I flung open the doors to Professor Hawthorne's Lab, and then bolted to the back room where he assigned trainers their Pokémon. 

The room was pretty big, with an old-fashioned Healing Station in the corner like the ones that Pokémon Centers used to use, and the newer Recharge Station next to it.  There was also three pokéballs inside the traditional spinning glass case made specifically to hold starter pokémon.  There was a desk in the corner with a filling cabinet and a bulky computer.  In the right corner of the room, there was a door leading to the pokéball storage area, and in the left, there was a door leading outside to a fenced in area for pokémon to play in. The only thing different from a normal Pokémon Prof. Lab was that next to the starter pokémons case, there was a cardboard box filled with about 15 pokéballs with the words "bonus options" scribbled messily in sharpie on the side.

I paused, surprised, as I noticed there was another person in the room besides Prof. Hawthorne. 

The other person was a boy who looked to be about 16, just like me.  He was about 5 and a half feet tall, with brown hair tipped bright red at the ends.  I gawked at his ridiculously bright outfit. There was a black backpack with neon green highlights hanging off of his shoulder, and a bright orange hoodie with a pokéball in the middle. His pants were a neon blue, and he had a neon green headband. His eyes were a dark, chocolatey brown.  He was currently leaning against the wall, typing something into his Pokénav.  I've never seen him before, so I don't think he lives in New Bark Town.  I suppose it would make sense that there would be another trainer starting around now, as parents usually like to coordinate it so that their kids can work together, but my parents had told me that I would be the only one there.

He looked over when he noticed me staring, and I quickly looked away, mumbling an apology.

"Ah, Ninfia!  You're here!" Professor Hawthorne said.

Professor Hawthorne was wearing the classic white lab coat, like all Professors, but unlike his predecessors, he has some rather interesting spiky blue hair. He seemed to be around forty.

"This is Nick, from Cherrygrove City. His parents informed me last night that they would like him to start a journey at my place, and then asked if I had any other new trainers starting. And I said, 'Why yes! I happen to have a young girl who is starting tomorrow!'" he said as he grinned at me, "And the deal was done! I didn't have time to inform your parents, which is why we have this pleasant surprise."

Cherrygrove. Well, that explains why I haven't seen him before.

Professor Hawthorne clapped his hands together. "Alright! Shall we get started?" he said.

"Heck yeah!" Nick said enthusiastically.

I looked over at the "bonus" box. "What pokémon are in there?" I asked.

Prof. Hawthorne followed my gaze. "Ooo, thats a very good question! I was just getting to that..." He said with a grin.

"Now, you two are aware of what the starter pokémon in Johto are, correct?" He said.

"Cyndaquil, Totodile, and Chickorita!" Blurted Nick.

"Correct!  A+ for you, Nick!" said Hawthorne, "Now, as Ninfia pointed out earlier, there is a box with some more pokéballs in it. I have selected 15 pokémon that you can choose from, and you will also be taking one of the traditional starters. I have decided to try something different this time! Every single pokémon in this box is a rare pokémon from a different region. Now, what I want you to do is stick your hand into the box, and choose a completely random pokéball! Who wants to go first?"

Nick and I both gaped at him.

"We... pick our pokémon randomly? W-We don't get to choose?!" Nick stuttered, surprised.  I was thinking exactly the same thing.

"No, you get to choose a Starter! But I decided I wanted to do something different today, so I'm going to give you two pokémon! One Starter, another one that's random! Besides, won't it be fun to have it be a surprise?" Professor Hawthorne said cheerily.

"Not really..." muttered Nick.

"Aren't you going to tell us what pokémon are in the box?" I asked.

"Nope! It wouldn't be as fun that way," Professor Hawthorne responded.  "Now, whose going first?"

Nick and I looked at each other.  I knew what he was going to say, and I was fine with him going first.  I wanted to see what kinds of pokémon were in there anyway.

"Me!" Nick blurted, just like I thought he would.

