Pokémon

Pokémon

The Journey – A New Trainer story by BenRG

Legal Disclaimer

Pokémon, the Pocket Monsters and all characters and institutions connected with them are the property of Nintendo Entertainment, Game Freak Software and 4Kids Entertainment. This is a non-profit work written for free distribution through the world-wide web. No infringement of any copyright or legal property intended.

Peter Croft is entirely my creation, as are all the other original characters in this story, for now.

The Trainer's Oath is ©2001 Ben Russell-Gough. Please feel free to use it yourselves, but be sure to credit me in your disclaimer. Pretty please?

Author's Notes

Some New Trainer stories are good, some are not so good and some are just dire. I've never tried this genre before, so I'm going to try it now. If this is bad, then say so for pity's sake and I'll stop!

Okay, usual warnings apply. I don't know the continuity or the moves very well, so I'll be faking it most of the time. That doesn't mean that I want all you smart-alecs out there who know everything to tell me where I go wrong. K? K. Otherwise reviews are welcome. If my grammar is wrong, my in-story continuity is tangled and mixed or if my story is useless, please let me know so I can improve my work.

Text in Italics is thought or psychic communication.

Text in "Quotes and Italics" is speech from some kind of loudspeaker, phone, etc.

Censor: PG – Because Pokémon fight, and fights can be unpleasant things.

Continuity Note: This story starts six years after Ash Ketchum started his own Pokémon Journey. Tracey is 22.

The Journey

Chapter 1 – Dawn

You all know the scene by now. The old low-resolution LCD screen of the Mk1 Nintendo Game Boy hand-held games console. Pokémon Blue is running. On the screen, a Gengar and a Rhydon are fighting it out in battle mode. As the sprites blink from side to side in a parody of movement, however, something happens. Something truly wonderful. The creatures fill out and become colourful and three-dimensional… they become real.

Two huge, powerful evolved Pokémon are facing each other on a sandy arena, the Indigo Plateau Stadium of the Pokémon League. Rhydon has just knocked Gengar flying with a Horn Charge attack. Although partially intangible, Gengar is still tied to this world by the loosest of material threads, and if you hit it hard enough, it will certainly fall over. Rhydon skids to a halt in front of its' trainer and spins around to face Gengar, who is struggling to its' feet.

"Rhydon, use Ancientpower!" yells the green Trainer, a black-haired man wearing a red-and-white League cap.

"Gengar, use Reflect," responds the red Trainer, a young woman wearing a flowing red overcoat/dress. The blue-white energy bolt that flashes from Rhydon's horn flashes forward and seems to twist around in mid-air as it hits an invisible shield. The energy flashes back and hits Rhydon square between the eyes and knocks him back off of his feet. "Now Gengar, use Sleep Wave while he's stunned!" the red Trainer calls, triumph lighting her voice.

Gengar grins and its' eyes begin to glow icy blue. Concentric waves of energy flash out from its' leering face and wash over Rhydon, who is just struggling to its' feet. The massive rock-type staggers, its' eyes becoming misty and unaware. "Concentrate Rhydon!" the green Trainer implores. "Fight it! Fight… oh heck, what's the use?" Rhydon falls on to its' back with a massive 'thud.' Its' Trainer raises a red-and-white Standard-type Pokéball and recalls his fallen ally. "Nice try, Rhydon." The Trainer swaps balls and throws the new Pokéball forward. "Go Nidoran!" The ball breaks open mid-air and a blue-purple rabbit with a long horn poking from between his eyes materialises.

"Use Sleep Wave again, Gengar," the red Trainer calls.

"Use Trance, Nidoran!" the green Trainer responds. Nidoran's eyes glow blue as the Trance defence defeats the hypnotic attack easily and freezes Gengar for a single move. The green Trainer grins, congratulating himself on investing in that Training Machine powder. "Now, use Poison Horn Charge!" the green Trainer orders. Nidoran, with a fearsome battle cry, launches himself towards the ghost-type, determined to beat his enemy…

*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*BLEEP*

"GAAH!" Ten-year-old Peter Hiroshi Croft jerked awake in his bed and nearly slapped his alarm clock off of the nightstand beside him. After two or three attempts, he manages to hit the 'snooze' button and deactivate the hideously loud alarm.

It took young Peter a long few minutes to recover from his shock and focus on the day. His first feelings were ones of disappointment that he had been awoken from his dream. As always, he remembered little of it, but what he did remember were feelings of triumph and glory. Good dreams were to be cherished, or so his mother always told him.

Peter was a fairly typical child for his age. He was just a bit over 4' 6" tall, weighed slightly more than average for his age and was beginning to get the impression that there was more to life than he initially thought. He ran a hand through his unruly brown-blond hair and his icy blue eyes peered myopically at the clock face.

Six-thirty AM? He asked himself in horror. It is the middle of the summer holidays! Why would I set my alarm clock for six-thirty? Then it hit him. Peter was ten years old, his birthday having come and gone just two weeks ago, shortly after the beginning of the school summer recess. Here in Pallet Town in the Viridian region of Indigo Island, part of the Kanto Islands, children of ten years were allowed… no they were actively encouraged to go on a Pokémon Journey. And for Peter, today was the day when he was scheduled to depart on his journey.

It is a miracle that Peter got out of bed and into his clothes without a mishap, given his level of excitement. He put on the spectacles he wore to correct his faulty distance vision and literally dived down the corridor towards the bathroom. "I'm gonna get me a Pokémon!" Peter yelled as he rushed past his parents' bedroom towards the bathroom, awaking his father and mother.

