Nuzlocke Red's Journal, a FireRed Nuzlocke

Hello, BZ here with my second attempt at Nuzlocking Pokémon FireRed. Hopefully, I actually finish it this time, unlike my last one that I just kind of fizzled out on without getting very far. Although I feel like I'm a bit more invested with this one. I'm also not sure why I'm even bringing up my old run considering that was a year or two ago and I doubt anyone remembers it. I know I forgot.
Anyway, I'm going to be splitting this up into two sections: 'records', which are pretty much a direct transcription of what I do in the game with a lot of the nitty-gritty details like my Pokémon's stats and recapping important battles, and 'journal entries' which serve as a first-person narrative from the perspective of my character as he goes through his Pokémon journey. The journal entries will also not necessarily be an accurate reflection of how things actually happen in game and I will be adding some creative liberty and/or extra stuff to add to the emotion and narrative, which is why I'm including the records. And now that I have that explanation out of the way, on to the Nuzlocke/story hybrid thingy.

Spoiler: Records - Session 1

Started Game
Chose Gender: Boy
Chose Name: Red
Chose Rival’s Name: Blue
Start in room, head downstairs. Talk to Mom on the way out, she reassures herself that all boys leave home someday. Left the house. Talked to girl in front of sign, who wanted me to read the sign. Read the sign, which told me how to open the menu. Girl tells me that signs are useful. Talk to fat guy, who tells me how incredible technology is. Visit Oak’s lab, where I run into Blue. He tells me that the Professor isn’t there. Three Pokéballs are on the table, with a couple of Pokédexes on a desk at the back of the room. Left the lab and decide to leave town. Professor Oak stops me as I’m about to head out into the grass, tells me that it’s dangerous to leave without a Pokémon and asks that I come with him to the lab. After we get to the lab, Blue says that he’s tired of waiting. The Professor is confused at first, before remembering that he had asked Blue to come. Oak tells Blue to wait while he tells me to pick one of the three Pokémon on the table for me to keep. Blue complains that its unfair for me to pick first but Oak just tells him to be patient.

Picked Starter Pokémon: Bulbasaur, nicknamed “Fern”

Blue picks Charmander as his first Pokémon. He says that it looks tougher than Fern. Blue then challenges me to a Pokémon battle. Oak walks me through how to have a Pokémon battle.

Battle Summary: vs. Rival Blue
Turn one: Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch. Fern uses Tackle.
Turn two: Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch. Fern uses Tackle.
Turn three: Fern uses Tackle, putting Charmander in the yellow. Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch, putting Fern in the yellow.
Turn four: Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch, putting Fern in the red. Fern uses Tackle, putting Charmander in the red.
Turn five: Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch, killing Fern.
Results: Fern defeated, game over.

EMERGENCY RESTART

Gender: Boy
Name: Red
Rival Name: Blue
Starter: Bulbasaur
Rival’s Starter: Charmander

New Pokémon Summary:
Fern the Bulbasaur, Female, Lv5
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Relaxed
HP: 19
Attack: 10
Defense: 9
Sp. Attack: 12
Sp. Defense: 12
Speed: 8
Moves: Tackle, Growl

Battle Summary: vs. Rival Blue

Turn 1: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch, Fern used Tackle.
Turn 2: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch. Fern used Tackle, putting Charmander in the yellow.
Turn 3: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch, putting Fern in the yellow. Fern used Tackle.
Turn 4: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch, putting Fern in the red. Fern used Scratch, putting Charmander in the red.
Turn 5: Blue’s Charmander uses Scratch, killing Fern.
Results: Fern defeated, game over.

EMERGENCY RESTART

Gender: Boy
Name: Red
Rival Name: Blue
Starter: Bulbasaur
Rival’s Starter: Charmander

New Pokémon Summary:

Fern the Bulbasaur, Male, Lv5
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Lax
HP: 20
Attack: 10
Defense: 12
Sp. Attack: 11
Sp. Defense: 10
Speed: 9
Moves: Tackle, Growl

Battle Summary: vs. Rival Blue

Turn 1: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch. Fern used Tackle.
Turn 2: Blue’s Charmander used Scratch. Fern used Tackle.
Turn 3: Fern used Tackle, putting Charmander in the yellow. Blue’s Charmander used Scratch.
Turn 4: Fern used Tackle, putting Charmander in the red. Blue’s Charmander used Scratch, putting Fern in the yellow.
Turn 5: Fern used Tackle, defeating Blue’s Charmander.
Results: Fern gains 69 exp. and reaches level 6. $80 earned.

