It was a lovely day in 221B, Sherlock was just finishing up a case.
"These cases just get more and more dull every day," called Sherlock from the other room. "I swear," he finished, "these criminals lack creativity and even basic intelligence!"
"Sherlock," I replied," I have a baby to attend to, and patients! I don't have time to listen to you complain about the downfall of the average London criminal."
"John, you forget that today is a holiday, you have no patients; not to mention the fact that your baby is at the sitters. You have grown quite absent-minded since your child was born. Besides," Sherlock continued, "what would you be doing here if you didn't have time?" I was trying to think of a suitable comeback, when something started ringing. It wasn't my phone as mine had a different ring tone; I looked to Sherlock, the sparkle in his eyes and the smile on his face clearly said that it wasn't his, or perhaps that he had lost his phone and now had the chance to find it. That might have been a reason he was still borrowing my phone from time to time, but I thought the first option was more likely. On the other hand, I wouldn't be surprised if his phone were to get lost in the jungle of papers he kept everywhere. We rummaged around trying to find the source. Much as I had suspected someone had donated a new phone, Moriarty most likely. We found the ringing coming from a package that came in the mail that morning.
It was a strange looking phone, if that was even what it was. It looked more like a watch with a large face and buttons. There were two of them, one red, and the other blue. Both were ringing. With the faces reading "Moriarty is calling, accept?" We quickly looked into each other's eyes and nodded. We shared the same idea. Both of us reached for a watch and put it on. We hit the accept button at almost the same time.
"Hello!" Moriarty's voice called out clearly though the small device. A picture also came up, he was wearing strange clothes, and in front of an unfamiliar background. I had never seen anything like it. "I have got a little game for you. I do so hope you will be enjoying it." He seemed overjoyed with himself. "I know Sherlocky will be happy to play, but I am so nice I even brought a gift for his pet."
"Wha-!" I started off, quite afraid of what he meant by that. He cut me off shortly though.
"Hush, hush, little hedgehog, all shall be shown in due time. Calm your quills, now where was I? Oh yes, now I remember! I brought some treats for you. If you are good boys and follow directions I will reward you."
"What do you have that we could possibly want?" asked Sherlock. "What reason do we have to play your game?"
"Well, I am glad you asked," he said, "have a little surprise for both of you." He moved his camera back and we were able to catch the silhouette of a woman. "If you choose not to play along, then my two little party favors will go to waste. I guess I will just have to throw them out then." The woman cried in a voice that I would know anywhere. My mind was paralyzed. Sherlock also seemed to recognize the voice and turned to me with concern. "It seems that you like the treats! Good! Play nice now." With that the call had ended. A map was sent to us with a small X marking a location. I was still in shock.
"Did he say two?" I asked in disbelief. "That means-!"
"Yes," Sherlock confirmed, "we have no choice now. We will go to the ends of the earth if necessary. No matter what it takes…we will get Mary, and your daughter, back!"
We wasted no time, and although we suspected it was a trap, we picked up a few items and left for the X. In hindsight I realize that Sherlock most likely knew it was very foolish, but for my sake he didn't say anything. He most likely didn't want to hurt me further. He did however insist that we called both Mary's cellphone and the sitters'. Mary's kept ringing, and the sitter confirmed in tears that my daughter was gone. With that we set off.
When we finally got to the X we were in a large forest. A large gate blocked our path; it was locked with eight keyholes. Each unique and very strange. The watch chimed in and we were once again met with the horrid voice of Moriarty.
"Ah good, you came. After all of this time I was beginning to think you weren't coming. Well," he continued, "here are the rules of the game, if you will notice there is a gate that has eight holes. I will be waiting on the other side. I suggest that you join me as soon as you can. Just a small warning, now that you have wandered into this forest, you can't return to London until you have opened that gate." The video cut off and we were left alone. When we turned around we saw that what he said was true, the path we had come in by was gone. Another path had opened and we seemed to have no choice but to follow it. Just before we left Sherlock took out my phone and snapped a picture of the locks.
The path was heavily wooded and strange shapes littered the scene. Animals we had never seen before popped their heads out of the tree line. They may have never seen humans before. Throughout all of this Sherlock was surprisingly quiet. Most likely he thought that I needed my space because of what just happened. I had never heard, or perhaps not heard, him this quiet before. Even when he lived alone I don't think he was this quiet. His efforts were appreciated, but at that moment I would have liked noting more than to hear the sounds of my friend's voice. At least it would feel more normal then. The forest soon ebbed and we found ourselves near a town.
