Dear Grandma,
Thank you for the care package, Ryan forgot to give it to me till the last second so the food at the bottom got a little crushed but I will make it work. I'll write to you again as often as I can, I'm heading to Cherrygrove City currently. The first gym is there so I'm hoping I can get my first badge. Elm given me three starter Pokemon which is great even if they are a little more difficult that Bulbasaur was. Totodile got so much energy and is just charging about all the time while Chikorita just wants to sit sleep and absorb sun. As for Cyndaquil I really don't know how to read it yet, it kind of just sit blankly next to me most of the time, it only interacts with me when we eat. I'm sure we will figure it out and if not I can speak to Ryan or Daisy to see what they suggest.
Speak too you soon
Love you
Dustin
I fold the letter up and slip it into the envelope
"Okay so I need to click on this app and then it should" I say taking out my phone and clicking on the post function of the junior app
"DELI DELI!"
I look up to see a shadow descend to the ground next to me, its a Delibird with a postman hat on, it barks up at me pointing at the letter
"Oh okay, uh here you are" I say passing it to it
It quickly stuffs it into its sack and flies off
"Wait is that sack connected to its bu" I start before spotting Totodile charging off
"No Toto!" I say chasing after it
I manage to grab it just before it ploughs into a young girl and her Sentret. I throw it up above my head and apologise profusely to the girl who smiles and waves away my apologies. Totodile squirms above my head
"Toto you can't just keep chasing off, especially if you are not going to look around you surroundings"
"Toto toto!" It calls out as it still tries to struggle away
I sigh holding it to my chest with one hand as I grab its ball returning it
"Right you two lets get going to Cherrygrove!" I shout to Chikorita and Cyndaquil
Cyndaquil toddles over to my side and looks up to me while Chikorita still sits in a pile of flower cooing taking in the sun
"Come on Chiko we need to get moving"
"Chiko" It coos staying still
I sigh again and quickly return it to its ball
"They really are different to Bulbasaur" I mumble to myself
"Cynda"
I look down to Cyndaquil who is looking up at me, it facial expression is hard to read but it one of concern I thinking
"Don't worry buddy, we will get there" I say crouching down handing it a berry
It munches down quickly and calls out happily, it sniffs at my hand before scampering up my arm to my shoulder
"Lets head off shall we" I say elated at the progress in our relationship
"Cynda!"
We set off further down the route, the light of Cherrygrove comes into site over the hillside. It now a huge coastal metropolis, the river lands and marshes to the south had been expanded upon and renovated. Large swathes of it had been flattened and buildings built upon it, they had taken idea from that used in Paldea with Levincia. Alot of the building are upon stills pushed down into the marsh lands. Much of the newer more modern style are all built around here. There also now a huge sprawling harbour and beach which attracts lots of tourists from Kanto and Alola, this in turn made Cherrygrove the second largest city in the Johto region in terms of population and commerce. It was decided once Pryce had announced his intention to retire as the Mahogany Town gym leader that Cherrygrove would receive a new gym. Lot of trainers had been put forward, including Ryan himself but he turned it down as he was in the middle for his campaign that would see him crowned Alola Champion. Eventually after a rigorous selection process, Faye the granddaughter of Lenora from the Unova region was selected. In Cherrygrove old quarter there is a large library filled to the brim with books detailing old poems and stories from around the world. This fitted the motif of Faye who was a skilled trainer in the fairy type aswell as being literature historian. She became the first ever fairy type specialist to hold the title of gym leader in the Johto region. To assist Elm in his research, it was also generally Faye who would now bestow upon starting trainers their first Pokemon with the starter group being expanded upon. Totodile, Chikorita and Cyndaquil were all still available as choices however, Azurill, Tyrogue and Pichu had all been added as options. Unlike Kanto which had a more lax route for junior trainers the Johto system was much more rigid, all trainers on the junior path have to start the gym journey in Cherrygrove and end in Blackthorn City.
