Hello, and welcome to the first chapter of my Pokémon Nuzlocke Challenge! For those of you who don't know, a Nuzlocke Challenge is a special way to through a Pokémon game that makes it more difficult. I will briefly explain the rules so you can understand what I'll be doing:

If a Pokémon faints, it's dead. You must either release it or store it in the PC box forever. The point is, you can't use it again. No revives!

You may only catch a wild Pokémon if you have never caught a Pokémon from that area before, and only if it's the first wild Pokémon that you've ever encountered in that area, ever! So that means that you'll only get one Pokémon per area, and if you fail to catch it, (I.E. it faints, runs away, or you run out of Poké Balls,) then you're just plum out of luck.

Those are the rules! Now, this story will be following my playthrough on Pokémon Heartgold Version, and I will be writing these chapters to give a true story to the playthrough, as a large reason for a Nuzlocke Challenge is to give yourself an emotional experience with the journey, nicknaming your Pokémon and developing characters and personalities for them. Please enjoy the first chapter!

Chapter 1: The Journey Begins

The midmorning sun shone through an open bedroom window, illuminating the red carpeted floor. Fast asleep in his bed, a young boy snored softly, curled up in the blankets to keep the cool air of an early spring at bay. He was started from his sleep by a voice calling from down the stairs.

"Shad? Come on, honey! It's almost ten o' clock, time to get up!" shouted the woman.

"Coming, Mom!" the boy called back. He stirred and lifted himself up. A book slid off his chest and thudded onto the floor. He'd fallen asleep reading again. He couldn't remember how late he'd stayed up the night before, diving into the works of the legendary Pokémon scientist, Professor Oak.

Shad loved to read. More importantly, he loved to read about Pokémon. At age 14, it wasn't uncommon for a boy like him to already own a Pokémon and start their journey as a trainer. Unfortunately for Shad, he and his mother had only recently moved to New Bark Town from their old home where there were very few wild Pokémon to catch. The only trainer he knew then was an old man who had an aged Persian, and much disliked children in his house. Still, Pokémon never ceased to fascinate him, and he dreamed of one day becoming the Pokémon League Champion, just like his Idol, Red, who single-handed defeated Team Rocket and claimed the title of League Champion three years ago, just to disappear from society altogether.

Shad changed into a pair of jeans, put on some socks, put on his glasses and slipped on a plain brown t-shirt before sleepily walking downstairs. His mother was frying an egg in the kitchen. "Good morning", he said through a yawn.

"Good morning indeed! We had a visitor early this morning while you were snoozing; Professor Elm, from next door," said Shad's mother. She smiled as Shad's face lit up.

"Really? What did he want?" Shad sat down at the table, starting on his toast and waiting expectantly.

Shad's mother finished up the eggs and served both Shad and herself before sitting down. "He said he would like your help with some research he's doing. I told him you'd stop by his lab as soon as you got the chance."

"Holy miltank! That's so cool!" Shad stood up to leave.

"Oh no you don't mister!" his mother scolded. "You're not going anywhere until you finish your breakfast! I don't want you running around on an empty stomach."

Shad reluctantly sat back down and started shoveling in his eggs. His mother simply shook her head and watched as he scarfed down the remains of his food and chugged his glass of orange juice. He flew up from his seat, grabbed his coat from the closet and opened the front door, turning around to say, "Bye Mom! Thanks for breakfast, see you in a bit!"

"Remember to thank him! And be polite!" she shouted as he ran out the door.

Shad was stopped by Lyra, the girl who lived just across the street. She was playing with her Marill outside in the grass when she called out to him, "Good morning, Shad!"

"G'morning, Lyra!" he called back. Shad had only known Lyra for the few weeks he'd been in New Bark Town, but the two of them had become fast friends. It probably helped that she was the only one close to his age in the small town they lived in. "Playing with Marill, I see?"

"Yep! She's been practicing her Rollout attack!" Lyra responded happily. She smiled, "Say, what are you in such a big hurry for?"

"Oh, yeah! Professor Elm asked me to help out with some research today! Maybe he'll let me use one of his Pokémon!" Shad said excitedly.

"Wow! I hope so! I won't keep you any longer, then." She waved to Shad and turned back to her Pokémon. As Shad turned away, she suddenly had an afterthought and called out to him, "And be sure to show me if he lets you keep it!"

