What would be an early brisk morning in the Kalos region, was now a late lazy and bright afternoon in the skies just shy of Kanto. Both Frankie and Maria were fast asleep for a majority of the trip. Maria fell asleep as soon as she hit the chair, wanting to finish the slumber her twin brother interrupted. Frankie, on the other hand, had been fortunate enough to get the window seat. Well, it seemed fortunate at first, until his eyelids began to sag and shut slowly every so often. He had been so preoccupied worrying about the state of his plane tickets, watching his documentaries, and taking pictures of the wild Pokémon that visited the pasture, that he had forgotten to really get much sleep. How long had he been up again?
Since twelve sounded right. Though it wasn't as if he could think much about it when his own exhaustion finally took over and put him to rest alongside his sister, both snoring lightly. Maria may have been a bit of a brute, but she knew she was still a lady, and a lady mustn't snore. Though the couple a few seats to the side of them begged to differ whenever she did snort out a harsh breath every now and then.
Frankie dreamed sweet dreams; when still talking with his dad, the boy had yet to decide on a starter for himself. All of them met his interests perfectly. The powerful draconic yet beautiful and sleek fiery Charizard, the living scientific phenomenon that was Venusaur, and the roughneck hydro powered stoic tortoise, Blastoise. He did know all too well he'd have to start off with their first forms, Charmander, Bulbasaur, and Squirtle, but he didn't mind. All the better to record literal and figurative evolution. He smiled slightly as he imagined himself in his dream, running alongside his partner, laughing and playing and sparring at every point of interest.
Mr. Robin's remark about Frankie and his attitude toward strangers was more than just a reminder. Ever since he was a child, people he didn't know that well made Frankie incredibly nervous, and as such, he would mostly keep to himself and study. Heaven forbid they try to strike a conversation with him, it could very well send his sensors into a wild overload. Pokémon, however, were a different story. As the creatures that inhabited his world, Frankie knew that none could ever be truly classified as evil, and appealing to their better natures seemed much easier than trying to make even the smallest of talk with boys or girls his age that weren't Maria. He knew the usual things, any Pokémon's given diet, where they liked to be pet, their aggression levels, how social they were, and even how to speak to them. Not like they'd strike up any meaningful conversations, he was no Natural Harmonious Gropius in that regard. Still, his partner by his side, being the best of friends in a big huge world just seemed to make it all the more cozy.
"Alright, partner! No more fooling around, let's go!" Frankie cried in his dream, extending an arm outward, allowing the small Pokémon to run across it and drop down on the battlefield. The wild Pokémon they were facing flinched in surprise as the reptilian figure towered over it. Big gleaming eyes, a sharply lined mouth, and an arched back stood out the most, and at that moment, Frankie's partner opened its mouth to cry in intimidation.
"Alright, folks, we hope you enjoyed your flight, we know you have a lot of options, and we thank you for joining us. So sorry once again about this detour, but we hope that your time in the Johto region is spent just as well as it would have been in Kanto. Please enjoy a free meal ticket for any service on us once you exit the plane. At this time we will ask you to gather your belongings…"
Frankie fluttered his eyes groggily as he woke up from his airborne slumber. The first feeling he felt upon waking up was bewilderment.
"Did she say 'Johto'?" He thought to himself as he sat up in his seat. "Am I dreaming…?" Frankie turned to see Maria, sound asleep herself, nearly falling over in her seat as her chin rest just above her chest.
"Maria… Maria…" Frankie whispered, nudging his sister awake. With a slight cough and smack of her lips, Maria straightened herself out before taking a nice big stretch and letting out a huge yawn. The girl then proceeded to rub her eyes right before she shot them open, the warm nutty glow of her irises complimented her bright smile as she turned to her brother.
"Hey, Frankie, we almost there?" She asked.
"Well, see here's the thing…" Frankie began as Maria let out one last yawn, murmuring to herself about some sort of delightful dream while Frankie continued to speak. "We're not landing in Kanto."
"Oh, we're not? Well, whatever, anywhere's fine by me, we'll just let papa know, and we'll be on our way!" Maria responded with another stretch.
"But, Maria! This isn't some airline mishap or error in ticket purchase! We're being detoured!" Maria's lax and carefree attitude snapped to one of suspicious anxiety.
"Detoured?" She mimicked.
"Yes, yes! Don't tell me you aren't the slightest bit worried about that!"
"Of course I am! But what can we do about it? We don't have a single Pokémon yet!"
"Not yet we don't…" Frankie began, bringing himself closer to Maria as his voice lowered to a stern whisper. "...But either way, we are landing in a region where Pokémon are handed out to young trainers, so we're gonna play that by ear, and as soon as we get our Pokémon, we're gonna rush on over to Kanto and see what's up. The two regions are within walking distance to each other."
"Sounds like a plan to me… what would our options be here in… wherever we're landing?"
"That would be the Johto region, so I say we focus on a mixture of speed and defense for the time being, we can always catch more Pokémon, and luckily for you and I, the starter Pokémon of the Johto region are perfect for those roles! I myself have my eye on the hardy and adaptable water starter, Toto-" Before Frankie could finish, the turbulence of the plane landing sent him and Maria hurdling back to their seats, each pasted to the back rests as the plane gradually slowed to a crawl as it drove across the airway.
"No wasted time?" Maria asked in a strained voice, still glued to the back of her seat.
"No wasted time…" Frankie responded back, just as strained.
—
The populace that Frankie and Maria had landed in was a large glimmering city with skyscrapers that dwarfed even the largest Wailord, an ocean of people crowding around all different kinds of exotic food stands, takoyaki to the east, chicken marsala to the west, baked alaska to the south. The majority of men and women were accompanied by a few children at their sides, tugging at their parents' clothes to check out all the amazing sights the city had in store, be it the radio tower, the shopping mall, the local gym, or the game hall; which advertised the hottest arcade machines with the most cutting edge graphics at the time at the front and center, while the grown ups got to experience some gambling at a safe distance away. Tears and steam and jovial shouts of success erupted from the establishment, all of which being mixed in well with the excited nonsense the people on the outside were partaking in.
