Super-Disclaimer- I don't own Pokemon. If I did, don't you think I would have kept the good voice actors?
Travelers
VekuKaiba
Chapter One
[1 April- 11:00a- Pallet Town, Port]
The skies were darkening quickly over Pallet Town on the day, a day in which new Pokémon Trainers set off into the world. A storm was brewing from the west, but the rain had delayed so far. The ferry from Cinnabar had just departed once again, leaving a small legion of tourists and Pokémon trainers alike walking up from the port. Walking off to the side of the path stood a thirteen-year-old boy and his Vulpix.
"Ready, Vulpix?" he asks his companion, bending down to him. The Vulpix purrs in acknowledgment of his trainer, then turns back to walk up into the city. Experienced Pokémon trainers from the ferry made their way quickly through the small town, knowing that there was only one thing of significance there: Oak Laboratory. However, William Anderson, Will, was on a day so many youth looked forward to, and so many elders looked back on: day one. Will made his way up the center path, looking around at the town. A crackle of thunder rang out above him, reminding him that his umbrella was something that he failed to pack in his bag. Sighing, he looks at his companion, trotting happily by his side.
"If it starts raining, I'm going to have to put you back in your pokeball." Will says, Vulpix returning with a calm face. Looking forward Will could make out the windmill of Oak Laboratory. In front of the Laboratory, he could also make out two gray statues, which he remembered from a book in the Cinnabar Library.
"We do have to stop th-" Will says, his next word being cut-off by a couple drops of water on his head. Vulpix looks up curiously, watching the sprinkling turn into a downpour.
"Vulpix, return." Will calls, drawing the pokeball from the inside of his black blazer. Realizing that failing to pack the umbrella was a mistake, he decides to take refuge under a tree just outside of a low picket fence. Lightning crashes overhead as Will digs through his bag, doing his best not to let any drops of water find their way inside. Finding what he wanted, he pulls out a map, showing him the Kanto region. Over in the house, a woman with red hair looks out her kitchen window at him.
"The next Mart is in Viridian City, so it looks like I'm going to have to ride out this storm." he mutters, sighing. Putting the map away, a pink blur appears out of the corner of his eye.
"Mime?" the creature says, holding a green umbrella.
"It's a…Mr. Mime," Will says, surprised. "with an umbrella. Why thank you, Mr. Mime."
"Get in here!" a female voice calls out from the house adjacent to the tree. "It's not safe to be under a tree during a storm!" Will re-zips his bag and walks toward the house, Mr. Mime holding the umbrella steady as he does.
"Lightning strikes trees." the woman reminds him as he enters her home.
"Oh yeah." Will says, remembering that fact.
"Thank you, Mimey," the woman adds, watching her Pokémon put the umbrella away. "You can hang your coat on the hook, and have a seat. You can stay until the storm passes."
"Thank you…uh…"
"Delia" she replies, walking into the other room to fetch some water. Will does as suggested, then withdraws his pokeball and calls out Vulpix, who quickly jumps onto his lap. Delia returns with two glasses of water.
"Here you go. Aww, how cute! A Vulpix." She says, looking at the fire-Pokémon with interest. Will accepts the glass as Vulpix jumps over to Delia, who pets the creature. "Starting out on your adventure, I see?" she asks Will.
"Yes." Will replies. "Vulpix and I just got off the ferry from Cinnabar."
"It's been a long time since my son started out on his adventures." she comments, looking up at the mantle. Will turns to face the mantle as well, quickly becoming flabbergasted.
"That's incredible." he says, standing and walking over to it. "Kanto, Johto," he remarks, just beginning with the badges. "The trophies, they're all his?"
"Yes. The rest of them are in his room." Delia remarks.
"There are more? Who is your-" he begins before something passes the corner of his eye. An Eevee running by the window followed by a man giving chase. "Ah!" he says, turning toward the window.
"Short attention-span, this one." Delia thinks, looking out the window. "Hmm…that looks like Bill." she remarks. Will is quick to get to the door to assist the man giving chase; Vulpix follows running even faster. Delia walks to the door, Mr. Mime at her side.
