Chapter 1, From Viridian Forest to Pallet, The Last Hope
Blistering winds bombarded Lance, as he forced his tired legs toward the Pokemon Center. He had just recently visited the forest for some alone time. The soothing sounds of nature calmed him, but the one thing that did not was Dragon Pokemon. That is exactly what drove him from the forest to the Pallet Town Pokemon Center!
Dragons were cruel and destructive, from Lance's point of view. He wanted no part in their lives. What he had just witnessed in Viridian Forest pushed him toward this way of thinking.
The smoke, the flames, all those innocent Pokemon...
Lance shut his eyes as he reached the center, fighting back tears. Visions of the past flashed quickly in his mind, causing him to sink to the ground, his back against the wall and his arms wrapped around his knees. How could that Pokemon have done this? Reluctantly, Lance recalled the events of a few minutes ago...
A booming roar forced Lance to cover his ears. He felt his silky smooth red hair rise up, as his heart pounded. What creature had lungs that could produce such a sound?
He got his answer almost immediately, as he looked up to see the burning trunks of what had once been a cluster of Oak Trees, and many forest Pokemon running wildly, searching for a safe location. In the sky beyond this scene of chaos, he spotted the largest Dragonite he'd ever seen! Its massive teeth glistened as sunlight reflected off of them. Powerful jaws flexed, and finally the gigantic Dragonite's mouth was left wide open.
Lance squinted slightly once he noticed a low whirring noise. In the Pokemon's mouth, he could barely make out a small orb of orange energy, fusing together with yellow energy, surrounded by sparks. He raised his hands, signaling the attention of everyone around him. More pitter-pattering, and much low growling as the Nidoran, Butterfree, Pikachu, and many other Pokemon ran for their lives. Why wouldn't they listen?
"STOP!" Lance shouted, and each and every creature in earshot froze. In an exasperated tone Lance said, "...Thank you." He ran a slender hand over his forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat. " All of you get clear of Dragonite over here," he ordered, pointing off into the distance where masses of fallen trees and injured Pokemon lay. He had partially regained his composure once he analyzed the situation.
Everybody obeyed, scurrying over to the area they were instructed to flee to, and hiding beneath trees that overlapped each other, forming a sort of charred wooden shelter.
Then it happened. Dragonite let loose the powerful beam that stored energy within its mouth. The impact was unbeleiveable! Giant chunks of earthy mass were ripped from the ground, leaving holes where they had once been, and crashed to the ground, missing all but one Pokemon. A lone Charmander that was just passing through the forest was caught in the crossfire as several Beedrill and Pikachu protected their young as best they could, not moving to safety just yet. As it tried to escape the situation, the destruction of the Hyper Beam attack knocked it off balance, and a boulder-sized peice of land bounced off of it, glancing off the side of it's face and ribs as it stood to flee the forest. Charmander's stomach was slightly dull in color, the usual creamy yellow hue almost nonexistent. The poor creature's face showed fear and uncertainty, clearly because it had done nothing to be hurt this way. Lance caught a glimpse of Charmander's eyes, and saw that they were a very dark blue, a sign of fright in the Charmander species.
Once again, Charmander crumbled in a heap onto the ground, dazed and injured. The boy quickly yelled, "Get clear! Get clear!" The small Pokemon didn't budge. Lance noticed this, and lifted his Pokeball...
The traumatized boy snapped back to reality, now realizing a young girl was staring into his face, and behind her stood another girl, who was forcing a smile onto her face, so she wouldn't seem rude. This second girl, he noticed when examining her bag labeled "My pokeballs and supplies", was an already experienced trainer.
"Hi, I'm Lorelei," she began, "What's your name?"
He shook his head to fully return from his Roller Coaster of memories. "Oh! Sorry, I'm Lance," he replied politely, and felt a warm smile forming on his lips as he looked into the other girl's face. She looked so innocent, and seeing that brought him out of his miserable chain of thoughts. He, just for that one moment, allowed himself to forget what he'd seen back in Viridian Forest, and focus on the present.
"Lance. That's a nice name," she said. Then she stood from the kneeling position she'd been in, stepping back to be beside the other girl. "This is my traveling partner Agatha. She's 24 and I'm only 10, so she agreed to help me out."
Lance struggled to stand, finally realizing there was a deep cut in his leg. It must be from when that Charmancer scratched me, he concluded in his mind. When he could see Agatha up close, he realized this female was no girl, but an adult.
"I'm 11 years old," he announced to Lorelei. Agatha nodded along with Lorelei, and when he fell back into the same spot he'd sat in seconds ago, they both helped him to his feet again.
"And you have no Pokemon?" Agatha asked him, an inquisitive expression forming on her face. Lance pondered how he should respond to this sudden inquiry.
"I uh, um...you could say that. I'm a certified trainer, but I left my Bulbasaur with my little brother because he loved it so much."
"So, you haven't got any others?" How nosy could she get?
