Chapter 1

Sasha Smirnov looked out into the stars as she lay on the grass.

The girl was rather small, pale with long blonde hair trailing down to her waist. The fourteen year old girl was unable to sleep as she stared into the nebulous abyss above her, bright blue eyes gazing up as the stars twinkled back down at her. She wore a small plain grey t-shirt and grey skirt along with black pantyhose and black shoes, but as an orphan, that was all she could afford. Luckily, she had managed to save up and purchase her very own pokeball by working as the local Zelenyy Town's professor's assistant.

And even better, Professor Fennel, a student that had come to the Strana Region after studying under Professor Juniper from Unova, had promised to give her a pokemon later that night so she could start a pokemon journey of her own! Along with a pokedex and a phone! Soon she would be on her way to becoming rich and famous, becoming champion of the region so everyone would look up to her instead of looking down at her for being poor and unwanted!

Even her friends, Nicholas and, well Natasha wasn't as much as a friend as she was someone the girl knew, would be starting their journeys as well. The Professor had managed to snag them each a pokemon of their own by calling in some favors with the local gym leaders, and so, her friends would be with her along the way as well.

"Hehehe!" She let out a giggle as her smile split her face. "I can't wait! We'll be getting our pokemon tonight and then we'll be starting our journey tomorrow! I'll finally leave this place!"

Sasha was too busy thinking on her relationship with her friends that she didn't notice as one of the stars got brighter...till said "star" slammed into the ground a couple feet from her, the girl jumping up and yelping as she hid behind a nearby rock. She looked at the strange crater, debating whether she should go back to Zelenyy Town...but her curiosity got the better of her. While she was rather cautious for a girl her age, and one of the brightest students attending the local League school, having graduated at the top of her class, she was still quite curious.

As she slowly crept closer to the crater, she noticed a bright green light coming from it, and decided to take a peek into it.

"Is that...a Minior?" She asks herself. "They only come from the Alola region, and some parts of Unova and even then, it's usually in the ozone layer...what's one doing all the way out here?" She fumbles in her pockets and pulls out her glasses, her blue eyes widening as she takes in the Minior's appearance. "Green. Huh, that's a rather rare color for you isn't it?" She says as she touches the pokemon, wincing as she pulls her hand back, the meteor pokemon still hot to the touch. The Minior let's out a pitiful squeal, and Sasha feels nothing but pity for the creature, but there is nothing she could do to help it.

Its shell was too busted up and had seemed to shatter upon landing, and it was still too hot to touch. Not to mention, she didn't have any potions, nor could she afford any. Biting her lower lip, she decided to sit there and comfort the small star-like creature, the little pokemon beeping and booping in it's own strange little language. It was as it was slowly calming down and stopped wiggling so much, that Sasha noticed a slight difference between this one and the one's she had seen when she studied in her books.

It had a strange crystal lodged in it, and it looked to be causing it physical pain.

"This is what caused you to crash, didn't it little guy?" She asks, and the face of the Minior nods, beeping enthusiastically as she reached forward and grabbed the crystal, taking care not to touch the creature's still hot, if not dangerously so, body. "This is gonna hurt, alright? You mind if I pull it out?" The pokemon nods, and she plants her shoe on it's body and pulls on the crystal lodged in it, the green being letting out a cry as she tugged as hard as she could. With a loud crack, she had finally managed to get it out, the pokemon letting out a cry of relief as it slipped out from under her foot and slowly hovered over the ground.

Sasha glanced at the strange crystal, feeling oddly enticed by it. Small ethereal shapes moved around inside it, as if the crystal itself was alive.

Images of a large grey pokemon, made up of strange green crystals filled her mind, and she felt like she could scream when it looked at her, hearing it call out her name in her mind...

The blonde knew she should have put the crystal down when she heard that voice in her mind, two green orbs and a slash representing a mouth appearing in the crystal, but she couldn't help it. If it wasn't the child like wonder at finding a talking rock keeping her from dropping it and running, the psychic compulsions on it practically demanded she hold onto it, the instincts deep in her mind being overridden by the magic of the crystal. She took the crystal, her grip tight, as she pointed the sharp end at her chest, the Minior making panicked bleeping noises.

She ignored it as she jammed the crystal into her chest.

Her world slowly dimmed as she fell unconscious, green energy flowing out of the crystal and into her body.

An Hour later...

"BLEEEP!"

