Pewter Saga: Chapter 1: Day of the 'Dex-Holders!
It really was an ugly vest.
It was made with artificial leather (real leather had been outlawed years ago), colored navy blue and coated in a layer of several decades' worth of dust. The material was badly worn; one of the two breast pockets had been torn off, and the other one was missing its button.
To anyone else, it was trash. Junk. You couldn't even give that thing to the local thrift store without feeling guilty about it. It was a piece of garbage.
All Tony could do, as he held that ugly worn vest, was look up at his Pappy… and smile. "You mean it?" he asked.
Pappy snorted with feigned indignation. "Would I lie to you, boy?" he asked. He patted the vest fondly. "I'm tellin' the truth. My great-grandfather took this vest with him when he moved back to Kanto from Unova and he passed it down to my grandfather when he took to the sea on a fishing ship. He gave it to my father, who did the same, and he gave it to me." He wiped some of the dust off. "And as for me," he said, pride welling in his raspy voice, "I wore this vest when I competed, when I was your age, in the Kanto Pokémon League. I was wearing it when I walked into the headquarters of the league, and when I challenged the Elite Four."
Tony's jaw hung open with astonishment as he stared at his Pappy, then the vest, and then at his Pappy again. He had always known that his grand-uncle had once been a formidable trainer in his youth, but he had never said anything about them. "The Elite Four?" he asked quietly.
Pappy nodded. "Yup. Well, technically I only faced the Elite Two. I never made it past the second trainer. After that, I returned home for a rest and ended up joining the Navy, putting my days of Pokémon behind me…" He sighed wistfully, remembering the exciting adventures of his youth. "Those were the days…"
Tony's eyes returned to the vest once more. This ragged piece of clothing had actually seen the Elite Four – the four most powerful trainers in the Pokémon League, above even Gym Leaders like Giovanni. They were a mysterious organization whose identities were kept secret; trainers were forced to take a vow of silence before facing them, promising never to reveal the identities of the powerful quartet of guardians, the final gatekeepers who stood between trainers and the title of Pokémon League Champion.
To anyone else, it would seem that he was just holding an old vest. To Tony, however, it was like holding an important historical artifact, like a blade made by Masamune*1 himself or the long-lost crown of an ancient king.
"I know that it's not much," Pappy said at last, overcoming his nostalgia attack, "but it's been in the Miller family for generations, and I feel that you've earned it. You're the next generation of Miller, boy…"
"In name and spirit only," Tony murmured rather despondently.
"That's good enough!" Pappy retorted. "The point is, you're as much an heir as I could ask for, and it's up to you to wear this vest on your own adventures, and one day pass it on to your own kid."
"Thanks, Pappy," Tony said. "But, uh, why didn't you give it to Uncle Brad? I mean, he is your son…"
Pappy snorted. "I tried to. He bought his own vest. One with pockets."
"Oh." Tony gave a small smile. "Well, I've got plenty of pockets in my pants…"
Pappy split into a wide grin. "That's the spirit!" he declared. "You know, there's never been a Kanto League Champion who was from Pallet Town. Everyone here believes that you're the one who's gonna change that. Don't let us down!"
Tony stiffened but nodded. "Yes, sir," he said with a confident nod; internally, he was feeling quite nervous about the overbearing sense of pressure, but it was quickly forgotten, swallowed up by the dancing Butterfree in his stomach. The only thought going through his mind was, "I'm going on a Pokémon Journey!"
Aunt Sally had said yes that faithful morning three days ago. She had actually said yes! Heck, they had even called up Uncle Brad in Johto and he had said yes, too! Tony had known that Sally would allow him to go, having eavesdropped on the conversation, but it was still amazingly elating to have her word and blessing on his side. Auntie was notoriously paranoid amongst the Miller clan for her protective nature, so her actually saying yes still felt like a miracle.
Tony slid the dusty vest over his yellow t-shirt and patted it off, smoky clouds of grey poofing with each slap from his hands. "It fits," he said happily. In reality, it was a little too big for him, but he didn't mind.
"Of course it fits," Pappy replied. "Just make sure to keep the Gym Badges you win pinned to it. It'll let other trainers know to take you seriously and give you your space."
"Isn't that bragging, though?" Tony asked curiously.
"Well, it'll be somethin' worth braggin' about," Pappy said nonchalantly. "B'sides, you're a Miller; you're descended from Kalosian settlers and poor rice farmers. You deserve the right to brag just a little." He patted him on the back, earning another cloud of dust in response. "Do us proud, boy," he ordered.
Tony nodded and saluted, mimicking one of the sailors Pappy once commanded. "I won't let you down," he promised, hoping he could live up to the words that left his mouth.
Pappy returned the salute. "Atta boy," he congratulated. "Why, with your talent, I bet you'll have your first Gym Badge by sundown!"
Before Tony could respond to that little piece of encouragement, there was a brief knock on the door before Aunt Sally pushed her way inside, followed by Lucky and Spear, who both looked very satisfied and excited. "Oh," Sally said as she saw the vest on her nephew's torso. "That old vest." She wrinkled her nose. "I appreciate the gesture, Pappy," she told the old man, "but that's really going to need to be cleaned before he goes anywhere in it. It's filthy."
Pappy snorted and replied, "He's leaving for a Pokémon Journey, not a job interview. He's gonna get dirty one way or the other."
"It's okay, Auntie," Tony piped in. "I don't mind getting a little dusty."
Sally sighed. "Oh… alright." She shook her head and held up Tony's dark green backpack. "Well," she said, "I packed everything I know you'll need in here: portable rice cooker, canned food, Pokémon food, a first-aid kit, and a change of clothes."
Tony swiftly grabbed his backpack and pulled it over his back, the gear inside clinking as he did so. Backpacks, despite being much less glorious in appearance, were actually just as useful as Pokéballs were, shrinking down valuable supplies to more manageable sizes and keeping them secure in its waterproof shell. Another wonder of modern convenience in Kanto.
Tony grinned as he secured his straps, looking up at his Auntie. "Thanks," he told her gratefully. The pack on his back served as yet another reminder that the greatest adventure in his entire life was about to begin.
