This chapter is a plot bunny from 2021 I decided to run with.
Chapter 1 - 10/16/2020
Edited 11/1/2020 - Made first 500 words flow better.
Waves crash against the beach. Sand blows against my face as I begin to stir from the floor. A groan escapes me as I roll to my side in order to block the morning breeze.
My eyes crack open to the rising sun. Sunlight reflects off the water, making it difficult to see.
An hour passes and I manage to gather myself.
Numerous thoughts came and went, until a dreary conclusion forms.
"Am I no longer home?"
One moment I was there... playing Pokemon Go on my phone. The next, my hand spazzes and everything went blank.
Now this headache I have threatens to never leave. And the sleep deprivation has yet to wane.
"Great. What sort of mess is it this time?"
Though how unlikely the current situation may seem, it is in fact not the first nor the second time it has happened.
To appear in the wilderness has somewhat become a trend in these adventures of mine.
"Except for the time I woke up in the healing church..." I shudder. "Bad times. Very bad times."
At least this start seems better and isn't another case of NG+. I've spent enough time in The Lands Between.
I push past my stupor and gather my bearings. I groggily stood up with eyes half open as my vigilance reaches its peak. A second passes to sense the surroundings as I am ready to dash at anytime.
A few moments pass.
There isn't any danger at first glance.
An ocean is in front, the sun is rising in the east. To the north is a thin forest with vegetation underneath. Nothing remarkable is to the west, besides the ever-expanding coastline.
The air is fresh and the taste of salt is carried on the wind. Unlike the putrid smog of the previous world I was in.
Though the most remarkable difference happens to be myself.
I've rewound in time to my late teen years. A rare occurrence in my portfolio of world hops.
In these moments, I've regressed to my 17yr old physique. Sporting black hair and gray eyes from what I can see from the water's reflection.
*Splash*
A fish springs forth from the water. It flutters in the air as I manage to recognize the Koi before it plummets back to the sea.
"The hell?" I am half in disbelief. "Did I really see a Magikarp?"
I lower my head and cover my eyes for a better look.
Underneath the rolling waves, I made out a shape of a fish no less than five feet away.
It's dull eyes lock onto mine. I can sense the hidden hunger in its gaze as it resonates with the depths of my being.
I pull away, but the wild Magikarp attacks. It jumps forward like a majestic dragon in all of its unrefined glory and power.
Close enough, that I can smell the oil of its flesh as it comes ever closer to my face.
Reflexes flare without prompt as my arm moves to intercept the karp.
A palm opens and I swat.
Visible waves of inertia ripple through flesh as it cries. Magikarp is doomed the moment thunder sounds.
The fish flies at Mach Speed for twenty meters and skids across the water surface for a hundred more.
Shock is all I felt at this moment.
I stare long enough that the waters still. And minutes later, the fish floats to the surface. Unmoving and most likely dead…
However, it is a strong maybe.
I'd say it is only sleeping. I'm sure Magikarp didn't pass on to the pearly aquarium in the sky.
"Damn." I could've held back a bit in hindsight. "I feel slightly bad."
I look across both sides of the coast and let out a sigh of relief. No one has seen this. No PETA followers of the Aether Foundation who might've seen a Grade A Case of Poke' Abuse.
I turn away in silence. Behind me I notice something resting on the sand. From where I stood is a bag.
A bit spooky, but nothing too out of the ordinary here.
And since no one else is here, it falls upon me to investigate.
Rummaging through 'my' belongings, I find a few essentials. A basic kit for camping which includes a sleeping bag, a knife and a flint/steel. Along with a belt that contains six pokeballs ready for use.
I held up the belt and unfastened the balls. Pulling them away from the magnet in order to find how they operate.
Through trial and error, I catch on. With a click of the center button, the pokeball enlarges to full size. Tossing or clicking opens it and sends a red beam of light.
"Where's my pokemon?"
Whoever placed me here isn't very nice. Not courteous enough to give me a freebie. Like what kind of person does that?
"*Sigh* Not like I need the help anyway." My fist clenches in determination. "I can understand since I'm already overpowered. The world might not be able to handle these fists."
Unlike the death worlds I have come across, this place is going to be a cakewalk. There are no undead, eldritch horrors or sentient tree spirits to drag me down.
A few ragtag trainers aren't much in comparison.
"Wait… I may need to rephrase myself better. The monsters here are instead pokemonized: Paris, Trevenant and a few Ultra Beasts would definitely count as some sort of lovecraft horror."
Sentient mushrooms in Anor Londo have taught me that. That to not judge anything off of their appearances.
I shudder to think of what the parasitic version of the shroom could do with minor sapientance.
However, no matter if it is that world or this one, I am bound to have a good time. If I can ignore a few bad memories, this place will surely be a vacation of sorts.
Where I can sit back and relax.
Where there is no world in need of saving.
I-I hope.
"First, a pokemon, second a map, third money and then… profit?" A plan forms, but I fail to think of anything else. "So, I'll be winging it until I make it."
"Not a first at least." I absently shrug. "No matter, there is an adventure to be had."
Giddiness comes as I'm excited to experience Pokemon. As it was and still is a favorite pastime of mine. And I am hopeful, this adventure will be a mix of the show and games.
Nothing like meeting canon characters and having the chance to beat up some grunts.
I pack my gear and buckle the ball holster to my waist. After which I left in search of my, "Money maker. *Cough* Pokemon."
Not even five seconds pass by for my search to yield results.
Just five steps in and I've seen schools of Magikarps, Goldeens and Tentacools.
Sadly, they were not interested in me. None of them reacted like my first experience with the locals. They all ran at the sight of me.
Well at least my first (victim) should mean there are others with more spine.
I rub the back of my hand as fate smiles upon me. Out in the distance, standing upon an outcropping, at the top of a cliff, is an octopus.
I blink to adjust my vision. And what I see is amazing.
There, at the top, a little squid is on four legs with two tentacles boxing the air. Unlike his non sentient counterparts, I know when I see a training montage.
And the backdrop is picture perfect. Clearly movie worthy.
I zeroed in and moved.
Through years worth of experience, the level of my stealth has reached mastery. Not a single rock has moved. Neither has the wind given a hint towards my approach.
Clobbopus fails to notice my ascension as it continues to practice. The image of it grew much larger.
