Pokemon Orange Version

Excellent! I just started reading this quest but as soon as I read the name Florence I also thought that His Rowlet should be named the machine (or that he should get some Steel Types and get a nickname of The Machine).

This thread is 100% on my wavelength so far.

This deserves an Omake:

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The Not-So-Secret Origins of Florence and The Machine

Today was the day, Florence thought to himself as he rolled out of bed, making sure to strip it of its sheets and covers so that his Dad wouldn't have to once he left. It made sense. After all, that was the proper respect between bros, and it wasn't like he'd be using it tonight. Not when he was about to start on his Pokemon journey!

He'd have done the laundry too, but there wasn't time.

Actually, Florence realized looking at his Alarm Clock, there wasn't time for much of anything. Breakfast included!

He ran down stairs, his hands flashing rapidly through the kitchen, as he grabbed the protein from the cupboard. Raising Pokemon was hard work, and you needed to be ripped to do it. Totally jacked. Trekking through the swamps and hills of Sunsola was hard work and only the most swole of trainers could make it to the final trials of Victory Road!

He wasn't there yet of course (not that he'd ever admit that), but that was what the protein was for! It worked for Pokemon after all, and sure it was expensive, but he had money, and he needed those gains!

A little blending later and he had enough protein in his hands to last at least the rest of the day. With enough Carbos, Iron and of course Protein stashed in his pockets to carry him through the rest of the week till he started beating other trainers with his awesome new Pokemon!

He could just see it now! Him and his Partner! A seamless pair beating everyone in their way! Especially his rival! Aura! That definitely wasn't her name of course. It was way more complicated than that, but who had time for complicated names? Aura was a Pokemon thing and Aura was a Pokemon trainer. It was a perfect fit! Besides, whatever her name really was it wasn't as awesome as Aura. Right?

"Off to that nerd Mangrove's?" his dad asked as he rushed towards the door.

"Yeah, dad! Gotta get my partner and beat all the dweebs in this town down to show 'em whose boss before we head out!"

"Right. Show 'em there's a bigger fish. Maybe they'll start focusing on gains like real trainers."

Florence nodded. His dad was a hard man but he was a real bro. He named him Florence so that he'd have the inspiration he needed as a kid to be a real man and pursue gains to stop the bullying. Florence didn't understand as a kid, but now he thought he did.

"I'm gonna beat Aura this time too! She's gotta learn that in a real pokemon battle strategy and tactics don't matter, it's all about your gains!"

His dad nodded. "Knock 'em dead, kid."

Florence grinned back and rushed over to Mangroves nerd hut.

The details of what it looked like weren't important, only the three red and white balls at the end of the building. He made a combee-line right for them.

"Hello there! Allow me to be the first person to welcome you to the far out and ever-tropical Sunsola region! My name is Professor Mangrove. You may recognize me from my work in the field of POKEMON psychology."

"Yeah, yeah old fart. Spare me the speech. I know what a Pokemon is. Just gimme that one! I can tell it's the best!"

"So you want the Grass Type, Rowlet?" the old nerd asked, as if he thought that Florence was some sort of indecisive twerp.

"Yeah! That one! I'm gonna name him The Machine!"

"You do know that's a GRASS TYPE, yes?" Mangrove asked, as if he were stupid. He wasn't stupid. Mangrove just didn't get it.

"He's a fighting machine, old man!" Florence retorted. "You wouldn't get it."

Mangrove snorted in derision. "My album collection would beg to differ."

"You gonna give him to me or not?" Florence asked impatiently.

"Of course. Here's your new starter Pokemon, Rowlet. Which you're naming.... The Machine."

He handed over the ball.

With a cool looking flick of the wrist that Florence would deny to the death having practiced in the mirror for ages the night before if anyone asked him about it, Florence released his partner.

He could feel the unlimited power hiding in its tiny form. The Machine was vicious. He was fearless! He was... wearing a pair of Groucho Marx Glasses?

Huh.

Well, they were probably some super cool Pokemon accessory or something that everyone else knew about. He definitely wasn't going to give the old man the satisfaction of asking him what was up with them. Not if it was gonna make him look like an idiot.

"Hey man. I'm Florence, your trainer, and your new name... is The Machine. Together, we're gonna beat the entire world and show them we're the greatest bros that ever lived!"

Rowlet hooted a mighty hoot of agreement. It was definitely agreement. Probably? Yeah, no. It was definitely agreement. After all, who wouldn't want to go on a totally awesome bromantic adventure together with him? They were gonna win the Pokemon league and inscribe their names into history as the greatest bros of all time!

Florence nodded to himself, a smile growing slowly on his face.

