FSE

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" . . . Red! Your very own Pokémon legend is about to unfold! A world of dreams and adventures with Pokémon awaits! Let's go!"

Red woke with a start.

He sat up and looked around his room. His untidy traveling bag was slumped in a corner, and the daylight streaming through the window suggested that it was already midday. Almost everything he owned was thrown in a pile in the corner, with his bag. Other than the strange feeling of emptiness that surrounded the place, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Everything was normal, or at least as normal as it could be for a boy getting ready to start an adventure.

But that dream had seemed so real!

Red yawned and hopped out of bed. He stood at an average height for his age, with straight black hair that was usually covered by a cap. His face was short, with a rounded nose and determined brown eyes. He looked around his room; this would be his last time doing so. Of course, the dream was to be expected. He had been containing his excitement for weeks. Today he would be leaving for his journey. Today was the day he would set out to be a Pokémon Master!

He finished packing his bag, throwing in the loose contents that had fallen out, working quickly and making a mess inside, but he didn't care. He wanted to set off as quickly as possible. He took a final look at his room, and it struck him that, for the first time in his life, his room was actually clean and in order. He chuckled and turned away. He bounded down the stairs into the den.

Red lived in a small, two-story house, with his bedroom upstairs and the den and kitchen combined into one at the bottom. The furnishings were simple: the usual TV, kitchen table, and bookshelves neatly in place, tended by his mother. His mother. This would be the last time Red would see her, too.

She was sitting at the table waiting for him, and when Red went to her, she hugged him tightly.

"Right," she said. "All boys leave home some day. It said so on TV."

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine!" Red assured her. "After all, I'm going to get my own Pokémon today. We'll look after each other - you'll see. Nothing will be able to hurt us!"

She smiled and began to straighten Red's outfit, looking at him fondly. "Professor Oak, next door, is looking for you."

"Aw Mom," Red groaned as she began to slick his hair. "Alright already, I'm fine!" Of course, Red knew Professor Oak. They lived practically right next to his lab, and Red would go there frequently to play with the many strange machines and watch the Pokémon and trainers pass through.

He said his final goodbyes, and his mother hugged him tightly one last time.

"Good luck!" she called as Red opened the front door, his bag slung over his shoulder. "Remember, you can always come home, and I'll be waiting with a fresh bowl of soup. You and your Pokémon can rest here, too, if you need it!"

Red smiled as he closed the door behind him. He doubted he would be going home for a long time. After all, he was destined to be the strongest trainer in the world!

Pallet town was a small, seashore town on the western side of Kanto. Trainers would sometimes pass through on their way to the Pokémon League from Cinnabar Island, but this was rare. The town was usually very quiet and peaceful, even though it was home to the world's most famous Pokémon Professor. It was currently a beautiful summer's day with the faintest hint of a breeze: perfect for the start of a brand new adventure.

Red passed by Blue's house on the way to the lab and shook his head with a groan. Today was Blue's first day as a trainer, too. Blue was Red had been enemies since early childhood. They were always competing against one another, and Blue usually won. They were natural rivals, though Red had to pretend otherwise around the Professor. Professor Oak was Blue's grandfather.

Across the road, children were playing in the grass, pretending to be Pokémon and battling playfully. The odd thing about living in Pallet Town was that besides those that came to the lab, there were no Pokémon Trainers, and thus no Pokémon. So the children had to pretend the real thing. Red waved in greeting as he passed them and they shouted back. It had been only recently that he had played in the same carefree way, but now that he had moved up in rank to potential Trainer, they looked at him with an odd respect. There was a feeling of separation present, and Red felt apart from them for the first time in his life.

A little further and Red could begin to make out the sea in the distance. Pallet town made a direct route to Cinnabar Island via this sea route, though Red himself had never made the trip. It was rumored that there was an abandoned mansion on the island, haunted with ghosts and ghouls, and the children often dreamed up stories, playing them out on dusky nights when they were allowed outside. Red was always the main hero, and his mission was to save the people of the island from their fearful attraction.

