Saying I am still in awe of the world I've spent nine years in so far isn't so hard to believe.

Pokémon, beings of unimaginable power and some having the sheer ability to break reality and bend it to their will. Wielding the forces of nature and disasters.

One would likely wonder how does a nine-year-old happen to know anything about the magnitude of strength these creatures contain and how truly terrifying it is. This is because I wasn't always a nine-year-old brat. I was an office worker who played the Pokémon games, watched the show, and on occasion read the manga. I am aware of this world's potential for brutality, and I have been proven correct.

It is the reason I'm taking a Pokémon examination to be one of the lucky few to be sponsored by a Pokémon Professor. Unlike the games and media, I am familiar with each major City has a professor of sorts that tend to specialize in a different type. An example being Pewter City, if rumors are to be believed give out rock type Pokémon like Geodude or Rhyhorn. I had even heard about Cerulean City giving out Staryu, Goldeen, and Slowpoke.

Back to the test, it wasn't all that difficult. It was basics that one could look up in a library if you didn't know or things I would know due to the various media platforms. Acing the test is definitely the goal however I am hesitant to answer the last question on this quiz.

How many evolutions does Eevee have, what are their names, what types are they, and their evolution method?

For someone that knows far more than I should I wonder if it would be smart of me to answer the question how they want it to be answered or if I should answer it with all of my knowledge behind it. The Kanto region believes that there are five, but I know there is eight. 

I rolled my eyes and began to write the answer. There is eight. Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon, Espeon, Umbreon, Leafeon, Glaceon, and Sylveon. Their types in order are as follows: Fire, Electric, Water, Psychic, Dark, Grass, Ice, and Fairy. Evolution method is as follows: Fire stone, Thunder stone, Water stone, Friendship during the day, Friendship at night, Locational near a Huge moss rock or a pure enough leaf stone, Locational near a huge ice rock or a pure enough ice stone, and finally high level of affection while knowing a fairy type move like baby-doll eyes.

I sigh and place down my pencil looking to the clock near the examiners desk. I finished nearly twenty minutes into the hour-long test, and I am tempted to turn in the test. Doing a secondary check to my answers I raise my hand to have it collected.

=================

Celadon City, home to the department store as well as the grass type sanctuary of the Kanto region Celadon Gym. Celadon is also my home, but in a less than glamourous fashion. Celadon Orphanage, in big, bold, yet faded letters on the sign.

I was left here as a baby. Just a basket and swaddled in a pale gray blanket with no real identifying markers. I don't really know how to feel that I was abandoned here. Then again in a world like this the only one you can rely on is yourself and maybe your Pokémon. 

"Nathan? Back so soon?" Lowering my gaze from the sign I had been staring at I look at the matron of the Orphanage, Ms. Shelly. She's a kind woman who takes care of me and the five other kids besides myself. Her hair is slightly graying and wrinkles forming at the edges of laugh lines signal she's getting up there but is still around middle age. I'm a firm believer in never asking a woman her age but I do recall her birthday is May 15th. It is coming up in a week or two, I should scrape together some money to buy her something nice.

"Yeah, I finished the test early so I was allowed to leave."

"I'm sure you did well, there is no way you don't get sponsored by Celadon City or maybe the Gym. You've always been such a smart boy."

"Maybe, not so sure they had a trick question or two in there but I'm still confident I'll get at least top three."

Ms. Shelly nods and gestures me inside to which I comply with by heading inside and taking off my shoes and placing them in my assigned cubby. 

While I'm doing so Ms. Shelly passes by and heads off toward the kitchen patting my head as she does so. "I know you did your best and that's all that matters. I'm proud of you."

I let a small smile cross my face before heading up the steps to my room. Ms. Shelly has been more of a mother to me than I could have asked for. I'm definitely doing some yard work around town to get her a present for her birthday. I can relax in my studies for a few days for that.

========

Days pass in a blur of yard work, studying, spending time with the other kids in the Orphanage and Ms. Shelly. It is the day of Ms. Shelly's birthday, and I had to go pick up her present from the glass blower down the street. I just barely had enough to get her a custom order.

A glittering glass figurine of her favorite Pokémon, Dewgong with six seashells each a different color holding a different name etched into each shell. I'm fortunate that my fellow orphans had differing favorite colors. I got it wrapped up and ready for transport.

I managed to get it home without anything bad happening, thank Arceus for that. This is going to be the last birthday I'm here for while still living here provided I get endorsed for a starter Pokémon. My birthday is May 24th, and I'll know for sure by tomorrow if I will be setting out on April 1st with a starter Pokémon or if I will be gathering up money for a Pokéball and catching a wild Pokémon myself. Caterpie aren't too strong, I can make do with just about any Pokémon, but that doesn't mean I want to deal with such a handicap. 

