Gregory’s eyes danced across the elegant script on the back of the envelope, drinking in the words “New Bark Town Pokemon Research Lab.” His fingers trembled as he slid his thumb under the envelope’s lip, the wax seal cracking open with a satisfying snap. He pulled out the contents, his heart racing with excitement, and was immediately struck by the sleek design of his new Trainer ID. The Portrait of himself stared back, his eyes crinkled with just how wide his smile had been when they took the photo, accompanied by his personal details and a unique trainer number.
As he read over the accompanying letter, a wide grin spread across his face. The words seemed to leap off the page, echoing in his mind like a promise:
“ Dear Gregory,
Huge congratulations are in order! You've been selected as one of the three recipients of this year’s Pokemon Research Initiative for Discovery and Exploration program, and we're thrilled to offer you a position as a Lab trainer with our lab. As a PRIDE Fellow, you'll be joining a team of passionate and dedicated researchers who share your love for Pokémon.
You'll get to choose a starter Pokémon from our lab, and with your new partner by your side, you'll embark on an epic adventure through the Johto region. You'll explore new places, encounter rare Pokémon, and uncover new insights into their biology and habitats.
Enclosed you’ll find your Trainer ID and Pokemon Voucher, bring this at your earliest convenience to my lab in New Bark Town. There we will discuss your duties and responsibilities as a lab trainer. You are now one step closer to embarking on a grand adventure into the world of pokemon. I can't wait to see where your journey takes you!
Sincerely,
Prof. Elm Utsugi
Regional PKMN Professor
New Bark Town PKMN Research Lab”
Gregory felt a thrill run through him, his imagination soaring with visions of the journeys he would take, the battles he would fight, and the Pokemon he would befriend.
He folded up the letter, after re-reading it a few more times, his hands moving with reverence and slipped it back into its envelope. The paper felt crisp and official. A tangible symbol of his new status as a pokemon trainer. Gregory’s eyes shone with excitement as he gazed at the voucher enclosed with the letter, his ticket to claiming his very first pokemon.
“It's finally time! I wonder what type of Pokemon will be waiting for me at the research center?” he thought as he began gathering his gear.
He had been slowly gathering all the supplies he would need these past few weeks. His parents had told him he should wait to see the results of the program, lest he jump the gun and end up not making it.
“There was no way I wasn’t making it, not with how hard I studied for this” he thought as he crammed the last of his clothes into his backpack.
His mind wandered back to all the times he’d spent daydreaming about his future as a trainer. He’d imagined himself soaring through the skies on the back of a Pidgeot, cruising along the coastline on the shell of a Lapras or navigating the frosty tunnels of the Ice path warmed by the fire of a Typhlosion.
Gregory paused as he zipped up his backpack, his gaze failing back on the voucher he’d placed on his bed. He had spent countless hours at the Academy listening to his classmates boast about becoming the next great Water-type expert or Dominating with a team of Fire-types. Gregory had always felt a pang of uncertainty when he heard these conversations.
"Why choose one type when there’s so many out there to see?” he muttered to himself.
He knew he didn’t want to be a specialist, tied to one type or style of training. He wanted to be versatile and adaptable, the type of trainer that could work through any situation. Not coming up short because of some inherent weakness of his team. To Gregory, each type of pokemon was a piece of a much larger puzzle- a tapestry woven from fire, water, grass, and everything in between. He wanted to experience them all, to see how each type complemented the other in battle.
“Besides,” he thought with a soft grin, “imagine the kind of team you could build if you didn’t put yourself in a box.”
Satisfied with he reasoning, Gregory gave his bag one final pat and slung it over his shoulder.
Below he could hear the clink of dishware and the soft scent of breakfast being made. As if on queue his stomach rumbled making its demands known.
He made sure to grab his Pokegear from his nightstand before he dashed out the door. His footsteps echoed loudly as he took the stairs two steps at a time, his backpack bouncing behind him.
"Gregory! How many times do I need to tell you not to run in the house!" his mother’s shout greeted him as he entered the kitchen.
"Sorry, Mom!" Gregory said, skidding to a stop in the doorway. “But look- I was accepted to the PRIDE program”
His mother, Sasha, turned, her stern expression softening into a warm smile. She was an average-sized woman in her mid-30’s, with long brown hair tied into a braid that fell to her lower back. Her sun-kissed skin matched Gregory’s, and her sharp green eyes softened with pride as she took the Letter from his outstretched hand.
