I DO NOT OWN POKEMON; THIS IS A NON-PROFIT, FAN BASED WORK OF FICTION.
A New Beginning
The world of Pokémon is a mysterious place full of wonder and adventure where people and Pokémon live together in harmony working and training together to become stronger and to get by in the day to day of things. As with any world there is a seedier underbelly with people who seek to use Pokémon for nefarious purposes, but these groups of people are limited in power and doomed by their own greed and corruption. With all different kinds of Pokémon existing in the world together there is no place you can go where Pokémon are not. Some people choose to see Pokémon as pets or partners around the house, others use them in their chosen professions, but most are wild roaming the earth living their lives. Pokémon Trainers are the most common kind of person who interact with Pokémon on a regular basis, they raise and befriend them in order to strengthen their battling skills and climb to the top of the Pokémon League.
In a small border town in the Kanto and Johto Regions called GreenShoot Town, we join our hero, his name is Leo Haik and today he will become a Pokémon Trainer at last after waiting fourteen long years for it to come. He is about to receive a special package from Pokémon Professor Arthur Sucas, his grandfathers' best friend and also find that there is a very special Pokémon waiting for him.
Leo awoke with a start, sitting up so fast that he was actually dizzy, "What time is it?" he thought franticly searching around for his Poke'tch, "I'd never live it down if I'd over slept today of all days!" He thought rummaging through his bag that he had carefully prepared the night before. Finally sighting it on the edge of his desk, he dived across the room to read the display, "9:14" it read and he sighed with relief, if anything he was up early so there was no need to panic. He carefully re-packed his bag, replacing everything he had thrown out in such a hurry before and then sat down on the edge of his bed. "Today's the day" he thought staring out at the risen sun through his window, it was a bright new day and he smiled as a Pidgey flew past in the distance, its feathers glinting in the morning sun. Leo paused a second as another thought dawned upon him, it was also his Birthday." He beamed a huge beaming smile and grabbed the clothes from his chair, pulling them on as fast as he could mange. Skidding to a halt in the kitchen he found his Grandfather standing by the table.
"Ah, Leo there you are my boy, what's all the hurry?" Grandfather Haik asked him raising his eyebrows as he did so, his thick moustache hiding the hint of a smile playing about his lips. Leo looked around him, the white and silver of the kitchen was lit up in that strong morning sunshine, if anything the sunlight seemed too strong to be natural, but Leo held his tongue.
"I was hurrying Grandpa, because it's the day." His Grandfather raised his eyebrows quizzically.
"What day, my boy it's Tuesday and we have work to do so you'd better get sat down and have some breakfast." Leo looked like he'd been slapped in the face, there was no way that his Grandfather had forgotten today, his birthday and the day he was to become a trainer in his own right. Yet his Grandfather remained stone-faced, until Leo noticed the twitch of his moustache where he was suppressing a smile.
"You almost had me their Grandpa." Grandpa Haik smiled broadly and warmly
"What gave me away?" his Grandpa asked "possibly the fact that this day is possibly the most important day in your young life and me forgetting it would be completely impossible?" Leo nodded and sat down at the table. "Now Leo, I have a special birthday gift for you." His grandpa reached into the high cupboard and lifted out a small wooden box big enough to hold an orange and handed it to him. Leo paused for a second to consider what might be inside, before very carefully opening the lid. As the brown lid slid out of the way, Leo saw the item within, it was a Pokèball and his face lit up with delight.
"Is this?" he barely managed to ask
"Yes Leo it is your first Pokémon," Leo lifted the Pokèball out very slowly and was staring at it intently he then arched his arm to release the Pokémon when his Grandpa said, "wait, wait, before you call out your new partner perhaps I should give you Arthur's gift." His grandpa lifted a larger package onto the table it had a note on the top of it which Leo took and read first.
Dear Leo, I am sorry I couldn't be there to give you these in person, but business called me away I'm sure you will make a fine Pokémon Trainer, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future.
