Figs & Company: A Nuzlocke Challenge

[Juicesir]

So today I decided to do a Nuzlocke Challenge. For those unfamiliar with it, a handy description can be found here (http://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nuzlocke_Challenge), but in summary a Nuzlocke challenge is basically a hardcore mode for playing Pokémon. The rules I'm going to be operating this playthrough are as follows:


Any Pokémon that faints is considered dead, and must be released.
I may only catch the first Pokémon encountered in each area, and none else. If the first Pokémon encountered faints or flees, there are no second chances. If the first encounter in the area is a Double Battle in dark grass, I may choose which of the two Pokémon I would like to catch.
All Pokémon must have nicknames.
A blackout/whiteout is a game over.
I may only use Pokémon I have captured myself, however I can trade Pokémon in order to level them up and Pokémon that are freely given to me may join the Company.
I may not reset or reload a game when things go wrong.
Starter Pokémon is based off my Trainer ID number. If the last number is 1-3 then I start with a Grass type, 4-6 is Fire type, 7-9 is Water type, 0 is my choice. In generations where there were no trainer numbers, a ten sided die will be used to roll for the Starter.
I cannot catch duplicates of Pokémon I have previously caught.
Rules enforcement officially begins once I am able to buy Pokéballs.

Instead of making my playthrough a comic, I'm going to turn it into a sort of fanfic. A narrative interpretation of the events which occur, if you will. Playing the original Pokémon Red, hereafter will follow the narrative account of what has occurred in my playthrough. I may embellish characterizations and dialogue a bit, but the events, captures, and deaths will all be completely accurate.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: All Boys Leave Home (role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64530&p=2178631&viewfull=1#post2178631)
Chapter 2: The Voice (http://role-player.net/forum/showthread.php?t=64530&p=2179156&viewfull=1#post2179156)

[Juicesir]

Chapter 1: All Boys Leave Home
"Figs! I need to talk to you!" He'd been playing video games when the calamitous voice of his mother rang out through the small two-story house. Saving his progress, and rushing downstairs, Figs was eager to get whatever this was over with. She was seated at the dining room table, back turned to him, looking out across the room through the window. He waited.

"All boys leave home some day..." A faint whisper. He was hesitant to draw nearer to her. She often said strange things, but today was a new sort of oddity. He didn't speak, however. He simply stood, and waited for her to continue on. She turned in her seat to look at him, a dour smile laden across her face. Her eyes sagged with sleeplessness, her whole form seemed to be weighed down.

"It said so on the TV." The fact that they didn't have cable registered in his mind, and he realized she was having another one of her moments. She turned back to the window, and he to the top of the stairs. He almost reached the top step before she spoke again. "Professor Oak, next door, is looking for you."

He turned. She hadn't moved. Still gazing across the dining room table out the window, she sat stock still. Walking slowly down the steps, he set a hand on her shoulder, and gave it a small squeeze. With a turn of the front door's handle, he was out.

Pallet Town was not a large place, but the sun always seemed to shine brightly upon it. As he opened his front door, a small knot of anxiety grabbed at him. All his mother's warnings about never going too far outside were now cast to the winds. She'd told him, specifically, to go see Professor Oak. The Professor Oak, the famous Trainer and Researcher! Back before his father had left, they often had played with the Oaks, and Figs fondly recalled how the elderly Oak had always seemed to like him.

That was before locked doors and warnings about straying into the grass, before his mother gently insisted he try to stay indoors. It seemed like a barely remembered life, that time before today. But that was then. Now, with his own mother's blessing, it seemed he was allowed - encouraged even - to go outside. It all seemed so wondrous! Filled with a strange hope, he decided to forgo visiting the Professor's Lab.

Only for a moment.

As he strode to Route 1, he saw the tall grass approaching. His mother's worries about allergens and strange creatures living in the grass were lost on him now. He saw a chance to finally do something for himself, to set about on his own path! This would be the first step on his new and great journey!

He put his foot down, the luscious blades bending to his weight. The breeze tickled the long stalks, and for a moment, it seemed as if he could hear them whispering. Maybe he would just lie here, in the sun, basking in his ability to do whatever he-

"Hey! Wait!"

Startled, Figs nearly jumped out of his shoes at the yelling man who was now accosting him. He turned back to look, only to find Professor Oak rushing up to him. "Don't go out! It's unsafe!" The Professor, huffing slightly, ran up to Figs' side, and panted for a moment. With a pointing hand, he gestured down the unkempt path that led to Route 1. "Wild Pokémon live in tall grass! You need your own Pokémon for your protection."

He'd heard about these Pokémon form his mother. The fights, the wars. He knew of these beasts, but he had always thought she was just exaggerating. Now, to see such a venerable and experienced man as Professor Oak speak with such alarm about them shook Figs to his bones with fear.

For a moment, the Professor seemed to not quite know what to say. Looking out with Figs at the dangerous tall grass, he suddenly snapped his fingers. "I know! Here, come with me!" Without any other utterance, the old Professor grabbed young Figs by the wrist, and hauled him back to his Laboratory. This was turning out to be a strange day indeed.

