Foreword Hello everyone. This will be a chapter of a Pokémon fan fiction I’m starting here on Vizzed. It follows Natalie, a girl following in the footsteps of her idol. Who that is, will become clear in the story. This story is actually going to a spin-off, following a character from a different fan fiction I wrote on another website. I didn’t even finish that story yet, but I felt like at least making a start on the spin-off following Natalie, as she seemed like such an interesting character to write about. So, here it is! Happy reading!

Chapter 01: Going on a Journey

It was late in the afternoon. A girl ran restless through the streets of Violet City. What could possibly cause her to be in such a rush? Pokémon School had already ended, and the next two days are weekend, so she couldn‘t have homework... She arrived at home. She rushed through the backyard, and into her home. Her mother tried to greet her.

“Hey Natalie, how was scho-...” she said, but the girl ran into her.

“Oww!! Oh, sorry mom!” Natalie apologized while rubbing her head.

“My gosh, Natalie. Why all the rush?”

“It’s already started, mom! I’m missing my program!”

 Natalie quickly passed her mother, and jumped onto the couch. She shoved aside the SNES, and grabbed the remote after accidentally dropping it twice. The television screen lit up as she pressed the ON button. Two Pokémon were standing on a battlefield in a large stadium, facing each other.

 “Alright! Just in time!” Natalie cheered. Her mother sighed.

“Oh, Natalie... I just can’t understand what you see in Pokémon.” she said with her palm to her head.

 The two Pokémon battling on the television were Hariyama and Sandslash. The Hariyama looked quite tired, it was obvious that Sandslash was on the winning hand. Then the television showed a teenage guy. Natalie jumped off of the couch cheering.

“That’s him! I can’t believe it!” Natalie said.

“I know, hunny. You told me all about him.” Her mother said.

“Now, Larry, what do you think about this boy?” it sounded through the intercom.

“Well, Jerry, he sure had us in for a surprise. I´ve never seen a Sandslash so powerful!”

“Yeah, it’s obvious that the bond between that Sandslash and its trainer is very strong.”

“Obviously, but is it Elite Four-strong?”

“Larry, if you ask me, this boy is Champion material! Hold on, here he comes with another move!”

 “Sandslash! Use Defense Curl!” the boy commanded. Sandslash nodded, as he curled itself up into a ball. Meanwhile, Hariyama had trouble staying on his feet. “Use Belly Drum, Hariyama!” the other trainer commanded the Hariyama. The Hariyama bashed his large flat hands against his enormous stomach, and let out a battle cry. The Hariyama seemed to regain his strengths by doing so. Both the trainers then ordered their Pokémon to attack.

 “Hariyama...” said the first.

“Sandslash...” said the second.

“Focus Punch!!” Hariyama’s trainer shouted.

“Rollout!!” Sandslash’s trainer said simultaneously.

Sandslash started spinning fast, and Hariyama’s body became shrouded in a light aura. The audience, the commentators --and even the Pokémon’s trainers-- became dead silent. Then both Pokémon lunged towards each other with burning enthusiasm. Sandslash’s whirling body thundered towards Hariyama’s clenched fist, which was roughly Sandslash‘s size. Accompanied by a sound that equalled a thunderclap in volume, the two moves collided. With high velocity, Sandslahs spun against Hariyama’s fist, but Hariyama had little trouble holding Sandslash in place, wearing it down until it would give in. It all came down to a power struggle. It was obvious that Hariyama would come out the victor on this. Sandslash’s trainer had to think of something fast, or else it wouldn’t look good.

“Sandslash! Keep rolling, and stick out your spikes!” the trainer shouted.

“Sssandslash!” Sandslash said.

Sandslash expanded his spikey fur, and now it was as if Hariyama got his hand rubbed with a cheese slicer. Hariyama flinched in pain, and pulled has hands backwards. Sandslash hit Hariyama full-on, knocking him K.O. The referee declared Hariyama unfit to battle, and Sandslash’s trainer the winner. The crowd went wild. The trainer cheered, as Sandslash jumped in his arms.

