DISCLAIMER: I do not own Pokémon nor anything related to it whatsoever. This is a Pokémon fanfic. A story made by me for the people. I am not affiliated with Nintendo, Creatures, nor GAME FREAK. Thank you.

The Unknown North

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CHAPTER 3: "Raid's Journey"

The sun was up bright early the next morning as Raid prepared for his first Pokémon journey. He had never been in a Pokémon journey before and he wondered what it would be like. Raid wasn't always interested in the capturing and training but he seems to overlook them. He decided to try and compete in the North League 3 years before but never completed it. In fact, he had never had a Pokémon by his side. So now, that he's 14, Raid came to a decision that this year, he'll try his best and maybe attempt an impossible feat. To complete BOTH the North League and the South League.

Raid got up and hurried to Professor Opal's Research Institute. Since Citrine is a small city, he figured that he could stop by his brother's house on the way over. Raid ran as fast as he could to his brother's house and making sure he has enough time to make it to Prof. Opal's lab and get his very own Pokémon. He arrived on a 2-story house just in front of the Citrine City Pokémon Center. Raid rang the doorbell and a boy answered, about 19 years old.

"Hey there, Ivan! You called and said something about something special you wanted to give me?" asked Raid, greeting his older brother.

"Yeah, why don't you come in and I'll get it ready for you." replied Ivan, inviting Raid inside his house.

Raid stepped inside and made himself comfortable by sitting in the living room couch, while Ivan went upstairs to get the special something. Finally, after 3 minutes had passed, Ivan returned with a box made of steel with a logo on the lid.

"What is it, Ivan?" asked Raid, curiously.

"It's a collection of all my Pokémon things ever since I was little. I hid them from you because I was too afraid that you wouldn't like them. But now that you have decided to attempt and complete the North League one more time, I think it's time to hand them to you." replied Ivan, handing the box to Raid. "Go ahead and open it. You'll appreciate them."

Raid opened the lid and looked inside. The box contained 2 customized Pokéballs (the top half of one of the balls was black, the bottom of it was blue and the center was white. It had a white star on the top of the black side. The other ball was silver on top with a black star and a black center with a white bottom.), a map guide of the North League, and a broken blue Pokégear. Raid's eyes lit up with excitement.

"What are the Pokémon inside these balls? I want to know! Can I let them out?" asked Raid, grasping the ball with the white star.

"Don't open them until you're out of Citrine City and into the Topaz Forests." replied Ivan.

"Aww. Oh wells, it couldn't hurt to wait." said Raid, gathering his new belongings. "I better be going now, Ivan. I don't want to miss my Pokémon. See you in a year or so!"

"Oh okay. Goodbye, bro! Have fun and good luck!" said Ivan.

Raid hurried off back to Professor Opal's laboratory. He got there just in time, although he was one of the last people to receive a new Pokémon for a friend.

"I'm here to pick up my Pokémon, Prof. Opal." he said, picking up his breath.

"Oh. Raid, nice to see you. I was getting worried that you might be unable to make it through and come by, but now that you're here, I guess I'll hand you your things now." she replied.

"That's cool. Finally, I'll be able to travel the North League." Raid said.

"Okay, over here is the latest Pokédex in history. It shows all 351 known Pokémon. -"

"Professor, did you say all 351 Pokémon?" asked Raid, cutting Prof. Opal off.

"Why yes, just recently, new Pokémon were discovered both in the North and South of Kanto and Johto. We have no idea that so many of these creatures exist as we have never traveled up North nor South. Well, anyways, the Pokédex gathers statistics and information between each Pokémon and stores them on its memory. It can also register your Trainer ID number, which shows the latest news and other information on each trainer. You can have that black one over there (pointing towards the table with a black Pokédex on top). Its name is Hyperion." said Prof. Opal.

"Cool. What else do I get beside my Pokémon and Hyperion?" asked Raid.

"Well, besides those, you have a special bike waiting for you at the Agate Town Bicycle Shop." replied Opal. "By the way, did you happen to stop by your brother's house today?"

"Yes I did, Professor. He gave me his special things like his broken Pokégear." answered Raid.

"Broken? Hold on there, Raid. Let me take a look at that Pokégear." said Prof. Opal.

"Sure. Why not." said Raid.

Professor Opal took the broken device and examined it. He then placed it on a metal tray near a weird looking contraption. He pressed a small green button that looked like it said, "GO", and then the tray went into the contraption. After a few minutes, the tray came out of the machine's other side with a new and shiny blue Pokégear. Professor Opal handed the device back to Raid.

"Here you go, Raid, good as new. I also added a few new features since it was your brother's and it's an older version. How would you like a second gear, too? It's the newer version of the old one." asked Prof. Opal, pulling out another gear in his coat pocket.

"Thanks very much, Professor. Oh! It's a black one too. Now I have two gears to store all necessary information on people and more." said Raid, excitedly taking both the gears and attaching them on his backpack's one strap dual pockets.

"Don't forget your new Pokémon. Now, which one of these 3 Pokéballs would you like? Each one contains a Pokémon with a special type - Fire, Water, or Grass. Go on, open your Hyperion and point it at each of the balls to get a more accurate information about each one." said Prof. Opal, smiling.

Raid took out Hyperion from his left vest upper pocket and pointed at the first ball to the left. Hyperion read it as:

"Charmander. The fire Pokémon. A strong, formidable creature that can set blazes afire."

Raid decided to look at the remaining two choices. He pointed Hyperion at the second ball. It read:

"Totodile. The water Pokémon. An excited Pokémon with a strong hyrdo attacks."

Finally, Raid pointed at the last ball on the right. Hyperion read it as:

"Weedle. The grass Pokémon. Although it's small, it grows into a great Beedrill that stings."

Raid thought about the choices. He looked at each of the creatures' information. After a deep thought, Raid gave his final answer.

"Professor Opal, I've decided to take on Charmander. I think he and I would be a great team together." said Raid, happy with his decision.

"Well good, I like to congratulate you on your decision. Charmander is a great Pokémon to be around with. Good luck on your journey. Oh, and don't forget to call me whenever you're in trouble or you need help on things. Goodbye, Raid." replied Prof. Opal, as he lead Raid towards the direction on where he should go.

"Thanks, Professor. I'll do my best to win. Tell my brother and my mother that I'll be fine. Goodbye now!" shouted Raid, as he walked north towards Chrysolite City.

As Raid walked on, he turned around at Citrine City to get a good last look for a memory. A tear appeared in his right eye. Then he moved on towards a new city to embark and challenge, a new adventure, and to achieve his destiny.

To be continued..

What do you think will happen next to Raid? Find out on the next chapter!