DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Pokémon, obviously.
Hello to whoever is reading this. I started this story back in September of 2020. After a short lived hot streak, I hit a brick wall of laziness and procrastonation. But I've now motivated myself and gained the confidence to work on this story again. I'm starting fresh, from square one. Enjoy!
Beta read/finishing touches, thanks to my friend Lotus (Zero_Sugar)@AO3 aka Fireberries @ tumblr
June Koven woke up from his unstable slumber yet again. He closed his eyes. He tried to relax and fall back asleep, he had done that twice this night. But that was not happening this time, June was now fully awake, and there was not much he could do about it.
The root cause of his restlessness could be partially attributed to the fact he is sleeping on a pull out couch bed. However, the main cause is his nervousness and excitement was due to his fast approaching departure; he will be starting his journey.
The boy sighed.
What time is it?
He looked over to the alarm clock on the floor.
5:01 am
That's too early. I wish I could be asleep again. I hate my brain.
June's mind quickly wandered to other topics.
What time should I leave? I don't wanna leave right now when it's dark. But I also don't wanna leave too late. I want to get to the lab before any other dumb kid gets there! So I can pick the starter I want, and not have any trouble.
When I'm leaving, I'm gone! I'll be my own man, and nothing and no one will stop me! No-one better get in my way.
June of course knew that he needed to do some last minute inspections before he left home. June grabbed his backpack, which was sitting a foot away from him.
He opened every zipper, looked through every pocket. It all looked good to him.
All set, I have everything I need!
All June needs to do now is brush his teeth. He would need to make a small journey to the bathroom.
June got up, and tiptoed past the bed his parents were sleeping on, and to the bathroom as fast as he could. He was in some small living quarters, so it wasn't that big of a deal. However, June made a miscalculation, and bumped into the wall, making a thud!
June froze like a stantler in headlights.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. I hope that didn't wake Mom and Dad up.
June looked back at his parents, who were still asleep. He stood still for a minute, before taking a deep breath, sighing, and walking into the bathroom. June turned on the light and took a good long look at himself in the mirror.
June's attire was not much to show off; gray T-shirt, brown cargo shorts, and old sneakers. His parents didn't have the money to buy anything better. June had interited his mother's looks; bushy blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin.
June brushed his teeth, before sprinting back to the couchbed. He looked at the alarm clock again.
6:02 am
I can't wait anymore, it's time to go! Time to get the heck out of here.
June put on his backpack. He leaped off of the couchbed for the final time, slowly walked toward the front door, just a few feet away from him.
June slowly opened and closed the door. He started walking. The sun was just barley starting to rise. The sky was mostly dark. June did not look back at the motel, he only looked forward.
But June's mind was occupied with one thing at the moment.
Alright, lets hope I get to the lab quickly. I know where I'm going. I think.
Pallet town was a very rural and spread out place. Most of the town consisted of farms, grasslands and fields. With buildings sparse and far apart. There were even pokémon wandering about.
June walked as fast as he could. He felt lightheaded. He would constantly look in other directions to make sure no-one was following him.
As the sky got brighter, June got more anxous.
Ok, where is the lab? I know where it is! I do! I've been there before! I've walked by there before! So why the heck is it so hard to find. Why!?
Should I ask someone for directions? Maybe? No! No! No! No! I don't need to do that. I'm a big boy now, I can find it all by myself!
More minutes would pass. No luck.
Ok, this is getting ridiculous. For pete's sake! Where is this plac-
"AH!!" June yelled, jumping out of his skin.
Hsssssssss. The ekans that brushed up against June's leg quickly slithered away.
"Stupid snake!" June proclaimed.
June calmed down from being startled, and stumbled upon what he was looking for.
There it is! That windmill! I know that windmill
June recognized the windmill petruding from the back of Oak's lab. June mustered up the energy he had and ran toward the building, up the stairs. He stood in front of the double doors as he took a breath.
