I am Zachi. I am a Pokémon Master from the Town of Pallet. But like most Pokémon Masters, I didn't have 16 badges and all 251 Pokémon overnight. I am going to tell you the story of my expeditions. But, every story has a beginning, so I think I should start from the very start, when I first got Pikachu, my first Pokémon…

Introducing…

Pokémon: Zachi's Journey

Episode 1: The Journey Begins

I threw my eyes open. Better wake up! Today was the day I would receive my first Pokémon! Which Pokémon would it be? I threw off my covers and leapt out of bed. But the phone rang. I ran over and picked it up.

"Hey Zachi, which Pokémon are you going to get?" came the voice of Michael, my cousin. Today was his first day also. He lived in Vermillion City.

"I don't know!" I exclaimed, frantic. Why did he have to call now!

"I'm gonna' get a Nidoran male,"

"Cool!" I exclaimed flatly.

"So you don't know which one you're gonna' get?"

"No—Michael, this is a bad time, can I call you back from Viridian City?"

"When will that be?"

"I dunno', maybe several hours from now?"

"Okay…"

I slammed the phone down and ran over to my computer. Something had been telling me to withdraw something from it that I knew I would forget. But I always told myself that I had never deposited anything in it. I quickly opened my item storage system. I clicked "withdraw". Well, I was wrong! There was a Potion in there! I quickly withdrew it. I threw it in my bag and turned my computer off. I ran out the door. Whoa! Shoot! I forgot to put my clothes on! I quickly threw on some clothes, grabbed my stuff, and rushed down the stairs.

"Zachi! Where are you going so quickly?" my mom exclaimed, getting up from the table.

"I gotta' go to Professor Oak's lab now!"

"Why?"

"I have to get a Pokémon!"

"Okay…"

I ran out the door and took off in the direction of the Oak Research Labs. About ten minutes later, I was there. I ran inside and found Timothy there too. I frowned and growled under my breath. Great. Timothy was getting a Pokémon too.

"Professor Oak! What Pokémon am I going to get!" I exclaimed, running up to him.

"Well, you're a bit late, so Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle are gone, but I have two left,"

"WHICH ONES ARE THEY!" I hollered.

"Well, um, Pikachu and Eevee,"

"I'll take Eevee!" I exclaimed.

"Okay," Professor Oak said, pointing to the table beside him. It had two Pokéballs on it. I ran up to the one on the left and grabbed it.

"All right! I got Eevee!" I exclaimed, holding the ball high up in the air. But then somebody kicked me in the leg.

"Ow!" I said, dropping the Pokéball.

A hand swiped it up from the ground.

"Ah-hah!" came Timothy's voice.

"TIMOTHY!"

I grabbed the Pokéball with Pikachu in it.

"I want to fight you right now!" he exclaimed.

"Fine! If I win then I get Eevee!"

"Fair enough."

I threw the Pokéball containing Pikachu. Man, I was gonna' be furious if I lost. Pikachu was a horrible Pokémon. It was okay at the beginning, but it would progressively get worse. I had read up on it on the Internet.

"Pikachu, Thundershock!" I commanded. Unfortunately, that's all it knew. Timothy's Eevee knew two moves—Tackle and Growl. Thank God Growl wouldn't do anything to me, because Thundershock was a Special attack and Growl lowered the power of your Pokémon's physical Attack. But Tackle would be a problem.

"Eevee, Tackle!" Timothy commanded.

Shock, then Tackle, Thundershock, then Tackle. I used that Potion. Tackle. Thundershock. I started to get the feeling I would win, especially because his Eevee was almost Knocked Out. But then, it happened. Eevee tackled Pikachu, and it was a critical hit! Pikachu, with his lousy defense, got Knocked Out!

"No!" I exclaimed. How on earth was I going to manage to complete the team I had spent hours planning now, now that I didn't have Eevee! I was planning on having a team of Jolteon, Nidoking, Poliwrath, Pidgeot, Victreebel, and Parasect. But now that I had lost Eevee, how could I ever achieve that goal!

