I'm Dimmy. Yeah, it's my nickname. My real name was Dimitri Xavier Ketchum. 
Ash's grandson.
     Ever since I saw my grandfather, and my father become Pokémon trainers, I 
just wanted to follow in their footsteps. It was everything to me. Pokémon 
training was in my blood. My grandmother, Misty had done it. My grandfather, Ash 
had done it. My grandmother's sisters had all done it. As did my father. Ash Jr.
     I slept restlessly that night. I was too excited. I had turned eleven. I 
had not been able to train the year before because of several injuries I 
suffered in a car accident. But now I was recovered. I was ready!
     "You still awake?" my friend, Jamie asked me. She yawned and twisted in the 
bed above me. 
     "Half awake," I replied, rubbing my tired eyes. "I'm tired, but I just 
can't sleep. What time is it?"
     "It's about one in the morning. You'd better get some serious rest ... we 
needa get up at five to get the good Pokémon."
     I frowned. "Five? But the lab doesn't even open until about seven thirty."
     "It'll be too crowded by then. Just get some sleep."
     Without another word she threw the covers back onto herself and rolled over 
in her bed, letting herself drift off to sleep. 

The alarm clock rang at 4:55. I groaned and swung my arm at it, knocking it off 
the desk. 
     It landed on a rug, but didn't shut off.
     After another minute, Andy climbed down with a yawn and shook me. "Wake up, 
Dimmy. Today's the day."
     "You said we didn't wake up till five," I muttered, pushing her hand away. 
"A couple more minutes."
     I heard her sigh and walk away. I thought she'd let me get some more sleep 
... until I felt cold water splash the back of my neck. 
     I threw the covers off of me. "Fine! I'm up!"

I trudged to the bathroom and brushed my teeth. Jamie had two backpacks for each 
of us in her hand. "Your mom gave us three backpacks. I took the pink one. Do 
you want red or brown?"
     "Red," I said. Red was my favorite color. I instinctively loved the color. 
I didn't know why I did. Something about my father dying when I was young. He 
wasn't that nice to me or my mother and I was only six. I can't say I was sad 
about his death ... but it was hard growing up without a father. The last thing 
he gave to me was a red bandana. It was too big for me back then, but now I wore 
it on my head all the time.
     Jamie threw the red bag onto my bed and the brown one back into the closet. 
     I rinsed my mouth, washed my face and started to put the wash cloth in the 
"dirty clothes" basket. 
     "Wait," Jamie said. "Grab two bars of soaps and two cloths. We need to 
bathe at some point."
     I nodded and did so. I glanced at my watch and saw it was fifteen minutes 
past when we initially set out to be ready.
     "We'll pack later. Come on, we need to get to the lab!"

