Jon Beatem couldn't sleep. He, like every other ten-year old in Pallet Town, was geared up and ready to begin his Pokemon journey. The next day was the day that four lucky ten-year olds would get to choose Pokemon and get trainers' licenses. He was fully prepared to make his choice. He knew what the choices were, and he had an extra edge: He had already caught seven Pokemon. He thought over what he had: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Pidgey, Rattata, Spearow, Pikachu, and Jigglypuff. He had never revealed them to anyone, not even his best friend Jake Rochem. Jake and Jon were the same age, and they even had the same rival: Robert Sochem, who everyone called Bob. Bob was a bit of a strange character (and his twin sister Katie wasn't much better). Bob thought that he was better than everyone at everything. He even had the nerve to say that he could beat the legendary Ash Ketchum, who had been the Pokemon League champion for-how long?-twenty years! It was every young trainer's dream to beat him, but every time a trainer returned from Indigo Plateau, the report was negative. Jon was determined to beat Ash, but he didn't go around bragging about it. Eventually, however, Jon decided he needed to get some sleep. He moved to the place he kept his Pokemon and selected a Pokeball. It opened up and said, "Jiggly?" Jon said, "Jigglypuff, can you very quietly Sing me to sleep? When I'm asleep, you can go back to sleep." Always eager to help its trainer, the Jigglypuff began to sing. "Jig-gly-pu-uf, Jig-gly-pu-uf." Within two minutes the Jigglypuff had to return to its Pokeball.

 RING-RING-RING! Jon jumped out of bed at the sound of his alarm clock. He grabbed his favorite outfit-a plain white T-shirt, a pair of black jeans, and a hat that had a picture of a Pokeball on the front and on the back said, "Pokemon Training: Can You Handle It?" Jon then grabbed the backpack he normally used for school and slipped his seven tiny Pokeballs into it. He then ran down the steps to eat his breakfast.

 His mom said, "Woah, aren't you in a hurry?" Then, seeing him practically inhale his food, said, "Slow down, Jon! Just because you're getting a Pokemon today doesn't mean you have to eat like a pig!" Jon obediently slowed down and said, "Sorry, Mom. I guess I wanted to be one of the four people who gets a Pokemon today." Jon's mother replied, "Oh, you mean you haven't heard? Of course you haven't, you've been too excited to realize it. There are only four people getting Pokemon today. It seems that everyone except you, Jake, and the Sochem twins like school better than seeing the world and getting rich and famous." Jon's jaw dropped. "You have got to be kidding!" Jon's mother smiled at him. "But I'm not. Go along, now. I'm sure you'll be a great Pokemon master someday." Jon ran out the door and said, "Bye, Mom."

 He got to Professor Gary Oak's lab. None of the other kids were there, so he assumed he would get first choice. Oak confirmed this suspicion by saying, "Well, Jon, you certainly are here early. Of course, my rival Ash Ketchum showed up late and still made it to being a member of the Pokemon League." "Wow," said a familiar voice. "You knew Ash Ketchum?!" "Knew him, you ask? I hated him!" "Hi, Jake," said Jon. "How you been doin'?" Jon recognized his best friend instantly. "I've been fine. How 'bout you?" "I'm fine. You ready to train?" "Of course! Who isn't?" "From what I hear, twenty-seven kids from school." Jake's jaw dropped. "Yeah," said Jon, "that was my reaction, too." Just then, Bob Sochem showed up being dragged by a Growlithe, which dropped him at the feet of Professor Oak and ran back to the Sochem home. "Well, looky, looky what the dog dragged in," said Jon with a smile, "and the cat, too," he added as a Persian dropped Katie nearby and ran to the Sochems' home. "Never mind that," interrupted Oak. "I need to program your Pokedexes. Just a moment." He pressed several buttons on his computer. He held one up. "This is yours, Jon." Gary grabbed several others. "These are for you, Jake, Bob, and Katie. Now, Jon, choose your Pokemon." Jon walked over to the Pokemon selection table. "I'll take Squirtle!" Jake chose next. "Bulbasaur,  you should do fine." Bob said, "Hey, how come they get first pick?" Gary had a simple reply. "They weren't late." Bob said, "Well, that's OK. They left me the best choices, and I'll start with Charmander!" Katie said, "You had to leave me with Pikachu." Bob then spoke up. "I challenge you, Jon!" Katie added, "And I challenge Jake!"