Sally forced a smile. "You're welcome," she told him quietly. Forcing herself to perk up a little, she added, "Lucky and Spear just finished their breakfasts. They're ready for the journey, too." She turned to the two happy Bug-types and said, "Now, you two had better keep a close eye on your trainer at all times, understand? I don't want him getting into any trouble!"
"Freeh," Lucky chirped confidently with a nod. You couldn't tell, but she was overjoyed that her trainer's aunt showed such confidence in her and her abilities. Spear, on the other hand, only shrugged, as if to say "I make no promises."
Tony nodded alongside his Butterfree. "I'll be fine," he promised. "I mean, the rabid Pokémon have only been showing up around this area, right? I won't be able to find any if I wanted to once I get past Pewter City."
Sally frowned. "That's not the only kind of trouble, Tony," she told him sternly. "There aren't just dangerous Pokémon. There are dangerous humans, too."
"But, Auntie, I don't talk to strangers…" Tony began.
"But you will," Sally interrupted. "If you want to compete in the Kanto League, you need all eight Gym Badges, right? Well, you'll need to speak to the Gym Leaders, then, none of whom you know, and just because someone is a Gym Leader doesn't mean that he or she is of high moral fiber. If they try to coerce you into doing anything – anything – that you know is wrong, I want you to say no regardless of whether or not you get a Gym Badge or not, understand?"
Tony winced a little at her tone but slowly nodded. "I know, Auntie…" he began.
"And stay away from anyone who makes you uncomfortable!" Aunt Sally added. "I've heard that the crime rates in Cerulean City have been escalating lately, so try to avoid going there if you can help it."
"What," Pappy broke in, "you think they'd mug him?" He gave a raspy chuckle. "Why, Lucky and Spear'll keep any punks he comes across at bay. I've never met a sorry thug dumb enough to charge a kid with a Beedrill."
"Bzzz!" Spear buzzed in agreement, pumping a spear in the air.
Sally sighed, a small tone of irritation prevalent in her voice. "I'm not just worried about muggers, I'm worried that they might try to recruit him!" she explained.
"Recruit me?" Tony asked in a disbelieving voice. "B-but I'm… Well, look at me," he exclaimed, gesturing to himself. At four foot nine and with such a youthful appearance, no one would peg Tony Miller as being criminal material; he looked too small and too harmless for most criminals to consider potential gang material; that's what he thought, at least.
Aunt Sally, however, saw things differently, albeit not illogically. "Just because you don't look threatening doesn't mean you're not dangerous. You're a very skilled Pokémon Trainer, Tony, and I'm very proud of you, but there are some people who would want to take advantage of your kind of talent…"
Tony turned red out of both embarrassment and pride; whilst he felt rather sheepish about the level of worry Aunt Sally was showing, he also was glad that she thought he was skilled enough to attract the attention of those who wanted to misuse him and his Pokémon.
Fortunately, Pappy came to his defense. "Don't be so paranoid," he told his daughter-in-law. "Tony'll be fine. He needs to do this." He gave Sally a warning look. The glare's meaning was clear: "You are not going to keep this boy in this house. He is leaving!"
Sally sighed and slowly nodded. "R-right, right," she agreed. She put her hands on her nephew's shoulders and said, "Just… promise to be careful, alright? And…" Her voice went low. "Stay away from Celadon City, if you can. She who shall not be named is there."
Tony's expression became rather grim. "I… I understand. Yes, ma'am."
Fortunately, Pappy brightened the situation for both nephew and aunt. "Well, then," he declared, "what are you waiting for, boy? It's time for you to go. Professor Oak wanted to see you before you leave town, so be sure to stop by his place. He said he has a present for you."
Tony perked up at the mention of a present. "Really? For me?" he asked eagerly.
"That's right," Aunt Sally confirmed with a nod. "So… I suppose you'd better leave, then…"
Tony didn't hesitate. He swiftly wrapped up his Auntie in a soft and warm hug. She swiftly returned it, sniffling. "L-look at me," Sally murmured. "I promised that I wouldn't cry, but…"
"It's okay," Tony whispered back. "I won't be gone forever."
Sally nodded. "Call me every night that you can," she ordered.
"I will."
"And remember to stay safe, go to church, and eat three meals a day."
"Got it."
"And…" Sally sighed. "I'll… I'll stop stalling. Go. Go on your adventure. Just remember us and remember that no matter what happens, you can always come back to see us."
"I will," Tony promised, trying not to tear up himself. "I promise."
After a very long hug, Sally finally released her nephew so that he could bid farewell to his grand-uncle. "Take care of Aunt Sally for me while I'm gone, okay, Pappy?"
Pappy gave a toothy grin. "I will. Don't worry about us; focus on your trainin'. It's a long, hard trip to the Kanto League, boy. I've lost count of all the people I've seen crack under the pressure. But you've got the skills and you've got the right Pokémon for the job. I know you won't let us down."
Tony smiled confidently. "Don't worry. I won't." He turned to Lucky and Spear. "You ready?" he asked excitedly.
"Freeh!" Lucky chirped with a nod.
"Bzzz," agreed Spear, pumping a stinger in the air.
"Great!" Tony made sure his backpack was secured firmly to his body. "It's time to go, then!" he said happily. "Bye, Auntie! Bye, Pappy! I'll see you soon!" he shouted as he quickly ran out from his bedroom to the hall, making his way to the door to the Miller household.
"Bye…" Sally called weakly after him, watching as the nephew she cared for like her own child ran from their home to embark on his great adventure.
Pappy patted her on the back. "He has to do this," he reminded her.
Sally sighed as she sat down on the edge of Tony's bed. "I know… but that doesn't mean I won't miss him…" She looked up at her father-in-law with damp eyes. "Do you think he'll be safe?"
Pappy sat down beside her. "Please," he snorted, "this is Tony we're talkin' about, isn't it? There are no rabid Pokémon beyond the Viridian Forest for him to run into. I mean, what's the worst that can happen to him?"
Sally forced a smile. "Right, right," she forced herself to agree. "Nothing bad is going to happen to him. He'll be perfectly safe."
And with those words, Aunt Sally stood up and went off to get started on her day – unaware of just how badly she had just jinxed her beloved nephew.
