Chapter 108: Johto Arc Begins!
~Third POV~
[Kanto Region, Next Day, Pallet Town]
The next day, Azure informed Professor Oak of his plans. He intended to travel the world, to continue learning about Pokémon, and to further hone his skills as a trainer.
Professor Oak said, his eyes twinkling with pride, crossing his arms with a knowing expression, "That's wonderful, Azure. I always knew you were destined for great things. But remember, Azure, true strength lies not just in power, but in compassion, wisdom, and understanding."
Azure nodded, taking the Professor's words to heart. He knew that his journey was far from over, that there were still countless things to learn and countless challenges to overcome.
But he was ready, eager to embrace the unknown, to explore the vast and wondrous world of Pokémon. Azure's journey had just begun. Kanto was a chapter, Alola another, but the story was far from complete.
With Pikachu on his shoulder, Eevee by his side, and the echoes of Alola in his heart, Azure set off once more, ready to face the world, one Pokémon at a time. The future was wide open, and Azure, the boy who had saved Kanto, was ready to write his legend.
Seeing his determined expression, Prof. Oak curiously asked, "If I may ask, what Region do you plan to visit next?"
Hearing this, Azure replied, leaning his back against the wall to Prof. Oak, "I plan to visit the Johto Region next. While there, I plan to restart my journey collecting Gym Badges and a whole new team. I want to test myself as a Trainer, starting Pokémon from scratch, increasing my own experience."
Prof. Oak nods his head, understanding Azure's desire. But hearing his visit to Johto, he suggested, getting his attention, "In that case, if you're heading to Johto. I can make a call to Elm in New Bark Town, granting you one of Johto's Starter Pokémon. His researching the Pokémon there with the new Pokedex I've developed. It's nowhere near compatible with the Rotom Phone yet, with our current technology. But by God, I'll accomplish it!"
Azure grinned, hearing this, couldn't help but ask curiously, "You sure?"
Prof. Oak grinned, nodding his head as he said positively, "Absolutely! And besides, it'll be a great experience, no?"
Azure simply chuckled, agreeing with Prof. Oak's words. Heading over to the outside ranch, he went towards Dragonite as he asked kindly, "Hey girl. Do you think you can help me out with heading to the Johto Region?"
Dragonite nodded her head, agreeing proudly. Climbing aboard her back, Azure held four Poke Balls on his belt as Pikachu climbed over his shoulder. Eevee hopped into his hoodie as he called out, "Larvitar! Misdreavus! Time for us to head out!"
Larvitar quickly ran over as it cried out happily, causing Azure to flinch, "Lar! (Yes! New adventure with mama!)"
Misdreavus floated over with a happy expression on her face, "Mis! (Coming Master!)"
After choosing which Pokémon he wanted to travel with into the Johto Region, Azure finally decided on picking Larvitar and Misdreavus as he thought excitedly, 'If I'm gonna make a new team, then I gotta pick them from their home regions. A Johto team of my making and Pokémon who'll willingly join me! I can't wait!'
Picking Larvitar and Misdreavus was an obvious choice for Azure. Both were native to the Johto Region and were a part of his future Johto Team he plans to build.
He could've also added Kingdra into his team, but in the end decided not to. He wanted to make sure his old Pokémon he picked from his previous journey, weren't an option, except for Pikachu and Eevee as backup.
He wanted to experience the adventure of Pokémon with a whole new team. And new allies to rely upon for each adventure.
As for what Pokémon he'll encounter. He grinned, seeing where his fated partners in the Johto Region were gonna be.
*Fwp*
Recalling them into their Poke Balls, Dragonite flapped her wings. Lifting off the ground, Azure thought with his Pokémon by his side, 'Let's see what this Masked Man is all about. Time to start our Pokémon Adventures in the Johto Region!'
/////
[Johto Region, Meanwhile, New Bark Town]
New Bark Town is in southeastern Johto and is the hometown of the Johto Region. A town where the wind blows and tells of impending change.
