"Man, it's cold as shit out here, Hakel." Machine said, pacing back and forth behind Hakel who was sitting on the cold cement in front of the school. It was nearly 8 o'clock and neither of them had said one word to each other since then, except, well Machine's quick little quip there. Other than that, Hakel and Machine had been silent friends, maybe not even friends anymore.
Machine knew he had screwed up. If he hadn't stolen that Pokeball from Rai and been beaten up for it, Hakel would have never had to take the time to take down Rai for him. He knew it was his fault that they were missing the Graduation Ceremony. He knew what Hakel was mad at him and he knew what was on his mind too. As Machine continued, Hakel glared back at him with an evil stare so menacing that Machine thought himself felt the cold, blistery wind stop for just a moment. Words of hatred and pain tore at his brain straight from Hakel's eyes but none of them pertained to their friendship.
Machine had to force himself to look away from Hakel's death stare just not to feel less than worthless than he already felt. Even if Machine said something that truly mattered to Hakel, he wouldn't feel any better. Nothing Machine could say to Hakel would give it the distinct sincerity of apologizing to someone, at least not to Machine.
It was a cold night and things seemed to be getting worse and worse for them but they couldn't seem to leave the school grounds. They felt more attached to the place they spent four years at than ever, to this school they thought they hated.
Hakel turned his head away from Machine and sighed, as Machine sat down next to him seeing his breathe puff out in front of him to try and figure out the words to say. He wanted to say something, he truly did but he knew it just wouldn't be good enough for him. Machine felt as if he was wallowing in self pity and self sadness. Just as they thought things couldn't worse for either of them, someone popped up that made things even more dim.
"What are you two dimwits doing here?" A young boy asked walking up from behind them.
"Blue?" Machine asked sighing in distress getting up to greet his annoying acquaintance. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Blue, one of the highest ranked students in the Red Star Academy, was Machine's bitter rival of all time. He disliked Hakel for being friends with Machine, but that did not mean he was Hakel's rival. Hakel kind of ignored him, most of the time and this time was no different. As Blue walked up to them, Hakel didn't acknowledge him whatsoever.
Blue was a young boy around Machine and Hakel's age who graduated top in their class. In fact, this mainly why Machine and Blue clashed so much. Blue was at the top of the class and Machine was almost at the very bottom with only a few students below him. Blue was actually surprised that Machine was here. Hakel and Blue never actually clashed because they were both at the two highest spots in their class.
"You didn't answer my question first, stupid." Blue stated, annoying Machine.
"Why does it matter, Blue? It's pretty obvious why the three of us are here." Machine sighed, again.
"Stop assuming shit like that all the time, Machine." Blue ordered.
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"So what if it is? My business is certainly none of your business."
"That means your question is null and void to us too, Blue! Stop always being so ignorant!" Machine yelled, poking Blue in the chest accusingly.
"Are you saying I'm stupid?" Blue asked, throwing Machine's finger away from him.
"Well, why else would we be here? Having a party?" Machine asked. "No, we thought the Graduation Ceremony would be held here cause we didn't hear the announcement for it in class! You must've done the same if you're here now!" Hakel stood up, hearing enough, annoyed by them constantly prattling back and forth.
"Stop fighting already. You two sound like spoiled children." Hakel said, pushing them away from each other. "It doesn't matter anyway. We all missed our chance to become Pokémon Trainers because of unwillingness to be in class. It's over and done with, forever."
"Yeah, we can't even get our first Pokémon now." Machine added, feeling bad once again, reminding himself that this was his fault. Blue may have been annoying but at least he took his mind off of this saddening occurrence.
"You mean you dimwits, didn't know?" Blue asked, reaching into his pocket.
"What the hell are you talking about, Blue?" Hakel asked, turning to him. Machine looked up at the same time, not believing what was resting on top of Blue's palm. It was a Pokeball, colored red and white, gleaming in the light that the school fed from its windows.
"What the hell?" Machine asked, stunned at what he was seeing.
"How did you get your first Pokemon already?" Hakel asked, believing that there must have been a catch somewhere here.
"You guys really thought you HAD to go the Graduation Ceremony to get your first Pokemon?" Blue asked, as they both nodded expectantly. "You know, I would expect you two idiots to not pay attention to the Viridian City Graduation Ceremony but I would never expect you two to miss getting a chance to choose your first Pokemon. Well, at least not you, Hakel."
"Are you saying that we could have got our Pokemon before tonight?" Hakel asked.
