Ken awoke to knocking at his bedroom door. Half asleep, he wondered over, clumsily tripping over, and stepping on junk scattered all over the floor. It was still early in the morning. Although the curtains were closed, Ken could still tell that the sun was still rising. He could hear feint chirping from the Pigey that were barely starting to get up outside his window. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see his friend waiting for him.

"Danny! What are you doing here?" Ken asked him, rubbing his tired eyes.

"Don't tell me that you've already forgotten what day it is?" Danny asked Ken in a calmed tone, but by the looks of it, Ken had. He let out a sighed. "We're suppose to get to Professor Oaks Lab, early, to get our first Pokemon. You should get ready, your parents are also waiting for you. I'll wait for you downstairs."

Danny turned around and walked down the steps to allow Ken to get ready in peace. Danny was a calm child, very independent too. He was still one of Ken's close friends.

Ken couldn't believe that he had almost forgotten one of the days he had eagerly been waiting for so long. Ken looked over at his alarm. For some reason his Zapdos Alarm Clock hadn't gone off, as if it had run out of power. Luckily, Ken had everything prepared and pre-packed for his journey. He was very excited. He was finally going to be on his own, away from his parents, on his own.

It was rare for anyone, especially Ken's parents, to leave Ken on his own. Unlike his friend Danny, who could practically take care of himself, Ken always got into some kind of trouble when left alone.

While Ken got ready up in his room, his friend Danny patiently waited for him in the living room. Ken's parents also waited for him. They sat at the table. Ken's father worked at a small Meta Power Plant that had just been built in Palette Town. He was in charge of managing it. Meta Power Plants had recently been popping up in many towns and cities in Kanto. They were a new, and a really successful, business that was provided efficient power, along with creating new jobs for citizens. Ken's Mother also worked. She worked in the town's hospital as a doctor.

The two parents were both glad and worried of their son's journey. They knew their son well, and while they trusted him, they knew that he might have problems being on his own. They still encouraged their young son to follow his dreams and achieve his goals. This was one of them, so they both knew that they would have to let go.

Ken rushed to get ready. In less than ten minutes, he was done changing and was all prepared to go. His clothes had been laid out the night before, his stuff was packed and he never bothered to style his light brown hair. Ready, he ran down the hall, out of his room, and rushed down the stairs.

"Careful, Ken," Ken's mother yelled out from the kitchen as she poured herself a cup of coffee, "you might..."

There was a loud crash at the bottom of the stairs.

"...fall again."

After tending to Ken's head, Ken's mother served him breakfast and they all ate.

"Danny, are you sure you don't want anything?" Ken's mother asked Danny, who still sat quietly and patiently in the living room.

"No thank you," Danny replied, "I ate at home before I left."

In a rush, Ken began to stuff down his breakfast, and eat as fast as he could. He was eager to begin his journey, and he didn't want to keep Danny waiting.

"Take it easy their son," Ken's father warned Ken, " you don't want to choke again."

Ken knew that his father was probably right and slowed down.

"I'm sorry dad," Ken tried to excuse himself, "I'm just so excited to be heading on my own, is all."

Ken's parents looked at him and then looked at each other and smiled. Both of them knew how Ken felt, being once young trainers themselves. They were proud of their son.

When breakfast was over, Ken said goodbye to his parents.

"Bye mom. Bye dad." Ken hugged them.

"You be careful out there son," Ken's father told him, "you'll be on your own now, so you'll have to be smart about the decisions you make. Promise me you'll think before you act, okay."

"Don't worry dad, and besides, I won't be entirely alone."

"That's right," Ken's mother replied, "he'll have his Pokemon, and friends with him. You're sure to make many new ones along the way as well. You'll also have us, so don't forget to call."

"I won't mom."

Ken and Danny waved goodbye as they made their way down the road towards Professor Oak's Lab. Both trainers knew that this was the beginning of a whole new chapter in their lives, neither knew exactly what to except.

The walk to Professor Oak's Lab was long. The little town of Palette had expanded over the years and was more of a suburban town now, than a farming one. However, there were still many wide open areas, farms and prairies in the outskirts of the town, and it was there that Professor Oak's Lab was located. It required large amounts of space to house many different types of Pokemon for study and research.

Ken had only met Professor Oak once before. It was on the day he, along with other two people, had been chosen to be given a Pokemon to start off on a Pokemon journey with. It had happened a few years back when Ken still attended Palette Elementary. Professor Oak had visited Ken's class to give a brief lecture on Pokemon. Professor Oak was a very old man who apparently knew a lot about Pokemon.

During the lecture, Ken remembered that not a lot of students cared to listen to the professor, including himself. He remember playing around with Danny and his other friend, Mark, when suddenly Professor Oak got all their attentions' to announce some big news. It was an opportunity. It was there that Professor Oak announced that he would grant three lucky students a Pokemon, along with a Pokedex, to start them off on their journey when they were old enough to own a one.

Everybody in Ken's class was excited to hear the news, and were all curious to know how they could be chosen. Professor Oak then promised them that the first three students to answer his questions correctly would receive the honor.

The first question Professor Oak asked was what three Pokemon were Kanto's National starter Pokemon. It was a simple question, but Ken and the other kids were still too young to know for sure. Several kids tried, but none got close, until one girl answered correctly.

"The three Pokemon are, Bulbasaur, Charmander, and ... Squirtle."

The little girl was none other than Melissa, one of the smartest kids in class. It was no surprise to Ken that she had answered correctly, although he wasn't thrilled that it was her. She had something out for him, they were rivals in a sense and he didn't enjoy it one bit.

The next question that Professor Oak asked was how does a Pokemon evolve. Danny got lucky and answered correctly.

"Pokemon evolve by gaining experience, love and care... I think."

Now there was only one slot left and Ken knew he had to get it, but he wasn' t the only one who wanted it. Professor Oak then asked the kids the last question. Professor Oak then pulled up a picture of a Pokemon and pointed to it as he asked the class.

"Can anyone tell me the name of Pichu's final evolution?"

Ken's arm shot up, although he wasn't even sure that he knew the answer, he had to risk it. Ken jumped up and down in his seat, trying to get called on, but the Professor called on Ken's friend Mark instead.

"It's Pikachu!" Mark proudly said aloud.

Professor Oak sympathetically shook his head.

"Oh, no, I'm sorry, but that is not the right answer. You see, while Pikachu is Pichu's evolutionary form, it is not its final form." Professor Oak then turned to Ken. "How about you young man. Do you know what Pichu's final evolution is?"

Ken hesitated, he almost choked, but he got the nerve to say his guess out loud.

"Raichu?"

The rest is history. Now, Ken, Danny, and Melissa, were on their way to Professor Oak's Lab, ready to received there promised gift, a Pokemon partner to start on their journeys with.

"Look over there!" Danny shouted out loud, pointing to a huge lab that sat on top of a short hill. "We're here."

"Finally!" Ken exclaimed.

The two boys walked up the steps and made their way to the front door. When the doors automatically opened, they found themselves in front of a young girl, with long blond hair, with her arms on her hips. By the expression on her face, it seemed she wasn't very glad to see them.

"There you two are!' Melissa told them. "I've had to wait for you two to show up all morning."

To Be Continued...