Zene: Chapter 1
About Me
I'm a little different. Well, I say a little, but a little different means much more where I come from. I'm part Pokémon. That's right. Part Pokémon. You see, some people a born differently. I'm something called a Pokéopath.
A Pokéopath is a human born with Pokémon features. This is caused by a genetic mutation which occurs when both parents share a special bond with the same kind of Pokémon. Their psyche is so intertwined with their Pokémon that it causes the DNA of the person to alter a little. If 2 gametes share the same alteration when fertilisation happens then they mutate together and cause the new human to share the Pokémon's characteristics.
I, for example am part-Zanora. Zanora is a recently discovered Pokémon. It's Psychic-Dragon type and is only found around a single area that has been explored very little, so it's quite rare. The Pokéopath mutation happens far more commonly with Psychic Pokémon. Probably because the mental link with the trainer is far more exaggerated by the Pokémon's abilities.
My parents. They are probably the most important factor in my life. They were the ones who made me both who, and what, I am. They met each other while taking part in separate exploratory journeys, on the same mountain that I lived on for most of my life.
They both caught Zanoras, but had hardly any exchanges. As they were both the main trainers for their searches they were required to study any new things found on the expeditions, which meant they studied Zanora in parallel for a few years. In the times they spent working together in their studies they started to fall for each other, and after their years of research they got married. Then I was born. My parents realised what my slim physique and indigo hair meant after my first 3 hours of life. So they decided to take me back to the mountains, where those like me flew freely.
I was very gifted. There's no point in being modest, because it was true. What else can you expect from a 2 year old that can keep an adult conversation running without opening his mouth? What can you expect from a child that has faster reaction times than a dragon type Pokémon? What can you expect from a boy with such an affinity for Pokémon that he can almost control them with his mind, yet keep them their free will?
My inherited psychic abilities meant that I had unsurpassed intelligence, which grew at twice the rate any normal, even genius child's did. The dragon inside of me meant that I was incredibly athletic, with DNA tailored specifically for physical excellence, and a body that can withstand almost any harm. The fresh mountain air meant that I had the perfect conditions to nurture my abilities.
And nurture them I did. Even with the lack of others around me to compare myself to I could see that I was perfect. When my parents taught me it felt as if they were trying to slow me down, not realising my power to grasp any concept thrown at me. I learned far too fast for their expectations, and as a result they had nothing left to teach me when I reached my 14th year. 80+ years of combined experience in 14 years was good. Even I knew that.
In fact I knew it too well.
We moved to the closest city, my parents wanted me to experience the rest of the world. The change of scenery suited me, and I adapted perfectly into my new life. And it was only a single year later that I started the inevitable journey. The journey that we all take. It's not normally that a Pokéopath will become a trainer, because of the strange feeling they have about capturing their own in a ball. Holding another life that you can relate to in your hands. But I couldn't not. It could be too much of a waste.
My first Pokémon was Chickorita. I called him Darrel. Darrel gained in power far quicker than usual. In weeks he'd evolved into a Bayleef, having conquered the first Gym in Johto single handed. Wayne was a decent trainer. It's a shame he no longer runs the Violet Gym. His son Falkner does well with it though. I then travelled to Azalea, and succeeding in beating the leader Bugsy, again with only Darrel. Whitney in Goldenrod was similarly beaten, and Darrel evolved again half way through the match. But it was there I stopped. At least for a while.
I decided that I needed another partner. I may have acquired the Zephyr, Hive, and Plain badges successfully with only Darrel but a single Pokémon wasn't enough to beat the whole League. So I went home. Back to the mountains where I used to live. Of course I only believed that I could train with the right Pokémon. I had a standard. So I was going to catch a Zanora.
This was the big one. While there had been the odd Pokéopath that had become a trainer, there had never been one who caught the Pokémon that was part of them. This was what was going to set me apart from every other trainer that had lived. This was my greatest achievement. And it was almost upon me.