 The group walked outdoors. Bob cried out, "Charmander, go!" Jon's Pokedex said, "Charmander: A Lizard Pokemon. The flame at the tip of its tail makes a sound as it burns. You can only hear it in quiet places." Jon cried out, "Squirtle, go!" Bob's Pokedex said, "Squirtle: A Tiny Turtle Pokemon. Shoots water at prey while in the water. Withdraws into its shell when in danger." Jon said, "Squirtle, Water Gun!" Bob's Charmander's tail flame got smaller as Bob said, "Charmander, hit it with an Ember!" Jon said, "Squirtle, dodge it and use another Water Gun!" The tail flame shrunk until it could barely be seen. Bob yelled out, "Stop! Don't kill my Charmander! Charmander, return!" Katie stepped forward. "Now it's my turn. Pikachu, go!" Jake's Pokedex spoke. "Pikachu: A Mouse Pokemon. It keeps its tail raised to monitr its surrooundings. If you yank its tail, it will try to bite you." Jake said, "Well, that's fine with me. Bulbasaur, go!" Katie's Pokedex spoke. "Bulbasaur: A Seed Pokemon. It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy." Katie said, "Pikachu, use a Thundershock!" The Bulbasaur leaped to avoid the attack as Jake said, "Bulbasaur, Leech Seed!" A small seed shot out of the plant on Bulbasaur's back and landed precisely on Pikachu's forehead. The seed immediately sprouted and prevented Pikachu from moving. Katie asked her Pokedex what Leech Seed did. The Pokedex replied, "Leech Seed sucks energy from the target Pokemon, thus draining it of any ability to defend itself." Jake said, "Well, I guess the battle's over now!" Katie replied, "Not likely! Bulbasaur, return! Caterpie, Weedle, go!" Jake's Pokedex spoke up. "Caterpie: A Worm Pokemon. If you touch the feeler on top of its head, it will release a horrible stink to protect itself. Weedle: A Hairy Bug Pokemon. Often found in forests, chewing leaves. It has a sharp, venomous stinger on its forehead." "Hey," shouted Jon, "the League rules specifically state that no one can posess Pokemon without a license!" "Rules don't apply to me," replied Katie. "My brother is the future Pokemon League champion. He will change that rule, so I will be cleared of any blame!" Jon said, "Well, if you insist... Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, attack! Charmander, Ember! Bulbasaur, Leech Seed! Squirtle, Water Gun!" Jake was astonished. "You, too?! Well, then, I guess this is the most illegal party ever! Weedle, Caterpie, Bulbasaur, go! Caterpie, Tackle! Weedle, Poison Sting! Bulbasaur, Vine Whip!" Bob said, "I suppose it's too late to do any good, so Charmander, Caterpie, Weedle, go!"

 The groups glared at each other as their Pokemon squared off. Bob said, "Charmander, Caterpie, Weedle, free battle!"-telling his Pokemon to act like they were wild. Jon said, "Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, free battle!" The other two members of the party gave the same order. The humans then walked into a nearby field to get into the typical "my-Pokemon's-tougher-than-your-Pokemon" argument. Eventually the group decided to see how their Pokemon's free battle had turned out. Bob said, "I'll bet my Pokemon slaughtered your Pokemon-with my sister's Pokemon helping, of course," he added at Katie's harsh glare. Just then, the group arrived at the site where the Pokemon had been battling. Bob blinked; he could not belive his eyes. All the Pokemon that belonged to Bob and Katie were lying on the ground, knocked out. Jon and Jake's Pokemon were standing over them triumphantly. Bob and Katie said the same thing at the same time: "I don't believe it!" Jon smiled at them, saying, "Well, what goes around, comes around!" The twins stormed into the nearby field.

 Jon and Jake went back to Professor Oak. Jon was the first to speak. "My Pokedex doesn't seem to be working. I have eight Pokemon, but none of them have been transferred to you." Professor Oak examined his Pokedex and said, "I'll need to keep this for two days to repair it. In the meantime, why don't you two wander around town and see what's there?" Two days later, Jon's Pokedex was ready to go. He transfered Pidgey and Rattata to Professor Oak's, leaving him with Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Spearow, Pikachu, and Jigglypuff.

