PLEASE read the author's notes!! They contain very important information!
Hello all! My name is Nagem, and after over four years, I'm back on , this time, delving into a new genre. I'd like to get a few things out of the way before we get started.
1) This is the first of a series. Each one will be loosely based on the game that takes place in that region (for example, this is based on red/blue/green/firered/leafgreen) and will contain elements from any previous stories that exist in the series.
2) I said loosely based on the games, meaning there will be characters and events that do not actually happen (that being said, if I'm using an idea that sounds like one you've read/written before, I swear I did not steal it. I haven't been on this site in four years, remember) These spare characters are, essentially, mine, so please no using them without my permission.
3) Even though I have the main plot pretty much figured out, I'm open to ideas. Please don't be afraid to suggest anything to me!
4) If something seems a bit odd, or plothole-y, let it slide for a bit, chances are it will be cleared up within the next chapter or so, therefore I don't need everyone and their mother telling me about it. A rule of thumb, if something's not cleared up in three chapters, go ahead and give me a heads up.
5) On that note, while at this point I'm not actively searching for a beta reader (I don't take fanfiction seriously enough) I am open to anyone who's offering. Send me a note, I might not always reply to reviews. HOWEVER, know that I am extremely picky about beta readers, and it will not be an easy position to get.
Sorry about that! I don't often post lengthy author's notes, but I needed to get that stuff out of the way! Enjoy!
-------------------------------------------------
"This world is inhabited far and wife by creatures called Pokemon," read the first line of the trainer's application. I bit my lip, too nervous to make any comments about stating the obvious, and kept reading. "For some people, Pokemon are pets. Others use them for battling." I nodded almost subconsciously. "To handle Pokemon, one must be granted a Pokemon handler's license." I already had that; I'd been working for Professor Oak for years now, and a handler's license was practically a prerequisite for the job. "From there, one may apply to become a trainer, breeder, or any number of Pokemon experts. This form is a general application. Please fill out the following information about yourself." I uncapped my pen and scanned the next few lines of the paper. "Gender."
"Female," I wrote in the line provided.
"Name?" the form asked.
"Elise Walker," I wrote.
"And what do you think you're doing?" came a voice from over my shoulder. I yelped and threw myself forward over the desk, covering the application. Gary laughed, pleased with himself for catching me off-guard. "You're too easy to scare!" he crowed.
"Shut it, Gary!" I snapped. The boy was my age, with short brown hair that seemed to fly all over the place. He was cocky, arrogant, and I had to say that I probably hated nobody else more than he. He was also the grandson of my employer, which meant I had to deal with him more than I really cared to. "Didn't your grandpa say to stay out of the lab?"
"Yeah," Gary said, peering around my arms to see what I was hiding. "But he wanted to talk to me today."
"Well, then go talk to him and leave me alone!" I snapped.
"Tell me what you're filling out first," Gary said, his tone snide. A grin crossed his face. "You're on the clock, Elise, you shouldn't be doing personal work here."
"For your information, I'm on break!" I countered, rising to my feet. "And I don't have to tell you anything! We're not friends!" Unfortunately, my actions uncovered the trainer's application that I'd been trying to hide.
Gary's eyes went wide. "Is that what I think it is?" he asked. I gasped and turned red, and Gary began to laugh. "What makes you think you can be a trainer?"
"I'd make a fine trainer!" I protested, feeling stupid now.
"Grandpa would have to be stupid to give a license to someone like you!" Gary sneered. "You haven't ever taken the classes, have you?" It was true, Mom had forbidden me to take the series of classes that was recommended for all applicants. I had sat in on them, though, in return for some extra work around the lab. Gary was right, I was at a severe disadvantage.
"I would. . . . " I trailed off, looking down at my feet and feeling as though I was going to cry.
"Gary!" a sharp voice came from the doorway to the lab. Professor Oak stood there, regarded the two of us coolly. "Where have you been? Didn't I say I wanted to talk to you?"
"Yeah, Gramps, I was just saying hi to Elise," Gary lied smoothly, walking over to join his grandfather. "So what's up?"
"Come with me," Professor Oak said, leading Gary away. I sighed, and went back to filling out my application.
