1.0 - In the Beginning

Typically, on your sixteenth birthday in our world, you can get your first true pokémon partner. At least, that's what they told me. I've seen younger kids with them and older people without them, but when in Pallet Town, 16 is the age deemed appropriate.

For me.

By my mother.

I know, lame excuse. But seriously, she has empty nest syndrome. Or will...or has a fear of it? I don't really even know what I am trying to say here...

Anyway, Kevin and I (we'll chat about him later) have always been the only kids in town ever since I remember. And I know my mom made a deal with Kev's sister to let us both leave, with pokémon, on my 16th. Which is a bit short of his 16th, but who cares about that.

Kev's sis cares for him because his parents never seem to be around. I mean, they live in the same building but are always very busy working for Kev's granddad, Professor Oak. Kev's sis and my mom would take turns watching the two of us when we were much younger. Kev's sis is a lot older than Kev is. I've never asked how old...always a bit too afraid for that sort of thing.

My mom doesn't have a job or that much to do. She used to teach (I think) but stopped when she met my dad.

My dad...I don't know where to begin. I don't remember much about him, as he left on his own pokémon adventure when I was very young. His second, my mom had said. The first led him to her. He suspended his adventure to spend time with her, marry her and eventually have me. But then he went back out into the world.

My dad is a researcher. Not quite what you would call a pokémon professor, but pretty close by normal standards. At least, that's what my mom said. He had to go and continue working. He sends us letters (and money, which is kinda why he left) regularly and has promised to support my pokémon adventure and try to see me if I do anything special.

As for me and Kevin?

For starters, being the only kids in town made us pretty close. We are good friends (mostly), though Kev (as I often call him)sometimes has annoying tendencies like his constant attempts to beat me. And everyone else. At everything.

Ol' Kev wants to be the best there ever was. He plans on challenging the Indigo League by taking on the gym challenge. Strives for attention due to lack of it from parents? I don't know. I try not to psychoanalyze my friends.

When he gets his pokémon, he plans on going after the eight badges to challenge the Elite Four, as they are called, to become the Pokémon Champion.

I am not sure if I want to do just that. I, after all, have the gift to talk to pokémon. I kinda just want to make a lot of friends. But...I hear that if I have pokémon, I will be challenged. So, I guess I may have to get proficient at battling anyway. And if that is the case, I can battle to get more money for my mom (I don't understand, but apparently the loser has to give the winner money? It never made sense to any of the pokémon with whom I have talked but I suppose they don't have currency). So maybe I'll take on the gym challenge. It depends, I guess, on what my pokémon wants.

Anyway, back to the actual story here (or lack thereof, at the moment).

So today, my sixteenth birthday, Kevin and I will each get a pokémon from good ol' Professor Oak. I just have to actually get out of bed and to his lab...

I rolled out of bed and looked in my closet. I had already packed up my things from my journey and needed only to put on a fresh pair of clothes...that are all already packed. Damn. I always forget that one...

After a bit of unpacking to find matching clothes (not because I am a girl but rather because my mom would request [read: force] me to change into something "presentable" for my birthday), I got downstairs with my bag, ready to go. My mom was watching some show on the TV with odd short people and some sing-y girl in a dress and red shoes. She saw me as I came down. She smiled. "Happy birthday. Oak has been looking for you. Your present is ready."

"Thanks mom. I'll be back in a bit."

I went the short distance to Oak's lab. Inside, I could already see Kev, waiting impaitently (so normally, for him) as Oak was talking about his three pokémon. He saw me and motioned me over. He began explaining again. The old guy talks to much for his own good, so I'll give you all the brief version.

Pokémon come in different types and he just so happens to have three left. The one of the grass type, a short and squat green pokémon with a bulb on its back, is Bulbasaur. The water type, a small blue turtle, is Squirtle. The red lizard of the fire type is Charmander. He is the one I picked. I named him Ben.

Ben - ♂ Charmander.

Lonely Nature, Blaze ability.

Lvl 5, Oak's Lab.

Of course, since Fire is weak against Water, guess what Kev picked?

Yep, my ol' pal tried to one up me with Squirtle. Of course, he is barely capable at battling, so he couldn't possibly beat me when he challenged me right away. It helped that his Squirtle didn't know any water moves...and I had a potion.

"Thank you for picking me," Ben said as we left the lab. "It means a lot."

"Don't mention it. I'm Anna and you're going to be my pal, okay?"

"Sounds good to me. It beats hanging out with Professor Oak and doing nothing but sit around all day."

"Is that all you did?"

"Well, I think. I don't know. I am a pretty young pokémon here, so I may not remember anything else."

"Oh goodness. You do remember that you just won a battle, right?"

"Really?"

"You better be sarcastic, you cute little lizard, or we'll find something more competent to fight you."

"You could never do that. I am a cute little lizard. You just said."

"Indeed. Fine."

He smiled at me. He was indeed a very cute little lizard. I picked him up and hugged him. He kissed my cheek warmly and I put him back down.

"So, fair maiden Anna," he said, "where to now?"

"We're on the road to Viridian City."