"Absolutely! Talk to you later!" Shad bolted for the lab. It was only a dozen or so yards from his house, and he rushed through the door, startling Elm's assistant into dropping a few papers. "Sorry I couldn't get here sooner, Professor Elm!" he called out, catching his breath.

"Nothing to worry about, Shad! We're in no big rush!" Elm laughed. He was dressed in a white lab coat and had on his thick glasses. "Come over to my station and I'll explain my assignment!"

"Ok!" Shad walked briskly to join him on the other side of the room. Shad had been in the lab several times before, but the amazing equipment and all the flashing lights still dazzled him. "So, are we studying the feathers of a Pidgeoto? Or perhaps dissecting a Poliwag?"

Professor Elm laughed again. "No, no, nothing like that I'm afraid. I need you to pick up a package from a friend of mine, known by most as Mr. Pokémon, on route 30. It's very important, but I haven't got the time to retreive it myself, you see, what with the lab results from Oak coming in-"

Shad lit up at the name of the great and famous Pokémon Professor. "You work with Professor Oak?" he said, cutting Elm off.

"Oh, well yes, we've been colleagues for a number of years!" Elm pulled a picture off his desk of a much younger Elm and Oak, standing side by side outside a large building, dressed in graduation gowns and holding what Shad assumed to be diplomas. "We were roommates in college and we've been working together ever since!" He put the picture back down, next to the one of him with his wife and son, and clasped his hands together. "Now then, back to your assignment! You will find Mr. Pokémon's house in the northeastern corner of route 30, just north of Cherrygrove City. Do you know where that is? I know you're new to the Johto Region."

"Yes, I've been there before," Shad said with a nod.

"Wonderful, then I'll send you on your way. But before you go…" Professor Elm walked over to a panel against the wall and pushed a button. Suddenly, a tube-like machine a little ways away opened up to reveal three Poké Balls. "I think you'll need a companion for the trip!"

Shad gasped in excitement. He pumped his fists into the air and shouted, "Yes! My first Pokémon!" He hurried over excitedly to the platform and examined the balls. "I can choose whichever one I want, right?" he asked as he surveyed them.

"Absolutely," Elm responded.

Shad looked at the labels carefully and then made his choice. He picked up the ball and tossed it into his hand, then wound up, throwing it into the middle of the room, shouting, "Totodile, I choose YOU!" A flash of red light revealed a blue reptilian creature.

"Toooootodile!" it shouted as it stretched its arms wide. "Man, it gets stuffy in there after a while!"

"Eep! You can talk?" Shad asked.

"Course I can! All Pokémon can!" Totodile responded. "So, I'm guessing you're my new master huh?"

"Yeah, my name's Shad! Nice to meet you!" Shad extended his hand out to him and kneeled down.

"Likewise," the Totodile responded, shaking Shad's hand.

"Got a name?" Shad asked.

"Nope!"

"Well, we can't leave you without a name." Shad stood up and sized up the Pokémon up and down and then decided. "You look like a 'Nick'. Sound good?"

"Nick…" he said, thinking to himself. "Yeah, I like it!"

"Awesome! Let's get going!" Shad turned towards the door.

"Great! What are we fighting?" Nick followed closely behind him.

"I honestly don't know. Oh, wait!" Shad laughed to himself. He ran back to Professor Elm and shook his hand. "Thank you so much, Professor! I won't let you down!"

"Good luck out there, and be careful!" Elm nodded.

Shad hurried back to join Nick, calling out behind him, "I will! Don't worry!" The walked out the door, and Shad thought it would be a good idea to check in with his mother before they left. On the way back to his house, Lyra spotted the two of them and hurried over with her Marill close behind.

"Aw, cute! It's a little Totodile!" she squealed. She patted Nick on the head, much to his disliking.

"Hey, hands off lady!" he shouted, nipping at her hand.

"Nick, be nice! She's a friend of mine," Shad scolded.

"Ugh… fine." He reluctantly allowed Lyra to rub his head, looking miserable the whole time. Lyra's Marill made a cute squeal threw herself onto Nick, hugging him. Nick's face turned beet red and he said, "Gah! No! No, I do not cuddle! I draw the line at cuddling!" He squirmed his way out of Marill's grasp feebly, producing laughs from Lyra and Shad.

