Accumula Town, early spring.
Meadows of grass and blossoms wrapped the little town, rolling with the hills into a uniquely beautiful scene.
In a house within the town, an aproned woman climbed to the second floor, tapped on a wooden door, and called inside:
Alia, time to get up! Isn't today the day you go to the Trainer Association to claim your first Pokémon? If you keep lazing, they might all be gone!
Inside, a sixteen-year-old girl jolted awake. Rubbing her eyes and hearing her mother, she let out a cry of panic.
Oh no—I'm going to be late!
Rustle, rustle!
The shrill shout startled the Pidove perched on the branch outside. The common Pokémon flapped away in fright.
Alia flung off her blanket, rushed out without washing or eating, and dashed from the house, calling over her shoulder:
Mom, save breakfast for me!
The woman sighed helplessly at her daughter's disappearing back.
That child…
She stepped inside to tidy the rumpled bedding.
Worry flickered in her eyes.
Had letting Alia become a Trainer been the right decision?
The wilds were nothing like the town; dangerous wild Pokémon roamed everywhere, and a single careless moment could invite an attack.
Even apart from Pokémon, survival itself was a huge challenge for a girl just turned sixteen.
Enough food, clean clothes, healing herbs—if all went smoothly, fine, but what if she got lost or her food was ruined?
Yet Alia, dizzy with dreams of Pokémon partners, noticed none of her mother's fears.
She sprinted straight for the town's Trainer Association.
Remote though Accumula Town was, His Majesty Draconis had still built a Trainer Association here.
At the entrance she found a crowd of youngsters already waiting.
They weren't just from Accumula; many had come from nearby Nuvema Town and smaller villages.
The numbers were large, but not as overwhelming as she'd feared.
Probably many parents, fearing the wilds, had kept their children from becoming Trainers, she thought.
Inside, she told a staff member:
E-excuse me! I'm here to receive my first Pokémon. What do I do?
This way, please!
Yes, sir!
The attendant led her to a room where three Pokémon waited.
They had been chattering; when they saw her, every head turned.
Their eyes shone with open curiosity and hope, eager to see the human they might partner with.
Alia's nerves tingled.
She studied them.
Over the past year Accumula had opened a Pokémon School teaching basic knowledge, and bookshops sold picture guides; through them she'd learned to recognize many species.
She instantly knew the three before her.
From left to right: Patrat, Purrloin, Psyduck.
These are the Pokémon the Association has prepared. Choose one as your partner.
The attendant smiled and continued:
On the left is Patrat—highly alert and excellent at scouting.
Hearing its name, the Patrat hopped excitedly. Patrat!
It gazed at her, hoping.
So cute! Like most girls, she was defenseless against adorable Pokémon.
But with two more introductions coming, she held back.
In the middle is Purrloin, a nimble trickster who strikes from unexpected angles.
Unlike Patrat, Purrloin stayed cool, merely curling a tiny smile and regarding her with bright eyes.
This kitten was adorable too; her heart fluttered.
On the right is Psyduck. It looks vacant, but it can fire a powerful Water Gun.
Guh? Psyduck tilted its head and pressed its wingtips to its temples.
So—which will you choose?
A three-way choice!
Her gaze drifted over the three very different Pokémon, and for the first time in her life she knew true indecision.
Yet cuteness alone wouldn't keep her alive in the wild; strength mattered.
Alert Patrat could warn of danger.
Cool Purrloin could outpace foes.
Dopey Psyduck could blast enemies with Water Gun.
Which to pick?
So hard!
The attendant waited without rushing.
At last Alia drew a breath. I've decided—Patrat!
Patrat leapt for joy.
The other two couldn't hide their disappointment.
Final decision?
She nodded, avoiding their eyes. Yes, final!
For wilderness survival, Patrat's skills were the most useful.
From today, Patrat is your partner. You will travel, live, and care for one another, never abandoning the other.
Alia and Patrat locked eyes and nodded together.
Mm!
Patrat!
Then please take this.
The attendant handed over a parcel.
Inside she found a book.
His Majesty Draconis had it printed: pictures and notes on known wild Pokémon to help you identify them.
Her eyes lit up—perfect!
Next came several spheres. These are Patrat's Poké Balls. The Association adds five empty ones, but we advise catching sparingly at first; a single person can't care for too many.
Understood! Alia nodded eagerly.