[Juicesir]

Chapter 2: The Voice
Sunlight filtered in from the windows above in the Laboratory. Figs had never seen it from the inside before today, and the strange machinery it was filled with intimidated him. His grip no longer around Figs' arm, Professor Oak went to what ostensibly could be considered his office, though there were no doors to it. Only a computer, several large racks of equipment, and two tables were there. Upon one rested two strange, red devices.

The table they were headed towards, however, was one with three red and white balls resting upon it and which had the good professor's grandson already standing next to it. "Gramps!" Nance, who had been leaning upon the table, now stood tall in the sight of his grandfather. "I'm fed up with waiting!" His nasally voice racketed off the walls of the lab.

"Nance? Let me think..." Professor Oak seemed to be quiet flustered as he went to stand in front of the two boys beside the table. "Oh, that's right, I told you to come! Just wait!" In the time Figs had observed the relationships within the Oak household, only Nance's sister had ever seemed remotely normal. If anything, Nance seemed a burden to the Professor whenever the two had been around one another. Not that Figs envied it. At least Professor Oak gave his grandson attention.

With a patronizing smile towards Nance, the Professor then turned his full attention to Figs. "Here, Figs! There are 3 Pokémon here! Haha!" With a grand gesture, the Professor ran along behind the table with the three balls seated on it. "They are inside the Poké Balls." He pointed in turn to each of the three. "When I was young, I was a serious Pokémon trainer." He walked back to stand beside the table once more. "In my old age, I have only 3 left, but you can have one! Choose!"

Figs eyes widened in surprise, his mouth hanging agape. A derisive noise came from his side, as Nance let out a groan. "Hey! Gramps! What about me?" He nearly stomped his foot as his crossed his arms.

"Be patient!" The retort was sharp. Then, the Professor composed himself a little better. "Nance, you can have one too!" The smile returned to his face, that cheery facade of happiness he seemed to be keeping throughout this.

No mind was paid to the small family dispute that was being held beside him, however, as Figs was fully engaged in inspecting the first Poké Ball. He held it in his hands, reading the small placard that held a description of it. "CHARMANDER, LIZARD. Height 2'0", Weight 19.0 lb. Obviously prefers hot places. When it rains, steam-"

"That ain't the one you're supposed to pick."

The voice was unfamiliar. It had a rough, squelching quality to it. Not quite wet, but not quite harsh. Figs eyes shot away from the placard he had been reading and looked about. Professor Oak and his grandson were off to the side somewhat, speaking in hushed and argumentative tones. Several aides bustled about the lab but none were in Figs' vicinity. Heads down, rushing about from station to station, performing various tests, their focus was solely on whatever work they were doing.

"Down here."

The voice came again, somewhere off to his right he realized. Eyes wide and with a haunted expression, Figs gazed about, trying to frantically discern where the voice was emanating from without causing alarm. He took a step forward.

"Warmer..." the voice softly cooed. He froze, then took another trepidatious step. "Waaaarmerrrr..." Figs reached the end of the table, the far right-hand side where the last ball rested. "Disco."

With startling realization, it dawned upon him that the rustling voice which he had heard was coming from inside the last Poké Ball. For a while, he stared. He stared too long, in point of fact.

"Now, Figs," came the Professor kindly prompt, "which Pokémon do you want?" Figs slowly looked over to Professor Oak, eyes still wide, mouth even more agape. Nance had a disparaging look upon his face. He gave a shrug in Figs' direction, arms still crossed.

"Heh, I don't need to be greedy like you! Go ahead and choose, Figs!" The Professor shot a look at Nance's caddy remark, but by then Nance had turned away to go look at the red devices on the other table. Glancing back to the rightmost Poké Ball, Figs picked it up in his hands and put it to his ear. No voice could be heard this time, no snark was witnessed from it.

"So!" A cheery call sounded. "You want the plant Pokémon, Bulbasaur?" Figs glanced over at the Professor. He held a weary, strained smile upon his face, but was also somehow encouraging at the same time. An odd knot was forming in Figs stomach.

He nodded.

Oak's smile became far more genuine, melting into a warm glow. Striding over, he took a look at the Poké Ball Figs had nestled in his hands. A moment was all he took to look at it, and when he looked Figs in the face, it was the warmest expression the young boy had ever seen the old man give. "This Pokémon is really energetic!" Figs smiled back, still never saying a word.

"I'll take this one, then!" As soon as Figs had even hinted he might have chosen his Poké Ball, Nance had stealthily run over to the table and rapidly looked between the two remaining choices and their placards. The one he chose was the first Figs had looked at, the Charmander. He held it high, his eyes squinted in malicious triumph, so very full of himself was he.

Figs ignored the other boy. Intently gazing at the small sphere he still had cupped in his hands, he barely heard the small bit of advice the Professor attempted to impart on him. "Now, if a wild Pokémon appears, your Pokémon can fight against it!" Figs gave an acknowledging nod to Professor Oak. It seems this was what the old man had had in mind when he stopped Figs from entering the tall grass. Offering his hand to the elder Oak, the new Trainer and the Professor shook hands. Figs turned to go.

"Wait Figs!" Excitement burst at every seem of Nance's shout. He ran over to Figs, holding up his newly acquired ball, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Let's check out our Pokémon!" Before Figs had any time to even begin thinking about what he might say, Nance had stepped back in a battle ready stance. "Come on, I'll take you on!"