This is my first work of fanfiction to be published somewhere. Helpful reviews would be indispensable! Feel free to point out any faux pas I might have let slip.
The protagonists are original. And don't worry, the entire story isn't going to be dialogue...
(I don't own Pokémon, of course, if I do disclaim so myself.)
The museum was nearly empty. It had just opened for the day. Besides the few drowsy attendants standing around to field any questions a visitor might have, the exhibits were completely deserted. Ray and Gabe had the museum all to themselves.
"Let's go this way," Gabe said, walking and looking at a brochure at the same time. "There's ancient stuff over here."
"Everything in here is ancient," Ray remarked, looking around. Nearly all of the displayed exhibits were protected by glass. This part of the museum was dedicated to paleontology. Gabe was way ahead, examining unidentified fossils and preserved artifacts from long ago. Ray's mind was on other things.
"This one looks like Anorith, doesn't it?" Gabe said after a few minutes.
"Huh?" Ray mumbled. To his surprise, they had walked through most of the museum already. He had completely zoned out, that was for sure.
"It looks like Terrin, doesn't it?" he repeated.
"Oh. Yeah, it does." The shape of the Anorith was preserved well, especially the claws.
"What do you wanna see next?" Gabe asked, leading the way forward. He held the brochure, which contained a floor plan of the museum, like some sort of treasure map.
"Uh, whatever you want," Ray said. He didn't mention how Gabe sounded like an excited little kid. "I've seen pretty much the same stuff already in Kanto."
Gabe turned around, closing the brochure. He sighed. "Let's go then. I know you're bored."
"Only if you want to."
"Well, I was in Kanto, too, you know," Gabe said, alluding to their journey through that region. "This museum does have some different things."
"Pewter's Museum of Science doesn't contain a library, or a Pokémon Gym," came a voice from behind. It was from a thin, bespectacled man wearing a gray suit. "So sorry to eavesdrop on you, but you are the only visitors here, and I couldn't help but stand up for my marvelous Museum. I'm Hawes, the assistant director here." He held out his hand.
"Hi," said Ray, shaking Hawes's extended hand.
"Hello," greeted Gabe. "You said there was a Gym here?"
"Absolutely. Nacrene City's Pokémon Gym is in the rearmost part of the Museum, past the museum and library," Hawes explained, adjusting his glasses with a quick pinch.
"You should challenge it!" Gabe told Ray.
"We need to go to Nuvema Town first, though," Ray reminded. "We can do it on the way back, if we have time. Besides, it's still kinda early in the morning." If he was going to battle, it wasn't going to be until he and his Pokémon were fully awake.
"Oh, alright," Gabe said. He turned to Hawes, who had been politely waiting for them, and apologized.
"Oh, it's quite alright!" he replied, taking a step towards the library. "I'll be looking forward to when you return. Have a great day, you two."
Outside the Museum, Ray unclipped one of his Poké Balls from his belt and let out his Manectric with a flash of light. Gabe did the same with his Growlithe.
"The Museum was pretty cool," Ray said to Spolt, petting the Manectric's fur. It didn't like being in its ball, but the Museum had prohibited Pokémon within its doors. Spolt was happily positioned at Ray's side, as if it had never been called back into its ball in the first place.
"Let's go, then," Gabe prompted. He and Ray passed by warehouse after warehouse, with their Pokémon in tow. Even at this time in the morning, a cheerful accordion tune drifted through the air. Gabe's Growlithe dashed ahead, and then back to Gabe, and then back ahead again, while Spolt was constantly at Ray's side. By the time the sun was up in the sky, Ray and Gabe were on the road to Striaton City.