Episode 1:
Ri’s Promise

Ri is a pokémon breeder-in-training from the Seafoam Islands. She works with her parents in their small pokémon adoption center. Ri’s only pokémon, a Horsea named Aqua, had been abandoned by its trainer a year ago. Ri found her on the shore and nursed her back to health. Since that day, Aqua and Ri have been best friends and Ri began learning to be a pokémon breeder so she could help other pokémon.

“Ri. Ri, where are you?”

“Coming mommy.” Ri ran out of her room towards to sound of her mother’s voice in the front lobby. “Yes mommy?”

“Honey, would you please assist this kind gentleman here.” Her mom pointed to a little boy Ri knew from school last year.

“Oh, hi Ri,” the boy said shyly. His cheeks blushed. Ri smiled as her mom left the room.

“Hi Billy. What’s happening?”

“Umm, umm,…” Billy couldn’t find the right words.

“Hey, do you want to play by the beach? It’s such a beautiful day and I’ll bring Aqua…”

“Um…” Billy looked really sad.

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I don’t have any pokémon…” Small tears fell from his eyes. “My parents won’t let me have one. They say pokémon are evil. Bu… but I think pokémon are cool and I want to raise one of my own, just one.” Although his face now showed determination, a few more tears formed in his crystal-like eyes.

“That’s awful. Your parents must not understand the good in raising a pokémon. It’s a great learning experience.”

“But they’ll never let me have one…”

“Maybe you can borrow one of ours when you come over. Here.” Ri reached into a bag of pokéballs and pulled out one of the new arrivals. “We just got this one in the other day. He was found lost in a cave.” Ri opened the pokéball revealing a timid looking, male Nidoran. It took a quick glance at the two humans and began to shake. It had obviously not had a good first encounter with humans.

“What is it?”

“This pokémon is called a Nidoran. He looks a bit shy, but maybe with a little caring, he’ll learn to trust you. Would you like to hold him?” Ri extended the Nidoran out to Billy.

“Oh…” Billy had never been this close to any pokémon before in his life. For a second, he smiled. But his joy soon turned to fear. “I can’t.”

“Why? You could just take care of him for today.”

“What if my parents find out?”

“We won’t get caught. Trust me. Now let’s go to the beach! Bye mom! I’m going to the beach with Billy. Back before dinner!” Ri jumped over the counter and ran out the door with Billy. Her mom smiled to herself.

Once at the beach, Ri’s Horsea jumped happily into the ocean and swam around. Billy didn’t play with them though.

“Hahahahahahaha,” he giggled as his new pokémon played with him. “Ri, I love this pokémon!” Nidoran continued to lick Billy’s face. “Hahahaha,” he giggled more falling over on his back with Nidoran held high over his head.

“So, you really like that Nidoran huh?”

“It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever had. I love this Nidoran. I want it. I want to keep it with me for the rest of my life. Please Ri, I must have this pokémon!” Billy was definitely over his shyness.

“Well, it’s fine with me, but what about your parents?”

“I don’t care anymore. I must have Nidoran.” Billy took close hold of his new Nidoran, protecting it in a way. “I’ll hide the pokéball in my room somewhere. Anything. Ri, I can’t live without this pokémon. Please, promise me I can keep it.” Billy had gotten himself down of his knees and still was almost up to Ri’s shoulders.

“I promise Billy. You may keep the Nidoran. Here’s its pokéball.”

“Thank you so much Ri!” Billy got up and kissed Ri on the cheek. She was stunned. Her hand touched the spot he had kissed her almost automatically. Suddenly, she snapped out of it. “C’mon! Didn’t you say you wanted to play with your pokémon on the beach? Let’s go!” She was still blushing from the kiss.

“I never knew he was like that…” she thought to herself. She picked up Aqua and joined Billy on the beach. They played long into the night…