"Excellent!" said Professor Hawthorne.  "Just pick a random pokéball."

Nick stuffed his hand deep into the box, stirred the pokéballs around a bit, and then selected one from the very bottom.

"Cool!" said Nick, examining his new pokéball, "Can I open it?"

"Nope! Ninfia must pick hers first." He said, glancing pointedly at me.

Well, so much for getting an idea of what pokémon I'll be getting.

Figuring that it wouldn't matter where I took the pokéball from, I just plucked one from the top.

"Can we open it now?" asked Nick, impatiently.  I was also itching to open the pokéball and see what I got.

"How about we pick the Johto starter first?" Professor Hawthorne replied, grinning like he was purposely trying to keep us in suspense.

"Fine..." grumbled Nick.

Ugh! I need to see what I got! I thought, a little anxious.  My thumb twitched as it hovered over the white release button.

"So, Ninfia, I think that its only fair that you get to choose first this time.  Which starter would you like?"

Nick started. "What!? But-"

He was cut off by a glare from the Professor.

"Sorry..." he mumbled.

"Hmmm..." I said, as I thought of which starter I liked best.  Totodile is a little cute, but I don't really want its evolution (Feraligatr, aka a giant crocodile) to be in my party constantly... So Totodile's a no.  Cyndaquill is adorable, and I think its evolution is epic.  Plus, I just like fire types.  So.... maybe? Chikorita will always be cute, and I love how it has a flower on it in its final evolution.  But to be honest, I don't really like plant types as much as water or fire, and I'm not usually into super-cutesy pokémon (unless it looks like a kitty, then I just love it).

The whole time I'm contemplating this, I can see Nick sweating and twiddling his thumbs, and I can tell he's really hoping I don't choose the one he wants.  I hope he's not too disappointed if I do.

I took a deep breath.  This pokémon is probably going to be my number one companion from now on.  This decision will change my life.  I don't want to make the wrong choice.  But, the more I thought about it, I realized I already knew which pokémon was right for me.  I've known for a while.

"Cyndaquil" I said after the long moment of silence.

Nick breathed a huge sigh of relief.  He reached out and grabbed Totodile's pokéball.  "Oh man, that was close!  I totally thought you were gonna choose Totodile... and then I might've had to choose..." he shivered slightly,"Chikorita. Or worse! Cynda-"

"Alright Nick, thats enough insulting the pokémon." said Prof. Hawthorne, cutting him off. "Anyways, before you meet your pokémon, I'd like to give you your Pokédexes.  I want to show you how to register pokémon.  You can customize the background and other things in the settings, and you can also buy a case for it at any Pokémart." He gave us both the identical red Pokédexes.  He then pulled two pieces of plastic out of his coat pocket.  "These are your trainer cards.  I've already taken the liberty of putting the pictures your parents submitted on them, so all you need to do is sign it."

He passed us both the plastic cards, along with a pen.  Like all trainer cards, it had spots for placing stamps from all the gyms in Johto.  I jotted my name down in the signature slot. I flipped the card to the other side and looked at my picture.  I had my long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, like it almost always is, and I had long bangs that came down on the right side of my face.  I was wearing my new trainers uniform (The new Battle Rules require that trainers have a red and white uniform for formal battles and events, like Gym challenges, Competitions, and Conventions), which was a short red sleeveless dress, with red leggings, and white lines on all the edges.  I think the uniform goes really well with my bright blue eyes.

"So! Who wants to meet their pokémon?" Professor Hawthorne said, as he took back the pens.

"Me!" Nick and I said, practically at the same time.

"Alright, but first-"

"Awwwww..." Nick and I groaned, interrupting him.

Professor Hawthorne laughed. "I'm kidding! Let's go outside so you can play with them."

Nick turned to look at me and said, "Race ya!", then dashed outside to the fenced area of land outside the Lab, otherwise known as the Poképlayground. I sprinted after him.