Blue is dumbfounded that he lost and insists that he picked the wrong Pokémon. He declares that he’ll make Charmander battle to toughen it up, then leaves. On the way out of town I stop by the Oak house, where Daisy tells me that she wishes she had seen me beat Blue. I then head out to Route 1 for the first time.

A Pokémart employee gives me a free potion. This reminds me that I have a potion in storage and I quickly rush home to get it. On the way back, I run into my first wild Pokémon, a Rattata. As I do not have Pokéballs yet, this will not count as my first encounter of the route.

Battle Summary: vs. lv3 Female Rattata

Turn 1: Wild Rattata uses Tail Whip, lowering Fern’s defense. Fern uses Tackle.
Turn 2: Wild Rattata uses Tackle. Fern uses Tackle, putting Rattata in the yellow.
Turn 3: Wild Rattata uses Tail Whip, lowering Fern’s defense. Fern uses Tackle, defeating Rattata.
Results: Fern gains 24 exp.

I make the rest of the way home without incident and retrieve the potion. I then head back to Route 1, where I encounter a wild Pidgey.

Battler Summary: vs. lv2 Female Pidgey

Turn 1: Fern uses Tackle. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 2: Fern uses Tackle, putting Pidgey in the red. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle, putting Fern in the Yellow.
Turn 3: Fern uses Tackle, defeating Wild Pidgey.
Results: Fern reaches level 7, learns Leech Seed.

Battle Summary: vs lv3 Male Pidgey

Turn 1: Furn uses Tackle. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 2: Fern uses Tackle, putting Pidgey in the yellow. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 3: Fern uses Tackle, defeating wild Pidgey.
Results: Fern gains exp.

At last, I make my way to Viridian City. I explore the town, healing Fern at the Pokémon Center and visiting the Pokémon School. I also find a Potion on the ground before checking out the Pokémart. When I enter the Pokémart, the clerk realizes that I’m from Pallet Town and asks me to deliver a package to Professor Oak. So, I head back to Pallet Town again. By using the ledges as a short cut, I am able to make it all of the way back without running into another wild Pokémon. Oak asks me how Fern is doing and says that I must be a talented trainer. I then give him the package, which he recognizes as the custom Pokéball he had on order. Blue then shows up, asking what the Professor had actually called him for this morning. Oak then remembers that he had something that he wanted to request we do for him. He shows us his new Pokédexes and explains how they work, asking that Blue and I both take one and try to fill it out on our journeys. He also gives me five Pokéballs before sending us back out on our separate ways. Blue says that I won’t be needed for this. He also says that he is going to borrow a map from his sister and that he’ll tell her not to give me one. I then stop by the Oak house before leaving town again and talk to Daisy. She complains about how lazy the Professor is for sending Blue and I to run an errand for him and gives me a map to help me out. I now head back out to Route 1, where I encounter my first ‘proper’ wild encounter now that my Nuzlocke has officially begun.

Battle Summary: vs. Lv3 Female Pidgey

Turn 1: Fern uses Tackle. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 2: Fern uses Tackle, putting Pidgey in the yellow. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 3: Fern uses Tackle, putting Pidgey in the red. Wild Pidgey uses Tackle.
Turn 4: I throw a Pokéball at Pidgey, catching it.
Results: Captured Pidgey.

New Pokémon Summary:

Wendy the Pidgey, Female, Lv3
Ability: Keen Eye
Nature: Modest
HP: 16
Attack: 7
Defense: 7
Sp. Attack: 7
Sp. Defense: 7
Speed: 9
Moves: Tackle

From here on out, I will no longer be including summaries for every random encounter, only ones where I can potentially catch a wild Pokémon. Level ups will be noted when reaching a town or other notable locations, including new moves learned, etc. If I lose a Pokémon in a random encounter, then I will mention what Pokémon defeated it and possibly the move used.

I return to Viridian City, where I heal my Pokémon at the Pokémon Center again. I run into an old man who tries to teach me how to catch wild Pokémon even though I already know how and gives me a Teachy TV. I then try to challenge the Viridian Gym, only to find that it is closed. Next, I head to Route 22.

Battle Summary: vs. Lv5 Male Mankey

Turn 1: Wild Mankey uses Scratch. Fern uses Tackle.
Turn 2: Wild Mankey uses Scratch. Fern uses Tackle.
Turn 3: Wild Mankey uses Scratch, putting Fern in the yellow. Fern uses Tackle, putting Mankey in the yellow.
Turn 4: Fern uses Tackle and gets a critical hit, defeating Mankey.
Results: I miss out on getting a Pokémon for Route 22. Fern reaches level 8.

