Chapter 2: Starter Pokémon
As Rambo stepped into Professor Norwayne's office, he noticed the environment was meticulously organized. Professor Norwayne was retrieving three Poké Balls from a drawer.
"So, your name is Rambo Greymond?" Professor Norwayne asked.
Professor Norwayne was a distinguished man with a sharp, intellectual demeanor. He wore a crisp white lab coat, and his glasses perched neatly on his nose. His desk was covered with reports and papers, evidence of his extensive research in Pokémon biology. On the other side of the room, a large computer screen displayed numerous charts and data files on various Pokémon species.
"You've achieved some impressive academic results. I'm quite impressed," Professor Norwayne continued. "Well, since you have proven yourself worthy, we are giving you the chance to pick your Pokémon first. Here you go." He placed three different Poké Balls on the table, allowing Rambo to choose.
Professor Norwayne began introducing each Pokémon within the Poké Balls. "Let's start with the one on the left. This is a Sandile," he said, picking up the first Poké Ball. "Sandile is a Ground and Dark-type Pokémon. It thrives in desert environments and has a powerful bite. Sandile's keen eyes allow it to see in the dark, and its camouflage ability makes it a formidable predator in its natural habitat. Anyways, that's all for the introduction part. I believe that you already know Sandile well, as it is a local Pokémon. A smart student like you should be familiar with it."
Rambo nodded but said nothing, his eyes filled with anticipation as he waited for Professor Norwayne to continue.
"Let's move on to the middle one. This is also a local Pokémon, Vullaby," Professor Norwayne said, picking up Vullaby's Poké Ball. "Vullaby is a Dark and Flying-type Pokémon. Known for its tough demeanor and strong defense, Vullaby is incredibly resilient despite its small size, able to withstand significant damage in battles. It is also quite resourceful, often scavenging for food and using whatever it finds to protect itself. So, do you have any thoughts about Vullaby? It might be hard to tame and quite challenging, but you can certainly try."
"Yeah, Vullaby does have a really high defense, but... it evolves at level 50. That takes too much time," Rambo said hesitantly. Vullaby was impressive, but his heart still leaned towards Sandile.
"Nevermind, maybe you'll like the last one. This one is special compared to the others. It's a Pokémon from England, an England form Zigzagoon. Unlike the Indonesia form, England form Zigzagoon is a Dark and Normal-type Pokémon," Professor Norwayne continued, picking up the final Poké Ball. "England form Zigzagoon is known for its unique black-and-white fur pattern and energetic personality. It has a mischievous nature and loves to dart around playfully, often getting into trouble. So, you might getting a naughty and joyful partner if you choose England form Zigzagoon. Have you made your decision?" Professor Norwayne asked.
Rambo's expression was conflicted. After ruling out Vullaby, he was torn between Sandile and Zigzagoon, contemplating which would best fit his team-building strategy.
Each person could carry up to six Pokémon at a time, and since everyone needed to specialize in one type, the team could only include a maximum of two Pokémon that didn't match the specialized type. Therefore, the composition and roles of each Pokémon were crucial.
"Professor, may I know their abilities?" Rambo asked, seeking more information.
Rambo thought to himself, "I actually prefer the Moxie ability, but Intimidate is also good. Hmm... Or maybe I can give Zigzagoon a try. With Quick Feet, it could be the fastest Pokémon on my team."
"Professor, I've made my decision. I will go for Zigzagoon," Rambo said, looking at Professor Norwayne with determined eyes. Although he chose a Pokémon less familiar than Sandile, he trusted his intuition that Zigzagoon would not disappoint him.
Professor Norwayne scrutinized Rambo for a moment, his mind racing. There was a significant reason behind his careful consideration: this Zigzagoon had a special connection to him.
"It seems you've made your choice," Professor Norwayne said, pausing before continuing. "Actually, this Zigzagoon is the offspring of my Arcanine."
Professor Norwayne had been observing Rambo closely because he wanted to ensure that Zigzagoon, with its remarkable lineage, would be paired with a capable and dedicated Pokémon Trainer.
"Wow, it would be my honor if you could assign me this Zigzagoon," Rambo said, shocked by the news. Professor Norwayne was not only a renowned Pokémon Researcher but also a Gold Class Pokémon Trainer. His Arcanine must be level 40 or above, which meant Zigzagoon likely had impressive potential.
Professor Norwayne picked up Zigzagoon's Poké Ball and placed it into Rambo's hand. "I have seen talent in you too. Don't disappoint my expectations," he said, his gaze serious and encouraging.
Rambo felt the weight of the Poké Ball in his hand and the responsibility that came with it. He took a deep breath, feeling a surge of determination. "I won't, thank you, Professor," he replied, his voice steady and resolute.
Professor Norwayne nodded, a hint of a smile appearing on his face. "Take good care of Zigzagoon. Train hard, and remember that a strong bond between a trainer and their Pokémon is the key to success."
Rambo nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and responsibility. As he left Professor Norwayne's office, he couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of purpose. This Zigzagoon was special, and he was determined to prove himself worthy of such a remarkable partner.
"Have you made a great choice?" Rambo met Larry as soon as he left Professor Norwayne's office, since Larry was next in line to pick his Pokémon.
"Yes, of course. It could be the best choice for me, I believe," Rambo said confidently, glancing at the Poké Ball in his hand. He could feel the little creature inside reacting to his words by knocking against the Poké Ball.
"That's great. See you later!" Larry said as he bid farewell to Rambo and entered Professor Norwayne's office.
Rambo turned to face the coworker who had accompanied him earlier, realizing it was the same person who had just escorted Larry.
"How should I address you?" Rambo asked with a smile.
