This is the world of Pokémon.
Pokémon live alongside humans in cities, forests, oceans, and mountains. People raise them as partners, and some train them for battles.
For many, becoming a Pokémon Trainer is a dream that begins at a young age.
Our journey starts in the Korin Region, in a quiet place called Maple Town. Today is an important day for a young boy named Adrian. On this day, he will receive his very first Pokémon—and with it, take his first step into a much larger world.
"Nggh…"
The sound came from a small bedroom on the second floor of a house in Maple Town. An alarm clock buzzed loudly on a wooden bedside table, flashing the time in red numbers.
Adrian shifted under his blanket and turned onto his side, pressing his face into the pillow.
"Five more minutes…" he said quietly, his voice rough with sleep.
The alarm kept ringing.
Sunlight slipped through the open curtains, lighting up the room. Posters of Pokémon were taped to the walls. A backpack rested against the chair near the desk, already packed. A pair of worn sneakers sat neatly by the door.
Adrian opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling. The noise of the alarm finally registered. He reached out and shut it off, then sat up slowly on the edge of the bed.
Today was the day he would receive his first Pokémon.
A knock sounded on the door.
"Adrian?" his mother called. "You're finally awake, you sleepyhead? I thought you set your alarm so you could wake up on time."
Adrian rubbed his eyes. "Yeah… I couldn't sleep last night," he said. "I was too excited. I still can't decide which Pokémon to choose."
His mother opened the door and leaned against the frame. "Then you'd better hurry, or you're going to be late."
Adrian waved her off. "Relax, Mom. It doesn't start until seven."
He glanced at the clock on his bedside table.
His eyes widened.
"It's already eight o'clock?!"
The shout echoed through the house as Adrian jumped out of bed. He rushed around the room, pulling on clothes and grabbing things from his desk and chair.
"Why didn't you wake me up, Mom?!" he shouted.
She crossed her arms and sighed. "I tried. I called you eleven times already. Every time, you said, 'Five more minutes.'"
Adrian burst out of the house and ran straight down the road. He was still wearing his jacket over a thin shirt, with pajama bottoms and no shoes on his feet. He didn't stop to think about it.
He ran as fast as he could, his bare feet hitting the pavement as Maple Town passed by in a blur.
The Pokémon Lab came into view just ahead. Adrian slowed as he reached the entrance and saw several young Trainers stepping out the front door, each with a Pokémon beside them. They were smiling, talking excitedly, and beginning their journeys.
Adrian's chest tightened.
Standing in the doorway, wearing a white lab coat, was Professor Juniper.
"PROFESSOR JUNIPER! I'M HERE!" Adrian shouted as he rushed toward her.
He stopped in front of the lab, bending over slightly and panting. "I—finally made it…"
Professor Juniper let out a tired sigh. "Adrian," she said.
She adjusted her glasses and looked at him calmly. "You're an hour late."
Adrian straightened up quickly. "But—I still want to be a Pokémon Trainer! Please, Professor, give me one last chance!" he said urgently. "I thought about it all night, and I've decided. I want Chimchar!"
Professor Juniper paused.
"Chimchar," she said slowly, "has already been chosen by another Trainer."
Adrian froze for a moment.
"What?" he said. "Chosen?"
Professor Juniper nodded. "Chimchar was chosen by the first Trainer who arrived—earlier than everyone else."
Adrian clenched his fists. "Then… then I'll choose Turtwig!" he said quickly. "He was my second option, but I really want him too—just as much as Chimchar!"
Professor Juniper let out another sigh.
"Turtwig," she said, "has already been chosen as well."
Adrian stared at her, then scratched his head rapidly.
"Noooooo!" he groaned.
Adrian swallowed. "Then… I don't have a choice," he said. "I'll go with Piplup."
Professor Juniper turned away slightly. "Too bad," she said. "Piplup has already been chosen as well. So have the others."
Adrian's shoulders slumped, and the energy drained from him.
"Ahh…" he muttered.
He stared down at the ground. "Then… what about my dream?" he said quietly. "Traveling the world… catching different kinds of Pokémon…"
His voice faded into a murmur.
Professor Juniper glanced to the side, then looked back at Adrian. "But—"
Adrian's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked up at her at once.
Professor Juniper hesitated. "I do have two Pokémon left that haven't been chosen yet," she said. "They're… a little problematic." She raised a finger as she spoke.
Adrian straightened up immediately. "It doesn't matter, Professor," he said firmly. "As long as I can achieve my dream."
"Well then, come on in," Professor Juniper said.
They walked into the lab together. The inside was squeaky clean, with bright lights and neatly arranged equipment lining the walls.
After walking a little farther, they reached a garden at the back of the lab. Different kinds of Pokémon lived there, moving about peacefully in the open space.