On any other day, this would be paradise, the absolute perfect detour, but Frankie and Maria agreed to not waste time, and even with the threat of temptation dangling over their heads, they could feel their own hearts sink to their stomach the more they thought about what kind of situation Kanto could possibly in. The thought was too much to bear, so the two teenagers pushed their way through the crowds of people and into the nearby route. Maria was the first to escape the skirmish and look out into the field.
The sights of bird Pokémon nuzzling up in their nests for a lazy afternoon nap, marine mammal Pokémon jumping and fighting and cuddling in and out of the nearby lake, and the small little rodent Pokémon scuttering about with a tasty piece of leftover salami in their cheeks, or on the lookout for a pursuing predator reminded her too much of home, she had to take it all in just for a few more seconds. She cooed in awe as Frankie came up to her at last, chewing on the string of his sweater, shaking lightly, and darting his eyes in either direction as he stood by her side.
"I totally get it now, Frankie…" Maria said, "It feels a lot different seeing all this so close up for yourself than using some silly old camera and a DVD player, eh?" Frankie had stopped chewing on his string, and lit up instantly the moment Maria started singing her praise.
"Y-yeah! It totally is! I need to remember to upload my older pictures to the cloud if I'm gonna be able to document all of this now!" Frankie exclaimed as he looked down at his feet, letting a small purple rat-like Pokémon scurry across his feet. "Maria! Look! A Rattata!" He hollered.
"Ooh! It's kinda ugly, but I like it a lot!" Maria cried as she watched the Mouse Pokémon scuttle in between hers and Frankie's legs before diving back into the fall grass.
"Too bad we don't get these back home… when they evolve into Raticate, they get webbed feet and stronger incisors, so they're not only incredible swimmers, but very adaptable to even the harshest urban jungle there is!"
"Well, maybe it's a good thing we don't get these back home… you know how papa gets around rodents!" Maria pointed out with a chuckle.
"That's right-!" Frankie was about to continue before shaking himself profusely out of what could only be described as a stunned trance. "What am I saying? We gotta get ourselves to the Pokémon Laboratory right now! We can't afford to be too careless out here, especially since we don't have any Pokémon of our own."
"You're right… Gods, I suck…!" Maria responded as she stamped a foot on the ground in frustration. "We've got fields and water covering us up pretty good… there's nothing TOO dangerous we need to worry about… is there?"
"Well… in an open area close to such a bustling city like that one behind us, I'd say a lot of the Pokémon here would either be far away, in hiding, or too afraid to get close enough. But as for what lies ahead… we have to be careful of spores from Pokémon like Parasect or Butterfree, intimidation shots from far away by Pokémon like Drowzee or, heaven forbid, Tentacruel…" Frankie left no stone unturned with his wary explanation, putting the usually lax Maria on edge as she made mental notes of the particularly scary sounding Pokémon as Frankie continued to drone on.
While the two kids discussed a strategy of their own, they remained ignorant to the fact that they were being watched. A set of dark, chocolatey brown eyes shifted suspiciously one way or the other as the brightly golden colored rodent Pokémon they belonged to stood up on its hind legs, peeking up above the tall grass, making sure to remain hidden of any casual strangers coming its way. It kept its red cheeks and long lightning bolt shaped tail, which ended in a black heart shape, close to the ground and close to its bright red cheeks while it twitched its black tipped ears instinctively. It peered through the blades of grass that surrounded it to land upon Frankie and Maria. The two teenagers standing around in the middle of the crossroads was what drew its attention toward them. Its eyes lit up in delight as it mentally prepared to draw itself closer. Companionship or tasty snacks sounded too good to pass up, but as it began to walk towards the two young ones, its ears drew back in alarm suddenly. Two very unfamiliar sets of feet were drawing their way. One was light and elegant, while the other was hasty and whimsical. The Pokémon kept itself hidden amongst the grass when it heard a splash suddenly sound.
At this point, Frankie was just finishing off his list of possible threats. Maria didn't have any notepad to write them all down, but even so, she felt entangled in the web of information just thrown at her.
"Right-o, how about you give me the long list now, you know, just in case?" She asked jokingly as she held her head in pounding confusion.
"Oh! But that isn't to say that we can't get through at all!" Frankie explained, hoping to try and still keep his sister at his side. "As long as we're quick and quiet about it, we'll be just fine, and when we have our Pokémon, there's no need to worry at all!"
"Alrighty then! Let's stop goofing off and get out of here already!" Maria replied back, regaining the color in her eyes and the spring in her step. Frankie agreed excitedly, keeping his Poké Gear tied close to him as he and Maria began to walk off, but before the first step, a bubbling sound came from the lake beside them, causing both to turn suddenly. There was a moment of silence, with a few bubbles showing on the surface every other second it seemed.
"Do we run?" Maria whispered nervously.
"It could be a predator… if we run now, that could trigger its hunting drive… we stay still now and book it out of here once we're sure it's gone…" Frankie explained as both kids kept a close eye on the water's edge, just waiting for the worst. Suddenly Frankie had realized the Pokémon he and Maria saw playing in the water were nowhere to be seen. What could that mean?
Before either kid could speak their mind any further, a great blast of fire suddenly erupted from the water! Frankie and Maria screamed in shocked surprise before jumping out of the way and landing belly first on the ground, barely escaping getting singed.
"Alright big shot biologist, mind telling me what the heck THAT was?!" Maria shrieked through deep breaths.
"If it was an Octillery, we don't have anything to worry about, if it was a Gyarados, forget everything I said about instincts, and just RUN. Alternatively, it could also be a-" Frankie explained through similar breaths. Maria was about to interrupt him in a mixture of wishing she had actually paid attention during family movie night and a rushed sense of adrenaline, but before she can even do that, a figure suddenly blasted out of the water.
"VILE VILLAINS!" It hollered. The figure was a young boy, slightly younger than Frankie and Maria. He had dark brown hair that was nearly black, cocoa colored skin, and from what Frankie and Maria can piece about him, a red and white button up shirt, the red appearing as a dark mahogany as it was drenched in water.
"I told her emergency recon in the neighboring region was a good idea and she didn't believe me! Whose laughing now, Elaine?!" The young boy screamed to the sky, slapping the water in pride.
"W-what?! What are you on about? Who's Elaine? Who the heck are you?!" Maria asked as she and Frankie stared in stunned bewilderment at the boy before them.