It is hard to describe exactly what going on a Pokémon Journey means to these youngsters. Certainly they are all incredibly excited about the chance. For most of them, it was a matter of fame. The Pokémon League is one of the world's top-rated sporting seasons, and it had to go a long way to beat soccer as the world number one. So, for most boys and girls, it was the chance to emulate their heroes. People like Richie Yeager, Diane Prima, Misty Waterflower (probably the second best Trainer on Earth), and, of course, local heroes Gary Oak (the Earth Gym Leader in Viridian City now) and Ash Ketchum, the newest and youngest ever Pokémon Master.

Peter could remember the excitement earlier this year when Ash, in just his sixth competitive season in the League, beat first the Elite Four and then Sylvester Charter, the League Founder, to claim his Mastery. Peter also remembered the look of utter embarrassment on the new Master's face when Misty Waterflower kissed him passionately in the full view of the world's media. However, once he had recovered from his surprise, Ash gave her as good as she gave him! Peter was a bit too young to understand what a powerful and successful Trainer like Ash was doing with a girl hanging around him, but he suspected he would figure it out as he grew up.

There was also the possibility of liberation. Being a Trainer was the ultimate freedom, to travel where you want to when you want to without parents to continually screw up your life with demands to clean your room or finish your greens. It was a chance to go out into the world and find your destiny, accompanied by a powerful band of loyal friends who could bring unimaginable destruction down on your enemies. The fact that a tame Pokémon would never even dream of attacking a human was rarely remembered in those fantasies.

But for some youngsters, and Peter was among them, what drew them to the difficult and dangerous calling of being a Pokémon Trainer was the promise of an adventure. Life could be boring, even for a pre-teen child, and there were only so many distractions to be found in Pallet Town and its' mother city Viridian. To be a wandering Trainer was to see the world and experience thrills and dangers that most people of their age could only dream of.

All this and more passed through Peter's mind as he washed his face and brushed his teeth. Then, still on a massive high, he ran into his parents' bedroom and shook his father, Graham, awake. "Come on, Dad," he said. "Today's the big day! I don't want to be late!"

Graham groaned and rolled over, long immunised to his excitable and hyperactive son's whims. His wife, Suzanne, opened her eyes and looked at her first child thoughtfully. "Peter," she said quietly, "it is not even seven o'clock yet. You aren't supposed to be at the Professor's research centre until nine. Calm down, darling."

"But… but I might be too late to get a Pokémon," he blurted. Why don't they understand? he wailed in his head.

"More on those creatures," Graham muttered, earning him a jab in the small of the back from his wife. He grinned, enjoying having made his dark-haired mate's temper flare. "Peter, believe me you won't be too late." Although I wish he would be, a dark part of him insisted.

"It wouldn't matter anyway," Suzanne said kindly.

"More's the pity," Graham said, too quietly (he thought) for his son to hear.

"It… wouldn't?" Peter asked.

"Of course not, silly," Peter's mother said tiredly. She had explained this to her son about thirty times over the last two weeks. However, she could understand his worry and his excitement. He had set his heart to this career in a way he had never been interested in anything else. "Professor Oak knows how many Novices are going to leave town today, so he will have enough Pokémon for you all."

"Oh…" Now Peter felt silly. He blushed slightly, thankful for the gloom in the darkened bedroom.

"Now, why don't you make sure your pack is all done properly and then… wait an hour or so?"

Peter nodded and left the room.

For a long moment, the two adults were silent. "I wish he wasn't so adamant about this," Graham said quietly.

"You know he wants this, Graham," Suzanne said. "He has passed all the aptitude and psychic acuity tests, so we don't have any reason to hold him back."

"He's ten," Graham said, letting a little anger into his tired tone. "What does he know about what he wants?"

"Graham…" Suzanne said warningly.

"I mean, why not wait until he finishes Elementary School next year before making a decision?" Graham said, his voice rising slightly. "This is a dangerous occupation, Suzie, and I do not think the League is right letting… babies run off into danger! It isn't right when he is so young, and I don't think we're right in letting him do this!"

"Graham Shigeru Croft, keep your voice down!" Suzanne hissed. "Now you listen to me, Graham. You know as well as I do that being a Trainer is more than just a skilled job, it is a new way of using your brain! If Peter were to wait any longer, his brain's patterns would be too set to learn the empathic skills he needs to become a Trainer!"

"Yeah, that's what the League says," Graham growled. He knew he was beaten however. Ultimately, he knew that he couldn't block his son's decision in this matter. He knew Peter wanted this and not being able to do it would poison his heart forever. However, that didn't mean he had to like it. "Construction work is good enough for me, why not for Peter?" Graham muttered.

Suzanne sighed and hugged her husband. "Hey, I don't look upon you as second-rate anything," she said quietly. She knew that Graham had wanted to be a Trainer when he was a boy. What child didn't? But his psychic acuity level was less than 5-15, meaning he didn't even have 'intuitive' flashes about where to find lost items. Such a low psi level meant that he could never learn the empathy needed to be a Trainer, and condemned his dreams to the dustbin. Suzanne knew that her husband was secretly jealous that his son (whose psi-rating was an above average 25-130) would do what he never could do.

Peter returned to his room, a bit chastened by his father's scepticism and his mother's perpetual reasonable calm. After sitting on his bed for a few minutes, he decided that he should start doing something positive.

After dressing up in clothes he felt were sensible for a Journey (blue heavy-weave denim jeans and a red polo shirt) he opened his backpack and checked the contents.

