Pokemon Crystal Novelization (Dead)

Chapter 1: The encounter with Archer

Eight-year-old Kris Smith was alone on the swing set one afternoon, long after everyone else had gone home to play video games or do something else. Kris, however, stayed behind, wanting to make the most of her time at the playground. Because there just wasn't much to do at home, as her mother's job as nurse in New Bark Town didn't pay well, and her father mysteriously disappeared when she was just three years old. No one, not even her mother, knew why he disappeared.

Growing bored of the swing, Kris decided to try something else. She wondered whether she should go down the slide or simply head home for a nap, since she did wake up very early. She thought to herself, "What should I do next?"

After thinking about it for a while, she decided to go home. Fortunately, her house was conveniently close to the playground-the only real convenience in her life. But just as she was about to open the door, her friend Ethan Elm appeared out of nowhere, startling her.

Kris nearly fell, but Ethan quickly grabbed her hand, helping her regain her balance. She pulled her hand away once she was steady and glared at Ethan, crossing her arms in annoyance.

"What are you doing here, Ethan? Aren't you supposed to be at home?" she asked angrily.

Ethan smiled awkwardly and scratched his head. "Kris, you know how you always wanted to explore that forest... Ja-b... whatever its name is, with me? I thought maybe, to you know-make up for not getting you anything for your birthday, I'd go there with you now."

"Wait, really?" Kris said, forgetting about her angry, and that she wanted to nap.

"Yeah, and if you think it's unsafe for us children, I brought my partner, Cyndaquil to you know keep us safe," Ethan replied, releasing a small, fiery rodent-like Pokémon. It was unusual for a child or even anyone to own such a Pokemon, but being the son of a professor does have some advantages. The Cyndaquil made a series of squeaks as it tried to climb Ethan, but it couldn't manage. Thankfully, its flames were off, so there was no danger.

Ethan picked up Cyndaquil and playfully petted it, making Kris feel a pang of jealousy. She didn't own any Pokémon herself, as her mother couldn't afford one.

"Look, we're going to explore that cave over there," Ethan said, pointing at a nearby forest while holding Cyndaquil in one hand.

"Are you excited for our first adventure?" Ethan asked, to which Cyndaquil responded with a loud squeak, convincing Ethan that it was eager to go.

"Hey, Ethan, let's hurry up to the forest before my mom sees us wanting to go to the forest," Kris said, a bit worried.

"Okay, Kris, let's go to the forest now," Ethan agreed, returning Cyndaquil to its Pokéball. The two ran excitedly down a cobbled path, miraculously not tripping despite the poor condition of the road-a reflection of New Bark Town's poverty.

Ethan reached the entrance of the forest first, panting and leaning against the wall. "You didn't need to run that fast, Ethan. It's not like a Gengar is chasing us," Kris teased as she caught up, also out of breath.

Ethan replied smugly, "It's not like you didn't try to run as much as me. You were just less effective at it."

"Right, right," Kris said, standing up straight after catching her breath.

"You know the forest is very big. Are you sure you have the stamina to explore it after that run?" Ethan asked.

Kris checked her breathing and said, "Yeah, I think I can handle it, especially after recovering so quickly. The question is, do you have the stamina?"

"Of course I do! Wh-why would I ask if I wasn't sure I could handle it?" Ethan shot back, annoyed.

"Well, you are Ethan Elm, so I can never be too sure," Kris said smugly.

Ethan rolled his eyes, which he always does with Kris. "Let's just go to the forest already. You're the one who wanted this, after all."

Ethan released Cyndaquil again to protect them from wild Pokémon as they entered the forest. They walked quietly, hoping not to attract any predators, but the forest was eerily peaceful. Not a single Pokémon, not even nocturnal ones like Hoothoot, was in sight. The forest was also oddly full of corridors, which was strange but typical of the area.

Suddenly, Ethan stopped. "Kris, this is super weird. From my research on this forest, there should be a surplus of nocturnal Pokémon, not an absence."

"Wait, really?" Kris asked, stopping as well. "I mean, I wanted to come here to see forest Pokémon, but if there are none, we should go back."

Ethan looked angry but tried to calm down, as it wasn't like him to yell at anyone. "Hey, if you want to keep exploring, I'll stay with you," Kris said, trying to reassure him.

Ethan took a deep breath. "Well, no, I didn't want to stay. It's just that it seemed rude of you to stop exploring, given that this was my gift to you."

They turned to head back, but in their haste, they made a mistake, taking the right corridor instead of the left. They soon found themselves near a lake, where they saw a man in a white suit with blue hair battling a pink, floating cat-like creature with his Houndoom.

Kris and Ethan froze, watching the man. "Hey, who are you, and what are you doing here?" Ethan asked, causing the man to turn away from the battle and look at them.

"I am Archer Howards, and I am doing things unimaginable to you children. Now, if you could be very nice children, you would walk away and never mention this to anyone," Archer replied, his Houndoom turning its gaze toward them, allowing the pink creature to teleport away.

However Archer look back at where the pink floating cat thing was supposed to be, and found nothing.

It would be an understatement to say Archer was enraged. "Do you know what you've done? Do you know how much time and energy I spent on this?" he shouted furiously.

Kris tried to respond, but Archer cut him off. "Houndoom, use Fire Blast on those kids!"

Ethan instinctively ran, but Kris wasn't as quick. It looked like she might not survive, and Ethan believed this whole exploration had been a mistake. But just as the Fire Blast was about to hit, a Golem rolled in and blocked the attack, saving Ethan.

Ethan, still in shock, ran with Kris to hide under some bushes. A figure emerged from the shadows-Indigo Champion Red Walker, recognizable by his red attire and cap.

"Why you... I can't even get my revenge," Archer muttered angrily as Red silently released his Blastoise, which roared in fury. Blastoise and Houndoom engaged in a fierce battle, surprisingly close despite the type disadvantage.

"You two, you should go out now, " Red said, as his Blastoise battled Houndoom.

Hearing Red's word, they ran back toward the entrance.

In their haste, they got lost in the forest but eventually found their way back after two hours. "Look, there's the exit!" Ethan exclaimed as they finally reached the entrance and returned to New Bark Town.

"Well, it's going to be really awkward trying to explain why we were gone for two days," Ethan said, causing Kris to laugh despite everything that had happened.