It was a quiet little town, not many houses. Most likely the biggest attraction was what looked to be a research lab. Thinking they might be able to help us, we went inside. We were met by a short, almost stocky, man wearing a white lab coat. He had thick eyebrows and greying hair.
"Ah," he said, "I've been expecting you." I looked to Sherlock.
"Moriarty must have told him," Sherlock said.
"Is that my grandson's name? I can never quite remember. In any case, no Mo-ri-art-y, my goodness what were my children thinking? No, Moriarty had nothing to do with it. You are the new trainers, aren't you? Come to pick up your first Pokémon?" The man rambled on. I looked to Sherlock for an explanation.
"This is a laboratory; he is obviously the head researcher. He started as an intern, eventually moving up the ranks. They test animals here, very inhumanly. Most likely they are trying to 'improve' them through biochemical means. He has broken his back and a number of bones. He has been through a lot in the past few years. There have been multiple fires in the lab, yet they have no sources of fire. No Bunsen burners, no gas lines. There have also been numerous floods. A lot of wind too, even though there are no fume hoods. Acid has been sitting on these floors for quite a while. Water has been freezing and melting in places it shouldn't be and yet the temperature has always remained constant. It is very strange." We were interrupted when the man asked a very strange question.
He turned to Sherlock and asked "so, are you a boy or a girl?" Sherlock looked furious.
"What type of idiot are you?! Are you blind? "
"I'll take that as you are a girl then. Come, you need better clothes, those don't suit you." Sherlock was whisked away by the man and taken to a dressing room. "Take whatever you like!" Before I knew it Sherlock had come out of the dressing room wearing a dark navy blue vest, almost black, a white shirt, and perfectly complimented red tie. White pants and black shoes completed the outfit.
"Don't say a thing," he warned, "the man locked me in the dressing room until I put something else on, and I was not going to wear a dress." The man returned. This time he turned to me and asked the same question. I had learned from Sherlock's mistake and answered quickly.
"I'm a boy." He took me back to the changing rooms as well. I was reluctant to give up my sweater, but I figured that it would be best to blend into the culture of the people. I picked up a black jacket, a white shirt, beige pants and black shoes. I saw the dress that Sherlock was talking about. It was more of a coat. It was black with silver buttons lining the middle. He would have looked very nice in it, even if it wasn't exactly very fitting for his form. "
Now that we have that matter settled, it is time to pick your starter. You may choose between a fire-type, a water-type, or a grass-type. Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur…where already taken! So you get to choose between Growlithe, Psyduck, or Abomasnow! I'll let the young man go first this time." Neither of us really knew what he was talking about so I simply said the only one I could remember.
"Growlithe sounds good." He handed me a strange ball that was half red and half white.
"Now your turn young lady!" Although it was apparent that Sherlock was enraged by this mistake of gender, he did not say anything. "Since you were so patient, I will give you an extra option." The professor smiled brilliantly. "You may also pick Larvitar. Larvitar is a rock type." Sherlock thought for a few seconds, most likely trying to figure out what was the best choice.
"Larvitar." He seemed so confident in his choice, it made me question mine. He handed Sherlock a ball just like mine, threw us two "pokedex" and just about threw us out the door.
"Just fill that up and I'll get the data on any Pokémon you encounter. Have a nice trip!" He turned back to his lab and disappeared inside it. We examined the spheres we had received. Sherlock pushed the button in the middle of the black band that ran between the white half and the red half. A strange light filled the area. Something began to take shape. It was much bigger than the ball. It was two feet tall, light green with a red diamond stomach. It had black rhombuses on both sides of its stomach, as well as on both sides of its pinwheel shaped tail. Its hands and feet were stubby. He looked up at Sherlock and yawned. Sherlock puzzled over how such a large creature could fit into such a small ball, and not add any extra weight to the ball. I tried mine. A similar series of events happened again. This time however, a different shape emerged. I was met with a puppy. It was just a little taller than Sherlock's beast. The Growlithe's' body was orange with black stripes running across its back and legs. It had a large patch of fluffy fur on its chest and head, like a Mohawk. The tail looked very soft. He looked up to me. A stranger walked up to us.
"Oh cool! A Growlithe and a Larvitar. What do you intend you name them?"
"Uh, hmmmm…I think Vincent is a good name for him." I was unsure at first, but I eventually grew to love both the Pokémon and the name.
"Isaac, it seems to suit him," Sherlock said.
"Nice choices," said the stranger. "Would you like to battle me? I know that the both of you are new to this, so how about a double battle?"
