The day my life changed seemed like any other day at first. I stayed in bed until my mom told me to get up, I got dressed into my same old clothes, and had frozen pancakes for breakfast as I always did. It promised to be another day full of nothing, nothing, and more nothing. Our TV was broken, as it had been for a year, and my dad was out working who knows where.

After eating breakfast I plopped myself into a chair across from my mom, who was doing Sudokus. "I'm bored," I said.

"Jared came looking for you while you were asleep upstairs," my mom said, looking up from her puzzle. "He said to come find him, something about David needing help with something."

By David my mom meant Professor Elm. Everyone in New Bark knew each other by first name; there were only a dozen of us, so everyone was fairly close.

I sighed, and stood up. "Fine, I guess I'll go find him." I actually wasn't planning on looking for Jared – after growing up with him and having to deal with him for sixteen years, I was tired of him and he annoyed me to a fairly large degree.

I squinted my eyes at the bright sunlight when I walked outside. It was the end of spring: the cold spells had ended, but the intense heat of summer hadn't arrived yet. Days were pleasant, and the nights were getting warmer week by week. I told myself for the hundredth time that next time I went into town with my mother I'd have her buy me a pair of sunglasses, but who knew when that would be – now that I had stopped growing there was no need to go anywhere for clothes, according to my parents. I had to get by with two identical copies of the same outfit, which had been all we could afford last time we went shopping because we had still been paying off hospital bills from my dad's last on-the-job "incident."

I hadn't taken more than a step away from my house before I was cornered by Jared and his Marill. "Hi Sy!" he said with way too much happiness. "Professor Elm has a task for me to do past Cherrygrove, do you want to come with me?"

Just what I needed, I thought with sarcasm, then realized I could use this to my advantage. "Sure, but would you mind if I stayed in Cherrygrove while you did whatever it is you need to do? There are a few things I want to buy."

"Typical girl," he said with a roll of his eyes, before he saw my fist clench. He took a step back, lifting his hands in defeat. "Geez, sorry. But yeah, that would be fine. Go grab your money."

"Yeah, that would help," I rolled my eyes back at him before turning to go back inside. "Mom, can I have some money to buy a few things in Cherrygrove? Jared has something to do past there and is taking me."

"Alright dear," she said, getting up from her seat at the table and taking some money out of the money jar. She handed me 100д. "Is that enough?"

No. "Yes, thanks." So much for buying anything, guess some sunglasses would have to wait. I had 600д of my own money in my bag, but I wasn't going to spend that on clothes of all things. I'd just add the 100д to my savings and wait until I went shopping with my mom and she realized how much things actually cost these days. "See you later."

"Have fun!" she said with a smile, going back to the table. I turned and glared at the door before opening it and putting on a neutral face, ready to face Jared for an extended period of time.

He said we had to go to Professor Elm's lab so he could find out what he needed to do. We walked over there in silence.

When we got there Professor Elm was waiting for us. Well, waiting for Jared. He seemed kind of surprised to see me, since I hadn't come to the lab in ages. Back when his research was practical observation I used to help take care of his Pokemon, but a few years ago he got rid of them so he could work more on theoretical research. He sometimes had a few Pokemon temporarily, but nothing like before. Anyway, he got over his surprise quickly and seemed quite happy that I was there.

"Nice to see you again Sy, Jared," he said, and looked back at me. "Sy, you don't have a Pokemon yet, do you?"

"No sir," I said with an inward sigh. "My parents -"

"Yes, I understand," Professor Elm said, nodding. He had been to many a dinner party and had to listen to my father's stories and opinions. "Your father is opposed to you going out on a Pokemon 'adventure' as they're called, but I doubt he would mind if you ran an errand for me to Cherrygrove."

"Isn't that what you wanted me to do, Professor?" Jared asked with slight worry in his voice.

"I have something else I need your help with, Jared, something that needs – more Pokemon experience. Yes. I'll get to you in a minute," he said, but I could tell he made the excuse up on the spot. I wondered why, but then remembered the last time Jared had run an errand for Professor Elm. It didn't end very well for his parents' house, let's just put it that way. "Now Sy, I'll lend you one of my Pokemon for today. It will accompany you on your errand. Their levels are higher than the wild Pokemon in the area, so you shouldn't have any trouble fighting your way through the tall grass. Go ahead and pick one."

I walked over to the machine with three Pokeballs on it while Professor Elm spoke with Jared behind me. I didn't hear them – I had been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time, and I was completely focused on the Pokeballs in front of me. Even though I would only be borrowing it, one of these Pokemon would be my first Pokemon.

