NOTE: I wrote this while i was working on creative writing in my class with my students. I wanted to show them how they could take something they like and make it their own, I ended hp writing a whole store jaja. Well i hope you all enjoy, this if chapter 1 if anyone wants to read more I will update the rest of the chapters for you.
Pokeworld: A Stranger’s Journey
Prologue
My name is Forza Dantes, I’m 17 years old, high school student. My interest are, reading, writing, history, art, sports and video games. Well, I haven’t really played many games lately. I guess I’ve gotten kind of old for them. With college coming up, and my life moving forward I figure its time to start acting more like an adult.
Before I entered my last year of high school, my parents thought it would be great for me to visit my family in Mexico and Italy, so I went on a trip of my lifetime. But this story really isn’t about that trip because well I haven’t gotten home yet. You see, I really missed playing video games so… before the trip I bought one. A game called Pokemon one I played a few years ago but I had stopped.
I was on a plane, going across the Atlantic Ocean to Italy. I had just spent the most amazing weeks with my family in Jalisco, Mexico. And I was filled with excitement about what adventures would find me in Italy. I called my parents back home in California just before I boarded the plane and the last I remember I was sitting in the seat. About 4 hrs into the flight when the captain came over the loud speaker
“Ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking to inform you that, we will be coming up on a bit of turbulence. It seems we’re going to be passing over a lightning storm. But there’s nothing to worry about. So I’ll keep the fasten seatbelt sign on for the next few minutes and notify you when we’re in the clear. Thank you”
The lightning was beautiful; it was night so the cabin would light up when lightning struck the water below. People, seemed truly at ease, going about their own routines, sleeping, talking, writing and reading most even just watched the movie. But me, I was into my game. The world of Pokemon, one I hadn’t seen in forever and I truly missed it. So I played.
In the game I was just outside of Pallet town (the starting place in the game). I caught my first pokemon, a pidgey of all things. A little brown bird, but something curious happened. As I entered the nearest healing point in Proffesor Oak’s lab. My pokemon released itself and ran off. Light flashed on the screen and things got blurry, the characters started running around in circles somewhat terrified. With my character I chased the Pidgey outside of the lab and went into the grass area as lightning flashed on the game. I remember thinking, what a cool upgrade it makes it feel somewhat real.
Now here’s where I beat myself up, I didn’t realize that the lightning in the game coincided with the lighting of the storm we were passing. That’s when something weird happened, a beast in the game screeched and the cabin of the plane trembled. I looked up and but all the passengers had a terrified look on their faces. Not because of the game, we all freaked out because there was the same roar that surrounded the plane. Everyone looked around, those at the windows screamed saying they saw some creature looking up at the plane. As I tightened my seatbelt and looked down at my gameboy there was a beast I hadn’t seen before looking right at me with its dark red eyes.
A flash of light hit the plane, I think we must have been hit by lightning I closed my eyes and ducked my head. The next thing I knew I was falling… at least I felt I was falling.
The beginning
Forza’s eyes wouldn’t open, but he felt consciousness creep slowly back to him. He felt his heart beat at such a steady rate, but also his head ached with each beat of his heart. In a couple minutes, his eyes opened just slightly to reveal to him that he was on grass and just as all that trouble trying to awaken Forza immediately fell back to sleep.
With pain all over his body, Forza turned over in a bed and fell on the floor. Bandages wrapped his body all over. But now he was awakened and his eyes looked down on a wooden floor. He could feel and hear footsteps of someone running close to his location. He turned over to realize he was in a room, a plain room, but very bright and warm.
“This doesn’t look like a hospital that I’ve seen” he thought to himself.
As a woman rushed and helped him up. Checking his bandages and finally introducing herself, “Hi, my name is Mrs. Delia Ketchum. The professor’s grandson found you out in the grass after the storm. So they brought you here to rest until you awakened. Would you like anything to eat or drink?”
“Oh, its nice to meet you Mrs. Ketchum, how is everyone else doing? Did we make it safe?” Forza groggily responded.
“Oh?” she said puzzled, “Everyone is fine, just all worried about you. Yes you’re safe, have you been here before?” she happily answered.
“yeah, when I was a baby my mom brought me here to visit my grandma. So I … does she know I’m here?”
“I didn’t know! Who is your grandmother we’ll tell her right away you’re here. In the meanwhile the Professor is going to stop by and see how you’re doing. What’s you’re grandma’s name?”
“Her name is Patricia Rosso I am her grandson Forza Dantes. From California” he replied as he once again drifted back to sleep.
