I do not own Pokémon. Credit goes to Satoshi Tajiri and Game Freak.
With her Bulbasaur following close behind, Leaf made a beeline for her house and removed her shoes at the genkan.
"Hey, mom!" Leaf called out, "I got my starter Pokémon!"
Leaf waited until Kisa entered the front hallway.
"Oh, well done!" she smiled, "have you given them a nickname?"
She knelt down and held out her hand, allowing Bulbasaur to sniff it.
"N-Not really," Leaf shrugged.
Bulbasaur chirped as Leaf's mom pet her head. After a moment, Kisa stood to her full height.
"A package came in while you were away," Kisa told her daughter and it's waiting for you in the living room?"
Leaf's eyes lit up with intrigue.
"Really?" Leaf blurted.
Kisa nodded as she led Leaf and Bulbasaur into the living room. While Kisa's Xatu was preening Cleffa on the couch, the young girl took notice of a Pokémon Box Link sitting on the coffee table.
"That looks cool," Leaf gasped softly.
Leaf picked up the high-tech canister the size of a thermos. If she remembered correctly, this was a recent invention, made so trainers could access the Pokémon Storage System on the go. The young girl turned her gaze towards her mom.
"Thanks, mom!" Leaf smiled.
The Bulbasaur perked up, staring at the machine curiously.
"Anytime, my dear," Kisa nodded, "this was different compared to several years ago, when trainers had to go to the Pokémon Center to use the Pokémon Storage System. With this device, it should be easier for you."
"Yup!" Leaf chirped.
Leaf stashed the Pokémon Box Link into her bag just as Cleffa jumped off the couch and approached Bulbasaur.
"Cleffa?"
Bulbasaur sat and examined Cleffa carefully.
"Bulba?" Bulbasaur raised her brow.
"Cleffa!" Cleffa happily waved her hand.
Kisa placed a finger on her chin as she watched the two Pokémon interact. Bulbasaur let out a vine and waved.
"You'd think they knew each other. How interesting."
Cleffa soon turned her gaze towards Leaf.
"Cleffa," Cleffa requested, flapping her arms, "Cleffa Cleff!"
Leaf's eyes widened in surprise.
"You wanna come, too?" Leaf warbled, "for real?!"
"Cleffa!" Cleffa begged with a nod, "Cleffa?"
Leaf took a moment to think before she nodded.
"Ok," Leaf sighed, "I just gotta make sure you grow stronger before you're ready to battle. Is that cool?"
Cleffa grinned and jumped up and down with excitement.
"Cleffa! Cleffa!"
Leaf reached into her bag and pulled out a Poké Ball. She knelt to the floor and held it before Cleffa, who touched its release button. Soon enough, the Poké Ball pulled it inside and shook until the release button flashed a green color. Leaf let out a soft sigh before she returned her gaze to her mom. She followed her back to the genkan where she put her shoes back on.
Kisa reached her hand forward and brushed a stray hair out her daughter's eye.
"Now," Kisa continued, "I understand this kind of change is overwhelming for you, and if you're nervous, that's ok."
Leaf nodded even as her eyes avoided her mom's.
"But your father and I will support you on this important decision in your life," Kisa added, "if someone tells you they don't like the way you are, they're not worth your effort. You have no obligation to please anyone at your expense. You with me so far?"
"Uh-huh," Leaf nodded.
Leaf's hand reached for the doorknob.
"And lastly," Kisa said, "if you feel lost, don't be afraid to call us. I'm sure you can take good care of your Pokémon, right?"
Leaf nodded before she gave her mom a hug.
"See you, mom," Leaf stammered, "I'll miss you."
With tears of joy starting to stream down her cheeks, Kisa ran her hand along her daughter's head.
"Good luck and stay safe, sweetheart."
Kisa released her embrace, so Leaf left the house and made a beeline for the entrance to Route 1, where Red and Gary were waiting for her.
"Ok," she announced, "I'm ready to go!"
Red bowed slightly and waved her onwards.
"Ladies first."
