DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING RELATED TO POKEMON
I AM NOT MAKING ANY MONEY OFF OF THIS
Hey guys, this is my first story so let me know what you think! Please rate and review and let me know if you want it to continue.
Sunlight rays cast dancing shadows across Kirt's room. The morning was emerging and Kirt was already up. He had become 16 only just a week ago and that meant that he was finally going to get his own pokémon. He could barely contain his excitement as he hastily pulled on a white undershirt and khaki shorts and sprinted down the steps of his apartment. He passed the empty kitchen counter and stopped to view the rising colors of the sun over the calm ocean. It was going to be another hot summer day in Acreage Town. Something caught Kirt's eye right before he reached the door. He turned and looked at the old coffee pot sitting on the glass table in the kitchen. Sitting under it was a note that someone had left. Kirt grabbed it and looked it over. Drawn in script on the wrinkled yellow piece of paper was a note from his uncle.
Dear Kirt,
I'm out catching magikarp today, keep safe.
-Uncle Lee
Kirt crumpled the note and left it in his pocket before heading through the front door. He took handle of his red bicycle and rode off into the town. He sped by the postman and the still sleepy few who were out walking with their beloved pokémon. He took a sharp turn at a stop sign and progressed into a neighborhood with large live oak trees twirling into the heights above. Kirt was warmed by the light that shone through the breaks in the leaves. He let his bike come to a rough stop on the brown, earthy yard of his best friend Lewis. Lewis came out of his garage holding onto his own bike just as Kirt was running up to get him.
"Hey hey, he's actually awake!" Kirt said shaking hands with Lewis.
"Yeah, it's a miracle," Lewis replied sleepily.
"Well let's not waste time!" Kirt shouted as he jumped on his bike leaving Lewis to pry his from the garage.
"Hey, wait up!" Lewis called, but Kirt was already tearing down the asphalt with the wind in his ears.
They rode through the small town, admiring the sea side and thinking about what the rest of the kids in town would be doing today. They made their way to the park that lay in the midst of the town, and they took the route that they had so many times before and came to a large spindling tree just in front of the pond. Several pidgeys took flight as Kirt and Lewis approached.
"You know every time I look at this thing, I just have to believe that it's our greatest achievement." Kirt said staring up at the wooden structure perched in the branches. There was a rope ladder hanging down that the boys climbed and once again they were in their safe haven. There were uneven floorboards and only two chairs and a table, but that was all they needed; they were proud. They had one window with a clear view into the pond, and a second across from it that showed the town. They even had a trapdoor in the ceiling allowing them to sit upon the roof and get a better picture of the sky. They set out checkers as they usually did and then began discussing what they thought they would each be offered as starters in the next couple days.
"I don't know about you, but the grass starter is going to be the best, regardless of whatever it is!" Lewis explained.
"I dunno dude, water seems like the ticket to me," Kirt protested. They continued their game of checkers and talked more and more as the day went on. They both were impatient to begin their pokémon journeys that would hopefully start two days from then The sun rose higher in the sky and the average bustle of maybe 12 town residents that were actually not still asleep began. As the two ran out of board games they degraded into simply arm wrestling.
"I'm just saying that although Professor Stump is nice enough to give us our starters, he's a little weird. I mean I'm grateful and all—don't get me wrong—he's just odd. You can't deny that," Lewis conversed.
"Yeah I get what you're saying. He's definitely got a few screws loose," Kirt agreed.
"But anyways—" Lewis was interupted by a loud yell.
"HELP! Somebody stop that thief!" called a raspy voice. Lewis and Kirt raced to the window and glanced outside to see none other than the portly Professor Stump in pursuit of a tall dark dressed man. The two boys made their way to the ground and then followed the heated chase. The dark dressed man had backed up onto the long dock overlooking the pond, and Stump had him cornered. They could see beads of sweat dripping off of Stump's balding head as he muttered.
"Gotta do everything myself around here." Kirt and Lewis approached cautiously.