Your Friend, Prof. A. Sucas
Leo opened the package and inside was a set of Pokèballs and a small grey device that popped up to have two screens. "That Leo," his grandpa broke in seeing the puzzled look on his face, "is a special Pokèdex that Arthur has been working on, it is a comprehensive collection of all Pokèdex knowledge, so that means no matter which Pokémon you meet, that device will know what it is, helpful if you're planning a lot of travel, anyway why don't we go out into the yard and meet your Pokémon? That way Venusaur can meet it too." The two of them walked out into the yard, Leo carrying his Pokémon's Pokèball and his Pokèdex with him, as they entered the yard, Grandpa's Venusaur stirred from its spot in the trees at the edge of the garden and lumbered over to them. Venusaur was huge, coloured a turquoise-blue and covered in lumps and bumps. Its defining feature was of course the enormous plant on its back with huge leaves stretching out from the base of the plant. Leo seized this opportunity to use his Pokèdex and flicked it open, the screens flickered as the sensor reacted with seeing Venusaur and it said,
"Venusaur the Seed Pokémon and the final evolved form of Bulbasaur, the plant on its back gives Venusaur almost all of its needed nourishment. Venusaur are very calm and collected Pokémon and have the ability to manipulate nature when defending something it cares about."
"Wow," said Leo, "so that's why Venusaur very rarely needs to eat your Pokémon food." His Grandpa nodded. "Ok looks like it's your turn," he said to the Pokèball he held in his hand he hit the button on the front and the ball burst open revealing the Pokémon within for the first time in a white burst of light. It stood as tall as Leo's stomach and was black and red, it was covered in bones with a skull on its head and a bones on its back, it howled as it appeared and Leo was already amazed, his Pokèdex still active after scanning Venusaur clicked to life.
"Houndour the Dark Pokémon, Houndour often hunt in packs often using a variety of cries to alert its pack members to changing situations. Houndour are incredibly loyal and can use various Dark-type and Fire-type moves."
"Hi, Houndour, I'm going to be your trainer." Houndour acknowledged the statement but made no move to do anything else.
"It's getting into the afternoon here Leo, maybe you should get going." Leo nodded and returned Houndour to its Pokèball. "Leo, that Houndour is a very young Houndour, like you its just starting out in the world, its refusal to do anything when you told it you were its trainer was simply down to fear. Make Houndour feel comfortable and I'm sure you two will get along famously. Now grab your bag, don't forget your extra Pokèballs and get out of here while the day is still young." Leo ran off to his room grabbed his bag, ran back downstairs to collect the Pokèballs from the kitchen table and then ran out into the garden and hopped over the fence.
"See Ya Grandpa, I'll call I promise!" he called over his shoulder as he sped off toward the woods.
After walking for an hour, Leo decided to stop for a while; he paused on the road and looked around when something caught his eye, a wiggling of the bushes by the side of the road and a faint noise coming from within. He took a step closer to the bushes and a Pokémon leapt out onto the road in front of him. Leo was a little taken aback by this, he was surprised and a little confused. The Pokémon that stood before him look like a purple ball of fur, with two huge red eyes, white antenna sprouting from its head and two sharp fangs sticking out from its mouth. He reached into his pocket for his Pokèdex and it dinged in recognition.
"Venonat a bug Pokémon, Venonat uses its keen eyes as radar in order to navigate in the dark. Venonat are usually nocturnal resting in trees during the day and coming out at night to feed. When threatened, Venonat often secretes poison from all over its body."
Alright, Leo thought to himself, I'm going to capture this Venonat.
"Houndour! Come on out!" Leo cast the Pokèball forward and Houndour sprung out and stood ready to do battle with Venonat. "Alright Houndour use Ember!" Sparks of flame shot from Houndour's maw and flew at Venonat, oddly, Venonat did not move or even attempt to dodge, it's eyes lit up blue and the embers that were flying at Venonat simply fell to the ground. Then Houndour was encased in a similar blue glow and was hoisted of the ground by Venonat. "What move is that?" Leo asked using the Pokèdex to scan the battle.
"Confusion, a Psychic-type move, which can confuse the target Pokémon, Confusion often causes those effected to levitate and some researchers believe that Confusion is simply a weaker form of the move Psychic."
Houndour was struggling against the powerful grip Venonat's confusion had on it and Leo was frantically thinking of some way to counter when he noticed that only Houndour's body was immobilized not its head. "Houndour, use Leer!" Houndour's eyes lit up a violent and bloody red as it used it Leer attack on Venonat, Venonat recoiled in fear from the look breaking its concentration and causing Houndour to drop from its Psychic hold. "Quick Houndour before it gets its act together, use Ember!" Houndour landed smoothly and fired the hot Ember from its maw once again this time however Venonat was in no condition to counter and the move hit it square on, Venonat fell backward and fainted. Leo seized the opportunity to cast one of his Pokèballs at it, the ball flew in a great arc and hit Venonat. The ball opened and Venonat disappeared in a flash of red light, the Pokèball shook once, twice and a third time, before clicking locked and becoming still. Leo smiled and ran over to the ball scooping it up and holding it over his head, "Yes," he yelled in adulation, "I just caught Venonat!" Leo then turned to Houndour who was looking at him "Great Job Houndour," he said walking over a stroking the back of its neck, "You were awesome, really strong." Houndour smiled and barked happily. "Well buddy, we had better find somewhere to set up for the night, before it gets dark that sun sure is going down fast." Leo looked up at the gradually setting sun and the darkening sky and then he and Houndour set off to look for a campsite.
