Chapter Index
-
Hey Trainers! Be sure to check out Corsola Beach, our newest section on the forums, in partnership with our friends at Corsola Cove! At the Beach, you can discuss the competitive side of the games, post your favorite Pokemon memes, and connect with other Pokemon creators!
-
Due to the recent changes with Twitter's API, it is no longer possible for Bulbagarden forum users to login via their Twitter account. If you signed up to Bulbagarden via Twitter and do not have another way to login, please contact us here with your Twitter username so that we can get you sorted.
EVERYONE: To catch 'em all (and live to tell the tale)
- Thread starter lostwillowtree
- Start date
- Created at
- Index progress
- Incomplete
- Threadmarks
- 4
-
Threadmarks Reader mode
Intro
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2024
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 5
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- They/Them
- None
At last, in Oak's hands, was the complete Kanto Pokédex.
After one week, it would be published worldwide.
After two weeks, hundreds of letters would be reaching him every day.
After three weeks, Red and Oak would be two of the worlds most well-known celebrities.
After one month, Professor Rowan would make a proposal to Professor Oak from across his laboratory.
After three years, Professor Oak would take him up on the offer.
Or, Oak and Rowan assemble a council of researchers to create the first National Pokédex, documenting every Pokémon in Japan. Unfortunately, collecting every species isn't exactly smooth sailing.
---
After having this fic stuck in my head for over a year, here it finally is! This is my first time sharing writing, and my first time using Bulbagarden, so feel free to give feedback :) This fic is also over on Ao3.
After one week, it would be published worldwide.
After two weeks, hundreds of letters would be reaching him every day.
After three weeks, Red and Oak would be two of the worlds most well-known celebrities.
After one month, Professor Rowan would make a proposal to Professor Oak from across his laboratory.
After three years, Professor Oak would take him up on the offer.
Or, Oak and Rowan assemble a council of researchers to create the first National Pokédex, documenting every Pokémon in Japan. Unfortunately, collecting every species isn't exactly smooth sailing.
---
After having this fic stuck in my head for over a year, here it finally is! This is my first time sharing writing, and my first time using Bulbagarden, so feel free to give feedback :) This fic is also over on Ao3.
Last edited:
1:1
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2024
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 5
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- They/Them
- None
- Thread starter
- #2
1:1 - a small and pretty place
A soft breeze dared to disrupt the transquility of one early Wednesday morning. On any normal day, Pallet Town, a small and pretty place, was nonetheless incredibly unremarkable. Now that the wave of visitors desperate to meet the family of the legendary Red, or Professor Oak himself, had come and gone in the years since their Pokédex was published, Pallet was little more than a small community. Today, though, amongst that tranquility, two famed pokémon professors sat around a desk.
'Have a look at this, Oak. Aside from Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh - the only other large region in Japan is Hoenn. So, if we started with the two of us and the professor of Hoenn, yes?'
Between the spattering of coloured regions, Rowan pointed out Japan's southernmost major island, a region almost as large as his own.
'I would have to agree. If any other regions of Japan are home to pokémon not found in these major 4, we can surely manage those cases afterwards.'
'Yes, of course. I must admit, though- I know very little about the Hoenn region, but that their climate is near opposite that of Sinnoh.' Of course, he knew tidbits about it - Hoenn was very well known for some of their World-Class facilities. But Rowan had never brought himself to adventure any further south than Kanto. Even after staying with Oak the past 4 years, he would never get used to the dry heat that sucked the life out of you, or the constant rainfall that did nothing to cool you off. No, Rowan would always be a Sinnoh child at heart.
'I feel that I may know...' Considering something, Oak stood from the bench and began searching a nearby shelf of books. Finding what he was looking for, he handed Rowan a large, green book, titled The Pokémon of Kalos and Hoenn , written by a Professor Birch. 'There you are. That book was written by a well-known Pokémon researcher of Littleroot Town, Hoenn. I believe it compares the climate and species of Hoenn to distant Kalos, but nonetheless, I would presume he has some authority on the subject.'
He flipped the book open to a random page. A large illustration of a wurmple, surrounded by comments about its biology, filled the left page. Above it stood the title 'HOENN'. On the right was a similar looking bug, though different in colour and precise features. The title above it emblazoned it as 'KALOS'.
Rowan considered the illustrations, and the astute analysis of the depicted pokémon. 'Hm! He's quite it the expert on these matters, it seems. I couldn't create such detailed analysis myself.' He shut the book, though he was sure he could've spent hours reading it.
'Yes,' Oak smiled, taking the book from him and returning it to the shelf, 'it's true. He specialises in Pokémon habitats, and while I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting him, I have heard many great things. I'm sure he would be an invaluable help in this project.'
The plan was coming together perfectly. They would start with the four major regions of Japan - Birch for Hoenn, Rowan for Sinnoh, Oak for Kanto, and-
'Hold on,' Rowan paused. 'Do we have a specialist in the pokémon of the Johto region? You have done your research there, I'm sure, but should we perhaps invite Elm too?'
Oak chuckled; he had already asked himself the same question. 'No, no, Elm has important research that I'd hardly wish to drag him from. I think we should invite an old friend of mine, Junichi - Mr Pokémon, as he's known. He has studied Johto's pokémon as a hobby for years now. His expertise will be a great resource, I would think, and he would likely bat me over the head if I chose not to invite him.'
Rowan nodded, and the two professors fell silent, as Oak pulled out his pokégear and began searching for something on it. After a moment, he flipped the screen towards the Sinnoh researcher.
The device showed a zoomed in map of Johto, with a dot to the right of Goldenrod City flashing. On the top screen was a photo of a large, mansion-like building, with well tended gardens and trees surrounding it. It reminded him of old Mr Backlot's Mansion back in Sinnoh, though he had never visited it personally - it was simply on the news often.
'I've just thought, Rowan- what do you think of this?'
'Well, it looks rather fancy,' he replied, unsure of how it was relevant. 'Why's that?'
'This is the Goldenrod Mansion, a building I aquired many years ago for research, and one I haven't stepped foot in since. I propose that we could use this as the home for our research.' It seemed a waste, after all, to let the building rot.
Rowan roared with laughter, 'Oak! Always the pushover, you are. I present we get a couple of researchers together to make a pokédex, you tell me you own a mansion! And here I was thinking we would be making do with this old lab of yours. Of course, let's use the mansion. We might as well do this well.'
'That settles it. Well, shall we make contact with our partners? There's no time like the present, after all.'
'Of course,' Rowan nodded. 'I will write a letter and have it mailed to Professor Birch. If you wish to invite your friend, go ahead, though you should probably check up on that old building of yours too, and make sure it's still holding up.'
