Pokemon: The Johto Journey

Chapter 1: The Thief

The sun was barely rising when a small ray of shimmering light broke through the window onto the teen's face. Slowly the light blue eyes were exposed to the new day. "Is it morning already?" he asked himself. The realization soon hit him as he tried to scurry out of the Totodile blanket. He scampered and danced around the room trying to get his clothes on, often falling in the panicky rush.

"Honey? What are you doing up there?" a female voice asked from down the stairs.

"Trying to get ready to go see Professor Elm."

"Well, keep it down, you're waking everyone in New Bark Town ," she joked.

"Well, mom, how do I look?" he said with pride. She had shoulder-length brunette hair and deep brown eyes. She wore an Igglybuff apron and always seemed to have a smile.

She looked him over, "Seratus, I think you're finally ready to begin your own journey," she replied with a tear in her ere. She saw that he was wearing a dark tan pair of cargo shorts with a light blue T-shirt. He had a dark blue hat with a pokeball on the front, though it was hard to see as Seratus wore his hats backwards.

"Is it ok if I leave now to go see Professor Elm?

"Yes, but please come back after you get your pokemon. I'll have a few things ready for you to start your journey."

"Thanks, mom," he said, and he quickly ran out the door. The sun was now shining brightly over the land, and there is a small gentle breeze rustling the leaves. He turned away from the sun and ran down the dirt road passed a few houses. Approaching closely to Professor Elm's lab, he noticed another teen staring through the window. He had bright red hair and wore a dark jacket and dark pants as he tried to remain invisible.

"Good morning, Seratus," a young girl called out trying to catch him. "You can't get a pokemon without me seeing who you picked."

"Morning, Alisha" he replied as she was still running. Her long blonde hair whipped in the wind. Her green eyes matched that of the grass, and she wore a green button-up short-sleeved shirt with a black skirt that was just short of her knee caps. "What pokemon are you gonna pick?"

"Well, I'll show you," she said smiling. She held a small red and white ball and yelled, "Marill, come on out!" Suddenly a small bluish mouse appeared.

"Wait. When did you get a pokemon?"

I found a pokeball and picked it up. It wasn't used so, last night as I was walking by the beach and saw Marill. I figured I would toss the ball and see what happens, and I caught it. Since I already have a pokemon, Professor Elm has told me to come by this morning for a surprise."

"Wow. That's awesome. I'm thinking of going with a water type myself."

"What are you waiting for, go on in and get that Totodile then," she cheered.

Seratus turned toward the white door and pushed it opened. Alisha followed closely as they made their way to the back of the lab.

"Ahh, Seratus and Alisha. It's good to see you both on this fine morning. Alisha, how is Marill doing so far?"

"She is doing fine, Professor Elm. Here, take a look," she said picking up Marill.

"Marill Mar," the pokemon replied.

"That's fantastic," he replied as he patted Marill on the head. "The bond between pokemon and humans should be that of respect and compassion. So, Seratus," he continued as he shifted his eyes back on the boy, "are you ready to choose your pokemon?'

"You bet!"

"I have three pokeballs here, each with a pokemon inside. Do you want to see them, or do you know which one you want?"

"I choose, Totodile!"

"The water type," Elm said handing the pokeball over to Seratus. "Before you start your journey, I need a favor of both of you. Mr. Pokemon lives north of Cherryrove City on Route 30. He called about a huge discovery, though I predict it's another pokemon egg. If you can do this, I can gauge how you two will do as trainers.

"That sounds good to us," Seratus replied. "Totodile and I are gonna be unstoppable."

"Yeah, Professor Elm. Marill and I can go with Seratus to get that egg."

"Thank you both."

"We'll be back soon," they both yelled as they quickly got out the door. "Hey Seratus, you should go back home and tell your mom you're leaving. I'll do the same and meet you back here in fifteen minutes."

"Got it, Alisha," he said as he quickly ran back down the road back home. Panting, he called, "Mom, I'm back and I have my Totodile." He held the pokeball out and soon a short blue crocodile like creature appeared. It stood upright with large red fins going down the spine to the tail.

"I'm glad, honey. I packed your backpack and I bought you a pokegear," she said handing the black phone over. "You can add various cards to upgrade it. As of right now you can only call and check the map."

"Thanks mom. Professor Elm wanted Ailsha and I to go to Cherrygrove City to pick up a package for Professor Elm."

"Be careful honey, and don't forget to call every once in awhile."

"I won't mom. Totodile, return," he said as he held the pokeball back up and the creature obeyed and went back into the ball.

Alisha was sitting under an oak tree using her fingering to draw in the dirt. "Where is he, it doesn't take that long to say good-bye," she mumbled. As she kept drawing, she looked at the horizon waiting for Seratus to finally show up.

"BOO!" He yelled jumping from behind the tree.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" she screamed as she fell over.

"HA HA!" Seratus laughed as he held his stomach with his left hand and pointed with his right.

"That wasn't funny, Seratus. I will get you back," she said as she swung pitching him in the arm.

"I guess I did have that one coming, but it was so worth it. That expression on your face was priceless."

"Let's just get going. If we hurry, we should get to Cherrygrove City by noon."

The sun was peaking overhead when Seratus and Alisha found their way to Cherrygrove City.

"This place is much bigger than New Bark Town," Seratus commented.

"Yeah," Alisha agreed nodding her head. Now we just need to go north to find Mr. Pokemon's house."

"I'll race you. Last one there is a rotten Psyduck," Seratus yelled as he ran north.

