Dear Ash,
It's Sammy. Long time, no see. You'll be happy to know that I'm back in my own time, more or less. I'm safe and so is Celebi. Celebi isn't with me, but I'm sure he would say hello. I suppose I should explain a little.
After Celebi and I left, I was back in the forest. I was so excited, I wanted to run back to the entrance of the forest to let Towa know I was okay. But Celebi insisted we go through the forest. It took us almost three days to get out, but it wasn't hard. Celebi was great company and I had plenty to eat. I was sad you weren't with us. And Brock and Misty, but mostly you and Pikachu. I wanted to stay, but I have my own journey to go on and Celebi had to stay in the forest, that's where he belongs after all. Still, it wasn't easy to part with him. So many goodbyes in just a few days was really hard.
After that I found a road that I followed to a nearby town. I checked a newspaper, and it had been almost two whole months since I had been caught up in the "voice of the forest". Two months! I was only in your time for a couple days, and it had only been a week since I got back. I guess, Celebi made a mistake. I'm just glad it wasn't longer.
I wrote a letter to my parents. I hope they weren't worried too much. I'm having my mail forwarded to where I am now. It may take a few days, but I don't mind. There are lots of new Pokémon around town for me to draw. But my sketchbook, the one that Towa gave back to me, is so old now. I don't think she looked at it much, but I guess time has a way of getting to everything. It was actually that sketchbook that inspired me to get this new journal. I thought that, if (?) had lived long enough to give me back my sketchbook, then maybe I might see you again someday. And I wanted to tell you all about the things that happened to me. Or I will. Time travel is confusing.
Anyway, I'm going to fill this journal with all kinds of things. About Pokémon and places and what I'm doing. I wonder who I'll be when I meet you again and give this to you. I hope that we can still be friends, even when I'm old and you're still young. I can't wait to tell you everything.
-Samuel Oak
April 25, 1959
Dear Ash,
I spent last night in the free hostel in town. I don't normally mind sleeping outside, in fact I prefer it. But it's nice to have a bed to sleep on once in awhile. You understand I'm sure.
There wasn't much room in there though. Only about ten beds for people and not much floor space for all the Pokémon. I've been in smaller, but given the size of the town, I thought the hostel would be bigger. Maybe it's because this town isn't really 'on the way' to anywhere. You don't have to pass through in order to get to any of the larger towns or cities. It is a place to eat and sleep, at least.
Hostels are also a great way to meet other trainers on their own journeys. Most of the ones here are quite a bit older than I am, I feel out of place and I don't know what to say that won't make me sound like a child. It doesn't help that I get super excited whenever I see they have a Pokémon with them that I've never seen before, and sometimes with ones I have seen. I nearly went out of my gourd when I saw a Wingull. A real Wingull! The girl with it said she was from the Hoenn region and that they're really common there. I've never been to Hoenn, it's on my list, so I've never seen a Wingull. I think I freaked her out because she wouldn't let me sketch it.
Later I let Charmeleon and Exeggcute out to get fresh air. I know Pokéballs are safe for them to live in for long periods of time, but mine are old and I still don't like the idea of these two being cooped up. We watched some of the other trainers battle for fun. Charmeleon was way into it, she's more of a spectator than anything. Exeggcute kept trying to wander off. Maybe I shouldn't have them both out at once, they can be a handful. I've already been around town, but Exeggcute was having a fit when I brought him inside for dinner. I had to promise him I would walk him to all the nearby shops before he would calm down and eat dinner.
After that, I managed to talk a trainer into letting me draw their Pokémon. Olivia, that's the trainer, and her Quagsire have been traveling together for years. Their destination is the Kalos region. I said it was a near impossible goal, but she's determined in spite of the danger. Not that Kalos is that dangerous, but just getting there is. Olivia wants to see the Laverre Nature Trail, a swampy area. She thinks Quagsire will be happy there and she can see where Pokéballs are made. Maybe she can get a discount by buying straight from the source.
It's lights out soon, so I need to wrap up. Journal Day 1, success!
-Samuel Oak
April 26, 1959
Dear Ash,
The 'shopping trip' went well. Better than I had expected. I didn't intend to buy anything, and thank goodness this time I didn't have to. Exeggcute, well, he just likes to look at things. Up close. With his faces. And sometimes his faces aren't all in the same place. I've taken him on tours this before, and he has broken a few things that I ended up paying for. I think I'm getting better at wrangling him though. No that shop owners appreciate when Exeggcute gets up close and personal with just about everything. Still, it was a successful day. Exeggcute was struggling to keep all his eyes open long before I managed to convince him to call it a day.
