Hello everyone. This is my first ever fanfiction, so I know it's not the greatest.

Please keep that in mind while reading.

CHAPTER ONE

Splash.

The freshly turned off shower nozzle was still dripping water. I was covered in a towel foraging through my closet for the perfect outfit.

Today was a big one, so I needed an outfit that would be special. What do people wear when their date is also their start to becoming a Pokemon trainer… in the forest? I needed something practical and sexy.

A specific tank top caught my eye. Paired with some nice jeans, my legs would be protected from thorns and bushes, but I'd show just enough skin to keep him interested.

With the outfit on, I took a look in the mirror. I smiled as I saw myself looking my best. My shoulder length brown hair wasn't looking flawless, but when is it ever? The gray tank top I chose draped off my chest in a flattering manner, and complimented my fair skin. The cut of the jeans made my short, skinny legs look just that much longer. I winked and smiled at myself. Today was going to be good.

I sat and reviewed my time with Giovanni in my head. He made his first appearance through the blurriness my tears. I had just received the phone call from America that my parents were involved in a fatal car accident. He took my hand and assured me everything was going to be alright. Every day since then we've been seeing one another. He's really made a difference.

With time, I learned he was the gym leader of Viridian City, and quite the accomplished Pokemon trainer. It was his idea to get me a Pokemon of my own.

I started out the door and headed to Viridian Forest. Anticipation struck me. I was going to see the man who helped me through my hardest time, and I was going to start a chapter in my life as a Pokemon trainer.

It was a warm day in May. The trees were showing off their newly grown leaves, and the flowers were covering the landscape. The sound of Pokemon could be heard throughout the forest.

Viridian Forest was always brimming with wild Pokemon. Many people were scared to try and trek it alone, but I found peace there. Not being a Pokemon trainer, I didn't suffer the constant trainer battles other people did, and I never irritated the forest inhabitants by trying to capture them. It was my little comfort zone.

Giovanni was waiting for me just outside the hiking path. A rush of energy overcame me the second I saw him, and I ran over to hug him. We smiled at one another and started walking.

"They say people born in Viridian Forest are given special powers," Giovanni looked over and said, "like me."

I looked at him, confused.

"You have special powers?"

He nodded. "Not just anyone can be a powerful gym leader," he said with a smile.

"Wouldn't it be easier to just give me a Pokemon, Powerful Gym Leader?" I joked. "I mean it's not like you have a shortage of them."

He put his arm around me. "Oh, Tiffany. Then you lose the excitement of capturing one yourself," he said while handing me a pokeball.

I grabbed the pokeball and faked a smile. "Seriously though, most people get to start with a free Pokemon… Why do I have to be different?" I asked.

"You're 21. You shouldn't need anything but yourself to get one," Giovanni said and looked around at the sky. Apparently he was trying to find something specific. Something special.

"There it is!" Giovanni shouted.

I looked up as a giant bird swept across the sky. It was golden yellow with flames sprouting from its wings and tail. A majestic mane of fire adorned its head. I watched in awe as a glowing aura followed closely behind it.

"NOW!"

I stepped back, unprepared for such a quick command.

"Go pokeball!" I yelled and threw the white and red device at the bird. I noticed it turn into a red beam of light and enter the ball.

The second the ball hit the ground, the bird broke free and focused all of its attention on me. It began shooting fire in every direction, squawking and flying carelessly. I was stabbed by sticks and rocks as I hit the ground, dodging the flames.

I could feel the heat of the fire as it darted past me. This Pokemon was trying to give me a good scare before finishing me off. There's no way I could truly outrun fire like this.

The bird stopped for a second and took in a giant breath of air. I knew something big was going to happen and clinched my fist in anticipation. Fire suddenly grew all around and started spinning in an upward motion. "This must be a fire spin," I thought to myself.

I stayed curled on the ground, other than my immense fear, the thought of Giovanni was the only thing on my mind. I prayed he was okay.

Through the top of the fire spin, I noticed something. The bird was now trapped in a complex machine, fighting against it as hard as it could and was being flown away. I sighed in relief knowing that the bird couldn't harm me… then I began to worry about it. What was to become of the creature?

As the fire spin began to die down, I noticed the forest around me was suffering. Trees were nothing but embers on a stick, and the ashes of what were once flowers speckled the ground. Terrified Pokemon flew, crawled, and ran every direction. I had to escape… but not before I found Giovanni.