Mrs. Ketchum walked out of the house and asked around for a Miss Patricia Rosso, but to no avail. There was no one by that name, and also no one knew anyone named Forza Dantes. To she returned to the house once again to find Forza sleeping on the bed in the extra room. So she went downstairs to make something to eat for lunch, since Forza had fallen back to sleep before she could make anything for him.
It was maybe a hour later a clothed Forza came downstairs, in jeans a black shirt and socks. “Mrs. Ketchum? Hello? I was wondering if you had my bag. It was under my seat before the storm and I can’t find it anywhere.”
“Oh, come sit down and we’ll go to Proffessor Oak’s lab after lunch. I’m sure he has your bag.”
“Ok” Forza replied and sat down for lunch. Mrs. Ketchum had made a wonderful lunch and even packed some delicious rice balls so Forza could eat later. She handed him, his shoes and jacket that had been slightly burnt at the sleeves and a bit tattered. They soon stepped out of the house to find a beautiful and quiet little town, pleasant people walking around a few houses and up on a nearby hill was their destination. Upon arriving at the door, Ms. Ketchum whispered to Forza
“Prof. Oak is one of the world’s leading Pokemon researchers and he lives here in our very own Pallet Town. Its so exciting”
The door opened and there stood a man in a lab coat with grey hair and a huge smile. The smile on the old man’s face quickly turned to worry as he looked at Forza.
II
Forza had become almost pale white, as though he had seen a ghost or in shock. He began to tremble rethinking the words that Mrs. Ketchum has just said to him. Professor Oak… Pokemon… Pallet Town… It had also just dawned on him, that this whole time he thought he was in an Italian hospital of some sort, a hospital branch out in the country and yet… he hadn’t spoken a word of Italian the entire time.
“Ms. Ketchum, did you talk to my nonna?” he shakingly said. (nonna, grandmother in Italian)
“Um, Forza lets go inside and sit down, there’s things we need to talk about.” Prof. Oak said as he escorted Forza to a parlor like room and sat him down on a couch.
“Let me introduce myself, my name is Prof. Samuel Oak I am a Pokemon Researcher and this is my lab here in Pallet Town in the region of Kanto. Uh… my grandson Gary was visiting from his journey and found you just outside of town lying next to the river completely soaked, unconscious and being pecked in the head by a baby pidgey.”
Just as he said that. A small brown bird hopped up onto Prof. Oak’s lap. “Coo coo” the bird cried as it saw Forza.
“In fact it was this very Pidgey that was pecking you when Gary found you. It seemed to of followed you here.”
Forza sat there, just listening with eyes wide and in complete disbelief. But he nodded his head, acknowledging that he has heard what Prof. Oak said.
“Forza, I searched everywhere and I asked everyone but, no one here in Pallet knows of a Patricia Rosso.” Ms. Ketchum said in a very apologetic manner. “I’m sorry”
“Forza, I’ve looked for your name in all the trainers’ records from here to Hoen and no one seems to have you on any files. I wasn’t able to find any pokeballs in your bag and neither was I able to find any pokemon registered to you aswell. In essence, we have no idea who you are, so… I’m asking you, who are really. And where are you from?”
“I can’t believe this; may I see my bag please?” Forza said quietly, his head hanging somewhat and he stared off into the distance.
He opened it looking for his game boy, that’s all he could think about was his gameboy and what was going on. I was playing this game, Pokemon is a game how can I be here? Where is it, where is it? He thought as he pulled items out of his bag. A laptop, notebooks, some candy bars, a watch, his wallet and a strange device in the inside the pouch his game boy was usually stored in.
Prof Oak: “you see I thought that was interesting also, you seem to have nothing of what a trainer needs except you have a pokedex. Its one of the new models so far I’ve only given one to Gary and Ash. And yet, you show up here just outside of town, and you have one also. There haven’t been any stolen so I know you must have gotten it somewhere my question is where?”
“Professor… I cant even believe I’m calling you Professor.” Forza said “I have a story to tell you and I have no idea where to begin.”
Forza sat there for almost an hour, telling Prof. Oak and Mrs. Ketchum his story he ended with this.
“I fell somewhere and the next thing I knew… I was on the floor of Mrs. Ketchum’s spare room. I don’t understand how I can be in this world if it is only a game.”
“Oh my Forza, you’ve seem to of bumped your head, oh my… and lost all your memories and now you think your dreaming. Professor whatever will we do?” Mrs. Ketchum came out with in such a worrisome tone.
“Don’t worry Mrs. Ketchum, I would hope that you allow Forza stay here until we can figure things out completely. Ash would be expecting your call soon wouldn’t he? Don’t worry I can handle things here.” Prof. Oak said calmly.
