I do not own Pokémon in any way or form. I do claim all original characters.
After repeated loss Ash decided to focus hard on his training for several years before returning to the scene. He made it a point to defeat every league he had ever participated in, followed by a challenge to the elite four and champions of the various regions. And when the title of Pokémon Master was at his fingertips he vanished. That was almost thirty years ago, and the spotlight turns to the new generations of trainers. A generation that will face several new challenges.
Our story begins as so many others do, with a simple and humble beginning. Spring has finally come to Pallet town. The sun began to crack the horizon in the distance to signal the dawn of a fresh day. Yet despite the day just starting many people were gathered around the research lab on the hill near the entrance of the small town, for today was a special day where many would start their journey as Pokémon trainer.
Normally they would have started their journey would have begun when they turned ten, however with the increasing activity of violence with gang related activity throughout many of the regions it was determined that they should be forced to wait until the age of sixteen. Of course, some trainers still started normally under special circumstances.
Now a new generation of trainers will rise each with their own goals and dreams, but of course many share the dream of becoming Pokémon Master, much like the world-famous Ash Ketchum, who has currently been missing for several years now.
A calm quiet fell over the as the new trainers emerged from lab each with starter Pokémon which will become their respective partners on the quest. The peace filled calm was shattered by a shout from a small house on the far edge of the township.
"No-no-no-no-no!" the young man yelled as he scrambled about his room getting dressed, tossing on the first article of clothing he could grab regardless of whether it was clean or not. "How on earth could I oversleep in today of all days?!" Quickly he slipped an orange shirt over his head, which luckily didn't seem to have any odor to it. After finding a pair of jeans he snatched his necklace from his desk and bolted out the door.
The red headed boy rushed through the town at a full sprint towards the town. "I can't believe I overslept." He thought out loud as he ran, deciding to take a shortcut through one of the yards in his path. Hopping over a fence he rolled right back into full speed startling a Mr. Mime that had been tending to some flowers. "Sorry!" He called as he jumped the next fence blocking his path.
At last the lab was in his sights, which only spurred him faster. Stopping once at the gate to catch his breath. Bent over holding his knees a slow burn filled his lungs with the still cool air. "Huh…. Finally, … made it." A small smile grew on his face at the thought of meeting his Pokémon partner for the first time. But that smile would be short lived as he heard someone approach from the stairs leading to the lab.
"Well, well, well if it isn't Tochi. Looks as if you're a bit late." The person said mockingly. Tochi instantly knew who it was before even looking up. Gin. A boy how made it his life mission to always butt heads Tochi. Standing just slightly higher and with long black hair pulled back into a ponytail Gin couldn't help but have a smug smile on his face that just screamed arrogantly. "Your journey hasn't even begun you're already winded. And see here?" He said holding up a poke ball. "This is the best Pokémon they had. Our first day as trainers and you're miles behind me. "
"I don't care what you think!" Tochi said as he stood up straight before pushing past his antagonist. "Gin, I will become the next Pokémon Master. I'll beat you anytime." His words were filled with confidence as he walked away, rather than stepping down to Gin's level.
At the top of the steps, Tochi was meet by Professor Gary Oak, who greeted him with a slight sigh. "Tochi you're late. This is no way to start your journey. "He lectured as he shook his head. "
"I'm sorry Professor. I uh… overslept. "Tochi apologized with a sheepish grin on his face. "Can I still…. Pick a Pokémon today." He asked hesitantly.
"Please call me Gary." He chuckled as he motioned Tochi to walk inside. "I'm nowhere close to the level my Grandfather was at." With the aspiring trainer in tow, he leads him to a large open room with three poke balls on a table. "So, I take it you know which one you will be choosing?"
Tochi stood silently in front of the table with what some may call the most important choice in his life. "Yes, I believe I want to follow in my father's footsteps and pick Charmander." He looked towards the professor.
"As much as I would like to fulfill that wish, unfortunately, Charmander as already been chosen by someone else. Therefore, it is important to show up on time." Gary looked down at some papers on his desk before speaking again. "I guess I should tell you Bulbasaur and Squirtle have both already been chosen."
