Chapter 1: Off the Boat

Elizabeth's stomach tightened as the SS Anne's gangplanks lowered to the dock. She hadn't exactly come on a whim; no one would spend that kind of cash on a whim. But this was definitely Shane's idea. Picking up everything and moving to a new country took planning, and this trip had very little. Sure, they thought they had planned well, but the ten day trek across the ocean had given her time to think about just how unprepared they actually were.

Shane was too busy triple-checking the gear to notice the ship had come into port. All the clothes were packed correctly, hiking boots ready to go. Food and water tucked away in smell-resistant pouches so as to not attract unwanted monsters. The guidebook they had come in their trainer packets had been clear on how to stay safe on their adventure. They could apparently buy repellent at certain stores in the region, but for now they needed to keep their food safe. God forbid a giant monster come at them, when their own was still too weak to defend them. According to the guide, the first store where they could buy food was a day's hike away from the docks. Might even be two days if you aren't strong hikers or spend time exploring. Shane wasn't exactly sure why they couldn't just build the store on the docks, but it wasn't really his place to argue.

A soft ding, like a bell chime, emanated from the speaker build into the ceiling of their cabin. "Welcome to the Kanto Region," followed a soft female voice. "We will begin moving you to shore soon. Cabins on decks one through three will depart first, while decks four through six will form the second group. Please await further instructions."

Elizabeth turned from the railing to see Shane hoisting the hiking pack up to his shoulders. He'd never really been one for physical activity, so the equipment looked extremely out of place on his stocky body. She suppressed a smile to hide her amusement at his appearance as she grabbed the hiking pack next to his. Hers was smaller, as her own body type had been described more than once as "petite." She was definitely shorter than most, but tried to at least keep herself in decent physical shape. Despite the fact that the packs weighed the same, she was sure that hers felt much lighter on her shoulders than Shane's did on his.

"Are you excited?" asked Shane, sending her a quick glance.

Elizabeth just nodded. She wasn't sure how to feel at the moment. The dread of the unknown crept into her like a slowly rising tide. Every minute it felt a little stronger.

They turned and headed for the door. Their second deck cabin would allow them access to the first group being let off the large ship. The hallway was already starting to fill up when they left their room: others who were ready to begin their new lives on this island.

The PA system dinged again, and the female voice returned: "May I have your attention please. Those passengers in cabins on decks one through three may now disembark. The ramps are located at the bow of the ship, on the starboard side. You may go ashore there. Please do this in an orderly fashion, and please obey all directions given to you by ship staff. There will be enough monsters for everyone, you do not need to push and shove. Thank you."

The line started to slowly shuffle forward down the hallway. The bulky traveling gear now carried by nearly everyone made the hallway seem even more claustrophobic. As the line reached the door, arms instinctually flew to foreheads to block the bright sun that greeted the trainers.

Elizabeth squinted as she crossed the threshold onto the exposed deck of the ship. She joined the others in shading her eyes as her gaze fell to the island to her right. She couldn't see much of it. A high wall had been constructed just off the dock. There were wooden platforms that extended from the shore out to the ship, and what appeared to be a stage next to the only opening in the large stone wall. That opening was blocked by a large round boulder. Above the boulder, she could see only sky through the gap.

The line slowly filed its way down to the docks, where the crowd gathered like herded livestock around the small stage. When the last few passengers had made their way off the boat, a woman took the stage. She was tall and thin, with long black hair pulled back into a tight pony tail. She smiled as she spoke.

"Welcome, future trainers, to Kanto. My name is Sun, and I am happy to welcome you to our island." Her voice was heavily accented, but the English was easy enough to understand. It was magnified by speakers that Elizabeth couldn't see. Sun started pacing, looking over the faces of the crowd as she continued.

"Behind this wall is a land of creatures you have never seen before. It will be an adventure unlike any other. In just a minute, we will let you through the gate. On the other side are customs agents. They will make sure all of your papers are in order, and will provide you with some tools to get you started on your way. After that, you will have the chance to meet your first companion for your journey. This is an exciting day, and I'm glad you are here to join me as we reopen our island to the world."