He has blue slit pupils surrounded by an orange mask of skin, four orange spots trail down his sloped forehead while leaving the rest of his body a milky white and two arm tentacles ending in an indigo boxing glove that supports a large suction cup in the middle.
If I am honest, he is one freaky looking dude. I can say, I've yet to see such a critter in my life. Well except for in a few games.
With my confidence at an all time high the seconds pass quickly. And now I am within range. The perfect distance to strike.
Sadly this made me a little disappointed. If it could've sensed me, I knew I hit the jackpot of all starters. However, not everyone can be the very best in the matter of ten minutes.
Including me.
The next moment, I ran in and thrust my arm down. I squish his body beneath my palms. Pushing him into the floor, but not hard enough to hurt him.
Slurps escape the octopus. However, I ignore it in favor of keeping the pressure up. Unwilling to release him and give the guy the chance to escape.
For him to yeet himself off the cliff.
Clobbopus' tentacles wiggle ferociously. An unending flurry of motion as he tries to pry me away.
I tore my dominant hand free of the embrace. Suction cups pop off of my skin and I unbuckle one of my balls.
I hold the pokeball firmly in my hand and proceed to slam it down. A red beam appears and the pokemon vanishes inside.
The ball shakes in my hand.
Once… Twice… Three times…
A sliver of light appears and the lid tries to open.
However, I force the lid to close with all of my strength. The ball screeches and heat begins to build as I kept it shut. Eventually, the cries of Clobbopus muffles as I held on.
No matter what may happen, even if the ball is already starting to warp, I believe in my success.
Through the battle of wills, the pokeball is the one to give in. It snaps close and the cries die out along with it.
Resting in my palm, the pokeball steams and then shrinks. Signaling a successful capture.
I didn't know when, but my arm rose towards the sky. As I held the pokeball like in Lion King. To show the world that I have what it takes to become a Pokemon Master.
Slowly my arm lowers along with my excitement.
I bring Clobbopus' ball to my chest and let my imagination go wild. Daydreaming of all the fun times in store for us.
"Shh, no need to worry buddy. Now that you're my Pokemon, we'll accomplish a great many things. I'll be sure to put you to good use."
All the money to be had, is now within reach. My vacation is bound to be well funded.
Walking off of the outcropping of rocks, I made my way onto dry sand. I stretch my fingers and brace myself to meet my future companion.
"Come forth, Clobbopus!"
I pitch the ball like a baseball. I hurl the pokeball and out of the red light spawns my first mon.
Clobbopus cries in confusion. His little blue eyes lock upon my figure as his tentacles wiggle in extreme anxiety.
The poor guy is on the verge of a heart attack. I should at least ease him in.
"Easy there. I'm John. And you're going to be my new pokemon."
Steadily I approach the warry guy with my arms up. Clobbopus narrows his eyes and both his boxing gloves rise in turn.
As soon as I enter a meter of the critter, Clobbopus whips forward his arm.
A straight hook flies towards my shin. If I was anyone else, I might've been hit. However, I am not them, thus I chose to defer such an outcome.
With a click of my tongue, I hop above the blow. Following with a forceful heel kick to pin the offending appendage.
Another fist is sent, courtesy of his off hand. With my other leg I swatted the projectile off course.
Balancing upright, I speak. "Calm down. I ain't here to harm ya."
Clobbopus ignores my voice and launches a few more attacks where I stand. And over time, he sees the futility of his endeavor. As I'm insurmountable.
"Now do you understand?" I lower my hands. "You can't stop me. All I wanna do is have a talk between us."
With reluctance, Clobbopus withers against the floor. Trying to look meek and helpless. Trying to catch me off guard.
Sadly for him, I am on a different wavelength.
Since he reminds me of a Blobfish after it has been brought forth from the deep. Something that I didn't want to resee. As eyes popping out of the skull isn't something I consider 'cute' or pitiful.
Brushing such a thought out of mind, I step off his tentacle and allow him to retract it. He holds it dearly, as I see a faint bruise forming in the shape of my shoe.
Woops.
Eventually, he stops nursing his arm as I rub his squid-like head. Hoping he'll forget about the pain.
"So fella. I might be the bringer of all the doom and gloom in this world, but I am sure we can manage to work past it. Maybe we talk and address a few of 'our' concerns?"
Clobbopus pushes against my palm, as he is a bit out of it. Though he is calm enough to hear what I am about to say.
"Hm, yeah. You know, that you were really something out there. Boxing like that on the ocean made me interested in you." Clobbopus' mood inflates. "From all of the Magikarps and Goldeens I've encountered across my long journey as a trainer, I finally saw you. Something special attracted my attention and I knew you were the one just for me. Somebody who is a bit more special."
I look down expecting to see a happy fellow. Instead reality differs from my imagination.
Is my spiel not enough? Why is he back to being offended?
I chose to ignore him and skipped straight to the benefits. In the hope that benefits will suede him.
"Thus, you must have a goal. Maybe it's for money? Some sort of monetary gain? Or is it perhaps for self improvement? Or maybe strength?"
Cloppopus wiggles a bit differently. A bit more…. welcoming?. So it is a 50/50 split. He should be interested in one of these things.
"Great. I like the change in attitude. Now we are getting somewhere."
I chuckle and rub his head harder. Cloppopus eventually has enough of my antics and sprouts a pulsing forehead vein. Before smacking my arm off of him.
"Still got some fight in you. So how about it?" I moved my hand towards him again. "We can get along for now, then later on, you can look upon this without any sort of bitterness."
Shivers travel down his tentacles. My smile left no room for any refusal. So I forcefully met his hand with mine and shook once in order to seal our partnership.
"There you go. Deal signed and struck."
I kept both of my hands on him and held tight till he nodded. Almost as if he was in a panic. As if I was extorting an answer I wanted to hear.
A rather presumptuous thing. Good thing all is well that ends well. Even if we don't see eye to eye as of yet.
For now he is reluctant, but come tomorrow he'll be thanking me.
"Very good." I broke free of our handshake to stand up. "I do need to apologize for clobbering you back there. So I am sorry."
I scratch my head. "I hope you're not hurt. So, let me know if you're okay?"
Clobbopus slowly nods and a sigh of relief escapes me. It would've taken forever to find a pokemon center otherwise.
