Old Fanfiction Book Club: Rachel's Pokémon Journey, Part One

[rionaleonhart]

Starting off the new year with a project, shamelessly stolen from seeingpenguins: it's time to revisit and annotate my earliest work of fanfiction!

If you were in the Pokémon fandom in your youth, there's at least an eighty percent chance you've written about a thinly veiled version of yourself going on a Pokémon journey, and I'm no exception. I started writing Rachel's Pokémon Journey in the October of 2000, at the age of twelve. It is an absolute mess, and for a while I was very embarrassed by it, but by now I can look back at it with fondness. There's such a heartfelt innocence to it!

Alas, I never finished this fic (my inability to finish chaptered fics goes right back to my earliest writing days), but it got to about 15,000 words.

Here are my original author's notes on the first chapter on fanfiction.net; read them to be instantly transported twenty years back in time.


Heya! ^_^ I'm Riona, a new author, and this is my FIRST EVER FICCY! Comments, suggestions, death threats? Liked it? Hated it? Gonna stab me in my sleep? R&R! Bear in mind that this is my first ever fic - be gentle! *cringes* Nah, really, I can take it! Aaaaaanyway, here it is. Beware my crapness. Raaah.

DISCLAIMER: No, I do not own Pokémon. You'll have to look somewhere else.

WARNING: This fic is absolutely AWFUL, being written by yours truly *bows*. If you want GOOD fics, you'll have to look somewhere else for them too.

If I spell things wrong, kill me. Uhh... that was random. Ah well. Go on now, read!


And here's the start of the fic itself! Annotations are in bold.



My name is Rachel. And this is the story of a Pokémon journey.

It all started on my 12th birthday. I had been really excited about getting my Pokémon Trainer's Licence. Of course I wanted to start at ten, but videos of Ash had put starting so young right out of my mind. I needed to complete my course at Pokémon Training School, which, if a little expensive, sure is worth it. They train you to train your Pokémon. We were given something like a Caterpie to train. We walked around a little enclosure with a few Pokémon in, which we would fight and try to capture. I wanted to keep the ones I caught, but you had to give them to the school.

RACHEL IS TWELVE, JUST LIKE ME. What a curious coincidence. I like that I'd thought 'better give an actual reason I'm not starting at ten, otherwise no one will be convinced.'

I also love the mention of 'videos of Ash'. Apparently the Pokémon anime exists as a documentary in my version of the Pokémon universe.

Interesting that I start my Pokémon journey on my birthday, like Ash. It makes sense to start on your tenth birthday, as that's the first day you can legally start training Pokémon (I think? I think it's said somewhere you have to be ten), but there's no particular reason I had to wait until my birthday if I was older than ten.

I woke up super-early, wolfed down my breakfast and was out of the door on my way to Professor Oak's lab before you could say 'Squirtle'! On the way I bumped into my friend Danielle. She had just turned twelve too. We had the same birthday, the same likes and dislikes, and we really liked each other. We were just born to be friends.

EXCELLENT ESTABLISHMENT OF FRIENDSHIP. I'M A MASTER OF SHOWING.

Did I actually think 'having the same birthday' was grounds for friendship, or had I just somehow got it into my head that you can only start your Pokémon journey on your birthday? Danielle was based on a friend of mine from primary school, but she didn't have the same birthday as me.

Anyway, remember this 'WE'RE BEST FRIENDS, THE BESTEST FRIENDS' paragraph and try to see whether there's a single sign of friendship between Rachel and Danielle in this story. 'Danielle' and I had sort of drifted apart by the time I wrote this, and part of this fic is me pretty transparently working through my feelings about that.

"Hi, Danielle!"

"Oh, hi Rachel!"

"Trainer's licence?"

"Yeah."

We reached Oak's lab and charged inside. The place was a sea of people. In the middle was Oak, holding a pile of small envelopes. Around him were several tables with lots of numbered Pokéballs on them in little piles.

I wonder whether all those people also had their birthdays today.

