Chris left the ship, glad that he was finally off of that blasted island. He had always felt cooped up back home, and now that he was 16 he was considered an adult, and was able to leave the island. He was finally able to become a trainer.

He'd always been fascinated by trainers, having heard them tell their stories for years back home. He would often go onto the ships--under escort of a sailor, of course--and watch the trainers battle each other. He wanted to be part of that.

He also had one thing that most trainers didn't: the ability to understand Pokemon. He'd been very close to some of the Pokemon back on the island, and over time learned to talk to them.

The first thing that Chris did was to go to the Pokemon Center to register, and the Pokemon Mart to buy some Pokeballs. Now to go catch one. He knew how to do it, having been told by trainers in the port. Of course, normally someone gave you your first Pokemon, but he had something else in mind.

He walked back to the pier, and went down by the water. "Hey, come on out! I'm ready!" He waited for a moment, and then he saw a familiar form coming up out of the water. "Hey Dratini! How was the trip?"

"Long. I'm tired." Dratini had been Chris's closest friend among the Pokemon back home, and had wanted to come with him, so she'd hidden under the ship throughout the trip.

"Well, I've got a Pokeball here that you can rest in. Then I'll really be a trainer and we'll officially be partners." He brought out the red and white ball and tossed it to Dratini.

"Ok, let's do it." Dratini tapped the Pokeball with her tail, and disappeared inside. A red light started to glow on the front, but turned off quickly.

"Cool. We've really begun. Let's do this!"

The first thing that Chris did was to go over to the gym. He'd heard about the gyms, and knew that the badges earned by defeating the gym leaders were needed to go to the Pokemon league. He read the sign out front, and his resolve was strengthened. The gym leader used Electric Pokemon, and Dratini was resistant to electric attacks. He didn't expect much trouble.

"Hey, we've got a new challenger! I haven't seen a new face for quite a while. You don't look like you're from around here, kid. Where you from?"

"From the southern islands. Just got here on the ship in the bay. Wanted to see if the stories are true."

"Stories, huh?"

"On my island, Pokemon training is forbidden, but I've heard stories from trainers, and wanted to come myself."

"So, you just got here from an island that forbids training, and you want to fight me? This should be fun. Raichu, go!"

"Dratini, let's do this!" The two Pokemon stared at each other. Surge looked confident of victory. Chris was ready to see what he could do.

"Raichu, Thunderbolt."

"Dratini, Dragon Rage!"

Dratini shook off the electric shock. Raichu was shaken, but recoiled quickly.

"Raichu, Thunder!"

"Dratini, Outrage."

Chris enjoyed this, the adrenaline rush of battling. Surge was looking worried. Dratini had avoided the attack and hit Raichu hard.

"Raichu, hit it with Thunder!"

"Keep it up, Dratini! You can do it!"

Dratini's subsequent attack sent Raichu flying into the wall before he could respond. She hit again before he even regained his feet. Raichu hit the wall again, and slumped onto the floor, unable to rise.

"Yeah! Nice work, Dratini! We did it!"

"Good job, kid. You've got a lot of power and skill, despite being new. Here's the Thunder badge. Raichu hasn't been thrown around like that for a long time."

"Thank you, Lieutenant. I am glad that we met. I've actually trained unofficially with Dratini here for a few years back home, practicing with the other Pokemon. We know each other really well."

Dratini did a flip, then said "Sure do! That was fun!"

"Wow. You are really close. Good luck, kid."

"Thank you, sir." Chris and Dratini left the gym, and Surge went to heal Raichu, preparing for another challenge.

Chris was in lavender town. He'd left Vermilion heading east, and this was the nearest town this way. He and Dratini had battled a few times along the way, trainers and wild Pokemon, but none of the wild Pokemon were very strong, so he hadn't caught any. Now he was in the Pokemon Center, getting Dratini healed from the few wounds she had taken from a Quick Attack or Swift that had gotten through.

He headed outside once she was ready, and they turned and stared at Pokemon Tower. There were ghost Pokemon in there, and maybe some others. Ghosts would be very useful to have. They headed in, and suddenly he was struck with a feeling of sadness. All of these headstones were for dead Pokemon. Most had died of illness or old age, but a few had died of other reasons. Like Team Rocket. Their cruelty was inexcusable. Chris resolved to take down any of them who he met and make them pay.

Chris continued to climb the tower, having heard from the Channelers that there was something odd going on upstairs. If something was wrong, he'd try and fix it, if he could. He didn't like Pokemon suffering, and wanted to help them. Suddenly, a Gastly appeared in front of him.

"Dratini, use thunder wave!"

The Gastly was stunned, but struck back with Lick. Dratini didn't like it much.

"Now, Dragon Rage!"

