Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon.
To the reviewer who told me he (she?) liked the fact that Jamie used a dice roll to pick the starter...that's actually how I decided which to start with for the Nuzlocke. Things like that are gonna be decided with either a dice roll or a coin toss. :D
So...yeah...
After a bit of training (because if Jamie could only catch one Pokemon per area, she had to train at least a little bit), Jamie met Bianca and Cheren in the town outskirts.
"So...we all have two Pokemon each?" Bianca asked as they released the Pokemon they had captured. When she saw that Bianca had captured a Lillipup, Jamie wanted to cry.
"Will I never get a Lillipup?" she whimpered. Shellie facepalmed.
"Quit whining," the Oshawott deadpanned. "Lillipup are more common than you think."
Cheren had somehow found a Purrloin. The Purrloin was quiet and a bit stand-offish...maybe it was abandoned?
Jamie's musing were interrupted by Professor Juniper waving them over.
"Hello again!" Juniper said, smiling. "Come over here!"
The three children walked over to her after they returned their new Pokemon in their PokeBalls.
"What is it, Professor?" Bianca asked.
"I want to show you three the Pokemon Center! This is the most important element of a Trainer's journey!" Juniper exclaimed enthusiastically.
"We know all about them," Cheren deadpanned. "They heal Pokemon and you can buy Potions and the like from them."
Juniper pouted, "But it's still important! And besides...sometimes they really can't heal Pokemon."
This was news to all three of them.
"What do you mean?" Jamie asked.
"I mean...a Pokemon can still get seriously injured," Juniper responded. "There's also a twenty percent chance that they can die while battling."
The three kids gulped as they absorbed this bit of news. Sure, they knew that there was a chance of Pokemon dying, but to know the actual percentage of that happening...while they were small, it was a little scary.
Cheren cleared his throat, saying, "Well, I think I'm going to look through Accumula Town."
"I'll go with Cheren," Jamie responded as the two went on their way.
"Jamie, look at this," Cheren said. Jamie curiously walked over to her friend.
"What is it, Cheren?" she asked. Cheren simply pointed at the group of people that the crowd surrounded; all of them had white outfits with hoods and red hair. The only one who didn't have such a ridiculous outfit was an old man with fading green hair and what looked like a visor on his right eye. He was dressed in what looked like yellow and purple robes.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the leader said. "My name is Ghetsis Harmonia. I am here on behalf of Team Plasma. Today, I would like to talk to you about Pokemon liberation."
The crowd murmered in confusion. Pokemon liberation? What did that mean?
"You must have been told that humans and Pokemon help each other; that we are partners that can only learn from and help each other," Ghetsis continued. "However, is that really the truth? Has anyone here ever considered that is what we assume to be the truth?"
Cheren and Jamie glanced at each other at this.
"You see it in the news every day; Pokemon being pushed around for the selfish needs of humans, abandoned and abused...can anyone say with confidence that there is no truth to what I am saying?" Ghestis asked. When nobody gave an answer, he continued, "Now, I'm sure you are aware that Pokemon are different from us humans. They are living creatures that contain endless potential. We humans have much to learn from them, that much is true. And yet they are subject to containment and abuse...now what do you think is your responsibility to your Pokemon?"
Someone in the crowd asked, "Pokemon...liberation?" Jamie and Cheren watched in shock as Ghestis smiled.
"That's correct! We must liberate the Pokemon! Only then will humans and Pokemon truly be equal. I end my speech today imploring you to think about the relationship between you and your Pokemon...and the right way to proceed. Thank you for your attention."
With that, Ghetsis and his followers left the scene. Cheren scoffed at this.
"That's ridiculous," he said, glancing at his Snivy. "Pokemon and people help one another. They each have something that the other doesn't, and so they work together. You agree with me, right Richard?"
Richard nodded from his perch on Cheren's head, enjoying the sunlight.
Jamie glanced down at Shellie, whose arms were crossed. The Oshawott glanced back up at Jamie, and the two had a momentary staring contest. Jamie sighed.
"If they ever heard about the two of us, Team Plasma would have a field day," she said, trying not to imagine someone like Ghetsis on her case.
"Eh, you don't need to worry," Shellie responded, glancing at the ground, as if embarassed. "I...guess I could be worse off. I mean, have you seen Bianca with Tepig? I almost feel sorry for him."
"Shellie, that's mean!" Jamie exclaimed, smiling in spite of herself. Shellie shrugged.
