Maple was up early and ready to go - but her mother caused the delay.   Maple was the only girl in the family, with both an older and a younger brother.  As such, it was no secret she was mother's favourite - her brothers much too boisterous and loud.  Her mother wiped back a tear while she straightened the Jigglypuff themed hat on her daughter's head.

"Now are you sure you don't need anything else?  I don't think you have enough socks.  We can stop off on the way and get you another three or four pairs."

"Mu-uuuum I'm fine!" Maple groaned.

"I think we should also buy a water bottle for your Pokemon.  It's getting hotter, and I wouldn't want you to get dehydrated while training."

"We'll be okay Mum."  Her mother looked a little upset that her daughter did not want to go shopping.  In reality, all she'd wanted was to go on one last shopping trip together.

"Well, I'll walk you down to Professor Oak's.  Hopefully he'll have a cute, pink pokemon for you to take."

When the two arrived, nobody was outside his lab.  "I'll wait here," Maple's mother said.  Maple gave her mother a smile and entered the lab alone.  Right at the back she could see Professor Oak.  She'd never actually met him before, but she'd seen his face a thousand times on TV, as well as a boy who'd she'd seen around but never actually spoken to.

Maple approached the professor and the boy. 

"Oh you've arrived.  I was beginning to think you wouldn't make it!" He pushed his glasses up his nose with a single finger.  "This is Jon," he said, motioning towards the young boy at his side.  Maple looked down at the Pokemon at his side.  It was kinda cute but it looked like a frog with a plant growing out of its back.  It was weird.

"I'll leave you two to get to know each other," he said to Jon and the Bulbasaur and took Maple over to the two remaining pokeballs.  "Jon has taken Bulbasaur, so there are two remaining.  This one is Charmander," me motioned with a hand, "and the other is squirtle."

So the only two pokemon remaining were a lizard and turtle.  Maple tried her best to hide her disappointment.  She was really hoping for something furry and cute.  "I guess I'll take..." her voice quivered with uncertainty.  "Squirtle"  She took the ball and cupped it in both hands before pressing the button and releasing the pokemon.  The squirtle looked up at her with its big eyes before saying a bright "Squirtle!".

"I think she likes you," Oak said.

"Good morning, Clive."

Mom opened the curtains, filling the room with light. Under the sheets, something moved, apparently trying to break out of its torpor. That somethiing let out a mumble that was 50% whining, 50% complaining.

"Wake up, sleepyhead. Didn't you have something to do today?"

The movements stopped.

"Oh, crap! I'm late!"


"SORRY I'M LATE!", yelled a heavily-breathing Clive when he barged in, desperately looking around for Professor Oak. What if he... no, there he was. With company.

"Are there any pokemon left?"

"Well, Bulbasaur's too badass for a nickname." He overheard Maple. The pokemon seemed to agree, as it mimicked its' new trainer's enthusiasm with a loud, "Bulbasaur!"

Jon chuckled. "Oh yes. This is going to be fun."

All three Pokemon had been claimed by their new trainers.  Maple looked down at her squirtle, and declared, "Your name will be... Celeste!"  The squirtle seemed to think about it before excitedly jumping up.  "Ah I'm glad you like it," Maple crooned.

She looked over at the other two trainers and their brand new Pokemon.  She skipped over to them, Celeste bouncing along beside her.  "Hi!" she said, waving sweetly.  "My name is Maple!"

"I'm Jon!" Jon said rather proudly. Again, he was emulated by his bulbasaur, which was only hilarious. "And my Bulbasaur."

Jon thought for a mere moment, "Hey, I think you live next door to me, actually." He turned to clive, "And you're a block away."

"Your brother? The one that never stopped talking about how much he wanted a Growlithe, right?" He was sure that was her brother, anyway. They used to play when they were smaller. "Yeah, I know him."

"Clive, on the other hand..." Jon looked him over. "I've never talked to you in person. But I've seen you on our street..."

The boy did look familiar, though. Though Pallet was small, Jon didn't talk to everyone except the people that could tolerate his loud, boisterous attitude. and now his Bulbasaur had to deal with it.