Yes, it's true; I've finally gotten around to writing another fic. Since starting college I've had a seriously low amount of motivation for practically everything, but I'm happy to report it's back.
This story is an idea I came up with later last summer (I'll reveal where I got the inspiration from at the end of the chapter). Right now I'm just pitching this first part out there to see what people think (although, I'll probably still continue it even if the majority of the reviews are negative. However, I have no idea at what pace I'll be able to write with exams coming up next month).
Also, I definitely feel I have to dedicate this story to one of my biggest fans here, and that would have to be Anysia. Her stories have always been a great inspiration to me, and her lastest one (The Strength of the Soul, a true masterpiece, I must say) really helped motivate me to start writing again. If you haven't read any of her works yet, what the heck are you waiting for?!
Anyways, thanks for the support and motivation Anysia, and to you and everyone else, I hope you enjoy my latest work.
(Insert standard Pokémon disclaimers here)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Edge of Tomorrow: Chapter 1 – Timeless Dreams"It looks like it's been infected. Quick, get this Pokémon into quarantine immediately!"
"What's going on? Where are you taking it?"
"Please, wait outside! We can't risk the virus spreading around this Pokémon Center anymore than it already has."
"I'm not leaving it! Let me in, please!"
"This is a very serious and very lethal virus! I'm very sorry, but your Pokémon is off limits until further notice."
"No! Please, no..."
The 20-year-old Pokémon trainer fell to his knees. All he could do is watch as the red-haired nurse walked away from him and into the emergency room. Ahead of her were two Chansey, dressed in biohazard suits, wheeling his Pokémon away from him. He was helpless now. There was nothing more he could do...
*************
Jade was awoken from her dream by the sound of the morning alarm. The young 14-year-old girl brushed her long, emerald-green hair out of her face and opened her eyes to a new day. Still, something bothered her on this bright, sunny morning. For the past seven days, she had been haunted with that dream; a dream of a young man whom she had never met before. She had no idea where this recurring dream had come from or when it would go away. Worse, she had no idea what it meant. Shaking it off for another day, she hopped out of bed and readied herself for school.
"Good morning, Miss Jade."
"Morning, Trina."
Jade smiled as she greeted Trina. Trina (as she had come to nickname it) was her personalized Silph Co. Model XJB Electronic Personal Assistant, Serial #25-150-202. It sat comfortably on the young girl's dresser in the shape of an alarm clock.
In this day and age, everyone had his or her own Electronic Personal Assistant (more commonly known as an EPA). This little device exists for the sole purpose of aiding its owner in day-to-day activities. They have countless functions and perform millions of tasks that simply make life easier for humans. An EPA also has the special ability to change its shape into a variety of objects at the command of its owner (with a few exceptions, of course).
"What's on today's schedule?" Jade asked. She watched as Trina transformed itself into a small, flat-panel monitor, bringing up Jade's list of things-to-do for the day.
"Today is your class trip to the Kanto Museum of Natural History," spoke Trina in her electronic, but distinctly female, voice. "I advise you hurry up and get to school in time to catch the bus with the rest of your class."
"Right," Jade said. "Trina, watch mode."
Jade's EPA converted itself into a fancy-looking digital wristwatch and flew over to its owner, attaching itself to her left wrist. Jade changed into her school clothes and scrambled to find her electronic notebooks. After swiftly locating them, she threw each one into her backpack.
At that moment Jade looked up towards the wall opposite her and just above her bed. She always took a few moments each morning to admire her creations. Pictures of Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Torchic, Totodile, and many other Pokémon decorated every square inch of that wall. The young girl was a talented artist, with skill far beyond her 14 years of life. Naturally, her favorite subject was Pokémon.
Jade, like practically every other child on the planet, was obsessed with these phenomenal creatures. This girl, however, possessed a love for Pokémon far beyond anyone she knew. When she wasn't drawing Pokémon, she had her nose buried in some Pokémon e-book, furthering her already extensive knowledge of these special creatures. It was knowledge she always hoped she'd get the chance to use some day. She knew it might never be possible, but hopes and dreams are a prerequisite for children. Jade held onto hers tight.
She finally snapped out of inspiration mode. The long-awaited 8th grade field trip to the Kanto Museum of Natural History in Pewter City beckoned her. Before heading out the door to her room, she stopped to pick something up from her nightstand. "Can't forget this," she said as she slipped the necklace over her head.
The green pendant at the front of the necklace glimmered in the early morning sunlight. The circular gemstone was a family heirloom, passed down from generation to generation. Jade had received it as a birthday present from her mother a week ago. No one was quite sure exactly what kind of rock it was made from, or where it had originated. All Jade knew was that her mother called it "The Soul of Celebi." It didn't exactly resemble the legendary time-traveling Pokémon, but it was a nice necklace never the less, and Jade refused to go anywhere without it ever since it became hers. She felt a strange connection with the stone, one she couldn't quite explain. She just felt the need to keep it with her at all times. She straightened the necklace and headed out.
