1 Cinder Lark

"The Kanto-Johto League, or from what you know it as - the Indigo League. The Indigo League is a joint operation of the Kanto League and the Johto League, sharing a single 'elite four' and 'champion'. There is no such thing as a 'Kanto Elite Four,' or a 'Johto Elite Four'. The regions very clearly share the same league." A teacher was standing on a podium. She faced her students, some listening with boredom, a few were whispering with their classmates beside them, whilst some were focused, as they attentively listened to her lecture.

The teacher, Ms. Flora, smiled as she continued. "Hence, the 'Indigo League' was formed. The network of challenges for trainers wasn't known for being small, can anyone tell me why?"

A few hands shot raised up as soon as she asked the question.

A student with fluffy, light gray hair and black, round eyes wearing the student uniform also raised his hand.

Ms. Flora pointed at the student and nodded at him to answer. "Yes, Cinder?"

The fourteen-year named Cinder Lark stood up slowly and answered. "Since the 'Indigo League' consists of the Kanto, Johto, Orange Archipelago, and the Sevii Islands, considering the population from the regions including the tropical islands, it is to be expected that there would be many trainers from the populace. Especially considering Cerulean City's ratio of new pokemon trainers. As a result, numerous rookies and veteran pokemon trainers along with their pokemon span the place, most of which challenge the Indigo League for the League Badges."

Cinder thought for a moment, then continued. "Consequently, trainers often challenge others for a friendly mock battle throughout their journey, some visiting from a region or island under Indigo. Competition for the 'Indigo League' is also fierce as many trainers would not even get pass the screening rounds where they would move on to the preliminaries. Because of this variety of challenges that trainers have access to, the Indigo's network of challenges is quite possibly the largest in the whole Pokemon League."

"Splendid explanation, Cinder! You may sit down." Ms. Flora clapped her hands as she adoringly stared at the top students in her class. After that, she resumed her lecture. "Yes, our Indigo League is a conference that every single pokemon trainer competing within the massive territory from the joint of Kanto and Johto strives to compete in. Because of trainers from other places and from our region..."

Fourteen-years old, above-average height, average build. Light-gray hair and black eyes. He was an ordinary looking boy on the outside, but he would not remain that way. Pretty soon his life would be changing.

Forever.

The section of the classroom he was sitting in was right beside the window. Cinder stared outside as he watched a few Pidgey flying around with their buddies, not in the mood to continue listening on the ongoing lecture. Within his eyes, excitement shone due to today's special occasion.

Today was the last day of school in Kanto Region, and most important of all, it is also the day Cinder would start his journey and receive a pokemon from Professor Oak.

A Trainer School usually only took a student six-years of learning. Conveniently, it was Cinder's final year, and his final day. They had already held a graduation ceremony a week before.

Usually, they wouldn't have needed to carry on and resume attending the remaining days of school since they had already graduated and received their diploma. However, since it was Pallet Town, home of the famous Professor Samuel Oak, who took their education very seriously, they had to begrudgingly accept it. Besides, it was only a few days. They could endure that much.

After a few minutes of lecture from Ms. Flora, the bell rang.

Unsurprisingly, the students in Cinder's year loudly celebrated as they cheered when they heard the signal of the class ending.

Cinder stood up from his chair, carrying the backpack he had with him. After which he began walking towards the door.

Teacher Flora saw Cinder passing by where she stood. She couldn't help but smile in reluctance. After all, it wasn't common for a student like Cinder, who was smart and often actively participated in class, to appear. However, she felt happy to see him graduate. "Good luck on your journey, Cinder."

"Thank you, Ms. Flora." Cinder returned the smile and nodded. Then, he left the room.

...

On his way out of the brick tiled two-storied building, he saw a boy and a girl his age standing by the gate, waiting for someone.

Cinder walked up to them, then slapped the boy who was chatting with the girl on the back.

*Pow*

"Who the-" The yell was cut short as he saw the culprit. The brown-haired boy's face turned blank for a second before his eyes narrowed and scowled. "What the hell did you do that for?"

A grin spread over Cinder's face as he said, "No reason in particular. Just felt like you were asking for it, seeing as how your back was facing me, Dom."

The boy, Dom, blinked. Then he grinned. "Enough of that, I think it's almost time for our appointment with the professor!"

Cinder quickly glanced at the watch on his wrist and grinned back. "I guess we're some of the lucky few who got selected to be in the first batch to receive our starter, huh? The time of our appointment is only about half an hour from when the school day ended."

"Hi, Cinder."

Cinder stopped and turned towards the girl, who had black hair and brown eyes.

This was Diana, Dom's sister, the other of Cinder's childhood friends.

Dom was quite the energetic and talkative guy, while his sister was the complete opposite: she was quite timid and shy. But when she was with them, she broke out of her shell a bit. Cinder would sometimes even smile at her foolishness, in a way.

"The day has finally arrived! I had sort of already expected Diana to pass the trainer's exam. Didn't think you would make it too, Dom!" Cinder laughed as they walked together on the dirt pavement of Pallet Town.

"Yeah, I studied at the last minute… I didn't even think I was gonna pass! Plus, it was thanks to you and Diana helping me study. I don't know if I already told you this, but, I stayed up all night before the exam cramming! I honestly can't remember half the stuff on the test now! Pokemon Centers are free, right? Cause me and my sister can't afford that!"

"Only to registered trainers, Dom." Diana answered her brother's question with a blush on her face.