I pulled on a pair of sneakers. Jamie and I left a note for my parents telling 
them we'd be back and we went to Professor Oak's lab.
     Professor Gary Oak was Prof. Oak's grandson. He was always competing with 
my grandfather and never really seemed to mind a little battle right in the 
middle of his office every so often. 
     "Can't you walk any faster? It's only a mile!" Jamie called back to me.
     I glared at her. "Well, excuse me, but I'm not the one on the track team, 
so I'm not as used to walking long distances like you are."
     Jamie rolled her eyes and slowed down a little bit so I could catch up. 
"Look," she said, pointing. "There's the lab over there! Hurry!"
     Once again she took off into a sprint. 
     Cursing under my breath, I ran as hard as I could and tried not to breathe 
very much. "JAMIE!" I yelled, furiously.
     I then saw it. Jamie was running across the four way, and through the trees 
I saw a truck speeding right at her.
     My jaw dropped. "Oh my ... JAMIE! STOP!"
     Jamie did stop -- right in the middle of the street. She turned to me with 
a frown. I pointed to the truck. She turned her head towards that direction and 
gasped. 
      I charged at her, tackling her to the ground. The truck avoided us by 
inches. I felt like I was going to be sick.
     "Was ... was that truck trying to run us down?" Jamie asked, breathlessly. 
     I shrugged, unsure of it. "Maybe he had something on his windows and -- and 
he didn't see us or something."
     Jamie slowly nodded. I could tell she wasn't so sure. "Let's just go," she 
said quietly. "We'll pick up our Pokémon over at the lab."
     "You kids need a 'rod er somethin?"
     Jamie and I turned towards the voice and saw an elderly man wearing a straw 
hat. He was in a pair of black overalls with a white T-shirt underneath. 
Sunglasses covered his eyes and he swiveled a toothpick around in his mouth. 
"Well, do ya?"
     "Yeah ... but we don't really like to hitchhike. No offense, sir."
     "Nonsense!" he said. He leaned back and patted the back-seat. "Don't worry. 
I don't got a gun or 'nuttin. I heard you were going to the lab and I'm on my 
way by that area myself. My job is only about a few blocks behind it. Besides, I 
used to be a cab driver. I'm not gonna crash or 'nuttin."
     I turned to Jamie and shrugged. "What can it hurt? Our parents will never 
find out."
     Jamie nodded. "Alright."
     "Thanks, sir," I said, pulling open the back door.  
     Jamie climbed in and then I did the same. 
     "Sir?" the man asked, with a chuckle. "Don't call me 'sir'. It's so formal, 
and I hate that. You guys can call me Jimmy."
     "Oh, well, thanks for giving us a ride, Jimmy," Jamie said with a nod. "It 
was nice of you."
     Jimmy discussed his love for Pokémon training, the whole three minutes, 
driving to the lab. Some parts were interesting, but he went through it quickly, 
since it was only two minutes.
     "Woah, you caught a Dragonair and an Electabuzz in your first month of 
training?" I asked, in astonishment. Dragonair and Electabuzz were two of my 
favorite Pokémon ever.
     "Yep," he said. "I don't think much of it no more. Dragonair evolved onto a 
Dragonite a few years later. And Electabuzz became one of my best friends, even 
though it was a 'Pokémon."
     The car slowed to a stop, about thirty yards away from the Pokémon lab. 
"Well, here's your stop. Nice talkin to ya, kids. I hope ya get the Pokémon you 
wanted."
     "Yeah, us too," I said. 
     "Thanks for the ride sir. Nice talking to you," Jamie and I said in unison. 
She closed the door behind us, and we waved as we walked up the steps. 
     Within seconds we approached the door. I swung it open.
     Professor Gary Oak was standing over the kitchen counter. He had been 
making a glass of milk apparently, and was still half asleep.
     "Oh!" he yelped with a start. He glanced at his watch. "Excuse me for being 
sleepy..." He yawned. "I wasn't expecting anyone for about half an hour. Can I 
offer you some milk? Soda or tea maybe?"
     I took a breath. "No, professor. But Jamie and I came here because we were 
ready for our Pokémon." 
     Suddenly. I heard a loud clicking noise down the hall, followed by a 
slurping sound. I realized it was just somebody cracking their gum. The figure 
then appeared in the hallway and I realized it was...
     "Zach, you're awake!" Oak exclaimed. "Why, ten minutes ago you were just in 
bed."
     "I want a starter now, grandpa," he said. He was trying to rub the sleep 
from his eyes. He was fully dressed, however looked tired and his hair was 
messy.
     "Well, you guys are all an hour early. I don't know if the other trainers 
will like this very much ... but I suppose you can all have your Pokémon now..."
     He opened the tube and three Pokéballs were lying on the table. "This year 
we have Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. They are all very rare Pokémon and 
that's why they are offered here. Take your pick."
     "I pick Charmander," Zach said immediately. "I've been waiting for ages!"
     He snatched up the Pokéball and a Pokédex. "Thanks Grandpa!"
     "Here are six Pokéballs for each of you. Six for you, Jamie, six for you 
Zach, and Dimmy ... six for you."
     "Well, I can't wait any longer," Jamie said, impatiently. "I pick 
Squirtle!"
     She grabbed the Pokéball and a Pokédex. 
     "So I guess I'll take Bulbasaur," I said with a smile. Jamie knew that 
Bulbasaur was the Pokčmon I've always really wanted. 
     I reached the for the ball, but all of a sudden the lights flashed off.
     "Hey!" I yelled out of instinct. 
     "What happened to the lights?" Prof. Gary Oak demanded. 
     I was shoved down to the floor and I heard a tiny scream as Jamie landed on 
top of me. I struggled to push her off of me, without either of us getting hurt. 
I strained to see in the dim light the rising sun provided, but it wasn't 
enough. It was too dark to make out anything.
     I heard an evil laugh and then a click. 
     Prof. Oak's papers were scattered across the floor and their were muddy 
footprints leading from the door, to the table, back to the door--- the table!
     "Hey! Bulbasaur's gone!" I cried.
     "It is? Oh no!" Jamie groaned.
     "Well, that sucks," Zach muttered. "But that's the breaks little man."
     "Well, whoever it was didn't bother to take a Pokédex," Professor Oak said. 
"I'm really sorry, Dimmy. I don't know what to say..."
     "It's alright," I muttered. "There's always next year..."
     "Don't say that," Jamie said. "You can still..."                
     "I've waited a year, I can wait another one right?"
     "Well, I'm leaving now Grandpa. I'll call every chance I get," Zach said to 
Prof. Oak. "The next time you see me, I'll have badges and Charmander will have 
evolved into a Charmeleon!"
     Prof. Oak chuckled. "That's good, Zach. "You know, you're just like me when 
I was your age. My first Pokémon was Eevee. I kept bragging how good I was going 
to be as a trainer. But remember ... don't get to cocky, Zachary. Because when 
you get cocky, the only person who can defeat you is yourself."
     "Yeah, yeah, yeah," Zach said, impatiently. He hugged his grandfather and 
grabbed up his backpack. "Seeya."
     Prof. Gary Oak sighed. "Good-bye."
     I made my way to the door, but was stopped by Jamie. I turned to her and 
she had an intense look on her face. "Listen, whoever that guy that stole 
Bulbasaur was wrong. But I'm going to help you catch your first Pokémon and 
that'll be your starter. Okay?"
     I smiled. "You really don't have to--."
     "I want to," Jamie said, defensively in her opinion. "Because I'm not 
leaving on my journey until you do."
     I started to speak, but she embraced me in a hug, quickly. "Just say yes."
     I appreciated her effort, but I knew I would look like a wuss in front of 
the other guys if I had a girl catch my first Pokémon for me. But I knew Jamie 
was right. There was no other way I could start my journey.
     "Thanks," I said to her. She released me from the hug and hugged the 
Professor. 
     "Bye," we said in unison. We both walked out of the lab and walked home.

