A Pokemon Fanfiction
The Journey of Gem
I do not own Pokemon. This fanfiction uses Pokemon and characters that belong to Nintendo, Creatures, inc., and any and all other respective owners.
Special thanks to Dexter, a nifty little Pokedex app that was amazingly useful for this story.
Welcome to the world of Pokemon! You all have probably been here before. This fanfic is the story of Gem, a young girl in the Flower Region. The Flower Region is not real and was made for the purpose of the story. It has all Pokemon up to Generation VI/Pokemon X and Y, not Sun and Moon, because I started this before that.
In this new journey, you can expect to see old friends. I promise you Mewtwo, the original, and a couple Champions. The rest I'll leave to surprise you. That being said; enjoy!
Episode 1: The Journey Begins!
Toothbrush? Clothes? Money? Sleeping bag?
Check, check, check, check. All check. All ready.
Gem went over the list again and again; she didn't want to leave anything behind she might need. Water bottle, phone, what else?
After checking and triple-checking, Gem took in a deep breath in calm her heart. She couldn't be more stressed out, but this was a happy time. The day after her tenth birthday. The day she started her Pokemon journey.
"Are you ready yet?" Gem's father called.
"I suppose so," Gem said, mostly to herself. Gothitelle, the Pokemon who belonged to her mother, was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs.
"Goth, Gothitelle," the Pokemon said, frowning.
"They're waiting in the car?" Gem guessed.
"Goth," Gothitelle confirmed with a nod. Gem went to the door and was about to head out, and then she paused. She looked around her home, engraving it in her memory.
"GEM!" her father called again. Gem suddenly remembered something; she turned around and hugged Gothitelle. Gothitelle seemed surprised.
"You didn't think I'd forget about you?" Gem said, and let go, heading out the door. "Bye, Goth."
Gothitelle stepped outside with a smile and waved as Gem got into the car.
"What took you so long?" Gem's mother asked.
"Just making sure I didn't forget anything," Gem said. The car began to move.
"What's the first place you're going to go?" Gem's father asked. He'd already asked this (numerous times) but Gem was so worried that she didn't care.
"Daisy Town," Gem said. It was the closest to Lily Town (where Gem lived). From Lily Town, you pretty much had to go to Daisy Town to get anywhere else. "From there, Marigold Town." That seemed to be the best place to train.
"I just know you're going to win the Flower Tournament," Gem's mother said. "My grandfather, father, and I all won."
I know, Gem thought. And I totally don't get more stressed every time you tell me that.
"It's where you and I met, remember?" Gem's father said to her mother.
"Of course I do!" her mother said. Like they hadn't already said this eight billion times. "You were quite the partner in it. But there could only be one winner."
"Exactly," his father said. "So if I couldn't win, I just had to have a child guaranteed for victory!" He glanced back at Gem and she smiled weakly. Was it getting hot in here?
"Have you decided what Pokemon you're going to pick?" her mother asked.
Gem hadn't slept last night thinking about it. The Flower Region's three starter Pokemon were the same as Hoenn's. Mudkip, Torchic, and Treecko. Which would be hers, to journey through the world? Which Pokemon could Gem always depend on, which Pokemon would help Gem honor her family and win the Flower Tournament?
The car came to a stop.
"Here we are!" Gem's mother said cheerfully, as if this wasn't the place where Gem would make a choice that affected the rest of her life. Her very first Pokemon…
The lab was large and painted white on the outside, blindingly reflecting the morning sun. Gem and her parents walked up the steps and entered, immediately blasted by cool AC.
A Meowth cheerfully bounded up to them and greeted them with a "Meeeeeeowth!" It then gestured its paw for them to follow it.
Gem felt herself growing fainter as they followed the Meowth through the white halls. If the building hadn't been so cool, Gem probably would have had a heat stroke by now.
"Ah," said Professor Dogwood said as they entered. The Meowth sat down by the door and began licking itself. "Welcome."
"Hello," Gem said, keeping her voice quiet in hopes that would hide the shaking. There were five other people in the room besides Professor Dogwood; a young assistant in white lab coat and a boy Gem's age with his two parents.