"Great. Let bygones be bygones from now on." Not wasting my breath. "Now with that out of the way, let us spend some time getting to know each other better."
I walk forward and beckon my mon to follow along. There is a bit of hiking to do and a bit of bonding to be had.
As such, just for you, my loyal mon and friend, I'll tell you all about our future from here on out.
I hope you'll listen well. Otherwise, this journey is going to be a rough one.
With a step into the forest, Clobbopus takes a moment to stare upon the glistening ocean behind. As it may very well be for the last time.
And from that spot, he turns around to enter the unknown world beside me.
xxx
A walk through the woods does wonders for the mind.
Relaxing to enjoy the mildew in the air. The scent of pine and other coniferous plants made this walk a tranquil experience.
The only thing to ruin my harmony is my mon, Clobbopus.
The little rascal is hell bent in destroying what little serenity I may have found. Through his constant fights the moment we have entered.
Right now is a good example.
A wild Burmy is out and about. Not harming anyone of note. Mostly just minding its own business and making a nest at the base of a tree.
The little black worm is about finished with his nest. The last few pine needles are in its mouth and ready to cover itself completely.
And then a wild Clobbopus came.
Unaware and off guard, the poor worm is in for a world of hurt. It couldn't do a thing as a sucker punch came from behind and knocked it straight onto its face.
Clobbopus didn't stop there. No, in his unrelenting rampage, he follows up the strike with a barrage of punches as he lays it out, beatdown style. Not allowing Burmy a chance to retaliate or even think about escaping.
The punches are all Burmy knows at this point. The world, the sky is nothing but an illusion. The rain of torment is the sole thing to exist as it goes uninterrupted.
My stone heart twitches once again in remorse. I am unable to look upon such an act of eco-terroism.
So, I turned away.
Out of sight, out of mind.
The assault ends eventually. Unsurprisingly, Clobbopus is the victor of the battle. From behind he drags the Pokemon to me.
Burmy is thrown like hot garbage to my feet. Though granted, Burmy is covered in decaying rubbish. However, that is besides the point, the point is Clobbopus is intensely staring upon me.
As if I am the one who has a problem. That I have to deal with this situation that he created. As if it is somehow my fault for the suffering Burmy underwent. That my inaction has caused unneeded suffering.
Perhaps, he is right. Perhaps, I should ease his anger and misgivings. Maybe I should indeed capture this little critter like I've done to him.
But on another thought, how about no. I'm the one who calls the shots around here.
"Jeez, talk about misguided aggression." I scratch my head. "And for the fifth time, I am most certainly not interested in Burmy. Or any of the other colors of the rainbow you may bring to me." I sigh. "No yellows, greens or pinks whatsoever. Not even if we stumble upon a freaking blue one."
Clobbopus looks a bit offended. That I've wronged him somehow.
"Is there something wrong with ya?" My stare knocks his moodiness straight. "Now get this bug out of my sight…." I groaned.
In an act of defiance, and like the ones before it, the Burmy is sent off into the stratosphere with a punt. Becoming yet another statistic in my growing court case.
"You know, I thought we got along earlier." I whisper. "What went wrong?"
A moment passes.
"Though. I really do like your enthusiasm." I get a little serious. "However, you need to tell me how you are feeling. I'm no mind reader."
Clobbopus have vented on the local wildlife and I didn't like his current attitude. Unfortunately, most of the things I've said went in one ear and out the other.
Only thing I could do is watch and hope he can work it out of his system. Otherwise, I will need to get physical.
At least his coping method has brought some benefits.
His fighting skills have been improving for one. The bit of advice I have given, is being retained through his trial and error approach. A few hits he has taken here and there are almost nonexistent now.
Thankfully I am a patient teacher who likes giving off-handed remarks to irk him.
Nothing like 'I told you so.' to get under someone's skin.
And this time, Clobbopus has given in and notes the concern in my voice. Finally realizing his tantrum isn't working on me.
He contemplates a bit and rethinks his prior actions. A look at the Burmy crawling away removes the last bit of anger in him.
A slight smile appears on his face. And it causes me a bit of a concern.
Besides that, he seems a bit friendlier than when we were on the beach.
Or is this grudgeful tactfulness on his part he is showing? Either way, he knows my stance. And that he is on the losing side.
"Hm" I squat down to his eye level. "So, is there any more anger left in there? Do you want to find a few more insects to toss around?"
A little huff is sent my way. "Ah, a little bit is left. Well, you know, and I know, that anger is only an outlet. It can only take you so far."
His eye twitches in response.
I ignored his reluctance and gave him a little shake. In order to stir the grudges away. The little guy snorts and his straight face collapses.
"Psh. You ain't even mad bro."
The rampage has been concluded, put to rest as we walk together.
A few minutes pass and a small clearing appears. A path cuts through the middle of the grass terrain. Which could lead us towards civilization.
I bent over to check the trail.
The brush isn't tall. At most a few inches tall. The grass is matted down from previous travelers. Further into the forest I see tree branches which have been pulled to the side.
All signs which show it's still in use. A less than frequent path taken, but it proves I'm on the right track.
"You see this?" I ask him. "The grass here is a bit shorter than the rest. Like you and the other Pokemon, we humans too tend to travel in trends. This path here is a good example. Which will lead us out of the forest."
Clobbopus bends over intently. Attempting to correlate my gestures to the lesson I'm giving.
"Good. Since you're seeing it up close, you'll need to ask yourself, 'How recent is this?'." I told him. "See over here? Though the footprints may have been washed away, the grass still retains a vague indention."
He follows my finger. Noticing faint footsteps as I point towards each one. Eventually, he turns towards me to answer my question.
"Hm, two days you say? That is too recent. It must be a week or two old…" I contemplate. "But enough of that. Since we came from the ocean, we are sure to find a city or a town should we hike parallel to the beach."
"So we'll follow the path North instead of to the East."
"You got that?"
He answers with a firm nod.
Ah there's the mutual respect I wanted. It sure is nice for us to be on the same page.
Keep this up and I'll be able to teach him to recognize other things. Pattern recognition will be a breeze with my teachings. It won't be long until I weaponize it for battle.
Or at the least, enough for him to not become lost.
We walk on the trail as I add additional info on top of his lesson.