I am not the oldest kid here not by a long shot, the eldest is 15 and her name is Jennifer. She handled the baking of the Cake and hiding it from Ms. Shelly who went out for groceries an hour or so ago meaning the rest of us have been delegated to decorating. It wasn't as big of a mess considering we've done this nearly every year since we found out when her birthday was. A artistically designed banner with big bold letters saying, 'Happy Birthday.' on it. We design a new one every year and reuse it for everyone's birthday so we can save time and be efficient. It was Ms. Shelly's idea so we could speed decorate making the surprise timing easier. 

After getting everything set up and everyone in position, we waited for Ms. Shelly to get home.

Upon arrival we all greeted her with a shout of 'Surprise!' The knowing smile she gave us means we were exactly sneaky enough this time and she knew it was coming but it had made her happy and that's what counted.

Singing happy birthday and each present given one by one I headed up stairs to get the present I kept in my room to keep it from incidents that are all too common from the youngest of the six of us. I am legit convinced one of his parents was a Pokémon with the ability Klutz.

I handed Ms. Shelly the box which she blinked at in surprise that I got her something needing to be boxed up in an unlabeled box. She opened the box and when she lifted it from the box she looked as if she was going to cry. "Happy birthday, Mom." After putting the glass model up, I was smothered in a bone cracking hug by who I was more than happy to call my mother.

=================

The letter that would determine my future had arrived and I was sitting in my room staring at it. Taking a deep breath, I opened it up and beginning to read it.

Dear Nathan,

We at the league would like to Congratulate you on a nearly perfect score on your examination. You have been approved and will receive a Pokédex on May 30th to your address by Pidgeot Express from the League. It will serve as your identification as a League authorized trainer and you will be legally allowed to capture and train Pokémon up to the League standard limit of six before you must find a ranch or lab willing to house any extra Pokémon you capture.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

We however regret to inform you that your application to receive a Royal Kantonian Starter Pokémon: a Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander from Prof. Oak has been denied. The three had been hand selected by the Professor this year and thus there are none available at this time.

While not your first choice we at the League have received and accepted your request for a starter Pokémon, the Pokémon you have the choice from are as follows: Vulpix, Eevee, Pikachu, Oddish, or Staryu.

Should none of these Pokémon be to your liking Celadon Gym has offered to supply you with a starter Pokémon. We at the Pokémon League are unaware of the choices that will be given at the gym.

We await your response, please send your reply using the sticker inside this envelope on the envelope containing your reply. 

Sincerely the Indigo League Champion,

Lance Wataru

=================

I wrote my reply as quickly as I could. Knowing time is of the essence, if I wanted my first choice it would have to be sent within the hour. I've never been so thankful for the post office being only a block away. I just had to hope my choice wasn't taken but I made sure to list what I wanted in order from most to least wanted. 

=================

Champion Lance sits at his desk looking down at all the paperwork and sighs. If he'd known becoming the champion of both Kanto and Johto came with this much paperwork he'd have rethought taking on both mantles. He'd have become an Elite Four instead of this.

A tapping on the window behind him made him turn and take notice of a Pidgeot from Pidgeot Express was there waiting to be let in. A press of a button and the big bird was let inside. The large bird stuck its head in the satchel bag and pulled out a letter and put it in Lance's hand and taking the treat offered by the other. Job done the Pidgeot turned hopping out the window and flying off.

Looking at the letter addressed to him with the official league sticker he opened it with his Dratini letter opener. Unfolding the letter Lance began to read.

Dear Champion Lance,

I was happy to receive your letter of congratulations on passing my exam and for the opportunity to choose a starter Pokémon from the League itself. Had I known what Pokémon you were offering this year I would have sent my first pick application to you instead. While the Kantonian Royal Pokémon are all wonderful Pokémon. I personally believe the Pokémon offered by the League are more than generous choices. I plan to be realistic with my expectations in case other letters have arrived before mine, so I have a list from what Pokémon in the order of which I would select them.

My first choice is Eevee, second is Vulpix, third is Staryu, fourth is Pikachu, and last but not least is Oddish. As a resident of Celadon City Oddish is one of the Pokémon given out by the local Gym as a starter option. So, while Oddish is a wonderful Pokémon it ranks last because I could have easily got one from a local source. Pikachu are typically home oriented Pokémon, and I don't know about you, but I'd like to not get accidently electrocuted by being tempted to rub its cheeks. Staryu, being my third choice pertains to being more common than Vulpix and while Staryu are easier to raise one can be found in the wild much easier catching my own shouldn't be all that difficult. Vulpix as my second choice, not much to say here. It is one of the few Fire-type Pokémon in Kanto and definitely a prime choice as a starter Pokémon with its potential to learn Psychic and Ghost attacks that cover a few bases. Eevee however has the most potential and is my number one choice. It has a multitude of options for evolution and it's a fantastic choice for anyone aiming for a versatile starter that can eventually adapt to fit into any team.

Thank you for your time and consideration, I can't wait to meet the Pokémon who will be my partner no matter which of them it ends up being.

I wish you well and that you are having a great day,

Nathan of Celadon City.

