Oldale Town – The Morning of a New Journey
An aspiring young boy woke to the familiar sound of Taillow chirping outside his window, their calls mixing with the rustling of trees swayed by the morning breeze. He had barely slept, excitement coursing through him like a jolt of electricity. Today was the day—his Pokémon journey was finally about to begin
He had waited for this moment for what felt like forever. Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of becoming a Pokémon Trainer, traveling across Hoenn, battling Gym Leaders, and one day competing in the Pokémon League. But none of that could happen without a Pokémon of his own
Throwing off his blanket, he jumped out of bed, his feet barely touching the wooden floor before he rushed to his closet. He pulled on a simple dark blue t-shirt, khaki shorts, and his favorite pair of sneakers. His backpack was already packed from the night before with all the essentials: a spare change of clothes, a few snacks, and his old but reliable PokéNav.
"Noah! Breakfast is ready!" his mother called from downstairs.
"I'm coming!" he shouted back, practically leaping down the steps two at a time.
His mother, a kind woman with soft brown hair tied in a loose ponytail, was setting the table. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.
"Excited?" she asked, placing a plate of toast and eggs in front of him.
"You have no idea," Noah said, grabbing a fork and shoveling food into his mouth.
His mother laughed, shaking her head. "Slow down, you'll choke."
He barely listened. His mind was already at Professor Birch's lab. Today, he'd get his first Pokémon, just like every trainer before him. He had spent weeks trying to decide which starter to choose. Treecko's speed and agility were amazing, but Torchic's eventual evolution into a powerful Blaziken was tempting. And then there was Mudkip, whose final form was one of the strongest Water-types in Hoenn.
But it didn't matter which one he picked. Any of them would be an incredible first partner.
Finishing his breakfast in record time, he wiped his mouth and stood up. "Thanks, Mom! I gotta go!"
"Hold on!" She hurried over and adjusted his backpack straps. "There. Be careful, alright? And call me when you reach Littleroot Town.
"I will," Noah promised, before rushing out the door.
The sun was shining brightly, casting a golden hue over Oldale Town. The small village wasn't as big as Rustboro or Slateport, but it had a cozy charm. The roads were lined with wooden fences, and the occasional wild Pokémon could be seen near the outskirts
Noah took a deep breath and started walking south, toward Route 101. He knew the way well, having traveled it many times before.
Littleroot Town wasn't far, just a walk away. The road was quiet, aside from the occasional rustling of grass as wild Pokémon moved about. He spotted a Wurmple inching its way up a tree, and a Poochyena darting into the bushes.
Within thirty minutes, he arrived at the small town. Littleroot was peaceful, with only a few houses and, of course, the lab that belonged to Professor Birch. The building stood near the edge of town, its white walls gleaming under the sun.
Noah walked up to the door, his heart pounding with anticipation. He took a deep breath and knocked.
A few moments later, the door opened, revealing a woman in a lab coat. She looked surprised. "Oh! You must be here for your first Pokémon."
"Yes! I'm Noah, from Oldale Town."
She smiled. "Come in, then. The Professor is in the back."
Noah stepped inside, his excitement growing. The lab was filled with shelves stacked with books, machines humming softly, and a large table covered in Poké Balls.
Professor Birch was a large, rugged-looking man with a friendly face. He was seated at a desk, scribbling something in a notebook. When he looked up and saw Noah, he grinned.
"Noah! I've been expecting you." He stood up and stretched. "Ready to pick your first Pokémon?"
"Absolutely!" Noah said eagerly.
Birch chuckled. "That's the spirit." He walked over to the table, but then hesitated.
A strange expression crossed his face.
Noah's excitement wavered. "Professor?"
Birch scratched the back of his head. "Uh… There's something I need to tell you."
Noah frowned. "What is it?"
The Professor sighed. "You're a little late. The three starters have already been taken."For a moment, Noah just stood there, not quite processing the words.
"…What?"
"All three Pokémon were already given out," Birch repeated, his voice full of regret. "Normally, I'd have extras, but we had a higher demand than usual this year."
