Anna's Nuzlocke Journey

A Randomized Pokemon Leaf Green Nuzlocke Story updates sporadically, shooting for once a week

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 6: Complications

(also complications for my writing, as computer and life drama lost my notes for me!)

The group approached the gate, noticing the Caution lights were up and flashing.  Anna sighed and gestured at the lights.   “Here too?  Are all the gates going to be closed off to us today?  The guard from earlier smiled and waved to them.  She pointed up at the warning lights and smiled sadly. “Oh gee, Sorry there kiddos.  The darn Ninetails from earlier is sure as heck grumpy!  It brought some of its friends and is sleeping outside the gate!  Too many to take on, so we just have to wait for them to move on for now.”  Emily peered through the doors and saw, just as the guard said, about 15 Ninetails and Vulpix on the other side.  They were dozing, some playing around, some just sitting.  They looked comfortable and like they weren’t going anywhere for a while.  “Oh shoot.  I wanted to deliver this package to my Grandpa!”  Emily pulled the package out of her bag, holding it up in sympathy to the guard.  Ricky stepped forward, and cracked her knuckles.   “If you want, I can help clear the path?  I’m a rock type and can deliver a pretty mean punch or two!  Their fire won’t hurt me as much!” She threw a couple of punches in the air, then grinned to the group.  The guard held up a hand and shook her head. “Whoa there little missy,  I get that you wanna help out, but those there beasts are too much to take on!   They’d overwhelm you in a second, don’cha know?”  She reached out a wide strong hand. “But if ya hand the package to me, I can make sure it gets delivered.  Then you can be on your way and don’t have to just wait around no more!”  The woman smiled her warm smile.  Emily shrugged and handed over the package.   “Okay, Thank you Ma’am!”  Emily turned to the group, adjusting her hat.  “I guess I’ll wait here in town for a while! I don’t want to keep you any longer than I have on starting your training Anna.”  She absently fiddled with the strap to her bag.  Anna paused.  The errand was covered, but she didn’t want to just leave.  She liked Emily!  She was fun to talk to, they shared some interests and it was nice having her around. She started to speak but stopped, unsure of what to say.  Ricky and Edwin stood, looking between the two of them.  After the awkward silence started to stretch, Ricky put an arm around each of their shoulders.   She beamed and started walking, pulling the two of them with.   “Tell you what gals, why don’t you come with us to Route 2 and Through the forest!  That way you aren’t stuck here in town bored Em, and Anna can get on her journey!  Pewter has this AMAZING museum you both HAVE to see!  They have a full Kabutops skeleton!!”  Emily brightened at that. “I’ve heard of the museum, but never been there!  Okay, I guess I’ll stick with you guys for a little bit.  Maybe it will help me get my psychic powers under control, so I can help out my grandpa better!”  Anna felt herself relax.  Emily would go back home sometime,  but for now she could spend more time with her.  This at least was nice.  Something inside her glowed for a moment, though she didn’t know what it meant.  Thankfully the gates to Route 2 were open and passing through took no time at all.  Stepping through the other side they found a guard watching a fight play out on the path.  Two young men were facing each other,  one with large ears and buck teeth.  His opponent was wearing the most garishly coloured shirt, all diamonds of various colours with clashing wavy lines throughout. He was slouching slightly, due to the two large bumps sticking out of his spine, which smoke tumbled out of.  With a yell the first fighter rushed the second, his teeth flashing as he attempted to bite.  A flash of flame and smoke clouded their eyes, and silence fell.

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 5: New Friends

It was only about a ten minute walk to the gate to Route 22, and the League Gates.  The girls chatted as they walked about movies, music, and books they liked.  Anna was excited to learn they both listened to the same rock group, “The Metang Gang.”  They were discussing the most recent album when before they knew it the town exit stood before them.  Outside the guard station there was an older gentleman speaking with a younger man with wild, bushy curls of hair.  The young man was wearing jeans and a dark patterned button up shirt  hints of feathers poked through the wrist cuffs, and his eyebrows came to arrowlike points.

