Treecko
Entry 36
Today wasn't a good day for me. I wasn't too eager about the whole process, unlike some of the other Pokemon at the lab. But like I wrote last time, I was hoping for some interesting person for a Trainer. I wasn't sure what I wanted to be: whether a tough battler, or a swell contestant, or maybe even something different. Just so long as it was an interesting person to be with, I didn't care what we did.
Things didn't work out that way, though. There were some nice kids there, a couple who even seemed interested in me. But they always picked another Pokemon, until it came down to the last one. Yup, that was me. Out of twelve available, I had to be the last one there. While I was consoling myself that it wasn't that big of a loss and there'd always be another chance, the last new Trainer crashed into the door and smashed his nose.
From there, it was pretty obvious what happened. The klutz king apologized profusely for his accident and lateness. Apparently, he has no respect for alarm clocks. He acted excited to be getting a Pokemon, accepted me without a single thought, then put me back into my Pokeball to rush out.
It seems he ran into something else on the way, because when I was called back out, he had a long scratch on his cheek. He looked over me for the first time and rolled his eyes. "Sheesh, I had to be last and get a Grass starter. You're going to be just plain awful against all the city Pokemon around."
I snorted and crossed my arms over my chest. True, there are a lot of Pokemon I'm weak to that are almost native to city environments. But I'm going to grow up to be fast, and that can often overcome simple weaknesses.
"Well I've already got an awesome team coming around," the klutz king said. "I was hoping for a strong fire type from the Professor. You'll drag us down. So I'm letting you go." He activated the ball's release program and freed me.
I felt odd for a moment. It was like my body vibrated, but then settled down. I guess it was whatever links the ball to us. Anyhow, I wasn't about to let that loser change his mind, so I ran off.
Not much went right after that. Canine Pokemon chased after me, some Pidgies thought it would be funny to tease me, and I found it hard to find any clean place to soak in the sunshine for a moment. And New York City is so immense. I never realized it, but these concrete streets are so long and the metal skyscrapers even longer in another direction. I don't know who decided to nickname these places 'concrete jungles', but they didn't quite get it. There's too much concrete, that's for sure, but it's far from being a jungle. More like a concrete madhouse.
One thing did go right, thankfully. Right at the end of the day, I located a small park. It has about two dozen trees. Not an ideal environment for a Treecko by any means, but good enough for now. I'll explore my new home tomorrow.
Entry 37
This park is all right, but it looks like no one's paid much attention to it lately. The grass is sparse because the soil is of poor quality. There's bitter and poisonous weeds sprouting up instead. While there are clearly labeled trash bins, not many people seem to use them. There aren't many flowers besides dandelions. Not that I mind them; they are a nice bright yellow that cheers up even this dull place and they're tasty. But there should be variety.
The trees are tough old sentinels. Maybe someone took care of them in their youth, for they seem mostly healthy. But lack of attention is getting to them too, and they aren't leafing out as much as they should be. They need some love.
There's not much I can do right now, but I'm going to do what I can.
I started off with the littering problem. Keeping out of notice, I picked up trash that I found and put them into their bins. Once, I noticed a smoker tossing his cigarette butt onto the ground. I managed to snatch up that butt, then stick it in the rear pocket of his pants. It was still warm, so he noticed a short time later. Serves him right.
Entry 40
I had some trouble today. A trio of teenaged humans came by to drink beer and talk noisily. They were annoying even the other humans with all the racket they were making. And then one of them had the nerve to stamp on an empty beer can and toss it behind him.
I did the proper thing. I picked up the crushed can and threw it at his head. Then I dove under a pine tree, so he didn't notice. His buddies just laughed. One of them threw the can back. I returned the deed. After a few more rounds of this, they left, convinced that the park was haunted.
Such idiots. But then they called the police. An hour later, a police Trainer with three Poochenyas came to investigate. The canines tracked me down quickly. "Say buddy," one asked me, "You know of a trouble-making spirit around here?"
"No, but I just moved in a few days ago."
"You're kind of weird for this area," another told me.
"So what of it?"
"We got sent to find a ghost or something that threw beer cans at some people."
"That was me."
"You?"
I hissed. "They were littering in my territory! Complete disrespect. I had to show them that I mean business."
One of the Poochenyas looked surprised. "This is your place? It's kinda trashy as it is."
"I know, but I'm going to make it better. I'll clean it up and make it look good."
"That's gonna be a tough job."
Another then wagged his tail. "Well if you're looking to clean this place up, I suppose you were just protecting it. We'll leave you be for now, but don't let anybody get seriously hurt."
"I won't." And I mean it.
It looks like this park is my responsibility now, even if the humans don't realize it. I've made a nest in the largest oak tree. It's not that great, but neither is this park. But I feel all fired up to do this. Taking care of nature is in my blood. I swear by the great sun above that I will make this a beautiful place.
Entry 49
I'm writing today from a Pokecenter. The nurse seemed quite surprised when I brought out my diary, but she's let me be. I guess she doesn't see a lot of Pokemon writers. However, it's something I learned from my mother. She was one smart cookie. She had won so many intelligence Contests that if she wore as many of her ribbons as she could, there would still be boxes left over. Because she likes it so much, she taught all of her children to write in a diary. I was one of the few who figured it out.