I hadn't realized it, but five of the trainers staying at the hostel were traveling together. They all left today and now the room feels empty. It reminded me of you and Brock and Misty. Having companions must cut down on the loneliness during long stretches between towns. I have my Pokémon yes, but they aren't always good for quality conversation if you know what I mean. I wouldn't mind traveling with other people at some point. But I guess that's not now.
Olivia and Quagsire are still here though, we all had dinner together. She told me about her dream, not just to go to the Laverre Nature Trail, but her actual goal. Olivia wants to have her own rice farm. To be connected to the earth and the water and to life all at the same time. I don't know how traveling to Kalos is going to make that dream come true, and when I said so she said that she doesn't need to have a farm now. It's a dream for the future. A rice farm is the only thing she wants and it can wait until after she's done with her other dreams. I don't know though, just getting your own farmland seems complicated and would take a while. Shouldn't she be starting now? Will delaying your dream make it any easier to achieve, or harder? Maybe if I had my own goals besides a list of places I want to visit, I would understand.
My mail should hopefully arrive the day after tomorrow. After I write back to my parents, I'll start my journey again. I need to go places and see Pokémon so I can tell you all about them!
-Samuel Oak
April 27, 1959
Dear Ash,
I can't believe it, it finally happened! I didn't think to ask when I got into town because I didn't think they would do it! I am so pumped! Sinnoh is opening its borders to people from the Kanto and Johto Regions! I get to see Sinnoh! Apparently, while I was in the future the peace talks have been going really well. There's still hostility and everyone says it won't last long, but I can't wait. Growing up, I never thought I would be able to see the Spear Pillar, or the great mountains, or any of it. But now it's just a year away. The actual date hasn't been set yet, but the plan is for trainers, merchants, tourists, and students to be able to enter the region next year. That gives me plenty of time to get there.
I really have to thank Olivia. I only found out about Sinnoh because she said she was planning to travel to the Great Marsh there after her trip to Laverre Nature Trail in Kalos. She's from Kanto, and she's old enough to remember when the last war started. She's pretty psyched too. I'll be pretty sad when she leaves tomorrow.
That isn't all that happened today. New trainers came into the hostel, two of them. Danny, after getting settled, asked if anyone wanted to battle. They hadn't seen anyone in weeks and he said his Pokémon were tense. Sarah, a trainer who arrived the day after I did, accepted. Charmeleon insisted we go and watch, I just can't say no to that face. It was Danny's Smeargle versus Sarah's Pineco. There was Rapid Spin and Pin Missiles and jumping and shouting from Charmeleon. In the end, Pineco won, probably because it was more well rested. But Charmeleon thought otherwise. After the match she darted over to Smeargle to give it a talking to. Danny was cool at first, but them seemed to think Charmeleon was calling them weak. I tried to reassure him but he didn't take it well.
And then Charmeleon managed to make it worse by running over to Sarah and Pineco and challenging them, without asking me. We ended up battling and it did not go well. Charmeleon kept getting distracted by turning to Smeargle and Danny and chattering like she was trying to explain how to do whatever it was she was doing. It was a mess. Beforehand, Charmeleon tried to say something to me and I think it was that she wasn't going to use any Fire type attacks, because she never did when I told her to. I think we would have done well if Charmeleon wasn't sabotaging us. But we didn't. Sarah was annoyed, Danny was confused, and I was embarrassed. The only ones who seemed satisfied were Charmeleon and Smeargle, I don't know what the point was.
That wasn't the only downside for the day. I tried asking to draw the Wingull again and she turned me down. This time she even shouted. I think I was too pushy. But it's just so rare! Here in Johto that is. Maybe if I'm nicer about asking tomorrow she'll agree?
It's been a very long day and I just want to sleep. But I can't because I can't stop thinking about going to Sinnoh. The first step, I guess would be to stop writing. So I'll write you more tomorrow Ash.
-Samuel Oak
April 28, 1959
Dear Ash,
My mail arrived today. I got five letters. One from Mom and Dad, one from just Mom, and just Dad, and one from each of my brothers. I guess Mom and Dad are fighting again. I know because of the separate letters. When I was at home, if they were fighting they would use my brothers and me like Delibirds and wouldn't talk directly to each other for weeks. Now that I'm away, they just don't write letters together. They don't say anything about it, this time, but it's there. That aside, everything seems fine and I don't think anyone noticed my absence of two months.
I tried again. I really shouldn't have, but I did. The Wingull trainer was not happy. This time she spoke to the guest manager for the hostel and I was told, firmly, to stop harassing her. But it's such a rarity, and I wouldn't be hurting it or anything. I would never hurt a Pokémon. I don't she why she won't let me. But I'll to stop asking. I have to.
