Let's Begin

Chapter One

I started my Pokémon journey today. But until I get there, I have to describe everything that happened this morning, because that's how everybody who writes in first person starts with.

Yeah, I woke up in my room. I have a Wii in my room. I live in Johto, and our Wiis are huge. So naturally, it takes up a lot of space. It's not connected to my television either, so it's pretty much useless. On it I have one of those Italian Lucario games or whatever.

I hate my Wii.

I also have a computer. I can check my email on it, but that's pretty much it. I have only one friend, Ethan. He's my annoying neighbor, and the only person who emails me.

Today, when I read my email, I saw that he wrote, "ADVENTURE! EXCITED! I love POKéMON!" I tried to delete it, but I couldn't.

I hate my computer too.

In my room, I also have a clock with the wrong time, a plant that does nothing, a window you can't see anything through, and a bed that's way too small for me. There is a blue rug with stains.

I hate my room in general. But that's pretty much it with my room, because there really isn't anything else noteworthy in there.

When I woke up, the first thing I did was watch television. The television is the best thing about my room, but today the only thing they showed was that Professor Maple guy from Kanto. Lame.

I turned off the television and went downstairs.

"Hi, Lyra!" Mom greeted me. "You're finally awake. While you were sleeping late again, your friend Ethan was running around and getting some exercise in. In fact, he was just here."

I inwardly moaned. Ethan is under the assumption that him and me are friends, and has somehow transferred this assumption to everybody else. So I'm stuck with him.

My mom continued. "He was playing hide-and-seek with his Marill."

I inwardly moaned again. Ethan is even more annoying because of his Marill, which is this fluffy blue mouse that keeps hopping everywhere. That thing isn't even in control. Ethan has to run around trying to chase the damn thing all day. Strangely, Ethan finds it fun.

Mom's eyes widened. "Oh! I almost forgot! Our acquaintance, Professor Elm, was looking for you. He said he had a favor to ask of you. You know where the lab is, right?"

"Yeah. It's right next door."

"I'm so proud of you! By the way, do you have everything you need to go out? Here, use this bag to carry things…"

I didn't really see why I would need a bag, but whatever. That could work.

"Here's your Trainer Card…"

I didn't see why I would need that either, seeing that I didn't even have a Pokémon, but again, anything goes. Mom makes the rules.

"Here's a diary…"

Yes, the very diary I am using and writing on right now. Again, I don't know why she gave it then, but I took it anyways. Don't mess with Mom.

"These are all rather helpful…" Mom muttered. I decided not to object just then.

"Mom, can I have breakfast?" I asked.

She glared at me. "Go help the professor. You've already slept late enough. Don't keep him waiting."

I left the house for the lab, but then the dumb Maril came to me. Stupid, stupid thing. I tried to keep calm and ignore it. Thankfully, his insane owner gestured him to leave me alone. Also thankfully, Ethan didn't realize it was me his Maril stopped. If he did, he would have been chatting non-stop.

The weather was really windy, but it was okay. The only thing covering most of my legs was my long socks, but I dealt with it. The town I live in, New Bark Town, is really small. I think it has only ten people in it at most. So I already know everybody. But when I headed towards the lab, I saw this weird redheaded girl peering through the windows. I swear I'd never seen her before. She was pretty creepy. She was so intent on staring and being creepy, her nose was touching the windows. I thought that maybe she was a thief, but I ditched the idea because she had to be the most unsubtle thief ever. Maybe she was an amateur stalker.

I went over to her, to tell her to knock it off.

"So here's the famous Elm Pokémon Lab…" she, no HE muttered. (Oops. When the stalker spoke, it turned out to be a guy.)

Then she, no wait HE, noticed me. "What are you looking at?" asked the hypocrite.

"You," I told him. At least I was honest.

She He (ugh, I keep mixing them up, stupid English) pushed me and kicked me out of his creeping place. Geez, no need to get physical here. I made a mental note to inform the professor that a horrible stalker was at his window.

I went inside the lab, and there was some song that sounded like winter holiday music blasting through the speakers. Unfortunately, it's summertime, so the music didn't really fit the mood.

"Hi, Lyra!" said Professor Elm. "I've been waiting for you!"

"I know. My mom said. Sorry that I slept late."

"No worries! Do you know anything about my research? As you know, Pokémon are carried around in Poké Balls these days. But before the Poké Ball was invented, people used to walk with Pokémon. Just like your friend Ethan does!"

I couldn't help making a face. Ethan is obnoxious enough, with him and his loud jumpy Maril all over the place. I couldn't imagine a whole goddamn world full of it.

Professor Elm continued. "Poké Balls are wonderful because you can catch many Pokémon. But walking with Pokémon must have many advantages. It could have something to do with how Pokémon grow or evolve…so I'm going to give you a Pokémon!"

My eyes widened. Did he just imply that…?

What?

Professor Elm smiled at me. "Can you walk beside this Pokémon, outside of its Poké Ball, to see if this brings any special feelings or bonds between Pokémon and people?"

"Hell-"

I was interrupted by a beeping sound that was heard from his computer. He rushed to it. "Oh my god! I got an email!"

After that, he muttered a bunch of random crap.

Then he turned to me. "Look, I have this acquaintance that everybody calls Mr. Pokémon. He keeps finding weird things, and then is always bothering us about his discoveries."

"He sounds like a...interesting person."