Gold's mother is shown cooking while she speaks to an Aipom on her shoulder, telling it to go and wake up Gold. Aipom rushes down the corridor into Gold's bedroom. All of Gold's Pokémon are waiting patiently for him to wake up, and there is a billiard cue at the rear end of his bed.
One of Gold's jackets is neatly hanging on his bedside. More Pokémon are shown, possibly belonging to Gold himself. Aipom tries to nudge him awake, and the other Pokémon try as well.
Gold finally wakes up dreary, however, Lickitung soon sorts that. He heads downstairs and greets his mother, who makes a funny comment about his hairstyle. Gold then picks up his skateboard and tells the Pokémon to get ready to play.
Meanwhile, at Professor Elm's research center in New Bark Town, Professor Elm mentions the battle in Kanto, possibly the one between Red and Blue. He then focuses on the three Poké Balls on his desk that hold the Johto first partner Pokémon.
A Hoothoot flies over, leaving a view of what seems to be Gold's playroom. Now he is fully dressed and playing billiards.
He is listening carefully to DJ Mary's Pokémon Song Hour. As the song is playing, he gets every ball in a pocket. The radio crackles, then dies down, and Gold is now cross.
He then notices a shady figure in the backyard creeping around in the shadows. He jumps out of the window and confronts the figure, calling him a thief and being very annoyed that his favorite song had been interrupted. The figure tells Gold that he is mistaken and that his name is Joey.
However, Gold tells his Aipom to attack the boy's Rattata. Joey then points up towards the tree where a Murkrow is residing peacefully, along with a backpack and an antenna. Joey says it is his backpack, which he was supposed to be taking to the Professor.
Gold shoots up the Poké Ball of Aibo, his Aipom, at the tree, telling it to lower down the items first. Gold gets pulled up and uses his billiard cue to send a Poké Ball right into Murkrow. Gold nearly falls, but his Pokémon are there to save him.
Gold welcomes Joey, but as he's about to leave, he gets cross with Joey, telling him to give him a recorded version of the show he missed. Joey spends the night…
/////
[Johto Region, Nighttime, New Bark Town – Outskirts]
*Fwp*
At the same time, the salty tang of the ocean air filled Azure's lungs as Dragonite descended towards New Bark Town. The night sky was a canvas of deep indigo, sprinkled with more stars than he remembered seeing back in Kanto.
Two years had passed since he last stood beneath these constellations, and even longer since he'd felt the thrill of a completely uncharted adventure. He patted Dragonite's warm, scaly neck as he said thankfully, "Thanks, buddy. You can head back to Professor Oak's now. Get some rest."
Dragonite nuzzled against him affectionately before soaring back into the starry expanse, leaving Azure standing at the edge of the quiet coastal town. Pikachu, perched on his shoulder, crackled with anticipation, its tail twitching.
Eevee, nestled in his backpack, poked its head out, its big brown eyes wide with curiosity. After his victory at the Indigo League and the subsequent crisis averted with the help of his friends, Azure had felt a strange emptiness.
He craved something more than just defending his title. He yearned to learn, to grow, and to experience the world beyond Kanto. Alola had been a revelation, a year of intense learning and challenging trials that turned his Kanto Starter Pokémon into their final evolved forms.
He adjusted his backpack, the weight of it comforting. Inside, nestled amongst his supplies, were the Poké Balls containing Larvitar and Misdreavus, the core of his new team in the making.
Larvitar, hatched from an egg he'd found deep within the treacherous Mt. Silver, is an energetic Pokémon with immense potential. Misdreavus, a mischievous ghost-type he'd caught in Alola, its playful nature a stark contrast to Larvitar's stoicism.
Azure said to Pikachu and Eevee, his voice low as they listened, ears twitching, "Alright, you two. New adventure, new rules. We're going to explore Johto, challenge its Gym Leaders, and maybe, just maybe, learn a thing or two along the way."
