I fidgeted in my new uniform, tugging on the end of a violet sleeve to straighten it out. The uniform – a long purple coat and white pants – was the finest garment I'd ever worn, and wearing it marked the end of long years of study and training.

But it wasn't the uniform that had caused me to stay up all night tossing and turning. It was my Pokémon.

What was I going to get? I told herself I would be fine with anything – the Cresselian Guard had been selecting their new recruits' starting Pokémon for generations, after all, and despite being in their company more than that of children my own age for most of my childhood, I'd never heard one complaint. The Cresselians ran batteries of tests to determine the most suitable partner for each recruit, and drew information from the rigorous three-year training program at the Academy that recruits underwent before they even got to the point that they were deemed worthy of a Pokémon partner. Whatever they had chosen for me, I would trust that it was the right fit. Even if it was something like a Grimer, or a Shuckle…

I cringed at the thought of those Pokémon being selected as my starter. I would put on a brave face, but, what I wanted was a Charmander, just like my father had gotten on when he'd become a full member of the Cresselian Guard and set out on his grand tour of Edda. I'd grown up with Ruby, my father's Charizard, as much a presence in my life as my father himself. As a Cresselian, my father was ineligible to compete in the Pokémon tourneys that enthralled commoners and nobles alike – but many whispered that were he eligible, Captain Bandian Mikaid of the Cresselians and his Ruby would battle on equal footing with the Elite Four. I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps and surpass him and Ruby with a Charizard of my own, becoming the greatest Cresselian in the history of Edda.

There was no use worrying about it. There was nothing I could do now to change my fate. I eyed the three Pokéballs waiting on the table at the front of the sanctum – they were forged of the finest Faerie Glass, the mineral mined in the mountains of the Daguz region that, until the recent invention of Apricorn Pokéballs, had been the only material from which Pokémon-capturing devices could be made.

The balls were two different shades of gray, a dark near-black on top and a lighter slate gray on bottom, with a line of silver separating the two hemispheres and encircling the button that would release my new partner when pressed. It was all I could do to not throw my three years of stoic training to the side and run up to the Pokéball like a child.

A door opened to my left and a quintet of Cresselians stepped through, all decked out in their finest whites and purples, the Cresselian colors. I recognized their leader, a wizened woman with stark white hair and bronze skin. She walked with the aid of a cane, but her posture radiated grace and command. I'd often seen her from afar, though I had rarely been in this close of company with her. This was Nisi Drenin, the High Commander of the Cresselians.

Behind Nisi stood my father, Bandian Mikaid. He caught my eye and winked. On my father's other side was Sallia Samoth, one of my father's closest friends in the Cresselians, who had been like an aunt to me growing up. Sallia was smiling, and like my father, had mischief tinkling in her eyes.

I flushed and returned my father a stoic nod before turning my eyes front like a good soldier. I hadn't recognized the two Cresselians on Drenin's other side – no surprise there. As much time as I'd spent among my father's comrades, the Cresselians were a widespread organization with nodes throughout the kingdom, despite their main purpose of protecting the royal family. Cresselians were constantly on tour or coming and going on one task or another at the behest of Commander Drenin or Edda's Lord Regent himself.

Eventually, Drenin's slow pace brought the five veteran Cresselians to the front of the sanctum, the three Pokéballs resting between them and the three new recruits.

"Cresselians," Nisi intoned. Her voice echoed as incense swirled between the sanctum's pillars. The sanctum was one of the most sacred spaces in all of Edda, centered as it was within the royal palace. It was a place only for the Cresselians and the royal family itself. Before today, I'd never seen inside it.

"First Commander," we three recruits echoed in unison.

"You have completed your training, and taken your vows to serve the Kingdom of Edda, the Edda family, and to hold to the ideals of the Legendary Pokémon Cresselia – to protect this kingdom against nightmares of all kinds, both internal and external. You have been entrusted with the very future of this kingdom. And now, you shall be entrusted with something just as precious – a Pokémon companion of your very own. A life to nourish and be nourished by, to challenge and to grow alongside in an eternal partnership, in service of crown, monarch, and nation.

"Nearly 60 years ago, I was entrusted with my first Pokémon, a Bagon named Truestrike. Though Truestrike passed on several years ago, lucky enough to die of old age rather than in battle, our bond still persists, and I carry within me the spirit of a Salamence for all of my days."

I shivered. I only had vague memories of an elderly Salamence from my childhood, but Truestrike and his trainer were legends in Edda – supposedly the pair had single-handedly broken the Siege of Maunanmont and quelled a horde of Tauros that threatened to stampede a band of refugees fleeing Perfland, among countless other exploits.