At the end of the day, I stood at the receptionist's desk, completed paperwork in hand. As I stared at it, I knew Gary was right. There was no way I stood a chance at actually being granted the license, not with so many other, more qualified people around. The paper shook in my hands and blurred as I fought back tears; who was I kidding, anyway? I almost turned around and went home, but as soon as I turned toward the glass doors, a family passed by the lab. The little girl smiled up at her father, who stopped his walk and picked her up, carrying her on his shoulders. I watched them as they continued walking.
That's right, I thought. That's why I'm doing this. To find my dad. My father, according to Mom, had left on his own Pokemon journey soon after I was born. We'd never heard from him again. I'd decided at ten years old that I was going to go on my own Pokemon journey to find him. Mom, however, would not hear of it, and instead at sixteen, after my schooling was complete, I'd gotten a job at Oak's lab, working with Pokemon and watching other kids start their journey. Now, though, having saved up enough money, there was no reason my mother could stop me from becoming a trainer. I smiled grimly and slipped the paper into the box before really heading for home this time.
The next morning I woke early, hoping to talk to Professor Oak about my application. Maybe I'd be able to convince him that it was worthwhile to let me have a license. I bounded down the stairs to see my mom sitting at the breakfast table looking over a newspaper. I gritted my teeth; I hadn't told her about applying for the license. I didn't know how she would take it. Last time I'd even mentioned it, she'd gone crazy and nearly grounded me for a month.
"Hey mom," I said slowly, testing the waters.
"Oh, Elise," she said, peering over the top of her newspaper and smiling at me. "Professor Oak came by earlier, he said he was looking for you."
Oh boy.
This might turn out worse than I'd expected.
"Okay. Thanks, mom," I said, grabbing a piece of toast and heading out the door. Jogging along the dirt road that ran through Pallet Town, I munched on my breakfast. The weather was nice, if a bit breezy, but overall a warm spring day in southwestern Kanto, and I was glad for my knee-length jean shorts and blue tank as the sun rose higher into the sky. As I approached the intersection of the path with the main "road" (which was nothing more than another dirt path) I heard somebody calling my name.
"Elise!" Professor Oak came from down the road a little ways. "There you are!'
"Professor Oak!" I yelped. "Hi! Uh, I think you've seen by now. . . . "
"Come with me," he said, cutting me off. He grabbed my hand and led me toward his lab. I stumbled and almost had to run to keep up. For an old man, he was sure sprightly.
When we got to the lab, Gary was there, standing next to a table with three pokeballs on it, his arms crossed and looking extremely irritated. Oak let go of my hand as we approached the table, and I stopped a few feet from Gary, utterly confused.
"Gramps!" he snapped. "I'm fed up with waiting!"
"Gary," Oak said. "Just wait." He turned to me. "Here, Elise. I've got three Pokemon here." He motioned to the table with the pokeballs on it. "You can have one. Choose!"
"Wha-what?" I asked. "Professor, what do you mean? My own Pokemon?" I looked from the table to Gary to Oak and back again, unsure how to react. "What about my application?"
"I approved it," Oak said shortly. "You'd make a fine trainer. Now choose!"
"Hey, Gramps!" Gary said, taking a step forward. "Not fair! What about me?"
"You!?" I asked, overwhelmed. "You didn't even apply!"
"Yeah, I did," Gary said. "I got my Gramps to push it through this morning with yours. I figured if you could, then there's no reason why I couldn't."
That arrogant little. . . . !
"Be patient, Gary," Oak said. "You'll get one too." He motioned toward the table. I approached the first pokeball. Through the semi-transparent top of the ball, I could see a Bulbasaur. Hand trembling, I picked it up. "You like him?"
"He's cute," I said, looking at him. The little creature stared up at me, confused. "You comfortable, buddy?" I asked.
"He's very easy to raise," Professor Oak continued. "Is that your choice?"
"Yeah," I said. Oak nodded and walked over to the computer. He input something and the computer beeped. "So . . . "
"Would you like to nickname him?"
"Sure," I said. "His name is Lin." Oak nodded and typed the name into the computer.
Gary rushed from his grandfather's side. "I'll take this one then!" he shouted, placing his hand over one of the other pokeballs. I didn't pay him any mind, too busy lavishing my attention on my new Bulbasaur.
"Well, if you've squared everything away with your mother, I guess it's time for you to get going," Oak said, smiling. "With that Bulbasaur, if wild Pokemon attack, your Pokemon can battle it." I nodded. I wasn't too keen on battling, but knew it was part of my journey. I turned to leave the lab, but had only gotten a few steps when Gary stopped me.