"Oh, you'd like to know, wouldn't you? I should've expected less, but alas, Arceus has a plan for all of us, how could I be so foolish to go against it?" The boy's octaves dropped to a dramatic degree, which only made Frankie and Maria more confused. The two shared concerned looks as the boy continued speaking without really saying anything. Did he think they were in some kind of movie? "My identity matters as little as what business you have here! Oh, I'm sorry… I know exactly what the two of you are up to! Team Rocket scum! Hiring the youth at such a formative age! Have you no soul?!"
"Um, excuse me?" Frankie at last spoke up, causing the boy to dart a shifty look at him, making his skin crawl. "We really aren't up to no good… we don't have any Pokémon, we're not gonna hurt you, honest!"
"There, you see? I've got a witness, and how could you say no to THAT face…?" Maria brought her cheek close to Frankie's in a vain attempt at pity. Frankie's trying expression shifting to one of annoyance as he changed attention to Maria. The boy floating on the water's edge pondered for a bit, keeping a close eye on both older kids as they stay planted on the ground. A solid minute passed before he at last came to a decision, rising up from the lake and walking over to the two trainers to be, with his clothes and hair dripping with water.
"Well then, it appears I have misjudged you, allow me to extend a hand of friendship…" The young boy offered his soaking wet hands to the older kids, who both recoiled in disgust before grabbing on to them and being pulled up to their feet once again.
"Thank you for hearing us out." Frankie said with a polite bow and smile.
"Don't give him too much praise, Frankie, he was the one who nearly flambéd us not three minutes ago." Maria snapped back as she dusted herself off.
"Frankie, so that's the name of this fine old fellow, then, I must apologize greater… A man as radiant as yourself must be treated with the most respect…" Chase said with his own bow.
"...I'm fourteen…" Frankie awkwardly said, unsure how to approach the strange boy in front of him. Then again, it hardly mattered if he was a boy, a grown man, or even a little girl, small talk was all he could hope to achieve in his current position.
"Okay, let's put the brakes on for a second here, and let me ask you a few questions, like… HOW did you pull off a tidal wave of fire from below the water, and I know you're with someone! Elaine, was it? This isn't some kind of trick, is it?" Maria asked, coming in between the two boys.
"Trick? Madame, you wound me! I've paid my dues, haven't I? I deserve at least a small bit of recognition, don't you think?" Maria and Frankie stayed quiet. Frankie spent his time looking both at the boy and over the area the three of them were standing in, half keeping an eye out for his mysterious friend, and half trying to steady himself mentally, while Maria narrowed her eyes into a demanding glare directed straight at the younger child.
"Well, if you must know… that Flamethrower attack was courtesy of my good friend, Slowpoke." The boy moved aside and extended an arm outwards to present a pink mini hippo sort of creature emerging from the water. Its blank and beady eyes and wide dopey smile greeted the two strange people in a wholesome manner. Frankie and Maria both stared at the Slowpoke silently, with Frankie looking on in slight awe, while Maria cocked her head to the side, wondering how in the world such a small silly looking thing could throw up such a powerful blast of fire. Maria opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by an unfamiliar sound.
"Popo! Popo!" Frankie, Maria, and the boy looked up to see a small and pudgy brown and cream feathered bird Pokémon hovering above them. Frankie could tell by its fixed and upright stance, allowing its feet to dangle lazily under its body that it was leading and alerting someone to their presence.
"Ah, and that would be my good friend Elaine you've heard of!" Chase exclaimed as a young lady, around Frankie and Maria's age, of light complexion, donning a black shirt that was topped with white and a small ribbon just on her chest, teal colored shorts, red and white shoes, and lightly colored brown hair matching her eyes emerged from nearby foliage. She didn't say a word as she entered the fray, rather, she flashed a disappointed grimace at the younger boy, who was quick to pick up on her expression and its meaning.
"Yes, Elaine… I'm sorry, but I couldn't let a potential threat go, now could I?" The boy awkwardly said as he showed her a toothy grin before looking to her side and then to the other in confusion. "Um, Elaine? Where's Bulbasaur?"
The young girl turned her head and nodded in the opposite direction, to which the other three kids followed her gaze. From the same foliage she emerge from came a blue frog-like sort of creature merrily skipping along, a bright green bulb on its back, and on top its bulb was a big beige backpack, cluttered with all sorts of what could only be described as weapons. Spilling out from each opening were a variety of smoke bombs, shurikens, darts, a bag of sharp looking seeds, and bang snaps, one of which was unfortunate enough to fall off and land on the dirt path right next to the Pokémon carrying the bag. The loud snapping sound and light spark it made didn't bother it one bit as it kept skipping along to its own merry tune, excited to be with its trainer once again. Frankie and Maria, however, were a different story.
"WHAT is all THIS?!" Maria asked as she and Frankie backed up suddenly the moment they took a look at the supplies this Bulbasaur was carrying. "What the heck were you planning on doing to us, exactly?!"
The boy chuckled nervously as he reached down to pick up his bag.
"It's all water under the bridge at this point, and I am indeed very sorry… my name is Chase, by the way, you know Elaine, Bulbasaur, and Slowpoke, and that up there is Elaine's own partner, Pidgey!" Chase pointed directly up at the fluttering bird Pokémon, who quickly floated down to Elaine's shoulder, cowering up to her cheek in demand for a light petting. Elaine obliged happily and gently stroked its head crest, calming the Tiny Bird Pokémon down instantly and earning a soothing coo of affection from it. For once, Frankie was the first to speak up.
"Well… it looks like you and your Pokémon love each other a lot." He said.
"Of course! Getting along with our Pokémon is vitally important! Especially with what's going on back home in Kanto, I tell you, these past several months have not been kind to us, what with the raids and the shutdowns and takeovers and-"
"Wait, stop." Maria interrupted suddenly. "Did you say, 'Back home in KANTO?'"
"Indeed, it's why Elaine and I came out here in the first place, Johto is so close to Kanto, that we were concerned that it'd fall to the same state it has. Though if you don't mind me asking, are you two from around here?" Chase and Elaine both looked at Frankie and Maria expectantly, while the two older kids exchanged worried glances at each other.
"Raids, shutdowns, and takeovers…" Frankie repeated. "I think we've found the reason for our detour…"
"We're not qualified for that, though, are we?" Maria asked back.
