A Blank Slate

A Journey Begins

Perhaps it was fitting that it was raining, but I did not care yet as I was still a toddler.

I don't remember that day, which is probably for the best, but I still feel as if I am repeatedly living through it again and again.

I am secure enough in my pride to admit that sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the night my mother died and my father was kidnapped in front of me. I remember the blurry nightmares I recounted to the kind old matron at the orphanage.

I remember the day after the night a lot better.

I had just turned three that day; it was my birthday. I still hadn't realized that there was no one with me to celebrate with. The Rattata around me wouldn't help me blow out the candles, of course. Then, something had happened, and the matrons at the orphanage loved to tell me about the next day when they found me in a basket with a red ball.

Anyway, onto lighter matters.

Today, I turned ten, meaning I am finally an adult in the eyes of the law and free to start my Pokémon Journey, just like my parents.

I look at the locket in my hands and open it to reveal a plain-looking couple, the husband and wife, with black hair and brown eyes. The man was tall with wide shoulders and a red cap that partially hid his messy hair, while the woman was lithe and short with short wavy hair. I don't know their names, but I know they were great trainers.

I will make them proud.

By great luck, I had managed to convince the famous researcher, Professor Samuel Oak, to give me my Starter Pokemon, though he did warn me to arrive on time or else his limited supply of Starters would be finished.

Hence, I will be there an hour early.

I tie my shoelaces and stand up. I try to fix my hair and then put on an excited smile. As I was just going to walk for ten minutes from the Pallet Town Orphanage to Professor Oak's Lab, I decided that it was a calm start to a whole new journey.

As I strolled through the quaint streets of Pallet Town, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement building up within me. The town was serene, with houses neatly aligned, and the gentle rain washed away any dust from the streets. People nodded and smiled as I passed by, offering their congratulations for finally becoming a Pokemon trainer. Their words and encouragement only fueled my determination to succeed.

When I arrived at Professor Oak's Lab, it was still early, and I wasn't the only aspiring trainer in the town. I saw a few other kids while walking to Oak's Lab, some of whom I recognized from the orphanage, and they were looking at me a little enviously but waved at me in encouragement. I gave them a smile in return.

Professor Oak's lab was a sturdy, two-story building with a spacious yard that was filled with Pokemon habitats, and a vast, lush garden surrounding it. It was both a research facility and a haven for Pokemon lovers. I felt my heart race as I approached the entrance. This was the place where I would receive my very first Pokemon.

As I entered the lab, I was greeted by a wave of nostalgia. I had been here a few times before when the professor had organized some summer camps for children. Memories of watching him tinker with his Pokeballs and tending to injured Pokemon in the lab's clinic flooded back. The scent of books, the soft humming of machines, and the chatter of the researchers gave the place a warm and welcoming ambiance.

I saw a familiar face, an elderly researcher who chaperoned the children often, and I approached him.

"Hey there, kid," he said with a warm smile. "You must be excited to start your journey today."

I nodded vigorously, barely containing my enthusiasm. "Yes, sir! I'm ready to become a Pokemon trainer just like my parents were."

The researcher's smile widened. "I'm sure they'd be proud of you. Remember to get your Pokedex from Professor Oak as well. Better hurry, Gary stayed at the lab overnight!"