Littleroot Town couldn't be shaded any one hue. Birch had seen his fair share of depictions of it, and one pattern stood clear - no artist could ever capture the small town with a single colour. Or even two, or three. The hundreds of greens in the trees, in the bushes, in the grass, would never be enough to capture the golden-orange buildings dotted amongst them, nor the incredibly blue lillies that seemed to reflect the sky, dotting the ground anywhere a person wouldn't step. And even if they did - what of every other beauties of the town? What of the tailow cries, or the distant scent of the sea, or the gentle breeze dancing about the paths? Maybe he was biased, but what beauty could any artist create that he couldn't find walking from his front door to his laboratory each morning?
Of course, if this was home, there must be so many more beauties to witness in the world. Perhaps one day, he would go travelling, but he hadn't been able to justify doing so since his Kalos research trip, however many years ago that was. Even in this beautiful town, each day was pretty consistent.
There was a bang on his window, making Birch jump.
Maybe it wasn't all so consistent.
He rushed outside, to find a pokémon lying on the ground, dazed. A starly, from what he remembered, carrying a letter. Clearly it hadn't seen the window. Picking the poor bird up gently, he rushed it inside, pushing open the door with a shoulder and laying it down on his desk.
The small pokémon simply lay there as he pulled open the nearest drawer, grabbing from it a spray bottle containing a purple liquid - a potion, rather than one of his other concoctions. He sprayed it liberally over the pokémon's wings and head, watching as they slowly returned to a healthy posture and its lost feathers regrew. Thank god, it had only suffered minor damage - he would hate to tell whoever sent the letter that their starly had been severely injured by his deadly windows.
Remembering the letter, he gently slid it out of starly's beak. 'Professor Rowan,' curly handwriting declared on one side, and 'Professor Birch - Littleroot Town - Hoenn,' on the other. Who exactly was Professor Rowan? He had heard the name, once or twice - on the news, perhaps? That didn't explain why he had a letter from the man, though. Nonetheless, he took a seat at his desk, reading it over.
'Professor Birch,
Good morning/afternoon! I send this letter on behalf of myself (Professor Rowan of Sinnoh) and Professor Oak of Pallet, Kanto - the very same Professor Oak responsible for the famous Kanto Pokédex. He presented me with some of your research, and spoke of you very highly. Thus, I present an offer to you.
I have been staying with Oak for the past 4 years, working on a Sinnoh Pokédex, and in that time, the two of us have decided that we wish to collaborate to create a Japan-wide National Pokédex, compiling data on all species found in the country. Thus, as a Professor of the Hoenn region, we extend to you an invitation and request, to join us in our 'Pokédex Council,' if you will. A group of researchers from Japan's largest regions, and others who can provide valuable research or insight.
Currently, the council comprises Professor Oak, Mr Pokémon, and myself, alongside assistance from various other trainers such as Red. We plan to gather and work in Goldenrod Mansion, a building owned by Oak in the outskirts of the Johto region's capital city.
We await your response, and would be honoured if you choose to join us.
Yours truly,
Professor Rowan'
Birch dropped the note and began dancing around his lab. Wow! An invite from the legendary Oak! To join him and other famous researchers! They would be working on a project that would be celebrated worldwide - perhaps the greatest invention in the history of pokémon training, a complete guide on every single one of them! Wow, wow, wow!
Rushing back to his desk and grabbing a nearby pen, he scrawled a reply on the back of the letter.
'Professor Rowan,
Thakn you, thank you, thank you for the invite! I would be more than happy to join this council and assist with creation of the National Dex!
I have some errands I will need to clear up before I can join you, but I should arrive in Johto within the month!
Thank you! I can't wait to collaborate with all of you!
Yours,
Birch'
To leave so suddenly would be a little uncharacteristic, but he would make sure to warn everyone in town in advance, so nobody got worried. It would be a shame to be away from his wife and daughter for so long, but she had been nagging him for a while about going off on a journey of her own anyway; perhaps he would have to give in soon.
Re-enveloping the letter, he rolled his chair over to the desk on which the starly lay. Now, though, it was back on its feet, hopping around and pecking at various small items on the bench.
'Hey, little guy! Glad you're feeling up and ready again.'
As soon as he held up the letter to it, the bird took it in its beak, twitching its wings gently as if indicating that it was ready to go. Offering his hands out, Birch allowed the pokémon to jump into his palms, slinging a bag over his shoulder and making his way towards the door.
'Take this back to Rowan for me, okay, little guy?' It probably already knew to, but there was no harm in reminding it.
As soon as he pushed open the door, it spread its small wings and took off, leaving Birch to continue his day to day research. He sighed, smiling again at the thought that he would be joining a council of famed pokémon researchers! Not to mention how significant the national dex would be when it was finished. He could hardly stop himself skipping out towards route 101, humming along to a melody playing in his head.
Unfortunately, as he approached the tall grass, he didn't hear a poochyena growling nearby.
A young girl did hear the professor screaming in the distance.
A soft breeze dared to disrupt the transquility of one early Wednesday morning. On any normal day, Pallet Town, a small and pretty place, was nonetheless incredibly unremarkable. Now that the wave of visitors desperate to meet the family of the legendary Red, or Professor Oak himself, had come and gone in the years since their Pokédex was published, Pallet was little more than a small community. Today, though, amongst that tranquility, two famed pokémon professors sat around a desk.
'Have a look at this, Oak. Aside from Kanto, Johto, and Sinnoh - the only other large region in Japan is Hoenn. So, if we started with the two of us and the professor of Hoenn, yes?'
Between the spattering of coloured regions, Rowan pointed out Japan's southernmost major island, a region almost as large as his own.
'I would have to agree. If any other regions of Japan are home to pokémon not found in these major 4, we can surely manage those cases afterwards.'
'Yes, of course. I must admit, though- I know very little about the Hoenn region, but that their climate is near opposite that of Sinnoh.' Of course, he knew tidbits about it - Hoenn was very well known for some of their World-Class facilities. But Rowan had never brought himself to adventure any further south than Kanto. Even after staying with Oak the past 4 years, he would never get used to the dry heat that sucked the life out of you, or the constant rainfall that did nothing to cool you off. No, Rowan would always be a Sinnoh child at heart.
'I feel that I may know...' Considering something, Oak stood from the bench and began searching a nearby shelf of books. Finding what he was looking for, he handed Rowan a large, green book, titled The Pokémon of Kalos and Hoenn , written by a Professor Birch. 'There you are. That book was written by a well-known Pokémon researcher of Littleroot Town, Hoenn. I believe it compares the climate and species of Hoenn to distant Kalos, but nonetheless, I would presume he has some authority on the subject.'