Professor Elm cleared his throat. "Well, anyway, I just got an email from him saying that this time it's real. I bet it's another Pokémon Egg, but we're kind of busy here. Can I count on you to go in our place?" He gestured to a machine that contained three Poké Balls. "You can choose a Pokémon there."

Fine, fine, whatever. I went over to the machine.

One of them contained some weird thing called a Totodile. It looked like something that would bite me later. I shivered and placed it back.

The other one had some flames coming from its butt. It looked like it would burn me. I placed it back.

The other one had a plant on its head. I expect that it required extra care, because I was supposed to water it. I placed it back.

Wait, that was all of them. And they were all horrible.

I went back to Professor Elm empty handed. "Is there anything else?"

He shook his head. Shit. I went back.

I stared at the Poké Balls. I figured that if I kept the one with the fire butt at a safe distance away, I won't get hurt. So I took it.

The Poké Ball exploded in my hands. I screamed as the Fire Butt Pokémon landed next to me. I was cross, and it was cross too. It appeared to have been sleeping when I dropped it.

Immediately, I felt a searing bond of friendship between the two of us. He isn't the only one who hates being wakened up.

I walked back to Professor Elm, Fire Butt sleepily toddling behind me.

Professor Elm beamed. "It feels nice walking with your Pokémon, doesn't it?"

I shrugged. "I guess." Next to me, Fire Butt choked on some fire.

Then Professor Elm explained where Mr. Pokémon's house was. After that, I started to head outside.

A guy in one of those science-y lab coats stopped me. "Lyra, I want you to have this."

He gave me some Potions. I examined them while nodding wisely. "Cool."

"Pokémon are weak in the beginning," he explained. "Don't be too hesitate to use one of them if yours is in danger."

I smiled and thanked him. Then I went outside.

Immediately I cursed.

A very familiar Maril got excited and went in circles around his owner.

Ethan smiled. "Lyra!" He craned his neck to look behind me. "So, the Pokémon you picked…is a Cyndaquil!"

I looked at Fire Butt. "So that's your real name?"

Fire Butt simply stared back at me. Then he burped.

"Well, that's a cute Pokémon you have there!" Ethan exclaimed.

I scowled. "I just got him. Don't make his ego big yet."

Ethan made a nervous laugh. "Well, okay. But you know, if you walk with it, it'll become more friendly in time. You should try turning around and talking to it sometimes, too."

Why am I getting pet owner lessons from this guy? If anything, he's an example of what not to do.

Ethan snapped his fingers. "Oh! Why don't you show it to your mom?"

Well, why the hell wouldn't I?

"Goodbye, Ethan."

"Okay! See ya!" he replied happily, starting for his house. His damn Marill followed him, then abruptly turned to me and Fire Butt to give us some farewell hops. Fire Butt yawned.

It's hard to believe that I tried to take Ethan's advice, but I turned to Fire Butt and actually tried to connect with him.

"So, how are you?'

He seemed to like the breeze.

"Um, okay. But pay attention to me while I'm talking to you, okay?"

Fire Butt seemed to be staring at the sky.

"Geez, how's it going to be in Pokémon battles if you can't pay attention to me now?"

Fire Butt started to stare at me intently. He was making me nervous, so I figured that we had enough bonding time for today.

I was thinking so much about everything that happened, I went into Ethan's home on accident. It was really annoying. Ethan's dad automatically thought that I came to play with Ethan, so I was led into Ethan's room and I forced to watch Fire Butt and Marill play together while Ethan gave me lectures on Pokémon care. I tried to gesture to Fire Butt that Marill is his ultimate rival, but he didn't seem to take the hints. Finally, I managed to get Fire Butt blindfolded, and I got him out of Ethan's house by shoving him with a broom. I felt bad, but he had to learn sooner or later. Also, I was scared of doing anything else in fear of being burned.

I went back home from there. On the way back, I saw the guy from earlier still stalking Professor Elm from the window. Whatever. By now, Professor Elm probably had already seen him. That idiot was making no effort to be concealed and professional.

At home, Mom was sitting on one of the mats, staring at the kitchen table for no reason at all.

"Hey, Mom?"

She blinked and looked up. "You came back. Oh, Professor Elm gave you that Pokémon? It's cute. What's it's name?"

I thought that I should give Fire Butt a more respectable name, so I said I named it Cinder.

Mom nodded. She didn't act shocked at all about my Pokémon. I bet she planned it all from the start. So she gave me my Pokégear, which just got back from the Repair shop (Marill sat on it a while back, long story), and then pretty much told me to get out. I took the hints. I got out.

I took a deep breath and headed out for Route 29. This was the first time I left my town without an adult. Probably a first time for Fire Butt (NO!) Cinder, too. And the first time we set out together, the first time in maybe a hundred times. We looked at each other, trainer and Pokémon. The breeze urged us forward, and I nodded. Then we both went for the very first step…

Professor Elm burst out of his lab. "Wait one second!"

Nevermind. Moment ruined.

Professor Elm walked to me. "I almost completely forgot about this…"

"Yeah?"

I expected it to be something really important, to spoil such a good moment.

"Here, I'll give you my number."

Shit.

I handed him my Pokégear gloomily. He gave it back after doing some beeps and stuff. I don't know, I don't really use that thing often.

"I'll call you if something comes up," he told me. Then he left.

Okay then.

I went into Route 29, but frankly, the feeling was more of irritation than triumph by then.