""You must be Cal Speaker," Gem's father said, reaching out to shake the boy's hand. "Your birthday was yesterday, too?"
"Yep," the boy said, not looking the least bit stressed.
"Small world," Gem's mother said.
Big world, Gem silently disagreed. Very, very, very big world.
"OK, let's get started!" Professor Dogwood said, clapping his hands together. "We have three of each starter Pokemon today; we weren't able to get more. If you both wish for the same starter, one of you will have to wait until we can get another. All good things to those who wait, as they say…who wants to pick first?"
"You go," Gem said immediately. She had an idea of which one she wanted, but Cal seemed more confident. She didn't want to make him wait. And besides….he would narrow down the choices.
Professor Dogwood tossed out three Pokeballs. In the form of light, the three starter Pokemon, Mudkip, Torchic, and Treecko popped out.
Cal stepped up, his gaze passing over the small, cheerful Pokemon and stopping on the cool, calm Treecko. He got down on one knee to look at it closer.
"Treecko, I choose you," Cal said with a smile. The Treecko tossed its head back as if to say "Yeah, of course you do. What else would you choose?"
"Here you go," Professor Dogwood said, holding out Treecko's Pokeball. Cal took it and held it up.
"Treecko, return!" The Treecko turned into light and was sucked back up into the Pokeball.
"Your turn, Ms. Cloud," Professor Dogwood said, turning to Gem. "Remember, don't choose another Pokemon than you want just because you don't want to wait."
Gem nodded slightly and stepped up. The Torchic ruffled its tail feathers excitedly. The Mudkip held still, worriedly looking up with those big black eyes. Gem blinked at it. The Mudkip looked as worried as she felt; knowing how this moment could change everything.
Well…they'd get through it together.
"Mudkip, I choose you," Gem said. The water-type Pokemon's eyes grew even bigger and it was so happy it leapt up into Gem's arms. Gem was glad she managed to catch it (how bad would it have been if she'd dropped it?).
"Look at that," Professor Dogwood said, smiling and tilting his head.
"Let me take a picture!" Gem's mother said. She quickly fumbled for her camera. "Say Mew!" Gem hugged Mudkip closer and smiled.
"Mew!"
"Mewd-kip!"
"Aright," Professor Dogwood said, clapping his hands together again. "So the journey begins! And you'll need these…" Professor Dogwood turned to his assistant who held out two red squares.
"Pokedex," Gem recognized.
"That's right," Professor Dogwood said, nodding. "I want you two to do your best to complex the Pokedex for me. It's a big job, but I have no doubts in you."
Really? Gem thought. That makes one of us.
"No problem!" Cal said.
I see many problems. One for each Pokemon out there.
She nodded. Mudkip, her new partner, licked her fingers encouragingly. The little Pokemon seemed the only one who saw Gem's unease.
"Could I ask you a favor, Gem?"
Cal's mother suddenly stepped up, and Gem nearly jumped.
A favor? Gem thought. Like I don't have enough on my plate!
"Would you mind going with Cal to Daisy Town?" his mother continued. "Just until his Pokemon get a little stronger…"
"Mom," Cal warned.
"I'm worried, sweetie," his mother said pleadingly. Gem felt her mother should be acting this way. "I mean, the things I've heard about the Organization of Eight…"
"Oh, that," Professor Dogwood said gravely. "Yes, they've been growing quite a bit lately. I think it would be best if you avoided traveling alone."
The Organization of Eight was a mysterious team, like the infamous Team Rocket, Team Galactic, Team Plasma, Team Flare, Team Magma, and Team Aqua.
Who made all these evil teams? Gem thought. And what fools joined them?
The Organization of Eight, or the O8, had mostly been poaching Pokemon so far. But there were witnesses who claimed they'd captured Latias, the legendary Pokemon.
"I'm going to the same place anyway," Gem said. She glanced at Cal, who was frowning. "It won't hurt."
"Fine," Cal said. Professor Dogwood's assistant handed Gem Mudkip's Pokeball. Gem set Mudkip down.
"Mudkip; return!"