Five minutes pass and the session ends. The look of contemplation on his face is a rather nice change.
"That's about all you should know for now. Take some time to think about it. There will be more signs down further along."
The sun peaks then dips in the sky. Hours pass as Clobbopus listens as I speak. However, fatigue starts to build for him.
It is only now that my first lesson can begin. The main thing I emphasized at the very start of our hike.
Of the comments and suggestions I gave that went ignored, which are starting to come back to spite him.
Now he'll have to learn the hard way. That his actions will have their consequences. And that stamina is king over all.
I didn't reprimand him. I didn't say 'I told you so.' this time. Nor did I comment or slow down.
His pride is the sole thing which carries him forward.
If he gives in, there will be a lecture. If he continues to push on, then he is learning.
I know and he knows that what I've been teaching holds weight. It is only now that he is starting to reflect on his aggressive behavior which led to this.
I too can be blamed. However, I'm able to deal with such consequences. After all, I expected this as one of the many results to unfold ever since I caught him.
Now this part will be on him. Whether he toughs it out or not. He'll learn one way or the other.
And so far he has picked a hands-on experience.
Hopefully, he'll sweat out all of his grievances along the way.
Well at the very least I hope so.
Just don't keel over or I'll have to drag you the rest of the way.
So give it your all buddy.
xxx
Do magical squids need any water?
Such thoughts have been plaguing my mind for a while now. From time to time, I worry that he dried up on me. But everytime I look he is marching on with more sweat on his face.
Eventually, an old pine tree appears in our sight. At the base of the trunk is a wooden marker. A faded sign worn down over time. However, through the gold tint, I read.
[Goldenrod City 5mls North]
"Finally." I stopped. "Johto was not my first choice, neither was it the second or third, but it does beat Hoenn's jungle any day of the week."
Clobbopus limps over and leans on the tree.
"And I got no cash too. It seems Goldenrod's Underground will have to wait."
If I was rich then I could shop to my heart's content there. Though on another note, I do have a money making machine. With unknown production potential.
Clobbopus notices my stare.
"If only there was someone, someone who is leaning on a tree that is willing to help me." I joked. "But at last, it appears help will not come. And that pedicure you've always wanted will have to be rescheduled."
He rolls his eyes in minor disgust. A fist is raised as he is too tired to retort.
"Ha, I'm joking. The groomers would not know where to start. Unless you're hiding a pair of finger nails. You aren't. Are you?"
Kind of freaky now I imagined it. Yet it's one of those questions that shall go unanswered. Just another one for me to file away and revisit on a sleepless night.
"Though it does bring to mind something important." I say aloud. "There is a Gym which is going to be there. And your typing is a perfect match up against her." I pause. "Though once we get to the city, I'll go and register as a trainer so we can take the gym challenge."
Sounds generic, but it is a goal nonetheless. Something which I can imagine myself enjoying.
Plus a license to legally bully minors sounds great, and a way for Clobbopus to train is the cherry on top.
A win-win situation all around. Along with the potential 'dough' I'd be rolling in too.
Sadly such grand hallucination was never meant to be. My PTSD made sure of that.
Flashes cross my mind. Images of Whitney, the Gym leader, along with her Milktank. The one who stole all of my money in the game. The same girl who made me experience bankruptcy at such a tender age.
Though would it be morally acceptable for sweet misguided revenge against her? A serious debate to be had. Yet maybe… perhaps others may even encourage me to follow through.
I can already taste the satisfaction on my lips, as she lays beaten on the very same floor she left me on as a child.
I didn't know when reality faded away. But this daydream is something I'm embracing. And looking forward to making it a reality.
Can I do it? Will it bring closure to my weary soul?
The delusion ends as I break the trance. I conclude our minor respite at the old pine.
I nudge Clobbopus to follow as he looks upon me in worry. Unsure if he wants to run away or not. However, he chose to follow at the end.
With a gleam in my eye, my objective is set.
xxx
The sun sets as the city appears.
On the outskirts of Goldenrod a plan of action forms.
The moment we're about to exit the forest and onto the main road, a wild pokemon appears.
A pink blob jumps from the brush to intercept, as it growls and reveals a set of fangs in order to intimidate us.
Clobbopus groans from behind me in exhaustion and misery. He knows this fight is unavoidable. Even if we insist on diplomacy, our new foe will refuse.
The time to surpass himself has come. To break his limits that are made to be broken. Such an occasion will not come twice today. As it couldn't have come at a more perfect time.
The ugly mutt is to be our whetstone; Snubbull's existence is to be Clobbopus' XP.
The annoying, drooling mess of a dog is in for a world of hurt. A lackluster typing and that big ol head, along with those stubby little arms fail to do it any favors.
Rather, it is those things that hinder it the most. A liability in my opinion and a disappointment more than anything close to threatening.
The mutt is not worth our time and effort to capture or to train.
But I digress from further nitpicking.
Clobbopus is here. It is his hurdle to cross. The type disadvantage is clearly present, but I believe that is a minor issue. And if things do end up going south, I'm here in case he needs a little backup.
"Now go Clobbopus, teach this mutt its place."
My mon approaches the mad dog steadily. With none of the prior aggression he had, Clobbopus is here for business, to finish this quickly and get some rest.
Standing in his way is Snubbull. A barking… choking… an overall mess of a dog who flings slobber towards us in order to intimidate.
The tactic fails spectacularly, making Clobbopus' fists clench in anger.
His boxing gloves rose and his inner fire was found. In a burst of speed he pelts upon the pink furball. Unleashing a torrent of jolting blows that staggers Snubbull in its place.
I lean against the tree to watch the show. After a minute I gave him some additional support.
"Keep it up! No mercy!"
The blows grew fiercer. An uppercut shortly follows. The dog lifts off from the floor, but gravity fails to take its hold.
Clobbopus' legs stretch and latch onto Snubull's feet. The mutt is stuck in mid-air, unable to fall out of reach.
The next combo of blows is going to hurt.
Shockwaves ripple through our opponent as a punch connects. The skin on Snubull's back crackles in the wind, as a low thunder sounds as more follows.
An unrelenting torrent of pain seems to be unending.
The scene is brutal to watch, but also a fascinating showcase of skill. Utilizing his extra appendages to grapple the enemy is something I didn't think of.
And like all things, the flurry is near its end.