Over the last two weeks, it had taken Peter a while to narrow down what he wanted to what he needed for the journey, and that was his first inkling that this would be a difficult undertaking at best. He couldn't take most of his treasured possessions, rather he had to restrict himself to what he could get into his pack. So inside, he had two changes of clothing, his rain cape (neatly folded), a grooming kit from Pallet Town's Pokémart, some military-style foods (which could last for months), a medical kit (with human and Pokémon medicines and potions) and his battery-operated radio. On his Pokébelt (as everyone referred to the utility belt issued to all Novices) he had loops for six Pokéballs, a one-litre water canteen, a WAP cellular phone, issued to all Novices by the League, and several other bandoleer loops whose function he figured that he would learn about today.

And that was it. He was about to go on a long-term journey with no fixed end with only a tiny number of possessions. That frightened Peter to no end, and he wasn't about to deny it. However, and he reminded himself of this time and time again, it was all going to be worth it. He was going to gather the world's largest Pokémon team, and he was going to train them until they were the very best. Then, he was going to beat Ash Ketchum and become the world's greatest Pokémon Master. And everyone would have to respect him, especially the sneering upper-middle-class set of Pallet Town who looked down on the lowly son of a tower crane operator and a secretary.

Peter was just visualising the putrid expression on the worst bully of them all's face when he had his Venusaur grab him in its' vine whips when someone snapped their fingers right in front of his face. Peter jumped involuntarily and fell backwards onto his bed.

"Wakey-wakey!" laughed Katie, his kid sister. Like most girls, Katie seemed to absolutely adore taunting her brother. "Boy, you really phased out that time, Pete!" she said with a laugh.

"Wha…?" Peter blinked and shook his head. "What do you want Katie?"

Katie grinned, infernally pleased at having woken her older brother from his daydreams. "Oh, I was just wondering if you were awake, Pete," she said. Katie's grin didn't change as she continued. "After all, you don't want to fall asleep and have to accept the Pokémon no-one else wants. Say… an Igglybuff?"

Peter grimaced. No, the base level of the balloon-type evolutionary chain definitely wasn't what he wanted, and it annoyed him that his seven-year-old sister had hit such a sore nerve. "Maybe it doesn't matter," he said at last. He forced his face into a threatening smile. "Maybe I'm good enough to make any Pokémon a winner!"

"Ha! Yeah, as if!" Katie snapped. Katie threw her waist-length blonde hair over one shoulder and flounced across the room. She sat down at Peter's writing desk and looked at her brother thoughtfully through her icy blue eyes, their common heritage from their father. "You know," she said with a smug smile, "I'll be thinking of you tonight."

"Really?" Peter wasn't used to Katie worrying about him. Could she finally be getting out of the 'brat' stage?

"Yep," Katie said. "I'll be thinking of you shivering in your sleeping bag surrounded by bug-types, Umbreon, Houndour and Ekans while I'm nice and snug in bed drinking cocoa!"

"Yeah, you do that," Peter said, scowling at his sister's cynicism. "Remember that I'll be out making a name for myself while you are back here doing all those wonderful things I will so miss… Like homework, taking out the trash, helping Mom entertain guests during Saturday Coffee Mornings…"

Katie's face fell as she realised exactly what being the new oldest child of the household would mean. Her expression was so anguished that Peter laughed out loud. He choked the hilarity down when, completely unexpectedly, tears started to trickle down his sister's cheeks. "Do… do you really have to go, Pete?" she asked in a tight, upset tone of voice.

"Katie, this is something I want to do, you know that," Pete was surprised. "I thought you'd be glad to have me out of your hair!"

Katie managed a slight laugh. "Look, you're my big brother you idiot!" she said after a moment. "I… I'm going to… to…" Katie sucked in a sob. "I'm going to miss you!"

Peter was so surprised that he couldn't think of one thing to say. Katie liked him! Like most siblings they usually enjoyed a mutual loathing that bordered on the fratricidal. This revelation that Katie actually had positive feelings for him profoundly affected Peter's world-view. "Look, Katie," he said after a moment of consideration, "I'll phone home from every Pokémon Centre I visit, and we can talk then, can't we?"

"Yeah…" Katie said, still sad and miserable.

Peter decided that, as he was about to become a Pokémon Trainer, he was going to have to handle this in a mature way. He got up, walked over to Katie and gave her a friendly hug. "Katie, I'll miss all of you too," he said. "I'll write to you regularly though, and we'll keep in touch. Kay?"

"K… kay," Katie said quietly. After a moment she released her hold around Peter pushed him away from her and retreated. Just before she left the room, she turned back with one last taunt. "Bet that you don't catch anything before you reach Viridian City," she said.

"You're on," he said. "If I win, I get your allowance for the next month."

"And if I win?" Katie asked archly.

"No point even thinking about it," Peter said, putting his hands behind his head and leaning against the wall in a smug fashion. "It's not going to happen!"

"PETER! Play fair!" Katie protested, stamping her foot in anger.

Peter rolled his eyes. "Okay, if I lose… I'll catch you a Pokémon for you to look after. Something cute and cuddly like a Clefa or a Pichu." Non-licensed persons could own a single Pokémon, and it was the easiest gift for a guy on a Journey to acquire. Besides which, and here Peter's inner voice became a bit portentous, having a Pokémon to care for could only improve his sister's attitude.

"Deal!" Katie said. She stepped boldly forward and shook his hand.

Peter watched her leave. "I'm going to enjoy spending your money, Katie," he said with a slightly malicious smile.

"For goodness sake, Peter, chew!" Suzanne snapped for what seemed like the twentieth time. Peter sighed and made a show of chewing the next mouthful of his breakfast slowly. "That's better, mister," his mother said with a slight smile for his over-acting. "Plenty of time in the world for you to eat."

"Yes Mom," Peter said with an unrepentant grin.

