1 Chapter 1 - When It all Began

Looking at the sunset from his favorite beach in the outskirts of the city of Kawayan, Rico, a kid with striking bright green eyes, dark brown, loosed hair and wearing his sky blue and apple green, long sleeve, buttoned polo shirt, dark grey pants, and dark blue and dark red shoes, was thinking about his future, a future that complex and hazy, even though he wanted to be an electronics engineer like his father. But since it will take years for him to achieve that, the choices gap between his childhood years and adult years is missing. Even worse, he couldn't think of what Pokémon he wanted to get, despite the encouragement from his parents, who were loving, supportive, and worried about him. But there is one person whom he admired the most, and that person inspired him to become a Pokémon Trainer. But going home after seeing the sunset will change his life for the better, as well as the path he will be taking.

This is Rico Cruz, or better known as Rico, an 11-year-old boy from the city of Kawayan in the Philas region, where technology and culture intermixed. In terms of appearance, he had dark brown, loosed hair, bright green eyes, and light beige skin. His hair was the same as dark chocolate and it goes to the right, but not completely covering his right eye. He had a balanced personality: one side was nice and kind, and the other was bad-tempered when being criticized. In addition to his balanced personality, he preferred no shortcuts in training and studying, and rather work his way up slowly and steadily, another key part of his personality.

In terms of hobbies, Rico likes to read books and write journals and commentaries, ride a bicycle, and climb trees and cliffs.

His favorite colors are sky blue, tomato red, apple green, orange, charcoal black, grey, and white.

His favorite foods are sandwiches, potato chips, chocolate and cheese-flavored ice creams, blueberry muffins, yellow curry, and mashed potatoes.

But, Rico had barely any trauma. When he was 5 years old, his older brother, Jonathan, a Pokémon Trainer, disappeared while fighting off against Pokémon thieves who is trying to brainwash Arceus. This leaves a scar in Rico's mind, and ever since, every time he saw his brother's room, he always remembered the times he spent with Jonathan. But, he and his parents never lose hope and instead hoped for Jonathan's return.

And as he rides his bicycle on the way home, Rico suddenly spotted a Riolu, a rare Fighting-type, collapsing on the side of the road. Upon seeing that, Rico stopped aside and get off his bike, approaching the injured Pokemon. Taking a glance at it, Rico picked up a stick and started to poke Riolu in an attempt to wake it up, thinking that it might attack him. He did that for a few times, but to no avail. But then, suddenly, two Pokémon thieves, dressed in grey t-shirts, green caps, yellow and green vests, grey shorts, brown boots, grey gloves, and each are armed with a gauntlet and rode on a Z.Z. Flyer, emerged from the trees, and faced Rico.

"I think this Pokémon here will be perfect for you," the male grunt said to Rico. He and his partner then laughed at that. Rico had a harsh criticism on Pokémon thieves.

Holding Riolu in his arms, Rico retorted back angrily, "Hey! How dare you hurt this Pokémon?"

"We're not hurting that Pokémon," denied the female grunt, "we're catching that for our boss."

This angers Rico even more.

"Oh, yeah? Go away!"

He then started to pick up some stones and began threw them towards the Pokémon thieves. But the pair dodged his childish attacks, with one of them commenting, "Ha! You'll never hit us. We are the Pokémon Pinchers, and we-" That grunt's sentence was cut off when the fourth stone managed to hit the lever that controls the Z.Z. Flyer, leaning it towards the right, and causing it to lose control, and it eventually hit the male grunt's partner's Z.Z. Flyer as well, sending both to the ground.

"This is a distraction," Rico said to Riolu seriously. "I'll take you home."

Riolu then responded back weakly.

Rico then placed Riolu in the bike basket, rode on his bicycle, and dashed off towards home.

Having managed to regaim control of their Z.Z. Flyers, the two Pokémon Pinchers noticed this escape and began to chase.

And in that chase, the Pokémon Pinchers began shooting waves of circular beams using their gauntlets, but Rico dodged their attacks by shifting his bike left and right and vice-versa, like the stunts you see in action movies. At last, Rico arrived at an abandoned house, took Riolu with him, and both of them hid inside. The Pokémon Pinchers then began to inspect the house in search of Rico and Riolu, but Rico and Riolu hid vigorously and hardly. After a few minutes, the Pokémon Pinchers failed to find them and just left the abandoned place. Once the Pokémon Pinchers left, Rico and Riolu emerged from their hiding place, and Rico took his bike with one hand, and the pair managed to arrive home, which just a block away from the abandoned house. The first stone of Rico's path of becoming a Pokémon Trainer had been set in front of him.