AN: This is a Pokémon fanfic, telling the adventures of Salvadore Harrison, one of Brock's siblings. This is the first book in a series.

Chapter One

Chosen

Between rugged mountains lay Pewter City. It had a population of thirty-three people and was home to the Pewter Science Museum and the Pewter City Gym. Pewter City Gym specialized in Rock-type Pokémon and had once been led by a man named Flint which later passed to his son Brock after Flint ran away, leaving the fifteen-year-old to look after his nine siblings, the house and be the Gym Leader at the same time. and the second-oldest brother, Forrest, had become the leader of Pewter City Gym one year ago.

To the west of Pewter City lay Route 3 and to the south lay Route 2 which went through Viridian Forest. Through Viridian Forest, home to many different Bug-type and Flying-type Pokémon, one encountered Viridian City which had a Gym, a Poke Mart, a Pokémon Academy and a Pokémon Center as well as being the place where the Indigo Plateau was that housed the Indigo League on Route 23 but one had to travel along Route 22 and then Victory Road to get to the Indigo Plateau. Route 1 led south to Pallet Town where new Pokémon Trainers that lived in the Kanto Region went to get a starter Pokémon from Professor Oak at his laboratory.

The day of Salvadore's tenth birthday, the sky was cloudy but warm. It was the perfect day to begin his own Pokémon journey. Brock was home, having stayed within the Orange Islands for a while to do some studying of the Pokémon there but he was training to be a Pokémon Breeder. Salvador took a shower and made sure his backpack was packed along with the money Brock had given him last night. His backpack was packed with Pokémon food, medicine, a first aid kit, his sleeping bag, cook stove, a few water bottles, pajamas, a few changes of clothes, and poke balls though trainers could only carry six Pokémon with them at a time. Once he was dressed, he grabbed his backpack and headed downstairs to the kitchen where he saw Brock just finishing up breakfast for his siblings.

Salvadore hugged his older brother goodbye and ran out the front door. Running towards Route 2, he climbed up the hill and began walking to the northern entrance of Viridian Forest. It was just after six in the morning and he knew that he had to get to Professor Oak's lab early to get the Pokémon he wanted. As he walked towards Pallet Town, he saw Caterpie, Weedle, Kakuna, Pidgey, and Spearow in Viridian Forest. Passing through Viridian City, he continued on Route 1 where he saw more Pidgey, Spearow, and some Ratatta scampering around in the grass on either side of the path.

Approaching Pallet Town he saw a sign that gave the name and the population total. Pallet Town, A Pure White Beginning, Pop. 10. Salvadore made his way to the southeastern corner, famous for being the home of Gary Oak and Ask Ketchum, to where Professor Oak's Research Lab was. It was marked by a wind turbine and was where all Kanto Pokémon Trainers stored their extra Pokémon. Pallet Town had dirt trails and wide open grassy fields. To the south was Route 21 which was a sea route that led to Cinnabar Island. The air smelled of the sea and Salvadore could see why people liked it here. He could only wonder about the Pokémon one could catch along Route 21.

Professor Oak's lab was at the top of a hill. Not only was it home to his lab but it was also home to the Oak Corral which had different types of environments for the Pokémon that were housed there. A stone staircase made its way up the hill from the edge of the road that led to the Professor's Research lab. It was a white building with three windows of the inner balcony and four windows on the second floor. Bushes lined either side of the staircase. Inside was the Pokémon Storage Room, a library which was composed of two rooms; one being the library with chairs and large windows to let in light and the other room was a storage room full of books; a living room and many doors leading off the first floor. The second floor was the Research Floor and was where Professor Oak conducted his research on Pokémon.

After climbing the staircase, Salvadore knocked on the door. A few moments later, Tracey Kenton opened the door and gave Salvadore a smile. "Hi. You must be one of Brock's siblings. I'm Tracey Kenton."

"Hi Tracey," said Salvadore. "You're right. I'm Salvadore Harrison. Am I late?" he asked.

"No, you're early actually," said Tracey. "Come on in and I'll take you to Professor Oak."

Salvadore followed Tracey into the Pokémon Lab and looked around him. He had never been here before today and couldn't wait to get started on his own journey. Unlike his brother Forrest who specialized in Rock-type Pokémon, he wasn't sure if he would specialize in a specific type or if he would gather Pokémon of all types. Perhaps that was part of the discovery on one's Pokémon journey.