Mrs. Ketchum got up and hugged Forza “Don’t worry about anything, if you need something let me know. Thank you for everything Professor.” and she hurried out the door.
“Forza, it might not seem like much now. But I understand that you’re not from here. Being around pokemon my whole life I’ve become witness to some pretty amazing and extraordinary things but I promise to help you find your way home.”
His face hidden by his hands, as he hunched over on the couch thinking about the reality of his situation, coming to the realization that he was in the game he once loved so much. He was actually in the game, so many questions ran into Forza’s mind but he knew how futile it was to ask the Professor.
“Prof. I’m really here aren’t I? I mean, this is really real it’s not a dream.” he said
“Yes Forza you are here.” Prof. Oak replied “and I honestly think, you’re here for a reason. In our world of pokemon, there are many wonderful, powerful things but more so than any they are so mysterious. You, my friend have become one of those mysteries.”
Forza raised his head as if to speak
“be assured, you are here for a reason a good reason.”
“thank you professor. Thank you” Forza finished.
III
“So now that, it’s all settled here” Professor Oak reached into his lab coat a pulled out a card. “This is your new trainer card.”
“A what?” Forza questioned.
“A trainer card, your ID so wherever you go, you’ll be able to register. I’ve already put everything you need on it. I hope you don’t mind If anyone asks you’re from Pallet town. I would think, stating you came from a different world might cause a kind of uproar or something. Atleast for now lets keep your true true identity a secret.” Prof. Oak said
“You’re right professor. But should I really be a trainer? I mean should I try to get home as fast as possible?” Forza questioned
“Forza, the only way to go find the answer you seek, is to go out there and explore this vast world. And the only way to go out and explore, is to enter the world of pokemon. Which brings me to my next point. You need a pokemon, this pidgey is way too young to enter a battle so I’ll keep it here with me until it grows a bit more.”
“a… pokemon?” he stammered
“of course, follow me”. Said the Professor as he stood up and walked to a back room.
Forza taking his bag, followed the professor until they reached the true heart of the professor’s lab. Machines and computers, monitors and maps all over the place it was amazing. All this, was for pokemon.
“As you may already know, I have three pokemon for a trainer to choose and begin their journey with. Unfortunately, since I wasn’t expecting you I can’t let you choose and take one of these three because the next new batch of Pallet town trainers needs to have these three as choices. But I can do this, from my own pokemon I will let you borrow one of mine for a couple months, until you get a few pokemon of your own.”
“months? But… I don’t think ill be staying that long…” Forza contemplated in his head ‘will this really take months’
“Time goes by fast when you’re around pokemon so don’t worry. The important thing is each day brings you closer to home.” The professor added with an excited smile
The two stepped out to the back of the lab into a vast yard filled with pokemon. All types running around just being themselves. Even the pidgey from earlier had flown out of the house and was roaming the skies above the lab. It was a beautiful site to see.
Forza didn’t even notice that the professor had stepped away for a bit and had returned with three small pokemon behind him following him.
“Forza let me introduce to you charmander, squirtle and bulbasaur.” He stepped to the side to reveal three small animals looking up at him.
“Hi nice to meet you all, I’m Forza” he said waving his hand.
“These three have all decided to stay with me and help me with my research here at my lab, but I have explained them the situation and they all understand. Each of them are willing to help you start your journey. Charmander the fire type, Squirtle the water type and Bulbasaur the grass type pokemon.” The Professor added.
Forza knelt down and all three of them came closer. He pet them all, and they seemed very warm towards him. Which is definitely a good sign when it comes to pokemon. As Forza sat there with the three of them, he began to remember his family and the journey that was before him then she came to mind. Someone whom he hadn’t thought of since arriving in this new world, her name Claudia. A girl from Forza’s childhood that he loved very much. She often moved back and forth between Italy and California, and every time she and Forza met it was a beautiful time when they were both in love. With the thought of her in his mind, he grabbed his bag and again began to search inside. Pulling out a wristband that Claudia had given him the last time she visited California. She had given it to him as then sat on the beach one night, and it has been a beautiful memory Forza held with him always. As he clipped it on, he turned and faced the Professor saying.
“Professor, I’ve decided. If it is alright with you, I would like to ask Squirtle to join me on this journey.”
“Oh wonderful, as long as Squirtly agrees I have no problems with it” he said turning to face Squirtle. “So my friend what do you think? Want to go?”
“SQUIRTLE!” He squeeked as he jumped and hugged Forza.
“Forza I think you have your answer.” The Professor said and he left the yard walking back into the lab.
“Charmander, Bublasaur… I’m sorry I didn’t choose either of you. But, its because there is someone special to me, someone I care about deeply in my heart. And, for some reason, Squirtle here reminds me of her. I hope you understand.”
