and Koga."

Daniel nodded and opened the door of the office as two taller individuals entered the room. Blaine, the former leader of the Cinnabar Gym, appeared first leaning on a walking stick, his red tinted glasses shining under the room light. Second was the former Elite Four member Koga, who had disappeared for a few months after the Kanto League shut down completely. Both of these trainers, were as Giovanni called, veterans to the field. They knew Kanto better than anyone else, and they were both under the influence that Team Rocket would lead the Region into a new beginning and light.

They both sat down staring at Giovanni, refusing to smile and awaiting orders as the leader of Team Rocket spoke, leaning back in his wooden chair: "I need you both to find Blue, no matter what it takes. He is the only lasting connection in finding Red."

Blaine smirked as he looked up: "There is no point in searching for Red; he is no longer a threat. He got lucky last time."

Giovanni slammed his fists to the desk angrily before replying: "Red is no amateur, he destroyed this organisation twice in the past. He is the strongest trainer this world has ever seen. We need to know his whereabouts beyond anything to prevent his influence again."

Koga looked up, his purple dyed hair tied behind his head as he spoke softly: "Say if we do find this…Red. Who's to say we can convince him to stay away? Since he is so strong."

"Leave Red to me." Giovanni replied quickly, knowing that he had the resources to take out this trainer. "We have something up our sleeves here to stop him, but you both must find Blue."

Both of the clients nodded simultaneously as they stood up and prepared to leave as their work would begin shortly. Both were here because of the money and the influence they could have on the region. Blaine wanted his Island back to what it was, and Koga wanted the return of his Fuchsia Gym that had been abandoned by his sister over five years ago. Team Rocket had once seemed to be a laughing stock, but there was something much more serious now than ever before. Both of them felt overwhelmed at the organisation and the thought process behind the work, but would Team Rocket really be victorious this time round?

Koga stopped Blaine before they reached the door and swung around, his mind remembering something faint from long ago: "Giovanni. Blue has a son, did you know that?"

The Team Rocket Leader swung back around to face the former Gym Leaders as he smiled maliciously to himself and replied softly: "Is that right? Well track him down, and bring him to me."

Koga nodded and left the room as the door slammed behind them both leaving Giovanni to continue his work. Blue would not be able to resist his own son being captured, and for once Team Rocket seemed to be a step ahead of expectations…

…

Rod fell backwards feeling his skin spark with electricity as the sunlight flooded the landing from the front door. A large silhouetted figure beckoned above him as he crawled backwards where Shinx growled angrily ready to pounce again. It had never properly mastered the Discharge attack, and Rod would normally end up being hit no matter what the expected target was. However, a very familiar figure appeared to the widening of Rod's eyes as he struggled back to his feet and glanced. It was Professor Oak! I famous Pokemon Researcher that his own Father knew personally, and that Rod was able to meet a few times in the past whenever he visited Viridian City.

Professor Oak smiled cheerily and extended a hand towards Rod's, shaking it slowly as Shinx backed off immediately after seeing who it was. Before he could speak, Rod spluttered: "Professor! My Father has left me here! I saw the note! He is gone, but why? What is going on?"

Professor Oak raised a hand stopping Rod from continuing as he closed the door, taking a deep breath and replying: "Your Father, Blue, has departed on a journey, Rod. Something has come up, which is his own business, but he has told me that you are ready."

"Ready?" Rod had no idea what he meant, but something unexpected from the back of his mind shot to the forefront as he shivered in strange excitement. Controlling himself, he felt Shinx jump to sit on his shoulder before continuing. "Do you mean what I am thinking, Professor?"

"Absolutely! It is time for you to become a Pokemon Trainer, I hear you have been waiting."

A smile etched on Rod's face through the tears as he tried to speak, but no audible words could be heard whatsoever as he followed the Professor into the living room. Shinx jumped back down following curiously as Rod sat down across with his hands nervously beside him wondering how they process worked.

Professor Oak continued, revealing a briefcase from underneath his white lab cloak and revealed four Pokeballs from inside. All of them were exactly identical to each other and even Shinx's one that Rod still had in his pocket. "Now Rod, within these three Pokeballs are the Kanto Starter Pokemon and you can choose from: Squirtle, Charmander and Bulbasaur. I trust you already know about them, seeing as you are a battle fanatic!"

"I do completely, Professor." Rod had been researching and studying about Pokemon for as long as he could remember, but he had never been able to get close to the Kanto Starters apart from the few that battled at the Gym and those on television. He had learnt over time that all Pokemon are powerful in their own way, and if you train them, you could defeat any opponent or adversary. It was all about taking the time to train, and so Rod had decided that any of the three Starters would be perfect for him. However, one did stand out, and Rod's love of Grass Type Pokemon had brought the Seed Pokemon Bulbasaur close to his heart. "May I please meet Bulbasaur, Professor?"