New Bark Town was asleep, the only sounds the gentle lapping of waves against the shore and the distant hooting of a nocturnal Pokémon. Azure found a small, unattended patch of grass near the outskirts of town and decided to set up camp.
He released Larvitar and Misdreavus from their Poké Balls. Larvitar emerged with a happy growl, its rocky hide blending seamlessly with the surrounding stones.
It immediately retreated into a defensive posture, its tiny eyes scanning the area with suspicion. Misdreavus, on the other hand, zipped around excitedly, its ethereal form glowing faintly in the darkness.
It let out a series of playful cries, its red orbs darting from Pikachu to Eevee to Azure, as if trying to take in everything at once. Azure chuckled, "Easy, you two. We're all friends here, okay?"
He spent the next hour setting up a makeshift camp, using the skills he'd learned during his travels. Pikachu helped him gather dry wood for a small fire, while Eevee curled up beside Larvitar, offering a silent reassurance.
The fire crackled to life, casting dancing shadows on the surrounding trees. As the flames licked at the wood, Azure prepared a simple meal of Pokémon food for his team, carefully portioning it out according to their needs.
Larvitar ate with an excited intensity, while Misdreavus seemed more interested in teasing Pikachu with its spectral illusions. Azure chuckled, seeing this as he thought, 'I suppose Gengar did teach Misdreavus a thing or two before joining me. I just hope she didn't pick up on her bad habits.'
Helplessly, he shook his head as Larvitar sat next to him. He couldn't help but pat his Pokémon's head, much to Larvitar's joy.
Azure soon brought up his Arc Phone. He checked his new teammate's levels as he knew Pikachu's was Lv.75 and Eevee Lv.68.
|Name: Misdreavus (Screech Pokémon)
|Type: Ghost
|Level: 20
|Gender: Female
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Levitate
|Nature: Timid
|Moves: Screech, Psychic [A][S], Spite, Confusion [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Hypnosis, Shadow Sneak [A][S], Confuse Ray, Mean Look, Shadow Ball [A][S], Energy Ball [A][S], Thunderbolt [A][S], Phantom Force [A][S], Dark Pulse [A][S], Ominous Wind [A][S] (EM) (2 Moves Left to learn)
|Name: Larvitar (Rock Skin Pokémon)
|Type: Rock/Ground
|Level: 20
|Gender: Male
|Held Item: None
|Ability: Guts
|Nature: Adamant
|Moves: Screech, Headbutt [A][S], Rock Throw [A][S], Tera Blast [A][S], Sandstorm, Crunch [A][S], Rock Slide [A][S], Stomping Tantrum [A][S], Outrage [A][S], Dragon Dance (TM), Earth Power [A][S] (IM), Stone Edge [A][S] (IM), Ancient Power [A][S] (EM) (2 Moves left to learn)
Azure smiled that the time spent teaching them and learning from his Pokémon was worth it. His new Pokémon were fast learners under the guidance of his main team, making them a force to be reckoned with.
Later, wrapped in his sleeping bag, Azure stared up at the stars. He thought about his old team, Scizor, Arcanine, Gengar, and Dragonite, his main team.
He missed them dearly, but he knew they were in good hands with Professor Oak. This new journey was about more than just proving his strength.
It was about pushing his limits, forging new bonds, and becoming an even better trainer. But just as he got to sleep, his eyes shot wide open, recalling a key fact about this part of the Pokémon Adventure Series.
Azure came to a scary realization, remembering why he hadn't recalled the inconvenient detail before. He thought in a stunned tone, 'I forgot the PC Systems in Johto don't work. That means my whole main team is… fuck me!!!'
Realizing that his team was with Prof. Oak, with no means to obtain his strong team members, he mentally cursed to himself. He cried himself to sleep, realizing a whole new level of difficulty he had just landed himself in the Johto Region.
/////
A/N: Goal of 200PS to get Bonus Chapter!