The walk outside of the Miller house felt longer to Tony than it actually was.
Mere seconds ago, the bug catcher had been overjoyed that his days would no longer be spent in Pallet Town, that he was going to be free to roam about the region, meet new Pokémon, and compete in the famed Kanto League.
Now, however, as he walked down the hallway that led to the door, his adventurous spirit and wanderlust were quelled as his icy eyes fell upon the multiple photographs that lined the walls, each wooden frame containing a precious memory.
There he was, seven years-old, on that old rusty bike that had belonged to Pappy when he was a boy, riding clumsily down the dirt road as his Auntie steadied him. Next to it was him at his eighth birthday, happily cuddling Spear when he had just been a worm-like Weedle. Then there he was when he was ten, playing in the river on that old raft with Lucky and Spear, both in their cocoon stages. Then there he was again, this time with the first robot model he had made, which he proudly displayed like a trophy.
A sudden sense of guilt gripped his heart. This little house… this little town… He had spent the last three days… no, the last few months wanting to get out of this place, but now that he actually paused and looked around…
Tony sighed. He was really, really going to miss this old place. A part of him wanted to stay…
…Nah!
Shaking off his nostalgia attack, Tony tore open the door and made his way outside, Lucky and Spear quickly following him. Shutting the door behind him, Tony grinned and said, "Let's go!" to the two Bug-types.
"Freeh!"
"Bzz!"
They didn't waste any time. Tony shot forward, his new waterproofed brown boots slapping against the walkway as he ran down the path, passing his Auntie's garden and the pristine green lawn of his home, Lucky and Spear fluttering and buzzing behind him, just as eager to leave Pallet Town as their trainer was. The world was their Cloyster now, and they were all ready to explore every inch of it that they could.
But first, there was one more thing that they had to take care of before they left: Professor Oak.
"Alright, now, open wide!"
"Bulba!"
Professor Oak slowly moved the dentist mirror into the frog-like creature's gaping jaws, tilting the shaft and examining the inside of its mouth with a little flashlight. "Well, well!" he exclaimed happily. "No signs of plaque or decay!" He withdrew the mirror and light and placed them on a steel tray that sat on his desk, covered with various other medical supplies. Seizing the clipboard that was lying next to it, he checked the final item, healthy teeth and mouth, off of the list. "And we're done. Good job, Bulb…" He looked down at the creature, whose jaws were still wide open. "Eh, you can close your mouth, now…" the Pokémon Professor chuckled.
"Bulba!" the Pokémon replied, grinning up at the old human. He was a small bluish-green creature, frog-like in shape but covered in scales. Its eyes were large, scarlet, and shining, and its four legs were all short and stubby. Perhaps the most noticeable feature, however, was the large green plant bulb that stuck out of its back. The creature was called a Bulbasaur, a Grass/Poison-type Pokémon that – alongside Charmander and one another – was one of the most popular choices for beginning Pokémon Trainers, often referred to as a Starter Pokémon.
Professor Oak returned the grinning Bulbasaur back to his Pokéball. The Seed Pokémon had good reason to smile so widely that day; soon, he would be meeting his own Pokémon Trainer, a young lady who Professor Oak had spoken quite highly of. It seems that even young Pokémon such as he could be just as eager to go on grand adventures as trainers were.
As Oak returned the Pokéball to its tray, placing it next to a second capture device with a Pokémon he had checked on recently, he looked up and smiled at his granddaughter. "That should do it," he told Daisy. "Just to be sure, though, run them through the healing machine. I want them to be perfect for when their new trainers pick them up."
Daisy nodded. "Yes, Grandpa," she said obediently, walking off to the healing machine in the back with the tray.
Oak grinned all the wider as she walked off. He loved days like that day. There was nothing that made him smile wider than the simplest but most rewarding part of his job as Pokémon Professor: giving trainers Starter Pokémon and sage advice before they began their Pokémon Journeys and today was no exception, even though the Pokémon Trainers he would be sending off were far from unexperienced beginners.
He checked his watch. It read 9:50 A.M. Hmm… he thought. I told them to come at about ten… They'll be here in a few minutes. He started to stand up. I'd better practice my speech…
The video phone on his mahogany desk began to ring, bringing an end to that notion. Oak swiftly picked the phone up and switched the screen on. After a few seconds of static, the image finally focused and became clear, revealing a familiar young woman on the other end.
She was pretty but quite disheveled; she'd be radiant if she bothered to perform more than the bare minimum of grooming. Her hazel-colored hair was messy. Her skin was incredibly pale due to consistently remaining indoors and in the dark. Her dark jade eyes were covered by a pair of large glasses, held together by a piece of tape, and her plain white t-shirt had a visible coffee stain on the chest.
She looked like a lay-about, couch potato, stay at home slob, but she wasn't... Well, she was, really, but making the mistake of underestimating her would be foolish. She was brilliantly intelligent, far smarter than anyone of her age that Oak had come across. She knew this and she was proud of it. Probably a little too proud.
Okay, definitely a little too proud.
Her name was Hickory – Agatha Hickory. Hailing from southern Unova, she was a brilliant student who had been privileged enough to attend the legendary Driftveil Academy, a Pokémon school reserved for the very intelligent and very rich. Being from a farming family, Agatha was the former rather than the latter. Tragically, due to reasons she was reluctant to explain, Agatha had left Driftveil Academy before her semester was up and went to work as a freelance inventor, which, of course, did not exactly pay the bills. When Oak had met her, during his third visit to Unova, she had been even more ragged in appearance and desperate to get his attention, even waiting outside of his hotel room for nine hours in order to speak to him.
When she did speak to him, however, Oak had been blown away by just how intelligent she actually was. She proposed an invention, one that he himself had wanted to make since boyhood, but with a more modern spin, one that she was prepared to help him create. Oak had accepted and entered into a rather unusual relationship with the young Unovan.
Despite his caller's rather informal and unclean appearance, Oak smiled politely as usual. "Ms. Hickory!" he greeted, switching to the woman's native language of Unovan. "I was expecting a call from you. How are you?"
Agatha Hickory nodded once, the shadows of her dark apartment briefly obscuring her face as she tilted her head. "I am fine, Professor," she said in monotone Unovan, her voice containing not an ounce of emotion whatsoever. "I'm just calling in to check in on the progress of our little joint project."
