It was the big day. Renard yawned, then got out of bed. "That Turtwig is mine..." He thought. Dressed in a white t-shirt, a blue jacket, and his favorite durable pair of Jeans, he walked toward the living room.
"Well, I guess all boys leave home someday..." His mother said as she noticed him coming down the stairs. Before Renard could say a word, she continued "Please, be careful, and avoid the tall grass on the way to Oak's" She said, giving Renard a hug. Renard smiled, promised he'd visit often, then walked out the door. Oak lived just down the street in the small town of Pallet. Recently, there were more people moving to the small town ever since they heard about Red being the champion. There were at least 12 kids starting their journey that day. Renard smiled high, said goodbye to the neighborhood stray, then walked the path to Oak's lab. The air was crisp and cool, the sun shined through the leaves and sparkled through the morning dew, giving everything a green tint and optimistic attitude. The road to Oak's was riddled with trees, fences, and houses belonging to the flood of new neighbors. Finally, the building came into view. It was long, tall, and there was a small group forming around the outside.
"You're late! I can't believe you! I'm fining you Ten million!" Barry said, tapping his foot and fiddling with his new Poketch. "So is that new kid..." He said. Renard noticed everyone else had arrived and were waiting for Oak to open his doors to the trainers. "There he is... Zane, I think. Oh, man! I'm fining him one-hundred million..." Barry said. Sure enough, a boy with long shoulder-length silver hair with a few red stripes here and there, a black trench coat, and a pair of black jeans came into view. He walked right past everyone, then knocked on the lab doors.
"So, who is Oak?" Renard asked. "I've never really seen him. My mom said he's an authority on Pokemon..."
"Oak's the greatest Pokemon professor. He's also a top notch expert on Pokemon. I wouldn't expect you to know that, though," Zane retorted in a know-it-all voice. Renard looked at him uneasily as he knocked again.
"He's not here..." Barry said in a sing-song tone.
"He lives here.." Zane replied with a cynical tone. Sure enough, the doors opened, revealing an aged man in a white scientific. Barry gasped, then chuckled sheepishly as Zane and the professor led everyone inside
"Welcome to my lab," the professor began. "I'm professor Oak, and here's where we study Pokemon. Back in my youth, I used to be a top notched trainer... But, I'm getting on in my years, and I still get as much of a thrill seeing new trainers and their first Pokemon." He began his lecture on types, safety, items, leveling up, and evolving. After the two-hour-long lecture was over, and the children were bored to tears, Oak brought out a table with just enough Pokemon for everyone. "Choose wisely. This will be your partner for your fantastic journey! Every one of those Pokemon will have a special surprise. I suggest getting to know them a bit before drastic measures are taken." Oak said. Renard ran up to the table, then grabbed the Pokeball he was sure was Turtwig. He lifted it up, then noticed he was staring into the face of Zane, who also had a grip on the Pokeball. Renard chuckled, then gave the ball a sharp tug. Zane laughed, then pulled on the Pokeball. Soon, the two were tugging and arguing ferociously.
"It's mine..." Renard said, pulling with all his might.
"No, It's MINE" Zane yelled, pulling with both hands. Suddenly, a red laser-like light shot out of the Pokeball, forming an odd shape.
"Squirtle!" the Pokemon cried out. Both Renard and Zane looked at each other, then chuckled. Barry instantly swept up the Squirtle. It was then that the duo noticed name tags on the bottom of each Pokeball. Renard quickly found his Turtwig, and Zane had found his Torchic. Zane pulled out the Torchic Pokeball, then watched as a blue light enveloped the Torchic. Zane grabbed something from his pocket. It was a black ball with vertical silver lines and a scarlet button. He pressed the button, allowing the Torchic to be captured. The ball shook three times before a "click" sound was heard.
"Whoa... Where can I get one of those?" Barry asked, grabbing the ball from his hands.
"It's one of our ideas to prevent Pokemon theft. There are still a few kinks to work out, but it works," Zane said, snatching the ball back. He shifted his gaze toward Renard, who was now staring back. The air was thick with electric tension as the two took their starters out of their ball. "I made them with my dad... Watch this." Zane smirked, then called out Torchic. The Torchic came out of the Pokeball surrounded by blue flames and there was suddenly a 'Z' on its chest.