"Hey, no fair!" She yelled trying to catch up.

Moments later, they both collided with a couple of men. "Ouch!" one of them said. "Why are you kids in a hurry for?"

"We are so sorry," Alisha replied. We were racing to see who could get to Mr. Pokemon's house."

"HA HA!" The men laughed. "I'm Mr. Pokemon."

"And I'm Professor Oak."

"Professor Elm sent us to retrieve the egg," Seratus said, still rubbing his shin.

"Follow me, and I'll get it for you."

Soon they arrived a small house. Mr. Pokemon turned the Squirtle knob and walked on in. "Here's the egg," he said picking up a whitish egg with small blue and red splotches.

"You said Professor Elm sent you?" Professor Oak asked. "If that's the case, you two should already have pokemon and be starting your own journey?"

"That's right, sir," Seratus replied. "I have Totodile and she has Marill."

"That's wonderful. This might be what they call fate, but I have something for the both of you to take on your journey. It's a Pokedex," he said handing each one a small red device. "This is a pokemon encyclopedia to help you on your journey. Go ahead and try it on your pokemon."

"Alright, I'll start. Marill ! Come on out."

The Pokedex responded, "Marill, the aquamouse pokemon. Using its tail as a float, it dives underwater. It likes eating plants that grow on river bottoms."

"Cool. Now it's my turn, Totodile!"

"Totodile, the big jaw pokemon. It is small but rough and tough. It won't hesitate to take a bite out of anything that moves."

"Reurn!" they both yelled.

"You see, that device will help you understand the pokemon around you as you travel," Professor Oak said. "Well, I need to be leaving. The radio show in Goldenrod City cannot wait. Will you keep me updated on what happens with the egg, Mr. Pokemon?"

"Of course Professor Oak. I also bet that these two want to get back to Professor Elm with that egg so they can start their adventure."

"Thank you so much Professor Oak," both yelled. "And Mr. Pokemon, we'll get this egg back to Professor Elm as soon as possible," Alisha continued receiving the egg.

Pika! Pika! Seratus reached for the Pokegear and answered, "hello?"

"Seratus, you and Alisha need to return to the lab quick. Someone broke in and stole a pokemon!"

"We're on our way! Alisha, someone broke into the lab and stole a pokemon. We should return to see if we can help."

"OK!"

They bolted back into Cherrygrove City and just as quick, collided with another person.

Seratus picked up the trainer's card and looked at the red hair teen. "Wait, are you the one who broke into the lab?"

"Yeah, I stole a pokemon and he's much stronger than that Totodile you picked."

"Let's have a battle, your pokemon against my Totodile."

"Fine. Chikorita, let's go!" A small green creature appeared. It walked on four legs and had a serpent like neck with a broad leaf coming out of its head.

Seratus held his Pokedex out, "Chikorita, the leaf pokemon. It uses the leaf on its head to determine the temperature and humidity. It loves to sunbathe."

"Totodile, go in for a scratch attack!" Totodile leapt into the air toward a Chikorita with a very stern look on her face and ice in her eyes.

"Heh," the thief laughed. "Razorleaf." Soon Chikorita flung a few leaves from the leaf on her head hitting Totodile right in the face. "Now, finish it off with tackle," and before Totodile could stand back up, Chikiorita used her head as a battering ram knocking out Totodile.

"Oh No! Totodile, you did very well," Seratus said as he recalled his fallen pokemon.

"Now get out of my way before I get serious," the thief boasted. "Pokemon is about power and a weak pokemon has no business being trained and poor and weak trainers like you should never have been given a pokemon. Now, I have to leave."

Seratus fell to the ground on his knees bent over. "It's not fair. It's not fair that the Chikorita has to be trained by that thief."

Alisha walked over and placed her hand on Seratus, "We cannot stop now. We must get this egg to Professor Elm before anything happens. We just have to hope that trainer will come to see pokemon as friends and not be so hard on them," she said trying to cheer Seratus up.

"Yeah. We cannot let the egg get stolen as well," he said standing back up. "Let's hurry to the lab."

The setting sun gave an orange glow over New Bark Town as Seratus and Alisha were walking down the path. Professor Elm was sitting on the step watching the horizon. "What's taking them so long?" he asked himself. "I can't believe that only Chikorita was stolen."

"Hey, Alisha. Is that Professor Elm sitting there?"

"Yeah. Hey Professor!"

"Uh?" Professor Elm replied somewhat startled that the teens were able to walk up without him realizing it. "You're back . Something terrible happened while you were gone."

"We know," Alisha replied. Seratus had a battle with him to try and save Chikorita. "He got away."

"It's my fault," Seratus said in a low voice. "I had a chance to save her and I was easily beaten."

"Hey. The important thing is you two are ok and you have the egg," Professor Elm said.

"His name is Silver if you want to get that Chikorita back."

"I don't think that will be possible. That Chikorita has probably already formed a bond with Silver and it's not fair to the pokemon to be stripped from its owner."

"Here's the egg, Professor," Alisha said handing the egg to Professor Elm.

"Thank you both for everything you have done. You true journey begins now and if you want to be a Pokemon Master, I suggest heading to Violet City and challenge the gym there. There are eight gyms in Johto. And to help you I will give you each some pokeballs to help you catch pokemon."

"Thanks," Alisha said fired up. "I say we leave now and try to get to Cherrgygrove City before it gets too late."

"Yeah," Seratus said. "I want to be the very best, like no one ever was."