A/N: Thanks for all the support!

Again, Kudos to AmaltheaLuchiaAizen for her assistance~! ^-^

STARTER VOTES SO FAR:

(BTW, if you don't vote, it automatically gives each option one vote)

FIRE: 6

WATER: 4

GRASS: 2

Pokémon: Amethyst

Episode One: A Heroine's Beginning!

Beep! Beep! Beep! Bee-CLICK!

Amethyst Tachibana yawned heavily as she pulled her hand off of her Pokéball-shaped alarm clock, scratching her fingers through her sleep-messed purple hair. With a stretch, the twelve-year-old girl sat up, blinking sleepy orange eyes around her room, ignoring the still un-packed moving boxes piled up in one corner. With a sleepy grumble, she rolled out of bed, and got dressed.

When she was finished, she paused to peer at herself in her closet mirror, subconsciously tugging on her brown vest. She always wore the vest over her favorite red long-sleeved blouse, but, she had… ah, matured over the last year, and, with the added weight and assets, it had begun to sit a little… Well, let's just say that she was relieved that her red blouse was a little long in the torso and high in the color. Shaking her freshly braided-back hair, she grabbed her already-packed backpack, anxiousness beginning to tighten her stomach. She'd be going to the PokéLab today, to get her Starter Pokémon from Professor Evergreen, so she could begin her Journey which would, hopefully, end with her having enough money to both start her Pokémon Rescue Center (where she planned to create a safe haven for all abandoned, abused, crippled, or rehabilitation-needing Pokémon) as well as pay her way through Pokémon Nursing Classes at one of the Universities. Slipping downstairs, she heard the murmur of the television, and knew her Dad was awake, even though he usually slept in on Mondays, which were his only day off from collecting mussels with his work crew on Lake Apatite.

"Morning, Dad," Amethyst greeted as she rounded the corner at the bottom of the stairs, spotting her father in the kitchen with his Pokémon Partner, Champiroo (a seven-foot-tall kangaroo with dark brown fur, red boxing gloves, a blue belt with a large gold plate on the middle, beneath its pouch, and a bandage-wrapped tail), cooking eggs, bacon, and hash-browns.

"Good morning, sweetheart!" Her Dad chirped, and Amethyst smiled at the relatively short man. Next to Champiroo, her father's five-foot-seven form looked ridiculous, his dark purple hair spiked up to give him an extra inch and his skin darkly tanned from working all day in the sun. His muscled arms were scarred by work-accidents, but he had a kind face. As she watched, he handed Champiroo the large tray with finished foods on it, turning to smile at Amethyst as the Fighting-Type Pokémon nodded to her before hopping past her towards the table.

"Come here, sweetheart," Jett Tachibana said, stepping forward and scooping his daughter up into his heavily muscled arms, making her grunt a little as he dragged her into a bear hug.

"Dad… Can't… Breathe!" She gasped out; with a chuckle, he released her, and Amethyst made a show of gasping for breath.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," he told her seriously; Amethyst flushed and scuffed her steel-toed boot on the floor.

"Dad, I haven't even left yet," she muttered; Jett just chuckled and nudged her toward the table, where Champiroo was already helping himself to a bowl of hash-browns.

"'Roo?" He asked around a large mouthful of food, blinking his narrowed copper eyes at Amethyst as she pulled out her chair and sat.

"Are they tasting good today, Champiroo?" she teased the large Pokémon; Champiroo chewed thoughtfully, before swallowing.

"'Roo," he announced with a firm nod, and Amethyst grinned before piling some on her own plate, along with two eggs and a decent handful of bacon. The Pokémon obligingly reached forward and picked up the large glass pitcher of orange juice as if it weighed no more than a paper bag, and poured her a cup. "Thank you, Champiroo," she told him; the Pokémon nodded and the two went back to eating while Jett joined them with a plate of biscuits. Despite her earlier anxiety, Amethyst found herself eating enough to feel fully stuffed, knowing that it would be a long time before she had a home-cooked meal again.

