A/N: Hello everyone. After reading surfacage's comic entitled "Trust your Instincts", I couldn't help but imagine the origin story of Blanche, Candela and Spark. Were they always friends? How did they become leaders of Team Mystic, Valor and Instinct respectively? When did they find the legendary birds?

Just an idea I wanted to play with, and I do hope you enjoy.

KANTO REGION

OLD YEAR'S 1999

The Allards always celebrated Old Year's Night in style. After all, their home was ideally situated for the firework show that it seemed almost selfish not to share the experience of heralding the new year.

Being the turn of a new century meant that they went all out- inviting everyone in the village, indulging in ice sculptures and chocolate fountains. No expense was to be spared.

Usually, both adults would postpone all meetings on that day but Mr. Allard was not to be expected home until 6:00 p.m. that evening.

"Unavoidable," he had said to his wife earlier that morning, pressing his lips onto her forehead before picking up his briefcase. "You know I wouldn't have gone if it were anything less."

"I know," she replied, "Though I wish you could have. There is a lot to get done." She adjusted the toddler on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Miri," he whispered apologetically. "I'll be back as soon as I can. Promise."

"I know you would. I wasn't worried."

She watched as he left, and smiled when he turned back to raise his hand in farewell.

"Wave goodbye to Daddy, Blanche," she told the baby.

"BYE DAD!" someone shouted from the upstairs balcony, startling her.

He looked upwards. "Noir, what are you doing up this early!?" he asked with a grin.

She could only imagine her son's face, lighting up with mischief, as he mumbled a 'Nothing, Dad'.

Both parents knew better than to press.

"Help your mum today, okay son? Keep your sister occupied."

"But… I wanted to…"

Mr. Allard raised his left eyebrow.

"Yes Dad."

Shutting the door, Miriam set Blanche down on her play-mat. She instantly went for her Magikarp plushie. "SPLASH!" she proclaimed loudly for her mum.

"Yes, Blanche. Very good."

Maybe when she was older, Miriam would tell her why Magikarp weren't a particularly wise choice for her Pokemon line-up. Though… perhaps she could have just said no in the toy-store. And maybe not indulge the child when she asked what was their strongest attack.

"Lucario!" she called, and a blue Pokemon- bipedal with canine features- promptly appeared in the doorway. "Look after Blanche, please? I'm going to see what he brother is up to."

He nodded, and she touched his arm in thanks as she left.

…

"I'm coming in!" she called outside of her six-year-old son's bedroom door.

"NO MUM!" she heard the shout, but a little too late. Her hand was already on the doorknob and turning,

She heard the rustle of wings as something brown flew towards her head. She ducked in time

"PIDGEY!" it cawed, making a U-turn and trying again.

"PIDGEY STOP!" Noir shouted.

It slowed its attack mid-flight, eyes glittering as if disappointed, and circled back onto Noir's bedpost.

Miriam Allard put both hands on her hips.

"Outside, I know," he said resignedly, but a brief look of hopefulness crossed his features for a moment. After all, the Pidgey did listen to him. And Mum saw, didn't she?

"Can I keep him?"

She smiled. "I'll think about it."

It wasn't strange that Mr. Allard wasn't home earlier, as he had promised. What was strange was that he hadn't returned by the time the guests started arriving.

She left Blanche in her pale blue dress and Noir, dressed smartly in his white shirt and black pants, greeting everyone at the door. Locating the landline, she dialled her husband's cell phone.

No answer.

She tried the office phone.

It went straight to the automated voice that reminded callers of the office hours.

Not knowing what else to do, she joined her children at the door.

OLD YEAR'S NIGHT

10:00 P.M.

The festivities took everyone to the back lawn. Adults mingled near the drinks table while the kids played a bit further off. Noir took his friends to see his newly-caught Pidgey, much to the delight of everyone. They had, after all, four years to go before they each begun their journey to become a Pokémon master.

Even though Pidgey was scarcely a starter Pokémon, it didn't stop them from launching into a full-on discussion on its evolutions. And which attack was strongest. And the best Pokémon to combat it in aerial battle.

Needless to say, it was a conversation in which Noir thrived.

Blanche, on the other hand, was on her playmat that Lucario had kindly brought outside for her when he had realised that there was nowhere for her to go. She was usually either with her mother or alone, so it came almost as a surprise when a boy her age tottered towards her, followed by her Lucario.

"Your hair's funny," he said to her, climbing onto the mat to take a seat. "I like it."

She tugged at the ends of her platinum hair. "It's not funny," she huffed, sparing a accusing glance at the Pokémon next to them, as if to say, "Why did you bring him?"

"I like it," the boy reiterated, confused that she didn't seem to hear that bit. "Mine is brown."

"Yours has a colour."

"Yours has a colour too."

She didn't know what to make of that. Was white a colour? Grandfather had white hair, not like hers, but white nevertheless.

She looked away, focusing on her Magikarp.

"What's your name?" the boy asked.

"Blanche," she replied quietly. "Blanche Allard."

"I'm Spark."

"Spark?" she repeated, a smile forming on her mouth.

"What?"

"It's a funny name."

"No it's not."

"It is."

He looked at for a second and then laughed. "You're doing what I did."

"Am not."

"You are too."

She paused. "I don't know any Sparks."

"Well, now you know me."

She nodded her head. "That's true. And now you know someone with white hair."

He laughed again. "I know lots of people with white hair... not like yours."

Lucario made a sound in the back of his throat, making Spark look at him.

"What kind of Pokémon is he?" he asked Blanche.

"I'm not sure. He's Mummy's."

"Oh. What about you?"

"Me?"

"You have Pokémon?"

She held up her Magikarp. "I have this."

He smiled and reached into his jacket, taking out a Pichu plush.

"Wanna play?"

NEW YEAR'S DAY

5:30 A.M.

Mr. Allard quietly pushed his key into the lock. His wife and the kids would be fast asleep and he had no intention of waking anyone. No doubt they would all be tired from the night's activities- if his lawn was any indication of that.

My God, I'm late. He thought angrily to himself. He thought he would have been, when he realised that it was eight o' clock and his boss demonstrated no intention of ending the meeting.

His boss was not the kind of person you could remind that you had wife and kids waiting for you at home.

He sighed. Miriam would be upset-he was prepared for that. What he wasn't prepared for was the answers to the questions he would have to give.

A rustle behind him. He spun around.

"Lucario," he breathed. "You scared me."

The Pokémon appraised him- betraying not one thought- before blinking twice and padding away.

As if somehow he knew...

"I'm sorry," he called after him. "You know why I have no choice."

You always have a choice, Robert.

Allard blinked. It was the first time his wife's Lucario had spoken to him.