As the sun began to finally slink below the horizon Houndour used Ember to light the campfire and the three of them settled down to a meal. Using the skills he had picked up from his Grandpa about making specialised Pokémon food he had made dishes of food for both Houndour and Venonat which they were tucking into with gusto. Leo ate his own meal with the same fervour realising that he had not eaten at all that day. Afterward when they sat around Leo he decided to check which moves both his Pokémon knew, maybe get a little training in before they had to get some shut eye. He flipped open the Pokèdex its grey and black surface glittering in the firelight and pointed at his Houndour to see which moves it knew,
"Leer, Ember, Take Down, Bite"
He then pointed it at Venonat,
"Tackle, Disable, Supersonic, Confusion"
"Hey guys," Both of Leo's Pokémon looked up at him, "why don't we practice some of your moves, see what we can do?" Leo stood up and the Pokémon ran over to him. He spied a pair of large rocks protruding from the ground at the edge of the campfire's light, perfect, Leo thought, for training some moves against. "Alright Houndour use Ember on the left rock, Venonat you use Tackle on the right one." Both Pokémon launched their attacks simultaneously with the hot Embers striking the rock melting where it touched and Venonat's Tackle causing a huge crack to appear down the centre of the other rock. Leo smiled at how strong his two Pokémon were and also seemed pleased that they were obeying him, he sat back down and told the two Pokémon to stop attacking and get some rest. Leo curled up in his sleeping bag, Houndour curled up on the other side of the fire and Venonat snuggled between the roots of a tree at the edge of camp.
Venonat shook Leo awake, as he opened his bleary eyes he saw Venonat gesturing hurriedly out of camp, and it was speaking quickly also.
"What's going on Venonat?" He asked as he stood up and grabbed his bag and Pokèballs, Houndour stirred by the commotion leapt to its feet and stood ready, its ears flat against its head, as if it too could sense something going on. Seeing his Pokémon so worked up, Leo knew he had to investigate. "Lead the way Venonat." Following close behind, since Venonat could easily navigate the dark woods using its Radar eyes, the three of them crept on toward the source of the disturbance, as they moved, Leo could feel that Houndour was becoming much more agitated so he knew whatever it was it was close. Venonat lead him to a clearing, at first it seemed like a normal clearing full of Pokémon until he saw it, a net, obscured by the darkness but there all the same and inside was a group of Pokémon all the same Pokémon in fact and they were all crying out in distress, no wonder my Pokémon were so agitated, Leo thought. He was about to move into the clearing when he heard voices on the other side of the net.
"Good idea Nat, scooping these Sandshrew up at night when they were all sleeping, there's bound to be a few winners among them, HQ will be thrilled." The voice was that of a man, gruff and strained, Leo didn't picture the man it belonged to too be the kind of man you'd invite home for tea.
"Well of course it was Rick, my ideas are always foolproof." This voice belonged to a woman and like her friend she didn't sound like a savoury character. The poor Sandshrew were struggling and crying out still and Leo knew he had to do something.
"Venonat, can you use Confusion to move the net?" Venonat nodded, "Good Houndour and I will cover you should anyone notice we're here. Venonat turned back to face the net and its eyes once more glowed blue and the net began to shake violently, then sprang into the air and was thrown clear of the Sandshrew. With the net removed Leo got a clear view of the two Pokémon-nappers, the man was thin, tall and had tightly cropped brown hair as well as angry eyes, but that could have just been because the Sandshrew were running away. As for the woman she had shoulder length black hair and was just as thin, the two of them wore a matching uniform black with a large red R on the front. They were panicking now as the entire net full of Sandshrew escaped into the wilderness once more, one even fired a Sand-Attack at them to further distort their tracking of them. The two criminals began looking around furtively, shouting at each other to find the cause of the escape. Leo felt this was a great time to make an exit, but fate seemed to have another plan, just before the blue glow could fade from Venonat's eyes the one called Nat caught a glimpse of it.
