Early morning…
Gary had been woken up pretty early, thanks to his Mankey, before the sun showed itself to the world. The boy packed everything away while yawning, and headed for his bike.
"I should be mad, but this way we might cover more ground by getting up this early," he spoke to Mankey, who decided to hitch a ride on his shoulder, as he jumped onto his bike.
While riding along, Gary battled multiple trainers and caught many Pokèmon along the way through routes 11 and 12. Among the Pokèmon caught were Tentacool, Horsea, Venonat and Farfetch'd.
Two days later, in the morning, Gary ended up in Lavender Town, home of the Pokèmon Tower, and to another tower that had been abandoned centuries ago.
"Best head to the Pokèmon center, and check in with grandpa," he said. Riding his way through the town, while taking in the sights.
After finding the Pokèmon center he approached one of the video phones, and called his grandpa Professor Oak.The phone call was surprisingly answered by Gary's Rattata appearing on the screen.
"Rattata!" it chirped out, smiling.
"Hey Rattata! Where's gramps?" The boy asks, trying not to smile at the intelligence of his Rattata.
The Mouse Pokèmon rushes off and returns with the Professor. "Hello Gary, how has your journey been going as of late?"
"Well, it's been really enlightening, Gramps. Also, getting in a lot of training and battles with my team. We keep this up, we'll be unstoppable!" Gary made a show of strength by flexing his arm, which was mimicked by Mankey on his shoulder, enthusiastically.
Prof. Oak nodded his head in approval. "Mhmm, I see. And where are you calling from?"
"Lavender Town. Just got here, like 10 min ago."
"Ah, Lavender Town. The place where people come to lay their Pokèmon to rest. Do be sure you are mindful while you're there, and do not disrespect the people there," the older Oak said, giving Gary a stern look.
"Don't worry, Gramps, I won't be causing any trouble. I am the great Gary Oak, after all," Gary said, giving a bit of a boast.
"Well, I hope so. By the way, I take it you also want to swap your Pokèmon around, yes?" The professor asked. At Gary's nod, Rattata stepped back into view. "Oh, also, Gary, I'll be going to Porta Vista Beach with Ash's mom and some other residents of Pallet Town, and will be back this evening."
"I see. Well, hope you all have fun out there. I'll be training for the next few days as well, before moving on to Celadon City." Gary replies, starts swapping out his Pokèmon. Hanging up, after bidding his grandfather farewell, Gary was left with this team:
Nidoking
Alakazam
Spearow
Wartortle
Jigglypuff
Pikachu
Gary, having stepped out of the Pokèmon Center, heard from some townsfolk about a man named Mr Fuji. A kindhearted old man, who takes in abandoned and orphaned Pokèmon. That he provides a safe place for them, until he is able to find new homes for them.
"Mr. Fuji, huh?" Gary took a little walk around town to find Mr Fuji's house.
After walking around for a bit, he found residence, also by the sign on the front lawn. He knocked on the door, and was let in. Stepping inside, he found some of the volunteers looking quite worried, while the others were caring for the Pokèmon in the pen area..
"Excuse me, but what happened? And where is Mr, Fuji?" Gary asked, frowning. After taking a once over in the place, and not seeing any sign of an old man, he started to prepare for the worst.
"Mr. Fuji? He ran to the Pokèmon Tower to protect an orphaned Cubone from some poachers that came into town, but haven't returned. We're all so worried, but we can't leave. If we do, then who will protect the Pokèmon here?" A little girl responded, quite sadly to the Oak boy.
Gary quietly clenched his fists at this. "Poachers, eh? Sounds like Team Rocket to me. I'll go and back up Mr Fuji at the tower!"
Then the boy ran out of the house, ignoring the little girl and the volunteers trying to stop him, and off towards the huge tower. That place, from a distance, gave him an eerie feeling. Though he pushed those feelings aside, and focused on where he was going.
It took a bit of time, but he made it, and found several townspeople talking in worried tones, but none entering the building. The resting place of Pokèmon. Seeing as no one was stopping him, he entered the old tower.
Gary spotted a Rocket grunt leaning against the back wall.
"What are you doing here kid? Don't you know this is Rocket Territory?" The grunt said annoyed.
This didn't phase Gary at all, as he sent out Jigglypuff to mock the Rocket grunt, and sang the grunt to sleep. With that done, Gary ran through all six floors before reaching the final floor. Fortunately, there were no other Rockets on those floors.
The boy had finally reached the 7th floor, there were three grunts laughing about what they've done in Lavender Town, this put Gary in a state of anger.
"Hey! Team Rocket! I hope you don't mind getting a beat down from yours truly! Gary Oak, from the Town of Pallet!"
The other two grunts kept laughing when the first grunt stepped up.
"Whatever you say kid. You shouldn't meddle in grown ups affairs," he said, then sent out a Zubat.
Gary pulled out a pokèball, and prepared to launch it. It happened to contain his Pikachu, who wanted to redeem herself after her loss to Ralph's Spearow, back in Commerce city.
