Vermilion City

I stock up on items at the mart and pick up a case for my gym badges.

You there, trainer! You seem capable, I see three badges there. I was wondering if you could assist me? You’d be helping the city too.

+ What’s wrong?

This Squirtle has been causing trouble and has attacked several people with it’s water gun. I think it just needs a good trainer to keep it out of mischief.

Let me go you damn Rockets! You’ll pay for what you did to my friends!

+ Rockets? But we’re not with them.

Lies! All you humans are liars! You’re with the Rockets!

Rockets? You can understand it? I’ve never met someone with the gift before.

Take it from a fellow Pokémon, they aren’t with the Rockets. I’ll vouch for them.

Okay, let’s say I believe you. Prove it, I want to see you do something about it!

+ Alright, I’ll help you. What happened to your friends?

They were taken, snatched away.

+ Where did they take them?

To one of the human cities, the one to the west of the biggest city.

+ Then let’s go rescue them!

I want to be stronger to punish the Rockets. You’re a trainer? Then train me. The name’s Beck.

+ You’ve got yourself a deal, Beck. I’m Cally.

So it agreed to go with you?

+ Yep, also it seems the Rockets are poaching Pokémon.

I’ll have to investigate that. Thank you for your assistance, citizen.

Diglett’s Cave

This place is perfect to start my training!

+ Why do they call it Diglett’s Cave?

I’ll give you three guesses.

The ground gently rumbles until a small Pokémon pops up from the ground.

Hi!

+ Hello.

Whatcha doin’?

We’re here to train, so we can defeat the Rockets.

Rockets? Can I come too? I’m sure the rest of us will oblige with the training, you are intruders after all.

+ Sure, I’m Cally by the way.

I’m Terra.

I’m Beck.

They call me Joule.

Good luck.

Terra and her new Pokéball vanish, sent to the PC.

What did she mean by that?

The ground shakes violently until dozens of Digletts pop from the ground and the walls.

Time to play Whac-A-Mole!

Beck fires his water gun at the Digletts, each in turn retreat into the earth only to reappear. Some of them end up soaked and retreat for good. After what feels like an eternity the last Diglett ends up drenched.

Whew, intense!

Yeeeeeeah!

I’m ready, I want those Rockets to suffer!

Route 6

I figure the place Beck was talking about is Celadon City, checking my map I see the quickest way there is via Saffron City. I try the gatehouse again.

Still thirsty!

Checking the map again I see another way in to the east from Lavender town but it’s a long detour. I take the tunnel back north.

Cerulean City

I stop by a bike shop to find a faster means of transport. The new bikes are far too expensive so I pick up an old second hand fold-up bike for cheap.

The bike itself is pretty rusted up but it still works okay and it looks like a popular brand. The shop owner said it was a knock-off because it’s not a model they make and they even screwed up the manufacture date, the plate on the frame says it was made two years in the future.

Before continuing on I head to the Pokémon Center.

Your Pokémon are fighting fit! Um… I was wondering if you could help. Someone brought in this wild Bulbasaur, she was injured but since we healed her she refused to leave.

So?

They say you have the gift, could you talk some sense into her?

The Bulbasaur is perched on the counter by the healing machine.

+ Hey there.

What do you want?

+ I’m wondering why you refuse to go home, you are a wild Pokémon, right?

I’m scared, the Rockets are still out there. They caught my friends in nets and beat me with sticks when I tried to stop them, I wasn’t strong enough.

Beck appears from his Pokéball.

Minnie! I thought they got you too!

Beck? Is that you? You evolved!

I had to get stronger to battle the Rockets. I’m with this trainer now, why don’t you come too?

But I don’t want to have to evolve…

+ You don’t have to if you don’t want to.

I’m living proof that you don’t need to evolve to kick ass!

Okay, I’ll go with you.

Route 9

Continuing with the detour I hardly get anywhere before my path is blocked by a Rattata.

Fight me! C’mon human! Show me your moves!

+ Joule! Thunder Wave!

Zap. There, done.

I throw a Pokéball at the Rattata, it wobbles for a moment and the seal clicks before being teleported to the PC.

Rock Tunnel

+ It sure is dark in here.

I can’t see a thing!

I’ve got this. My tail will light the way!

Hi there!

+ Woah!

Zubat!

Joule zaps the Zubat until it collapses to the floor. We continue through the cave, Summer guiding the way and Joule frying any Zubat that gets close.

Lavender Town

The people here tell me the Pokémon Tower is a resting place for the dead. I decide to go in to pay my respects.

I start climbing the steps and find a familiar face on the first floor.

Cally! I’m gonna make you pay for killing Rattata!

+ Wait!

Go Fearow!

+ Go Joule!

+ Thunderbolt!

Fury Attack!

Joule shoots a lightning bolt at Fearow, electrocuting it. Fearow unleashes a flurry of pecks and jabs in Joule’s direction but she deftly dodges them all.

+ Thunderbolt!

Fury Attack!

Joule fries Fearow once more until it collapses to the floor.

Heh, evolving didn’t do you much good!

Go Shellder!

+ Thunderbolt!

Clamp!

Joule zaps Shellder until it gives up.

Go Vulpix!

+ Joule come back! Go Beck!

+ Water Gun!

Roar!

Beck douses Vulpix.

Rawr?

+ Water Gun!

Tail Whip!

Beck sprays water in Vulpix’s face until it passes out.

Gargle…

Go Sandshrew!

+ Water Gun!

Slash!

Beck blasts Sandshrew with enough water to send it flying across the room.

Go Eevee!

+ Beck return! Go Clive!

+ Slash!

Quick Attack!

Eevee darts at Clive and bounces off his hide. Clive gives Eevee a close shave, dealing critical damage and scaring it enough to pass out.

Nope…

Mark my words I’ll make you pay one day!

Green rushed back downstairs and out of sight.

I climb the tower further until I notice the lights are a lot dimmer and a mist has somehow rolled in across the floor.

So this is a resting place for the dead?

+ Yeah, kinda creepy on this floor though, right?

What’s that behind you?

+ Hm?

ZUUL!

+ Wah!

Run!

I decide we take a quick exit and just leave town, as fast as possible.

Route 8

Not far now until I reach the east gatehouse, there are quite a few trainers on this route today. Battling them all in turn takes a while, only one left.

Meow meow!

+ What?

I can’t understand her, is she even speaking human?

Meow meow meow!

The meowing lass throws a Pokéball, a Meowth pops out poised for battle.

+ Go Paulie!

To battle!

+ Gust!

Paulie blasts Meowth with a quick gust, knocking it down. The Meowth pounces onto Paulie in midair and bites his wing, causing him to plummet to the ground.

Ack!

+ Gust!

Paulie tries to knock Meowth away with only one wing, Meowth bites Paulie’s throat and he stops moving.

Paulie!

+ NOOO!