“Now you gotta make sure to really aim the ball good.  If’n you don’t throw it right, you can’t catch nothing!”  The old man shook his cane, which was actually a giant leek at the younger man.  “I remember the first ‘mon I ever caught.  It was a little orange dinosaur looking fella… named ‘im AGUMAN”  He waved the leek again,  which the curly haired man dodged.

“Sir please, I’m just trying to get through the gate.  I don’t know what you’re talking about!”  He looked over at the two approaching women and waved, his dark lined eyes pleading for help behind a pair of glasses.  Anna and Emily approached, but before they could say anything the guard stepped around the gate.

“I’m really sorry, Dad gets worked up and he took one too many Confusion attacks back in the day.  He rambles on about nonsense sometimes.  C’mon Dad, back inside to sit down.”  She escorted the older gentlemen to a sitting area.  After he was settled she came back and returned to her post.  “Okay! Three to pass?  May I see your ID?”  Emily and Anna presented their information, as did the young man.  The guard was about to open the gate when the handheld radio behind her crackled and beeped.  She picked it up and listened for a moment, then sighed heavily and turned back to the three travellers.  

“Sorry kids, it sounds like a rain storm is coming, which means the Metang in the area get really irritable and start causing problems.  We’re going to have to shut down the gate for a while.”  She handed them back their information, and turned to make plans on the radio with the other guards.  The young man huffed.  

“Oh well, I’ll have to see the Indigo Plateau later.”  He sent off a quick text and offered his hand “My name’s Edwin.  I’ve just started my travels with my friend, who’s going to meet me at Route 2.  Want to travel together for a while? It’s easier in larger numbers.”  Anna shrugged, but Emily smiled.

“Sure! You can use teams of up to six to take on Gym challenges.  Plus it’s always nice to make more friends.”  They walked the short distance to the gate to Route 2, where a tall fit woman was standing by the gate looking at her phone.  She was wearing a simple pair of workout pants, and a sports top that showed how muscular she was. Small black slashes sat under her red eyes, and she smiled brightly.  She turned to them and waved

“Hey Edwin! You make some more friends! Cool!”  She put her phone in the duffel bag and tossed it over one shoulder.  “I’m Ricky!  It’s nice to meet you!  You guys got the injection also?”  Anna nodded.  

“Yeah, I’m Anna.  I want to go into rescue work, so I need to train for that!  This is Emily, I’m helping her run an errand for her Grandpa, Professor Oak”  Edwin whistled.  

“You know Oak?  I’ve always wanted to meet him!  My mom used to work with him and said he was a great guy.”  He smiled, picking at a few of the feathers on his wrist absently.  Emily beamed

“Well, if you want to join us we are headed to meet him!”  Ricky punched Edwin on the shoulder lightly.  

“There you go!  Let’s go with these ladies!  Oh hey, were you scared to get Dipped?”  Emily shook her head.  With an indecisive noise Anna replied.

“I mean yeah? Sort of?  What if you get something weaker, or it doesn’t take, or any number of things go wrong?”  She was interrupted by Emily

“Oh, those happen so incredibly rarely, and thankfully we have ways to separate people from the Ditto cells for a few weeks after injection. What about you Ricky? Were you nervous about it?”  Ricky shrugged.

“Not really, it wouldn’t be the first transformation I went.  It was a heck of a lot easier though!  I got Larvitar, so it’ll be great for my career as a fighter!”  they all laughed and chatting happily the four new friends headed back towards Pallet Town.

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 4 - Viridian City

Emily reached out her arm in front of her friend.  Fear was dripping down Anna’s spine, she had never seen a Ninetails up this close before, and never on the same side of the barrier.  The fox like creature opened its mouth and a spiral of flame burst forth.  Moving quickly Emily grabbed the other woman and pulled her to the side.  The flames hit the ground and made a circling wall.  Had they not moved, they would have been trapped inside of it. Emily pointed past it.