"Not in our current state, no… but maybe, if things go according to plan, we can probably lend them a hand…"
"I'm not totally crazy about working with mister performing arts over here, but I'm not exactly gonna let this go either, it's what papa would want, don't you think?"
"It's EXACTLY what papa would want." Frankie finished with a smile.
"Then it's settled!" Maria responded with her own smile. They then turned around to face the two younger kids, at last ready to answer their question. "We aren't from here, no, we're from Kalos, but we do wanna lend a hand."
"Kalos? Good heavens! That's so far! The two of you must be starving! Elaine! Show them the goods, please." Chase exclaimed, nudging Elaine in the shoulder slightly.
The girl gave a silent nod and smile as she swiveled her own bag to her front, opening up the top chamber and revealing oodles and oodles of different varieties of fruits and berries of all different colors and smells, each assorted into their own little pockets, with the most sour berries placed right up front that made the kids' noses scrunch up a fair bit, perfect for a quick burst of energy after a tiring day. The sour scent was then washed away by a sweet aroma ascending all the way from the back and bottom, the moment the heavenly fragrance blessed Frankie and Maria's nostrils, both could feel their mouths watering as they inched closer to the bag, only to then be hit by a very light spicy smell that caught Frankie's attention in particular. Chase urged the two once again to pick up a Berry each before the two older kids hurriedly complied, with Frankie pulling out a round and spiky red fruit with a tiny green stem, and Maria pulling out a set of three pink fruits dangling by a small yellow branch.
"You needn't worry about eating too much or spoiling! There's plenty more where that came from! And I do mean plenty…" Chase explained with a smug smile while Elaine stayed quiet, happy to see these two strangers already take so kindly to them. Bulbasaur was inclined to agree as its wide grin stayed firmly planted on its face. Pidgey was too occupied in cuddling close to Elaine to care much.
Frankie and Maria took bites of their respective berries, with the former suddenly getting into a slight coughing fit, while the latter's face scrunched up ever so briefly as she began chewing. Both awful sensations were replaced with ones of absolute delight after a second or two, with Frankie heartily swallowing his berry, and Maria relishing the sudden sweet taste that erupted from hers.
"Mm… That'll put some hair on your chest…!" She said as she chewed lightly.
"Nanab and Tamato Berries are the best for that kind of feel." Frankie answered back.
"If you don't mind me treading on to old ground, you did say you're willing to help us out… are you sure about that?" Chase asked while Frankie and Maria finished their berries.
"Well, you don't exactly take a detour from a twelve and a half hour lightly, do you?" Maria asked.
"An excellent point! Just follow us, and we'll take you to Professor Oak himself, he'll be glad to have you." Chase exclaimed, and at that moment, Frankie suddenly became very talkative.
"Professor Oak?! Professor SAMUEL Oak?! You know him?!" He asked
"Of course! He was the one who enlisted our help and gave us our Pokémon, after all! Could we really refuse after that act of kindness?" Chase asked back.
"R-right, that's a good point you have yourself… um, he'd be fine with us coming in so suddenly, right?"
"Well, we'll have to see for ourselves! Come along, just stick close to us, and we'll be there in no time! Bulbasaur, Slowpoke, return!" Chase then pulled out two red and white metallic balls, enlarging them using the button on the center, and sending a beam of red light at his two Pokémon, letting them get sucked into the balls safe and sound. Elaine did the same with Pidgey and immediately took lead as Chase followed, leaving Frankie and Maria a few paces behind.
"So, Frankie…" Maria began, "Are we still able to do the strategy of yours with this Professor Oak guy?"
"Well, we do have a bit of a safeguard, so whichever Pokémon tickles our fancy the most should be fine enough!" Frankie shivered with excitement as he quickly caught up with Chase and Elaine, leaving Maria a fair distance behind them.
"H-hey! Wait for me! You can't leave me like this! Slow down for crying out loud!" Maria shouted as she rushed to catch up with the other kids. The strange yellow Pokémon still hiding in the grass kept its attention on all four of them the whole time, shifting moods between intrigued, quizzical, and excited. It knew right at that moment, that these four, particularly the older ones, were just the right fit for it. The moment they had gotten out of its sights, the Pokémon followed low to the ground, following their scent all the way to their far off destination.
—
A little less than an hour of silent traveling later, staying close to the shadows cast by the woods, and with Frankie in a daze mixed with all sorts of whimsy, excitement, and anxiety, the quartet had finally come across what they were moving towards, as announced by Chase.
"Behold, friends! Welcome to Pallet Town!"
Frankie and Maria walked in front of Chase and Elaine and stared off in shocked bewilderment. Both of them had expected the town to be much more quiet and lowkey than the city they had just escaped from, but the scene present before them gave them the exact opposite extreme. The only sound that greeted them was the gentle howling of the wind, taking against the wooden doors of the humble houses that decorated every street corner. It was definitely a drastically different departure compared to Lumiose City back home, or even Vaniville town back home. Certainly a lot bigger, but somehow, even less homely and empty. There weren't even any rodent or bird Pokémon foraging for leftovers in the trash or on the streets. Chase and Elaine weren't exaggerating the state of their home one bit. The two teenagers exchanged worried glances, both sharing the sentiment of discomfort and fearing what other much larger cities would feel like if they went any farther.
"Not much to look at, is it?" Chase asked as he came up and placed his hands on Frankie and Maria's shoulders, both of whom responded with silent headshakes. "Try not to stay so forlorn much longer, it's why we're here in the first place. Elaine, could you lead us?"
Elaine nodded silently yet again, taking Frankie and Maria's hands to get them started on their way to the nearing Pokémon laboratory, with Chase bringing up the rear. Maria looked back at Frankie, who was still looking over the barren ghost town Chase and Elaine called home, his built up excitement from the moment he received their tickets was completely gone, and only worsened each minute Frankie analyzed the sights before him.
"No bird song for miles, no frantic buzzing, scurrying little feet, or any hints of friendly competition anywhere… Chase mentioned Team Rocket… are they responsible for this? What is Team Rocket, anyway?" He thought as he continued walking.
