I obviously do not own Pokémon because I unfortunately did not have an awesomeness capacity to think it up, otherwise…

Anyway, this story and most of its characters are mine.

'Mother, Father and sisters,'

Her pen stopped there. Lifting it to her mouth, where her front teeth attacked her lower lip, the girl inhaled, eyes closed. How was she to word this? How was she supposed to tell her family that they ruined her life? It was fairly obvious, even to the densest of people, that cramming unnecessary etiquette into a rebellious child's mind was almost an impossible feat. Her parents must have been even denser, then. Either that, or completely blinded by their total lack of acknowledgement for their daughter's infatuation for pokémon. Back straight, legs together – they all were only appropriate for one thing: her parent's desire for her to become the successor for their business, governing an enormously successful chain of fancy hotels in fancy cities with fancy rooms occupied by fancy people who were too fancy to even care about the true purpose of their fancy, dolled-up pokémon.

These people sickened Annalyn.

Pokémon were never to be used as show ponies, brought out to make their master look better and then thrown back into an ugly, almost unhealthily prissy room and only fed a few times a day before the next garden party. Or pokémon, who were over-cared for, covered in pretty little dresses and suits (that looked hideous, anyway) and fed in such absurd amounts that they'd grown overweight and die at a young age. Pokémon were meant to be kept as friends, not tools for popularity or world domination. They were meant as companions for those who have lost others. Behaviours, feelings, flesh and blood. Physical and mental characteristics that made up humans – pokémon had them, too! In Annalyn's eyes, those who abused their pokémon's abilities deserved a mouthful and a half.

Annalyn's parents? They were never at all interested in pokémon. In actual fact, there was a distinct dislike towards all kinds of pokémon, large or small, weak or strong, rough or sleek – her parents could not take the presence of any. Just imagine ten years of this. Ten years of snide remarks to your passion, usually premeditated and used in proper spite towards a disobedient daughter. In all honesty, Annalyn had every reason to hate her parents. She had every reason to hate them, disobey them, and eventually leave them with only six daughters of their ideal seven.

And so she wrote this letter, with the literary height of one preparing to graduate High School, at least showing that there was one thing she'd taken in from her parents, which was courtesy. As much as a lady she was not, she had to leave them with at least one thing to be proud of, and if that was to be her grammar and vocabulary, then so be it. No matter what, Anna would never give up her dream of being a trainer.

'I have left this for you in memory of me. I do no know when you will ever see me again; however, I can assure you it will not be soon. I am not sorry for leaving you, as it is your selfish influence that has led me to do so. So with this letter, I say goodbye and wish your lives to become as fulfilled as I know mine will be.

'In as much respect as possible (which is not a lot),

'Goodbye.'

The mistake of attempting to crush Annalyn's ambitions was all that drove her at this moment. With a swift movement, her right hand dropped the pen and picked up the letter. After a neat fold was made, there was a new, blank space to be occupied by Annalyn's tidy-for-a-ten-year-old scrawl. The words 'spirits still soaring' were quickly scratched down as the girl stood from her desk and turned to her neatly-made bed. A deep intake of air filled the girl's lungs as she took the few steps towards the head of her bed and placed the note on the plush, pink pillow.

This was it, the end of her miserable life with her miserable family.

Crossing to her armoire, she grabbed her bag, which she swung over her shoulder, and opened the cupboard door. Reflected in the mirror on the inside of the closet door was a young girl of average size. A slender body was complimented by her pale pink corset-like top, where the ribbon at her back came to a large bow near the small. At her waist was a white belt, studded with small metal crosses, which held up a small, black skirt that reached half-way down her thigh. From there to the top of her knee were fishnet leggings, and on her feet were some coloured sneakers, their laces loosely tied, yet firm enough to last a long walk. Framing her bright green eyes was a large blonde fringe which was cut just to stay out of her eyes. The rest of her hair was tied back by means of another ribbon into a long, thick ponytail which hung over one shoulder. Around her neck were two necklaces, one extending into her lack of bust and the other almost choking her. From each hung a small charm, one a minute pokéball that her mother and father absolutely despised, and on the longer necklace, a small, winged key she had found once at school. On her left wrist, a silver watch was wrapped, and on her right was yet another ribbon tied into a bow.

