Nuzlocke Blue Episode 2- A Dying Legacy

Dear Diary,

It's been an eventful day, to say the least.  After making camp somewhere along Route 1 last night, Bulbasaur and I spent the night together under the stars.  Having had a night to reflect on yesterday, I have decided upon one standard: that as long as I call myself a Pokémon trainer, I will not harm another trainer's Pokémon, despite the warning Professor Oak gave me.  I could not bring myself to do it.


We set off shortly after dawn for Viridian City.  Having never left Pallet before, I did not realize that it was only a matter of hours before i would reach the city.  Along the way, we encountered a Rattata and I decided that I should expand my team and I caught it.  With my two friends at my side, I entered Viridian City.


I dropped them off at the Pokémon Center and set out to explore the city while they were resting.  I was surprised at how deserted the city seemed.  A couple of people milled about, running errands, but otherwise, the city was quiet.  Toward the end of my wanderings, I came upon a massive building at the north end of the city.


"Aye, Viridian Gym, that is," a withered old man said from under the boughs of a nearby tree.  "You know about Gyms?  A sign of true talent, the gym badges.  Ah, once upon a time I sought out the eight badges of Kanto.  That time is long gone now.  And no one has had the opportunity since the gym closed, many years ago..."


I looked upon the building again and realized just how run down it was.  The doors and windows were boarded up.  The roof was leaking and collapsing in some places.  Vines grew on the walls and the metal hinges were rusted.  All the glory and splendor of this colossal monument had long since vanished.


"Tale is that the gym leader simply grew bored.  Found a more lucrative offering elsewhere.  Packed up and headed out, leaving his gym behind.  His followers left with him and no one bothered to move in.  Since then, Viridian has been dying.  The gym was our big offering and with that gone, we had nothing.  The only people left are us oldsters, and I don't suspect we'll be building it back up any time soon!"  He cackled and wandered off.


I put my back to the gym and left for the outskirts of the city.  There, I encountered both a Pidgey and a female Nidoran.  Two more additions to my little party.  I went back to the Pokémon Center and gathered my team to head back out.


We followed a stone road west out of the city through a thinly forested area.  Ponds and trees,  hillocks and little vales passed by as we adventured, following the road.  In the distance, I could see the figure of a person headed our way.  We hastened our pace to see what news we could gather.


"Heya, Blue!  Fancy seeing you here!  Are you headed to the Pokémon League already?  Forget about it!  Don't you know that you can only pass the guards with all eight Kanto badges?  Jeez, Blue.  Boy are you goin' the wrong way.  Hey, what do you say?  Let's have another battle!"


Red.  His eyes glinted as he reached for his belt.  In a flash, he plucked off a Pokéball and flicked it at the road in front of my feet.


"Pidgey!  Let's show him how it's done!"


"Red, we just fought yester..."


"I knew you'd be too weak to do it.  Why don't you just give me that Bulbasaur now and I'll go easy on you?"


Sighing, I took Rattata's Pokéball off my belt.  "You asked for it, Red.  Rattata, I choose you!"


"Pidgey!  Drive him into the ground!"


I gritted my teeth.  Leave it to Red to goad me into a fight.  "Rattata, take cover!" I yelled.  Rattata skittered away, just inches from the Pidgey's driving beak. 


"Quick Attack, now!"


Rattata dashed forward and swiveled to face Red's Pidgey.  Gnashing his fangs, he jolted toward the Pidgey, hard, and rammed into it, sending it flying backwards to sprawl at Red's feet.


"Red, isn't this enough?  We don't have to..."


"Pidgey, return!  Charmander, it's your turn!  Roast that rat!"


Charmander came out of his Pokéball, already spewing forth his signature flames.  Rattata jumped backward, avoiding the majority of the flames, but he wasn't quick enough.  I winced as he yelped in pain from the burn.  Reacting quickly, I recalled him and considered my options.  Although I had never trained her, I figured that Nidoran would be my best bet; I sent her out to face my foe.


"You've been busy haven't you, Blue?  Very impressive.  No matter.  Charmander, scratch her!"


"Nidoran, counter it with a Poison Sting!"  I willed her forward, hoping that her horn would connect before Charmander's claws could.  Wish as I might, it wasn't enough to protect her.  As the horn on her head jabbed into Charmander's torso, his claws raked down upon her back.  Luckily for me, it was Charmander who staggered backwards in pain, the poison slowly coursing into his body.


"Aaargh... you... Fine.  You win this time, Blue.  Charmander, come back.  I'll get you the antidote.  See you around, Blue!"  With that, he strolled off toward Viridian City, leaving me with my battered Nidoran.


By this time, the sun was setting and I didn't have enough light to stop there and tend to her.  I skirted Viridian City, heading north and hoping to avoid seeing Red again.  As I went deeper into Route 2, I could feel the looming presence of the Viridian Gym diminish.  Before I took the turn that would take me out of sight of the city, I turned for a final look at the once-beautiful building.  


"One day," I said to myself.  "One day, a trainer will return to you and make you great again."  I turned back and continued on.


Diary, mine is a humbling experience.  My night has been spent in making camp, tending to my Nidoran, and recording this log.  Even now, I see the Potion taking effect in one of my best friends in this world.  Only two battles in, and I realize that I do not relish Pokémon fights.  No, I would be better suited to simply raise my friends and help them grow.  Hold on for a moment while I rub some more of the Potion into her scratch...


I fear for them.  This world is not safe for Pokémon, as long as there are trainers like Red and organizations like Team Rocket.  I do not know where my journey will take me, but I hope that I can avoid these people and train my friends in peace.  I know only that my road lies north through Viridian Forest, to Pewter City.  Maybe there I will find my bearings.


-Blue.  Day 2.  In a thicket of tall grass along Route 2.