"Go pikachu!" Gary shouts as his Pikachu appeared and smiles at the bat Pokèmon. A Zubat is nothing but easy pickings. "Don't waste any time, Thunderbolt!"
One by one, the grunt lost his two Zubat and one Golbat to the electric mouse Pokèmon.
"Return, Pikachu," Gary said, returning his Pokèmon to the ball.
"You brat… You deal with him!" the grunt snapped at the second grunt, who wished he hadn't gone second.
"Koffing, get that brat!" The purple crater covered Pokèmon floated around looking dopey as usual.
"Koffing, eh? Well go, Alakazam!" Gary sent out his Psi Pokémon who stretched its arms and legs. "Confusion."
Its eyes glow before using its power to halt its opponents movements. Then aiming its spoon, in its right hand down, it sent the poison type slamming hard into the ground. This super effective attack had knocked out Koffing.
The second grunt growled at this defeat. "You only got lucky brat. I bet you don't have an out for my Drowzee!" and threw out his second Pokèmon from its ball.
The yellow Tapir is sent out waving its hands like it was doing some sort of crazy hula dance. This immediately weirded Gary out, as he returned his Alakazam to its ball. Then pulled out another one.
"Oh, I don't know, I might be able to pull something together, go Wartortle!"
The blue turtle Pokèmon returns to fight for his trainer! Glaring at the Rocket grunts.
"Use Bite!" Gary called out.
Wartortle ran forward then jumped at Drowzee. The water type chomped down on the psychic type's arm. Drowzee screamed in pain from how effective this move was to it, that it ends up running around, flailing, trying to get its assailant off.
"I don't think your Drowzee is gonna be able to battle much longer," Gary stated, glaring at the grunts.
"Oh yeah? Drowzee, use your Disable, now!" the second grunt ordered.
The psychic Tapir uses disable to prevent Wartortle from continuing to use his bite attack. With that done it swung its arm, that Wartortle was biting, towards Gary, freeing itself from the water type.
Wartortle spun himself around, and landed on his feet. Now grinning at the anger on Drowzee's face, and prepared to attack once again.
"Smart move," the boy replies.
"Now, Drowzee, use your Confusion!"
Drowzee started to glow, preparing to use confusion. Ready to pay Wartortle back for the bites.
"Wartortle, use your Water Gun!" Gary quickly countered.
Both Pokèmon fired their respective attacks at each other. Both attacks collided in the center of their battle, until Water Gun won out. Blasting the Drowzee hard enough to knock it out!
The second grunt growled, while Gary smirked, as both returned their Pokèmon.
"I'm the last grunt then, but I'm not going to lose easily!" He shouted, sending out two of his Pokèmon, which happened to be a pair of Zubat.
To which, both were quickly dispatched by Gary's Pikachu's Thunderbolt. This shocked the grunt at how easily two of his mons were taken down.
"You want to play dirty, you go right ahead. I'll just take you down, like no one's business," Gary declared, while returning his Pikachu, and sending out his Nidoking.
Growling, the grunt returns his two defeated Pokèmon, and sends out his Raticate.
The battle commenced. Nidoking uses Double Kick but Raticate dodges it. Then Raticate unleashes a nasty Hyper Fang on Nidoking's leg. Nidoking roared in pain, but smirked at the results of being bitten. Raticate had been poisoned, by the Poison Point Ability!
Seeing his normal type poisoned, made the grunt grit his teeth in anger.
"Nidoking, Double Kick!" Gary shouts, and watches his Pokèmon deal the final blow to the normal type, knocking it out.
"You are the most annoying brat I've ever seen. Go, Zubat!" the grunt shouted.
Gary returned his Nidoking back to his ball. "Maybe I'll give myself a challenge then, Spearow, go!" The bird pokèmon squawks upon appearing. "Use, Leer!"
The bird's eyes glow glaring at the Bat pokèmon, dropping its defenses.
"How dare your Spearow Leer at my Zubat! Zubat, use Bite!" the grunt shouts in indignation.
The bat and bird had an aerial battle going on in the tower. Trading Bites and Fury attacks on each other, and neither looking to back down.
The grunt calls out, "Supersonic!"
Zubat unleashes a blue sound wave to confuse Spearow. The move landed, and so did Spearow. Landing on the ground, and stumbles around.
"Spearow please, snap out of it and use Peck!" Gary calls out, the words of his trainer aren't enough, as Spearow tries to peck and hits the floor in confusion.
"Looks like your little bird isn't doing too well!" The grunt laughs maniacally.
"Yeah, but you don't seem to get it, I won't ever give up!" Gary returns, Spearow and sends out his Jigglypuff.
"Jig jiggly!" she puffs up trying to increase her size to scare Zubat, which doesn't work.
Both the grunt and Gary called out their attacks.
"Zubat, use your supersonic!"
"Jigglypuff, Disable!"
Jigglypuff had managed to avoid the move, and fired a glowing ring at the Zubat. Once it hit the flying type, Supersonic could no longer be used.