"I put some extra money in your bag for you," Jett informed her as she leaned back from her empty plate; Amethyst looked at him with wide eyes.

"Dad, you didn't have-"

"Yes," he interrupted sternly, "I did. Sweetheart," he started, only to stop with a slow breath, absently nodding at Champiroo as the Pokémon politely picked up all the dirty plates and hopped away to the kitchen. "Amethyst, when your mother died…" Amethyst flinched slightly, the wound still fresh even two years later. "When she died, I know I lost my way. I didn't step up like I was supposed to, as your Father, and I know that, in that, I let you down-Let me finish," he told her sternly when the twelve-year-old opened her mouth to interrupt. "Let me finish," he told her again, quietly; Amethyst nodded, orange eyes focused on the table top and she folded her hands in her lap.

"I know I messed up when your Mom died," he told her quietly. "I know that. I did some seriously stupid stuff, and nearly left you alone for a jail cell because of that assault charge. I'm doing my best to start over, now, and I know you are too. I am proud of you, Amethyst Tachibana, understand? You're about to leave and travel all around this new place, following your dreams, and I know, from the very bottom of my heart, that you will make it." He smiled at her, and Amethyst fought to keep her watering eyes from turning into tears. "And maybe, when you've got your Pokémon Rescue Center up and running, you can come back here and visit your old man, hmm?" Blinking back tears, Amethyst smiled at him, before she jumped out of her seat and through her arms around his neck.

"Love you, Dad," she muttered into his shoulder; his large arms tightened around her.

"Love you too, sweetheart," he murmured into her hair. After a minute or so, the two of them separated, and both pretended not to notice as the other wiped away tears.

"Champiroo!" Amethyst called; the Pokémon poked his narrow head from around the corner, ears twitching.

"Champi'?" he asked; Amethyst smiled brightly, eyes still slightly damp, and lunged at the tall Pokémon, throwing her arms around his shoulders, smiling into his dark brown fur as he wrapped his own, boxing-mit-clad arms around her as well in a careful hug. "You take care of my Dad, okay?" She told him, sniffling; the Pokémon nodded against her head.

"Champiroo," he told her seriously; still sniffling, Amethyst smiled as he set her back on her feet.

"I've got to go now," she told him and Jett as the two nodded at her. "I'll call when I can, or post letters!"

"Take care of yourself, kiddo," Jett ordered; Champiroo nodded firmly with a stern look.

"'Roo, 'roo, champi'," he told her; Amethyst smiled, grabbed up her bag, and gave the two of them a wave as she headed out the door. As it closed behind her, she breathed in one last, big breath, straightened her shoulders, and stepped away from their small, two-story home and onto the sidewalk…

And directly into the path of a speeding bike.

"Hey!" Amethyst yelped, throwing herself back and out of the way of the Purple Trailblazer, which screeched to a halt five feet away. "Watch where you're going!" She snapped; The rider appeared to be a girl the same age as Amethyst, wearing a short gray dress over black Capri leggings, a dark gray messenger bag on her hip, and a purple bike helmet that covered her entire head. As Amethyst watched, the other girl climbed off her bike and turned to face the twelve-year-old. The bike-rider reached up and pulled off her helmet, dark orange hair falling out up it to just barely brush her shoulders. Her face was lightly tanned, but pale enough you could see the freckles that decorated her nose and cheeks, and turquoise eyes glared back at Amethyst, who scowled in recognition of the other girl.

"Amber," she greeted bitingly; the orangette sneered back.

"Amethyst," she scoffed. "So sorry for almost running you over, I just didn't see you there. I guess the drab outfit you're wearing blinded me for a moment!" Amethyst narrowed her eyes and scowled darkly at the other girl.

"Oh, is that it? I just thought the fumes from your hairspray were destroying your brain cells inside that helmet," she replied; the two glared at each other, sparks flying from their eyes.

