Pokémon Quest
by Lady Dawson
Chapter One: Heading Out
When Susan Dawson left her hometown of Tree Hill, she was all of ten years old and starting her Pokémon journey. That was the age that every person qualified to become a Pokémon trainer. But as much as she loved the idea of going out into the world and becoming a trainer, she hated the thought of leaving her Uncle Keith behind.
The moment that her mother Elizabeth Dawson got pregnant with her, her father Dan Scott left town, met some woman in another town and got her pregnant, married her and returned to Tree Hill with his wife and newborn son, Susan's half-brother Nathan.
Her mother was heartbroken when she discovered this, but to her relief, Dan's brother, Susan's Uncle Keith, stayed by her and helped her to raise Susan. Unfortunately, Susan never got the chance to know her mother, because she died giving birth to her.
Keith was given custody of Susan, considering that Dan had abandoned Elizabeth when she was pregnant and gotten another woman pregnant. He raised her on the other side of town, away from her father and brother. Susan didn't really care about meeting her father; he wasn't worth much in her eyes. But Nathan? Her little brother? She hated the fact that they would never have the chance to be close to one another. Because of what their father had done, hatred lay beneath the skin, in their very blood. He hated Susan for being the child of a woman who had come before his mother and Susan hated him for being what she called a miniature of Dan. The kid was like their father in a five foot three package. Sometimes, she understood why Keith had kept her away from the two of them, but she sometimes saw something in his eyes that she was sure that Dan never showed: compassion. Sometimes when he looked at her, she could see kindness and caring lying deep beneath the surface.
Still, her uncle was the best person in her life and she hated the thought of leaving him behind. Ever since her mother died, he had never gotten close to anybody. He had loved Elizabeth; she knew that. And keeping her daughter safe was his one key to sanity. She worried that he would lose his reason for being if she left him.
When she confessed this to him the night before she was going to receive her first Pokémon and start her journey, Keith had laughed and pulled her into his lap, hugging his niece tightly.
"Listen to me, Sue," he told her gently. "You don't need to worry about me, all right? I'll be fine. I love you so much, but I also know that you can't hide from life. This is the path that you were meant to take. If you don't take it now, then I know that you're going to regret it for the rest of your life. And one day you'll start wondering of what could have been, like Dan." He smiled and tweaked her nose. "That would be a bigger price to pay than keeping you here. Now go on, get to bed, kiddo," he said, pushing her towards her room. "You've got a big day tomorrow."
Susan smiled. "I love you, Uncle Keith," she told him. Keith grinned at her as she disappeared into her room. As she closed her door behind her, she climbed onto her bed, hardly able to sleep because of excitement.
When she woke up the next morning, it was early and she quickly got dressed, unable to get to sleep. Heading into the next room, she grabbed a quick breakfast before she headed over to Professor Leigh Periwinkle's laboratory on the other side of Tree Hill, scribbling a note to Uncle Keith about where she'd gone.
She wasn't the only person there when she arrived at Professor Periwinkle's laboratory. There were three other trainers who were about to start their journey. One was from the riverside of Tree Hill, Haley James. Susan didn't know her very well, but she was nice enough. The other two, however, were both from the hillside. The rich kids. One was Peyton Sawyer, one of the pretty and the popular. The other was none other than Nathan Scott. His dark blue eyes travelled over her as she arrived and dismissed her, wrinkling his nose as he noted her tattered hand-me-downs and the old, worn knapsack she was carrying.
Taking a seat a few feet away from Nathan, Susan checked her watch. Still ten minutes to seven, when she was supposed to arrive, so they were still early. Taking out her knapsack, Susan flipped through her belongings, making sure that she had everything before she headed out. It would be a long time before she was home again, so she had to make sure she had everything.
After what seemed like forever, footsteps approached the entrance to the laboratory. Susan looked up to see the purple haired woman who was approaching. "Good morning, Pokémon trainers," she said pleasantly. "I'm Professor Periwinkle. Please come in and we'll get you started."
Unlocking the gates, Professor Periwinkle led them in and headed up to the laboratory.
"Excuse the mess," she said with a grin as they entered. "Just so you know, most geniuses are slobs to the core." Susan chuckled and Professor Periwinkle winked at her. "Now, first things first, the delivery of your first Pokémon. Now, who would like to go first?"
