This fanfiction is inspired by the following stories:

  The New Normal

  When the Moon Rises

  Borne of Caution

  The Natural

  The Other Trainers of Pallet

  These Silver Eyes

  Chapter 1 : Commencement

  Vera stared at himself in the mirror, his eyes skimming up and down his entire reflection. His skin was as pale as ever and his hair was a dark violet, short, and messy, with a tuff of white curling up from the front. He ran a hand through it in a futile attempt to make it look neater but, well, it was futile.

  A sigh left his lips as he let his hand fall to his side before he began to inspect his clothing.

  He wore a pitch-black shirt and over that was a white bomber jacket. His pants were colored a light grey with a zip on the left leg right above his knee. A pair of white and blood red sneakers enveloped his feet and on both his hands were black fingerless gloves. Finally, to complete his attire, he attached a white belt with six magnetic clips on it to his waist.

  Once he deemed to himself ready, he turned away from the mirror and made his way over to his bed where a few sets of cloths lay folded on the covers next to an open silver-black backpack and a grey Pokegear. Though Vera had never been one to care for his appearance, today, he felt like he had to at least make an effort.

  After all, today was the day he would finally be receiving his Trainer's License and his first Pokemon.

  Before Kanto and Johto became one; before the formation of Indigo, children were usually awarded their Pokemon Trainer License at the mere age of ten. In fact, there were some children who were given licenses even younger.

  Though that had always been tradition, it had become a necessity when Kanto came into conflict with the Johto Region – an event which would forever be etched in the annals of history as the bloody War of Ashes. More and more trainers were needed so that they could be conditioned into soldiers and sent to the battlefronts. It was an ugly thing to do but one that had been needed at the time.

  However, with the climax of the War of Ashes, the unification of Kanto and Johto, and the ascension of Samuel Oak as the first ever Indigo Pokemon League Champion, things had changed and in many cases, for the better.

  Of course, since the war had ended, children were no longer made to be soldiers. Many had thought that the new Champion would bow in the face of tradition and return things to the way they used to be before the conflict. However, that would not be the case.

  According to the new policy Oak had introduced, children would be awarded their Pokemon Trainer Licenses at the age of twelve and only after they completed the Trainer Licensing Examination and proved that they were capable of handling Pokemon in the first place. There had been too many instances of unprepared trainers going off into the wild and then meeting their ends at the hands of an enraged Ursaring, a vengeful Gengar, and many other wild and aggressive Pokemon.

  Then came the concept of sponsorships and the policy about team limits.

  Before the formation of Indigo, trainers carried as many Pokemon as they could. However, that led to many Pokemon either being neglected, abused or discarded by careless trainers who had caught more Pokemon than they could handle. In order to combat this, Champion Oak decreed that it was illegal for trainers to carry no more than six Pokemon at a time. This law was also applied to Gym Leaders and the Ranger Corps as well, who were often given leeway due to their positions. Even the Champion nor their Elite Four were exempt.

  Of course, just because trainers could only carry six Pokemon at a time, didn't mean they couldn't catch more. However, there was a limit to how many Pokemon a single trainer could catch, and that limit depended on their sponsor.

  A sponsor was someone who had the resources and willingness to support a young trainer's journey. In return, the trainers would represent them by either using their items or winning tournaments under their name. These sponsors could range from wealthy patrons and research institutions to Gym Leaders and even Elite Four members.

  Each sponsor would set a cap on the number of Pokemon their trainee could register under their name, and in return, they would fund the trainer's supplies, and equipment by granting the trainers a stipend. This sponsorship system was designed not only to ensure that trainers were supported in their journey but also to help regulate the number of Pokemon in captivity, promoting responsible training and management.

  Of course, having a sponsor was not a necessity or a required thing. There were many elite trainers who made it to the top without the help of a sponsor, among them being the former Elite Four Agatha, the Viridian City Gym Leader Giovanni, and the second Champion of Indigo - Pryce. However, for trainers without a sponsor, the maximum amount of Pokemon they could catch were six. This was mainly due to the fact that trainers without sponsors had nowhere to store extra Pokemon.

  There were many great sponsorships for aspiring trainers to apply for. The best of them came from Gym Leaders or Elite Four members, unsurprisingly, though they were also very difficult to acquire.

  However, the one sponsorship that every trainer in Indigo wanted above all else was Samuel Oak's sponsorship.

  After the first Indigo Champion retired from his position and handed the reigns of the joint-regions to Pryce Yanagi, he picked up a career as a Pokemon Researcher, taking up residence in small town of Pallet. In a matter of months, his reputation as a researcher skyrocketed. He published numerous articles and studies about different Pokemon, their environments, their typings, their characteristics, and much more. Soon, he became the greatest Pokemon Researcher in not only Indigo, but across other regions as well.