"Alright, Nick, I've put you through enough. C'mon, let's show you to my mom. I'll catch up with you later Lyra," Shad said as he waved goodbye.

"Good luck!" called Lyra.

Shad and Nick entered the house. Shad called out, "Hey Mom, I'm back, and I brought a friend."

"Ooo, let's see it!" his mother called as she came down the steps from the upstairs, carrying his bag. "Aw, it's adorable! What's its name?"

"Nick, and hey, wait. You knew I was getting a Pokémon?" Shad asked, surprised.

"Of course I knew! I wouldn't let Professor Elm give you a Pokémon without my permission! See? I've already gotten you an official trainer's license from the Pokémon League!" She produced a card from his bag and showed it to him. It had his trainer ID, his picture, everything! "And," she continued, "I've gotten your bag all set up to take on your trip. Speaking of which, what does Professor Elm want you to do?"

"I have to pick something up from Mr. Pokémon on route 30," Shad said. "I'm sure my bag will come in handy for carrying it back." He slung the messenger bag over his shoulder.

"Don't forget about your Poké Gear! It's all the rage for trainers I hear!" She handed him a blue device and Shad slid it around his wrist, flipping it open. "It's got a phone and a map already built into it, and I've put my cell phone number into it. Make sure to call me when you get there. Also, you've got a potion for healing your Pokémon in your bag, as well as a sandwich for lunch. Don't forget to watch out for wild Pokémon and-"

"I think I've got it, Mom." Shad rolled his eyes. "I'll be fine."

"I know, I just worry is all." Shad's mother stood back and folded her hands, sighing. "I'm just so proud of you, already becoming a trainer. I know it's a bit of a journey, but try to be back for dinner, ok?"

"Ok, Mom. I'll call you later." Shad walked out the door, eager to get started. Nick followed closely behind.

"Boy, she sure can blab," Nick said.

"Meh. Mothers. What can you do?" Shad shrugged. As they walked past the lab, Shad noticed a boy with long, red hair peering into one of the windows. He walked over to him, but the boy didn't seem to hear him.

"Professor Elm's lab…" the boy said to himself. "I wonder what kind of rare Pokémon he has in there."

"Uh, hi. What are you doing?" Shad asked.

The boy flinched in surprise. He stumbled over his words, "I-I uh, um, nothing?"

"Why are you peering into Elm's window?" asked Nick, convictingly.

The red haired boy put his hands on his hips. "I don't know, why are YOU sneaking up behind people? Buzz off, nerds! I don't have time to play your games with you!" He hopped over the fence and disappeared into the woods.

"What was HIS problem?" Nick scoffed.

"I don't know, but he's not ours anymore. Let's just get this package."

Together, the two of them walked out of town and into the wild. Shad had read enough about battles to understand how they worked, and so the first few along route 29 were pretty easy. They reached Cherrygrove City in no time.

After an odd experience with a man who showed him around town and gave him a pair of running shoes, Shad decided to leave Nick in the Pokémon Center to rest up while he checked out the Poké Mart for supplies. Much to his disliking, he didn't find any Poké Balls there, but he did stock up on a few potions, paralyze heals, and antidotes. He didn't want his only Pokémon getting caught out in the wilderness without medicine to heal him. He returned to the Pokémon Center to find Nick waiting alone, in the corner.

"How's it going?" Shad asked.

Nick stood up from his seat at the table. "Ok, but let's get going. I want to battle some more, and everybody in here is boring."

Shad laughed. "Ok, let's go."

As they walked along route 30, they came across a house with a peculiar tree next to it. A tiny green fruit sat perched on top of the tree. Just as he was about to pick it, a man popped out from the front door of the house and shouted, "Hey there!"

"Uh, hi," Shad said, perplexed. "This your tree?"

"Yes, but you may take the fruit if you wish! Just make sure to put it into this special box!" He handed Shad something that looked like a cooler you might bring on a picnic. "The fruit are called apricorns, and they can be used for many purposes!"

"Such as?" Nick inquired.

"Eating!" the man answered, running back into his house, slamming the door behind him.