I looked at the screen beneath the first Pokeball – a Cyndaquil. It's eyes were closed for some reason, but it was clearly awake, which was odd, but I knew that there were a lot of Bug type Pokemon in the area and a Fire type would be useful. I pressed the button to view the next Pokeball – a Chikorita. I skipped over it immediately; too cute, plus it wouldn't stand a chance against the multitude of Pidgey and Hoothoot that nested near the town. The last Pokeball contained a Totodile. I considered it, its teeth looking very promising, but I remembered the task at hand and knew that a Cyndaquil was best for travelling through this area. I flipped back to that Pokeball and released the Pokemon.

The Cyndaquil landed on its feet lightly on the ground beside me. It looked up at me – or its head raised itself as if it were looking at me – but its eyes remained closed. I'd have to figure out what was up with that.

I turned to look at Professor Elm, who had apparently finished talking with Jared because Jared was nowhere to be seen. "So you chose Cyndaquil? I had a feeling you would. Would you like to give him a nickname?"

"It's a boy?" I asked, looking down at the Pokemon that was now sniffing my shoes. I tossed a few syllables together in my mind, and came up with "Soren. His name will be Soren."

Professor Elm nodded. "Alright, now that you have a Pokemon I'll tell you what I need done. I have an old friend, Mr. Pokemon, who has apparently made a great discovery. My aide and I are very busy here, so I need you to go to Mr. Pokemon's house north of Cherrygrove City and see what he's found. It's not very far and there are signs pointing to his house, so it should be easy enough."

"Sounds good," I said with a small smile. I just wanted to get away and get started on the best day of my life, but I didn't want to alarm Professor Elm with my eagerness to get away. "Is that all?"

"Yes, I believe so," Professor Elm said after a pause. "Well, no sense delaying, you best be off!"

"Alright, see you later," I said before turning and walking towards the door of the lab. Partway there I was stopped by Professor Elm's aide.

"Your Pokemon may be stronger than the Pokemon in the area, but it's still fairly weak," he said. "Take these Potions so you can heal it if necessary." I nodded to him in thanks, putting the bottles into my bag, and proceeded out of the lab.

The moment I stepped outside I was intercepted by Jared again. "Hey Sy! Which Pokemon did you choose?"

Soren peeked out from behind my legs at the boy in front of us.

"The Cyndaquil! It's a cute Pokemon. Well, have fun, I'm off on an important mission for Professor Elm!" he said, running off.

"O-kay," I said out loud, raising an eyebrow at Jared's departing figure. "Whatever," I said with a shrug, turning my head to look down at Soren. "All the better to not have him around today. Ready to get going, bro?" he nodded in affirmation. "Alright then, we're off!" I said. I started on my way confidently towards the only exit of New Bark, the path I had never been able to travel alone. I was only five steps in when -

One of my mom's friends spotted me and stopped me, telling me to go show my new Pokemon to my mother. Umm, no, that wouldn't end well, thanks, I'll just be one my way. But no. Even when I waited until her back was turned, she always managed to stop me.

After the fourth time I huffed and moved away from the path to think of a plan. Showing my mother a Pokemon that "belonged" to me, even if it was temporary, was out of the question. I leaned against a tree as I thought. That's it.

I turned to look behind me into the trees. The forest here wasn't too thick; there were no paths, but walking would be easy regardless. I glanced over to see that I couldn't even see my mom's friend from where I was standing. If she did try to stop me I'd just make a break for it.

I turned back to take my first step into the brush, but right in my path stood a boy I had never seen before. He was a couple of inches taller than me – but I'm pretty tall to begin with – with vibrant red hair that reached his shoulder. He wore dark blue cargo pants and had a black jacket with red trim. His liquid silver eyes stared into my brown ones.

"Give me your Pokemon," he said. His voice sent a shiver down my spine that was oddly pleasant for some reason.

"What? No," I said, crossing my arms. Soren hid behind my legs, peeking out from behind to "look" at the strange boy in front of me.

He took a step closer to me, looking down slightly at me. "Give him to me. Now."

I looked him straight in the eyes, raising an eyebrow and smirking. "You picked the wrong person to try and intimidate, you know."

I saw his face muscles twitch towards a frown, but he kept his poker face. "Just give me your goddamn Pokemon and I'll leave you alone."

"Not happening," I said. "Besides, he's not mine. I'm borrowing him from Professor Elm for the day, and he kept Soren's Pokeball, so even if I gave him to you he wouldn't listen."