Timothy cackled at me in spite.

"I swear, Timothy, I will get an Eevee, and when I do, I will raise it and it will be ten times better than yours!" I spat at him. He recalled Eevee, healed it quickly at Professor Oak's computer, and took off. I reared my foot back, about to kick that stupid Pikachu.

"No!" came the voice of Professor Oak, pushing me back. I stumbled back, more angry now.

"What are you doing!" I exclaimed, giving him a look of confusion and anger.

"What do you think you're doing, trying to kick Pikachu?"

"That stupid yellow rat made me lose Eevee!"

"You're the one who fought that battle!"

"So! What else was I going to do, just sit around and let him take Eevee?"

"I would have let you take Eevee if you had just said something."

"What! Why didn't you say that!"

"Because, one should never break up a Pokémon battle."
I lowered my head and clenched my fists, ready to explode now. I picked up the Pokéball, recalled Pikachu, and went over to a window. I opened it and walked back a few spaces. I wound my arm up, and chucked the ball out the window.

"What do you think you're doing!" Professor Oak exclaimed, running up to me.

"Getting rid of that dumb electric rat," I said flatly.

"You can't do that!" Professor Oak exclaimed, running out the door and around to the back of the lab where I had thrown Pikachu. He rushed back in.

"Keep your dumb rat. If I have to start with that Pokémon, I'd just as soon start next year." I stomped out of the lab and slammed the door shut. I walked slowly across the grass. Wait a minute! I had left my backpack! I ran back to the lab and barged in. I grabbed it and left just a quickly as I had entered.

A while later I arrived home. I walked in and slammed the door. I went up into my room, threw my backpack in the corner, pulled my shoes off, and threw them beside my backpack. I plopped on my bed, kicking my feet up and letting out a heavy sigh. I was still steaming. I heard a ruffling but didn't care to investigate it. Maybe I could go to Viridian City and buy a Pokéball. Yeah… that sounded like a good idea.

A couple hours later, I arrived in Viridian City. I ran up to the Pokémart and walked in. Thank God it wasn't crowded. I walked up to the register.

"Can I buy 5 Pokéballs?" I asked the clerk.

"Sure. Can I see your Pokédex for identification?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you have to be a Pokémon trainer to buy Pokéballs, and all Pokémon trainers have Pokédexes."

I dropped my jaw. What the…? I had never heard about this! I instantly left the store.

A couple hours later I was back in Pallet Town. I ran towards the lab, but felt something in my pack. I took it off my back and unzipped it. I saw a yellow ear. Something jumped out and landed on my head. Pikachu! How did that filthy rat get in my backpack? I quickly grabbed it off my head and stuffed it in my pack again, zipping it up and placing it on my back. Oh well. At least I had a Pokémon now. Now I could get that stupid Pokédex from Oak.

I went inside the lab and found Professor Oak.

"Oh, hello Zachi, what brings you here?"

"You know 'what brings me here'," I said.

"Pikachu, you mean?"

"No, I mean a Sunday fudge bar. Of course I mean idiachu!" I exclaimed, making fun of stupid Pikachu's name.

Oak gave me a rather angry look. I ignored him.

"Look. I need a Pokédex so I can buy Pokéballs. Once I get a Pokémon that can win at least one battle, I'll give your stupid Pikachu back,"

"Fine. I'll give you a Pokédex under one condition—you completely fill it up."

"You mean catch all 151 Pokémon?"

"One-hundred fifty-one? There are only 150, Zachi,"

"No, Professor, there is one that you seem to be forgetting."

"And who is that?"

"Mew."

"Oh, if you're going to count myths you might as well include MISSINGNO. as a Pokémon also!"

"Mew is not a myth."

"Yes, Zachi, yes it is."

"Fine! I'll prove it to you! One day, I will catch Mew, and when I do, I am going to rub it in your face!"

