Prologue:PART I: The Good, the Bad and the BulbasaurRefulgent rays of the mid-morning sun poured through the high-arched windows of the Pokémon Lab illuminating the glistening scientific apparatuses inside. Dressed in his freshly starched but well-worn lab coat, a bleary-eyed Professor Oak squinted against sunbeams as he gazed abstractedly from the second floor observation deck. He clasped a steaming mug of coffee in his right hand - a double shot of espresso prepared by one of his aides.
The morning had been busy so far. Waking at daybreak to the dissonant shrill cries of Dodrio's treble refrain, he commenced the day with his usual routine of shaving, washing and dressing himself, selecting his favourite auburn-coloured shirt to go along with the standard laboratory attire. Breakfast consisted of drizzled Combee Honey and Cherubi Jam on light rye toast washed down with a glass of fresh Moomoo Milk; produce all locally sourced from the Corral adjoining the Lab. Toast in one hand, he laid out a crumpled broadsheet newspaper across his desk and scanned the latest headlines. Splashed across the front page was a monochrome photo of a tropical island with an accompanying stark caption:
"6 days to go..."For the past few months the press had been obsessed with rumours that he, the world famous Professor Oak was planning to retire. To commemorate his lifetime achievements in Pokémon research, the Pokémon Institute had organised a cruise in his honour to mark the fifteenth anniversary since the Pokédex program first began. A luxury cruise liner christened the S.S. Zulu, built by a joint venture between Silph Co and the Omastar Line shipping company would complete its maiden voyage from Olivine City, circle the pristine waters of Whirl Islands and terminate at Cianwood docks. Oak petitioned for every one of the trainers who had contributed to his encyclopedic resource on Pokémon to be invited aboard instead of the usual crowd of swanky socialites as was initially planned. The Institute graciously obliged and soon after reports circulated of trainers far and wide receiving their S.S. Tickets, some with personalised letters from Oak himself. A media frenzy ensued speculating that amid the heartfelt gratitude expressed in these letters were subtle hints that the curtains were being drawn on a remarkable career.
While it was true he had been contemplating retirement for some years now and had progressively delegated most of the daily operations of the Lab to his aides in recent years, his work brought him joy and he never could imagine what his life would be like without awe-inspiring scientific discoveries and connecting novice trainers to their lifelong partners for the first time. However he'd long endured the puerile antics of spoiled brats nagging him for two starter Pokémon and he'd lost count of how many times he'd warned some snot-nosed rascal not to ride their bike indoors! Blatant disregard by others for the rules wearied him.
That morning shortly after breakfast two rival trainers had arrived to select their very first Pokémon.
"
So where is this Professor Oak? I haven't got all day!" came a churlish male voice pealing across the foyer. "
Can't believe I had to settle for this when I could have been the boss of Schedar Squad by now."
"
Maybe if you hadn't gotten yourself expelled from Naranja I wouldn't have to put up with your whinging," sighed an apathetic female voice in reply.
"
Why'd you leave Uva anyways? Too dumb I suppose?" rejoined the first.
"
Hello there!" announced Professor Oak, jauntily strolling onto the research floor to greet the visitors. "
Welcome to the world of Pokémon! My name is Oak! People call me the Pokémon Prof! This world is inhabited by creatures called..."
"
We know! We know! Could you hurry this along gramps?" interrupted the lad peevishly, who Oak observed had fiery orange shoulder-length hair with two long strands crisscrossing in front of his forehead and darkening a withering glare from a set of piercing eyes. "
I'm just here to pick up my lousy starter so Officer Jenny doesn't fine me for walking unaccompanied through the grass. The Paldean starters are much cooler but here I am stuck in prehistoric Kanto!"
Oak winced in the chagrin of not only being reminded of his age but also the understanding that younger generations were captivated by the latest newfangled fads and his starter Pokémon were seen as antiquated and vapid compared to the offerings in other regions. With the recent discovery of new species in Paldea, more than ever did Oak feel he was behind the times. I mean, what the heck was Terastallization? Ironically he felt he hadn't aged a day for the past fifteen years, trapped in some impossible time warp as the world changed around him at a breakneck speed.
"
Right! So... what was your name?" asked Oak addressing the snarky young trainer facing him. His rival, a teenage girl in punk rock attire comprised of a black studded leather jack, faded grey jeans and heeled combat boots, was absentmindedly wandering about the lab, carelessly examining the various gadgetry and machines surrounding them.
"
Cross" declared the ill-tempered youth.
"
And you must be?..." Oak turned to the other who was now huddled over the cylindrical display table where three Pokéballs rested expectantly. She had dark shoulder-length hair with blue highlights. Her eyes were teal in colour accentuated with heavy black eye shadow and she wore a silver nose ring.
"
Hera" came the muttered reply with her back turned to the Professor. Oak looked down at his hand-held device and scrolled across to each trainer's profile and tapped the checkbox to register them officially with the Indigo League. Now all that remained was the fateful choice of their starter.