"Huh? Wah?" Sasha blinks her eyes as she takes in the green Minior floating above her, dust starting to coalesce on the outside of it's body to form it's hardened shell. "That...that wasn't a dream, was it?" She asks the pokemon, and it let's out a bleep that sounds like a no in reply. "Maybe I should go ask Fennel-"

Her alarm on her watch bleeps, and her eyes nearly bug out of her skull.

"Crap! I'll be late to get back to the professor!" She jumps up from the ground, the Minior following her as she runs back, not noticing the crystal jangling in her pocket.

At the Zelenyy Town Labs…

"Sasha, where've you been? The professors gonna open her doors any second!" Her friend, a tall boy named Gregory asked. "You stupid or somethin'?" The delinquent asks, Sasha rolling her eyes in return. The boy was an old friend of hers, but he was known as a rather shady individual around town. Mostly due to the fact that he dropped out of League School at eleven and took up a career in creating rather, in her opinion, tacky jewelry. A bit odd of a career choice for the brunette, but if it was what made him happy, and judging by the large Crown symbol adorned on his necklace, it most certainly did.

"I'm not stupid. I was just," She didn't want to say passed out per say. More like she fell asleep, because she knew he would needle her about it incessantly if she told him. "sleeping. You know how comfy the plains get in the summer, before the winter comes and blankets this place and we have to stay inside because it's too cold."

"Don't remind me. The matron down at the orphanage threw a fit when I got outside that one time and-" He looks surprised at the small floating rock slowly traveling behind her, "Hey, you made a little friend while you were away?"

Sasha nods her head. "Yeah, it's a Minior. Fell right near me and," She clutches her head, wanting to tell him about the crystal lodged in it, but it felt like her head was going to explode just thinking about it, "Gaah!"

"Hey losers, figured you two would've missed getting your pokemon, y'know." A voice says from behind her, Sasha turning her head to spot Natasha. The beautiful redhead tilts her head as she looks at Sasha, her tall curvy frame covered up by a fluffy coat, a nice red shirt, and blue denim pants. "I know you're pathetic, but don't go collapsing before you even get your pokemon."

"Screw you." Sasha replies. Natasha gives her a look that told Sasha that she would be in for a tongue lashing, but Natasha held off on that. It wouldn't look good for her to talk that way if the professor showed up. "Now uh...what we're you saying Gregory?"

"I was asking about the floating ball next to you." He says, laying a hand on the Minior, the pokemon smiling back at him with it's wispy eyes and mouth.

"Mini!"

"Ah, well, it landed right next to me and," She let's out a breath as the pain briefly returns, as if the memory would make her feel pain if she mentioned it, "I helped it out of the crater. It's been following me ever since."

"A falling Minior is a sign of good luck, y'know, something you're really gonna need." Natasha says as she too begins to pet the floating orb-being, the Rock and Flying type letting out an excited cry under all the attention. "Thing is pretty cute, y'know." The redhead has a small smile under her face as Minior glows under the preening. "I'll admit, it makes me a little jealous, but I'm going to be getting a pokemon of my own soon, y'know, so I won't have to worry."

"And then we'll start makin' money." Gregory says, with Sasha nodding along with him. The two were orphans, and both of them knew what it was like to be poor and unwanted. But with their pokemon, they could be rich, powerful, and most of all, famous. That was why they were gunning for the championship position, even if they had different endgoals. Natasha on the other hand, simply wanted the fame and the power that came along with being a champion. "I'll finally be able to fund a rapping career. I'll have bitches all over me."

Sasha let's a small laugh escape from her lips. "Oh, and what are we chopped liver?"

"Nah, you two aren't bitches. Well..." He let's a small grin slide across his face, "I don't really know about Natasha."

"Once I get my pokemon, I'm going to pound you till you beg for mercy, y'know." Natasha states.

"Uh Natasha, I think you should reword your threat." Sasha says, Gregory giving Natasha a sly grin at her comment.

"Y'know, why would I do that?" She asks, her red hair cascading down her shoulders as she tilted her head.

Sasha is silent for a few moments, before replying. "Never mind."

As the trio chats, Minior floating in the middle of the group, the door to the Shamrock Laboratory opens, and a tall woman steps out. With long black hair cascading down to her ankles, blue eyes behind glasses, and a lab coat covering her, Professor Fennel looks every bit the studious researcher she was. She smiled at the trio, seeing the children as full of potential, her massive Musharna, a wopping four feet long, floating beside her as she welcomed the three into her labs.

"So how has it been you three? Still studying those text books I gave you?" She asks as the three and the Minior follow her. A chorus of yes are her answer, though the varying enthusiasm was a bit off putting. "Good. And I see you even have a little friend with you."

"Yeah, Sasha found it in a crater, y'know." Natasha says, her eyes a bit distracted as she spots the pokeball sitting on a pedestal near the far end of the lab.

"You must have good luck to find one Sasha," The blonde girl preens a bit under the praise. "Getting your hands on one, especially a green one, is a hard feat indeed. Most of them tend to self-destruct when confronted, since that's there main defense mechanism against pokemon hunting them. The shrapnel from their shells is quite lethal. Here," She says, pulling out a pokeball from her pocket and handing it to Sasha. "Be thankful we're in a dusty area so the shell could start to coalesce again around it, or it probably would've floated off to Mt. Gora. A pokeball should help keep it with you until it learns how to control it's weight so it doesn't float off."

"Thanks, Mo-" Sasha quickly corrects herself. "Professor."

A small smile creeps onto Fennel's face. She had a soft spot for the orphan, and after over a year of the girl working for her, she had began to treat the girl as more than just an assistant. Sasha had been rather shy about it at first, but had quickly warmed up to the woman, seeing her as the mother she never had, and it warmed Fennel's heart. "Your welcome. Now," She picks up a pokeball and hands it to Gregory, along with a League Phone and a Pokedex. "This little guy is one of the first species that was discovered on the Strana Islands to the East of here. A little firey guy for a little guy with a firey spirit." She let's out a chuckle as the teen turns his head, hating being called little. "This Flambear is yours."

Gregory tries not to be rude, but ends up being rude anyway as he snatches the items out of her hand, too excited to care what people think of him as he presses the button on the ball and unleashes his pokemon. The flash from it dies down, and unveils possibly the cutest thing Sasha had ever seen. A small red bear like creature, with hair that was firey red covering it's body, and black streaks in it, looked up at its new trainer, its small black eyes looking at its trainer with an expression of excitement.

"Flam! Flambear!"

Gregory let out a high pitched squeal, instantly lowering Natasha's respect for him, as he picked up the pokemon and hugged it to him. "This is awesome yo! Thanks professor, you're the best! I'm gonna head back to the orphanage and pack my stuff before heading on Route 1. See y'all later!" He says excitedly as he books it outta there.

Natasha shakes her head as she watches him leave. "Ugh, why are we stuck with him, y'know. Why couldn't we be stuck with Patrick. At least he was really hot."

Sasha let's out a small giggle. "Oh come on, he isn't that bad. He's just a little...eccentric."

"A little friggin weird is more like it." The redhead replies. "Eh, could be worse. Could be wearing a wig like you, y'know. He's pretty scary already."

"Hey, don't talk about my wig. You know why I wear it!" Sasha replies, before Professor Fennel coughs, reminding the two girls of her presence. She smiles eerily down on them, as if practically begging them to continue so she could use her freak of nature Musharna to force them to calm down.

"Are you two finished?" She asks, and the girls quickly nod. "Good. Now," She grabs another League Phone, along with a pokeball and a pokedex. "This one contains a rather eerie little pokemon known as a Grelien. They're known to use their psychic power to send people visions, most of them tending to be like a lucid dream when experienced. It's also one of the few Psychic and Dark Type pokemon known to man, giving it an edge against enemy psychic types, while still allowing it all the powers of one. I believe this pokemon shall complement you nicely." She hands Natasha her items, the girl putting her phone and pokedex in her pocket before releasing her pokemon. The Grelien is, in Sasha's opinion, creepy as hell. Two large black eyes on an entirely white body, with no arms, two spindly legs, and a small mouth with sharp teeth. The Grelien looked up at it's new owner with nothing short of awe, having never seen a human before. Natasha looked at her pokemon for a moment, before she cradled it in her arm's and hugged it.

"Thank you professor. She's perfect, y'know." That is all the redhead says as she takes her pokemon back with her as she leaves and heads towards the orphanage. Fennel smiles as she looks at Sasha, the girl watching nervously as her friend leaves.

"It's okay Sasha. You can take your wig off." She says. Sasha does so reluctantly, taking the long blonde wig off to reveal dark purple hair in a bob cut underneath. A long scar went across her forehead, red and angry, a result of a psy-slash from a psychic criminal, the one who took her parents from her. It was a constant reminder of her parent's death, and something the other kids had made fun of her for, and so, Fennel had acquired the girl a wig. She had known what it felt like to be mocked for your appearance, but as time had gone by, she had regretted it. The girl was beautiful in her opinion, and shouldn't cover up her features, comforting herself in a lie so others would accept her. Just like Fennel had figured after apprenticing under Professor Juniper, others opinions didn't matter, only her own had mattered.