“Oh, Gregory, I’m so happy for you!” She said, inspecting it with a small smile, before returning it to him and placing her hands on either side of his face. “I’m so proud of you!” Gregory felt a flush rise to his cheeks as he tried to shake off her hands, Laughing. “Jeez, Mom, Stop it. I’m 16 now, not a little kid.”
"What’s all the fuss about in here," Myles, Gregory's father, said as he entered the kitchen, a steaming mug of coffee in his hand.
Myles was a tall man, reaching about 6', with an athletic build he maintained despite nearing his 40's. His short dark black hair, which Gregory inherited, had slight streaks of gray creeping in on the sides. The laugh lines that framed his face only highlighted his easygoing smile. The brown of his eyes held a gleam of an unrepentant prankster.
“Dad, I can finally start my journey!” Gregory said, holding up the letter and ID.
"Oh?" he replied, taking the proffered items.
Myles smirked as he glanced at the card. “Are you sure this is you? This boy looks far too old to be you.” He then locked his arm around Gregory pulling him tight to his side.
“Ha-ha, you're hilarious…” Gregory said dryly as he tried, and failed, to wriggle free from his father’s iron grip.
“Alright, Alright,” Myles said, finally releasing his son from the hug. “We’re proud of you son. Now, sit down- No trainer starts their journey on an empty stomach.”
Gregory took a seat at the table and waited for his dad to finish making him some breakfast. His mother placed a plate of toasted bread in front of him as she took a seat across from him. Soon after his father added a plate of bacon and eggs to the table.
As Gregory dug in, Sasha fussed over him. “Did you pack your winter gear? How about that first aid kit we got you? Or what abo-“
“Mooom,” Gregory interjected between bites. “I packed everything, I even double-checked this morning.”
Sasha sighed as she got up to take her plate to the sink, busying herself by tidying up the breakfast dishes. Her movements were jerky, the nervous energy palpable.
"Sasha, sweetheart, come sit down, the dishes can wait," Myles said as he shot Gregory a sly wink.
"I'm sorry, it’s just this is the longest you’ll be away from home for, Honey, what if you get hurt out there?" Sasha said as she rejoined them at the table.
“Don’t worry, honey. Gregory’s got this. I’m sure he’ll call us… frequently, right?” Myles said, giving Gregory a pointed look.
"y-yeah, I'll be sure to call every couple wee-" at the slight tightening of his dads stare he quickly corrected what he was saying, "I mean, every other day?"
“Oh, Myles, leave the poor boy alone!” She playfully rolled her eyes and swatted at her husband's arm.
Myles chuckled and held up his hands in mock surrender, giving Gregory a sly wink.
"Just promise you'll call whenever you can," She said.
Breakfast passed with light chatter and laughter. When he finished eating, Gregory stood and slung his backpack over his shoulder.
“I’ll stop by again before I head out of town,” he promised.
So having satiated his hunger and with his voucher burning a hole in his pocket, he started making his way toward New Bark town's Pokemon research center.
Somewhere else in the region a man sits in a dimly lit office, the only light is the one from the computer screen that he stares at. On the monitor data readouts of a prototype flash, Teal eyes take them in with a manic light, as a slow grin stretches the skin of his face taut. A grin that shows just a tad too much teeth.
“Oh yes, This will do nicely,” he says to himself.
The soft creak of this chair echoes faintly through the room as he reclines back. His eyes dance through the last of the report and he leans back forward pressing the intercom button on his desk.
“ Proceed with the next steps” he commanded
There was no reply from the intercom, but he paid it no mind. Only a fool would ignore one of his orders.
His hand reached out and grabbed the only other item on his desk as he leaned back in the chair one last time. The large feather’s stem was still warm in his fingers as he rolled it back and forth. The soft blue light from the computer screen reflecting a soft rainbow hue out into the dark office.
With a dark laugh he said to himself, “Oh yes, it’s only a matter of time.”
