This is my first attempt at Pokemon fiction, so don't be too hard on it.  Sorry if this part is a little slow, but it is the introduction.
 -Eevee
 

First Entry:
   I never understood why Megan was so bossy.
   "Clean the floor." "Plant the Potatoes." "Dig up the potatoes."
   She was my aunt, but that didn't give her the right to be so mean.  Or so loud.
   I lived with her since I was really young.  About two, actually.  Now I am almost twelve and I am fed up.  If Old Nate hadn't taught me how to write, I couldn't even have this journal.
   We live in a second rate house in a second rate village.  I only call it a village because Nate never taught me a better word for it.  Eight houses and a few sheds, not a whole lot to see.  Forest as far as you can walk in any direction.  There's a path that leads to a larger village off to the north.  Heard it has a few hundred people in it.  I've never even seen a hundred people.  I took Nate almost a year to teach me what a hundred meant.
   Now I'm going there, supposed to be a place called Nallim.  Going North to Nallim.  Ever since last fall, when I decided to leave, I've been rolling that over in my head.  Like the sound of it.  A few weeks ago, I started saying it aloud.  Now my mind is made up.  Told old Nate good bye.  Told Chad, the other kid my age, good bye.  And I took a sack (I think Nate would call it a "satchel") from Megan, the blankets off my bed, and a bunch of food.  Potatoes mostly, I hate potatoes, and a bit of jerky left over from the winter.  Nate wished me luck and gave me a bunch of paper and some pencils.  So that I can keep a journal.  He's always looking out for me.  I'll miss him.  Maybe Chad too, but I don't think so.  He was always sort of mean to me.

My First Night in the Forest:
   I think I like it better out here.  Nate taught me all about berries and mushrooms, so I have more to eat out here than back home.  I don't know why everyone doesn't live out here.  The mayor always said there's dangerous wild animals.  That's what happened to dad when I was so little.  I don't even remember him.  But I bet he was better then Megan.  "Auntie Megan" she always wanted me to call her.  I called her "hag" once and she beat me up.  Worse than Chad ever did.  I had bruises for weeks.
   But I can handle any wild animals.  I brought my slingshot from home.  Last time I tried, I could take out a little bird at the very top of the tree in the middle of town, without trying too hard.  So anybody that gets in my way better watch out.

Bug:
   It's been two days, but I found something neat today.  I was walking down the trail and this little creature wiggled in front of me.  A green worm about as long as my forearm, with a yellow splash on the back and a big pointed horn on its head.  It walked on a bunch of stubby little pink legs.  And had two beady little eyes.
   It was wiggling towards me with its horn down, so I thought it might want me to go away.  I took out my slingshot, but I decided to try and make friends first.  Couldn't hurt right?
   I said "Hello bug."
   It looked up, cocked its head, and cooed "Wee-del".  I rooted around it my bag and handed some berries to it.  It looked cautious for a moment, then ate the berries up quick as a flash and ran away.
   Now I'm sad.  I wanted to have a neat friend.  Chad wouldn't mess with me if I had a friend with a big thorn on its head.  It could have at least stayed for a while.  I could use some company.  I did give it berries, and good berries too.  Oh well, I'm sure I'll make friends in Nallim.  Lots of friends.  Who have nice big houses and won't be so mean.

New Friend:
   My friend came back!!!  When I woke up, he was by my blankets.  I gave him some more berries and he let me pet him.  I like my new friend.  I think I'll call him "Slash" because the yellow on his back looks like a cut and it sounds scary.  Nobody will mess with Slash.  About lunchtime, he crawled off again, but I think he'll be back.
   The mayor had a big dog, but it wasn't nearly a cool as Slash.  Everyone back in Midin would be jealous.  But I'm not going back there, ever.

Slash:
   Slash came back and today he climbed up on my shoulder.  He's sort of cold, but he seems to like it up there.  And as long as he doesn't poke me with that spine, I don't mind.  Slash seems to like potatoes.  Good thing.  I think they would have spoiled before I ate them.  It's worth looking for berries to not eat potatoes.
   Slash stayed with me the whole day today and he's curled up now on a little blanket I set aside just for him.
   He even snores "Wee-del."  It’s funny.  I wonder what he dreams about.  Maybe he's dreaming about going to the big town.  I hope so, because that's where we're going.

