CHAPTER I

I WOKE UP THIS MORNING EXCITED AS EVER. I leapt out of bed as soon as possible, and I almost tripped over Archie, my family's Growlithe. I quickly apologized and narrowly avoided an Ember aimed at my feet. Archie went quickly back to sleep. He has been with my family ever since my little sister, Clarisse, was born. He's been a major help after Dad moved away. We are really close, and the only thing that makes me sad today is that I am leaving him behind with my family.

Oops, I'm getting carried away. I should start by introducing myself. My name is Michael Wilson, and I am 15 years old. I live in the region of Takita, North-East of Kalos, across the sea. I live with my mother, Audrey, and my little sister Clarisse in Marsillian Town, southwest Takita. My mom used to be the Gym Leader in our town, except when she had me she quit to care for me and the wild Pokémon around the town. My father is a Gym Leader in Sinnoh, far away from here. I hope that one day I can visit him. Sinnoh has always fascinated me. The pictures Dad sends me are filled of Pokémon, and the scenery around Sunnyshore city is just breathtaking.

Today is the day that I get a Pokémon. My mom promised me that I would love my new partner. I already know which one I want, and I've double checked with the lab down Route 1 to make sure he is there. I love all types of Pokémon, and I've always have had a soft spot for fluffiness. I love cuddling with Pokémon, and Archie and I both love napping together, even as I grow up. I am going to miss my cozy little fire puppy.

I go downstairs to the kitchen. Mom practically runs me over and hugs me all over. The last few days have been incredibly hard on her. She has been getting everything ready for my big adventure, even though I can only carry a single hiking backpack. So far, it has been stuffed to the brim with extra clothes, a first-aid kit and guides to Takita. I also have pockets full of pokeballs and a debit card. I still have no clue how I am going to be able to carry all this while caring for my Pokémon.

My mom is in hysterics, screaming, "It's finally here! My baby is leaving!" As usual, I calm her down, and get her focused again on last minute tasks. Clarisse stomps down the stairs, and Archie quickly follows.

"Michael! You woke me up! When do you finally leave?"

Unlike mom, Clary hasn't been as stressed or sad. She's been making comments like that for a while now, even though both of us know she doesn't really want me to leave. Since I am starting my journey a year later than usual for kids in Takita, she will be starting her own next year, probably sooner, if she manages to convince my mom to let her go. She is amazing at caring for Pokémon, and will be a great trainer. I've heard her phone calls with dad, and she apparently wants him to send her a Pokémon from Sinnoh, and he is having a hard time saying no lately. The problem is, Sinnoh is very far and getting the Pokémon to her will be real hard. Knowing her, she'll get one anyways.

I finish my breakfast, and I make sure that everything is in place. I review what I need to do today, like pick up my Xtransceiver from the Pokemart, stock up on food at the grocery store, and finally meet my friend Simon at the edge of town, near Route 1. Simon and I have been friends since we were born. We've been in the same class since kindergarten, and we love competing over stuff. I don't think we've ever had a big enough competition, but this journey should be just large enough for us to handle. Simon has always had clear ideas of what his Pokémon team will be. He loves planning everything out beforehand, and needs everything to be balanced for him to be comfortable.

I promised my family that I would come back as soon as I get my Pokémon. Today is just my introduction into travelling through Takita.

I'm sorry, I completely forgot to tell you about Takita! See, Takita is a region with a variety of Pokémon that are otherwise only found in one or two regions. I've heard that in Kanto, you can find a Growlithe, but wouldn't be able to find a Murkrow. But in Takita, you find them both in the same areas, living together in harmony. So, I guess you could say the region is all about harmony. We have striking coastlines and towering mountain tops. Deep forests are right next to open prairies. Even the climate changes. Marsillian Town is bright and sunny, but Exalt City in the north is cold and foggy. Diversity is the most stunning feature of Takita.

In terms of actual geography, Takita is made up of a large peninsula to the north, starting in the northeast and heading southwest. The Marsillian area is south of there, and is connected by the Falcon Bridge, a landmark of the region. To the east of my home, there is the route along the sea and beach leading to the main mountain range of the region and eventually to the large peninsula. There are two large lakes in the mountains named Grizz Lake and Lake Inari. There is an island to the northwest of the peninsula, which has a unique climate because of ocean currents, causing it to have weird heat. They grow fruit and flowers, as well as fish to export to the rest of the region, and even abroad.

