[New Game]

Here's some basic information.

I am a boy. Shocker, right? No way you could tell by looking at me, right Professor Juniper?

Also, my name is 'Nate'. That's right, one uppercase letter, three lowercase. I'm no RED.

My friend is named Hugh. He's a piece of work, alright, but a nice guy.

Enough basic information for you? How about one more little tidbit…

I live in the world of Pokemon.

Chapter 1: Welcome to the World of Pokemon

It was the brisk autumn wind seeping through the cracks in my window sill that woke me up. Well, that, and my mother's yelling.

"Nate! I'm hooooome!"

I get it, mom. You're home. Thanks for the update.

I pried myself out of my bed, wishing that my room had a proper door, rather than just a flimsy curtain. And whose bright idea was it to get me salmon sheets for Christmas?

I barely managed to get out the 'door' before Mom came running over.

"Nate! Do you know Professor Juniper? She's a famous Pokemon researcher!"

Well, no, Mom. I didn't. I don't really pay attention to the latest trends in Pokemon 'science', or whatever they call the art of realizing that Magikarps don't deal well with thousands of volts of lightning.

"Actually, she's an old friend of mine, and she called me today for the first time in ages!"

Cool. Glad you have a social life, Mom. Now, if you don't mind, I have a very important nap to return to.

I turned back to my room, and if I had just kept going, maybe this entire mess would have passed me by. If only…

"This is out of the blue, but, Nate! Do you want to have a Pokemon?"

I was tempted to say no. Oh, I was tempted. But, I mean, who doesn't want a Pokemon? I missed the boat on the whole 'Pokemon League Challenge' since I was a lazy bum in Trainer School, and had pretty much resigned myself to working in retail or something like that. But, maybe… if I just say yes…

"OK! Step one completed!"

A chill ran down my spine. Mom, what kind of plan do you have me mixed up in this time? I shivered and sorely wished I had stayed in those awful salmon sheets and never got up.

"Well then, do you know what a Pokedex is?"

I would love to say no and just go back to sleep, but that's the kind of thing Mom would send me to remedial Trainer School for. Yeah, I know what that electric brick is. Professor Samuel Oak invented it, like, ten or so years ago and it's only gotten dumber with each new region that adopts it. I just nodded and zoned out as Mom rattles off the spiel on how useful and great the Pokebrick is. I just kept nodding my head, not even hearing her next question.

"OK! Step two completed!"

My head froze mid nod. What the hell did I just agree to?!

"Nate! Your course of action has been set!"

Oh. Shit. Mom's deciding my career again. Can't she remember how badly this went when she suddenly decided that I'd make an amazing martial artist… or police officer… or astronaut?!

"A girl named Bianca has come here to meet you!"

Wait… is she trying to get me a girlfriend? What does that have to do with —

"She's Professor Juniper's assistant. I was told to simply look for a big green hat!"

Oh. Never mind. Just a nerd with bad fashion sense, here from Mom's friend.

"That's right! You're going to go look for Bianca."

Oh, bed. Why are you so far away? Oh well, Mom has spoken. Guess I have to go find the green hat wearing a nerdy lab assistant.

"And then you'll get a Pokedex and a Pokemon to be your partner!"

Come again…? Wait… Mom, aren't I sixteen now? I think that's a little past the normal starting age for the League program. But still… having my own Pokemon… my own adventure… it couldn't be that bad, right?

"Oh! Your Xtransceiver's in your Bag, right?"

I don't know where else it would be. I mean, I gotta be available for your constant nagging somehow.

Anyway, I waved my Mom off and headed out the door. Mom kept talking at me as I went, but I already got my marching orders. I stepped outside into the brisque autumn air.