"Wow it so cool!" I coo as I look out over the sprawling city
I peer over blocking the sun with my hand on my brow
"There! Thats the gym we should head there after the Pokecentre!" I say before I begin my sprint down the hillside
The city is packed full of junior trainers, there hundreds all lining the city sprinting around the place. I keep Cyndaquil close on my shoulder to not let him get loose, I work my way to the front of the centre queue and get my three Pokemon healed up before zooming off to the gym. I had made an appointment for a gym battle back before I left New Bark. As I escaping through the door I hear a voice call to me
"Sorry excuse me?"
I turn, I see a young boy and what I assume is his older sister. The young boy looks quite emotional while his sister brow is furrowed in anger
"You haven't seen a Mareep wandering around at all?"
"Uh sorry no, what's happened?" I questioned
"Some asshole adults chased my brother with his Mareep trying to take it from him, Mareep go lost in the crowd" The girl says
"Oh I'm sorry to here, have you told Nurse Joy?" I question
"We have but no ones reported anything, she said there's been a spate lately of Pokemon being snatched up" The boy says through sniffs
I crouch down to the boy
"Don't worry I'm sure Mareep will show up, I'll keep an eye out for it and if I see it I'll make sure it gets back to you, here take this" I say pulling out and envelope and scrawling my number down on it and handing it to him
"Give me a call and I'll have your number, I'll ask around too, I'm heading to the gym so there will be tonnes of trainers ones bound to have seen Mareep"
"Thank you" He sniffs taking the paper
"If youve not found it before I'll happily help you look after my gym battle" I say looking to his sister
"Thank, Clara by the way, he's Jacob" She says
"Dustin, nice too meet you. I've gotta run now but I'll be back"
I should probably let Ryan now about that, might be hunters I think to myself as I sprint off towards the gym.
I finally make my way there, the gym is situated in the library but rather than it being in the basement like Lenora, the roof of the building is where the battlefield is situated. There is a large soundproofing concave between the roof and main atrium of the library so the battle don't disturb the readers below. I make my way inside, there are lots of young trainer milling about in the library, I do a quick scan to see if I can spot Mareep however there no sign, I walk up to the reception who advises that Faye is in the middle of her battle before me still but she will call me when it is over. I wander around and ask some of the trainers if they have seen a wandering Mareep at all, none answer with anything helpful. I give up for now and began to read some of the literature, there one about rearing starter Pokemon which I think might be helpful due to the ongoings struggles with Totodile and Chikoritas personalties. As I'm getting about a third of the way through I see Faye descend down the stairs in tandem with a young boy around my age. Faye is tall even if she is only in her early twenties, she has two tone hair with the outside being a dark black with a vibrant pink undercut, he hair is pulled into a long ponytail at the back. Slung over her shoulder is a satchel bag which looks like is carrying books, three are stuffed into it when perhaps two would be enough.
"Congratulations Oscar, you and your Cyndaquil were excellent, head on towards Violet City and good luck" Faye says happily to the young man
He murmurs back which I can't hear before heading out of the facility
"Who is next Marcus?"
The receptionist points towards myself, she adjusts the spectacles on her face before walking up to me
"Hello young man, your name?" She questions as he towers over me
"Dustin" I say holding my hand out
"Lovely to meet you, shall we?" She says beckoning towards the stairs
I nod and walk beside her
"So I see you have three Pokemon, are you happy with a three v three challenge?"
"For sure"
"Excellent, its not often I get to use three Pokemon nowadays" She says bringing up her phone
"Three starter Pokemon very interesting" she murmurs
"Oh I'm doing some research for Professor Elm"
"Wow, I'm very impressed, I'm in for a hard match then" She says pushing the doors open revealing the battlefield
I stride up feeling confident, after my Kanto journey taking on gym leaders had become a lot less of a stressful situation. Faye moves across to the other side of the field as her gym trainer steps up as referee.