"Oh, you mean the Pokédex?" Oak asked.
Agatha's lips broke into a small scowl. "Shh!" she hissed. "Call it 'the project!' Someone might be listening in…"
Oak looked up briefly so that Agatha didn't see him roll his eyes at her paranoia. "The project," he said, "is going wonderfully. The parts you sent me arrived a few days ago and I've implemented them into the finished product." He smiled again. "The basic tests have all succeeded and your Hickory-Dex addition has proven to function perfectly."
Agatha briefly smiled but quickly hid it. "Was there ever any doubt?" she asked.
"Of course not," Oak lied. "All that remains now is the field testing, which will be beginning this very morning. The beta testers are on their way as we speak."
Agatha's frown returned. "Beta testers?" she asked suspiciously. "You've… done background checks on them, yes?"
Oak frowned, too. "Ms. Hickory, no one is trying to steal the Pok…" Noting Agatha's widening frown, he coughed and corrected, "The project."
"How do you know?" Agatha asked. "The project is one of the most useful things ever invented. Someone could steal it, copy it, and patent it before we do."
Oak sighed. "Alright, then, fine. Someone could very well try to steal the device. However, I have chosen these beta-testers by hand. I know them all very well. They are quite young, yes, but they are of the highest moral fiber and are all quite intelligent."
"Is that right?" Agatha asked. Her tone held a combination of curiosity and incredulousness.
"Indeed!" Oak insisted. "The first is Nicole Rogers, a girl from your own region who moved here with her parents to study under me. She's smart as a whip – reminds me a bit of you." Actually, Nicole reminded Oak nothing of Agatha, but he felt stroking her ego would make convincing her that his choices for the beta testers were good ones.
Whether or not Agatha bought it, he didn't know. She just said, "Go on."
"Next is a young man I met recently, Tony Miller, but I feel as though I've known him a long time already!" Oak continued. "He's proven to have amazing compassion and skill in Pokémon battles. You'll remember I mentioned the rabid Pokémon attacks in Viridian City and Pallet Town?"
"Yes."
"Well, Mr. Miller has been holding off the Pokémon who've been attacking Pallet Town for months – without the aid of any other trainers."
Agatha nodded. "Good, good… He might have some potential, then. Any others?"
"There's one more," Oak finished proudly, "and I've saved the best for last: one of my own grandchildren!"
"Really?" Agatha perked up. "You mean Daisy? Well, that isn't a bad choice…"
Oak sweat-dropped. "Actually, I meant Blue…"
Agatha nearly fell off of her chair. "W-wha…?"
Oak went on as if he hadn't been interrupted at all. "He's a little reckless, yes, but he's smart enough to learn from his mistakes and improve with both his losses and his victories. He's attended the famous Pokémon Tech and was taught by Headmistress Lorelei herself, and…"
"And then he blew a hole in the roof of the auditorium after he 'borrowed' the school's mascot Gyarados for a practice session with his friends," Agatha finished grimly, folding her arms.
Oak sweat-dropped. "Well, that was an isolated incident…"
"I know your grandson. I've met your grandson." Agatha sniffed. "I realize that he's family to you, Professor, but I do not want my contributions in his hands! He could lose it or break it… and it took me three months of saving to get enough money to buy them! I went without washing my clothes and ate nothing but boxed TV dinners for two months to pay for those parts!"
A problem that you wouldn't have, Oak thought grimly, if you weren't so prideful and allowed me to fund your research…
"I'm sorry, Professor," Agatha said, "but the thought of letting… him use my invention…"
"Our invention," Oak corrected.
"I am not comfortable with this idea, Professor," Agatha finished, feeling rather annoyed at being interrupted.
Oak folded his arms, closed his eyes, and sighed, feeling quite frustrated. Opening his eyes again, he said, "Blue's grown a lot since he left Pokémon Tech. Yes, I'll be the first to admit that he's not perfect. However, I firmly and honestly believe, as an intellectual and his grandfather, that his positives greatly outweigh his negatives.
"Blue is reckless," he continued, "or at least that's what Headmistress Lorelei told me. However, his recklessness, his willingness to put himself in a losing battle, is deeper than most would realize. Blue wants to be the best and he trains hard to reach that goal, and if that means putting himself at the mercy of a stronger opponent he will do it, if only to find someone to strive to beat.
"Furthermore," the Pokémon Professor concluded, giving the speechless Unovan a firm glare, "Blue remains my grandson and one of my heirs. Daisy loves Pokémon, but her interests are purely scientific and she has little skill or patience when it comes to battling, something that is required for the beta testing. Blue is the perfect choice for one of the beta testers, and I have no doubt that he will grow into a stronger trainer and person with the experience he gains from the testing!"
Agatha's mouth opened and closed several times, flapping uselessly as she tried to form a coherent response or argument to counteract Oak's.
"And besides," Oak added before the Unovan woman could speak, "I don't think you of all people should be criticizing anyone for being expelled from an esteemed academy."
"T-that was different…" Agatha protested. "I left by my own volition!"
"After your Hickory-Dex Mark 1 blew up in the auditorium and humiliated you in front of the Unova League Officials," Oak replied casually, secretly delighting in just how red Agatha turned when he brought up her most embarrassing memory. "And for the record, Headmistress Lorelei asked Blue to return to Pokémon Tech, and he refused to do so."
"H-he did?"
"Yes." Oak furrowed his brows. "He did so because he felt that there was nothing left for the academy to teach him. He wants to learn about Pokémon by battling and capturing them, not by shoving his nose into books and reading."
There was a long, long silence before Agatha broke it with a sigh. "I'm… I'm…" She scowled as she tried to say the dreadful words. "I'm… sorry… I was… wrong…" She sighed again, feeling humiliated. "Blue will make a… suitable beta tester, alongside the others," she added, returning to her monotone to save face.
Oak smiled. "Thank you," he said with a nod. "I'm glad you think so."
"Just…" Agatha added, "make sure he reads the manual I sent…"
"He will," Oak replied.
Agatha nodded. "Good, good," she said. "I mean, excellent work, Professor. Your choices will be adequate for the project."