He searched my face. Growling, he pushed me back. I didn't fall far because I was only a couple of feet from a tree, but once I had regained my posture the boy was gone. I flicked some bark off my back, and looked down at Soren who was gazing up at me curiously. I shrugged at him, smiling lightly. "He's weird, but let's forget about him and get to work. To Cherrygrove!" I said, pointing into the forest. Soren looked in that direction, his eyes still closed. I moved my hand to point in the other direction, and his head followed my movements. "How can you see with your eyes closed?" I asked, bending down to pick him up. He shrugged his tiny shoulders before I reached under them to pick him up. He dulled the flames on his back so I could carry him comfortably. Taking a final glance over my shoulder to make sure the coast was clear, I started into the woods.

-x-

I watched the girl – whom the boy had called Sigh? – talk to her Pokemon from the corner of the lab, out of her sight. I remembered my own confusion at my Cyndaquil's closed eyes-

I closed my own eyes, giving a frustrated sigh. I couldn't think about that, not anymore. It was time to start anew. No excuses. This girl was just an obstacle that I would overcome, and then I'd be able to get started on rebuilding a team.

She said Professor Elm, the person that owned the lab I was standing beside, still had the Cyndaquil's Pokeball. So if I could find the Pokeball, I could track down the girl again, recall the Cyndaquil into the Pokeball, and he would be under my control. Simple.

As I waited for the Professor and the other scientist to leave the main room, I let my mind wander, recalling everything I had observed in this town since arriving the day before. The Professor and his aide would eventually leave the lab room to eat, and would be gone for at least half an hour. I knew that most of the residents never left their homes or their posts outside. The only person I had seen move besides the girl was a very douchy guy with a puny Marill, who had left towards the east, meaning he probably had to go to Kanto for something. Hopefully he'll get trampled by a herd of Ponyta or pecked to death by a Dodrio, I thought with a smirk. Would serve him right for calling a Cyndaquil 'cute.'

After about an hour the Professor and his aide left the room for lunch. I waited a couple of minutes to make sure they wouldn't come back for anything, then made my move.

I lifted the window, which was already partially open to let fresh air in, and stepped through. There was a table underneath, so I didn't have to jump down and my exit later would be easy. Jumping off the table with my hand to support myself, I scanned the lab. The only Pokeballs I could see were on the machine that held the starters; no sign of a third. I worked my way systematically through the room, opening every drawer and checking every cupboard.

I had covered almost the entire perimeter of the room when I opened a cupboard, only to have several beakers fall out and shatter on the floor. They must have been shifted while I was trying to force one of the other stubborn cupboard doors closed.

The sound of the shattering beakers rang in my ears until I heard footsteps coming up the stairs beside me. Swearing, I turned to run back to the window.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Pokeballs of the other starters. Making a quick decision, I grabbed one as I ran past, praying I hadn't just grabbed a Chikorita. I put the Pokeball in one of my pockets, jumped up on the table and then through the opening in the window.

I rolled a couple of times when I reached the ground outside the lab, then used what was left of my momentum to roll to my feet and sprint into the woods.

Turns out that girl had had a good idea there.

-x-

Soren and I had made it to Cherrygrove without too much trouble. We travelled through the woods most of the way since there didn't seem to be any wild Pokemon there, but near Cherrygrove there was a fence that I didn't particularly want to climb over (I hear barbed wire can hurt a lot), so I turned and walked to the road.

When I got to Cherrygrove there was a man outside the Pokemon Centre who claimed to be giving away running shoes to new trainers. I looked down at my shoes – old and dirty, and utterly useless if I ever had to make a quick getaway from anything. I went over to his table and started to try on some shoes while he told me about the city, the Pokemon Centre...stuff I already knew about from Jared. Eventually I settled on a white pair with bright orange highlights and laces, and I also took a pair of ankle socks to replace my knee-highs. Tossing my old socks and shoes into my bag carelessly, I was pumped and ready to continue.

I was about to leave the booth when the man at the table asked to see my PokeGear. I was suspicious, but gave it to him anyway, ready to grab it back at any moment. Soren sniffed at my new shoes (I guess they smelt weird and synthetic to him) while I waited. The man handed my PokeGear back after a minute, saying he had installed a map card, as well as a small case that was apparently for things called Apricorns. Opening my PokeGear I took at look at the new function – seemed legit. Thanking the man, I went on my way.

I was about to head north when I glanced down at Soren, his eyes still closed. Beside me was a coffee shop. I had an idea.

Ten minutes, 100д, a slushie for myself and a cup of Pokemon coffee later, Soren and I were walking down route 30, his eyes open and alert. My mind was now at ease.

It was quite a ways down the route before we had to go through any grass. We were only a few steps in when a Weedle attacked us. I had never seen a Weedle before – on my journeys with my parents to Cherrygrove we had only ever encountered Caterpie. I knew a counterpart existed, but I had never seen it and thought they lived only near Goldenrod. This surprised and puzzled me, but I pushed it aside to battle.

