It was a sunny, beautiful day outside. I punched my alarm clock so it would stop ringing, pulled the covers off of me and started to stretch. The sunlight pierced my eyes as I opened them to search around my room for clothes. I quickly grabbed some clothes off the dresser and went and got changed in the bathroom. After I was ready to go, I looked at the time. I had 5 minutes before I had to leave. I walked out into the main part of the house and looked around. I would miss this place. I headed back into the bathroom to grab and put away a few things. I stood there, looking at myself in the mirror, I was growing up. Today was the final day of my boyhood and after today, I was a man. A man that was going to become the greatest Pokémon Master ever!

I stepped out of the house and closed the door. I had said goodbye to my family, and I knew I was going to miss them a lot. I was going to come back and visit though; I didn’t want them out of my life forever. I started to make my way down the sandy road and head for the place that my Pokémon journey would begin, the Pokémon Professor Elm’s laboratory. I was walking for about 15 minutes when I got to a very big, rectangular shaped building with a green roof. A hundred thoughts raced through my mind at once, I really didn’t know what to expect. I knocked and then opened the door. “Professor Elm?” I called out “Professor Elm?” I walked into the lab, closing the door behind me, admiring the technology and paperwork that was covering loads of desks. I heard a rustle at the end of the lab, and a head popped around the corner. “Er... hello” the head said, I’ll be with you in a second. I smiled and nodded. I made my way down towards the end of the lab where the professor was and I could see what he was doing. There was a table with three Pokéballs and three pictures. “So whats your name, child?” the professor asked me. “Uh, my name is Adam, and I’m here to begin my Pokémon journey” I replied, nervously. I was quite intimidated by the structure of this place. “Okay” started Prof. Elm “Well, all Pokémon trainers begin by choosing a starter Pokémon, so I guess you’ll be choosing one of these three that I’ve prepared. You have to only choose one, and their names’ are Chikorita, the Grass-type, Cyndaquil, the Fire-type or Totodile, the Water-type. Which one will you choose?” My head felt like it was going to explode – I didn’t know which Pokémon I wanted, and I didn’t know I had to make a decision straight away. “Er... uh... hmm” I pondered on it. I didn’t really want a Fire-type to begin with, they were too much to handle, and I really didn’t think I wanted a Grass-type, they seem a bit useless to me. “Totodile, the Water-type please Professor” I had decided. “Ah, Totodile, that’s a fine choice, good job, let me just give the Pokéball to you” Professor Elm handed me the first Pokéball from the right and he also gave me the picture of the Pokémon. Just as the Pokéball touched my hands, a huge bashing noise was heard from the front of the lab. Prof. Elm and I both turned around to look, and a young girl started running down the stairs of the lab. “Lily, could you please see who is making that racket and tell them to please stop it” Professor told the young girl. She opened the door as Prof. Elm and I both watched. A young boy with a red jacket on walked into the lab. “I am Ari, and I am here to take my starter Pokémon, professor” Ari started walking towards us. I knew I wasn’t going to get along with this boy, he seemed so... uptight.