Also, here is your Trainer identification. It proves who you are, logs the Gym Badges you collect—please keep it safe," the staff member added, handing over another item.
Alia accepted it with reverence.
"All right, your journey starts now!" the staff member said with a smile. "Before you set off, we have a few tips."
"Please, go ahead!" Alia felt certain these would be vital.
"For safety, consider staying in town to train your Patrat for a while. Once it's stronger, head out so you'll have some ability to protect yourselves."
"Also, when catching new Pokémon partners, we recommend prioritizing ones that know Surf, can swim, or can fly."
"That way, when you reach an uncrossable river, a Water-type can ferry you across, or you can ride a Flying-type to speed up travel."
"Yes! We'll remember!" Alia nodded, committing every word to memory.
*
Meanwhile, in Castelia City, inside the Trainer Association.
Derick regarded the three Pokémon before him, lost in cool deliberation.
On the left stood a small, blue, bipedal, puppy-like Pokémon—Riolu.
In the center, a four-legged mouse Pokémon with prominent front teeth: Rattata.
On the right, a white, mushroom-shaped Pokémon whose cap resembled a Poké Ball. Its stubby arms and large pink mouth made it look endearingly odd—Foongus.
"Choose one, huh?" Derick mused silently.
The trio studied him in return.
He crouched for a closer look at their bearing and condition.
He would become a powerful Trainer, earn a place in the year-end tournament, and win recognition from His Majesty Draconis.
Only then could he give his mother a better life.
For that dream, he would give everything.
Like people, Pokémon varied in strength; he had to pick the most gifted, then grow strong together.
Among them, Riolu's gaze was calm, eyes filled with resolve.
Rattata shrank back, clearly frightened of strangers.
Timid nature… Derick noted.
Foongus blinked its beady eyes, innocent and bewildered, like a child unaware of the world.
"Child, which will you take?" an elderly voice asked.
The three Pokémon waited, watching him.
Derick had already decided.
"Sir, I choose Riolu," he said.
"Riolu… an excellent choice," the old man replied. "Then this Riolu is yours to raise."
"Yes, sir!"
After more advice and a parcel of novice supplies, the selection was complete.
Clutching his Trainer ID, Derick left the Pokémon Association.
"Next, train Riolu, get stronger, challenge Gyms!" he told himself.
Castelia City had its own Gym; he planned to test its Gym Leader soon.
But first, other matters awaited.
"Riolu, I'm Derick. My dream is to become Eindoak's strongest Trainer!" he declared in a quiet alley.
Riolu's eyes flickered; it sensed its partner's burning ambition.
"From today on, let's do our best together," Derick said earnestly.
"Woof." Riolu nodded.
Rather than rush onto the road, Derick returned home. Seeing his Anxous mother, he soothed her.
"Mother, don't worry—I've grown up."
"Sigh…" She exhaled, knowing her son's stubbornness.
She turned, drew out a cloth bundle, and unfolded coins saved over years.
"You'll need money out there. Take what I've set aside."
Derick hesitated, then shook his head. "I earned enough working. They say Trainers are hired everywhere; I can make more on the road."
"Eat well while I'm gone. When I'm a great Trainer, I'll come back and take you to better days."
A smile broke across her lined face.
She sighed again. "Listen to you, telling me what to do."
"Mother, I swear I'll give you a good life!"
"All right, I'll be waiting," she said, smiling through tears.
…
Derick stepped outside with Riolu, fists clenched, resolve firm.
He would become a mighty Trainer!
Nimbasa City.
Draconis sat at his desk while Alfred reported statistics from regional Trainer Associations.
"Your Majesty, all eligible youths have collected their starter Pokémon as ordered."
"Current tallies show roughly three thousand have received their first partners."
Three thousand… Draconis gave a slight nod.
The figure neither high nor low. Though he promoted Trainer culture, many still saw Pokémon as dangerous.
Coupled with perils of the wild, three thousand exceeded his expectations.
"It will suffice," Draconis said.
Yet he wondered how many would survive until year's end.
Even in the anime, traveling Trainers met accidents; in this harsher era, losses could be worse.
Hence he had refused to set the starting age at ten.
Still, this path was necessary for the world's progress.
To limit casualties, Draconis implemented many measures: survival lessons in schools, advising Trainers to raise Pokémon in towns before departure, and prioritizing Flying- and Water-types.
....
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