As Gregory exited his home into the streets of New Bark Town, the glow of the warm morning light slowly lit up the sleepy little borough. The town’s modest population of around 5,000 was still stirring, none but the fishermen and a few early risers were out and about. The cobblestone road, lined with quaint buildings and alive with the sound of Pidgey and other pokemon who were also starting to greet the day, seemed to stretch on forever.
As he walked the familiar streets of his town Gregory looked out to the northeast where he could see the looming shadow of the silver range. The snow-tipped peaks were jagged and reminded him of the spikes of a tyranitar, but the range was also home to the silver league conference. Every year the toughest trainers gather atop that distant peak to pit themselves against each other, all to decide who is the strongest.
“And this year that’s going to be me,” Gregory vowed, eyes narrowed.
Both of his parents had made it far in their respective leagues. His mother, a semi-finalist in the silver conference, and his father finished second in the second indigo league he competed in. One of Gregory’s earliest memories was of watching their league battles, they had inspired his love for pokemon. It had also been strange to compare Meganium and Charizard, his parents' starters, both of whom spend most their days lazing in the sun, to the ferocious and brutal battlers they had been.
“I’ll be sure to surpass them,” Gregory thought.
So lost in thought was he, that Gregory almost walked past the lab. Professor Elm's Lab was two stories with a teal-colored metal roof and a white brick facade. Behind the building Gregory could see the Pokémon Lab's ranch, acres and acres of land owned by the lab for use by the Pokémon sent here for boarding with the professor.
As Gregory tried the door, he found it locked. He gave the solid oak door a knock and waited. He heard the clunk of a deadbolt before the door was pulled open. A man with a lab coat, black hair, and glasses stepped out.
"Oh! Hello there, I didn't expect visitors here so early; how can I help you?" he said, his face flashing with surprise before breaking into a warm smile.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“I’m Gregory, I’m here to talk to the professor about the PRIDE program.” Gregory explained flashing his voucher and letter.
The man’s eyes flashed with recognition. “Oh Gregory, we’ve been expecting you. Come in, Come in!” he said, as he stepped back to allow Gregory entry.
“Congratulations again, My name is Dave by the way,” Dave said as they made their way through the modest reception area and into the lab proper.
Gregory could feel his eyes widen in wonder as he took in the surroundings. He saw all sorts of machines and equipment that he could only begin to guess at the purpose of. Near the back of the room he saw a workspace in total disarray, folders weren strewn about, books and journals were carelessly tossed about all open to random pages, behind which a man with a lab coat, a mess of brown spikey hair, a pair a spectacles nestled within the tresses stood. He looked like he was looking for something the way he rummaged around, looking underneath books and folders.
“Oh jeez, now where could they have run off to?” he muttered to himself as Dave and Gregory stopped in front of him.
It took Dave politely clearing his throat to snap the man out of his frantic search. He looked up and squinted at them.
“Good, you’re here Dave, have you seen my glasses? I’ve lost them” the man questioned.
“Um.. they’re on your head Professor,” Dave said, giving Gregory a look that seemed to say ‘sorry about him.’
“What? Oh.. Here they are!” Professor Elm exclaimed, as he placed his glasses on.”That’s better!”
His vision returned, the professor seemed to just notice that Gregory was in the room. “And who might we have here?”
“My name’s Gregory,” He said, “I received your Letter today..”
Before he could finish the professor interjected, “Oh! Of course you’re one of the new lab trainers. Here, follow me, I'll get you set up.”
The professor led him up stairs to his office, which much like the workstation was in a state of chaos. The mess didn’t seem to bother Prof. Elm though, who just shifted the piles of paper around as he took his seat, jiggling the mouse of his computer to wake it up.
“Please, take a seat, I just need to get a few things pulled up.” Elm said, pointing Gregory to one of the chairs in front his desk.
Gregory took a moment to look around the office. It was a modest size with a few bookshelves to one side, but the most interesting thing in the room was the large aquarium tank along the back wall. Inside sat a small blue and pink pokemon with a cluster of pointed protrusions spread around the top of its body. Gregory almost didn’t see it due to the small coral clusters, of the same exact pink color, spread around the enclosure. The cute little pokemon was currently asleep, small little air bubbles floating to the surface.
“Huh, a corsola, those are rare. Perks of being a pokemon professor?” he mused, a grin on his face as he watched the small water type.
“Okay, can I get your ID and voucher please?” The professor’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts and he quickly handed the items over.