"Everyone line up to receive your Pokémon Trainer's licence! I will also give you an envelope. On the card inside is a number. Whichever Pokémon is inside the Pokéball with that number on is your starter Pokémon. Feel free to hold battles. You may also say if you want a 'rival'. Your 'rival' will hold regular battles with you. This may improve your skills as a Pokémon Trainer. Remember to collect your Pokédex before you leave." It was Oak speaking.

I'm fascinated by this 'your first Pokémon is randomly assigned' concept. Where did that come from? Also curious is the concept of your rival being assigned to you as a testing measure, rather than just being someone you've developed a natural rivalry with.

I decided to have a 'rival'. I wanted to see if I was keeping up. I collected my licence and an envelope. My number was 8. I turned around and bumped into Danielle.

"Which number did you get?" she asked.

"Eight," I said.

MY FAVOURITE NUMBER AS A CHILD, WHAT A COINCIDENCE

"Oh. I got ten, where is it?"

"I saw ten on the table over there. Good luck!"

She nodded and walked over to the table. I searched for a while, and eventually found number eight.

"Be lucky," I muttered. "Pokéball, GO!"



The first chapter was only four hundred words, so I might as well do the second now as well. (I don't have the heart to leave you on that UNBEARABLE CLIFFHANGER.)

Original author's note for this chapter: Wow, you actually went onto the next chapter? ^_^ *is so proud*



"VULLLLLLPIX!"

"Oh, a Vulpix! It's so cute!"

I suppose the 'your Pokémon is assigned to you' concept was my way of saying 'look, the system's different here, don't complain that I'm not getting a traditional starter.' I was always slightly heartbroken that I had Red version and therefore couldn't catch a Vulpix of my own. I'm a little surprised that I didn't start with Bulbasaur, though; it's my favourite Pokémon and it is one of the starters.

"Yeah, it's really sweet"

Danielle is saying this very flatly. Not that I gave any indication of this in the text, unless my failure to include a full stop was intended to indicate tone.

"Danielle?" I asked.

"Yes," she said. "Danielle."

"Oh!" I said. "Is that your Bulbasaur? It's really nice."

DANIELLE'S GOT THE BULBASAUR THAT IS RIGHTFULLY MINE, WHAT IS THIS

"Yeah." She had a really sweet Bulbasaur beside her, but she seemed exasperated.

"What's the matter?"

"My rival. He's the matter."

"Who?"

"Him." She pointed to a really thicko guy behind her.

I don't know how I know on sight that this guy is 'really thicko'.

"I challenge you to a Pokey-mon battle," he said slowly and stupidly.

"Oh, fine," Danielle said. "Bulbasaur, GO!"

"Then I choose MAGIKARP!" yelled the Supernerd.

He's a Super Nerd! Which apparently, in my mind, means he's stupid? Actually, I very vaguely remember discussing this fic with the real 'Danielle'; I think 'my rival is a really stupid Super Nerd with a Magikarp' was her idea.

Also: what the fuck, Professor Oak, you can't give someone a Magikarp as their starter Pokémon. I'm now picturing Professor Oak cackling all the way through the ensuing battle.

"Oh, great" groaned Danielle. "This is going to be soooooo hard."

"That's right," yelled the Supernerd, having no idea that she was being sarcastic. "Okay Magikarp, use your SWIFT!"

"Karp-karp-magikarp," said the Magikarp, flopping around uselessly.

"Come on! Okay then, SING!"

"Ma-ahgiikarp, magika-ahah-arp. Ma-ahgiikarp, mahagiiiiiiiiiii," sang Magikarp in a not-very-enchanting voice.

Okay, I'll admit that the idea of Magikarp attempting the Jigglypuff song made me smile. It's trying!

"Idiot! Bulbasaur, tackle."

Magikarp fainted! (Big surprise.)