"Mime!"
x
[1 April- 11:35a- PalletxViridian Route One]
"Vulpix, Fire Spin!" Will calls out, having nearly caught up to the man and Eevee. The attack flies a considerable distance, encircling the Eevee, to which it jumps over with a high bounce.
"Nice shot." Bill remarks, letting the boy catch up to him before giving chase together. "Bill."
"Will"
"Funny. There's a row of trees just over there. Maybe we can corner it there." Bill suggests, slowly catching up with the creature.
"Okay." Will replies, seeing the trees in question. Mr. Mime and Delia are not far behind, but slower as they are umbrella-clad. The rain continues to pour, water dripping from Will's brown hair onto his face.
Bill and Will arrive at the destination, watching the Eevee trying to climb a tree. It turns, looking at the two men and Vulpix, taking a pouncing stance.
"Don't hurt it, just trap it." Bill says, watching Will think. Mr. Mime and Delia arrive behind them; Will turns around.
"Mr. Mime, use Barrier around Eevee!" Will calls out, sparking an idea. Mr. Mime tosses the umbrella to Delia and jumps forward, doing as asked by creating a psychic box around the little brown Pokémon. The Eevee dances around the box trying to escape as Will walks forward to it.
"Mr. Mime, release the front panel." Will calls back, ready to reach for the creature that is clawing away at the front. Mr. Mime does do, and the Eevee jumps into Will's arms, holding it with force to prevent the beast from escaping again. "I believe this belongs to you, Bill."
"Technically." Bill says, taking its pokeball out and returning Eevee inside. "I was on my way to give it to Professor Oak, but it broke free of its pokeball."
"Let's get back to the house." Delia suggests, lightning crashing overhead. "I see you didn't have a umbrella, either, Bill."
"Didn't think it would rain." he admits. "Why, did he forget his as well?"
"Eheh." Will mutters. "Left it at home."
"Ah, so you're a new trainer." Bill says as they walk back to the house. "And where do you hail from?"
"Cinnabar Island." Will replies.
"Will thought it would be a good idea to hide under a tree during a thunderstorm." Delia points out. "Oh Will, this is Bill. He is a Professor in Pokémon Regeneration and a colleague of Professor Oak."
"Not smart, but pitching a tent in a town would be weird if one doesn't have their umbrella." Bill remarks. Bill talks about the volcano of Cinnabar Island that went dormant a few decades ago, Will explaining that he met Vulpix in one of the caves a month ago. They arrive back at the house, where Delia finds the power to be out.
"Maybe we should just go up to Oak's." she suggests, trying the circuit breaker. "We have plenty of umbrellas."
"Sounds like a plan." Bill says, heading for the door. Will summons Vulpix into his pokeball and then walks back over to the mantle. He spies over all of the badges and trophies again, looking at the nameplates.
"Undisputed Champion of the Indigo Plateau
Eleventh Triennial Pokémon League Competition"
"The eleventh?" Will says to himself, curious. "But that was won by…" His attention turns to a photograph on the end of the mantle, to which he pauses for a gasp.
"Let's go." Delia says, Bill opening his umbrella out the door.
"Coming" Will replies, turning back toward the door; Mr. Mime hands him an umbrella and proceeds to open one for Delia.
x
[1 April-12:10p-Oak Laboratory]
The trip to Oak Laboratory lasted a mere twenty minutes.
"I don't have a car myself." Delia says. "Otherwise we could have just driven."
"There's my car." Bill says, pointing out the parked car on the side of the hill. "I didn't think it wise to give chase to a small Pokémon in a car."
"Good call." Will adds as they walk up to the gate. On each side were two statues, bearing a total of three images. On the left, the greatest in the world; on the right, a double of two members of the Oak family.
Upon arrival at the door, Bill knocks twice, and then rings the doorbell. The sounds of shifting and footsteps are heard from within before the door is finally opened.
"I thought perhaps you had had a heart attack and died at the wheel." Oak says, shaking hands with Bill and letting him inside. "Delia too, I see, and who do we have here?"
