I've heard tales of an infamous challenge in the Pokemon world. The Nozleaf Challenge? No wait, the Nuzleaf challenge I believe it was! Anyway, word of it caught my ear and I decided "what's the harm in this so-called challenge?" So I packed my bags and laced my shoes with the drive to conquer this challenge. After all, all challenges are meant to be beaten right?
"Last stop: Pallet Town!"
The sailor called alerting the patron of arrival at his destination. The sole patron had a rather dark complexion wearing a red and white cap pulled over his face. He wore a red sleeveless coat with a black shirt underneath, blue jeans, and black shoes. He rested against the railings in a half-sleep state only for the sound of 'Pallet Town' awakening him. He raised his cap revealing his brown eyes to see the blue sky above him.
"So I've finally made it." He said to himself as he rose to his feet to show his height of roughly 6'2. He picked up his green backpack by his side and a draped a single strap over his shoulder as he went to leave the ship.
"Not many people disembark at Pallet, ya'know?" the sailor commented as the patron walked by him. "What's your reason?"
"I'm just a guy taking on a little challenge. Nothing more, nothing less." The patron said not even turning to face the sailor.
Pallet Town was a small and simple town, yet it held a large esteem in Kanto often cited as being the home of many legendary and famed trainers. A small smile appeared across the wanderer's lips.
He got several odd looks from the habitants, evident that they knew he was an outsider. It didn't matter much to him he would only be here for a short time.
"Pardon me." He asked a passing goer. "Where is Professor's Oak's lab?"
"Oh, it's that house over there." The goer said before continuing on his way.
He made his way to the lab and entered ready to start his journey.
"Sorry, Professor Oak isn't here." An assistant said.
"What do you mean he's not here!?" the wanderer exclaimed. "Where is he!?"
The assistant shrugged her shoulders.
'This has to be some sort of joke.' The wanderer thought angrily.
He stormed out of the lab looking for the missing professor.
"Pallet Town isn't big enough for someone not to know where he is." He said looking in all directions.
He searched for roughly five minutes looking behind, around, and in each of the three houses, but didn't find him. How could no one not know? How could he be hiding? Where could he be hiding?
"Screw this. I'm out of here." The frustrated wanderer said as he made his way for the exit of Pallet Town. He hardly touched a blade of grass to exit before he felt himself yanked by the collar of his coat.
"And where do you think you're going?"
The wanderer turned to see the man he was looking for: Professor Oak.
"It's dangerous to travel without a Pokemon." He said in lecturing tone.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." The wanderer said not even bothering to heed his warning.
"You're not from Kanto are you?"
"Nope. I came a long way to get here. So let's cut to the chase already."
"Well follow me then."
"Aren't you a little old to be trainer?" an arrogant brown haired boy said.
"I'm sorry I couldn't hear you with that pacifier in your mouth." The wanderer replied. "Could you repeat that?
"Enough you two!" Oak intervened. "Gary, have some manners!"
Gary clicked his teeth in an annoyed fashion.
"I didn't get your name." Oak said looking to the wanderer.
"Just call me Tony." He said.
"Well Tony, you're notable older for someone to be starting their journey." Oak continued.
"That's nice. Can I get my pokemon already?"
"I'm with the old man on this one." Gary said.
A red stress mark appeared on Tony's head at the word 'old'. This Gary kid was really working his way to the top of the sugar-honey-ice-tea list.
"Simmer down you two." Oak said pointing to three Pokéballs on the table. "There are three-"
"Me first!" the two trainers to be said pushing and shoving to get first dibs on the starters.
"-Pokemon to choose from."
The scrap created a small dust cloud as the two trainers to be punched and kicked at each other eventually the pile ran right into the table knocking two Pokeballs into the dust storm.
"Finally! I'm gonna school you sooooo hard kid!" Tony said arising from the pile with a Pokeball in hand. "You'll regret calling me old!"
"You should probably retire while you're still behind." Gary retorted rising with a Pokeball in his hand. "You wouldn't wanna throw your back out."
"I'm only twenty-two you brat!" Tony said as his eyes turned white with rage.
"Both of you-" Oak tried to intervene.
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" The trainers both shouted knocking Oak over with the sound waves.
Both threw their Pokeballs and revealed their Pokemon.
"Squirtle! Squirtle!"
"Char! Char!"
"Nice pick." Gary taunted as he pointed to Tony's starter Charmander.
"NOOOOOO!" Tony yelled to the heavens falling to his knees.
"You gonna cry?" Gary said in a fake pity voice. "Kinda sad to see a grown man cry."
"You're done kid!" Tony said.
"Attack!" both trainers commanded.
The turtle and lizard jumped in front of each other staring intensely at one another. They both raised their hands ready to swing.
"Char!"
"Squirtle!"
They quickly initiated into what could only be described as a slap fight between two kids. Both Tony and Gary started in shock of the sight. The once combative air became one of embarrassment. Both Tony and Gary face palmed to hide their shame.
The fight went on for five minutes as the two Pokemon tired themselves out only to collapse tiredly on against one another to slump the floor. They started to lightly snore like newborns.
"Let's never speak of this again." Both trainers said.
"Now, if you two are done." Oak started, "I need you to run an errand for me."
"Yes…" the trainers said dropping their heads.
"So this is a Pokedex." Tony said looking around in intrigue. "Pretty cool."
Tony walked with his Charmander skipping innocently behind him like a small child.
"I think so too." childish female voice said.
"You think so- wait, who said that?" Tony said looking behind him.
"I did."
Tony slowly turned his head and looked down at his Charmander. Did he hit his head or something?
"Seriously, who said that?" Tony trying to convince himself otherwise.
"I said I did!" the Charmander said jumping in a bratty fashion.
"Pokemon…can talk…?" Tony said in disbelief.
"We all can talk, but on special trainers can understand us."
"Then what were you saying in the lab?"
"I was just saying 'Char'."
"Seriously? Sure why not." Tony said accepting the developments. "Come on Charmander."
Tony took a few steps noticing his Charmander was not following behind him.
"I don't want to be Charmander!" she said puffing her cheeks.
"But that's what you are." Tony said.
"Can't you give me a different name?" Charmander said begging with her eyes. Tony could feel something eating away at him as he looked into those child-like eyes.
"Okay, okay! Just stop doing…that!" Tony said shielding his eyes.
"Yay! Trainer's going to name me!" Charmander cheered as she tackled Tony's stomach knocking him over.
"And stop doing that!" Tony said winded. Tony sat himself up holding the Charmander under her arms. The Charmander giggled as he lifted her. "Hm…you look like a Jessie to me."
Jessie's eyes lit up with glee at the name before diving head first into Tony.
"I love it!" she said rubbing against Tony's face with hers.
"It's not that big of a deal."
"It is a big deal! Trainer gave me name, that makes it special!" Jessie exclaimed.
So the challenge starts with a level five Charmander named Jessie and the first bonds were created between Trainer and Pokemon.