Journal Entry 1 of Kai Jerez

So why did I decide to go on a Journey? Honestly, I have a few reasons.

* Let’s be real. With my situation, obviously I want to experience everything this world has to offer. There is just…so much I could do! Plus, I think I’d make a great Pokémon Professor in this life. Considering…yeah.

* Dad. I gave him Father’s Tera Orb to study as a way to provide him a new area of research. But he’s more concerned about Johto than himself. Due to…certain circumstances, the Johto region isn’t doing well economically. Less and less trainers are travelling there each year, while other regions continue to prosper. Maybe my Journey could do something to help Johto. That way, Dad be able to stop worrying about it.

* Tadbulb. He went through a big ordeal, although he doesn’t know it. Due to the low temperatures his egg was put through during…anyway, he didn’t hatch for years. But when he hatched, Dad helped me check and there was seemingly nothing wrong with the little guy. Still, it didn’t help when Tadbulb developed a certain obsession. It was about two weeks after Tadbulb was born. We were in the loungeroom while I was nursing him with a bottle of Moo-Moo Milk, and I was watching TV. Specifically, I was watching the semi-finals of the Ever-Grande Conference in Sinnoh. Ash Ketchum vs the mysterious Tobias. I thought Tadbulb was a little too young to really understand what we were watching, but evidently, he did. When Ash’s Sceptile took down Darkrai, I remember how focused Tadbulb got. No matter what I did, I couldn’t keep nursing him as he was quite violent about getting to watch. As the match came down to the final matchup, Tadbulb first saw him. Ash’s Pikachu. Tadbulb watched as the little electric mouse blasted Tobias’ Latios with multiple Thunderbolts and a Thunder. He watched as they both fell. He watched as a Pikachu took down a Legendary Pokémon. Tadbulb…was starstruck. He then spent every day pestering me to train. So we had a conversation, and I agreed to take him on a Journey, battling in the different Leagues, all so he could face off with his idol.

* Lance…fuck you, Lance.

* *scratched out and unintelligible*.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________-

23 hours after leaving New Bark Town

Route 1, just outside Vaniville Town

Kai Jerez

As I walked down the cobblestone road of Route 1, I fiddled with my Pokédex, adjusting the settings and display of my team’s information.

Tadbulb

Gender: Male

Age: 4 months

Nature: Modest

Abilities:

- Own Tempo (Trained)

Known Moves:

- Tackle (Training)

- Mud-Slap (Trained)

- Soak (Training)

- Thunder Shock (Trained)

Z-Moves:

- Gigavolt Havoc (Training)

________________________

Shuckle

Gender: Male

Age: 4 years, 2 months

Nature: Sassy

Abilities:

- Gluttonous (Trained)

Known Moves:

- Wrap (Trained)

- Withdraw (Trained)

- Rollout (Training)

Z-Moves:

I loved the Pokédex. Ever since Dad had given it to me, I had always had it close at hand. It served as everything I needed, much like a smartphone could. Thankfully, one difference from the anime is that Pokédexes could make phone calls. Not only used for Pokédex things, it also functioned as a camera, music maker (I had fun with that one), music player, notepad, journal, and any number of applications you could add. It also contained my Trainer ID, and the betting system for Pokémon battles. Trainers who didn’t pay bets they had lost would have their ID flagged and an Officer Jenny would be dispatched to the scene. Nobody successfully got away, so nobody bothered trying. Go Jenny!

I’d set the Pokédex to display the level of competency my team has with their moves and abilities. Untrained meant that while they could technically use it, it was nowhere near ready for battles. Training means that the move can be used in battle, but there’s still a long way to go before they can use it easily without effort. Finally, Trained means that the Pokémon has mastered the move and can use it as easily as breathing. Sadly, “Trained” was a bit of a misnomer. Pokémon could have mastered their abilities or moves through usage throughout their lives, or just naturally through their aptitudes and attitudes. They were just the available labels I could work with.

Tadbulb and Shuckle were sleeping off the jet lag right now, and I was humming along to some of the music I’d made, headphones on my head. Tadbulb had transferred himself to the Friend Ball that Kurt gave me, while Shuckle chosen the Heavy Ball for himself. They were currently hanging from my belt, which had empty spots for more Pokémon. As I put the Pokédex in my pocket, I looked around. Solid oak trees lined the sides of the road, and a gentle breeze had the dead leaves of autumn paint the cobblestone pathway. I spied a flock of Fletchling flying overhead, and a grin warmed my face.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

A whole region for me to experience! I’m going to try everything I can think of!

I decided on setting up camp a little bit outside of Vaniville Town, deciding I could enter the town tomorrow. Besides, due to being on public transport for nearly 2 days straight, I hadn’t had the opportunity to properly sit with Shuckle and have “the talk”.

