Chapter 2 - Starter and Barter

“It is my honour as a professor of pokemon to present you 6 with your own regional starter.” Said Professor Ebon. “Now, the first place participant, Kaley Sultz, may choose their starter.”

Kaley walked forward and went straight towards the cyndaquil pen, choosing the larger cyndaquil. Professor Ebon congratulated her and gave her its pokeball and a backpack. “Next, the second place participant, Jason Reese.”

I nervously approached the pens and looked over the pokemon inside through the glass. There were two totodile wrestling in the mud, two chikorita lounging in the grass and a lonely cyndaquil. I had made my choice beforehand but just wanted to observe these rare pokemon. With one last glance at the lonely cyndaquil, I entered the chikorita pen and knelt down. “Hey little ones, is one of you interested in going on an adventure with me?”

The larger chikorita let out a grunt like, “Chiko!” and turned its head away. While the smaller one, the size of a small dog, hesitantly looked at me. “Chiko. Chiko?” Thinking it was afraid or didn’t understand what I meant, I said softly, “No need to worry, I’ll take good care of you. We’re just going to travel around having fun, battling and making friends with new pokemon.”

“Chikorita!” My new friend said as it walked up and nuzzled my hand. I picked it up and left the pen. Professor Ebon approached with a pokeball and bag and said “Female chikorita are rare. Congratulations and here is her pokeball.” I thanked him and returned to the line of participants, stroking the leaf on my new friend's head as she rubbed up against my chest.

Soon, everyone had their starters and backpacks. Professor Ebon spoke up, “Congratulations again to you all. It’s always nice seeing the bright minds of the future. The bags you were given are Silph tech with expanded storage in the main pocket. Inside are 3 pokeballs and a month's supply of food for your starters. I made sure you each got the respective foods for your pokemon, but make sure when you next purchase food to get the right kind for your pokemon. Also, make sure you keep your physical Trainer ID on you at all times. That’s all, I wish you the best on your journeys.”

As I filed out of the lab with my chikorita held in my hands, one of the other participants, who got the larger chikorita, approached me and said, “Hey, are you up for a battle?”

“I’m sorry, but I’d like to get to know my pokemon better before battling with them.” I replied as I shook my head.

“Whatever.” He muttered and walked off. I paid him no mind as I continued on my way to the pokecenter, absentmindedly stroking my chikorita’s leaf.

“Hey girl, how about a nickname?” I asked.

“Chiko!” She said happily.

“Hmm, well your evolved form meganium has a flower around its neck. Maybe Rose? They’re popular flowers.” I say thinking of pink roses.

“Rita!” She said as she shook her head.

“What about Chrysanthemum? I can call you Chrys? It’s another beautiful flower”

“Chika! Chika!” She seemed to like it.

“Okay, Chrys, let's go meet Nurse Jane and Dr. Braun.” I said as I opened the door to the pokecenter. Where, to my surprise, both of them along with some other staff I had become friendly with were waiting in the lobby.

“Isn’t it cute? Thought you’d want a totodile.” Dr Braun said.

“Chikorita! Rita!”

“Her, and I’m extremely happy with Chrys here.”

“Chiko.” Chrys said as she nuzzled against me.

“Well, let me take a look at you cutie. Let’s make sure you’re all healthy.” Nurse Jane said.

I handed her Chrys while saying “Be sure to behave Chrys. And thank you for taking a look, Nurse Jane.” She took Chrys to the back as I was congratulated by the other staff, who then went back to work.

Dr. Braun remained and I said, “Thank you for everything, Dr. Braun. I guess I’m lucky you found me.”

“Nonsense, just doing what was expected of me after tripping over your body on the way out.” He laughed, then continued, “Even though the circumstance of our meeting wasn’t the greatest, I’m glad you’re doing okay now. Please, be safe out there.”