The family was all around the kitchen table, eating breakfast. Everyone was a little agitated, if for different reasons. Peter and Katie were both on edge because of the change that was about to come in Peter's life. Suzanne was naturally a little upset, as any mother would be, in seeing her son leave her on his journey to adulthood. Graham was trying to control his surging irrational feelings of jealousy towards his son.

Peter took a sip of his coffee and looked at the time: It was now 8:15. "Wow, quarter past eight!" he said. He suddenly realised that this was it. He looked around the kitchen, realising that he would not see it again for some time.

"Yes," Suzanne said, her smile becoming sad. "It's time."

Suddenly, in a surge of motion, Graham Croft was on his feet, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. "Uh… okay, so it was the mall this morning, right Katie?"

There was a silence. "Hey no!" the girl said. "I'm riding to the Research Centre with Pete and Mom!"

Graham's face twisted through several emotions as he stood, watching his wife and children silently. Peter was worried about what he saw in his father's eyes and he half rose to his feet. "Dad…" he said desperately. He didn't want his dad to hate him.

Graham shook his head, silencing his son with a single gesture. "Good luck, Pete," he said quietly, with anguish filling his eyes. Suddenly he turned and very nearly fled the room. A few seconds later, they heard his pick-up truck's engine start and the vehicle pull out of the drive.

Suzanne stood quietly for a long moment before suddenly shaking herself all over. "Okay," she said in a quiet, worried tone, "get your coats and shoes on and let's go."

"Is Dad going to be all right, Mom?" Peter asked as Katie ran to get her coat and shoes.

"He's going to be just fine, Peter," his mother assured him.

"I… don't want him to hate me," Peter said, sounding close to tears.

Suzanne shook her head. "Peter, he doesn't hate you," she said firmly. She dropped to one knee so she could look her son in the eye. "Peter, you know that your father wanted to do this when he was your age," she said. "He wasn't able to do this, and seeing you taking a step that he couldn't probably hurts a little. He will be okay."

"Alright," Peter said quietly before turning to get his own coat and shoes. Suzanne watched him go and sighed deeply before following her children out of the kitchen.

Professor Oak's research centre was built on the southern hills forming the edge of the narrow glacial valley where the Black Rock River ran down to the Pacific Ocean. The grounds of the research centre stretched out inland from the hills for several miles.

Suzanne's saloon car pulled into the centre's car park. The first thing Peter noticed when he got out of the car was the house of the Professor and his new wife, Delilah, sitting just down the hill from the Research Centre's buildings. It was a strange place, looking more like a farmhouse than anything else with a wind turbine providing a percentage of the house and laboratory's power needs.

Of course, if Professor Oak were slightly eccentric, he more than deserved the luxury. He was also one of the finest minds in Pokémon biology in Kanto. Not even the great Professor Madeline Ivy of Valencia Island in the Orange Islands was considered in his league.

For Suzanne, time was now moving at a terrible speed. She had only known her son for a decade, and now he was about to be lost to her. Oh, she knew that he would visit, and that he would still be her son, but even so… She stirred herself to help her son get his backpack out of the car's trunk. "Okay, Peter?" she asked him.

Peter nodded worriedly. "Are you okay, Mom?" he asked.

"Of course," she said with a little too much cheer. "Now, get along with you, young man," she continued, "don't keep the Professor waiting!"

"Hey, can I go too?" Katie asked.

"Sorry, kiddo," Peter said. "Novices only." Katie pouted when she heard that. "Don't worry," Peter continued. "It's just a boring final lesson! Worse than school! You're not missing anything." Peter turned to go and had just started walking when Suzanne remembered something.

"Oh, Peter! Don't forget your licence form!" she called, pulling an official-looking document from her handbag. Peter walked back to take the form and was engulfed by his mother's arms. Suzanne was crying, much against her will. "Be very careful, my brave little boy," she whispered into his ear.

"Jeez, Mom," Peter said, blushing brightly. "I'll… I'll be okay, I promise!"

Suzanne reluctantly released her son and watched him walk towards the entrance to the Research Centre where Professor Oak's assistant, Tracey Sketchitt, was checking off names on a clipboard. She continued to watch as Peter had a short discussion with the young man with the bizarre pink headband and then entered the Research Centre buildings.

"Mom, you're crushing me here," Katie complained. Suzanne squeezed her daughter a little tighter in apology before releasing her hold around her. Finally, with a resigned sigh, she turned away and led Katie over to where the rest of the parents were waiting for the final initiation class to end.

Professor Oak was a tall man of average-build with grey hair and thick grey eyebrows that seemed to rove around his forehead to an impossible degree as he spoke to the new Novices in a precise English-accented voice. "Well, take your seats, children, no need to stand around for no reason," he chuckled. He looked up. "Tracey, is this all of them?"

"Just one more Professor," Tracey called. The Professor's assistant looked out of the door. "Here he comes now," he added with a slight smile.

Peter groaned when he saw who it was who barged through the door. Adam Bryant was probably the worst bully in Pallet Town Elementary School. His family was rich, his father being a successful trader who dealt in everything from scrap metal to the stock market. Adam was an only child and was very, very spoilt. He was also violent, arrogant and highly intelligent, which made for a particularly unpleasant sort of bully. He sneered around at the other Novices and spared a particularly malicious smile for Peter who simply looked away.

"All right," Professor Oak said, "now that we are all here, we can proceed." The man walked to the other end of the classroom-like room and sat on the desk there. "I'm sure that you are all impatient to get your Pokémon and get going. Well, I'm impatient to get this meeting over with too, but there are some things I need to talk to you about first."