A cheer went up from the crowd at her final words. She smiled and waved before departing down a set of stairs at the back of the stage. Elizabeth looked towards the gate, where the boulder that had been in front of the opening stood up and walked a few feet before settling back down. She blinked, wondering if the bright sun had played a trick on her eyes. A few people around her gasped, but most didn't see it. Those that did started moving towards the opening.

Eventually the throng of future trainers made their way to the opening. Because she had seen the boulder, or whatever it was, move out of the way, Elizabeth and Shane were one of the first to reach the opening. The wall had been built on the top of a hill, and as they entered through the gate, Elizabeth got her first view into the valley down below. The customs agents the speaker had mentioned were directly in front of her, waiting at their posts to greet the trainers. Beyond that, fenced in fields held creatures that were too small for her to make out at this distance. Half of the fenced in areas were just grass fields, while the other half seemed to be more rocky enclosures, similar to what she had seen in zoos.

The ten agents sat at a row of booths in front of the trainers, who were still gated in at either side. The line backed up here again, as only ten trainers could progress at a time. When their turn came, Elizabeth was beckoned to the booth right in front of her, while Shane was sent to the one at the far left side of the line. An older man with grey hair and a large smile greeted her.

"Welcome to the island," he said in a soft, yet happy voice. "What's your name, dear?"

"Elizabeth Beech," she replied, spelling her last name for him. He typed the name into the computer, then stared at the screen for a minute. Eventually her photo and information popped up.

"Ahh yes," said the agent. "Everything seems to be in good order here." He reached into the desk and pulled out a blue device that was a little bit bigger than her hand. "This is your index. It will be your primary source of information on your trip." He handed it to her, and she looked over the front. It was only a few inches wide, but tall. She felt a button on the right side and pressed it. The device sprung open like a book. The entire left side was a screen, while the right side had a smaller screen with several buttons below it. It wasn't a full keyboard, but it had enough buttons that Elizabeth was sure she could send messages with it.

"Here is your packet, mam," said the agent, snapping her attention from the index. He held out a manila envelope. "Your trainer card is in here. Make sure to scan it with your index to lock that one to yourself. There's some money in there to get you started as well. Part of your fee has been converted to our new currency. Also, your first ball is in there. You'll use it for the companion you pick down there." He jabbed a thumb down towards the fenced in areas. "Everything else you need: map, route information, etcetera, are all on your index. Good luck." He smiled cordially, and Elizabeth took that as her cue to move on and let the next trainer in.

As she walked down the hill, she glanced to her left and saw Shane hustling to join her. He was holding his index, he had gotten a red version, out in front of him reverently. His grin stretched from ear to ear.

"This is so cool," he said when he reached Elizabeth, his voice giddy with excitement. "I can't wait to get started."

Elizabeth returned his smile and took his hand in hers as they walked down the hill. The first paddock of creatures was immediately to their right. Being one of the first through the gate, there weren't too many people around the fences yet. The couple approached the first fence. There were no signs or labels telling them what these creatures were.

This enclosure held what appeared to be little brown foxes. They had big bushy white tails and around their necks they grew a white mane, almost like a lion. They were, however, only a few feet long and maybe a foot tall. Elizabeth had no idea what to call them. Except adorable. She would definitely call them adorable.

She knelt down and put her hand through the fence. It was a simple brown wooded fence, with three cross beams to prevent the monsters from slipping out. One of the creatures, who had been nosing through the grass nearby, took notice of Elizabeth's hand and trotted over cautiously. She held it there while the little fox thing gave it a sniff. Over her shoulder, she felt Shane moving. He had pulled out his index and was aiming it at the creature. She heard a snap, like a picture being taken, then heard a robotic voice proclaim: "Eevee. Small fox-like monster. Its DNA is unique, in that it has the ability to transform its genetic structure into a number of different things, given exposure to certain kinds of elemental radiation. This one is male."

Elizabeth pulled out her own index and noticed the small camera on the back for the first time. Turning back to the Eevee, she reached further into the pen and began to stroke its head. It's fur was velvety soft to touch.

"Good morning, folks, and welcome," came a voice from behind them. They turned to see a younger-looking man walking up to them, wearing a brown safari uniform and brimmed hat. "I'm Warden Tim. That Eevee seems to have taken an interest in you miss."