"Sounds interesting," Sherlock said, "it might be a good idea." The man sent out a fuzzy creature, it had red compound eyes and antenna. The pokedex chimed up.
"Venonat," it said in a monotone voice, "the insect Pokémon. Poison oozes from all over its body. Its eyes also function as a radar unit. Its primary diet is composed of insects it finds at night."
"I'll start. Venonat, use tackle against Larvitar!" The Venonat ran up to Isaac and tackled him. Isaac was hurt a bit, but he stayed in the fight. I looked at my pokedex to find out what attacks Vincent had.
"Vincent, use…bite?" Vincent ran up to Venonat and latched on with his teeth. Vincent didn't let go and Venonat began to panic. Venonat ran in circles desperately trying to get Vincent detached from his head. Vincent jumped off just before Venonat ran into a tree.
"Isaac! Use leer." Isaac glared at the Venonat. The startled Venonat backed into the tree he just ran into.
"Venonat, could you use disable?" Venonat nodded and summoned a glowing orb in his small hands. He threw it Vincent.
"Vincent, use bite." Vincent shook his head.
"Your growlithe can't use bite because Venonat disabled bite."
"Oh," I said, "in that case, can you use roar?" Vincent let out a loud roar and Venonat panicked. Venonat tried to run behind the tree, but his trainer managed to coax him back into the battle.
"Isaac! Use bite." Isaac quickly bit Venonat and released his grip. Venonat fell down and the battle was over.
"Good battle!" The stranger gave us both some money and began to walk off.
"Wait," I called. I grabbed my phone from Sherlock and showed him the picture of the gate. "Have you seen any objects that are in the same design as these?"
"Yes, I have actually. Those shapes are the same shapes as the gym badges. You get them after you defeat the gym leaders. There is one to the north and one to the south, as well as others throughout the region. You can go up route 1 to Viridian City, or down to Cinnabar Island. There is also one in Pewter City, Fuchisa City, Celadon City, Saffron City, Cerulean City, and Vermillion City. Good luck!" The stranger gave us each a map and walked off.
"Where do you suppose we should go first?" We looked at the maps and I wondered where we should go. Then again, I didn't know where we were.
"Viridian city would be best," Sherlock answered, "we don't have enough money for a boat ride to Cinnabar. Since we get money when we win a battle, we should have enough by the time we make a round around the region." We wandered north to route one. We were immediately greeted by high grass. It was over my face making it difficult to see, and walk. I pressed the button in the middle of the poke ball and Vincent returned to the ball. I heard a rustling in the grass. Before I knew it a wild Pokémon, Furret the pokedex told me, attacked. I called Vincent out again. I told him to bite the Furret, Vincent lunged at it, but it managed to evade the attack. The Furret jumped in and out of the grass like a ninja. He jumped out and scratched Vincent across his side. We tried the attack again, but it continued to fail. Vincent grew weaker and weaker with every hit the Furret landed. I heard another rustling toward my side. A Pidgey joined the brawl on the side of my opponent. I knew that Vincent couldn't take on another opponent. He couldn't even match the speed of our first. Another rustling sound started from my right. I hoped that this was only a dream, even more than before. Everything today was turning out horribly. In a single day I lost my family, I gave up everything I knew just to run after them, and I might end up dead by the night's end. Luckily, that final rustling was not another foe. Sherlock was the one who appeared this time.
"Isaac! Since John can't seem to even take down a Furret, let's pick up the slack. Take down its defenses, Leer!" Isaac's eyes grew dark and sharp. The Furret stopped in its tracks, and seeing the opening I ordered Vincent to attack. The Furret resisted at first, but was soon unconscious. In the meantime Sherlock was working on the Pidgey. Vincent went up a level. He looked proud of himself, even if he was tired. He had learned a new attack and both of us were excited to see how it worked. Excitedly, he tried out the new attack he learned. Ember. The grass around us was dry, and so the fire spread quickly. Sherlock had just finished off the Pidgey and Isaac went up a level when the fire started.
"John! You had to go and start a fire!" I would be stating the obvious if I said he was mad. "Could you at least wait until we were outside of the grass before lighting it on fire?!"
"Was it my fault that this grass is so flammable?" I scrambled around trying to find the best way out. Sherlock pointed to the northwest.
"We need to go that way."
"How do you know?!"
