Rated M for swearing and sexual innuendo. Might go up to lime at times.

Chapter 1

"Morning, people!"

After typing the greeting, Seth hit the enter key with one finger and watched it appear in his chatroom. He grinned as a brightly-coloured bird fluttered down from the closet against the wall, perching on its owner's messy black hair. Chatot flapped his midnight blue wings away from his colourful body, clicked his curved peach-coloured beak and squawked loudly.

"Wake your arse up, lazy motherhumper!"

Seth chuckled and stroked Chatot's beak, making him close his eyes in pleasure. "Try not to use language like that in front of the professor," the boy said.

He turned back to the screen, but his greeting was still unanswered. It made sense that he was the only one awake at six in the morning, although he knew that the people he was trying to communicate with were in different time zones.

Seth shoved his chair back and stood up, stretching his arms over his head and catching sight of his reflection in the full-size mirror on the wall. He was tall for his fourteen years, almost six feet, with his black hair just long enough to get in the way of his golden-brown eyes. His baggy tan pyjamas hung loose on his slim frame. Still perched on his head, Chatot ruffled his feathers and stared at his reflection.

"Ooh, pretty boy," he crooned.

"Why, thank you," Seth replied.

Chatot squawked angrily. "Not you, dungbrain."

"Ouch," Seth said, pretending to be offended. Chatot pecked his head and took flight again, soaring up to the top of the closet again.

Seth rubbed his head in irritation. "Idiot."

"Dogbreath," Chatot retorted.

A beeping sound drew Seth's attention to his computer screen again. He sank down in his chair, rubbing the mark on his head where Chatot had pecked. Another person had signed into the chatroom.

Ronan88: Hey, Seth. Just like me to be up at five in the morning on my last day at home!

Seth laughed and typed a reply.

ShadowSeth: Morning, Ronan. At least you're up early. Seen Delilah around yet?

Ronan88: LOL, of course she'd be sleeping in.

ShadowSeth: What do you think you're going to get as your starter?

Ronan88: Ugh, don't remind me I'm the only one of us without one. I think I'm getting whatever my sister caught when she visited Sinnoh, but she hasn't told me what it is.

ShadowSeth: Here's hoping it's something halfway decent. Imagine if she brought back a Bidoof!

Ronan88: Shudders

DelilahMiles has signed in.

Seth grinned, glancing at the clock again and noticing that it was now approaching half past six.

ShadowSeth: Morning, Delilah.

DelilahMiles: Oh my gosh! I slept in! It's almost half past seven!

Ronan88: LOL, morning. How did you sleep?

DelilahMiles: Too well. I had this dream about this really cute boy...

ShadowSeth: Me?

DelilahMiles: I said cute. I've seen your photo and you're anything but cute.

ShadowSeth: Ouch, that hurt.

Ronan88: Delilah, neither of us wants to know about your raging hormones and your dreams full of wild animalistic sex.

DelilahMiles: Ha, ha. And did I mention, ha.

ShadowSeth: How's Aaron?

DelilahMiles: He's great, really pumped for today. He did this really cute thing last night.

Ronan88: You say everything he does is cute.

DelilahMiles: Oops, I have to get ready. And I think Aaron needs to go outside. I'll talk to you in a few days!

DelilahMiles has signed out.

ShadowSeth: Well, I guess I should get ready too. I don't want to be late.

Ronan88: Lucky you only live a town away from the lab over there. Damned Fallabor Town has to be so far out in the middle of freaking nowhere and I have to rely on my sister...

ShadowSeth: Delilah is luckier, she actually lives in the right town. I'd better go now before I end up having to run the whole way. Later.

Ronan88: Talk to you later.

ShadowSeth has signed out.

Seth pushed back his chair and stood up, turning off the computer as he stood. Moving across to his bedroom door, he kicked it closed and shed his pyjamas. Chatot turned his head away delicately as Seth searched the room for clean clothes, finally pulling some on.

"Pack your bag, doofus," Chatot reminded Seth as he tugged a T-shirt over his messy hair.

"Yeah, I know."

Finally done with dressing, Seth scooped up the clothes and supplies he had heaped in a corner the night before, cramming them into the old and patched brown bag nearby. He held out one arm and Chatot fluttered down from the closet, coming down onto the extended arm.

"Let's go and find our destiny," Seth said, opening the door.