"Whatever, Tachibana," Amber scoffed, turning her back and throwing a leg back over her bike. "I'm on my way to my Aunt's Laboratory to get my Starter Pokémon. Don't bother trying to get there quickly; you're not even cut out to be a Pokémon Trainer in the first place." With a toss of her hair, the orangette pulled on her bike helmet and pedaled quickly away, leaving a small cloud of dust behind her. Glaring after her own, personal rival, Amethyst hissed a breath threw her teeth.

"…My clothes are not drab," she muttered darkly, and then tugged her backpack back to rights, and stomped off after her rival, muttering under her breath the whole way. It took twenty minutes of walking before she reached the large, gleaming building that was made of stainless-steel, chrome, and glass.

The Shore Town Laboratory was large and, well, shiny, and was in charge of several hundred acres of land with various different kinds of geological conditions, for the many different species of Pokémon donated to the Laboratory, and those also there because their Trainers had captured more than the allowed six travelling Team. It was a beautiful place, and a rather welcoming environment considering the fact it's a lab.

"Here I go," Amethyst muttered, taking a deep breath and squaring her shoulders, before she stalked forward and pushed the door open. Instantly, a soft chime echoed, and a few scurrying, harried-looking Aides barely even glanced her way before the closest one pointed further into the building.

"Starter Pokémon that way," he informed her before scuttling off, struggling to carry a strange-looking Pokémon Egg. Amethyst blinked after him, before shrugging and trotting obediently off in the offered direction. Passing bustling assistants, muttering scientists, and the occasional free-ranging Pokémon, Amethyst finally reached the Starter Room, where she found Professor Evergreen standing tall, rose-pink Afro gleaming in the bright lighting, as Amber accepted Pokéball from Daisy.

"Thank you, Auntie!" The orangette chirped, clutching her Pokéball close with a smile, before she caught sight of Amethyst, and sneered. "Well, took you long enough to get here." Amethyst narrowed here eyes, and sparks flew between the two girls.

"Hello, Amethyst," Professor Evergreen greeted warmly with a smile, and gestured for her to come closer. Sharing on last glaring look with Amber, the purple-haired girl obeyed, and stepped up to the table that the pink-haired Professor was standing next to, Daisy standing on the other side with a bright, cheerful smile. Three Pokéballs sat on the table, waiting for her decision.

"Hey, Amethyst!" Amber called; the twelve-year-old glanced at her Rival with an annoyed glare, but Amber just sneered back. "After you pick your Pokémon, you and I are going to Battle! Winner gets fifty Pokédollars." Amethyst narrowed her eyes further, and did a quick mental count of what money she had in her wallet (the money her Dad had given her was strictly for supplies and emergencies).

"Deal," Amethyst told the other girl, before pointedly turning around and focusing on the clearly-amused Professor, while Daisy rolled her eyes in exasperated fondness.

"Alright, you two, enough now," Professor Evergreen told them, and focused her light brown eyes on Amethyst, smiling. "Now, Amethyst, choosing a Starter Pokémon is a serious thing. These Pokémon are picked for their stability, tempers, trainability, and adaptability. These three," she gestured at the Pokéballs, "Are all relatively young Pokémon, and know only two moves each, a defensive and an offensive. It will be your duty, as a Trainer, to care for, train, feed, and properly socialize your Pokémon. If it's discovered that you have abused, mistreated, or neglected you Pokémon in any way, you will be persecuted." Here, the kind Professor's face went hard. "Pokémon Abuse is a horrific, detestable thing, and people who abuse their Pokémon can be charged with jail time, fined thousands of dollars, and even forbidden from owning or interacting with Pokémon at all. Knowing this, are you prepared for the full extent of the responsibility of caring for a Pokémon?"

"Yes, ma'am," Amethyst told her sincerely, nodding rapidly as she did so. She wanted to make a shelter just for those reasons, after all, and this was just another way to test herself, to make sure she could handle it. The Professor stared at her for several seconds, before the tenseness in her shoulders relaxed and she smiled again.

"Alright then," she said, and looked to her Head Assistant. "Daisy?" The klutzy Assistant nodded with a proud smile.

"On it!" she chirped, and neatly reached forward, and called out all three Pokémon.