Dangerous Creatures:
   I'm so tired.  This nasty bird chased us half the day today and through a lot of mud.  Now my pants are dirty.  I wish Nate taught me how to wash clothes.  He always said "Christopher, that's a woman's work, leave that to Megan."  Maybe if I spent a little more time learning about that instead of writing, I have clean pants instead of complaining about dirty ones.
   Oh, yeah.  Slash just reminded me.  The nasty bird.  We were just walking.  And Slash was on my shoulder.  Then this big bird came down.  It had sharp claws and a nasty beak.  So we ran away.  To protect Slash, of course.  After all, slash is a bug.  And bugs don't like birds.
   I used to shoot at birds with my slingshot, but nothing like this.  This was scary.  I know what Mayor was talking about now, with the "wild animals."  But Slash knew what to do.  He was just waiting for the right time.  When the bird got close, Slash jumped up and hit it with his horn.  Right in the wing.  Slash managed to roll away as it crashed into a thorn bush.  Stupid bird deserved it.  Almost as mean as that old hag.  At least she didn't have sharp claws.  Dumb bird tore my shirt too.  Another thing Nate didn't teach me.  I wonder what he wanted me to do if I ever got caught alone with dirty clothes.  I wish I had remembered to ask before I left.
   I'm sure someone in Nallim will know how to fix clothes.  And I'm sure I'll be able to make new friends.  Slash agrees with me.  He's such a nice little creature.  I'm glad we stumbled across each other. 'Specially now, after he took down that bird.  He really is strong for being that little.  And that horn is sharp.  I wonder if he can do other stuff.  He doesn't seem to say much other than "Wee" or "Del" or stuff like that.  It would be a lot easier to talk to him if he knew more words.  But he doesn't want to learn new words.  I won't make him.  I know how hard it was when Nate was teaching me all these fancy words.

First Sight:
   Wow, this is it, the big day.  We're right on the edge of Nallim.  It's bigger than I had imagined it.  And all the houses towards the middle of the city are nice and whitewashed with three huge white buildings in the middle.  They're too big to be anyone's houses, but I don't know what they are.  Maybe they're for food or something.
   I don't know why I didn't leave Midin earlier.  If I knew it was going to be this much fun, I would have done it right away when Megan decided I was old enough to help in the harvest.  "A great honor" she said.  If she knew how much my back hurt when I was done, she'd change her tune.  Enough about the past though, I made it.  I'm at Nallim.  Its seems like so long ago that I met Slash, and longer still when I left home.  No, Midin.  It's not home anymore.  My home is with Slash now under the stars.

