I'd like to thank all of you who have been reviewing. pokebunny, AnimeCrazy88, and especially Farla, who made me realize how much I messed up on chapter one. Thanks again!
I most likely will heavily edit Chapter one again, and keep something in mind as I continue writing the story. (It is now edited. It's much better, I may add.)

Now to begin Chapter Four. Marina's ten years old now, and her travels in Johto as a Pokémon Trainer begin, leaving all the crazy stuff in the first three chapters...

For now.

Chapter 4
First Pokémon

Early morning dawned onto the peaceful New Bark Town. Amongst the large and small homes, all adorned with green shingles, was a particular two-story home belonging to the Shimizu family. The lake beside it sparkled as the sun rose from the eastern horizon, and sunlight flooded into Marina's room just as the girl began to stir.

As the light hit her face, she hid under her covers. A few seconds passed, and she jumped out of her bed with a start. She paused to stretch, letting out a yawn.

"Good morning!" Marina greeted to no one in particular.

At the end of her bed, her new clothes rested neatly. An excited grin stretched across her face, and she proceeded to get dressed. She adjusted every article of clothing with careful precision, smoothing out the wrinkles on her white jacket. She headed to her vanity mirror, and the reflection of a young tween with messy blue hair stared back at her.

She giggled and picked up a brush and two pink hair ties. The brush was delicate as it combed through her long hair and short bangs, and she placed it back on the vanity to tie her locks into her usual pigtails. Her short bangs failed to be held back, brushing against her cheek.

"Oh geez, I am late," she said to herself as she checked the clock again, working a little quicker. "I've got to hurry up!"

Once her hair was properly tied, she picked up a light purple bandana that was folded neatly next to her brush. Her grin softened. She carefully put it on her head and, after a bit of effort to hide her longer bangs underneath it, secured it with a knot. She tilted her head to further analyze her hair until she was certain it was perfect. If she was going to be tardy, then she would make sure she at least looked good and well-prepared.

Spotting her sister's untidy bed on the other side of the room, Marina charitably smoothed out the sheets. The bright girl was beaming as then she quickly made her own bed. It was difficult to dampen her spirits, because today was important to her. This day was one she had been looking forward to for years, and one she was sure she wouldn't forget.

Today was the day she would become a Pokémon Trainer.

Marina descended the stairs to find her mother and her sister sitting at the table. Hearing her arrive, May turned to her.

"Finally, you woke up. You never sleep in," she blurted out but added politely, "Good morning."

"Good morning," Marina returned with a smile.

"Good morning, Marina," greeted their mother. She made a nod toward the empty seat beside May's, and Marina obediently sat down.

They spent a brief moment lacing their hands together in thanks before eating breakfast. Marina immediately grabbed for her tall glass of milk. She ate her food with haste and downed two glasses of her drink before she was done, being the first to finish cleaning her plate. Even after putting her empty plate into the sink, she returned to her seat, eagerly waiting for the others to finish.

What Pokémon would she get? The Professor had kept it a surprise. Were her friends already waiting for her? Never had waiting felt so exciting yet so nerve-wracking at the same time.

When everyone finished eating, Caroline gave Marina and May the usual daily what-to-do talk. Normally, Marina would find it a little boring because it consisted of the same general thing, but today she paid extra attention. It would be the last time she would have to hear it for a long while.

"May, come back before your sister gets her Pokémon. You don't want to miss saying goodbye," Caroline minded her youngest daughter.

The girl nodded and nearly rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mom, of course I will."

"That reminds me...Marina." Caroline turned to Marina. "Hold out your hand; I want to give you something."

"Really? Okay!" She did as she was told and watched as her mother reached into her apron's pocket. Caroline placed it in her child's hand and smiled as Marina looked at it curiously. It was a small, pink and white device, a vague mix between a wristwatch and a cell phone. Attached to the top was a looped cord for wearing it around one's neck.

"I think it's about time that you get one of these, Marina."

The girl smiled widely. "It's a PokéGear!"

Caroline nodded. "Yes. I already put our phone number, as well as Professor Elm's, on the list and set your clock. Keep in touch and call me if something ever happens, all right?"

"Okay! Thank you, Mom!" Marina leaped to hug her mother tightly before putting the PokéGear around her neck. "I'll take good care of it!"

May passed by her, and she followed. They put on their shoes that rested beside the front door, giving Caroline a wave before leaving the house. When they closed the front door, Marina stretched, feeling energized by the warm mid-morning sun.

"Alright, I guess I'll see you later, May!" she said.

She turned away, but she only went down the steps before May grasped her arm.

"Please come back soon," May murmured.

"Huh?" Marina looked at her, puzzled. At this, the brown-haired girl looked down.