"There it is!" Chase suddenly erupted, breaking the deafening silence the whole group was suffering from. Not 200 feet away, there stood the large proud structure that was Professor Oak's Lab. It was a dome shaped facility decorated in blonde and red colors for the body and roof, and clear blue windows that graciously accepted the light shimmering from the outside to come in and warm up an otherwise cold study. Towering above it was a tall windmill which was blowing steady enough, it looked even grander in person than in video. Frankie and Maria couldn't believe their eyes. They were so focused on the state of Pallet Town, that they didn't even notice how close they were to the laboratory. They didn't know what would happen next, but it still looking as alive as ever gave them a slight bit of hope.
Chase ran ahead and placed himself in front of the glass doors of the front of the facility, getting them to slide open for the the four kids to come inside.
"Sir…" Chase bowed politely toward Frankie, who then looked to Maria expectedly. The young girl nodded at her brother and was the first to enter, followed by Frankie, then Elaine, and finally Chase.
"Professor Oak? It's Chase! We have company!" Chase hollered the moment he entered the room.
"Is it really such a good idea to be shouting so much in here?" Frankie asked as Chase came up to him.
"Oh, don't worry so much, Frank, can I call you Frank? See, we're on good terms with Professor Oak and his crew, it's no trouble at all." He explained.
"Still though, it's so deathly quiet in here, I think I'm about to lose my mind. How do you know nothing's happened since you've been gone?" Maria asked. Chase first responded with a sly grin before speaking up again.
"Remind me to show you the ranch when we get a chance."
"It's nice and cool and here at least… but then, you are right, Maria, I'm on edge too…" Frankie said.
"You're in the home of Professor Oak, Frank! There's no need to be on edge! Just prepare yourself for the real task at hand!" Chase cried. Just when Chase finished, the group was greeted by an unfamiliar voice.
"Chase! Keep it down, please! Professor Oak and I are very busy!" Emerging from the study in the corner of the room was a young adult brown eyes man, dressed up in a plain green shirt and red shorts and bandana that rested on his forehead just below his short low hanging dark green hair. His ensemble was at last topped off with a clean white lab coat, Frankie recognized him instantly.
"You're… Tracey Sketchit, right?" It took Frankie speaking up to get the young man to notice both him and Maria.
"Hm? Now who are these two, then?" He asked.
"I said it before, Tracey, they're our company! This is Frankie and… didn't catch the name…" Chase sheepishly whispered as he introduced the two unfamiliar faces to Tracey.
"Maria…" Maria responded dispodently
"Yes! Frankie and Maria! They want to help us in getting the Kanto region back on its feet!"
"Really?!" Tracey's face lit up with hope as he came closer to the new recruits.
"W-well, I'm not so confident about the WHOLE region, but we're willing to lend a hand in any way!" Frankie sputtered nervously.
"Yeah! For the good of mankind and Pokémonkind!" Maria added in her best attempt to sound heroic, standing up straight and puffing out her chest proudly. Tracey laughed gleefully at the two teenagers before he too stood upright once again.
"Well, every little bit of confidence is always appreciated! Heaven knows we can use some of that now… and any help at all is fine, Frankie, was it? Don't look so down just yet." Tracey encouraged.
"But Mr. Sketchit, you're living in this horrible state of affairs as we speak, you're not the least bit bothered by this?" Frankie asked.
"Now, I never said I'm not bothered by it, as a matter of fact, I'm scared out of my wits, what with, like you said, our current living conditions, a lack of any real means of help, wondering if all my old friends are doing okay… oh, Misty… I can only imagine the stress she's under…"
"Ohhhhhh… who's Mistyyyyy?" Maria asked snidely, directing her full attention to the young man, who blushed furiously as he backed away from her.
"Oh no! It's not what you think! She's just a really old friend of mine, that's all! I promise!" Maria chuckled in amusement before continuing.
"Alright, Tracey, I like you, all the more reason to get on out there and fix this mess, don't you think, Frankie?"
"Yeah… definitely!" Frankie responded with a smile.
"It sure is nice seeing young people like you still looking at the bright side of things in all this mess… that's why we chose Chase and Elaine to represent us." Tracey said, motioning over to the two kids in question. Chase stood up proudly while Elaine blushed lightly and coyly looked away, hands behind her back, and a big cheesy grin plastered on her face. "We're glad to have you, follow me, I know just what you need."
Tracey turned around and headed toward a short flight of stairs, looking back at the kids one last time, waiting for them to follow. Maria and Frankie felt their heartbeats quickening. Both of them had a very good idea of what would come next, but even still, they had a responsibility, neither of them exactly knew which emotion to let get the better of them, their confusion led to their stillness, and it took a push from both Chase and Elaine to get them moving again. The older kids looked back while the younger ones smiled warmly at them. Surely if these two knew well enough what they were getting into but still kept a positive outlook, it meant something good would come out of it all. No more waiting, the first step of their mission awaited.
Maria stayed directly behind Tracey while Frankie stayed just behind her. The boy couldn't help but overlook all the pleasantries laid out on the base floor. A cozy living room, a door that led to a maze of hallways leading into different chambers of Pokémon storage, cybernetic infrastructure, and a library. He had assumed that Tracey was running back and forth between rooms before they all came to him. It wouldn't hurt to borrow at least one encyclopedia, would it?
"Professor? Our guests have returned." Tracey called out as soon as the quintent reached the research floor at last.
The very heart of the lab itself. The soft and alien beeping and glowing humming from the large machines tucked away in the corners was what greeted them firsthand, a large projection screen loomed overhead, below that was a computer table, journals, and papers littered across the keyboard. What caught Frankie and Maria's eyes the most however, was the containment chamber, containing a set of three red and white balls not dissimilar from the kind Chase and Elaine used to recall their Pokèmon. Frankie couldn't contain himself anymore. He scurried on over the machine and slowed to a pace when he could see the writing that decorated each ball in respective green, orange, and blue hiragana.
"Fushigidane Anura, Hitokage Varanus, Zenigame Tesudines…" He whispered to himself. "Otherwise known as-"
"Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle." A raspy and kindly voice finished. Frankie recognized the voice instantly, together with Maria, Chase, Elaine, and Tracey, had turned to the direction it was coming from. There they saw a kindly old man, dressed up in a white lab coat similar to Tracey's, which cloaked a simple red shirt and beige pants. His graying and wrinkled face flashed a gentle smile at the younger people in the room.
