Author's Notes:

The tale will begin in the Kanto region, which is native to my very favorite generation of Pokémon (yeah, I'm old school.) The story features a mix of original characters as well as popular ones from the game and anime. Same basic plot you've seen before, just with a bit of a modern spin. Now then, let's get on with the story.

Job Hunting

Jethro Brown is the type of kid to ignore life's little problems and hope they went away. However, it didn't work with his homework in middle school, and it sure as hell is not going to work for the traffic citation he got for driving without a license.

His father, bless him, picked up the cost of said citation, but only after the promise that Jethro would find a summer job to start supporting himself. Being a fourteen year old in a small place like Pallet Town, he didn't exactly have a lot of job choices available to him.

Pacing around his bedroom, Jet began compiling a mental list of potential jobs which he could actually see himself getting hired for. He passed by the mirror hanging up on his wall, and a white kid with brown hair and matching eyes looked back at him. "I need Craig's list."

Going over to his computer, Jet looked under the job's section. Most of the jobs available were fast food; all except for… he clicked on the link that called for a Jr. Pokémon Day Care Assistant. Requirements were as followed.

-Must be 14 years or older.

-Must have proof of eligibility to work.

-Must have at least a Class C trainer's license.

-Must be comfortable working around Pokémon.

Jet read and re-read the job description and requirements. This is the perfect job. All he had to do was babysit a bunch of Pokémon for eight hours, and it paid about eight fifty an hour. Apparently all applications had to be filled out at the Pallet Town Pokémon research center though.

He had nothing better to do today, so why not? Picking up his phone he called his best friend Brian, and said, "Yo, how would you like to get a job with me today?"

XXX

Jet met up with Brian at the bus stop, just seconds before the bus pulled up. Brian was an Asian kid of fifteen, just a couple of inches taller than Jethro. Brian was a Pokémon fanatic. All his life he wanted nothing more than to train Pokémon. He could never afford one on his own, but he spent a great deal of time drawing them in his sketch book or watching battles on the TV. When Jet said the research center was hiring, Brian started geeking out.

When on the bus, questions about the new job were endless. "Are you sure it said fourteen years or older? Did it say you need any experience? What will we be doing anyway?"

Jet, however, asked, "Did you bring that study guide?"

Brian nodded and reached in his bag and pulled out a study guide for a class C Pokémon license exam. Brian already had his class C, but Jethro didn't. He looked it up online, though. For fifty six dollars, he could take the test for his license at the research center, and he didn't even need an appointment.

"You mind telling me," Brian began, "exactly how do you plan on getting your trainer's license and a job training Pokémon all in one day?"

Jet, who began reading the study guide immediately, replied, "Don't jinx it. It's this or flip burgers all summer."

Brian laughed, "Well, good luck, Jet, you're defiantly going to need it."

The boys walked into the research center. It was a very large building, which wasn't surprising considering it's the center for Pokémon research in the Kanto region. There was a plump woman at the front desk reading a magazine. She lowered the magazine as they approached and said in a bored voice, "How may I help you boys?"

Brian spoke first, "I wanted to apply for the position that just opened up here."

Jet piped up, "And I would like to take the test for my class C trainer's license, please?"

The plump woman at the desk studied them both for a moment, and then reached in her desk and pulled out a job application. "Hand that back to me when you're done, honey."

She then went to yet another drawer and pulled out a form attached to a clip board. "Same to you, dear. And you're lucky it's slow today, otherwise you'd have to come back another time."

Jet nodded, found a seat in the lobby next to Brian, and began filling out his form. He was thankful that he didn't need his parent's signature to get a Pokémon license, as both his parents were at work and he didn't want to have to wait until tomorrow.

He supposed he probably should have went with Brian when he got his class C. As Jet understood it, there were three classes for a trainer's license. Class C you can get at the age of 14. It allowed you to catch, own, battle with, and raise 1-2 star Pokémon. These were Pokémon such as Pichu or Pidgey. They could be dangerous, but they could also be domesticated fairly easily and weren't very powerful.

Then you had your class B. This allowed you to train 3-4 star Pokémon. These were Pokémon such as Bayleaf and Magmar. These were potentially very dangerous, and you need to be at least 16 to raise them. This License was more difficult to get because it not only requires more tests to get, but it also requires two or more years of experience working with Pokémon.

The Class A license was coveted by all trainers. It requires not only three years' experience raising Pokémon, but it also requires you to have a class B for at least a year. You also need a degree in Pokémon training, which requires years of classes and months of testing. The minimum age for this license is seventeen, not that many people that young are ever able to meet the requirements. With a Class A license, you could potentially raise any Pokémon you want.

Brian's dream is to get his class A, buy his first Pokémon, and build a dream team powerful enough to fight in the world championships. When they were younger, Jet used to have the same dream. They would talk about places they would visit, Pokémon they would catch. But sooner or later everyone has to grow up, and Jet has accepted a long time ago that being a Pokémon master was a thoroughly unrealistic dream. So he locked that part of him away along with being a pilot or an actor.

Still, Jet had always liked Pokémon, ever since he was little. As far as he was concerned, being a Jr. Pokémon Daycare Assistant was the perfect summer job. Who knows, maybe he might be able to save up enough money to buy a car next year.

An hour later Jet was being lead into a cubicle by Doris, the lady from the front desk.

"Here you are dear, computer four. All your information is inputted. Just take the test and come see me at the front desk when you are done."

Jet nodded, "Yes ma'am."

He sat at the computer and clicked on begin. Most of the questions were easy:

4. How many types of Pokémon are there total?

Or:

26. Name the types of pokeballs best used for catching aquatic Pokémon?

Then there were the hard ones:

37. Match these vitamins with the stats they help stimulate.

And:

59. Approximately what level does a Mankey evolve at?

There were a hundred questions in all, either multiple choice or matching. Then, he had to do a battle simulator. It was like a turn based video game in which every Pokémon had only four moves to use. First, he had to battle three random Pokémon using a Spearow, an Elekid, and a Turtwig. He could switch Pokémon at any time, and he had one potion, and one status healer for every stat change. He had to win the match with a minimum amount of damage done to his Pokémon.

He did this three times, each time with different opponents and a different team. Afterwards he had to simulate catching Pokémon. It was similar to the battle simulation, except he had to use pokeballs instead of medicines.

When he was finally finished, a window popped up on the computer saying he passed with a 94.5 %. It then printed out a ticket saying the same, which Jet took to the front desk.

"It's about time!" exclaimed Brian. "Took your time? What did you get?" Jet showed Brian the ticket. Brian grinned and clapped him on the shoulder. "Great job, man."

Jet smiled as well, "Yeah well, it's not a full 100% like you got on yours."

Brian sighed, "We can't all be perfect."

Jet handed the paper to Doris along with sixty dollars for the license. Doris smiled and took out a camera. She took his picture and they waited a couple minutes for his ID to print out. When it was done, Doris passed Jet the license and said, "Congratulations, you are now a qualified Pokémon trainer!"

Jet smiled and said, "Thank you! So… could I get a job application please?"