"We'll start with Bubbleat first," the Professor started, voice taking on an unconscious lecturing tone as she gestured to what appeared to be the Water-Type Starter. It looked like a small sheep, it's "wool" made up of pale blue "bubbles". Its legs, ears, and face were as white as porcelain, and nearly gleamed. It stared up at Amethyst with wide purple eyes, and Amethyst barely resisted cooing at it.

Next to it was the Fire-Starter, which looked like a gecko, with dark red scales and an orange face. Three black diamonds were covering its back and, rising gently from their centers, were thin plumes of smoke. It blinked up at her, and flicked out a black tongue, yellow eyes feigning disinterest even as its tail twitched like an excited cat.

The Grass-Starter was more open in its curiosity, its dark gray eyes peering around avidly. It was a pale brown seal, with 2 large leaves making the fins on its tail. Small, round tawny-colored seeds trailed down its spine, stopping at the base of its tail and the top of its skull, and it grinned happily up at Amethyst before the Trainer turned her attention back to the Water-Type when the Professor cleared her throat.

"Bubbleat!" The sheep-like Pokémon baa'd at the twelve-year-old, who smiled back and gave a little wave.

"Bubbleat is the Bubble Pokémon," Professor Evergreen told Amethyst easily. "They only grow to about two feet high in this form, and weighs nearly forty pounds. They're a Water-Type Pokémon, and tend to have the Abilities: Oblivious, Rain Dish, or Water Absorb, though this one actually has Cute Charm…" she trailed off, looking vastly amused, but Bubbleat only blinked its large purple eyes and tilted its head cutely. Daisy cooed and made cutesy faces at the Water-Type, while the Professor just shook her head and refocused on the subject at hand. "Bubbleats are social Pokémon, and like to travel in herds. Their wool can actually be harvested, and make a scented product that's extremely water-absorbent, and usually used in towels and other such things." The Professor nodded at Daisy, who recalled the sheep-like Pokémon and set its Pokéball down in its place. "On to Fire, now," the Professor declared, pointing at the Fire-Type Pokémon and Amethyst obligingly turned her attention to the sleepily blinking Pokémon.

"This is Geckurn, the Cinder Pokémon," Professor Evergreen introduced, before Daisy yelped and stumbled away, the Grass-Type Starter having, apparently, gotten bored and deciding to explore.

"I've got it!" the Head Assistant called, and scrambled after the Pokémon, its leaf-tail flicking as it rounded a corner. Professor Elm sighed and dragged a hand through her afro, before smiling at Amethyst as the girl grinned.

"Anyways, Geckurn," the Professor continued. "They only reach a little over six inches tall, but a little longer than a foot in length. It only weighs three pounds, and is a Fire-Type Pokémon. They tend to have the Abilities: Blaze, Flame Body, or Flash Fire. This one has Flame Body, which means if you touch it you risk minor burns, and that risk is raised in battle," she warned; Amethyst nodded even as Geckurn yawned, a small stream of smoke wisping out of its mouth. "Geckurn are solitary creatures, and prefer their own company, though they're not opposed to socializing, especially in cold or wet climates, where the heat radiating off their bodies could do well for some extra help." Just as she finished, Daisy returned, panting, with the still cheerfully-grinning seal-like Pokémon in her arms.

"Got it!" She declared; the Professor chuckled as she recalled the Geckurn, and gestured for Daisy to place the Grass-Type on the table, which she did with a light grunt and a relieved sigh.

"Meet Seaf, the Seed Pokémon," the Professor introduced, and the Pokémon grinned brightly up at Amethyst.

"Seaf!" It barked at her, and Amethyst laughed.

"Hello, Seaf," she greeted back; the Professor smiled fondly.

"Seaf is the biggest of the three Starters, standing at two-and-a-half feet tall, two-and-a-half feet long, and weighing in at sixty pounds. It is a Grass-Type, and often has the Abilities: Grass Pelt, Leaf Guard, and Sap Sipper, and this one has Leaf Guard. They are very curious and social Pokémon, and love to wander around and collect things." With that, Daisy recalled the wriggling seal-like Pokémon, and set its Pokéball next to the other two Starters.

