Coronet: A Nuzlocke

Chapter One: Humble Beginnings

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon or the Nuzlocke Challenge.

Note: For those of you unfamiliar with the Nuzlocke Challenge, I highly recommend it. There are two basic rules:

1. You must catch the first Pokémon you see in any given route.

2. If a Pokémon faints, it is considered dead, and must be released.

It's a great way to add a bit of spice (and lots of emotion) to playthroughs of any Pokémon game.

It had been over a month since I graduated from Twinleaf High, but I had yet to see the world. Most of my classmates left already, a large group at the beginning, then one by one; some to seek their fortunes in the metropolises of eastern Sinnoh, others to see Mt. Coronet, still others to enroll in the Trainer's School or the Ranger's School. I just couldn't bring myself to leave, to venture out into the unknown.

I had no clue what I wanted to do with my life, but I knew I wouldn't find it here - nothing ever happens in Twinleaf Town. We sometimes get tourists looking to see Lake Verity to the northwest, but they rarely stay long. Someday I would have to leave, but it wouldn't be today. Twinleaf is a sleepy town. And I'm a sleepy seventeen-year-old…

"Lucas!"

The shout from downstairs woke me from my reverie, and reminded me of my tasks at the farm. If there's one thing I'm decent at, it's farming - decent enough, at least, to get a job at Twinleaf's humble berry farm. I loved the feel of the soil in my hands and roots under my feet, the smell of Pechas in the morning and Orans at night.

Once in a while, a stray Starly or Bidoof would make their way into the farm, and, if my supervisor wasn't looking, I would toss them a couple of berries. Some of the adults were a bit rattled by my apparent friendliness with the local wildlife, but I saw no harm in it. After all, they're just Pokémon.

I slipped on my jacket and adjusted my cap – it was winter, time for the minor harvest – and made my way down the stairs.

"Hey, mom," I began casually. She looked up from the TV (probably the latest episode of Thundershock My Heart) and began to berate me for being late again.

"You can't wake up this late every day, Lucas, they're not going to let you back on the job."

I grumbled, "We don't even start until eight, I see no reason to be up before seven." I grabbed a roll of bread and headed out the door, anxious to be on my way now that I had to be going.

The cool breeze welcomed me as I jogged down the road, the farm just up ahead.

"Ho, Luke! Tardy again, are we? The more things change, the more they stay the same!" I would recognize that voice anywhere. Barry Jun, my longtime acquaintance and now fellow worker. He's the only one who calls me Luke, much to my annoyance.

"What's up?" I asked flatly.

"Hey, special assignment today." Now he had my interest. He brushed his windswept hair out of his face and continued, "The boss wants us to head out to Sandgem, pick up the shipment of new seedlings."

I stopped walking, confused. "I thought it wasn't due for another week?"

"It came early." Barry deadpanned.

"Thanks, captain obvious. Well, if that's what he wants, I guess."

"Yeah, come on, let's get going already!" He took off at a dash (as usual) for the edge of town, while I followed at a more leisurely pace (as usual).

An hour later, we stood in front of Route 201. The sun was beginning to relinquish its mighty rays of heat to Sinnoh, but I thought better of shedding my jacket; with Barry, anything could happen, and I had to be prepared.

"Are you sure this is safe?" I asked him.

"Of course," he replied, "unless you're chicken. Are you chicken?"

"Shut up, we're not ten years old." I grumbled. Barry just laughed.

"Y'know, I think if we ran reaaally fast, we could make it to Sandgem without running into any wild Pokémon. I mean, if we do, it wouldn't be too much of a problem." He gestured to a chest-height stick leaning against a tree.

I was, to say the least, skeptical. "You think you could knock out or kill a wild Pokémon with a stick?"

"If it comes down to it, yeah. I would've rather boss sent Misha to Sandgem, she's got that Shinx that always follows her around, but he asked us." Barry shrugged like it didn't matter. "So, Luke, you ready?"

"Look, Barry, I really don't think this is a good –"

"HOLD IT!" Barry and I whirled around to locate the source of the exclamation – an ancient man, dressed in a foreign suit, who seemed to have just exited Lake Verity.

"Who's this guy?" Barry muttered.

"I'm Rowan. Professor Rowan." said the man. "And you would do well to remember that. Now, what are you youngsters doing out in the tall grass? Wild Pokémon are abundant here, and not necessarily friendly. Hmmm… I don't see any Poké Balls on either of you. It's dangerous to go this way without protection."

Barry looked perplexed. "Rowan… Like the Pokémon Professor? The guy we learned about last year in Pokémon Evolution and Ethics?"

Rowan chuckled, "Yes, that one. Now, who are you two?"

"We're from Twinleaf… uh, I'm Barry, and this is Luke – er, Lucas." I nodded in greeting.

"A reckless pair of young men who do not hesitate to put themselves in danger… It worries me what people like this would do with Pokémon."

Barry, of course, couldn't let that go. "Hey! All we wanted to do was get to Sandgem! No need to start criticizing us or anything."

A new voice startled him out of his rant. "Professor. You left your briefcase at the lake." A girl appeared behind Rowan, as if from a portal. From the three Poké Balls clipped to her bag, I reasoned she was a Trainer – the Professor's assistant, perhaps? She looked to be about twenty, with eyes of steel and the body of one used to hardships. She wore a light pink coat, with a matching beanie and scarf covering her long blue hair.

"Many thanks, Dawn. I'm afraid I'm getting a bit forgetful in my old age. What I was about to do was entrust these two with their own Pokémon. I think it is the right thing to do."

Astonished, Dawn disagreed. "Professor, these Pokémon are difficult to replace, and you're just going to give them away?"

Wait. He was giving us Pokémon? I never wanted to become a Trainer, I didn't even consider going to the Trainer's School. I wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a very, very bad one.

Rowan spoke again. "I'm sure. Now, let's see the briefcase."

"But, Professor, I don't think – " This time it was Barry who interjected.

"It's rude to refuse a gift," said the Professor with a wink, "Now! Time to choose your Pokémon. Pick wisely; this Pokémon may come to mean something very special to you. Let's start with you, the quiet one; Lucas, was it?" Rowan undid the clasps on the briefcase and presented the contents to me. Three Poké Balls rested on a foam surface. "Chimchar, Piplup, or Turtwig – the choice is yours."

Seeing as I really had no say in the matter, I had to pick one. Ignoring the Professor's watchful eye, I grabbed the Poké Ball containing Piplup, the Water type. It was the only one whose name I recognized – was it from the Evolution and Ethics class? I couldn't remember.

"A good choice, Lucas. And for you, Barry?"

Barry chose Turtwig. "You didn't go for the Grass type, Luke? And here I thought you were the one with the green thumb." I just shrugged.

Rowan closed the briefcase and gave us a steely gaze. "Take care of those Pokémon, you two. I hope you can learn what magnificent creatures they are. I see potential in you. If you have any questions, please, stop by my lab in Sandgem Town. Now, Dawn, let's be off." With that, he strode away purposefully, through the tall grass.

Dawn went to follow him, but stopped momentarily in front of Barry and I. "Don't be idiots," she half-whispered, half-seethed, "You hold their lives in your hands."

She was right, of course, but I would not understand until much later.