Melissa glared at both Ken and Danny.
"Where have you two been?" Professor Oak said that I had to wait until you tow showed up. I've been waiting here for almost an hour."
"Listen Melissa," Ken spoke out, Danny stayed quiet behind him, "I woke up a little late, okay. Danny was waiting for me. But we're both here now."
Melissa kept her stare, and Ken took a small step back, and then Melissa's face changed. It was as if she remembered something important. She looked down and thought to herself, then turned and looked back at Ken and grabbed his arm.
"Well then," she told him in an odd and cheerful mood, "let's go."
Melissa pulled Ken's arm and took him into the next room, with Danny following behind.
In the next room, Melissa dragged Ken up to an old man working on the counter opposite the wall.
"Okay Professor," Melissa said aloud, "we're all here. Can we have our Pokemon now."
The old man turned around, using a cane to help him. In a calm, low, voice Professor Oak greeted them all.
"Ah, glad to see that you could all make it. Come, why don't you three step over into the next room where your Pokemon await."
Professor Oak then turned to one of his assistants.
"Tracey, do you mind bring the parcel from my office?" Professor Oak asked the assistant.
"Not at all Professor."
The three young, soon to be, trainers followed Professor Oak into the next room were three Pokemon sat on a table. They were very excited to see them, both the trainers and the Pokemon.
"So," Professor Oak looked over at the trainers, "which one of you would like to go first."
Before Ken or Danny could say a word, Melissa stepped forward. She inspected each Pokemon up close and then walked back to Ken and Danny.
"Ken," she said pointing straight at him, "you go first."
"Me?" Ken seemed confused of Melissa's generosity. He looked over at Danny who shrugged his shoulders.
"Sure, I'll go first."
Ken walked up to the three Pokemon and took a close inspection of each himself. He went right to left. First he took a look at Squirtle. Squirtle was calm, and stared right back with a short smile. Next, Ken looked at Charmander. Charmander turned away, as if it could do better. Last, Ken looked at Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur smiled back and even tried to get a better look at Ken by standing on its hind legs, but it fell over trying to do so.
"Ah!" Ken barely managed to catch Bulbasaur before it hit the ground. "Don't worry, I've gotcha'."
Ken carried Bulbasaur in his arms and thought it was a perfect match.
"I think I'll go with..."
"Bulbasaur, great!" Melissa interrupted. "Then I call Charmander!"
Melissa charged toward the table and grabbed Charmander before Danny could get the chance to argue with her. Danny didn't, and instead picked up Squirtle.
"I guess it's just you and me." Danny said aloud.
"Great, then we're all fine with our choices?" Professor Oak asked.
They all nodded.
"Great!"
"Professor!' The assistant reappeared, holding some kind of parcel with him. "Here you go Professor."
"Ah, why thank you Tracey." Professor Oak placed the parcel on the now empty table and opened it. From it he took out three slim devices. "Here, I'd like to give you each one of these." He turned around and showed them the devices up close. "They're Pokedexs. These are the newest models."
The Pokedexs were high tech devices, just small enough to fit in their pockets. They had one large touch screen and a few buttons on the bottom and on the side. There was even one in the center bottom that resembled a Pokeball. It also had a small camera on the front and on the back.
"Now the way these devices work is simple. All you have to do is hold it up to a certain Pokemon and it will tell you all the information it has on it."
To demonstrate, Professor Oak pointed one of the Pokedexs at Charmander.
Charmander, the Lizard Pokemon. The fire on its tail indicates the measure of its life force. The healthier it is, the more intensely it burns.
"You see," the Professor explained, "but these Pokedexs can do much more than record data on wild Pokemon. With it you can see information on all your own Pokemon, including the ones you don't have with you. It also has a Guide Book app that will give you all the basic information you'll need for your journey. It can make calls too. Basically it is like a smart phone, only it can serve as your ID. Here, each of you take one."
There were three different colored Pokedexs, a light pink, a dark purple and a white one. Melissa picked up the pink one and Danny chose the purple one, leaving the white one for Ken.
"Here," Professor Oak added taking something else out of the box, "you'll also need these."
The Professor then handed each trainer five Pokeballs, one Pokeball-holding-belt and a small leather case.
"What are the cases for?" Danny asked.
"Just in case." Professor Oak answered. "You can use these cases in case you decide to collect Gym Badges or Contest Ribbons."
"Thank you Professor," Melissa said out loud, shaking the old man's hand, "I'll be taking Charmander's Pokeball now.'
"You're leaving so soon?"
"Yup, I might as well get a heads start." Melissa looked over at Ken and Danny, giving them both another glare, her cheery attitude had faded. She was back on versus mode. "I'll see you two later."
After getting Charmander's Pokeball, Melissa left the lab on her own.
"Thank you Professor Oak, for Squirtle, the Pokedex and everything." Danny respectfully shook the Professor's hand.
"Yeah," Ken felt like he should give his thanks too, "thanks for everything Professor Oak."
"Oh don't thank me, It's a pleaser. I just hope you all keep in touch and keep me updated on your progress."
"Don't worry," Danny looked over at Ken, "we will.'
Ken and Danny walked away, waving goodbye at the Professor and his assistant. Once again, they were on their way.
After another long walk, the two trainers finally reached the town limits.
"So, it's off to... where are we going again?" Ken had to ask Danny.
Danny smiled.
"Viridian City, I guess."
The two boys continued to walk when they came across an open field.
"Hey!" Ken shouted. "I think this would be a great place for a battle. What do you say Danny?"
Danny smiled again.
"You're on!"
The two boys went on opposite sides of the field and prepared to call out their Pokemon.
"Bulbasaur, I choose you!"
"Come on out, Squirtle!"
To Be Continued...