He arrived at the lab and straightened himself out nervously. This was it. He knocked on the door and didn't wait for an answer before walking in, as this was custom in Kanto. He could hear activity behind the door, which meant that someone was inside.

The lab had always been an exciting place to visit. There were aides constantly scurrying about, all of whom were very friendly, and plenty of interesting things to see. Red remembered the first time he had ever entered the lab, when one such assistant had told him, "Professor Oak is the authority on Pokémon! Many trainers hold him in high regard!" He wasn't sure exactly what she had meant at the time, but he thought he had a pretty good idea now.

"Yo Red!" Blue called over from the back of the lab. Blue had brown, spikey hair and an air of dominance that always surrounded him. He was over-confident, and in Red's opinion, a bit of a jerk.

"Gramps isn't around!" Blue continued from the desk. This was where Professor Oak usually worked, and Blue was sitting like he owned the place. The way he sat told Red he was up to something.

"Well, where is he, then?" Red asked carefully, determined not to start a fight.

"How would I know? I'm not his keeper," Blue laughed. "Hey, what are you doing here, anyway? You can't really be thinking about getting a Pokémon? You've barely even seen one! You'd get eaten alive your first battle."

Oh yeah? Red would show him. He'd had plenty of practice, secretly of course, and Red was sure he could hold his own. For a while, at least.

"And what about you?" he shot back. "I've never seen you battle a Pokémon!"

"Shows how much you know," Blue said tauntingly. "My sister has been practicing with me for weeks now. You know Daisy, right?"

Red blushed. Of course he knew Daisy. She was a few years older than they were, and had already gone on her adventure as a trainer. Or, she'd started one. She had come back after reaching Viridian Forest because she'd been scared away by the bugs. But battling wasn't her thing, anyway, and she had decided to stay at home and work as an assistant to Professor Oak. She was a cute girl, and Red had had a crush on her since he was little.

"Yeah," said Red. "Well, I'm going to find him. I guess you can just sit here, but I don't know how you can wait to get your first Pokémon."

"Suit yourself, Eager Beaver. Maybe you should try looking on Route 1. I think that's where he went to study last."

"Okay, then. That's where I'll go," said Red, and he left the lab. Blue was bent over in hysterics behind him.

As he stood in front of the long grass on Route 1, Red was worried. All his life he'd been warned against leaving town on his own, where wild Pokémon could attack him. But where was Professor Oak? Blue had said that he was studying on Route 1, and Red needed to find him.

But the wild Pokémon!

Well, he would only be in the grass for a moment. Just long enough to find the Professor. If he sensed any danger he could just run away.

And so he took a step closer.

Red had only gone a few feet into the grass when he heard a shout behind him.

"Hey wait! Don't go out!"

It was Professor Oak, and Red swore to himself as he realized he'd been tricked.

"It's unsafe! Wild Pokémon live in tall grass! You need your own Pokémon for your protection. I know! Here, come with me!"

Red was terrified. Now what was going to happen? Was he going to be taken aside and scolded? Would he lose his chance at getting a Pokémon? Oh, no . . . anything but that.

They arrived at the lab, where Blue was getting impatient.

"Gramps!" he demanded. "I'm fed up with waiting!"

Professor Oak seemed to be taken aback. "Blue? Let me think. . . . Oh, that's right, I told you to come! Just wait!" Blue grumbled to himself as the Professor turned to Red, who was still imagining what his punishment could be.

"Here, Red!" said the Professor enthusiastically. "There are three Pokémon here!"

Puzzled, Red looked as the Professor pointed to the desk, on which stood three oddly-colored balls.

"Ha-ha! They are inside the Poke Balls," he explained. "When I was young, I was a serious Pokémon trainer! In my old age, I have only three left, but you can have one! Choose!"

"Hey! Gramps! What about me?" Blue complained, as Red stood dazed.

"Be patient! Blue, you can have one too!" Professor Oak looked at Red expectantly.

