Accumula Town, early spring.
Rolling meadows of grass and blossoms wrapped around the small town, flowing with the hills to form a scene of quiet, pastoral beauty.
Inside one of the houses, a woman wearing an apron climbed to the second floor. She knocked on a wooden door and called out gently,
"Freya, time to get up! Isn't today the day you go to the Trainer Association to receive your first Pokémon? If you keep lazing around, they might all be gone!"
Inside the room, a sixteen-year-old girl jolted awake. Rubbing her eyes as her mother's voice reached her ears, she let out a panicked cry.
"Oh no, I'm going to be late!"
Rustle, rustle!
The sudden shout startled a Pidove perched on a branch outside the window. The common Pokémon flapped away in alarm.
Freya threw off her blanket, didn't bother washing or eating, and dashed straight out of the house, shouting over her shoulder,
"Mom, save breakfast for me!"
The woman could only sigh helplessly as she watched her daughter disappear down the road.
"That child…"
She entered the room and began straightening the rumpled bedding, but worry flickered in her eyes.
Had it really been the right decision to let Freya become a Trainer?
The wilderness was nothing like the safety of town. Dangerous wild Pokémon roamed everywhere, and a single careless mistake could invite disaster.
Even setting Pokémon aside, survival itself would be difficult for a girl who had just turned sixteen.
Food supplies. Clean clothes. Healing herbs.
If everything went smoothly, fine, but what if she got lost? What if her provisions were ruined?
Yet Freya, her head filled with dreams of Pokémon partners and adventure, noticed none of her mother's fears.
She sprinted straight toward the town's Trainer Association.
Though Accumula Town was remote, His Majesty Lucien had still ensured that a Trainer Association was established here.
At the entrance, Freya found a crowd of young people already waiting.
They weren't only from Accumula Town, many had come from nearby Nuvema Town and surrounding villages.
There were quite a few people, but not as many as she'd feared.
Probably a lot of parents were too worried about the wilds and didn't allow their kids to come, she thought.
Taking a breath, she stepped inside and spoke nervously to a staff member.
"E-excuse me! I'm here to receive my first Pokémon. What should I do?"
"This way, please."
"Y-yes, sir!"
The attendant led her into a room where three Pokémon were waiting.
They had been chatting among themselves. When Freya entered, every head turned toward her at once.
Their eyes sparkled with curiosity, and hope.
Each one was eager to see whether this human might become their partner.
Freya felt her nerves tighten.
She looked at them carefully.
Over the past year, Accumula Town had opened a Pokémon School teaching basic knowledge, and bookstores sold illustrated guides. Through those, she had learned to recognize many Pokémon species.
She immediately knew the three before her.
From left to right, Patrat, Purrloin, Psyduck.
"These are the Pokémon prepared by the Association," the attendant said kindly. "Please choose one to become your partner."
He gestured to the first.
"On the left is Patrat. It's extremely alert and excellent at scouting."
At the sound of its name, the Patrat hopped in place.
"Patrat!"
It stared at Freya eagerly, eyes full of expectation.
So cute…
Like most girls, Freya had almost no resistance to adorable Pokémon.
But remembering that there were still two more, she forced herself to hold back.
"In the middle is Purrloin," the attendant continued. "It's agile and clever, skilled at ambushing opponents from unexpected angles."
Unlike Patrat, Purrloin remained calm. It merely curled its lips into a faint smile and regarded her with bright, calculating eyes.
A kitten Pokémon…! Her heart fluttered.
Then the attendant turned to the last one.
"On the right is Psyduck. It may look absent-minded, but it can unleash a surprisingly powerful Water Gun."
"Guh?"
Psyduck tilted its head and pressed its webbed hands against its temples, looking thoroughly confused.
"So," the attendant asked gently, "which one will you choose?"
A three-way choice.
Freya's gaze drifted between the three Pokémon, each so different from the others.
For the first time in her life, she truly understood what it meant to be torn between options.
Cuteness alone wouldn't keep her alive in the wild.
Strength mattered.
Patrat could warn her of danger. Purrloin could outpace enemies. Psyduck could blast foes with Water Gun.
Which one was best?
This is so hard…
The attendant waited patiently, offering no pressure.
Finally, Freya took a deep breath.
"I've decided, Patrat!"
Patrat leapt into the air in delight.
"Patrat!"
The other two Pokémon couldn't completely hide their disappointment.
"Is that your final decision?" the attendant asked.
Freya nodded, avoiding their gazes. "Yes. Final."
For surviving in the wilderness, Patrat's alertness would be the most useful.
"Very well," the attendant said. "From today onward, Patrat is your partner. You will travel together, live together, and care for one another. You must never abandon each other."
Freya and Patrat met each other's eyes.
They nodded together.
"Mm!"
"Patrat!"
"Now, please take this."
The attendant handed her a small package.
Inside was a book.
"This was printed under His Majesty Lucien's orders," he explained. "It contains illustrations and notes on known wild Pokémon to help Trainers identify them."
Freya's eyes lit up.
This is perfect!
Next, the attendant handed her several spherical devices.