Noah's heart sank. "But… I thought I was supposed to get one today?"
Birch nodded. "I know, and I'm really sorry. I should have set one aside for you, but I assumed we had enough. You're not the only one who got left out, either.
Noah's fists clenched. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. He had spent years dreaming about this, waiting for this day. And now, just like that, it was slipping through his fingers?
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Birch sighed. "I wish I had an easy answer. I could try to get another starter from another region, but that would take time."
Noah shook his head. He couldn't just sit around and wait. He needed a Pokémon now.
"Wasn't the number of Pokémon was supposed to be equal to trainers
Birch was silent for a moment. Then, he smiled slightly. "Well… you could always try to catch your own Pokémon.
Noah blinked. "Catch my own?"
"Why not? A lot of trainers start that way. The Hoenn region is full of Pokémon. You just need to befriend one."
Noah hesitated. That wasn't the plan. He was supposed to get a starter, like everyone else. But… maybe this was an opportunity.
"Alright," he said, determination filling his voice. "I'll do it."
Birch grinned. "That's the spirit! Here." He handed Noah a single Poké Ball. "You'll need this. It's not much, but it should help."
Noah took the Poké Ball, holding it tightly.
"Any advice?" he asked.
Birch nodded. "If I were you, I'd check Route 101. Plenty of common Pokémon live there, and if you're patient, one of them might be willing to trust you."
Noah swallowed hard. He had no idea how he was going to do this. But he wasn't about to give up.
"Thanks. I'll figure something out."
Noah stepped out of Professor Birch's lab, gripping the single Poké Ball in his hand. His mind was racing. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. He had come here expecting to walk away with a Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip. Instead, he was heading back to Route 101 with nothing but a Poké Ball and a desperate need to find a Pokémon of his own.
He exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside him.
This isn't the end. It's just a different start
If other trainers could begin their journeys by catching their own Pokémon, then so could he. But where would he even start?
Professor Birch had mentioned Route 101, and that made sense. The area between Oldale Town and Littleroot was full of wild Pokémon. He had seen them plenty of times before—Wurmple crawling along tree branches, Poochyena darting through the underbrush, Zigzagoon sniffing the dirt roads.
And, of course, there were birds.
Taillow were the most common, but every now and then, he had spotted small brown birds that weren't native to Hoenn—Pidgey. They were rare in this region, but not unheard of.
A memory surfaced in his mind. A few months ago, he had seen a Pidgey near Oldale Town's outskirts. It had been perched on a fence post, watching him with bright, intelligent eyes before fluttering away. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, but now…
Could that same Pidgey still be around?
It wasn't much of a plan, but it was better than nothing
With renewed determination, Noah adjusted the straps on his backpack and set off toward Route 101.
The midday sun hung high in the sky as Noah stepped onto the well-worn dirt path that cut through the grassy fields of Route 101. The sound of rustling leaves and distant Pokémon cries filled the air.
He moved carefully, keeping an eye on his surroundings. If he wanted to befriend a Pokémon, he couldn't just rush in blindly.
A movement in the tall grass caught his attention. His breath hitched as he saw a pair of yellow eyes peering at him through the foliage.
A Poochyena. The small, gray-furred Pokémon growled softly, watching him with wary curiosity.
Noah hesitated. Poochyena were strong, but they were also aggressive. Without a Pokémon of his own, trying to befriend one would be risky. He needed something a little less… bitey.
Slowly, he backed away, keeping his movements calm and non-threatening. The Poochyena twitched its ears but didn't pursue him, instead slinking back into the grass.
Noah let out a breath of relief and continued walking.
For nearly an hour, he wandered through the route, scanning the trees and fence posts for any sign of the small brown bird he was hoping to find.
Nothing.
His shoulders slumped. Maybe this was a waste of time. Maybe the Pidgey he had seen months ago had moved on.
Or maybe he was just looking in the wrong place
Noah frowned, thinking back to where he had last seen the bird. It hadn't been along the main road—it had been near a small clearing on the edge of Oldale Town, just before Route 103
He turned on his heel and started walking.