Now, Nisi turned to the other Cresselians. "Soldiers, please release your starters to partake in the ritual."

And they did. Bandian was first – he pressed the catch on his Pokéball and in a flash of scarlet light, Ruby was their beside him, soon joined by Sallia's Pidgeot, Swift.

The two unfamiliar Cresselians released their Pokémon as well, a Camerupt and a Kadabra.

"From the past to the future, from our Pokémon to yours, let the bond be made," Drenin said. Then she picked up the Pokéball farthest from me.

"Cresselian Cedric Almoran, please step forward." My eyes hung on my fellow recruit as he followed the commander's orders. A bit taller than me, Cedric had a mop of blonde hair and a pocked face. All three of us recruits had been in Academy together these last three years, though Cedric and our other compatriot, Dannia, had taken 4 and 5 years for their training, respectively, making them 19 and 20 to my 18. But I didn't feel smug about it – they hadn't had the benefit of growing up among the Cresselians with a Captain for a father and no mother around to make me come home at a reasonable hour and make friends with kids my own age. Doubtless they had other facets to their lives, other hobbies and interests.

All I had was Pokémon training and the desire to serve my kingdom.

"Cedric," Drenin said, "during your training, you displayed great flexibility and patience in your approaches to solving problems. These are valuable skills in a Cresselian, who must never rush blindly into action but must instead plan, prepare, and execute their plans flawlessly. For your first Pokémon, we are entrusting to you a partner who is likewise flexible and patient, hiding in plain sight before attacking its target with great speed and mercilessness. To you, Cedric, we entrust the Flower Pokémon, Bellsprout."

Drenin pressed the button and released Bellsprout just at Cedric's feet, then handed him the Pokéball. He took it and bent down to greet the tiny Pokémon, his face spread in a grin.

The Bellsprout stood just 2 feet tall, the pale yellow bell of its head and beady black eyes turning up to its new trainer, its leaf-arms waggling excitedly. Cedric picked it up and it immediately twined its vine legs around his shoulders, finding a happy perch there.

Drenin was matching Cedric's grin, and even I couldn't help but smile, despite my own anticipation growing to a near-painful level. Bellsprout wouldn't have been my first choice, but it was a fine Pokémon. Trained properly, it would eventually evolve into the powerful Victreebell, a deadly purveyor of poisons and sharp-edged grass attacks. When I thought about it, it did seem the perfect match for Cedric's personality. But that still left me with a question – did they think Charmander was the perfect match for me? I was my father's daughter, but would they see that? Had I displayed the proper qualities throughout my training to be rewarded with a Charmander? I knew they were rare Pokémon – was I a worthy enough cadet to go to the expense for?

I bit the inside of my lip to stop myself going lightheaded and quell the Butterfrees in my stomach.

"Dannia Rezdin, step forward," Drenin said, and the short, curly-haired young woman did as she was bid.

"Dannia," Drenin continued, "you are energetic and you perform better under pressure, a necessary skill in the many crises Cresselians must deal with every day. We have for you a Pokémon that is likewise good under stress – Electrike, the lightning Pokémon – with its electricity, it stimulates its muscles, giving it greater maneuverability and power in battle."

Drenin released the second Pokémon from its Pokéball. It stood no taller than Bellsprout, though it was a canine Pokémon that stood on four legs and was mostly green with yellow markings on its snout, ears, and tail. Electrike let out a bark of pleasure as Dannia bent down to pat it on its large head crest, and tendrils of electricity danced along its green fur, which stood on end as the current passed over it.

Electrike was a little more my style than Bellsprout, but still not what I wanted. There seemed to be a green-and-yellow theme going on with the recruits' starter Pokémon so far – I hoped I would be the one to buck the trend.

"And lastly, Cresselian Jessin Mikaid."

I stepped forward, my throat tight as if it were gripped by a Pinsir.

"Jessin, you wear your heart on your sleeve. Your passion for the Cresselian cause is clear, and it provides a light to others lost in darkness. Likewise, the Pokémon we've chosen for you casts aside the shadows, and its flame waxes and wanes with the fervor and passion in its heart. Captain Mikaid, if you would like to do the honors?"

My father stepped forward, a solemn look on his face, and picked up the third Pokéball on the table. I was furiously scrolling through all the Pokémon knowledge in my brain to find some other Pokémon Drenin could mean, something to temper my expectations…

"You'll like her," my father said, a grin finally splitting his stoic face. "She's Ruby's get."