"I'll go," Peyton Sawyer said, moving forward. Nathan grinned towards her as the blonde girl headed towards the Professor.
"Very well," Professor Periwinkle answered, surveying her. "Now, we have the three starting Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander. Which one of these would you like to begin with?"
Peyton frowned, taking her time deciding. "I think that I'm gonna go with Bulbasaur," she answered. "Grass types have always been my preference."
Professor Periwinkle nodded, producing a red and white Pokéball with a leaf, signifying grass type, on the front of it. She handed it to Peyton. "Now, don't leave, we're not quite finished yet. All right, so you have Bulbasaur. Haley, would you like to choose next?" she asked, looking at the chestnut girl.
"Sure," Haley said with a grin. She walked forward. "I think that I'd like to start with Squirtle," she told the Professor. "My mom started with a water type, too."
"Oh, yes, I remember," Professor Periwinkle said, nodding. "Lydia and I started Pokémon training on the same day. How is your mother doing, by the way?" she asked.
"Pretty good," Haley answered as she received a Pokéball with a teardrop on it, signifying water types. "She speaks highly of you, though."
"I'm flattered," Professor Periwinkle said with a smile. "Now, ladies first, I suppose. Susan, which Pokémon would you—"
"I'll go first," Nathan snapped as Susan started to move forward. He pushed her back and out of the way, slamming her into Haley. The chestnut girl caught her before she fell and Susan straightened, sending a grateful look towards Haley and a glare toward her half-brother.
Professor Periwinkle looked startled and little angered by this exchange, but she didn't comment. "Very well, then," she said, sending a sympathetic look towards Susan. "Now then, Nathan, which Pokémon would you like to start with?"
"Charmander," Nathan said without hesitation. Susan shook her head, knowing why he'd chosen that one. The fire types were the most dangerous of the three starting types. She knew that, having grown up with Uncle Keith, who knew almost everything about Pokémon.
Handing a Pokéball with a flame on it, signifying fire types, Professor Periwinkle turned towards Susan regretfully. "Susan, I'm sorry, but that's all I have of the starting Pokémon. I do have another Pokémon here, but I have to warn you, this one isn't a starting type. Many trainers have advised waiting until you've got further training to deal with it."
Susan shook her head. "No, I'll take it, Professor," she said fiercely. "I've got to have a Pokémon to start my training."
With a nod, Professor Periwinkle headed to the back and returned with a Pokéball. This one had a lightning on it, signifying electric types. Susan stared at it, entranced. "This Pokéball holds a Pikachu," she told Susan. The brunette took it into her hands, holding it into her hands.
Pikachu, she thought with a smile. She liked the sound of that. Placing the ball into her pocket, she listened to the Professor as she started to talk.
"Now, you each have received your first Pokémon and will now begin your journeys as trainers. Throughout your voyages, you will have many different obstacles and challenges to face. But that is what will set you apart and make your journeys bright and wonderful. Now, I must give you these." She handed them little tiny red computers. "This is your Pokédex, a computer that will tell you everything there is to know about the Pokémon you wish to have information on. It will be helpful on your journeys."
Susan took the red computer into her hands, studying it carefully before she slipped it into her pocket. "Now, I wish all of you the best of luck," Professor Periwinkle said with a smile. "If you ever need any assistance, feel free to contact me here at the laboratory."
"Look, lady, these morons here might need your help," Nathan sneered, draping an arm around Peyton, who slipped an arm around his waist. "But we certainly don't. We can do just find without you. Come on, Peyton, let's get out of here."
He walked out of the laboratory with Peyton right behind him, throwing a disgusted look towards the other two girls as they watched them go.
"I never liked him," Professor Periwinkle sighed. "It's amazing how different you two are, Susan, when you have the same father."
Susan sighed. "Tell me about it." She shook her head, pulling the Pokéball out of her pocket. "Now, let's see here . . ." Pressing the button on the ball, there was a great burst of light and a yellow Pokémon with pointed ears appeared out if it.
The Pokémon shook itself and then blinked brown eyes up at its new trainer. "Pikachu?" it asked, sniffing her cautiously.
"Hi, there," Susan said gently, reaching out towards Pikachu, trying to allow it to make the first move. Pikachu frowned slightly, deciding as it looked up at her. Then it leaped onto her shoulder, placing itself onto her shoulder contentedly.