He flipped the book open to a random page. A large illustration of a wurmple, surrounded by comments about its biology, filled the left page. Above it stood the title 'HOENN'. On the right was a similar looking bug, though different in colour and precise features. The title above it emblazoned it as 'KALOS'.
Rowan considered the illustrations, and the astute analysis of the depicted pokémon. 'Hm! He's quite it the expert on these matters, it seems. I couldn't create such detailed analysis myself.' He shut the book, though he was sure he could've spent hours reading it.
'Yes,' Oak smiled, taking the book from him and returning it to the shelf, 'it's true. He specialises in Pokémon habitats, and while I haven't yet had the pleasure of meeting him, I have heard many great things. I'm sure he would be an invaluable help in this project.'
The plan was coming together perfectly. They would start with the four major regions of Japan - Birch for Hoenn, Rowan for Sinnoh, Oak for Kanto, and-
'Hold on,' Rowan paused. 'Do we have a specialist in the pokémon of the Johto region? You have done your research there, I'm sure, but should we perhaps invite Elm too?'
Oak chuckled; he had already asked himself the same question. 'No, no, Elm has important research that I'd hardly wish to drag him from. I think we should invite an old friend of mine, Junichi - Mr Pokémon, as he's known. He has studied Johto's pokémon as a hobby for years now. His expertise will be a great resource, I would think, and he would likely bat me over the head if I chose not to invite him.'
Rowan nodded, and the two professors fell silent, as Oak pulled out his pokégear and began searching for something on it. After a moment, he flipped the screen towards the Sinnoh researcher.
The device showed a zoomed in map of Johto, with a dot to the right of Goldenrod City flashing. On the top screen was a photo of a large, mansion-like building, with well tended gardens and trees surrounding it. It reminded him of old Mr Backlot's Mansion back in Sinnoh, though he had never visited it personally - it was simply on the news often.
'I've just thought, Rowan- what do you think of this?'
'Well, it looks rather fancy,' he replied, unsure of how it was relevant. 'Why's that?'
'This is the Goldenrod Mansion, a building I aquired many years ago for research, and one I haven't stepped foot in since. I propose that we could use this as the home for our research.' It seemed a waste, after all, to let the building rot.
Rowan roared with laughter, 'Oak! Always the pushover, you are. I present we get a couple of researchers together to make a pokédex, you tell me you own a mansion! And here I was thinking we would be making do with this old lab of yours. Of course, let's use the mansion. We might as well do this well.'
'That settles it. Well, shall we make contact with our partners? There's no time like the present, after all.'
'Of course,' Rowan nodded. 'I will write a letter and have it mailed to Professor Birch. If you wish to invite your friend, go ahead, though you should probably check up on that old building of yours too, and make sure it's still holding up.'
Littleroot Town couldn't be shaded any one hue. Birch had seen his fair share of depictions of it, and one pattern stood clear - no artist could ever capture the small town with a single colour. Or even two, or three. The hundreds of greens in the trees, in the bushes, in the grass, would never be enough to capture the golden-orange buildings dotted amongst them, nor the incredibly blue lillies that seemed to reflect the sky, dotting the ground anywhere a person wouldn't step. And even if they did - what of every other beauties of the town? What of the tailow cries, or the distant scent of the sea, or the gentle breeze dancing about the paths? Maybe he was biased, but what beauty could any artist create that he couldn't find walking from his front door to his laboratory each morning?
Of course, if this was home, there must be so many more beauties to witness in the world. Perhaps one day, he would go travelling, but he hadn't been able to justify doing so since his Kalos research trip, however many years ago that was. Even in this beautiful town, each day was pretty consistent.
There was a bang on his window, making Birch jump.
Maybe it wasn't all so consistent.
He rushed outside, to find a pokémon lying on the ground, dazed. A starly, from what he remembered, carrying a letter. Clearly it hadn't seen the window. Picking the poor bird up gently, he rushed it inside, pushing open the door with a shoulder and laying it down on his desk.
The small pokémon simply lay there as he pulled open the nearest drawer, grabbing from it a spray bottle containing a purple liquid - a potion, rather than one of his other concoctions. He sprayed it liberally over the pokémon's wings and head, watching as they slowly returned to a healthy posture and its lost feathers regrew. Thank god, it had only suffered minor damage - he would hate to tell whoever sent the letter that their starly had been severely injured by his deadly windows.
Remembering the letter, he gently slid it out of starly's beak. 'Professor Rowan,' curly handwriting declared on one side, and 'Professor Birch - Littleroot Town - Hoenn,' on the other. Who exactly was Professor Rowan? He had heard the name, once or twice - on the news, perhaps? That didn't explain why he had a letter from the man, though. Nonetheless, he took a seat at his desk, reading it over.
'Professor Birch,
Good morning/afternoon! I send this letter on behalf of myself (Professor Rowan of Sinnoh) and Professor Oak of Pallet, Kanto - the very same Professor Oak responsible for the famous Kanto Pokédex. He presented me with some of your research, and spoke of you very highly. Thus, I present an offer to you.
I have been staying with Oak for the past 4 years, working on a Sinnoh Pokédex, and in that time, the two of us have decided that we wish to collaborate to create a Japan-wide National Pokédex, compiling data on all species found in the country. Thus, as a Professor of the Hoenn region, we extend to you an invitation and request, to join us in our 'Pokédex Council,' if you will. A group of researchers from Japan's largest regions, and others who can provide valuable research or insight.
Currently, the council comprises Professor Oak, Mr Pokémon, and myself, alongside assistance from various other trainers such as Red. We plan to gather and work in Goldenrod Mansion, a building owned by Oak in the outskirts of the Johto region's capital city.
We await your response, and would be honoured if you choose to join us.
Yours truly,
Professor Rowan'
Birch dropped the note and began dancing around his lab. Wow! An invite from the legendary Oak! To join him and other famous researchers! They would be working on a project that would be celebrated worldwide - perhaps the greatest invention in the history of pokémon training, a complete guide on every single one of them! Wow, wow, wow!
Rushing back to his desk and grabbing a nearby pen, he scrawled a reply on the back of the letter.
'Professor Rowan,
Thakn you, thank you, thank you for the invite! I would be more than happy to join this council and assist with creation of the National Dex!
I have some errands I will need to clear up before I can join you, but I should arrive in Johto within the month!
Thank you! I can't wait to collaborate with all of you!
Yours,
Birch'
To leave so suddenly would be a little uncharacteristic, but he would make sure to warn everyone in town in advance, so nobody got worried. It would be a shame to be away from his wife and daughter for so long, but she had been nagging him for a while about going off on a journey of her own anyway; perhaps he would have to give in soon.
Re-enveloping the letter, he rolled his chair over to the desk on which the starly lay. Now, though, it was back on its feet, hopping around and pecking at various small items on the bench.
