1 Start of a Journey: The First Step

I woke up this morning with more energy than I had ever thought possible, and several hours earlier than usual. I quietly went about my business getting ready for the day and doing my morning exercises, it would not do to wake up mom. As nice and loving as she is, she has literally stared down and caused a rampaging gyarados to cower in fear when she was angry. The gyarados, now named Cutie, has taken on the role of a protector for mom whenever she leaves the house. At her usual time Mom came downstairs to start making breakfast only to find it already made and set up on the kitchen table as I decided to cook it since I had the time.

"Good morning Mom." I cheerfully said.

My mom just gave me a look that promised retribution as she groaned out,"Ughh, Isaac it's too early. Why are you even up so early?"

I looked at her in surprise that she hadn't remembered what today was. She is usually on top of things like this, guess she hasn't fully woken up yet. I said, "Mom, my trainer's license should be here today. With it should be the response from Professor Birch about sponsoring me as well."

My mom just got this big oh face and said, "Oh yeah, you got a package in the mail yesterday. I forgot to give it to you. It should be on the table by the door."

I stared at my mom with a deadpan expression before shaking my head in disappointment and heading to the table by the door. I see the small but important looking package sitting on the table and wonder how I walked passed it the night before, I must have been too tired to check it. Picking it up I see my name in the delivery address, with the return address being for Ever Grande City. This was the package I had been waiting for, my trainer's license! I ripped open the package and out came several things. The first was a small photo id with a picture of myself on it as well as my trainer identification number. Next was a small box that when opened had 8 holes that were made to perfectly fit each major gym badge. The next thing I grabbed was a pokedex, I took my trainer id and inserted it into the necessary slot and the pokedex lit up with a welcome screen and a brief tutorial on how to use it. I decided to look at it later because there was still 2 more things left from the package. The first letter left in the package was from the Hoenn Elite Four, the region I am from.

'Dear Isaac,

We at the league hereby congratulate you on passing the Beginner Trainer Exam with a perfect

score of 100%. We expect great things from you in the future. For being the top scorer of the

exam we have decided to reward you with a Trainer's Starting Kit. You may pick this up at any

Pokemon Center. The kit will include some pokedollars to get you started, a book about caring

for your pokemon, a book about training your pokemon, a book about pokemon battling, a small

assortment of berries, and 3 great balls to help you get started. With your Beginner License you

are hereby granted the ability to hold up to 6 pokemon on you at a time, and are allowed to

participate in the starter pokemon gacha once. We wish you the best of luck on your journey and

hope to battle against you soon.

-- The Hoenn Elite Four'

I laughed in excitement at getting the top score. The kit I will receive as a reward was going to be

my first step to greatness! Nervously, I opened the last letter from the package know it would be from Professor Birch. What is in this letter will decide whether I start with a treecko, mudkip, torchic, or if I will have to join the majority of trainers who get a starter pokemon through the pokemon gacha.

'Dear Isaac,

I am sorry to inform you that because of the league restriction of only allowing me to sponsor 3

people per year, I will unfortunately have to refuse to sponsor you. Should you wish to wait 9

months before starting your journey as a trainer, I would be more than happy to sponsor you

then. While I can't officially sponsor you, and thus can't give you a treecko, mudkup, or torchic,

the league has no say over who is allowed around my lab. If you decide not to wait, feel free to

stop by my lab in Littleroot Town. I would be more than willing to help you along your journey.

-- Professor Birch'

After reading this I was a bit disappointed because each region's starter pokemon given out to sponsored trainers are bred to have above average growth. While any pokemon can reach the peak, it's certainly easier with a region starter. I gathered the badge case, the pokedex, and the two letters before heading back into the kitchen where I handed the letters to my mom so she could read them. While she was reading the letters I was going through the tutorial of my new pokedex. It seems there have been some major advances in the technology recently and the pokedex now works as a navigation system and a communications system, meaning I can call my mom from any town using the pokedex.

"Aw, honey I'm sorry about Professor Birch, but CONGRATULATIONS on being the top scorer in your exam! Hypno can teleport us to Mauville City in a few minutes so you can get your starter pokemon. Who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and you'll get something even better than the region starter! It is possible you know."

I smiled at my mom's attempt to cheer me up, not that I needed it. I may have been a bit disappointed, but I had expected this to happen. "Don't worry mom, I believe there is no such thing as a waste pokemon, only a waste trainer, and I certainly don't think I will be a waste trainer. In fact I am kind of hoping to start with what most people consider to be a weak pokemon."

My mom smiled at me as she said, "Good, because I didn't raise you to mope about. Anyways, go grab your things, I'll go find Hypno. Let's go get your starter pokemon."

I quickly ran to grab my backpack, put my new pokedex into it, before grabbing my hat, putting on my shoes and heading back downstairs where I saw my mom and Hypno already waiting for me.

I smiled at Hypno and said, "Thanks for helping out Hypno!" I then grabbed onto his hand and after weird sensation I found myself, my mom, and Hypno inside of a Pokemon Center. I turned around and walked over to the Nurse Joy in charge of this Pokemon Center and asked her for directions to where I can get my starter pokemon.

I walked back towards my mom and Hypno before waving them on as I walked passed and said, "Come on Mom, Hypno. Nurse Joy gave me directions on where to go."

My mom smiled at my exuberance but then looked away guiltily before she said, "Actually, Isaac, I was going to go run an errand while you went to get your starter. I'll meet back up with you here in an hour okay?"

I could feel my smile dim on my face, but I just said in . slightly less excited tone, "Okay mom, I'll see you in an hour."

With that said I all but ran out of the center in the direction of where I could get my starter pokemon. A few minutes later I saw the building I was looking for. After entering I followed the signs to find the person in charge of giving out starter pokemon, there sitting in front of a customized PC machine was a middle aged man with his feet up on the table in front of him leaning back in his chair yawning in boredom.

I walked up to him and said, "Excuse me, sir. I'm here to get my starter pokemon."

He finished yawning before he lazily said, "Trainer id please." He then stuck out his hand.

I opened my backpack and slipped my trainer id out of my pokedex before passing it over to him. He inserted it into a small machine whose screen went from grey to green, before he took my id out of the machine and put it into the PC he was sitting next to.

"Alright kid, press this green button to start randomizing your starter and the red button to stop. There will be no returns or complaining no matter what pokemon you get. Got it?"

I nodded at him and moved forward to stand in front of the PC, before pressing down on the green button. The PC screen lit up and suddenly images of pokemon started flickering on the screen, unfortunately they were flickering between different pokemon too fast for me to even try to recognize them. So after a few seconds I pressed the red button. The picture on the screen stopped flickering and the PC dinged, a pokeball came rolling out of a tube attached to the side of the PC where it lay at rest in front of me waiting for me to grab it.

The man looked over at the PC screen and said, "Oh, you got a bit lucky. Seedot's are usually pretty docile until they evolve into shiftry's when they become a bit mischievous. According to the PC your new seedot also has slightly above average stats for a seedot of its age which means it should have some good potential too. It might even have some egg moves, I'd make sure to check for them when you get a chance."

I reached in front of me and grabbed the pokeball with my starter pokemon, my seedot while I said, "Thanks for the information. I'll be sure to do as you say." Grabbing the ball I whisper to it, "Seedot, I'll make sure to help you grow to your full potential. I'll let you out so we can meet in a little while, I want to go somewhere private so we can use the chance to get to know one another without interruptions."

I smiled at the man as he gave me back my trainer id, and as I walked away I waved back at him and said, "Thanks again old man!" Just as I left the building to make my way back to the Pokemon Center I could have sworn I heard someone yell out something that sounded like I'm not old.