Sarah:
   I walked into Nallim triumphant with Slash perched high on my shoulder, watching for trouble.
   But trouble wasn't what we found.  The first person I see is the vision of loveliness.  Like a flower.  A rose without thorns, no offense to Slash.  She's tall and had long black hair, probably three years my senior.  She was wearing a pretty green dress and was humming as she walked towards the edge of town, carrying a basket.
   "Hello," she asked, "do you care for a pokemon battle?"
   I was so confused, all I could think to say is "You're beautiful."
   She grinned broadly.  It was like the sun rising.  "Thank you very much.  But, you didn't answer the question."
   "Pokemon Battle?" I asked, sounding as smart as I could knowing nothing.
   "Yes, I see you have a Weedle there and I've got two Pokemon of my own."
   "Weedle?  Do you mean Slash here?"
   "Honestly?" she asked, cocking her head to the side in a manner strangely like Slash.  "You honestly don't know what a Pokemon is?"
   I thought as hard as I could.  Nate always said honesty was the only way, even if it makes you seem dumb.  So I said "No, not the slightest idea."
   "Oh, OK." she said, lighting up again "that's OK," I could feel the stress rushing out of my body in a wave.  I almost collapsed with relief.  "Here, I'll show you mine."
   "The cute little thing in the basket with the baby is Eevee," she pointed towards a tan and white fox like creature the baby seemed to be using as a pillow.  They both seemed to be contentedly asleep.
   "And this," she picked a marble sized red and white ball off of her belt, "is a Pokeball.  It’s where pokemon rest when they are not doing things."
   "Like a house?"
   "Like a little poke-mansion that fits in the palm of your hand," as she spoke the last word the ball expanded to fill her hand.
   "And meet Bulbasaur," a red beam emerged from the opening ball and formed into a lizardlike creature about twice as long a Slash with a plant growing on its back.  "Bulb-ba," it commented, seeming to want something.
   "I think Bulby here still wants to battle," she notes.
   "Battle, do you mean actually fight?  I don't want Slash to get hurt."
   "Don't worry about it.  You probably want to meet Jenkins before you do any battling."
   "Jenkins?"
   "Oh, sorry.  He's the local expert.  Not a real hotshot like the big city Pokologists, but he can still teach us all a lot.   I can take you to him if you don't mind staying with me while I run some errands."
   My heart must have skipped at least two and a half beats, I managed to say, with minimal stuttering, "Sure, No problem."
   "I just need to pick up some Potions and Antidotes, actually.  You probably want some too, in case Slash gets hurt away from a Pokemon Center," she pointed towards one of the large buildings at the center of the city, "That building is a Center.  For research and treatment.  We aren't nearly large enough for separate hospitals and whatnot like the cities."
   She led me down the street a few shops and into a dimly lit building.  Looked too much like my old house for comfort.
   "Hello, anybody home?" she asks as we enter.
   "Yes, yes.  Of course I'm in," an older woman, about Megan's age, stepped out of a back room, "and who's your little friend, Sarah?"
   We both broke into laughter.  "By the way, I'm Sarah," she says.
   I think for a moment and respond, "Kris," I say, "with a K."
   I try my best to reenact the scene Nate was so enamored with, leaning over to kiss a ladies hand.  It seemed to work, she smiled again.  I could just sit here and watch her smile all day.  Slash seems to like her too, but I can never get a straight answer out of him.  At least he can nod or shake his head.
   "So, Kris with a K, why are you here?" the older women asks from behind the counter.
   "Starting my journey.  From Midin."
   "Strange.  There has not been a trainer from Midin in generations.  After the Charizard incident wiped them out.  Why you?"
   "I ran away.  I didn't know I was training.  I just found Slash on the path here."
   "Ah," the old woman says, "that would explain it.  Well, you certainly need some supplies.  And those primitives in Midin don't use real money, so I'll just help you out of the kindness of my heart.  Let's see what I can spare." She disappeared into a back room.  I still wonder what the Charizard incident was.  But I got side tracked.
   I notice a poster up on the wall. "Pokemon Safari" it says.  "Capture great and powerful Pokemon in the wild."  I ask Sarah what it is.
   "Just Adam having another one of his rich-boy dreams."
   "Adam?"  I think she's gotten used to me sending back words at her as questions.
   "The local spoiled rich boy.  Nothing is good enough for Adam.  His parents managed to finagle a Crabby out of Jenkins for his tenth birthday.  But that wasn't good enough for him, so his parent bought him a Machop from a passing trader," she stopped, "Oh sorry.  Crabby is a crab pokemon with water attacks.  And Machop is a superpower pokemon, skilled in the martial arts.  Anyway, Adam’s been getting worse ever since."
   "Sounds like a spoiled brat."
   "One hundred percent.  But he can train Pokemon.   He has 34 last time I heard him brag."
   The woman wanders back into the room "All right, I can give you five pounds of Poke food for your Weedle, three potions, two antidotes, and a super potion.  That’s all I can spare," she hands me a bag filled to the brim with food pellets and spray bottles.
   "That's great!" I exclaim.  I don't really know what this stuff does, but I know she's being generous, and the numbers are high enough.
   "And I'd like two antidotes, the special food order for mom’s Magikarp, and a potion.  On credit."
 The woman brings out the goods.
   "By the way," Sarah asks slyly, "any tournaments coming up?"
   "A friend of Jenkins all the way from Far Isle is coming by with his cadre.  So, we'll get to show off our talents to the city slickers.  Jenkins says he has a special prize in mind for the winner."
   "We'll just go ask him about that," Sarah manages to find the perfect spot in conversation to get back on track to the pokologist.  I really want to meet Jenkins.  But Sarah wanted to stop for a cup of coffee and some quiet relaxation.  Who am I to argue?  However, I do think this coffee drink is quiet opposed to  relaxation.  At least it gave me a chance to write all this down and pretend not to stare at Sarah as she writes in her own journal, or diary, whatever it is.  I wonder what she's saying about me.  Probably nothing.  She's so much older than I am anyway.  Oh well.