'Hey, little guy! Glad you're feeling up and ready again.'
As soon as he held up the letter to it, the bird took it in its beak, twitching its wings gently as if indicating that it was ready to go. Offering his hands out, Birch allowed the pokémon to jump into his palms, slinging a bag over his shoulder and making his way towards the door.
'Take this back to Rowan for me, okay, little guy?' It probably already knew to, but there was no harm in reminding it.
As soon as he pushed open the door, it spread its small wings and took off, leaving Birch to continue his day to day research. He sighed, smiling again at the thought that he would be joining a council of famed pokémon researchers! Not to mention how significant the national dex would be when it was finished. He could hardly stop himself skipping out towards route 101, humming along to a melody playing in his head.
Unfortunately, as he approached the tall grass, he didn't hear a poochyena growling nearby.
A young girl did hear the professor screaming in the distance.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2022
- Messages
- 113
- Reaction score
- 128
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Chapter 1:1 Review
The opening of this story is interesting, as the professors included at the start are Prof. Rowan from Sinnoh and Prof. Oak from Kanto, and not Prof. Elm from Johto. I wonder if there is a specific reason why Prof. Elm. Isn’t the one meeting up with Prof. Oak. Furthermore, I like how you built in the other regions through Prof. Birch from Hoenn.
In regards to the personalities painted of the two professors. The more upbeat and wisdom of Prof Oak contrasts with the serious nature of Prof. Rowan. I think the most notable however, is Prof. Birch being energetic. His first scene depicts him as incredibly jolly, compared to his more serious counterparts. This is very relatable to how a player would meet him in the game, scatty, and not what you would call a typical professor.
The chapter’s ending is interesting. I like how it paints the reader into the beginning of a trainer’s adventure, finding the professor. However, I am not too sure about the grammar of the last sentence. It seems a little out of place, as the character focus has shifted for a single line. It is assumed the man mentioned in the last sentence is Prof. Birch. It might be better to mention him by name if this is the case.
Lastly, the dialogue in the chapter was good, and felt realistic to read. The characters behave in a relatable manner throughout the chapter, and their relationships are clear throughout the chapter.
The opening of this story is interesting, as the professors included at the start are Prof. Rowan from Sinnoh and Prof. Oak from Kanto, and not Prof. Elm from Johto. I wonder if there is a specific reason why Prof. Elm. Isn’t the one meeting up with Prof. Oak. Furthermore, I like how you built in the other regions through Prof. Birch from Hoenn.
In regards to the personalities painted of the two professors. The more upbeat and wisdom of Prof Oak contrasts with the serious nature of Prof. Rowan. I think the most notable however, is Prof. Birch being energetic. His first scene depicts him as incredibly jolly, compared to his more serious counterparts. This is very relatable to how a player would meet him in the game, scatty, and not what you would call a typical professor.
The chapter’s ending is interesting. I like how it paints the reader into the beginning of a trainer’s adventure, finding the professor. However, I am not too sure about the grammar of the last sentence. It seems a little out of place, as the character focus has shifted for a single line. It is assumed the man mentioned in the last sentence is Prof. Birch. It might be better to mention him by name if this is the case.
Lastly, the dialogue in the chapter was good, and felt realistic to read. The characters behave in a relatable manner throughout the chapter, and their relationships are clear throughout the chapter.
1:2
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2024
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 5
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- They/Them
- None
- Thread starter
- #4
1:2 - the Goldenrod Mansion
Stepping over the threshold, Oak coughed as a decade of dust filled his lungs. What little light the door allowed through showed only more of it - coating the once polished floor, the now peeling walls, and even the handle Oak had rattled around for several minutes trying to force his way in. Beyond his small patch of light at the entrance, though, not even the day pierced the dingy, darkened room.
He didn't dare push into the shadows - arceus only knew what had made home in here since his last visit. A multitude of bug-type pokémon, sure, but he was half expecting to find that some poor ex-rocket grunts had made do with the remaining furniture in the place.
Grabbing a poké ball from his belt, the professor brought out his exeggutor, softly instructing, 'Use flash, and light up this old place.'
In a moment, the room was dimly lit, well enough for Oak to recoil at seeing the toll of 11 years. Several shelves that had once lined the walls were now splintered and strewn across the floor. The small collection of books that nobody had returned for were now torn or shredded beyond recognition. A large hole was blown in one of the walls, large enough that he could comfortably step through into the hallway. Several kakuna shells were scattered in the far left corner, surrounded by a pile of broken glass - which was odd, considering there were no windows in the foyer.
Stepping cautiously between debris, he made his way to the grand doors on the opposite end of the room, waving dust away from his mouth with each step. The hinges squealed as he slowly opened them, but at least this time they gave way easily. At first glance it seemed a lot better, but what the hallway lacked in in cabinets and shelves to smash, it had made up for in shattered and upturned tiles. It was a little heartbreaking to see what had once been such a beautiful home now beyond recognition, and a part of him wanted to turn away now, before he had to see the other rooms he had once put so much life into.
He didn't, though. He knew of some fine contractors in Goldenrod, and he was sure they could pull it all back together with some time. Of course, he hated to delay the Pokédex Project, but there wasn't much a choice about it. He would make the call today, and that way-
A crash echoed through the empty building, followed by a soft curse. Somebody was here.
Oak withdrew exeggutor, creeping towards the door he entered through. Back to the wall, he listened. Silence. Both he and the intruder stood stone still.
'Hello? Is that you, professor?'
Recognising the voice of his aide, Oak turned around the corner to peer out of the doorframe. Sure enough, holding a flashlight and scanning the room was a man in a white lab coat - more a symbol of status than a safety precaution, but nonetheless an item worn by anybody working in their lab.
'Ah! Sorry for hiding, I forgot you were coming by this morning.'
'No worries Oak- but, if I might ask... what the hell happened here?'
He chuckled, 'I have no idea. Criminals, pokémon, weather, who's to say? It's a little to late to chase them out. I'll be off to Goldenrod soon, and get some workers up here to help clean up and renovate.'
The assistant nodded as he withdrew a machop from a ball. 'Mach, can you start moving some of this wood outside, please?' Then, to the professor, he continued, 'and what did you need my assistance with? I can help clear, but I'm no house flipper.'
Oak began navigating towards the door again. 'Ah, no, of course not! I need help with developing technologies again. Considering that you assisted me in constructing the original pokédex model, do you think you would be able to assist in constructing a larger computer to carry out the same purpose? It would, after all, significantly streamline the process of registering pokémon and their data.'
'I can certainly try. I've never built anything larger than that dex, but I'm sure I could figure it out.'
'Perfect. And in the meantime, are you able to sweep the building and take care of any pokémon living inside?'