"Then fine, catch MISSINGNO. too, " Professor Oak replied with a laugh.

"I just think I will."

Oak rolled his eyes and handed me a Pokédex. I grabbed it and took off.

I arrived at Viridian City by dusk. The mart was closed, so I had to spend the night in the Pokémon Center. The next morning I woke with a start. I ran to the Pokémart and hurried in. Fortunately, it was open and not many people were there. I ran up to the clerk and pulled out my Pokédex.

"I want to buy 5 Pokéballs. And here is my darn Pokédex." I put it on the desk and he looked at it.

"Okay." He turned around and handed me five Pokéballs.

I grabbed them and handed him the money. I jammed my Pokédex back in my backpack and took off outside.

"Now… where are Nidoran male?" I wondered aloud. "Right! Just outside Viridian City!" I ran to the place. It took about five minutes. Once I got there, I started walking around in the grass. Nothing. Why wasn't this working? A little beeping came from my pack. I pulled out my Pokédex.

"In order to fight battles with wild Pokémon, you must have a Pokémon of your own," the Pokédex said.

I frowned and opened my bag. Pikachu was asleep inside. I flicked its cheek.

"Wake up, rat!" I said, pulling it out of the bag. I tossed it to the ground. I started walking around more. Pikachu was following. Good. Now I might be able to catch a Nidoran.

"A Pokémon!" I exclaimed. It was Nidoran male! I pulled out a Pokéball. "You're mine…" I said. I reared back, and threw the Pokéball. "Pokéball, go!" It flew over, and beamed the Nidoran with a red beam. The Pokémon got sucked away inside. The ball fell and started bouncing. But it popped open! "What!" I exclaimed, angry.

"Pokémon usually need to be weakened before they can be caught," my Pokédex said.

"Hmm…" I said. I looked at Pikachu. Well, I guess I would have to…

"Pikachu!" I snapped. Its head cocked. "Attack the Nidoran!" Pikachu nodded and stepped up. It used Thundershock. "Pokéball, go!" I threw another ball. It sucked the Pokémon inside. One shake. Two shakes. Three shakes. Ding!

"Yes! I caught Nidoran!" I ran over and grabbed the Pokéball off the ground. I put it on my belt and ran back to the Pokémon Center. I instantly ran up to the counter. "Can you heal my Nidoran?" I asked the lady. She nodded and took the Pokéball. Right then, Pikachu jumped from my pack into a Pokéball. The ball rolled out of my pack and onto the floor.

"Here, let me heal that other one too," she said.

I grabbed the Pokéball and handed it to her. She turned around and placed them both on a counter. She typed a couple of things and a light turned on. It flashed five times while chiming and then stopped. She handed them both to me.

"Thank you for using the Viridian City Pokémon Center. We hope to see you again!" she said, waving as I left.

I left Viridian City and went back to Pallet Town. I arrived there a couple hours later. I went to Professor Oak's lab and went inside.

"Here's your dumb Pikachu," I said, putting the Pokéball with Pikachu in it on the table.

"Thank you for returning it," Oak said, gently picking up the Pokéball.

"My pleasure," I retorted flatly.

I left went down to the coast at the southern tip of Pallet Town. I sat down on the grass and put my feet in the warm sand. I let Nidoran out of his Pokéball, who sat there beside me. I knew that somewhere out there I would be able to find MISSINGNO., Mew, and an Eevee. But I just couldn't think where. Just then, an especially high tide rolled in, washing water up to my ankles. Something touched the back of my ankle, and I moved it quickly. The water rolled away, revealing something odd.

"What the…?" I said, picking it up. It looked like a piece of flesh almost. How weird. I studied it. It looked weird, like some kind of scrambled image. I felt it over. It felt very strange—like a feather, but it seemed to have some sort of energy flowing through it. I looked at it some more, and put it in my pack. I guess I would have Professor Oak or someone look at it later. But then, I felt something. Like I knew what it was. What could it possibly be?

►To Be Continued…