“If we can get past it, the gate isn’t too far past this grass!  We may need to run!”  She clutched at her bag trying to not visibly shake.  Anna nodded and they rushed to the grass.  The beast was fast, and lunged at them.  That same anger she’d felt back at the clinic rose up in Anna’s skull, pushing away the fear.  Before she could think she stepped to meet the beast and swung her head.  A loud cracking sound echoed over the field as the beast’s jaws collided with her headbutt.  Slumping over the Ninetails whimpered, dazed and stunned.  Standing over it, she breathed heavily.  It had felt good.   She had felt strong.  She hadn’t even felt anything thanks to her plates.

“Run!”  shouted her friend, pulling on her arm.  She came out of the stupor and they pushed into the tall grass.  It was hard to see, so they just ran.  It was only their linked hands that kept them from getting seperated.  They pushed through, knocking over a set off tall flowerlike beasts.  Their round yellow faces were lined with petals, and thankfully knocking them over caused them to move away.  

“There’s the gate!  Is it following us?”  Emily turned back and they listened.  Something could be heard crashing through the foliage behind them.  “Quick!”  the two women kept running, reaching the barrier and flagging down the gate guard.  The guard stepped forward and held out a hand.  She was a wide woman, with a big grin stretched across her face.  From her outstretched hand fired a blast of water, smashing into the Ninetails hot on their tail.  It was enough to let them through, into safety.

“Thank you!” Emily gasped, catching her breath, “and thank you Anna, that was an impressive headbutt!”

“I just… moved without thinking.  I’m so much stronger than I used to be!” Emily laughed at that. “I mean, I knew the serum would make me stronger, but this is so much stronger than i thought!”  she flexed slightly, and looked up at Emily, grinning.  “That was a ninetails though… WE COULD HAVE DIED!!”  Emily laughed harder and hugged her.  

“But we didn’t thanks to you!  C’mon, I need to head to the store and pick up a package, then we can go to the center and pick up some lunch.”  The guard waved them off, turning back to watch the field.  The store’s bright blue roof was one of only a few buildings in town.  Shelves lined the air conditioned interior, covered with food, house supplies and all sorts of general goods.  Emily waved to the clerk. “I have a package pickup for Oak?”  The clerk nodded and pushed a small box, wrapped in brown paper across the counter.  Thanking him, she took it and slid it into her bag.  Anna grabbed some of the potions, and other first aid items and purchased them with the funds she had.  She might as well prepare if she was going to be travelling all around the country.  She also picked up a backpack, so she would have something to carry them in.  

From the store they headed to the red roofed center.  Centers were some of the most important places in a town.  They operated as a medical clinic, inn, and diner for the townspeople and travellers.  ID carrying infused people were given discounts to aid in their work.  Sitting at a booth they both relaxed.  A waiter came by, and they ordered drinks and food.  A sandwich and soda for Anna, a spinach wrap and lemonade for Emily.

“So what now?  You have to take that package back right?”  Emily nodded as she sipped her drink.

“Yeah, but you can come back with me.  I imagine you need to finish some business back in town.”  She poured ketchup on a few chips and ate them, the sprinkled a little pepper on her wrap.  “We can go back together after we’ve eaten and rested.  I’ve enjoyed hanging out with you!”  Anna was thankfully not drinking when she heard this, and shuffled her feet.  

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.  I need to get my last few things, and decide where to go next.  I need to start at Pewter City,  but I also kind of want to go check out the League Headquarters.  I think they are not too far from here?”  She took a bite of sandwich, and tried not to think about how she really wanted to spend more time around the pretty Espeon woman.

“Oh yeah! We can do that before we leave town if you like?  It’s only a short, fairly safe path to the east!”  Emily finished her drink and stretched her arms above her head.  The gem on her forehead sparkled in the light and Anna smiled

“Yeah, I’d like that.  Then we’ll go back to Pallet Town together. Thank you again for all the help today!”  Emily waved a hand and smiled.  Their meal finished, they stood up, paid, and exited the Center, heading to the east and the League Gates.  There the strongest competed for the ultimate prize, the Champion of the League.  Anna hadn’t thought about competing for the title, but she at least wanted to see it.  One of her dads had tried but fell short of the title.  His stories about it had been interesting and exciting.  It was a goal to consider, but not for now.