  His greatest achievement to date, however, was the creation of the Pokedex – a tool filled with all the Pokemon data he had acquired throughout his years as a researcher. Though at first, the Pokedex contained information on Pokemon only found in Indigo, it quickly grew and evolved to include Pokemon from the other regions as well once foreign researchers decided to pitch in and help Oak.

  Anyways, alongside his Pokemon research, the famed Professor also began a sponsorship program. Due to Oak's own popularity, it very quickly became the most coveted sponsorship for trainers in all of Indigo. Unfortunately for them, the sponsorship was greatly exclusive; it was only granted to three or four exceptional trainers picked by Oak himself every two years.

  And this year, the four trainers chosen to be sponsored by Samuel Oak were: Blue Oak, Katrina Belmont, Ash Ketchum…

  And of course, Vera himself.

  All sponsorships had some pretty cool quirks but there was no doubt that a sponsorship from Oak was a cut above the rest.

  Perhaps the greatest boon was that those sponsored by the Pokemon Professor would receive a Pokedex from him. Thus, they were referred to as Dex Holders as they were the only ones permitted to carry the revolutionary device.

  To be a Dex Holder automatically made you something special to the eyes of other people. Simply earning the recognition of the famed Professor put you ranks above the ordinary trainer.

  It also made you someone to look out for.

  Other benefits of Oak's sponsorship included a sizable monthly stipend, as well as his lab and all of its knowledge.

  Oh, and a specially designed Silph Co. backpack.

  Silph Co. was Indigo's number one manufacturing company responsible for making all the modern amenities that were often taken for granted these days. They were easily one of the most profitable companies in the world, easily rivalling – and in some cases surpassing – their competitors which were the Devon Corporation of Hoenn, and Orion Technologies of Sinnoh.

  Other than the mass production of various different types of Poke Balls, Silph Co. was also responsible for creating other amenities – for both trainers and civilians alike. One of there most recent products was a type of backpack that converted its contents into energy for easier transport. All the backpacks had a small pad on the side which allowed their users to recall specific items at will. This was especially useful for trainers who often had to carry too much at a given time.

  Professor Oak had personally ordered four of these backpacks and then gifted it to his sponsored trainers on their twelfth birthdays. Seeing as how expensive they were, it was definitely a gift that Vera had ever been expecting to get.

  Vera placed his final set of clothes into his silver-black backpack and watched as it dissolved into particles of energy – how freaking cool was that?! – before he finally zipped it up and swung it over his shoulders. He then grabbed his Pokegear off the bed and attached the device to his belt. His mother had purchased it for him a few days ago so that he could keep in touch with them. It also gave him access to the Poke-Net, contained a map of the entire Kanto Region, and had the option to download maps of other regions.

  A nifty little device that would certainly prove useful on his journey.

  "Vera, are you ready? You're going to be late!" His mother called out.

  "Coming!" He replied as he cast one last look at his room before he quickly opened his door and stepped out.

  As soon as he stepped into the kitchen-dining room, the smell of rice and eggs filled his nostrils. His mother, a slender woman with soft features and hair as black as midnight, moved with grace as she placed a steaming bowl of rice and a plate of eggs on the table, just as he took a seat.

  "Hey, squirt! Looking good!" Vera groaned when he laid his eyes upon his sister who was also seated at the dining table.

  "Great. You're still here?" The twelve-year old boy said with mock annoyance and Raina Arden laughed.

  "Of course, I am. I don't leave for Hoenn until tomorrow evening and there was no way I was going to miss my baby brother's first day as a trainer." Raina grinned, watching him with that familiar teasing gleam in her eyes. "Besides, someone's gotta make sure you don't trip over your own feet before you get your first Pokémon."

  Vera swallowed his food, shooting her a deadpan look. "If anything, you're more likely to trip over my feet than I am, clumsy."

  His mother's soft laugh broke through the sibling banter. She slid a glass of juice over to Vera, giving him a gentle look. "Now, now, Raina, don't tease him too much. Today is a big day for him, after all."

  Raina's face fell in mock sadness and resignation. "Fine, fine, I'll concede…for now."

  Vera rolled his eyes at his sister but couldn't help smiling a little at her antics. Raina was his senior by two years and a trainer who had been sponsored by the former Indigo Elite turned contest star, Lorelei. How she scored such a sponsorship, he would never know but apparently Lorelei had taken a liking to her and decided to sponsor her for her journey, even giving her an Eevee as a starter - a rare Pokemon capable of evolving into numerous powerful forms.