The man reached behind him and pulled out a red plastic device about the size of a hardback book. "The first thing to do is to introduce you to the Pokédex. Those of you who have used a portable computer will understand the basic concepts immediately, but you should all listen carefully."

Professor Oak opened the Pokédex like it was a book. A red light on the top began to flash. There was a short pause before the device made a tuneful 'bingdley-bingdley-bong' sound.

"The Pokédex is a complete encyclopaedia of everything known about the 251 known species of Pokémon," Professor Oak explained. "It also contains summary information about all the cities in Kanto with League facilities, be they Breeding Centres, Pokémon Centres or League-licensed Gymnasiums. You would be well advised to use this tool regularly."

Oak put down the Pokédex and picked up what looked like a TV remote control. He pressed a button. The lights in the classroom dimmed and the blinds on the windows automatically swung closed. A slide projector switched itself on and projected an image of the controls on a Pokédex on the whiteboard. Oak spent a few minutes going through the functions of the Pokédex and how to use them. Regularly changing the illustrations, he showed how to get information from the device and how to use it to scan new Pokémon. "Wild Pokémon are not easy to catch, and they can be most dangerous," Professor Oak said. He looked around at the ten-year-olds sitting in the room and noted that, like every other group of Novices he had ever seen, they weren't remotely daunted by this fact. "You should use the Pokédex to determine any Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses before you try to catch them."

Oak looked around at the youngsters and felt a strange sensation of déjà vu. Sometimes, the faces of the generations of Trainers to whom he had given this lecture blurred together. Yet the feelings of mixed anticipation and sadness remained the same. "Each Pokédex has a security chip encoded to your voice," he continued. "It will respond only to you. Additionally, it has an interactive artificially intelligent 'help' application that can instruct you on how to best use it, just in case some of you have been sent to sleep by the sound of my voice." There was some laughter, and Oak felt it safe to smile. "I will issue you your Pokédex at the same time I issue you your Pokémon."

Professor Oak looked around sternly at the twelve youngsters in the room. "You must all remember that you are not about to embark on a childish adventure, but on the most difficult and dangerous undertaking a child of your age could possibly attempt to do. You will be living rough on the roads for what might be years, fighting against horrendously powerful creatures that will fight viciously to stop you from capturing them. It is quite possible that some of you will die. If any of you wish to reconsider your decision to become a Pokémon Trainer, you should leave the room immediately. No-one will think any less of you."

There was a long pause as all the Novices all looked at each other. Peter saw Adam look at him and raise his eyebrows. 'Go on, run away to mommy!' the bully mouthed at him. Peter looked away with a grimace. He was afraid of Adam, but he wouldn't let that thug change his goals in life. Adam snorted.

Oak noted that no-one had left the room. He smiled slightly and nodded. "Very well then," he said. "I have nothing else to say except to remind you that this is not a game. You are going to be working with living creatures who hurt and fear as much as we do. Firstly, do not forget to feed them." The Novices laughed nervously again, making Oak smile. "You will find instructions on how to care for different kinds of Pokémon in the Pokédex," he continued, patting the device on his desk. "These are not optional. They are critical to maintaining your Pokémon's state of health. If you do not follow those instructions, they will sicken, and will either run away or die." The Novices, even Adam, looked horrified at hearing that. "I'm glad that you understand," Oak said quietly. "Now, that concludes your final lesson."

There was a shuffle of movement and Oak raised his hands. "There is just one more formality," he said. He pressed the remote control button again and a plain text slide appeared on the whiteboard. "Please raise your right hands and recite this text along with me," Oak said. "This is your oath as Pokémon Trainers. It is something that must not just remain in your minds, it must sink into your hearts. Who you are and everything you do must be affected by these words." Oak raised his right hand, waited until all twelve Novices had done the same and then began to recite from memory. He smiled inwardly and felt nostalgic tears prickling behind his eyes as a dozen young, nervous voices began to recite hesitantly along with him.

"I will be the very best,
To excel in all my ways.
I shall seek first a path of honour,
And follow all my days.
For I shall not dishonour this calling,
I will not lie, cheat or steal.
And furthermore I shall never forget,
That the Pokémon can feel.
And so I shall go my way,
Not as a master but as a friend.
I shall be taught by my Pokémon,
As much as I shall teach them.
And I will remember this oath,
Until I reach my Journey's end."

There was a long silence as Oak lowered his own right hand and watched as the Novices did the same. "By speaking these words," he said, quietly but firmly, "the people you have been up to this moment in time have ceased to be. You have transcended the restrictions of your old life and have been reborn. You are now Pokémon Trainers." Oak grinned as cheers filled the room.

"Novice Trainer Croft, Peter H," Tracey said, reading from his clipboard. "License Number IND-PAL66D-71.02446591PHC."

Adam grinned maliciously at Peter. "Hey, it's your turn!" he said. "Off you go to get whatever they give losers! Maybe an Igglybuff or a Hopip?"

Peter ignored Adam, as he always did, stood up and walked forward. To his satisfaction Tracey had heard Adam's comments. "One more crack from you, Novice Bryant," the Professor's assistant snapped harshly, "and we can swap your current starting Pokémon for a Magikarp!" Adam glowered at Tracey resentfully. Saberdance, Tracey's gigantic Scyther, glared right back at him.

Peter nodded thankfully to Tracey as he passed him. "Straight down the corridor, the second door on the left," Tracey said quietly and with a friendly smile. His girlfriend, Karlie, was standing beside him and she shot the young boy an encouraging wink. Her Togepi, sitting in her arms, trilled incomprehensible words of encouragement and waved its' arms excitedly.

