Chapter 1: A Gift from the Stars (Part A) by Michael Keens/ Exodus Hi everyone, my name is Tetsubo Capture, I’m seventeen, and I’ve been studying at Pokémon Tech for five long years. My parents work in the Power Plant, east of Cerulean City, full time, which is why I had to go to a boarding school, I have a younger brother, he’s on a Pokémon Journey of his own, and my older sister... She’s not around anymore... Pokémon Tech has had its ups and downs, but I passed with flying colours and came to an important decision. I have the qualifications of a trainer with all eight badges, and so I could go straight to the Kanto League with some Rental Pokémon if I wanted, but I want to make a name for myself and I want the experience of training, battling and forming friendships with people and Pokémon. I know that I can become a Pokémon Master, I know I can. This is how my journey began: I had finished my final exams, it was so easy for someone who studied. I remember the last question clearly: “What Pokémon’s breath is known to melt boulders? A Charizard of course.” I was given permission to leave the college and start my Pokémon Journey, but first, my family wanted to celebrate my seventh birthday and see me off. I had already received a pack of curative Pokémon items, and a credit card for Pokémon goods. Great Uncle Slowpoke (that's what the Fuchsia residents called him), and Aunt Betty, had already left and I was sure Mom and Dad were saving the best present for last. “Happy Birthday Dear” said Mom planting a kiss on my cheek. She had short auburn hair and a pale yellow casual dress. “Thanks Mom,” I replied. “Your Father also helped get this gift.” she added. “Thank you Dad.” I couldn’t well leave him out before opening it. He gave off a grin, he had short spiky blonde hair and a moustache and beard along with a red shirt, blue jeans and brown boots. It was flat, maybe a token or voucher for the ferry rides? I tore at the wrapping paper and found a pass to the Safari Zone. “Aw wow! Thanks a lot, I’ve always wanted to go there!” “We thought you might need to capture some more Pokémon if you’re going to be a Master Trainer.” added Dad. “Cool. When can I go?” “You mean, when will the party be over so you can get going, you eager little scamp, well we’re leaving to go to the Power Plant again so why don’t you stick around until tomorrow?” “Okay Mom.” I replied, it was the least I could do. “You might want to pick up a Pokémon from Professor Blossom tonight. She wants to sponsor you on your journey.” said Dad. “She does?” I was surprised, Blossom was one of the most renowned Pokémon researchers on the planet, she had only recently moved to Fuchsia and was just as legendary as Professor Oak and the rest of the researchers. I was told that my Pokédex could be collected from a professor due to move to Fuchsia City but I didn’t expect it to be someone so famous. “I’ll be back soon!” I shouted, leaping out the open window and dashing towards her lab. I was stopped by someone big, literally, I had run into him and while I fell to the floor, he stood like a rock, it was... Oh no... Big Bad Bryan. He existed to make my life a living heck, he was in Pokémon Tech too, as the local bully, he surprisingly trained himself well, but he got expelled after getting caught sabotaging grades. He was much older than me, and a big guy, with a clump of straight brown hair that stuck outwards. “Well well well, if it isn’t the smart-alec ‘Capture.” “Oh, er, Hi Bryan.” “Don’t Hi Bryan me, I’ve never liked you.” I tried to walk away, but I was stopped by the pounding loudness of his voice. “Hey, don’t walk away from me, I heard that you were going to train Pokémon instead of taking the easy route, but seeing as I’ve been forced to do that myself, you may as well quit now, because you’ll never beat me.” I gasped for a moment, “You’re training Pokémon too?” I asked, trying to hide my anxieties. “Sure am. But unlike you, I know I’ll beat all competition. Pokémon will respect my iron rules and worthwhile training, what’s your policy on training Pokémon?” He had me there, I quickly thought of an answer. “To train a well balanced team, properly but fair.” “Hah! That’’s where we’re different. You haven’t even got a Pokémon yet.” “I was about to get one from Blossom.” “That stuck up lady? I don’t know why you bother!” He walked away, I was more relieved than annoyed at his sudden departure. I ran into Blossom’s labs before she closed up for the night, but there were police there, I crept by them so as not to be kicked out, and ran for Blossom’s office. But there was one hitch, a female officer with long green spiky hair was talking with Blossom. “Young man! I’m afraid I’m conducting police business! You’ll have to leave!” “But I came to see Blossom, I’m-” “Tetsubo, right?” said Blossom before the officer could say anything, “I’m very pleased with you, you got a perfect score at Pokémon Tech, yet you wish to train Pokémon like everyone else does.” “So that gives me an advantage as a trainer?” I asked in a hopeful way. “Not quite, there’s only so much you can learn from books, now you need experience out in the world.” “Professor Blossom, how do you expect to find the culprit if you’re talking to this boy?” “Officer Jenny, thanks for trying but the one who did this knew what they were doing, there’s nothing that can be done.” “Alright. But if there’s any more information you can give, report back to me right away.” “I will.” she said with a soft voice before turning to me, “I can’t let you leave here empty handed. The reason I called you here was to give you a relatively strong Pokémon to start your journey, five years away from training would have cost you precious time otherwise." She led me to her office, I could see her better now, as beautiful as I had known her to be, long green spiky hair and a perfect figure in that lab coat and black skirt, she was much older than me, and would probably grow to be a good friend since she’d be the one taking care of my Pokémon. “In here are two Pokéballs, you may choose one.” “Two? I thought new trainers got to choose between three Pokéballs.” “That’s what the police were here for, there was a theft here recently, the criminal was probably in need of a Pokémon so that's why I’m not too bothered. Provided he cares that much about training a Pokémon, the Pokémon he stole should be in safe hands and not be mistreated.” “I see.” She was so mellowed out even after losing a prized Pokémon. “In the Pokéballs are Staryu, a Water-type Pokémon and Voltorb, an Electric-type.” I thought hard. “It would have to be Staryu. I’m not ready to watch my Pokémon blow itself up every day.” “A fine choice. Here you go, release it from its Pokéball and say hello.” I picked it up and since it was my first time, I recited a phrase that a great deal of people used. “Staryu! I choose you!” A bright light burst out the ball and formed into the small orange star with yellow plates between the points supporting a round red jewel. “Star!” it shouted. Blossom kneeled down and spoke to it. “This is your new trainer, his name is Tetsubo and he’s an experienced Pokémon student, I’d like for you to be friends with him.” “Taryu!” it replied. Cute, the majority of Pokémon could only say their name, but a good trainer would learn to communicate better with their Pokémon. “Hi there little guy. You’re a strange Pokémon.” I was replied by a blast of water from Staryu. “Okay Okay! I’m sorry!” I quickly apologised. “Here is your Pokédex. It records data on Pokémon you see and catch and also counts as your I.D. I’d appreciate very much if you’d try to record all the Pokémon to aid my research. I’ve already registered you into the Kanto League and I have faith you will become a great trainer. We’ll see each other again when you become a better trainer.” I knew what that meant: Catch and train more Pokémon, record Pokémon entries whenever I had the chance, beat 8 Gym Leaders around the world and get as far as I could in the Kanto League. “Staryu! Return!” It blasted back into the ball the same way it came out. “Thank you Professor Blossom, I promise I’ll make you proud.” End of Chapter 1A Chapter 1B Back to Story List #1 - #20 Back to the Pokézone