A few minutes passed with the sound of the clacking of the professor’s keyboard and the muted gurgling of the aquarium tank’s filtration system being broken only by the occasional question from the professor; Account number? Is this still your address? plus a few other employment related questions.
“Aaand done,” Elm emphasized, with a flourish he tapped the final key. “Thanks for your patience, we just have one more thing to go over before we can get to the real fun part!”
He reached into a drawer of his desk and grabbed something before getting up from his seat. “Here, as an official lab trainer you’re gonna need this,” he said, handing Gregory a small red device about the size of his pokegear. “This is the newest version of the pokedex, which you will need for the research you’re going to be helping with. We can go over that in a bit though. Are you ready to meet your partner?”
Gregory shot to his feet before the last word had even left the professor’s mouth.
“I thought so,” Professor Elm chuckled to himself as he led Gregory out of his office.
They retraced their steps back to the main lab and then headed through a side door that opened up to a basement level.
“Well, Gregory, you're sure spoiled for choice! Some of my fellow regional professors have sent us some rare pokemon to give out as starters this year" Prof. Elm quipped as they started making their way down the steps.
The room is open at the bottom of the stairs, with three colossal glass habitats occupying most of the space. To the left of the room is a large vault door. The heavy metal door was opened wide , and inside, Gregory could see Dave with a scanner going down row upon row of Pokeballs, making annotations on a clipboard every now and again.
"That’s where we keep all the Pokemon trainers have sent to board with us. When they’ve met their carry limit, they send them to us for safekeeping." The Professor chimed in, having noticed the angle of his gaze.
"Wow, there sure are a lot of Pokemon in there," Gregory muttered in awe.
"Oh yes, we have a lot of trainers that utilize our ranch; now let me show you all the Pokemon you have to choose from."
Elm led him over to the glass habitats. The first was a grass type paradise, shining down from above was UV lighting acting as a pseudo-sun, with bushes and other plant life spread around its edges. The centerpiece was a small, shallow pond where seven Pokemon are gathered. Some were relaxing by the small body of water, while others played around it.
"So in here, you’ll find the grass-type Pokemon- Bulbasaur, Chikorita, Treeko, Turtwig, Snivy, Chespin, and Grookey." Elm said, his manner of speech reminding Gregory of a museum curator giving a tour.
He then moved on to the next enclosure. Where the last looked like a small forest clearing, this one was more like the forest edge at the foot of a mountain. There still was plant-life along one side with another pond, but the other side was a rocky outcropping that even had a small den carved into its front.
"This one is home to all the fire-type Pokemon- Charmander, Cyndaquil, Torchic, Chimchar, Tepig, Fennekin, and Scorbunny."
Of the three habitats, the last one was the most drastically different. Half of the habitat was water, with a small peninsula of land made up of grass, sand, and mud patches.
"And finally, here we have the water-type Pokemon- Squirtle, Totodile, Mudkip, Piplup, Oshwott, Froakie, and Sobble. Like I said, we have a lot to choose from; take your time and let me know what your choice is." The professor said as he came to a stop in front of the last enclosure.
Gregory perused each habitat carefully; some of the Pokemon noticed his gaze on them, though most chose to ignore him, apparently uninterested in his attention. However, a few showed some interest in him, walking up to the glass for a closer look.
The first one was the Turtwig. The small quadruped, which couldn't’ve reached higher than his ankles, had a yellow lower jaw, with yellow eyes and feet as well. Upon the top of its head, a tiny seedling sprouted out. It stopped a few feet from the glass and looked Gregory in the eyes. With a slight tilt of its head, it let out a curious-sounding "twig." They locked eyes, Gregory giving it a warm inviting smile and a wave of his hand, then it scampered back to the other Pokemon. Its curiosity had apparently been satisfied.
The second Pokemon was the Squirtle from the water-type habitat. Though the Squirtle hadn't gotten as close as the Turtwig did, it still took a few steps forward, and gave him a happy-sounding "squirt!" and waved to him. After he gave a smile and a wave back to it, the Squirtle turned away and jumped into the water splashing a few of the other Pokemon.
