Chapter One

The Start of the Journey

Cyrus sat on the windowsill in his room, watching out the window for the only person in this world that he cares about. As he was waiting he could hear life carry on as the other children in the orphanage made their way around the building and soon Cyrus heard heavy footsteps approach his room.

"It must be time for me to get out..." Cyrus concluded to himself as he continued to watch out for his friend to appear and just as he expected the door to his room started to be banged on which had to be one of the employees for the orphanage.

"You know the rules, it is time for you to get going. I will give you ten more minutes before I come in there and drag you out myself." a cold female voice called through the door before her heavy footsteps once more started thumping away from his door.

Hearing this caused Cyrus to shake his head in annoyance. "Well happy birthday to me..." Cyrus muttered to himself. Though a moment after saying the words he saw the familiar form of who he was waiting for appear around the bend that lead to the orphanage. Cyrus jumped from the windowsill and ran towards his bag, grabbing the bag Cyrus started to make his way to the exit of the room. This bag contains everything of importance to the sixteen-year-old boy as well as the little clothes and money that he has.

Cyrus threw the door to his room open though technically its now his former room. After throwing the door open Cyrus started to run through the halls of the orphanage; being in such a hurry Cyrus didn't care who he knocked over as he ran from the room. Cyrus continued running until he made it outside of the orphanage though he left with the howls of anger coming from those that had remained within.

After exiting the orphanage, Cyrus locked eyes with the boy that had been walking up the drive of the orphanage.

"Well I am sure glad to see that they didn't have to throw you out on your ass!" the other boy laughed out as he finally made it to where Cyrus stood.

"Keep on laughing and it will be you who ends up on your ass..." Cyrus responded with a laugh of his own though he didn't stop there "...we should really get going if we want to make it to the lab in time to receive one of the starters." Cyrus finished.

Throwing their arms over each other's necks, Cyrus and Ash started to make their way towards the PokéLab. It only took the two about twenty minutes to get themselves there and as they were coming up on the lab they saw their archenemy exiting the lab. Their archenemy was walking down the steps throwing a Pokeball up into the air. Cyrus watched the other boy give them a dirty look though thankfully he didn't say anything to them before he took off.

"What a pompous ass, though it looks like Gary was able to get his Pokémon..." Ash muttered to himself.

"...then let's hurry then and hope that there are still some left." Cyrus finished for Ash before he grabbed ahold of Ash's wrist and pulled him along with him as he headed towards the large doors of the PokéLab. Though as Cyrus and Ash were walking up the stairs Cyrus couldn't help but think of what Pokémon that he had chosen. Deciding to think about it once they both have secured their own Pokémon Cyrus pushed through the PokéLab doors.

Finally making it into the lab they saw that another teenager was already there. This one was a ginger haired female and as they got closer Cyrus saw her recall the water type Pokémon known as Squirtle back into its ball.

They both started to make their way towards the Professor when the girl turned to leave. Cyrus saw this stranger have a gigantic smile on her face and Cyrus hoped that he too would be able to have this smile upon receiving his starter.

They must have been making too much noise because soon the Professor turned around to face them.

"About time you two show up, though I am sorry to say that I have bad news for you. I only have one Pokémon left and since Ash is a member of a prominent family line I am bound to give the Pokémon to him." The Professor informed both Cyrus and Ash though he didn't stop there. "I am sorry about that Cyrus." The Professor finished in a mutter.

Covering up his sadness about the news, Cyrus smiled and clapped his hand on Ash's back while pushing him towards the Professor. Cyrus waited to see which Pokémon that Ash would receive and once he got far enough away from him Cyrus's face took on a sad expression which Ash was unable to see though the Professor was able to before Cyrus was able to wipe the expression of his face. "Yay for being an orphan..." Cyrus contemplated as he watched his friend get the last starter Pokémon that was available.

The creature that Ash was given is a small yellow rodent Pokémon that had black spots on both of its ears as well as black stripes running down its back. Cyrus was also able to see that the creature had a red circle on each of its cheeks.

Ash soon recalled his Pokémon back into its Pokeball and once he did this the Professor walked up to him and handed him a small red rectangular box that the Professor called a Pokedex though the Professor also gave him five red and white Pokeballs that were intended for Ash to use to catch wild Pokémon. After saying their goodbyes, the Professor as well as Ash and Cyrus started to walk away from each other.

"Hold on a moment. Cyrus may I speak with you alone please?" the Professor inquired of Cyrus.