The door interrupted their conversation- a soft creaking, and a 'hello?'
'Hello, hello! You must be Ethan!' Mr Pokémon said cheerily. He invited the boy in, shutting the door behind him and hurrying over the the cabinets lining his wall. 'Professor Elm said that you would visit.'
The cabin was small, but it was packed. Somehow, Mr Pokémon had a very comfortable looking living space, but every other wall in the room was lined with shelving featuring all sorts of devices, interesting objects, and other various displays.
After a few moments, he grabbed a strange orb off of one shelf and brought it over to him. 'This is what I want Elm to examine.'
'Alright... um- what exactly is it?' he asked timidly.
'That is an egg! I know a couple who run a Pokémon Day-Care. They gave it to me. I was so intrigued, I sent Professor Elm a letter immidiately! He is a great authority on the evolution of Pokémon - even Professor Oak here knows that!'
Ethan suddenly froze, before turning robotically to see Professor Oak standing near the right wall.
'Professor Oak? Like- the Kantonian professor?' the words barely escaped his mouth as he tried and failed to drag his eyes from the man.
Oak approached the boy, reaching out a hand. 'So you're Ethan? It's lovely to meet you!'
'Uh- y-yes! And you, too, Professor!'
The man chuckled, 'No need to be nervous, I don't bite. I'm just here to visit Mr Pokémon - he's an old friend of mine see.' Then, noticing the small totodile hiding behind his legs, he added, 'I see Elm gave you a rare pokémon!'
'Oh! Yes, um- he said I should take it to protect myself in the grass while I run the errand. He'll want it back after, I'm sure.'
'Nonsense! Elm knows as well as I do that Pokémon are our friends, and look at how quickly the two of you have bonded. I'm sure as soon as you get back, he'll be telling you to take it as your first partner on your pokémon journey.'
'My- journey? Oh, no, Professor- nothing like that. I'm just running an errand for him.'
'Hah! That's how all journies start, I'm telling you. It's how young Red's journey started too. Had him off to pick up a package for me, and by the time he was there and back, he was all ready to go. Gave him a- Oh! That's an idea!'
Oak turned and rummaged around his bag. Ethan tried to ask what he was talking about, but before he could manage any words, the professor presented him with a small, red device.
'This is the latest version of the Pokédex. It automatically records data on Pokémon you've seen or caught - it's like a high-tech encyclopedia! Go and meet many kinds of pokémon on your journey - maybe you'll be the first to collect every species from the Johto region, hey?'
Checking his watch, he sighed, 'Well, I don't have forever, I'm afraid. Mr Pokémon, I'll be in contact when the mansion is cleared and ready. Oh, and Ethan- I'm counting on you!' With that, he hurried out of the small house, and the door slammed shut behind him.
'Don't stress yourself, boy, that's just Professor Oak for you,' Mr Pokémon chuckled.
'Oh?'
'Yep. Always on his quest to collect every pokémon. Don't worry too much, take that egg back to Professor Elm and see what happens. It's scary at first, but I think you'll find that the early steps in your journey are the hardest.'
'Y-yeah, I suppose. I'll just- get back to New Bark Town. Then I'll think about it.' Ethan smiled. 'Thank you, Mr Pokémon.'
The old man smiled, 'Of course, young lad. Come by any time!'
Stepping over the threshold, Oak coughed as a decade of dust filled his lungs. What little light the door allowed through showed only more of it - coating the once polished floor, the now peeling walls, and even the handle Oak had rattled around for several minutes trying to force his way in. Beyond his small patch of light at the entrance, though, not even the day pierced the dingy, darkened room.
He didn't dare push into the shadows - arceus only knew what had made home in here since his last visit. A multitude of bug-type pokémon, sure, but he was half expecting to find that some poor ex-rocket grunts had made do with the remaining furniture in the place.
Grabbing a poké ball from his belt, the professor brought out his exeggutor, softly instructing, 'Use flash, and light up this old place.'
In a moment, the room was dimly lit, well enough for Oak to recoil at seeing the toll of 11 years. Several shelves that had once lined the walls were now splintered and strewn across the floor. The small collection of books that nobody had returned for were now torn or shredded beyond recognition. A large hole was blown in one of the walls, large enough that he could comfortably step through into the hallway. Several kakuna shells were scattered in the far left corner, surrounded by a pile of broken glass - which was odd, considering there were no windows in the foyer.
Stepping cautiously between debris, he made his way to the grand doors on the opposite end of the room, waving dust away from his mouth with each step. The hinges squealed as he slowly opened them, but at least this time they gave way easily. At first glance it seemed a lot better, but what the hallway lacked in in cabinets and shelves to smash, it had made up for in shattered and upturned tiles. It was a little heartbreaking to see what had once been such a beautiful home now beyond recognition, and a part of him wanted to turn away now, before he had to see the other rooms he had once put so much life into.
He didn't, though. He knew of some fine contractors in Goldenrod, and he was sure they could pull it all back together with some time. Of course, he hated to delay the Pokédex Project, but there wasn't much a choice about it. He would make the call today, and that way-
A crash echoed through the empty building, followed by a soft curse. Somebody was here.
Oak withdrew exeggutor, creeping towards the door he entered through. Back to the wall, he listened. Silence. Both he and the intruder stood stone still.
'Hello? Is that you, professor?'
Recognising the voice of his aide, Oak turned around the corner to peer out of the doorframe. Sure enough, holding a flashlight and scanning the room was a man in a white lab coat - more a symbol of status than a safety precaution, but nonetheless an item worn by anybody working in their lab.
'Ah! Sorry for hiding, I forgot you were coming by this morning.'
'No worries Oak- but, if I might ask... what the hell happened here?'
He chuckled, 'I have no idea. Criminals, pokémon, weather, who's to say? It's a little to late to chase them out. I'll be off to Goldenrod soon, and get some workers up here to help clean up and renovate.'
The assistant nodded as he withdrew a machop from a ball. 'Mach, can you start moving some of this wood outside, please?' Then, to the professor, he continued, 'and what did you need my assistance with? I can help clear, but I'm no house flipper.'
Oak began navigating towards the door again. 'Ah, no, of course not! I need help with developing technologies again. Considering that you assisted me in constructing the original pokédex model, do you think you would be able to assist in constructing a larger computer to carry out the same purpose? It would, after all, significantly streamline the process of registering pokémon and their data.'
'I can certainly try. I've never built anything larger than that dex, but I'm sure I could figure it out.'
'Perfect. And in the meantime, are you able to sweep the building and take care of any pokémon living inside?'
The door interrupted their conversation- a soft creaking, and a 'hello?'
