Flames of Hoenn

Chapter 1: Can I Get a Pokemon?

Seven years later...

      Terry had barely made it out the door when he ran into her. Lydia Rose, his rival since about first grade. They had been so since the first question on battling had been asked back in school; how many known types are there? They had both raised their hands, but Terry had succumbed to the intense fire in her eyes, almost as fiery as her hair (even though her eyes where green, making that analogy very confusing). However, today, she seemed happy to see him. “You remembered!”

      Terry gave her a questioning look. “Remembered what?”

      Lydia’s eyes fell into an annoyed, tired look, their most natural state when she spoke with this kid. “Really? You forgot already? You promised to walk with me when we picked out our first Pokémon? And pick together?”

      Terry thought for a minute, making an annoyingly cute little pose as he does, though he didn’t realize it. Lydia rolled her eyes and waited. Terry started tapping his chin, and suddenly looked up. Lydia’s face brightened. “Well?”

      “… Did you do something different with your hair?”

      Groaning, Lydia slapped Terry’s arm, and then hooked hers with his as he laughed uncontrollably. “Why do I even talk to you?”

      “Because your life would be dull and unadventurous?”

      Terry grinned, knowing exactly what she would do. She just rolled her eyes and muttered something about his stupidity under her breath, as planned. “How could you think I would forget you, Lyd? You’re my best friend!”

      “I liked it better when you were six and called me your rival. Much easier to be mad at a punk-head seventeen –year-old with a mouth on him.”

      They walked together, arms linked, towards the Sootopolis Ferry, waiting for the school’s graduated trainers to board. Terry loved visiting the mainland. The people were so different from what he was used to in his isolated little city. He also liked the Gym Leaders better. Juan was such a girly man. Finding the appropriate seats, Terry and Lydia sat down, the last to arrive. The ride to town was uneventful, though quite long. They took the quick route through the small island pass that ran under Mauville city, leading straight to Oldale. Terry didn’t like this town, but the people were fairly nice and pleasant. They hopped on the busses waiting for them, and rode the rest of the way to Littleroot Town, a small, cozy town, with very little room to breathe. At least he had his friend to keep him company.

      “Ladies first,” Lydia said, grinning at Terry. Terry, keeping as much dignity as he could, stood up, curtsied, and stretched his hand towards his friend.

      “After you, good sir.” The bus erupted in giggles and grins from children who could barely contain themselves. As they once again linked arms, Lydia gave a mock scoff.

      “Such petty creatures, don’t you think?” She said with the most formal accent she could concoct.

      “Oh, yes indeed. I cannot bear took look at them. Quick! Tally forth!”

      The two grinned and headed off the bus. Most of the other children were there to see the town, ask questions to Professor Birch, and generally be useless. Terry, Lydia, and two other classmates whose names Terry had forgotten were the only ones who had chosen to actually leave on a Pokémon journey. They were the smallest class to have ever chosen so, not that it mattered. Terry and Lydia happened to be the oldest in a long while to start their adventures, being seventeen and sixteen, respectively. They entered the laboratory, and were instantly blown away by the amazing technology and science. There were doo-dads and baubles and all sorts of knick-knacks. Terry wasn’t much for science, so he didn’t care much for them. He focused on the one thing that mattered to him: Professor Birch. This man would begin his journey. 

      “Hello, children! Welcome to my lab!”

      Professor Birch grinned at the students, and spread his arms wide. He seemed laid back, and much more comfortable than Terry was used to seeing in an adult. “Now, who has any questions?”

      The questioning went on for about 2 hours, roughly. At least, Terry felt that it did. According to the clock, however, it had only been about thirty minutes. Prof. Birch answered quickly, warmly, and assuredly. Terry took an instant shine to him. He stood on the very edge of his toes, trying to contain his bursting energy and excitement. This was the day. This was his day. Oh, and maybe Lydia’s day, as well. Can’t be selfish, right? Terry turned towards his friend, still arm-in-arm with her. She noticed him looking, and grinned at him. Her eyes seemed to say, Here it comes! As Prof. Birch finished the last question, he looked towards the back of the group, where all the Trainers-to-be were waiting. “So,” he asked, grinning as the room silenced and all focus was on him, “Who will be the first?”

      Lydia’s hand went straight up, quicker than any one of the three other kids. Beckoning, Birch led Lydia away to a table with a single button in the middle. “Go ahead,” he insisted, “Push it!” Lydia, grinning from ear to ear, slowly pressed the button down. Instantly, an electronic array sprouted from it center, showing a holographic display. There were hundreds of swirling little codes and figures, blacked-out and blurred.

      “Alright, now let me input the code… press this here…. That… hrmm… uh… Nancy? I forgot the code.” A plain-looking female assistant walked up, sighing, putting her face in her hands. “Why do you ALWAYS forget? It’s three numbers!”

      Birch grinned sheepishly, and gestured towards the keypad now glowing impatiently at the edge of the table. Nancy sighed and input three unseen numbers (or letters, for all we know!), and walked away, pointedly glaring at the Professor. Laughing, Birch slapped a couple more keys and up came an interface. “I could tell you all the little tricks and technology that make this wonderful thing possible… Or I could just…” He tapped three separate spots on the screen. As he did so, a shape grew from the points of impact, growing rapidly to soon form three Pokémon on the screen. “Show you.”

      Lydia giggled and jumped for joy. On the screen were three Pokémon: The Grass type, Treeko, the Water type, Mudkip, and the Fire type, Torchic. “See anything you like?” Lydia nodded emphatically, and went straight for Mudkip. As she pressed the little shape on the interface, the table opened wide, and out shot a Pokéball, shiny with its red and white sides. Birch took it off the stand gently, and handed it Lydia. “He’s yours.”

      The class cheered and jumped and hollered, all of them instantly best friends with this trainer with a new Pokémon. Typical. Kid gets a Pokémon and everyone wants to pet it and touch it and love it. Pathetic. Terry didn’t like people like that. Pokémon are great, but why can’t people like the trainer just as much? Ah, well. The other two kids (Derik and Q, apparently) each went up before Terry, choosing, respectively: Treeko and Torchic. Terry, his turn finally here, squared his shoulders, and began to strut to the table, exuding as much confidence and dominance as he could. Inside, Terry was a whirl of emotions.

      What if he didn’t choose the right partner for him? He didn’t want to do that to a Pokémon. What if his partner didn’t like him? Bad times as well. So many thoughts clouded his mind that he barely noticed when he bumped into the Professor. “Haha, well? Are you ready?” Jaw set, Terry struck out his finger, hoping for a good choice. Mudkip. Well, that could be fun. Terry sighed, and waited for the table to open. He waited. And waited. Nothing.

      “Uh, Professor? What’s wrong?” Birch looked worried himself, his earlier cool seemingly vanishing. “Uhh, nothing. Nothing at all! Try another one.” Birch pulled at his collar, small beads of sweat appearing. Terry shrugged, and pressed the icon for Torchic. The table opened up, and Birch sighed with relief. But as the pedestal rose, there was no ball. Panic started to rise in Terry’s chest. What was happening? What did he do wrong? Before he could do anything, the Professor quickly pressed the last icon for Treeko, and sure enough, nothing. Panicking himself, Birch paced back and forth, muttering and pacing, pacing and muttering. Suddenly, he dashed outside the laboratory, not a word said. Terry stood next to the table alone, and heartbroken.