Pup and Izzy in Kanto

(@[member="Bionic Puppy"] and I are doing a roleplay loosely based on the games FireRed and LeafGreen. This'll count for the Buddy Event, but also for fun. Until further notice, this roleplay is closed for other players than the two of us)

A blond girl with a braid sat on the ground in Professor Oak's laboratory. The clock on the opposite wall told her it was quarter past nine already. Oak had told them to be here at nine in the morning, but there was no sign of the other guy just yet. That served Isabelle Evergreen just fine. Because he was late, Oak had allowed the girl to make a choice already which starter Pokémon she'd like to use. So there she sat, with a female Bulbasaur on her lap. Oak had warned her that this one was rather tiny for its kind. Isabelle did not care much for that. If it was smaller, then she would be faster as well, though probably less able to take hits, if it came to that. All that could wait until they had time to train. For now, Izzy enjoyed the bonding time with the sleeping Bulbasaur on her lap.

 

The door crashing open startled both the girl and the Bulbasaur. In the doorframe stood a panting kid, about her own age. Behind her, the clock said 9:25. Firmly too late. Cradling the Grass-type starter in her arms, Izzy stood up, just as Oak entered from wherever he had been.

"Ah, so you made it. I wondered when you were going to show up. Miss Evergreen has been here since quarter to nine," Oak said, causing Izzy's cheeks to flush red. She hid her head behind the Bulbasaur, ashamed. She did not want to be the snooty little kid that always was perfectly on time and rubbed it into other people's faces. She had just been unable to sleep and gone to the laboratory early, because she could not longer contain her nerves.

The young lady was dressed in jeans and an emerald sweater, having chosen for the colour of her preferred starter. Rumour went that this year, Bulbasaur was popular. It made her sad to think that she'd have to give the little darling to the late kid, especially after it had fallen asleep on her lap so adorably. She was already fond of the grass starter.

 

Despite her shame of being so early, the girl could not help a giggle when the guy groaned upon seeing her with the Bulbasaur. The rumours had been true, and so was the saying 'if you snooze, you lose'.Not meant unkindly, of course, but it was about their starter, after all. No minor thing.

Izzy stood up from the ground when Oak pointed at the other Pokémon. The other two balls were obviously the lively Squirtle and the playful Charmander. Both excellent Pokémon, but Izzy was sold to the Bulbasaur's happy grin. However, Oak mentioned another Pokémon. Expecting to see a Pikachu or something, she flinched when she saw a Weedle up on the shelf. The other guy was startled, too, since he shrieked like a girl (or worse).

"What's wrong with its colour, Professor? Did you bleach it?" The blonde asked.

 

Isabelle winced and covered Bulbasaur's ears at the kid's endless screaming. Luckily, Oak hated it as much as Izzy did and bellowed for the kid to shut up. When all went quiet, she sighed in relief.

"Well, Bulba. Already a hectic first day, hm?"
"Bulba!" was the answer.

"Excuse me, sir? Why do you call it shiny? I've heard of people calling them "alternately coloured", like how Pokémon that live in snowy areas turn white to blend with the surroundings, but shiny doesn't make a lot of sense. It's just yellow," she shrugged. "I've seen Magnemite that look shinier than this Weedle, when polished enough."

 

Isabelle frowned at the kid. "You don't have to take it if you don't want to. Have a Squirtle. Shinies are not so special, aside from being mutations of their usual forms. Most of them aren't even desirable mutations. I don't see what the damn fuss is about."

Izzy was very suspicious of Oak forcing a kid to take a Pokémon like that. It was very unlike him. But Izzy didn't care that much. She had her Bulbasaur and that was all that mattered. The first Gym would be easy, too.

"Well, I'll be on my way. Thank you. professor, for Bulbasaur. Bulba, would you like to walk with me, or be in your ball?" Bulbasaur hopped off her lap onto the ground, scratching at the door. "Choice is made. See ya, Oak!" And then the blond haired girl left the laboratory.

 

Outside, Izzy was at her mother's to pack the last bit of stuff, like her running shoes and her Pokédex, kissed her mother on the cheek and left the house. She was planning to train some just outside of Pallet town, to get Bulbasaur some experience. She wanted Bulbasaur to have a Grass-type move before taking on the Pewter Gym. Brock's Pokémon should be weak to that.

 

Isabelle already had her trainer card, though hers required less fancy stuff. The Pokémon centre would keep it up to date automatically whenever she healed her Pokémon.

Route 1 wasn't very difficult at all. With a single Tackle, every Pokémon that was bothered by her and Bulbasaur would flee, so they made their way to Viridian City very easily after an hour or two of walking. There, Isabelle left Bulbasaur with Nurse Joy as she went to have lunch in the canteen. Eggs on toast and orange juice was just what she needed. When she was nearly done, Bulbasaur was returned to her, whom she fed tiny bits of egg and toast. Then it was time to head out to Viridian Forest. She'd have to spend the night there, but with Bulbasaur, she wasn't too worried. Rumour went that Pikachu could be caught in Viridian, so she hoped she could find one.

 

Because she was so ahead of the other, younger kid, she camped out in a nice, secluded corner of Viridian Forest. The Pokémon were less jumpy here, as if they have less experience with trainers constantly battling them. Here, she hoped to find a Pikachu.

At one point, she thought she saw one, but it was only a Beedrill flying by. Not the Pokémon she wished, so she did not bother it. With Bulbasaur sitting next to her, they rested, patiently.

Suddenly, Bulbasaur jumped up to her full, tiny height.

"What is it, Bulba?"

"Saur! Bulbasaur!"

A bit ahead, two tiny ears could be seen. They twitched rodently, unlike any Bug Pokémon in this forest.

"Go for it. Vine whip! Grab it tightly. Don't let it escape!'

Without hesitation, Bulbasaur whipped her vines out, grabbed the Pokémon and dragged it out of the grass. The yellow colour, red cheeks, and heart-shaped tail told Izzy what she needed to know.

"All right! Slam it to the ground and then Tackle it!"

Pikachu's electricity had little effect on Bulbasaur and so there was little the Electric Type could do. The moment it was dazed after the Tackle, Isabelle threw a Pokéball. It wiggled once, twice, three times, and caught! A Pikachu had joined their team!