"Oh… kaaaaaay?" Shad said. He and Nick stood their awkwardly, looking at the house, then each other, then back to the house.

"That guy is weird," Nick stated.

"Agreed. Let's get going." They walked together and stayed to east side of the route, heading north. After a few more battles and a bit more walking, they came upon a house. "This must be the place," Shad said.

Sure enough, a sign on the front door read, "Mr. Pokémon's house." Shad knocked on the door and stepped inside, saying, "Hello?" A finely dressed man was seated at a table, facing the door, with another man in a white lab coat sitting across from him.

"Oh, you must be Shad! Professor Elm told me you would be stopping by shortly," said the man, standing up. He walked over to Shad and shook his hand.

"Yes sir, pleased to meet you." Shad nodded respectfully.

"Well then, I mustn't keep you too long with introductions. My name is Mr. Pokémon, and this is a friend of mine." Mr. Pokémon motioned to the stranger on the other side of the room.

The man in the lab coat turned around and Shad recognized him instantly. "Hello," he said with a wave. "My name is Professor Oak."

"THE Professor Oak?" Shad said in astonishment. "Sir, I've read all of your books. I was amazed by your study of Clefairy evolution cycles in Mt. Moon."

Mr. Pokémon laughed. "Well, Oak, it seems you have a fan!"

"It certainly does," said the Pokémon Professor, smiling. "Good to see Elm finding a boy with so much enthusiasm. You two will get along just fine."

"Now then I believe this is what you came for," said Mr. Pokémon. He produced an egg from a drawer and set it on the table.

"An egg?" asked Nick as he examined it.

"Well, yes, an egg," began Mr. Pokémon. "But we believe it to be a very special kind of egg, which will hatch into a rare breed of Pokémon."

"Which Pokémon is that?" asked Shad.

"We don't know. We've never seen an egg of this kind before. We're hoping that Professor Elm may be able to find out what kind it is."

"Why not just crack it open?" Nick picked it up off the table.

"NO!" shouted the three humans in unison. Shad snatched it away from him.

"I was only kidding! Calm down!" Nick laughed.

"Best keep an eye on that one," commented Professor Oak.

"I will sir, and thank you both." Shad put the egg into his bag. He and Nick walked towards the door.

"Good luck Shad!" said Mr. Pokémon.

Professor Oak called out to him as well, "And if you ever find yourself in Pallet Town, make sure to stop by my laboratory!"

"I will! Thanks again." Shad waved goodbye as they started the journey back. After a few more wild Pokémon battles, they reached Cherrygrove City. They rested up briefly in the Pokémon Center and then headed out of town. The sun was nearly setting by then. As they were walking back onto route 29, the red haired boy from earlier came dashing around the corner, looking behind him. He crashed into Shad and the two of them tumbled over each other. The contents of the boy's bag spilled all over the ground.

"Hey, watch it!" shouted Shad, but then he got a good luck at the boy. "Wait, you're that kid from earlier!"

"Yeah, and? I told you, I don't have time for your games. Now move it!" The boy got up off the ground and started picking up his stuff.

Nick picked up the boy's trainer card off the ground and held it out to him. The boy went to grab it, but Nick pulled it back. "Nuh uh, not until you apologize for knocking over my master."

"Yeah right. If that's the way you want it, then I'll just beat you in a battle and take it from you!" The boy pulled a Poké Ball out of his bag. "Go, Chikorita!"

Shad picked himself up and got ready for the battle. "Alright, let's do this."

"Yeah, I love a good fight!" Nick bounced back on and forth on his toes. The two Pokémon didn't know many moves at this point, so it basically became a tussle of scratching and tackling. Nick had enough fights against wild Pokémon to take down the Chikorita without too much of a hassle.

"Yeah! My first trainer victory." Shad pumped his fist into the air.

"Stupid weak Pokémon! Argh, I must have picked the wrong one!" The boy kicked some dirt up and put his fainted Pokémon back in the ball.

"Nah, I'm just too good for you." Nick stuck out his tongue.

"Whatever. Just give me my card back already." The boy went up to Nick and snatched it out of his hand, putting it in his pocket. "See you later, losers!" He made a face and ran off.

Nick scoffed. "He loses, and suddenly WE'RE the losers? What a moron."