Elizabeth looked back down at the small creature, who was now standing on its hind legs, front legs propped against the fence and head poking out, trying to lick Elizabeth's hand. She giggled and gave the Eevee another pat on the head.

"He'd make a good companion," continued the warden. "Eevee are smart and loyal. Not the best fighters in the region, but they can get out of sticky situations might quick."

"I can't imagine you hurting a fly," said Elizabeth in a high pitched voice, not taking her eyes off the little fox. It was now happily licking her palm. She looked back up to Shane. "I think I want this one."

Shane just shook his head. "This is the first field. You don't even want to look at the other ones?"

"No," said Elizabeth. "I think this one specifically really wants to be my friend. I'll take him."

The warden smiled. "Sounds good, ma'am. You can go ahead and pick him up. You'll learn all about how to take care of them in that building over there." He turned to Shane. "You can wait and go together if you want."

"Thanks," said Shane as Elizabeth stood up, now cradling the Eevee in her arms. He gave a small squeak as she squeezed him up to her chest. He tried to lick her face, but only managed to get his small head to the bottom of her chin. She giggled as his tongue tickled her.

"Can we?" asked Shane, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Oh, what's your problem?" Elizabeth retorted. "Just because I didn't look around doesn't mean I won't be happy with my choice."

Shane didn't say anything as he walked to the next fence. This one surrounded a rocky enclosure where what appeared to be orange puppies were jumping over rocks and pouncing on each other. They had black stripes, similar to a tiger but nowhere near as numerous. Their white tails were matched by a white tuft of fur atop their heads. Some also sported white neck manes, not unlike her Eevee's. Shane reached for the index in his pocket, but a different warden got to them before he could reach it.

"Growlithe," said the short woman. She had to lean her head back to look up at them past the brim. "Once they get old enough they can breathe fire. They're a little young right now, though. You have to be careful with them, though. Sometimes their breath is enough to burn you."

As they watched, one of the larger puppies managed to tackle a smaller one, pinning it to the ground with his front paws. The larger pup visibly breathed in deeply, then opened his muzzle as if to roar. A small puff of black smoke slipped out the animal's teeth, but no fire came.

The warden chuckled. "He's a feisty one. He'll make for a great battler someday. A little overeager, maybe, but with the proper training he'll be a right terror." She glanced at Shane, as if trying to entice him into selecting her Growlithe as his companion.

Shane smiled back, but said, "I'll have to think about it. I want to see what else there is."

"Suit yourself," replied the small warden. "But don't be mad if he's gone when you get back. There's still a lot of trainers coming down that hill.

She wasn't wrong. The area between the enclosures was starting to get a little crowded, as more and more trainers passed through customs and made their way down the hill.

The two trainers moved to the next enclosure, another field, this one inhabited by purple and blue rabbit looking creatures. Elizabeth's eyes were instantly drawn to their ears. The blue ones were more rabbit-like, with their ears falling back over their bodies. The purple ones, though, had their ears sticking up like they were pinned, constantly alert for danger. Each variation had spikes trailing down their backs, but the purple one's spikes were much larger. They also had a little horn on their foreheads. As Shane and Elizabeth approached, a third warden greeted them.

"We call them Nidorans," the man explained. He had a thick black moustache and wore spectacles. Blue ones are female and purple ones are male. These guys are pretty interesting. As they grow, the males and females change into completely different species. Genetically speaking of course. We're not really sure why, and we haven't found anything else capable of doing that. It's fascinating, really." He adjusted his glasses on his nose.

"What element are they?" asked Shane. "I don't know much about that, but I know the Growlithes over there are fire elements, and the guy over by the Eevee enclosure said there were different types of elemental radiation."

"An observant one, I like that," replied the warden. "We've classified these guys with the poison element."

"I'm sorry, poison?" asked Elizabeth. Eevee had crawled up her arm and was now resting comfortably around her neck on her shoulders. She stroked his tail as she talked. "What do you mean poison?"

"You see that little horn there?" asked the warden, pointing to a male who had wandered close to the fence. "That thing will give you a prick that won't feel like much at the time, but slowly it releases a toxin that will shut down all of your organs."