The moment was finally here! June wrapped his hand around the doorhandle. But the door would not open.
June's rush of excitement crashed harder than a freight train crashing into the side of a mountain.
Are you kidding me!? It's locked!?
"Locked!" June said out loud.
Knock knock knock.
June waited a minute. No answer.
Knock knock knock knock knock.
June waited another minute, no answer.
Knock knock knock knock knock knock knock knock.
This is really bugging me
June tried to hold in his anger. He waited a bit longer. But he could not, June balled up his fists.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
"Hello!?" Yelled June.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
"Anyone home!? Anybody!?" June yelled.
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
"Answer the door!!" June yelled.
June stopped banging on the door, his hands were hurting. June was breathing heavily.
One of the doors slowly opened right in front of June. June saw the one and only, Professor Oak.
Oak looked down at June, clearly tired, and agitated. He was still wearing slippers, pajama bottoms, along with his labcoat being worn over his pajama shirt.
Oak yawned.
"And who might YOU be? Banging on my door this early. Sureley this is an important matter" Oak said sarcastically.
June spoke up.
"It's June, June Koven. I'm here to get my starter pokémon!"
Oak yawned again.
"Oh right, well come riiiight in then. I'll show you the way"
June followed Oak into the room where the starters were kept. There were three pokéballs sitting on the platform.
June stared at the three pokéballs.
Alright, bulbasaur, charmander, squirtle.
Well, bulbasaur has the poison type as an extra typing, and it's the easiest to raise.
Then there's charmander. It's pretty cool too. Is also eventually evolves into a charizard that can fly around everywhere. Cool.
What about squirtle? Its final evolution has water canons made of bones come out of its shell. Coooool.
"Hmmmmmmm" June hm'd.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Oak asked, passive aggressively.
"Shut up!" June barked.
What do you think you're doing!? Don't say that to the Professor!!June's consious was looking out for him.
"It won't take much longer" June said, taking a breath.
Oak chuckled.
"Ugh! I don't know!" June yelled.
Oak rolled his eyes. June took notice of that.
"Bulbasaur!" June piped up.
"Bulbasaur, your starter is bulbasaur" said Oak.
Oak took the pokéball and handed it to June.
Oak walked out of the room. Leaving June alone, holding the pokéball in the palm of his right hand. June stared at it.
Wow, I'm holding it. It's my pokémon! I can't believe this. It's MY pokémon. It's here.
June opened the pokéball, it let out a strange, bright white light that poured all over the floor. Just as quickly as that happened. June saw his new pokémon. Bulbasaur immediatley took notice of June, looking up at him. June did the same, looking down at the pokémon.
The bulbasaur walked up to June, and started to nudge his leg.
Just being around his starter caused all off June's previous negative emotions from that day were replaced with a shining, happy glee.
Well, I name to name it now. I wonder what it's name would be.
I didn't take June long to come up with a name for the seed pokémon.
"I'll call you, Sprout!"
Sprout nodded, she liked the name.
Oak walked back into the room.
"Here you go!"
Oak handed June a brand new pokédex, along with five pokéballs.
June put the pokédex in his pocket, and attatched the pokéballs to his pokéball belt.
"Thanks Professor" June said.
"The pleasure is all mine. Anyways, it looks like you two are ready to head off!"
Oak gestured toward the door of the room.
"Um, I guess" said June.
June looked down at Sprout.
"Ya ready to go?" Said June.
Sprout smiled, and nodded.
"Okay" June said, returning Sprout.
"Don't forget to contact me the next time you get to a pokémon center!"
"I won't! June said"
June walked down the hall, through the front double doors. He looked up to the morning sky, which was a mixture of dark blue, light blue, and orange.
June walked down the stairs leading down the hill that the lab was on. He walked to the outskirts of Pallet town. He looked down route one, then back at Pallet town for one last time. June looked forward to the route again.
Well, I guess this is when my journey really starts. I don't wanna screw this up.