The final Pokemon was the Fire-type Fennekin; the little fox came bounding all the way up to the glass, where it sat down and looked up at him expectantly. The soft-looking fur of its body was yellow with bright red eyes that matched the tip of its fluffy tail and the tufts of fur that extended from its pointed ears. The bottom half of its face and short snout was pure white like spent ashes in bright sunlight.
"Do you want to come with me on my journey, Fennekin?" Gregory asked as he crouched down to be more on its level, putting a steadying hand upon the glass.
Tilting her head to the side, seemingly in thought, the little vixen reached up and placed her fore paws onto the glass. Her right paw landed precisely where his hand was; simultaneously, she yipped a happy, "Fen, Fennekin!"
Gregory didn't know exactly what Fennekin was saying, but he had learned that as trainers spent more time with a Pokemon the easier it was to decipher their body language and the various tones in their calls. So while unsure exactly how the little fire fox replied to his question he would have sworn that there was a hopeful expression in her red eyed gaze and an excited twitch to her tail as it swayed back and forth in little jerks.
"Professor! I've made my decision!" He called back over his shoulder, a smile spreading across his face, his eyes not leaving the fox in front of him. Professor Elm made his way over and stood behind him.
"So you're choosing Fennekin? Alright then, let me grab her Pokeball for you." With that, the Professor goes into the vault and, a few moments later, returns with the spherical red and white device in his hands.
"You know, I've found that letting your Pokemon travel with you outside its ball can help to form a strong bond between trainer and pokemon. Maybe you should consider letting your new friend travel with you in such a way. Well, the choice is yours," He told Gregory as he handed over the Pokeball. The door to the habitat was opened, letting the little fire-fox out. "Now before I let you loose, we need to discuss the research you’ll be helping the lab with, follow me"
He gave prof. Elm a quick smile and a nod, Gregory then knelt down in front of Fennekin. "So what do you say, girl? Wanna walk with me?" he asked.
"Fen, Fen!" came the excited reply as the Fox Pokemon wagged its fluffy tail.
"Alright then! Let's go!" he said, standing up. Before he could follow after the professor he felt the slight weight of fennekin as she bounded up to his shoulder.
“Not exactly what I meant, but that’s fine too” He said as he gave an amused chuff.
Gregory was once again sitting in front of Professor Elm’s cluttered desk. Though this time fennekin sat in his lap as he idly stroked her fur, rendering the little fox a half conscious puddle of contentment.
“There have been reports of sightings of pokemon not native to Johto.” Professor Elm started, “Normally this is not unheard of, maybe a trainer released a pokemon, or they ran away. However, the reports have mentioned large groups, and that many of them have been aggressive, pushing the native pokemon out of their habitats.”
Gregory could fill his brows falling into a frown. ‘Large scale migration maybe? Whatever it is, it doesn’t sound good’
“Now I’m not asking you to go out of your way to find these groups, but I would like you to keep an eye out for any strange sightings you encounter on your journey,” Elm continued, bringing Gregory out of his thoughts. “Your pokedex has a notes app that you can use to document anything you find.”
“That’s all I have for you, for now,” Elm said, getting up from behind his desk.
As Gregory went to get up Fennekin gave a grunt of protest before shaking out her fur and resuming her perch on his shoulder. The professor walked him to the door and waved goodbye as Gregory and Fennekin made their way back to his parents’ home.
Pulling out his Pokedex, Gregory aims it toward the little fox on his shoulder. After hitting the scan button, a picture of Fennekin is pulled up on the dex's screen, along with some information on her species. Then a computerized voice began speaking, "Fennekin, The Fox Pokemon, found in Forrest, chaparrals, and deserts. These Pokémon have a curious diet—they subsist primarily on dry twigs, which they seek out constantly, even chewing on them while walking about. They combust the sticks they eat within their bodies to create fire." Hitting another button, the Pokedex shows him the list of moves she knows.
‘Scratch, Charm, Howl, and Ember huh? I can work with that’ Gregory thought.
He slipped the Pokedex back into his pocket and brought a hand up to her head, stroking the soft fur of her ear. "Remind me to get you some sticks later, okay girl?" he said. Her reply was to lick his cheek with her warm tongue.
Gregory gave a chuckle as he continued down the cobbled street, the street now bustling with activity as the town’s denizens began their day. To Gregory the town itself seems to be brighter, the air more crisp. He still felt the warm excitement in his chest from earlier, only now it was because of the possibilities laid out before him.