If the Pidgey was still around, he was going to find it.
The clearing was exactly how he remembered it—a small, open patch of grass with a few scattered trees, bathed in warm sunlight. It was quiet, aside from the occasional rustle of leaves.
Noah's heart pounded as he scanned the area.
Then, he saw it perched on a low tree branch, its feathers ruffling slightly in the wind, was a Pidgey. His breath caught in his throat. The bird was small, barely a foot tall, with light brown plumage and a cream-colored underbelly. Its black eyes were sharp and alert as it watched him, tilting its head slightly.
It was the same Pidgey he had seen months ago. He was sure of it.
Noah took a cautious step forward, making sure not to startle it.
"Hey there," he said softly. The Pidgey blinked but didn't move.
His mind raced. How was he supposed to do this? He had never actually tried to befriend a wild Pokémon before. Battling it wasn't an option—he had no Pokémon of his own to weaken it. Which meant he had to earn its trust
He slowly reached into his backpack and pulled out a small bag of trail mix. It wasn't much, but there were a few dried berries in there. Carefully, he picked one out and held it in his palm, extending his hand toward the bird.
The Pidgey eyed the berry suspiciously.
Noah stayed still, waiting.
For a long moment, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the Pidgey hopped down from the branch, landing softly on the grass. It took a hesitant step toward him
Noah held his breath The bird took another step. Then another.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, it hopped close enough to peck at the berry in his hand.
A smile tugged at the corners of Noah's lips as the Pidgey ate. It was actually working.
But just as the bird finished its berry, a sudden rustling noise came from the bushes behind them.
Noah barely had time to react before something lunged out
A blur of gray fur—a Poochyena, its sharp teeth bared as it sprang toward the Pidgey.
The bird let out a startled cry and flapped its wings, barely managing to dodge in time.
Noah's heart pounded. "Hey! Leave it alone!"
But the Poochyena wasn't listening. It growled, preparing to lunge again.
The Pidgey flapped higher, trying to escape—but it wasn't fast enough. The Poochyena leaped.
Without thinking, Noah moved.
He threw himself between them, arms outstretched.
The Poochyena skidded to a stop, surprised by the sudden interference. It growled again, but this time, its yellow eyes flicked from the Pidgey to Noah. Noah swallowed hard. He had no Pokémon to defend himself. If this turned into a fight, he had no way of winning. But he wasn't going to let this Pidgey get hurt.
Slowly, he crouched down, keeping his movements calm. He locked eyes with the wild Poochyena.
"I'm not your enemy," he said quietly. "You don't have to do this."
The Poochyena hesitated.
Then, after a long moment, it huffed, turned, and disappeared into the grass.
Noah let out a shaky breath, his hands trembling slightly. That had been close.
He turned back to the Pidgey, who was still hovering in the air, watching him carefully.
"You okay?" he asked.
The bird didn't respond right away. It simply stared at him, its black eyes unreadable.
Then, slowly, it fluttered down and landed on his shoulder.
Noah froze
The Pidgey let out a soft chirp.
A grin spread across his face. "…Does this mean we're friends?"
The Pidgey tilted its head—then gave a small, approving nod.
Noah's heart swelled. He had done it. He had found his first Pokémon. Reaching up, he gently tapped the Poké Ball against the Pidgey's side.
The ball clicked open. A flash of light And just like that, Pidgey was his.
Noah stared at the Poké Ball in his hand, a wave of emotions washing over him.
This wasn't how he had expected his journey to begin. But maybe… maybe this was even better. He looked down at the Poké Ball and smiled.
"Let's do this together, partner."
Noah walked along the familiar dirt path leading back to Oldale Town, his Poké Ball clutched tightly in his hand. He still couldn't quite believe it. He had come to Littleroot expecting to receive a starter, only to be told they were all gone. But instead of giving up, he had gone out and befriended a wild Pokémon on his own.
His Pokémon.His partner.
He pressed the button on the Poké Ball, and in a flash of white light, Pidgey appeared in front of him, fluttering its wings before perching on his shoulder.