"I...acquired a second Pokemon, but-"
"But what?" Lorelei cut in. "Is it powerful?"
"Not really from what I've seen. I just got the thing, so I'm not too sure, but I'm guessing it hasn't got much brawn for its age. Listen you two, I ran into it just a few minutes ago in Viridian Forest."
A loud calling of his name caused Lance to jerk his head to the side, searching for who had spoken. He saw Professor Oak panting as he approached him, in his usual white lab coat.
"Lance! Lance wait," he said pleadingly, just after Lance had released Charmander. The small lizard smiled at the familiar sight of Professor Oak. His Hitmonchan was right behind him. Finally, he stopped in front of Lance, Hitmonchan crashing somewhere far off, and hurrying back to its master.
;107;
"Hitmonchan and I have been searching everywhere, when he saw you with his foresight attack. My Arcanine led us on, since it was tracking Charmander's scent."
Lance held up his Pokeball to Professor Oak. "Lance, I thought you told me you didn't want a Pokemon," Professor Oak said inquisitively, scratching his head and not yet faded thick hair in confusion.
"I didn't, but there was this King Kong size Dragonite over in Viridian Forest that I saved it from, and I was taking it here to heal it."
"Puh-lease," Agatha spat defiantly. "There's no way you saw-"
"That?" Lorelei asked, jabbing a finger in the air, where a gargantuan yellowish-orange Pokemon was flying down from, right at them.
Oak gritted his teeth and warned, "Get back, all of you." To show why he'd asked this of them, he released his Snorlax in a flash of red light when the three younger Trainers moved.
The Green Giant stood boldly, awaiting a command as the Pokemon that was casting this wide shadow over it drew nearer. Lance felt his knees buclke, as he held Charmander to his chest protectively. Looking to his right, he saw Lorelei clasping a tuft of her silky sandy-brown hair, teeth chattering. The two absentmindedly proceeded to hold hands as they looked at what the two both beleived would be their last sight while alive. Agatha stood alone with her mouth wide open in disbeleif as her Gengar cowered behind her.
Oak yelled out, "Hyper Beam to the limit, now!"
The familiar swirl and fusion of energy occured within Snorlax's mouth, building past the norm, and soon exceeding the capacity of its mouth, bursting from within, toward the Dragonite.
Surprised to be fought yet prepared for the attack, Dragonite flapped its wings and spread them wide. The large, sea green veins were visible as it launched itself at the blast of power. The oncoming size-amplified Headbutt was feet away from clashing with Hyper Beam, and Professor Oak may have been Pallet's only hope.
Blistering winds bombarded Lance, as he forced his tired legs toward the Pokemon Center. He had just recently visited the forest for some alone time. The soothing sounds of nature calmed him, but the one thing that did not was Dragon Pokemon. That is exactly what drove him from the forest to the Pallet Town Pokemon Center!
Dragons were cruel and destructive, from Lance's point of view. He wanted no part in their lives. What he had just witnessed in Viridian Forest pushed him toward this way of thinking.
The smoke, the flames, all those innocent Pokemon...
Lance shut his eyes as he reached the center, fighting back tears. Visions of the past flashed quickly in his mind, causing him to sink to the ground, his back against the wall and his arms wrapped around his knees. How could that Pokemon have done this? Reluctantly, Lance recalled the events of a few minutes ago...
A booming roar forced Lance to cover his ears. He felt his silky smooth red hair rise up, as his heart pounded. What creature had lungs that could produce such a sound?
He got his answer almost immediately, as he looked up to see the burning trunks of what had once been a cluster of Oak Trees, and many forest Pokemon running wildly, searching for a safe location. In the sky beyond this scene of chaos, he spotted the largest Dragonite he'd ever seen! Its massive teeth glistened as sunlight reflected off of them. Powerful jaws flexed, and finally the gigantic Dragonite's mouth was left wide open.
Lance squinted slightly once he noticed a low whirring noise. In the Pokemon's mouth, he could barely make out a small orb of orange energy, fusing together with yellow energy, surrounded by sparks. He raised his hands, signaling the attention of everyone around him. More pitter-pattering, and much low growling as the Nidoran, Butterfree, Pikachu, and many other Pokemon ran for their lives. Why wouldn't they listen?
"STOP!" Lance shouted, and each and every creature in earshot froze. In an exasperated tone Lance said, "...Thank you." He ran a slender hand over his forehead to wipe away the beads of sweat. " All of you get clear of Dragonite over here," he ordered, pointing off into the distance where masses of fallen trees and injured Pokemon lay. He had partially regained his composure once he analyzed the situation.
Everybody obeyed, scurrying over to the area they were instructed to flee to, and hiding beneath trees that overlapped each other, forming a sort of charred wooden shelter.