"
I see you've found the starter Pokémon Hera", nodded Oak amiably. Three Pokéballs sat comfortably ensconced within their indents on the surface of the table with an animated hologram of the creature inside projected above each of the respective capsules. "
Endangered species we've bred specially in protected reserves across Kanto... Hey! Be patient!"
Cross had rushed forward in eagerness and snatched one of the Pokéballs. "
You snooze you loose as they say!" he bellowed triumphantly.
"
He can have that one," Hera relinquished and frowned as Cross sprung back to avoid the protesting professor, laughing maniacally. "
I came for this one anyway."
"
But, I... Oh, alright then." Oak regained his composure and picked up two red electronic devices from the neighbouring workbench, handing one to each trainer. "
Here are your Pokédexes. Oh and you might want to take on my challenge - complete as much of the dex as possible before moving onto the next gym, that includes the evolved forms as well." He issued this challenge with a serious expression but was chuckling inwardly as he imagined Brock staring wide-eyed in astonishment at fully evolved Blastoise, Venusaur and Charizard wreaking havoc in his gym.
"
Uh... I think I'll pass," declined Cross dismissively. "
Say, why don't you tell us something useful. Like where we can find rare Pokémon. I heard the rainbow legendary Pokémon was spotted not far from here. Some dweeb even managed to get one of its feathers."
"
What did it look like?" asked Oak with a wry smile.
"
Like a gold-coloured bird, surely a world-famous professor like you have heard of it?" Cross sneered.
"
Oh! Say no more, I know exactly the Pokémon you are searching for!" divined the Professor. "
Rotom, fire up the Holo Caster and let's see the Ho-oh we have at home." A sudden high-pitched squeal buzzed through the room as an orange bolt of plasma zipped into view. Beside where the sprite had stopped and hovered in mid air, a holographic display switched on, projecting a large image of a Pokémon, albeit not one either of the nascent trainers were expecting to see:
Flabbergasted by the unexpected gag and sudden appearance of the cackling electric phantom, Cross stood in confounded silence unable to determine if it were an insult of his intelligence. Hera mustered a half-amused smile on her normally dispassionate countenance.
"
Yes, this magnificent avian marvel is endemic to the Whirl Islands, often roosting among Pudgy Pidgey along the rocky outcrops of Heaven's Ridge," expounded Oak. "
Which reminds me! Here are your S.S. Tickets." He produced two blue rectangular tickets printed on glossy paper and handed them to the trainers. "
You're both cordially invited on my cruise of course. Be ready at the Olivine docks at the beginning of the next month!"
Now after this episode which could well be the last trainers Oak would ever dispatch on the quest to catch them all, the Professor was gazing pensively from the second floor inner balcony, which offered a panoramic view of southern Kanto. Situated on top of a hill, winding basalt steps led to the lab's entrance which countless aspiring trainers had climbed with nervous trepidation. With a new Pokémon companion beside them they would descend the steps only an hour later with greater resolve. At the base of the hill, a wooden bridge spanned a languorously flowing river which meandered through meadows specked with warm pastels of pink and gold wildflowers before joining the azure expanse of sea.
In the far distance an unmistakable silhouette rose against the horizon in its rugged majesty. A now dormant volcano, its slopes were cloaked in a tapestry of rich black earth and drifting from its caldera were wispy white plumes as though all the clouds in the sky had emanated from the bowels of the earth. Vivid in the Professor's memory was the day Cinnabar volcano had erupted. The blackened sky had convulsed as the mountain's cauldron roared with molten fury, an infernal concoction of ash and molten rock spewed into the atmosphere. The ground had rumbled and Pokémon huddled inside the lab shuddered and whimpered in fear. Volcanic lightning cracked across the twilight and from this same vantage point one could see rivulets of lava desolate the island enveloping the Pokécenter, gym, laboratory and abandoned mansion and eventually bleed into the sea. Seething and roiling, an eastern shore once popular for surfing glowed with amber as waves crashed against flame.
How peaceful the landscape now looked with its dreamy palette of Spring-revived hues. As the serenity washed over Professor Oak, his mind drifted over those rumours and headlines. What if he did retire? But what would he do? Play golf? Travel? Spend time with the grand kids? But those throngs of fans and army of paparazzi following his every step. Fame was a prison from which none could escape. But this was silly, he told himself. As of now he was on leave from official duties and could look forward to a cruise, tropical breeze and a tan possibly as dark as his cousin Samson's. Dragonite would be returning later this afternoon to collect the last batch of invitations and he had a final letter to write.
But as he diverted his gaze from the enchanting vista and with his eyes adjusting once more to the harsh artificial lighting inside, they fell on the solitary orb nestled into the velvet-lined recess of the display table. In the mosaic of existence, every piece holds a unique hue, a distinct pattern that contributes to the grand design. Just as the stars that adorn the night sky vary in brilliance, each creature, each soul, brings a singular radiance to the world. Those who are seemingly chosen last, the modest artists, the steadfast companions, they possess a depth of character and resilience that often goes unnoticed. He thought of Agatha in their youth and the countless scores of forgotten Pokémon left in storage at the lab. One acorn left unplanted is one oak never grown.
