CHAPTER TWO
The helicopter didn't have enough room to land in Pallet Town, climbing down a rope ladder on the outskirts of town was not how I thought I was gonna start my journey, A few people, not much younger than me ran over to see the excitement, a new person arriving in town, by helicopter of all things, I felt like a movie star. I was greeted almost immediately by a kid, no more than fifteen years of age,
"Welcome to Pallet Town, I'm the grandchild of Professor Oak, Blue" he said with a loud voice making sure the other kid heard him. The other kid was quiet and shy and mainly looked at his feet.
"Hello, I'm Airen." I said, holding out my hand toward him, he looked at me in the eye, and looked back at his feet and slowly walked away.
"That's Red, he's a bit shy." Blue cut in. I looked at Blue again.
"Can you show me the way to the lab?"
"Sure can."
He grabbed my arm and started marching away. I wiggled out of his grip but had to pick up some pace to keep up with such an energetic kid. Before too long we were at Oaks' Lab. He ran quickly inside and the door slammed shut. I had my summoning letter with me, allowing me to get my Kanto starter, despite already having my Archie. I entered with confidence, but that was short lived after seeing the size of the lab. A large hallway lead to Pokémon storage rooms and a healing centre on the left and a study and massive library of the right, at the end was a staircase where it seemed Oak would live, bathe and eat. I immediately found the library and gasped looking at the size of it, I moved forward and started perusing the books that lined the walls top to bottom, corner to corner. I found many on the different types of Pokémon, different cities, past civil wars in other regions, and some on Pokémon deities. I picked up a book and traced the spine.
'The Burnt Tower' I thought to myself as I read the spine
I opened the book and managed to read half a sentence before Oak found me.
"You must be Mr Redwood." Startled, I dropped the book.
"S..S..Sorry." I eventually muttered "Uhh... Airen, please."
Bending over to pick up the book and replace it on the shelf.
"I see you found your way here alright, apparently it was an exciting entrance, according to Blue."
"Blue?" I looked puzzled, then remembered, "Oh right, your grandson."
"You are here to pick up your Pokémon, follow me." I nodded
following him out of the library into the Pokémon lab where two Pokéballs laid on a table in the middle of the room. Machines lined the walls in this room rather than books, multiple computer screens with multiple Pokémon on each, with enough information about each to make anyone's head spin. Professor Oak walked toward the table and gestured to the Pokéballs
"These are Kanto's starting Pokémon, Charmander, Squirtle and Bulbasaur. As you can see, one has already been collected, but I trust you know which one is for you?"
I nodded again and moved to the ball behind a label that read 'Squirtle', I reached out to grab it, I studied the ball in my hand, knowing that I made a great choice. Another voice appeared out of nowhere, but this was one I knew.
"Good choice Airen, it's the best one." he smiled back and walked out of the room
"He means well, and one day he will be a great trainer, Pallet Town has two trainers, both with fantastic potential."
I nodded "Yeah, I am sure they will be, thank you for Squirtle, Professor Oak, I will look after it."
"Before you go Airen, take these Pokéballs and this Pokédex, I trust you know what to do?"
"Yes I do." I smiled, oddly proud of that last remark, "Thank you professor."
I left the room and eventually the lab, as soon as I walked outside I got bumped into so hard I landed flat on my ass, when I looked up, she was as well, I quickly jumped up, dusted myself off and offered her a hand, I helped her up and she was still rubbing her head, her light blonde hair sat in a ponytail and her green eyes met mine as she muttered
"Sorry, excuse me." and walked into the lab. I shook it off and walked back to the area where I was dropped off and continued on my way, Blue and Red were nowhere to be seen but I am sure I'd hear from them again. I found the sign that read 'Route One, This way to Viridian City.' Knowing I was on the right track, I continued north.
Route one seemed to snake back and forth and running into Pokémon wasn't a problem until health started getting dangerously low, with only two Pokémon I knew I needed some back up, alternating Archie and Squirtle gave me an edge, making sure both had enough experience but kept their health at a decent level. Eventually I got close to the end and health was going dangerously low, but I knew I needed more Pokémon to help and build my team.
"Alright Archie, let's go catch a Pokémon." Archie let out a loud and energetic bark. At that moment a Pidgey swooped down to attack, narrowly missing Archie's head and landing roughly ten metres ahead of us,
"Okay, this our chance Archie! Start off with an Ember!" Spits of fire came firing out of Archie's mouth and made a direct hit at Pidgey's chest, Pidgey immediately flies upward and accelerates into a tackle straight at Archie.
"Archie! Jump!" Archie soars well over the low flying Pidgey, lands and returns straight into an Ember again,
"Archie, that's enough.", I grab a Pokéball out of my pack and threw it at the tired and sore Pidgey, hoping to catch it to add to my party, the ball captures Pidgey and starts to shake and beep, watching eagerly, both Archie and myself stand still not moving a muscle, you could hear a pin drop apart from the shaking of the ball in the grass, finally a loud beep and the shaking stops, I look at Archie and he barks back in excitement, knowing we just added another member to our party, he leaps into my arms and I give him a pat before I retrieve my ball and add to my belt. Feeling a great sense of accomplishment I continue on, but not for much longer, Viridian City is in my sights. I grab my stuff and call Archie to my side, filled with motivation and energy to reach the next city heal my Pokémon and start to train them. I walk no more than a few feet before something hit my shoulder again and knocked my bag out of my hand,
"Sorry!" I heard a female voice, I looked up to see who it was, but she had already passed and run off "Is that?... Was that?..." it was hard to see her while she was running away but I'm sure she was the girl from Oaks lab and before I knew it, she was gone. I picked up my pack and continued toward Viridian City, it was still a fair walk away, amazingly the girl from the lab was long gone, she had disappeared from sight, though seeing her made me think she was the third trainer selected. As there are three starters, three trainers were selected each time, Charmander was already selected and taken when I came along, and I took the Squirtle, she must have Bulbasaur. 'I wonder who the first trainer is.' I thought to myself as I walked along, so wrapped in thought that I walked into the Viridian City Pokémon Centre and handed over my Pokémon to Nurse Joy before I even realized what was going on. I had made it to Viridian City rather quickly I thought, in fact it was only just hitting sunset, I needed to find somewhere to sleep. I must've said that aloud because my thought process was interrupted by Nurse Joy
"You can stay here tonight if you need." with a smile,
"Oh, Thank you." I replied in kind. I left my Pokémon in the care of Nurse Joy overnight while she showed me to my room to sleep and rest. The bed was comfy enough, but I couldn't sleep while so deep in thought. Now thinking about home, my family, Elysia, how they were going without me. Finally I rolled over, closed my eyes and fell into a deep sleep.