Olimpia's Opportunity: Jittery Johto
Season 1 Episode 2: For Starters Only!
Olimpia has finally arrived back home, exhausted from all the running. He decided to talk to his parents about the situation, as he didn't want them unnotified. As he entered through the front door his mother was cooking, but his father was nowhere to be seen.
„Hi mom. I came home because Professor Elm is absent. I need to go to his lab tomorrow morning, because that's when he will get back." –said Olimpia while panting heavily.
„It's alright sweetie. You need some rest anyway so that you can start your adventure fresh!" –responded his mother while stirring something in the pot.
„Where's dad? I haven't seen him. Is he upstairs?" –asked Olimpia while sitting down on one of the kitchen chairs.
Suddenly, he saw his mother looking down, not into the pot she was stirring, but down on the ground. The room fell silent and she made no comment regarding her son's question.
„Mom? Is everything okay? Did you drop something?" –asked Olimpia.
„Yeah. Exactly. It's time I drop my act. I didn't want this to be unveiled but I guess secrets sometimes need to be revealed." –she commented, while looking at Olimpia, who seemed to be very confused.
„It's your father. Every time he wasn't home and you asked we had to lie to you. Everyone in the Battle Frontier knows that your father is a strong frontier brain, and if they find out that he has a son, they are going to challenge you. We didn't want to humiliate you by telling you this, and instead he was the one who battled in your place. He had to leave, as his break is ending soon and travelling to the Sinnoh region requires him to be right on time at the harbor." –his mother sighed nervously.
„He's a Frontier Brain?! That's one of the greatest things I ever heard! Back in class everyone was bragging and lying about how their relatives were gym leaders or even champions. Of course, nobody believed them, but from what you just told me, I feel happier and calmer." –cheered Olimpia. „I honestly cannot wait to challenge him one day!" –he continued.
„You've got spirit, sport. But he's very strong and has his own set of rules for battling. So you'll need to go a long way before standing off against him on the battlefield." –stated his mother while putting the pot onto the table, revealing it to be pasta.
„Every trainer has a lot to learn, I get that. But I won't be able to find out if I'm always held back." –said Olimpia while putting on a napkin and preparing a fork from one of the kitchen drawers.
„Now, now. I don't think you will be able to start your journey with an empty belly." –said his mother responsibly.
The two began to eat soon and Olimpia couldn't stop talking about Pokémon and how he will form his ultimate team to defeat everyone. He started noticing that his ramblings were starting to annoy his parent, and eventually stopped talking altogether. After they finished, Olimpia stood up and did the dishes before going upstairs to get some rest. He went over to his bed and dressed up in his pajamas then laid down in the bed, hugging his Wailmer plush excitedly.
„The time's come!"- he said to himself. „The time when I'll finally become a trainer to show everyone that I'm not just any other kid." –he went on.
There was a map of the Johto region in his room, affixed on his wall. He decided to examine it, something which he usually did when he was much younger, but his thirst for geography ended after rough times.
„Where do I start?" –he asked himself. „Maybe I'll just assemble my team before going to the Violet Gym. I've heard Falkner is pretty tough. But no matter, I'll train myself and my partners so that his ego won't grow during the battle. Just imagine his face, me sending out a fully evolved monster which will eradicate his Water types! Oh wait, or were they Ground types? No matter. I'll defeat him anyway." –he said to himself while chuckling and inspecting the western reaches of Johto.
Before he could line his eyes up on the other regional maps, he fell asleep. In his dreams he saw multiple trainers waiting to battle him. He was sitting on a throne, embossed with unknown sigils and golden materials.
„Capturing all Pokémon is difficult. I'll become Champion instead… or a Gym Leader… or a Frontier Brain."- he murmured in his sleep.
Hours have passed away since he began sleeping and the sun's shining breached through the blinds. It was time to wake up. He flicked the light switch to dress up and get ready for his adventure.
„I'll take some cookies with myself, Lavaridge ones are a specialty and I've heard Pokémon enjoy them. I'll also put my Johto map into a special case so that I can navigate through this massive landscape!" –he said while putting several items in his backpack.
„And let's not forget my glasses and cap! There's no other way to distinguish a trainer from a regular passerby by wearing an expo hat!"
After he finished organizing the equipment in his backpack, he looked around his room and wanted to surprise his mother by tidying up before leaving. But he also knew that he wasn't able to embark without seeing his beloved mama for one last time. He decided to pass the time by looking up the online Pokédex and checking his favourites as well as reading about Poké balls. He noticed that someone had opened the door.
„Good morning sweetie. Are you ready to start your adventure?"-asked his matriarch.
„Of course I am. I've just checked some stuff before going."-he explained.
The two soon went downstairs and said their goodbyes.
„Mom is feeling very relieved. I've never seen her this happy."-commented Olimpia in his head.
„Well, looks like the day has arrived. I've notified your father about the news too. We would like to give this to you as a gift. Whenever you're feeling upset or homesick, just find a body of water and fill this mug with any liquid and you'll certainly feel better. I've made this from some ceramics we've found in Oreburgh City when we lived in Sinnoh."
„Thanks, mom! I'll never forget this present. But I promise I will come back to New Bark Town for a visit. If I'm not in another region."-said Olimpia happily.
He began walking down on the road while waving his farewell to the house, to his mother and everything that he once cherished as a part of his early childhood. He then spotted Professor Elm in the distance and ran up straight to him.
„Good morning, Professor!"-greeted Olimpia. „How was the show?"
„It didn't amuse me much. Some people who are rabid fans of Ice types surely do, but I've slept during the show in the wrong position and now my back hurts."-explained Elm.
„Professor, yesterday you were away and I just wanted to ask, can I receive my starter Pokémon?"-asked Olimpia.
„Of course! But you can only pick one. Some others might want to pick one too."-he continued.
„Others? But every other house just belongs to non-trainers in this town."-said Olimpia in a confused tone.
„There are several people in Johto who cannot afford to visit other regions, and not every city has a Pokémon Laboratory. These breeds are also very rare and finding one in the wild has the odds of finding a needle in a haystack. They come down to my Lab and I offer them a starter of their choice."-continued the Professor.
„Ah, I see. Anyway, can you show me the Pokémon already?"-cheered Olimpia.
„Sure."-said Elm, while opening up the door of his lab.
„This place is huge. How are you able to keep those books in their place?"-asked Olimpia.
„Just wait till you see my back yard. I've recently purchased it and here is where you come in. If you capture Pokémon, do you want to send them here for assistance with my studies? There will be plenty of place, and they can even interact with themselves!"-defined Elm.
„Thanks for the offer, Professor! I've heard that you can only carry six Pokémon with you at a time. So I accept it."-agreed Olimpia.
„Great! You can visit them any time you wish and transfer them too in case you've changed your mind."-clarified Elm.
„So these three are the starters? They all seem to have lots of potential."- said Olimpia.
„Yes. Here is Chikorita, the Grass-type, Cyndaquil the Fire-type and last but not least, Totodile the Water-type. Each have an advantage and disadvantage over types. Take your time and choose one, wisely."-demonstrated Elm.
„I'm not sure which one yet…"-said Olimpia.
To be continued…