"Just come back whenever you can. It'll get lonely here with only me and Mom. Dad rarely comes home, and we haven't seen Chris in ages," she hesitated, "and it's because they're Pokémon Trainers, too, so..."

"Well, Trainers always have lots of places to go. I won't disappear forever," Marina said with a smile. "I'll come back home when I have the chance."

"I know, but... Promise?"

"Don't worry, I will! Maybe I'll send a letter every couple of weeks."

"No, weekly!"

Taken aback by the sudden command, Marina laughed half-heartedly. "What? Every week, May?"

"Why not?" May put her hands on her hips.

"That's a lot of writing!" Marina exclaimed. However, she gave another smile and lifted her PokéGear. "Don't worry, I'll keep in touch."

May smiled. "Thanks, sis. Well...I'm going to my friend's house now. Bye!"

She ran off not a moment later, dashing down the street without looking back. Marina sighed, crossing her arms. Turning west, she headed for Professor Elm's Laboratory. It was a very short walk, as the large building topped with a hi-tech satellite dish was practically next door to her house. The laboratory was impossible to miss, as it stood out from the town's little houses and stores.

"Finally, you're here," said the professor's assistant as he opened the door. "Everyone's waiting for you."

"I thought so. Sorry for being late," said Marina.

"Not at all. Well, I assume you know the way."

Marina nodded and marched inside the building. She passed a cramped library before she walked into the main room. Three Poké Balls had been set on a table to her right. Her heart stirred. Standing beside it was Professor Elm and her friends—two boys who were as old as she was.

"Good morning Professor Elm! Hi guys!" she greeted, waving as she walked toward them. The boys looked over their shoulders and grinned, replying with their own friendly greetings.

"Hey, Marina!"

"You made it! I was getting worried!"

Marina couldn't help but smile back. She knew them not just as her childhood friends, but her classmates that studied with and helped Professor Elm over the years. They were her best friends, closer to her than any other child she knew in New Bark Town.

"Ah, Marina!" Professor Elm spoke up. "Why don't you stand next to Kenta and Jackson? Then we'll start."

Marina nudged herself in-between her friends not a second later; her usual spot when the three were together. Jackson, to her right, nodded with a grin as he welcomed her, his light-brown hair bobbing as he did so. On Marina's other side was Kenta, who gave her a gentle, eager nod and adjusted his hat for good measure.

The three of them looked rather colorful in terms of their clothing; Jackson wore a neutral green and brown, Kenta had red and yellow, while Marina settled for pink and purple. They had already seen these outfits, as they had taken great effort into picking out their first attire to wear as Pokémon Trainers. Even so, the sight of them together made them grow more excited for what was to come.

Professor Elm stood in front of his three little assistants, adjusting his glasses as he gave a bright smile. "As you know, today you will be receiving your very first Pokémon, a rare Pokémon that will have you as its Trainer. But in return, as you know, I have a favor to ask of all of you. I need you to listen closely."

Marina, Kenta, and Jackson nodded, staring attentively despite the anticipation that skipped and bounced inside them.

"I'm busy with my work here, and if not that then the Pokémon I care for. So, I would like you to catch and raise many different species of Pokémon that you see throughout Johto. Make sure you travel to many places so you can collect more. With your help, I'm sure we'll delve a bit deeper into the many mysteries of Pokémon—."

Loud beeping interrupted him. He quickly walked over to his computer and looked at it for about a minute. The Professor sighed then shut it off, turning to them.

"What is it?" Kenta was the first to ask.

"I suppose you remember my acquaintance, Mr. Pokémon? He's the one that keeps finding weird things and raving about his discoveries," Professor Elm said.

"Yeah, I think I remember him," Jackson confirmed, crossing his arms in thought.

"Mr. Pokémon...?" Marina tilted her head, wondering if someone could truly have such a surname.

"Yes. Anyway, I just received an e-mail from him saying that this time it's for real. It is intriguing, but my aide and I are busy with our Pokémon research... I'm conducting a new finding right now, and writing a research paper I want to present at a conference. We're pressed for time. So!"

Jackson ran in front of the Professor eagerly. "Yeah! We'll do it! No problem!"

Marina whispered to the boy next to her, "Hey Kenta, by 'we', he means us too, doesn't he?"

Kenta, glancing at her, shrugged. "You know him; he's always dragging us into things," he whispered back with a grin.

The girl nodded, letting out a silent giggle. Jackson was Professor Elm's son, and the boy always jumped at the chance to help. But because of him Marina, Kenta, and even Marina's brother were able to take private lessons from Professor Elm—or more specifically, help out in the lab.

Satisfied, Professor Elm smiled. "Thank you! That would be great. Mr. Pokémon lives a little bit beyond Cherrygrove City. Now..." He turned to the table beside them. "I want each of you to raise one of the Pokémon contained in these balls. They are, as you know, the starter Pokémon that I have picked out for you."