I now decide to grind Wendy up to level 5 before continuing any further. Unfortunately, she was killed in her second battle, against a lv4 wild Rattata that managed to hit her with a single Tackle after using Tail Whip to lower her defense three times in a row. With Fern now my only Pokémon, I decide to skip the optional battle with Blue on Route 22 and instead end my current session. Next time, I’ll be heading to Route 2 on my way north to Pewter City.

End of Day Report

My Team:


Fern the Bulbasaur, Male, Lv8
Ability: Overgrow
Nature: Lax
HP: 27
Attack: 13
Defense: 15
Sp. Attack: 15
Sp. Defense: 14
Speed: 12
Moves: Tackle, Growl, Leech Seed

In Box:

N/A

Deceased:

Wendy the Pidgey, Female, Lv3
Ability: Keen Eye
Nature: Modest
HP: 16
Attack: 7
Defense: 7
Sp. Attack: 7
Sp. Defense: 7
Speed: 9
Moves: Tackle

Spoiler: Journal Entry - Day 1

Today was a day that I will never forget. The moment that I’ve been waiting for so long has finally come. My only regret is that it had to end on such a sour note. But I suppose I should probably start from the beginning.

After I finished getting everything packed and ready to head out this morning, I went down and had breakfast with Mom. It was hard. Saying goodbye. I don’t know when I’ll see her again. We talked for a long time about a lot of stuff. Finally, it was time to head out. I went back upstairs, put on my jacket and hat, and grabbed the bag I finished backing yesterday. Then I headed downstairs, kissed Mom goodbye and headed out. It was finally time for me to head out into the world and make something of myself. Or at least that’s what I thought. The moment I stepped outside of town, old Professor Oak stopped me from going any further. He warned me that traveling without a Pokémon would be too dangerous. I see now that he was right. The professor then took me back to his lab. Blue was there waiting for his grandpa, though the professor couldn’t remember why he had asked for him. Blue was as much of a jerk as usual. I just don’t understand what his problem is. Anyway, Prof. Oak let me choose one of three Pokémon that he had out. Blue complained, of course, but the professor told him to just be patient and wait. I wish I could get away with telling him that.

My choices were Bulbasaur, Squirtle and Charmander. It took me a while to think about which one to pick. It was a big choice, after all, and there’s no telling how much that decision will have affected the rest of my life. Butterfree effect, and all that. I eventually settled on the grass type, Bulbasaur. I named him Fern, because he has this big plant bulb thing growing out of his back and it was the only plant-name I could think of that wasn’t a girl’s name. With my new partner at my side, I thanked the professor and turned to head out. Unfortunately, it was now Blue’s turn to get a Pokémon. Naturally he immediately picked Charmander, the one with an advantage against Fern, and challenged me to a Pokémon battle before I had a chance to head out the door. Funny thing is, that exact thing happened to me in a dream last night. In the dream I ended up losing the match before waking up in a cold sweat. Then I went back to bed and ended up having the exact same dream with the exact same results. Naturally, I was pretty nervous throughout the entire fight as things were quickly turning out the same way they had in my dreams. Fortunately, reality is a bit kinder to me than my dreams were. Though just barely. If Fern had been any slower than he was, Blue’s Charmander would have beaten Fern. I don’t even want to think what would have happened if things had turned out that way. Blue was a sore loser, of course, and stormed off. Now that he was gone, I was ready to finally set out on my own. Although I guess I’m not really alone anymore.

I headed out to Route 1. On my way north to Viridian City I was stopped by a guy working for Pokémart who gave me a free Potion. That made realize that I had forgotten the one that I had at home and I immediately turned back to go get it. Running into Mom again at home right after I was supposed to have left was awkward, but I quickly grabbed the potion, said goodbye to Mom again and headed out. This time, there was nothing stopping me from getting to Viridian City. I did get attacked by a couple wild Pokémon, but they were nothing that Fern couldn’t handle. Viridian is a much bigger city than Pallet but it doesn’t really feel too different. I’m sure I’m probably going to be seeing all kinds of different cities in my travels. After healing Fern at the local Pokémon Center, I started exploring the city a bit. I eventually made my way to the Pokémart that the guy from earlier worked at and the clerk there was immediately able to tell that I was from Pallet. He said that he had a package to deliver to Professor Oak and asked if I could deliver it for him. Although he called it a parcel for some reason, which is a different term than I’m used to. Although I suppose I should get used to hearing new words and phrases, it’ll probably be happening a lot now. I agreed take the package back to the Professor, so I then made my way back to Pallet Town again. Certainly not how I thought things would turn out.