  Since beginning her journey, Raina had quickly made a name for herself as a talented trainer. However, her interests lay not in Pokemon battling but Pokemon Contests. In her first year, she had reached the semi-finals of the Indigo Grand Festival, while, in her second, she had made it to the finals but lost by a hair's breadth to a talented trainer named Aria from Kalos. And now, she was planning on trying her hand at the contest scene in the Hoenn Region.

  Yes, she was indeed a talented trainer and in some instances, Vera did admire her. However, she was also the bane of his existence, never failing to find ways to embarrass him.

  Just your typical annoying big sister.

  "You need to be at Professor Oak's lab at nine o'clock, right?" Kaeda Arden asked as Vera took a bite out of his eggs. He quickly swallowed the mouthful and then turned to his mother.

  "That's right." The twelve year-old said with a nod. "What time is it now?"

  "Eight." Kaeda replied as she too took a seat next to Raina, ruffling her daughter's hair. Raina scowled and batted her hand aside like the brat she was. "It's better to get there earlier rather than later, so I think you should set off as soon as you're done eating. You'll be leaving right from the lab, right?"

  "That's the plan."

  "And you have everything packed?" His mother asked.

  "Yep." Vera patted his silver-black backpack. "Don't worry about me, Mom, I'll be fine. I'm not a klutz like Raina here."

  "What's that supposed to mean?!" Raina exclaimed in indignation. Vera sent her a smug look.

  "What do you think it means, klutz? I mean, not just anyone can nearly get eaten by a Snorlax for wearing strawberry pyjamas. Are you sure we're related?"

  Raina's face flushed bright red, and she jabbed a finger at Vera, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled for a comeback. Vera just smirked, fully enjoying the rare moment of having his sister on the defensive.

  "Oh, please! That was once!" She sputtered, folding her arms and glancing away with a pout. "And besides, that Snorlax was practically blind. It's not my fault it mistook me for a berry…"

  Vera and Kaeda shared a knowing look, the same one they always exchanged whenever Raina tried to explain away her more embarrassing incidents. Vera couldn't help the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Moments like these, annoying as they could be, were rare for him and his family, and he wanted to hold onto it for just a moment longer.

  "Well, we better get used to it now. If she gets trampled by a Wailord in Hoenn, it won't be any surprise." Vera replied casually, sending a wink Raina's way. She just glared back at him, but he knew she wasn't really mad.

  Around ten minutes later, Vera had cleared his bowl of the last bits of rice and was now standing up. He swung his backpack over his shoulder, feeling the weight settle.

  "Alright." He said, trying to keep his voice steady as his mother and sister stood up with him. "I guess I'd better get going then."

  Kaeda stepped forward, pulling him into a tight hug that he returned, savouring the warmth. Raina, standing just behind, nudged him with her elbow when he let go, her smile laced with a mixture of teasing and encouragement.

  "Good luck, Vera." she said, giving him a small nod. "Try not to get yourself eaten on your first day."

  Vera scoffed. "I don't need you of all people to tell me that, Raina. Try not to get mauled by a Roselia."

  Raina frowned. "Roselia are vegetarians. How could I possibly get mauled by one?"

  "I'm sure you'll find a way." Vera joked.

  And with that final insult, he ignored his sister's cry of rage, gave his final goodbyes and a promise to keep in touch, before he turned, took a deep breath, and made his way out the door, excitement and nerves twisting in his stomach.

  Given how close his residence was from the lab, it took Vera ten minutes before he finally reached the lab doors, skidding to a stop once he saw his fellow sponsored trainers standing outside in the lawn. Both of them were dressed in casual wear much like himself, perfect for travelling.

  "Look who finally showed up?" Blue's voice filtered into his ears as he pushed himself off the wall and walked towards him. On the bench in the lawn, Katrina was sitting with her nose buried in a book. She hadn't seemed to notice his arrival and Vera knew better than to bother her when she was reading. "And here I thought you'd chicken out."

  Vera rolled his eyes but grinned, nonetheless. "And give you another chance to gloat, runner-up? I think not."

  Blue's eye twitched at the nickname Vera had taken to calling him ever since the results of the Trainer Licensing Exam had come out. The grandson of Professor Oak had not taken it well when he learned that he had been ranked second – below Vera who had earned the highest grade in their class.

  And of course, Vera loved to tease him about it.

  "The first thing I'm doing when I get my Pokemon is kicking your ass, loser." Blue seethed and Vera simply laughed at him. Arceus, riling up Blue was almost as fun as teasing Raina or Ash.