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 3 - Leaving Town

The tests finished, Anna stood at the entrance to the clinic, scratching at the back of her neck.  The plates on her head were a little itchy where they met her neck, though she expected over time she’d get used to them.  She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to her dads to let her know how it had gone.  She sighed, and checked the packet of information she’d been given.  Her first step should be to head to Pewter City,   where the closest Gym and Training Center was.   There was one closer in Viridian City, but it was currently undergoing construction.  A voice interrupted her thoughts.  

“Are you going to head to Viridian City?  I need to run an errand, and wouldn’t mind the company.  The trip will be quicker with someone to talk to.”  She turned and saw the nurse, Emily standing there.  She’d changed out of her scrubs into a white sundress.   The pale yellow flowers and the sage green cardigan made a excellent pairing with her long lavender hair, which was tied in a loose braid.  Anna remembered Emily calling her pretty and turned away as a blush spread across her cheeks.  

“Uh… sure, that would be fine.   I’m still getting the hang of the changes, so someone with more talent would be awesome.”  She opened and closed her mouth a few times, feeling out biting down with her fangs.  Emily laughed and adjusted her shoulder bag.  

“Thank you, though I’m not that powerful yet.  The most I can do is a sort of psychic punch.  Leaves the target dazed and disoriented.”  She closed her eyes and the gem on her forehead sparkled briefly.”  Anna watched wide eyed.  Emily opened her eyes and they started walking towards the town exit.

“That’s so cool though! All I seem to have is these teeth, and probably these plates will hurt to hit someone with.”  She reached up and tapped her knuckle on them, “I guess as I get stronger and my body adjusts more I’ll learn some of the cooler things!” She stretched to her full height of 5’0.  Emily smiled warmly as they reached the gates

“I’m not sure how much fighting I’ll be doing myself.   I don’t know how much further i will travel I guess.”  she pushed back some hair and pulled her wallet out of her bag.  The guard nodded to her, checking her ID.  Anna held up her own newly acquired ID and the guard waved them on.   It was only a few steps past the gate and they were out in the fields.  

Anna had only travelled once before, with her dads to do some shopping, but she was young enough she didn’t remember it.  She looked around now as she took her first steps onto the Route.  Thick woods lined either side of the dirt and grass patched field.  Spread throughout were larger patches of tall grass, tall enough Anna wouldn’t be able to see over them.  For the first time since in a few days, she found herself second guessing her choice.  Though the presence of her new friend quickly bolstered that.  Emily nodded and took a few steps forward.  

“Let’s hurry.  It’s a bright sunny day, and we should take advantage of it.”  Anna fell into step and they started walking.  It was fairly easy to skirt the tall patches of grass, that way something couldn’t sneak up on them.  They walked in silence, enjoying the weather and keeping an eye out on their surroundings.  After about half an hour they could see the next gate on a short rise.  However they had to go through a patch of the tall grass to get there.  A rustle caused them to both stop.  The grass parted and a golden yellow beast stepped forward.  It lifted its pointed muzzle and snarled, licks of flame flicking on the edges of its mouth.  Its multiple tails thrashed, and it began to stalk towards the two women.  

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 2 - The First Fight

Anna woke slowly with a splitting headache.  She was laying on a small bed in a bright, white walled room.  Her head felt incredibly heavy.  She hissed as she slowly tried to sit up, only to have a hand lightly touch her shoulder.  She turned to see a young woman with long lavender coloured hair that hung down to her mid back, wearing a pair of light blue scrubs sitting next to the bed.

“Try not to move too fast, You’re body is still adjusting to the changes.   Congratulations are in order though!  You survived and luckily we know which type and species you adapted to!  I am sorry though.  You got a strong species, but one easily identified”  The woman patted her shoulder, sympathy and a little bit of humour on her face.

