A/N: To begin, this is my first (technically second) Pokemon Fanfiction, not my first fanfiction. In the years prior, I've stuck mostly to Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.

However, this is the first time I've tried first person in the present tense. And let me tell you, it's one of the harder, I think, to pull off. I've gone through and made as many corrections as I can, but I'm still not sure if it's perfect. Any critique and help is appreciated, I'm hesitant about even trying this fandom. I am asking for reviews, not because I want people to adore me, to tell me how "oh so wonderful" my fic is, but for legit critique. The last time I even attempted to try Pokemon fanfiction, I was harshly flamed. And granted, the fic was suck. I just hope I've improved enough.

As for the story of this; yes, it is based on Collins' Hunger Games. The Safari Zone seemed like a place people could stick an arena. I did an extensive back-story and reasoning for this, I just figured posting that up along with the fic would be kind of.. I don't know. Not-author-like? And so I'll leave it to my lacking story telling skills.

Phase One: The Lottery

It's every trainer's dream to become League Champion, and so you sign up as early as you can; to win, to conquer, to be the very best. You train and train, with the feeling that nothing's ever gonna stop you. There's nothing better than fighting with your partners by your side. But when they're taken from you, when you're chosen, and you're left alone… Against the biggest battle of your life, it's the worst feeling in the world. That's how it feels to win The Lottery. – Ashelia Finley, Viridian City, age 14; First Safari Zone Champion, in Interviews of the Victors, Edition III.

-SafariZone-

I almost feel sick when my alarm begins hammering in my ears, blaring, never-ending, until I'm able to roll over and hit the snooze button. It registers in my mind what today is as soon as the alarm is silenced. Why else would I have it set, except for The Lottery? I stumble out of the bed, heading for the bathroom. In between yawns, I'm out of my pajamas and into the shower, the water steaming as soon as I turn the knob. I can only imagine this is Charcoal's doing, our Magmar. He's always awake at this hour.

I'm wide and awake in a matter of minutes. And within the hour I'm dressed and sitting at the table in the kitchen, watching the television on mute. The news is on, and they're showing the Pokémon centers getting ready to host the trainer's gathering in the towns today. Everyone's had to go home in preparation, and so the centers will be packed. I make a grab for the glass of MooMoo Milk Mom's set out for me, sipping it through a curled straw as the news flashes on and on with the different towns. They finally show Cinnabar. We'll be different from Kanto's other cities; we won't have our Lottery at the center, but at the lab. It's almost ironic. Considering the lab's infamous for creating experiments against the nation's security.

It's kind of nostalgic. Seeing everyone in town after so long, some people are just getting in, people I haven't seen since I was at least twelve, back and ready to face The Lottery like every other year. It'll be us, the girls this year, and so the boys aren't as tense, laughing and flirting with most of the returning trainers. They're all passing by the window towards the lab. I glance back at the television, seeing it was a mere two hours before air-time. Before I had to line up with the others and wait for the lucky winner to be chosen. But before there was even a chance of me being picked, I was going to disappear.

I rush up the stairs, taking them two at a time and racing into my bedroom before remembering Mom was probably already asleep. Cursing under my breath, I began digging through the pile of clothes on the floor, looking for my belt. Finding it hidden under a pair of flared jeans, I pull it out and place it around my waist, grabbing my bag off of my desk and quietly descending the stairs.

I self-consciously run my fingers over each ball at my side, making sure they're all there. One, two, three, four, all there, all safe, all mine. Pyrus, Cube, Placebo, and Leaf. Each one meaning more to me than life itself, seeing as they were my life itself.

I creep down the hallway, and peek into the twin's room. Both of them are still asleep, entangled in their sheets. Nina's buried under a pillow, and Nick's successfully removed his blankets to the floor, along with every stuffed Pokémon the kid has. Quietly, I walk in and place a hand on Nina's forehead, frowning. She's ten. This will be her first year. But she won't get picked, not against the older ones.