"Sir?" Kirt asked with trepidation.
"Kid, get ready, cause when I take this guy down you gotta be ready to get what's in his hand," Stump said quietly to Kirt without ever once making eye contact.
"Uh, ok..." Kirt said at once becoming extremely nervous.
"Stay back Stump, I'm warning you!" said the thief rather unconfidently.
"Oh you're warning me? How cute. So what's up, eh? They only send one of you goons this time?"
"Team Mercury is greater than you know!" shouted the thief with shaking legs. Stump gave a roar like a lion and leapt, tackling the thief on the splintery dock. At once the thief relinquished his stolen prize. Three strange stones slid across the dock as they fell from his hand and plunged into the dark water. Kirt, without much thought, jumped in cannonball style after them. The water was cold and murky and surrounded Kirt's head like an envelope. He began descending till his hands felt muddy ground. He outstretched both arms and sifted through handful after handful of gross mud.
Where are they?! Kirt thought to himself as more bubbles escaped his mouth. He couldn't see anything and he jumped as multiple magikarp slithered past his calves. Just as he started feeling his chest sting from holding his breath, his fingers skimmed three stones submerged in the filthy bottom of the pond. He snatched them and kicked hard towards the blurry glare of the sun up ahead. He came up gasping and drenched with dirty pond water. His light brown hair was now slicked and black, and his eyes clamped shut with water.
"There you go buddy," Lewis reassured pulling Kirt out of the rippling pond and helping him sit up on the dock. Kirt groaned and spat up some water as Stump approached him.
"Come on, up you go." Stump said lifting Kirt to his feet. He smacked Kirt on the back rather roughly and then shook his hand before Kirt could figure out what was going on.
"I sent that moron running," said Stump looking back in the direction of the thief who was sprinting off into the park. "What's your name boy?" Stump said staring closely at Kirt. Kirt's first reaction was to laugh, because of the gargantuan mustache glued to Stump's face, but he fought against the urge.
"That's Kirt, and I'm Lewis." answered Lewis from the sidelines.
"Well thanks...Lewis," Stump said hesitantly as he looked Lewis up and down, still holding Kirt by the shoulders. "Anyways, I have to thank you Kirt. I get a lot of ruddy people always on my tail. May I have the stones back?" Stump asked politely. Kirt's eyes were amazed as he saw the stones he had been holding. He counted three as they passed into Stump's hands, one that was smooth, blue and seemed as though bubbles were trapped inside, one that was strikingly golden with a shimmering bolt pattern on the front of it, and the last one was red and glowed like the inside of a hearth.
"What kind of stones are those?!" Lewis exclaimed.
"Special stones," Stump replied simply as he pocketed them. Stump stopped fidgeting with his pockets and studied Kirt's face, then looked at Lewis, and then back at Kirt. "How old are you boys?"
"16—"
"16 and a half," Lewis said proudly.
Stump rolled his eyes at Lewis before saying, "I guess you boys expect a starter from me the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes sir," both boys said in unison.
"Well you don't have to sound like robots. You're allowed to be excited!" He stated with a booming voice as he began strolling away from them.
"I expect you boys to be on time, and thank you Kirt. That was very brave what you did today." Stump walked out of earshot and into the bright day leaving the boys standing there in silence.
"Well that was weird," Lewis voiced, breaking the stillness. "I mean, he acts like I didn't do anything."
"Don't sweat it buddy," Kirt said "Not everybody can be a hero."
"Shut up," Lewis retorted as the boys ran off, both much more excited for the beginning of their journey.
The next day went by quick, and as much as they tried to be patient, the two always found themselves talking about what had happened the day before. They would always go back through the story and Lewis would fill in Kirt on the details of the brawl between Stump and the thief, but often Kirt thought that Lewis was probably blowing the scene out of proportion. Either way, they were both incredibly nervous and excited. They both had trouble sleeping the night of the incident. They wondered what Professor Stump thought of Acreage Town's two future pokémon trainers, what starters they'd recieve, and most of all what the thief's mysterious words meant: "Team Mercury is greater than you know!"