Look, guys, it's not the Super Nerd's fault that Professor Oak gave him a Pokémon that can't battle. Come to think of it, it doesn't say much for Oak's confidence in Danielle that he assigned the guy with the Magikarp to be her rival.

"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! YOU KILLED MAGIKARP!"

"Calm down, Dumbo, it's only fainted."

"But- you KILLED him!"

"Karp?"

"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! IT'S A GHOST!" yelled Mr. Thicko.

"Oh, god" Danielle groaned. "I'll just leave you to scream at your 'ghost' than, shall I?"

"Honestly!" I said. "Danielle, that rival of yours, he's just absolutely..."

"Will the owner of Number 8 please come here to register and collect their Pokédex?"

"Hey- that's me! Bye, gotta go," I said quickly to Danielle.

"Hello, Rachel," smiled Professor Oak, handing me my Pokédex. "You wanted a rival, didn't you?"

"I've always wondered, Oak. Why are they called 'rivals?' Why not 'regular opponents?' Because it's fixed, isn't it?"

Apparently, even when I was writing this, I was aware that the concept of having your rival assigned to you was a bit weird. If you're hoping for a satisfying answer to the question Rachel asks here, I'm afraid you're about to be disappointed.

"I don't really know!" said Oak. "But yours is my son, James. See him over there?"

Yes. James. Professor Oak's son, James. It's a good thing there aren't any established characters named James in Pokémon; we wouldn't want this to be confusing.

I looked over. He really was quite good-looking. I felt myself blushing.

Professor Oak's son, James, who twelve-year-old Rachel has a crush on. In my head, I think he was a couple of years older than me, maybe around fifteen. It did not at any point occur to me that it might be strange for Professor Oak to have a fifteen-year-old child and a ten-year-old grandchild. I suppose it's not impossible, assuming James isn't Gary's father. Professor Oak's been banging younger women, we can conclude.

He had a sweet Eevee next to him, and my stomach gave a lurch. From my years in Pokémon Training School, I had learned that Eevee can evolve into one of 3 different Pokémon, depending on which Evolution Stone you use on it. And one of them- Vaporeon- could turn my Vulpix into toast.

I'm dubious about this metaphor.

Eevee were thought to be really rare until a couple of years ago, when it was discovered that there were in fact zillions, but really shy and good at hiding.

How convenient! This feels like a setup for Rachel to get an Eevee later, but, if that was the plan, the story never reached that point.

I stared at him for a while, until I realised that Oak had pushed a map, 5 Pokéballs and a small booklet into my hands. I read the title 'Regulations and Tips for the starting Pokémon Trainer.'

"Now, we need to register you and your Pokémon. Name?"

"Rachel."

There's paperwork! Everything's very structured in the Pokémon world in my head, it seems.

"Full name?"

"Rachel Katherine Charlotte."

THAT'S NOT A FULL NAME, WHERE'S YOUR SURNAME

Apparently Charlotte can be a surname, but I certainly didn't know that when I was twelve, and it's always bugged the hell out of me that twelve-year-old me went YEAH, RACHEL'S SURNAME CAN BE CHARLOTTE, JUST THROW A BUNCH OF GIRL NAMES TOGETHER.

"Age?"

"Twelve."

"Experience?"

"Three years at Pokémon Training School."

"Pokémon number?"

"Eight."

It does seem like our starters were randomly assigned, rather than being ones Oak personally picked out for us. I assume he'd already have our numbers recorded otherwise.

"Pokemon species?"

"Vulpix."

"Pokémon name?"

"I told you! It's a Vulpix!"

"No, that's its species name. I need its personal name, what you want to call it."

"Oh." I thought hard. "Um... I don't know."

"How about using the Name Randomiser? You enter in your Pokémon's species, and it suggests names for you. It's a wonderful invention."

"Hmmm... I'll try it," I decided.

Fingers trembling, I entered in 'Vulpix'

Fingers trembling! Naming your Pokémon is serious business.

The counters spun.

"Flame? No."

"Blaze? No."

"Polytail? No."