"Professor Oak…" Frankie said, breathing deeply, looking back and forth between him and the containment chamber again and again. Realizing what the old Professor had walked in on, Frankie frantically backed up and bowed his head humbly. "I'm very sorry, Professor! I was waiting for your consent! Honest I was! You see, a lot of things have happened the moment we left Kalos, and I just got so wrapped up in all these emotions and-" Frankie's equally frantic excuse was cut off by an amused chuckled from Professor Oak, who made his way over to the kids slowly.
"It's no trouble at all, young man, it's refreshing to see the younger generations have such a deep earnest passion for Pokémon at that age when being recognized socially is of utmost importance!"
"Of course I have a passion for Pokémon! I've read all your books, seen all your interviews, studied morning, afternoon, and night on the biology, diets, evolution, and temperaments of as many Pokémon as I could! I wouldn't be able to call myself a Pokémon Trainer if I didn't! Why, I- Mfrmfrfrfmf!" Frankie continued speaking even after Maria at last came up to him and placed a hand over his mouth to calm him down.
"What he's TRYING to say is that, we love Pokémon, and we're excited to get our first ones! Even with all this… mass hysteria flooding the place…" She said.
"Ah, very good, indeed, I always want to entrust my prized Pokémon to devout young trainers like yourselves. Chase and Elaine back there are simply another testament to that way of thinking."
"They aren't JUST wanting to get a Pokémon, Professor Oak, they want to help us out in driving Team Rocket out of here!" Chase explained.
Professor Oak's warm smile faded away to reveal a concerned grimace. The old man turned around and looked up longingly.
"Children these days are growing up much too fast… the minute they hit double digits, it's always saving the world this, and making history that, what would their parents think?" He asked with a sigh.
"What was that, Professor Oak?" Maria asked. Professor Oak turned back around and kneeled down to Frankie and Maria's level, staring at both of them with caring distress.
"Now, you two, I'd be more than happy to give you both a Pokémon, but… I'm rather afraid to say that Chase and Elaine were a desperate reach. We've had so many of our league officials removed from power, we had to rely on these kids to help us in restoring peace. That isn't to say I don't believe in either of you, I know first hand what children your age are capable of, believe me. That being said, however, your safety is still something to be concerned about. Pokémon are very intelligent creatures, and we've been truly blessed to be able to share this world with them as opposed to at war with them, and if I recall correctly, this young man said the two of you were from Kalos. If you got hurt during this mission, what would your mother and father think?"
That question gave both Frankie and Maria pause. Before they assumed that doing the right thing was a sure fire way to stand beside their father on the path of justice, but Professor Oak made a good point. What WOULD Mr. Robin think if the two of them got hurt? So far away at that? Maria lowered her head in silence, while Frankie looked back to the containment chamber. The more he stared at the Pokémon hidden inside, the more he felt himself getting worked up. That picture of his father and his Snorlax, so proud looking, so strong looking, so plain old happy, it kept popping into his mind. Frankie was his one and only son, the next to bare that honest and free name, after his father and his grandfather, while Maria was their precious star of the sea, the sea that kept them and their mother so far away, but the star that still kept their family's love shining bright even amidst so many miles of water. Maria must have felt the same way Frankie had, since she had turned to him as he took his first deep breath. She mimicked his action and stared at the containment chamber alongside him.
"Professor Oak, please? The more the merrier, right?" Chase asked again.
"You said it yourself, Professor, you know all too well the potential that kids as young as these two, and even younger have inside them." Tracey added. Professor Oak mulled over their words for a short while, leaving the room to only be filled with the hums and beeps coming from the machines. Silence was at last broken after several minutes by a defeated but satisfied chuckle from the old Professor.
"You win, Tracey, you too Chase. Pokémon stay by our sides for a reason, and I must keep my faith alive no matter what. The two of you are permitted to help." Frankie and Maria stared up at Professor Oak and lit up instantly, turning to each other with an excited smile, and awed intrigue, respectively. "As I have gifted my two younger helpers with Pokémon, it is only fair I gift some to my older helpers as well."
"You… you mean it?!" Frankie asked, once again in a confused feeling of excitement and anxiety.
"Of course, but while it is I who presents them to you, perhaps I should leave their introductions to the young studious man, just to make sure you know all you claim you know." Frankie's heart skipped a beat as Professor Oak walked over to the containment chamber, opened the hatch, and pressed on the "Poké Balls" to unleash the little pocket sized monsters hidden inside. The first was a familiar face.
"Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon, a Grass and Poison type. It can go for days without eating a single morsel. In the bulb on its back, it stores energy." Frankie explained.
The little Bulbasaur, who was smaller than Chase's, let out a big yawn and smacked its lips drowsily as it shut its eyes to give them a little rest before dozing off again. The next was a small orange lizard creature, its eyes were a bright emerald green, and the end of its tail was lit on fire.
"Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon, a Fire type. If it's healthy, the flame on the tip of its tail will burn vigorously, even if it gets a bit wet."
"Char-mander!" The Fire type squeaked, wagging its tail excitedly. And finally, the last Pokémon to come out was a little blue turtle, its eyes a deep purple, and its underbelly a light yellow. It stood proudly and quietly, turning its head every now and then subtly.
"Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. A Wa-" Frankie was cut off suddenly as the Charmander suddenly blocked the Squirtle entirely, still smiling expectantly. The Squirtle, clearly miffed, shoved it out of the way in a huff and quickly regained its composure. "Uh… a… Water type… When it feels threatened, it draws its limbs inside its shell and sprays water from its mouth." While Frankie continued, the Charmander still made an attempt to be seen over the Squirtle. Popping up behind it and resting its elbows on its head, moving from side to side every now and then, waving its tail in front of the Squirtle's face, each attempt being shoved off in annoyance by the Water type, who maintained perfect proud composure each time.
"Awww, they're all so cute!" Maria exclaimed, bending over to reach the small Pokémon's level.
"They're cute now, Maria, but wait until they evolve. You want a sturdy jack of all trades, master of most? Go for Bulbasaur and get yourself that Venusaur as soon as you can!" The Bulbasaur yawned once again and dozed off suddenly.