The coworker replied, "Just call me Andrew. Now, I'll take you to the playground. You can spend some time interacting with your Pokémon there. But remember, you can't send your Pokémon outside when you're within the school grounds. Only in designated Pokémon-friendly areas."
"Thanks for your reminder, I will remember that." After that, Andrew led Rambo to the playground located inside Rutherford's Breeding Center.
The playground was a spacious area filled with various facilities designed for both Pokémon and their trainers. There were obstacle courses for training agility, climbing structures for Pokémon to explore, and a small pond for water-based Pokémon. Soft grass covered the ground, providing a comfortable surface for Pokémon to play on, and several shaded benches were scattered around for students to rest.
Some students from Class 6A were already there, playing with their Pokémon. A group was gathered around a Venipede, cheering as it skillfully navigated an obstacle course. Another student was brushing a Drilbur, who seemed to enjoy the attention. Nearby, a Cottonee floated gently in the air, while its trainer practiced various commands. A Skorupi was energetically digging into the ground, its trainer encouraging it to hone its natural abilities.
Suddenly, Rambo spotted a familiar figure in the playground. The striking blonde hair instantly reminded him of the girl who used to lead him and the other kids when they were younger.
Rambo thought to himself, "Ylisa, why is she here? I thought she wouldn't get another Pokémon since her family already bought her a Starter Pokémon."
Ylisa's father was the Gym Leader of Wulnarile City and also the head of the city's military forces. Rambo knew Ylisa because they attended the same kindergarten. Ylisa, always the leader of the kids, often involved Rambo in their playful antics, with him being one of her followers.
However, Ylisa had transferred to another school later on, and Rambo never knew the reason why. They hadn't crossed paths again until coming to Rutherford High School.
At Rutherford High School, Ylisa was quite different from the childhood leader Rambo remembered. Once the head of the pack, Ylisa had now become a model student. She excelled in many fields, earning top grades in her classes and showing her potential in Pokémon battle strategies. Her leadership qualities had matured, and she was well-respected among her peers and teachers alike.
Ylisa noticed Rambo's gaze and turned to look in his direction. Seeing Rambo, she felt puzzled since they hadn't interacted much since starting at Rutherford High School.
Rambo noticed that Ylisa didn't recognize him and felt no particular way about it. After all, they were practically strangers now.
Deciding to focus on his task, Rambo took out Zigzagoon's Poké Ball and pressed the button in the center, releasing Zigzagoon.
In a flash of light, Zigzagoon appeared, yawning and stretching its body. Its black-and-white fur glistened under the sunlight, and its big, curious eyes scanned its surroundings. Zigzagoon looked incredibly cute as it wiggled its nose and swayed its tail energetically. It let out a small, playful sound, making Rambo smile.
"You are so cute. Hello, little guy, my name is Rambo," Rambo said, extending his hand to gently stroke Zigzagoon's back. The fur felt soft and slightly bristly, like a plush toy with a hint of roughness, adding to its charm.
"Zigza!" Zigzagoon replied with a cheerful chirp, circling around Rambo's legs in a playful manner.
Rambo chuckled and crouched down to Zigzagoon's level. He gently scratched behind Zigzagoon's ears, which elicited a delighted purr from the little Pokémon. Zigzagoon nuzzled into Rambo's hand, clearly enjoying the attention. Rambo then took out a small treat from his pocket and offered it to Zigzagoon, who eagerly accepted it, munching happily.
As they continued to interact, Rambo tossed a small ball he had found nearby. Zigzagoon darted after it with surprising speed, bringing it back and dropping it at Rambo's feet, its eyes shining with excitement.
"You're really fast! I think we're going to make a great team," Rambo said, his smile soft and gentle.
Suddenly, Rambo heard someone approaching from behind. He turned his head to see who it was.
"Nice Zigzagoon you got here! It's so energetic!" Larry said, bending down to play with Zigzagoon, tossing a ball for it to chase.
Curious about Larry's choice, Rambo asked, "How about your Pokémon? What did you get?"
"A spiky boy, Ferroseed. I love it! The Steel type is just incredibly cool! Look how shiny it is, and it even knows the move Flash! Ferroseed, show them how shiny you can get—Flash!" Larry said excitedly, already having released Ferroseed from its Poké Ball.
"Ermmm hrmmm... Stop it, you can't use Flash here, there are others around," Rambo quickly stopped Larry before he could make a mistake.
"Okay, fine then," Larry said, looking a bit disappointed.
Rambo bent down and took a closer look at Ferroseed. The little spikes covering its body reflected the light, creating a dazzling effect. Ferroseed's eyes glowed with friendly curiosity as it looked around.
"A very defensive Pokémon. At least I wouldn't want Zigzagoon crashing into it," Rambo remarked with a smile.
After a while, the entire class had finally been assigned their Pokémon. The teacher called out, "Class 6B, it's time to head back to the classroom. We need to make room for Classes 6C and 6D, who will be coming to the Breeding Center next."
"Alright, everyone, let's go," Rambo said, gathering Zigzagoon and nodding to Larry.
As they walked back to the classroom, Rambo joked with Larry. "I'm curious to see what Pokémon the others got. I hope they're strong enough to give you a challenge."
Larry laughed, "Oh, come on, I'm just a rookie trainer. There's no way I can win against all of them! But hey, I've heard there might be a practice battle session later this week."
"That would be awesome," Rambo said, his eyes lighting up at the thought of a battle. "We can see how our Pokémon stack up against each other."
The bell rang as they entered the classroom, signaling the start of the next lesson. The students settled into their seats, and the teacher began the class.
Rambo glanced at Zigzagoon's Poké Ball, feeling a sense of excitement and determination. This was just the beginning of their journey together, and he couldn't wait to see what the future held.