  Speaking of which…

  "Where's Ash?" Vera wondered as he looked around for the fourth member of their quartet and easily the most boisterous. Given how dedicated Ash was to becoming a Pokemon Master, he'd have thought he'd be the first one here. Yet there was no sign of him.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "We haven't seen him yet." Katrina answered as she finally joined the two of them, her book tucked underneath her arm.

  "Oh, so you finally noticed Vera was here, did you, Odd Girl?" Blue mocked and Katrina sent him a lazy smile.

  "No, I knew he was here when I heard your nasally voice greet him." Blue growled at the insult, but Katrina ignored him, opting to pat the book under her arm. "I just wanted to finish my book first before getting up to say hello."

  "Arceus, you're such a weirdo." Blue stated as he crossed his arms and scowled.

  "Look who's talking." Katrina countered as she lifted a finger and poked his spiky hair. "Do you just wake up with a bedhead or do your purposely style it this way?"

  Before Blue could blow a gasket, Vera intervened. "Going back to Ash, he did know what time we had to meet up right?"

  "Heck if I know." Blue huffed, still miffed at the constant insults Katrina always threw at him. "I'll bet you he overslept and missed the alarm like he always does. I guarantee he'll come running as soon as he wakes up."

  "I can't believe I'm saying this, but Blue is right." Katrina agreed. Both Blue and Vera sweat-dropped when they saw the sickened look on her face as she spoke those words, as if agreeing with Blue about anything was akin to being inflicted with the plague.

  "Well then, should we wait?" Vera questioned, somewhat uncertainly. Ash was his friend and the right thing to do would have been to wait for him, but he also didn't want to waste anymore time. Judging from the looks on Blue and Katrina's faces, they felt the same way.

  "I don't know about you two, but I'm not waiting for Ashy-boy." Blue declared firmly. "If he's late, its his own fault. I want to get my Pokemon and start my journey as quickly as possible."

  "Blue's right…again." Katrina actually gagged this time when she spoke. "Who knows when Ash will get here? Besides, if that idiot were in our place, he wouldn't wait for us either."

  Vera scratched his chin thoughtfully for a moment before he finally nodded. Blue and Katrina were right. And he really didn't want to wait any longer, especially now since his future starter was waiting for him just behind the lab doors.

  Just then, the doors of the lab opened and out stepped Professor Oak, wearing his ever-present lab coat. His eyes were kind but sharp eyes as he looked over the three of them, his face lighting up with a warm smile.

  "Well, well, it seems you are here on time!" Professor Oak exclaimed, as he crossed his arms behind his back. "Good. Being punctual is important in life. No one will take you seriously if you arrive late." Vera, Blue, and Katrina exchanged an exasperated glance as the old man began rambling. Neither of them were exactly keen on listening to another one of his lectures. Of course it would be rude if they just interrupted him, so they let him finish while paying only minimal attention. "Now then…have any of you seen Ash? I thought he would be here by now."

  "Well…" Vera started, scratching the back of his neck. "We think he might be…uh, running a bit late."

  "Knowing Ash, he probably overslept," Blue chimed in, rolling his eyes. "And he'll come barrelling down here at the last second like always."

  Professor Oak chuckled. "That does sound like Ash. He has a boundless spirit, though he may need to work on time management." The Professor's eyes twinkled knowingly. "But I suppose the three of you are eager to get started?"

  Blue practically lit up, stepping forward. "Of course, Gramps! I've been ready for this since the moment I could walk!"

  Katrina snickered. "I just hope we're not giving Ash too much of a head start. He's got his work cut out for him if he wants to catch up."

  Professor Oak held up a hand, silencing their chatter with a gentle authority. "Very well. We'll begin. I've got a particular starter in mind for Ash anyways, so he won't be left out. Now please, follow me, children." He led them through the doors, and the three of them followed behind.

  Inside, the lab was as lively as ever. Machines hummed quietly, and various assistants shuffled around, updating charts and sorting through Pokemon data. But Vera's eyes immediately went to the three Poke Balls on a raised platform in the centre of the lab. Each ball bore a symbol representing one of the classic regional starters: a leaf for Bulbasaur, a flame for Charmander, and a water droplet for Squirtle.

  The three aspiring trainers came to a stop in front of the platform while the Professor paused next to it, turning around to look at them. "I am sure you three already know who the regional starters are, so I won't bore you with my usual speech. Instead, we will begin with the selection immediately. You will pick in order of your test scores so that means you can go first, Vera."

  "Alright, Professor." Vera said, throwing a smug grin in an irate Blue's direction as he walked up to the platform. He didn't waste any time on making his decision; he already knew which of the three Pokemon he wanted to pick.