Noah smiled. "Guess we're really doing this, huh?"
Pidgey chirped in response, rubbing its head against his cheek.
He chuckled. "Alright, partner. First thing's first—we need to get you checked at the Pokémon Center."
As he entered Oldale Town, the warm scent of fresh bread from the nearby bakery filled the air. It was still early afternoon, and the town was buzzing with activity. Noah weaved through the streets, heading straight for the small but reliable Pokémon Center at the heart of town.
The automatic doors slid open, and Nurse Joy greeted him with a kind smile.
"Hello! Welcome to the Pokémon Center. How can I help you?"
Noah lifted Pidgey off his shoulder and placed it gently on the counter. "Can you check on my Pidgey? We had a bit of a rough encounter with a Poochyena earlier."
Nurse Joy nodded. "Of course! We'll have Pidgey feeling good as new in no time."
She took Pidgey and disappeared into the back. Noah sat down in the waiting area, tapping his fingers against his knee. It felt surreal to be here, sitting among other trainers with Pokémon of his own now.
A few minutes later, Nurse Joy returned, with Pidgey perched happily on her arm.
"Your Pidgey is in great health! It looks like you've taken good care of it already." Noah grinned, feeling a swell of pride. "Thanks, Nurse Joy."
As he turned to leave, a group of trainers gathered near the entrance caught his attention. They were talking excitedly, gesturing toward a bulletin board. Curious, Noah walked over and read the flyer that had them so interested.
"Oldale Town Rookie Tournament! A special competition for beginner trainers! Test your skills and battle for exciting prizes! Sign up at the Pokémon Center!"
Noah's eyes widened.
A competition?
This was perfect!
Noah turned on his heel and rushed back to the counter
"Nurse Joy, I want to sign up for the Rookie Tournament!
She smiled. "That's great to hear! It's a friendly competition for trainers who've just started their journeys. No Gym Badges required. We want to encourage young trainers to test their skills and learn through experience."
Noah nodded eagerly. This was exactly what he needed. A real Pokémon battle—his first chance to see what he and Pidgey could do together.
He quickly filled out the registration form, then stepped aside, his mind racing with excitement A tournament. His first battle. But then another thought struck him He had never battled before.Pidgey had been in danger when he met it, but that wasn't the same as an official Pokémon battle. If he wanted to stand a chance in the tournament, he needed to train.
He looked at Pidgey, who tilted its head curiously.
"What do you say, partner? Want to get stronger together?"
Pidgey let out an eager chirp, flapping its wings.
Noah grinned. "Alright then. Let's get to work."
Noah headed to the outskirts of Oldale Town, where there was an open field often used by trainers for practice battles. He had seen older trainers training their Pokémon here before, and now, it was his turn.
He stood in the middle of the grassy clearing, Pidgey perched in front of him, looking up expectantly.
"Alright, Pidgey. We need to figure out what you can do." He pulled out his PokéNav, quickly searching for information on Pidgey's moveset.
"Okay… looks like you should know Tackle and Sand Attack." He glanced up. "Let's try Tackle first. Imagine you're ramming into something as hard as you can."
Pidgey chirped and took off, flapping its wings before diving toward a nearby tree. It hit the target with a small impact, bouncing back slightly.
Noah nodded. "Not bad. Let's try that again, but faster this time."Pidgey repeated the move, hitting the tree a little harder.
Noah grinned. "Nice! We'll keep working on that.
Over the next hour, he and Pidgey practiced Tackle and Sand Attack, slowly refining their coordination. Pidgey wasn't the strongest Pokémon, but it was fast, and its ability to move through the air gave it an advantage against grounded opponents.
As the sun began to set, Noah wiped sweat from his forehead. "That's enough for today. You did great, Pidgey."
The little bird fluttered over and landed on his shoulder, nuzzling against his cheek.
Noah smiled. "We'll keep training tomorrow. The tournament's in three days. We've got work to do."
With a renewed sense of purpose, he and Pidgey headed home, ready to take their first step toward becoming real Pokémon trainers.