"Past! Past, come downstairs sweetie!" Mom calls.
I head downstairs where my oldest friend is sitting at the kitchen table with Mom. "Hey Past," he greets me.
"Hey Future," I respond.
"You know the new girl in town, Present?"
"Yeah, why?"
"She asked us to meet her at the professor's place."
"She did?"
"Yeah, she hasn't had much luck making friends in town, so she asked us to come with her. She wants to be friends with us, you know?"
"That's cool, but why the professors'?"
"I think they're family friends, and he invited her to receive her starter."
"Does that mean we're getting starters too?"
"I think so, but I don't want to assume."
"You two should get going then. Don't want to miss out on any surprises the professor and your new friend have."
"You're mom's right, let's go Past!"
"Oh boys, why don't you have Beauty lead the way. She's good friends with the professor and she could use the exercise."
My mom's Plainpurr, Beauty, scampers out from the living room and nuzzles up to my leg. Plainpurr is a round, cat pokemon with gray fur, a tuft of tan fur on its forehead, and a long tail that curls once.
"Nice to see you Beauty." Future says. Beauty hisses at him and returns her attention to me. "Why doesn't she like me?" Future wonders aloud.
"Probably because you're always trying to one up Past." My mom lightly scolds him.
"I can't help it, it's in my nature to be the best at everything." Future brags. "We should get going though. Beauty, lead the way!"
Beauty glares at him, but then turns and leads us out the door. Beauty bounces a little as she scampers on ahead of us. A few people wave to us as we walk through town. The professors' lab was pretty close to my house so it didn't take long to get there. The three of us walk through the lab doors.
"Future, Past, over here!" Present calls to us. We walk over to her and the professor.
"Hey Present, thanks for inviting us. Nice to see you professor."
"You as well, Future. And you two, Past and Beauty."
Beauty meows at the professor. "Oh, this little cuties' name is Beauty?" Present asks.
"Beauty is a Plainpurr, a popular pokemon here in the Oveen Region. This one is partners with Pasts' mother." The professor takes a moment to look us all over. "Now you three, as you know my name is Professor RedWood. I study pokemon, particularly Pokemon form changes and types. Once a year I give out three pokemon to new trainers. With your partners you can take on the Gym challenge, as well as other adventures. Though I ask for a favor in return for these starter pokemon."
"What's the favor, professor?" Future asks.
"The professor would like us each to take a pokedex, to help him in his studies. For every pokemon we encounter the pokedex will record its data, but you'll have to catch it to finish its entry." Present explains.
"That's correct, though I've upgraded and installed the pokedex onto a new Rotom Poketch- or Rotetch- for each of you. I can't give them to you until you catch one of the Rotom that hide amongst my lab, so you'll need to choose your starter and search the lab for them."
"That's so much fun!" Present exclaims.
"I'll be the first to find his Rotom and get his Rotetch!" Future declares. "Present since you invited us I take it you'll pick your starter first?"
"Oh, I'd love to but I'm a bit nervous. I was hoping you two could pick first."
"Ok, Past, why don't you go first. I need more time to decide which is the best choice."
With permission granted I walk up to the table next to Professor RedWood and read about each pokemon within the three pokeballs. Reeno, the grass type, Flasander, the fire type, and Hicampy, the water type. I make my decision.
"Hicampy, I choose you!"
"Alright, if you choose that one then the best choice is Reeno! Let's go!"
"I guess that means I'll take Flasander! Come on out!"
Hicampy is a blue seahorse Pokemon, with a white underbelly and bubble cheeks. Reeno is a gray rhino Pokemon with a vine growing up its horn. Finally Flasander is a red snake Pokemon with yellow salamander scales running down its back.
"Excellent, now that you've chosen your partners would you like to give them nicknames?" Professor Redwood asks.
"I'll name mine Champ." Past answers.
"I like Reeno as is." Future says.
"I think I'll call him Sandy." Present says cheerfully.
"Now, before you can catch the Rotom you'll need to know how to battle. Past and Future, you two practice with each other and I will give Present a tutorial."
"Awesome! Past, I can't wait to beat you in our first Pokemon Battle. I hope it's of many more wins to come." Future gloats.