*************
"Hey Jade, there you are!"
The brash male voice caused jade to spin in place on the sidewalk, just in time to see the originator of the outcry zip by her. As she regained her balance and once again brushed her hair away from her eyes, she could see the teenage boy in front of her screeching to a halt. She watched as he let his blue, unbuttoned jacket wave in the wind before slowly readjusting his red baseball cap, which he always wore backwards. Obviously trying to act cool, he stepped onto the concrete and kicked up his hoverboard into his right arm.
"Real mature, Bradley," Jade said, scoffing at her best friend.
"Oh come on Jade, admit it. You were impressed."
"Was not."
Jade continued to walk, speeding up as she moved past Bradley. Sometimes she wondered why she was even friends with him. The two couldn't be more different. Jade was a smart, mature, and artistic person. Bradley, on the other hand, was usually rude, childish, and certainly wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Jade could never figure out why complete opposites made the best of friends. She usually just shrugged it off and figured it was just another mystery of the universe. Still, Bradley shared her love of Pokémon, which was one of the things she liked most about him. She figured that should keep them on friendly terms until the day he finally grew up. After all, she was the kind of person who believed in miracles.
"Yo Jade, don't you ever get tired of being a pedestrian?" Bradley asked, catching up to her on his slick, neon orange hoverboard. "Get with the 22nd century already! You're the only kid in the world without a hoverboard."
Jade shook her head, obviously not surprised. "I guess some things may never change," she said.
*************
"Way to go…Jade," Bradley panted. "Thanks for…almost…making us…miss the field trip!"
"Hey!" Jade retorted, also exhausted from their dash to the bus after they realized it was starting to leave without them. "At least…we made it."
"You're lucky I'm such a good friend and didn't take off with out you," said Bradley, regaining his breath.
"Right, Bradley. I'm so lucky you're my friend."
"That's what I thought. Man, you really need to get a hoverboard."
Jade sighed and turned away from her annoying friend, choosing instead to reach into her backpack and pull out one of her notebooks. It was a long way from Pallet Town to Pewter City, and she needed something to pass the time. Besides, Bradley wasn't the most intellectually stimulating of people to talk to.
"You're studying, on a field trip?!" Bradley exclaimed.
"You don't have to yell, I'm right next to you," Jade said, rubbing her forehead as Bradley's loud voice still echoed inside of it. "I'm just brushing up on my Pokémon books. It's not schoolwork or anything."
"Jade, you already know everything there is to know about Pokémon! About the only thing missing are your own Pokémon!"
"Wouldn't that be so cool, Bradley? Oh I can just imagine it…"
"Oh no, here we go again."
"Catching all those magnificent creatures in PokéBalls. Calling them forth to help you win exciting battles as you criss-cross this great land. Competing in Pokémon League Championships, meeting new friends, learning what it truly means to live! That's the life for me, Bradley."
"Jade, it's never gonna happen."
"It could! You don't know for sure…"
"Yes, Jade, I do know for sure. You know it too."
"No! I refuse to believe that. They still could be--"
"But they aren't! They're gone, Jade. Pokémon are extinct."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, that's Chapter 1. Hopefully it was decent. I must admit, I'm not the best at opening chapters, especially when I have to introduce new characters (all my stories thus far have started out with pre-existing ones from the Pokémon Universe).
Anyways, the inspiration for this story came from one of my all-time favorite movies, Jurassic Park (though I was actually reading the book when this idea hit me, which is strange for me because I rarely read). I guess you can see how it relates to it, with the whole extinction thing and all (though I promise they'll be no theme parks with cloned Pokémon in them. However, I will touch upon why Pokémon haven't been cloned in the next chapter).
Oh, and I hope most of you weren't able to guess the whole "Pokémon are extinct" ending before I got to it. I tried my best to keep it hidden.
Some things you may not have known:
1) The serial number for Jade's EPA was made up of the numbers for three of my favorite Pokémon: Pikachu, Mewtwo, and Wobbuffet.
2) The inspiration for the EPA came from one of my favorite TV shows growing up: ReBoot. Any fans of the show should see the similarities between it and a Guardian key tool.
3) The line "Real mature, Bradley," was a commonly used line in another one of my favorite shows as a kid, "Stickin' Around" (it was a Canadian show so I don't know how many people outside of Canada reading this would recognize it). Jade and Bradley share many of the same characteristic as the stars of that show, Stacy and Bradley (in the case of Bradley, the same name as well).
4) The title of the story comes from a line in the song "Live and Learn" from Sonic Adventure 2. I basically choose it because it sounded cool and then adapted it to the story. I'll reveal more about what exactly "The Edge of Tomorrow" is in the next chapter. Until then, feel free to guess.
Reviews greatly appreciated.