"Pokémon Endless Journey - Volume 2: Gold, Silver and Crystal – Shining Adventure"
Chapter 1 – The Next Generation:
Dreams may surge when one least expects.
Either during one's sleep, through aspirations and fascinations of childhood, or by witnessing a certain event on TV.
A boy in New Bark Town, whose eye color matched his name, got his dream when he witnessed a battle that was streamed throughout the whole of Kanto and Johto.
Now, three years later, shortly after becoming thirteen, he was about to depart in his own adventure, in order to achieve his dream.
Black messy hair, golden colored eyes, red sweater with white pouch-pocket, yellow shorts with black lines on each side, and a black and yellow cap placed backwards over his head. Inside his bag were his personal skateboard and a foldable pool cue.
His name was Gold.
"Alright. I'm done waiting. I'm off to my journey!" The boy made his way out of the bedroom, dashing through the door and tripping on the first step of the stairs. "Uh-oh." Unable to stop the fall, the teenager rolled down the stairs. "Ow…!"
"Finally leaving, Gold?"
His head tilted up after his mother's words were spoken. Tensing up his expression, he stood up, making his way into the living room.
"I am. And there's nothing you can say that will make me change my mind."
"I didn't intend to do so." The woman took a sip from her drink and glanced at her child. "I never tried to stop you. You just thought I did."
A vein popping out on his forehead. "Now you tell me...?"
"Of course," she looked at the cup of tea. "It will be a lot quieter though." Gold's mother wore a smile, but with sad eyes. Just as doubt started to cloud his mind, this was exactly what he decided to confront.
"Hey." The woman looked up and was taken aback by the serious look in her son's face. A very rare sight. "You're going to be okay, right?"
After a moment of silence, the woman began laughing, confusing Gold. "Why that all of a sudden? You're talking like I'm going to die if you leave. Don't worry about me, Gold. Go on, you're free to go." She sipped her tea again and smiled at her son. Gold couldn't help but to blush a bit, embarrassed.
But his courage returned shortly after. "Goodbye. Next time you see me, I'll be the champion of Johto."
"I'm looking forward to that." She answered, waving goodbye. After opening the door, Gold passed through it and closed it behind him, smirking and making a 'V' sign with his fingers at his mom before doing so.
Sighing outside, Gold looked towards the almost clear sky. "Well, the hard part is out of the way…"
"I heard that." A blush surged across his face, but it was shaken off.
With eyes set on the Laboratory close to his house, he made his way to visit Professor Elm, who he had known throughout the years. At some point, the Professor promised Gold he would offer him a Pokémon if he ever started a journey. And today was the day that such promise would be fulfilled.
"Hey! What's up doc?" Gold spoke, after opening the door. However, he performed a double-take upon finding a Professor Elm balancing on one foot atop a ladder, holding a large pile of boxes, and with his other foot atop a shelve so he wouldn't fall. "…I mean, if you're buy, I can just leave."
"Gold, help!"
Rushing in, the teenager took a stool and stood on it, taking most of the load in Professor Elm's hands and placing it down on the floor. He then took the remaining boxes and helped the Professor regain his composure.
"Thank you very much…"
"No worries doc." Gold grinned at the Professor, who breathed far too heavily for such a small incident.
"But… why did you come here?"
"Oh! I'm finally starting my journey. And I'm here to get what you promised when that day were to come."
"I see!" Professor Elm placed a closed fist over an opened palm. "You're in luck! I have three for you to choose from as of right now."
"Wait, really?" Things were running far too smoothly for Gold's opinion. "Lead the way then."
"Very well."
At the back of the Laboratory was a large machine holding three Poké Balls in each of its respective slots.
"You're free to choose. Which one would you like?"
Gold stared intensively at the Poké Balls and a grin formed upon placing his hand on the one in the middle. "This one is the Fire-type, right?"
"That is correct."
"Well… I choose you!" Gold opened his Poké Ball and a little Pokémon with bluish fur on top of its body, and a milky color on the underside.
