Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or any related characters, Nintendo does! I own the character Josie Sheridan though.
A/N This story is loosely based on my foray through Pokemon Leaf Green, there will be references to the anime show and the Pokemon will be able to know more than four moves at a time. It’ll be mostly game though including Rocket grunt encounters, no Jessie and James though, sorry.
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She was early, that was good, and she wanted to be the first in line. She couldn’t believe the day had finally come; she was about to become an official Pokemon trainer. She loved the town of Pallet, for all its charm, but it was too quiet and peaceful for her liking, she craved adventure, and that was what she hoped she was about to get. She’d said goodbye to her parents and told them that she’d call as soon as she got to Viridian city, which, factoring in catching a few Pokemon would be in a couple of days. She already had 10 poke balls, a present from her dad, so she could catch quite a few if she could find some. She had a few good food supplies too, being the daughter of Pallet’s general store owners had some advantages
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Stood outside the gates of the lab of the world famous Professor Oak made her feel giddy, to think how many good trainers had come about because Professor Oak had given them their first Pokemon. There was Ash Ketchum, a top 16 finalist in the Indigo league, winner of the Orange Island Challenge, a quarter finalist in Johto and currently travelling the Hoenn region as his mum, Delilah had told her proudly. Then there was Gary Oak, a great trainer, who was now a Pokemon Researcher like his Grandfather. There were many others, but as the gates finally opened she decided that now, she was about to leave her mark on the world, well if only Kanto at first.
“Hey Tracy,” she waved, entering the lab cheerfully. Tracy was Professor Oak’s assistant and an excellent Pokemon watcher; she’d seen the drawings.
“Josie,” he smiled. “How ya doing?”
“Just great,” she smiled. “I can’t wait to choose my first Pokemon.”
“Ahh, so you’re off today are you?” he laughed. “Very eager, and early, I’m not sure the Professor is ready for you yet.”
“Oh,” she calmed down a little, scratching the back of her head, embarrassed. “Guess I just wanted to get off as quickly as possible, the early Pidgey catches the Caterpie.”
“True enough,” an authorative voice sounded, as a doorway opened, the figure of Professor Oak emerging. “Good morning Josie, I guess you’d like your Pokemon so you can begin collecting all those badges to be had.”
“Oh I sure am Professor…Professor, thanks a lot for giving me a Pokemon, I’m really grateful, honest.”
He laughed. “I’m always glad to give you a Pokemon, after all without trainers sending me their Pokemon, how would I ever complete my research.”
She smiled. “Then I’ll be sure to send you lots of cool ones Professor, just you wait and see.”
“Heh, you remind me a little of Ash,” Tracey said in an almost reminiscent tone. “Well except you can wake up on time.”
The Professor laughed also. “Yes that is true. Well I have two other trainers due, but it looks like you get first pick Josie, which Pokemon do you wish to choose?”
“I put a lot of thought into this Professor,” Josie smiled. “You see if I chose Bulbasaur I’d have an easy time at the first two gym’s I plan to visit, but it’ll get harder after that, especially at Saffron City, I hear Sabrina wields a pretty mean Kadabra and Bulbasaur would be weak against him, due to the duel type.”
“Sounds like you’ve been doing your research,” Oak said. “I’m impressed.”
“Thanks,” Josie smiled, before continuing. “Squirtle would be an advantage in Pewter but by the time I get to Vermillion, Squirtle would just get fried, so I choose Charmander.”
“Josie, you can catch other Pokemon you know,” Tracey laughed. “Plus Charmander won’t be much use to you in Pewter or Cerulean.”
“Like you said Tracy, I can catch other Pokemon,” Josie said. “Plus Charmander evolves into Charizard eventually and I love Charizard!”
Tracy sweat dropped a bit as he remembered how hard a time Ash had gaining his Charizard’s respect. “Yeah, true enough I guess. Still you could’ve just said that in the first place.”
“But I wanted to show that I knew something,” she smiled.
Tracey laughed. “Well, you did. Off to a good start already then.”
“Then here you go,” Oak smiled, handing over a poke ball and her pokedex. “I wish you good luck on your journey, and don’t forget to phone in from time to time, I’d like a progress report.”
“Will do,” she waved. “And thanks again.”
Tracy and Oak waved the young girl down the path, before Tracey turned to Oak. “Hey Professor, guess its time to feed the Pokemon.”
Oak looked at his watch. “By gosh you’re…” he never finished his sentence as he was smothered by the purple mass that was Ash Ketchum’s Muk.
“Some things never change…” Tracey sighed.
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Walking up the hill, Josie studied her new Poke ball. Guess it was time to meet her new best friend.
“Come on out, Charmander,” she said throwing the ball into the air.
The ball opened and in a brilliant flash of white light, there stood her new fire lizard Pokemon. She smiled broadly as she caught the ball, crouching down to his level.
“Hey there Charmander, I’m your new trainer, my name’s Josie and I’m so glad to be your partner.”
The Charmander looked at her bemused for a second, before jumping up and down exclaiming it’s greeting in the only way a Pokemon knows how.
“Char, Charmander!” It…well sort of grinned, happily at least. It seemed they were off to a good start.
“We’re gonna make a great team Charmander just you wait and see, and we’ll have lots of fun, adventure and make new friends all the way. Sound cool?”
The Pokemon nodded smiling. “Char!”
“Then, lets begin our journey,” she took one long, last look at her home town, as did the Charmander, before resolutely turning round with her new friend and walking towards the road to Viridian City, adventure, and new Pokemon.