"Hey," my mom said, greeting us. It looked like she had just awaken from her 
sleep. She rubbed her eyes and scratched her hair. "Jamie, which Pokémon did you 
get, sweetie?"
     "I got Squirtle," she said. "I want to be a water Pokémon trainer ... like 
my sisters were."
     "That's nice," Mom said with a smile. "Dimmy, how about you?"
     "I, uh ... didn't exactly get one," I admitted.
     Mom looked confused. "Didn't get one? Why not?"
     I knew if I told her a mysterious person had cut off the power and ambushed 
us to steal the Bulbasaur, she would freak out and she'd be too afraid to let me 
go Pokémon training.
     "Erm ... well, you see--."
     "Two other people thought two wake up really early to get Pokémon from the 
Professor too!" Jamie lied, quickly.
     "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Mom said, reaching out an arm for me. "Come 
here ... I know how much you wanted to get a Bulbasaur. We'll just hafta go out 
and buy you a Pokémon when we get enough money, or you can wait until next 
year."
     "Not necessary," Jamie said, again speaking up for me. "I'm gonna take him 
with me and we're going to catch a Pokémon for him."
     Mom was now bent over the stove, frying some bacon, with toast lying on the 
counter. "Oh, that is so nice of you, Jamie. When are you guys planning to 
leave?"
     "Hopefully tomorrow morning," Jamie said. She turned to me. "I'm gonna go 
outside and test out Squirtle's moves. If I see a Pokémon, I'll run in and let 
you know so we can catch it for ya."
     I nodded and walked into the living room. I was trying to fight back anger. 
Bulbasaur was supposed to have been my Pokémon. But somebody thought they had to 
take it away from me, for their own satisfaction.
     My mind was racing with thoughts. I eventually lied down on the couch and 
closed my eyes. It took a while before I drifted off to sleep...