"Well, not YOU, Machine but yes, YOU could have Hakel. I'm surprised you didn't know that." Blue said, looking at Hakel who was still confused. "Alright, let me break this down for you two dumb asses considering you look confused as hell. The top five students in the Red Star Academy are pulled into the principal's office and spoken about their reputation here at the school. If it turns out to be an excellent rep, coupled upon your good grades, the principal allows you to select your first Pokemon a day before Graduation Day. Since you are in second place in the school's grade system, Hakel, you should have been called on that same day... or were you not there on that day?"
"Yesterday? Do you mean I could have gotten mine yesterday?" Hakel asked.
"Yup, precisely." Blue nodded. "You could have choose from Bulbasaur, the seed Pokemon, Charmander, the lizard Pokemon, or Squirtle, the tiny turtle Pokemon. I chose Squirtle of course, because it was my favorite. I even got my Pokedex and my Pokenav, to catalog my Pokemon with and to record all the trainers numbers that I fight and stores an entire map of Kanto."
"Yesterday... Machine convinced me to skip school with HIM!" Hakel shouted, getting in Machine's face ready to destroy him. "Dude, what the hell? Why are you always getting me into this asinine situations? If I was here yesterday, I could have had my first Pokemon! Now, there's no way we can even get our Pokemon!" Machine shrugged, unsure of what to say, as Hakel grew even angrier than before.
"Well, there is one way you can still get your first Pokemon." Blue interjected, making Hakel's angry completely subside, getting his full attention immediately.
"Really? HOW?" Hakel asked, eager to hear what Blue had to say.
"Both of you can get your Pokemon tomorrow in Pallet Town." Blue started to explain. "I really shouldn't be telling you both this because I wished you both failed and had to repeat a year but, seeing as this is your last chance, you're probably going to screw this up again. But anyway... tomorrow, anytime in the afternoon, is your last chance to get a Pokemon."
"How?" Machine asked, actually lowering himself to take information from Blue.
"This trainer, Red, who is as old as us, and was actually one of the people who told me about this, is going there to pick us his first Pokemon. He told me that anyone who goes to my father's laboratory in Pallet Town, anytime in the afternoon can earn their first. He told me that it's first come, first serve so you guys better than earlier than I said. Trust me, if you don't make it this time, you will have to repeat your year here at the academy and I know you don't want that." Blue explained, turning away from them as he finished. "Don't bitch out either you two. Especially you, Machine. I know you couldn't take another year here at the Academy. If you do happen to get your first Pokemon tomorrow, come and seek me out, we'll have a battle and we'll get to see who really learned something here at the Academy." With that, Blue waved away from them and disappeared into the distance, walking back home.
"We have to be there, Hakel, no matter what." Machine said, as Hakel nodded agreeingly understanding their final chance was coming. "Tomorrow, we must get there as early as possible to achieve our destiny."
"Yeah man and this time, let's both leave early." Hakel said, as Machine nodded nervously. Both of them then left the Academy for the last time, vowing to never return to this establishment that caused them so much pain. As their bodies disappeared into the dark distance, all the lights shut off within the school, giving their exit a more than dramatic exit.
"Machine, are we actually here right now?" Hakel asked, unable to believe where he was right now. "I can't believe we actually made. We didn't screw this shit up this time."
"Yeah, we finally arrived." Machine said, heading into Pallet Town first. It was a warm environment with Pokemon galore, trotting and flying through the air, pollinating the trees and other plants. Butterfree were all around them and they chased after other Butterfree, trying to mate with another. Other significant Pokemon ran across the ground, seeing a Rattata try and catch a slower Caterpie. They all looked so joyful and happy, playing with one another. Pallet Town was a perfect place, as it seemed.
"Wow, this place is amazing." Hakel said, with Machine nodding in complete agreement. This was the exact opposite of the Red Star dump they used to live in. They walked forward and watched a biker pass by them, who seemed to be trying to get somewhere fast. They paid no attention to the biker and continued forward. They walked down a short road where Professor Oak's laboratory was built. It was larger than they expected, with a vibrant presence coming from it like the the rest of the town. Hakel and Machine smiled at one another, ready to do whatever they could to get their first Pokémon.
They walked through the doors of the laboratory and were even more amazed than they were before. The place had many machines within it that looked extremely high tech but they had sticky notes on them that read, "do not touch". Machine and Hakel observed the signs and did what they read, after all, they didn't want to ruin their chances of getting a Pokémon or any of the accessories that went with it. One of the three aides that Professor Oak worked with greeted Machine and Hakel at the entrance, welcoming them to the lab.
"Welcome, you two. Professor Oak has been expecting you." The aide sent shaking their hands and pointing them to the upper section of the room. Professor Oak was standing there, waving at them and urging them to come meet him. Machine and Hakel shook the aide's hand one more time before running to the Professor who had seven items laying on a table next to him.
"Ah, Machine, Hakel, welcome." Professor Oak shook their hands, truly happy to see that they had made it.