Early this morning Olivia and Quagsire left. I feel guilty I wasn't fully awake to say goodbye. But I'm glad I got to say goodbye at all. Trainers you meet don't stick around too often or too long. Frankly, spending even a couple days with another trainer is rare for me. I only just met Olivia, but I'd like to think of her as a friend. Just like how I think of you as a friend, Ash. But would I write to her? It makes me wonder how I feel our friendship is so special even after such a short time. But I think it is. I think I will see you again. And Olivia too.
I'm going to make my way out of town too. I wrote back to everyone already and tomorrow I'm going shopping for supplies like food and toothpaste and stuff. I'll leave the morning after that. I don't like how early Olivia got up, but she was right that it's best to leave first thing in the morning. It makes the journey feel that much bigger. My destination right now is Olivine City. There, I'll get on a ship, which will take me to another region altogether. I've been saving for tickets, but I don't know how much they will cost. That kind of information isn't just floating around in places nowhere near the sea. I'll just have to be careful when I'm shopping tomorrow.
-Samuel Oak
April 29, 1959
Dear Ash,
I got all my shopping done. Food is always the most important thing to buy, but it takes up so much space in my pack. I'm not much of a cook, so I buy the pre-made stuff. I also had to consider Charmeleon and Exeggcute's diet, one likes meat and the other likes dirt. I won't bore you with my grocery list, but I will say I spent more than I wanted. I got other supplies too: sewing thread is a must, sunscreen, potions, a new pot, new underwear, and extra pencils.
Exeggcute was a bit of a brat. He often can be, when I don't let him wander around. He got tired of being in and around the hostel and tried to go off on his own adventure. When I scooped him up and said that he had to stay with me, he tried to jump away and cried and one of him actually bit me! This went on for some time, until I just had to sit down in the corner with him and play. He likes shell games, it's real simple and keeps all of him busy. Though I get tired of it pretty fast. You would too if you'd played a hundred times. Maybe I need to find something else to occupy his time...
I spent some time with Danny today too. He came from Kanto like I did. We both passed through Vermilion City on our way into Johto and he even met the same guy I did, one who was obsessed with trying to befriend as many Weedle as possible. He stands out, trust me. Danny has four Pokémon traveling with him, he says they all bonded over their goal of fighting as many different people and Pokémon as possible. He's making his way through the gyms in Johto, but he's only made it to three so far.
I started to think about my own goals. I don't actually know why I'm on my journey yet. I left home less than a year ago just to travel and be a trainer. It's just something you do, right? My dad did the same thing when he was my age and so did my mom. I didn't even think about the why, I just wanted to go like they did. I've enjoyed myself so far, I've climbed mountains and seen ancient buildings, and made new friends. Believe it or not, I didn't start out with my sketchbook, I saw someone else drawing trainers and I thought the Pokémon were more interesting. The next day I went and bought my own. It's something I enjoy, and I definitely want to see and draw as many different Pokémon as possible, but I wouldn't call it my goal. I have places I want to see and Pokémon I want to meet, but I don't have a purpose. Maybe that's the point of the journey, to find it's purpose. No, that sounds silly.
Anyway, I leave tomorrow morning. After breakfast, that is. Wish me luck!
-Samuel Oak
April 30, 1959
Dear Ash,
I am back on the road. Actually I'm in a clearing in the middle of a forest. I left just after breakfast, just like I said I would. It wasn't my fault that breakfast took place just before lunch. A wild Ursaring that had apparently been chasing one of the trainers from weeks ago, found its way to the hostel. A few of the trainers and Pokémon fought it back and knocked it out. At the time, it seemed like the only option was to fend it off together, but now it feels like they were ganging up on the thing. It seemed so sad the whole time, trying to run around everywhere. They really had to hurt it to get the Ursaring to stop, it was already in tears before it fainted. I hope someone can take care of it.
After that, us three walked off into the wild green yonder. Even though I have Pokéballs, I like to let Exeggcute and Charmeleon walk outside with me. It's good for them. Especially Exeggcute who gets frustrated when I leave him in there too long. He never gets bored of new places, even when it's another forest that looks pretty much the same as the last one.
We're camping out tonight. Charmeleon's very handy for camping, you know, a fire type. She cooks all her own food and sometimes mine, if I'm having something simple like burnt fish. She's also great for staying warm at night. No one is as comforting as a Charmeleon who doesn't know the meaning of personal space. I foresee a problem in the summer, but for now it's nice. If only I could get Exeggcute to stay put half as well.
Nothing much else happened today. More tomorrow.