"Wait, Elise!" he called. "Let's check out our Pokemon!" He smiled and approached me, pokeball held out in front of him. "Come on, I'll take you on!" I nodded and held out Lin's pokeball. Gary threw his. "Go, Charmander!"
Charmander?! How had he managed to get the Charmander?!
"Lin!" I shouted, tossing the pokeball high into the air. The Bulbasaur appeared in a flash of light.
"Bulba!" he shouted happily.
"Oh, for Pete's sake," Oak said from somewhere behind Gary, but I didn't pay attention, as the Charmander was already rushing at Lin. It delivered a scratch attack, which Lin took with surprising hardiness. That was the good thing about such low-level Pokemon, I recalled; they didn't have any type-specific attacks.
"Lin!" I shouted. The Bulbasaur looked back at me, and I nodded. "Tackle him!" Lin rushed at the Charmander, hitting him hard in the stomach. The little lizard doubled over, flinching. I felt giddiness sweep through me. I could do this! "Again!"
"Charmander, scratch!" Gary shouted before Lin could get more than a few steps forward. Charmander launched forward, claws at the ready. Lin stopped mid-step and tried to dodge, but it was no use. Claws raked across his face, causing red welts to appear, standing out against his green skin. Blood welled up from one of the cuts, and I felt my stomach turn at the thought. I tried to cry out a command, but my legs were shaky, there was a roaring in my ears, and I couldn't get my vocal cords to work. Lin, though, didn't seem too bothered at all, and threw his body into Charmander's. The lizard flew high up into the air despite the incredibly close range and landed near his trainer. Gary shouted something I couldn't hear, and Charmander shakily got to his feet, looking weak.
Lin had managed a critical hit.
What's wrong with you?! my mind screamed at me. This is your chance! Finish it! I opened my mouth a second time, but still nothing came out. Pokemon get hurt! It happens, it will be okay!
"Elise!" Oak's thundering voice cut through my shock. "Come out of it!"
"Tackle!" I shouted, desperate. Lin charged at Charmander, who was already coming in for a third scratch. Charmander's attack landed first, but Lin pushed through it as though it were nothing, and connected with the lizard. Charmander had taken enough and fell over in a dead faint. Breathing hard, Lin looked over his opponent triumphantly.
"Return," Gary commanded, holding out Charmander's pokeball. Lin came bounding over to me, and I knelt down to inspect the welts on his face. He didn't even flinch when I ran my fingers over the inflamed skin. I looked up at Gary, expecting him to be as upset as I was, but instead he was staring hard at the Pokeball in his hand, an unreadable look on his face. "Okay!" he said finally, pressing the middle button to miniaturize the device. "I'll make my Pokemon battle to toughen it up!" He pocketed the ball and turned toward the door. "Elise! Gramps! Smell ya later!" With that he was gone.
Oak came over and knelt down next to me. "It's okay, you know," he said. I looked up at him, confused. "Recall Lin, and I'll get him healed up for you."
Shakily, I held the pokeball out and Lin vanished into a beam of red light. "I-I don't get it," I said finally, standing up and handing Oak the ball. "Pokemon get hurt in battles, I know that. I've treated injured Pokemon before . . . and you say it's okay, and I know that, Lin will be just fine. . . . "
"That's not what I was talking about," Oak said, placing Lin's pokeball on a machine in the corner of the room and pressing a button. "I'm talking about the way you froze up in battle upon seeing your Pokemon hurt."
"Oh, yeah. That." I blushed.
"It's perfectly natural," Oak said, "Especially when the trainers that are just starting are more mature, or more sensitive, or both. All of the sudden, you're responsible for this poor thing, and then you go and willingly put it into a situation where it gets hurt, and trying to deal with everything that implies while feeling utterly sorry for the poor thing . . . well, it gets to be a bit too much to handle." The machine beeped; Oak took the pokeball and handed it back to me.
"Gary didn't have any trouble when Charmander got hurt," I pointed out.
Oak chuckled. "I said that it happens to mature trainers, right?" I giggled a bit. "I love my grandson, but I can't deny that he's not exactly perfect." He smiled at me. "Now go on, it's your turn to see the world."
"Thanks, Professor," I said, and turned to leave the lab.
-----------------
And there's the first chapter! If you're going to review, you'll review, if not, you won't, but keep in mind that I do enjoy them.
Remember to check my profile page for details, update schedules, and maybe even a contest or two!