  Calmly placing his hand on the Poke Ball marked with the water droplet symbol, Vera pressed the button in the middle, releasing the creature within. In a flash of white light, a blue, bipedal turtle-like creature with a curly tail and wide, expressive eyes materialized on the floor in front of him. It stretched out and yawned cutely before it noticed Vera and tilted its head curiously.

  "Hi there, Squirtle." Vera spoke in a gentle voice as he lowered himself down into a squat, trying to make himself appear as approachable as possible. "My name is Vera. I'm hoping to travel and see the world, getting the change to battle against all kinds of opponents along the way. I hope we can be friends and do it together. I'm sure I can help you grow into a powerful Blastoise one day. So what do you say? Do you want to become my partner?"

  Squirtle stared at him for a moment, its large eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and excitement. Then, much to Vera's surprise, Squirtle let out an enthusiastic cry of "Squirtle!" before bounding forwards and wrapping its stubby arms around his leg. His surprise quickly vanished, being replaced by laughter as he scooped up the Tiny Turtle Pokemon into his arms, gently rubbing its smooth and round head, affectionately.

  "I believe that is a yes." Professor Oak happily announced as he then handed Vera five shrunken Poke Balls and a sleek, silver Pokedex. Squirtle quickly climbed onto Vera's shoulder as the dark violet-haired boy gingerly took the device into his hands, holding it as if it were a gift from Arceus above. Almost immediately, he scanned Squirtle with the device, discovering that his first ever Pokemon was a male. He made a note to read the rest of the data later.

  "Blue, you're next." Professor Oak announced.

  As soon as his name left his grandfather's lips, Blue practically teleported to the platform as soon as the words left his grandfather's lips and immediately snatched up a Poke Ball without hesitation, tossing the ball high into the air. A burst of white light erupted from the red and white container to reveal a small green, quadrupedal Pokemon with a bulb on its back and sharp red eyes. It seemed a little disoriented at first, glancing around at all the strange new people, before letting out a confident cry and planting its feet firmly on the ground in what Vera presumed was some attempt to assert dominance.

  "Alright, Bulbasaur, I'm your new trainer. Nice to meet ya!" Blue shouted in an equal display. "I plan on being the world's greatest Pokemon trainer. That means I'll need the strongest Pokemon by my side and you're going to be the first. You up for the challenge?"

  The Seed Pokemon's eyes narrowed as it mirrored Blue's massive smirk. It let out another assertive cry and trotted over to Blue, nodding feverishly at his declaration. Blue's smirk widened further, causing Vera and Katrina to exchange a worried glance while Professor Oak sighed before handing Blue the rest of his gear.

  "I'm sure you two will get along great. Most of the Bulbasaur line tend to be gentle creatures but this one in particular, is a bit of a handful. I doubt you'll have much trouble bringing out the best in him, though."

  "No worries Gramps. Bulbasaur and I are going to be the best team Pallet Town has ever seen. No offense you two." He added the last part with a small wave in Katrina and Vera's direction. Bulbasaur narrowed its eyes at the other two humans before snorting, confident it had chosen the best trainer of the bunch.

  Finally, it was then Katrina's turn. Just as her friends had done earlier, the girl spared no time in picking up the final Poke Ball and releasing the starter within. The orange skinned lizard appeared before them and let out an enormous yawn, showing off many sharp teeth. The flame on its tail flickered brightly as it swung side to side.

  "Sweet." Katrina grinned at the sight of her long awaited Charmander, who looked up at her curiously as if just now noticing her presence. "Hey Charmander, my name is Katrina. Hope we can get along, partner."

  Charmander tilted its head in a manner that could only be described as cute before letting out a long chirp, spitting weak cinders into the air. The flame on its tail rose suddenly, making Katrina's grin grow wider.

  "And that's the last one," Professor Oak said as he handed Katrina her equipment. "The three of you not only scored well enough on the exam to earn a regional starter but impressed me enough to be given a sponsorship as well. As trainers sponsored by me, you will each be given a monthly stiped of 3500 Poke-Bucks and will also have access to my lab and all of its knowledge. Of course, in turn, I may ask you to run errands for me when needed. Furthermore, the data you collect with your Pokedex's will help me enhance my work greatly, not to mention being able to study how your Pokemon develop under your care. Of course, how you collect that data is all up to you, but I'm certain you three will do us proud. Ash too, of course, whenever he decides to show up."

  "Not like it matters. We've got more important things to deal with because now I can finally do it!" Blue cried as he dramatically pointed towards the other twelve year-old boy. "Vera, I challenge you to a battle! Get ready to have your ass kicked!"

  "Language!" Professor Oak chided with a resigned look on his face, as if he had known his grandson would pull a stunt like this. Vera had also been prepared, seeing as Blue had all but announced his intentions to battle him moments ago outside the lab.