"Go, Turtwig!" Renard yelled out. "Use Tackle!"
"Counter it with Scratch!" Zane commanded. Turtwig slammed straight into the Torchic, sending it flying backwards. The Torchic's talons started to glow blue, then it started scratching the Turtwig with all of its might. Oak just sighed, then grabbed the Torchic.
"That's enough. Though I advise Pokemon battles, I also advise getting to know your Pokemon a little better before attempting to battle," Oak said. He placed the Torchic back on the ground, then turned to Zane. "You have quite the remarkable invention, there. So, it adapts itself to the Pokemon's nature..."
"Y-yes sir..." Zane said, placing his Torchic on the ground. "But other than that, it's no greater in strength than a Ultra Ball..."
"Hey! I was going to battle Zane!" Barry complained.
"You'll get your turn... I have a suggestion. You two should journey together!" Oak exclaimed. Renard and Zane stared at each other for a few seconds, then looked at Oak.
"...HIM?! Are you NUTS?!" they both yelled, pointing at each other. Oak nodded, then walked over to the phone on his desk. After a few minutes of conversation, he hung up, then dialed another number. There were some choice words exchanged, then the phone was hung up again. All the while, Barry remained sulking and Renard and Zane were left arguing.
"I'm traveling by myself. You can't physically make us travel together..." Renard snapped.
"I can't, but your parents can!" Oak smiled. He handed everyone a Pokedex, then watched the flood of children burst out the door and head on their own adventures. Zane and lance stood there, gaping and pointing at each other with a Pokedex in their unoccupied hand. "Run along. I'm sure your parents would like to say goodbye."
The sun beat down on the duo as they walked along the route. Renard sighed, then sat at the base of a tall, shady Willow. "Come on out, Turtwig..." He said, allowing his Turtwig to rest beside him. Zane sighed, then sat near Renard. His Torchic popped out of its ball in a flurry of blue flames. Before long, the Torchic and Turtwig were getting along and chasing each other around like children. Just then, a Pidgey walked out of the tall grass then approached the group.
"That's a Pidgey..." Zane said, pulling out his Pokedex.
"Pidgey," the Pokedex rang out in a monotonic voice, "the tiny bird Pokemon. It has an extremely sharp sense of direction. It is capable of unerringly returning home to its nest, however far it may be removed from its familiar surroundings." Zane closed it, then pulled a Pokeball out of his pocket. However, before he could throw his unique Z-Ball, a red-and-white Pokeball flew from the opposite direction. It shook three times before standing still. Renard smirked, then watched one of the beginning trainers pick up the Pokeball, and swoop up her Treecko.
"Wow... Pidgey is so cool..." Renard said, showing off his Pokedex. "It eats bugs... I've got to get one..."
"You sure? Pidgey isn't all that great..." Someone said. "My bro had quite a few. Never really worked out with him..." Renard turned around, then noticed a boy standing right next to the tree. He had light brown hair, a green shirt with a blue vest, and a pair of long brown shorts. He grabbed a Pokeball from his belt, enlarged it, and then held it out in front of him. "Name's Joe. I'm kinda interested in a battle. Why fight random wild Pokemon when you could battle a trainer and make 'em stronger that way!"
"Well, let's go," Zane said, becoming his Torchic. "Renard, you stay put. I'll handle him..."
"Why?! I can take you both..." Joe said, pulling a second Pokeball "Go, Chimchar; Go, Spearow!" he shouted, calling out his two Pokemon.
"If that's the way you want it..." Renard said, beckoning his Turtwig. It reluctantly walked over then assumed a fighting stance. "Turtwig, use tackle!" Renard said. Turtwig inhaled deeply then began running at full speed toward his opponent. He started forcing himself to pick up the pace, then connected with the Chimchar. Chimchar was taken aback by the sudden force, then backed up into a tree.