"I will tell you later! Right now we have to worry about getting out of the grass." We ran as quickly as we could through the now flaming grass. The wild Pokémon were too busy trying to run that they didn't even try to attack. I felt rather guilty. There was no time for that though; we had to get to safety. Vincent and Isaac were returned to their poke balls. We ran up a gradual slope and the grass cut away. We saw a trainer standing close to the ledge trying to put out the fire with her Pokémon. Her Azumarill was preforming a rain dance while her Diglett used sand-attack.
"If you help us out I will battle you. And heal your Pokémon!" We started helping. Isaac used Sandstorm and I ordered Vincent to dig up dirt so I could throw it onto the fire. With the heavy rain and sand falling onto the field, the fire soon stopped. Sherlock seemed to be puzzled.
"Where is the sand coming from," I asked. He didn't really react to my question. He only kept muttering strange things I could only guess were equations.
"It is possible!" Sherlock shouted happily. Instead of asking how exactly there could be a sandstorm in the middle of the forest I took to asking the trainer a few important questions. Such as type advantage. Sherlock still told me his theory. The trainer healed our Pokémon and challenged us to a battle. We fought one on one this time. We fought others up on the way, as well as wild Pokémon, but we ended up making it to Viridian City just by nightfall.
"We need to challenge the leader." I said. This time Sherlock stepped in and tried to end my foolishness.
"John," he said, his hands on my shoulders, "now is not the time for that. We are tired, and our Pokémon are tired. If we challenge the leader now there is no way we could win. We need to train more. We have only just managed to defeat the trainers we have encountered. There is no way we are ready to take on the gym leader."
"Sherlock!" At this point I was growing angry. "The longer we wait to take on the gym leader the longer my daughter and wife are left in the hands of that monster! We can't stand to wait any longer! Who knows what atrocities he is doing to them right now! You think you are bloody brilliant, but if you can't help me when it matters, then what good are you?! If I need save my family by myself, then I will! You left me before, and let me think you were dead; even the homeless knew! The homeless, Sherlock, the homeless! They are willing to betray anyone just for some loose change! Ohhh, but you are soooo clever! You still wouldn't let me in on your little secret! Why?! Because I would ruin it? Is that why? Do you really have that little confidence in me?! And now you refuse to help me! What type of a friend are you?! I think you are just here to torment me! I do not have time to laze about! I have to save my family while I still can! I don't have time to delay!" I stormed off not thinking of what would happen. I ran to the gym, and by some miracle was able to convince the gym leader to battle me.
The gym leader, Blue, started off with an Exeggutor. A grass/psychic. I ordered Vincent to use ember. The move hit. And the leaves on its head caught on fire. The Exeggutor ran into Vincent. Vincent only just managed to dodge the attack before the huge body came crashing into the ground. The fight wasn't over yet though. Exeggutor got back up. I ordered Vincent to use bite this time, and it was also very effective. Dodging and biting we wore down the foe. With a final ember it fell. Blue returned it and sent out Rhydon. Sherlock was right and Vincent and I were tired. We got in the first hit, but that was all. The Rhydon threw a large boulder at Vincent. He staggered slightly; to claim his victory Rhydon threw another boulder, this time hitting harder. Vincent was falling, but still another rock came, this time hitting home. Vincent fell, and I thought he was done for. I scooped him up in my arms. Tears flowing down my cheeks. I couldn't bear to lose another. His pulse was soft, and his body was limp. He opened his eyes, just a little bit. I ran him off to the Pokémon center as fast as I could.
Nurse Joy was at the counter. It was late, and so there wasn't a long line.
"What happened?" She looked over Vincent, and then she looked me in the eyes, "what happened?"
"I challenged the gym leader before I was ready," I explained.
"Blue has a wide variety of Pokémon, so you will want to catch more before you challenge him again. Did Professor Oak not teach you how to catch wild Pokémon?"
"No, I'm afraid he didn't," I confirmed.
"Did you know that you are the second person I taught tonight?" She said with a laugh. "Chansey, could you take care of anyone who wanders in?" Chansey nodded, and Nurse Joy took me out to route one. Vincent stayed behind and was wheeled to the back to be treated by Chansey.
Nurse Joy took out a poke ball and released a Cubone. The Cubone ran into a tree and head-butted it. A large red caterpillar fell out.
"Cubone," she yelled, "use head-butt!" Without a second thought the Cubone ran head first into the Wurmple. The Wurmple was hit and fell back. Nurse Joy threw an empty poke ball at the Wurmple. The ball opened and the Wurmple turned into a bright ball of light and went inside. The ball wiggled three times, and then stopped. I waited for Sherlock to say something witty, until I realized that my friend was no longer by my side. Nurse Joy went over to the ball and picked it up.