  "Well, at least he sticks true to his word." Katrina commented from her place next to Vera. Her Charmander was hovering close by her legs, watching the proceedings curiously.

  "Well, what's it going to be?" Blue asked as he stared hard at his friend and rival. His Bulbasaur appeared just as confident at his trainer as he stood next to him with his arms crossed. Vera returned Blue's stare with equal force before glancing down at his Squirtle, meeting the Tiny Turtle Pokemon's gaze.

  "You're on, Gare-bear."

  Professor Oak then cleared his throat, drawing all eyes onto him. "If you two insist on battling then I propose you use the back field. I'd rather have my lab remain in one piece."

  The three trainers and their Pokemon followed the Professor outside to the large field behind the lab. Almost immediately, Blue and his Bulbasaur took their place on one end of the field while Vera and Squirtle stood at the other. Vera looked down at his starter, taking in his confident look as well as the glare he was sending to his fellow starter. The dark violet-haired boy chuckled and bent down to rub his brown-checkered shell.

  "This will be our first battle, Squirtle." Vera informed as his Pokemon looked up at him curiously. "Just follow my commands. I'll make sure we win and knock Blue down a notch or two. And I think that Bulbasaur of his needs some humbling as well."

  Squirtle narrowed his eyes at his trainer's words before crying in affirmation. Vera grinned before he held his Pokedex in front of his starter to review what his move set was. Instantly, he learned that Squirtle could use Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw, and - much to his immense surprise - Aura Sphere, which was highlighted as an egg move. From across the field, Blue - who had also decided to check out Bulbasaur's move set - had a shocked look on his face as well.

  "Judging from the surprise on your faces..." Professor Oak began to say as he stood next to Katrina, a playful smirk on his face. "...no doubt you have discovered that your Pokemon are more special than you thought they would be. Each of them have been specially bred with an additional egg move that will give you an edge in your journeys. Think of it as another perk of my sponsorship."

  As soon as he finished speaking, Katrina immediately whipped out her Pokedex to scan her Charmander while Blue cheered in triumph. No doubt, whatever move Bulbasaur had, it was something good.

  Vera, on the other hand, continued to sift through the Pokedex. Aura Sphere was a powerful and rare move to have, no doubt, and he was sure it would prove valuable to him. Furthermore, since the Tiny Turtle Pokemon had been born with the ability to use Aura Sphere, no training was needed. Unlike moves that had to be taught or trained, those a Pokemon was born with were deeply embedded in its genetic makeup, enabling the Pokemon to use them instinctively from birth. These moves are a fundamental part of the Pokemon's biology, much like natural reflexes, and do not require additional training to master.

  Squirtle also had the ability Torrent, but that didn't come as a surprise to him as all the Squirtle line had this ability.

  This was so much easier than having to scour through books, Vera thought as he put his Pokedex away, watching as Blue did the same from across the field.

  "I will act as the judge for this battle." Professor Oak announced and both trainers nodded. "The match will keep going until one Pokemon has been defeated. Is that clear?" Cue another pair of nods. "Good. Now without further ado, let the battle begin!"

  The moment Professor Oak's voice dropped, Blue leaped into action, his arm slicing through the air as he shouted, "Bulbasaur, let's show them what we've got! Tackle!"

  Bulbasaur's red eyes gleamed as he launched himself forward, his stubby legs moving with surprising speed. The small but determined Grass/Poison-type closed the gap in seconds, barrelling toward Squirtle with unrelenting energy.

  "No way we're letting that hit! Squirtle, Withdraw!" Vera commanded.

  With a flick of his tail, Squirtle ducked his head, arms, and legs into his shell just as Bulbasaur slammed into him. The impact sent Squirtle skidding back, but his sturdy shell absorbed most of the damage. As the Tiny Turtle Pokemon popped back out, he grinned confidently, and Bulbasaur snorted in irritation.

  "Nice defense!" Vera praised, flashing his partner a quick thumbs up. "Now, hit back with Water Gun!"

  Squirtle inhaled deeply before releasing a sharp blast of water, the stream striking Bulbasaur right on the forehead. The force of the water blast forced the Seed Pokemon to his knees and sent him sliding back a few feet. However, to his credit, Bulbasaur managed to shrug off the attack before stomping his foot hard on the ground. Vera frowned when he saw that.

  Because Bulbasaur was primarily a Grass-type Pokemon with an additional Poison-typing, he was resistant to water-based attacks. Of course, that didn't mean they did no damage at all but their power would be cut in half upon striking the small green amphibian. And unfortunately, Bulbasaur's attacks would be super effective against Squirtle. He'd have to play his cards carefully here.