"I'm glad that you think so," Oak replied. "I'm sending them all off for their Pokémon Journeys in a few minutes, and they'll each be briefed on how to handle the device carefully. I'll have a report for you by next Friday."
"Thank you. I'll be waiting." Agatha nodded. "Before I forget, I just called you to let you know that I've already begun working on the update."
"So soon?" Oak asked, surprised.
"I've already finished coding the information on the Johto Pokémon," Agatha continued as if she hadn't been interrupted, "and I'll begin to work on the next set tomorrow morning."
Oak nodded. "Well," he said, quite impressed, "you certainly work fast!"
"I'd work faster if I had something to eat," Agatha muttered morosely. "But I can't eat until I have dishes… and I can't do that," she declared, raising her voice so that anyone in her apartment could hear her, "until a certain someone does his dishes!"
"I already told you, Aggy, those dishes are yours! It's your turn!" a shrill male voice shouted from the background.
"Do not start with me, Simon!" Agatha shouted back.
Professor Oak sweat-dropped. "Eh, I'll let you get to that, Ms. Hickory," he said. "Goodbye." Without giving Agatha a chance to respond, he switched the phone off and leaned back into his seat. "Cute couple…" he muttered, having forgotten about Agatha's rather stormy relationship with her boyfriend, a street magician/school janitor named Simon.
"Grandpa?" Daisy called as she walked back into the room with the trey in her hands. "I did as you asked. These Pokémon are perfectly healthy!"
Oak's smile returned as he rose from his seat. "Excellent," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"And I just looked out the window," Daisy added, "and I saw our guests. They're on their way to the door right now." As if to emphasize her point, the doorbell chose this moment to ring, announcing the arrival of their visitors.
"Very good," Oak chuckled. "Call down your brother, will you?" he asked, taking the trey from his granddaughter, "and open up the door for Mr. Miller and Ms. Rogers. It's time we got this show on the road!"
Daisy grinned. "Yes, Grandpa!"
Professor Oak's laboratory was kept separate from his actual house. Asides from the fact that his house was too small to contain the large and expensive equipment needed for his research, Daisy felt that giving her grandfather a healthy walk everyday would help keep him fit and prevent him from spending each and every day cooped up in his lab and getting flabby.
The lab, which was located towards the south of Pallet Town, near Lake Easel, was a large barn-shaped building with white walls and a red, curved roof. There was a small windmill attached to a small tower on the top, spinning lazily in the warm summer breeze. It was set on the top of a small hill, with a simple stone staircase, lined with shrubs at each side, leading to the scarlet front door.
It was a simple and homey-looking building, the sort Tony was used to seeing in Pallet Town. In fact, it was difficult to tell that it was a laboratory at all. Perhaps that was intentional; after all, Pallet Town was far away from just about every other civilization in Kanto. Perhaps Oak valued privacy, something a celebrity like him could rarely enjoy.
Regardless, Tony wasn't there to admire architecture or theorize about the personal lives of Pokéologists. He was there to get his present so that he could finally get out of Pallet Town.
He was just about to begin the climb up the stairs when a voice brought him and his bugs to a halt. It was Nicole's voice. In mere seconds, the Unovan girl was upon him, still wearing her old school uniform, with her loyal Vaporeon Atlanta at her side as always.
"G-good morning," Nicole gasped, slightly out of breath after her run. She wiped a drop of sweat from her brow.
Tony gave a small and polite smile. "Oh, hey," he greeted quietly. "You're here."
"Y-yeah," Nicole replied. "S-sorry you missed me the other day. I was… in the bathroom when that Magmar attacked, so I couldn't help!" she lied, forcing a smile and a shrug.
Tony raised an eyebrow. "And you didn't hear the screaming?" he asked; the Viridian citizenry hadn't exactly been quiet in the face of their imminent deaths.
"Well, they play music in the bathrooms, obviously," Nicole scoffed. "Uh, anyways, why did Professor Oak ask you to come here, anyway?" she asked, quickly changing subject. She had a sinking feeling that Tony wouldn't appreciate finding out that she had been hiding in a pile of canned fruit the moment she caught wind of the Magmar's assault.
Tony leaned over to pet Atlanta, the Vaporeon mewling happily as the human scratched behind her ears. "He told my Auntie that he has something for me," the blond explained to the Unovan girl. "I don't know what it is, but apparently it'll help me on my journey."
"Yeah," Nicole said with a nod, "the Professor mentioned that. Your Aunt's finally going to let you go, eh?"
"She is!" Tony giggled happily, standing back up. "But… why are you here, Nicole?" he asked suddenly. "I mean, it's not like you've really got a reason to stick around…" He paused and then asked in a quiet voice, "You're, uh, not sticking around for Blue are you?"
Nicole couldn't stop herself from bursting out laughing but she managed to suppress it down to an amused chuckle. "A-as if! Professor Oak, uh…" she stuttered, "well, he wanted to see me. He said he had something to give me, too."
Tony looked up. "Really?" he asked, surprised.
Nicole nodded. "Yeah. Do you know what he's up to?"
The Kantonian shook his head. "Not really. He just said he has something for me. I haven't seen him since that day we went on that errand; I guess he was busy putting whatever it is together or something." He shrugged.
Nicole's eyes turned to the lab. "What's he up to…?" she murmured absentmindedly. "I knew he was kind of eccentric, but…"
Tony looked up. "What was that?"
"N-noting," Nicole lied. "I was just thinking aloud… Eh…"
Mercifully, Daisy chose that moment to open the door and call down to the two. "Tony! Nicole! Hi!" she cried cheerily. "Grandpa is waiting for you in here! Come on up!"
"W-we're coming!" Nicole shouted back. "Come on, Tony, let's not keep them waiting!" she said, quickly ascending the steps. She took off so fast that it took Atlanta a few seconds to decipher that she had. The Vaporeon yelped as she launched after her trainer, following her up the stairs to the waiting Daisy.
Tony blinked, surprised. Nicole seemed pretty nervous there for a second. Was something wrong? Maybe he should have asked…
He shook it off. Nah. Socializing was hard enough for him already; there was no way he was going to ask a girl who was still technically a stranger if something was bothering her. She might have had a serious emotional problem that she needed help with and Tony, frankly, had enough emotional problems of his own.