“WOWWWW!! That was some finale! What about you, Jerry?”

“Larry, it’s matches like these that make me happy to be a spectator, that was totally awesome!”

“Definitely! Trainers of Johto and Kanto, meet Arthur, the new Elite Four member of the Indigo Plateau!”

Then the television screen turned black. Natalie turned to mom. “Awwww mom! At least let me watch the homage!” she wailed. Mom winked. “Cheer up, hunny. It’s time for dinner!”

After dinner --having annoyed mom by rambling on an on about her dream-- Natalie went to bed. Someday… I will be a great Pokémon trainer, just like Arthur! she thought, with sparkly eyes. Slowly, her eyelids lowered, and her eyes shut. Natalie’s mom called Natalie from the hallway to brush her teeth. She got no response, so she entered Natalie’s bedroom. She covered her mouth out of embarrassment, but afterwards smiled. She pulled Natalie’s bed sheets over her.

Natalie was dreaming. In the dream, she had an Illumise. Natalie and her Illumise where standing in a stadium, with lots of people cheering in the stands. On the opposite of the battlefield stood Arthur, who called forth his Sandslash. Soon, the referee called the start sign, and the battle had begun.

“Illumise, use Take Down!” Natalie called.

“Sandslash, use Slash!” Arthur commanded.

The two Pokémon approached each other, and went for the attack. The moves collided, and there the dream ended. Natalie woke up the next morning. She stretched out far. She let out a yawn as she walked towards the bathroom to brush her teeth. When looking in the mirror, she noticed she had slept in her ordinary clothing. She laughed heartedly, even though she felt a little embarrassed.

Downstairs, she took a seat at the table. Mom had just finished making her breakfast.

“’Morning! You have pyjamas, you know.” mom teased.

“I know…” Natalie said.

“Well, it doesn’t matter…” Natalie continued with a mouth full of food. “…cuz today, I’m going on a Pokémon Journey!”

Mom didn’t answer for a second. She watched Natalie enjoying her food.

“I wouldn’t stop you.” she said.

This caused Natalie to swallow her food, and drop her sandwhich.

“Just like that??”

“Yeah… just like that. The only thing I want for you is to see you happy. And if that’s going to be with Pokémon, then so be it.” She smiled.

Natalie couldn’t believe mom’s words for a second. But after a few seconds she realized that mom really wasn’t kidding. Her eyes teared up, as she jumped into mom’s arms.

“Oh, thank you mom! You’re the greatest!”

After breakfast, she rushed upstairs to pack her bag. That afternoon, she stepped in mom’s car. Mom drove Natalie to New Bark Town. During the drive, Natalie had a dilemma. She was thinking about which Pokémon she should choose at Professor Elm’s lab. I suppose Cyndaquil would be the obvious choice… A lot of Gym Leaders in Johto have a weakness against fire types, I heard. But Chikorita… it’s so cute! And it’s evolution, I just want to ride on its back! And Totodile is very strong. One bite from him, and my opponents would back down instantly…

Before long, the car arrived in New Bark Town. The Pokémon lab was easily recognizable, with a large sign above the entrance saying “Welcome to New Bark Town Pokémon lab!”. That, and there was a whole line of kids standing in front of the entrance.

“Haha, looks like you’re not the only one who wants to begin an adventure, Natalie!” mom said.

Natalie grabbed her bag, and stepped out of the car.

“And baby…” mom said to Natalie. Natalie turned to the car, facing mom.

“Be careful. Be sure to phone home as often as possible, okay? I’m rooting for you!”

“I will. And, mom… thank you.” Natalie’s voice skipped.

Mom reached out of the car, and gave Natalie a kiss on the cheek. “Good luck, sweetheart.” She started the engine, and drove out of town. Now, Natalie was on her own. She faced the line of kids at Professor Elm’s lab. She should make her decision now. Which Pokémon will she choose?