A smile. A flashing of brilliant white teeth. Something this pure had remained unseen for years, and was plastered across Annalyn's face. Needless to say, she was exceptionally eager. Finally, she was going to leave home and become what she had always wanted, a pokémon trainer. Maybe even master one day, Mew knew. The point was, that today, she was no longer bonded to her own family. She was now legally able to leave home and begin an adventure with a pokémon of her choosing. That's if she got to the laboratory in time.

With this thought clinging to her consciousness, she crept out of her bedroom and through her front door in absolute, or as close as she can get to, silence. A brief click and the door locked itself. Annalyn turned to face the street, inhaling the crisp morning atmosphere as she stared at the mountainous horizon. The heavens were opening up and light from the sun began spreading itself like some kind of untouchable butter.

Pallet Town wasn't too far from Viridian City. Only a short walk along Route 1 and she'd be there. It's just the wild pokémon she'd have to watch out for and she could just find another trainer from the city to help her get there… shouldn't be that hard.

She began at a quick jog, rushing south towards the small township with the large, white laboratory. It was fairly easy to see from where she was – right on the border of Viridian and Route 1. Taking another step could have seen her attacked from all directions by Rattata and Pidgey - the usual pokémon found around here, so she stood for a few moments, gaining as much confidence as possible. As she had not come across a trainer as of yet, she could not defend herself. So, with a sharp intake of breath, she closed her eyes, lifted her right foot, extended it and –

"Wait! Don't take that step!" a young male voice echoed through the fields. Eyes snapping open, Annalyn noticed a boy rushing towards her from a small fence along the side of the route. He wore a folded, red bandana around his messy, black hair and a black vest over his slightly muscular (for his age) chest frame. His jeans seemed tattered and his black sneakers were worn, like he had been travelling for days; however his overall look of a ten-year-old told her he was a rookie. Anna's brows came together.

"Are you trying to get to Pallet Town?" he questioned, the side of his mouth curving. Anna nodded, slightly humiliated. "Without protection?" He followed up.

Annalyn nodded once again, very slowly, and quietly muttered, "uh, yeah…"

"I'm just coming from there. As soon as I stock up on pokéballs, I'll help you get there?" A third nod. He seemed really nice and she didn't even have to ask! Score! "Great. You wanna come with me to the Mart?"

"Sure, I guess - saves me waiting here." Anna agreed, turning around and facing the closest PokéMart stocked with pokéballs. She began walking much slower, now, to let the boy catch up. When he did, he smiled.

"My name's Kaiden, by the way." He tucked the hair falling out from under his bandanna to the side as he spoke. The mart was not that far away, so they really could only introduce themselves before his purchase. Anna introduced herself as they entered the building, the electronic, blue glass door buzzing shut behind them.

A fairly young and attractive man stood at the counter, polishing what looked like a new stock of pokéballs. As Kaiden made his way to the keeper, Annalyn wandered off towards the shelves to see what they had in stock and if she'd need anything. Well first thing was first, she needed money, so looking at these items wasn't the best thing to be doing right now. If it wasn't for her disgust towards her parents, she would have simply taken a few thousand from them, but no. She was much too 'I-must-prove-my-point' to give them the satisfaction of thinking she couldn't make it without a little of their help. So before she could even catch a new pokémon of her own, she had to win a battle or two with other trainers for money. Hopefully her starter pokémon would be able to fair against something... a little more experienced.

She dawdled back to Kaiden, who was conversing casually with the keeper.

"… helping the girl I came in with get there, why?" Kaiden questioned, his head tilting very slightly.

"I have a package for the Professor, you wouldn't mind…?" The young man stabbed his thumb into the air between his neck and his shoulder as he spoke, eyes showing a slight glint of hope. Kaiden grinned.

The trip from Viridian City to Pallet Town was, as expected, humbly short. The faster she got to Pallet, the faster she started her journey, thus the entire way she was set at a pace that kept her at least ten metres in front of Kaiden. At numerous points along the way, a rattata or pidgey would appear, but no battles were fought and at various points a rookie trainer would run past, which irked Anna slightly. What was it, become-a-trainer-day?