Professor Juniper glanced at Adrian's expression and spoke. "You're curious, aren't you? About why I said all the Pokémon had already been chosen, even though there are so many here."
Adrian gasped slightly, as if she had read his thoughts.
Professor Juniper gave a small nod. "It's written all over your face, Adrian."
She continued, "The Pokémon here don't like battling the way others do. They prefer a peaceful life and choose to live comfortably. In short, these Pokémon have free will."
"I see," Adrian replied.
He looked around the garden, watching the Pokémon as they went about their lives, each one appearing calm and content.
"We've arrived," Professor Juniper said.
She stopped for a moment, then added, "Oh, wait. Before you go and meet the two Pokémon, I have something for you."
She smiled and handed him a small red device.
"Congratulations," she said. "You're officially a Pokémon Trainer now."
Adrian's eyes widened. "A Pokédex?! For real?!"
He took it carefully. "Thank you so much, Professor!"
Professor Juniper nodded. "You know how to use it, right?"
"Of course," Adrian said confidently. "I always remember your lessons—especially when they're about Pokémon."
"Good," Professor Juniper replied. "Then prepare yourself to meet the two Pokémon."
She reached forward and opened the door.
Bright light spilled into the room.
"Woah…" Adrian said, shielding his eyes.
Adrian saw a yellow Pokémon he had never seen before. It was calmly eating a berry, holding it with its small claws.
"It looks like a mouse," Adrian said quietly.
He raised the Pokédex and pointed it toward the Pokémon. "This is how you do it, right?"
The Pokédex shifted slightly, opened, and scanned the Pokémon in front of him. A moment later, the scan completed, and a mechanical voice spoke.
["Sandshrew, the Mouse Pokémon.]
[Sandshrew can protect itself by curling into a ball. It digs deep burrows to live in. When threatened, it rolls up its body to withstand attacks."]
"A Sandshrew," Adrian said, his eyes lighting up. "That's so cool!"
The Sandshrew flinched at the sound. It looked up and noticed Professor Juniper and Adrian standing nearby.
"Shrew?!"
It jumped in surprise, curled into a tight ball in midair, and rolled quickly beneath a nearby desk.
"Sandshrew is impressive," Professor Juniper said, smiling awkwardly. "But wait until you meet the second one."
"I can't wait to mee—" Adrian began.
"Adrian, watch ou—"
Boom!
"Oww… my face…" Adrian groaned.
Something heavy had landed on his back—so heavy that he couldn't even stand. He pressed his hands against the floor and tried to push himself up.
"Guhhh…"
It didn't work. The weight was too much.
A low growl sounded above him, and a shadow loomed over his body. The weight suddenly lifted and landed in front of him with a solid thud.
Adrian looked up.
Standing there was a Pokémon that looked almost human. Its body was gray and muscular, and it flexed its arms confidently.
Adrian quickly raised his Pokédex. "What a weird Pokémon…"
The Pokédex opened and scanned the Pokémon. A mechanical voice followed.
["Machop, the Superpower Pokémon.]
[Despite its small size, Machop has enough strength to easily throw a well-built adult. To become stronger, it trains by carrying heavy Pokémon such as Graveler."]
"Wow…" Adrian said, his eyes widening. "That's how strong it is?"
Excited, he rushed toward Machop.
Machop startled and reacted instantly. It stepped forward, locked Adrian's neck under its arm, and roared.
"Maaa–chop!"
With a single motion, it lifted Adrian and threw him easily across the room.
Boom!
Clang!
Tools and equipment rattled and scattered across the floor where Adrian crashed down.
Adrian groaned as he pushed himself up, then broke into a grin. "Amazing," he said. "It threw me that easily… even with that heavy sack on my back."
Professor Juniper stepped closer and stopped in front of him, looking down with a serious expression.
"So," she said, "what do you think?"
She adjusted her glasses. "Which Pokémon have you decided to travel with as you take your first step as a Pokémon Trainer?"
Her gaze shifted to Sandshrew, who was rolling back and forth across the floor like a loose wheel that had come off a speeding vehicle.
"I know it isn't my place to interfere," Professor Juniper continued, "but I would strongly recommend Sandshrew."
She turned back to Adrian. "It would be much safer for you. Sandshrew isn't as dangerous as Machop. If you chose Machop as your partner, you could easily end up seriously injured."
Professor Juniper let out a small sigh. "That's only my opinion. In the end, the decision is entirely yours."
Adrian stood up straight.
"Of course, Professor," he said. "The Pokémon I want to travel with isn't just a partner."
He clenched his fist. "It's someone I can trust with my dream… and my goals."
Adrian looked at Professor Juniper and nodded. "And I agree with you."
He took a breath.
"The Pokémon I choose is—"