Fingers quivering, palms moist, and heart coughing, I stared in disbelief. "You... what? Professor Elm wants me... now? But..." I couldn't help but have grown attached to the comfortable safety of my room, and now my mother expected me to expose myself to the world. I know it's the right thing to do, but... "But..." that's all that would escape my mouth. "Honey, it's the polite thing to do. I'm sure he has something very important in store for you, or he wouldn't have called me when he lives right next door. So get out of bed, it's 2:36 in the afternoon anyway."
I hesitantly crawled into my clothes, backwards at first and then eventually the correct way. I made my way downstairs, and mom looked at me with the same disapproving look that she does every time she sees me fully dressed. "Do you really have to wear that silly thing, sweetie? People enjoy, like, looking into your eyes, you know." I suddenly became more aware of my eyes blinking. I ran my pointer finger along the edge of my mask, feeling numb to her words by now. "I'm um... going to go see Elm now," I half-whispered. So, I hurried out the door before she could waste any more of my plentiful time with her condescending speak.
Shyly, I opened the door to Elm's lab. He seemed busy, so maybe he didn't need me that badly... perhaps I could leave, and then truthfully say that I had been to his lab! But no, that would be rude, and my guilty conscience was tugging me toward him. Anxiety-ridden, I approached. I half listened to what he had to say to me, but I was more preoccupied with his three Pokemon that he had in the lab. I was noting the fact that two of them were playing quite aggressively, but one of them was sitting out. It reminded me of myself and my cowardly ways, and I winced. "...so that would be so appreciated and... Leigh? Is there something wrong Leigh?" He too glanced at the three Pokemon. "Oh, I understand! You're interested in sharing a mutual relationship with another being in order to discover each other and experience a journey with hardships and triumphs alike!" Well, not exactly what I had in mind, Elm. But I decided to go along with it, lest I admit what I was actually thinking. "Erm... yeah! You've got it!" Elm did as much of a leap as someone his age could, and rushed over to the Pokemon. "I've got it, Leigh! Why don't you take one of these Pokemon, for keeps? It will be your partner permanently, so choose wisely!" This was unexpected, but I knew right away which Pokemon I wanted. The Cyndaquil had been the introvert of the group, and it also resembled my mask a bit. Perhaps the stars had aligned in a way that created the perfect situation that day.
Cyndaquil:
Dante - male
Bashful
Lvl. 5, Newbark Town
(I got lucky with the nature I guess, haha!)
I had never even had a Pokemon for a pet before, so I was a little nervous, which Dante sensed with ease. So, as you can imagine, we were both stuck in an awkward suspended nervousness. But eventually, we both took our first steps into route 29. It was like my blood had a race to get to my head before all of the rest of the blood, and my heart was its method of propulsion. I was a nervous wreck, alright. But surprisingly, battling came naturally to us once we encountered our first wild Pokemon, which was a Sentret. It was a slightly humorous battle, because Dante was too jittery to get his flame lit at first, but he got the hang of it eventually.
Fast forward to Mr. Pokemon's house, and there I was with my poor brutally beat up Cyndaquil. So they first rushed to his aid before we proceeded with anything, and then we talked - and when I say talk, I mean to say that I listened and he talked. Professor Oak even entrusted me with a Pokedex! I don't even have to let a single word past my tongue and I receive all of these gifts, what's up with that? Anyway, I was on my way back to Newbark town when this boy stopped me. "I BET I'M MORE POWERFUL THAN YOU, I CAN PROVE IT," he spat with his nose touching the front of my mask. "But you don't have t--" "BATTLE. NOW" So, we battled. And I won, even though drops of rain had started falling against Dante's favor. I guess that's one thing we will never have in common - I adore the rain, Dante despises it. Can't blame him, I guess.
I caught a glimpse of something shiny on the ground, and picked it up - it was this trainer's card. According to this card, his name is Rudy - fitting, he is quite rude-y. "Oh, my god, what are you doing? Give me that!!" He screamed, a tone of desperation in his voice. I jogged back to the lab with Dante wrapped up in my sweatshirt, and was greeted with handcuffs. "Silly criminals, always returning to the scene of the crime!" said the officer. "Even trying to hide behind this mask. Now, let's remove this to see your real identity..." "U-uh wait, no... You d-don't unders-stand!" Was all I could manage. Professor Elm, startled, gave the cop a lecture about making unnecessary assumptions, and demanded I be released. By the time all the drama was over, I was able to gather up enough courage to speak to this stranger, and tell him the name of the real thief.
After yet another gift of pokeballs from Elm's assistant, and a few practice throws at a target, I was ready to go catch my first pokemon. My nerves were on fire, I couldn't wait to see what my first Pokemon caught by myself would be. To my disappointment, we were met with emptiness, the entire area was completely deserted. All of a sudden, I heard a shriek behind me, that sounded familiar but at the same time I had never heard anything quite like it. I turned around, and Dante was being attacked by a wild Pidgey! Though Dante was hesitant when it came to battling, he couldn't hold back with this one - this Pidgey was a fighter. So we gradually weakened it, and then, with shaking hands, I threw my first pokeball. Anxiously, I stared at the shaking ball. One shake, two, three... click? Was that a click? It was! It was official, I had caught my first pokemon.
Pidgey: Bluebell - male
Bold
Lvl. 4, Rt. 29
By the time I started catching more Pokemon, the buzz I would get from the final click of the pokeball started to wear off. But it was still exciting, not knowing whether I would find a common Pokemon for my team, or if I would have the opportunity to include a rare gem.
Spearow: Rade - male
Lvl. 2, Rt. 46
My thought process: "Hmm, his face sort of looks like a mask. I know, I'll name him (Masque)Rade.
Weedle: Britney - female
Lvl. 3, Rt. 30
As I was staring into her eyes thinking of what to name her, I thought about how she inflicts the poison status upon her victims... and suddenly, the song "Toxic" by Britney Spearow came into my head. And thus, Britney was named.
Kakuna:
Ex-Lax -
male
Lax (NOT JOKING)
Lvl. 5, Rt. 31
Kakuna was named Ex-Lax because... he only knows harden, and is good for not-so-nice word for poop. And it turns out he has a lax nature... fancy that.
Grind, grind, grind.
Trainer battles.
Rattata: Maisy - female
Lvl. 4, Bellsprout Tower
Nothing extraordinary happened. I defeated the gym leader with primarily my birds, just for a traditional feel, and Rade passed away. I couldn't feel happy about my first badge, because I was too busy sobbing in the corner with my fallen partner. What could he have been if I had been more careful? This was all my fault... the rain pattering on the roof was only making it worse by adding dramatic effect. At least it hid my tears when I walked outside, another reason I quite like the rain. But the drops that normally were soothing on my skin, stung like scythes striking the surface of my arms. A side effect of death.