Clobbopus' fists slam into Snubbull's chest for the last time.
Bones crunch under the final hit. The pressure of the fists knocks the dog free of the tentacle's embrace. The pokemon arcs through the sky and then ragdolls through the dirt.
At the same time I rush in to catch Clobbopus. As he passes out from exhaustion by giving it everything in his power to win.
The fight has been short, but I am no less proud. This is where Clobbopus stands at 120% of his might. A rather impressive display.
And also the first time my advice was put to tangible use. Without a single word of complaint from him.
This is an indicator, an early sign of what we could achieve in the future. We only have to continue working together like this.
In order to beat Whitney and others alike.
"Rest now." I touch his ball to his head. Allowing him to vanish inside. "You deserve it."
Pushing past the limit has taken its toll. I too can relate with Clobbopus and what he must be going through right now
A good night of rest after the fight is something he'll need.
A noise catches my attention.
A few feet from me, Snubbull whimpers and starts to crawl out of sight. Suffering the consequences of its own actions.
No one forced Snubbull to fight. It only did this for its own ego it seems. And now that it was beaten the mutt will think twice before barking in the future. A harsh life lesson it should've learned earlier as death is surely to follow otherwise.
It is unknown how the other pokemon will treat Snubbull after this. Nor do I care. I pass the battlefield without much of a second thought.
Whatever happens to my foe has never been a concern. Snubbull should just be grateful it fought against Clobbopus instead of me.
A little tentacle action would be the least of its concerns.
I left the woods without further words and stepped onto a paved street. At the end of this road is the city I aimed for.
xxx
Shadows spread amongst the dirt. Lights of the houses flicker on one after the other. The glow of the city overwhelms the approaching darkness to illuminate the outside.
People pass by as I walk amongst them. Individuals who are dressed more modern than the peasants I've grown accustomed to. They wore clothing of the 2000's, unlike those in other worlds.
The era should be in the early 20th century. Or it is the closest comparison I can make. Their current timeline is close to the Earth I'm from.
However, I do not have much else to go off on. Though I assume the date isn't close to the XY era, but for all that I claim to know, Hoenn's events could very well be unfolding as I think.
I pass parking lots and parked cars off the side of the road. As I near the perimeter I notice a metal fence walling the outside of the city. Where there are gaps for the roads and other paths to run through. As the buildings are left with gates for the residents' use.
Goldenrod isn't overly fortified compared to the stories I have read. The fences are not a true precautionary measure, but for the peace of mind of the people. A structure furthest removed from the concrete walls used in the detention centers.
Goldenrod is unlike Berlin in every way. The people are happy, they can come and go. There are no dead zones I had to cross, nor a no-man's land to avoid.
Entering the city is as easy as stepping right on through.
"A little disappointing." I said.
I expected a bit of difficulty. At least some conflict on my way here. Filled with the occasional blood shed…. But nothing like this…
It appeared cheerful… Even carefree I dare say.
People are enjoying the nightlife. The sun sunk below the horizon while these night dwellers grew in number.
Billboards and other posters lit up to cover the darkness. Neon bulbs flash to attract everyone's attention. As the crowd continues to grow in size, I push forward for a few more blocks.
"I did go to a new world. Right?" I ask no one, impreticular. "I didn't make a wrong turn in the forest and ended up in Las Vegas again?"
I check around and there are indeed a few pokemon present.
I guess I'll mark this as another case of deja vu.
"Huh."
Navigating through the crowd is becoming a pain. The flashing lights aren't helping me either. There are many distractions and a few too many bums begging for change.
The uncomfortableness is getting to me. However, I managed to gain a general gist of the area after asking the locals.
A few teenagers scatter away as I conclude their interrogation. With new information, I made my way off of Main Street.
The brightly lit casinos flicker off the further I go as I enter a large park. An area secluded from the rush of the nightlife.
I passed a few couples loitering around, onto a bridge and over a stream where I found the Pokemon Center.
The automatic doors slid open and I entered.
Few were inside. Not like the crowd I met outside, neither were there many trainers I expected to see. At most a dozen people are here filled with abundant energy, not tired in the slightest as the night draws on.
In fact, everyone is wide awake unlike myself. And astonishingly on top of that, they were even having a cup of coffee as they chatted.
I, for some reason, felt personally attacked.
A soft voice ignores my misgivings to catch my attention.
"Hello. Can I help you?"
A lady at the front desk spoke as I turned towards her.
The girl is rather young. Younger than what I thought the receptionist would be. She has pink hair laid straight across her shoulders. A pink outfit to match with petite shoulders and legs barely covered by the gown.
If I didn't know, this hospital might've been mistaken for a gentlemen's club.
Though how unrealistic my imagination has been recently, I did see a familiar face. Of someone I knew.
Who else could rock such an outfit better, than Nurse Joy herself?
The lovable, free use, pink haired nurse; who would be taking care of me and my mons in the near future.
"Hey." I lean onto the counter. "Nice place you have here. Though I can't really recall the last time I've been to such a lively place."
"Oh? Are you perhaps a traveler by chance?" A second glance is thrown my way. "I can help you if you have any questions. Or do you happen to require my service?"
"Just a few questions would be fine." I pause to gather myself. "I am wondering if you're able to register here, as a trainer? Do you think that would be possible?"
"It's possible. Though there are a few forms involved. Would you like me to grab you some?"
I said yes and Chansey appeared from behind the counter with a stack of papers in hand.
"Would there be anything else you will need?"
"Not for now and thanks."
I grabbed the forms from the pink blob and sat down. I'm surprised how quick Joy's Chansey is as that speed is close to superhuman.
Anyway, what do we have here?
Name, birthdate, city, contacts, liability forms, consent forms…. ect.
I filled in my name and the guarantees, while my address is listed as NA, occupation is homeless. Rather than this being an identity check, it felt more in line with a missing persons notice.
The irony of my situation brought forth a chuckle. By the end, quite a few things were left empty.
Five minutes passed and I stood up. Handing her my forms, she took a moment to glance at the pages before frowning.
"Hm." Joy flips through the docs. "Are you sure you're done?" She points to my signatures. "Did you read the last two pages in detail?"
"Yep I'm done." I lie with a smile on my face as I did not read the waivers. "You got any other questions?"
