DISCLAIMER: Again, I do not own Pokémon. Original characters are my own. Yes I am aware that my chapters are short, sorry T_T'' I'll get better in due time. Have fun!
Chapter I
"Up early, are we?" teasingly asked professor Oak.
"As always, sir", responded Elle with a sweet smile.
The early bird gets the worm, or so she had always thought. It was now 8 o'clock: she had been up ever since the sun rose, around 5 o'clock that morning. Sleeping hadn't worked out for her after all, but it really didn't seem to bother the soon-to-be Pokémon trainer. She already had her backpack with her, filled with food, clothes, money and various gadgets she would need later on. Her actual clothing was simple and comfortable: she wore a pair of black, hard-colored jeans, a purple tank top and open-ended black gloves. Her long hair was tied back into a high ponytail. A pair of ballerina style shoes completed her outfit.
"Come in, come in", urged the professor. "I'm impressed. Even my grandson isn't here yet."
"He's probably in his room grooming himself", she mocked, entering the laboratory.
Oak sweat dropped at this. Shutting the door, he directed the young girl into a room filled with poke balls and computer screens. In the center of the room stood a circular table covered by a glass dome. Inside the dome were three red and white poke balls: the starter Pokémon. Elle broke into a grin at the sight of them.
"I want the Charmander!" she chirped, pressing her hands onto the dome. "Can I have him, professor? Please say yes!"
"It's your pick, dear; you're the one who got here first."
"Alright, then Charmander it is!"
The professor smiled and pressed a small red button. The glass dome opened and Elle took the third poke ball with trembling hands.
"C-Charmander, I choose you!" she said, throwing the poke ball onto the tiled floor.
There was a brief flash of blinding light. Finally, Elle could see her Pokémon. Charmander was a small lizard-like creature with red skin and amber eyes. The tip of its tail burned brightly, indicating that it was quite healthy. It stretched its little arms and took a look at its future trainer. Blinking a few times, it gave a little snort, making smoke come out of its nostrils.
"Char!" it said happily, throwing itself onto Elle.
"Well look at that, it likes you already", smiled the professor.
"I like it too!" laughed Elle, who had fallen on her behind with the fire Pokémon in her arms. Charmander was proceeding to lick her face with joy.
"Now then, it seems all you need now are additional poke balls and a Pokédex."
"A what now?"
"A Pokédex. It's my invention, explained professor Oak, handing her a small red device. It enables you to record data on every Pokémon you see."
"That's really handy", Elle said, taking it.
"You know, Elle, when I was young, my dream was to collect information on every Pokémon in the world. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete that dream, and I can't possibly do it now. I want you to do it for me."
"M-me?" the girl gasped, scrambling to her feet, her Charmander clinging to her leg.
"Yes, you."
"You should ask your grandson instead."
"I'll ask Gary once he gets here, yes, but I do think the boy needs a little competition."
"What competition, grandpa?"
Elle turned to where the voice had come from. Gary stood leaning against the wall, arms crossed, a cocky smirk on his face. His spiky auburn hair hadn't changed one bit. He wore a purple long-sleeved shirt, dark pants and brown boots. On his neck hung a new pendant, one that resembled the ying and yang symbol.
"Well if it isn't little Eleanor", he teased.
"Don't call me that!" Elle said, gritting her teeth.
"Why not? Isn't that your name?"
"You know very well why, Gary Oak."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. At any rate, looks like you finally got a Pokémon. I didn't even think you'd show up", he sneered, eyeing the Charmander carefully. "My Pokémon will be stronger, obviously."
"Who says?"
"Me, Kanto's next Pokémon master."
Elle began laughing mockingly, her Charmander imitating her to perfection. Gary blinked, momentarily surprised. He quickly shook it off, frowning.
"What's so funny?"
"Well, it's just difficult to believe a spoiled baby like yourself could ever become Kanto's next Pokémon master. Don't you still sleep with Momo the blankie?"
"N-no! What are you, stupid?" Gary yelled, his face turning beet red. "That was years ago!"
"Now, now, break it up you two", professor Oak finally intervened, exasperated. "Gary, why don't you choose a Pokémon? There's two left."
"No problem, gramps", the boy said, his confident smirk back on his lips.
Without hesitating, Gary took the second poke ball, twirled it on his right index finger for a few seconds, then pressed the little sphere's button.
"Squirtle, I choose you."
A tiny turtle-like Pokémon appeared before everyone's eyes. Its skin was blue with little variants of green here and there. The shell on its back was brown and shiny, as if polished. It had huge, yellow eyes that could make anyone melt. It stared quietly at the three individuals, and then laid its gaze onto Elle's Charmander.
"Squirtle."
"Char."
"Squirtle squirtle."
"Charmander!"
"SQUIRTLE."
"CHAR!"
"SQUIRRRRRRR."
"CHAAAAAAAR!"
A ball of fire suddenly flew from Charmander's mouth, hitting the barrage of water Gary's Squirtle had thrown at it. Annoyed, both Pokémon turned their backs on each other and waddled off to their respective trainers.
"They don't seem to get along very well", Elle said, sadly patting Charmander on the head.
"That's nothing new", Gary remarked in an accusing tone.
Elle looked up, surprised he would bring up the subject. He was now glaring at her. Professor Oak sighed, resigned. He knew he couldn't do anything to bring those two back together, no matter how hard he tried.
"Anyway, Eleanor, considering that you're akin to that loser Ash, it'll be easy for me to kick your lame ass in the Pokémon League", said the boy, changing the subject. His arrogance was evident.
"Ha, right. Wait until me and Charmander totally destroy you. You won't even be able to beat Ash, because, unlike you, he's going to become an excellent trainer!"
"Whatever you say. Gramps, I'm off. My adoring fans are waiting!"
"Fans, what fans?" Elle asked.
"Unlike you, I am important enough to have a group of supporters all to myself", Gary grinned.
"You mean the twelve girls who flunked math last semester?"
Glaring, Gary grabbed his Pokédex and left, followed by his Squirtle. Elle smirked herself this time, happy with her reply. Thanking the professor, she exited the laboratory with Charmander just as her ex best friend left town in a hot red convertible, surrounded by the same girls she had mentioned minutes before. He even had his own driver. Rolling her eyes, with no one to cheer her on, she decided to leave as well.
"Well, Charmander, where to?"
"Char!"
"Viridian City, huh? Good idea", she smiled, scratching its head. "I just hope Ash isn't late this time, or else there won't be a Pokémon left for him to take."
