2 Pokemon Starter

"You guys finally arrived huh? What kept you so long, it wasn't fun waiting for nobodies like you." Blue scoffed as the group were walking inside the laboratory with Professor Oak and Ms. Ketchum talking about some things walking ahead of the teenagers, leading them through the spacious laboratory.

"Well you know." Cinder answered back sarcastically. "You and Red sorta lived here. We're ten minutes early."

While Dom was a little scared to offend and earn Blue Oak's ire because of his parents, and while Diana was too timid because of her lack of courage as she looked down on the floor hearing his mocking words, Cinder doesn't care shit about that.

"Whatever." Blue Oak shot back snidely before he marched up to his grandfather, walking beside him as the professor continued his conversation with his assistant.

"Don't mind him." The other boy present, Red Ketchum said. "He's just anxious to get his starter pokemon."

"We all are." Cinder argued as he came to stand next to Red, with Dom and Diana at his side. "But, that doesn't give any of us the right to be a bully."

Red chuckled as he pursed his lips. "Of course it doesn't. You still have the choice to let him affect you or not, anyway that's just how Blue is. Ironically my best friend, who is spoiled rotten by Professor Oak and especially his parents."

"I don't know how you endured that guy's character." Diana commented softly at their side.

"The thing is, I didn't." Red laughed. "He may be annoying as hell, but he is a good person deep inside. You may know that already since we all used to hang out with each other with the friends we had in town. Although that changed when he came back visiting his parents who worked in the Aether Foundation from Alola."

Dom and Diana nodded as they remembered. After all it was true, Blue, Red, along with a girl named Leaf used to be one of their closest buddies that usually played with them in the corall, but when the former came back from Alola a year ago there was a drastic change on his character. Becomimg the cocky and egoistic teenager he was now.

Red Ketchum, or Red was Blue Oak's childhood friend. They practically are brothers as they grew up playing and hanging out since they were born. Because his mother was Professor Oak's best research assistant at the moment, their son and grandchild always were in the lab or in the corral and when they were old enough to join Cinder and the others to attend school, Professor Oak decided to teach them personally under his research lab.

"By the way gramps, where is Leaf anyway?" Cinder and the rest behind him heared him blurt out. "I have a bone to pick with that annoying girl for beating me 'once' in yesterday's battle stimulation..." He emphasized on the word sternly.

"She's visiting her family, Blue. So she will be receiving her starter from where she is now." Ms. Ketchum answered her with a gentle smile. "She should have arrive in Fuchsia City right about now."

"Lame." Blue scoffed, but did not show his disrespectful attitude in front of Delia Ketchum, after all she is one of the people he respected the most. Mainly because she is his grandfather's best research assistant and his rival, also childhood friend's mother.

"Red, for someone who knows this place inside out, this is practically your house. You need to strut."

Cinder, Diana and Red rolled their eyes at Dom's words.

"I studied here, Dom. I don't earn this place." Red replied quietly, watching the professoor's staffs perform their daily errands.

Dom decided to reply back in the most like him way possible. By sticking out his tongue at Red.

The rest laughed.

"Anyways, what do you think the professor will have us choose? I want something that grows into an epic beast, like a Nidoran, even a Bellsprout. It doesn't really matter which." Dom declared pompously.

"Who knows, Professor Oak may even give us a rare variety to choose from. Like Bidoofsus, the god of all bidoofs." Cinder chucked that one out like a bomb of irony. Earning wry amusement from his friends, Dom couldn't stop his laughing which he strongly held in because the professor is nearby, resulting in his face being as red as tomatoes, or as red as... Red.

"Anyway, as long as you stay away from the pokemon Professor Oak addresses from my exam papers and Diana's, you'll be fine." Cinder warned, but it was obvious by his tone that he was teasing him. It wasn't like the professor or the league would sent the former just a single specimen for trainers to chose from or anything. After all, choosing a starter was one of the most magical experiences of a trainer's life, and forcing them to choose one on a first come first serve basis was just ridiculous. Although there would be a few situation that those event would sometimes happen because of some circumstances.

Laughing at each other's antics, the five prospective trainers entered through the old professor's office.

...

The room was large, and filled with technology. But neither Cinder, nor his friends were focused on the gadgets.

When they were now orderly standing in front of the professor in his office. Samuel Oak began his routine.

Oak chuckled at ever single one of their excited expressions. He began with a proud and serious tone. "It is my great pleasure and honor to be the one here to start off your journey. I've watched you all grow for years, thinking back it was as if it was yesterday that you kids were playing at the ranch, and it is all about to pay off now."

"First up." Delia Ketchum said, approaching the children. "The professor would like to present you with his greatest gadet: The Pokedex."