Tochi's eyes widened before slumping to the ground in defeat. "I can't believe it, I was too late after all." Holding his head low he spoke softly. "I guess, I'll just have to wait till next year." But before he could feel sorry for himself any longer he snapped back up on his feet with a renewed vigor. "No, I won't let this get me down. I'll just study and be ready for next time. "
The professor watches sympathetically at the young boy, placing a hand on his chin as he thought about who this boy might have reminded him of. Only one person came to mind as a smirk tugged at the corner of his lip. "Ashy-boy…" He said aloud absentmindedly. It had been years since he had seen Ash, but this boy had almost the same exact disposition as Gary's longtime friend and rival. "Well, there is one other Pokémon that needs a trainer. But She can be a hand full." He reached into his desk and pulled out a poke ball. "She's yours if you want."
"Really!" Tochi stepped over quickly to the Professor in a state of disbelief. "I don't care what type of Pokémon I'll train it into the best Pokémon possible. "Gently he reaches out and took the unknown Pokémon from Gary and held the spherical device in his hand. Tochi had a fire in his emerald green eyes that Gary was sure could melt a blizzard attack from the strongest of ice types.
"That's what I wanted to hear. "With a smile, Gary patted Tochi on the shoulder. "Now, go ahead and open it. "
Tochi stared at the poke ball in his hand for a moment, slightly hesitant to open it. After taking a moment to collect his thoughts he tossed the poke ball on the ground which caused it to release a bright light that blinded him for just a moment before the Pokémon kept within came into for focus. A small fox-like Pokémon with thick brown fur and a white tipped tail sat happily in the middle of the room before giving a small cry. "It can't be but that's an Eevee, isn't it? I thought they were extremely rare." A mix of stunned and amazement grew on his face as he kneeled to pet the top of the creature's head, which it seemed to enjoy greatly.
The Professor cleared his throat before speaking. "They are very rare indeed, and many people would greatly like to obtain one. Eevees are one of the most unique creatures in our world with the ability to evolve into one of many forms depending on to how they are trained and their environment." He reached for a photo from the corner of his desk. "I actually traveled many of the regions with one on my team. It eventually evolved into an Umbreon. "A faint smile crept onto his face as he remembered his time as a bright-eyed trainer ready to take on the world and all its challenges.
Looking up at the professor Tochi gently picked up Eevee in his arms and held her close. "I forgot you used to be a trainer as well." Eevee enjoyed being picked up to show this she snuggled close to his neck before maneuvering herself so she was perched happily on Tochi's shoulder. "Why did you stop?"
Gary chuckled at the question before showing him the picture he had picked up. The picture was a snap shot of a much younger Gary standing next to another boy Tochi recognized immediately as the world-famous trainer Ash. "I lost to my best friend and rival in the Johto League so many years ago, I was so arrogant back then, so sure of myself. I thought I was unbeatable but that loss had me crashing back down to earth. It gave me a chance to look at myself and what type of person and trainer I wanted to be. Not long after that was when I decided to follow in my grandfather's footsteps." Gently he placed the photo back on his desk. "It looks like I was right to give you Eevee, she seems to already be attached to you. But I've kept you long enough. You need to catch up to the others or else you'll fall far behind."
"You're right I should be going. Let's go Eevee." Tochi held the poke ball up to put Eevee back into it, but before the beam could hit her she leaped down and dodged. He quickly tried again only to be met with the same result time and time again. "Come on Eevee why don't you want to get into the poke ball."
"There are many cases of Pokémon not enjoying being in poke balls." The Professor chimed in. "In cases like this it is common for the Pokémon to walk alongside their trainers, and many do believe that this causes Pokémon and trainer to grow closer and be a far more effective team. Though that last part isn't really supported by any real facts. Though I do believe it myself."
"I guess that make sense." The young trainer thought for a moment before motioning to Eevee to jump back on his should before they headed out. After giving a quick goodbye to the Professor he quickly dashed back home, this time taking normal way rather than cutting through people's yards. It didn't take him too much longer to get home than it did to get to the laboratory. Once home he quickly ran to his room to change into something far cleaner than clothes he had grabbed in a hurry this morning. Once freshly dressed in a verily similar shirt and jeans he began to back his backpack and sleeping bag. He wished he had the ability to bring a tent but after everything else, he knew he wouldn't have space for it, and he really didn't that extra weight anyway. With everything packed and strapped in he slipped the pack onto his back and made his way to the living room where he found his mother waiting for him. "I guess I'm ready to go."