"What? It's true. The point is...I'm glad it was you that picked me, as opposed to the other two," Shellie concluded, crossing her arms. "But I agree with Cheren; it was stupid leaving that decision to a dice roll."
Jamie smiled, petting the Oshawott on the head. She heard the sound of a PokeBall opening, and saw Danielle looking up at her.
"Danielle?" she asked curiously, crouching to meet the Patrat's eye level.
"I agree with Shellie!" Danielle responded, hugging Jamie's leg. "I know we've only known each other a little bit, but I really like you! You're nice!"
Jamie started to grin at this. Her Pokemon liked her! It was times like this that she was glad she could understand them.
"Your Pokemon...Just now they said..."
Jamie looked up and saw a young man staring down at her. He stared at the Pokemon in front of them like it was the most shocking thing he had ever seen. He had the be the weirdest guy she had ever seen; who in the world has green hair?
Wait. He just said...
"You can understand them too?" Jamie shouted, getting up. She had never met someone who could also understand Pokemon.
"You mean you can...?" the young man responded, pointing at her. It looked like the news had made his day. He grinned widely and hugged Jamie. "I've never met someone who could understand them like me! This is so amazing!"
Jamie froze at the sudden contact. "Hey, hey! We've only met like five seconds ago! That does not give you permission to break my personal bubble!"
The young man blinked, letting Jamie go. He glanced around her as if looking for something. He glanced at her confusedly. "But...I don't see a bubble."
Jamie and Cheren glanced at him incredulously. How could this guy not know what a personal bubble is?
"Are you for real?" Cheren asked. "Who are you, anyway?"
"Oh!" the newcomer said, smiling politely. "That was rude of me. My name is N."
N? Who names their kid N? Jamie thought.
"I'm Jamie," she said, smiling. "And this is my friend Cheren."
"Jamie and Cheren..." N repeated, pointing at each of them. Cheren nodded.
"We're filling up the PokeDex for Professor Juniper," He said. "My main goal is to become Champion, though."
Jamie crossed her arms, muttering, "I'd be doing that too if it weren't for the stupid bet you made with me..."
N smiled sadly. "The PokeDex...I see. You're going to imprision many Pokemon for that cause. I'm a Trainer too, but I still wonder...are Pokemon really happy that way?"
"Dude," Jamie said. "We saw that Ghetsis guy talk, too. I think it's a load of balderdash; Pokemon and people help each other, don't they?"
N glanced at Jamie, as if looking for something. If this is about the personal bubble again...
"I've decided," he said, taking out a PokeBall. "Jamie, I want to hear your Pokemon's voices again!"
And at this, he released a Purrloin. Jamie gaped; he was suddenly challenging her?
"Danielle, go for it! Tackle!"
"Scratch, Purrloin!"
Eventually Purrloin fell to the ground, swirls replacing its eyes. N returned his Pokemon and glanced at the PokeBall, and then at the Oshawott. Shellie was panting; the exertion nearly wiping her out.
I never expected to meet Pokemon who can say such things about the Trainer they're with, he thought, watching as Jamie celebrated with her two Pokemon.
"As long as Pokemon are confined in their PokeBalls," he said to himself, "Pokemon will never become perfect."
Jamie noticed this and sighed.
"Dude, are you still listening to that guy?" she asked. "Did we not just establish that..."
"It's not just that!" N exclaimed. "It's just...I have to change the world! I have to change it for Pokemon, because they're my friends!"
And with that he ran off.
"Weird guy," Cheren remarked.
"You can say that again," Shellie responded, dusting herself off.
"But I don't think we should worry too much about it," Jamie responded, hands behind her head. "Pokemon and people help each other out."
Cheren nodded, walking towards Route 2. "I'm going ahead. I want to prepare to face the first Gym - the one at Striaton City. That's the best way for a Trainer to be strong; to face the Gyms in each city."
Cheren walked off, leaving Jamie and her two Pokemon. Jamie sighed, returning her Pokemon.
"I better get you healed up before I do the same thing," she said, walking towards the Pokemon Center. Bianca came out at that moment, and noticed Jamie.
"Hi, Jamie!" she exclaimed, walking over to her. "What's up? Something on your mind?"
"Good job, Danielle!" Jamie exclaimed as the PokeBall's button turned white, signaling another capture. She took the PokeBall and released the Pokemon inside; a Purrloin. The Purrloin blinked at her new Trainer.
"Hey, I remember you!" she exclaimed. Jamie blinked in confusion.
"Me?" she asked, pointing at herself.