"Oh, I get it," Blue taunted, "Heh, I don't need to be greedy like you! Go ahead and choose, Red!"

Red walked slowly to the table. Now what?

How was he supposed to choose!

He asked the Professor if he could let the Pokémon out to see them, and was granted permission. So Red went to the ball at the far end of the table, and picked it up. He threw it like he had seen done in the movies.

The ball opened in midair, and there was a blinding flash of light. As it flew back to his hand, Red was amazed to see what looked like a plant with legs and a head standing on the floor in front of him. It seemed to observe him before lying down and falling asleep on the spot.

"Ah!" said Professor Oak. "That's Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon! A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon. So! You want the plant Pokémon, Bulbasaur?"

Red looked dubiously at the Pokémon still lying asleep on the floor. It didn't seem very interesting at all. He could just imagine how much he would be made fun of if he picked this one! "Would it be alright if I looked at the other Pokémon first, Professor?"

"Of course! I would consider it unwise of you not to. Please, take your time!"

Red picked up the ball in the center of the table and marveled at the fact that it was the same light weight as the first, even though the Pokémon themselves obviously weighed much more. He threw it and was again blinded by the light that emanated from it. The ball almost hit him in the head before he caught it.

Now there was a blue turtle standing on two of its four legs. And boy, was it a showoff. It jumped around the room, performing tricks and maneuvers, retracting itself into its shell and spinning enthusiastically. There was a peculiar star-shaped mark on its shell. It was called a Squirtle, Red read from a tag next to its ball. A glint appeared in Blue's eyes, but Red wasn't impressed.

He shook his head at the Professor, who gestured to the last Poke Ball.

This time he was prepared for the flash of light and the rushing Ball that followed, and Red's attention was quick to focus on the creature that appeared. This one was the strangest yet, but there was no doubt about it. This one was . . . cool.

It was a fire lizard, the description on the tag said. It had a flame on its tail and was completely red, except for its belly, which was a dull white. It stood 2 feet high, coming to around Red's waist, and had a feeling of warmth coming from it. Its mouth seemed to be turned into a smile under its protruding snout, but this couldn't be right, could it? At any rate, it seemed happy to be there.

The Pokémon tilted its head at Red and made a cooing sound. Red jumped back as it walked toward him. It nudged his hand with its head, and he tentatively pet it. It seemed pleased, and Red smiled.

"So!" the Professor said. "You want the fire Pokémon, Charmander?"

Charmander. So that was its name. It seemed to perk up on hearing this and Red was impressed by its alertness to its surroundings.

Red looked at the other Pokémon again, and then at the Charmander still by his side. He only took a second to decide. "Yes," he agreed. "My first Pokémon will be a Charmander!"

"Great!" said the Professor. "It's perfect for you, Red - this Pokémon is really energetic! Now, do you want to give a nickname to your Charmander?"

Red was confused. Nickname? Why would he give a nickname to a Pokémon? "No," he said slowly. "It'll just be Charmander."

"I'll take this one, then!" interrupted Blue, as he came over and seized the Squirtle's ball with glee. "My Pokémon looks a lot stronger."

The professor chuckled. "If a wild Pokémon appears, your Pokémon can fight against it!"

"Cooool . . ." said Blue happily. "Hey, Red! Let's check out our Pokémon! Come on, I'll take you on!"

"That sounds like a great idea," suggested the Professor before Red could answer. "There's certainly enough room in here for a battle. Your Pokémon can gain some experience. I won't be able to watch, though. I have an errand that needs tending to. Just remember to have fun with it!"

Now he was going to have to battle, too? Red did not like the sound of that. He looked at his Charmander fearfully. What if it wasn't good enough? What if he embarrassed himself in front of everyone?

Too late. Blue was already in a battle stance with his Squirtle, and people were beginning to gather around to watch. "So long!" called the Professor has he left the lab.

