*Dark Decent*

You are awoken from a haunted sleep by the announcement that it is time for morning bathing and breakfast. You go along with the morning routine, showering, brushing teeth, and going to the dining hall for breakfast. Food this morning consists of a Miso Soup, a small fried fish filet, a bowl of white rice flavored with green tea, and more green tea to drink. You're not particularly enthusiastic about the food, but you're hungry enough to eat everything, what little there is of it.

All this is done by 05:45 or so, and you get out to the bus stop in plenty of time. 'Masako Katsuki' is waiting, and you ride the bus together talking about the weather.

At the trainstaion, you have to wait a few minutes before the train which will take you out to Sunset Park will arrive, and 'Masako Katsuki' takes you into a secluded alcove to explain some things to you.

"Ok, I need to tell you a few things: first, when we get to the training facility, you're going to have a couple of important decisions to make. To start with, you need to decide if you want to Jump in or Slide in: if you Jump in, you're in for a beating, with a little 'blanket party' from all the instructors: if you Slide in, you have to suck off all seven instructors without throwing up. The rest of the team will respect you more if you Jump in, but most women Slide in, because it's easiest. Next, based on how you joined, you will either have to recover from the beating and then chose two Pokémon or just chose two Pokémon. If you were Jumped in, your choices will be based on how long it takes you to recover. If it takes you more than three months, you're only choices are Rattata and Zubat. If it takes you between just under three months and one month you also can pick from Sandshrew, Vennognat, and Machop. If it takes you between just under one month and a week you also can chose a Drowzy or Cubone. If it takes you less than a week, you can pick from Koffing, Eckans, Grimmer, And Trubish: plus all the other choices." Katsuki explains.

"If you instead 'Slide' in you only get four options: Rattata, Zubat, Vennognat, and Eckans. You only get to pick one of your two Pokémon, the other one will automatically be the 'Slider Special' an Oddish."

"These Pokémon will be your closest companions for the next several years, as you hopefully rise through the ranks, but we're going to miss the train if we stand around jawing, so let's go," 'Katsuki' says and you head out of the alcove onto the platform.

The train arrives and you travel along in silence, waiting for the right stop...