Delia handed them each their uniquely designed Pokedex, going down the line starting with Blue. Cinder's Pokedex was a glossy gray that just screamed modern innovation. He activated the device quickly, eager to dive into all the files the Pokedex contained.

"As you've all passed the trainer exam you already know what your Pokedex does and how to operate it. Your respective Pokedex has already been programmed with your trainer identify prior. This can act as your ID whenever you will be asked for such, normally you can use it when you would decide to stay in a pokemon center or being investigated by an Officer Jenny." Professor Oak explained.

"Now as you can see there are five of you here who would be receiving their starter pokemon." Professor Oak pressed a mechanical switch, which made a circular knee length platform to appear where there was five pokeballs neatly prepared at the very center. "This is our Kanto's traditional starters, which is only given towards a trainer personally chosen by me or the league. Although... There is a bit of a problem..."

Professor Oak trailed off, but quickly got back to speaking. "The fire-type, Charmander, was requested by the Kalos Region's professor for experimental purposes, they did reimbursed us with a fire-type starter, but not the starter of Kanto, which is different than usual this time around."

"What... A Charmander isn't available, professor?" Red was absentmindedly staring at Samuel Oak, who was doing his best to avoid eye contact with his psuedo grandson. The old man knew how big of a fanatic Red was for fire-types, especially a Charmander. Even Cinder and the others knew that. "...tell me, why isn't a Charmander here professor?"

The old prodessor started at him with crinkled eyes and a half-hearted smile. "Because of an international mass-research experiment going in Kalos right now. The league has sent all the available and capable Charmander I have on me off to Kalos a fortnight ago. It's... a need-to-know basis, and I wasn't made aware of it beforehand. I'm powerless too regarding the situation, Red. I hope you understand."

"I understand, professor." Red spoke sadly, if even the Samuel Oak was unable to put a word of protest, then it seems whatever the League was doing was something of importance. Oak was guilty seeing Red so disappointed, but when he remembered the pokemon contained in that fire-type starter, he smiled assuringly.

"The pokeball with the leaf design on the left contained Bulbasaur, a grass-type. The pokeball with the fire design on the center is Torchic, a fire-type. While the one with the water droplet design is Squirtle, a water type."

He then proceeds to introduce the two pokeball placed adjacent to the pokeballs containing the traditional starters. "Accordingly, this two pokeballs contained a electric-type and a poison-type pokemon. One of which is native to Kanto, while the other is normally found in Johto. This particular specimen was given to me by the Johto League for research purposes, but haven't really made progress with it much so I decided to give it to one of you."

"What pokemon is in there, professor." Cinder asked curiously. He really hoped that it wasn't the electric-type, it was the typing he marked off after all. He didn't want to have a starter that have some... 'Issues'. Nonetheless, he really doesn't have any choice.

Samuel Oak smiled and answered. "I was just about to get there, Cinder. The pokemon are a male Nidoran, which is unlike its female counterpart; are much more suited for a trainer who are for competitive battling. The electric-type is a Mareep, which is the pokemon native in Johto like I said. You all don't have to worry though, this Mareep is a wonderful specimen if I had to put my opinion of it. It has in his arsenal a unique move that have been passed on to it from Mareep's parents, which is normally exceedingly difficult for it to learn naturally."

Professor Oak finished introducing all the starters that he was giving this batch. He turned towards his psuedo grandson, Red Ketchum/half-student and said. "Red, since you have an obvious choice you'll be going first."

Red had an interested expression on his face, his disappointment was washed away when he heard the fire-type's species.

Red chose the fire-type, Torchic and let it out of it's pokeball as well. He looked at the orange chick in awe, approaching it and caresses it's feather in a peculiar way, the fire chicken purred and jumped towards Red's embrace.

"Do you know that pokemon's species, Red?" Dom inquired as the rest saw how he quickly got quite close with the pokemon, especially how quickly Red got it cooing at him enjoyably.

"Mhm, although not so much but I did read a few regarding the pokemon" Red simply nodded back as his attention was completely on the Torchic.

The others stared at Blue as he pushed in front of them, and grabbed Squirtle's pokeball. Blue released the pokemon and sized it up. Apparently, he found it to his liking since he smiled at it.

"Now then, now that both of you have gotten the starters you want, step back and let the others pick theirs." Samuel kindly informed the two. Red sheepishly grinned while Blue acted haughty since he huffed as they both returned to their place.

Samuel then turned towards the remaining three. "Leaf Roseville formerly was the one who I would give the remaining traditional starter to. However, it seems that her parents already have some things in stall for her which had her return home. Which of you would like to have Bulbasaur as a starter?"

Everyone shared a moment of silence the moment Professor Oak's words fell. However, after a moment Cinder and Dom exchanged glances and nodded with a smile of agreement.

