A Whole New World
After passing through the door, the heroes looked around and found themselves standing in the middle of a forest. Not quite what any of them had expected. They all thought they were going to be sent to a town like in the game or in the animated series. That wasn't the only surprise. As they all looked at each other, the heroes noticed that their clothes had changed too. Yugi was wearing the hero's clothes; a blue jacket over a white t-shirt and light blue jeans and sneakers. Emily was dressed like a rich girl with a white dress, white sandals, white gloves reaching her shoulders, and a frilly white hat. Kaiba was wearing the clothes of a Dragon Tamer; a black and red uniform with an orange cape and red gloves and black boots. Joey was wearing an orange jacket over a yellow t-shirt and light blue jeans and brown shoes.
"Check it out," Joey says, admiring his new clothes. "Looks like each world comes with its own unique wardrobe."
Emily looked inside her purse and noticed that her cash had changed into the currency of this world. "I guess if we're going to be here, we're really going to have to be part of this world."
"But where do we go from here?" Kaiba asked.
"I'm sure there's a town nearby," Yugi wondered. "Once we get there, we can figure out where the Great Goddess sent us." His friends agreed and began walking through the forest. On the way, they saw a blue light in the distance. They decided to go and check it out.
They came to a lake and saw a mysterious Pokémon standing on a platform. It noticed their presence and leapt away further into the woods.
"Did you see that?" Emily asked.
Yugi nods and says, "It looked like a big blue dog."
"You don't think it could have been-?" Emily wondered.
"Who knows?" Joey asked. "But I can tell you one thing: already this is awesome!" His friends agreed and continued on their path through the woods.
As they walked, they all began singing.
Yugi was the first to start. Everybody wants to be a master, everybody wants to show their skills
Everybody wants to get there faster, make their way to the top of the hill
His friends joined in and sang, Each time you try,
Gonna get just a little bit better, continued Yugi.
Each step you climb, his friends added.
There's one more step up the ladder. He paused, then continued, It's a whole new world we live in, it's a whole new way to see
It's a whole new place with a brand new attitude, but you still gotta catch 'em all and be the best that you can be
Emily decided to take up the next part. Everybody wants to make a statement, everybody needs to call their mark
Stand alone in the victory circle, state their claim when the music starts
Give it all you've got, the boys sang.
You can be the very best ever, added Emily.
Take your best shot, the boys added.
What you learn will come together. She paused, then continued, It's a whole new world we live in, it's a whole new way to see
It's a whole new place with a brand new attitude, but you still gotta catch 'em all and be the best that you can be
As they continued singing, the heroes finally came out of the forest and saw a town in the distance. It was New Bark Town. That was when Yugi and his friends figured out that the Great Goddess had sent them to the Johto Region. There was a little confusion and disappointment in this. When the heroes got their Keystones, they had wondered if they were going to the Kalos Region. Or perhaps the journey was going to take place in the Kanto Region where it all began.
The heroes decided to stop at the Pokémon Center to think things through. Joey wanted to think about giving the rest of their friends back home a call, but it wouldn't work. The phone numbers back home didn't exist in the Pokémon world.
"Now that we're here, it's time to plan our next move," said Yugi.
"Why do you suppose the Great Goddess sent us to the Johto Region," Joey asked, trying not to sound too disappointed.
Emily thought for a minute, then wondered, "Maybe the Cobalt Star shard we're looking for is somewhere in the Johto Region. And I have a feeling the only way to find it may not just be to travel the whole region, but to compete in the Johto Region."
Joey quickly recovered his enthusiasm. "You mean battle other trainers and collect gym badges? Oh, man, this is so exciting!"
Emily tried calming him down. "Let's not get carried away. First, we have to decide who is going to compete for the Johto league. And though we in this together, I don't think we can all do it." Then she faces Yugi and told him, "I think you should be the one to compete, Yugi."
Yugi was surprised at what he was hearing. "Me?"
"Yeah, it's your call," she told him.
"She's right, Yugi," Kaiba was saying, "It's times like these when decisions have to be made by the leader."
Yugi was outraged. "Wait a second, who made me in charge?"
The brunette reminded Yugi of the importance of his leadership. "Do you remember what happened when your soul was captured by Dartz? We nearly fell apart without you. But remembering how important you are to us kept us together so we could get you back. Besides, you always make the right choices because you've always been a great leader. Think about it, without your help, I would have lost my company."
"And Max and Bakura would have won the ultimate Shadow Game," Joey added.
"And Dartz would have killed me for sure," Emily added. "You can do it, Yugi."
"You can do it, Yugi," the blonde and brunette echoed.