I exit the house, heading for the beach shore, wanting to leave as soon as possible. The boat should still be there, hidden beneath the rocks on the east coast. I could at least get to the islands by nightfall if I left now. Be in Fuchsia by tomorrow night. I walk past the girls heading for the lab, getting there early to hand over their trainer cards to the League Officials on the island today. There's a list, and if everyone on the list isn't there, well. They'll have to find me first. By the time they notice I won't be showing up, I'll be halfway to the islands. And not with my name in The Lottery pot.

I clamber over a few off the rocks as I near the shore, sliding down the dunes towards the water. The boat is there, but unfortunately, so is Kenneth.

He sits on the edge of the boat, his arms resting on his thighs as he looks up at me, shaking his head. I make sure to shoot him a glare as I make my way down, still navigating the rocks.

"Where you headed on this wonderful day, Miss Pyra?" He grins, standing and extending a hand to help me down to the sand.

Knocking his hand away, I jump down from the rock, staring up at him with a scowl. He knew what I planned on doing, and was obviously here to talk me out of it. Blowing out a huff of air, I make to move past him towards the boat when he side-steps in front of me, holding out his arm with a Pokéball in hand.

"Don't be stupid, come on, let's practice. Aren't you going for Celadon's gym when The Lottery's all over?" He hit the center of the ball with his thumb, expanding it to its normal size and tossing it between his hands. "Pyrus may have a type advantage, but he won't last a second if he's knocked out with some Sleep Powder."

I let out an inaudible growl, reaching for Pyrus's ball and quickly calling out the small canine-Pokémon. The Growlithe materializes at my feet, baring its small teeth and yipping, showing he's ready to go. Pyrus was my first Pokémon, given to me by the gym leader, Karoo. He was the one to supply trainers with Pokémon on the island.

Kenny lets out a small chuckle, tossing the ball to the ground to reveal his Electebuzz, flexing and striking its usual battle pose. With nothing but a snap of his fingers, the Electebuzz jerks forward, using a quick Thunder Punch on the ground, causing a small static-filled crater to form in the sand.

Pyrus shoots forward as soon as the Electebuzz gives him the chance, using Bite constantly on the electric type's arms and legs, jumping and flitting back when Electebuzz would give off a spark. Gritting my teeth, I recall Pyrus to my side, giving distance between the two before calling out a Flame Thrower. Pyrus gives no hesitation as he leaps into the air, the flame building in his small mouth and shooting out in magnificent form, hitting its target head on.

Electebuzz stumbles back, shaking off the attack, his yellow fur slightly charred. Sparks fly around its body as it pounds its fists together, rushing forward in a windmill. Pyrus easily evades, doubling back around Electebuzz and hitting it with a Headbutt. As soon as it hits the sand, Pyrus is on it, using a mix of Bite and Flame Thrower.

I'd be a fool to think Kenny would lose so easily. His Electebuzz gives off another electric shock, sending Pyrus to the ground, and twitching as he lay paralyzed from the attack.

Kenneth recalls Electebuzz, and Pyrus falls to the sand, jerking his head around to look for his target, though he is currently immobilized. Kenneth brings out a Paralyze Heal from his pack, walking over to Pyrus and spraying his fur down with the recovery item. Smiling, I kneel down, whistling and extending my arms. Pyrus immediately becomes lax and returns to my side, yipping happily as I scratch his ears and small mane.

"He's fast, that's about all he's got goin' for 'em." Kenny kneels down next to me, stroking Pyrus's fur down his back.

"He'll get better." I mumble, staring at the singed orange fur on my Pokémon. It looked like he took quite a few jolts, strong ones. I had underestimated Electebuzz because of his size, and it seemed Pyrus had done the same. However the lose seemed to effect his ego little, as he began sniffing around the beach, fighting with a few random Krabby as I knelt on the sand.

I watch Kenny pull out his PokéNav, glancing up at the sky with squinted eyes before looking back at me. "You should get to the lab. Nina'll be scared on 'er own."