"Now I can train this Wurmple, and battle with others. You can specialize or use all types, like Blue. You can carry six at a time, after that newly caught Pokémon go to your PC box. Also make sure to battle wild Pokémon, and trainers, for experience. Good luck!" She walked off to return to the Pokémon center. I knew that Sherlock was right, so I went to the Pokémon center to get some rest. I didn't see Sherlock, and I wondered what he was doing now. I knew that I couldn't win against Blue without him.
The morning dew covered the grass on Route 1. I wandered around the tall grass until a Pidgey emerged for battle. I sent out Vincent. We weakened the pidgey, and I threw a poke ball I had bought at the poke mart. The ball shook three times and stopped. I went over and picked up the ball. I called her June. The three of us trained all day. Eventually night fell and we returned to the center. The next day we trained at Route 22, and after that in Viridian city, battling trainers, and Route 2. We fought all of the trainers and won every battle. A trainer gave me a dirty old fishing rod. I caught a Magikarp, before I knew just how poor in battle they were. I still trained him though. I would often have my other Pokemon weaken a foe, and then have Aldred, my Magikarp, finish him off. Eventually, I felt ready to take on Blue again.
"Back again, huh?" Blue asked.
"Yes, and this time I will win!" I replied.
"I just hope your battling is as strong as your confidence," he returned. With that the battle started. He sent out Exeggutor, as before. This time Vincent finished him off in one hit. Rhydon next. I sent out June, I know she wouldn't be as effective, but she would be faster. I told her to use quick attack. She moved so swiftly, I could hardly see her. The Rhydon was powerless to stop her. She was just out of reach for all of Rhydon's attacks. She slowly whittled away his health, and he fell. Machamp was next. I kept June in the battle, she used a whirlwind and the Machamp fell. Pidgeot was next. Vincent was ready to fight. I ordered him to use flame wheel. It was not nearly as successful as it was on Exeggutor. Pidgeot used wing attack, and Vincent was hit hard. We were still in the battle and used bite. Pidgeot used roost and, even after our efforts, was healed completely. We fought all the harder, but it was useless. Pidgeot would continue to heal itself. We only just managed to finish it off, but Vincent was tired. I didn't know if he could take another. Blue sent out his last Pokémon. Arcanine. June put up a good fight, but was powerless against his thunder fang. I sent out Vincent.
"This will be an interesting battle," Blue said.
"No," I said, losing hope, "you have a more evolved Pokémon, and he is fresh for battle."
"I don't know, there are certain advantages to a less evolved Pokémon. Your Growlithe is still bursting with potential. Pokémon learn slower when they are evolved, even though they are stronger. I once had a rival that taught me that what really matters is the Pokémon, not the evolution, not the moves, the Pokémon. A truly great trainer can win no matter what the odds." Vincent used bite, Arcanine returned with fire fang. Strangely enough, even though it hit head on, it didn't work.
"Flash fire," Blue said, "that will make things more difficult." Intrigued, I used flame wheel on him. It worked perfectly. "Intimidate," he said, "Arcanine's ablity is intimidate, unlike your growlithe, he can be effected by fire attacks." We continued the battle, but Growlithe was already very tired. Arcanine used thunder fang, and Vincent fell once again. Only Aldred remained. If I was lucky I could just finish off his Arcanine before Aldred fainted. I hoped for the best, but feared the worst. Deep inside I hoped that Sherlock would swoop in to save me, just like he did before. Blue couldn't help laugh at something as pitiful as a Magikarp. Magikarp tackled Arcanine, but it had the same effect as an arrow hitting a tank. Arcanine bit Aldred on the tail and began throwing him about like a rag doll.
Before anyone knew what was going on the room was filled with light. Arcanine dropped Aldred, just as his tail started to grow longer. His mouth grew larger and more angular. His body got longer and his whiskers seemed almost like they would touch the floor. When he stopped glowing, he was 21 feet in length, blue and had a white underbelly. He looked really mad. Before anyone came to terms with what they had just seen, Aldred had bitten Arcanine and was shaking him just as Arcanine had done to him. Arcanine was knocked out. Blue handed me the Earth Badge and TM92, trick room.
"You remind me of my rival, he eventually became champion. He became everything I wanted to be. He even won the love of my grandfather," his expression clouded over when he said this, but he soon composed it in an obviously fake smile. "I'm sure you will go far!" I got my team healed, and set off for Route 2. There wasn't too much tall grass, and the trainers were easily beaten. It was in Viridian Forest that I had difficulties. I had started off at noon, and therefore had to camp out in the forest.