Some 'wonderful invention', Oak. I can't believe it tried to get me to call my Vulpix 'Polytail'.

I sighed and looked up at Oak. "This is no good. These names are all too clear. I want something- mysterious. Something that sounds as if it's hiding a secret."

Then it hit me. "Secret! That's perfect! I'll call my Vulpix Secret!"



That's enough riveting dialogue for now, I think! In the next instalment of Old Fanfiction Book Club: Rachel and Danielle actually set out on their Pokémon journey, having completed all the required paperwork at last. New Pokémon! New friends! New enemies???

Comments

[wolfy_writing]

Heya! ^_^ I'm Riona, a new author, and this is my FIRST EVER FICCY! Comments, suggestions, death threats? Liked it? Hated it? Gonna stab me in my sleep? R&R! Bear in mind that this is my first ever fic - be gentle! *cringes* Nah, really, I can take it! Aaaaaanyway, here it is. Beware my crapness. Raaah.

This is like the distillation of 2000 fanfiction.net! All it needs is you talking to the character in the author's notes!

You may also say if you want a 'rival'. Your 'rival' will hold regular battles with you.

I love the system of rivalries being assigned.

"I challenge you to a Pokey-mon battle," he said slowly and stupidly.

I love how you spelled this out just to make sure people understand he's stupid.

I sighed and looked up at Oak. "This is no good. These names are all too clear. I want something- mysterious. Something that sounds as if it's hiding a secret."

Then it hit me. "Secret! That's perfect! I'll call my Vulpix Secret!"

Aw, Rachel and her naming skills!

[rionaleonhart]

This is like the distillation of 2000 fanfiction.net!

It's incredible! The ^_^ face, *actions in asterisks*, the word 'random' (well, later in the note, at least), it's got it all.

Rachel being terrible at naming Pokémon will, I'll be honest, be a bit of a theme in this fic.

[emu]

Everytime I see ^_^ I am just taken back many, many years.

Supernerd and his magikarp are cracking me up.

Yes. James. Professor Oak's son, James. It's a good thing there aren't any established characters named James in Pokémon; we wouldn't want this to be confusing.

oh my god, that and 'Vaporeon- could turn my Vulpix into toast', I am cackling.

"Rachel Katherine Charlotte."

THAT'S NOT A FULL NAME, WHERE'S YOUR SURNAME

This name reminds me of Shay Patrick Cormac from whatever Assassin's Creed game he was in. That name drove me absolutely batty because Cormac isn't a surname. I mean, it MIGHT be, I suppose, but its like they just strung three Irish-y names together without really thinking about it. So I mean, your naming skills as a twelve year old were on par with an AAA games developer? That's alright.

Just so you know, I'm really invested in this fic now. I hope Rachel became the Champion.

[rionaleonhart]

This comment made me smile a lot!

So I mean, your naming skills as a twelve year old were on par with an AAA games developer?

Ha! It was definitely a very HE'S IRISH, WE SWEAR, LOOK AT HOW IRISH HE IS name.

Just so you know, I'm really invested in this fic now. I hope Rachel became the Champion.

Stay tuned! I'm sure she'll make great progress and I won't just stop writing the moment they get through Mount Moon.

[wyomingsmustache]

Oh god that author’s note alone transported me right back in time. A part of me misses the good old days of just being silly and ridiculous about our approach to fandom, those were the good old days (when you view them through enough nostalgia to ignore the fandom dramz that were common at the time).

[rionaleonhart]

They were fun days! But, yes, I suppose there's always been fandom drama, although the form it takes has changed over the years.

[wyomingsmustache]

Also, having now had time to read all four chapters, I just want to say that I love little Riona, and I feel like if we'd known each other back when we'd have either been the best of friends or despised one another. Either way, she sounds charming!

Also also, James is a very common name! Which you yourself have, iirc, taken creative note of. (James is also my name. Not long after picking it I had the thought that "lol, now I would fit into that one crossover".)

