Disclaimer: Before I start this fic, let me get somethin’ straight. I don’t own Pokémon or any Animé show (not yet, anyway o^_^o ). I just had to say that. I also don’t own the SM song, "It’s a New Day" that appears in this fic. Oh yeah, but I do "own" Yugi Indigo, who happens to be the lead character in this story. Lessee here, I think I got everything… Hmmm…

The Start of Something New…

Chapter One: The Gift

Written by Umbreon (Master of Darkness)

(*Yugi* Hiya! I’d better introduce myself before this story starts. My name’s Yugi Indigo. I’m ten years old and I live in New Bark Town. I have dark violet hair [long, comes to just below my ears] and amber-colored eyes. My preferred wardrobe [what I’m gonna wear tomorrow, when I get my starter Pokémon] includes the following: a light blue T-shirt, camouflage-patterned baggy jeans, a black jacket [with a picture of Articuno on the back], my lucky cap [black, with a yin yang symbol surrounded by blue flames], and my silver Dragonair necklace [I prefer to call it a "chain"]. Well, I think that’s everything… I’ll see ya soon!)

(*666* Just as a warning, anyone who has a strong dislike for fan fics with songs in them should turn back now… *half the audience leaves* … Maybe I shouldn’t’ve said that…. *666 sweatdrops*)

Story:

" This is great, I’m gonna become a Pokémon Trainer today!" I cheered, jogging to Professor Elm’s lab. It was only a few blocks away from my home, which is why I decided to walk.

Soon the great form of the laboratory loomed over the horizon, beckoning, calling my name. Unfortunately, that wasn’t all that was there…

The blue lights of Officer Jenny’s motorcycle flashed as it purred gently to no one. It had been parked directly in front of Professor Elm’s lab!

I picked up my pace and headed for the door. It was wide open. Peering inside, I saw the familiar piles of paper that filled the room. I walked inside, careful not to disturb anything. An odd sound came to my ears. It sounded like…

I walked around a heap of old books and stopped suddenly. The scene before me was simply heart-wrenching...

My two rivals, Anna and Kelly, were sitting on the floor, crying their eyes out.

…Crying… That’s what I heard before…

" What’s going on? What happened?" I asked quickly, trying to figure out what had caused the scene.

" I think I can answer that, young man," another voice said suddenly, causing me to jump nearly a meter in the air.

I spun around to see Officer Jenny standing behind me. Beside her was Professor Elm. He looked extremely tired. His face was haggard and dark circles could be seen forming under his eyes.

" Team Rocket broke in here a few hours ago. They took every single Pokémon…" Elm said sadly.

I stared at him in shock. My poor Cyndaquil had been stolen?!

" What?!" I yelped, a mixture of anger and confusion pulsing though my stunned brain. I looked back at the pair of girls, both of whom were still crying.

" I’m sorry, Yugi, but until we catch the culprits, I’m afraid you won’t be able to start your journey this year…" Elm apologized softly.

Anna and Kelly’s wailing reached a fevered pitch as my numbed mind tried vainly to comprehend what had just been said.

" I think the best thing for you kids to do right now is go home," Jenny suggested.

I nodded slowly, Professor Elm’s words still vibrating within my skull.

I don’t remember quite what happened immediately after that. All I know is that about five minutes later, I was back on the road, headed home.

" Paging Yugi Indigo, paging Yugi Indigo. Please report to the New Bark Town Pokémon Center immediately!" boomed Nurse Joy’s voice over the intercom.

Blinking twice, I snapped suddenly from my reverie. I altered my course and headed toward the Pokémon Center instead of home.

I pushed open the doors and walked up to the front desk. Nurse Joy was bustling around behind the desk.

" Chansey, chan chan!" Chansey called, tugging on Joy’s short skirt. The pink, egg-shaped Pokémon was a common sight around the Center.

" What is it…?" Joy snapped, turning around. She looked just as worn out as Professor Elm.

" I’m Yugi Indigo---," I began.

Joy cut me off by shoving something wrapped in a towel in my face.

" What is it?" I wondered aloud, and soon regretting it.

" I don’t know what it is. Can’t you see I’m busy!" the nurse shouted. She then went back to doing whatever she had been working on before I’d interrupted her.

I walked out of the Pokémon Center, clutching my mystery prize.

" There you are, Yugi. So, what Pokémon did you get from Professor Elm?" my Grandmum asked innocently as soon as I open the door.

I ignored her and headed for my room. Carefully closing my door and locking it, I sat on my bed and unwrapped the "package". It was…

" A Pokémon Egg…?" I whispered, hardly believing what I saw.

It was about twenty-eight centimeters long. The shell was black with red streaks crisscrossing it.

I held the Egg to my ear. Something was moving inside! I gently placed the Egg back into the towels and wrapped it up.

Grinning internally, I looked at my prize once again. I would have a starter Pokémon after all…

~*~*~*~

* He accidentally runs down the wrong street and is soon cornered by a pair of bullies*

* The bullies advance on him, but he only grins*

* Yugi runs toward the older children. Being so small, he dives and easily slides under their legs. He begins to run once again.*

* The library appears on the horizon. He’s almost there!*

* Thinking fast, Yugi grabs a can of motor oil from the town mechanic. Yelling his apologies to the confused mechanic, he then spills the oil out behind him*

* The bullies skid on the puddles of oil and lose control of their bicycles*

* The teens, unable to stop, slide into an alley and wind up in a pair of open trash cans*

* Yugi looks behind himself and grins, surprised at the outcome of the chase*

* He reaches the library, out of breath, but unharmed*

~*~*~*~

I slowly trudged into the building with slightly higher spirits than before. Russell and Patrick were well known for their favorite game, called "Tackle the Twerp." It was amazing that I’d managed to escape them this time, for they’d caught me several times before. Their "game" consists mainly of them chasing down someone smaller than themselves (which was rather easy, for they’re HUGE!), cornering them, and repeatedly Body Slamming the victim until they get bored. In my case, it took them about ten minutes to become bored with me. Of course, by then, I had been knocked unconscious.