Pokemon Battle:
   As we walked out of the "java shop", Sarah ran smack into some buffoon in an expensive wardrobe that made me keenly aware of my quite disheveled state.  The baby and Evee both started crying loudly. The baby sure was a lot cuter when it was asleep.
   As she cleared her head, he just sneered and said, "So, Sarah, who's the twerp?"
   Sure of who this is and not often having the chance to be witty, I quickly respond, "I think his name is Adam."
   "Alright, kid, that's it.  Normally I don't challenge outside my species or age category, but today I think I'll make an exception to both.  I challenge you to a Pokemon battle."
   Sarah glared at him with her wondrous brown eyes.  "He doesn't need to stoop to your level," she responded for me.
   "You mean, he only has one measly Weedle and can't stand up to the challenge."
   I got so mad I almost punched him.  But, he's much bigger so I resorted to words.  "How dare you insult Slash.  He can take out anything you can throw at it."  Sarah just looked concerned.
   "Fine," he says, "One on One.  No time limit."
   Sarah cuts him off, "Adam, its not like you're a gym leader, don't get such a big head.  You've only got six badges, for Pete's sake."
   "Alright, battle it is then." I said.  I mean, the name says it all.  Now that I know what a Pokemon is.
   "Yes.  Doduo, I choose you!" he screams.  A bird emerges from his Pokeball, with a feathered almost bulbous body and two ridiculous heads on stalks.
   "Slash, I choose you!" I  mimic him, "You know what to do to birds!" I add for effect.
   Slash nods "Wee-dle dle."
   "Double Beak!" Adam screams.  Doduo pecks down with both beaks trying to grab Slash.  Doduo manages to connect with one beak, grabbing Slash's tail, but I get an idea.
   "Slash, wrap around its neck!" I scream this time elated as Slash wraps around the thing’s right neck.
   "Doduo, get it off!"  Doduo strikes at Slash with its left beak.
Waiting for this I yell, "Slash, drop off" and when he does, Doduo bites its own neck, emitting a pitiful gurgling squawk "Do...d...d... do duo."
   "Slash, get it with your horn!" I cheer.  Slash jumps up and strikes the underside of the confused creature with the spike, knocking it to the ground.  Now I know I have the advantage.  "Keep hitting it, Slash, you're doing great.  Just keep it up."
   "Doduo, get up!" Adam screams, "Now!"
   "Do...d...d...duo" is its only response as it collapses.  It retreats back into its pokeball.
   "Just beginners luck," he says, but I can see he's shaken.
   "Is that the best you've got?" I taunt.  Slash bobs its head up and down in agreement "Wee wee wee dle." he seems to laugh.
   "Sorry, kid, don't have the time.  Got to prepare for my Safari, maybe when you're older." amazing how some people still sound like they won the world when they just got thrashed.  Anyway, I hugged Slash and Sarah hugged both of us.  Which alone makes this a great day in my book.
   After Sarah managed to quiet the baby and Eevee, we walk towards the Pokemon center.  She points out the other two huge buildings.  Adam's parent's house and the mayor's office.  I don't know what I'd do with a house that big.  Probably have really neat birthday parties.
   We get to the Pokemon center and a redhead almost as attractive as Sarah takes Slash to be treated in their infirmary.  He says he’ll be fine (or "Wee wee dle", I wish he knew more words).  Of course, with a nurse like that who wouldn't be?
   Luckily for us, Jenkins is between conducting "very important tests" and can see us.  Having a secretary would be nice.  "No, sorry, I'm afraid Mr. Arkos can't see you right now."  That's my dad's family name, Arkos.  I like it a lot better.  Mean old Megan's family name was Midin, like the town, but I never liked it or the town, so I'll stick with dad.  Anyway, Jenkins (or Bob, as he wishes to be called) invites us in.
   "So, Sarah, who do we have here?"
   I really hate people talking like I'm not there.
   "My name is Christopher Arkos." I respond.  Sarah seems to understand my irritation.
   "I heard you caught and trained a Weedle on your own."
   "Well, not caught or trained.  He's my friend."
   "All the better, then.  But it is rare someone who doesn't know about Pokemon to befriend one.  Of course very few people are in the dark these days.  But Midin is like that."
   Suddenly I remember "What's the Charizard incident?"