Hours had passed and Professor Elm, I and Ari from before were sitting around the table which still had two Pokéballs on them. “Now Ari, we’ve been at this for hours, which Pokémon do you want? Chikorita, the Grass-type or Cyndaquil the Fire-type? You should hurry and decide quickly, it’ll be dark soon. “Fine, fine...” Ari said “I think I’ll go with the Grass-type ... no, I want Cyndaquil, the Fire-type, thanks Professor”. Professor handed Ari the Pokéball on the right and also gave him the picture. “It’s getting late, but I wish you both good luck on your Pokémon journey’s and if you ever need help, come here and I’ll be sure to give you advice. Ah, Lily, come say goodbye.” The young girl from before came running down the stairs and stopped right next to Prof. Elm. “Oh goodbye boys. I’m going on a Pokémon journey too; I just come here and help the professor whenever I have free time. Looks like I’ll be getting the remaining Pokéball and it looks like that’s Chikorita. YES! I love Grass-types. Did you know that the first Pokémon ever is Bulbasaur the Grass-type. Grass-types are also said to love the sun and water...” Lily trailed off on numerous facts about Grass-types when Prof. Elm decided to pipe up. “Ah, Lily dear, I think these boys need to get going.” “Oh yes, sorry professor... um... well, see you out there!” Ari and I turned around and headed out the door, waving back to Prof. Elm. “Well, good luck on your Pokémon journey” I said, before I stopping to go our separate ways. “Heh, I don’t need luck. I’m going to be the greatest Pokémon Master in the world” He sounded so cocky. “We’ll see about that” I replied. “Oh yeah?” he sounded like he wanted to start a fight “Well battle me with your new Pokémon, c’mon, right here!” It sounded like he almost was begging. “Look, it’s almost dark...” but I was cut off with his taunting “Oh yeah, sure! I bet you couldn’t beat me. You wouldn’t stand a chance!” I clenched my fist and grabbed my Pokéball off my belt. “Let’s do this”.

“GO, Cyndaquil!”
I launched my lone Pokeball onto the playing field. A creature emerged that looked like a large, teal rodent with four red spots on its back. The spots began to flare as the other guy threw his Totodile. I immediately shouted my first attack.
"Cyndaquil, use Flamethrower!"
Cyndaquil timidly approached the Totodile and blasted it with the flames on its back. Totodile got burned, but recovered quickly and used Water Gun. Cyndaquil was hit and almost immediately fainted. I started cheering him on.
"Don't give up, Cyndaquil! You can do it! Use Flame Wheel!"
Cyndaquil covered himself in fire and charged at Totodile, causing some more damage. It still had an infereor effect to whatever that Totodile threw at him. I was losing the battle.
"Come on, buddy, keep trying!" I said while Adam laughed to himself. That guy is such a jerk...

"You realize that my Pokemon is a Water Type and yours is a Fire Type, right?" he said. "That means my attacks are going to have a more powerful effect than yours. It's like 'rock paper scissors'." I didn't listen to him. I kept using attacks like Fire Spin and Ember, but it wasn't doing much. Meanwhile, Totodile was beating Cyndaquil to a pulp.

"Totodile, use Water Gun!"
Cyndaquil was finished. He caught the attack full blast and fainted. Disappointed, I grabbed my things and stormed off.
"Hey, hold on! What are you doing?"
"I'm getting some new Pokemon," I called back. I didn't know where I was headed, I just went straight forward.
"Let's battle again some time, okay?" I didn't answer. I was furious. This Pokemon journey thing was harder than I thought.

A few hours later, I found myself in a clump of trees. I heard strange noises coming from the bushes, so I started going in the opposite direction.
"Better get out of here before I get lost," I said to myself. But for some reason, I couldn't find where I had come from. I starting walking around in random directions hoping I would find out how to get out of this place, but I just kept getting deeper and deeper into the forest. I was hopelessly lost by now.
"This isn't good..."
I decided that Cyndaquil had gotten enough rest, so I let him out of his Pokeball so he could follow me around. (Actually, I was just kind of scared and wanted some company, but that's beside the point.)

Suddenly, there was a loud rustling in the bushes. I darted around, looking for a place to hide. I jumped behind a big tree. Then, the thing came out from behind the bushes. I held my breath...

It was Lily.
"What the heck are you doing here?" I said.
"I finally found you!" she said, panting. "I came looking for you because Adam said you'd stormed off and may have gotten lost. I just wanted to help you get back."
"I don't need any help," I snapped. "I can get out of here on my own. Go away."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm sure! Leave me alone."
I started to walk away, followed by Cyndaquil. I heard Lily sigh and go back.
"Phew," I said. "Glad she's gone. Now, Cyndaquil, let's see if we can catch some new Pokemon!"

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