The Wondrous World of Pokémon! A world filled with mysterious creatures known as Pokémon, who come in all shapes and sizes. They live everywhere imaginable. On the land, in the seas and skies, and some even come from outer space. These creatures can bond with humans thanks to the special capture devices known as Pokéballs. Those who use Pokémon for battle are known as Pokémon Trainers. After our heroes worked together to battle a rambunctious Mankey, which ended in Silver catching him, our heroes learned that the first Gym Latrell and Silver would be able to challenge is in Pewter City. Now, our heroes are making their way through Viridian Forest, en route to Pewter City. What kind of adventures await our heroes in this forest? And what kind of people and Pokémon are they going to meet?
Viridian Forest, Kanto Region
With our group making their way into the forest
Latrell: Wow, there's so many Pokémon!
Blue: Yeah, Viridian Forest has a lot of Pokémon everywhere.
Fiore: Have you been here before?
Blue: When I was a little girl, my mom brought me out to see some of the Pokémon that lived here. As I got older, we saw more kinds of Pokémon. Even Pokémon that aren't native to the Kanto Region live here now.
Latrell: Really?
Silver: I can tell. Look over there, guys. (Points to an Illumise and Volbeat flying around)
Fiore: What kind of Pokémon are those?
Blue: Let's see. (Pulls out the Pokédex on Volbeat)
Rotom Phone: Volbeat, the Firefly Pokémon. A Bug Type. Volbeat flash the light on its rear to communicate with other Volbeat. It loves the sweet aroma given off by Illumise.
Silver: And that other Pokémon is Illumise. (Pulls the Pokédex out on Illumise)
Rotom Phone: Illumise, the Firefly Pokémon. A Bug Type. Illumise uses its sweet scent to guide Volbeat, having them form over 200 patterns in the night sky.
Latrell: Cool, what about that Pokémon? (Points to a Kricketot)
Fiore: It's a Kricketot. They're native to the Sinnoh Region.
Latrell: Alright, let's see. (Pulls up the Pokédex on Kricketot)
Rotom Phone: Kricketot, the Cricket Pokémon. A Bug Type. When Kricketot's antennae hit each other, it sounds like the music of a xylophone.
Latrell: Ah, another Bug Type.
Blue: Hey, what's that? (Points to a Nymble hopping around in the grass)
Silver: Beats me.
Fiore: No clue.
Latrell: Then let's see. (Pulls out the Pokédex on Nymble)
Rotom Phone: Nymble, the Grasshopper Pokémon. A Bug Type. Nymble are highly skilled at a fighting style in which it uses its jumping capabilities to dodge incoming attacks while also dealing damage to opponents.
Blue: Ah, that's cool!
Latrell: Alright, I'm gonna catch that Nymble!
Fiore: Go for it!
Silver: Good luck, bro.
Latrell: Charmander, come on out! (Throws his Pokéball to reveal Charmander)
Charmander: Char!
Latrell: Alright, use Flame-
Fiore: Hold it!
Latrell: What's wrong?
Fiore: Look around, if you use a move like Flamethrower here, you could start a forest fire. Even the Pokémon around here are terrified of Charmander. (Points at all the Bug Pokémon in the area retreating at the sight of Charmander, aside from Nymble)
Latrell: You make a good point. Charmander, use Scratch!
Charmander: (Runs to Nymble and attempts to Scratch)
Nymble: Nim! (Swiftly jumps into a tree and dodges Charmander easily)
Latrell: Dang! It's really fast!
(Just then, a Pikachu approaches the group and sits with them to watch the battle, albeit going unnoticed)
Silver: Need some help?
Latrell: Yeah, let's give it no room to move!
Silver: Alright, let's go, Treecko! (Throws his Pokéball to reveal Treecko)
Treecko: Tree!
Silver: Knock that Pokémon out of the tree with Pound!
Treecko: Tree-Co! (Jumps to where Nymble is and hits the branch it's standing on)
Nymble: Nim! (Jumps off the branch)
Latrell: Charmander! Intercept Nymble's landing with Ember!
Charmander: Man-Der! (Blasts an Ember at Nymble, hitting it point blank)
Nymble: Nim... Nim-Bill! (Falls to the ground in pain from the Super Effective Ember, but stands back up)
Blue: Wow, Nymble's really resilient.
Latrell: Yeah. Now I'm definitely gonna catch it!
Nymble: (Jumps up to Treecko and uses Bug Bite on him)
Treecko: (Jumps off the tree in pain and hits the ground)
Silver: Treecko!