Soren knew Tackle and Leer. I figured it was best to just spam Tackle, because wasting a turn using Leer probably wouldn't be worth it in number of turns. The Weedle alternated between Poison Sting and String Shot, which allowed Soren to get ahead in damage-dealing, and he hadn't suffered too much damage by the end of the battle. Soren was eager to delve further into the grass and to battle more, but I made him return to Cherrygrove with me to grab some Antidotes from the PokeMart. I knew I was lucky the Weedle hadn't managed to poison Soren, and I didn't want to be caught unprepared if another did manage to deal such a blow. The money I had in my bag allowed me to buy three Antidotes, which I figured would be enough for today's journey, but I'd have to have my parents pay me back for the Anitdotes later - or take the money out of the money jar myself when they weren't around.

Now that I had everything I needed to deal with poison type Pokemon, I took Soren to the Pokemon Centre for a quick heal before venturing back into the grass. Couldn't be too careful, especially since I didn't yet know what other Pokemon lived in the grass.

Soren wanted to charge back into the grass once we returned to the route, but I made him walk with me. The man outside the Pokemon Centre had told me that walking would attract fewer wild Pokemon than running, so I decided to take it slow.

Once we were through the grass I spotted an Antidote on the ground. I moaned at my waste of money at the PokeMart, but grabbed it anyway.

We went through several more battles between Cherrygrove and Mr. Pokemon's house. We ran into a Kakuna, which would have taken forever to defeat if it weren't for Soren getting a nice critical hit. When I saw its shape I was expecting a Metapod, but I guessed that the entire Caterpie line was extinct in the area or something. Weird.

Mr. Pokemon's house was a small, simple building nestled in a clearing which could only be accessed by walking through a bunch of grass patches.

I was greeted warmly by Mr. Pokemon when I walked in and introduced myself. He had been sitting with someone I didn't recognize, but he got up to introduce himself and to get the thing he had emailed Professor Elm about, a Pokemon egg. He also gave me a blanket to use to keep it warm. I held it in my arms, since it would probably get damaged if I put it in my messenger bag, as it hit my hip whenever I walked.

The person Mr. Pokemon had been sitting with got up to come and stand with us. He introduced himself as Professor Oak. I had heard Professor Elm talk about him when he came over to my parent's house for dinner, and I knew he was from Kanto but not much else. Luckily he did most of the talking, asking me if he would help him with his research (seems like I was the Professors' best friend that day) and giving me something called a PokeDex. He said I looked dependable ("More dependable than that Jared kid," Mr. Pokemon had added with a laugh) and that I seemed to be treating Soren with love and care, which I guess I kind of was, never letting his health get too low. Before leaving Professor Oak gave me his phone number, promising that we'd meet again.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Pokemon, I left his house to return to New Bark, all of a sudden sad that my adventure was half over. But Soren was still buzzed from his coffee and ready to get going, which gave me energy as well. We were about to head back towards the grass when my PokeGear rang. Professor Oak already? Nope, it was Jared.

"What?" I said into my PokeGear, walking with Soren towards the grass as I talked.

"Hi Sy, it's Jared." I know that, I have caller I.D., and so do you, idiot. "You have to come back here quick. Something's happened at Professor Elm's lab."

"Wait, what's going on?"

"There's no time to explain, just get back here asap," he said, before hanging up. I held up my PokeGear in puzzlement, then closed it and put it back in my bag. I looked down at Soren, who was staring up at me curiously (he had big orange eyes, though they looked a little odd on his small head). "We have to hurry back to New Bark, Jared says something bad's happened," I explained as I bent down to pick him up, which was difficult with the egg still in my arms. He crawled up beside it, wrapping around it slightly and lending it his warmth. "I'm going to run, so hang on."

Author's notes – I was originally going to have one large introduction chapter, but when the word count of that chapter passed 10k I realized I'd have to split it up. This is the first of three parts of that original introduction chapter; the next two will be coming soon once I'm happy with them.

All that Caterpie vs Weedle stuff is because I've only ever played Gold, so just let me have my confusion and I'll get over it. There will likely be mentions of other Pokemon (or lack thereof) as I notice differences between Gold and Silver.

Chikorita is not actually that bad in my opinion, but doesn't fit with Sy and Leon's characters so they both hate it. Can you really see someone like Leon/Silver walking around with a giant flower Pokemon? Didn't think so.

Soren doesn't talk because I find the excessive "Cynda-cyn-quil-daquil!" in other stories to be annoying, not to mention I find it a pain to write. So no talking Pokemon here. Their actions will speak louder than words would I guess.

Speaking of which, I got better at writing Soren through the course of the day it took me to write the bulk of the first three chapters (8k-ish). That's something that's still noticeable but I opted to leave as-is.