"Now that you've been properly introduced, and had the Starters explained a little bit, the choice is yours to make," Daisy encouraged happily; the Professor nodded with a smile.

"Who do you pick?" She asked kindly. "Remember, you can only choose one of them." Behind her, Amber, who had been all but forgotten as Amethyst focused on the Pokémon, snorted and sighed.

"Just hurry up already," she complained, annoyed. "I want to get back to Shore Town before you do, and make sure my idiot brother knows not to give you a map!" Daisy sent her niece a stern frown, which Amber ignored in favor of glaring right back at Amethyst as the purple-haired twelve-year-old glowered at her. Huffing at her Rival in irritation, Amethyst turned her eyes back to the three Pokémon, and silently deliberated.

Which should she choose?

Bubbleat, the adorable sheep-like Water Pokémon?

Geckurn, the unsociable gecko-like Fire Pokémon?

Or Seaf, the cheerful seal-like Grass Pokémon?

Taking a deep breath, Amethyst straightened her shoulders.

She knew which one she would choose.

A/N: Dun-dun-DUUUUN! ^-^

Now that you all have a bit more of an idea what the Starters are like, I thought I'd give you an extra chapter to vote (because you guys were doing rather well for not even known what the Pokémon looked like, lolz)

Also, should she give her Pokémon Nicknames or what?

NEXT ON Pokémon: Amethyst!

Our Heroine will finally choose their Pokémon Starter, and begin her Journey to face the Pokémon League, so that she can finally realize her Dream of creating her own Pokémon Rescue Center!

Vocab/PokéDex:

Champiroo – The Championship Pokémon. Type: Fighting. Height/Length: Seven Feet/Four Feet. Weight: 300 lbs. Ability: Sheer Force or Sturdy. Pre-Evolution: Evolves from Jorainee when leveled up holding a Protector Item. PokéDex Entry: Champiroo are extremely aloof Pokémon. When they aren't training or fighting, they are usually stoic and unsocial, although they enjoy training their pre-evolution, Jorainee.

Bubbleat – The Bubble Pokémon. Type: Water. Height/Length: Two Feet/Two and a Half Feet Weight: 40 lbs. Ability: Cute Charm Evolution: Gender Evolution. Female Evolves into Shampewe at level 20. Male Evolves into Ramspray at level 20. PokéDex Entry: Bubbleat are a social Pokémon. Often found wandering in herds with their evolved forms, these cute Pokémon are often kept for their super-absorbent wool.

Geckurn – The Cinder Pokémon. Height/Length: Seven Inches/One Foot. Weight: 3 lbs. Ability: Flame Body. Evolution: Evolves into Sizzard at Level 15. Evolves into Salamadire at level 35. PokéDex Entry: A Solitary Pokémon, Geckurn are never found in groups the Wild, unless it is very cold or wet. These Pokémon enjoy eating charcoal and can find it with ease.

Seaf – The Seed Pokémon. Height/Length: Two and a Half Feet/Two and a Half Feet. Weight: 60 lbs. Ability: Leaf Guard. Evolution: Evolves into Buddion at Level 15. Gender Evolves with Leaf Stone. Male Evolves into Bushrus. Female Evolves into Waleen. PokéDex Entry: An extremely social Pokémon, Seaf are known to travel in pods as large as fifteen, and can be found in mixed groups of other Pokémon. Incredibly curious, it is not rare to find a Seaf far away from any of its more-protective evolutions, but it is detrimental to their health when they become lonely.

Leppa Berry – (I forgot to explain this last chapter). A Very Hard berry that restores 10 PP. It is Spicy, Sweet, Bitter, and Sour.

Amber Anzu – Amethyst's Rival, Daisy's Niece. Amber, for the stone and her hair coloring, and Anzu, which is Japanese for Peach and is, according to the website I used, a common last name… Also for her hair coloring, again. ^-^