After long goodbyes and many pictures, and Professor Dogwood being kind enough to give them some Pokeballs, Gem and Cal were on their way. They started right on Route 1. Gem saw Pokemon moving through the tall grass as they walked on the path.
"So, um," Gem said, unsure of how to break the silence. "Have you known you were going to choose Treecko for long?"
"Of course," Cal said, glancing at her. "Years. It's a fast, strong Pokemon and I like grass-types. When did you decide you were going to choose Mudkip?"
"Er…in the lab," Gem said. Cal stopped and gave her a look.
"Are you kidding?" he said. "How do you know you made the right choice? What if it's not strong enough?"
"I didn't choose it to be strong," Gem said reproachfully. "I choose it because it looked like me. Worried, I mean."
Cal rolled his eyes as if she was unbelievable and started walking again. Gem felt a spark of temper.
"I don't regret my choice at all!" she said fiercely.
"Maybe that's a good enough reason for you," Cal said. "But if you're serious about becoming Champion, it's not enough."
"A Pokemon's personality has effect on the battle!" Gem said. "A lazy Pokemon wouldn't beat an excited one, would it?"
"Depends on the level," Cal said. "And if the excited Pokemon is overexcited. And on the typing."
"Well—let's have a battle!" Gem said. Cal raised an eyebrow at her.
"My Treecko is a grass type," he said. "And your Mudkip is a water. I'd pummel you."
"Prove it!" Gem challenged. Cal shook his head.
"Not here," he said. "I want my Pokemon to be at full strength if we find any wild Pokemon I want." Gem stopped—that was a good point. And with the O8 running around, it probably wouldn't be good to have two knocked out Pokemon.
"Fine," she said. "When we get to Daisy Town, then."
"Sounds great," Cal said. Gem got the feeling he wasn't quite paying attention to her anymore. He had stopped and was looking into the tall grass.
"What?" Gem asked.
"Come on," Cal said, and he stepped into the tall grass. Gem frowned; it was hard to see through the tall grass, but she followed him. They had only gone two feet before Cal stopped; Gem looked over his shoulder.
There was a clear blue pond, and standing at the edge of it were two Ralts. They sort of looked like small children in white dresses wearing large green hats. Gem couldn't see either of their eyes.
"One for each of us," Cal whispered. "So we don't have to fight over them." He lifted his Pokeball.
"Go, Treecko!" Cal said, throwing the Pokeball. The Ralts looked up, alarmed. Gem quickly took out Mudkip's Pokeball.
"Go, Mudkip!" In light, Mudkip came out and landed besides Treecko. "Use Tackle!" Gem ordered. Mudkip quickly tackled one of the Ralts and it fell backwards. The other Ralts stepped over its companion defensively. It waved its arms and both Mudkip and Treecko winced.
"It used Confusion!" Cal said. "Treecko, use Absorb!"
The standing Ralts cried out as little glittering green balls seemed to come out of it and flew to Treecko. The other Ralts got up and Growled, and Mudkip and Treecko looked worried. Their attack was lessened now.
"Water Gun!" Gem ordered.
"Pound!" Cal said at the same time. Both Pokemon heard them and attacked.
"Alright," Gem said, taking out a Pokeball Professor Dogwood had given her. "Think it's time?"
Cal already had a Pokeball out. He threw it at a Ralts and Gem threw it at the other. Both the Pokemon gasped as the balls hit them on their green heads. They were sucked inside, and Gem and Cal waited with baited breath as the Pokeballs rocked back and forth and glowed. Mudkip and Treecko were wary.
Both balls "clicked."
"We caught them!" Gem said. She ran over and scooped up her Pokeball. All her doubts of today were, at least for now, gone.
"I wasn't sure we'd done enough damage," Cal said with a smile.
"Awesome job, Mudkip!" Gem grabbed her Pokemon and hugged him close.
"Mudkip, Mud, Mud!" the Pokemon said cheerfully.
"Great job, buddy!" Cal said to his Treecko. Treecko stuck his nose up in the air as if to say "Do you expect any less from me?"
Gem smiled at her Pokeball. Her journey was going greatly.