Pokemon Crystal: The Journey

Journal Entry #1: My First Pokemon!
New Bark Town
Friday Morning, 9:30



That's the battle! Drew is your Pokemon League Champion!

Waking up to reality after such a great dream sucks sometimes. Its a Friday morning in the summer time and I'm feeling great after sleeping in a little bit. I go downstairs to my mother and give her a hug good morning. She tells me good morning and starts to make me some breakfast. She says that I have a big day today. Thinking about what she could possibly talking about, I ask her what she means. She tells me that she forgot to tell me that Professor Elm wanted me to come over and see him today. Being 17 years old, my heart skipped a beat as I thought of all the possibilities this could have. Professor Elm is the leading Pokemon Professor in all of the Johto Region. He does all sorts of research about Pokemon and how they operate, mostly about the evolutions of Pokemon. Thoughts of me finally getting my first Pokemon were racing through my head.

My mom hands me my breakfast, snapping me out from my daydreaming. I tried to eat very quickly, so I could go see Elm as soon as possible. Mom told me to slow down, with the whole you'll get a tummy ache thing. I swear she still thinks I'm 10 or something. She hands me my Pokegear, which I had accidentally broken a couple of weeks back after playing with all of the cool functions it has too much. It had been repaired and my mom was constantly reminding me how to use it, as if I didn't know. She sure seems to be worried about me today for some reason. Something really must be going on. I give her a hug and race out the door as I notice tears beginning to develop in her eyes.

The warm summer air hits my face as I look around quaint New Bark Town. I see all of my neighbors walking around, greeting each other. I live in one of those towns where everyone knows everyone else's name and all of that other business. I want to get away so badly. Professor Elm's lab is right next door to my house, but I notice something strange. A mischievous looking kid, probably around my age, is standing next to Elm's office looking in on it. When I approach him, I get a boot for my troubles. Very strange.

I walk into Elm's lab and look around at all of the cool machinery. I greet Elm's assistant and have a look around. There are bookcases filled with books about the research Elm has done over the years. Several machines, including one where Pokemon can be healed are placed in various spots around the lab. My head spins thinking of all of the cool stuff that goes on in here. As I approach Elm, a smile crosses his face.

Elm warmly greets me and shakes my hand firmly. Elm gives me his usually autobiography about all of the great stuff he has done for the world of Pokemon before cutting to the chase. He says that he has had his hands full with all of his research that he has been doing in the lab and is looking for a helper to go out and help him. He tells me that I'm the perfect age to go out and help him. My mind goes blank as he explains all of the details of what he wants me to do for him. I'm finally going to go out on a journey for Pokemon! He asks me if I would like to raise a Pokemon and help him out to which I quickly reply yes. He leads me over to a table with three Pokeballs, telling me these are the Pokemon I have to choose from. He releases all of the Pokemon as I stare in awe, almost incapable of making a decision.



Elm explains to me that the grass Pokemon is Chikorita, the fire Pokemon is Cyndaquil, and the water Pokemon is Totodile. He explains to me all of the advantages and disadvantages of each Pokemon, but I don't really listen to what he's saying. All I can think about is how its pretty much impossible for me to pick between these three awesome Pokemon. Elm looks at me and asks me what my decision is. I give him a blank stare and look back at the Pokemon. A voice in my head tells me to let my heart choose for me. I focused the best I could and without thinking, my mouth said Cyndaquil. Elm says very well, puts the three Pokemon back in their Pokeballs, and hands me the Cyndaquil.

Drew has received Cyndaquil.

I look at the Pokeball, pure joy and excitement are the only feelings I have. Elm's computer beeps and he runs to it. He asks me to do him a favor. He tells me about his colleague Mr. Pokemon and how he lives in a shack north of Cherrygrove City. He says that Mr. Pokemon has some research that he would like to share with him, but it has to be in person. He asks me to go in his place, because he is busy with all of his research in the lab. All I can do is accept, as I think about how awesome my new Cyndaquil is. Elm thanks me and sends me on my way and his assistant hands me a Potion for my journey as I go out on my way.

Journal Entry #2: The Journey Begins
New Bark Town/Route 29
Friday Day, 10:40

I leave Elm's lab as happy as can be. I head home so I can pick up a few things before I go on my big journey to Mr. Pokemon's house. I run into the house and exclaim to my mother about how I just got a new Pokemon. She looks happy for me, but sad at the same time. I run upstairs and pack some snacks for the road into my backpack. I run downstairs and explain to my mother what Elm wants me to do. She looks at me and tells me that she knew the whole time. I show her my newly received Cyndaquil as she looks on in surprise. She says that she knew that her son was destined for greatness and that she is proud of me for taking on such a big responsibility. She gives me a kiss on the check and wishes me luck before telling me that I better call her once a day. I laugh at her concern as I walk out the door.

I walk through town as fast as I can, and can't help but notice that strange kid still staring into the window of Elm's lab. I can't help to wonder what that kid could possibly be doing just standing there. Hopefully its not anything bad. I say goodbye to all my neighbors and strut around town with my Cyndaquil for a few minutes before heading off to Route 29, on my way to Cherrygrove City.



Route 29, my first ever encounter outside of town. My mom would never let me leave town because she was afraid that I would run into the tall grass and get attacked by wild Pokemon. Well now my mom can't really have that fear anymore because I can defend myself. So I walk into the tall grass, and all of a sudden:



What......the..........hell!

I want to run into some awesome Pokemon like Alakazam or Steelix, but instead I get this stupid blob. I figure I might as well try to get some battle practice in, seeing as I've never done this before. So I send out my Cyndaquil. This battle went like this:

Wild Sentret Appeared!
Go! Cyndaquil

Cyndaquil used Tackle!
Sentret used Tackle!
Cyndaquil used Tackle!
Sentret used Tackle!
Cyndaquil used Tackle!
Sentret fainted!

So not the most glamorous or exciting of battles, but it was still my first real Pokemon battle. Surprisingly though, this was the only wild Pokemon I ran into during my time in Route 29. Thanks for nothing, mom. I would've been just fine fighting by myself against one of those little turds. Some other cool stuff did happen while I was on Route 29 though. I seen this strange bush that looked different than other bushes. I bet that there's some way to get by these bushes. Also, my Cyndaquil pointed out a tree that had these berries on them. I took one and added it to my bag. According to my Pokegear, these berries will heal the health of my Pokemon, so basically free Potions in trees. Awesome. After the tree, the buildings of Cherrygrove City become visible. I'm coming closer and closer to Mr. Pokemon!



I entered the city and looked around and saw it was about the same size as New Bark. An old man greeted me as I entered the city and asked me if I was a rookie trainer. I replied by saying yes and the man offered to teach me some of the basics of the town. I accepted, thinking this information could be useful in the future. He showed me the Pokemon Center, where I could heal all of my Pokemon and the PokeMart, where I could buy the goods I was looking for, including Poke Balls. When the tour was over, he thanked me for coming by giving me a map card for my Pokegear! That was pretty cool of him to do. I took a look at my new toy and realized how truly far away I was from Mr. Pokemon's house. Route 30 sure is a whooper!