Before we start this second chapter, I want to take time to point out a few things.
First, I changed the title to "The Rise of a Pokemon Master" because "Pokemon: Alex's Journey" sounded a bit too generic, according to some readers.
Second, I want to thank Zaviei who pointed out to not center everything as it is not pleasant for the eye and also to not make a novelization of the game or the anime out of this story. I'm gonna make it my own!
Also, thanks to St Elmo's Fire for giving me the following tips:
You're formatting dialogue incorrectly. Dialogue is written as ["Hello," she said] or ["Hello!" she said], never ["Hello." She said] or ["Hello", she said] or ["Hello" she said]. This is because dialogue and speech tags are considered to be part of the same sentence, so they have to flow together.
The only exception to this is if the next sentence doesn't contain a speech verb. In that case, the second part IS considered a separate sentence, so it's written as ["Hello." She grinned], never ["Hello," she grinned].
Note that something isn't a speech verb just because it's a sound you make with your mouth, so generally stuff like "laughed" or "giggled" is in the second category. ("Speak" is also not a speech verb.)
Furthermore, if you're breaking up two complete sentences it's ["Hi," she said. "This is it."] not ["Hi," she said, "this is it."] or ["Hi," she said "this is it."] And if you're breaking up a sentence in the middle, it's ["Hi. This," she said, "is it."]
The same punctuation and capitalization rules apply to thoughts, except you don't use quotation marks (or single quotes) with thoughts. This is because quotation marks for thoughts make it look like your characters are talking out loud, which is confusing to the reader.
You wouldn't capitalize animal or mouse or dragon, so you shouldn't capitalize words like pokemon or pikachu or charizard. The only time you should capitalize it is if you're using it as the Pokemon's name, ie, Ash's pikachu is called Pikachu. This is because you only capitalize when it's a proper noun, which are the names of places or things.
Similar reasoning should be applied to any other words you're thinking of capitalizing, like telephone or trainer. Or champion.
Those tricks will really help me make a better story. Enjoy :)
After getting his first Pokemon along with his equipment, Alex made a quick trip back home to go present his little Treecko to his mom. She immediately fell in love with him, it was the least we could say.
"Awww! He's so adorable!" she beamed with picking him in her hands and giving him the little creature the biggest hug ever.
Treecko almost suffocated because of it and even Alex was surprised as his mom never gave him such hard hugs - or so he though.
"Mom, don't squash him. We're gonna go fight our first Pokemon on the route 102," he said with saving his companion from his mom's arms before he could pass out.
"Yeah, I forgot, sorry," she apologized with looking down, tears starting to form in her eyes.
Did Alex made her feel so bad?
"Hum, hey, no need to cry, mom; Treecko's okay," he assured.
"It's not that," she said with whipping her tears away. "It's just that you grew up so fast. It seems to me like it was yesterday that you were still playing Pokemon games on your Nintendo 64, and now, look at you. All ready to go explore the world by yourself."
Alex smiled and took his mom in a hug. "Don't worry, mom. I won't be alone; Treecko and all my future poke-friends will stay with my 24/7. I'll come back to see you once and a while, and remember; someday, you'll learn that your son has become the champion of Hoenn!" he declared with a fist on his chest.
Alex's mom knew that whenever he made a promise while doing this gesture, it CLEARLY meant that he intended on keeping it. Hugging her little boy one last time, she gave him a pack of his favorite meal - meatballs spaghettis - which he putted into his backpack before waving at her one last time and exiting his house.
He then made his way outside of his little village, receiving good luck wishes from the other habitants, and finally reached route 102 where the wind was making the grass dancing. Alex slammed his hands together.
"Alright, Treecko, let's find our first wild Pokemon to defeat!"
His companion answered with a positive "Treecko!" before looking around with his friend as he walked across the grass.
It only took a minute before they heard a: "ZIGZAGOON!" and saw the little raccoon-like Pokemon jump out of the grass and before them, clearly eager to fight.
"Alright!" Alex exclaimed with slamming a fist into his palm. "Here's the contender for our very first Pokemon battle! Ready, Treecko?"
The green Pokemon gave a nod before jumping off of Alex's shoulder and on the grass, ready to face the wild Zigzagoon. Alex was super excited for his first ever Pokemon battle.
"Treecko, use Leer!" he ordered.
Treecko glared at his opponent with the piercing gaze technique which lowered his defense. The wild Zigzaggon growled and charged for a Tackle.
"Treecko, dodge and use Pound!"
The green lizard avoided Zigzagoon's attack in time and jumped to pounce him under all of his weight. The raccoon Pokemon groaned as he collapsed in defeat, marking Alex and Treecko's first victory together.
"Yes! We won!" Alex happily exclaimed as he welcomed Treecko into his arms for a big hug. "It's our first victory together! I knew you could do it, Treecko! I knew it!"
His friend answered with an happy: "Treecko!"
Later, Alex and Treecko stood around Route 102, defeating many Zigzagoons and Poochyenas, with the occasional Seedot, Shroomish, Wurmple and Tailow. Those numerous fights paid well as Treecko learned a new move: Absorb.
"Great, Treecko. You learned a new move," Alex said with a smile as his companion jumped on his shoulder after defeating a Wurmple. "I think we fought enough for today. Let's get to the next town and see where we can rest."
Just as he was about to leave, Alex heard a moaning-like noise which made him stop. What could be moaning in this place? One of the numerous wild Pokemons they defeated? Curiosity getting the better of him, Alex followed the source of the moans which led him between the forest trees (I know you can't go there in the games, but my story is more realistic) and gave him a pretty surprising discovery.
In the grass was laying a little Grimer, the sludge Pokemon. He seemed to be badly hurt, judging by the scars on his mud skin and the expression on his face. Alex and Treecko were rather surprised to find a Pokemon that we usually see only in the sewers or in swamps in a forest.
However, now was not the time to wonder how he ended there; he was clearly hurt and needed medical attention. Alex quickly picked the sludge Pokemon in his arms and started running out of the woods, across Route 102 and toward Old Dale Town.
"Hold on, little guy! We'll take you to the Pokemon center! There, we'll take care of your wounds!"
Didn't see that coming, did you? Out of all the Pokemons, I chose a Grimer. I don't really know why, but as a kid, I actually liked Muk. Maybe it was because of the one used by Ash.
Except that, is my writing getting better? I made some efforts. And also, I'm gonna try to make this my own story and not a novelization of the game. Thanks to everyone willing to give me a second chance :)