"Cynda?" The little Pokémon looked around, slightly confused, until looking up and getting scared by Gold's presence. "Cynda!"
"Hey there, little bro. My name's Gold! Wanna be partners?"
"Cynda…?" Gold picked up Cyndaquil and placed him on top of his head, almost like a place to rest. "Cyn…"
"He's a bit shy."
"I noticed." Gold laughed. "Hey, no worries. Being shy isn't a problem."
"Unless he gets too scared."
"Uh? Why?"
"Cyn-DAAA!" Cyndaquil's flames emerged from his back, alarming Gold.
"Oh."
"That reminds me…" Professor Elm opened a drawer and took out a golden colored device, handing it to Gold. "This is a Pokédex. A friend of mine created it, but I helped developing it, especially in this updated version. There's only three of them so far. I believe it will be rather useful for your adventure."
"What does it do?"
"It scans Pokémon, registering them and giving you information about them. Try it out." Gold opened the Pokédex and aimed it at the Professor. "Not on me!"
"I know, I know…" Gold laughed. He aimed the device at the Fire Mouse atop his head and scanned for information.
'Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokémon. Cyndaquil protects itself by flaring up the flames on its back. The flames are vigorous if the Pokémon is angry. However, if it is tired, the flames sputter fitfully with incomplete combustion.'
"Could you do me a favour, Gold?"
"Sure, what is it?"
"A colleague of mine, the friend I meantioned, was supposed to come from Pallet Town, but he might've gotten lost on the way over. I believe he should be in Cherrygrove City's Poké Center."
"Fine by me. See yah in a bit!" Gold withdrew his Pokémon and rushed out of the Lab.
Taking the skateboard out of his bag, Gold hopped, laying it down on the floor and jumping onto it perfectly. Feeling the breeze against his body, he made his way out of the Town, however not before passing by a person that caught his attention. While it was only for a second, the person stood out. A boy, around his height, dark red neck lengthened hair, silver eyes, grim expression, and wearing a black jacket with red details and purple trousers.
Gold turned his head back and narrowed his eyes. He had lived his whole life in New Bark Town, and he knew for a fact that no one like that had ever been there.
"Who… was that guy?" Shrugging off and figuring that he was just overthinking about something meaningless. He turned back just in time to dodge the tree he was about to run into. "WHAA! That was close…"
While the path from New Bark to Cherrygrove was rather short, especially if on skate, Gold decided to take a longer route in order to enjoy his skate ride.
"Cherrygrove… Nice place." Stepping on the end of his skte and grabbing it, Gold saved his trusty mean of transportation inside his bag. "Now, where's the Poké Center…?"
Just as he turned his head to the side, a familiar person passed by him. The red haired guy from before. However, a detail stood out. The silver colored device in his hands.
"Hey!" Placing a hand on the guy's shoulder, Gold pulled him back. "Where did you get that?"
"It's none of your business." The boy scoffed at Gold and offered a cold glare. Natural, somehow. Gold's hand shook, but with determination, he made the boy turn around and face him.
"Professor Elm's friend created that device, and there are only three copies. And I'm pretty sure he wouldn't give it to a guy like you."
"And? Does it really matter how I got it?" The guy started walking away, but Gold wouldn't let it slide.
"IF you stole it, that means I'll have to take responsibility for it!"
Gold's words made the boy turn and glare. "Who do you think you are to say something like that?" A Poké Ball was opened, letting out a blue crocodile with red spines on its back and tail.
"Toto-Toto-Dile!"
Taking out his Pokédex, Gold analyzed the Pokémon.
'Totodile, the Big Jaw Pokémon. Despite the smallness of its body, Totodile's jaws are very powerful. While the Pokémon may think it is just playfully nipping, its bite has enough power to cause serious injury.'
"That Pokémon…" Gold opened his own Poké Ball, letting out Cyndaquil.
"Cynda? Cyn!"
"Toto-Toto-Dile!"