"Professor Oak. Salvadore Harrison is here to get his starter Pokémon," called Tracey as he and Salvadore walked into the Research Facility on the second floor.

"Ah, good morning Salvadore," said Professor Oak. "You're here bright and early."

"I knew I had a long way to come to get here in time so I left home soon after I woke up," said Salvadore.

"Well that was good thinking Salvadore. The early bird catches the Pokémon," Professor Oak said. "I said that once to Ash Ketchum as well when he was late to get a Pokémon but it seems to have worked out for the best in his case."

Salvadore just nodded politely and glanced towards the machine that had the balls of the three Kanto Starters on it before he decided to walk over to it since the Professor seemed to be off in memory land. "Umm, Professor Oak?"

"What? Oh yes, Salvadore. Sorry. I guess I spaced out there," said the professor as he followed Salvadore over to the machine in the middle of the floor. Picking up the first ball he released it and on the floor appeared a Pokémon with Pokémon that had bluish-green skin with darker green patches, red eyes with white pupils, and pointed ear-like structures on top of its head. Its snout was short and blunt with a wide mouth and a green bulb growing on its back. "This is a Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. It's a dual Grass/Poison type. It's a male and his evolutions are Ivysaur and Venusaur. It has the ability Overgrow which powers up Grass-type moves when the Pokémon is in trouble."

"Bulbasaur."

Placing the empty poke ball down, he picked up the second poke ball. Tapping the button in the center of the ball where the two halves closed, a blue turtle with large brown eyes and a slightly hooked upper lip appeared. Its shell was brown on top and yellow on bottom with a thick white ridge between the two halves. It stood on short stubby legs and both hands had three digits on them with a long tail, the end of the tail curling inward. "This is Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. It's a Water-type and is male. Squirtle's evolved forms are Wartortle and Blastoise. It has the ability Torrent which powers up Water-type moves when the Pokémon is in trouble."

"Squirtle."

Picking up the last poke ball, Professor Oak released the third Pokémon. It looked like a lizard with an orange body though the soles of its feet and underside were cream. It had short stubby arms and legs with four fingers and three clawed toes. Two small fangs were visible in its upper and lower jaws and it had large blue eyes. A flame burned on the end of its tail. "Lastly, we have Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. It's a Fire-type and is male. Charmander's evolved forms are Charmeleon and Charizard. It has the ability Blaze which powers up Fire-type moves when the Pokémon is in trouble. Choose wisely because this will be your starter and partner for life."

"Charmander."

"I choose Charmander," said Salvadore as he picked the Fire-type up and held it in his arms.

"Charmander!"

"Bulba," said Bulbasaur sadly.

"Squirtle."

"Alright. Here are your Pokédex and poke balls. You'll need them on your journey and your Pokédex will serve as your identification."

Salvadore put down Charmander and pointed his Pokédex at his partner.

"Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. Charmander's health can be gauged by the fire on the tip of its tail, which burns intensely when it's in good health."

Turning his Pokédex to Squirtle he saw a picture of Squirtle appear and the monotone voice spoke. "Squirtle. This Tiny Turtle Pokémon draws its long neck into its shell to launch incredible water attacks with amazing range and accuracy. The blasts can be quite powerful."

Then he turned his Pokédex upon Bulbasaur and a picture of the Seed Pokémon appeared on the screen. "Bulbasaur. It bears the seed of a plant on its back from birth. The seed slowly develops. Researchers are unsure whether to classify Bulbasaur as a plant or animal. Bulbasaur are extremely calm and very difficult to capture in the wild."

"Thank you Professor Oak," said Salvadore. He closed the Pokédex and put it into his pocket before setting his bag down on the floor and pulled out some stickers that were shaped like teardrops before putting them on all six poke balls. This way he would know his Pokémon from other trainers Pokémon. "Okay Charmander, return."

"Char," said Charmander as it was turned into a red beam of energy and drawn into the poke ball. Salvadore put his six poke balls at his waist before nodding goodbye to the Professor and Tracey. Leaving the Pokémon Lab, he made his way back through Pallet Town and towards Route 1 to begin the journey of a lifetime and self-discovery.