I've always been deeply into the concept of the Nuzlocke challenge and the stories and comics that followed. This is a story that will attempt to bring back some of the magic that I felt when I read the old comics back in the day, with a blend of comedy, emotional moments, and the overall vulnerability and thrill of a runthrough. I hope you all enjoy!
Rules
· If a Pokemon faints, it must be released and is considered dead in the story.
· The first Pokemon encountered in each Route are the only Pokemon that can be caught (Dupe clause is in effect.)
· All Pokemon must have Nicknames, so I'll be emotionally attached.
Without further ado, let us begin our Pokemon journey together!
Book 1: Chrysanthemum
"This is a bittersweet day for me, students," the Pokémon Professor said with a chuckle. "Ever since that infernal phone app was released, less and less students take my course. There are so few of you, but the excited look on each of your young faces help me forget that it'll still be a decade before I can retire."
There were, in fact, only six students who even attended his class. Two girls and four boys, but since only two of the boys are actually relevant to the story, we'll pretend that the other two don't exist, and there are only four students.
"I don't know why you even let them get their hopes up, Gramps," Blue Oak said from his spot at the back of the class, leaning back in his chair and grinning. "We all know I'm the best by far."
Oak sighed, looking over the list. His grandson, while obnoxious sometimes, did have a point. "If only you learned humility instead of just glorified dog fighting. But yes, you're correct. Blue won the trainer license by a landslide. Granted, Green did tie with him..."
"Ha!" The brunette sitting next to Blue said, punching him in the shoulder. "Take that, you pompous—"
"However, considering women from Pallet are currently prohibited from becoming Pokémon trainers, I'm afraid she's disqualified," Oak said, throwing the girl an apologetic look. "We're not the most forward-thinking town."
Blue cackled. "Ha, my gender's better than yours!" Green responded by flipping him out of his chair. Blue yelped as he crashed to the floor.
"So, since he passed my classes with flying colors, Blue will be the first Pallet trainer of his generation."
A kid wearing a red jacket and hat, who had been glaring at Oak's grandson throughout the entire exchange, climbed on top of his desk and pointed an accusing finger at the professor. "That's bullshit! I smell bias!"
"Ash, please, this isn't the time to use that." Oak groaned at the sight of the kid's dirty shoes muddying up the desk. "We do not stand on furniture. This is the third time this week."
Ash blushed but didn't jump down from his desk. "Professor! I told you; call me Red! Ash is the chump from the TV show who doesn't know how to evolve his starters!"
"Two weeks ago, you were obsessed with being called Ash," Oak said, resisting the urge to tear out his hair. "I don't know why I even bother indulging you."
"To be fair, this is better than the Guardians of the Galaxy phase," Green said, shrugging.
"Nobody ever called me Star-Lord," Red mumbled. "Anyway, it doesn't matter, because Red was super cool and edgy and caught all one hundred and fifty Pokemon! I take that name because I will succeed his legacy."
"Red was also silent," Oak said, frustrated. "Something I wish you'd be while we're in the middle of class."
"I won't be silent until I expose you for the biased man you are!" Red said. "You only chose Blue because he's your grandson. I have the real skills!"
"Your grade point average is at the bottom of the class!" Oak snapped, finally losing his cool, but Blue gave a sideways grin to the defiant Red, having finally managed to pull himself back into his seat.
"Never mind that, Gramps, I accept his challenge," Blue said running his hand through his spiky hair. "I say we settle this with Pokémon battle. The winner will be declared the champion of Pallet Town."
"More like Misogyny Town," Green mumbled to the only the other girl, Yellow, who gave her a sympathetic wince at her plight.
"Alright!" Red said, happy that Blue had taken his bait. "Let's do it that way, please, Professor? Please, please, please, please—"
"Dear Arceus, if it gets you to shut up!" Oak snarled, slamming his fist on his desk. "Fine! Fine. We'll head to the stadium outside the building. Then Blue can win, and this day will finally be behind us."
"You're the salt of the earth, Red," Green said, rolling her eyes. "Or wait, heh, should I say 'ash' of the earth?"
"Stop calling me Ash!"
"Okay," Oak said, as the two trainers stood at opposite sides of a small Pokémon battlefield on the school's lawn. "This will be a one on one fight, refereed by me. You each will use one of my Pokémon to battle, and the fight will conclude when one Pokemon either falls unconscious or is recalled. Don't try anything dangerous."
Some of the students came to witness the battle, mostly jazzed to see Blue kick someone's ass again. Still, Red looked so confident and determined that it was easy to imagine he had a chance. At least the people who hadn't met Red, anyway, because it really was just mindless bluster.
"Tell you what, Red old pal," Blue said, smirking as he eyed Red toss his Poké Ball up and down in an intimidating rhythm. "If you even land a hit on my 'mon, I'll forfeit the trainer license to you."
"You'll eat those words, Oak," Red growled. "While the only thing I'll be tasting is victory."
