Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

A/N: It's been a while since I've written a fic, so I hope you enjoy this new one. The first chapter is only a short one, but I promise there will be longer ones in the future. Please read and review. No flames please.

Chapter One: Siblings

"I don't want to anymore!"

The words of the fearful 5-year-old were swept away like leaves on the wind as she was pulled along a rubble path towards a large, overgrown hedge.

"Jimmy! Brendy! I said I don't wanna go!" She stopped, jerking her arms and trying to free them from the tight grip of her older twin brothers.

The 7-year-olds turned towards her, both of them scowling. For someone just glancing at them, it was difficult to tell them apart, but there were subtle differences. Jimmy, or James rather, was slightly taller, with lighter sandy –coloured hair, while Brendon was the stockier and more serious of the pair. He also had a scar on his hand where he had fallen off the roof when he was younger. Both had hazel eyes, which were now staring at their younger sister.

"You have to, Lolly," said Brendon in an annoyed voice. "We had to and so do you."

"Yeah, otherwise you won't be a big girl and all the kids at school will laugh at you," James taunted her.

Dirty blonde strands fell in front of the girl's face as she looked down at her sandal-clad feet. She didn't have the nerve to argue with her brothers, and the thought of being the centre of attention and laughter by the other kids at school was possibly more terrifying to the poor girl than her current situation.

"See Brend, I told you she was a pidgey," James said, dropping her arm in disgust. "We're going to pretend not to know you at school tomorrow coz you're such a pidgey."

Brendon glared at his brother. "Don't be such a meany dratini Jimmy, you know what she's like."

He turned to his sister and with a serious, grown-up voice, said, "Lolly, you know it's the rule that you have to touch the ghost lady's door when you're five, otherwise you'll be a big baby forever and ever, and that's a really long time. Everybody has to do it. Jimmy and I both did it, and now you have to too."

Scared, tear-filled light brown eyes met his hazel ones. "Do I really have to go?" she said in a small voice.

Brendon nodded firmly. "Yes, but we are gonna come with you so you won't be so scared, kay?"

James made a harrumphing sound. Brendon turned around and punched his brother hard on the arm. "Stop it Jimmy, we 'romised!"

"Fine! Let's just go and get it over with so that we can go to Sean's house."

The trio crept up to the large hedge near the northern end of the town. Following it around one side, the two boys made sure they were all out of sight from the main road. "'kay, just wriggle through here and run and touch the door and run back. It's really easy," Brendon instructed his sister, pointing at a thin part of the hedge, where numerous snapped branches and small, muddy footprints made it clear this was the entry point of all five-year-olds. "We're gonna watch you from here."

With a last, terrified glance at her brothers, the small girl pushed her way hesitantly through the hedge, twigs catching in her hair and dress, until she was standing on the other side, looking up at the weather-beaten cottage. Run and then it's all over and I can be a big girl and not a pidgey like Jimmy says and I can go back home and Mummy will make me chocky cake.

With a deep breath and an act which surprised both her and her brothers, she leapt forward, running as fast as her little feet could take her up the creaky stairs until she touched the door. As soon as she felt the merest hint of the wood under her dirt-covered hand, she turned, racing back towards the hedge in fear.

However a slightly raised stair plank was to dash her hopes of making it back to the hedge quickly. With a cry, she tumbled on to the soft grass, skinning both her knees. Trying not to sob, she stood back up again, desperate to just get away from this place.

Looking back towards the hedge to find the hole where she had come in, the little girl let out a high-pitched frightened shriek as what looked like a giant pokeball with eyes rolled in front of her. Startled by the sudden noise, the ball started glowing brighter and brighter. The girl, totally petrified and unable to move, let out another childish scream.

"LIGHT SCREEN!"

A loud booming sound deafened the child and knocked her off her feet. She fell heavily and started crying. She didn't understand what was happening until she saw an old woman bending over her, and then her heart stopped beating.

She'd been caught by the ghost lady.

A/N: Oh noes, not the ghost lady! And just for anyone who's worried, no, her name is NOT Lolly. That's her brother's nickname for her. Please review!