After few minutes of silence, she got up from the couch and hugged him tightly. "I guess you are." She said with a weak smile. Her light bluish hair covering most of her face.
There was much more to say for them to say but neither knew how to say it. Tochi's father was currently training in the dragon's den all the way in Johto. So, he knew she would be all by herself, so saying goodbye seemed a bit tougher than he thought it would. The silence slowly became awkward for Tochi. "So, uh this is my partner Eevee." He motions to his companion which had been walking around his feet and sniffing the air.
She kneeled to get a better look. "An Eevee huh? I guess you got there too late to get a Charmander like you wanted." She said teasingly as she scratched the Pokémon behind the ear. "Well make sure you take good care of my son. "The little Pokémon just yipped in acknowledgment, before returning to her master's shoulder. "I guess that's your cue to get going, I've held you up long enough. He just nodded before giving one last hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Tochi quickly made his way towards the edge of town. Occasionally waving to some of the townspeople that he passed in the street. Looking up he noticed the sun was almost in the center of the sky signaling the fast approach of noon. He knew he wouldn't be able to get to Viridian City if he didn't pick up the pace up a bit. With that knowledge, he went from a walk to a brisk jog trying to quickly get through the forest that he knew would eat up just about the rest of the day. Even with him in a slight rush, he still made sure kept an eye out for any potential Pokémon he could catch. He knew the Pewter City Gym leader was known for being tough so Tochi wanted to make sure he had a least one other Pokémon ready for that first hurdle. Looking down at Eevee who just seemed to be happy being outside, Tochi knew Eevee might not be the best match up against the gym leaders rock type Pokémon. Having a few to fall back on might be the best strategy.
Making sure not to stray too far from the main path through the forest, Tochi decided it might be better to explore just a bit into the woods that laid between Pallet town and Viridian City in search for some Pokémon that may help in in his journey. Keeping sure not to lose sight of that pathway that would lead out of the woods, he began to push bushes aside and move through tall grass. But as time passed and the day started to move towards the late afternoon he knew he would have to surrender his current objective if he had any hope of getting to the city with any daylight at all.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he looked up about to start to make his way to the main path only to find he had strayed too far now only to find himself lost. "Damn it…. How could I have let this happen?" he asked as if someone would suddenly appear with the answer, yet Eevee's cry was the only answer he received. Deciding on not focusing the trouble he figured if he kept moving around he might find something that looked familiar. After walking for what seemed another half hour or so he came upon a river. "If I follow this I should find the pathway. I do remember having to cross a bridge so this must be the same river." Quickly he began following the bank of the river in hopes to get to the main path with the small fox-like Pokémon in tow.
"Poli-" A small cry came from the river.
"Huh?" Tochi looked around for the source of the cry only to see a small Poliwag floating happily on top of the water. "A Poliwag in this area? I couldn't ask to be any luckier a water type will come in handy against the Pewter City gym. I can't let this opportunity pass me by. All right Eevee it's time for our first battle. So, let's take it slow." Eevee looked up carefully at Tochi before give a small yip in confirmation before taking a more battle ready stance. "Alright leap on the rock in the center of the river." Eevee followed the directions and leaped straight into the air with a summersault as if showing off right before landing firmly on a rather large rock on a flat surface jutting out of the water. At this moment, the Poliwag noticed and seemed to understand what was happening and made a quick retaliation in the form of a water gun that almost pushed Eevee into the water. "Eevee are you okay?" A quick yip was all he got as if she was telling him to go ahead and give the next order. "Okay try using a tackle to bounce off it to get back to the shore." Kicking off the rock with her small but powerful hind legs she crashed head first into the opposing Pokémon. Unfortunately, the attack didn't go the way he had intended and Eevee just bounced off and landed in the water. "Eevee!" It was precisely this moment he realized the water was decently shallow where they were battling, shallow enough that Eevee could stand without many problems. Without a moment of hesitation Eevee rapidly stood back up just in time to dodge a second water gun from Poliwag. "Good job Eevee, now quickly another tackle to send it flying." The small fox quickly rushed forward sidestepping yet another water gun before plowing head first again straight into the swirl on Poliwag's stomach like a target with enough force to send it flying into the air.