Yes. A new chapter of his life had begun and it was time to flex forward into a brand new era!

With The Machine at his side he would be unstoppable! No, they would be unstoppable. It was time to write the legend of Florence and the Machine!

[X] Oh that's just Florence and his Rowlet, The Machine


Now I remember! His name was Florence. He was, er, very eager? Let's go with that. For whatever reason, the precocious little gym rat decided to name his Rowlet "The Machine" and said I was too old to get it. Kids these days, I swear.

Since you're still here, would you like to give your new Totodile a name?


[ ] Yes

[X] Maybe when I can get near her without these heavy leather gloves


That's a good idea. With that settled, you are ready to start your POKEMON journey! Unless you still need to purchase the bare essentials. Things such as food, flashlights, a tent, a portable stove, a few bottles of Repel...

Ah, your mother has your travel pack prepared at home? I'll leave you to it, then. Call my office when you catch a lot of POKEMON or need any tips on where to find rare ones! My work hours are Mornings to Evenings, Monday through Friday. Good luck on your travels!


-----


You step out of Professor Mangrove's lab with your first pokemon in tow! You're glad that's over. The dude hardly let you get a word in! You stride through town confidently, adamant in the knowledge that you're on your way to becoming POKEMON CHAMPION! You're a bit concerned about your Totodile's biting habits, but as long as you keep those gloves on you should be okay. It has to warm up to you eventually, right? Right.

You stop to read an old sign on the edge of town, where your mom used to stop you before you could walk into the tall grass and bogs of Route 1.


Flavortine Town
"The first course of a new journey!"




You're not really sure what that means, but it sounds exciting!

Other than that, Flavortine Town is the same as you've always remembered it. A little settlement with a few houses and small businesses to it's name. Most of the kids your age have already left to go on their own adventures, leaving a lot of retirees and other adults who shun the fun and the sun. Professor Mangrove moved his lab here years ago because of the peace and quiet, but you've wanted to get out since you were a kid for the same reason!

(Alright, you're still a minor, but now you're a TRAINER! You can go wherever you want with limited adult supervision! Just like you always wanted!)

There's a good amount of younger children walking around town with their parents. They provide some idle chatter to contrast against the busy thoughts bouncing around in your brain.

"My Rattata is in the top percentage of Rattatas!"

"Joey, you have the only Rattata in the region."

"Mommy, when can I have a Gardevoir? They look so pretty!"

"I'm afraid that Ralts aren't native to Sunsola, dear, but we'll see if we can afford a trip to Hoenn in the Summer."

You turn back into town to say goodbye to your neighbors on the way home. The old woman who gives you fresh oranges. Professor Mangrove's assistant who gets the man coffee during the day. The weird guy in the trench coat who has to stay an exact distance away from your house or Officer Jenny shoves him into a patrol vehicle.

When you reach your neighbor's house, you have to step very carefully not to draw attention. Mangrove said he was looking for you, but you'd rather not deal with the guy today--

"She's here!" the fit middle-aged man next door says from the window.

Oh no! Florence was using his dad as a spotter! You rush towards your house, but your rival bolts out of his house to stop you!





"Not so fast, AURA!" Florence declares! "I challenge you to a POKEMON BATTLE!"

You roll your eyes.

"That's not my name, dork!"

"It's cooler than your name!" he replies.

"You're the one with the dumb name, Florence!"

"Florence is a fine name for a boy!" his father declares. "It's what made him into the real man I'm so proud of!"

You hear a window open behind you. This officially got worse.

"Richard!" your mom declares from your house to the man next door. "Is your son picking on my darling Aurelia again? Don't make me come over there and discipline your flower child!"

"Stay out of this, Rita! They're about to have their first POKEMON BATTLE!"

Your mom gasps!

"Aurelia's first battle? Oh my stars, let me get my camera!"

The shouting has woken up your mom's Lycanroc and Richard's Houndoom, who are barking at each other from behind your homes' fences.

"So, AURA!" your rival says with his red and white pokeball at the ready. "What'll it be?"


You have been challenged to your first battle! What will you do?

[ ] Accept
There's no way FLORENCE is getting a win out of you by default. He'll never let you live it down. GO, TOTODILE!
-[ ] Insert Trash Talk Here

[ ] Decline
You don't need this goofball's approval to be a POKEMON MASTER. Blow him off and start your journey already.


⏰ THERE WILL BE A FOUR HOUR MORATORIUM ON THE VOTE.

AN: Since SV is back, I can finally do something that isn't playing Pokemon Platinum instead of writing! The moratorium was gonna be shorter, but the site just got back. No need to rush.