Gold's suspicion was confirmed to be true when the two Pokémon started interacting as if they knew each other.
"You stole a Pokémon from the Professor as well!"
"And what if I did? Are you taking responsibility for that too?"
The battle started right away. While basic, the Pokémon were strong and had a wide move pool. Starting off, Cyndaquil released a stream of fire from his mouth, but Totodile dodged with a large leap forward. With teeth glowing light blue and releasing snowflakes, Totodile bit down on Cyndaquil's body, freezing his body in a small chunk of ice. While victory seemed certain, the flame on Cyndaquil's back ignited, melting the ice and thawing him out.
After gathering white energy that outlined his body, Cyndaquil dashed using his four legs. Totodile blocked the quick attack by firing a spiral of water from his mouth, which was super effective when used against Cyndaquil. Pushed back, Cyndaquil became nervous, but Gold assured him everything would turn out okay if he didn't give up. Trusting his Trainer, Cyndaquil squealed, making the flames on his back become more intense. Opening his mouth, he released a stream of golden stars, while Totodile used Water Gun once more.
The attacks passed by each other and hit their respective targets, weakening them. Finally, Cyndaquildashed towards Totodile and Tackled him, while Totodile scratched his forehead.
The two fell to the side, fainted. Gold and the mysterious boy withdrew their Pokémon.
"I think it's time for me to leave. I suggest you don't follow me."
"Wait! …My name is Gold!"
"Uh?" He turned, confused.
"Three years ago, a boy started his adventure and he faced, right away, someone who became his rival!" Gold pointed at the silver eyed boy, first serious but then smirking. "You will be my rival!"
"…" The boy had no words. Unchanging his expression, he turned around. "Do whatever you want. Name's Silver."
After Silver disappeared from Gold's sight, the teenager made his way to the Poké Center, finding the misdirected Professor.
Guiding the older man back to New Bark Town, Professor Elm reunited with his good friend.
"Oak! It's been quite a while since I got to shake your hand."
"It's nice to see you too, Elm."
Both rather casual, they turned and thanked Gold for his help. Elm explained how someone apparently had broken into the laboratory while he left for a minute, stealing both a Pokédex and a Pokémon. Gold, in return, said that he had everything under control, and that he would take care of the thief.
Soon after leaving on his skateboard, someone knocked on the door of the laboratory.
"Yes?"
The door opened, revealing a girl, around thirteen years of age, with crystal blue eyes, dark blue hair, styled with spiked pigtails, a cap over her head, a white jacket over her reddish-pink shirt, and black and yellow shorts.
"Excuse me, you're Professor Elm, correct?"
"I am. And you are?"
"I'm Crystal. I believe my mother called you about what I wanted from you."
"Oh yes! You're the girl who wanted a Pokédex for her explorations, aren't you?"
"Precisely." Professor Oak frowned at the whole exchange between the people in front of him, but he had heard weirder things. Professor Elm reached for his last Pokédex available and handed it to the girl. "Thank you very much." Turning back to the door, Professor Elm stopped her.
"Wait!"
"Hm?"
He ran to the machine at the back of the laboratory and came back with a Poké Ball in hand. "The two friends of this Pokémon here have been taken by other Trainers today. Would it be a bother if you took it with you? I believe you could become great friends."
"W-Well…" The girl didn't know how exactly to react, but slowly reached for the Poké Ball. "If it's not a bother… Thank you."
Pokémon of the Day:
Cyndaquil - Cyndaquil is usually timid by nature and often curls into a ball when intimidated. It has four red spots on its back from which its flames erupt. Cyndaquil is capable of defending itself using these flames. The fire grows more powerful as Cyndaquil becomes more angry or defensive.
Totodile - Totodile tends to be playful by nature, and has a habit of biting anything it sees, including its Trainer.
IMPORTANT A/N: After 5 well-structured reviews from the same person throughout the story allows such reader to make request of special chapters for the side volume, where untold events, special chapters and others. Hope all of you keep following the saga.