'Hello, hello! You must be Ethan!' Mr Pokémon said cheerily. He invited the boy in, shutting the door behind him and hurrying over the the cabinets lining his wall. 'Professor Elm said that you would visit.'
The cabin was small, but it was packed. Somehow, Mr Pokémon had a very comfortable looking living space, but every other wall in the room was lined with shelving featuring all sorts of devices, interesting objects, and other various displays.
After a few moments, he grabbed a strange orb off of one shelf and brought it over to him. 'This is what I want Elm to examine.'
'Alright... um- what exactly is it?' he asked timidly.
'That is an egg! I know a couple who run a Pokémon Day-Care. They gave it to me. I was so intrigued, I sent Professor Elm a letter immidiately! He is a great authority on the evolution of Pokémon - even Professor Oak here knows that!'
Ethan suddenly froze, before turning robotically to see Professor Oak standing near the right wall.
'Professor Oak? Like- the Kantonian professor?' the words barely escaped his mouth as he tried and failed to drag his eyes from the man.
Oak approached the boy, reaching out a hand. 'So you're Ethan? It's lovely to meet you!'
'Uh- y-yes! And you, too, Professor!'
The man chuckled, 'No need to be nervous, I don't bite. I'm just here to visit Mr Pokémon - he's an old friend of mine see.' Then, noticing the small totodile hiding behind his legs, he added, 'I see Elm gave you a rare pokémon!'
'Oh! Yes, um- he said I should take it to protect myself in the grass while I run the errand. He'll want it back after, I'm sure.'
'Nonsense! Elm knows as well as I do that Pokémon are our friends, and look at how quickly the two of you have bonded. I'm sure as soon as you get back, he'll be telling you to take it as your first partner on your pokémon journey.'
'My- journey? Oh, no, Professor- nothing like that. I'm just running an errand for him.'
'Hah! That's how all journies start, I'm telling you. It's how young Red's journey started too. Had him off to pick up a package for me, and by the time he was there and back, he was all ready to go. Gave him a- Oh! That's an idea!'
Oak turned and rummaged around his bag. Ethan tried to ask what he was talking about, but before he could manage any words, the professor presented him with a small, red device.
'This is the latest version of the Pokédex. It automatically records data on Pokémon you've seen or caught - it's like a high-tech encyclopedia! Go and meet many kinds of pokémon on your journey - maybe you'll be the first to collect every species from the Johto region, hey?'
Checking his watch, he sighed, 'Well, I don't have forever, I'm afraid. Mr Pokémon, I'll be in contact when the mansion is cleared and ready. Oh, and Ethan- I'm counting on you!' With that, he hurried out of the small house, and the door slammed shut behind him.
'Don't stress yourself, boy, that's just Professor Oak for you,' Mr Pokémon chuckled.
'Oh?'
'Yep. Always on his quest to collect every pokémon. Don't worry too much, take that egg back to Professor Elm and see what happens. It's scary at first, but I think you'll find that the early steps in your journey are the hardest.'
'Y-yeah, I suppose. I'll just- get back to New Bark Town. Then I'll think about it.' Ethan smiled. 'Thank you, Mr Pokémon.'
The old man smiled, 'Of course, young lad. Come by any time!'
1:3
- Joined
- Jan 20, 2024
- Messages
- 4
- Reaction score
- 5
- Pronouns
- She/Her
- They/Them
- None
- Thread starter
- #5
1:3 - friends
'Good evening, everyone!'
The table fell silent at Oak's words.
'I'd like to thank everyone for gathering here tonight. It has been a long few months, fixing this building up, but I'm glad that we can all sit together and say that we have. The first chapter of the National Pokédex's creation has concluded!'
A few cheers came from Birch and Red, while Rowan patted one of Oak's aides on the back.
'From here, our project begins. Now that we are all here, as of tomorrow morning, we begin our research. But, that is a matter for tomorrow morning. Allow me to give my thanks to everyone here.'
He picked up his glass, looking to the man on his right and raising it. 'To Junichi Pokémon! For your willingness to contribute years of research and your own time!'
Everyone at the table applauded, with some cheering. Smiling, Mr Pokémon tried to dismiss the thanks, but it took several seconds before they fell silent again.
'To Red!' he continued, raising his glass again. 'For your contribution of an incredibly hard-worked journey to complete Kanto's pokédex, and contribution of your collection to the cause. Your pokémon will be an invaluable assistance, and we will treat them with the same love you do.'
The cheers were significantly louder, this time; after all, who hadn't heard of Red?
Next was to Dawn, who had sat next to Red as the only other person her age. Then to Oak's left, Professor Birch, Professor Rowan, and finally, all of the aides who had helped in cleaning up and assembling the computer they would use to store data.
'Well, once more, thank you everyone. Now that we have all eaten and the formalities are over, the night is yours.'
Immidiately the silence broke, and the room quickly turned from a ceremonial toast to a casual gathering. Dawn watched as conversations began; Rowan turned to Birch, Red said something to Mr Pokémon, who passed it on to Oak. The aides began laughing and passing around money, as if they had run some sort of bet. The Pokédex Council, or whatever they would call themselves, had come together well.
'Hey, so you're Rowan's assistant, right?' Red asked.
She turned to him, not expecting the question. 'Oh- yeah, that's me.'
He nodded, grinning. Strangely, he still wore his cap inside, covering brown hair a little longer than she'd seen him with on television. Other than that, though, he was the same boy - same vest and jeans, same old bag behind him, and same determined look baked into his face. It was no wonder the world had been all over him since his completion of the Pokédex.
'So, from Sinnoh? What do you think of Johto, eh?'
'It's...' She hadn't seen much of it, but it was nothing like home. Goldenrod was a little like Jubilife, but beyond that, Johto seemed to have its folklore baked into every building. 'It's definately something new. Nothing like Sinnoh at all. And way hotter.'
He laughed, 'Rowan said the same to Oak, apparently. I never realised it was that cold in Sinnoh.'
'Me neither,' she said. 'So, you're the one who caught all of Kanto's pokémon? What have you been up to since then?'
'Oh, not much,' he sighed. 'I say that, but it's probably a lot to most people. I trained in Johto for a while, eventually ended up at the peak of Mt Silver, and didn't talk to anyone for months. Some girl came by though, one time, and defeated me in battle. The first time I'd been defeated since before I took on the Elite Four. Since then, I've just been here and there, exploring.' For a moment, he looked off into space, reminiscing, before he snapped back to reality. 'Do you train pokémon?'
'Oh...' For a long time, she hadn't. Pokémon training had never been her thing, but in Rowan's brief return to Sinnoh before they came here together, they had run into two boys, who borrowed pokémon form him to protect themselves. The professor had let them keep the two, and there was one left, so... 'I have a piplup. I'm not really a trainer, though, she's more of just a friend. We don't battle or anything.'