Not that the nurse or any other human would be able to read this. They might be able to decipher some of the pictographs, but not all.
Yesterday, the police got serious and sent a Metang after me. This strange beast of a Steel-Psychic had the same problem as the Poochenyas. It didn't like that I was dealing an eye-for-an-eye with the littering people. I gave him the same explanation that I gave the canines.
It didn't work. "We are not to harm humans in any fashion," the Metang said sternly. "This is not your habitat and you have no right to do as you please. This city has laws, even for Pokemon."
"Well excuse me if no one's bothered to teach me better," I said sarcastically. "I suppose you don't mind the steel monoliths taking over the green earth and choking out all natural life that there is."
"If you believe I am unnatural, then you are mistaken." It fired a blast of Psychic energy at me.
I just barely managed to roll out of that initial blast. I retaliated as best I could. However, while my mother taught me how to keep a diary, she never taught me much on how to battle. All I could do was pound the Metang on the head and Leer a little. I couldn't even make a dent on its skin. But this small park had gotten into my system. It was my land and I was going to protect it from anyone who dared hurt it or try to take me away from it.
It clicked at me. "Your struggle is worthless. Come quietly." The air around it shimmered like it did off the pavement on hot afternoons.
For a moment, I felt hopeless. Then I realized that it was just trying to psyche me out. Angered further, I darted forward and used Pound on one of its eyes. "I swore by the sun that I would make this place beautiful and I will!"
The Metang flinched noticeably, so I struck its eye again. But then it hit me point blank with Psychic. My body felt like it was being ripped apart at the smallest level. I tried to bite its eye as a last resort move, but the damage was too much and I blacked out.
I know I was facing something that I stood no chance against. And yet, I feel awful in that loss. I was taken from my park. I must return, no matter what.
Entry 50
The nurse isn't happy with me. I tried to escape five times today, but every time I was caught by the resident Chansey group. She threatened to capture me in a Pokeball just so that I would stay put. It seems that they fear that the Metang gave me a concussion. I feel all right, except that my trees are calling.
But a reporter came today to visit. She had a cheery Spoink with her. "We want to talk to you about the park," the Spoink told me. "So she'll ask the questions and I'll translate the answers."
"Okay. When will I get back to the park?"
"You won't be returning," the reporter told me. "The Pokecenter is going to turn you over to Pokemon Adoption Services. They won't release a non-native like you back into the city."
I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed. "How could they do that? It's my home."
She made a note, then asked, "What were you doing in that little park?"
"Apparently I wasn't good enough for the kid who picked me out as his starter. Not that I mind; he was a horrible klutz and I didn't like him one bit. It was the first green place I came to, although not by much. So I determined that I would improve it and make it my own."
"Does that have something to do with why you were attacking people?"
"They were throwing trash into my park. I really hate the smokers, as their cigarettes stink and are poisonous."
They asked other questions, but I stood my ground. I hope they're able to convince the nurse or the PAS to let me back into my park. On the other hand, I also hope they don't portray me as some crazy dangerous Pokemon.
Entry 51
I got two interesting visitors today. The first was the klutz king. That's right, the kid I nearly got stuck with. He came in with the nurse. "So I heard you've been trying to defend some dinky little park. You could have gone to Central Park if you wanted someplace green to live."
"Well sorry if I don't know my way around this endless city," I retorted with a glare.
"And you took on a police Metang to do it. That's pretty gutsy for a Pokemon like you to do."
"You're not taking her back, if that's what you're thinking," the nurse said sternly. "What were you thinking, releasing a non-native Pokemon like her into the big city? She's lucky she just fought a Metang. She could have been run over by a car and killed."
"They're tough creatures," he tried to brush off.
"They're God's creatures as much as you and I. Someone as careless as you shouldn't be a Trainer."
"But I didn't really pick her."
"You were given responsibility for her care and failed at that completely. Every Pokemon deserves respect. If you won't show it to them, then they won't show it to you. And others will know of your neglect."
"Aw come on."
Somehow I feel as though he isn't going to get much support from other Pokecenters now. That's got to be a major blow to anyone's career as a Trainer.
My second visitor was much better. He wore tan pants and a green shirt. "Hey girl," he said with a smile. "I work for city government, handling park affairs. That little park you were found at wasn't officially listed, since it was under private ownership. But when the news reported about your methods of dealing with littering, we've decided to look into buying the property."
"So long as somebody's taking care of it, I guess that's good."
"I might get put in charge of the restoration if it all works out. But I thought that you should be involved as well. It's the way of your kind, isn't it, to protect the forests you've claimed?"
I looked him in the eyes and felt like he was being honest. So I nodded. If things work out, he'll adopt me and let me be in my park as it gets restored. It's still all uncertain, as the old owner has to sell it to the city and the adoption papers have to be certified. But I feel it's hope for a better life than one I could have gotten in the Professor's lab.
…
Treecko Emerald entry: It makes its nest in a giant tree in the forest. It ferociously guards against anything nearing its territory. It is said to be the protector of the forest's trees.
Originally posted for Earth Day. Treecko's one of the few I can imagine writing; it has those sticky finger numbs that would allow it to grip the pencil.