Pokemon: A Kanto Journey
A novelization of the Kanto storyline
Author Notes: I am an old school pokemon fan! I grew up playing pokemon red and blue, and all though I love all the games/regions, Kanto is still my favorite. I thought for fun I'd write a novel based around the Kanto storyline. This story takes place long after the events of Pokemon with Ash and Gary. That being said, the main character, Buck Dorwind, will be embarking on a new adventure as he follows their Kanto footsteps! I hope you all enjoy...and I do not own Pokemon!
Chapter 1
Pallet City
Pallet City, home to Kanto's finest Trainer School of Pokemon, was once a small quiet town by the water. Then, as word got out that two of the greatest trainers of all time, Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak began their journey in Pallet Town, the economy boomed and many people moved to Pallet with the hopes of their kids one day following in the footsteps of the "Red and Blue trainers."
The center of Pallet City was the Trainer School. An elementary school that specialized in raising children to become the finest pokemon trainers. Many great trainers had gone through the school, graduated, and had moved on to do amazing things in the world of Pokemon. Today was the dawn of a new crew of trainers, because today was Graduation Day.
As part of the big day's festivities there was the traditional Graduation Exhibition Tournament, where all the trainers who were moving forward would be allowed to battle one another. This was not considered a serious pokemon tournament in the eyes of the parents, and citizens of Pallet City. It was a chance to celebrate their children's growth, and cheer on the newest pokemon trainers from the community. To the students participating in the battle, however, this was the most important battle of their young lives so far. After six years of learning, growing, and living, with their trainer community, who among the thirteen year olds would be considered the best of them?
Buck Dorwind stood ready in the finals of the Pallet Exhibition ready to take on his greatest advisary yet, and arch nemesis, Derek Widener. The two boys had grown up with each other, and had a strong disdain for each other ever since kinegarten at the Trainer School. They were polar opposites. Buck was quiet, timid, and frequently most comfortable sitting back for fear of failure. Derek was confident, assertive, and never afraid to admit that he was the best in the room. Buck had short, shaggy, unkept red hair, and wore baggy clothes with holes in them, because all of his parent's money went to pay for the tuition for him to become a pokemon trainer. Derek's family was very wealthy, and he always had the hottest fashion on. He had spikey black hair, styled and cut to perfection, and did his best to always look better then everyone else. People admired Derek, because he was the kid that was going places. Buck, was the "nice kid" who "is sweet, and had a kind heart." Everyone knew Derek was going to win the exihibition tournament, and everyone was surprised that "Little Bucky" had made it this far.
Buck stood on his end of the dirt arena, in the outside courtyard of the school, sweating from the heat, and from nervousness. The crowd cheered him and his rival on, as everyone was proud of the two young boys, as well as their entire class that had made it to Graduation.
"This is it." Buck thought, "This is when everyone is going to see how amazing I really am."
From across the arena, Derek stood at his corner smirking confidently at Buck, his fingers lightly caressing his poke ball ready for the battle to start.
"Just one more win." Derek said to himself, "I'll beat this scrub, prove that I'm number one in Pallet...and then it's off to start my journey to prove that I am number 1 in Kanto."
Derek's passionate black eyes met Buck's meek blue eyes, and Buck quickly looked down at his pokeball, slightly intimidated. He attempted to harden up, and push away his anxiety about battling Derek.
"I just need to put this smug jerk in his place, once and for all." Buck thought to himself, "He's always looked down on me...today's the day he's going to regret it!"
"Trainers!" The referree in the middle of the battle arena yelled out, "Are you ready!"
Both Derek and Buck nodded, determination filling their veins. The trainer raised his green flag, and yelled "Go!"
"Barkley, I choose you!" Buck yelled as he threw his pokeball onto the field. The flashing red light pulsed out of the ball, and a Growlithe appeared on the battlefield barking diligantly, ready to battle.
"Aww, cute little Bucky." Derek taunted with a smirk, "Nicknaming his pokemon and everything." "Alright, here we go! Nidorino, time to shine!"
Derek threw his pokeball, and out of it appeared his Nidorino, who had become a bit of a celebrity during the exihibition tournament. Derek was the only of the young trainers graduating who had an evolved pokemon, and when you looked at Nidorino, you could understand why it was already evolved. The purple horned beast had very toned muscles all over it's body, showing that Derek had spent many hours training his pokemon, and helping it stay as fit as possible.
"Get ready, Buck!" Derek yelled out to his rival, "You've made it this far in the tournament, barely scrapting by! But no dumb luck is going to save you here!"
"I'm not the one who is going to need luck..." Buck muttered to himself, softly so Derek couldn't hear his retort. The trainer then took this opportunity to call out to his pokemon, and make the first move. "Barkley, use Ember!"
Buck's Growlithe obeyed, and started to shoot a small stream of fire at Nidorino. Upon Derek's order, Nidorino began to weave to the left and right, moving forward rapidly, dodging the flames. Nidorino glared at Barkley with such fereocity as he moved forward.