Kirt and Uncle Lee sat at the table the night before Kirt's big day. Once again the table was laden with fried magikarp and tartar sauce.
"So..." Uncle Lee started. "You're gonna train pokémon…"
"Yep," Kirt replied.
"I still think you'd make a fine fisherman," Uncle Lee said as he spooned excessive amounts of tartar sauce onto his plate.
"Here we go again…" Kirt muttered.
"No really!" Uncle Lee protested. "I mean the times you've come out there and helped me?! You're better than some of the people I pay for goodness sakes!" Kirt laughed and tried to stop his uncle, but it was too late.
"Remember the time, do you remember that time when there was that winter storm?! I thought my hands were going to freeze to the rigging, but you kept on like a champ!" He dropped his fork and stood, his chair screeching against the tile floor.
"You'll be greater than me, eventually of course, but I'm serious." Uncle Lee began looking up at the ceiling and moving his hands in extreme gestures as he began the story of when he fought the 200 ft long red gyarados. Kirt just laughed and ate, because at this point he knew there was no stopping his uncle. Kirt stayed up late watching television and listening to his uncle's many stories.
"I have to go to bed now Uncle, it's already 1 AM!" Kirt said still laughing at whatever Uncle Lee had been telling him.
"You're right, you're right," Uncle Lee agreed looking stern, but then he grinned and took Kirt in a hug and ruffled his hair. "Lad, there'll be no better pokémon trainer than you, if that's what you decide to be, and I'm always proud of you."
"Goodnight Uncle," Kirt said smiling on his way up the stairs.
"You ready?" Lewis asked. Kirt nodded. They were standing in front of Professor Stump's lab early in the morning. The lab was a small white building standing between two tall stores, giving it an unintimidating look. The inside was vastly different however. There was a formal waiting room with paintings of pokémon hanging here and there and potted plants in the corners and coffee tables with innumerable magazines stacked on them. As Lewis and Kirt stood idly in the empty room, someone they recognized came from around the corner at the end of the hall. Acreage Town was tiny enough in size that you knew every kid, and so Lewis and Kirt had seldom many others close in age, but the person who had stopped in front of them now had never gotten along with them so well.
"Hey Kirt. Hey Lucas." Mike said with a sneer on his face.
"Mike, cut it out. I know you know my name," Lewis said sighing.
"So why are you two here?"
"Dude, we're here to get our starters just like you," Lewis replied.
"What's wrong with you Kirt? Too good to say anything to me?" Mike asked.
"What'd we ever do to you Mike?" Kirt questioned, his head growing warm in frustration.
"I don't even know why I'm talking to you. Just stay out of my way," Mike said before slamming the front door behind him on his way out.
"I just don't get it," Kirt said aloud.
"Kirt? Lewis?" a voice called from the hallway grabbing their attention.
"Yeah that's us!" Kirt called back trying to see who was calling their name.
A short girl with dark skin and lengthy braided hair came out to greet them. They instantly were surprised by her tone of voice, expecting her to be older. However, she appeared to be around their age.
"Follow me please. Professor Stump will see you now." She said. They followed her stark white doctor's coat along roomy hallways and past wooden doors until finally they reached the main facility. There were a couple of scientists here and there doing scientific looking things. There were desks with papers scattered around, and strange gizmos here and there. The high ceiling and hanging lights made everything seem eerie. As they continued to follow the girl they caught sight of Stump. He was viewing many pokémon eggs in incubators along glass shelves, seeming not to notice that the three of them had just reached a stop behind him.
"Professor, the new trainers are here," said the girl clutching her clipboard.
"Thank you Asia. Boys this is my assistant Asia, she recently moved here with her family to help me in my research, but I thought you should meet her."
"I'm Lewis," Lewis said stupidly.