Oh, yeah, I should probably describe myself. So, I'm a brown hair, brown eyes guy. My hair, well, I like to call it 'expressive', but most call it 'messy'. I got my favorite red visor on to sorta hold it back, but it's not perfect. I have on grey cargo shorts and a blue jacket, but underneath I have this totally rad black and green rashguard. I mean, I'm not expecting to go surfing, but that thing has saved me plenty of times from bad road rash. Besides, you can't knock cool.

So, I step out onto the street and… oh Arceus no…

"Hi, Nate!"

My friend Hugh, with his spiky black hair looking like a stunted Christmas tree, jogged up with his little sister in tow. Buddy, I'd normally love to chat, but I have enough going on right now.

Hugh just smirked at me. "You get a Pokemon yet? There aren't any Pokemon Trainers around here, and I'm getting bored!"

As much as I'm normally down for telling him off for his Poke-bragging, actually…

"What's that? A person named Bianca is giving you a Pokemon? Really?"

Take that, Huge-ego! You won't be the only Trainer in town now!

Apparently, my boasting annoyed Hugh's little sis, who started admonishing me to take good care of my Pokemon, since it's not just a tool. Yeah, yeah, I got it, you precocious little brat.

Well, apparently Hugh invited himself along. I mean… I get it. That guy wants a rival more than anything. He wants to be strong, and to do that, he needs someone to fight him every step of the way.

Too bad I'm a sucky rival. Too lazy.

Anyway, the two of us set off in search of the green hat. We passed our too-friendly neighbors in this too-friendly town and — okay, why do we even have a Pokemon center? There's, like, one Trainer that lives here. And Hugh is just weak, no matter how much he wants to claim he's not. Dude is sixteen and still hasn't got a badge.

Anyway, I figured the nerd probably got lost when she came here, so I headed straight for the highest point in town, the outlook point, Hugh in tow. Yes, I said town again. I refuse to think of Aspertia as a city. It's just too… boring.

And there she was. A green hat with a geeky blonde underneath, staring out from the outlook… in the wrong direction. Figures.

I walked up to her and tapped her on the shoulder. The next moment, I got the full force of the big blue eyes that hid behind her red rimmed glasses.

"It's sooo pretty! Don't you agree?" she gushed.

Eh, I've seen better — oh, she meant the view.

"Oh! My name is Bianca! I'm the assistant of Professor Juniper!"

Wonderful to know. I don't know how I would have ever guessed by your giant green beret, nerdy fashion sense, and the big metal briefcase you're hugging like a teddy bear against those… no, not the time!

"By the way, I'm looking for someone. Do you know a person named Nate?"

Mom, there will be hell to pay. You arranged all this before asking me? Really? I was tempted to play dumb, but I really did want a Pokemon, so I introduced myself.

The bouncy blonde's eyes sparkled upon me confirming my identity. "Wooow! You're ex-act-ly like what I heard!"

I don't like the way you just said that… Or what it implies. Mom! What have you been telling people about me?!

"Nice to meet you! I have a really important request to ask you!"

Is it for a massage? Please be for a — ahem, moving on. Shoot, I missed her question. I'll just nod and hope she didn't notice me staring.

"Oh, wow, thanks! Your support will help Professor Juniper's research move forward!"

What the hell did I just agree to?!

"Anyway, filling up the Pokedex is totally fun!"

Arceus dammit! Now I have to do research for that Pokebrick?!

At this point, what I wanted most was to crawl back under my covers and not wake up until spring… but I did come here for a reason. One that I apparently needed to remind the bubbly blonde of.

She promptly displayed the briefcase, which upon closer inspection looked more like a cylinder, like she just pulled it out of a magician's hat. "Tadaa! In here is the Pokemon that will be your partner!"

She opened it, revealing three Pokeballs, prompting me to pick one. Each had a name and a brief description.

Snivy, the Grass-type Pokemon.

Tepig, the Fire-type Pokemon.

Oshawott, the Wat — oh, who am I kidding? They had me at 'Fire'.