"Nidorino, Tackle him!" Derek ordered as his pokemon was close enough.
The purple pokemon lunged forward and tackled Buck's Growlithe into the ground, crashing into him with great force. Buck cringed as he saw Barkley fall to the ground and yelp in pain. The fire puppy rose to his feet, and shook off the pain, though it was clear he was still feeling Nidorino's mighty tackle.
"Barkley, show him what you got!" Buck called out to his pokemon and best friend, "Give him your best Growl!"
Barkley growled fereciously at his opponent, hoping to scare Nidorino into less powerful attacks. From the other side of the arena, Derek chuckled, unimpressed with Buck's strategy.
"Show him how scared you are, Nidorino!" Derek ordered to his pokemon, "Counter with a horn attack!"
The poison pin pokemon lunged forward, lowered his head, and impaled Barkley in the stomach with great force. During this exihibition tournament, Nidorino had won all of his matches with his mighty horn attack. It was Derek's prized and signature move, and none of his rivals could keep up.
As Growlithe was hit hard, the crowd full of classmates and parents, gasped in horror. It looked like, just like in every other match the pokemon trainers had battled, that Derek's Nidorino was going to win again with his epic horn attack. Barkley hit the ground, his eyes closed, wincing in pain.
"Barkley!" Buck cried out to his friend with great concern, "Please get up! Are you okay?"
Growlithe winced, and then slowly rose to his feet once more. The small crowd oohed in awe of the young fire pokemon's tenacity.
Buck stood in awe himself, concerned for the wellbeing of his pokemon, and intimidated by Nidorino's strength. Barkley flashed his trainer a look that seemed to suggest, "We aren't done, are we?" This look helped Buck regain composure, and with renewed determination he barked another order. "Barkley, go in for a strong Bite!"
The Growlithe barked in agreement as he ran forward, limping a little, as he growled at his enemy, Nidorino. Derek watched closely as Barkley came closer and closer. His Nidorino turned to him, anxiously awaiting the next order. Derek continued to wait for just the right time, and then yelled out his command. "Nidorino, Double Kick!"
With great speed, Nidorino quickly turned around and used his hindlegs to kick Growlithe twice in the face sending him flying backwards and towards where Buck stood. The puppy flew through the air, and then landed onto the ground. As he laid on the ground unconscious in a daze, Buck knew he had lost the exihibition match. Buck withdrew Barkley's poke ball and summoned him back into his home, and the young trainer fell to his knees in defeat. His sniffled as he did his best to hold back tears. So much for the one big epic moment where he was going to show the world what he was made of.
The crowd cheered, proud of both trainers and their pokemon. The majority of the crowd rushed to the dirt arena to congradulate Derek, give him a high five, and tell him how proud they were and how he was going to accomplish great things. A few folks, Buck's mom and a few of his classmates, came over to him and tried to console the youth with shattered pride.
"That was a great battle, honey!" Buck's mom said to him as she rubbed his back. "You should be proud of Barkley, and yourself!"
"Don't sweat it, Buck." One of his friends spoke, "Derek beats everyone...he's just the best. But you're still good too!"
Buck was to sad to hear any of the comforting words, but his attention perked up when he heard the voice of Professor Davis speak to him.
"Good match, Buck!" Davis spoke cheerfully. "You two put on quite the show! I have no doubt that you, and all my students, are ready to start their very own Pokemon journey tomorrow! But as for tonight, I hope you come join us at my house for the celebratory barbeque! Everyone's going to be there, and it's in you and your classmate's honor!"
Buck said nothing, but he nodded in agreement. He knew he was going to be there, and he was looking forward to it. He wouldn't dare miss the last night to hang out with his family and friends in Pallet City.
Buck's mom and his friends left with the Professor, and the crowd slowly began to dissapate. Buck stood to leave the arena, but as he turned around he heard the familiar voice of his hated rival.
"You know, Bucky." Derek sneered as he walked past him, aiming to leave from the same exit. "Your Growlithe is one tough pokemon! He put up a great fight. It's ashame that he has such a puny trainer guiding him, he could be a real powerhouse!"
They were just words, but it was as if Derek had punched Buck six feet into the ground and then set him on fire afterward. Sensing his trainer's pain, Barkley's pokeball lit up and the fire puppy appeared jumping on Buck's leg barking kindly and licking him.
"I'm sorry I'm so lame." Buck spoke to his best friend as he knelt down and pet Barkley, "But I promise I'll do my best to be as strong as I can for you, buddy!"
Growlithe licked Buck's face happily, and barked in enjoyment. Buck knew he may have not been the crowd's favorite today, but he was number one in the eyes of Barkley, and for right now, that was enough to help him keep going.
"We'll do better next time, I promise!" Buck spoke as he left the arena with Growlithe, "Now let's go take you to the poke center and get those wounds healed up!"