"Spearow, use Pluck." Joe commanded.. Renard stared in awe as Spearow flew toward Turtwig at impossible speeds, then started pecking the tiny-leaf Pokemon ferociously and straight in the face. Turtwig collapsed, then quickly regained his composure. "Surprised, eh? Been saving this baby for something amazing..." He said, holding up a disk. He shoved it in his pocket, then looked at the battle at hand.
"Torchic, use Scratch!" Zane commanded. Torchic's talons were encased in a blue light, then he ran as hard as he could, then jumped, scratching the Chimchar repeatedly. The Torchic jumped back, his chest swelling and releasing a tremendous amount of heat. He opened his mouth, allowing a small blue flame to singe the Spearow. Torchic danced around as Zane praised him for learning Ember.
"Chimchar, counter with Scratch!" Chimchar sighed, then ran full speed toward Torchic. Torchic attempted to dodge but tripped, allowing the Scratch to hit. Torchic, being Lax in nature, simply shrugged it off, then stood back up. Zane looked over swiftly, noticing Renard fiddling around with his Pokedex. Renard smirked, then looked up
"Turtwig, aim a Giga Drain at Spearow..." Renard commanded. Turtwig inhaled as his leaf started to glow. Suddenly, Spearow started glowing green, as Turtwig appeared to receive the energy. Spearow's eyelids became heavy as it fell to the ground, unconscious. Renard cheered, then embraced his Turtwig.
"Wait, how did you know Turtwig knew Giga Drain?!" Zane asked. Renard held up his Pokedex, listing the known moves of Turtwig. "Tackle, Withdraw, and Giga Drain..." Zane mumbled.
"Surprise! This is what Oak was probably talking about..." Renard smirked, finally admitting he knew something Zane didn't..
"I-I knew that... I just didn't want to draw your attention to it..." Zane said, pulling out his Pokedex. "Uh... Torchic, use Swift!" He commanded. Torchic opened his beak, allowing thousands of flaming, blue stars to bombard the defenseless Chimchar.
"If you're right..." Joe began. A sly smirk spread across his face. "Chimchar, use Arial Ace, and take out that Turtwig!" Chimchar began rushing at the Turtwig. Renard watched in awe as Chimchar jumped high in the air and prepaired to nosedive straight toward Turtwig. Turtwig took the hit head-on, effectively knocking it out. Renard grunted, then picked up Turtwig and sat under the tree. Being a sensitive young lad, he choked back the tears and congratulated the Turtwig for a battle well fought.
"All right. Torchic, use Scratch, and give it everything you've got!" Torchic ran toward the Chimp Pokemon, raising his blue-glowing claw but missed. Chimchar instinctively unleashed an Arial Ace, effective knocking the Torchic to its knees and out of the battle. Zane growled then withdrew his Torchic. Joe smirked, then withdrew his Chimchar, then started walking in the opposite direction.
"You're going to need to be a lot stronger if you're going to think about joining the Pokemon League." Joe said with a cocky smirk. Before Zane- or anyone else, for that mater- knew what happened, he caught Joe with a jab to the stomach. Renard immediately rushed toward him, holding him back as much as he could. "I'm just saying," Joe said, almost unaffected by the assault, "That you should get just a bit better... Catch a Pokemon, then not suck when it comes to battling!" Joe said, walking past the duo that was struggling with each other.
Renard and Zane walked. They walked as the evening sun beat down on them and their exhausted Pokemon. Viridian City was finally in view, and the two ran, carrying their Pokemon toward the town. Renard wiped the sweat from his brow, then climbed up the last hill and through the last patch of grass and finally into the city limits. Right there, the first building to your left was the Pokemon Center. Zane breathed a sigh of relief, then led the way into the building. At least half of the kids starting out that day had made it there. Zane took a seat in the corner as Lance placed their Pokemon at the counter.
There was a long awkward silence.
"So..." Renard began. "Uh...You know Oak?"
"Well, not really. Kind of; my dad knows him. More of a friend-of-a-friend deal...." Zane replied, moving one of his bangs to the side. "You were at a bad disadvantage in that match..."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Renard asked, running a hand through his close-to-scarlet hair.