"AAAHHHHH! GET OUT! GET OUT!"
     I woke up abruptly. I sat straight up and hit my head on the wall when I 
leaned to the right. "Ouch!" I hissed. 
     "AAAHHHH!"
     "Who's screaming?" I demanded, jumping up from the couch. I looked at the 
clock and realized it was nearly 2:00 in the afternoon. I had been sleeping for 
over six hours!
     I ran towards the direction of the screaming, but it stopped. Instead I 
heard panting and the sound of brooms sweeping against something.
     It was coming from the basement. I charged downstairs and looked at the 
scene.
     Jamie's Squirtle was unconscious on the ground. She was bending over it, 
trying to see how badly it was hurt. My mom was shaking a broom at something, 
her face red with anger and frustration. "OUT!"
    "What is it?" I asked. I walked further into the basement and gasped.
     There was a huge hole in the wall and wires were poking out. A small yellow 
Pokémon that resembled a mouse was pulling at the wires and growling.
     I pulled out the Pokédex and pointed it at the Pokemon.
     "Pikachu: The Electric Mouse Pokémon. Pikachu is a rare Pokémon usually 
found around Power Plants and forests in the East. It uses electricity for its 
attacks, and also to charge up. They are rebellious when wild, and sometimes 
extremely difficult to handle. Approach with caution."
     I licked my lips and pulled gloves from my pocket. They were black gloves 
that covered the back and palms of my hands, leaving the fingers exposed, kind 
of like Ash's, except they were black. They were used to protect your hands and 
arms from electricity, but still be able to grip things.
     I slowly walked up to Pikachu. "Here, Pikachu. I'm not gonna hurtcha. Just 
come here quietly. I'm not going to hurtcha buddy. Come here."
     I reached out a hand for it. But it bit my finger. I yelled in pain and 
grabbed my hand.
     "Your grandfather owned a Pikachu," my Mom said. "And its electric attacks 
are really powerful. Please get it out of here, but be careful!"
     I angrily snatched up the Pikachu. It tried to use a Thunderwave, but the 
electricity went into my gloves. I tried to keep it in my grasp, but it jumped 
out of my hands and onto my head. It then jumped off my head and ran up the 
stairs.
     "NO! Now it's in the house!" Mom cried. She turned to me. "Get it out of 
here, please!"
     "Alright," I said. I turned to Jamie. "What happened to Squirtle?"
     "Pikachu Thunderbolted it," she said. "Hurry before it burns down the 
house."
     "Right," I said. I ran by and grabbed Mom's broom, then charged up the 
stairs. 
     I got to the top and saw Pikachu's yellow tail poking out from under the 
couch. I dived for it, but it scooted quickly underneath the couch and growled.
     "No prob," I muttered. "I've been weight lifting since I was six. No 
problem for me."
     I grabbed the couch and picked it up as much as I could. I twisted around 
and sat it behind me. But Pikachu had once again escaped. It had gone through 
the hole in the floorboards.
     "I thought Mom got that fixed," I said. "Let's see ... the floor leads to--
."
     I remembered it went through the wall and up to -- my room!
     I ran for the stairs and pounded up the case. I turned towards the left, 
down the hallway, and into my room. 
     I looked around. If I was correct, it could enter through the airvent. 
     Pikachu did. It blasted off the vent with a Thundershock and then 
approached me. It nearly gasped when it saw me. "Pika pii!"
     It tried to jump back into the vent, but I blocked it. It glared and ran 
towards the door. 
     I sighed. "This Pikachu is giving me an extra workout. Come back here, 
Pikachu!"
     I ran after it, slamming the door shut behind me. It ran to the end of the 
hallway, towards the small door where you dropped the dirty clothes to. It fell 
20 feet, all the way to the laundry room. Pikachu jumped into it. 
     I knew if it entered there, there was no way I could catch it. So I too, 
squeezed into the door and let myself fall.
     Pikachu hit the floor first and scurried out of the way. I, still clutching 
the broom, tried to slow my fall, by pressing up against the walls, but I 
couldn't. So I took the broom, turned it sideways and threw it beneath me.
     It stuck right below the entrance to the laundry room. I fell on top of it. 
I was still around 4 feet above the ground. The broom broke after a few seconds 
and I fell.
     I landed on my knees and gasped for air. Pikachu was also exhausted. It 
looked at me, ready to fight.
     There was no way out. I knew it couldn't climb back up the laundry basket 
drop. And the door was locked. Pikachu wouldn't be able to unlock it. The window 
was sealed shut a long time ago, and there were no air vents, except for the one 
in the ceiling. Pikachu was mine.
     It aimed a Thundershock at me. I rose up my gloved-hand to block it. "Keep 
it coming," I said.
     This time it sent a charge of electricity in the form of a ball at my hand. 
This time I felt it in my uncovered fingers. Pikachu this time, glowed white and 
it let off a Thunder attack!
     The most powerful move an electric Pokemon can learn. I had to raise up 
both hands, but I was thrown against the wall. 
     Pikachu kept the attack going for a good 30 seconds. I could feel the 
electricity going through my arms. It was starting to hurt. 
     I was knocked down to one knee. Another 20 seconds passed ... and then 
nothing.
     The lights went out. I collapsed under my own weight. I was exhausted. 
Pikachu was lying on its back next to me.
     The lights flickered and then came back on. I sighed and turned to Pikachu. 
It was practically unconscious.
     With a great effort, I stood to my feet and took a Pokéball out of my 
pocket. I stood over Pikachu and threw it at the Pokémon.
     With a flash of red light, Pikachu was sucked in. The ball shook. Once ... 
twice ... three times ... four ... five ... six ... seven.
     The ball stopped. It then started shaking again. Eight ... nine ... ten ... 
eleven ... POOM!
     "I-- I did it!" I cried happily. "Everything is going to plan now! I caught 
a Pikachu!"
     I picked up the ball and ran to the door. I unlocked it and swung it open. 
I ran through the living room and opened the basement door. I ran down the 
steps.
     Mom and Jamie looked up. Jamie stood to her feet. "What happened? Did you 
get Pikachu out of the house?"
     I shook my head.
     "You mean it's still in here?!" they yelled in unison.
     I shook my head.
     "Where is it?"
     I showed them the Pokéball and shook it back and forth. "It's in here."
     For a second, there was silence. And then Mom smiled. Jamie screamed 
happily and ran towards me, nearly knocking me backwards with a hug. "You caught 
a Pikachu! Now we can go on our journey tomorrow!"
     Mom also joined in the hug. "Well, before you leave on your journey, how 
about helping me cook dinner?"

