Hello everyone. I'm back with, yes, yet another story. Now then, before I begin, remember when Pokémon first aired on TV and the first series trading cards and Game Boy games came out?
Even though I went to school in Provencal Louisiana, a small town where everbody knew each other and didn't dare do anything stupid for fear of somebody calling up ma and pa and telling them what had happened, I and a few of my friends were some of the biggest Pokémaniacs at the school.
Pokémon first aired in America when I was in the 6th Grade and to be honest, I stuck with the games well into High School and beyond simply because the idea of an adventure of this magnitude excited me.
Now then, y'all didn't click on this story to listen to my ramblings about the 'good ol' days' so here's the story, I hope y'all like it.
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING OR ANYONE IN THE POKÉMON UNIVERSE. ONLY MY OCS.
Prologue: A New Adventure
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The first thing to make it through the haze of the midday drouse was the alarm clock going off for the umteenth time. As if on reflex, a hand shot from beneath the covers and smashed down onto the snooze button. A moment later, the covers shot up as he looked at the clock with disbelieving eyes.
A second later, the boy, fifteen, dashed into the closet to change into some fresh clothes as well as clean himself up (he had slept in his clothes he wore yesterday and they were filthy).
The boy's name is Colin, and he is the third of four brothers, all of whom are Pokémon Trainers. Colin never once thought about going out into the world to become a Pokémon Trainer like his brothers but a few days ago, something happened that changed his mind completely. The reason for this change of heart was waiting at the Pokémon Center here in Viridian City.
Colin rushed out of his room and ran towards the PC, eager to check upon the Pokémon he had saved yesterday. Thinking back to what happened, Colin could hardly believe what he had seen much less what he had done.
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(Flashback, Yesterday)
Colin was out walking the path of Viridian Forest as he always did whenever he was thinking. He had spent so long in the forest that he knew the names of those trainers who stayed in the forest all the time gathering bug-type pokemon. He would often talk with them whenever they weren't busy and thanks to them he knew what areas of the forest were dangerous and what parts were not. Today however, he decided to venture into a part of the forest he had not explored before, keeping an ear open and an eye out for the tell-tale signs of Beedrill hives and other hazards.
He had just rounded a great tree when there was a rustling in the grass. Colin immediately went on alert and pressed himself against the tree. He quickly reviewed the types of Pokémon that lived in Viridian Forest.
(Common encounters are Caterpie and Weedle. Of the two, Weedle is the more dangerous because of their poisonous stinger but they don't often attack unless provoked...then again, it could also be a Rattata, Pidgey, or Spearow and of them Spearow is highly territorial...Rarer encounters are Pidgeotto and Pikachu...)
His mind raced as he prepared for whatever emerged from the grass but then heard a sound he hadn't heard before...a soft keening noise.
(No Pokémon in Viridian makes that cry...what in the...?!)
At that moment, a louder rustling was heard and two men emerged from the woodline. They wore black clothes with white gloves and boots, the letter 'R' was emblazoned in red. Colin couldn't help but feel shocked by them.
It was common knowledge that Team Rocket had been disbanded over ten years ago but yet there were some who still held onto their criminal behaviors. These 'holdouts' had been a constant thorn in the side of the Police and the Trainer communities as a whole. Dropping low to the ground, Colin closed to overhear them. They seemed to be argueing about something.
"Drat! We lost it!"
"If you hadn't tripped over that blasted Kakuna..."
"I tripped? Who was it who was startled by a Caterpie, a Caterpie, and fell into the river?"
"It wasn't my fault...that Pidgey was also flying low and buzzed me...
"Excuses, excuses. If we don't find that Pokémon, the Boss'll put us out to dry."
"Shh! Listen...I think it's over there."
The taller of the two pointed in the direction of the clump of bushes where Colin had heard the first rustle and they slowly creeped up onto it. At that moment, the bushes burst outward and out came a Pokémon the likes of which Colin had never seen in person before.
It was small, had a light-blue body, a white belly and snout, two white earfrills, a small horn dead center of its head and two large expressive eyes. Colin felt his breath catch.
He was staring at a Dratini, an ultra-rare Dragon-type Pokémon.
The Dratini keened and he heard the note of pain in its voice and saw the scuffs along its serpentine body. It was clearly hurt and in bad need of help. The tall Team Rocket goon chuckled and Colin heard two 'clicks' and saw them ready stun wands.
"Nice of you to come out and play Dratini. The Boss really wants to meet with you."
The Dratini frowned and keened again. It looked around curiously and then eyed the goons with a determined expression. The second of the goons, shorter and rounder than his comrade, took out a tablet and began looking through it.
"This Dratini is rather young. Probably fresh from the egg. Possible moves fresh from the egg are: Haze, Mist, Supersonic, Dragon Rush, Light Screen, Dragonbreath and Dragon Dance. It possibly knows Wrap and Leer...Hmm...it also says there is a chance that it may also learn Draco Meteor..."