 The two trainers didn't run into very many Pokemon along the first path and almost began to think that Bob and Katie had scared them all away, when out of the bushes came a small Pokemon. Jon's Pokedex was the first to speak. "Mew: A New Species of Pokemon. When viewed through a microscope, this Pokemon's short, fine, delicate hair can be seen." Jon whispered, "Maybe I can test that theory and get more info. Charmander, attack. Give it an Ember." The Charmander, seeing its trainer's insistence on silence, whispered back, "Char," and crawled towards the Mew. The Mew, however, seemed to sense the Charmander's presence and used the attack Pound on it. Jon said, "Charmander, Flamethrower!" Mew avoided the attack, cried out "Mew", and used the attack Transform. It swiftly changed its form into that of the Charmander. Jon said, "Bad idea, Mew. Now you can't change back unless I beat you or catch you. Charmander, return! Squirtle, Bubble!" Squirtle jumped towards the Mew, aimed, and fired, lanching bubbles at the rare Pokemon. In its Charmander form, the Mew was hit hard. Jon said, "It worked! Pokeball, go!"

 Jake was watching as Jon threw the Pokeball. He really didn't expect the Pokemon to be caught, so he was surprised when the Pokeball dinged, indicating a succesful catch. Jake rushed up to Jon. "That was incredible! If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed that you actually caught a Mew! Wow! Wow! Wow!" Jon shhhhhhhhhhed him. "Would you like any members of Team Rocket to hear you?" Jake thought about it. "No, I wouldn't."  The duo walked on, but not before Jon sent Spearow to Professor Oak and got back Mew.

 Soon, they came upon a group of Pidgey. Jake's Pokedex said, "Pidgey: A Tiny Bird Pokemon. Very docile. If attacked, it will often kick up sand to protect itself rather than fight back." Jake wanted to catch one, so he said, "Bulbasaur, go! Give it a Vine Whip!" The Pidgey were surprised and quickly attempted to fly away. However, Bulbasaur's vines grabbed two of them and held them. One of them, however, cried out, "Pidgey," and used a Gust attack, weakening Bulbasaur's hold and breaking away. Bulbasaur, seeing the stronger one get away, cried out "Bulbasaur", and used a Leech Seed, hitting the strong Pidgey right in the forehead. Jake cried out, "Pokeball, go!" Several seconds later his Pokeball dinged in an imitation of Jon's.

 Soon after that, the duo stopped to eat lunch. As they were eating, a Rattata came up to the group and tried to steal some food. When Jake noticed it, his Pokedex said, "Rattata: A Rat Pokemon. Will chew on anything with its fangs. If you see one, it is certain that 40 more live in the area." Jon whispered, "You might want to catch that one. We don't want to be attacked by 41 Rattata, now do we?" Jon whispered back, "OK. Pidgey, go!" The Rattata, seeing the tiny bird, screamed, "Rattata!" As it spoke, 40 Rattata appeared from behind rocks, under bushes, and even in trees. Jon saw the danger and said, "Pokeball, go!" After catching the first Rattata, he said, "Bulbasaur, go! Hit them with your Vine Whip!" "Bulba!" The vines flew out from Bulbasaur's back and began hitting the Rattata. As the rats kept coming, Jake said, "Pidgey, Gust attck!" The tornado swept away several Rattata, but the Pokemon just kept coming. The situation looked dim for the young trainers as a Pidgeot saw what was going on. It screamed, "Pidgeot!" Pidgeot dove into the battle and began driving away Rattata left and right. Soon, all of the rats were knocked out. The Pidgeot, its job done, flew away before Jake and Jon noticed it. However, it had already begun to like the trainers and decided to follow them, having trained the Pidgey it had left Ash Ketchum to protect. It decided to follow from a distance, protecting the duo as needed.

 Just then, a Spearow began harassing the group. Jon's Pokedex said, "Spearow: A Tiny Bird Pokemon. Inept at flying high. However, it can fly around very fast to protect its territory." Jon said, "Pikachu, go! Thundershock!" Jake, on the other hand, said, "Bulbasaur, hold it with a Vine Whip!" The two attacks combined to do a massive amount of damage. At that moment, someone in the bushes cried out, "Spearow, return!" The person then stepped out of some bushes.