Shane just stared at the man with his mouth gaping. The warden chuckled at the expression.

"Oh, it isn't that bad. Ones this small can't do any real damage to humans. And once they grow, assuming they like you, they can control whether or not they poison you when they sting. And there are antidotes, of course."

"Still, I think I'll check out the other options," replied Shane, slowly edging away from the Nidoran fence.

The next enclosure was full of small humanoid looking things that were lifting boulders and engaging in other weight-lifting poses. Some were wrestling each other near the top of the rocky peak that had been set up in the middle of their pen. Shane paid these no mind, however, because his eyes were solely focused on the fence of the next pasture. Whatever was in it had just shot a lightning bolt at one of the other ones.

They were yellow rodents, about the size of a football, with horizontal brown stripes down their backs and red dots on their cheeks. Elizabeth wasn't sure if her eyes were playing tricks on her, but their tails even seemed to look like little lightning bolts. Only a handful ran around the enclosure, no more than a dozen.

"What are these?" asked Shane, the hint of reverence returning to his voice. There was a warden leaning up against their fence, back to the creatures scurrying around inside.

She smiled as they walked up. "These are what we call Pikachu," she said. "They're tough to find in the wild, but the lab over in Pallet had a mother who died and she left this litter. Professor Oak wasn't really sure what to do with them, so he gave them to us."

"So how do you decide who gets one?" asked Shane, still not taking his eyes off the mice as they scampered over rocks, sending sparks at each other.

"We don't," replied the warden. "They do." She nodded backwards towards the rodents.

"I don't follow," said Shane, finally looking back at the warden. Elizabeth wore the same confused look.

"You touch one," explained the warden. "If you get zapped, you don't get one. If the Pikachu doesn't zap you, then you get to train it. Five people have gotten buzzed already this morning. None have gotten to keep one."

"How badly does it hurt?" asked Shane, the awe in his voice starting to show the slightest bits of fear.

"Wouldn't know," replied the warden jovially. "Never really had the desire to stick my hand in there. The other trainers didn't look too worse for wear, though. These guys are still pretty young, they don't pack much juice."

That seemed to help steel Shane's resolve a little, as he knelt down beside the fence and gingerly stuck his hand ever so slightly past the threshold. A few of the creatures looked his way, but none seemed to take any immediate interest in his fingers.

"It takes a minute," said the warden. "And it helps if you put your hand a little farther in."

Acting like that was the last advice he'd wanted to hear, Shane swallowed has he inched his hand a little farther into the enclosure. A Pikachu sitting on a nearby rock took notice of him, whiskers suddenly pulling in Shane's direction. The rodent sniffed the air curiously, before hopping off the rock and scuttling towards Shane's hand. Shane drew his breath as the creature drew closer.

The Pikachu stopped, about two inches from Shane's hand, and sat up on its hind legs. It sniffed the air all around him before placing a paw on Shane's outstretched finger. Shane tensed, expecting a jolt of electricity to flow through him, but none came. Instead, the small creature used its paws to try and pry open the other fingers on Shane's hand, which he had unconsciously clenched into a fist. The mouse used its front paws to hoist itself into Shane's open hand, and curled up in his palm. He was a little too big, but Shane quickly added his other hand to support the creature's head.

"Wow," said the warden, the shock evident in her voice. "Looks like you've got yourself a Pikachu." She didn't seem to be quite sure of what to say. She hadn't been expecting to give out any of the rodents today.

Shane pulled the furry creature out of the pen and against his chest. Almost instinctively, the rodent scampered up his arm and sat on his shoulder, much like Elizabeth's Eevee was currently doing. The Pikachu chitted at the Eevee. Eevee made a similar sound back.

"Looks like they like each other," said Elizabeth with a smile.

"You two will want to head into that building right there for orientation," said the warden. "They'll teach you how to take care of your companions."

"Great," said Shane, reaching up with his right hand to pat the Pikachu on his left shoulder. He felt a slight buzz of electricity has his hand passed over the mouse's red dotted cheek. "I'm ready to get going."

With that, Elizabeth and Shane turned and headed for the large building in front of them, new companions mounted happily on their shoulders.