From there, Red, Gary and Leaf began their hike through Route One, with the trio getting the hang of using their Pokédexes to record wild Pokémon, examining Rattatas and Pidgeys they passed by. Leaf spotted a Bellsprout frolicking in the sunlight and smiled as she took out her Pokédex.
{Bellsprout, the Flower Pokémon. Its bud resembles a human face, and it's rumored to be a type of legendary mandrake plant. It's a carnivorous plant that traps and eats bugs. It appears to use its root feet to replenish moisture. Bellsprouts prefer hot and humid climates and their thin and flexible bodies to let them bend and sway to avoid any attack.}
With that, Leaf couldn't help but grin.
"Hey!" Leaf called over to Red and Gary and waved her hand, "do you guys wanna catch a Bellsprout?"
Red and Gary paused before they made a brief glance at the Bellsprout.
"Pass," Gary declined.
Bellsprout made a brief glance at Leaf and retreated into the grass, much to her disappointment.
"So much for that," Leaf muttered to herself.
"We'll get the next one," Red shrugged, "I wouldn't mind one."
With the three new trainers meandering through the tall grass, Red took a moment to record a Rattata into his Pokédex. When Leaf passed by a tree, she didn't notice a Pidgey observing her from a branch. Without warning, the small bird flew down and perched on top of the young girl's hat, making her freeze in her tracks as she felt its weight.
"Huh?" Leaf blurted.
Leaf and Bulbasaur exchanged glances. The girl's grass starter fixated her eyes on the tiny bird.
"Saur," Bulbasaur pointed her vine at Leaf's hat.
"You see something?" Leaf paused.
The Bulbasaur waved its vines as though mimicking a bird and the Pidgey peered into the bag, looking for any easy-to-grab food. Leaf took a moment to think of the potential Pokémon flourishing in Route 1. She carefully removed her bucket hat, only to notice the Pidgey still perched on top of it.
"Oh! Uhm, sorry little guy," Leaf stammered, "I don't have any berries for you."
Pidgey narrowed its eyes at Leaf in disappointment. Bulbasaur looked around for any potential food, pointing with a vine at some hidden berries behind some leaves.
"Bulba? Bulbasaur?"
Leaf tilted her head upwards.
"Well, Bulbasaur," she asked the grass amphibian, "you think you can reach up there?"
Bulbasaur moved closer to the tree and stretched her vines carefully, trying to get the stem of the berries more than anything. While Leaf waited nervously, Pidgey made a brief glance at Red as he spotted another Bellsprout in a patch of tall grass. He readied his Charmander, making a slow cautious approach.
Soon enough, Bulbasaur managed to yank a bunch of berries off a branch and she pulled them down. Leaf smiled as she plucked the berry bunch from her starter's vine.
"Ok," Leaf sang, "here's your snack!"
Pidgey chirped happily and pecked at the berries in Leaf's hand. As the young girl watched the tiny bird eat, she wondered if it ever learned to forage on its own. Was it still young like Cleffa? Once the Pidgey finished up all the berries, Leaf carefully put her bucket hat back on. Though, the tiny bird still didn't move.
"You think this little guy's persistent?" Leaf whispered to Bulbasaur.
"Saur," Bulbasaur whispered with a nod.
As Pidgey began preening its feathers, Leaf and Bulbasaur tiptoed away from the tree and back onto the dirt path. They kept an eye on Red as the Bellsprout shifted its gaze towards him and flapped its leaves.
"Wanna battle?" Red beckoned, "gonna catch you!"
"Sprout!"
Upon cue, Red sent out his Charmander. Bulbasaur perked up and moved to watch the battle, sitting down. While Leaf sat down next to her starter Pokémon, Gary emerged from another patch of tall grass.
"Charmander, Scratch!" Red instructed.
Charmander swiped his claw at the wild Bellsprout, but the walking plant dodged and sprayed a poisonous powder at the fire lizard. Red grimaced as his fire starter began coughing.
"N-Not good," Leaf stammered.
Gary was about to make a comment, but then noticed the Pidgey still on Leaf's head.