[rionaleonhart]

You should definitely have been in that crossover.

Well, maybe not. I don't really want you to be in Silent Hill.

dracothelizard was the one who wrote the crossover, though! I wasn't brave enough to attempt to keep track of all the Jameses.

[wyomingsmustache]

I'm sure I could handle it, I spend enough time with monsterfuckers that all of the monsters would just make me think wistfully of my friends and how much they'd enjoy the place. (Um, possibly my priorities are skewed?)

Damn, I knew it was someone from that circle! I guess my instinct when I remember a mad crossover is to attribute it to you.

[dracothelizard]

You can come in late into the crossover like that gif of Troy coming with pizzas while everything's on fire :D

[alwaysbeenasmiler]

I REMEMBER REFERRING TO THINGS AS FICCY. *is cringing on the inside as memories have come blaring to the surface

[rionaleonhart]

It had completely escaped my mind! I have the evidence right here, and yet I still find it hard to believe I once used the phrase 'my first ever ficcy'.

[(Anonymous)]

Here are my original author's notes on the first chapter on fanfiction.net; read them to be instantly transported twenty years back in time.

The ^_^ instantly gives a good idea of the time! Gosh, they used to be so widely used and it’s not really something you see any more, now that more ACTUAL EMOTICONS are a thing.

Your grasp on grammar is still pretty good, though! Normally you’d see that kind of author’s note and be hit with constant questionable grammar.

Of course I wanted to start at ten, but videos of Ash had put starting so young right out of my mind.

But why?! Did Rachel admire Ash or think he’d have done better if he hadn’t started at ten?!

oke up super-early, wolfed down my breakfast and was out of the door on my way to Professor Oak's lab before you could say 'Squirtle'!

I do like that you kept these moments Pokemon themed!

Also curious is the concept of your rival being assigned to you as a testing measure, rather than just being someone you've developed a natural rivalry with.

Yeah, I must admit that makes them seem less “rival” and more “training partner”. Though to be fair, early Pokemon’s definition of a rival was pretty much somebody going “BWAHAHA I’M AN ASSHOLE, YOU SUCK, I’MA BEAT YOU”, so at least this way would give room for characterisation!

I'm a little surprised that I didn't start with Bulbasaur, though; it's my favourite Pokémon and it is one of the starters.

Maybe Bulbasaur grew on you more than Vulpix later on? Or maybe you’d recently seen the episode of Pokemon with the adorable Vulpix; I loved that episode as a kid!

LOL at “a really thicko guy” and his magikarp starter. I hope someone else got an Abra and to level him up had to let him teleport around for like ten levels, somehow gaining experience for fleeing from battles.

It did not at any point occur to me that it might be strange for Professor Oak to have a fifteen-year-old child and a ten-year-old grandchild.

Maybe you figured Gary wasn’t actually ten anymore given that had to be at least two years ago in this universe given Rachel was watching Ash on TV before she was ten?

Ahaha Polytail.

Then it hit me. "Secret! That's perfect! I'll call my Vulpix Secret!"

Please tell me people keep getting confused about Vulpix’s name and think that she is trying to obliquely refer to actual secrets. (I am not sure if that is a correct usage of the world obliquely, but my head is determined that it is, so I GUESS I’M WRITING IT ANYWAY.)

[(Anonymous)]

Most of my early fanfic got deleted in a fit of embarrassment about a decade or more ago, so out of interest I looked at seeing what my earliest published fic that still exists is. It’s a Dragonball Z fanfic from when I was 14, and somehow got 33 reviews for 3 chapters (it was intended to be a one-shot, and really should have remained as one, but I got a load of reviews and got overawed).

