"And Nidorino begins battle with a Horn Attack! Oh, but Gengar bounces right back!" The TV announcer blared the details of the Pokémon fight. The two creatures were battling in a Pokémon Gym. Gengar was a mean looking ghost pokémon with glowing red eyes. Nidorino was a tough-looking
poison-type Pokémon with a sharp horn on its forehead.
"Ah. there it is: the hypnosis power of Gengar!"
Gengar clapped its hands together. Pulsing waves flowed from its hands and surronded Nidorino. Nidorino swayed, captivated by the hypnosis power. It fell to the ground with a thud.
"This could be the end of Nidorino!"
A tall man stepped out onto the gym floor. He held out a red-and-white ball the size of an orange - a Poké Ball. The ball opened and Nidorino disappeared into the ball with a flash of light.
"Wait! Here comes Nidorino's trainer. He's recalling Nidorino. Now he can send out another Pokémon to battle Gengar."
Now the Pokémon trainer held a new Poké Ball. With a great thrust he threw the ball into the ring....
"Which Pokémon will he use now?"
The Pokémon battle raged on. Ash Ketchum watched the fight on his bedroom TV. Someday he would be on TV, showing the world he was a great Pokémon trainer. Someday soon. Now that Ash was ten, he could get his Pokémon license. He could travel around, capturing all different types of Pokémon - 150 in all. He could use his Pokémon to battle against other Pokémon.
Ash grabbed a toy Poké Ball and held it above his head.
"I am Ash! he cried. "I will journey to gain the wisdom of Pokémon training! I hereby declare to the Pokémon of the world: I will be a Pokémon Master. I will be the graetest..."
"Ash, get to bed!" Ash's mom stood in the doorway. She shook her head. "It's eleven o'clock and you should be asleep."
"But tomorrow I leave Pallet Town and start my Pokémon journey," Ash protested. "I can't sleep!"
Mrs. Ketchum sighed. "If you can't sleep, then you should at least get ready for tomorrow. Here watch this!" She changed the TV channel. "And don't forget to put on your pajamas!" she called out as she left the room.
A gray-haired man in a lab coat was on the screen. Ash knew him: It was Professor Oak, the world's ultimate authority on Pokémon. His lab was just down the road.
"Good evening, Pallet," Proffesor Oak said. "Tomorrow is a big day for the newest class of Pokémon students!"
The professor pointed to three posters on the wall/ Each one with a Pokémon.
"I'd like to introduce you to Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle. Each one is available for new trainees. Which one will you choose?"
Ash turned off the TV. He had the same posters on the wall of his room. Every Pokémon trainer got to pick one of these three Pokémon before he or she started on his or her journey. Ash had thought about which one he would choose, but he still hadn't made up a decision.
As Ash put on his pajamas, he looked at the poster of Bulbasaur on his wall. Ash thought it looked kind of like a dinosaur with a big green flower bulb on its back.
"Bulbasaur is perfect for beginners. I choose you, Bulbasaur!"
But then there was Squirtle. Squirtle looked like a cute turtle, but Ash knew its water powers could be really strong. "I choose you, Squirtle!"
But what about Charmander? A Fire Pokémon with a flaming tail - imagine what he could do with that kind of power!
Ash climbed into bed, but he was to exited to sleep. Bulbasaur...Squirtle...Charmander... Ash tossed and turned. In his dreams. he imagined throwing a Poké Ball and releasing each one into battle. They were all amazing in their own way.
Bulbasaur...Squrtle...Charmander. How could Ash choose?