I shut my eyes, sighing slightly under my breath as I stand. I whistle again, and Pyrus returns to my side, the arm of a Krabby in his mouth. I shake my head, signaling for him to drop it before I return him to his Pokéball.

I look up to see Kenneth scaling the rocks back up to town, not bothering to wait and see if I follow. He's convinced he's accomplished his mission, and quite frankly, so am I. Besides, there's no way, out of the one hundred and fifty-three girls entered this year for Cinnabar, we can be chosen.

-SafariZone-

By eleven o'clock, it's nearly 100 degrees on the island, and we're all packed together, standing in a line outside the lab. The girls from this morning had been the smart ones, getting a spot inside with the air conditioning. Everyone shuffled forward together, trying to reach the lab assistants desk to check in. Once everyone had registered, we'd all head down to the basement of the lab, the one used for battles between the scientists' Pokémon. The lab had once been part of Cinnabar's gym; however with the new one being built before the wars, the stadium under the lab was left to the scientists. Though we were going in a constant shuffling pace, no one seemed to be heading out. They were probably already stocking us down there.

I was in a bunch with some of the younger trainers, the ones just starting out. They clung to one another, eyes darting around as if they had already entered the Zone. I tried to calm one girl down, Lucy, who was already in a fit of hysteria. I reassured her that since her name was only in there once, she would hardly have to worry about it, while someone like myself, with my name sitting in the pot seven times, were more likely to be shipped off to the Zone. This seemed to calm down her crying, but she kept looking at me weird, probably already sentencing me to death in order to save herself.

The line moves at a slow pace, but by noon we're all registered, our names in the bowl, and we stand packed along the walls of the underground stadium. A podium had been sat up in the middle of the Pokéball that was painted on the stadium floor, with a screen overhead projecting the image to the entire "audience". They audience wasn't allowed in yet, of course, but soon, the entire town would be packed into the underground basement of the lab.

Despite the stadium being packed with over one hundred girls, it's quiet. Except for a few hushed whispers scattered throughout, everyone seems intent on getting this to get moving as soon as possible and as quickly as possible. I keep looking around the wall for Nina, but I can't place her among the sea of people.

"Pyra!" I turned my head towards the source of the voice, spotting Kyrie sliding down the wall towards me. She hopped between a few girls, squeezing her way next to me. "Ready to go to the Zone?" She shoots me a mock grin, punching the air with her fist.

Kyrie wasn't really what I'd call a trainer. She had one Pokémon, her Doduo, that she traveled with, for a while when she was younger. But she had never taken up any of the gym challenges. At eighteen, she was ready for this round to be over, so she would never again have to worry about her name being drawn for The Lottery. She had short blonde hair that framed her face, with a slim figure that even Goldenrod models would be envious of, but she never really seemed to take notice. She was always too busy eating.

"Hello? Kyrie to Pyra, requesting permission to land," She tapped on the side of my head with her knuckle, getting her face into close proximity with mine. I pulled my hat down over my head, moving away from her with a frown. "Well pay attention next time, Sweetie-Pie!"

"I'm ready." I grumbled, rearranging my hair under my hat before looking back at her, "Ready for this to be over so I can go make a sandwich."

She stared at me for a few minutes before laughing, turning with a smirk towards the podium. "I can't decide if I'd be happy over my numbers being called or not," She mumbled slightly, pulling her trainer card from her pocket and looking at it.

The Lottery is based on a trainer's ID number, and so there are no possible ways to screw up the chosen. Every trainer in Kanto has a number specific to them, and I think even after a trainer dies, it can be years before the number's even needed again.

"What do you mean?" I ask, watching as she moves a hand to her stomach. Narrowing her eyes, she looks up at me, pocketing her card. "What?"

"I'm pregnant, Pie." I don't know what to say to her. What I should say. So I just stare at her for a few moments before blinking and turning away. "Pie, hey." She puts a hand on my shoulder, and so I look at her again. "What?"