Making sure Lucky and Spear were following him, he made his way up the stairs to Daisy and Nicole.
"Welcome, young trainers, to my lab! My name is Professor Oak, but most people call me the Pokémon Prof-!"
"Gramps, we all know who you are. You don't need to introduce yourself again."
"Blue, I worked all night on this speech and you are going to indulge me!"
Professor Oak's laboratory was far messier than his house, which was quite remarkable given the fact that the lab was only completed two days ago and the equipment was moved in the day before. Bookshelves lined the walls, stuffed with books and papers spilling out everywhere. Large machines of undefinable origin and purpose were piled in the corners, panels hanging open with wires and circuitry exposed and hanging out. The desk was covered with papers, folders, crumb-covered napkins, and coffee mugs.
Despite the mess surrounding him, the Pokémon Professor stood tall and proud amidst his unfitting surroundings. His arms were folded behind his back and he had an encouraging and wise smile on his face. His white lab coat was freshly washed and the salmon collared shirt and tan pants he wore beneath it were pressed and cleaned to perfection. He looked as if he was giving an important speech at a scientific meeting rather than giving three kids an undefined present and sending off to their new lives of adventure and homelessness.
"As I was saying," the Professor continued, "welcome to my laboratory! My name is Professor Samuel Oak. Many people call me the Pokémon Professor. I'm a well-traveled individual, I speak three languages, I've worked with hundreds of the world's brightest and best minds, and I have a radio show that I record for every Saturday."
"He's also single, ladies," Blue announced.
Oak ignored the snarky comment from his grandson and kept focused on the task at hand. "Today," he said, "you three will be embarking on what may very well be the most important Pokémon Journey in the history of the world! I have personally selected the three of you for this crucial experiment for your talents, intelligence, and potential."
Said three trainers were lined up in front of the Professor: Tony Miller, Bug-type fanatic and local hero; Nicole Rogers, the Unovan Mistress of Mystery; and Blue Oak, grandson of one of the world's most famous scientific minds. All three were standing straight and tall, patiently listening to the words of the Professor, knowing that he would reveal the purpose of this meeting when he was ready to do so.
"All three of you," Professor Oak continued, "are some of the brightest young people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. I have no doubt that you are all going to accomplish great things on your Pokémon Journeys."
Nicole blinked, surprised. Since when was she going on a Pokémon Journey?
"Each of you has been chosen for your own specific skills and accomplishments, whether that be a remarkable talent for battling…" he looked at Tony, who blushed and smiled silently, "an ability to get stronger with losses and victories alike…" he looked at his grandson, who grinned cheekily, "or a brilliant mind and a need to make a living." He gave a knowing glance to Nicole, who looked away slightly to hide the suspicion and confusion in her eyes.
"Now, I know that I may seem like just a rambling old man at the moment," Oak continued, "but please, bear with me for a moment, as I take you back to my youth…"
Blue groaned aloud. "Oh, no…" he groaned, "please not the story about the Omanyte fossil…"
Ignoring him, Oak began: "When I was but a lad, I was fascinated by the mysterious and wonders of Pokémon, which was sparked, as Blue said, when I went to the small museum in my hometown and found myself completely obsessed with a small fossil of a Kabuto, a prehistoric Pokémon that was extinct until 1987, when cloning Pokémon was legalized. Whilst it is not outlawed…" he looked down and sighed, "and for good reason, mind you, a few Kabuto do exist today and…"
"Gramps, you're rambling."
"Ah, yes. Thank you, Blue. Ahem. As I was saying, I was completely fascinated by the Kabuto fossil and I wanted to know more about it, which quickly grew into an insatiable curiosity for all Pokémon everywhere. I wanted to know about them so I went on a Pokémon Journey of my own." He grinned. "I was quite the trainer, believe it or not."
"Gramps…"
"Er, right. Rambling again. Sorry!" Oak chuckled, glad that Blue was keeping the exposition on track.
Tony, on the other hand, was quite irked with the redhead's interruptions. He, personally, would have loved to hear about the past exploits of Professor Oak, and all of the tales of the Pokémon League from over fifty years ago.
Oak cleared his throat again. "Now," he said, "I was a very skilled trainer in my own right, but I never found the answers I was looking for by battling. I turned to researching the biology of Pokémon. I lost a few friends, yes… but I found many more wonderful associates and my passion for Pokéology was finally realized. But that wasn't enough! I wanted to find a way to make my knowledge more accessible to the world! So I…"
"Grandpa," Daisy called, poking her head into the lab, "don't bore the guests, please. Just give them their Pokédexes."
Tony blinked. "Poké-what now?"
Oak sighed. "Way to ruin the sense of surprise and tension, Daisy…"
Daisy folded her arms and stepped into the lab, her lab coat swaying behind her. "You don't have the time to tell them your life's story, Grandpa," she reminded him. "You've got a phone meeting with Professor Juniper in ten minutes, remember?"
"I remember…" Oak sighed. "Alright, fine," he said, turning back to the trio of trainers. "Here's the short version: I wanted to make an invention that would allow trainers to instantly pull up any information needed to deal with a Pokémon, sort of like a portable encyclopedia that wouldn't require any page-flipping. I worked on it for years until I met a smart young lady from Unova, one Ms. Agatha Hickory, who proposed a portable computer. It took us a few years of working together – neither one of us are programmers – but we did it!" He gestured to Daisy. "Daisy, if you will…"
Daisy nodded and walked over to the table, picking up a metallic tray and holding it out to the trio. "Here they are!" she announced.
Sitting on the tray, lying in a row, were three small devices. They were rectangular in shape, and colored red, blue, and green.
Daisy picked up the first Pokédex, the red one, and held it up. She clicked a small button and a panel flipped open horizontally, giving the device the appearance of some sort of futuristic plastic book. She then turned the device to display its "pages," which in reality consisted of a screen and two small keypads with buttons on them.
"This," she introduced, "is the Pokédex. It's Grandpa's invention, which Ms. Hickory and many other scientists and aides, myself included, helped to make. It's a high-tech encyclopedia of every Pokémon native to the Kanto Region. You just point and click…" She aimed the device at Lucky, holding and clicked one of the buttons with her thumb.