Back at the professor’s lab, I delivered the package like I had promised. Apparently it was some kind of special Pokéball he had ordered. I probably should have asked him about it but I didn’t think about that until I was on my way back to Viridian again and I didn’t feel like returning to Pallet for a third time in one day. Blue then showed up because of course and he asked what the professor had actually called him for this morning. Prof. Oak then finally remembered that he had something he wanted to ask the two of us to do for him. He then pulled out a pair of small red devices and handed them to Blue and I. Apparently the thing he gave me is called a Pokédex and he said that it will record details on any Pokémon I catch. He asked that Blue and I work on filling out the Pokédex with as many Pokémon as we can. Blue told me not to even bother and that he’ll do it himself. Personally, I’m not that interested in collecting a lot of Pokémon, so I’m just going to let him do that. Blue then mentioned something about borrowing a map from Daisy before he left. His comment made me decided to stop by their house on my way back of town again to see Daisy before I left for good.

Daisy was just as nice as always. She greeted me with a smile and invited me in for tea. Her hair smells like lilac. I don’t think I’ve ever noticed that before. There was also something different about her. I couldn’t quite tell what it was but I liked it. We chatted for a bit. Daisy apologized for Blue’s behavior and also for her grandpa trying to unload his life’s work on me with the Pokédex. She also gave me a map of the Kanto region. I guess either Blue hadn’t told her not to give me one like he said he would, or she just didn’t listen to him. I didn’t ask. He hand brushed mine as she handed it to me. It felt warm. Not warm like a fire, though. I’m not really sure how to describe it. After that when I went to leave she hugged me goodbye. I don’t know how to put my feelings into words. I didn’t want that moment to end. I just wanted to stay in her arms forever. Even now I still want to go back to it, back to her. Especially since the rest of my day has just been downhill since then.

Prof. Oak gave me a few empty Pokéballs with the Pokédex so that I could start catching Pokémon. So, when I was attacked by a wild Pidgey on the way back to Viridian, I went ahead and caught it. I named her Wendy and was really excited to have her on my team with Fern. I already miss her. After getting back to Viridian City I decided to go west to Route 22 where I tried to catch a Mankey. Unfortunately, Fern got a little over eager and accidentally killed it before I could catch it. So, I decided to try and train Wendy a bit to get her as strong as Fern had already gotten. It’s not fair. I sent her out to fight a Rattata, thinking that it would be really easy for her to beat. But while Wendy was busy tried to steadily weaken it enough to kill it, the Rattata was able to weaken her enough by whipping her with its tail that it was able to kill her with just one tackle. Why? Why did she have to die? I only had her for less than an hour. She was only my second Pokémon and I’ve already lost her. Why did this have to happen to me? Why is she dead? Why?

I couldn’t handle anything more after that. I ran back to Viridian as quickly as I could, not stopping until I was safely in the Pokémon Center. The nurse here arranged for Wendy to be sent to the Pokémon Tower in Lavender, where she can be properly buried. I just don’t have the strength to do anything else today, so I’m just going to eat something and head to bed after this. The gym here in Viridian has apparently been closed for a while now and no one seems to know when it will be open again, so tomorrow I’ll be heading out to Pewter. I’ve heard the gym leader there is a rock-type specialist, so hopefully Fern won’t have any issues fighting him. Or maybe it’s a her? I don’t know yet but I guess I’ll see tomorrow. Or the day after depending on how long it takes to get there. For now, I just feel like I want to go home to Mom. I want to be back with Daisy. I don’t feel like I’m ready to be a Pokémon trainer yet. But I’m not going to give up now. I can’t give up yet. I won’t give up. I’m not Dad.

As you can see, my luck so far with this is practically non-existant. On the plus side, if this keeps up should hopefully end up turning into an interesting narrative as i continue to dive into Red's thoughts and feelings as he struggles just to be a Pokémon trainer. For anyone wondering, Fern the Bulbasaur is named after the Bulbasaur I had in my last attempt at a Nuzlocke, who I had grown fond of even though I never finished that playthrough. Samuel Redwood is my headcanon for what Red's full name is (based off of his counterpart from the Pocket Monsters manga who's real name is stated to be Isamu, which sounds vaguely like Samuel) and is also what his name was in my old Pokémon fanfic. I also decided to give him a middle initial for no real reason and settled on A, which may or may not stand for Ash.
I don't really have much experience with Nuzlockes, so any advice would be appreciated.