Partners Picked!

"The moment you choose the Pokémon that will accompany you on your journey, your story will truly begin. During your journey, you will meet many Pokémon and people with different personalities and points of view! I really hope you find what is important to you in all of these travels..."

Nate closed the door, inhaling deeply as he takes a second to fully register what's happening. Finally getting out there, following his brother's footsteps. Now where did the professor say he was supposed to meet her? Nate starts to walk down the street, breathing in the crisp autumn air as he looks around for the professor. She had said it wouldn't be at the trainer school, and she wouldn't ask them to meet her past the tall grass. He smacks himself in the forehead. Duh! She had told him to meet her at the Aspertia viewpoint! That should've been the first place he checked. He picked up his pace, walking swiftly up the main road towards the hill. He waved a greeting to the few people out and about this early in the morning, and dropped a dollar into the hat of an older performer as he strummed his guitar, filling the air with soft music as the town was waking up. Nate grinned stupidly, unable to stop himself from skipping in glee for a few steps. It had been two whole years since his brother had set out with his friends, and Nate had been longing to leave ever since. Aspertia was a fine town to live in, it was a small community, and everybody knew each other, but he wanted to get out into the world and explore, he wanted to see the towers of Castelia, and explore the ruins of the Desert Resort. The only time he'd ever left Aspertia was on a vacation to Kalos for his parent's twentieth anniversary, and since then Nate had been filled with a wanderlust that he couldn't quell. Another stupid grin split his face as he reached the stairs that led up the hill, barely containing himself from sprinting up the stairs in excitement.

Rosa held her hands to her ears as the guitar music sang through the air, the young girl groaning as she walks up the main road. Why do people need to be so active this early in the morning? It was hardly passed Nine O' Clock, yet people were already out and about, chatting with each other or playing that ear-splitting music. It was all going to be ok though, Rosa thought. Today was finally the day that she got to leave this hellhole of a town and get out into the world. Rosa thought back to what her mother had said about money and shivered nervously. She would be able to support herself out there, right? Pokémon battles generally pay well, and she could always get a job on the side if she needed to. Just not... what her mother had implied. She shuddered again just thinking about it and sped up her pace. 'Don't think about that right now, just go get your Pokémon.' She reached the steps leading up to the viewpoint and paused, catching sight of a boy about her age practically skipping up the steps ahead of her. That was... Nate, right? Rosa rolled her eyes. The teacher's pet throughout their entire education. What was he doing here? Rosa shrugged to herself, forcing her tired legs to start up the stairs. So what if she wasn't the only one getting a Pokémon, this guy shouldn't stop her from getting out of the town.

As she crested the hill, she immediately noticed Nate talking animatedly to a blonde woman who couldn't be more than three years older than them. She had red glasses and was wearing a white lab coat that looked like it was a size or two too big for her. The woman spotted Rosa and waved excitedly, smiling widely at her. Nate also turned to see the newcomer and waved as well, grinning at her. Rosa groaned again internally, but put on a grin and walked over to the two.

"Hi you guys, my name's Bianca, and I'm here to give you your first Pokémon!" The blonde spoke, smiling at the two and swinging her bag up in front of her.

"I'm Rosa." Nate offered no introduction, but grinned at Rosa. Rosa wanted to wipe the grin off his face, but she could play nice for now. Bianca pulled the flap of her bag back and revealed a metal tube, with a glass window on the top. Inside the tube sat three Pokeballs, lying dormant in the tube. Rosa's fingers itched to snatch up one, in case the offer was suddenly rescinded, but she held herself back.

"So... Which one of you wants to pick first?" Bianca opened up the tube and took out the three capsules, releasing the Pokémon inside one at a time. The first ball released a green snake with legs, it's scales glittering in the morning sun. The snake shook itself slightly before regarding the two humans with judgmental eyes. Rosa liked the look of that one, but the look the snake gave her was filled with disregard.