The Dratini released a shrill sound that shook the bushes and sent a few Caterpie and Rattata scurrying about in a daze. The short goon rubbed his ears and growled.
"Guess it knows Supersonic."
A second later, Dratini started moving about. Colin could see its body building up strength. His breatg caught again as he realized the move.
(Dragon Dance...Dratini must be building up power...but for what?)
The goon noticed this too and then readied themselves.
"It's used Dragon Dance! Take it now before it decided what attack to use!"
"Right! Your foe's weak! Get 'em!"
The tall goon threw a Pokéball and a second later, an Ekans appeared.
"Ekans! Wrap!"
The snake Pokémon leapt towards Dratini who suddenly went wide-eyed in fear. Colin felt his body tense and then did something he'd never done before.
He leapt from the bushes yelling at the top of his lungs and tackled Ekans. The goons yelled in stunned anger as Colin ran for Dratini. The weakened dragon looked at him with a resigned expression as he scooped it up into his arms. He turned to face the goons.
"Hey kid! Hand us our Dratini and maybe we'll let you off easy for tackling my partner!" Colin looked at Dratini which was now breathing weakly and then back at the goons, his eyes a mix of anger and fear. He glanced at Dratini again and back at them and said the first thing he could think of. An insult he and his brothers had always tossed at each other when they were angry or playing.
"Go dance with a Mankey!"
With that, Colin turned and ran back into the brush as fast as he could, the goons outraged yells reaching him as they tried, unsuccessfully, to follow him. He heard a hiss behind him and spared a glance to see the goon's Ekans slithering along after him. He made every effort to push his legs to run faster.
He was unaware that Dratini had one eye cracked open and was watching him, sensing and reading his emotions.
Colin burst out of the brush and onto the trail that led back to Viridian City and gasped with relief. Too soon.
"Ekans! Slam!"
Colin felt the attack and he went forward, the wind knocked out of him. Clutching Dratini close to him, he rolled to keep from falling atop it and lay flat on his back as he tried to gasp and right himself. The goons came out of the brush with smug expressions. The tall one held out his hand.
"Hand over Dratini kid. You're got nothing left." Colin righted himself and managed to gain a foot but was on one knee.
"N...N-Never." The goon sighed and then thought back irritated at something.
"Stubborn. Just like that brat." The short goon nodded but then closed.
"Never mind, we'll take it by force."
Dratini's eyes shot open as they closed and it released a burst of energy into the air that exploded with a loud resounded 'BANG!' and several energy bursts came raining down as the goons paled. The short one turned back to the tall one and audibly gulped.
"It knows D-Draco Meteor." The tall goon looked at the shorter and growled.
"You think?!"
The Draco Meteor attack rained down and created several explosions that threw dirt and dust into the air and startled countless Pokémon out of their hiding spots. Colin looked to see the goons recall a fainted Ekans and turn tail and run in the opposite direction as Dratini, breathing heavily, closed its eyes and went to sleep in his arms. Colin vaguely heard people calling his name as he blanked out.
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(Present Day)
Colin had come to later and explained everything to the Police and his parents who were just as shocked as he was to see a Dratini here in the middle of the Kanto region. Nurse Joy at the PC took Dratini to the recovery room and had been working with it all night. After making sure he wasn't severely injured, Colin had been released to go home and to get some rest.
Now he was on his way to the PC to see Dratini, as well as the person who had called his family yesterday afternoon.
Professor Oak from Pallet Town was coming to Viridian and wanted to see Colin.
Inside the PC, Colin was immediatley led to a back room where not only the Professor, but also Nurse Joy, Officer Jenny, the woman who led the Police force, sat and nearby, in a small wading pool, was Dratini, looking much recovered from its ordeal and it started crying out happily when it saw him. Colin heard Professor Oak laugh and then was motioned to a chair near him.
As Colin took a seat, Professor Oak began.
"Colin, so glad to finally meet you. As you have no doubt who I am allow me to get to the reason you were called here. I'm aware that your brothers are all Pokémon trainers and have gone on their own journies. Your younger brother Derrick, is currently here in Kanto working to get to the Pokémon League. Your second oldest brother, Ben, is in Johto, and your eldest brother, Alphonse or 'Al' as you call him, is currently in Unova. Now then. Ten years ago, a Trainer I sent on a journey, Red, successfully completed the Pokédex, became the Champion of both Kanto and Johto Pokémon Leagues, and was also responsible for the defeat and dissolution of Team Rocket. However, despite their leader vanishing without a trace, some 'holdouts' continue their thieving ways. Red was last seen in Johto but has since vanished."
At that moment, Dratini leapt out of the pool, crawled to Colin, and he picked it up and held it, all the while it crooned happily. Professor Oak smiled and then continued.