"He's right you know, if you were smart, talented, and incredibly good looking, Bulbasaur would absolutely be the best choice." Chase said.
"Oh yeah? Well if you find a guy or gal like that, let 'em know to hit ol' Maria up." Maria said, earning a scowl from the younger boy.
"On the other hand, Charmander's your go-to for a ridiculously fast and powerful ranged attacker, and once it evolves into Charizard, it'll be able to fly, increasing not only its resistances, but its offensive potential as well!" Frankie continued. The Charmander stood up prouder than the Squirtle, tucking its tail beneath its feet, showing off the brightness of its flame as best it could. The Squirtle rolled its eyes just before Frankie moved to explaining it. "If you're looking for those kind of ranged attacks, but also want a bit more tactics to play around with, staying on the battlefield as much as you can, then Squirtle is who you wanna choose. Once it evolves into Blastoise, you get the very definition of a living tank."
"Squirtle, Squirt…" Squirtle nodded proudly, while Charmander looked on scornfully, childishly sticking its tongue out at it.
"Well, I gotta say, riding on the back of a Charizard IS pretty tempting…" When Charmander heard Maria direct her attention toward it, it immediately stopped its taunts and looked up at her with a toothy sheepish grin. "And that Bulbasaur over there is just me, but a Pokémon, so it's definitely speaking to me." Bulbasaur snorted itself awake and lazily looked Maria's direction before promptly falling back asleep. "But that Squirtle…" Squirtle stood tall and proud still, its beaky mouth widening to a cheeky grin. "Every girl's gotta have a big strong man in her life, and if what you say about big boy Squirtle is true…" Maria walked over to the Tiny Turtle Pokémon, reached down, and brought it closer to her face, leaving Charmander stunned, and Bulbasaur… uninterested as ever. "Then I think I'll take this little guy for myself."
"Squirtle! Squirtle!" Squirtle called happily as Maria smiled at it excitedly, brining it closer to her face and rubbing noses with it affectionately.
"That's right, tough guy, mama Maria's got your back, so long as you got mine. Either way, we're gonna kick some serious butt! You with me on this?"
"Squirtle!" Squirtle heartily pounded its chest with a single paw while it looked up proudly at its new trainer.
"And what about you, Frankie? You gonna take another fourteen years to mull it over or what?" She asked as Frankie inspected the two remaining Pokémon closely. The Charmander's sudden excited demeanor changed to one of expecting anxiety as its tail patted the ground nervously. That was a face he had seen too many times to count. And yet… it was perfect.
"Not this time, Maria." Frankie said with a smile as he himself reached down for Charmander, picking it up in his own arms, and raising it above his head, letting the fire from its tail illuminate his face with a bright orange color from a safe distance. "Charmander, I choose you!"
Charmander's eyes sparkled happily as her sorrowful frown changed to an excited smile.
"Char!" It shouted as it leapt from Frankie's hands and latched on to his face, causing the boy to bolt back a bit surprise, while Charmander cooed adoringly, keeping its tail away from its new trainer.
That just left Bulbasaur, who looked relieved to not be chosen as it left the new trainers with one last big yawn and sleep spell.
"Excellent choices, the both of you. I was wrong to doubt you in the first place." Professor Oak said as he returned Bulbasaur to its Pokè Ball. At the same time, he had also pulled out ten more Poké Balls, and one blue pocket book looking object. Inside was a red device that could be stood up against the blue section, with a large screen up top. "Here are a few extra Pokè Balls for you, as well as a Pokédex to record information on all the Pokémon you may meet on your travels."
"Sweet! Mind if I manage it, Frankie?" Maria asked as she took her share of Poké Balls.
"Go right ahead, Maria." Frankie said with a smile, at last prying Charmander from his face and taking his own share.
Maria was quick to scan her new Squirtle with the device. It revealed more or less exactly what Frankie documented about it, its type, classification, and biology. What Frankie failed to report, however, was its gender and Moveset. Male Squirtle with the moves Tackle, Withdraw, Water Gun, and Mirror Coat.
"Whoa… that's a pretty nifty Squirtle if I do say so myself!" She cried as she shifted focus to Frankie's Charmander. Female Charmander with the moves Scratch, Growl, Ember, and Metal Claw. "Hey, Frankie, you better be careful with how you're treating that Charmander of yours, you got yourself a little lady on board!"
"A female? Really?" Frankie asked as he stared down at Charmander, who smiled as wide as ever, gently wagging her tail proudly. Frankie smiled back and held her close. "Don't worry Maria, I'll do my best."
"Now what about a nickname? You looking to call your Pokémon something personal?" Tracey asked.
"A nickname?" Maria parroted. "Gee, I never really considered a nickname…"
"It isn't necessary, Maria, Elaine and I didn't nickname our partners!" Chase exclaimed, with Elaine adding a peppy headshake for emphasis.
"I'd… like it if it meant forming a closer bond with my Pokémon." Frankie said as he looked thoughtfully at Charmander. The Lizard Pokémon stared back quizzically, following his gaze with her own. The tiny cinders dropping down and instantly dying from her tail would be a cute idea, but the name "Cinder" immediately brought to mind the Pokémon Cinderace. It was too familiar. "Pyra" sounded pretty, but not necessarily fitting. "Hitokage" was too easy, and hardly sounded like a girls' name in the first place. He thought fairly hard about it some more, determined to give her a name that suited her perfectly. His action of holding her fiery tail directly above his face came to mind instantly. The soft warm glow made him feel both exalted and at ease. The elegant mixture of oranges and yellows flickering in and out over him activated some kind of primeval charm he felt safe with. Then it hit him. "Flickering". "Flickering".
Flicker.
"I'm gonna call her Flicker." Frankie at last said. The Charmander seemed very satisfied with the name as it nuzzled up to Frankie once again, cooing gently as Frankie nuzzled back.
"Pretty darn good if you ask me, Frankie, and I do gotta agree with you on the whole bonding with your Pokémon thing. The problem is that there's too many fitting options for this little guy!" Maria held Squirtle in front of her once again, shaking him up just a little bit. At this moment, Maria took a good look at his shell. Rounded and homely. She didn't remember much about her mother, but her recreational activities suddenly came to mind. What was that yoga pose she used to do all the time? It looked a lot like a Squirtle shell. "Ar-Artha, Kurma-sa-sawna? Ardha Kurmasana? Kurmasana? Ardha? Ar-Ardha? Ardha! I'm naming him Ardha!"