  Blue's smirk deepened. "Not bad, but it'll take more than that. Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!"

  "Dodge it, Squirtle, and close in!" Vera shouted.

  Upon his command, two vines shot out from Bulbasaur's bulb, snapping toward Squirtle with impressive speed. The Tiny Turtle Pokemon, however, managed to dart to the side, narrowly avoiding the vines as he charged forward. Using the momentum he had built up, Squirtle let out a fierce cry before he rammed into Bulbasaur, driving him back another few feet.

  Blue narrowed his eyes. "You're going to regret that! Bulbasaur, let's turn up the heat - Leaf Storm!"

  Vera's gasped as Bulbasaur let out a fierce bark before a torrent of glowing razor-sharp leaves erupted from the tip of his bulb. The storm of leaves roared toward Squirtle with devastating speed, the aquatic turtle frozen in place. There was no doubt about it; this was Bulbasaur's egg move. That explained why Blue had been so excited earlier. If Squirtle got hit with that...

  The dark-violet haired boy narrowed his eyes. No, he would not let that happen. "Withdraw, now!"

  Squirtle snapped back to reality upon hearing his trainer's call and quickly retreated into the safety of his shell just as the Leaf Storm struck. The onslaught battered his tough exterior, deflecting many of the leaves, but the sheer force of the attack sent him spinning backward. As the storm subsided, Squirtle emerged from his shell, wincing as he shook off the lingering pain.

  "You okay, Squirtle?" Vera called, concern flickering in his voice. Squirtle gave a determined cry, planting his feet firmly despite the bruises on his body. The dark violet-haired boy grinned. "Good! We're still in this! Hit him with Water Gun!"

  Squirtle inhaled deeply and fired another jet of water. Bulbasaur tried to dodge, but the blast struck him directly again, forcing him back several steps.

  Blue's smirk faltered slightly. "Don't let him recover! Leech Seed!"

  Bulbasaur launched a small seed from his bulb. It hit Squirtle squarely on the chest, sprouting vines that wrapped tightly around his body. Squirtle writhed as the vines pulsed, sapping his energy and transferring it back to Bulbasaur, who stood taller, his energy replenished.

  Vera clenched his fists. "Squirtle, don't let that stop you! Use Rapid Spin to break free!"

  Squirtle tucked into his shell and spun rapidly, the motion causing the vines to slacken. With a final burst of effort, he snapped free of the draining tendrils, landing on his feet and glaring defiantly at his opponent.

  Blue wasn't done yet. "Vine Whip, now!"

  "Intercept it with Water Gun!" Vera countered.

  As Bulbasaur's vines lashed out, Squirtle spat out another burst of water which collided mid-air with vines, sending them snapping backwards and away from the tiny aquatic turtle.

  "Bulbasaur, we're finishing this! One more Leaf Storm!" Blue cried out in frustration.

  Once again, Bulbasaur unleashed a swirling barrage of glowing leaves, the storm tearing through the battlefield. However, it was weaker than it had been the first time the Seed Pokemon had used it. Even if their Pokemon had powerful egg moves, using them over and over was not a feat so easily achieved. And Vera was all too glad to use it to his advantage.

  "Squirtle, unleash a powerful Water Gun – power through it!"

  Squirtle planted his feet firmly and fired a high-pressure jet of water straight into the heart of the Leaf Storm. The Water Gun was much more powerful than the previous ones the Water-type had used, and the force of the attack easily split the glowing green whirlwind, spraying leaves in all directions as Squirtle surged forward through the dissipating storm. That was when Vera saw his chance and took it out without hesitation.

  "Let's end this! Aura Sphere!"

  Squirtle's eyes narrowed with determination. He brought his stubby hands together, forming another brilliant orb of bluish energy. The glowing sphere pulsated as the small aquatic turtle locked onto Bulbasaur, who was still recovering from his failed Leaf Storm.

  "Bulbasaur, dodge it!" Blue yelled.

  Bulbasaur attempted to heed his trainer's call but that second Leaf Storm had taken too much out of him. And though Squirtle was no better, he still had enough energy to let out a resounding cry before launching the azure energy sphere at his opponent. The Aura Sphere streaked across the field in a matter of seconds before striking its target dead centre, exploding on contact. The impact sent the Grass/Poison-type hurtling backward before he hit the ground with a heavy thud, laying still.

  "Bulbasaur is unable to battle!" Professor Oak declared, raising his hand toward Vera. "The victory goes to Vera and Squirtle!"

  Vera let out a whoop of triumph, rushing to meet his partner, who stood victorious but visibly tired. "You were incredible, Squirtle," Vera said warmly, scooping the Tiny Turtle Pokemon into his arms. Squirtle nuzzled him affectionately, letting out a soft cry of victory.