The second ball released a small black and orange Pig, with a curly tail. The pig sneezed as it was released, flames spurting out of its snout as it does. It shakes its head and looks up at Rosa and Nate with hopeful eyes. Rosa immediately disregarded the pig in her mind. It was too... excited.

The final ball opened up to let loose a small blue Otter, with a shell pinned to its chest. It looked around before glancing up at the trainers in front of it. The Otter immediately waddled over to Rosa's feet, sitting itself down and blinking up innocently at her. Rosa raised an eyebrow and leaned down to the Pokemon, moving her hand slowly to rest on its soft head. The Otter moved its head to meet her hand, and begun to nuzzle the hand as Rosa crouches, frozen. Bianca laughs, smiling another one of those bright smiles.

"Looks like Oshawatt's picked you, Rosa. Guess that answers that question." Rosa started to pet the Oshawatt, looking at it thoughtfully.

"Oshawatt, huh? You wanna get out of this town and explore?" The otter nods an agreement as it reaches its stubby hands up to clutch Rosa's still outstretched hand. Rosa nods as she looks at the small water type as it struggles to grasp Rosa's hand.

"I think I'll call you... Tey." The Oshawatt blinks up at her again, cocking its head to the side. Bianca hands Rosa the ball for Tey and smiles at the pair.

"Well that's sorted now. Now which one will you be choosing Nate?"

Nate stares down intently at the two remaining pokemon, squatting to be closer to their level.

"Hmm... Well, I was planning on taking Oshawatt since the champions ace is weak to water, and Oshawatt would help out a lot against Clay once we get to his gym, but..." He glances between the Tepig and the Snivy, and locks eyes with them both, trying to establish telepathy to make his decision easier. The Tepig was sniffing around, making it difficult for Nate to catch its eye, so Nate turned towards the Snivy. And was met with a look almost as intense as his own. The small snake was standing with its leafy arms folded, and the creature half his size appears to be measuring Nate up and down with its judgmental eyes. Finally, the Snivy finished its inspection and looked Nate in the eyes for a long second, before nodding.

Nate began to chuckle, almost incredulous at the Pokemon's behavior, and stood up.

"I'll take the Snivy. I'll call you Desty." Bianca handed over the ball to Nate and grinned, returning the Tepig in a flash of red light.

"You two look like you were made for each other, and that's usually difficult with a Snivy. Well, I should be off now. If you have any questions or anything, I should be in town until tonight. I'll be around the school." Rosa noted an almost imperceptible blush dust Bianca's cheeks as Nate very tactfully asks;

"But you already graduated a few years ago, didn't you? You don't need trainer school again." Bianca nods and answers quickly.

"I'm just sitting in on the classes, and catching up with some of my old friends!" Nate's eyes light up as she finishes talking.

"Oh yeah I forgot, Cheren's first day as Gym Leader is today, isn't it? I have to be his first challenger!" He quickly spins on Rosa and holds out his Pokeball with a challenge in his eyes.

"Let's battle! I need to train before I fight Cheren!" Rosa takes a quick step back, coughing nervously.

"I don't know, I've never battled before."

"Neither have I! Come on, it'll be good practice!" Rosa glanced down at Tey, who was still outside of his containment and clinging to her leg. The Pokémon looked up at her and tilted it's head. Rosa rolled her eyes at the Otter and sighed.

"Fine, one battle." Nate practically jumped off the ground in excitement, brandishing his pokeball like a weapon.

"Great, and this viewpoint is a great battlefield! Desty, go!" Nate flung the ball upwards, the capsule opening and releasing the grass snake in a flash of red light. The reptile landed on the battlefield and looked towards Rosa- no, towards Tey- with a challenge in her eyes.

"Let's get this over with. Tey, go." Rosa gestured towards the Snivy with the leg Tey was holding onto for dear life, prompting the otter to jump off and waddle over towards the much more lithe snake. As the two battlers take their positions, Bianca walks down the hill, humming quietly to herself and smiling in anticipation for the rest of her day.