Then it happened. Dragonite let loose the powerful beam that stored energy within its mouth. The impact was unbeleiveable! Giant chunks of earthy mass were ripped from the ground, leaving holes where they had once been, and crashed to the ground, missing all but one Pokemon. A lone Charmander that was just passing through the forest was caught in the crossfire as several Beedrill and Pikachu protected their young as best they could, not moving to safety just yet. As it tried to escape the situation, the destruction of the Hyper Beam attack knocked it off balance, and a boulder-sized peice of land bounced off of it, glancing off the side of it's face and ribs as it stood to flee the forest. Charmander's stomach was slightly dull in color, the usual creamy yellow hue almost nonexistent. The poor creature's face showed fear and uncertainty, clearly because it had done nothing to be hurt this way. Lance caught a glimpse of Charmander's eyes, and saw that they were a very dark blue, a sign of fright in the Charmander species.
Once again, Charmander crumbled in a heap onto the ground, dazed and injured. The boy quickly yelled, "Get clear! Get clear!" The small Pokemon didn't budge. Lance noticed this, and lifted his Pokeball...
The traumatized boy snapped back to reality, now realizing a young girl was staring into his face, and behind her stood another girl, who was forcing a smile onto her face, so she wouldn't seem rude. This second girl, he noticed when examining her bag labeled "My pokeballs and supplies", was an already experienced trainer.
"Hi, I'm Lorelei," she began, "What's your name?"
He shook his head to fully return from his Roller Coaster of memories. "Oh! Sorry, I'm Lance," he replied politely, and felt a warm smile forming on his lips as he looked into the other girl's face. She looked so innocent, and seeing that brought him out of his miserable chain of thoughts. He, just for that one moment, allowed himself to forget what he'd seen back in Viridian Forest, and focus on the present.
"Lance. That's a nice name," she said. Then she stood from the kneeling position she'd been in, stepping back to be beside the other girl. "This is my traveling partner Agatha. She's 24 and I'm only 10, so she agreed to help me out."
Lance struggled to stand, finally realizing there was a deep cut in his leg. It must be from when that Charmancer scratched me, he concluded in his mind. When he could see Agatha up close, he realized this female was no girl, but an adult.
"I'm 11 years old," he announced to Lorelei. Agatha nodded along with Lorelei, and when he fell back into the same spot he'd sat in seconds ago, they both helped him to his feet again.
"And you have no Pokemon?" Agatha asked him, an inquisitive expression forming on her face. Lance pondered how he should respond to this sudden inquiry.
"I uh, um...you could say that. I'm a certified trainer, but I left my Bulbasaur with my little brother because he loved it so much."
"So, you haven't got any others?" How nosy could she get?
"I...acquired a second Pokemon, but-"
"But what?" Lorelei cut in. "Is it powerful?"
"Not really from what I've seen. I just got the thing, so I'm not too sure, but I'm guessing it hasn't got much brawn for its age. Listen you two, I ran into it just a few minutes ago in Viridian Forest."
A loud calling of his name caused Lance to jerk his head to the side, searching for who had spoken. He saw Professor Oak panting as he approached him, in his usual white lab coat.
"Lance! Lance wait," he said pleadingly, just after Lance had released Charmander. The small lizard smiled at the familiar sight of Professor Oak. His Hitmonchan was right behind him. Finally, he stopped in front of Lance, Hitmonchan crashing somewhere far off, and hurrying back to its master.
;107;
"Hitmonchan and I have been searching everywhere, when he saw you with his foresight attack. My Arcanine led us on, since it was tracking Charmander's scent."
Lance held up his Pokeball to Professor Oak. "Lance, I thought you told me you didn't want a Pokemon," Professor Oak said inquisitively, scratching his head and not yet faded thick hair in confusion.
"I didn't, but there was this King Kong size Dragonite over in Viridian Forest that I saved it from, and I was taking it here to heal it."
"Puh-lease," Agatha spat defiantly. "There's no way you saw-"
"That?" Lorelei asked, jabbing a finger in the air, where a gargantuan yellowish-orange Pokemon was flying down from, right at them.
Oak gritted his teeth and warned, "Get back, all of you." To show why he'd asked this of them, he released his Snorlax in a flash of red light when the three younger Trainers moved.
The Green Giant stood boldly, awaiting a command as the Pokemon that was casting this wide shadow over it drew nearer. Lance felt his knees buclke, as he held Charmander to his chest protectively. Looking to his right, he saw Lorelei clasping a tuft of her silky sandy-brown hair, teeth chattering. The two absentmindedly proceeded to hold hands as they looked at what the two both beleived would be their last sight while alive. Agatha stood alone with her mouth wide open in disbeleif as her Gengar cowered behind her.
Oak yelled out, "Hyper Beam to the limit, now!"
The familiar swirl and fusion of energy occured within Snorlax's mouth, building past the norm, and soon exceeding the capacity of its mouth, bursting from within, toward the Dragonite.
Surprised to be fought yet prepared for the attack, Dragonite flapped its wings and spread them wide. The large, sea green veins were visible as it launched itself at the blast of power. The oncoming size-amplified Headbutt was feet away from clashing with Hyper Beam, and Professor Oak may have been Pallet's only hope.