Latrell: Charmander, come here!
Charmander: Char! (Runs to Latrell and gets picked up by him)
Latrell: Alright, go for Nymble and use Scratch! (Tosses Charmander into the air)
Charmander: Char-Man-Der! (Nods and hits Nymble with Scratch)
Latrell: Alright! Let's go! Pokéball! (Throws a Pokéball at the falling Nymble, and manages to hit it)
(The Pokéball puts Nymble inside of it and falls to the ground)
Latrell: C'mon...
(The Pokéball shakes 3 times, then the button flashes green to signify the successful capture)
Latrell: Yes! I caught Nymble!
(Silver, Fiore, Blue, Charmander, and Treecko all cheer)
Pikachu: Pika!
(The group all blankly stare at Pikachu)
Latrell: A Pikachu?
Silver: (Uses the Pokédex on Pikachu)
Rotom Phone: Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. An Electric Type. Its nature is to store up electricity in its red cheeks. Forests where nests of Pikachu live are dangerous, since the trees are so often struck by lightning.
Fiore: Cool!
Blue: I think I wanna catch it.
Latrell: Alright, go ahead.
Silver: It's just standing there, I don't think you'll need to battle it.
Pikachu: Pi! (Starts to run away)
Latrell: It's getting away!
Blue: We'll see! Eevee, use Swift!
Eevee: (Jumps out of Blue's arms and launches Swift at Pikachu)
Pikachu: (Gets launched back towards the group due to the Swift)
Blue: (Throws a Pokéball, and Pikachu goes into the Pokéball)
(The Pokéball shakes 3 times, then the button flashes green to signify the successful capture)
Blue: Awesome! I caught Pikachu!
Latrell: Great! We both have a new Pokémon!
Fiore: Now that that's done, we should get out of this forest.
Silver: Right. Blue, do you know the way through this forest?
Blue: Uhh... to be honest, the last time I was here was about 3 years ago.
(The group and their Pokémon who are out of their balls all stare blankly at each other with chirping being heard in the background)
Kricketot: (Chirping next to the group)
(The group all stare at Kricketot, who retreats after being spotted)
Fiore: (Exasperated sigh) Alright, we can't do anything about this, so we should just try to get through here as fast as we can.
Silver: Yeah, let's go.
(The group starts walking through the forest again)
About 15 minutes later
Mankey: Man! (Jumps down from a tall tree)
Silver: Find anything, Mankey?
Mankey: (Shakes his head)
Latrell, Blue, and Fiore: (Exasperated sigh)
Silver: Thanks anyway, Mankey. (Returns Mankey to its Pokéball)
10 minutes later
Treecko: (Talking with a Rattata, then walks back to the group)
Fiore: Did Treecko find anything out?
Treecko: (Shakes its head)
(The group all sigh)
About 20 minutes later
Latrell, Blue, Fiore, and Eevee: (Looking up into a tree)
Silver: (Falls out said tree and hits the ground)
Starly X4: (Fly out of the tree and start pecking Silver relentlessly)
Silver: Ah! No! Stop! Get off me!
Latrell, Blue, and Fiore: (Laugh loudly at Silver and hold their stomachs)
Latrell: (Laughs so hard he falls to the ground)
15 minutes later
(The group all sit down and lean against some trees)
Latrell: Man, I'm beat.
Fiore: Yeah, I didn't think getting through a forest would be this hard.
Silver: You guys are beat? I literally got jumped by a group of Starly.
(The other three alongside Eevee laugh a bit)
Silver: (Deadpans all of them) Thanks again, guys.
Blue: In my defense, I did have Pikachu help you out.
Silver: Yeah, after 5 minutes of you all laughing at my pain while Latrell just dies on the ground.
Latrell: Can you blame me? That was comedy gold.
Fiore: (Stomach growls) Man, I'm hungry.
Blue: (Looks up at the sky to see the sun setting) And it's getting pretty late.
Silver: Alright, let's eat dinner and I guess we're gonna have to camp out tonight.
Fiore: Fortunately, I brought a tent with me.
Latrell: Same here.
Blue: Perfect. Alright then, let's eat.
With the group and their Pokémon eating their food
Latrell: (Takes a bite out of his burger) Man, this food is awesome!
Fiore: (Sips some apple juice) Yeah, the Pokémon Center makes great food.
Silver: (Eating some fried chicken) Good, but I hope some of us know how to cook, just in case.
Blue: I can't.
Latrell: Best I can give y'all is a grilled egg and cheese.
Fiore: I don't know much either.