   "Direct, I like that.  Well, first of all, Charizard is a powerful fire Pokemon, a dragon really, capable of incredible flame attacks.  Midin was once as big as this town, very much focused on Pokemon training and research.  But one of the lesser trainers captured a Charizard and couldn't control it.  It broke free and while the trainer tried to recapture it, the fight destroyed most of the town.  The residents rose up and kicked out all of the Pokemon and trainers.  Said they wanted nothing to do with them anymore.  So, they've almost entirely forgotten about the ways of Pokemon."
   "That’s so sad.  In the few days I've known Slash, he's made my life a lot better."
   "Days?  For the bond I see with Slash, I would think at least months.  You must really love him."
   "He's the probably the best friend I’ve ever had."
 Jenkins smiles broadly.  Not nearly as pretty as Sarah's but still really nice.
   "That would explain it.  Speaking of first friends, how’s the baby doing, Sarah."
   Sarah looked up, "Oh, Angela is fine."
   Jenkins, or Bob, grins again "I meant the Eevee."
   "Sleeping like a baby, if you pardon the pun.  A little run in with Adam woke them both up, but they’re back asleep now, thankfully."
   "I’m just glad that half-wit didn’t cause more trauma than that.  Any way, Christopher, I think you have what it takes to become a first rate trainer.  Maybe a master, maybe not, but certainly the best this area’s seen since Charizard."
   "You really think so?"  I still feel tingly when I think about him saying that.
   "Yes, I do.  But you need the proper tools."
   "Like those strange Pokeball things?"
   "Yes, and a Pokedex."
   "Huh?" Sometimes I just can't pull off intelligent.
   "Sorry, a pokedex is the resource that most rely on to positively identify pokemon in the field, as well as provide more in depth information on pokemon they capture."
   "Here is one," he hands me the little red contraption, "try it out on Weedle."
   "Weedle   Bug Type   0.4m   3.2kg   Attack Forms: Poison Spine, Thread Shot" it spoke aloud, displaying a picture of a Weedle.  Slash without the splotch of yellow, basically.  “The spine atop it’s head is poisonous.  Weedle is capable of evolving into Kakuna and eventually Beedrill.”
   "A slightly different model then most are used to, but it provides the same info," he nods, “should work just as well for you.”
  "Well, Mr. Arkos, how old are you?" he asks.
   I decide to err on the side of Sarah "Thirteen"
   "Well, the beginning trainers in this community are each given a Pokemon when they reach 12.  So, I think I could bend the rules a little and get you one."
   "That's how I got Bulbasaur." Sarah adds, grinning.
   "Yes, there are a few options, though not as many as in a city."
   Sarah's eyes light up "Yes, Bob, what's this tournament?"
   "I can tell you about it when Chris here has chosen his new friend."
   The red haired nurse returned Slash at this point.  "Good as new?" I ask him.  "Wee dle," he growls.
   "How'd you like to choose a new friend?"  "Dle, dle dle!" he bobs his head.
   "Well," Bob brings out a set of five pokeballs, "take one of these.  I'll give you nine more empties."
   People in this town are so generous.  I wish I had grown up here.
   "Well, Slash, its up to you." I say.  Slash starts crawling over and sniffing each Pokeball.
   "Don't you even want to know what they are?" Jenkins asks.
   "No, I'm sure Slash will choose a good friend."
   Sarah grins again as she watches the process "After all, he's had good taste so far."  I try my utmost to keep from blushing and fail miserably.  Oh well.  At least she likes me.
   Slash eventually chooses the second from the right.   The ball clicks open, revealing red energy then what appears to be a rodent made of sand-hued bricks.  Slash nods approvingly.
   "Sandshrew   Ground Type  1.4m  100kg  Attack Forms: Sand Attack, Claw Swipe" the Pokedex chirps, “Made of stones, the Sandshrew is basically immune to electricity.  Sandshrew can evolve into Sandslash.”
   "Wow," I think aloud "this thing is useful."
   Jenkins looks thoughtful then says "Are you sure you don't want to choose another?"
   "Why are the others really that much better?"
   "No, just different.  Oddish, Rattata, Ghastly, and Vulpix." Bob explains.
   The pokedex chirps the statistics off each in turn.
   "No," I say, "I trust Slash.  And who knows when we'll meet a lightning Pokemon, eh?"
   Jenkins and Sarah both grinned proudly.  It’s like I've found heaven practically at my doorstep.
   I finish Jenkins’ crash course and stay the night at the lab with my new friend.  I decide to call him "Stalwart" because he looks like a wall.  I can feel we've got great adventures coming.