“Ok team let’s relax” I say, releasing both of my Pokémon.

Tadbulb just floats and smiles, while Shuckle is blinking the sleep out of his eyes. When he focuses, he fixes his eyes on me and clears his throat, expecting something. His blue shell is shining in the afternoon sun, and I smile to myself.

‘Shiny Shuckle. Boo-yah! Though why does he look familiar?’

‘He must want food’ I think to myself and shake myself out of my musings to set up the camp. Shuckle watches me curiously, while Tadbulb seems content to wait, drifting with a slight wind. Eventually I finish, and pull out two bowls, before filling them with some Oran Berries. Leaning down, I place the bowls before them.

“Sorry Shuckle, we have to wait until we’re at a shop to pick out your favourite berries. For now, these are Tadbulb’s favourite, Oran Berries” I say, and watch, curious to see what sort of personality Shuckle has. Shuckle simply moves his neck forward and eats rather daintily, as though it was only the most natural thing in the world that I give him food. Tadbulb is a little more polite and gives me a face nuzzle before tucking into his food. I get the feeling Shuckle might be a little more…pretentious than Tadbulb. Sort of like a celebrity.

‘I can work with that’.

I begin musing out loud, having already planned for how to handle a more demanding team member.

“I wonder why Shuckle would join my team. Could it be battle?”

Shuckle makes no reaction to my words, seemingly ignoring me.

“No, he’s a strong Pokémon, but I think it’s something else” I say, and I notice Shuckle isn’t chewing so quickly anymore.

‘He’s listening’

“Maybe…could he want to be…famous?”

Thump

One of Shuckle’s limbs lifts, then slaps against the ground. He’s stopped chewing.

‘I’m on the right track’

“Famous and…powerful?”

He thumps again and I look at him, only to see stars in his eyes.

”SHUCKLE!” he affirms, and I can tell I’m right. He wants to not only be famous but be known as a powerful Pokémon. Time with the Pokémon at Dad’s lab over the years had given me a keen sense on how to read the ‘vibe’ of a Pokémon.

‘Always had trouble grooming though’ I chuckle to myself, before addressing the new team member.

“You want to be famous and strong? Alright, let’s do it! Welcome to the team Shuckle!” I say enthusiastically, and Shuckle tries to crawl over. Unfortunately, his weak little noddle-arms can’t even lift himself up, so he’s just slowly dragging himself towards me. I walk forward and pick him up. He places a noodle-arm on my shoulder and stares at me with a determined look.

“Tadbulb” I hear, and I look up to find Tadbulb in his favourite resting place, above my head. He’s looking at us with an equally determined look.

“Ok, let’s do it! Finish up eating, then we’ll train for the evening until bedtime, alright?”

They cheer, and I place Shuckle back at his bowl. The two Pokémon begin devouring their food with gusto, and I’m reminded by their behaviour that Pokémon tend to enjoy training, regardless of if they like battling or not. I got that mindset. If I could make myself indestructible or shoot lightning bolts, I’d be doing it too.

When the two have finished, I clap my hands to grab their attention.

“You and Shuckle are going to be working together to develop some new moves. First, I’d like Tadbulb to use Thunder Shock on Shuckle. Now when you do, don’t focus on power, but on hitting everything! Let the electricity explode everywhere, instead of aiming” I explain. Shuckle appears to be mortified, while Tadbulb is already beginning to float higher as he gathers electricity within himself.

‘That little dude is gonna demolish Ash’s Pikachu one day!’

I shudder a little before turning to Shuckle. “Now Shuckle, I want you to focus on moving around with Rollout. When you feel like you’re starting to get a little hurt, Tadbulb will stop” I say, shooting a firm look in my starter Pokémon’s direction. Tadbulb reluctantly bobs to agree. I think.

“Then, I want you to fall asleep. While you try to fall asleep, focus on feeling better. I’ll wake you, and we’ll see how we go. We’re only going to do this three times today, but this is our training routine for now.” I say, and the two of them get to it.

My plan was to have Tadbulb begin learning Discharge, bypassing other attacks that we could work on later. Right now, I wanted Tadbulb to familiarise himself with a new electric-type attack before we begin working on some water-type and ground-type moves. Meanwhile, Shuckle could begin developing both his Sturdy ability, and the move Rest. Not only that, but he’ll also get used to using Rollout as a mode of transportation. I’d thought hard about which way to train Shuckle as a battler, and had settled on a defensive style for him, slowly whittling down opponents. Tadbulb will be focused on pure destruction, with his future Electromorphisis Ability being central to his style.

I began a workout routine while trying not to laugh at a trembling shiny turtle.

'Good luck Shuckle. Your sacrifice will not be in vain.'