This angered the grunt, who stomped his foot to the ground in frustration.
"Yes! Without your Supersonic move, what can you do now, Rocket?" Gary smirks
"Shut up, Zubat use Leech life!"
Zubat flies swiftly and bites into Jigglypuff. Sucking the blood from the balloon pokemon, who inflates to get the bat off her body. Suddenly, Zubat quits attacking her, and looks like… there was bright red blush plastered all over the poison type's face. And what looked to be hearts floating from its head.
"Looks like Cute Charm activated just in time. Your Zubat is in love with my Jigglypuff. Now for the final blow, Pound!" Gary yelled.
Jigglypuff strikes Zubat across the face and down to the ground. Knocking it out!
Gary returned his Pokemon and watched as Team Rocket cursed him as they left saying things like we will get him next time. He wasn't phased by their empty threats. He'd beat them without even trying. Knowing that if runs into them again, he'll beat them again.
He walks up to the old man, who had been leaning against one of the statues in the tower, Mr Fuji. Getting closer to the older man, Gary sees that Mr. Fuji happens to be holding the orphaned Cubone that was spoken about. Extending his hand, to help the old fellow up off the floor.
"You're Mr. Fuji, right?" the old man nodded. "I came to help you deal with those troublesome thieves, Team Rocket," Gary said.
"Thank you for saving us, but I came here of my own free will. I came here to calm the spirit of this cubone's mother. I think the spirit has finally left. If you would, please follow me back to my home," Mr Fuji said.
The young Cubone had been staring at Gary since he arrived on the 7th floor. They had left the tower and luckily, along the way, Gary had caught a Gastly and 2 Haunters during the walk out. They returned to Mr Fuji's House, once the elder had let the worried townsfolk know that he was alright, and that the young fella with him had dealt with the poachers, now known as Team Rocket. His volunteers are all too happy to see Mr. Fuji returned to them, safe.
"So what is your name lad?" Mr Fuji said petting Cubone, who was still looking at Gary in awe of the trainer.
"Gary Oak. Grandson of Professor Oak's," Gary answered.
Fuji nodded and set the young Cubone down, beside him. Straightening back up, he smiled and reached into his pocket. "Gary Oak. You have thwarted the nefarious Team Rocket at the Pokèmon Tower, rescued both myself and the young Pokèmon with me from them. You have shown a deep trust through your Pokèmon in battling and dedication to do what is right. For these things, I, Mr. Fuji of the Lavender Town Gym, hereby present to you, the Specter badge." He pulls out the badge hidden away in his pocket.
The badge is circular with a golden yellow border, purple base and two lines running parallel from each other like it was trapped between worlds.
"I planned to battle one more trainer before I retired from the Pokèmon League. I'm happy to give you this badge," Mr. Fuji said, smiling.
"Whoa! Thank you, Mr. Fuji," the boy said, gratefully.
Gary accepted the badge, placing it within his case. He was kinda dumbfounded. He would have liked a battle, but saving Mr. Fuji was enough.
"I've noticed that Cubone has been staring at me since I beat team Rocket," He spoke, crouching down to look closer at the ground type.
"Cu Cu Cubone" Cubone spoke, her eyes twinkling at the boy crouching in front of her.
"I think she really likes you, Gary," Mr. Fuji guessed.
"Ha, well I am amazing," Gary boasted a little. "So Cubone, do you want to come join the strongest party in all of Kanto?" he asks.
In response Cubone waved her bone in the air with delight.
"I'm taking that as a resounding yes," Gary said, then tapped the pokèball on her head.
It was different to his usual way of catching pokèmon, but he was happy to help this orphaned Pokèmon gain a brand new family.
"I should go to the Pokèmon center and carry on with my journey," Gary got up and left for the Pokèmon center.
"Take care, young Gary Oak," Mr. Fuji said, waving the boy farewell.
Once Gary had gotten to the Pokèmon center and healed his Pokèmon, he looked to his squad. Each of them looking good.Nidoking, Alakazam, Spearow, Pikachu, Wartortle, and Wigglytuff. He nodded his head and….
"... WIGGLYTUFF!?" Gary shouted, in shock.
Standing before him, next to his backpack, was the evolved form of his Jigglypuff. Gary's eyes went to his backpack, and then to his sheepishly looking Wigglytuff, who had a treat in its hand. Gary put two and two together, and rolled his eyes.
"Greedy much?" Gary asked rhetorically.
It was evening when he got in contact with his grandpa, and would make changes to his line up. Swapping out his Wigglytuff for Mankey, Spearow for his Geodude, and Pikachu for his Poliwag.
Gary had heard people talking about the Rock Tunnel and the Pokèmon inside were quite strong. Learning that it wasn't too far away. Just north of Lavender Town, he took that as a place to train his Pokèmon before heading out again.
To be continued…
Authors notes: Lavender town I can still hear the song
Thanks to https//u/1725082/the-black-shinobi for this awesome collab!