  On the opposite end of the field, Blue scooped up his exhausted Bulbasaur and murmured words of praise before recalling him back into his ball. Then he walked over to Vera, the disappointment clear on his face for all to see. Yet despite that, he gave his friend and rival a begrudging nod.

  "Not bad, Vera. But don't let this win go to your head. This was only the first battle. Next time, I'll beat you."

  Vera chuckled, holding out his hand. "I look forward to it, Blue."

  Blue paused for a moment, then took Vera's hand in a firm shake.

  "That was absolutely brilliant!" Professor Oak exclaimed as he and Katrina walked up to them. "You both battled splendidly, especially considering you just received these Pokemon. I must say, I am gladly impressed."

  "Yeah, it wasn't bad." Katrina drawled, her Charmander scampering up to chatter excitedly with Bulbasaur. "I kind of want to battle you two as well. Though, I think I'll save it for next time." She then hoisted her backpack onto her shoulders. "So what's your guys' plan now?"

  "I'm taking the bus and heading straight for Viridian." Blue revealed immediately. "I'm going to catch a few Pokemon along the way and then try my hand at the Viridian City Gym. I've heard the Leader is crazy strong."

  "He is." Professor Oak confirmed. "However, his Gym is also very exclusive. It is classified as one of the most difficult gyms in Indigo as only trainers who have won at least six or seven badges are deemed worthy to challenge him. Giovanni is not one to waste his time on newcomers."

  "Oh…" Blue deflated at his grandfather's words.

  Vera placed a comforting hand on Blue's shoulder. "Guess we'll need a few more battles under our belts before we can aim for Giovanni, huh? Good thing there are plenty of other gyms along the way."

  Blue's scowl softened a bit as he shrugged Vera's hand off. "Yeah, yeah, sure. I guess Pewter's going to be my first stop then."

  "Well, I'm going to head home first." Katrina announced as she adjust her backpack strap. "My mom wants to speak with me before I leave. It's probably going to be some lecture again though, so, fun." She then turned to Vera. "What about you, Wonder Boy?"

  "I guess I'll be heading to Viridian first using the more traditional method. Meaning, I'll walk." Vera stated. "I want to take the time to train Bulbasaur up a bit and maybe catch another Pokemon. I hear the Pewter City Gym is usually a 2-on-2 battle, so I'll have to expand my team a bit."

  Blue laughed. "Well, if that's what you guys are gonna do, then you'll be left eating my dust!"

  "And here I thought that losing against Vera would have humbled you a bit." Katrina clicked her teeth and Blue's grin fell away, a scowl taking its place. "As much as I'd love to sit here and boast about how great you are, I have to get going. Come on, Charmander."

  With that, the ashen-haired girl bowed to the Professor before taking her leave, her little fire lizard scampering in close proximity to her, sniffing curiously at everything unfamiliar to it.

  Once her figure disappeared from view, Blue turned to look at the Professor. "Gramps, can I use the Pokemon Healing Machine in your lab to patch Bulbasaur up?"

  "Of course, my boy." Professor Oak stated, a warm smile on his face. No doubt, he was pleased that Blue was already thinking about his Pokemon's wellbeing. That was who Blue was though. He tended to come off as arrogant and cocky but he truly loved Pokemon. Deep inside, he was a kind boy. That's why Vera was friends with him and why he tolerated his less admirable qualities.

  Blue then turned around to look at his rival. "I take it, you'll be leaving as well now?" Vera nodded in confirmation and the grandson of Professor Oak grinned. "Well, then you'd better get a whole lot stronger the next time we meet. I don't want to hear any excuses when I beat you!"

  Then, with a smirk and a flick of his wrist, Blue ran back into the lab, leaving Vera, Professor Oak, and Squirtle alone in the field.

  The former Champion turned to look at Vera and patted him on the shoulder. "I suppose it's time for you to head off as well, my boy. I do hope you enjoy experiencing all the wonders that the Pokemon world has to offer. Though do be careful and make sure to stay in touch every now and then."

  "Yes, Professor." Vera replied with a bow before looking down at his starter. "You ready to go, partner?"

  "Squirt!" The Tiny Turtle Pokemon cried gently though his red eyes shone with determination.

  With that settled, Vera sent one last wave to the Professor, before he stepped back onto the gravelly path, thus beginning his trek to Viridian City.

  Current Pokedex Update

  Pokemon Trainer: Vera Arden

  Pokedex Number: KA-25072002

  Badges: 0

  Active Pokemon Team: 1

  Squirtle (Water Type, Male)

  Ability: Torrent

  Moves: Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw, Rapid Spin, Aura Sphere