I always hated Goldenrod City for the sole reason being Whitney's Milktank. Dang that Rollout move!
I've encountered only one shiny pokemon without any cheating and it was on the first day of playing White 2, a stupid Patrat. . My brother's first shiny was a Venomoth. Urgh.

Also, expect many, many more Poketalia shorts. I have a Johto map opened up and will probably include a few other regions with Matthew evolved and Alfred slightly older. :3

"Mar…"

"Shh, Mattie, it's okay! We'll be there soon!" Alfred held his friend in his arms as he ran through the dense jungle of Ilex Forest. "God, I'm so sorry, Mattie. I was so stupid."

"Ma…" Matthew coughed and his throat constricted painfully. It was hard to breath.

"I was so selfish," Alfred mumbled to himself.

"Maree." Matthew disagreed.

"If I hadn't been so set on that stupid shiny Oddish he'd never have poisoned you. I'm sorry." Tears were leaking out of his eyes as he ran as fast as he could.

Once they'd finally gotten out of the maze-like Ilex, Alfred trekked past Route 34, shielding Matthew from any more harm and they were soon at the gates of Goldenrod City, a place Alfred had talked about nonstop since they'd left Azalea Town. Their arrival wasn't as magnificent as he'd hoped.

"Nurse Joy will heal you and you can take a break from battling for as long as you want," Alfred promised. "We'll do whatever you want once your better."

He burst into the Goldenrod Pokémon Center and the Nurse Joy behind the counter startled from her discussion with a fellow patron and went into action at the sight of the poisoned Mareep in the trainer's arms.

Alfred paced outside the large, swinging doors that led to the operating room for an hour. He tried to stay calm, knowing Pokémon got poisoned and even fainted all the time, but Mattie was different. Mattie was his and he should have cared better for him. Dang it!

He drank some juice from a vending machine, to catching his breath and it was not long after that the red cross light turned off and Nurse Joy's Chansey was wheeling a fully healed Matthew on a rolling bed towards Alfred.

"Mattie!" Alfred wrapped his Mareep into a tight hug and promised good times from then on.

"Now, young man, I don't want to see your Mareep in such a bad shape again. Letting him be affected from the poison for that long could have seriously harmed him. I suggest you carry Antidotes or Pecha berries from now on," Nurse Joy lectured sternly. Alfred nodded fiercely.

"Thank you so much for healing, Mattie. I appreciate it very much. And I promise he won't get so banged up ever again." He said the last part more to Matthew who bleated knowingly and nuzzled his Trainer's chin.

Nurse Joy smiled sweetly. "I can tell you and your Mareep care a lot for each other so I'll let it slide this time, just make sure to be prepared. Have a good day, young man."

Outside and finally able to appreciate the sights that Goldenrod City had to offer, Alfred looked down at Matthew who was still in his arms. "So what do you want to do first? I hear the Department Store sells everything! Maybe we can get some food?"

Matthew bleated shyly and nodded his head.

"What do you say, Mattie? Want to try some curry?"