Pokémon Stones

I have just started my journey, Pokédex in hand, bag slung over my shoulder. Readjusting my cap, I glance ahead on the trail. My new starter, Growlithe, trips over himself, then continues running. Looking behind, I wave a goodbye to my mother, who stands on the porch waving with a worried look on her face.​

How did I get here?[/I] I wonder to myself. I thought normal boys chose Charmander, or Treecko. I would have even settled for Piplup! How did I end up with a Growlithe? I think back only a few hours ago, to when I first entered Professor Maple's lab...​

"Good morning, Professor Maple!" I say as I enter the revolving doors. To the left a small table sits, with an assistant watching a Pokémon contest on the nearby TV. To my left, the professor sits at a desk, examining a Poké Ball as if discovering it for the first time.​

She looks up from her work. "Ah, Darth! I didn't think you would be here for another hour."​

"I got sick of sitting at home, watching Victor and Rebecca duel it out on TV," I reply, motioning to the match on the television behind me. "Besides, Mom said that I should get here early, before all the good Pokémon are gone. What's that you're holding?"​

"Oh, this?" The professor holds the Poké Ball up. It's then that I notice that instead of a red top, the capsule's head is a deep purple, with two yellow ridges on top and a red symbol resembling a G between them. "I just received this from a professor friend of mine. There isn't anybody inside it, but the Poké Ball is specifically designed to capture high-leveled Ghost types. But enough about that! I suppose you want your starter Pokémon?"​

"Yes, ma'am." I look over to the table, where three Poké Balls sit unmoving. But instead of heading to the table, the professor rummages through her desk and pulls out what looks like a Pokédex.​

"I've decided to make getting your starter a challenge. All you have to do is go into the forest and re-record six Pokémon I've uploaded into it. You do that, and you can either choose one of those Pokémon or one of these three."​

I open the Pokédex. It doesn't look like the version Professor Oak created, but still has the standard screen and interface buttons. My face and trainer ID lights up on the screen when I flip the top open. "Seems simple enough. I should be back in half an hour."​

It was only after I had ventured into the forest that I bothered to check the Pokédex on what I was supposed to record. Two of them I had seen every day since moving to Grove Town, three I had only seen once or twice. The last one I knew would be a challenge: it was a Haunter, and those didn't show themselves willingly. Better get started, then.​

The first two were easy: a Hoothoot and Rattata. They were both hiding in the trees. The next two were a Pikachu and a Geodude. Geodude I found accidentally, by tripping over it, but I ran as fast as I could, recording it as I ran. Pikachu I found battling a Magikarp by the river, and almost got myself electrocuted by the Mouse Pokémon.​

Out of the two left, I decided to wait for Haunter and looked for the Growlithe. But instead of finding one, the dog found me, by tackling me to the ground playfully. Annoyed, I recorded it and went on my way. If I had payed more attention, I could have heard Growlithe's paws thumping against the ground behind me. It was following me.​

When I finally did find Haunter, it was in a deeper section of the forest I had never ventured into before. The trees hung low over the path, and the nearby Bellsprout shuddered with fear when I passed them. Only the Growlithe seemed cheerful, chasing a scared Bellsprout in an attempt to play.​

Finally, I could take no more. "Growlithe!" The Dog Pokémon instantly was at my side, staring up at me with big eyes. "Why are you following me?" Of course it couldn't answer, but it's behavior suggested to me that it wanted to be either my friend or one of my Pokémon.​

Before I could explain to it that I didn't want it as a Pokémon, two eyes flashed up ahead. Growlithe instantly went on the defensive, jumping ahead of me in a wide stance, growling at the shadows. When I saw the eyes again, I pulled up my Pokédex, scanning the shadows. At last, the Pokédex recorded it, and I gave a yell of joy. All six!​

Unfortunately, Haunter wasn't as joyful, and sent a Shadow Ball in my direction. I fell to the ground, watching as the Shadow Ball seemed to move in slow motion where my head used to be. Growlithe gave a bark and let loose an Ember attack. All of them missed, hitting the ground and sputtering out.​

It was then that I realized that Growlithe was my only protection in the forest. I pulled up my Pokédex, checked Growlithe's moves, and called an attack, not expecting anything good. "Growlithe, try a Bite attack. Over there, in the bushes." Surprisingly, Growlithe jumped forward, it's teeth glimmering with the move's affects. When Growlithe disappeared behind the bush, Haunter leapt up in it's place, yelling with pain. The Bite had hit! "Now try an Ember attack!" The Ember flashed behind the bush and hit Haunter in the back. "Fire Fang!" Growlithe leapt out, mouth on fire, and bit Haunter's hand. With a shudder, Haunter fell to the ground.​

A Poké Ball glint in the darkness, then came into contact with Haunter. As the energy absorbed the unconscious Pokémon, I saw that the thrower had been Professor Maple, the Poké Ball being the special purple Poké Ball from earlier. She smiled at me. "I assume you have chosen your starter now?"​

I glanced at Growlithe. He was running towards me, pure joy on his face. The ease of the battle had surprised me, as did Growlithe's power. And Growlithe seemed to like me very much. What should I do?​

Obviously I had chosen Growlithe. After obtaining some Poké Balls and Potions from home, I started off, Growlithe dashing ahead. According to Professor Maple, the first city with a Gym in it was Boulderock City, with the Fossil Gym. And so Growlithe and I are now heading to Boulderock City, to obtain our first Gym Badge!​