I went to one of the computer catalogs and began my search. The subject: How to raise Pokémon.

As I looked through the hundreds of titles, something caught my eye. Turning around, I saw a little girl (when I say little, I mean younger than me, not smaller). She was going into my backpack!

" Hey, stop that!!" I yelped angrily, snatching my bag away from her. Her eyes filled with tears as she ran off. I sweatdropped, realizing that several people were staring at me.

Muttering something along the lines of , "… Of all the injustice…", I picked up my pack and when into one of the rows of books. Luckily, they were arranged by subject matter, so it didn’t take me long to find what I was looking for.

I checked out the book, which was titled, The Breeders Guide to Pokémon, and went to the door. I stopped, suddenly aware of the large shadow that was looming over me. I turned around and sweatdropped once more. A large woman, probably in her mid- thirties, stood over me. The little girl of whom I’d yelled at before stood behind the woman.

" So, you’re the one who made my little Katrina cry," the woman, obviously the girl’s mom, roared.

I mouthed wordlessly for a while. My vocal cords simply refused to work.

The woman advanced on me. This time, I didn’t have the advantage of being small. In fact at was at a disadvantage at that moment.

Before I could react, the woman grabbed my left ear and dragged me out the door.

After asking several people on the street, who happened to include Russell and Patrick, she learned my name and found my address.

I was dragged to my doorstep. The girl, Katrina, skipped the whole way. It was obvious that she did this regularly.

" Are you Tillie Indigo?" the woman asked my Grandmum as she opened the door.

" Um, yes, why do you ask?" my Grandmum asked timidly.

The woman yanked me forward. "I have your grandson here. He made my daughter cry for no reason."

It was about that time that I got my voice back.

" She was trying to go through my backpack! I have something very important in there!!" I retorted suddenly.

The woman glared at me and twisted my ear. I cried out as white hot pain flooded my brain.

" You have no right to hurt my little Yugi!" my Grandmum yelled.

" What’s going on here?" asked a new voice.

The woman let go of my ear and turned around to face whomever had asked the question.

I made a frantic dive for my Grandmum.

Officer Jenny stood at the front gate of my Grandmum’s property. A shocked look spread across her face as she seemingly recognized the woman and Katrina.

" I know you! You’re that wench who believes everything her kid tells her!" Jenny yelped.

‘ Wench…’ I made note of the word. I might use it to my advantage later…

My Grandmum took my hand and pulled me inside the house.

" That was close…" I sighed.

" What was so important that you had to yell at that little girl?" Grandmum asked, a hint of anger in her voice.

I sweatdropped. I was afraid that she’d ask that.

" Nothing," I lied, grinning. If she knew that I had a Pokémon Egg, she’d never let me keep it.

" Then why---?"

" I just don’t like people going through my stuff."

" Hmmmm…" Grandmum obviously didn’t believe me…

Before she could finish the interrogation, I ran to my room and locked the door. I took the Egg out of my backpack and placed it on the bed.

Touching it, I made a startling discovery…

" Ack, it’s cooling off!" I yelped. I looked around the room frantically, searching for something, anything, to help keep the Egg warm.

A small heater stood near my closet.

" Perfect…" Grinning, I picked up the small device and flicked it on. Nothing happened…

I sweatdropped. There wasn’t much time!

I held the machine with one hand as I flicked the switch on and off repeatedly.

" YOOOOWWW!!" I screamed, dropping the device with a dull thud. It had gotten hot surprisingly fast.

Tears formed in my eyes as I blew on my singed hand. That was NOT my idea of fun…

I set up the heater near my bed and gently placed the wrapped Egg near it. Now it would stay warm without me worrying… I hoped…

I opened the book and began reading…

*~* Four hours later *~*

" Yugi, dinner time!"

I awoke with a start. Blinking and yawning, I soon realized what had happened. I fell asleep while researching my new "project".

" Be right there!" I called back, rubbing my eyes and yawning again.

I turned the Egg over (I read that you had to do that so that all sides of the Egg will stay warm) and headed for the dining room.

Grandmum and Grandpop were already at the table.

" So, I heard that you went to Professor Elm’s lab today to get your first Pokémon," Grandpop said, beginning a conversation that I didn’t want to go into.

" Hmmmmm…" I murmured, stuffing my face with Grandmum’s famous Broccoli Soufflé. I really didn’t want to talk about it…

" Well, what did you get?" Grandmum inquired.

I sweatdropped and shoved another fork-full of food into my mouth.

" You know, I remember when I got my first Pokémon…" Grandpop sighed, going into a half-daydream like state.

I sighed internally. He’d obviously seen that I was uncomfortable with the subject, so he started to ramble on about his childhood. I’d heard the story many times, but it was still rather interesting…

*~* Two hours later *~*

" And that’s how I single handedly saved all of the DigiWorld from the Dark Masters," Grandpop finished, looking rather pleased with himself.

Grandmum and I exchanged confused looks.

" Gramps is becomin’ more senile by the minute…" I muttered, resting my head on my arm. Glancing at the clock, I learned that it was 10:23 P.M., waaaaaaaaay past my bed time.

" Yugi, why don’t you run along to bed," Grandmum suggested.

I yawned in response. Tomorrow was going to be a loooooooooooooooooong day…

(*666* So, how was that? I’m not really that good at writing "New Trainer" fics… Please tell me what you think. Your opinion will make a difference. If I don’t get enough reviews sayin’ that I should quit while I’m ahead, I’m just gonna move on to chapter two. TTFN!)