I didn't know what to ask her. What did she plan on doing if she was picked in The Lottery? Was there even a rule against pregnant teens being drawn? But I didn't ask any of that, I asked the obvious teenage question. "W-Who's is it?"

She stared at me for a second before smiling, turning towards the podium. "Caleb. The guy I went around with for a while, before I came home? You remember right? It's when you and I split up in Lavender Town. He came down here last month to get his badge and…" She didn't have to finish, so I nodded, turning away from her and she did the same.

I'd been friends with Kyrie for years, ever since I first got Pyrus. She even went to Pallet Town with me the first time. I think, if I labeled her, she would be my best friend. And really, besides Kenny, my only friend outside of my Pokémon, people always seemed so expendable in comparison to Pyrus and the others.

"Did you hear about the riots in Vermillion?" I turn to her with an arched brow, waiting for her to continue. "That big office building was finally completed on the west end, you remember, right? But a Johto admin was over on business and was injured because of a Machoke's mistake. It let the man walk into an incomplete part of the building; he scraped his leg on a metal beam. They shot it, before carrying out the investigation." Furrowing my brow, I open my mouth, in attempt to question who was rioting when she continues; "The workers, they're upset. The company could care less though, as long as they're not sued."

"Why wouldn't they be? That's completely ir-"

"Irrational, I know. Pokémon are expendable. 'There's so many of them.'" She scoffs, shaking her head in disgust. She crosses her arm, watching me. "These Championships in the Zone aren't doing anything but getting people angry."

I wince slightly, glancing around to see if anyone's listening to our conversation. But all the other girls have seemed to drop into their own conversations. I finally spot Nina making her way towards us; she encircles my waist, her thumb in her mouth, chewing on the nail. Without a word, I move her hand down to her side and place an arm around her shoulders.

Nina's only Pokémon was a Growlithe, like mine. It was even from the same litter, Nina simply got hers at a younger age. She barely even registered she had a Pokémon for most of her life. And really, he wasn't "officially" hers until this year. However the small dog Pokémon was as reliable as any, always at her side. She usually didn't even bother with the Pokéball the labs in Pallet had sent her.

Kyrie bends forward, looking at Nina with a warm smile before waving at her. Nina returns the motion before burrowing her face into the crook of my arm. Kyrie shoots me a look, shaking her head. While Nina's buried in my side, we continue to talk in whispers until the League Officials start the drawing.

"Anyway, my point is; if I'm picked… I'mma be one pissed Champion." She raises her eyebrows in a teasing manner, "Hell hath no fury like a pregnant Pokémon trainer fighting for their life, right Pie?"

I can't help but smile at her, shaking my head. With no warning, it begins to get louder, and as we look around, we see the town pouring in. I'm pretty sure Mom's out there with Nick, seeing as there's more than just me this year. I feel Nina pull out her head, looking around for them as well. We won't be able to find them though, not like this. And so I ruffle her hair and lean against the wall, pulling her with me as I wrap both arms around her shoulders.

It takes a record of seven minutes for everyone to pile in and get seated. Once the doors are shut, the lights go down and are projected only on the stadium floor where we all stand, waiting. I feel myself squint as a woman and three men head to the center of the stage. I can't see which officials they are until the woman is standing at the Podium, tapping on the speaker and making sure it is operational. And then we all fall silent.

"Welcome trainers of Cinnabar!" Her voice is high pitched, squeaky almost as she grins at all of us. "As you all know, Cinnabar will be offering up one lucky young lady to partake in the Safari Zone Championship. This Championship will put the real trainers to the test, while sweeping out all the rest."

I can hear Kyrie beside me scoffing and mumbling under her breath. Nina just presses closer against my stomach.

"Ladies, we will now begin this year's Lottery, with the pulling of our future champion!" One of the men, a round fellow with a bush of facial hair toddles up to the podium from the three chairs behind her, the bowl of Trainer IDs clasped in his fat hands. She turns to face him, nodding and reaching in, making a grand gesture of her swirling hand before plucking out one of the slips of paper.