Shad laughed. "You said it. Now let's get going! Elm's sure to be waiting for us!"

After a short run they arrive back in New Bark Town. They rushed into the lab, egg in hand, and beheld quite the site. Professor Elm was talking to a policeman and he sounded deeply distressed. Elm's assistant was sitting down in a chair with a white cloth held against his head, but part of it was wet with blood. There was shattered glass on the ground, the result of the broken window, and papers and files were scattered all around the floor.

Shad walked up to Elm, who turned around with an expression very different from his normally cheerful attitude. He sighed and spoke, "Good to see you're back, Shad. Did you get the egg?" Shad nodded. "Well, I wish I could say we fared as well here. Somebody broke into the lab, assaulted my assistant, and then took off with one of my Pokémon!"

The policeman then addressed Shad, "Son, can you tell me where you were between the times of 11 o' clock and-"

"It wasn't him!" came a voice from the doorway. Lyra ran up to them and exclaimed, "It wasn't Shad! I saw a red haired boy running out of the lab a while ago! He went running down route 29. It had to be him."

"Yes, that would make sense," said Shad. "I saw that same boy looking into your lab earlier today, and just a couple minutes ago on the edge of Cherrygrove. He had a Chikorita! Is that the Pokémon you're missing?"

"Yes, that's exactly the one!" confirmed Elm. "There you have it officer. It was a red haired boy, and clearly not Shad. Now if only we knew his name…"

"I do!" said Nick, proudly. "I read it off his trainer card. It's 'Richie', R-I-C-H-I-E."

The policeman wrote it down. "Thank you all. We'll begin our search immediately." He tipped his hat and left.

Professor Elm sighed. "Well, at least they have a lead. Unfortunately that boy is probably in Violet City by now. Oh well, onto the business of the egg!" Shad was surprised at how quickly Elm's demeanor changed back to a happy one after what had just happened. "If you would be so kind as to hand it over." Shad took the egg out of his backpack and gave it to him. "Fascinating, simply fascinating. I'll have a lot of work to do on this one. Now then, since you've performed so well, I dare say that you deserve to keep Totodile for good!"

Nick and Shad highfived.

"On top of that, how would you like to continue working with me on my research?" Elm asked.

"It would by my pleasure, Professor!" Shad responded excitedly.

"Excellent! Then you will need one of these!" Elm produced a red device from his pocket. "It's called a Pokédex! It will give you information on the Pokémon that you will catch along your journey. Now, I have a special assignment. I want you to catch one Pokémon from each new area you come across, but no more than one! Also, you've already seen most of the Pokémon on routes 29 and 30, and I've studied them quite a lot already, so there's no need to catch any from those routes. Are we agreed?"

"Yes sir," said Shad.

Lyra then approached Shad and handed him a pouch. "I'll bet you'll be needing these!" Inside Shad found five Poké Balls. "You can use those to catch wild Pokémon!"

"Thanks Lyra!" said Shad. "I can't wait to build my team!"

"Your team?" she asked.

"Yeah! While I'm out catching Pokemon, I may as well challenge trainers to Pokémon battles, and what better Pokémon to use then the ones I catch?"

"Well then, I suggest you first head to Violet city," said Elm. "There you will find the Flying Gym, and if you can beat it, you'll be rewarded with an official Pokémon League badge! If you can manage to get all eight, you'll be able to challenge the Elite Four in the Pokémon League for a shot at becoming champion!"

"That sounds like a great plan!" said Shad, and then suddenly yawned. "But… I think I'm going to call it a day. I'll start tomorrow."

Elm laughed. "Yes, I suppose that would be wise. It's already dark out. Well, good night, and good luck tomorrow."

Shad thanked Elm and said goodbye to both him and Lyra before returning home with Nick close behind him. After a brief summary of the days' events with his mother, Shad climbed into bed, eager to start his adventure in the morning.

Well, that's what we have so far! There was a lot to cover in that first chapter, so I promise that if it seems a little slow, it will quickly pick up with some more battles and new Pokémon in the next chapter. For now, please give it a review and tell me which things you liked and which things you didn't! I'm always looking for feedback! And, if you liked it, you can follow it to stay on top of when I update it! Anyway, thanks for reading!

~musicfrommykeyboard