I immediately reached out my hand and snagged the middle ball. Pressing the button and tossing it into the air, a burst of light shot from the ball. A small orange porcine Pokemon appeared on the ground by my feet, its curly tail wagging like a Growlithe. Not as badass as I was hoping… but I can't be disappointed with this little guy.

"Oh, wow! You and Tepig are a perfect match!"

I made a face. 'Tepig'... what a lame sounding name. Maybe I could do one better.

'Inferno'; that sounds good.

Bianca pressed a Pokedex in my hand while I taught my orange Fire-type its… or I guess, his new name. Guess the Pokedex is worth something after all. It gives me basic information scanned from my Pokeball. So… Inferno is Fire-type, like I already knew, male, and knows the attacks Tackle and Tail Whip. Huh, no Fire moves. Guess I'll have to wait on that one.

Still, I'm certain that Inferno and I will do something great… like… something. Who knows. Maybe after a nap.

[Nate saved the game.]

Update: that nap didn't happen. The moment I stepped away from Blondie Bianca, I got accosted by my friend with hair as 'Hugh' as his name.

"Heeey! How long are you planning on keeping me waiting, anyway?"

Dude, it's been, like, five minutes.

"Hey, what's that?"

Ever seen a smoked ham before?

"So that's your partner, huh? That's great! My sister already said so, but take really..."

Yeah, I totally zoned out when he started on what his sister said. Hugh's a cool guy, but he's a bit too much of a 'good brother'.

"What's that you're holding there?"

I noticed him staring at my Pokebrick. Fortunately, before I could voice that name out loud, Bianca came bouncing up to explain.

"It's a Pokedex!"

Aaaand the floodgates were opened. Hugh pretty much forgot about me and began pestering Bianca to give him a Pokedex too. Heh heh… perfect time to make my escape — where the hell did she just pull that second Pokedex from? Never mind! Escaping time. Almost…

"Hey! I just thought of something cool!"

Bianca, when you say 'cool', it somehow makes the word twenty percent less cool.

"You both have Pokemon, right? Why don't you have a Pokemon battle?"

Arrrg, foiled again! Guess I'm stuck here. But still… a Pokemon battle. I glanced at Inferno. He was pawing the ground cautiously, but his eyes looked fired up. Eh, I could do with a chance to put that braggart in his place.

Hugh gave me a challenging grin. "Let's see how good a Trainer you are!"

Dude, chill. I got a Pokemon, like, a minute a go. You raised yours from an egg years back. I think I deserve a handicap or something.

Well, we squared off, Bianca as the referee. Hugh unfasted the red and white ball from his belt and tossed out his Pokemon: a bipedal, blue and white otter Pokemon with a seashell on its stomach. His precious Oshawott. What was that thing's type again? Water? Oh… cool. I'm fucked.

Inferno, use Tackle.

Holy fuck! He crushed me!

My Tackle looked like it hurt a bit, but his sent Inferno flying into a wall. Hugh complained about the pain I put his Pokemon through while I urged my little Fire pig to get up.

Another Tackle later, and the Oshawott slapped Inferno with its tail. Not sure why, but I guess that must have been a 'Tail Whip'. What a fucking useless move.

Tackle again.

Holy mother of a Gyarados! I annihilated it!

So, yeah, apparently Inferno got an especially square hit in, because Oshawott went flying. Smacked into the wall just like my tough little guy, only this wimp didn't get back up. Oshawott collapsed to the ground, worn out.

Hugh began ranting on how he couldn't achieve victory and just being a huge sore loser, while I gave my little champ a pat on the head. Good boy, Inferno.

What's that, Hugh? Wait… this was your first Trainer battle? Dude! You can't just train off of wild Pokemon! Even I know that!

Ah, he's better now. Hugh seemed genuinely stoked to have a 'worthy rival'. Wish I could take a bow right here, but Inferno did all the work. Hugh ran off to train more, while Bianca continued giving me advice I ignored. Though one bit I'll take. Turns out that Pokemon Center is good for something.