"*Sigh* Okay… Since you say so, we will have to get your fingerprints and a blood sample." She waves me over. "Come here."
Confusion is evident on my face. But without much of a choice Chansey pushes me into their holding cell and stands guard at the entrance.
I pace nervously on my feet. Unsure of how this is about to go down.
"Sit down." She points to a chair and I comply. While she preps a needle she asks, "So do you have a story? Not many come to the Center to register in the middle of the season."
I shrug as my thoughts calm. The regional tournament should've started in Spring and it is halfway through the summer.
"Well, you see I'm kinda in the mood to take on the Gyms. So you could say I've recently been craving some action. Though it is not much of an issue since I'm mainly seeing the sites around Johto while training in between."
"A tourist?" A small chuckle escapes her. "Not many would think of getting the full experience while sightseeing."
The needle struggles to pierce my skin. Even with the arm relaxing, my muscles are still rock solid.
"*Grunts* Is- Is there any reason you left most of the documents blank?"
I avoid looking at her. "Just personal reasons… Do you need any help?"
"No!"
Chansey appears and pushes down with Joy. With the two of them, the needle finally slips in.
Joy glances at Chansey who shrugs "Huh, well I guess there is no reason to worry then. I'll have your credentials transfered over to the League."
With her herculean task out of the way, we made a bit of small talk. With a few veils of blood in hand, she wraps my arm and leads us to the front desk for thumb prints.
"Now over there, the PC will take your picture. Once the green button lights up, you'll have to click accept."
I nodded, walked over and waited. The computer flashes a few times with a spinning wheel of death. Eventually the torment ends as my visage appears.
Reflected on the screen is a young man. Whose youth is on the verge of vanishing with black shaggy hair combed away to reveal gray eyes and a black shirt.
I would've admired myself more, but Joy threw me a stink look. I rolled my eyes in response as I clicked the button and smiled.
A flash erupts and blinds me for a second. A rather satisfying photo appears as my vision returns. With a genuine smile this time I return to Joy.
"With this, you are finished, John." She pauses for a moment then adds. "Anyway, since you're now signed on with the League, you'll be eligible for free medical and housing at any Center you happen to come across. So a word of advice for you is, don't be afraid to give the local Gym here a try. The leader is fairly easy going and great for newcomers."
"Free… Wow, I didn't know there were benefits like this." I murmur. "Is there anything else I should know? I'm sort of new to the region."
"Well there is the regional Indigo Tournament every Fall. You'll be able to participate if you gather eight badges from either Johto or Kanto. However, since you've registered so late, it'll be tough to gather the minimum of eight to participate."
She shook her head. "Though since you're temporarily a subsidiary of the League, it wouldn't cost much to travel to the other gyms. But the difficulty rises with every badge."
"Wait, subsidiary? Do they actually pay us?"
"Yeah. At the end of every month it's based off the number of your badges." She continues. "Though you should've known that already if you read the paper work."
Joy's eyes narrow. A slight smirk soon follows as if she found out my secret.
"Ha funny thing about that." I look away. "Well, you see… I think I'll rest here for the night."
We both knew I didn't read shit. Might as well ignore the fact I might've just signed my soul to the local government.
Joy laughs and doesn't press further. "You can have a room here tonight, it's on the house. By tomorrow morning I'll have your ID ready and printed."
"Thank you, for everything." She hands me my room keys. "I'll make sure to check the Gym then."
We said goodbye and Chansey led the way down the hall and into the dormitory. The sound outside silences and the lounge dwindles to a whisper. We stop at the third door on the first floor.
I enter inside and the pink blob leaves in a flash.
Finally I'm alone at last.
"Well that was a bit of a different experience, I'd say." The crowd made me antsy. "A rather draining one at that."
I look around my room. Like a normal apartment, it has a bed, a single bath and a radiator. Nothing really screams 'Pokemon'. The place is like any other it appears, whether I'm in a foreign world or not.
By the window I peek through the blinds. Lights flicker from behind the trees and a few people loitered in the park alongside their pokemon.
The world is peaceful, it seems to be lacking danger. I have no reason to worry, however, I can not help, but to look for a reason for my appearance. As to why I am here.
I closed the curtains, took off my clothes and entered the shower to think. However, I failed to determine the reason for my unease.
Am I overthinking things?
"This isn't helping. I'll have to shelve it for later." Thus my line of thought stops and splits. "So what can I look forward to for tomorrow?"
The Gym better be close. I'd rather avoid the crowd as much as possible. For I had enough socializing with the locals.
However, that means I will face my childhood trauma. Whether I overcome it or make it worse isn't something I want to think about.
I can only hope that Joy is right. That the leader will go easy on my weary self.
On that note, I left the shower to enter my bed. Where sleep takes hold of my worries as they slowly diminish.
xxx
The morning couldn't have come faster.
I awoke from a nightmare. Of me being broke, lost and without a place to call home.
"W-whu?" My thoughts caught up. "Wait. I really am broke."
I toss myself over to check my pack. Indeed there isn't any cash included with my kit.
"Great. What am I going to do now? I can't survive with no money."
Even with the free benefits Joy discussed, I doubt I'll get far mooching off the government.
I get up from my bed and start pacing around the room. Will these problems ever come to an end?
I release Clobbopus to bounce a few thoughts off of him.
"Hey fella. You got any ideas in your head when it comes to making cash?"
He's in a sleepy daze and gurgles a response. One that I didn't understand at all. As I don't exactly understand the local lingo.
"Of course." I shook my head. "You're a wild mon to start. There is no point of even asking..."
My heart and thoughts start to calm down. The nightmare from last night really got to me.
With a deep breath I enter a semi meditative state. My fears wash away and vanish as quickly as they came.
Clobbopus pokes me, curious about what I am doing. Clearly the rascal didn't pay attention to a single word I've said. Otherwise he would've been panicking too.
My eyes open as I stare hard upon the squid head in my face. Looking upon the dome I start to see a possible outcome as an idea forms.
"Well a heist is possible. With your face along with my skills, we can reacquisition a few goods. I just need a map of the area to plan it."
Clobbopus' head tilts innocently. However, I knew deep down this is a facade. No mon of mine could be such a dimwit.
The guy is up to something, however, he has little choice in our matters. And with my prior experience as a rogue, I think he'll enjoy himself under my leadership.
