Ohtsuto Adventure, Part 1

Barret was a young boy who had recently turned fifteen. Traditionally, the month a person turns fifteen, they become eligible for Pokemon Trainer status. Once a month a group of people would be given their choice of any of the three starter Pokemon for the given region. Like any fifteen year old, Barret was standing outside the good Professor Hawthorn's laboratory before the doors had been unlocked on the day of the Trainer License assigment ceremony.

He stood wrapping his arms around himself to keep himself warm in the morning's cold, dispite the black and green hoodie he wore. He had dark colored jeans and black and white shoes with green laces. Barret had made sure he looked ready for everyone to see him in a presentable manner for his big day, so he made an effort to make his short brown hair spiky and clean, along with shaving his face, allowing his sideburns to be a little long. He was a little smaller for a boy his age, at only 5'6" and a semi-muscular build. In an attempt to get himself just a little more psyched about the day's advents and put him a little more in the adventure mood, he wore fingerless gloves and a backpack full of clothes, some supplies and food for his journey, and a rolled up sleeping bag.

He had given the selection of his first Pokemon a lot of thought. Charmander was every trainer's first choice. He was strong, easy to train as a fighter, had an awesome final evolution, and was an easy way to kick some butt starting out. As a fire type, he would have an immediate advantage over the bug, normal, and grass types that are most common in the areas nearby. But then there was Squirtle. Fun, easy going, a little tougher to train but that only makes you look like a better trainer, and a good mix of speed and defense to keep you battling longer. He does lack an immediate type advantage however. Then there is Bulbasaur. Tough, with a decent balance of strength and defense, even if lacking in speed and evasion. Most difficult to train, but worth it in the end. Type neutrality with the pokemon Barret would be facing immediately... but with a heavy health stat, a number of blunt attacks, and the prospect of its final Evolution, Bulbasaur is just as capable as the other two. It really came down to personal preference.

"Well it must be your birthday, because i dont think i have ever heard of you being awake before noon." Professor Hawthorn's voice was calm and cool.

He didnt look much like a scientist, Prof. Hawthorn. He was tall, but less than six feet. He had dark brown hair, trimmed short and spikey. He had a goatee on his chin, and sideburns that came down the sides of his face, to about his earlobes...which happened have 2 earrings on either ear by the way. His body was built strong, with firm muscles beneath his dark green shirt, which had a button or two left undone at the top.

"Yeah... I haven't been to bed yet. I was just so excited about getting my first Pokemon!" Barret's voice was louder and more excitable than he had meant for it to be. His face turned a little pink. He had always felt an odd intimidation towards Prof. Hawthorn that he couldn't explain.

The professor smiled softly. "Then come inside. You're parents wouldn't be very happy if i made you stand out here while we wait for the other two to get here." He opened the large white doors to his laboratory and walked inside, stopping for a moment to allow Barret to walk in.

The lab itself was large. It felt vast and open on the inside, with the a clean antibacterial smell in the air. It felt a little like a doctor's office, but Barret had no problem feeling comfortable and at home in this building. It was here that Professor Hawthorn, and his aides, studied pokemon and brought new trainers into trainerdom. It was here that Barret and two other lucky new trainers would begin thier pokemon journey.

"Good morning, Professor," One of Hawthorn's aides, a young woman, addressed him.
"Good morning, Ms. Flores," he replied.

The building filled quickly with all of Hawthorn's aides and assistants prepping for the day's duties... the announcement of the new trainers included. It was a big moment in a trainer's life. He or she would be presented with their first Pokemon partner of their own. Each trainer would be given one of three starter Pokemon, their own Pokedex (a device to review data on Pokemon and perform various other tasks necessary for any given trainer), and a small supply of pokeballs to capture one's first few pokemon.

Barret was estatic. He waited for this day for years, and couldn't wait to begin his pokemon trainer journey. He sat in the front lobby for about an hour, reading over informational handbooks on various pokemon statistics and tactics for training and battle. Soon enough, a young man walked into the lab, immediately pulling Barret's attention.

"Hey man, whats up?" The young man spoke to Barret.
He was a few inches taller than Barret, but considering Barret's small size for a boy, left the young man at an average height. He had dark skin and was slightly muscular, while still a little rounded on the edges. His hair was dark brown, including the stubble on his face and his bushy eyebrows. The hair on his head was unkempt and messy. He wore black pants, thick-soled boots, and a red shirt covered mostly by a black jacket.

"Not a lot," Callin had raised his hand in the air and the two boys slapped on another's hands. "You're... Callin, right? I think we went to school together."
"Yeah, and you're Barret?"
"Mmhmm. Nice to meet you."
"Yeah, you too. Now we are just waiting on the last trainer to get here, right?"
"I guess so? I'm not exactly sure how all this works."
"Dude... I'm so excited to get my pokemon. I know exactly who im going to start off with, too."
"I am pretty sure I know who I'm getting." Barret paused, then questioned Callin. "By the way, do you happen to know who the last trainer is? I haven't really heard anything."
"Yeah, actually... I'm pretty sure it's a girl. Some rich kid with important family members or something. I think they say she is related to one of Kanto's top trainers or something... i couldn't tell you who though."
"Oh, I wonder who it is..." Barret's words were cut off by a door opening, behind the lab's front desk.

"Barret Woods, and Callin Ryu?" A young woman with light brown hair, pulled into a loose ponytail, and large round jade-green earrings stepped through the door.
"Yeah, I'm Barret." he spoke while standing.
"And I'm Callin Ryu."

The woman spoke again walked up to the boys and shook their hands, "My name is Kassy Herrera, and it is a pleasure to meet with you both. The professor has asked me to escort both of you into the presentation room. If you would please come with me." Ms. Herrera smiled to them and turned to walk back towards the door behind the desk.

Callin grabbed Barret's shoulder in excitement and whispered to him in a giddy tone, "This is it! We're about to become official Pokemon Trainers!!!"

With that the two boys walked behind the young aide into the presentation room, where they would cease to be regular people, and from here on in be known as Pokemon Trainers.