"Uhh, Leaf?" Gary pointed out, "I think you have a little guy on top of you."
Leaf made a brief glance at Gary, but she avoided his eyes.
"I already know what you're talking about," she replied.
Pidgey glanced over at the two humans and nodded, looking around for more berries.
"Bulba?" Bulbasaur asked the tiny bird.
Pidgey turned her head towards the grass amphibian and chirped at her.
"What are they chattering about?" Gary scratched his head.
Leaf observed as Red rushed to his Charmander's side. The Bellsprout kept its stare fixated on them.
"Are there any Pecha berries in the area?" Leaf asked, "I don't have any antidotes with me."
Leaf carefully removed her bucket hat again and stared at the Pidgey.
"As for you, little buddy," Leaf continued, "if you're not going to leave, are you thinking of coming along?"
Gary pulled out his Pokédex while Bulbasaur began searching for a Pecha berry tree. The tiny bird seemed to chirp and stare back at her.
"Prrj?"
Gary activated his Pokédex and held it at Leaf's level.
{Pidgey, the Tiny Bird Pokémon. It usually doesn't like to battle, but it won't hesitate to attack if provoked, and it chases off enemies by kicking up sand with its wings. It likes to hide in tall grass and bushes, foraging for small bugs.}
"You gonna catch this guy, then?" Gary asked her.
Leaf immediately reached into her messenger bag and grabbed a Poké Ball.
"Good thing you asked that question," she remarked.
Leaf held the Poké Ball just above Pidgey, allowing it to examine the device. It studied it, tilting its head left and right before preening itself and pecking the button.
"Charmander," Red pleaded, "you ok?"
Charmander coughed a little more before he straightened his back.
"Char!" Charmander let out a determined growl.
Just as Red stood back to his full height, the fire lizard spewed a small ember out of its mouth which struck the Bellsprout. At the same time, Leaf tapped the Pidgey with the Poké Ball. It opened up and absorbed the tiny bird inside it before it shook in her hands. After the third shake, the release button flashed green. Leaf grinned as she put on her bucket hat and stood to her full height. She spun around and flapped her hands.
"Yay," Leaf chirped, "I got a new buddy!"
Red noticed Leaf and smiled, knowing that was her 'happy dance'. He gave her a thumbs up before focusing back on the battle.
"Good job, Leaf," Red praised, "I think you might have more potential than us."
Red returned his gaze to Charmander.
"Charmander, did you just learn Ember?" he exclaimed.
"Char!" Charmander chirped before he coughed again.
With Bellsprout weakened by the ember, Red chucked a Poké Ball at the walking carnivorous flower. As soon as the Poké Ball sucked it inside, it dropped to the ground and started rolling. The instant the release button flashed green, Red let out a sigh of relief.
"Bulba!"
Leaf turned her head and noticed her Bulbasaur carrying a bunch of Pecha berries with her vines.
"Oh," Leaf warbled, "so you did find some!"
"Saur!"
Bulbasaur trotted over to Charmander. Red picked up the Poké Ball and smiled at the grass amphibian.
"Thanks, Bulbasaur."
Red picked out a Pecha berry and held it out in front of Charmander. The fire lizard munched on it without hesitation. In a matter of seconds, the purple spots in Charmander's face faded and he no longer felt nauseated. Bulbasaur sighed and went to pass the Pecha berries to Leaf.
"Buh-Bulbasaur?"
"Thanks, Bulbasaur!" Leaf chirped.
Leaf smiled as she grabbed the Pecha berries one by one and tucked them into her messenger bag. Once she finished, she scooped Bulbasaur into her arms.
"So how many do we all have?" Red asked, "two for me. Two for Leaf? Gary?"
Bulbasaur blinked at Red, unsure if he knew about Cleffa.
"I'll catch a Pokémon if it's cool enough to add to my team," Gary retorted, pointing at Red.
Red turned his gaze north.
"Well, let's get going," he beckoned, "it'll be a while before we get to Viridian City, but it'll be worth it."
Feel free to drop a review, because Leaf and Mewtwo could use them to offer each other emotional support!