Mine is not nearly so entertaining though and there’s not a lot I can quote! I’ll take a few though:
A/N: I got the idea for this fic while writing about what happens in Chapter 14 of Past Relived. If you like this, look out for that chapter, if not the whole fic. I thought what if Shenron went… well, more evil and OOC? It doesn't seem fair that the Z senshi just have to collect seven balls then can get practically whatever they desire. And in this fic, people can be revived more than once and Mirai Trunks didn't die. So, now the dragon's tired of it, and is inventing some 'terms and conditions.'
Likely to contain some Gohan angst. Set just after the Cell Games. Somewhat AU, as it doesn't follow the series. Kind of like one of those odd 'Angst/Humour' fics. Hard to fit them both into a fic usually… The humour's mostly there to lighten the mood. Probably more 'General/Angst' though.

Past Relived is a fic that got culled in my deletion spree, but I’m pretty sure I wrote about one chapter of it, whether or not I actually planned 14+ chapters…. Also I love that the premise of the fic is basically WHAT IF THIS CHARACTER WAS OOC?

This is clearly in the timeframe where I was obsessed with reading DBZ fics (mostly about the time Gohan was in high school), since this author’s note is littered with gratuitous Japanese. I don’t even know what senshi means now, let alone then. (I think I meant team.) Also who needs Future Trunks when you can just use the Japanese term for absolutely no reason instead?

Also, I really don’t think anybody cared that much about how I decided to categorise the fic, past self. Plus it’s just plain wrong! There’s no humour in the first chapter!

The dragonballs glowed and a green, very impressive looking dragon shot out of them: Shenron.

I could describe the dragon… or I could just tell you it was impressive. I know which I’m going for!

Also, I really overuse the expression ‘terms and conditions’ in this fic. Had I been watching too many random TV adverts?

Everyone looked confused. Shenron sweatdropped, and opted to explain as quickly as he could.

And, like your ^_^ author’s note, here’s a phrase that really dates the fic/my age. Also, that phrase is one of my fanfiction pet peeves these days.

Suddenly, Gohan understood. So did everyone else. Their gasps surrounded him. They looked horrified and shocked all at once. He didn't need to look up to know that, it was from knowing them all for so long. Even Piccolo and Vegeta looked shocked, though not quite as horrified, but the two were good at masking emotions.

Yep, that ‘show, don’t tell’ needs some work.

Gohan felt a strange feeling around him, then burning pain. He shrieked in pain unintentionally. Everyone stared. Total helplessness: the worst feeling in the world.
All of a sudden, Gohan just collapsed to the floor. One look at his eyes told them all they needed to know: they were totally glassy and lifeless. That was when the crying began and Gohan's body disappeared. Everyone stared at the place where he'd just lay, trying to suppress tears, except Vegeta, who just looked fiercely angry.

I like how young me goes to the trouble of only really giving Vegeta any individual characterisation; everyone else just reacts the exact same way, all the time.

Last sentence, bearing in mine this was intended as a one-shot:

And at that, they all dissolved into a state of hysterics…

…That’s not an ending! It’s not even a good sentence!

Shame I don’t have hold of anything older other than old fictionpress stuff, but that is literally just 9000 things about depression and, I think, suicidal people. I was at a time in my life where I was trying to deal with all my pent-up feelings and depression through fic, though it makes very rough reading now as it’s very raw… and I don’t really like that person that I was. I’d have deleted that account could I remember the password. So I’ll stick with the fanfic, I think.

-timydamonkey

[rionaleonhart]

I love all of this, but my favourite part is the sweatdropping; that's absolutely classic early-2000s anime fanfiction. The 'THE PREMISE IS OOCNESS' concept is also pretty great. And the impressive dragon!

It's a shame your early fanfiction was deleted! I did take down Rachel's Pokémon Journey and a few other fics in embarrassment, but fortunately I kept things backed up enough for them to survive various computer changes since then. I think only my Red Dwarf fics have been lost entirely.

[rionaleonhart]

I used to use the ^_^ face all the time! When did I stop?

I'm pretty sure Rachel is putting Ash down there. HE'S TRYING HIS BEST, RACHEL.

I made an effort to Pokémon-theme things, but evidently it didn't occur to me that people might not wolf things down in a world without wolves!