We made a giant chicken Caesar salad, corn bread and tomato soup for dinner. It 
was my favorite dish, as well as Jamie's. Jamie's father and sister were also 
coming over for dinner. 
     I set the table and then the doorbell rang. "I've got it," I said. I jogged 
to the door and then opened it up. 
     "Hi," a girl about 18 years of age said. She bent down and kissed me on the 
forehead. "Oh, Dimmy, you've grown up so cute! I remember you when you were just 
a baby. Do you remember me? Rachel? I used to baby-sit you, ya know."
     She looked like a tall version of Jamie. Her father walked by and shook my 
hand. "Nice to see you again. Jamie's told me a lot about you. She never said 
how handsome ya were, son. Hell, you're almost as handsome as I am. Haha."
     "Dad!" Jamie hissed. She ran over to him, and quickly pulled him away from 
me. "You said you wouldn't embarrass me tonight."
     He chuckled. "Yeah, I remember our deal. Hello, Mrs. Ketchum."
     "Oh, hi," my Mom said.
     "Julia, you get lovelier and lover everyday."
     Mom blushed as he kissed her hand. 
     He sat over at the table. "Thanks for inviting us to dinner. Salad, soup 
and grilled cheese. Julia, you are an excellent cook. You should be a chef."
     Mom blushed again. "Why ... thank you." 