"We are truly happy to be here, Professor. After all, we're getting our first Pokémon! Who could be more ecstatic?" Machine asked, feeling proud that he didn't mess this up this time. He was tired of feeling so bad for his mistakes, knowing that they would somehow affect Hakel's dream of becoming a Pokémon Trainer. He was ready to feel like a winner, and not so much of a loser. He knew Hakel felt the exact the same way even though he only showed a calm and collected persona. He could feel the happiness brewing inside of Hakel.
"Excellent. This is very sudden for me but, Blue told me everything. It's funny cause I expected more trainers to arrive here but still, it's very exciting that you two came." Professor Oak smiled, ready to allow Machine and Hakel to receive their items.
"Really? Who else arrived here before us?" Hakel asked, curious to know.
"It was a rival of Blue's, Red. They have been rivals for some time now, always trying to outdo each other in everything. He came from the Red Star Academy as well but I don't remember why he had to receive his Pokemon from me." Professor Oak said.
"We wouldn't know, Professor. We've never actually seen him in school before but I'm sure he's a great trainer if he's friends with Blue." Machine said, humoring the Professor.
"Truly." The Professor chuckled at Machine's "compliment", soon breaking off into happiness once more. "But enough with the formalities, are you two ready to expect your role as Pokemon Trainers?"
"Of course!" Hakel shouted, pumping his fist into the air ready to get started.
"Very well then." Professor Oak said, walking around to the other side of the table where the items were placed. "Before I can even explain the two items you two will be receiving, you have to do the most crucial thing of all: pick your first Pokemon." He urged them to go ahead and choose, as Machine rubbed his chin. "What is it, Machine?"
"Not to be rude but, which Pokemon is which?" Machine asked, trying to make his choice carefully.
"Not at all, Machine." Professor Oak said, realizing he should have done that in the first place. "The one to your far left is Bulbasaur, the one in the middle is Charmander, and the one in front of you, Hakel, on the far right is Squirtle. Choose one carefully for it will be with always."
"Alright!" Machine reached to take a Pokeball, immediately making his decision because he had known what he wanted from the start. "I choose you, Charmander!"
"Nice choice, Machine." Professor Oak said as Machine clicked a button on the front of the Pokeball, making it grow slightly larger in his hand.
He then threw it up into the air, victoriously shouting, "Go Charmander!" The Pokeball opened up like a wide mouth, firing a small white beam from the inside releasing a small Pokemon. When the dim light cleared, Charmander appeared, growling at him. "Awesome!" Machine shouted, stopped by Professor Oak.
"Wait, Machine before you hold it, use this," He handed Machine his Pokedex, which resembled something of an oversized cell phone. On the right side of it, it had a set of directional buttons, which was apparently to move through the selection of the Pokemon added. On the left side there was a small, blue button there was used to select the choice in the encyclopedia. Machine flipped up the middle, which showed the selections of the Pokemon. So far, sadly, Machine had no entries. "by hovering it over the Pokemon and entering its number into it. Charmander is number 004 in the Pokedex and so, that is what you will enter to gather its information. Once the number is inputed, just do what I told you and it will catalog Charmander into the dex, reading off its description in a electronic voice."
"Alright." Machine said, seeing another section of the Pokedex. It was a keypad that was used to enter the number of the Pokemon seen. Machine typed in the numbers that Professor Oak had told him and pressed the blue button on the other side. The numbers flashed on the screen as a white light shone from the front of the Pokedex. Machine knelt down as his Charmander came closer, scanning it silently. Machine picked it up and gave a short hug as its description and picture came up on the screen.
Charmander, the lizard Pokemon. A female electronic voice said. The flame on its tail indicates its life force. If it is healthy, the flame burns brightly.
"Wow, awesome." Machine said, closing up his Pokedex careful not to burn himself with Charmander's tail, shoving it into his left pocket. Charmander hopped up onto Machine's head and smiled down at him, already feeling happy to be with his new trainer. "Yup, you're definitely healthy." Charmander growled lightly in response, agreeing with him.
"Nice work, Machine. Very nice. Now, it's your turn, Hakel. Please choose from the remaining two Pokemon left." Professor Oak suggested, giving him his Pokedex at the same time.
"That's an easy choice, Professor." Hakel said as he picked up the third Pokeball sitting on the table. He then pressed the button on the Pokeball making it grow to the same size as Machine's. He then threw into the air shouting, "I choose you, Squirtle!" The Pokeball opened up, shooting its signature white light from the inside. The light hit the ground, revealing Squirtle to its release.
"Squirtle! Excellent choice as well, Hakel. Blue and you chose the same one." Professor Oak said. "Now, please, enter Squirtle's description into the Pokedex."