I hope someone else got an Abra and to level him up had to let him teleport around for like ten levels, somehow gaining experience for fleeing from battles.

Ahahaha, this is amazing.

Maybe you figured Gary wasn’t actually ten anymore given that had to be at least two years ago in this universe given Rachel was watching Ash on TV before she was ten?

True, but that makes it even weirder that Oak has such a young son!

[wyomingsmustache]

Maybe wolf is like mouse, and it's a zoological term that refers to a species type rather than an actual species? I've just had the thought of things like "electric mouse" Pokemon just being a translation of their scientific name. How intriguing.)

Maybe she Rockruffed it down?

[marginaliana]

Put me down as another person emotionally transported into the past by that author's note. Dang, you were a cliche!

Also, I especially love the existence of the paperwork.

[rionaleonhart]

It's a masterpiece of a note. I don't think I could have captured the early 2000s more perfectly if I made a deliberate effort to.

Honestly, the Pokémon world probably could do with more paperwork, given that ten-year-olds routinely set out alone on dangerous journeys.

[keltena]

Wow, that author's note really is a blast from the past. I feel like I always forget how much internet slang has changed over the years until I see an actual example and realize just how high the density of Extremely 2000s is, but that A/N is an especially impressive example.

Did I actually think 'having the same birthday' was grounds for friendship, or had I just somehow got it into my head that you can only start your Pokémon journey on your birthday?

I guess that could be an incentive to select for friends with the same birthday? No worry about them going off on their journey first and leaving you behind for months! ... Unless they start at ten, I suppose.

Assigned rivals are a delightful concept, honestly, I'd read all the fic about that. If the games are representative, it seems like an important part of trainer culture, after all! (I wonder if you can also ask to be assigned an organized crime leader archnemesis? I feel like their availability would be lower, but then again, there are always new ones popping up...)

Aww, singing Magikarp is adorable. I'm going to imagine it went on to have a successful idol career.

Yes. James. Professor Oak's son, James. It's a good thing there aren't any established characters named James in Pokémon; we wouldn't want this to be confusing.

Ah yes, Professor Oak's "son", James. I'm picturing him looking something like this, personally:



(I'm not saying Rachel's rival is an impostor. But hey, it never hurts to keep a close eye on your pokémon, right?)

Some 'wonderful invention', Oak. I can't believe it tried to get me to call my Vulpix 'Polytail'.

Aw, but I think Politales is a beautiful pokémon!



(Admittedly not appropriate for a starter, though; you'd probably have to train it up from Polipix first.)

I'm excited to see Rachel's continuing adventures! I have to find out now if James's starter really will turn Secret into soggy toast.

[rionaleonhart]

I'm going to imagine it went on to have a successful idol career.

If I ever continue this fic, which is admittedly unlikely, I promise that it will.

Oh, my God, that picture of James-Oak. I had not seen the episode 'Will the Real Oak Please Stand Up?', but I looked it up just now and I need to watch it immediately; it sounds incredible. James and Oak have a poetry slam?

The picture of Politales is also striking. I'd forgotten about that Pokémon blend generator!

[dracothelizard]

"Heya! ^_^ I'm Riona, a new author, and this is my FIRST EVER FICCY! Comments, suggestions, death threats? Liked it? Hated it? Gonna stab me in my sleep? R&R! Bear in mind that this is my first ever fic - be gentle! *cringes* Nah, really, I can take it! Aaaaaanyway, here it is. Beware my crapness. Raaah."

...You were not kidding about being transported back in time!

[rionaleonhart]

I can't believe I developed an operational time machine when I was twelve.

[thenicochan]

I love this. Everything about it. The author’s note is exactly the kind of thing I’d write in my fics when I was that age too. It’s the best kind of cringe. (I was also able to figure out the different in our ages based on how old you were when you published this beauty—we’re pretty close in age!)


before you could say 'Squirtle'!

This made me unreasonably happy.