Nodding his head in acceptance of the idea Cyrus left Ash to make his way to the Professor and once he reached the Professor they both started to walk farther into the laboratory. This place seemed that it wasn't a place that many people see, while they were walking Cyrus saw many cages all containing Pokémon.

Professor Oak noticed Cyrus's curious looks and decided to speak. "This area is where we keep the Pokémon that we breed though these are just a fraction of the Pokémon that we have in this lab." The Professor informed Cyrus while he waved his hand at the cages though as they continued to walk the Professor continued speaking. "We release these creatures into the wild, specifically areas that have gotten to low on a certain species of Pokémon." Professor Oak finished.

"No disrespect intended Professor but what is it that you need me for..." Cyrus inquired of the older male.

A moment after Cyrus finished speaking the voice of the Professor once again was ringing through the corridors.

"I feel that I have done you a great disservice for not having enough starters for everyone who was interested in going on their Pokémon journey and as such I have decided to allow you to choose a Pokémon from our breeding grounds to be your starter. Though there is also a job I want to hire you for, but we will talk about that after you have chosen your starter." the Professor replied to Cyrus's question.

Soon they both came to a door at the back of the lab though upon reaching the door the Professor stopped walking.

"Enter through this door and you will come upon the Pokémon that you are able to choose from." Professor Oak instructed Cyrus. Though before Cyrus was able to start moving the Professor held out his hand where a red and white Pokeball sat. Cyrus reached out and grabbed the item before he pushed his way through the door.

Cyrus started to walk around the breeding grounds keeping his eyes out for a Pokémon that was calling to him, though since he was looking forward to a fire type he kept his eyes out for a fire type Pokémon. As he walked through the breeding grounds he saw many different types of Pokémon all of which were running around playfully with their companions. Though just as he hoped he soon came upon a Pokémon that called to him.

This creature was a crimson furred canine, it also had black stripes running up and down its back as well as a tuft of white fur around its neck. Cyrus also could see that the Pokémon was keeping itself away from the others which to Cyrus meant that it most likely a Pokémon that preferred its solitude. From his angle Cyrus couldn't tell which gender the creature was.

Knowing that this creature was the one that he wanted, Cyrus started to make his way towards the Pokémon as slowly as he possibly could. Though Cyrus was not able to keep his steps completely quiet and soon he started to see the creature's ears twitch.

"Well a sneak attack is no longer possible..." Cyrus thought to himself as he continued to make his way towards the creature. Soon the Pokémon turned to face Cyrus with a growl escaping its throat. Cyrus saw the muscles of the creature bunch up as if it was readying itself to sprint away from him. Though this time Cyrus was the first to react.

Throwing the Pokeball at the creature Cyrus watched as it collided with the Pokémon. Watching as the Pokémon was sucked through a red beam that came from the ball. The Pokeball twitched three times and as each twitch passed Cyrus's hopes grew, until finally the Pokeball stopped moving altogether.

"Yes!" Cyrus hollered out. This caused the Pokémon that were in the breeding ground to run away from him in fear.

Though Cyrus didn't notice this as he was lost in his happiness at capturing his very first Pokémon. Making his way over to the Pokeball that contains his Pokémon, he reached down and picked it up from the ground to ensure that nothing happened to the Pokeball that held his creature.

Retracing his steps, Cyrus was able to make it back towards the door that would lead him back into the PokéLab.

"Great your back! I can assume that you were able to capture the Pokémon that you wanted?" Professor Oak inquired of Cyrus. Cyrus gave a vigorous shake of his head to inform the Professor that he was. "Good, now if you wouldn't mind could you show me the Pokémon that you have chosen." Professor Oak asked of him.

Without another word Cyrus threw the Pokeball that held his Pokémon into the air which released the creature that it held within.

Cyrus as well as the Professor had to wait for the red cloud to dissipate before it would reveal to the Professor what Pokémon that Cyrus had chosen.

"Growlithe...that is a very good choice. He will be very useful for you as a starter Pokémon though you should know that the males of the species are pretty rowdy when they get older." The Professor spoke out though as usual he didn't stop speaking there. "Now let's go somewhere private where we can discuss the job that I wanted to offer you." the Professor finished.

After Professor Oak finished speaking he started to make his way towards another door and on the gadgets on the outside of it, Cyrus assumed that the door was locked. This was confirmed when the Professor placed his hand on a screen which slid the door open. Professor Oak walked through the door which caused Cyrus to follow him.