The green lens on the front of the 'dex flashed once, surprising the Butterfree, who flitted behind her trainer nervously and rubbed her eyes. "Freeh," she muttered irately.
Before anyone could say anything else, the Pokédex gave a merry-sounding ring and announced, in a monotone female voice, "Butterfree, the Butterfly Pokémon. A Bug/Flying-type. Average Height: 3'07. Average Weight: 71 lbs. In battle, it flaps its wings at high speeds to release highly toxic dust into the air. This specimen's gender is female, and its size suggests that it is roughly nine years old. Its special is Compound Eyes. Its power level is 14."
Everyone jumped at the entirely unexpected sound. Tony was especially surprised. "T-that's right!" he exclaimed. "I met Lucky nine years ago… B-but what is that 'level' thing it was talking about?"
"Like it said, your Pokémon's power level," Oak replied. "The levels range from one to one-hundred, and can be determined by scanning a Pokémon's physical traits and aura. It's really quite complicated, so I won't bore you with too many details, but basically it means you now have a way to determine how strong or weak a Pokémon is and compare it to your own Pokémon's level, enabling you to pick your fights a little more carefully."
"The Pokédex also is capable of recording the information gathered and storing it permanently in its memory, allowing easy access to the wealth of knowledge that it holds," Professor Oak boasted as he took the scarlet device from his granddaughter's hand and placed it into Tony's. "This remarkable little gizmo," he said, "was completed using the parts you all brought me the other day. It's thanks to you three that I was able to finish it, so I feel it's only fair that I allow you all to be my lucky beta testers!"
"Beta testers?" Tony asked.
"Indeed!" Professor Oak nodded. "That's why I called you here today. I wanted to give you three Pokédexes to take on your journeys across Kanto. If you catch Pokémon and add them to your Pokédexes, you'll be able to fill them up with valuable information and prove that they are functional and convenient. Once you've proven this, return them to me and I'll show them to the Pokémon League. With any luck, one day every young trainer will have the privilege to take a Pokédex with them when they go on their adventures, ensuring that their travels are much safer."
Blue took the blue Pokédex from the tray, eying the small device. "So, this is what you've been working on…" he muttered. A grin split across his face. "Well, I guess it's pretty cool. Thanks, Gramps."
"Thank you, Professor Oak," Tony said humbly as he stared down at his own Pokédex, amazed that he was lucky enough to have permission to go on his own journey as well as being among the first trainers, the elite, to have the privilege to test such an important device. "I'll… I'll be sure to use it carefully!"
"I'm certain you will," Oak replied with a smile. "But don't let this little test interfere with your own goals and dreams. I understand that both you and Blue would like a shot at the Pokémon League?"
Tony nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Then let that be your first priority," Oak advised. "Just be sure to use your Pokédex as much as possible. Don't worry, I've already contacted the Pokémon League H.Q. and explained the purpose of the devices. They know that you three will have them and they've sent messages to every Pokémon Gym in Kanto giving you special permission to use them in Gym Battles if you choose to do so. Just keep the Pokédex in mind and be sure to capture as many Pokémon as you can and gather data of them with it."
"Umm…" Nicole spoke up as she picked up the green 'dex. "I'm not really that interested in competing in the Kanto League, sir," she said.
"I figured as much," Oak replied with a nod. He knew that Nicole would have little desire to try; winners tended to draw a lot of attention to themselves, and the poor Unovan girl already stuck out enough as things were. "There's nothing wrong with that."
Nicole nodded back. "So, I, uh," she stuttered, "I guess that I can try to catch the Pokémon for the Pokédex. If it will help my get a job later on…"
"Ms. Nicole," Oak interrupted, "if you can succeed in filling the Pokédex for me, I will personally hire you as one of my aides."
Nicole looked up, surprised. "R-really?" she asked. Whilst being Professor Oak's assistant wasn't exactly her dream career, it was still a job and a way to feed herself without having to go crawling back to her family.
"Of course!" Oak confirmed. "After all, such a task is quite monumental. There are one-hundred and fifty Pokémon confirmed to live in the Kanto Region…"
"Technically, four of those have yet to be officially catalogued, so officially there's only one-hundred and forty-six," Daisy interrupted.
Oak rolled his eyes. "Okay, apparently my hard-earned photographic evidence proving the existence of the Legendary…"
"Gramps, you're rambling again," Blue broke in.
"R-right." Oak sighed. "Anyways, quick version: those are Pokédexes, they're yours, don't break them, use them in good health," he said as quickly as possible; so quickly, in fact, that it took everyone a few seconds to register what he had said. "Quick enough for you, Blue?" the old man asked his grandson.
Blue, who had only just put together what Oak had said, nodded slowly. "That's good, yeah."
"Thank you, Professor Oak!" Tony and Nicole chimed politely, bowing their heads as they held their precious Pokédexes in their hands.
"Think nothing of it," Oak replied with a friendly smile. "Just remember to use them and enjoy yourselves. The greatest adventures of your young lives are about to begin! But first," he said suddenly, surprising everyone, "there's one more thing I wanted to give you two," he said to Tony and Nicole.
Tony blinked. "There's something else?"
"Professor," Nicole said, "you've already given us so much. We couldn't…"
Oak raised his hand. "I gave you the Pokédexes because I know you three are smart and skilled enough to put them to good use and test them to the extent of their abilities. What I want to give you two now," he said with a smile, "are presents. I understand I missed your last birthday, Mr. Miller," he told Tony, "and after your near-death experience the other day, Ms. Rogers, I think a little gift might help raise your spirits a little more."
Tony turned red. "T-thank you, sir."
"No need to thank me," Oak replied with a chuckle. "I'm happy to help. Daisy, the Pokéballs, if you'd please."
Daisy picked up yet another tray and held it out to her grandfather. Sitting on the tray were two round and shiny Pokéballs, gleaming brightly in the morning sunlight.
Tony felt his heart beat faster, adrenaline rushing through his veins. A Pokéball usually meant a Pokémon.