We said Grace. Mom blessed our trip especially. "God, please bless our kids and 
their Pokémon on their journey. Thanks for the food in front of us and bringing 
us together on this day. Please protect us all and everything we own. Thanks for 
everything you've given us. Amen."
     
After we finished eating, Jamie's mom and sister stood to their feet. "Are you 
spending the night again, Jamie?" Mom asked.
     "Yes," she said. She turned to her dad. "Thanks for coming Dad. You too, 
Rachel."
     "Bye, Mr. Seliga. Bye, Rachel."
     Rachel hugged both of us. Mr. Seliga gave me a firm handshake and then 
kissed Jamie on the cheek. "Call me anytime you want."
     "Don't forget, guys," Rachel said. "You need to bring your laptops with 
you, because your homework gets emailed to you every Friday. Pokémon training 
comes with a few ups and downs."
     "Oh, right," I muttered. "Thanks for reminding us."
     Rachel kissed both of us on the cheeks and followed her father out the 
door. 

It was nearly midnight now. Jamie was already fast asleep on the bunk bed above 
me. Our stuff was packed in our suitcases. Sodas, snacks, clothes, laptops, 
DVDs, CDs, Pokéballs, shoes, Pokémon food and Pokémon Trainer handbooks.
     We planned to leave early in the morning. My mom knew the risks, but she 
also knew that every boy had to leave on his quest for Pokémon if they were 
truly that dedicated.
     I don't know when exactly I nodded off to sleep, but when it seemed as if 
my eyes had only been closed for three minutes the alarm clock went off. Broo 
broo bring! Broo broo bring!
     With a groan I reached my arm out from under the covers and moved it around 
the dresser, knocking off many things, trying to find the alarm clock. When I 
finally found it, I hit it as hard as I could. It turned off and then crashed to 
the floor.
     "Good morning," Jamie said, climbing down from the bunk bed. "It's time to 
go now ... are you ready to do this?"
     I nodded. "Yeah. I've been waiting eleven years to do this. I couldn't go 
last year, so this year I'm pumped! I'm ready!"
     Jamie giggled. "Yeah, but I think you'd wanna get dressed first. Your barn 
door is open."
     I gasped and ran to the bathroom, quickly pulling on a pair of jeans. Jamie 
did the same. When we were completely washed and dressed, we both picked up our 
backpacks and turned to each other. "Well, it'll be dangerous ... and it's time 
to go on our journey. We promise we always stay together on this journey no 
matter what?"
     She put out her pinkie for a pinkie swear.
     I took my pinkie, wrapped it around hers and shook her hand. 
     We pushed open the door and walked downstairs. Mom was waiting by the 
kitchen, with both our Pokéballs in hand. "Squirtle and Pikachu are healed now."
     "Come on out guys," I said.
     The balls opened, releasing Pikachu and Squirtle. 
     Squirtle walked over to Jamie and Pikachu jumped into my arms. "Pika!" it 
chirped.
     It pointed its paw at the Pokéball and shook its head. "What's wrong?" I 
asked.
     Mom handed me the Pokéball. "Pika pii!" it cried angrily when it saw the 
Pokéball.
     Mom thought about it for a second and then she looked thoughtful. "I just 
had a thought ... maybe this Pikachu is like my dad's Pikachu. It doesn't like 
Pokéballs."
     I turned to Mom. "Well, I guess you could be right. Pikachu, you don't like 
to be in Pokéballs?"
     Pikachu shook its head. "Chu."
     I put the ball back in my pocket. "I guess I'll hold onto it just in case. 
But if you don't wanna be in the ball, you don't have to." I turned to Mom. 
"I'll call you whenever I can."
     She hugged both of us tightly. "Bye," she said with a wave. 
     We turned and left the house, waving until Mom was out of sight.




Team Rocket HQ


"So Ketchum's grandson has finally left..." a tall man said. His voice was raspy 
and his face was hidden in the shadows. "Ketchum's grandson is going on his 
Pokémon journey. Excellent..."