"Play stupid all you want." I chuckled. "Now return."
Clobbopus is withdrawn. No amount of innocence will fool me. I can count three times he looked towards the door. Obviously planning his escape.
I guess he will need a bit of extra training. Though at least he is smart enough to be subtle with it now.
I equip my gear and exit my room. Down the hall I met Joy at the front desk. Inside the lobby, people are passed out from the night of partying.
On the desk a radio plays the local news as I recall the Radio Tower inside of Goldenrod. And the possible future in store for it.
"You're awake John?" Joy yawns in surprise. "I'm not used to others waking up so early."
"Morning Joy. And I happen to follow a tight schedule." We had a bit of small talk till I asked. "So about my ID, you have it ready?"
"Sure do." Chansey appears from behind, again. "My little Chansey worked hard on it and has it ready now."
My eyes narrow. The blob is far smarter than I thought.
"Oh…." I have my eye on you Chansey. "Well there are no surprises since she's behind me once again."
I turn around to face the abnormal monster. The innocent look has already failed once this morning. And surely it is not going to work this time either, Chansey.
"Ha, don't worry about her. She has taken a liking to you."
If she meant trying to scare me, then sure.
Chansey nods along with Joy and pushes the ID into my hands. As if I was bound to lose it.
"Thanks, I guess?" As long as Chansey doesn't start teleporting I'll play nice. "With this, I'll go ahead and stop by the Gym. Anyway thanks again Joy and uh, Chansey."
"You're welcome. Also, don't forget to grab a map on your way out. The city is easy to get lost in."
I follow her advice and wave goodbye.
I exit the center and out of sight of Chansey. Whatever Joy may have claimed, her little helper has kept a trained eye on me.
And if I wasn't so experienced, its blubberly persona would've fooled me too.
Sadly, nothing of such mass could possibly be innocent. Neither should it have been so fast. If it wasn't thanks to my perception, we might've had an accidental case of Poke Abuse again.
Thankfully it didn't come down to blows. Joy doesn't need to start hating me since she has been cool.
And thanks to her reminder, I now have a map of the city.
xxx
"A Pokedex would be nice right now."
A miraculous machine with GPS in this age would be nice. Sadly I have to stumble about with this ever so wrinkling map.
"To the North it says." Then why did I need to go east around a shopping district? "Why couldn't it be up to date? Clearly it is off when random buildings are in the way."
I continue to head north through the city. Along the way, I made turns to avoid newly built structures on my way to the Gym.
This small hassle could've been avoided if they fixed their damn maps.
At least I can comfort myself that there'll be a few trainers at the Gym. Where I can proceed to 'collect' a bit of pocket change.
Thankfully, it is a small blessing the city is unlike the night before. It is more calm and easy to maneuver. Not many places are open at this time besides the occasional cafe.
Overall, this journey is a six out of ten. Bonus points for the morning air as it is rather refreshing and the urban pokemon that made the walk fascinating.
Unfortunately for me, all of those purple rats, fat pigeons and bipedal cats were not fit enough to join my roster. They're also lucky to have run at the first sight of me. I've been itching for some easy XP today.
"Better luck next time."
I continued to enjoy the empty streets. As I felt like the king of the place, the lone survivor in this dystopia.
Then the scent of vomit came and ruined that pleasure too.
Now all I can think about is the dirtiness of the streets.
City life is not for me.
A large stadium takes up my view. A white dome covers the top and is partially opened for the summer weather. There are glass panels on the sides which allows me to stare inside.
My gaze is met by the receptionist inside. She waves before whispering to a young girl next to her.
The pink-haired girl stands up quickly and rushes to open the door to meet me.
"Hi! What are you doing out here?!"
My ears ring to the unexpected volume.
Great, even my peace and quiet is gone as her voice destroys what little inner peace I scavenged.
"Trainer…. And I'm here to battle…" I pinch the middle of my brow. "You?"
"A trainer!" Her hyperness continues. "It's too early for challengers at the moment. Everyone is still asleep…"
"Wow." I'm annoyed. "Can you at least point me to where the practice fields are? Or at least anyone who wants to warm up?"
"Me! I can help you!"
What is wrong with this midget? Her twin tails flutter quick enough to take off.
"Are you sure? If you fight, you gotta pay up if I win."
Hopefully this'll make her back off.
"Wha? Duh, of course I will. So don't just stand there…" She actually grabs my arm. "And come on!"
Maybe I am the problem. Since for some reason, I want to escape and hide in my room again.
But it is too ingrained in me to finish before I pull out. Thus I silently listen to this girl's talking….. nonstop. To the point the receptionist inside gave out a sigh of relief once we started to turn the corner.
Lady, I can still see you!
However, neither God or the receptionist heard me. Leaving me to my fate.
By the time we arrived behind the gym, I was annoyed, bothered and a bit flustered. A terrible mix of emotion when you're a subhuman. So it took great strides to rein in my fists from smacking the girl.
Thankfully the scene of the giant field covering a few acres of land made it easier to forget. Forget my annoyance as I ponder how this could fit in the middle of the city.
A densely populated one at that.
"So then I asked my dad, 'But can I have a Clefable instead?' and he still said no to me!"
"Okay. Okay. OKAY! I get it. I really do." I'm about to send her to the shadow realm. "Can you let go of me?"
"Oh…" She blushes as her arm disconnects. "Well we are here. Now we can fight!"
"Sure, we can 'warm up'. So you mind telling me what kind of pokemon you have? Since I'm still a new trainer."
"Well I have an Oddish, Rattata, Zigzagoon, Miltank and a Clefairy."
"Wait… A Clefairy? Didn't you just say your Dad said no to it?"
Her face turns scarlet red in frustration. "No! He refused to get me a Clefable. Saying it was too dangerous to have one and stuff. Instead he got me a Clefairy."
"Oh so the pre evolution then. So why are you so mad then? You can always make it evolve."
"Evolve?" She speaks softer. "But how? No one ever told me how it evolves…"
Isn't it rather obvious? Just shove a Moonstone into its face. And if that doesn't work, make it eat the damn thing or something.
"Have you ever tried… feeding it a Moonstone?" I feel kind of stupid. "Um, I mean I heard a Moonstone and something dealing with the full moon at night could help it evolve… Just don't take my word for it if it doesn't work."