“Thanks doctor.” I said as he turned and went to the adjoining hospital. I walked upstairs to my room and packed my meagre belongings. The space inside the main pocket on my new Silph tech bag was the size of a closet and easily fit my few sets of clothes. I left Chrys’s pokeball, which was green in colour with a stylized leaf, in an outer pocket and examined the three empty pokeballs. There was a red, blue and green one. In this world, the standard red and white pokeball from “before” is just one of the base models. There are numerous pokeball designs for every level of pokeball, with artists being paid for their designs lucratively. The fancier the ball, the higher the cost. Maybe in the future I would pay for some unique designs, but I’m fine with the standard white bottom and coloured top for now.

Sweeping the room with my gaze, I confirm that I have everything and after a deep breath head back to the lobby. While I wait, I go over my notes on my phone. From my research in the past months, I’ve found out that while things are similar to my understanding from “before”, there are many differences. None of the characters from the anime or games exist. Well, except for one, though his name is different. Professor Samuel Oak, the creator of the pokedex, looks exactly the same but goes by Professor David Rook. Also, he’s dead.

I don’t really know what to make of this, but from what I can tell I’m a bit into the future from the time of the anime/games. Not that those media actually represent this world right. The main similarities are the locations and pokemon. This is a world where power trumps all. And if I don’t have enough power, I’m not comfortable revealing my origins. So my notes only include things I had researched here. Anyways, my notes include the wild pokemon that live around here and on my way to Cherrygrove and Violet City. As well as general info on the chikorita line, who I chose for their friendly nature and the natural abilities of the evolved form meganium. Also, they look super cool and I wanted one.

“Jason, she looks to be in good health. Though a little on the smaller side.” Nurse Jane said, interrupting my thoughts.

“Thank you, Nurse Jane. Is there anything I could do to help her develop?” I say as Chrys bounds up to my legs.

“She’s just a bit small, probably from a premature birth. With good care, she should be as large as any other bayleef when she evolves. I’ve written down two supplements you can find in the pokemart.” She hands me a note, “Other than those, make sure she has exercise, rest and good food. Also, make sure to cuddle her for me.”

“Thanks and can do.” I say with a smile, rubbing Chrys’s leaf.

“Well, I can’t say I’m the only one who’ll miss you. I’m sure the happiny will be sad to see you go.”

“About that, I was meaning to ask you, would it be alright if I adopted Chaos? I’m willing to pay the market price.” I had saved up around 14 000 pokedollars during my stay here and the market price of a happiny was around $10 000, though they were usually only sold once they evolved to chansey for $25 000.

“Are you sure, most early trainers don’t use happiny. I don’t want you to just leave her in her pokeball or some daycare after catching some other pokemon. Most trainers wait until they have more badges and then add something that can heal.” Since I had no family to send pokemon back to, I either had to leave excess pokemon above my carry limit in their pokeballs where they would be in a simulated habitat or board them at a daycare for a fee.

“Don’t worry, Nurse Jane, Chaos will definitely be a staple of my team.” I said with a grin. There weren’t many chansey/blissey that liked to battle, but Chaos sure did. From what information I could gather, there were only a couple of trainers who used blissey. But when used, blissey was a tank with many move options.

“I’ll tell you what, on account of Chaos’s eccentric personality and fondness for you I’ll let you have her for $8 000.”

“Thank you! Deal!” I said as we moved to the happiny’s daycare area. As I entered the room, Chaos came waddling up to me in a charge and headbutted my leg.

“Ow!” I yelped, “I guess you’re getting stronger huh, little Chaos.” Chaos looked surprised at my yelp and quickly started rubbing where she had headbutted me trying to heal me. “What do you say about coming with me? Huh, Chaos? You can play with me and Chrys here every day.” I said as Chrys entered the room hiding behind my legs. Chaos seemed to think about it for a second and then shrilled, “Happi! Happiny!” While nodding her head.

I knelt down and introduced Chrys and Chaos. Chrys slowly approached Chaos and started rubbing against her. This is looking to be the start of a great team.