She turns back to the podium, allowing the round official to waddle back to his seat with the safe trainers in hand. She begins unfolding the slip of paper she holds, and I swear every girl in there, all of us, none of us breathes until she looks up smiling, placing the number under a scanner and looking at the small screen in front of her, her eyes narrowing as she read the name from the screen.

"Nina Laféonsé!" Nina freezes in my grasp, her breathing becoming uneven. Kyrie begins cursing, turning and kicking the stadium wall.

But me, I can't do anything as Nina slowly moves away from my stomach, walking towards the podium. My mouth's dry, and I can't help but try to figure out how these odds even work. How the hell she could be picked from over a hundred girls with their names in there more times than her.

The woman at the podium gets impatient, barking at Nina to hurry to the front. Nina freezes in her tracks before moving forward again at a faster pace. Kyrie mutters before speaking out. "Wait!" I look to my side to see her moving past me. Wait? "Wait a second," she's catching up with Nina, placing a hand on her shoulder.

And then I realize what she's doing. She's going to volunteer. She's saving Nina. The men at the Podium have moved forward to grab one of them. And I realize, I can't let Kyrie do that.

"No!" In a matter of seconds I'm beside them, shaking my head before turning to the woman and advancing men, "I volunteer as a combatant. I'll take her place." I look down to see Nina sobbing into Kyrie's chest as the older girl places a hand on her back. "Thank you." Kyrie nods before attempting to drag Nina back to the wall. I turn towards the center, ignoring the kicking and screaming behind me. I can't help but smile. It's good to hear Nina speak up about something, finally.

The lady at the center is livid by now, screaming at the men to get me to the podium. I don't wait for them to come to me, I move forward, casting a glance behind my shoulder at Kyrie and Nina, who are still working their way to the wall as Nina tries to break out of Kyrie's grasp.

Standing beside her, squinting at the audience I turn to look at her. Her anger has depleted and she's the smiling, excited woman she was before. "Well that was interesting, wasn't it?" She addressed the stadium, turning to me. "That other young lady almost beat you to it, didn't she?" Kyrie. I can't even process what she had been thinking. "And your name, if you will for us?"

"Pyra."

"First and last, darling."

"Pyra Laféonsé."

She claps her hands together with a giggle, looking to the crowd, "Sisters! How sweet it is to see such love between family members, especially in Kanto!"

I should have left. I should have gotten on that boat and never touched the shore again. But where would that have left Nina? A dead body in the Zone? A champion, maybe? But no, I know that's impossible. Nina hasn't battled a day in her life. Even worse, if I hadn't been here, and Kyrie did take her place… I would be as good as dead to myself.

I don't hear what the woman is saying as she speaks to the crowd, patting me on the back and smiling still. I shudder at her touch, wanting to burst into tears. But I can't, not here. Not on live television. And so I don't. I bite my lip and stare straight at the Magnamite carrying cameras, my hands shaking the entire time.

AN: Now that I consider it, making Kyrie pregnant was pretty cliche, yeah? But it wasn't, the back-story I had for that character made sense, and as the story goes on, I plan to reveal it bit by bit via Pyra's flash-backs and talks with other characters.

I also realize there wasn't a lot of Pokemon in this first session. I apologize for that, I'm honestly aiming to make this more Trainer-Pokemon based than Trainer-Trainer based following the book plot. There will be little bits and pieces of trainer interaction, yes, but I'm aiming more towards Pyra's ability to bond with some of the Safari Zone's Pokemon to win than partnering up with another trainer. (That's assuming Pyra does win.)

I'm currently working on chapter three. Reviews are appreciated, and feedback is a required for me to improve. If you see something that I need to work on, point it out. I intend to finish this whether it is supported or not, though. Just to prove to myself that I can finish a Pokemon fanfiction. If anyone is interested in the back-story or planning behind this fic, let me know, and I'll make it available on my profile.

Thank you for reading,

-Cali-.