With that, he released her into the world.

My Charmander.

She was beautiful – pale red skin save for the beige patch of her belly, bright, wide, blue eyes, a grinning mouth that displayed her fangs, and a merry bonfire on the edge of her tail, glowing bright.

I was on my knees embracing her before I knew what I was doing. My eyes were wet. Charmander yipped her delight and did her best to embrace me back with her short arms.

"I love you," I said to her. "I love her," I said to my father. He stepped forward and squeezed my shoulder. Behind him, Ruby roared her approval, shaking the stone pillars that supported the vaulted chapel roof.

To my left, I heard the cry of an unfamiliar Pokémon. I wiped my tears to see better, and found that it was a Yanma, the buzzing of its wings filling the chapel with a low drone. It must have flown in through the small tunnels that wove throughout the palace for the use of courier Pokémon. I got to my feet and picked Charmander up, cradling her in my arms.

The Yanma hovered over to Drenin, and held out a scrap of paper in its forelegs. Drenin took the paper from it. "Thank you Yanma," she said, as she began to read.

She looked up briefly at the three new recruits and their brand new starter Pokémon before turning to the four veteran Cresselians who flanked her.

"We're under attack," she said.

"Where?" my father asked with no hesitation, snapping instantly from the role of doting father to Cressellian Captain.

"East gate," Drenin said, glancing back down at the note. "Seems to be mostly dark- and fire-type Pok émon."

"Wunjo and Daguz," the Cressellian with the Kadabra said. "But why?"

"That's a question for later," my father cut in. "For now, we move. Lord Regent Uruz's chambers are near the East Gate – he may be the target. We'll move to his location, secure him, and reinforce the area. Shay, what is the Princess's location?"

"She ought to be down in the nursery with her Eevee," the Cressellian responded. "Zem was with her."

I saw something in my father's posture relax. "She's likely not the target, and Zem is a sturdy guard."

My father turned to me and I straightened under his sudden attention. I had felt like a simple observer as the Cressellians had sprung into action, and now I felt like an audience member at a stage play who had suddenly been yanked up onto stage.

"Cedric, Dannia, Jessin, you three are Cressellians now, and it's time for your first assignment. You are to report the situation to Cressellian Zemnos, currently watching over Princess Vannarae at the royal nursery. After that, you are to put yourself at Zemnos's disposal, helping him get the princess to a safe location or whatever else he might require of you."

"I can fight, father. Captain," I said.

"I know you can, but hope that you won't have to," my father said. "You may have your Pokémon now, but a pitched battle is not the place for trainers and Pokémon brand new to each other. Besides, you and Zemnos may see combat yet. I'm not sending you to safety, Jess. I'm sending you where I need you. Where the Cressellians need you. Now go!" He cast a sheepish glance at Drenin, suddenly remembering he was not the highest-ranking Cressellian present. "If that's ok with you, First Commander."

The leader of the Cressellians nodded sharply. "Begone! And don't wait on my old legs." Drenin cast the flap of her cloak open, revealing a belt underneath with 3 Pokéballs set into loops. She pulled out all three in one practiced motion and released the Pokémon within at once: A Bisharp, Electabuzz, and Pinsir.

"Take these with you," she said. "They'll move faster than I. Friends, the castle is under attack. Follow the orders of Captain Mikaid and the other Cressellians until I can get there."

My father was moving but he met my eyes over his shoulder as he ran, returning Ruby to her Pokéball as she was too big to move swiftly in the close palace corridors.

"Be strong," he said as he met my eyes.

I nodded and felt tears welling up in my eyes. He didn't belittle me by telling me to be safe – no, I was a Mikaid, and Mikaids didn't stay safe. We didn't need to – we stayed strong.

"Let's go!" I said to Dannia and Cedric. "Charmander, return!" I raised my new companion's Pokéball and it leapt inside in a beam of red light. The other newly-minted Cressellians did the same. We would move faster without the Pokémon on foot – none of our three were particularly swift Pokémon, save perhaps Manetric, and now wasn't the time to test it.

The three of us left the chapel by the door opposite that through which the senior Cressellians had exited, heading for the west wing of the palace and the Pokémon nursery it held, where Princess Vannarae was spending time with her newly-hatched Eevee, the royal Pokémon that would evolve into a symbol of her reign when she took the throne.

We started off at a jog, with me leading, but soon I picked up the pace even more. My father had given me my first task as a member of the Cressellian Guard. I would not fail him.