"Jigglypuff I choose you"
Faye throws out her first ball and Jigglypuff floats down in descent landing almost weightlessly
"Okay, Totodile go!"
I throw out Totodile's ball, it bounces up and down on the ground before sprinting in circles
"Totodile focus up!" I shout but I am ignored by the water type as it continues to sprint around the field
"Okay well, Jigglypuff use Disarming Voice"
Jigglypuff takes a big breath in and fires off a collection of sound bursts, they slam into Totodile who is sent flying to the ground. It lies out motionless on the floor unable to go on
"Well must have used up its energy running around" Faye murmurs as I return the water type
"Okay well lets try this, Chikorita!"
Chikorita lands on the field, it is already laid out on the ground, it yawns widely before jumping up. It sniffs at the air before looking towards me
"We're already one down so I need you Chikorita!" I shout out giving it a thumbs up
It yawns widely again before hopping up to the side of the building and beginning to sun bathe
"No Chikorita, we are battling!" I shout
"I don't think it going to participate Dustin" Faye shout out confused
I feel a wave of hot roll over me as I feel my face go bright red
"Argh! Return Chikorita"
I return Chikorita to her ball before grabbing my slat one and throw out Cyndaquil
"Cynda!" It calls out before lighting the fire on its back
"Its all on you Cyndaquil!"
"Ember!"
Cyndaquil spits out a stream of fire
"Dodge up"
Jigglypuff jumps up and dodges the attack
"Quick Attack!"
Cyndaquil bolts upwards and slams it back into Jigglypuff who is singe by it flames sending it rolling backwards
"You okay?" Faye questions as Jigglypuff pulls itself up
"Keep up the pressure Quick Attack!"
Cyndaquil darts forward again
"Sing!"
Jigglypuff begins to sing and small notes begin to flying out, they burst around Cyndaquil sending it to sleep, it slumps to the floor flat out
"No Cyndaquil you gotta wake up!" I shout out
"Disarming Voice!"
It breathes in deep again before firing off the sound bursts again, the slam Cyndaquil who can't dodge sending it flying back again, this time to its back and unable to go on
"Cyndaquil!" I shout running out to it and picking it up. It calls out as I hold it
"Don't worry about it, you did your best, its my fault for rushing here" I say returning it to its ball
Faye walks up with a slightly embarrassed look
"I don't think that went the either thought it would"
"Yeah, its my fault though. I haven't trained with them much, I should have spent some time to get used to them before rushing here" I say to her with a shrug
"Well said young man, look there lots of space out in the park to the south, my advice head there and do some training with Chikorita and Totodile especially"
"I will do Faye, sorry to have wasted your time"
"Don't be silly at all! I'm used to plenty of trainers coming up her with a single level two Caterpie"
I smile at her before heading off, I head to the centre first and get Cyndaquil healed up. I look around for Clara and Jacob but I can't spot them, I assume they have headed off into the city to try and find Mareep. I send them a text before heading for the park. I take a seat at one of the benches that is nearer to undergrowth looking out over the park. I send Cyndaquil out and it jumps up to the bench, it looks up to me
"Don't worry about the gym battle okay, you did your best. We just need to train harder and get the other two on side and we will be fine" I say patting his head
"Cynda!" It calls back happily
I set out three bowls and fill them up, Cyndaquil begins to eat away before I send the other two out
"Eat up guys" I say to them
Totodile gulps down its food in maybe only five seconds while Chikorita slowly pick up each individual piece with it vines taking multiple bite to eat each pellet
Totodile likes to do everything at speed while Chikorita likes to take things slow, maybe I can build a battle style around that
"Hey Totodile!"
Totodiles looks to me with a wide smile bouncing up and down
"Wanna play some tag, it would help Cyndaquil with its Quick Attack training?"
"Toto! Toto!" It calls out happily
"Great, you up for that Cyndaquil?"
"Cynda!"