'Sometimes, that's what you need, though,' he nodded. 'A friend. There's all this news and whatnot about the most powerful trainers, but a lot of people who have pokémon partners don't battle. I think those people are the oens we should be talking about.'
Dawn nodded solemnly. 'Me and Rowan are more focused on research, anyway.'
There was a pause. 'Are you scared?'
'Of what?'
'Well, piplup is your first pokémon. How do you feel about that?'
'Oh... yeah, kind of anxious. I don't know how I'm going to take care of her.'
'Really?' he considered this. 'Come outside with me. Let's walk and talk.'
'Professor Birch! I haven't had the pleasure of speaking to you yet. welcome to Johto, my friend!'
Birch whipped around to see Mr Pokémon standing beside him, offering a hand. 'Oh, my- thank you! Thank you! It is a pleasure to be here!'
'You are a researcher of habitats, are you not? I have read many of your works, and they are very impressive.'
Birch stood, still a little dazed at meeting so many legendary researchers in one day. 'Oh- thank you, Mr Pokémon, you are far too kind. My work hardly matches the contributions you have made to the lives of pokémon and their partners.'
'Oh, you undersell yourself, Professor. And please, call me Junichi. We are to work together, after all.' Birch nodded. 'Now, I must ask- I hear that Hoenn has a pokémon named spinda, with each having a unique spot pattern. Is this true?'
'Ah- well, yes, it certainly is. Though spinda is hardly alone, you'll find most pokémon have unique patterns in one way or another. Spinda just happens to have taken the spotlight in most people's eyes.'
'I do wonder, though, If there are any patterns to their spots? Perhaps those from similar areas have similar spot patterns? It simply seems so unique that their spots will appear anywhere on their body.'
'Interesting. That's not an idea I've ever put much thought to, but you have me intrigued. Well then, Junichi, I think I shall have to look into that in my next research task! Perhaps you can even join me in Hoenn and see for yourself? Hows about that for an idea?'
'If I am still up to the task by that time, I would be honoured, Birch. It would be quite fascinating, I am sure.'
The night could hardly be considered quiet; wild areas not frequented by humans were often home to far more pokémon than any common route. Yet, amongst kakuna shells vibrating, hoothoots hooting, and the occasional sentret cry, it was a peaceful time to be out. Red, only slightly taller than her, almost didn't seem to notice the sounds; she would have thought so if he didn't occasionally turn to listen to one or another, before smiling and turning back.
Eventually, he asked, 'Dawn, what do you think it takes to have a pokémon?'
'What?' It was an odd question, not one she had even remotely considered before. 'Well, you need to feed them, and make sure they have a comfortable place to live. They need to go outside and be able to explore, but they also need to be safe from wild pokémon and criminals. I don't really know.'
'Do you think you could do that?'
'Well... no.'
'Hm? Tell me, did you make any friends back in Sinnoh?'
'Not really. Mum tells me I wanted to work for Rowan since I was little, and was more interested in learning about pokémon than hanging out with people. Eventually, Rowan said he'd let me be his assistant, and I was too busy then to have any friends.'
'Too busy to have any friends?' Red asked. He seemed a little concerned. 'Dawn, you were a kid. You still are a kid. And I've met Rowan, I know he wouldn't work a kid that hard. Are you... scared of making friends?'
She froze, her entire body growing leaden as she took in his words. 'No,' she replied quickly. 'No.' She wasn't scared of having friends. That was silly. She was just too busy.
'Hey,' he said softly, 'hey. Don't stress yourself, okay? I'm sorry for prying. That isn't neccesarily true, it was only a question.' She nodded, confused. 'Lemme tell you something. Through the Pokédex Project, you're probably going to meet a lot of people. First, though, you have your piplup.'
'W-what are you talking about?'
'When you told me what you thought you needed to take care of a pokémon, there was one thing you didn't say. You need a good bond with your pokémon. You need to become friends with them.'
'...oh, yeah. How do I do that?'
'I think you'll get used to it pretty quick. Trust me, you'll figure it out.'
They fell silent again. Dawn's fingers fiddled anxiously with the poké ball mounted on her belt, feeling all of the nooks and crevices on it. An entire living creature was inside of it. A creature she would become friends with, apparently.
'I think there'll be other people, other kids our age,' Red told her. 'I only have all of Kanto's pokémon. The girl that defeated me at Mt Silver, she's about 15 too. Her name is Kris. And there's another boy, I hear, who Professor Oak has high hopes for. Maybe you'll get to know them.'
'We're here for research, though. We have to focus on the Pokédex.'
'Dawn, not every waking moment will be spent at work. You're in a completely new region. Explore, meet some people. Have some fun with it, won't you?'
You never really seemed interested in travelling around, her mother had said, and you never talked to the other kids from Sandgem. You just wanted to learn about Pokémon. We let you, of course, but someday, I do hope you meet people you like being around, and go places you enjoy. Life is not just made to be worked, Dawn, Life is made to be lived.
'I'll try my best,' she smiled.
'Good evening, everyone!'
The table fell silent at Oak's words.
'I'd like to thank everyone for gathering here tonight. It has been a long few months, fixing this building up, but I'm glad that we can all sit together and say that we have. The first chapter of the National Pokédex's creation has concluded!'
A few cheers came from Birch and Red, while Rowan patted one of Oak's aides on the back.
'From here, our project begins. Now that we are all here, as of tomorrow morning, we begin our research. But, that is a matter for tomorrow morning. Allow me to give my thanks to everyone here.'
He picked up his glass, looking to the man on his right and raising it. 'To Junichi Pokémon! For your willingness to contribute years of research and your own time!'
Everyone at the table applauded, with some cheering. Smiling, Mr Pokémon tried to dismiss the thanks, but it took several seconds before they fell silent again.
'To Red!' he continued, raising his glass again. 'For your contribution of an incredibly hard-worked journey to complete Kanto's pokédex, and contribution of your collection to the cause. Your pokémon will be an invaluable assistance, and we will treat them with the same love you do.'
The cheers were significantly louder, this time; after all, who hadn't heard of Red?
Next was to Dawn, who had sat next to Red as the only other person her age. Then to Oak's left, Professor Birch, Professor Rowan, and finally, all of the aides who had helped in cleaning up and assembling the computer they would use to store data.
'Well, once more, thank you everyone. Now that we have all eaten and the formalities are over, the night is yours.'
Immidiately the silence broke, and the room quickly turned from a ceremonial toast to a casual gathering. Dawn watched as conversations began; Rowan turned to Birch, Red said something to Mr Pokémon, who passed it on to Oak. The aides began laughing and passing around money, as if they had run some sort of bet. The Pokédex Council, or whatever they would call themselves, had come together well.