"I know Lewis, but it's good to meet you in person." Asia replied. "And you must be Kirt?"
"Yep, that's me." Kirt said scratching his head. There was a brief silence before Stump turned around.
"Boys," he began as he addressed them, "You know I'm kind of a straight forward guy, so I'm about to be straightforward…"
He pulled out two red rectangular devices and laid them on the metal table in front of them. "These are your pokedéxes, but what are those compared to your actual pokémon, huh?" Lewis punched Kirt in the arm out of excitement and Kirt ignored it trying to pay as close attention as possible.
"Now you boys will do the normal, normal stuff, oh sure. Go to the gyms, battle, make it to the championship, but that's not all." Stump said waving a finger at them.
"No, no, no, there aren't too many choices in this town, but I like you boys the best, regardless of that fact. So what I propose is that you help me with some of my research."
"Will I have to wear a lab coat?" Lewis asked immeadiately.
"No…" There was an awkward silence before the professor continued. "I study pokémon evolution boys, and I need some help with research, so the first thing you two are going to do is each pick one of the stones you helped me rescue and then use it on your starters, which I'll go ahead and let you know, are eevees." Stump paused letting all the information sink in. "The second part is a little different," he continued.
"Different how?" Kirt asked, intrigued.
"Remember that thief from the other day?"
"Of course." Kirt answered.
"Well he works for some people who call themselves Team Mercury." Those words did not have the effect Stump expected. The two boys simply stared at him, dumbstruck. He sighed. "Team Mercury is a gang, but not like any street gang, no, they're organized crime. You don't get them as much down here because it's such a small place." Stump explained.
"So what does this have to do with us and our journey?" Lewis asked.
"I have some friends that are always against bad guys, like these Team Mercury punks. Now these friends need good eyes and hears. Your job is easy. I trust you and so all you have to do is go on your journey and be those eyes and ears. The reason I trust you, cause I know that your wondering that in your little brains, is because of what you did two days ago at the park, and on top of that it's an easy job. Basically go on your journey and every now and then I'll check up on you guys and you guys tell me what Team Mercury activity has been going down. All you have to do is stay alert. I expect you to meet me at dinner tonight for details, and don't try to argue cause I won't take no for an answer."
There was a long uninterrupted silence.
"Alrighty, let's get you your pokémon!" Stump said cheerfully. The boys expected him to grab an egg from behind him, but instead he slid open a drawer in the desk and took out two poké balls from it. He handed one each to Lewis and Kirt and asked them to step back before releasing their pokémon.
This is it. Now I finally become a real life trainer. Kirt thought. He took some deep breaths, then gently pushed the button on the middle of the red and white poké ball. There was a flash of light as he and Lewis both pushed the buttons, and they were wonder struck. There standing in front of Kirt was a fluffy, brown eevee. Lewis' ran up to him and she rubbed against his leg, however Kirt's eevee was more timid.
"Come on, don't be shy," Kirt coaxed as he knelt down. "It's ok buddy." Meanwhile, to his side, Lewis was yelling, "THIS IS AWESOME!" Stump nodded in agreement with a broad smile. In a few moments, both Lewis' and Kirt's eevees were on the table and Stump was holding out his hands filled with the three stones.
"Now choose one, both of you," Stump said.
"This is a hard decision." Lewis said while biting his nails.
"You go first. You got this," Kirt encouraged his friend. Lewis closed his eyes and grabbed at random, picking the sleek, golden one. Kirt considered the two left for some time, but he already knew which one he was going to pick. His hand reached out and felt the blue one before he grabbed it. It felt like chilly, rushing water.
"Alright, on the count of three put the stones softly against your eevee's forehead." Stump commanded.
"1, 2, and 3," Stump said calmly as both Lewis and Kirt lowered their arms and let the stones make contact with their eevees. Little did they know that from that moment onward, everything was going to change.
So what'd you think guys? I promise that the action will pick up with the next few chapters.
Thanks for taking the time to read it. Slimcrackers, out!