Limbs engulfed in flames were falling all around me, blocking my path farther into the forest. If Giovanni was deep inside, I had no way to reach him. My home was located just outside of Viridian Forest. I had to leave now before I was completely blocked in.

It was too late. My home, the last thing I had left from my parents was already destroyed. I dropped to the ground, out of breath, and coughing from the smoke. Tears erupted from my eyes with no signs of stopping. No family, no home, no Pokemon. All I had left now was Giovanni. If he made it.

My fist started pounding the ground. The harder I hit it, the less I cried. I started to regain focus and energy and decided I would go to Viridian Gym to see if Giovanni had made it back.

The thoughts of what could have happened invaded my mind the whole way there. What if he is still trapped in the forest? What if he's hurt?

My hands shook as I reached for the gym door. I was eager to see if he was inside, but didn't want the last of my hopes destroyed if he wasn't inside.

The door was locked. Violently, I threw myself into it and fell to the ground. The bad thoughts were prominent in my mind, but I kept the hope he would return eventually.

That time finally came, and what I saw wasn't quite what I had in mind.

In formation, a large group of men in matching uniforms walked towards the gym. Behind them was the very bird I had tried to tame, tied to a platform on wheels. I questioned the barbaric nature of this Pokemon's capture, but my hope for Giovanni's safety was replenished.

I looked around at the men and smiled at any of them who glanced at me, trying to get their attention. Any time I opened my mouth about to talk, they would look away and act if I wasn't there. Anger was beginning to replace my feelings of hope and sadness. Something was going on.

After the last man entered the gym, I forced my way in before the door could be locked again. Stomping and stomping, I made my way deeper into the building looking of any sign Giovanni was still alive. Above me on a balcony a man was looking down at me, the man I was looking for.

A faint smile was drawn on my face as soon as I saw Giovanni. He was unscathed, and looked accomplished. As fast as I could, I ran those stairs to that balcony.

"Thank God you're alright!" I said to him.

He glanced at me and started grinning.

"Get the hell out of here," he commanded.

I looked around to see who he was talking to; there were men on the gym floor so I assumed it wasn't me. He should be happy to see I'm alright.

I walked up to him wrapped my arms around his chest. All the rage and anger I had stored up moments before vanished, and I was happy again.

Giovanni remained silent and still. I clenched him harder hoping he would embrace me, but instead he took my arms, and pulled them away from his body. His grin turned into a frown.

My heart sank and I could feel my body begin to tremble.

"Why are you acting like this, Giovanni?!" I choked up.

"Acting?" he said as the grin came back. "You think I'm acting?! Do you really think I wanted to help you? Me?! The leader of the Viridian gym… and the leader of Team Rocket? What would I want with a little girl like you?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. This was the man that talked with me for hours when he saw me crying outside of the Viridian Forest one day. The man who kept me company every day after my parents disappeared. Why was he doing this? And how is he the leader of Team Rocket?

"You seemed to be an easy enough pawn. I was able to manipulate you quite fast," Giovanni began. "You were a great distraction for Moltres." He pulled out a photo of the bird I tried to capture. "That Pokemon, it could never be contained in a simple Pokeball, but that machine I used to capture it was brilliant. Only problem was we needed to approach Moltres from behind."

I stepped back from him, realizing everything he was saying.

"It would be best for you to leave now," Giovanni said. "I like you enough not to want to kill you."

And with that, I reluctantly left.

The fires were now dead and I felt I could safely forage through my home. Rubble was all that was left, but maybe… just maybe I could find something in there. A scavenger hunt would at least keep my occupied. I needed to try and think of things other than Giovanni. I began moving pieces of rock and plaster trying to uncover something. Anything.

Finally, my eye was drawn to something. A bit of red was standing out among all the black carbon and I ran over, trying my best not to trip on anything and get hurt.

Hidden in the ashes was a Pokeball.

"This must have belonged to one of my parents." I said to myself. None of them were trainers though. Perhaps it's empty.

I pressed the button on the ball just to see. The white beam that the ball emitted was very bright, but eventually formed a shape.

As the light faded away, a blue serpent sat there. It had wing-like feathers on its head, and small gems adorned its tail.

"Dragon Dragonair," it said to me.

I held out my hand to touch it. I slowly stroked the creature's head all the way down its back. The Pokemon and I smiled at one another. It could sense my sadness, and wrapped itself around me. In my arms, the Pokemon weeped with me.