"Here goes nothing," Red muttered, and he too got into position. "Go! Charmander!" The atmosphere shifted as the Charmander jumped at his call, and Red knew what to do. "Charmander, use Scratch!" The Charmander jumped at the Squirtle, running ran a deep scratch in its shell before jumping back, out of harm's way.

"Your turn, Squirtle!" Blue yelled. "Use Tail Whip!"

"Ha!" Red laughed as the Squirtle did nothing but wag its tail. "That didn't damage me at all!"

Blue smirked. "Shows how much you know. Look!" The Charmander was still, watching the tail peculiarly, completely unguarded to its surroundings. "Now watch this!" The Squirtle attacked again, this time with a Tackle, and knocked the Charmander in the stomach, completely knocking the wind right out of it.

"Oh man, I forgot!" Red moaned. Tail Whips decreased the receiving Pokémon's defense. "Well, I know how to fix that. Charmander, use Growl!"

The Charmander growled fiercely and the Squirtle cowered in fear. Red knew it had worked. Now the Squirtle's attack power was lowered, and that balanced the effect of the tail whip.

Red grinned as Blue instructed the Squirtle to use Tail Whip again. "Two can play at this game!" he said. "Use another Growl, Charmander!"

The battle continued. His Charmander was obviously faster than Blue's Squirtle, and would attack first every time. Seeing as how his tactics to trick Red weren't working, Blue went for damage again. He told his Squirtle to use Tackle, which would have come close to finishing off the Charmander had its attack not been lowered. But as it was, when it ran its shell headlong into attack, it barely did a thing.

The Charmander was still completely fit to fight.

"Okay, now use Scratch again!" Red was too caught up in the heat of the battle to give much thought to why he had used the term "again," as though the Charmander could understand him. But it seemed to work. He cheered as his Charmander ran another Scratch through the Squirtle, this time through the front.

The two Pokémon again exchanged a series of stat lowering attacks, and then Blue directed another Tackle. Red responded with the same, which brought the Squirtle close to fainting.

One, two, three, four.

That's all it took before the Squirtle was too weak to battle and Red was declared the winner.

"WHAT? Unbelievable! I picked the wrong Pokémon!" stuttered Blue as the Squirtle fell to its knees, defeated.

"Yeeess!!" Red shouted gleefully, jumping up and down with his Charmander. Everyone gathered around was cheering and congratulating him, and the look on Blue's face only made him happier. He had won his first battle!

As Red looked happily at his Pokémon, it began to change. It was barely noticeable, and it was hard to describe what had changed at all, but the Charmander looked tougher now. More powerful. Red turned to Blue as the Charmander trotted off to inspect the fallen Squirtle.

"What just happened . . . ?"

"Isn't it obvious? Pokémon get stronger when they get experience."

"Experience?"

"To level up. Duh."

"Level up?"

Blue groaned. "Man, you don't deserve to be called a trainer, let alone win a battle! Pokémon gain experience when they win battles, which makes them stronger. That's it. Happy?"

Red grinned. So that's how Pokémon got stronger, by winning battles? And all he had to do to become a Pokémon Master was to level up? This was going to be easy!

He turned back to his Charmander, ready to share the good news, but the smile dropped as he saw a wriggling blue tail slipping into the Pokémon's jaws.

And an empty blue shell with a star shaped mark, spinning like a top, right next to it.

"CHARMANDER!! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"

Red yelled. He snatched up the Charmander and pressed it against his belly, squeezing tightly, trying to Heimlich the devoured Squirtle up and out. But it was no use. He yelped as the flame on the Charmander's tail burned his arm, and he dropped the Pokémon. As it fell, its Poke Ball was knocked out of his pocket and captured it inside.

Red picked up the ball and stared before dropping it in fear.

Blue's face appeared, right in front of his. It was furious. "Jeez, Red! What was that for? I thought this was only supposed to be a practice battle, huh!?"

"What- no- but, I-"

"Your Charmander ate my Pokémon!"

"Wait! But- no! I - I mean . . .!"

Red looked down at his Poke Ball and then back up to Blue.

He wailed as he realized what he had done.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .