The Silver Summaries
"Zuko, sweetie, time for dinner!"
Zuko looked up from his game of catch with his friends and reluctantly walked over to his mother.
"Mooooom," he whined. "I want to play some more."
"I know, baby. But every Cyndaquil needs a healthy meal if they're to get stronger and evolve!" And with a smile, Zuko's mother led him over to the dinner area with the rest of the families. All the Pokémon in the area ate together as a community. Everyone knew everyone.
After dinner, Zuko played with the other kids while his parents watched and talked with the other adults. When the sun went down, the children were all sent to bed. It was just another ordinary day.
"Zuko!"
He groaned and rolled over, intending to go back to sleep. Then he was jostled roughly.
"Wha-?" he asked and opened his eyes to see the whole area on fire. Pokémon were running around chaotically and he was alone.
Well, almost.
"Dad!" Zuko exclaimed, looking up at his father, a Quilava. "What's going on?"
"We need to leave, son!" At that, Quilava picked his son up and took off. Zuko looked around for his mom, but couldn't see her.
"Dad! Where's Mom?"
Quilava's arms tightened around Zuko for a second and he thought he heard him let out a sob. Zuko was astonished. Why was Dad crying?
"Dad? Dad! Stop! We need to find Mom!" At that, Zuko jumped out of his dad's arms and ran back towards the way they came. Quilava stopped him.
"She went on ahead. We'll see her later."
Zuko paused at his strange tone of voice and knew something was wrong. He went with his dad anyway.
"And where do you think you're going?" a voice growled from nearby. Zuko looked and saw a large shadow. He hid behind his dad.
"Run, Zuko! Run!" Quilava shouted and then attacked the shadowy figure. Shocked, Zuko stumbled back and then ran away. Now he was lost in a crowd and didn't know where to go. Where's Mom? Dad? His friends?
"Goin' somewhere, kid?"
Zuko looked to see an evil looking 'Mon sneering down at him and the Pokémon lunged. Then he got hit in the face by a strong sprout of water.
"Come on, Zuko!" Marill, a family friend, pulled Zuko away and they ran full hilt. They ran and ran until they couldn't hear the noises any more. Then they arrived at a hidden hole in the ground.
"Down here," Marill whispered and slipped down the hole. Zuko followed.
Later, Zuko learned what had happened. King Cruel, a Tentacruel that was the ruler of the Pokémon Kingdom, had sent his 'Mons to attack the area because they suspected a part of the Rebellion resided there. Zuko also learned that his parents, as well as his friends, had all been killed. Only Zuko and a small group of survivors were left.
He also found out that King Cruel hadn't been wrong about the Rebellion. Marill, a friend of the family, was a Rebel and had taken Zuko with her to the safety of one of their Safe Homes.
There, they let Zuko live without any expectations. And he listened. They talked about their group. They spoke of King Cruel and his wicked deeds. They also expressed their wish that someone could do something, that they could make a change.
Zuko decided to make that change. When Marill found out, she tried to dissuade him, but he was determined.
They finally decided to let him leave, with Ratty the Rattata in tow. But before they were able to leave, King Cruel's 'Mons discovered the Safe Home. And they attacked. Marill helped Zuko and Ratty safely get away and gave them an important item. An Egg. For some reason, King Cruel wanted it and they needed to keep it out of his hands. The two were to deliver it to one of the other Safe Homes.
Zuko agreed and, with Ratty, got it to the other Safe Home. That was Zuko's first taste of his new life and, after a quick rest, he and Ratty continued on their journey.