Cinder couldn't help but wearily smile at Dom, his old doubts creeping back.

"Aww, man! I'm just kidding with you two!" Dom threw his head back and laughed. "Of course I know that. But, seriously, Pokemon Centers are the ones with the green roofs, right?"

Cinder shoved him off the road. Dom kept laughing.

The group strolled casually as they chatted, occasionally laughing at Dom's antics.

The group had talked a long time about whether they were gonna travel together or not, and decided to go together in the end. At least at first, they needed to know what going on journey together felt like. Then they could make a proper decision.

"What kinds of pokemon do you guys think the professor will let us choose from?" Dom suddenly put forward a question. He was curious, and he didn't have a clue, so he wanted to see if Cinder or Diana knew anything.

"The professor hasn't finalized anything yet. Except the regional starters, of course, but those are only for the professor's handpicked trainers." Diana commented. But then, smiled as she admitted. "I hope there are some adorable grass types or water types to choose from..."

"I actually have an idea, more of a general hint, actually. My mother told it to me." Cinder explained. He had overheard it from his mother during breakfast and was quick to share.

"What is it?" "C'mon, spill!" Diana and Dom asked Cinder in quick succession.

Staring at their curious expressions, Cinder was tempted to tease them a bit, but decided against it. "Remember the question at the start that asked what type of pokemon we are personally more inclined to have as a starter? My mom said that the type would be taken into account by the professor. His assistant was the one handling our exam papers, and apparently told him what types we preferred so he could give us options of those types."

Hearing his words, Diana and Dom's eyes lit up.

"Then does that mean... There's a grass type included for us to pick as starter?" Diana was glad she had seriously answered that question. If she had marked the electric type or fire type, she wouldn't have been able to handle that, since those pokemon are known for their aggressive and boisterous nature. She heaved a sigh in relief. If what Cinder told them was true, then that's good news.

"Uh-oh..."

Cinder and Diana turned towards Don when he suddenly halted, his expression strange.

Cinder had some guesses as to why he stopped, but he hoped they weren't right. "Did you... What did you mark on your paper, Dom?"

"Yeah, what type did you mark down?" Diana looked on curiously with a raised eyebrow.

"Hehehe…" Dom couldn't help but act timid. He sheepishly scratched the back of his head and confessed. "The poison typing..."

Both Cinder and Diana blinked, then they asked in unison. "What's so wrong with that?"

"They are quite the strong typing." Cinder added.

"Well, the problem is… I hate poison types."

Hearing that, Cinder laughed. "Hahaha, that's your problem. However, if I don't like the pokemon of the type I chose, I don't mind picking a poison type."

"Hehehehe! Brother!" Dom who heard that, jumped on Cinder's back and hugged him by the neck, he laughed roaringly. "I knew you were my brother! I knew I could count on you in times like this!"

"Ey! Get off me!" Cinder tried to pry his arms off of his throat. "Hey! Ack-" He managed to choke out, "I can't breathe, idiot!"

Diana panicked as she tried to help Cinder breathe, also kicking and slapping Dom from Cinder's back.

"Ow! Hey, that hurts! Quit it!"

...

After a few minutes of walking, the group arrived at Professor Oak's Lab.

"And I presume you are the remaining batch of students waiting to receive your starters? Hurry up now, the professor is waiting for you. Two fellow comrade is already inside for all of you to pick starters." A research assistant was waiting for them at the gate leading to the lab.

The researcher assistant looked to be in her late twenties, a slender woman with fair skin, smooth brown hair that was kept in a ponytail with a green scrunchie, and brown eyes. She wore a white lab coat, a light blue shirt, a yellow undershirt, a purple skirt, and light green shoes.

"Good morning Ms. Ketchum." The three greeted the woman, which she nods back in response.

They lopped up the hill as the group made their way up the lab.

Professor Oak was waiting for them by the door, accompanied by two familiar looking boys. 'Huh? Is Blue Oak and Red also within our batch for receiving our starters? I thought they already got one considering Professor Oak's extreme dotting on his grandchildren and Red being the son of his main research assistant and also his half-student.' Cinder thought in a matter of fact.

"Oh, here they are!" Professor Oak was positively glowing as soon as they arrived. "Alright then, everyone's here and everything is ready. Let's head inside."

This was 'The Professor Samuel Oak', a revered individual that had a reputation that span all over the world. An undefeated champion for over eighteen-years, Samuel Oak had decided to leave the world of pokemon battling and change his career, much to the shock of the rest of the world. He had willingly stepped down from the throne, allowing the previous champion Waren to take over the reigns.

He had practiced the world of research and made shocking progress, leading the world through several important discoveries, his most well known invention being the pokedex technology. Once a ruler of the Kanto and Johto sub-continents and now a Pokemon researcher who single-handedly built the world's largest pokemon research network, Oak was a legend, a model for trainers and researchers alike.

A man, who had found power, fame, and wealth and yet had chosen to spend his time on his birthplace, which was such a humble location to do.

Even then, Professor Oak was just an average Joe to the people residing in Pallet Town; even if they knew who he was and the reputation he held, as soon they got to know him, they realized just how kind and caring he was for the people in Pallet.

Cinder and his friends had already interacted with the professor multiple times. They sometimes helped him clean the Growlithe kennel, and were also allowed by the professor to play and interact with the countless trained pokemon in his corral, most of them caught and raised by the trainers in Pallet Town. Not just them though, as multiple kids were also allowed, although the forest deep within his backyard was off limits since there were some powerful pokemon residing there.