-Samuel Oak
May 1, 1959
Dear Ash,
No new adventures today. Just more of the same from yesterday. Charmeleon talking up a stop, even though she knows I can't understand her. And Exeggcute going out of his way to try and get lost. One of his heads was trying to eat an acorn whole. Isn't that like canablism? Then again, he's a grass-type Pokémon and not a plant. But what's the real difference? Why are there Pokémon that look and act like animals but are somehow distinct from them? How do we define Pokémon? These are the things that run through your mind when you don't have human companions to talk to.
Tomorrow I'm starting to climb up a mountain to get to the next town. Maybe I'll have an adventure up there.
-Samuel Oak
May 4, 1959
Dear Ash,
Wow, I can't believe I forgot to write for three days. By the time I stopped for the day and ate my dinner, I was swamped. I fell asleep the minute I climbed into my sleeping bag. I really did forget until sometime the next day. But this way, I have a lot to tell you about.
I was trying to hike up the mountain, but for an entire day I couldn't get any higher. I probably should have bought a detailed map of the local terrain, or at least a hiker's trail guide, to get me to the next town. I don't want to get lost out here. What irony that would be, returning from the future only to get lost in the ordinary mountains. I do at least have a geographical map of this part of Johto. I know the actual direction to go, but I don't know where to find the right trails.
So I decided to climb. Not my best idea. I almost fell to my death three times, but I couldn't stop because I was already halfway up to the landing. Or, I thought it was a landing, but there was just more dirt and rock to climb. No way I was going to turn back then either. Nearly fell again, but after what felt like hours I made it to a good sized shelf that thankfully reached around to the of the mountain. My dad would say I had an adventure, I would say I made a stupid mistake and nearly died. And I still haven't made it down on this side yet, so that 'nearly' part isn't quite over.
However, my days are not all hard work and being lost. The mountain is filled with Pokémon. I've seen Pidgeotto, and Venomoth, even one Farfetch'd. Those all sort of breezed by me though, so I didn't have time to appreciate them.
Charmeleon and Exeggcute obviously spent most of their time in their Pokéballs, neither of them are suited to climbing, not that I am either. I'm a bit concerned about Charmeleon, she's less energetic than usual and the flame on her tail is, well, oddly shaped. Maybe I'm just seeing things, because I compared her flame to a sketch I have of her and it looks the same. But I swear that it's larger, but less bright at the same time.
It got me thinking, I've never seen a Charmander, Charmeleon, or Charizard out in the wild. Where do they live? What do they do? Do they live in groups or as loners? More importantly, where do they come from. I got mine from my dad, my Charmeleon's father is my dad's Charizard. He Loans him out for breeding, but whenever he's bread with another Charizard dad asks for at one of the babies to give to one of the local kids. Charmanders are sort of special to us. But how does a lizard like animal get to be so big and then catch fire!? Why aren't more animals on fire if so many Pokémon are? I want to look into it next time I'm in town.
-Samuel Oak
May 8, 1959
Dear Ash,
I know, it's been another couple of days. I feel terrible. My excuse is the same, this mountain is big. So big, I don't think I'm on the same one. My map may not have trails, but there are shapes for the mountains and surrounding lands. There are even a few of those lines that show how far above sea level it is. Looking at it, I realized I wondered way off course.
In spite of that, I did manage to get down to some more even ground. I could finally let Exeggcute and let him walk with me without fear of him rolling down a hill by accident. And Charmeleon is more energetic too. We had a feast to celebrate last night. As much of a feast as we could while rationing, at least. But I don't think they minded, it was still more food than we usually have at night.
There was a small herd of Girafarig today. I was able to sneak up on them and hide long enough to draw them. Their black heads are always watching and sniffing, I was sure they spotted me more than once. The heard wasn't that big, it only seemed to be about three families. Maybe they split up from a larger group to cover more ground? It's a lot of fun to watch them eat, because whenever the front head is chowing on branches, the rear head's mouth chatters like it's cold or something. The young ones rear heads also tend to bite at anything that passes, even their parents. Not once did I see the rear heads actually eat anything, so shouldn't they be very hungry? And when the young ones were playing, they would charge head first and whack each other, while at other times the rear heads would playfully bite at one another. I couldn't capture the scene at all in my drawing even though I did try.
Since I've wandered into a sort of open plain area, I'm having a hard time figuring out where I am exactly. I think I know what mountain I came from, and there are more mountains in the distance ahead of me, but there aren't good landmarks in the wide open space. For now I'm heading southwest, and I just hope that will get me at least close enough to find someone so I can ask for directions. How did I forget to buy a trail map? Maybe because I've never actually gotten lost before, so I didn't even think of it as a possibility. I won't be making that mistake again anytime soon.
I hope you read this one day Ash, because that means I made it back to civilization. I hope.
-Samuel Oak