Most probably, as when she came to the white laboratory, yet another trainer came bursting out. This time the trainer was not alone. A small, yellow mouse-like pokémon with a lightning-bolt tail chasing behind him as he ran, backpack jumping from one side to the other with is movements, north towards the town they came. A more elderly man waved from inside as the boy continued onto the route and turned to the two newcomers.

"…Kaiden! Back so soon," the man stated, rather than questioned. "If you needed a map, my daughter would have been willing to oblige."

"Sorry, Professor…" Kaiden smiled as Anna's eyelids spread from each other. So this was the famous Professor Oak. "This is more of an escort mission. Annalyn here wants to start her own journey, and thought you would be the best to start her off, so --"

"Oh, no," Professor Oak seemingly mourned. This didn't seem like a good sign, and Annalyn knew it. Her hopeful face took a u-turn and turned into not-so-excited. She already knew what he was going to say. "I don't have any more pokémon left!" She knew it. Damn. "Not any proper starters, anyway, like bulbasaur, charmander or squirtle."

"That doesn't matter!" Annalyn butted in, her voice squeaked with new hope. "I'll take anything!" This was a true statement. She wanted nothing more than a reason not to go back to that mansion and be seen as a failure, especially at something she loved and her parents disapproved.

Professor Oak sighed and moved aside, allowing the two to enter, saying though his sigh, "Okay, then."

The first room was fairly large. The walls were a dull blue, with steel plating and a large metal box with flashing lights, screens and buttons dotted on them here and there. There were numerous desks in between these machines, each hosting a computer, stationery and files. In the centre of a room was a large healing machine. They did not spend long in here, though, as Oak led them through a few other rooms, including a room lined with book shelves where some of the Professor's students were studying, a room with a funny, dome-shaped device where three empty pokéballs were held, and the room they stopped in, which contained a single desk, a funny machine which Anna couldn't guess its function and many shelves containing pokéballs.

"If you're that persistent, then I guess I could find something for you." Professor Oak's eyes scanned the shelves as he spoke. However, in such overwhelming eagerness, Anna jogged straight to the shelf and picked up the first pokéball she saw.

"What's this one?" She asked in her frenzy of anticipation and pushed the little white button along the centre line.

"No, wai --" the professor called, holding a middle-aged hand out, eyes wide.

Too late. A flash of light and before her, a large, red fish flopped stupidly around the room. Anna threw the ball over her shoulder and took another.

"Oh, I didn't like that one very much… how about this!"

Another flash of light signalled the entrance of another ugly, red fish.

"Ew, ew, ew. Third time lucky!" – Another flash, another fish – "No? Ugh. Fourth time? Ack!" – Again, another fish – "Maybe…"

This continued for a while, Anna's panic increasing with every fish, until the floor was almost carpeted with red scales.

"Anna, stop!" called Kaiden, grabbing the next pokéball out of her hands and replacing it on the shelf. He pointed to the wall next to the shelf. Anna flicked her head into the direction he was pointing and felt her jaw lower as her cheeks flushed. On the wall was a sign saying:

Left: Magikarp

Right: Magikarp

"Those entire two are filled with magikarp – you won't find anything else there." The professor was now returning each fish into their respective pokéballs. "If you're looking for something else, try another shelf. Like that one over there." He waved his left hand over his shoulder as she spoke, another flash illuminating the area around him as he returned another magikarp. "It holds pokémon much more suitable."

Mouth forming a small 'o', the young trainer-to-be waded through the fish in the direction the professor waved, landing in front of one of the largest set of shelves and read the sign next to it. It simply showed a variety of symbols, like green leaves, purple eyes and brown fists – whatever they meant. At least she knew there was a slim chance she'd find another magikarp here. With that notion, she once again took the first ball she set sight on and grabbed it.

"Mine."

So what do you think? Please review, constructive criticism is loved.

My first fic… kind-of… I've got a few more; I've just never posted them up, and don't plan to, because they're terrible.