Silver: I almost burned my house down trying to boil water.
Latrell: How do you even-
Silver: It's better we not question it.
Blue: Well, it looks like Eevee and Pikachu are getting along well.
Eevee and Pikachu: (Running around playing with each other)
Silver: And Mankey seems to be adjusting well too.
Mankey: (Eating with Piplup and Treecko, and visibly enjoying himself)
Latrell: Wish I could say the same about Nymble. (Points to Nymble)
Nymble: (Eating his food away from the group)
Blue: Maybe Nymble's upset he lost before.
Fiore: Nymble does seem very prideful.
Latrell: Let me try talking to him. (Walks up to Nymble)
Nymble: Nim?
Latrell: I get it, you're upset about losing. But, these are your friends now, so you should make an effort to get closer to them. I promise we'll get stronger together.
Nymble: Nim... (Pushes his bowl over to the the rest of the group)
Charmander: Char! (Gives some of his food to Nymble)
Nymble: Nim! (Happily jumps)
(The group all laugh)
With the group all sleeping in their tents
(A silhouette of a small Pokémon jumps into the group's campsite and looks at the tents)
The sounds of bird and Bug Pokémon can be heard throughout the forest
(The small Pokémon retreats into the Guys tent and starts poking Latrell)
Latrell (Groggily): (Slowly opens his eyes) Hey, what's going?
Pokémon: Key! (Quickly grabs Latrell's hat and runs off)
Latrell: Give me back my hat! (Gets up and chases after the Pokémon who took his hat)
Fiore: (Gets out her tent and runs after Latrell)
(The Pokémon goes into the trees and continues on its way)
Latrell: (Still running after the Pokémon) Fiore, what are you doing up?
Fiore: (Running with Latrell) I couldn't sleep, then I heard you, so I came out of the tent.
Latrell: Alright. That Pokémon stole my hat!
Fiore: What is it?
Latrell: I was kinda hoping you knew what it was.
Fiore: No clue, it's pretty agile though.
Latrell: Yeah. Give me back my hat!
Fiore: (Deadpans Latrell) It's just a hat.
Latrell: It's my hat!
Fiore: Fair point.
After about 15 minutes later of chasing the Pokémon
(The Pokémon jumps into an clearing in the forest that isn't covered by the trees, so it has no more trees to jump to)
Latrell: There! (Follows the Pokémon into the clearing)
Fiore: Finally! (Panting as she heads into the clearing)
Latrell: (Panting) Jeez, that Pokémon sure has lots of energy.
Fiore: At least we can get a clear view of it now.
(The Pokémon turns around and it turns out to be a Grookey)
Latrell: Woah, never seen that Pokémon before. (Pulls out the Pokédex on Grookey)
Rotom Phone: Grookey, the Chimp Pokémon. A Grass Type. As Grookey strikes everything in sight with its stick, it has more and more fun, and its rhythm becomes livelier. Grookey is one of the three Starter Pokémon new Trainers in the Galar Region can choose.
Fiore: So it's a Starter Pokémon?
Latrell: Where's your Trainer? They must be worried sick.
Grookey: Groo? (Tilts its head in confusion)
Fiore: It must be a wild Grookey.
Latrell: Yeah, you're probably right. Hey Grookey, where are your friends at?
Grookey: Key?
Latrell: Don't you have any Pokémon friends you hang out with?
Grookey: (Starts to tear up and cry)
Latrell: Ah! (Picks up Grookey and starts to cradle it) It's okay, you don't need to cry.
Grookey: (Wipes his tears away and starts crying)
Latrell: There. Are you okay?
Grookey: (Jumps out of Latrell's arms and puts its head down in shame)
Latrell: Did something happen to your friends?
Grookey: (Nods his head)
Latrell: Alright, come on out, Charmander. (Holds out his Pokéball and Charmander comes out)
Charmander: Char?
Latrell: Talk to that Grookey, maybe we can learn what happened to its friends.
Charmander: Char! (Nods his head and starts talking to Grookey)
Grookey: Groo?
Charmander: Char, Char?
Grookey: Key-Key?
Charmander: (Walks back to Latrell and Fiore)
Latrell: So, what happened?
Charmander: (Uses charades to explain what happened)
Fiore: It's pretty late at night, so I don't have the brain power to understand this.
Latrell: Hmm... yeah I don't get it.
Charmander: (Deadpans the two and grabs Fiore's Pokéball)
Fiore: Huh?
Charmander: (Starts to run away)
Fiore: Hey! That's my Piplup!