His three students snapped to attention once more. Their starter Pokémon—their very first Pokémon they will use as Pokémon Trainers—were mere moments away from meeting them. All eyes were on the Professor as Jackson rushed back to Marina's side.

"Okay...Kenta! You're up first," Elm said. Kenta, almost taken aback, walked toward the table. He observed the pictures that were placed below each Pokémon, grinning at all three of them. He took his time looking them over, one by one.

"Hurry up, Kenta!" Jackson said impatiently.

Marina laughed. "Come on, don't rush him. It's a tough choice!"

Like an obedient puppy, Jackson turned to her and nodded. "Okay, Marina."

Kenta, watching this, rolled his eyes. He picked up one of the red and white spheres.

"Do you want Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon?" Professor Elm asked him.

"Of course!" Kenta answered. "I've had my eye on this one for a long time!" He hesitated, but from the assuring nod of the Professor, he carefully threw the Poké Ball onto the tile floor.

A bright light burst from it as it cracked open, fading to reveal the Pokémon. It looked like a small, ant eater-like creature with squinted eyes and a long, thin nose. It looked around timidly.

"Nice to meet you, Cyndaquil," Kenta said and knelt down, beaming as the Cyndaquil climbed into his arms. He stood, but the Pokémon squealed in shock upon being carried off the ground. Fire spewed from the four red spots on its back, causing the boy to jump.

"Woah! It's alright." Kenta petted its head. It looked up at him and calmed, the flames dissipating.

"So cool!" Marina exclaimed.

Just like my brother's Cyndaquil when he first became a Pokémon Trainer, she thought. She only continued to gaze at it as Kenta walked back to Marina's side, elated.

"Oh my gosh, you are so cute!" she cooed under her breath.

Kenta grinned at her. As she tried to pet the bashful Pokémon, it wriggled in discomfort at first before relaxing once more. She tickled its nose playfully. It sneezed and fire spurt from both its back and nose this time, causing both Kenta and Marina to jump back and laugh.

Jackson watched this, smiling as he then eyed the two remaining Poké Balls.

"Jackson, you're next," the Professor then said.

"Yes sir!" Jackson stated. He stepped up to the table and glanced at the three pictures as Kenta did, though spent a shorter time doing so. Nodding to himself, he swiped the Poké Ball on the right. He tossed it in the air once and threw it on the table.

"Chikor!" A little green Pokémon appeared before him, crying energetically and looking around with large eyes.

"That one is Chikorita, the Leaf Pokémon," Professor Elm said.

"I know," Jackson replied and then announced in a cheesy manner, "I choose you, Chikorita!" He picked up his Pokémon and headed back to his friends.

"You're cute too!" Marina squealed again, gently petting the Pokémon's head. "Hello~."

"Chikor," the Chikorita chirped with just as much enthusiasm.

"Awww!"

"Yeah, isn't it?" Jackson bragged happily. He threw a smirk at Kenta, who looked back at him in confusion.

Observing this in amusement, the Professor spoke up, "And last, but not least, Marina."

"Right!" Marina skipped over to the desk, picking up the last Poké Ball.

As she threw it to the floor, it opened to unveil the Pokémon known as Totodile. It was about the size of Chikorita and Cyndaquil, but a lot taller since it stood on its hind legs. The Pokémon's mouth opened wide as if to smile, revealing rows of its sharp, white teeth. Seeing the people around it, it broke out into a random fast-paced dance.

"Wani!" it called, its voice humorously sounding like a talking squirt gun. Giggling at this a little, Marina hugged it and managed to pick it up, smiling at the ecstatic Pokémon.

"Hi there," she greeted. "You're cute too, aren't you?"

But her smile faded. Her head shifted to the man before her. Baffled by the girl sudden calmness, Elm raised an eyebrow.

"Is there anything wrong, Marina?"

"Well… Professor, my brother told me that he was going to drop off a starter Pokémon for me, and he was going to let you take care of it until I picked it up... Didn't he send you one?" Marina asked.

This isn't the Pokémon, she concluded.

The Pokémon researcher stared at her curiously for a moment, adjusting his glasses once again. "Y-Yes, I know. Sorry, he hasn't sent any Pokémon to me lately."

"Oh," the blue-haired girl responded.

Mild disappointment sunk in as she walked back to Kenta and Jackson. The two cast a glance at one another and smiled at Marina in an attempt to make her feel better. Their Pokémon watched them and then each other, clueless. Professor Elm cleared his throat.

"Kenta, Jackson, Marina...now that you have your Pokémon, it's time for the three of you to head for Mr. Pokémon's house. I'm counting on you."

"Right!" the exuberant boys said. Marina, however, just gave a smile as they walked out of the laboratory.