This was a lot for Yugi to take in. He needed a minute to think. "So you're letting me be the one to decide and whatever I choose, you're willing to go with it?" All of his friends nod. "Well, then, I've decided," he paused, then declared, "I want Emily to do it."
"Say what?" she asked. She was not expecting this.
Neither were Joey or Kaiba, but they decided to go with Yugi's decision like they promised. "If that's what Yugi thinks, then I agree," said Kaiba. "Besides, you did sort of get us into this, so it's reasonable that you should compete for the Johto league."
Emily still wasn't too sure. "But what if I mess up?"
Joey sets his hand over her shoulder and promises her, "No one will blame you. Sure, we could get stuck here forever, but it won't be your fault. We agreed to join you and we're gonna support you all the way."
Listening to everyone's encouragement, Emily finally agrees to compete in the Johto league. But to do that, she would have to get her Pokémon from the professor like how all beginner trainers do. So everyone finished eating and decided to head to the Pokémon lab run by Professor Elm.
Just because it was decided that Emily would compete, didn't mean the boys couldn't choose a Pokémon either. When they all got to the lab, everyone was more than excited. They were finally going to become Pokémon trainers. Professor Elm immediately took notice of the group. "May I be of some assistance?"
"Hi," Yugi was saying, "we came to get our first Pokémon."
"Well, then, my young trainers, you've come to the right place." The professor led them all to the back where trainers could choose their Pokémon. First trainers were given a select option to choose one of three Pokémon. There was Chikorita, a grass-type, Cyndaquil, a fire-type, and Totodile, a water-type.
Yugi was the first to pick. He decided he wanted Chikorita. Everyone thought he made a good choice. Grass-type Pokémon are typically easy to raise. Not to mention Chikorita has a calm and collected nature and is always ready to take action when the going gets tough. Kaiba decided to be the next one to choose. He wanted Cyndaquil. Kaiba knew not to be fooled by Cyndaquil's adorable appearance. Fire-type Pokémon can be dangerous if not handled carefully. That left Joey with Totodile. There were no complaints. Totodile can be pretty optimistic and carefree. Joey knew he would get along well with his new friend.
Emily was happy for her friends, but also disappointed with herself. Now that all three starter Pokémon had been chosen, she couldn't make a choice. But before she could express her disappointment, she felt something rubbing her leg. She looked down and saw a furry brown Pokémon with a cream-colored tail tip and cream-colored fur around its neck. It was an Eevee; a unique Pokémon with different possible evolutionary forms.
Professor Elm smiled. "Well, my dear, it looks like Eevee is curious about you."
Emily got down to her knees and held out a hand. The Eevee was curious and sniffed her hand. Before fully approaching Emily, the Eevee calls out. Responding to the call were five more Eevee.
"I found these Eevee lurking around the lab searching for food," Professor Elm explained. "The poor creatures were hungry and murky. I assumed they were lost or abandoned, so I've been looking after them with the help of Nurse Joy. Many trainers have come here wanting to claim one of these Eevee as their first Pokémon, but it hasn't worked out."
"Why not," Yugi asked.
"These Eevee are quite inseparable," Professor Elm replied. One won't leave without the rest." To demonstrate, the professor picks up one Eevee and carries it to the front door. The rest of them follow.
Emily giggled. "That's cute. They're like family."
"It's nice that these Eevee are so close, but because of that, it's hard to find someone to take them all in," said the professor.
Emily felt her heart going out to the six Eevee. They were all so close and loved each other very much. She couldn't ignore that. They all needed a home and someone to look after all of them. So she immediately decided to be the one to be their trainer. "I'll take them, Professor," she immediately said. "All of them." Hearing this, the Eevee all wag their tails. They also leap on Emily and rub themselves against her to show their affection.
While everyone admires their new Pokémon, Professor Elm notices they all have Keystones. His colleague Professor Sycamore of the Kalos Region recently shared his research on Mega Evolution with him. Professor Elm remembered that there were some Pokémon in the Johto Region capable of Mega Evolution and he promised to help his colleague while he would be continuing his own research. In the meantime, to help the heroes on their journey, he granted Emily a Pokédex to record information on the Pokémon she and her friends would encounter on their journey.
Now that the heroes had finally gotten their Pokémon, it was time for Emily to register for the Johto league. She returned to the Pokémon Center and presented her Pokédex to Nurse Joy. After verifying all of her information, Emily was successfully registered. "Congratulations, Emily," Nurse Joy said as she returned her Pokédex. "You are now qualified and fully approved to participate in the Johto league." She also gave the group of a copy of the Johto league guidebook to help them on their journey.