THAT one sent Gastly reeling, and Chris threw a Pokeball. The Gastly had been the first wild Pokemon to actually hit Dratini. The red light stayed on for a moment, and then died. He picked up the Pokeball that held his second Pokemon. He called it back out. "Hello, Gastly."

"Yes, Human, what do you want?" His voice was cold and distant as he spoke.

"I want to be friends. You are obviously powerful; otherwise you couldn't have hit Dratini with your attack."

Gastly's expression softened slightly. "Thank you. I'm not too keen on humans, as they are the cause of many of these graves."

"They are also why the Pokemon got a proper burial."

Gastly pondered that for a moment. "True, true. I never thought of it that way."

"I want to stop brutes like the ones who've caused these graves. Will you help me?"

"Yes. Some of them are here now, up on the top floor with the only other human I trust, though he can't talk to me."

"Let's go then."

Chris suddenly felt a nudging at his leg. He looked down, and saw a Cubone poking him with its club. "Um, sir, I want to come too. Those men killed my mommy when she was trying to save me."

"Sure, little guy. We'll make them pay." he put a Pokeball on the floor in front of Cubone. He poked it with his stick and was drawn in. Chris brought him back out to walk with the others. Now he and his three friends continued up the tower to fight the Rockets.

Chris and his Pokemon reached the top floor of Pokemon Tower. There they saw a group of rockets harassing an old man. "Mr. Fuji is in trouble, Chris."

"Hold on, Gastly, I'll take care of it. You guys get into your Pokeballs for now." Chris strode up the last three stairs with his Pokemon in their balls at his belt.

"Hey, kid, what are you doing here?!"

"Looking at the graves. It's a tomb. That's what you do."

"Get out of here, or you'll regret it."

"Regret letting you guys desecrate the place? I doubt it." Chris continued walking towards them.

"Fine, then we'll battle over it. Raticate, Go!"

"Gastly, you're up."

The Pokemon appeared, staring each other down. "Gastly, Psychic!"

"Raticate, Sand Attack!"

Gastly hit full force with the attack, whereas Raticate missed completely.

"Now, Hypnosis!"

"Hyper Fang!"

Raticate's attack passed right through Gastly, and Gastly put Raticate to sleep easily as it turned back around.

"Now, Dream Eater!"

Raticate went from sleeping to being fully unconscious.

"Blast you. Golbat, Stop him! Bite!"

"Gastly, Psychic again."

Golbat never got close enough to attack. The psychic attack flung him into a wall, and he was out cold.

"Blast, I'm out." The man went over to his buddies, who were still harassing the old man. The other two came over.

"So, you beat him, huh?"

"Well, we'll take you on tag team. 2 on 2." They did a high-5, and got ready to battle.

"Fine. Gastly, let's have the other two take care of this. Dratini, Cubone, your turn!"

"Arbok!"

"Wheezing!"

The four Pokemon took the field, ready to go.

"Cubone, Bonemerang on Arbok! Dratini, use Outrage on Wheezing!"

"Poison Tail!"

"Acid!"

Cubone's attack knocked Arbok for a loop, leaving it confused for a second. Then it came back, and smacked it in the back of the head, leaving it unconscious. Dratini dodged the Acid as it hit home with Outrage.

"GAH! Arbok return."

"Wheezing, Sludge!"

"Cubone, Bone Club!"

Dratini's outrage was still going strong, and hit Wheezing again, sending it spinning in mid-air. Cubone jumped up, and smacked Wheezing with his club, sending him right into his trainer's stomach. Then, Wheezing Exploded, sending the three men flying through the roof.

"Mr. Fuji, are you alright?" Chris called as he ran over to the man to help him up.

"A little bruised, but no worse for wear, thanks to you."

"No problem. Let's head back down and get you home."

"How did you know I was here?"

"Gastly told me."

"Ah, hello Gastly. I've heard of people who can talk to Pokemon and understand them, but you're the first I've met. I have something for you, if you'll come to my home." They left the tower and went to Mr. Fuji's Pokemon House. There, Mr. Fuji presented his gift. "This is a mystical flute, called a Poke-flute."

"Wow. The elders back home on the island have these. They are proof of the deeds done through their lives."

"As it is for you. The only tune I know for it awakens sleeping Pokemon, but there are rumored to be others that can do more."

"Only rumored, huh? I actually know a few, including the one that you mentioned." Chris took the flute and played an upbeat melody, which drew the attention of everyone in the room.

"That one will focus the mind and break paralysis. I know others for confusion and to help a Pokemon break out of being frozen." He played a sharp melody that seemed like it could easily break ice.

"Well, then I've given you a valuable gift. Use it well, lad." Chris thanked Mr. Fuji, then headed to the Pokemon center to rest for the night…