"Well, now!" Professor Periwinkle said in surprise. "It seems to like you a lot, Susan! Pikachu rarely show affection towards humans instantly." Susan blinked at her, shocked. "Well, come on, girls, I daresay that your families are outside waiting to see you off."
Susan smiled as she followed Professor Periwinkle out of the laboratory, but it immediately faltered when she saw the group that was gathered outside. Nathan was still there, talking with a blonde woman that she assumed to be his mother, Deb Scott. Peyton was standing there with her father, Larry Sawyer. And all of them were watching the two men that were talking. Her heart sank when she saw that it was Uncle Keith and Dan.
"Nathan's got a real shot here, Keith," Dan was saying as they rounded the corner. "A real future."
"A real future," Keith echoed, glaring at his younger brother. "Let me ask you something, Dan. Do you ever think about Susan's future? Do you ever think about that?"
Dan snorted, rolling his eyes. "I can't change the fact that this kid exists. If I could, then I would. In fact, I told Elizabeth that I would take care of it. But she—" He stopped talking when Keith's eyes landed on Susan and he turned around, spotting her there.
Susan pressed her lips together, refusing to look at him, and started heading away from the laboratory. She didn't care where she was going, but she refused to be within two feet of that man ever again. The mere sight of him made her blood boil. And it didn't help that he had turned her brother against her, making him treat her as though she were beneath him. She wished that Nathan and her could be closer, but she also knew that with Dan manipulating and controlling what he thought, there could never be any hope of them kindling a friendship or anything.
When she finally reached the park that she had played at so much, Susan finally sank down and allowed Pikachu to spring off her back and play in the yard.
"Why do I let him get to me like that?" she grumbled. "I am so sick and tired of hiding from him. But I can't face him, not after everything that he's done to me and the way he treated my mother."
"Pika?" Pikachu looked up at her, as though sensing her distress, and climbed onto the bench, sliding underneath her arm, trying to comfort her. Susan smiled slightly, scratching the Pokémon behind its ears. It perked up and giggled, enjoying the attention.
Susan looked around as her uncle walked into the park, looking relieved when he saw her. "Thought that I might find you here," he commented. "I'm sorry you had to hear that, Sue."
"It's not your fault, Uncle Keith," she told him. "I just wish that . . . he would leave us alone. I'm sick of hiding from him, but at the same time, I can't face him. Not after everything he's done."
Keith nodded. "Well, maybe one day, you'll be able to," he suggested. "Don't let this ruin your day, Sue. It's time to stop running away from Dan and start heading towards your journey." Susan nodded, wrapping her arms around her uncle. When he pulled away, he handed her a thick, leather bound book. "This is for you. So you can write down everything that you see. I know that you'll want to record everything that you see, so now you'll be able to do that. And here's a pen," he added, producing a beautiful, silver stylus. "I had them ordered a couple months ago for you. Lucky they got here in time," he said with a grin. "Otherwise I would've had to ship them after you."
Susan chuckled. "Thank you, Uncle Keith," she said with tears in her eyes. "They're beautiful."
"I knew you'd like them." Her uncle chuckled. "You remind me so much of your mother sometimes. She, too, loved writing. But she, uh . . . she never really wanted to travel and see things. Elizabeth preferred everything here in Tree Hill. She never wanted to see the world."
"Yeah, that I got from you."
Her uncle laughed before looking down at Pikachu. "So, that's your Pokémon?" he asked. "I didn't know that they gave Pikachu to starting trainers."
"Well, I'm sort of glad that Nathan pushed me out of the way to get the last starting one," Susan said with a grin. "Cause I really like this little guy." Pikachu chirped an affirmative, causing both uncle and niece to laugh. Looking at her uncle, Susan said, "Thanks, Uncle Keith, for everything. I love you."
"I love you, too, kiddo," Keith said, hugging her. "Now, Pikachu," he added, looking towards the Pokémon. "I need you to take care of this niece of mine. Can you do that for me?"
Pikachu nodded. "Pi," it agreed. "Pi-Pikachu."
"Good." Keith got to his feet. "Now, you two better get going. It's getting late. Go on," he said. Susan got to her feet, Pikachu leaping onto her shoulder, and started down the long road. As she looked back at her uncle, she saw that he had tears in his eyes. Tears of happiness and pride.