Latrell: Now I get it!
Charmander: (Throws Fiore's Pokéball to her)
Fiore: (Catches it) How did you get it from Charmander attempting to kidnap Pip- OH!
Latrell: Yeah. Grookey, did someone take your friends?
Grookey: Key! (Nods)
Fiore: Did this happen recently?
Grookey: Groo. (Gives a thumbs up)
Latrell: So was it like earlier in the day?
Grookey: Groo! Groo-Key! (Nods again)
Fiore: So there's a chance they're still in the forest.
Latrell: Don't worry, we'll find your friends and get them back, Grookey!
Fiore: (Deadpans) Yeah, if we can even find our way through this forest.
Charmander: Char! Charmander!
Latrell: (Kneels down to Grookey) Now, can I have my hat back?
Grookey: (Hands Latrell his hat)
(Suddenly, a net wraps around Charmander, then retracts to the person who launched it)
Charmander: Char! (Tries to Scratch his way out)
Fiore: What was that?!
Latrell: Charmander, are you okay?!
Charmander: (Continues his attempts to Scratch out of the net)
Latrell: Who did that?!
(Suddenly, two people step out of the cover of the trees and reveal themselves to be a man and a woman, with a Chatot on the man's shoulders. The man has dark skin, dreads tied up into a short ponytail, and glasses. The woman has long blonde hair with green eyes. They're both wearing white t-shirts, black leather jackets, and dark purple jeans)
Grookey: Groo... (Hides behind Latrell)
Woman: You were supposed to get Grookey, not a Charmander!
Chatot: Moron.
Man: Well, it's not my fault it's so dark out.
Fiore: Who are you fools?!
Man: Fools?! I'll have you know I'm Yosef!
Woman: And I'm Giselle!
Chatot: And I'm Greg the Chatot!
Yosef: We're the Kanto Region's most notorious Pokémon Smugglers!
Giselle: We're the Poké-Pilferers!
Fiore: (Deadpans) Never heard of you.
Latrell: Same.
Greg: The nerve of these kids!
Yosef: You said it!
Latrell: Give me back my Charmander!
Giselle: Not a chance. Pokémon as rare as your Charmander will sell for good money on the black market.
Latrell: What was that?!
Yosef: Alongside the other Pokémon we've already taken from this forest. We're gonna be rich. (Pulls out another net filled with Pokémon like Oddish, Caterpie, Weedle, Illumise, Volbeat, and Kricketot to name a few)
Greg: Though our original target was that Grookey behind you.
Grookey: Groo! Groo-Key!
Latrell: Grookey, are those the ones that took your friends?
Grookey: (Nods)
Latrell: Alright. Give those Pokémon back!
Greg: Or what?
Fiore: Or this! Piplup, let's go! (Throws her Pokéball to reveal Piplup)
Piplup: Pip, Pip-Lup!
Latrell: Nymble, come on out! (Throws his Pokéball to reveal Nymble)
Nymble: Nim!
Yosef: You don't scare us! (Throws her Pokéball to reveal Rattata)
Giselle: Help us out, Zubat! (Throws his Pokéball to reveal Zubat)
Latrell: Nymble, use Double Kick on Rattata!
Nymble: (Pounces at Rattata and attempts Double Kick)
Giselle: Zubat! Use Poison Sting, and do it now!
Zubat: (Shoots little purple needles out of his mouth and hits Nymble)
Nymble: (Hits the ground but stands back up)
Latrell: Dang, really wish Silver and Blue were here.
Back at the campsite
(Silver and Blue walk out their respective tents, with Eevee in the latter's arms)
Blue: Hey Silver, have you seen Fiore? She wasn't in the tent.
Silver: Neither was Latrell. They must've left in a hurry, since Latrell forgot his hoodie and pants.
Blue: Fiore left her jacket too.
Silver: Something must've happened, let's go look for them.
Eevee: Ee?
Blue: No offense, but I don't trust you to find your way back here, Treecko or not. Latrell and Fiore should be back soon.
Silver: Fine, but if they're not back by daybreak, we're gonna look for them.
Blue: Alrightie.
Back with Latrell and Fiore battling the Poké-Pilferers
Latrell: Nymble, use Bug Bite!
Yosef: Zubat, use Bite!
(Nymble and Zubat bite each other and fall to the ground)
Fiore: Piplup! Bubble Beam!
Piplup: Pip! (Shoots Bubble Beam at Rattata)
Giselle: Rattata! Use Quick Attack!