We had the same birthday, the same likes and dislikes, and we really liked each other. We were just born to be friends.

Will this be my new ship: Rachel x Danielle? Hm. Wait, would that constitute as RPF? Now I’m super uncomfortable with the idea. Back pedal! Back pedal!

I wonder whether all those people also had their birthdays today.

THESE QUESTIONS DEMAND ANSWERS

(I don't have the heart to leave you on that UNBEARABLE CLIFFHANGER.)

Thank goodness! I don’t think I could take the anticipation of having to wait.

really thicko guy behind her.

Girls! Fat shaming isn’t nice. Snorlax disapproves.

he said slowly and stupidly.

Damn. I almost feel bad for this fat, slow, stupid child.

"Then I choose MAGIKARP!" yelled the Supernerd.

Like, for a given measure of choice? Wasn’t this the pokémon Supernerd was randomly assigned? Maybe this child is just trying to assert some sort of veil of control over his life? He can’t control his awkward tendencies or lack of intelligence. This one thing is all he has. Oh, Supernerd. You poor, sweet child.

what the fuck, Professor Oak, you can't give someone a Magikarp as their starter Pokémon.

Right!?

"Come on! Okay then, SING!"

So, question. Did Supernerd only pass Pokemon Training School because he was the only kid who actually failed, but they were too worried (rightfully) about his derogatory self-esteem?


"AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! IT'S A GHOST!" yelled Mr. Thicko.

BIG IS BEAUTIFUL (but also, wow, kid, you are not making it easy to root for you with your resistance to any intelligent thought)

"I don't really know!" said Oak. "But yours is my son, James. See him over there?"

Huh. So… is James the father of Gary/Blue? Is this a pre-story fic? IS THIS THE ORIGIN OF GARY’S PARENTS!?

sweet Eevee

I actually kind of like how Rachel thinks of most Pokémon as ‘sweet’. That’s how I think of a lot of dogs, come to think of it.

turn my Vulpix into toast.

“into wet tissue paper”…?

that there were in fact zillions

Eevees. Eevees as far as the eye can see.

Rachel Katherine Charlotte.

The most catholic of school girls; Our Lady of Perpetual Pokémon Catching.

Then it hit me. "Secret! That's perfect! I'll call my Vulpix Secret!"

I literally laughed out loud. At my job. Where I am most certainly not supposed to be reading Fanfic Theater or replying to it in a word doc. This is a gem. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m gonna try to catch up on Rachel and Secret’s journey ASAP.

[rionaleonhart]

This comment made me smile so much. I'm glad you're enjoying my childhood masterpiece!

Interesting that 'really thicko' reads to you as 'fat'! I can see where that comes from, but to me it just means 'stupid', which is why I was puzzled by Rachel's ability to deduce it on sight. (Although my use of it as an adjective is a bit unusual; you'd usually say 'that guy's really thick' or 'that guy's a thicko', not 'that guy's really thicko'. In any case, there are no weight connotations; he's just stupid!)

So, question. Did Supernerd only pass Pokemon Training School because he was the only kid who actually failed, but they were too worried (rightfully) about his derogatory self-esteem?

Pokémon Training School isn't compulsory (just as well, as Rachel says it's expensive), so I think we can conclude he didn't go! Most children run wildly out into the world at the age of ten with no Pokémon-training experience whatsoever. Although I assume he went to some sort of school.

IS THIS THE ORIGIN OF GARY’S PARENTS!?

HOLY SHIT, I'm now sad that that isn't what this fic is.

[thenicochan]

I'm enjoying it greatly!

Ahhhh, okay. I see what you mean. In my area, 'thick' is almost always synonymous with 'fat'. You'll hear people referred to as 'thick' as a polite way to say fat haha. It's sort of how the phrase "Bless his/her heart" is a real southern way of saying "what a fucking idiot." *shrug*

HOLY SHIT, I'm now sad that that isn't what this fic is.

IT SHANT STOP ME FROM THEORIZING