Peter drew in a deep breath and walked down the corridor towards the indicated room. He felt incredibly nervous. His throat had tightened painfully and his pulse was pounding in his ears. Breathe, Pete, he reminded himself. It won't do for you to faint on your way to pick up your first Pokémon! Despite his advice, he still felt light headed as he turned the corner into the room where Professor Oak was waiting.

"Novice Trainer Croft?" Professor Oak asked, his thick brows raised questioningly. The Professor was sitting at a desk just inside the room, typing something onto a computer.

"Y… yes sir," Peter managed to gasp out.

"Breathe, lad," the Professor said with a broad grin. "There is really nothing to be nervous about."

That's easy for him to say, Peter thought. He's done this thousands of times! Still, he stopped, closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, the world was definitely in sharper focus. "I'll be okay, sir," Peter said with a nervous grin.

"I'm sure you will be, Peter," Oak said reassuringly. "Do you have any last questions?"

Peter had hundreds, but he couldn't think of one sensible thing to say right now. "N… no sir," he said at last.

"All right then," Oak said with a reassuring smile. He stood up from his chair and walked across the room to, and here Peter's eyes lit up, several racks including one filled with Pokéballs. "First things first," Professor Oak said. He pulled a red device off of a rack and handed it to Peter. "Here is your Pokédex," he said. Peter put the Pokédex into its' bandoleer loop on his right hip. Oak moved to a second rack and pulled an ID card on a neck chain out. "Here is your League identification," Oak said. "This card is like a credit card. It comes off of its' mounting and you can use it to access any service in a League facility free of charge."

Peter looked at his picture on the ID badge thoughtfully. It wasn't a particularly flattering likeness, in his view. He shook his head and put the necklace on, tucking the badge inside his shirt.

"Now," Professor Oak said, moving to the last rack, "the moment I'm sure you have been dreaming of." The Professor took a red-and-white Standard-type Pokéball from the rack and stepped towards Peter. "Open your hand, Trainer," Oak said quietly. Peter stuck out his right hand stiffly, making Oak smile slightly. "Trainer, your Pokémon," he said, putting the Pokéball in Peter's hands.

Peter gasped out a long-held breath and just managed to suck a new one in again. Peter stared at the Pokéball for a long moment, taking in the recall lens, the three controls ('Release,' 'Recall' and 'Max/Min.') and the strange lack of weight for a device that was containing a living being within. On the equatorial locking bars around the join between the red hemisphere and the white hemisphere was the Pokémon ID number: PHC-0001. Peter felt an incredible sense of pride. My first Pokémon, he said to himself.

"Well, are you going to introduce yourself to him, lad?" Professor Oak asked with a tolerant smile.

"What?" Peter blurted. "Oh! Yeah, of course!" Peter stepped away from the researcher, pressed the 'Release' touch-pad and gently tossed the ball forward. "Pokéball go!"

The ball split apart in mid air and spat out a white flash of light. The light struck the ground and resolved into a small brown fox-like creature with long, expressive ears and emotional eyes. Peter recognised the creature as an Eevee, an unusual Pokémon that could evolve into any number of forms depending on how you trained it and what, if any, Evolution Stones you used on it. "Eevee!" it called out.

The Pokéball closed again, seemed to twist in mid air and leapt back into Peter's hand, making him gasp in surprise. Peter put the ball into a loop on his Pokébelt, looked at Eevee and grinned stupidly. He knelt down, looking at the Pokémon, who looked at him in a disinterested way. He was kind of disappointed that the Eevee didn't throw himself into his arms at once.

"Say something, lad," Oak encouraged.

"Um… hi, Eevee," Peter said at last. "My name is Peter. I… er… I'm your Trainer."

Eevee looked at him thoughtfully and finally walked over to Peter. He stopped and sat down in front of Peter and looked up at him in some arrogance. "Ee-ee-vee-vee-ee-eevee-vee-vee-ee!" he said. Peter had no idea what the Pokémon said, but, from the Pokémon's tone of voice and general body posture, he guessed that Eevee had just said how unimpressed he was with the human he had been given to.

"Eevee," Peter said, "I promise I'll look after you, feed you properly and care for you when you're sick. I want to be your friend, if you'll let me!" He tried to put as much sincerity as he could into that statement. Besides, he did mean it!

"Vee-eev-vee-vee-vee-eev-eevee-vee?" Eevee said. This time, Peter recognised the tone of a question. Eevee pulled himself up slightly straighter and looked Peter in the eye in such a way that Peter felt indicated he was declaring his courage despite his small size. Peter felt a strange sensation and felt that Eevee wanted to know Peter's intentions for him.

"Of course, I'll also train you so you are strong in battle," Peter assured the Pokémon. Behind him, Professor Oak smiled broadly, pleased that the young Novice was already learning how to understand what his Pokémon was saying to him.

Eevee grinned in a vulpine way and stood up again. He walked right up to Peter, who raised a hand to pet him. Eevee sniffed his hand once and then touched the tip of his nose to Peter's hand. You are my Trainer; the gesture was timeless and Peter understood it immediately. On an impulse, he leaned forward and hugged the evolving fox hard.

"Eevee, I'm glad you want to stay with me," he said.

Eevee leaned into his Trainer's hug gladly. "Eevee-vee-ee-ee-ee-eev-ee-ee, Eev-eev," he said. Peter heard the teasing tone and guessed that Eevee had just said something along the lines of 'I haven't made any promises yet."

"You will," Peter said. "You wait and see, I'll be the best friend you've ever had!"

"I'm sure you will too, lad," Professor Oak said kindly, touching Peter on the shoulder.