Lance raises an eyebrow as this was the first of the letters to be sent back. Taking a look at the front of the letter the return address is to the Celadon Orphanage. "Celadon Orphanage huh? Maybe I can use this as an excuse to step out and deliver this kid his starter." Checking his laptop, he clicks a few links and pulls up the test scores and searches for the test scores of Nathan from Celadon City.

A ninety-nine percent? The kid only missed one question? Looking further into the kid's info, it says his first choice was Oak Labs. If he recalls correctly Oak's grandson and three other kids were leaving from Pallet this year and instead of having them tested like everyone else, he's giving them to kids who didn't even work for them. That old man really likes to go against the League and Nathan definitely deserved to have a choice of a Royal Kanto starter. Perhaps he'd give the kid a boost. If Oak was going to play favorites, then he would too. Only he'd give the kid something even better.

=================

Today is my birthday, and I decided to sit on the roof watching the sky watching for any sign of the Pidgeot Express. I had hoped I was the first one to get my letter to them but it's entirely possible several kids from Viridian, Pewter, or even Pallet Town could have been selected by the League as well and they might not have a Pokémon left for me to have. I can head to the Gym up until it closes on the 30th to get a Bellsprout or Oddish if I don't get a letter or receive my starter before then.

I stand up and head towards my window to head inside or at least I would have done so if I didn't see a literal Dragonite heading this way. Seeing a Dragonite flying around is something that isn't normal, not in the slightest. I move myself inside and head downstairs when the doorbell rings. There is no way, right? The only person I know to have Dragonite is Champion Lance.

My line of thought was broken by Jennifer yelling up the stairs for me.

=================

It was indeed Lance and he's sitting in the orphanage living room. I take a seat across from him and he gives me a smile. Mom and the other kids left the room, but I know they are doing their best to listen in from the kitchen.

"Hi there, you must be Nathan. I have been looking forward to meeting you."

"Dragon Master Lance, it is nice to meet you as well. I didn't really expect a personal visit from someone so important."

Lance chuckled and picked up a cup of water that Ms. Shelly had undoubtably got for him before I came down and sipped from it.

"Yes well, I happen to have looked over your test and the circumstances with being denied from Oak Labs for a starter even though you scored in the top three this year. I happen to believe that Prof. Oak's blatant favoritism towards the kids of Pallet and giving the starter Pokémon the League supplied as starters to kids who didn't test for them is unfair. You could right now be receiving a Bulbasaur, Squirtle, or Charmander and from what I've seen from your test you are more than deserving of that opportunity."

"I see." I was actually disappointed. I remember the original media had a Bulbasaur and Charmander that wasn't chosen by Gary Oak and Ash got his Pikachu. 

"So, to make up for that I want to give you a challenge of my own." My eyes snap up at him from the coffee table separating us. "I have you're starter Pokémon here. An Eevee just like you chosen in your letter." He places the Pokéball on the table. "However, this isn't all." He places another ball on the table. "I want to capitalize on the top scoring talent that Prof. Oak decided to pass on and sponsor you myself provided you accept."

I know my eyes must look as wide as dinner plates at this moment as I let myself look from the two balls and back to Lance who is sitting there with a smirk on his face like he didn't just slap me with the perfect opportunity to become a powerhouse of a trainer. That second ball has to have a Dratini in it.

"I would be disrespectful to not accept such a gracious offer, but I should ask what benefits there are for being sponsored by you. I should at least know that much. That way I know what is expected of me with this."

Lance's smile seems to grow as he reaches grabs a suitcase from near his legs that I neglected to notice and opened it taking out some papers. "Well, it's rather basic stuff you would have received from being sponsored by Oak with a few alterations. Free stays, meals, and healthcare services at Pokémon Centers but that's standard with being sponsored at all. Should you capture any Pokémon over the carry limit they will be taken care of by my family in Johto, the Blackthorn's up to a limit of twenty will be fully paid for without needing money for monthly upkeep from you. This limit only includes non-Dragon type Pokémon. Next as your sponsor I'd like progress reports from you once every two weeks. Location, how you and your Pokémon are faring, that kind of thing. if you're in a specific area of interest I may offer you a task to investigate something or to handle small things for the League in my stead. Other than that, you will be provided with a monthly allowance of eight thousand. For each badge you acquire above the second your allowance per month will increase by two thousand to a maximum of twenty thousand after obtaining your eighth badge."

At this point I'm speechless, is this what every sponsored trainer gets? This is radically expensive.

"Now for the conditional stuff, point is I want you to make it to the Indigo Conference this year and place at least in the Top Eight. Should you manage to accomplish that I will continue to sponsor you but the allowance with be cut in half. I want you to win, top the conference in first place and I will change your carry limit to twelve Pokémon and double your allowance permanently until you decide to retire as a trainer or should you become a Gym Leader, Elite Four, or Champion where you are making more than enough to support yourself and house your Pokémon yourself."

"Where do I sign?" I give Lance the most serious look a newly turned ten-year-old could give. To which he smirks handing me a Dragonair styled pen. This my starting line to greatness. I will not let this chance be wasted.