Rattata: (Dodges the Bubble Beam using Quick Attack then hits Piplup head on, knocking it into a tree)
Piplup: (Hits its head on the tree and falls to the ground)
Fiore: No! Piplup!
Giselle: Now that that's done, we should take that Nymble. He's too bothersome.
Yosef: I agree. (Captures Nymble in a net)
Latrell: No! Nymble!
Grookey: Key... (Looks up at Latrell)
Latrell: Give me back my Pokémon!
Greg: Not on your life!
Grookey: Groo...
Fiore: Give back Grookey's friends!
Yosef: You must not know what "Not on your life" means.
Grookey: Groo... Key! (Jumps up and uses Razor Leaf on Rattata and Zubat)
Latrell: Woah, Grookey...
Grookey: Groo-Key! Groo!
Greg: That pest is saying to give back all those Pokémon or else.
Giselle: (Laughs) Is that Grookey brave or stupid?
Latrell: You wanna battle, Grookey?
Grookey: Grookey! Groo!
Latrell: Alright, use Razor Leaf!
Grookey: (Uses Razor Leaf and hits both Rattata and Zubat)
Giselle: Zubat, rush in and take down that chimp! Use Bite!
Zubat: (Rushes in and attempts Bite)
Latrell: Grookey, attack with your stick! Knock it into the tree!
Grookey: (Used Branch Poke to knock Zubat into the tree)
Zubat: (Hits its head against the tree, falling unconscious)
Giselle: My poor Zubat!
Latrell: Grookey, use Scratch on Rattata!
Grookey: (Runs up to Rattata and Scratches it, knocking it into Yosef)
Yosef: (Catches Rattata and falls to the ground)
Latrell: Grookey, use Razor Leaf and destroy that net!
Grookey: Groo... Key! (Uses Razor Leaf on the net, breaking it open and letting all the Pokémon free)
Giselle, Yosef, and Greg: No!
Fiore: Yes!
Charmander and Nymble: (Quickly run to Latrell as the other Pokémon hide behind the two trainers)
Latrell: (I'm so glad you two are safe! Alright, Charmander! Blast them using Flamethrower!
Charmander: Char... Mander! (Uses Flamethrower on the Trio and their Pokémon, sending them flying)
Giselle: Agh! I'm getting that Charmander no matter what!
Yosef: Yeah! That Pokémon will make us millions!
Greg: You dopes are delusional!
(The trio then fly so high that they just become a little dot in the night sky)
Latrell: Yes! We did it! Charmander and Nymble, return! (Returns Charmander and Nymble to their Pokéballs)
Fiore: You return too, Piplup. (Returns Piplup to his Pokéball)
Latrell: Alright, you got your friends back Grookey. We'll be off now. It was great meeting you. (Starts to walk away with Fiore)
Grookey: Groo..? Groo! (Runs up to Latrell and hugs his leg)
Latrell: Grookey?
Grookey: Groo! Groo-Key!
Fiore: Grookey obviously wants to go with you, you fool.
Latrell: Grookey, you wanna come with me?
Grookey: (Smiles and repeatedly nods)
Latrell: Alright, that settles it. (Kneels down and taps Grookey's head with a Pokéball)
(Grookey goes inside the Pokéball, then the Pokéball shakes three times and the button flashes green to signify the successful capture)
Latrell: Yes! I caught Grookey!
Fiore: Let him out.
Latrell: Right. Alright, come on out, Grookey! (Tosses his Pokéball in the air and Grookey comes out)
Grookey: Groo! (Hops onto Latrell's shoulder)
Latrell: Alright, now we should head back.
Fiore: Yeah. Bye everyone! (Walks away and waves)
Latrell: We'll be seeing you! (Walks away with Fiore and waves off)
Grookey: Groo! Groo-Key! (Waves at all the Pokémon as Latrell walks off)
(All the other Pokémon wave or do a tiny jump if they don't have hands)
Back at the campsite
Silver: It's been almost an hour.
Blue: Yeah, I'm starting to get worried.
Latrell: Hey guys, we're back! (Walks up to the two with Fiore behind him and Grookey on his shoulder)
Fiore: You wouldn't believe what happened.
Grookey: Groo! (Waves to Silver, Blue, and Eevee)
Silver: Try me.
Latrell: Well...
And with that, our heroes have experienced more wonders in the Pokémon World. And with their new friends, Nymble, Pikachu, and Grookey, things are sure to get more interesting. What will happen next as Latrell and Silver inch ever so closer to their first Gym Battle in Pewter City? Find out next time. As the Journey Continues!