Forum Thread

Pursuit of a Gem Collector

Greg’s parents were both accomplished trainers, and they expected him to take the same path…After all, his parents had already started to train him and teach him about what it takes to be a Pokemon trainer. It seemed like Greg was set to be the next great trainer in the family.

For his starter Pokemon, Greg had to choose between three Pokemon, Chespin, Froakie, and Fennekin. The moment Fennekin gazed up at him with its bright, eager eyes, Greg felt a spark of connection, and he made his choice. He was finally ready to explore the world of Pokemon and so with a final goodbye to his parents, he left the town he originated in. During his travels, Greg couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing, but he didn’t question it, at least not now.

Greg was clumsy, and one day as he ran away from a flock of angry Pidgey, he entered a cave because he knew that the flock of Pidgey wouldn’t follow him inside. Greg sat inside the cave until he looked down and saw a red gem, he held it in his hand, fascinated by it as he looked around the cave and got the urge to go deeper. He created a torch with the help of Fennekin so that he could explore the cave. Not long after, Greg stumbled upon an area of the cave with odd symbols all around, but the most peculiar part of this discovery was the scroll in the middle. Out of curiosity, Greg decided to open the scroll. It felt ancient in his hands as he unraveled it. The scroll detailed a myth that spoke of a never-seen legendary Pokemon, one that could only be summoned by gathering a vast number of type-based gems. Greg was instantly captivated by what he read, as the scroll promised the chance to do something extraordinary. Without a second thought, Greg took the scroll and placed it in his backpack, he had decided to pursue the myth. As Greg left the cave, he looked down at the red gem he had found when he first entered the cave and smiled. He had finally found what he was missing, a drive, something he could passionately work towards.

Since then, Greg has dedicated his life to collecting gems, fully convinced that he is on the brink of an incredible discovery. He went from town to town, actively seeking a reliable source of acquiring gems. Greg had heard of Emera Town before, it was known as the “ground of precious treasures”, and that is why when he finally stepped foot into the town, he knew this was the place.

Now, Greg engages with trainers from all around Emera Town, collecting gems with unyielding enthusiasm. The deal is that any trainer can give him a specific type and amount of gems, in return for whichever Pokemon that trainer desires.

Each night, under the cover of darkness, Greg slips through Emera Town’s alleys and out towards Route 53, his eyes darting around as if to make sure no one is watching. He would also sometimes during the night, head back to the cave where he found the scroll, hoping that one day he would finally have enough gems. Some Emera town residents do notice Greg going out during the night, but they just assume it’s because he's a weird guy. What they don’t know is that with each gem, Greg is one step closer to summoning the never-seen legendary Pokemon, or perhaps he’s only wasting his time. Only time will tell.

Journal Entry 8065:

I confess I have the ramblings of a crazy old man and I haven’t taken to writing in quite a long time…but this is a good story, trust me.
Some time ago, Nathaniel (as I like to call him) or Professor Rowan (as the kids like to call him) challenged me to a race to see who could encounter Raylong the fastest. Loser owes the winner a fine dinner at Los Seashellos. And so naturally, as you know, the legend goes that you have to collect “7 orbs of deep green”. And I had suspicion that at least 1 of them was hidden deep within Royal Tunnel. A great expedition! And yet my great ambition was my downfall…of which I can better explain later on. Anyway, so I packed food and water, first aid, flashlight, and a Pokemon encyclopedia for quick reference. So I was a child again, searching for elusive and mysterious treasure that I wasn’t certain I would indeed find! And it was horrible. It took me many, many, many sunless weeks. I was going crazy, because you know…the common type gems are much easier to find, because I know they’re…well, there. And I’ve gotten so used to hoarding those easily obtainable gems. And it’s been such a long time…5 years to be exact since I’ve tried finding something unknown. But I was a child again and didn’t want to give up to arrogant Nathaniel. My desire for winning was so ingrained into my noggin that I carried on, and lo and behold, I found it hidden in a little crevice on the tunnel wall after months of searching. And now I finally had it. But…it didn’t feel good. Because then I remembered there were the other 6 orbs I had to find. And I had as much luck as throwing a coin into the Fountain- which is very very little. What good would it do for me to sacrifice so much of my time and effort for a goose chase? And Nathaniel cheats anyway. He always sweet talks Leah into giving him rare candies to beat Oak with in the Pokemon leveling contests they always do…and I’ve seen him straight up give these Pokemon to trainers and have them do all the work!
And so I gave the Orb to some random trainer who trades me gems on occasion so I wouldn’t be tempted to continue the hunt, and I went to Nathaniel’s lab and told him that I gave up. And you know what? Dear Arceus- he didn’t even remember about the challenge in the first place! It’s been that long and he wasn’t intending to have even done it! That nasty coward! He has no honor or shame I tell you…I bet hunting for gems for a living would whip him up to shape. But anyway, we went to Los Seashellos anyway and had some of those Pikachu Burgers smothered in barbeque sauce. And it wasn’t too bad because the burgers were nice and I was happy and full.