"Weak retort."
"Screw you, it sounded better in my head!" Red shouted, before throwing his Poké Ball. "Enough talk!"
"I concur," Blue said, tossing his own ball lazily. The Pokémon Red had summoned was a purple, rhino like Pokemon, while Blue's was a large, round, grinning ghost.
"Oh, like the opening," Blue said, watching the Nidorino and Gengar face off. "Nice reference."
"Hey, that's not fair!" Red shouted, pointing at his Nidorino. "I get a crappy middle evolution and you get a freaking Gengar? That's not balanced at all!"
The Nidorino's eyes bugged out at the insult, and he turned around to charge Red, who shrieked and sprinted away from the rampaging rhino as fast as he could. Oak cringed at the display, blowing his whistle.
"Red, we do not call our trusted partners crappy middle evolutions. I've seen enough; I declare Blue and Gengar the winners!"
"Well, naturally," Blue said, as the Gengar cackled mockingly at the still screaming Red. "The day that kid is allowed to be a Pokemon trainer is the day I eat my running shoes."
"The ceremony will start in a few minutes," Oak said, looking at his watch after recalling his Pokemon. "Fortunately, Red's daily outburst was a bit less time consuming than usual. Let's get you ready."
"How are you doing?" Yellow asked, patting a miserable Red on the back. She was the only one who could tolerate the hyperactive kid for long stretches at a time. They watched Blue being presented with his trainer card, and his very first Pokemon, an Eevee.
"I don't care," Red whimpered, trying fruitlessly to hide his tears. "I don't even like Eevee anyway! Stupid, overrated loser. Maybe if it was a Charmander... I could burn Blue to cinders…"
"Huh," Blue said, trying to hide his delight as the little fox crawled up his shoulder. "Eevee eh? Not much of a powerhouse, but I guess she'll do for a start." He began to stroke the tiny fox behind the ears, and it let out a contented sigh.
"Eevee, as you know, is a very adaptable Pokemon, capable of evolving into many different types," Oak said. "I wanted you to have options. She has perfect individual values and imagine what she will be capable of when she evolves! With a thunderstone, she becomes a mighty Jolteon, one of the most powerful and agile electric types in the region! Or Vaporeon, one of the most adhesive and capable water types! Or Flareon!"
Blue and Professor Oak stared at each other a moment, before they both broke down into laughter at the thought of Flareon.
Blue wiped a tear of mirth from his eyes. "Aaah...evolving it into Flareon...priceless."
"I'm very proud of you, Blue," Oak said, a kind smile on his face as he looked on his grandson. "You've spent your whole life working up to this moment, and now you're here. Your parents would be so proud as well."
"I uh…ha…yeah," Blue said, overwhelmed by the sudden change in tone. "Well uh…don't act like I'm done yet. I'll be the champion of the Pokemon league and even surpass you, old man."
"I know you will," Oak said, beaming with pride. "That's why I'm so happy."
"Look," Blue said, his voice suddenly becoming a whisper. "While I'm gone…take care of Red for me, okay? We both know he's not cut out to be a trainer, but…I want him to be happy, alright? Find something for him to do, will you?"
Oak nodded. "I'll try, Blue. You know how stubborn he is. Maybe I'll have him become an intern or something. Pokemon tend to hate him, but at least he'll be able to work with them. Even if…even if he'll never truly be a trainer."
He looked down to the crowd, wondering how Red would be reacting to the ceremony, when his heart stopped. There, next to an awkward Yellow, was an empty seat. They met each other's eyes, and Yellow mouthed: "Route 1!"
"Oh, god damn it," Oak said, groaning as he began to sprint down the steps, much to the surprise of Blue and the other teachers. He was getting too old for this. "Not again."
"All right," Red said, humming to himself as he marched down to Route One, the only path out from Pallet Town that didn't require a water taxi. In one hand he carried rope, and in the other a bottle of ketchup, perfect bait for Pokémon as far as he was concerned.
"I may not have had luck before," Red said as he looked around the tall grass, searching for anything that might be moving. "But now I'm fully prepared! Come out, you little monsters! Help me accomplish my goals and be my slave forever!"
Surprisingly, no one showed up.
"Man," Red said, beginning to daydream as he sat on a big rock in the middle of one of Route One's vast fields. "Imagine what I'll find here? A Charizard, totally. Then Blue will have to admit I'm better."
He thought of riding on a Charizard, the massive dragon lighting up forests and causing bug Pokemon to panic (but who cared, they were bug Pokemon) when a rustling in the grass broke his concentration.
"Charizard," Red whispered, hopping down from the rock. His dreams had come true. He slowly inched towards the rustling grass, his hands shaking a little as he clutched the rope.
Come to think of it, any Pokemon would be cool, Red had to admit. A Dragonite or Scyther for example. Oh. As long as it wasn't-
A small, yellow mouse peeked out from the rustling grass, looking politely puzzled.
"Pika?"