But if it helped the girl, then for now, she would tolerate it. But not when they were alone. Now, she got to see the real girl and not the impression she put up for others.

"Mom." Sasha says, hugging the woman, her face pressed against her lab coat. "Thank you for everything."

"You don't have to thank me honey." She says, bending down to lay a kiss on her forehead.

"Yes I do. No one else wanted me after what happened to my parents, and everyone else made fun of me because of my scar, and I was ugly and messed up. But when I apprenticed under you, you cared about me and showed me that there was someone who wanted me, and even when you couldn't afford to adopt me, you still spent time with me." She let out a sniffle as Fennel kissed her on the forehead, her hand rubbing small circles on her back. "Just...thank you. I love you so much."

"I love you too." She replies, laying one last kiss on the scar on her forehead. "You're a wonderful daughter, and I know you'll be a great trainer. Out of the three, I know you'll be the only one to use your pokedex, to learn more about pokemon, and use that to overcome any trails you'll face. The other two rely on intimidation or brute force, and that'll get them far, but not as far as you. I may not be a psychic, but I don't need those powers to see the bright future ahead of you."

"Now," She hands Sasha a pokedex and a League phone, the girl quickly shoving it in her pockets. "I know you may not be very...comfortable around psychic types, but I believe that this pokemon, a Psychic and Ice type, will be the best fit for you. She'll protect you, just like I know you'll protect her. Now, why don't you see what she is?"

Sasha gulps, a bit cautious to unleash a psychic type, but if her mother had said it was good for her, then she believed her. She closed her eyes as she pressed the button, and with a flash, the pokemon was released. A small cry is heard, a rather cute one in her opinion, and she opens her eyes. A small purple skinned girlish creature is in front of her, an adorable red dress made of hair psychically weaved, adorned on her along with a small yellow bib. Long blonde hair cascaded down the creatures head, and it looked up at the trainer with it's charcoal orbs.

"Smooch?"

Sasha's heart melted at the sight of the adorable psychic pokemon. While she hated psychics, this one was okay in her books. She felt a small tingle in her mind, and she started to hear the smoochum's voice in her head.

'Will you be my friend? My mommy's gone and I don't have anyone else.' It asked, and the purple haired girl felt her heart break at that. No wonder Fennel thought she would like it, the pokemon was just like her. An orphan with no one else. Resolve filled Sasha's heart as she looked down at the creature.

'I will be your friend.' She replies, and the smoochum walks closer and hugs her leg.

"I see you two are getting along quite well already." Fennel says, "I found her in my journeys in Johto. A haunter had attacked a jynx and her mother didn't make it. I figured you two would get along with your similar situations. Either way, she's quite a beauty isn't she." Sasha nods as she picks up her little friend, the smoochum snuggling into her chest. "She's a rather recent variant that has popped up in Johto, a mutation that causes them to be rather hairy in the egg, so when they're born, they'll have a higher chance of survival once they pluck the hair out and weave it into the dress. We're calling them Beta Smoochums, and you're one of the lucky few that has one. So, what are you gonna call her?" Fennel asks, and Sasha mulls it over before asking the Smoochum if she has a name of her own. The tiny blonde pokemon shakes her head, and Sasha decides on a name for her.

"Sneg. It's Strana for Snow." She says and Fennel nods.

"A fine name. And what about your Minior? He's become quite attached to you as well." Fennel asks.

"I'm thinking Zvesda. It means star." She says as she returns the smoochum to her pokeball. "I know I'm starting to repeat myself, but thank you Mom. For everything."

"You don't need to thank me." Fennel says, slowly walking Sasha towards the entrance of her labs. "But if you feel the need to, do it by being the best trainer and researcher you can be. Go out and discover things, and make me proud apprentice." She says with a smile, Sasha giving her a hug before she departs. "And remember to call me on your phone!" She shouts out to the retreating girl, the purple haired girl putting her wig back on, hiding her scar with the fake blonde hair.

As she approaches the orphanage, she can't help but look around at the small town around her, barely more than forty people in all. The small lamps that light the way on the few roads in the place, the beautiful sky, red flowers surrounding her. She'd all be leaving this tomorrow, and while some memories of this place were bad, she also had plenty of good ones.

She stepped into the orphanage, layed down on her bed, and fell asleep.

Dreaming of the adventures that awaited her...