Pokémon Red

I Choose You!

Tik tik tik! Tik tik tik!

I woke up with a start and had a quick bath. When I came out from the bathroom, on my bed were my new Pokémon Trainer clothes with a happy birthday card from Mom.

I brushed my hair and combed my teeth, or was it the opposite? Let's not waste time on that, need to hurry.

I walked downstairs in my new Trainer clothes that mom gifted.

"Happy Birthday my beautiful boy." Said Mom, hugging me. "These really fit you, huh?"

"They do." I said, smiling.

"Even though these clothes are new. The cap I gave you to wear belonged to your father." Said Mom. "Now it's yours. Okay come on, have your breakfast, you need to hurry."

Breakfast was already on the dining table, pancakes and my favourite tomato juice.

I quickly had my breakfast and got up from the dining table and stopped. Right in front of me was the same photograph from last night.

That day was one of the best days of my life. And now I'm the only one I have in the photograph, with Dad and Poliwag, both gone.

I removed the photograph from the wall and put it inside my bag.

"Red, have you seen Meowth?" Mom came into the dining room.

"He's probably doing something ridiculous as always." I hated that Meowth, always causing trouble. "I'll just go to the lab, you sure you aren't coming?"

"I'll just find Meowth and be there as soon as I can." Said Mom. "Hurry!"

I stepped outside. I felt alone, with all my friends on vacations with their families. Well, I just missed one of them.

"Well, well, well. Look who do we have here." Said Blue, standing in front of me. In case you're wondering, no he is not my friend, he is more like an- "Archenemy, how have you been?"

"Like you care, Blue." I said, trying to avoid him. Blue was one of my least favorite people, we hated each other more than anything. The fact that he was Professor Oak's grandson was the most unbelievable thing.

Blue was a year older than me, when he was 10, he quit school like any other kid to become a Pokémon Trainer, but he chose to learn more about Pokémon for another year. What a waste! The only way one is going to win the Pokémon League is with hardwork and determination, and what you learn on your journey rather than before it.

If you compare it with football, you can learn as much about it as you want without playing it, but you can never win with that knowledge.

"Just leave me alone, Blue." I said, walking towards the laboratory.

"You'll be alone, forever." Said Blue. "Not like you have many friends and most of them are losers."

I ignored and continued walking. I entered the lab and was greeted by Professor Oak.

"Ah, Red. There you are." Said Professor Oak, who was just waiting for me. "Happy birthday."

"Good morning, Gramps." Said Blue, entering the lab.

"Blue! You are on time as well." Said Professor Oak. "The reason I called both of you early today, is that you two need to get me two important parcels. Red, you need to go to the Viridian City PokéMart, the shopkeeper will hand you the parcel. And Blue, go to the Pokémon League front gate on Route Twenty Two, the guard will hand you the second parcel."

"What's inside the parcel?" I asked.

"You'll find out." Said Professor Oak, smiling. "But first, choose your starter Pokémon, have you two decided what you want?"

"I have." I said, I knew what I wanted to choose. I had been waiting for this very day for years. I was sure.

"I am." Said Blue. "Ladies first, Red."

On the table were kept the three starter Pokémon's Pokeballs. The first Pokeball was labelled Bulbasaur, the cutest starter Pokémon, it is a grass type, I liked Bulbasaur but I didn't want it to be my starter.

The second one was labelled Charmander, it was cute but still scary, something every fire type is. And this was exactly what I wanted, I was going to choose a Charmander.

The third and the last one was labelled Squirtle, being a water type it had a type advantage over Charmander, I liked it, but nothing could replace a Charmander.

"Choose wisely." Said Professor Oak.

"I know exactly what I want." I said, picking up Charmander's Pokeball. "I choose - Charmander!"

I sent out the Charmander. "Charmander." He said. I hugged my starter Pokémon. I could tell by his warm hug that he liked me, or maybe it was just the fire.

"Easier than I thought." Said Blue. "I choose Squirtle." He picked up Squirtle's Pokeball. "See you later, Gramps." Blue walked out of the Laboratory, on his way to get the parcel.

"I should be on my way then, Professor." I said, turning around.

"But first-" Professor Oak stopped me. "Happy Birthday again, Red." He handed me a gift box, it was as small as a Rubik's cube.

I unwrapped the gift, and opened the box inside it. It contained a Pokeball. Just by looking at it I could tell whose Pokeball it was. My eyes filled with tears. "It's not empty." Said Professor Oak.

"I know." I cried. "Come out, Pikachu." I tossed the Pokéball in the air and Pikachu came out. Pikachu was my dad's Pokémon. He was like a brother to me. We used to play all day when I was 7.

"The night your dad- he, he handed Pikachu to me, he told me to keep him safe until the day you can become a Pokémon Trainer. That day is today." Said Professor Oak. "Something tells me that your father knew what was going to happen to him. He was a good friend of mine but still was a mystery."

I hugged Pikachu.

"Pikapi." Said Pikachu, filled with happiness.