I jump up with the two of them, Totodile immediately begins to chase Cyndaquil around
"Cyndaquil use Quick Attack!"
Cyndaquil darts away from Totodile who then chases again, Cyndaquil continues to dart around. Totodile continues to chase becoming frustrated that it cannot catch Cyndaquil, it jumps at Cyndaquil who deftly dodges around it. Totodile's eyes light up and it swipes its tail at the ground causing a glop of mud to fly at Cyndaquil muddy its vision before it jumps and grabs Cyndaquil
"That was Mud Slap! Good work Totodile!" I shout out running up to the pair
I pick Cyndaquil up and clear its face of the mud before placing it back down, I crouch in front of the too as Totodile begins to pin around in delight
"That was great work Totodile, you know battles are kind of like a big game of tag except you trying to hit the other Pokemon with its moves, would you want to battle like that?"
"Toto! Toto!" It calls back in agreement
"Great, well we can train like this all you like as long as Cyndaquil is up to it"
"Cynda!" It calls with a nod
"Okay you guys keep going for a bit"
They call out in agreement before Cyndaquil darts away with Quick attack as Totodile races after it
I look back to Chikorita who has now finished its bowl and is snoozing on the bench taking in the sun again. I walk up and collect the bowls before stuffing them into my bag, I take a seat next to Chikorita who has one eye open looking back towards me
"So Chikorita, would you be interested in battling at all?"
"Chiko" It coos
"You know I had a Bulbasaur a little like you, she loved to bathe in the sun, she use to sit on my backpack as we walked and take in the sun all day, would you like that too?"
It bounces up and smile at me
"Chiko Chiko!"
"Well sure I would be happy with that too, how come you love taking in the sun so much though?" I question
"Chiko" It coos before focusing and straining
It begins to light up green before it fades
"Oh? Thats Synthesis, are you trying to use that move?" I question
"Chiko" It murmur sadly with a nod
"Well that's okay, I can help with that!" I shout jumping up
"Professor, can you send me one of my Pokemon please?"
"Venu!"
"Hey Venusaur okay its good to see you too!" I say as she pulls me in close with her vine
She releases me and I see my new starter trio all sat on the bench in front of us, the stare up in awe at Venusaur, miraculously even Totodile is sat still
"You three, this is Venusaur. She was my very first Pokemon. Venu I need your help, Chikorita wants to try and learn Synthesis but she is having some trouble could you help us out"
"Venu!" she calls out before becking Chikorita to her with its vine
It jumps down and hops towards Venusaur, it pushes its vine into Chikorita chest before motioning up and around to its leaf, It then tenses as a green orb forms at its forehead before moving to its flower spreading energy around its body
"Oh I get it, so Chikorita, Venusaur is saying to focus your energy in your chest before moving it up to you leaf, that should then allow Synthesis to circle around your body!"
It summons all of it energy into it chest, it then tries to push the energy up but while its flow lights up its unable to send the energy around its body
"Venu!" Venusaur calls out
It uses it vines to touch the nubs around Chikoritas neck and then touching its leaf
"Chiko Chiko!" It calls up happily
The nubs on it neck glow green before the leaf does and disperse the energy around its body
"You did it! Amazing Chikorita!"
"Chiko Chiko" It shouts jumping up and down with glee
"Venu!"
Venusaur calls out happily before patting the little starter on the head
I call Elm and send Venusaur back after congratulating and thanking her for her help
"Right you three, lets head back to the centre for tonight, we can try the gym again tomorrow"
They all call out in unison
"Reep!"
I look over to see a Mareep peering out of one of the bushes further down the park
"Hey get back in here now!" comes a shout before the Mareep is whipped back through the bush
"That doesn't look good, come on guys" I say wandering up as quietly as I can to the bushes
I peer through and see a group of men all surrounding a cage full of Pokemon, they are all dressed similarly sneering into the cage as the Mareep is thrown back in
"Hunters"