"You're not lying. Are you?" Her eyes squint to find out the truth. "If not, then I'll have to spend all my allowance on it."
"Hey. It's your choice to believe me or not. So, about our battle. Would you be cool if I fought your Zigzagoon?"
"Him? Ah dang, but I wanted to use Miltank though."
Monster. My trauma comes back in full.
I crouch slightly as my PTSD triggers. In no way in hell am I or Clobbopus ready to face such a thing.
"I am very sure." I hold my pokeball up. "Take to the field, Clobbopus."
Clobbopus quickly looks around and sees the open outdoors. As he is about to make a break for it, I step into his field of view.
"Nahnahnah. We got some more training for you to do bud."
His tentacles curl in on themselves. Our hierarchy is starting to be established.
"Good. Now I want you to turn around and get ready. We got someone who thinks you'll taste great in teriyaki."
He turns to look.
In the wind blows twin tails of hair. A young girl spins in place as she tosses a pokeball.
Both Clobbupos and I stood in shock. I didn't dare to admit it, but she had her pose down to a tee.
"Zigzagoon, take to the field and show them what you got."
A raccoon pokemon appears. It has brown and whites stripes across its fur. It runs in place and shakes its fur into spiky points.
Together with her, they made an energetic duo.
"Alright Clobbopus, since we don't have a flashy entrance, we'll make this quick. Just like with the mutt, I'll need you to fight."
He stiffens with narrow eyes.
"Are you ready yet!?" She asks as I give her a nod. Without warning she shouts, "Zigzagoon, go in and give a Tackle!"
I didn't say a thing. Not a word was directed for Clobbopus to dodge. I want to see how he fares against a trained pokemon this time.
Hopefully, he is strong enough. Or at least I hope my guess is correct that he won't need my help. However, I can only wait and see.
Clobbopus' nerves made him shake slightly. However, with me behind him, Zigzagoon is the lesser evil to face.
He huddles down on his tentacles and enters a boxing stance.
Zigzagoon's Tackle is met with a fist. The momentum pushes through slightly, but stops midway.
Like a bow string, Zizagoon is repelled off the tentacle. Leaving behind some damage, but not to the full extent if it landed directly.
"Zigzagoon, use headbutt!"
A clear sheen covers its forehead. The raccoon closes in again to land a direct hit.
However, Clobbopus uses his limbs to wrap Zigzagoon's torso. Stopping it half a foot away as he proceeds to wail upon the pokemon.
A rapid chain of blows continues. Super effective hits land on the Normal Type as Whitney cries for Zigzagoon to escape.
Sadly, Zigzagoon is not strong or agile enough to wiggle free. The suction cups have decided its fate.
Clobbopus stops to reel back a fist. Holding his muscles tight, energy begins to condense. A white and yellow glow envelopes his glove and in a blink of the eye, Rock Smash is unleashed.
Zigzagoon's forehead condenses and squishes. The Headbutt energy is broken like glass and the pokemon is torn free from the tentacles.
The Zigzagoon flips multiple times until coming to a stop. Circles appear in its eyes as Clobbopus raises his fist in glory.
"Nice. Seems like yesterday wasn't for nothing." I joked. "However, I think I got a good idea where you're at." I said to Clobbopus.
The girl bends over her pokemon.
"Thank you." She pets Zigzagoon's head and returns him. "If only I used Miltank…"
The last part was mostly said to herself, however, I still cringed inwardly.
"Psh. Girl." I tried getting her attention. "Since I won… Um, where is my money?"
"Money? Oh, here you go..." She slowly opens her Miltank wallet. "C-can you tell me your name first?"
"John. John Smith"
"John…" A bit hesitant she asks. "Can I call you that?"
"Sure? You don't really need my permission."
"Great! I was a bit worried that you were mad at me. S-since you rejected me last time I asked."
Wait. What? Did that happen?
"You asked?"
"Of course I did. Right after we met and when I was talking about how Dad wouldn't get me a Taurus. You told me to fight you first." She looked confused and reached her hand out. "Is your head okay?"
I smack her palm away. "Of course I'm okay. No, I'm more than fine right now. I just got too caught up earlier. So sorry… um what's your name again?"
"Oh, maybe I should get my dad to check up on you."
"No. No. I'm honestly fine."
"Hm." I didn't like that look on her. "Okay! Now don't forget it again, okay? I am Whitney. Whi-t-ney."
Pink hair, twin tails, blue eyes and wears a very tight white shirt and jorts. A chest large enough to give a cow a run for its money.
Girl the profile I got on you isn't… is actually making me very uncomfortable.
This is her?! That Whitney! The girl of my nightmares when I was young. A demon with a monstrous Miltank.
"N-nice to officially meet you… Whitney."
I shake her hand hurriedly. A bit afraid she'll call out her pink cow to roll upon me.
Sadly, it's too late to regret coming here now. Especially with this wade of cash resting firmly in my hand now.
"You too John!"
She is a bit of an air head. Hopefully in the future she'll remain the same and take pity upon me.
"Soo, when does the Gym open? Nurse Joy said I should give the place a try for the badge."
"Here soon. Though John, are you sure you didn't just forget what time it opens?"
A smug smirk rests on her face. And I'm already hating it.
"I'm… I am sure."
"Well, John, I guess I can take your word for it. So remember that it opens at noon. Otherwise our receptionist will leave you at the front door."
I doubt it. Honestly after what I've seen, the receptionist only has an issue with you Witney.
"Noon. Got it. I'll stay here and get some more training in. Clobbopus will need a bit of a warm up and then I'll schedule an appointment." I paused and asked. "What are you going to do?"
"If it's fine with you." She closes in. "Can I stay here with you?"
Her breasts threaten to tear her shirt and spill out. The undertones of her voice sent chills down my spine.
I came to a subtle realization. That money might not be the only thing people are willing to wager,
That this world might be working on an entirely different system than I'm used to. I'm not even sure I am ready for such a shift of genre.
I looked at Clobbopus, and all he gave me was a thumbs up…
What the hell did I get myself into.
Let me know if I should take a serious take or a lewd version of this world. But on that note, I might or might not continue this fic. It all depends on the popularity since I wrote this plot bunny months ago. And the end goal will be setting up a once I get the ball rolling.