Poliwag soared through the air and crashed into a tree, which shook off a few leaves. Without a second to lose Tochi grabbed a poke ball from his pocket and threw it at the fallen Pokémon. The ball bounced off Poliwag's body before opening and a bright red light engulfed the defeated Pokémon. Once landed on the ground it began to rock back and forth. "Come on…" If Tochi had been sitting down, he would be on the edge of his seat as he waited for the ball to stop moving. With one final twitch and a semi loud ping, the ball stopped moving signaling that Poliwag had been captured. He couldn't help but cheer and jump around like what other would have thought as stupid. "Yes! Hahaha, I did it I captured my first Pokémon." Eevee walked up onto the shore looking quite pleased with herself, after shaking as much water as she could, she hopped up onto his shoulder. "Thank you so much Eevee you're the best partner anyone could have asked for." She just replied by licking him on the cheek.
In the wake of his excitement, he didn't even notice the rustling in the bushes next to him. He was almost too wrapped up in the moment to even hear the voice call out to him. "Hey, did you by chance, happen to see a Poliwag swim past here." Of course, this sudden interruption of his celebration startled him, almost causing him to fall in the water. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare you." A young girl no older than himself, came out from behind the trees, she moved carefully making sure not to get her feet caught on any limbs or roots. Once free she dusted off her cargo shorts and straightened her brown fishing vest, over the blue shirt she was wearing. "So, uh a Poliwag did you happen to see one come by here?" She asked once more while pushing a few strands of her black hair behind her ear.
Taking a relatively quick moment to recompose himself, he cleared his throat and walked over to the poke ball that had still been laying on the ground. Picking it up in his hand and showing her "Eh, I got some bad news I just caught it. "He said with a sheepish chuckle.
"Ah, damn!" She kicked the closest tree in anger. "I had been tracking that dang Pokémon for days. It just kept slipping away from me." After venting her frustration, she calmed herself she took a set on the bank of the river. "All that time wasted." She moped as she hugged her legs close.
Tochi looked down on the at the poke ball feeling a bit guilty, even though he knew he really had no way of knowing there was someone else after it. It would be well within his right to keep it but feeling sympathy for her he decided. Making his way to sit next to her. "Here." He said quickly while holding out the poke ball with Poliwag within out towards her. "You must have already weakened it by the time I got to it, which would explain why I was able to capture it so easily." A smile unknowingly to him slowly made its way onto his face.
Glancing at the poke ball then at him. "Wait, what?!" It was easy to tell she was caught off guard by his sudden act of kindness. Hesitantly she reached for the poke ball but ultimately pulled her hand away. "No, no it's fine. You caught him fair and square. So, don't worry about it." She said as she smiled warmly at him. "So, got a name?"
"Oh, my name…. My name is Tochi Greenland." He leaned back making as Eevee curled up next to his leg. "And this here is my Partner Eevee. We just started our Journey today." Looking up he saw that daylight was rapidly draining away. "I'm going to take on the League."
"Well Tochi and can't forget about Eevee, I'm Alice Kay." Even though she had only just met him a few minutes ago, she could already see the passion and fire that burned in his eyes. "Well, if you're going to enter the Pokémon League, I guess that means you'll be heading to Pewter city." Taking a moment to get up and brush the dirt off her. "Well it's getting late I have a camp site close by your more than welcome to join me. It's always nice to have company." Tochi gently picked up Eevee who had already fallen asleep before standing up and motioned for her to take the lead. As they walked they chatted about this and that. "Hey if you're going to the Pewter city gym I guess your next stop would be Cerulean City. That's where I'm heading and it is so much more fun to travel in a group so what I guess I'm asking is if you don't mind if I join you till then."
Tochi's head began to spin when Alice asked if they could travel temporarily. Quickly he looked away as his face turned a faint red as he blushed as he stammered out "Y-yeah that sounds like a great idea." Trying to give him some time to compose himself he quickly asked a follow-up question. "But if you wait around for me to take on the Gym in Pewter City wouldn't that put you behind in your journey?"
Alice couldn't help but giggle at his question of concern. "Nah, don't worry about it I can afford a few extra days on the road. "