The world of Pokémon was no longer a safe place, wild Pokémon attacks have been more frequent and the numerous deaths of inexperienced trainers have caused the government to take action. Law now states that no one can be in possession of a Pokémon without the proper clearance. Fuchsia City opened a school as a way to bypass the laws, allowing its citizens to take the proper classes to earn the right to use a Pokémon from their Safari Zone. This year, seven students completed the basic courses, plus the special ones they believed they would need, in order to start their journey.
Outside the Safari Zone:
The six students gathered around their teacher as he began speaking, "Congratulations to you all for making it this far. All those years of studying have finally paid off as you take the final step in the beginning of your new life." The teacher droned on, continuing his speech as the students waited patiently. "...and remember, the Pokémon you choose will not only be your partner, but also your guardian. Wild Pokémon and rogue trainers will not hesitate to kill you out there. I want you all to be safe and returning here every now and then wouldn't be so bad either." he added with a smile. The teacher passed out the safari balls they would need and led them to the different entrances.
Max entered the area and found himself atop some small cliffs over looking a large clearing. A rather strong breeze ruffled his curly brown hair as he pulled his jacket tighter, glad that he had decided to bring it. He scanned the land before him, the sight of many smaller bug Pokémon playing around reflected in his bright green eyes. He looked a bit disappointed at the lack of stronger Pokémon and was about to walk away when he noticed a lone scyther entering the clearing.
That would be a perfect partner thought Max.
As the scyther made his way to the center of the field, Max saw something in the corner of his eye and turned to see a rhyhorn entering the clearing.
What's a rhyhorn doing in this area?
At that time the scyther looked up, noticed the rhyhorn, and pointed one of his blades in his direction.
"Scyther!" It called out, obviously not thrilled to have the ground Pokémon in his area.
The rhyhorn glared back at him, not wanting to give up his new found territory, and began charging towards him. The scyther jumped in front of a nearby tree and crossed his blades in front of him to try and block the charge. The rhyhorn hit scyther and began to push him back. Scyther saw that he wouldn't be able to hold him off and knew that he would be crushed between the tree if he did nothing. He quickly jumped up and over the rhyhorn, slashing at his backside as he passed, though he saw that it was doing little to no good. The rhyhorn ran right into the tree, causing it to bend slightly from the impact. He backed up a little, shaking himself off, and turned towards the scyther, seeming even angrier than before. The scyther watched as the rhyhorn began charging once again. When it got close, the scyther jumped over it again, but the rhyhorn quickly rammed his head upwards, hitting scyther in his midsection. Scyther fell to the side, bleeding from a puncture in his skin.
Max became worried for the injured scyther and jumped down from the cliff and raced towards him. The rhyhorn turned and faced the fallen scyther, digging at the dirt with his leg. Max began throwing rocks at the rhyhorn, hoping to draw his attention away from scyther. The rhyhorn turned and glared at Max and began charging towards him instead. Max turned and ran the opposite direction, but soon came back to the cliff and realized he was trapped between the rock walls. The rhyhorn stopped and eyed Max, knowing that he had nowhere else to go. He began faintly glowing red with a focus energy and charged towards him. Max could only stand there in fear as the rhyhorn came closer and closer. Right before the rhyhorn reached him, scyther flew from around him and quickly lifted Max and flew off with him. Rhyhorn hit the rock cliff head on and caused a small rock slide to fall on him. Scyther couldn't get far before the pain became too much and caused him to collapse. The rhyhorn managed to emerge from the rock pile, his body covered in multiple cracks. He seemed to be barely standing, but dug his front foot slowly into the dirt once again, as if planning on continuing the fight. Max glanced from the bleeding scyther to the still standing rhyhorn fearfully.
Suddenly, a safari ball flew through the air and hit the rhyhorn, capturing him almost instantly. Max looked back to see Samuel walking towards the still ball.
"I suppose I should thank you for weakling that Pokémon for me," he stated.
After he picked up his safari ball, he turned towards Max and the fallen scyther and sneered at them.
"I hope that weak thing isn't the Pokémon you chose." he said, "I doubt he's even still alive." Samuel then walked away, still laughing. Max turned towards the scyther, and noticed the wound was more severe than he had thought. He quickly pulled out a potion he had and sprayed it directly on the wound. The scyther tensed up as the spray hit the open wound, and Max saw this as a good sign. The scyther opened his eyes shortly after and gazed up at Max. He slowly made his way to his feet, and started to turn away.
"Hey," Max called out, "Thanks for saving me back there. If you would like, you could come with me and I could get you properly healed and I'd try my best to keep you safe from now on." The scyther turned towards him and stared for a moment. He then winced in pain and fell to one knee. He looked up at Max and slowly nodded his head. Max smiled at him and tossed a safari ball at him, capturing him.
Back at the entrance:
Max gathered with the others as the nurse passed out their Pokémon, now contained in a normal pokeball. "So did you actually catch anything Dylan?" Cass asked. "Well, there I was" he answered, strands of his blonde hair falling from his beanie, "sitting with my pole, when all of a sudden a felt a strong tug. I started reeling it in quickly, but it was too large. It slowly started pulling me closer and closer to the waters edge..." After a slight pause, Zac spoke up, "What happened next?" "Well, then I woke up and this guy was asleep at my side." Dylan stated, releasing his Pokémon, a slowpoke. "You have got to be kidding me," Cass said. She turned and looked at the others who had just released theirs as well. Samuel, along with his rhyhorn stepped up beside her and her geodude. "I can't believe out of all the Pokémon out there, you all chose those weak ones," he said. Then turning towards Sid, eying the abra sitting on his shoulders, he continued, "I expected much more out of you Sid, yours looks to be the weakest of the bunch." Sid stated, smiling, "Abra could beat you in three moves." Samuel began laughing at this and said, "I'd like to see that." Abra suddenly disappeared off of Sid's shoulders and reappeared on rhyhorn's back. Then, both off them vanished before everybody. After a short moment, abra reappeared on Sid's shoulders.
"Hey you jerk," Samuel yelled, "Where's my rhyhorn?" Sid simply turned and headed down the nearby route.
"Hey..." Samuel started, before hearing a faint roar, and looked up. Rhyhorn suddenly struck the ground hard, covering the area in a mist of dust. When it settled, rhyhorn laid there upside down, completely knocked out. "Why that..." Samuel said, as he turned towards where Sid had walked away. Cass, after straightening her skirt and tossing her bag over her shoulder, grabbed him by the collar and pulled him back saying, "Just grab your Pokémon so we can go."
"Wait man," said Dylan, "We aren't all going together?"
"Please," began Cass, "You guys are gonna get yourselves killed, and I don't feel like dying with you fools."
Samuel returned his rhyhorn and walked with Cass down the nearby route.
"Well, I guess it's just us then," said Dylan.
"Whatever, later guys," Zac called out as he ran off with his growlithe towards the pier.
Dylan turned and looked at Max, who smiles and walks towards the opposite route. Dylan turns to where Raymond was standing, but notices he had already left.
"Bummer," he says to his slowpoke, as they head to the pokecenter.