"Nicole," Oak said as he picked up the first Pokéball and handed it to Nicole, "I understand that you only have a Vaporeon with you at this moment. Whilst an excellent Pokémon to be sure, it doesn't hurt to have a back-up plan." He gestured to the Pokéball in the girl's hand. "Go on. Open it."
Nicole curiously looked at the Pokéball, excitedly wondering what sort of Pokémon could be inside. She gently tapped the button and the device popped open, releasing a bright red beam of energy that struck the ground. Slowly, a tiny creature formed on the ground, a toad-shaped being with turquoise and jade scaly skin, scarlet eyes, and a green bud growing out of its back.
Nicole's eyes brightened. "A Bulbasaur!" she exclaimed happily, recognizing the Grass/Poison-type Pokémon instantly. She aimed her Pokédex down at the grinning reptile and hit the button. "Like… this?" she muttered.
The Pokédex beeped and said, "Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. A Grass/Poison-type. Average Height: 2'04. Average Weight: 15 lbs. A strange seed was planted on its back at birth. The plant sprouts and grows with this Pokémon. This specimen's gender is male, and its size suggests that it is about two years old. Its special ability is Overgrow. Its power level is five."
"Whoa," Tony murmured, both amazed by the speed that the Pokédex could identifity the Pokémon as well as the rarity of Nicole's gift. Bulbasaur were quite rare, being primarily a domesticated species that could get quite expensive.
"Only five?" Blue asked, looking down at the little Seed Pokémon. "Talk about weak…"
Nicole roughly elbowed the redhead in the side. "Don't be rude," she scolded, leaning down to pet her new Pokémon on the head. The reptile happily accepted her hand with a croon, overjoyed to finally have a trainer of his own.
"That little one has been waiting for a trainer of his own for quite some time," Oak explained, "and I cannot think of a trainer more suited for the little fellow than you, Nicole."
"T-thank you, Professor," Nicole said gratefully, bowing her head as she scooped up the Bulbasaur into her arms, pocketing her Pokédex. "I'll take good care of him, I promise!"
"I know that you will," Oak replied. He looked over to Tony and held up the second Pokéball. "And I have one for you as well, Mr. Miller," he said, holding out the ball. "I have a feeling you'll really like your present as well," he said in a tantalizing tone.
Tony felt a shiver of excitement run down his spine as he slowly took the ball from Oak, his fingers shaking as they slipped across the smooth surface. His mind was racing wildly, fantasies as to what could be inside, wondering what magnificent Bug-type Pokémon could lay within: a Pinsir, the vicious Stag Beetle Pokémon with horns that could crush steel? A Venomoth, the elegant Poison Moth Pokémon with a myriad of deadly concoctions of toxins? A Scyther, the infamous Mantis Pokémon, the beloved natural-born samurai of the Bug-types, with razor-sharp blades for arms that could slice through even the toughest of armor, the strongest defenses, and render opponents helpless?
He forced himself to breathe again and hit the button. The Pokéball popped open and released its occupant.
It was a small creature, far too small to be any of the larger Bug-types that he had thought of before. Its body was covered in aquamarine scales. It had a pale tan armored belly and a brown shell. Its tail was long and curved. Its arms and legs were rather stubby and it was bipedal. Its head was round. Its eyes were brown, large, and shining. It smiled up at him with a toothless beaked mouth.
Tony didn't smile. In fact, Tony's face was completely neutral. The air became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
The Pokémon's smile became a little uncomfortable. "Squirt!" he greeted in a bubbly voice.
Oak grinned, completely oblivious to just how awkward he had just made things. "Speechless again, I see! I knew you'd like him!"
Tony didn't hear him. He was oblivious to everyone, to Nicole, Daisy, and Blue's questioning looks at him, to Lucky's jealous glare, to Spear's confused buzz, and to Oak's proud grin. Everything vanished as he stared in silence at the turtle-like Pokémon that he instantly recognized as a Squirtle – known also as the Tiny Turtle Pokémon.
That… Tony thought, mentally stating the obvious, is not a Bug-type.
Author's Note:
"Exposition, exposition, rush it out ASAP~!"
Once again, this chapter ended up being way, way longer than it probably should have been, and a lot of it was exposition. Oh, well. I hope that the pacing isn't too awkward.
So, first things first: yes, Tony has just received a non-Bug-type Pokémon. And yes, I do intend for Tony to train him. I happen to really like Squirtle (as of this moment it's my favorite of the Kanto Starter Pokémon) and I really couldn't think of a better way to incorporate all three starters into the story.
It should also be noted that Tony will still be training primarily Bug-types but will also use some of other types. I have two reasons for this:
First off, training only Bug-types doesn't really work for a compelling walkthrough of the Kanto League. Believe me, I know. It works in Unova because of the amazing variety of Bug-types, such as Bug/Electric, Bug/Rock, and Bug/Fire, which provide both variety and help to counter the weaknesses of their primary type. I want Tony to have a balanced team with a lot of personality and variety, and the six Bug-types of Kanto wouldn't exactly do it for me.
The second reason is also simple: Misty had a Togepi. Lance had a Charizard, an Aerodactyl, and a Gyarados. Sabrina had a Venomoth. Iris had an Emolga and an Excadrill. In short, dozens of other trainers – official characters, mind you – have had type specializations and have broken them outright, so I don't really feel bad about doing so as well.
And so we return to the old tradition of my last story: Reader Question Time! How do you feel about Tony getting Pokémon other than Bug-types? Answer after you review!
And, yes, the Pokédexes have built-in scouters. Evidently Oak and Agatha are fans of Dragon Ball Z.
Well, the next chapter will have more exciting stuff happening (probably), so stick around!
Culture Time!
*1: Masamune: Masamune was a renowned Japanese sword-smith who lived from 1264-1343 AD. Fans of Final Fantasy VII might recognize the name as the name of Sephiroth's sword from the games. There is actually an award in Japan called the Masamune prize that is given to sword-smiths of high caliber. Since he was considered to be a master sword-smith, being able to hold a sword made by Masamune would obviously be considered a rare treat, especially for someone who knows about him (i.e. someone who lives in a fictional version of the Kantō Region of Japan who has studied his cultural history).
Next time... Pewter Saga: Chapter 2: Jumping the First Squirtle!