"Certainly my boy!" Professor Oak grabbed the middle Pokeball and released its contents into the air as it flashed into life revealing a small green four-legged creature that landed with a thud on the table. Rod couldn't help but smile as Shinx jumped towards Bulbasaur and they greeted each other happily. He bent down to Bulbasaur's level as he smiled and chuckled as the Seed Pokemon jumped up and down on the spot. Rod felt a connection instantly and the Professor seemed to notice commenting: "This one seems to like you, Rod. It senses your true passion for Pokemon, and that is a great thing!"

Rod placed a hand on Bulbasaur's head as it squirmed happily below: "What a great Pokemon. I'll take Bulbasaur, Professor. I am still very confused about my Father though, he said nothing about what was happening in the note itself!"

Professor Oak returned the other Pokeballs into his briefcase and looked up with a slight frown replying: "I trust you haven't seen the news today, have you Rod?"

Shaking his head, Professor Oak passed across a small clipping of the local paper and Rod leaned forwards with his two Pokemon to see the utter horror appear to his eyes. Images of burning Pokemon and people were seen in front of the Celadon City Department Store, completely blazed in a sinister fire. Rod looked up, shaking his head in disbelief, as he leaned backwards. Bulbasaur and Shinx looked up at him as he spluttered a response: "W-who would do such a thing? Is that why Viridian City is so empty this morning?"

Professor Oak nodded and continued: "It is the work of Team Rocket, Rod. A Criminal Organisation based here in Kanto, and they have returned over five years since their last abandonment. They are looking stronger than ever, and I have every right to believe that your Father wanted you to become a trainer so you can survive with them."

"Isn't there any police? Why can't we stop them now?"

"There are…complications, Rod. But you shouldn't worry, and instead I want to recommend where you can begin as a trainer."

Rod still couldn't believe what was happening, and the morning had been completely life changing in so many ways. From a disappearing Father to the beginning of a Pokemon Journey as an official Trainer, he couldn't smile but yet felt excited. Looking down at Shinx and Bulbasaur, he felt a connection and importantly he did not feel so alone anymore. Rod glanced up at the Professor again and responded: "Well…I have to leave Kanto if this Team Rocket is around."

"How about you head to the Hoenn Region? Vermillion City has plenty of ships leaving, and you can cut through Mount Moon to get there fast!"

Rod had heard of the Hoenn Region in the past, and it was placed far away from the Kanto Region and known for its Mount Chimney Volcano and variety of landscapes including a large body of sea and even a desert. Excitement welled up within him as he nodded agreeing: "Hoenn sounds great. I have always wanted to compete at the Pokemon League, Professor, and I will take the Gym Badge Challenge to get there!"

Professor Oak smiled back and passed over a variety of Pokeballs along with a small red box that Rod recognized instantly to be a Pokedex. A hi-tech portable Encyclopedia which would read the data on any new Pokemon he found, and also allow him to learn about the different species around the world as well. Rod had wanted to catch and raise his own team, and now the dream was coming a true reality around him.

Professor Oak continued steadily as he packed up his briefcase completely: "You will do a great job, Rod. Please keep in contact, and let me know what happens. Team Rocket are dangerous people, so I recommend getting to Hoenn fast, and let the authorities deal with them here."

Rod stood up nodding, and wiped the remaining tears from his eyes and took a deep breath feeling more empowered than ever before. He had his first two Pokemon now, and the beginning of a journey. Despite his father leaving take care of whatever business, it was time to be independent and being a Pokemon Trainer was a real dream come true. Professor Oak stood up seconds later and shook Rod's hand again and continue to speak: "You'll do great, Rod. And you can always send me your Pokemon if you want me to take a look at anything at all!"

Adjusting his headband, Rod replied with a confident smile as both of his Pokemon jumped on his shoulders hanging off them: "I'll be in touch, Professor. Thank you for everything, and I have every intention of going all the way, even with my Father there or not."

As Rod let his Professor out, he spent the next couple of hours packing a small bag with various change of clothes and left over Pokemon Food found in the kitchen. His mind remained in two places, one of utter loneliness and confusion, and the other bursting with excitement and joy of a dream coming true. Bulbasaur and Shinx seemed to both notice his enthusiasm, and helped clothes into the bag and various other items including a telescopic fishing rod. Lastly, Rod grabbed the note his Father had left for him and took one last read:

I have to leave. Take the Pokeball and leave too.

Be The Best You Can Be

-Blue

Shaking his head, Rod crumpled the note in his hands and threw it into the bag feeling anger appear under his heated skin. One day he would find out why this was all happening, but he had to reach Vermillion City to get to Hoenn, and then his adventure would truly begin…