Outside, Suzanne had fallen into conversation with a woman with long brown hair and kind green eyes. She hadn't asked the woman her name, and the woman hadn't volunteered it, although she had revealed that her son had been on his Journey for six years now. She explained that she always made a point of coming up to the Research Centre on the days new groups of novices were scheduled to leave, just in case the parents needed any help.

Suzanne definitely was in need of help. She was pacing nervously, much to the patent amusement of her daughter. "I know it's stupid," Suzanne said, "but I'm terrified!"

"That's only natural," the woman said easily. "When my son started his journey, I completely embarrassed him by giving him this long lecture in front of his friends about always changing his underwear every day. I knew that he could look after himself, it was just that I was so knotted up at the thought of him leaving home that I had to say something!"

Suzanne laughed. "Yes, I suppose it is mostly just nerves but…" she sighed and ran a hand through her hair nervously.

"It will never get easier," the woman said. "If it is any consolation, though, they never forget you."

That was a consolation, but not much. "Where is your son now, anyway?" Suzanne asked.

"Oh, he's actually on his way home right now with his girlfriend and best friend," the woman said. She noticed Suzanne's look. "Yes, he's a good boy, and he's been back every year for the off-season except for that one time he spent the whole year roaming all four regions of Kanto. He spent the off-season with a friend of his on Shamuti Island that year."

"Seeing him regularly must make it easier," Suzanne said.

"Yes," the woman agreed, "but not by much. I've seen him for maybe fifteen months in total over the last six years. He's grown into a man, developed a mature personality and even started a relationship with a girl he first met just after he started his Journey, all on the roads far, far away." The woman was obviously sad about this. "Still, I am proud of his achievements, and I am very glad that I let him go. I know he could never have been happy staying here."

"I know that is true about my Peter too," Suzanne said with a sad smile. "Still, it is going to be very hard not having him around anymore."

"Who is your son anyway?" Katie asked with the typical tactlessness of the young. "Is he anyone famous?"

"Katie, that isn't polite," Suzanne scolded. Then she realised that she didn't even know her companion's name.

"He is someone very famous," the woman revealed. "Come over here, Katie and I'll tell you who he is."

Katie walked over and the woman whispered into her ear. "No way!" Katie blurted, her jaw dropping open in surprise.

"Yes way," the woman replied with a broad, friendly smile. Katie retreated back to her mother, obviously having been given considerable food for thought. "It's been nice meeting you both," the woman said, making as if to leave. "If you need any help, call me."

"Er… sure," Suzanne said. "Where…?"

"Call the Research Centre and ask for Delilah Oak," the woman replied. She winked and walked off. Suzanne, her face frozen with surprise, watched Ash Ketchum's mother walking away.

Suddenly there was a loud cheer. Suzanne turned to face the doors of the Research Centre to see Peter walk out into the sunlight, his backpack on and a brown fox-like creature walking close at his side. "Peter!" she shouted.

"Hi Mom!" he shouted back to her, waving excitedly.

"Hey, you've got an Eevee!" Katie cried out excitedly. Mother and daughter rushed over to greet the newly-certified Novice Trainer Peter Croft.

Katie dropped to her knees in front of Eevee, who looked at the female human cub in some suspicion. "Eevee, this is my sister, Kathryn," Peter said. "Say hello to her."

"Eevee," Eevee said in a good-natured tone of voice, bobbing his head in greeting.

Katie grinned back, not noticing that Peter had used her 'Sunday' name, which she loathed. "Hi, Eevee," she said. "So you're the one who's got the job of keeping my dense brother alive?"

Eevee grinned in a very smug way and Peter had the strangest impression that the Pokémon understood what Katie had said and agreed with her. "Katie, please," Peter said, "I don't need to be kept alive!"

Eevee butted his shin with his nose and, when Peter looked down at him, spoke in a teasing tone of voice. "Ee-eev-ee-vee-vee-eev," he said. Peter recognised the gist of what Eevee was saying. It wasn't too difficult. The teasing tone, the way the little fox had been cocking his head back and forth and a strange feeling in Peter's hindbrain all told him that Eevee was asking if that meant his Trainer would not require his services after all.

"Eevee, we're a team," Peter said. "I'll look after you and…" he sighed, "yeah, I guess you'll look after me too."

Eevee grinned. "Vee-vee-ee-eev!" That sounded like an instruction. 'Don't you forget it,' maybe.

Suzanne stepped forward and hugged Peter hard. "I am very proud of you, Peter," she said.

"Thanks, Mom," Peter said quietly. I just wish Dad were here, he added silently. There was a long, strained pause before the youngster could speak again. "I… I guess I should be going now," Peter said after a long moment. He turned to leave, then suddenly turned back and hugged his mother hard. Katie came in from the side and hugged him too. "I love you Mom, Katie," Peter said, on the verge of tears.

"I love you, baby," Suzanne said quietly, tears streaming down her face.

After a moment, Eevee butted Peter's shin again. "Eev-eev, ee-ee-vee-eev-vee," he said. That had a commanding tone again. Peter had already guessed that 'Eev-eev' was Eevee for 'Peter.' The way Eevee gestured with his head towards the forest to the south-west of the town indicated that he was saying it was time to go.

"You're right Eevee," Peter said. He released his mother and sister. "So long, Mom, Katie," he said. "I'll telephone you from Viridian City… and… and…"

"I know you won't forget us," Suzanne said. "Go on, now," she continued, "don't keep destiny waiting!"

Peter walked through Pallet with a deep sense of unreality, realising that he was leaving his hometown and that he may not be back for years. He took some time to say farewell in his head to all the landmarks of his life up to this day before turning west and finding the Trainer's Monolith, the place where Route One began, the forest trail that led to Viridian City.