He turned his head to fennekin, the little vixen taking in all the sights this small town had to offer. Finally, their gazes locked, “It’s us against the world, girl. Let’s show ‘em what we’re made of!” Fennekin’s red eyes blazed with the same determination that he knew she saw in him.
‘Look out Johto, here we come’
Pokemon Mentioned in this chapter:
Corsola:
Corsola are most well-known for their horns, which collectors prize as jewelry. Treated Corsola horns can refract light in the seven colors of the rainbow. In some regions, these harvested horns are considered fertility charms. Luckily, Corsola shed their horns periodically to grow new ones, giving collectors an ample supply of discarded horns to work with. This process can happen in as little as one to three nights. Corsola can only survive in pristine, warm waters. They migrate south as temperatures cool throughout the year. Corsola use their horns to filter water and obtain nutrients; in polluted or cold seas, their horns lose their color, become brittle, and disintegrate. Corsola live in colonies, shedding their horns to create natural reefs. Other Pokémon often make their homes in these reefs. Notably, Pacifidlog Town, Hoenn, is a village in the middle of the ocean built entirely on a Corsola colony. Corsola populations can be used as a water quality detector. If they begin to appear sickly, it is a sign that the water is dirty. Corsola also shed their horns as distractions against predators like Mareanie. Corsola populations in Alola, where Mareanie are most common, have stubbier horns as a result, though the tropical waters also make them much more vibrant and healthy overall.
Turtwig:
Trainers starting out in the Sinnoh region may choose Turtwig as their starter Pokémon. As Very mild natured creatures, Turtwig are neither fussy nor egregious, making them popular choices among laid-back trainers. Turtwig rarely eat solid food (though they do indulge in Berries from time to time), gathering most of their energy via photosynthesis primarily through the leaves on their heads. The “shells” on their backs are actually layers of hardened soil. Turtwig must drink lots of clean water to keep their shells from becoming too dry and cracking. The shells of healthy Turtwig should feel moist to the touch, but not so waterlogged that they crumble when prodded. When Turtwig are thirsty, their leaves will wilt. They become more energetic in bright sunlight. Recently, researchers have discovered that their entire bodies can in fact undergo photosynthesis, allowing them to survive even if their leaves are damaged. Because of this, they are constantly enveloped in layers of clean oxygen. Thanks to their easygoing personalities, Turtwig have remained popular choices for trainers in Sinnoh for decades.
Fennekin:
Trainers in Kalos have the option of selecting Fennekin as their starter. Pokémon. Many who choose these Pokémon for their cuteness are surprised by their bouts of moodiness—Fennekin are known to be rather unpredictable in their personalities, being easy going at one moment yet irritable at another. Despite their temperamental tendencies, however, these Pokémon always try their absolute best in battle and hate disappointing their trainers. Fennekin dispels excess heat through their ears, which can warm the air passing through them to over 390°F (200°C). These Pokémon have a curious diet—they subsist primarily on dry twigs, which they seek out constantly, even chewing on them while walking about. They combust the sticks they eat within their bodies to create fire. Eating twigs is one of the few reliable ways to improve a Fennekin's mood. To intimidate foes, Fennekin will puff out hot air from their ears, causing the tufts of fur in them to glow faintly. Despite their occasional mood swings, their cuteness and determination make Fennekin popular amongst Kalosian trainers.
Squirtle:
Squirtle are born with soft shells, and are vulnerable until these shells harden in a process that takes about a week or so. To protect themselves, they withdraw into their sturdy shells and attack using Bubble and Water Gun to scare off potential dangers. Their carapaces can bounce back many attacks, protecting the Pokémon from harm. Additionally, the smooth exteriors of the shells allow Squirtle to glide more swiftly and smoothly through the water. Though rare in the wild, they can occasionally be found around freshwater lakes and ponds, and even in slow-flowing rivers. A few ?isolated populations can be found on islands in the middle of the ocean, but these groups are rare and are exceptions rather than the norm. Squirtle are often found in groups, which while officially are referred to as “bales,” are more popularly known as “squads.” Squirtle, the third of the Kantonian starter trio, are often viewed as a middle ground between the other two; not as docile as Bulbasaur, but not as rash as Charmander.