"This Dratini as you know is a rare Dragon-type Pokémon. Not only was it completely out of its normal habitat but it knows a powerful move like Draco Meteor right from the start. We do not have all the information about this new Team Rocket as of yet but we suspect they will try for Dratini again. To remedy that situation, Dratini must be continuously on the move, simultaneously growing and becoming stronger. In short Colin, I am asking you to become a Trainer and take Dratini with you. Naturally you will need another Pokémon to accompany you as Dratini is still too weak from using Draco Meteor to withstand continuous battle. To that end I have brought the three starter Pokémon for new trainers to Kanto."
Nurse Joy opened a briefcase by Professor Oak revealing three pokéballs.
"This Pokémon will grow as strong a bond with you as Dratini will as you travel. You are, to my knowledge, the only trainer to start his journey with a Dragon-type in tow. Your eldest brother Al started with an Eevee but that's something completely different. Now then, what will you choose? The Grass-type Bulbasaur? The Fire-type Charmander? Or the Water-type Squirtle? Remember that each Pokémon is unique and has their own characters."
Colin remembered the Eevee his brother Al had raised from the egg and then taken on his journey some years ago. He also remembered Ben's Bulbasaur and Derrick's Squirtle and then pointed at the center ball.
"I'll choose Charmander." Professor Oak nodded and handed Charmander's ball to Colin. Almost immediately Charmander burst forth from the Pokéball and looked up to Colin and Dratini.
"You know? Red started out with Charmander as well when he started his journey. This Charmander actually came from overseas in the Kalos region and appears to be as calm as any Pokémon I've ever seen. Considering Dratini's emotions, a calm friend to balance its own activeness isn't such a bad mix. I have little doubt that the two of them will become friends."
Colin nodded then turned to the Professor.
"So then Professor Oak, you want me to start out on a journey of my own?" Professor Oak nodded.
"Indeed. If Team Rocket is one thing they are persistant. You may have to dodge them every step of the way as they will most assuredly try to steal Dratini from you. Now then, rest assured we won't simply leave you in the wind like this, we will be trying to pin down Team Rocket and thus remove the blight they represent. In the meanwhile, I've dispatched my assistants to help you on your journey, once you collect a certain number of badges or record a certain number of Pokémon...oh! While we're on that subject, here."
Professor Oak handed Colin a small computer that flipped up and held a holodisplay. Curious, he pointed it at Charmander and the machine beeped, three red lights came on, changed to yellow, a fourth came on, changed to green then all four finally flashed blue.
"Pokédex Model 15B-6 Calibration complete. Pokémon ID confirmed. Number 004, Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. Great care must be taken when raising Charmander as the flame on its tail symbolizes its health. If the flame were to weaken, Charmander's life would be in danger." Colin's eyes snapped open and Professor Oak chuckled as he moved the Pokédex to Dratini next.
"Poké ID confirmed. Number 147, Dratini, the little dragon Pokémon. Found often near bodies of water, they are extremely hard to find as their skin helps them blend into the water. According to Fisherman tales, to see one is a symbol of good luck."
"That is the newest model of the Pokédex. It is an international version that has already been approved for use. While on your journey, try to collect as much data on Pokémon as you can. This is the first truly international Pokédex that will not require various upgrades or data compilations to complete. You will not need to keep individual Pokédexes from your journies and compile their data as was the norm. Now you can go anywhere. However, you will only be allowed to enter the next League Championship by first completing the one you are entered in." Colin looked to the Professor curiously.
"Meaning I can't go to Johto, Hoenn, Unova, or Kalos until I complete the Kanto Leage challenge right?" Professor Oak nodded.
"Now then, as you are a bit of a late starter, let me give you these as well."
Professor Oak handed Colin six Pokéballs which he placed on his belt.
"Now then, there's only one last thing to do..."
Professor Oak motioned for Colin to withdraw one of the balls and then pointed at Dratini.
"Dratini is, by all means a wild Pokémon even though it has taken a liking to you. Dratini will be in less danger of being caught by Team Rocket if it is inside a Pokéball. Plus, by catching, raising, and evolving Dratini, you can further the Pokédex." Colin nodded then turned to Dratini.
"How about it Dratini? You want to come with me?" Dratini looked at Colin, then to the Pokéball, then bumped the device with its head. The ball opened and Dratini disappeared in a bright light. A red light came on in the ball for three seconds than clicked as the ball sealed. Professor Oak looked at Colin and smiled.
"Congratulations. You've just caught your first Pokémon." Colin called Dratini out and pet it as the Professor turned to leave. Colin looked at him and sighed.
"Professor, how will I contact you or Officer Jenny if I happen to discover something?" At that Nurse Joy came up and beamed.
"If you wish to contact anyone, simply use the PC in all Pokémon Centers. Or, if you have a Pokétech you can use it."
"Any recomendations where I should go first?" Professor Oak beamed and then pointed to a map on the wall.
"The traditional first stop for first-time trainers is the Gym in Pewter City. The Leader there, Brock, is the first hurdle many trainers face on their journey. Brock is also a Pokémon Breeder so he has experience in seeing what a Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses are. Before any of that though, head to the Mart here in Viridian and prepare yourself. It will be some time before you see home again."