"Will Anderson, sir. Pleasure to meet you." Will replies, putting down his umbrella.
"Will, is it? Very good," Professor Oak says, letting them inside. Delia takes the umbrella from Will and places it into Oak's umbrella basket.
"We lost power, so we thought we would come over here." Delia explains. "Bill said that he had an Eevee for you."
"A very tricky little Eevee" Bill admits, reaching into his coat pocket and releasing the creature. "When I arrived, the little monster decided to run for it. It made it all the way back to Route One before Will cornered it."
"You did, eh?" Oak says, accepting the pokeball and offering the three of them seats while watching Eevee bounce around the room. Will excused himself to the bathroom to change into something dry. He returned wearing a white shirt, black vest, and khaki shorts.
"Well, it was really Mr. Mime's Barrier attack." Will continues, modesty flowing.
"Delia's Mr. Mime or do you have one?" Oak asks.
"Her Pokémon. They were following us. I only have one Pokémon." Will explains, reaching for his own pokeball and calling out Vulpix. The two Pokémon begin prancing around the room.
"Ah, a Vulpix is a very nice choice for a starter Pokémon" Oak notes. "So, where are you from?"
"Cinnabar Island." Will replies, feeling his hair.
"So this is day one for you," Oak says. "Even now I still remember my first day; my adventure with my Charmander. How did you run into Delia and Bill?"
"The boy left his umbrella on the Island and thought it was a good idea to hide under my tree." Delia explains, too quick for the boy. "I called him inside, and he was admiring Ash's trophies when he saw Bill chasing Eevee out the window." Vulpix and Eevee jumped up on the couch next to Will, flanking him, and curling up to watch the humans talk.
"So you are his mother!" Will says, awkwardly. A smile creeps on his face.
"Who, Delia? Yes, Delia Ketchum. Ash's mother. Whatever you want to call her." Bill says.
"I saw the trophies, but didn't catch a good look at the pictures until we came back" Will explains. "Incredible. Of everyone to run into on my first day." Will's eyes widen as the shock fills.
"Well it is a small town." Delia adds.
"That was quite a long time ago." Oak comments, watching the Pokémon on each side of Will.
"I remember when he visited my house on the cape." Bill says, reminiscing.
"He hasn't visited since Christmas." Delia says. "I'm planning to go up to Mt. Silver in August for his birthday, though, if you want to join me, Professor."
"I might take you up on that, Delia." Oak replies, "I'll probably see him again while he's skulking around Indigo Plateau this year at the Championships."
"That's true. Well, if you decide to, just holler." Delia says. Eevee had jumped up onto Will's lap now, Will instinctively petting the Pokemon.
"It's very possible that we could be seeing you too, Will. Up there at Indigo," Oak comments.
"Maybe." Will remarks.
"Have confidence, several trainers who started out on the tournament year have been able to make the Championships in the seven months allotted." Bill says.
"Ash and Gary, to name a few." Oak adds. "Although you youth might call them by other names."
"Red. Blue." Will supplies. "Although, most people don't realize that the latter is partly an insult."
"Mmm." Oak agrees. "But life goes on, and Gary is doing very well for himself in Viridian. Although right now he is up in the Sinnoh region to the north. So when you get to Viridian City later today, you won't be able to battle him. Oh!"
"What?" Delia asked.
"I had two other visitors today and I forgot to mention to them that Viridian Gym was closed." Oak explains, putting a hand to his head. "Oh well, they'll find out soon enough."
Outside, the sun moved out from behind a cloud, shining into the room.
"The storm passed, it looks like." Will says, looking out the window at a Spearow passing by.
"Professor, would you happen to have a spare umbrella? I'm sure Will would want one for later." Delia asks.
"I do. There are some more compact ones in the bottom of the basket." Oak says, putting his hand on his chin as though to think. "What is your goal for your journey, Will?"
"I want to become the best trainer in the world." Will replies without thought, turning from the window.