"This is Patrat's Poké Ball. The Association also provides five empty ones. However, we advise new Trainers to capture sparingly, one person cannot properly care for too many Pokémon at once."
"Understood!" Freya nodded vigorously.
"And this," the attendant added, handing her another item, "is your Trainer identification. It confirms your status and records the Gym Badges you earn. Please keep it safe."
Freya accepted it with reverence, holding it carefully.
"All right," the attendant said with a warm smile. "Your journey begins now. Before you leave, we have a few important tips."
"Please tell me!" Freya said quickly. She knew this information would be vital.
"For safety, we recommend staying in town for a while to train your Patrat. Once it's stronger, you'll be better able to protect each other."
"Also, when you consider capturing additional Pokémon, prioritize ones that can swim, use Surf, or can fly."
"That way, if you encounter an uncrossable river, a Water-type can carry you across, or a Flying-type can speed up your travels."
"Yes! We'll remember!" Freya nodded earnestly, committing every word to memory.
Meanwhile, in Castelia City, inside the Trainer Association.
Derick studied the three Pokémon before him, his expression calm but focused.
On the left stood a small, blue, bipedal, puppy-like Pokémon, Riolu.
In the center was a four-legged mouse Pokémon with prominent front teeth, Rattata.
On the right was a white, mushroom-shaped Pokémon whose cap resembled a Poké Ball. Its stubby arms and wide pink mouth made it look oddly endearing, Foongus.
"So… choose one," Derick murmured to himself.
The three Pokémon looked back at him.
He crouched down, carefully observing their posture, expressions, and overall condition.
He wanted to become a powerful Trainer.
He wanted to stand on the stage of the year-end tournament. He wanted recognition from His Majesty Lucien.
Only then could he give his mother a better life.
For that dream, he was prepared to give everything.
Just like humans, Pokémon differed greatly in talent and potential. He had to choose the one with the greatest promise, and grow stronger together with it.
Among the three, Riolu's gaze was steady and composed, its eyes filled with quiet determination.
Rattata, by contrast, shrank back slightly, clearly uneasy around strangers.
Timid, Derick noted.
Foongus blinked its small eyes slowly, looking innocent and confused, like a child who didn't yet understand the world.
"Child," an elderly voice said gently, "which one will you choose?"
The three Pokémon waited in silence.
Derick had already made his decision.
"Sir," he said firmly, "I choose Riolu."
"Riolu…" The old man nodded approvingly. "An excellent choice. From now on, this Riolu will be your responsibility."
"Yes, sir!"
After receiving further guidance and a package containing beginner supplies, the selection process was complete.
Holding his newly issued Trainer ID, Derick stepped out of the Trainer Association.
"Next… train Riolu, grow stronger, challenge Gyms," he said quietly to himself.
Castelia City had its own Gym. Once he was ready, he planned to test himself against its Gym Leader.
But before that, there were things he needed to take care of.
In a quiet alley nearby, Derick stopped and looked at Riolu.
"Riolu," he said softly, "I'm Derick. My dream is to become the strongest Trainer in Eindoak."
Riolu's eyes flickered. It could feel the burning determination in its Trainer's heart.
"From today onward," Derick continued, voice steady, "let's do our best together."
"Woof." Riolu nodded.
Rather than rushing out onto the roads immediately, Derick returned home.
Seeing the worry etched on his mother's face, he spoke gently to reassure her.
"Mother, don't worry. I've grown up."
She sighed softly, knowing her son's stubborn nature all too well.
Turning away, she took out a cloth bundle and unfolded it, revealing coins she had saved bit by bit over many years.
"You'll need money on the road," she said quietly. "Take this."
Derick hesitated, then shook his head.
"I've saved enough from working," he replied. "And they say Trainers are needed everywhere. I can earn more while traveling."
"Eat well while I'm gone," he added, smiling. "When I become a great Trainer, I'll come back and take you to a better life."
A smile finally broke across her weathered face.
She sighed again. "Listen to you, already telling me what to do."
"Mother," Derick said seriously, "I swear I'll give you a good life."
"All right," she replied softly, tears shining in her eyes. "I'll be waiting."
…
Derick stepped outside with Riolu at his side, fists clenched, resolve firm.
He would become a powerful Trainer.
Lucien City.
Lucien sat behind his desk as Elif reported statistics from the regional Trainer Associations.
"Your Majesty, all eligible youths have successfully received their starter Pokémon, as ordered."
"Current reports indicate that approximately three thousand individuals have formed their first partnerships."
"Three thousand…" Lucien murmured, nodding slightly.
The number was neither high nor low.
Though he had actively promoted Trainer culture, many still feared Pokémon. Combined with the dangers of the wilderness, three thousand exceeded his expectations.
"It will suffice," Lucien said calmly.
Yet a question lingered in his mind.
How many of them would survive until the end of the year?
Even in the old stories, Trainers met with accidents. In this harsher reality, casualties would undoubtedly be higher.
That was precisely why Lucien had refused to lower the starting age to ten.
Even so, this path was necessary for the world's progress.
To reduce losses, he had already implemented multiple safeguards, survival education in schools, encouraging Trainers to train within cities before setting out, and advising them to prioritize Flying- and Water-type partners whenever possible.
...
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