"Hey, wimp!" called a voice. Peter turned and groaned. Adam was standing by the Monolith, looking smug and dangerous. "I see that they gave you an Eevee," he said. "Well, they are pretty good when they evolve, but they're nothing special at the base level."

"What do you want Adam?" Peter asked.

Adam grinned. "I figure that you've got a score to settle with me," he said. "Now we've both got Pokémon, you've got your chance. Your Eevee against my Charmander here and now. The loser promises to give the winner any Pokémon of theirs that they want without question."

Peter was startled at this challenge. A part of him desperately wanted to wipe that smug grin off of Adam's face, but another part of him didn't like the terms. Adam must be crazy to think I would go for that, he said. "No deal, Adam," he said. "Now, if you'll excuse me?" Peter turned onto Route One.

"What's the matter?" Adam shouted. "Are you chicken?" Peter froze. "Or maybe you know that your Pokémon is so weak that he'll never be able to beat my Charmander!"

Peter was furious and Eevee glared at the bully in a way that indicated he wanted to fight to prove his courage and strength. Peter looked at Adam, who was holding the Pokéball holding Charmander and smiling in a mocking fashion. Peter looked at Eevee for a moment and thought carefully. I've only got him, he reminded himself. He's never battled before, and we haven't even trained together yet… Of course, Adam was under the same handicap, but that didn't make Peter feel any better about forcing this upon his little friend here and now.

"No," he said at last. "Eevee isn't ready to battle yet, except to weaken wild Pokémon. If you gave a damn about your Charmander, you would know the same about him too." Adam went red in anger. "Don't worry, Adam," Peter continued, "our time will come, but it will be when I'm ready."

"You are a coward!" Adam shouted.

"Who's the coward?" Peter asked. "The guy who rushes into a fight that he isn't ready for, or the guy who walks away, no matter what names that you call him? See you some other time, Adam." Peter turned away, leaving the bully fuming behind him.

"I'll get you wimp!" Adam shouted. "You can be sure of that!"

I'm sure that you'll try, Adam, Peter thought scornfully, but I'll be ready for you.

The first few miles of Route One ran alongside the road from Pallet Town to Viridian City. Peter made an effort to get into his stride, talking to Eevee (who was still staying close at his side) about what they might find in the forest when, without warning, there was a roar of an engine. Peter looked up as his father's pick-up roared to a stop beside him.

Peter looked on in surprise as his father practically leapt from the truck and strode over to him. Graham Croft's face was puffy and eyes were red. Had he been crying? "Peter, God I'm glad I caught up with you!" Graham said urgently.

"Everything's okay isn't it, Dad?" Peter said worriedly. What could have happened that had got his father in such a state?

"No, it isn't," his father replied. "Peter, you are about to leave on your Pokémon Journey… and I've been a real grouch recently. I don't want you to think I hate you."

Peter was shocked that his father had guessed his worries on this matter. "Dad… I…" Peter stuttered.

"Peter, you are my son and I could never hate you," his father said. He knelt in front of Peter and looked him in the eye. "You are about to do something that I wasn't allowed to do… and I am so very, very proud of you, son." Peter felt tears in his eyes in response to his father's admission. Graham turned to look at Eevee, who was staring at him thoughtfully, not sure what to make of his Trainer's sire. "That is your Eevee," he said. Peter nodded mutely. Graham nodded too. "They are more powerful than many people think," he said. "Train him well and he will be able to beat anything anyone throws at him."

"I'll try Dad," Peter said. Graham looked at him in a way that made Peter fret. He knew how his father looked when he said something wrong, and he was looking like that now.

"Don't try, Peter," Graham said firmly. "Succeed or fail. There is no 'try.'" Graham suddenly grinned. "Hey, I know you'll do well," he added, giving his son a gentle, playful punch in the gut that made him laugh. There was another pause before Graham stood and walked back to his truck. He pulled a bag off of the dashboard and walked back to his son. "I got you something, Peter," he said.

Peter unwrapped the package and looked at what his father gave him in some surprise. "A penknife?" he asked.

"Not just any penknife," his father explained. "This is a Swiss Army Knife. If you can't find any tool in that thing, then you don't need it."

Peter looked at the knife for a moment, looking at the various different tools with some puzzlement. "Okay," he said at last. "Thanks Dad, this is great."

Graham nodded. "Good fortune be with you, Trainer," he said at last.

Peter looked at him and, on an instinct, clasped forearms with his father like the soldiers of the past were always shown doing on TV. "Until we meet again, Dad," he said quietly.

Graham watched in a mixture of sadness and pride as his son, the Pokémon Trainer, walked off towards the future.

To be continued…

Afterword

Volunteers Needed

I admit my own limits, and creating a whole story full of new characters is way beyond mine. So I appeal to you, my readers, for assistance.

Anyone who wants to be in this story should click the hyperlink below (the blue thing) and email me with your details.

Yes! I want to go on a Pokémon Journey!

I'll need a character name, a core team of six Pokémon (no hybrids and no Legendary-types, please!) and a basic physical and personality description of the character. Those who interest me the most will get in the story at some time. Oh, Rocketboy… I already have my Team Rocket goof-balls, so don't tell me that you want to be one of them ;-)

Guest characters will have one or two appearances. You'll be people Peter meets on the road, or maybe he'll watch you get a Gym Badge. Maybe you'll challenge him and we'll see who is best (Sorry, no email battles, I don't know enough about Pokémon, but I will be fair. Victory decided by coin-toss or a random whim on my part).

Note: Sending me an email does not guarantee inclusion in this story.

Thanks for your help.

Ben Russell-Gough,
7 July, 2001