The sun was barely rising over Cerulean City when Doni stepped out onto his porch, clutching the Poké Ball in his hand like it was something sacred. Inside, it wasn’t just a gift from a stranger or a random choice from a lab. It was a partner, chosen for him by the one person who knew his heart best: his mother.

  She hadn’t said much when she handed it over. Just a gentle smile, a nod, and a quiet, “I hope to see the waves you’ll create together.”

  He hadn’t even opened the Poké Ball yet. Somehow, it felt right to wait.

  Down the street, Terry was already bouncing on his heels, a wide grin on his face. He held up his own Poké Ball proudly. “Dad bred him himself! Said he’s got strong potential, even if he’s a little clumsy. Kinda like me!”

  Aqua arrived last, quiet as always. Her red hair glowed in the morning light, and she held her Poké Ball close to her chest. “Mom did a lot of research on this species,” she murmured, not quite meeting their eyes. “She said it was the perfect match for me.”

  Three childhood friends. Three unique beginnings.

  Doni finally clicked the button on his Poké Ball, releasing a small burst of light.

  The Pokémon that emerged blinked up at him with curious, determined eyes. A small green-and-blue Lotad stood there, a lilypad resting atop its back like a floating hat. It let out a soft chirp and waddled forward to nuzzle Doni’s leg.

  He couldn’t help but smile. It was perfect.

  Terry followed. With a confident flick of his wrist, he released a tiny yellow Pokémon onto the grass. Pichu, the baby Electric-type, gave an excited squeak and then immediately tripped over its own feet.

  “I told you he’s a little clumsy!” Terry laughed, scooping up the embarrassed Pokémon. “But we’ll get stronger together.”

  Aqua hesitated. She knelt quietly and released her partner: a small lavender Nidoran♀, who sniffed the air cautiously and then circled Aqua like she already understood her. They didn’t speak, but the connection was clear.

  The three stood in a triangle on the open grass near the city gates. Sunlight stretched over them. Their journey hadn’t officially begun, but the feeling in their hearts said otherwise.

  “Alright,” Terry grinned, holding up his Poké Ball. “We have to battle before we go, right? Like tradition. Me and Pichu are ready.”

  Doni looked at Lotad, who blinked back up at him and gave a determined nod.

  “Let’s do it.”

  They took a few steps back, creating a makeshift battlefield.

  Aqua sat off to the side, Nidoran♀ beside her. “I’ll pass,” she said softly. “She’s not ready yet. Neither am I.”

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  The boys nodded in understanding and then turned their focus to the match.

  “Pichu, Thundershock!”

  “Lotad, Water Gun. Go!”

  Pichu darted forward with a burst of sparks, while Lotad shot a surprising stream of water, meeting the attack mid-air. The shock made Lotad flinch, but he stood his ground. The next exchange saw Lotad use Absorb cleverly, sapping Pichu’s strength each time it closed the distance.

  Though Pichu was quick, Lotad’s sturdiness and type advantage began to tilt the battle.

  After one final Water Gun, Pichu collapsed to the grass with a tiny gasp.

  “I... I think that’s it,” Terry said, jogging over to his partner. “You did great, little guy.”

  Doni knelt by Lotad and offered a gentle rub on its lilypad. “Nice job.”

  Terry laughed. “Okay, okay. You win this round. Rematch on Route 1!”

  As they healed their partners with a couple of potions, the mood shifted back to warm and playful. Aqua smiled quietly, running her fingers along Nidoran’s ears.

  After their first battle, the group began their journey south, making their way to Pallet Town. The road stretched out ahead of them, bordered by fields of tall grass that swayed gently in the breeze. As they walked, they saw a variety of Pokémon: some Pidgey darting from tree to tree, a Rattata scurrying across the path, and a Caterpie nibbling on the leaves of nearby bushes. Every now and then, they spotted small Zubat flapping through the sky, their wings beating rapidly in the morning light.

  The trio chatted excitedly about the journey that lay ahead of them, about the Pokémon they hoped to catch and the battles they’d fight. Terry was practically bouncing from excitement. “I wonder what other Pokémon we’ll find!” he said, grinning. “Maybe a Mankey or Oddish would be cool. A Fighting or Grass-type would make things more interesting.”

  Aqua, a bit more reserved, nodded. “I’ll catch what I can, as long as it helps me grow,” she murmured. Her fingers brushed through her red hair nervously, but there was a quiet determination in her eyes.

  As they made their way along Route 1, they encountered a young boy who was also heading to Pallet Town. He stood confidently in front of them, his Machop by his side. “Hey! You guys look like you’re heading to Professor Oak’s lab, right?” he called out. “Wanna have a battle before you get there? I’m up for a little challenge!”

  Aqua stepped forward, her Nidoran♀ at her side. She was a bit hesitant, but something in her made her nod. “Sure,” she said quietly, “I’ll battle.”

  The boy grinned, clearly not expecting Aqua to accept. “Alright then! My Machop’s ready to go!”

  Aqua looked down at Nidoran♀, who met her gaze with calm confidence. “Let’s do this,” Aqua whispered.

  The battle began with Machop charging forward with a powerful Low Kick, but Nidoran♀ dodged swiftly. Aqua gave her a gentle nod. “Tackle, now!”

  Nidoran♀ lunged forward and knocked into Machop, sending it stumbling back. The boy’s eyes widened. “Not bad. But let’s see how you handle this!”

  He commanded Machop to use Low Sweep, aiming to trip Nidoran♀. Aqua winced but kept her focus. “Use Growl to weaken it, and then hit back with another Tackle!”

  Nidoran♀ growled low, unsettling Machop, before slamming into it with another quick Tackle. The battle raged on, both Pokémon showing their grit, but in the end, it was Aqua’s Nidoran♀ who managed to wear down Machop with Poison Sting, causing the opponent to fall.

  The boy chuckled as he recalled Machop. “You were better than I expected. Here’s your prize.” He handed Aqua a small amount of money 100 Poké Yen.

  Aqua nodded politely. “Thanks for the challenge.”

  The trio continued along the path toward Pallet Town, the small town nestled between the lush greenery. As they entered, the town felt peaceful, with quiet streets lined with simple cottages and blooming flowers, the faint smell of grass and wildflowers in the air.

  The town felt small but important. It was home to Professor Gary Oak’s renowned lab, and in a way, it felt like the true beginning of their journey.

  The group approached the tall white building that stood at the center of Pallet Town ;the lab where the future awaited them. The wooden sign that hung above the door read “Professor Oak’s Laboratory.” The trio stood together for a moment, staring at the lab. Their adventure had truly begun.