"Over there you fool!" She yelled pointing directly at Leo and his Pokémon, with nothing to lose he stepped out into the clearing, Houndour and Venonat following his lead, sensing the danger though Houndour leapt in front of Leo growling low in warning. Leo could see he was in a bit of a pinch so decided he'd better affect an air of confidence in the face of these seemingly dangerous criminals.
"But it's just some kid, Nat, how could he have freed those Sandshrew?" Rick asked to which Nat rolled her eyes, not even dignifying his question.
"What do you think you're doing kid? We caught those Sandshrew fair and square what right do you have to release them like that?" she said to Leo phrasing it so that Leo was the bad guy.
"Oh please, no trainer catches Pokémon like that; you capture Pokémon with Pokèballs not nets! You're nothing but thieves." Leo said Houndour and Venonat nodding along with him.
"Well it's a shame you think that kid, but if thieves are what we are, then we had better live up to it, so why don't you hand over YOUR Pokémon."
"No way!" but the criminals were determined and they cast their own Pokèballs into the air to release their Pokémon, after two flares of white light their Pokémon were revealed,
"Go Pinsir!" called Rick
"Go Raticate!" called Nat
Leo could see these two Pokémon meant business, but there was no way that Leo was going to let these two chumps take his Pokémon away. So Leo had no choice but to battle. Nat told her Raticate to use Hyper Fang while Rick told Pinsir to use Vicegrip and the two Pokémon moved very quickly toward Houndour and Venonat. Leo had to react quickly, so he yelled,
"Houndour dodge Pinsir's Vicegrip and use Ember to counter! Venonat Confusion!" Houndour leapt up into the air and Pinsir surged underneath it, twisting mid-air it fired its Ember move into Pinsir's exposed back causing it to cry out in pain. Venonat had stopped Raticate in its tracks and Raticate was looking around it as though it didn't know where it was, and then all of a sudden began attacking Pinsir, charging at it with it fangs glowing to use Hyper Fang, the attack landed and Pinsir fainted with the damage it had taken. Raticate, still confused ran back at Nat and Rick intent on hitting them. Leo decided enough was enough and said, "Houndour, use Take Down!" Houndour howled and charged at Raticate and the connection sent the Raticate and Pinsir into their trainers, knocking them all into a heap. "Ok let's get out of here." Leo said to his Pokémon and they all ran for it.
At least an hour later, Leo and his Pokémon all stood by a tree holding onto it for support. Houndour stood next to him and looked as strong as ever, but Venonat was beginning to flag, the short rest it had had after being caught, coupled with the huge excretions put on it during the use of Confusion had taken its toll on the poor thing, so Leo picked up its Pokèball and said,
"Venonat, you deserve a good rest buddy, you've done so much today, I'm proud of you." Venonat hopped on the spot once showing its appreciation of Leo's words, before the red light from the Pokèball engulfed it and drew it back into the ball. Houndour barked and growled at the Pokèball, and Leo looked at it puzzled. "What's the matter Houndour?" he asked looking at his belt clips to see what Houndour was growling at, all that was there was Houndour's own Pokèball. "You don't want to go back in your ball?" Houndour barked again and then nodded vigorously, "Huh," he said. Never heard of a Pokémon hating its Pokèball so much, Leo made a mental note to ask Professor Sucas about it next time he spoke to him, but in the mean time, he would respect Houndour's wishes. "Ok don't worry Houndour, if you don't want to go back in you don't have to. Let's get going."
So Houndour and Leo set off again, since the sun was beginning to rise on the second day of his adventure, he decided to make some headway, leaving the awful events of the previous night to the past, he didn't think he would forget the two criminals easily though. As they headed into the new day Leo turned to Houndour and said, "You know what Houndour, me, you and Venonat and any other Pokémon we find along the way, we're going to become the best and the strongest we can and one day I am going to become a Pokémon Master! You watch, but first we're off to Pewter City, for badge number one. So let's go!" Houndour ran and jumped up barking and the moment seemed to hang there for a second before resuming as thought that was a pivotal moment in Leo's life and he walked into tomorrow with a clear goal and heart full of dreams.
And so with Houndour and a new friend in Venonat our hero, Leo Haik has found his courage, battled criminals and set himself up for a truly interesting journey. Want to see what happens next? Then be sure to come back, next time!