“char!” “bulba!” came from both endearing pokemon as the snuggled up to Forza.
Prof. Oak smiled as he watched how quickly Forza had befriended not one but three pokemon in a matter of minutes. Standing there he thought to himself
‘ whatever the reason you are here Forza, I don’t know. But there is definetly something special about you. Something truly special.’
IV
Playing the game really doesn’t give you a sense of what these creatures are all about, how intelligent they are and how truly affectionate they can be. Forza spent the next couple of days learning this as he spent a lot of time at Prof. Oak’s lab. Charmander and Bulbasaur went back to their duties at the lab but Squirtle was instructed to stay near Forza and help him in any way. So in no time, Forza had seen the most amazing animals he had ever imagined, had been witnessed to the evolution of some pokemon species. But the day came, when Forza was ready to leave the lab, leave Pallet and search for his way home.
The morning started with his usual run around a few of the areas still in awe as he passed certain corrals and encounters. Forza decided to cut his run short because he wanted to leave as early as possible and make his way home. As he ran across the field there was a huge commotion, all the assistants were huddled together right outside the door of the lab. As Forza approached he noticed that Squirtle was holding something and walking into the lab.
“Hey tracy, whats going on?” Forza called ahead to the nearest lab assistant.
“It seems that, one of Prof. Oak’s pokemon just had an egg, but no one knows which one did. Squirtle found the egg just now, come on.” The assistant said back. And motioned for Forza to enter the lab.
So there sat Professor Oak and a small group of assistants all staring at the egg which was on a table. Squirtle also sat there with a pen and a small notebook and there he was scribbling down some notes. The commotion finally ceased and the Professor made everyone go back to their assignments.
“Professor, what is that?” Forza asked as he approached the man and the turle.
“Well, Forza it’s a pokemon egg. As you may of heard Squirtle just found it while he was doing his morning duties.” The Professor responded never taking his eyes off the egg.
“Oh, well that’s neat”
“you know Forza, the only way for an egg to hatch is to be near other active pokemon and a trainer. Feeling the energy from a battle and the warmth and friendship that a trainer offers it develops a trust and then hatches.” The Professor explained.
“Well I hope you find a good trainer to help you hatch the egg. But you know Professor; I’m planning on leaving today. My body is healthy and I’ve learned a lot about pokemon in these few days, but also its time for me to go home.” Forza said
“Yes I understand, and I also think its time you find your adventure.” The Professor said, finally looking up at Forza with a smile. “Just let me know when you plan on leaving, I have a few gifts to give you to start your journey.” And he walked out of the room.
Forza rested himself on the desk, leaning on it and looked closely at the egg. “so you hatched from one of these too didn’t you Squirtle?”
“squirtle” the small pokemon said with a smile
“You don’t mind if I run by Mrs. Ketchum’s place for about an hour, there is something I need to do there.”
The small pokemon looked back up nodded and continued taking notes on the egg. So with that Forza hurried to the room in which he stayed in. Gathered up a few things and ran off to Mrs. Ketcuhm’s house. Since Pallet was not a very big town in a matter of minutes he arrived at her door, smiling.
“Oh Forza, hello! Its so good to see you. Have your memories returned? Or are you still dreaming?” she said as she opened the door and let him in.
“neither and both” Forza replied joking and with a smile. “Mrs. Ketchum, I was wondering, do you have a sowing machine?”
“yes I do, why do you ask?” the nice woman said.
“I was wondering if I can borrow it for a few minutes” he asked
“ Of course you can, ill make a snack for you to eat while you’re working up there.” Mrs. Ketchum replied. And with that, Forza was upstairs as fast as lightning ready to take on the project he had in mind.
Forza spent the next hour diligently working trying to mend his jacket and modify his bag. With the thought, If this adventure is going to take long, I’m going to need a lot of room and I don’t want to get rid of my favorite jacket. Before long, the sowing stopped and out stepped Forza. Draped over his arm was his jacket. He still wore his black shirt and jeans, but also around his waist was a belt, two belts it seemed. One sitting horizontally and the other diagonally.
“So, how do I look?” as he skillfully put on his jacket, the one he had been found in. The sleeves were burnt, but now hemmed to come out just below his elbows. The upper right shoulder there was a circle emblem, a stylized pokeball. On the left shoulder there stitched a black band with a white emblem that looked like the outline of a shield. Forza stood at the base of the stairs proudly and he swung onto his shoulder his bag with one strap that. He now looked like a trainer.
