A Step of Science

[White Dragon]

Sam Guever, with his hands in his pockets, strolled away from his black BMW that he had parked near Professor Yew's lab. His own instructor had sent him to receive a Pokemon and take it on a journey. Sam couldn't really tell if this was a method of science or getting him out to actually do something in life. Well, whatever. This was certainly going to be a step for science either way.

As he reached the front doors, without hesitation, he knocked three loud, even times. He replaced his hands to his pockets, waiting for someone to answer his call.

[Sam]

The door flew open an instant later. Standing in the doorway was an older women, with dark, draping eyes, thing brown hair that seemed very poorly maintained, and skin dotted with sunburns and freckles. She looked Sam through thoroughly, thinking to herself what the hell men wore these days. Her own outfit wasn't exactly charming, a shiny white and orange floral sundress with a few tears and stains. It was very wrinkled and looked as though it had been a long time since it was washed. She sniffed at the man's smile and scoffed at his composure.

"Well," she snarled in a hoarse voice, "What do you want, sonny? A Pokemon? Yeah, I know, that's the only reason people come to visit these days, sonny. Well, come on back, I guess I'll have to set this up for you."

She opened the door wider and shuffled back to the room with a large silver and red machine with four openings and a computer standing at its right. She typed a couple things into the computer, to verify her admittance to use the machine, growling viciously when it gave her the wrong password message, then opened up to a screen with a large number of choices. She turned to Sam again, her eyes now showing extreme annoyance of being disturbed to help with this foolishness.

"What type do you want, sonny?"

[White Dragon]

Sam didn't care about how the women was treating him. If she didn't like him, well, that was her decision. He just kept on grinning and followed her back. When they got to the room with the computer, he began to think hard. He liked a lot of types. They were all interesting. But then his thoughts strayed, just for a second, to Nindorino. There was always a chance he would get one. Even if he didn't, there were plenty of good Pokemon with the same type as him.

So he nodded and, with a very firm voice, he declared, "Ground, please."

[Sam]

Once again, the woman scoffed. He was playing it cool, indifferent. Buttering up, she thought, though she didn't know why. Unfortunately, she had a job and that job was helping him choose a Pokemon. So, she chose ground and called for four Pokemon.

The machine yielded four Pokeballs flying up from nowhere. She grabbed the first and ripped it from its spot and allowed the Pokemon to fall onto the ground.

It was a small, rough cut brown ball with rock-hard skin. He uncurled, realizing that he was picked for choosing. Well, he should at least show his face to the trainer, even though he had lost hope long ago that he would be picked. Ever. With movements that expressed depression in every form, the Sandshrew stood up and spread his arms, throwing the message, "pick me" in the most sarcastic way possible.

The second form that came from the second Pokeball was bigger then the Sandshrew. Much bigger. Well, so big that it took up nearly the entire room. It was a snake, caterpillar...thing. Each level was made of rocks growing bigger and bigger until it came to its massive face. The Onix turned towards Sam with huge eyes narrowed to slits. For a second, he was angry that he was awoken from his slumber and roared in the new trainer's face. Then he realized that he might be chosen and cut off abruptly. Embarressed, he curled up to make himself smaller, ashamed that his lack of fresh air had caused him to mess up over and over his chance to breath it.

The last was a small gray form that stared at Sam with imploring eyes. He looked around, first, at his other two companions. They seemed to be toying with the trainer's sense of mercy. He wouldn't do that. The Gible sucked in as much air as he could muster and shouted loud and proud, his name. He was confident that he would finally be seeing the world soon!

[White Dragon]

Sam realized, in that instant, that Nindoran was not part ground! He would have slapped his face and moaned in that instant, but decided that the Pokemon would be offended or might get the wrong idea. He considered all three. He did really feel bad for the Sandshrew. Poor thing showed depression in every form. The Onix was also for his pity, but at least he was a powerful Pokemon. Gible, on the other hand, seemed ready to get out there, though Sam could see that it could get annoying. After a minute or two of consideration, he nodded towards the rock snake and said, "I'll take the Onix, please."

[Sam]

Without a word, the woman popped out the final Pokemon, which she had conveniently forgotten to mentioned and out came a Swinub. She returned it and proceeded to return the others.

As soon as Sam said the words 'Onix', Sandshrew nodded and curled up into a ball, determined for the human not to see his salty tears pouring down his face. He felt himself pulled into the Pokeball and back into a deep sleep, and, in his mind, he thought, I'll see that sun. I promise.

The Gible was certain that his ears had heard wrong. Surely the trainer would have picked him, the dragon, the strongest, not that flimsy pile of stones. He bared his teeth at Sam and began to inch forward, as if about to attack. Onix's stone tail swung out and stopped him. As it touched him, he yowled out, but then felt the pull and didn't bother resisting as it pulled him to sleep.

Onix was overjoyed. He'd been picked! Other trainers had commented, "Oh too big." or "He'll be hard to train." That could be true. Onix had no idea how to react to his new trainer, nor what his training style will be. But he'd definitely tried his best. It almost made him cry in joy to know that he'd finally be seeing the light of day and the dark of night. Oh, how happy he felt! He was returning to the Pokeball, falling asleep. He looked down towards his trainer, and told himself, Not for long.

The woman tossed Sam an orange backpack and a small belt equipped with five Pokeballs, plus Onix's. She was getting extraordinarily sick of his company and grimaced at the though of him staying any longer. "All right," she grumbled, "you got what you wanted, go on, get out." She quickly hustled him from the room and out the door. She finally slammed it and sighed. She walked a little ways away, then quickly went to check the window. However much she hated him, he was kind of cute...

Congratulations! You have received...

Name (Onix), Male

Tackle | Harden | Bind | Heavy Slam

Onix is very shy, despite his larger-than-life size. He's very prone to make small mistakes, but is very skilled at correcting them. Outside of battle, he's very light-hearted and friendly towards those he'd comfortable with, but in battle, there's nothing but the battle. The opponent, though maybe a friend, is nothing more than another foe to fight.

[White Dragon]

Sam caught the bag and slung it over his back and equipped the belt around his waist. Both seemed to fit perfectly, as if the were meant to lay across his spine and wrap around his body. He smiled as he touched Onix's Pokeball. The Pokemon inside emanated joy at being picked. Sam hoped he had made the right decision.

The women rushed him out in a hurry, though he did not protest; the women was beginning to get a little on his nerves. As he stepped outside, his fingers found the small Pokemon translator he had just strapped to his new belt. That would be useful in the upcoming days of bonding between trainer and Pokemon. And Sam could not wait another second to see the world.

END THREAD