I nod and send out Champ, who holds himself up on his curled tail on the battlefield.
"Let's go, Reeno!" Reeno pounds on the ground in anticipation.
"Champ use Tackle!" Champ uses his tail as a springboard to hurl himself at Reeno. He makes contact but Reeno has strong defense for a level five grass type.
"Use Vine Whip!" Reeno's vine grows rapidly from her horn and swings at Champ like a whip. The vine smacks him hard and he lands hard on his back.
"Champ, use Tackle again!" Champ does so and hits again.
"Reeno, Vine Whip!"
"Champ on your right!" Champ hops over the attack. "Tackle!" Champ hits Reeno again.
"Vine Whip, again!" Reeno does get Champ again this time, but both Pokemon are panting- tired and sore from battle.
"Final Tackle!" Champ lands the final attack, and Reeno slumps to her side- fainted from battle.
"Aw man! Reeno return!" Future withdrew Reeno into her pokeball. "You really did great, Reeno." Future looked to Past, "That was great, Past, but I promise we will win next time!"
"Excellent job you two," The professor said. "Present won our match as well. Of course, it was just a tutorial battle."
"Well then I'll just have to beat you again after I become champion, Professor."
"Now, here are some pokeballs for each of you. Go catch your Rotom and start up your Rotetch's!"
"Let's go, I'll be first to find one!" Future runs over to a lamp, looking under its shade.
Present ran off to the other side of the lab. Past walked over to the professor's computer to look there. Rotom jumped out from behind the screen. It's cry was staticky and haunting, but also sounded like a joyous laugh. "Go, Champ!" Champ jumped from behind Past. The Rotom was faster though and used a Thunder Shock attack. Champ fell down hard, but with a grunt pushed himself up.
Knowing he had no chance of continuing the battle, Past decided to throw a pokeball. It landed right in between Rotom's eyes and took it within the ball. The ball shook three times, then made a click. Picking up the pokeball, Past decided to nickname his Rotom Tech.
Future and Present each also caught their Rotom's and the three showed the professor. "Excellent, I'll install the Rotom upgrade." He fiddled with each of their soon-to-be Rotetch's. As instructed each of the Rotom's were sent out. Immediately the Rotom's were drawn to the devices, and after a happy cry, jumped into the Rotetch's.
"Hello, Partner!" All three exclaimed. "You have fully registered two pokemon each in your pokedex and have seen three each."
"Oh, awesome!" Present exclaimed.
"Now that you've all got your partners, you're ready to set out on your adventure. Meet as many pokemon as you can, and achieve your dreams together!"
"Let's go!" Future cried.
"You should all go home to tell your parents, as well as pack your bags. Take care and do me proud!"
With that the three left the lab. "I'll meet you guys at the start of Route 2, don't leave without me, kay?" Present asked.
"Course not, we wouldn't be having this adventure if it weren't for you." Future responded.
"I'll see you guys there." Past said, and with that he took off towards home. Upon entering, Mom walks over to Past. "Here sweetie, I packed your bag for you while you were at the professors. I can't lie, I'm nervous about you traveling so far without me, but I know you and your pokemon will accomplish so many amazing things together. Trust and take care of each other, and remember you can always come home any time. Past…I'm so proud of you. Be safe out there."
Taking your bag, you thank your mom and give her a big hug before leaving again. As you walk through Pastor Village you stop and speak with some of your neighbors. They give you advice on things like items, saving your adventure in your journal, and Rotetch apps. The neighbor who spoke to you about the Rotetch mentions how amazing science and technology are. Finally you pass by the Pokemon Ranch, the last building in town. Out in the pastures are Miltank and Tauros, grazing and playing. Rancher Dave reminds you that he also runs a day care and can raise some of your pokemon for you if you like, and play with them in the pasture with your other pokemon.
Past thanks Rancher Dave before continuing on to the edge of town. There, at Route 2, he meets with his friends. "Bout' time, Slowpoke." Future taunts.
"So are you guys ready to start our very own Pokemon Journey!?" Present says excitedly.
"Absolutely!" Past agrees.
So with Champ on Past's shoulder, Sandy on Present's, and Reeno at Future's side, they took their first steps together onto Route 2.