"You should have that one, Diana." Cinder spoke up.

Dom followed with a smile on his face. "Yeah sis, you should have that one. Your face is practically drooling, its as clear as day to us you wanted that grass-type."

"Y-you! I'm not drooling!" Diana instinctively wiped her mouth with her sleeve and see if she really was drooling, the others laughed at her action. She blushed, her cheeks not unlike that of a Pikachu.

"Really? Can I have Bulbasaur, is it okay for you two?" Whilst she spoke, she had her head down but her eyes betrayed her desire as her sight was firmly on the pokeball.

"It's fine. It doesn't matter anyway since we are going to receive a starter so it is fine." Cinder assured her.

Dom nodded at Cinder's words. He placed a hand on his sister's small shoulder and gently pushed her. "Go get it already, time is ticking."

"T-thanks, guys." Diana quietly mumbled as she looked over at them with watery eyes. She knew they were doing this because she loved grass-types, so she remembered this moment, her face morphing to an adorable sniffling look like a baby. She picked up the pokeball, but didn't release the pokemon since she could do that later, her hands were clasped on it as she stared adoringly at the sphere.

Cinder and Dom was stabbed in the heart by her endearing actions. They felt good as they smiled at each other for a job well done.

Oak looked impressed by them and smiled. This kind of companionship was all to familiar to him, which he couldn't help but reminisce on his prime days.

"Heh, you'll regret later on how you wasted the chance to get yourself such a rare starter from gramps, no matter how good that Nidoran and Mareep is, it couldn't come close to compare." An annoying scoff was heared by the side, as Blue leaned on the wall with his arms crossed.

"Please keep your rude comments to youself, Blue." Samuel Oak's temple wrinkled as he chided his grandson. Who, in response just snorted.

Cinder and Dom frowned, but did not rebuke back at Blue. They were too annoyed at the spoiled guy to even bother. However, both the boys knew he was right, after all Kanto starters were rare and full of potential, Dom was even tempted since the pokemon would evolve into wickedly powerful creatures that were the envy of any trainers, beginner or advanced.

But, they couldn't be selfish knowing Diana loved such kind of pokemon, they prioritized friendship over selfish desires and that was a commendable trait even Samuel Oak appreciated. Besides, they could always catch one in the future through their journey. Although, starters are very rare to spot more so in the wild, it depended on their luck.

"All right. It's time for you two to choose. Next, is the two pokemon that you can have as a starter, pick wisely."

Cinder and Dom walked towards the pokeballs at the same time. They already had known the other's choice so might as well get this over with.

Cinder got Mareep's pokeball.

While Dom got the male Nidoran.

With all the pokemons now conveniently distriputed, it was now time to end it.

All of the teens in the room have sparkling eyes with greedy childlike desire within them. They wanted to swiftly get out of this place and take a look at their pokemon's movesets and details.

The kids are getting impatient, both Delia and Samuel Oak could notice that easily since their expressions were plain to sight.

Samuel Oak coughed to get their rapt attention once more. "Well, now that you've all had been given your starters, let me emphasize a few things - There is no quick way for you to train your pokemon, although the starters I've given you are handled and has been groomed with care within the corral, I also selected those particular ones for you to have because of their fine inherent abilities. I suggest you work hard practicing before actually using them in a battle. The more basic moves will be the ones they are best at. You probably won't see the true power of their egg moves until they've fully evolved, and obviously without practice, they wouldn't amount to much."

The teenagers nodded. That made sense after all.

"Good. That's all I have for you, I trust that all of you remembered to get pokeballs, potions, and the other supplies from the store in town?"

When they all answered yes, Samuel smiled. "Then all of you are free to go. Goodluck, and make sure to check up with your parents every now and then when you start your journey. Additionally, I'll be keeping any pokemon you have here at my lab after you reach the limit, so do contact me through an intercom which you could find in a Pokemon Center if you need to exchange any of them."

Now that they were free, Blue who seemed to be the most impatient among the rest as he immediately set off but not before his declaration which was aimed at Red.

Which was about somethings that Cinder and his friends didn't even bothered to listen to, they could only discern something about the Indigo League Conference and whatever.

...

Cinder, Dom and Diana got out from the laboratory. By now, they are already on the road towards their respective home.

When they passed through the gate, they saw some familiar faces which they recognized to be from their year. It seemed that they are the batch after Cinder and his friends.

"How about we start our journey today? I already informed my mother, what do you guys say?" Cinder suggested when they arrived at a crossroad.

"We knew you were gonna say that." Dom grinned. "We haven't informed our parents yet, but it wouldn't be a problem to start a day before we supposedly do."

While Diana said. "Let's get our stuff ready then."

"It's final then!"

"C'ya."