Professor Oak pauses for a moment, his eyes closed in thought. "Most people say they aim to be the Champion, the Top Coordinator in a region, or in multiple regions, like the twins that came through here earlier. Maybe they say a Pokemon Researcher like me, or another field like breeding or healing." Oak says. "Sometimes people go out into the world to figure out what they want to do in life. But to declare on day one that they want to be the best trainer, which is to say that they want to take upon the ideals of every other profession and become proficient in all of them. To be a good trainer promises success in almost every field."
Will goes on. "Well, I want to learn about Pokemon, and I do desire to enter the Pokemon League. Winning isn't everything, though. I intend to have fun."
"No, no it is not," Oak says. "But at any time you make it everything, you lose everything." He exchanges glances with Delia.
"Will, I want you to have something else as well." Oak slowly stands and walks over to his computer, unhooking a red device. "This is a Pokedex; it will tell you information about various Pokemon you will meet." he explains. Will stands and walks over to him, accepting the gift. His Vulpix and the Eevee follow him over.
"Thank you, Professor." Will says shocked and smiling, closing the Pokedex and putting it into his pocket
"And," he begins, looking over to Bill, who nods, "I think that this Eevee belongs to you."
"Hm?" Will says, looking down at the Eevee which proceeds to jump into his arms.
"Eevee has certainly come to like you, and I couldn't dream of not letting him accompany you." Oak says. "It would be improper. As long as Bill doesn't mind bringing me another Eevee."
"I'm with you, Professor. I'd bring a thousand Eevee if it meant that they went to the trainers that they want to be with." Bill remarks. "Maybe a little less water, though." Oak hands the pokeball to Will, Delia chuckling.
"I don't know how to thank you." Will says, looking down at his now two Pokémon.
"See you on the Plateau." Oak assures him, walking him to the door. He then picks up a small travel umbrella from the bin and puts into a side pocket of Will's bag. "Your adventure resumes now."
Will walks down the path to the Laboratory gates, Delia, Bill, and Oak watching him through the windows.
"He's going to go far." Bill remarks.
"He reminds me so much of Ash." Delia adds.
"You don't give many trainers Pokedexes, or extra Pokemon for that matter." Bill says.
"Only those who deserve it." Oak replies, watching Will stop at the statue of Ash. "If he doesn't make the Plateau this year, I'm checking for his obituary. No chance that he won't get there."
"Confident, aren't we?" Delia says.
"Delia, I have a statue outside of my home dedicated to a boy dressed in pajamas who took on an out of control Pikachu at an age even younger than that boy there." Oak reminds. Will turns to the other statue; a statue of Gary and Professor Oak, back to back. "I almost didn't give the mouse to your son, and look what happened."
"I'll look at the majority." Delia replies with a smile.
x
"My adventure resumes…no, really begins…now." Will says, looking up at the statues. Turning, his two Pokemon at his side, he begins walking toward Route One.
AN: I just have a few points to make before I continue my tale. My first one I would like to avoid the complaints over my minor changes/et cetera in game/anime/manga canon that will approach/have already. Nothing will ever be out of reason.
Second, yes, the word Pokemon and Pokemon names will be capitalized. However, unless my autocorrect decides to change every usage of the word 'Pokemon', I will not be accenting the 'e' purposefully.
Third, I've chosen a backstory for canon characters that encompasses twenty-odd years between Ash Ketchum finishing whatever region comes after Unova and this story's first line. You shall discover and learn about my backstory as time goes. In addition, I am being clever with incorporating the names 'Red' and 'Blue', to which you will learn more about later.
Finally, and probably most importantly: I wrote this A.N. ankle-deep into writing Chapter Four, before any of this made it on FF. I found myself writing in a present-tense, which bothered me somewhat, but I continued. After writing Chapter Three, I tried to take Chapter One and put it in past tense to make it more…common, but I found the task impossible. I feel that it just doesn't flow right if it is in past tense, so I'm going to continue writing in present. I apologize in advance if this throws some of you. Thank you, and enjoy my tale: Travelers.
As for this chapter, Will has explored the town of Pallet, meeting mostly adults and picking up a new Pokemon along the way, Eevee. Next time: Route One and Viridian City.
Until then, and with apologies of being too chatty,