"Right. It's number is 006, right?" Hakel asked, as Professor Oak nodded to him. He then nodded back to the Professor and entered the number into the Pokedex, hovering it over his Squirtle. Its image and description soon came up, with the same electronic voice speaking to Hakel.
Squirtle, the tiny turtle Pokemon. The shell, which hardens soon after it is born, is resilient. If you poke it, it will bounce back out.
The electronic voice finished, as Hakel closed his Pokedex ready to receive the final item on their journey. Professor Oak handed Hakel and Machine their last items: the Pokenav.
"What is this, Professor?" Hakel asked, eager to know.
"This is called a Pokenav. My son, Blue, may have had one and not explained it very well. But the Pokenav is a simple machine to use, very much like the Pokedex. This device stores your entire Kanto map and will show you your route's from Pallet Town all the way to end of the line, the Indigo Plateau. It also has a second function called Trainer's Eyes." Professor Oak explained.
"Trainer's Eyes? What is that?" Machine asked, confused at the name.
"This part of the Pokenav records all the trainers you see and meet and it will allow to check it every so often, to see if that specific trainer wants to have a rematch with you." Professor Oak stated. "This is also coincides with the sub function of this called Match Call. Match Call, after getting a trainer's number according to their specific six-numbered I.D. number, can be called and be told precious information. Some of it may be valuable, some of it may not. It all depends on what happens and who's number you get. I'm positive you two have your own I.D. numbers from Red Star Academy so please, if you could, flip open the Pokenav and enter that number with the keypad."
"Got it." Machine and Hakel said at the same time, inputing their I.D. number from Red Star. After they did, both of their screens flashed once, blinding them for a second. When they could see again, their Pokenav's had their names written on the top left right of the screen with their official Pokemon Trainer Card showing up when they touched the screen. They both closed their Pokenav's and put into their respective pocket's unable to contain their joy.
"Thank you so much, Professor! This was an awesome experience!" Machine thanked him, shaking his hand many times.
"Excellent. Now, you two may start your journey. Go out into the world and-" Suddenly, Professor Oak's eyes went completely blank.
"Professor?" Hakel asked, as they saw them roll to the back of his head. He then fell onto the ground, breaking the table as he went down. As soon as he fell, blood splashed all over him, covering the ground below their feet in it. "What the hell just happened?"
"I killed him, obviously." Said a female voice from a window above their heads. Hakel and Machine both stared upwards, seeing that the female trainer had a small light blue colored Pokemon with a white collar around its neck. "My Vaporeon and I did, should I say." The female Pokemon trainer seeped evil from her body, and so did the Vaporeon. She wore a pair of sunglasses over her face, covering part of her face. She had light blue, long hair that was slightly covered by a black beret that gave off an evil stench. The rest of her outfit matched this, with a black blouse, a short black skirt, and a pair of gray boots that came up to her knees. She also had a gray belt around her waist. However, the first thing that caught their attention was the large "R" plastered in the middle of her blouse.
"Got it, Machine." Hakel said, scanning Vaporeon by inputing the number, 134. "Let's have a look see at what a Vaporeon is really like."
Vaporeon, the Bubble Jet Pokemon. the female electronic computer voice spoke up. It prefers beautiful shores. With cells similar to water molecules, it could melt in water.
"Hmph, so you think we're just going to let you get away with killing the Professor," Machine pointed to him as his aides took his body away, calling the hospital as fast as they could. "Without a damn fight!"
"Yes, I think you would." The female trainer said. "I know you two have just become Pokemon Trainers and it would be ill of you two to try and stop me! You would never be strong enough with those weaklings."
"You know what, bitch?" Machine shouted as Charmander jumped off of his head and ready to go into the heat of battle. Hakel stood next to him with Squirtle standing next to Charmander, ready to fight. "I'm tired of all this bull shit! It's time to stand up for what I believe in! Charmander, attack!" Charmander charged forward as the female trainer and Vaporeon jumped down into the lab. She didn't look phased at all as the angry Charmander charged forward, claws out to kill.
"Go, Squirtle! Back Charmander up!" Hakel ordered, as Squirtle soon followed after him, keeping up with Charmander.
"Please, this is pitiful." The female trainer said as Vaporeon jumped in front of her. "Vaporeon, finish them with Hydro Pump!" Vaporeon opened its mouth as a giant blast of blue water shot like a rocket at Charmander and Squirtle, smashing into them and tossing them into Machine and Hakel. Their trainers were washed away as well, as the Hydro Pump was powerful enough to throw them through the side wall, knocking them unconsciously as soon as they both hit the ground. "Now you know the name of..." She hopped into the sky but before disappearing she shouted, "Team Rocket!"