The Grimdark World of Pokemon

By Sara T. Fontanini

Chapter 1: The Beginning of a Journey

It was the dawning of a new day, and as the sun shone through his window, Justin Wilbur woke up. He got up, changed his clothes, put on his cap and walked downstairs. Below, his mother waited for him and gave him a big hug, smiling brightly. Justin hugged back, and walked outside, towards the home of a very famous man who lived in the area.

Professor Oak.

Justin was very well liked and popular, and had many friends and seemed to be able to do everything right. For some reason, people would sometimes refer to him by the nickname 'Red' though nobody, not even the people who called him that, knew why. It just seemed to be one of those things.

And now, today was the day that Justin could start his journey as a pokemon master.

He tentatively knocked on the door and stepped inside. His eyes narrowed upon seeing that Professor Oak had two other visitors. Violet, his younger sister, and Blue, his hated rival since he could remember.

As he stepped forward, Blue sneered at him. "Well, well, if it isn't RED. I was starting to think you were gonna chicken out, chicken-wuss."

Justin Frowned angrily at him, wishing he would just leave him alone.

Just then, Professor Oak walked in from the back room of his lab, smiling warmly at the three youngsters. "Well, it's been a while. How have you been, Red, Violet? How's your mother?"

"She's doing great!" Violet replied, smiling widely. Justin shrugged non-comittedly.

Oak nodded sagely. "That's good to hear. Blue," he turned to his grandson, "I hope you're doing well in your studies." He still had a pleasant look on his face, but his tone had a slight, but noticeable edge.

"Yes, gramps." Blue replied huffly.

"Excellent." Oak smiled contently. "Now, the reason you three are ehre is because I have a very special task planned for you. You see, when I was a young lad, it was my dream to document and study the many species of pokemon, and so as to allow the world to better understand these creatures we use in our day to day existence. Now, I believe you three are old enough to go otu and explore the world on your own and so," He produced three small calculator –like devices out of his labcoat and handed them to the three children, "I want you to go out and finish my dream for me. Whenever you see a wild pokemon, catch it and you'll be able to study it. Be sure that you're inventive with your studies; Pokemon are tricky and can surprise you. And do be careful...we can't have you getting hurt."

He turned around and wlaked over to a table with three pokeballs on it. "You may each choose a pokemon to start out with. Just pick a pokeball and use it to see what you've got."

The three youngsters each walked over and grabbed a pokeball, first Blue, then Justin and finally Violet took the last one.

Oak smiled and led them outside, where a Rattata was chained to the back of Oak's lab. Oak smirked grimly down at the poor creature, who was not only chained but muzzled, with a special harness around its body to limit its movement.

"You may train on this Rattata I caught this morning. He was trying to sneak into Mrs Wilbur's garden. No need to hold back."

The three of them threw their pokeballs, releasing their pokemon. Justin had a Bulbasaur, Violet had a Marrill, and Blue had a Cyndaquil.

Blue and Violet seemed a little hesitant, but Blue quickly (after having a quick glance at his grandfather) had his Cyndaquil attack the Rattata, tackling it. Violet shook her head, protesting. Oak and Justin frowned in annoyance at this.

"Its just a pokemon." Justin said testily. "Not like it feels anything. Bulbasaur, tackle it!"

The Bulbasaur looked over at its master, glaring in defiance. Justin scowled angrily at this.

"I said tackle the rat, Pokemon! DO AS I ORDER YOU!"

Blue stifled a chuckle as the Bulbasaur jumped up and bit Justin's hand. "I guess its not feeling very obedient." Blue supplied.

Justin growled, tossing the Bulbasaur to the ground and then kicked it hard in the stomach, and then started stomping on it. "DO! AS! I! SAY! YOU! STUPID! ANIMAL!"

Oak frowned. "I'm guessing there was a malfunction in the pokeball. My apologies, Red, I should have checked the equipment. Just come on inside and I'll fix you up with a new pokemon. Just for you." He smirked, and walked off, with Justin making once last glance at the Bulbasaur. He growled and kicked it one last time and followed after the Professor.

Blue sighed and shook his head, returning his Cyndaquil to its pokeball and walking away. "I'll make him proud of me..." he muttered as he walked off.

Violet stared down at the poor, beaten BUlbasaur. It looked badly hurt, but she knew that pokemon were made of tough stuff and so she knew that it wasn't as bad as it looked and walked back home to pack her things. She would ahve freed the Rattata, but she knew that Professor Oak wouldn't have it tied up like that for no reason, and didn't want to make him mad, and so she just left it.

The Bulbasaur shakily got on its feet, its body badly bruised. It walked over to the Rattata and staretd to gnaw at the harness around its body.

"Y-you shouldn't..." The Rattata said nervously. "Y-you're lucky you aren't brainwashed like the others who get caught by those round things. J-just run away, don't look back. I...I'm fine...just...worry about yourself..."

"No." The Bulbasaur said through grit teeth, chewing through the harness quickly. "I'm not leaving someone else behind...not again...not to...these...HUMANS.."

The Rattata shook its head powerfully. "N-no! J-just run! Y-you don't want to make them mad! Th-they'll catch you again, and you may not be so lucky! You...you could end up brainwashed...or..or worse..."

The Bulbasaur pulled its head back, clenching her teeth tightly, ripping through the material of the harness and causing it to come apart. The Rattata was free.

"W-wow..." The Rattata stared. "N-not even I c-could tear through that stuff..h-how did you...?"

"No time." The Bulbasaur said gruffly. "They could come back any second. Like you said, we might not be so lucky." She collapsed, wincing in pain, and the Rattata walked over to her and lifted her onto its back.

"I'll c-carry you on my back...it's th-the l-least I c-can do for you..."

"Thanks..."

The Rattata sped off, using its superior speed to get away. It wanted to get as far away from that place as possible.

It didn't want to lose a friend so quickly.

Professor Oak snarled angrily. He didn't know how those stupid animals got away, and he didn't care. He didn't like being defied. Not one bit.

A trait he shared with Justin. One of the many reasons he identified so much more with the boy than anyone else.

He smirked. Soon, his grand experiment would come to fruition, and he would prove himself the greater researcher among his colleagues.

And now, he didn't even have to worry about his own safety. The guinea pigs would take care of everything.

I know I know. Another new story, and I haven't finished all my other ones. However, I HAD to get this idea down once I got it into my head. I couldn't focus on anything else.

The idea here is basically to look at the world of the games/anime (mostly the games though) and apply a sense of both realism and darkness. It may not be too apparent NOW, but later on the world presented here will become incredibly more...nasty.

And Justin Wilbur is supposed to be your typical pokemon ehro...except with a personality. However, he is NOT the hero of the story. Also, you may not like the characterisation for Oak here, but its an alterverse fic, not mainstream, so...just accept it.

I was worried about doing Oak, and actually considered just making an expy character, but then decided to just man up and go through with just making the character Oak. I mean, if I'm going to be doing the Gym Leaders too...

I must warn you, this fic is not for the faint of heart. It is very violent and dark, and I suggest that if you don't like your pokemon stories with thins edging close to horror, then leave. Everyone else, enjoy!

And yes, I am aware that this against my usual types of stories, but I am willing to experiment.

Hope you enjoy it, and please comment!