Takita has a smaller population than most regions, and most of the north and east is still to be explored. The biggest city in the region is Epos City, on the eastern edge of Takita Bay. It is the business center of Takita, and all the big decisions are taken there. It isn't the political capital, but it is in the Golden Triangle, the region's group of important cities. The other ones are Diafo city, the political capital, and Chroma city, the cultural capital. Epos is the southern point, and Diafo and Chroma are northwest and northeast respectively from there. Marsillian Town is one of the smaller towns, and the area has a recreational and a tourist economy.

That's enough geography for today!

My mom is almost in tears when I am finally ready to leave. She knows I am coming back tonight, but she's not emotionally ready for what comes after. I pity Clarisse having to put up with her, and I can't even imagine what it's going to be like when she leaves. Maybe she'll try being a trainer again and reopen the gym.

I leave the house with my daypack on, and start going to the Pokemart. The town has only a couple hundred people, and they are all strewn out around the countryside. We leave near the center, about a two minute walk from everything. Simon lives about two minutes on the other side of town, closer to Route 1. I walk into the store, and I am instantly welcomed with the scent of freshly baked muffins. See, our Pokemart doubles as a bakery. The bell on the door jingles as I walk in.

"Michael!" boomed a voice at the back of the store. "You're early! If I had known, I would've prepared your Xtransceiver for you at the front. I'm in the kitchen, come." Nancy, the store-owner, is a kind lady who loves tinkering and cooking, and the whole town admires her cooking. We can smell her baking from our house in the morning, and we always make sure to pick some up before school. Nancy always makes sure to save us some of her best ones, and never disappoints.

"Hey Nancy, sorry again, but I'm kind of in a rush, I need to get to the Cypress lab before noon."

"No problem, I'm done baking, and your Xtransceiver is somewhere over here…" She starts rummaging through a pile of phones, tablets and other Xtransceivers and finally pulls out a green and gold one.

"It's this one, right?" she says.

"Nope, sorry, Nancy." She goes through again until she pulls out another, this time green and black.

"Got it. For payment, just tell your mom to settle with me later. And now, as a personal gift from me, take these freshly baked muffins. Share them with Simon and your future Pokémon!"

I gratefully take the muffins and put them in my bag, and take an extra muffin on my way. I take a bite, and the moist blueberry flavour almost makes me stop walking just to appreciate her talent. Nancy really outdid herself on these! I start walking towards Simon's house. Simon Stone is my best friend. His house is a little cottage at the edge of a pond, where he lives with his dad. His dad is great outdoors man, and loves taking Simon and I camping, and would battle wild Pokémon for us. Just like his last name, he uses strong rock types, like Geodude and Nosepass. He taught me the basics of Pokémon battling, and my mom taught everything about loving Pokémon.

I walk up the driveway to the small cottage. Despite the isolation from the road, the cottage is very well kept, and Simon's dad has his Pokémon helping him in the garden. His Pokémon are always at it; every single time I'm over, they are working cheerily. I walk up the door, passing bushes and trees, each with a couple Pokémon nearby. I'm about to knock on the door, when it bursts open,

"Michael, finally! I've been waiting all morning for you to get here! You're five minutes late!" Simon says exasperated. He looks extremely well prepared for today, with his backpack and sweater already on. He lets me in the house, and I make a beeline for the living room, where, as I guessed, his father would be, already planning the next great hiking trip. He has a Geodude on the table, and is eagerly tracing lines on a map of Marsillian Town. I say hello, and make my way over to the table.

"So, Michael, you're finally ready to get a Pokémon? It's too bad, I offered Simon one of my Pokémon, but you know him, eh, always wants to examine the field of battle, always one step ahead." He barely looks up from the table. He is looking for the best way around a river.

"I know, but I hope that an actual Pokémon will change his mind. You do realize that he gets it from you, right?"

He claps me on the back, and says, "There's a good boy, now don't be late for Professor Cypress, and remember, call if you need anything. God, it's going to be so strange without you two running around all the time."

I wave goodbye to him as Simon and I run out the door, and we loop around to the side. We pick up our bikes, and we start riding. I left my bike at his house last night so his dad could repair the wheel, and now it's fixed completely. My bike is green and blue, and I have a small basket on the back to hold small items. I put the muffins and the map in there when I got on, and I can feel them bouncing along. We pass through the rest of town, and the people who are awake this early wave to us, smiling knowing that we are about to get our starter Pokémon.