"I'm just saying... You were at a disadvantage... Not that big of a deal; we'll get him next time, okay?" Zane said, sighing. "I'm going out to the fields to catch a Pokemon and train my Torchic a bit."
"Okay.... I'll try and get one in the morning..." Renard said. He realized what he'd just said, then looked outside. It was already dusk? He looked around and noticed everyone had gone. How long had they been sitting in silence. Before he knew what happened, he had woken up, still on the bench with an amazing hunger. He noticed Zane passed out and covered with dirt. Possibly because he was sprawled out on the floor He sat up, grabbed a sandwich from his bag, and then shared some of it with his Turtwig, who happily ate away. Zane was up almost instantly after hearing the hungry noises from above him.
"Huh? What time is it?" Zane said in a half groggy slumber.
"Torrrr..." The Torchic groaned as it popped out of the ball. It yawned, scratched the "Z" on its back, then curled up next to Turtwig.
"N...Nido…" a Pokemon called out. Lance looked at the pinkish Pokemon behind Zane.
"Like it? It's a Nidoran!" Zane said, grinning from ear to ear. Lance pulled out his pokedex, which instantly recognized the picture.
"Nidoran Female. The Poison Pin Pokemon," The monotonic voice rang out. "Although small, its venomous barbs render this Pokémon dangerous. They stiffen their ears to sense danger. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom. The female has smaller horns." Renard looked at it in shock. The picture showed was of a blue creature, but the one shown there was obviously pink-ish. It definitely had small horns... Zane snatched the Pokedex, then whipped out his own. "Nidoran Female. The Poison Pin Pokemon," The monotonic voice rang out. "Although small, its venomous barbs render this Pokémon dangerous. They stiffen their ears to sense danger. The larger its horns, the more powerful its secreted venom. The female has smaller horns."
"There's something wrong with this. It's clearly a Male... See? It's all pink!" Zane said, picking up the venomous Pokemon. "It took 4 attempts, but I finally caught one."
"We ought to get going..." Lance said, picking up his bag and his precious Turtwig. "Besides, I've got a date with a Pidgey!"
Authors notes: Okay. You might have quite a few questions. I'll include them in the authors notes. First off, you're wondering about the "Z" ball, am I right? I am, aren't I? Well, let's get one thing straight. The "Z" ball is designed to make the Pokemon unique. It doesn't make the moves any stronger than they already are. The Swift, for example, still has a base attack of 60. The blue flames are just for show. The blue? The Flames? Well, Torchic has a Lax nature. We've decided to give each Nature a color. Lax nature is more of a light robin's egg blue. Plus, the fact that Torchic is a fire type makes the move appear as if it were on fire, but that's merely an illusion. I must again stress that the move is no more powerful than a regular Swift. The "Z" Ball idea was created by Shadow Shinobi57
Another question?! How does Turtwig know Giga Drain? Torchic knows Swift? Well, you remember Oak's rant on how each Pokemon is unique? Well, We have decided that those starters were bred, giving them awesome egg moves, such as Swift for Torchic and Arial Ace for Chimchar.
Barry, you ask? Well, I decided to include him in this fic more as an alternate reality kind of thing.
15? Yes. The characters are indeed 15 years old. This is, again, an alternate world. A world where criminal gangs would run around like they owned the place... because they DID own the place. Question. Would your parents let you go out into a world with Team Rocket running the place at age Ten? Would you let your child at ten years old go? I don't think so.
Zane? You wish for a physical description of Zane? Well, if you go to my profile and click at the link named Zane at the top of the page, you'll go to my Deviantart account. That is, if you'd like spoilers. It took a lot of modifications to that sprite... I didn't feel like re-creating that for every region. By the way, Shadow Shinobi57 created the idea and description of Zane.
Renard? Well, You can click on the link to see Renard and all of his different outfits... Be warned. We changed his name from Lance to Renard after realizing halfway through that that would contradict with the main story. The character Lance? I thought you'd get it, you sly dog
Well, there you go. Have more questions? I'll happily answer them within the hour... Good day!