“What?  I don’t think I understand.”  Anna mumbled, still groggy and disoriented.  Her speech came out muffled and her mouth felt strange.   It was almost as if she just finished at the dentist.  The woman reached to the side table and helped up a small hand mirror.  Anna gaped, her had slowly moving up to her mouth.  Her Teeth.  Her lower canines had grown into sharp fangs, sticking up over her upper lip  “Wha...What?”  it was then she noticed her forehead.  Covering her head from front to back were a series of hard plates.  She lightly touched one, flinching slightly at its metal like texture.  “What am I?”  Setting the mirror down the woman smiled.

“You’re a Bagon! A Dragon type!”  She smiled and held out a hand.  “I’m Emily by the way.  I’m Doctor Oak’s granddaughter!”  Anna slowly reached out and shook it.  Emily Brushed some hair away from her face, revealing a small red gem beneath her bangs, and pointed ears with small lavender tufts of hair beneath them.  She continued speaking “I got my serum just a few months ago.  I’m an Espeon just like my grandpa!  I’ve been trying to get used to my new powers and help out my Granddad.”  She stood up and walked to a sink on the far wall of the recovery room,  She came back with a small glass of water and a straw.  

“Oh, thank you.” Anna sat up and flexed her lower jaw.  The new teeth were going to take some getting used to.  She sipped from the straw as she looked at herself some more.  “I guess I won’t need to worry about cutting my hair anymore...”  she trailed off as she knocked on the hard bony plates that made up the top of her head.  

“Dragon type transformations can be some of the most taxing, but you seem to be recovering well!  Most people are out for days if they get Dragon, you’ve only been out for a few hours!”  Emily washed her hands as she spoke, “Do you know what you want to do?  Are you going to go through most of the training?”

Shaking her head, Anna sat up and judged how dizzy she felt.   She hated sitting for too long. “I’ve always been Adamantly stubborn, but I want to go into rescue work.  Helping people stranded, or from natural disasters.” She hopped to her feet and was pleased there was no dizziness.  A voice sounded from a side of the room.

“That’s dumb! Anyone can do that, why not become a fighter on the circuits, or a pro sports player! You can get rich easily!”  A slim young man came around the corner.  He was wearing simple blue jeans and a black T-shirt.  A shell necklace hung from his wiry neck, and his short brown hair had a short yellow spike sticking out of it.  His skin seemed bumpy and almost suburned by its pinkish hue.  “I’m Keith, and I may have got stuck with a Wurmple morph, but i’m still gonna be rich!  If you want you can decide to be my gf now, to save yourself the fear of missing the opportunity.”  He walked forward and put an arm around Anna, trying to pull her close, a smug grin on her face.

Something took over for Anna and she twisted her head, biting hard on his arm.  Her new sharp fangs and he flinched away.  “OW!  What the hell bitch?”  as he backed away a few drops of blood hit the white tile floor.  “You're underbite makes you ugly anyway!”  he turned and walked out of the room.  Emily called out after him

“Wait, someone might need to heal that!” she sighed and turned back.  “Well, i guess that counts as winning your first fight!   Don’t listen to him though, you’re still quite pretty!”  She smiled brightly and held up a clipboard.  “If you don’t mind, I just need to do some routine tests to check your vitals.  Anna nodded, a weird feeling in the back of her mind as the tests were run.  Is that what fighting would be like?  Would it always be that quick?  Don’t people get severely hurt, or sometimes die?  That was just against another DIP.  Wouldn’t a wild Pokemon be much more dangerous?  It was too late to back out now, but she would have to see what the future held!

[annanuzlocke]

Chapter 1: Transformation

Anna sat in the small chair in the waiting area.  It had been half an hour since she arrived and finished all the necessary paperwork.  She picked at the hole in the knee of her jeans and sighed.  How much longer was this going to take?  She glanced up to the tv, but it was only showing the weather.  Clear skies for the next few days, should be safe for travelling.  That was at least good news. The door to the waiting area opened, and a young man in a lab coat leaned through the doorway.