"Yeah, you beat my friend not too long ago!" Purrloin responded, licking her paw. "I saw the whole thing!"
"Okay then...I wonder how that Purrloin's doing..." she responded.
"You can ask him. He's right over there!" Purrloin said, gesturing towards another Purrloin. This Purrloin seemed to edge away from the two. "His Trainer released him before going on his merry way!"
"Wait...you mean N?" she asked. Confusion and anger boiled within her. "All that talk about caring for Pokemon, and he releases that Purrloin just because he lost?"
"It's not because he lost to you," Purrloin responded cheerfully. "I heard that N guy say that it was for that Purrloin's own good. He healed him before releasing him, so there's no hard feelings!"
"Well...I guess if you don't want to come with me..."
"Are you kidding? I'd love to!" Purrloin exclaimed. Jamie smiled at this.
"Okay, then! What do you think of the name Emerald?" Jamie asked, crouching to meet Purrloin's eye level. "After your eye color?"
With a flick of its slim tail, Purrloin seemed to accept the name. She nuzzled Jamie's leg, purring happily. Jamie petted the Purrloin's back while wondering; what kind of person was this guy?
"This is so not good..." Jamie said as she walked through the Dreamyard. She had just heard about Striaton's Gym...and how it has three Gym Leaders, one for each starter element. And how you basically fight the one that has an advantage over your starter.
Gah, fighting Cheren with his Snivy was hard enough, she thought, shuddering at the memory. How am I gonna beat this Gym Leader guy?
"Excuse me...you're a Trainer, right?"
Jamie glanced at the older woman that had addressed her. When Jamie nodded, the older lady continued, "I was wondering if you could help me out. See, my daughter found a few Pokemon, and I was wondering if you could take one of them off of my hands?"
Jamie thought about this. If she accepted this Pokemon, would she not be able to catch a Pokemon here? She had heard about Munna being found here, and wanted to at least give it a shot.
"I'm not sure..." she muttered. The older lady saw Shellie standing by her Trainer's feet and said, "That Oshawott's yours, right? I could give you this Pansear. That should help."
Jamie gaped. A Pansear. Which is a Fire-type. Which could help enormously with the Gym Leader. That changed her mind instantly.
"Sure, I'll take him!" she exclaimed. The lady smiled, releasing a Pansear from its PokeBall. She handed Jamie the PokeBall, saying, "Thank you so much. He's a lively one!"
Jamie grinned down at the fire-monkey. "Hi, I'm Jamie. I'll be your Trainer from now on, okay?"
The Pansear grinned at her, jumping into her arms. "Hi, Jamie! I'm really happy to meet you! So do I get a name? Huh?"
Jamie grinned. "Sure, you can get a nickname! I was thinking Zero. How about it?"
"Zero?" the Pansear asked. He grinned again. "That's an awesome name! Thank you so much!"
Jamie and Zero hugged as the two made their way back to the city. She had to find Cheren and ask him something...
Eventually she found Cheren looking at the blackboard of the Pokemon School.
"Yo, Cheren!" Jamie yelled as she walked over to him. She held up Zero, saying, "Question; someone just gave me this Pansear in the Dreamyard…does that mean I can't capture anything in there? Because Pansear was kind of a sudden gift."
Cheren glanced at the Fire-type and hummed in thought.
"No," he finally said. "Pokemon that are gifted don't count in the first-encounter rule. However, if you want to trade Pokemon with someone, the Pokemon you trade away has to be a first encounter in its territory."
"That sounds fair," Jamie said. "And really generous."
"I figured the original terms of our bet were a little unfair, so I decided to give you some wiggle room," Cheren responded. "You still have to be lucky to make it to the top."
"Alrighty," Jamie said, grinning. "Hey, want to battle while we're here?"
"I would, but my Pokemon are tuckered out," Cheren responded, shaking his head. "We just fought the Gym Leader. It was tough, but we made it through."
"That's awesome!" Jamie exclaimed. "But how did you manage with the whole type-advantage thing?"
"I was given a Panpour," Cheren deadpanned as he walked out the building.
"Wait, you met that lady too?" Jamie asked, chasing after the black-haired boy. "CHEREN!"
Pokemon Obtained:
(Route 2) Emerald the Purrloin - Rash nature, scatters things often.
(Dreamyard (GIFT)) Zero the Pansear - Jolly nature, sturdy body.
The rules for the bet are basically my rules for the Nuzlocke.
So there's that...
Please review!