“oh my Forza, you look so… so… wonderful.” Mrs. Ketchum said as she hugged him. “I am so proud of you. Come lets take a picture together, please. MR MIME!” she yelled.
Mr. Mime came out with a camera, and took the picture of Mrs. Ketchum and Forza. It was a Polaroid so both of them were able to get a copy of the picture.
“Thank you for everything Mrs. Ketchum, I hope to see you again one day.” He said as he hugged her. Thinking how her kindness reminded him of his mother, it made him even more ready and excited to go find his way home.
“Bye Forza, you reminded me of what it was like to have my son around. If you ever meet him, tell him I love him and that he should visit his mother more often.” She said smiling as he walked out the door.
Forza, was now a trainer, without a pokemon. So he made his way to the professor’s lab. He stepped in to find the professor, squirtle, charmander and bublasaur all sitting in the parlor with the baby pidgey flying around landing on Forza’s shoulder as he stepped in.
“Hey guys” he said, “Professor I’m ready to go.”
“I can very well see that Forza, you look like you’re ready. Before you go, I wanted to give you these.” the Professor said as he motioned to the table. “This is your pokedex, it’s fully updated and ready to go. If you are curious about a pokemon that you encounter just point at it with it, and you’ll get the information on that particular pokemon instantly. This is your pokenav, thankfully I was able to order one and it arrived yesterday for you. This device acts as everything, phone, calendar, address book, map and will even record the status of all the pokemon in your party, AND the location of every pokemon center. With any luck you’ll be catching more in due time, and to do so you will need these. A pokeball, here I am giving you six to start with. It isn’t much, but you should be able to catch maybe one or two before your first gym battle.”
“Wow Professor, I don’t know what to say. I’m overwhelmed with all this.” Forza said, thankfully.
“there’s no need to say anything. Why the first day you were here and met these three wonderful creatures I noticed something special about you. This is all I could do to help you on your journey. I notice the changes to your wardrobe, its good because it suits you.” The Professor said, ending with a laugh.
“If there is anything I can do to repay you Professor please let me know” Forza said as he picked up the items placing them strategically on his belts and in his bag.
“Actually there is something I would like to ask you of, a favor.” The old man said with a smile. “Do you remember the egg? The one discovered this morning. Well you see, we’ve run tests and studied it all morning and there is really no way to discover what pokemon in my lab it came from. So I would like to ask you, if you would take it with you on your journey.” Forza had a look of shock on his face as the professor brought out the egg from behind the couch handing it over to Forza.
“I trust you with this egg, I have a feeling it will prove very beneficial to your journey. And whatever pokemon it becomes is yours to keep.”
“Professor, I don’t know what to say” Forza said shacking as he held the egg in his hands.
“Again don’t say anything. Just take it. Now you two better get going or you wont make it to Viridian City. Its not far from here, but you’ll need to get moving to make it before nightfall. I have already called ahead and told Nurse Joy that you will be arriving today, she has a cot waiting for you and she’s wanting to meet you.” The Professor said as he looked back and forth between Forza and Squirtle. Which made Forza and Squirtle look back and forth from each other to the professor.
They all stood up, Forza pointed the pokedex at the 4 pokemon in the room. He shaked hands with the Professor and gave hugs to all the pokemon. Pidgey perched on Forza’s head and began to peck at it, in the very spot he pecked when he found Forza unconscious on the ground a couple weeks prior. Which is when it dawned on Forza, he wasn’t listening to his heartbeat. Pidgey was just poking him to death. With a sigh* he looked up and smiled. The pokemon flew out of the room and outside and Forza and Squirtle made their way out of the lab. Down the road and once again in a matter of minutes on their way to Viridian City. When the Pallet town was out of sight, the two travelers felt at ease as they walked together. Squirtle was instructed not to enter his pokeball and keep an eye on Forza until he felt that Forza could handle himself.
Forza walked forward, and turned his head slightly to Squirtle and said jokingly “you can tell me, the egg is yours isn’t it?” a huge smile came upon Forza as Squirtle stopped in his tracks. “its ok, you can tell me. We are going to be buddies for a while” Forza continued when immediately he was hit in the back by a cool jet of water, powerful enough to knock him off balance and bumping into a nearby tree.
Squirtle with his head held proudly walked passed Forza who lay on the ground, wet. “squir – tle” the pokemon said.
“Well atleast you have a water gun” Forza said as he lifted himself up from the ground. “I was beginning to wonder” he said quietly to himself not wanting Squirtle to hear him.
So this was the beginning, of Forza’s grand adventure through the world of pokemon. Completely unaware of the destiny he was drawn to when he entered this world. Each day will come and a new adventure will await him, on his journey home.
Reply