"Excellent choices all around, the both of you. Though I am afraid we have spent too much time dawdling, I must ask you for clarity, are you well aware of what has become of this region, and in knowing that, willing to do whatever it takes to ensure victory?" Professor Oak asked.
"I'm afraid we're not totally aware of absolutely everything, Professor, but we are willing to learn!" Frankie exclaimed.
"Charmander!" Flicker piped in, just as seemingly determined as her trainer.
"Count me in too! I suppose whatever's going on out there is really the reason for my lack of beauty sleep on the flight over here, and that's just unforgivable!" Maria cried.
"Missing the point entirely, aren't we, Maria?" Chase asked snidely.
"Shut up Chase, I'm trying to sound epic and make things less tense for us…" Maria quietly responded through gritted teeth.
"Squirtle, Squirt." Ardha nodded confidently alongside his trainer.
"Very well, Chase, I entrust you and Elaine then, to keep our new recruits up to speed about them goings on of our region, they will need all the help they can get." Professor Oak pointed out.
"Absolutely, Professor, we'll get to it right away!" Chase said with a salute, with Elaine bowing loyally for herself.
"Good, now take care you four, and please, keep on your toes at all times for your own safety. Tracey, please escort them to the entrance of the lab so they may be on their way."
"You got it, professor!" Tracey exclaimed.
"Alright, Flicker, you heard what Professor Oak said, we have to be careful, so it's back in the Poké Ball for you for the time being." Frankie warned his Pokémon.
"Ar, Char, Char…" Flicker sadly responded, but understanding nonetheless as she was sucked back into her Poké Ball.
"You too Ardha, gotta stay in shape for the big battles ahead, ya hear?"
"Squirt!" Ardha nodded in compliance as he was sucked back in his ball as well. With that, Tracey followed Professor Oak's orders and took the kids out the lab and back to the outskirts of Pallet Town. With one last set of goodbyes, the doors to the lab closed one final time, and the quartet were off at last.
"Well that was certainly a hoot and a half, definitely lifted my spirits for a bit, wouldn't you agree, Elaine?" Chase asked as he placed his hands behind his head. Elaine nodded in agreement. "As for you, Frank, I hardly recognized you back there! Are you pulling a trick on us, hmmm?"
"Oh, come off it, Chase, Frankie just got a little excited, that's all! Ain't that right, brother?" Maria shot back before looking to Frankie for his own answer.
"I just… really like Pokémon…" Frankie responded, quiet once again.
"In this group, that's all we could ask for. Now about getting you up to speed…" Chase was ready to recount the events that led them all to where they are now, but before he had a chance to get into any detail, Elaine tugged on his shirt sleeve to get his attention. "Elaine? What is it?" Elaine pointed straight ahead, getting everyone to follow her. Standing right in front of them, on the open dirt road was a tiny yellow rodent Pokémon. The same one that had been spying on them since they first met up in Johto. It didn't say anything, and it didn't do anything. It just stood there, breathing lightly, staring straight ahead, waiting for one of them to make a move.
"It's a Pikachu." Frankie said as he stood up straight to get a better look at it. "A female from the looks of its tail, but I'll be the first to say I've never seen a marking like THAT on it." He pointed out the heart shape mark that ended on the top of its tail. While Frankie pondered over it some more, Maria took out her Pokédex to scan the new Pokémon herself.
"Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. This intelligent Pokémon roasts hard Berries with electricity to make them tender enough to eat."
"Well if none of you are making a scene about it, then I'm gonna be the first to catch it!" Maria cried as she brought out Ardha's Poké Ball. "You weaken 'em first, right, bro?"
"Certainly, Maria, but Ardha's got a pretty big type disadvantage against Pikachu, it's also worth noting Pikachu is the second form of its evolutionary family, while Ardha is only the first. Make one wrong move and, heh heh…" Frankie took a finger and drew it across his throat as he made a slicing sound with his mouth.
"But Bulbasaur has an excellent matchup against it! So I say I should be able to catch it first!" Chase exclaimed.
"Oh? And leave out poor Elaine? She saw it first, what do you gotta say to that, huh, Chase?" Maria instigated.
"Leave ou-! The audacity! I would never do such a thing! I merely suggested it because I wasn't entirely sure if she wanted it for herself, did you Elaine?"
Elaine shifted from side to side in an unsure manner. She did have to admit it was a very cute Pokémon, but it wasn't exactly what she was looking for.
"Right, this is getting us nowhere, how about we each throw our Poke Balls at once, and whoever catches it in the first throw keeps it, deal?"
"Maria, you've got yourself a deal!" Chase and Maria shifted to empty Poké Balls and each shifted their focus to the Pikachu, still staring on ahead with a hint of confusion this time around.
"Be prepared if she breaks out, Maria…" Frankie whispered.
"Please, Frankie, I'm always prepared." Maria answered back as she stuck her tongue out in determination, winding up the Poké Ball like a professional baseball player.
"Poké Ball, go!" Chase and Maria screamed simultaneously as they each threw their Poké Balls at the quiet Pikachu. The Mouse Pokémon stepped back a bit and ducked under one, while sending the other hurling back to a trainer with its tail.
"Gangway!" Chase exclaimed, as all four trainers ducked or ran away from the hurdling metallic ball. Rather than hitting any of them, it hit a nearby gate, causing a noticeable dent in it as it hit the ground and rolled back towards the kids.
"Ouch, that would've seriously hurt…" Maria intoned as she stared at the dented fence.
"Wait, Maria, look." Frankie said, pointing to Pikachu himself. The four trainers saw now that the Pikachu was shaking its head quickly, barely hunched over. "I don't think this Pikachu exactly wants to be captured."
"That does put us in a bit of a pickle, now doesn't it?" Chase asked.
"So, if it's not gonna let us catch it, what do we do with it then?" Maria asked. The kids all stared at the Pikachu just as she stared at them when she first came across them. Much like in Professor Oak's lab, a booming silence swept over the area, what seemed like hours passed by when at last. The Pikachu finally made her own sound to break it up once and for all.
"Hi."