What's Beyond Cherrygrove?

"Good afternoon, Kris!" said the receptionist at the Pokemon Center. "Wow, you have a Pokemon with you! I didn't know you even had one! Um, shall I?"

"Please." I said. I turned to my Totodile. "Okay Seltzer, just get in the Poke Ball and Joy will make you all better, okay?"

"Toto!" he said, and obediently bonked his head on the center of the Poke Ball, going inside. After the short two minutes it took to have Pokemon healed, I thanked Joy and returned outside.

It was past noon now, and the sky was starting to turn deep blue. I decided to get a move on if I was going to make it before supper.

Route 30 featured tall hedges and even taller grass. Seltzer held his own with the wild Pokemon, though. I could see him getting stronger with every battle.

Finally, a small house came into view in the grove ahead, the window shining brightly, indicating that the person or persons within would be working long into the night.

I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" asked an English voice.

"My name is Kris. I… I'm on an errand from Professor Elm."

"Ah, yes, yes, of course! Come in!" A bolt slid aside, and I was admitted into the warm house of Mr. Pokemon.

Mr. Pokemon himself was a portly, middle aged man with a short beard and a sort of squashed top-hat. There was also a bearded man in the corner that I did not know.

"Yes, I am Mr. Pokemon, the one and only!" The man rambled. "I've collected so many glorious things over the years! Teeth from extinct Aerodactyl, fossilized Gold Berries… ah but this! This will take Professor Elm's cake and eat it too, I think!" He went to his bag and removed a shiny, black egg. "This is the egg of a Pokemon! Do not doubt it!"

With trembling hands, he placed it in my knapsack as if he were placing an infant in its crib. "Take care of it, Miss Kris! Do not break it! For Professor Elm will know it, of this I am certain! Even Professor Oak there is certain! Isn't that right, Oak?"

I gasped. I had heard about Professor Oak, but never expected to actually meet him! He was the most famous Pokemon researcher, like, EVER!

"Hullo, hullo!" He said, coming over and shaking my hand with both of his. "Nice to see you, Kris. A friend of Elm's, are you? Splendid! You know, Elm and I were high school chums! Inseperable, yes! And I see you have a Pokemon with you! May I?"

"Sure." I said. He examined Seltzer very closely.

"Ah ha! I can tell Prof. Elm trusts you, as does your Pokemon! You shall become an impeccable trainer!"

I was taken aback. "A trainer? No, no… I'm just helping Professor Elm by raising…"

"Nonsense!" Oak said with a wave of his hand. "You'll become a trainer, or I'll eat my hat! Here, please take this!"

I couldn't believe my eyes! Professor Oak was presenting me with a Pokedex!

"No way!" I cried.

"Way." Oak replied. "In fact, I can guarantee you'll be a great trainer! Now if you'll excuse me, I must get to Goldenrod City for my radio show. See you Kris!" And he was gone.

"Are you returning to Professor Elm?" Mr. Pokemon asked.

"Yes of course."

"Then give your Pokemon some of my medicine." He kissed Seltzer once on each cheek, sort of like Italians do. Then he gave me the thumbs up and ushered me out the door.

And so now, with a Pokedex and Prof. Elm's item in my bag, I set off down Route 30 back to Cherrygrove.