'Hey, so you're Rowan's assistant, right?' Red asked.
She turned to him, not expecting the question. 'Oh- yeah, that's me.'
He nodded, grinning. Strangely, he still wore his cap inside, covering brown hair a little longer than she'd seen him with on television. Other than that, though, he was the same boy - same vest and jeans, same old bag behind him, and same determined look baked into his face. It was no wonder the world had been all over him since his completion of the Pokédex.
'So, from Sinnoh? What do you think of Johto, eh?'
'It's...' She hadn't seen much of it, but it was nothing like home. Goldenrod was a little like Jubilife, but beyond that, Johto seemed to have its folklore baked into every building. 'It's definately something new. Nothing like Sinnoh at all. And way hotter.'
He laughed, 'Rowan said the same to Oak, apparently. I never realised it was that cold in Sinnoh.'
'Me neither,' she said. 'So, you're the one who caught all of Kanto's pokémon? What have you been up to since then?'
'Oh, not much,' he sighed. 'I say that, but it's probably a lot to most people. I trained in Johto for a while, eventually ended up at the peak of Mt Silver, and didn't talk to anyone for months. Some girl came by though, one time, and defeated me in battle. The first time I'd been defeated since before I took on the Elite Four. Since then, I've just been here and there, exploring.' For a moment, he looked off into space, reminiscing, before he snapped back to reality. 'Do you train pokémon?'
'Oh...' For a long time, she hadn't. Pokémon training had never been her thing, but in Rowan's brief return to Sinnoh before they came here together, they had run into two boys, who borrowed pokémon form him to protect themselves. The professor had let them keep the two, and there was one left, so... 'I have a piplup. I'm not really a trainer, though, she's more of just a friend. We don't battle or anything.'
'Sometimes, that's what you need, though,' he nodded. 'A friend. There's all this news and whatnot about the most powerful trainers, but a lot of people who have pokémon partners don't battle. I think those people are the oens we should be talking about.'
Dawn nodded solemnly. 'Me and Rowan are more focused on research, anyway.'
There was a pause. 'Are you scared?'
'Of what?'
'Well, piplup is your first pokémon. How do you feel about that?'
'Oh... yeah, kind of anxious. I don't know how I'm going to take care of her.'
'Really?' he considered this. 'Come outside with me. Let's walk and talk.'
'Professor Birch! I haven't had the pleasure of speaking to you yet. welcome to Johto, my friend!'
Birch whipped around to see Mr Pokémon standing beside him, offering a hand. 'Oh, my- thank you! Thank you! It is a pleasure to be here!'
'You are a researcher of habitats, are you not? I have read many of your works, and they are very impressive.'
Birch stood, still a little dazed at meeting so many legendary researchers in one day. 'Oh- thank you, Mr Pokémon, you are far too kind. My work hardly matches the contributions you have made to the lives of pokémon and their partners.'
'Oh, you undersell yourself, Professor. And please, call me Junichi. We are to work together, after all.' Birch nodded. 'Now, I must ask- I hear that Hoenn has a pokémon named spinda, with each having a unique spot pattern. Is this true?'
'Ah- well, yes, it certainly is. Though spinda is hardly alone, you'll find most pokémon have unique patterns in one way or another. Spinda just happens to have taken the spotlight in most people's eyes.'
'I do wonder, though, If there are any patterns to their spots? Perhaps those from similar areas have similar spot patterns? It simply seems so unique that their spots will appear anywhere on their body.'
'Interesting. That's not an idea I've ever put much thought to, but you have me intrigued. Well then, Junichi, I think I shall have to look into that in my next research task! Perhaps you can even join me in Hoenn and see for yourself? Hows about that for an idea?'
'If I am still up to the task by that time, I would be honoured, Birch. It would be quite fascinating, I am sure.'
The night could hardly be considered quiet; wild areas not frequented by humans were often home to far more pokémon than any common route. Yet, amongst kakuna shells vibrating, hoothoots hooting, and the occasional sentret cry, it was a peaceful time to be out. Red, only slightly taller than her, almost didn't seem to notice the sounds; she would have thought so if he didn't occasionally turn to listen to one or another, before smiling and turning back.
Eventually, he asked, 'Dawn, what do you think it takes to have a pokémon?'
'What?' It was an odd question, not one she had even remotely considered before. 'Well, you need to feed them, and make sure they have a comfortable place to live. They need to go outside and be able to explore, but they also need to be safe from wild pokémon and criminals. I don't really know.'
'Do you think you could do that?'
'Well... no.'
'Hm? Tell me, did you make any friends back in Sinnoh?'
'Not really. Mum tells me I wanted to work for Rowan since I was little, and was more interested in learning about pokémon than hanging out with people. Eventually, Rowan said he'd let me be his assistant, and I was too busy then to have any friends.'
'Too busy to have any friends?' Red asked. He seemed a little concerned. 'Dawn, you were a kid. You still are a kid. And I've met Rowan, I know he wouldn't work a kid that hard. Are you... scared of making friends?'
She froze, her entire body growing leaden as she took in his words. 'No,' she replied quickly. 'No.' She wasn't scared of having friends. That was silly. She was just too busy.
'Hey,' he said softly, 'hey. Don't stress yourself, okay? I'm sorry for prying. That isn't neccesarily true, it was only a question.' She nodded, confused. 'Lemme tell you something. Through the Pokédex Project, you're probably going to meet a lot of people. First, though, you have your piplup.'
'W-what are you talking about?'
'When you told me what you thought you needed to take care of a pokémon, there was one thing you didn't say. You need a good bond with your pokémon. You need to become friends with them.'
'...oh, yeah. How do I do that?'
'I think you'll get used to it pretty quick. Trust me, you'll figure it out.'
They fell silent again. Dawn's fingers fiddled anxiously with the poké ball mounted on her belt, feeling all of the nooks and crevices on it. An entire living creature was inside of it. A creature she would become friends with, apparently.
'I think there'll be other people, other kids our age,' Red told her. 'I only have all of Kanto's pokémon. The girl that defeated me at Mt Silver, she's about 15 too. Her name is Kris. And there's another boy, I hear, who Professor Oak has high hopes for. Maybe you'll get to know them.'
'We're here for research, though. We have to focus on the Pokédex.'
'Dawn, not every waking moment will be spent at work. You're in a completely new region. Explore, meet some people. Have some fun with it, won't you?'
You never really seemed interested in travelling around, her mother had said, and you never talked to the other kids from Sandgem. You just wanted to learn about Pokémon. We let you, of course, but someday, I do hope you meet people you like being around, and go places you enjoy. Life is not just made to be worked, Dawn, Life is made to be lived.
'I'll try my best,' she smiled.
Similar threads