“Anna? We’re ready for you now, if you’ll come with me.”  Anna stretched and rolled her eyes.

“Finally!” she moaned.  She hopped to her feet and followed the young man.  She was a slim girl, just under the average height.  She had spent a good deal of time working out, and her well toned muscles showed it.    She wore a purple tank top with a pair of ripped jeans.  A matching pair of purple sneakers completed the look. Her short, light brown hair hung just past her ears. The aide spoke up as they walked.

“You are sure you want to go through with this?  Not everyone makes it through the process.”  he adjusted some papers in his hands and opened a door.  A gesture to Anna indicated this was the right room.  She stepped past him, nodding as she did.

“It’s the best way to get a good job in security, and I want to protect my home town.  My dad did it before me, and I want to follow in his footsteps.”  She glanced around the small room.  It contained a reclining chair, and various medical implements.  The aide turned and went back down the hall. An older gentlemen, .already in the room stood up and greeted her.  

“Welcome Anna! I’m Professor Oak, and I’ll be guiding you through the procedure today.  We already have all your paperwork, so if you’ll sit in the chair we can start!” he smiled brightly and the red gem imbedded in his forehead sparkled.  Anna hopped into the chair and clapped her hands.

“Okay doc! I’m ready when you are.” Oak smiled, walking over and attaching some minor restraints on the chair.  

“We just need to secure you.  Some people have convulsions during the process. Before we officially begin, I just need to read some statements.  Sorry, I’m sure you’ve heard it all a million times, but it’s procedure and required so, just bear with me okay?”  He smiled again and patted her shoulder.  The gem glowed again and a folder floated across the room into Oak’s hands.  

“Here we go,” he cleared his throat then began. “Our world is inhabited by creatures we call Pokemon.   These are creatures of immense power. They are able to control the elements, and are destructive forces.  In the past people would train, catch, and live with Pokemon.”  As he spoke we walked about the room, collecting supplies and setting up needles, swaps, and chemicals near the chair.  The notebook hovering by his face the entire time.

“Then, 25 years ago a great war broke out.  Pokemon were used as weapons during the war, decimating the planet.  Our population diminished, and Pokemon began to stop listening to us.  As such, we were trapped, at the mercy of these powerful destructive creatures.  But shortly after the end of the war, scientists made a breakthrough!  Humans are closer to pokemon then we thought!  Studies of the shapeshifting Ditto species found an amazing ability.  A serum could be made from Ditto cells, that would then grant us the abilities and strength of Pokemon!”  He held up a small vial of light purplish liquid.  Anna brightened, where before she was getting bored by the story she’d heard in school her whole life.  The doctor continued.

“Now when one reaches the age of 18, if they want to go into the military, or police, or a number of other professions they are given tests and if they pass, they will be injected with the serum.  This is the ONLY,” he looked at Anna sternly, “the ONLY safe way to travel between the protective barriers between towns.  Either AS a Ditto Injected Person, or travelling with one.  Now, are you SURE you want to go through with the process?”  Anna nodded without hesitation.  “Okay, sign this saying you have been given your briefing and are choosing to go through with it.”  Anna signed the paper and the Doctor set it aside.

“We can begin! You’re not the only one going through DIP today, my grandson will be here later to also get injected.” He filled a syringe with the liquid, and checked it for bubbles.  “The only other thing I can say, is that is 100% random what species your body will connect and change with.  I myself got an Espeon, so I was very lucky.  No matter what you get however, you CAN make it work for you!”  Anna nodded and gritted her teeth.

“I’m ready doc.  Let’s do this!”  the doctor laughed brightly, then moved over and slowly injected her with the serum.  Anna winced at the needle prick.   The doctor put cotton and a bandage over the site, then sat back.

“Now it will take a few minutes to take effect, again, it is different for…” Anna inhaled sharply as pain and tingling shot through her body.  The doctor quickly reached out, the gem on his head sparkling, as he tried to calm her.  Despite the soothing effects of his psychic powers, she whimpered as she blacked out.