The shadowy blob easily dodged the burst of flames, melting into it's own shadow and reappearing as a large shadowy head with spikes jutting from its back like hair. Two hands floated nearby, his claws dug into the small, orange reptile's side, blood gushing out. The reptile was recalled in a flash of red light and replaced with a large reindeer with eye-shaped antlers, including a black orb in the middle of each -Stantler.
The reindeer shot out a purple beam towards the ghostly figure, but missed as the figure moved and slammed a powerful fist into the quadrupeds side, sending it flying. The quadruped was quickly covered on a red light. A large blue serpent with small, white wings on the side of it's head and a blue orb on its neck came from a yellow and black ball -Dragonair.
The serpent fire off a blast of blue flames, causing the ghost to cry out in pain. The ghost was quickly replaced by another, though the new one was nearly twice the size. The ghost shot out a shadowy blob that slammed into the serpent, sending it flying. The ghost flew towards the large creature and -
The television cut out.
"Crap" Ethan said as he looked at his clock, it was nearly midnight. His mother was standing at his door with the power cord to his tv in her hand.
"Go to bed" She said.
Ethan decided not to reply, instead just nodding and rushing out to brush his teeth.
In the morning Ethan woke up and put on his favorite outfit, a black jacket with a gold lining around the zipper and hood along with a pair of jeans. He ran downstairs and saw his mother making breakfast.
"Mornin' mum!" He said, "I'll be back in like half an hour!" He shouted, running out the door.
"I know it's his birthday but he could at least let us give him his present before he runs away" His mother said.
"He's just excited, besides it's Lyra's birthday too, so he's probably off to see her" Ethan's father said.
Ethan ran across to his neighbour's house, not bothering to knock he opened the door, "Happy birthday Lyra!" He shouted.
His pigtailed friend stood up from her kitchen table and ran to him, "Happy Birthday Ethan" She said with a smile, "So, did you get your present from your parents yet?"
Ethan scratched the back of his head, "I kinda forgot" He smiled.
"Course you did" Lyra sighed, it was just like Ethan to forget about himself to think about someone else.
Ethan smiled and gave his best friend a hug, "I'll see you later!" He waved, running back to his house. He barged in and shouted, "I'm back!"
"New record, only fifteen minutes" His dad said.
"Are you ready for breakfast now?" His mom asked him as she made him a plate of eggs and bacon.
Ethan rubbed his stomach, "Yup" He smiled and sat down, greedily scarfing down the food, anxious for the present he was going to receive from his parents.
"Before we give you your present, Prof. Elm was looking for you" His mother told him.
"I'll run over there and see what he needs" Ethan said, grabbing his black and gold hat from the rack beside the door, "I'll be back in ten minutes" He ran out the door.
Ethan opened the lab door and walked inside carefully, while he liked the professor, the lab seemed a little eery to the hyperactive teen. He walked to the back of the lab where elm was frantically going through research papers.
"Uhm, Professor?" Ethan walked cautiously up to the middle aged man.
"OH Ethan!" Elm spun around and smiled, fixing his glasses as he did, "Happy birthday"
"Thanks" Ethan said, "You asked to see me?"
"Yes actually, I know that it's sudden but me and my aides are all quite busy so I need someone to pick something up for me" Elm said, "It's just north of Cherrygrove city, my colleague Mr. Pokemon lives in the woods and he found something amazing and he asked me to study it"
"Sure, but I don't have a Pokemon" Ethan said, "And I can't travel all the way to Cherrygrove without a Pokemon of my own"
"Of course" Elm spun around, flicking a switch to reveal a machine with two pokeballs on it, "I have one here for you. Just be sure to ask your parents first, come back once they've said yes"
"Sure" Ethan smiled, running out to return home for the second time that ran in and couldn't see his parents. 'They must be outside with Cyr and Quana' Ethan said to himself, leaving and going around back, 'Maybe the baby's been born'
"Ethan!" His mother called out, "That you?"
"Ya mom!" Ethan shouted. He walked around back and saw his parent's two Feraligatr, Cyr was the male, a large saltwater Feraligatr, nearly twice the size of the standard species with darker tones and more bladed back spikes. Beside Cyr stood his mate, Quana, a Tropical species of Feraligatr who was slightly larger than the basic species, nowhere near the size of Cyr though, and was brightly colored, with it's body plates being red as opposed to blue.
"Ethan, come 'ere, we've got your birthday gift" Ethan's father said. Ethan walked over and saw a Totodile that was slightly larger than average with a darker color scheme, though he had his mother's prolonged snout and large teeth.
"Woah" Ethan reached out to pet the small creature, amazed when it allowed him to pet it, "Can I hold him?"
"If he let's you" His mother said.
Ethan sat on the grass and waited for the Totodile to waddle to him. The small creature looked hesitant at first, but once Quana inclined her head he worked up the courage and went to sit on Ethan's lap, purring softly as Ethan stroked his head.
"Does he have a name yet?" Ethan asked.
"He's your pokemon, why don't you name him?" Ethan's dad smiled.
"He's mine?" Ethan was surprised.
"We told you we had a present for you" His mom smiled.
Ethan looked to the small creature cradled in his lap as it yawned, Ethan could see the large teeth that would one day be able to punch through steel, he smiled, "I've thought of a name, Sobek" He smiled.
The totodile looked up, "How d'you like it buddy?" Ethan asked, the creature wiggled and put his hands up, a -strange looking- smile on his face.
"I think he likes it" His mother smiled.
His father just nodded.
Ethan smiled back at Sobek and as he met the small pokemon's eyes his view changed.
Ethan was standing in a large stadium filled to the brim with people. A large Feraligatr -he guessed it was Sobek- stood at his side.
"Our challenger, Ethan Beryl and his partner Sobek. Ethan has obtained all eight of Johto's badges and Sobek has single handedly defeated leader Clair's Dragonite. Today he comes to challenge the champion for his title. Ethan has made it through many tough challenges, but is he strong enough to battle against Dragon Tamer Lance and pull off a victory?" A voice boomed out, "We'll see!" The crowd roared. Ethan tensed as a figure appeared in the distance, a black cape billowing in the wind.
"Ethan, it's been a while" Lance called out.
"Too long Lance" Ethan heard himself say, "How's about we start this thing already?"
"Let's." Lance pulled out an ultraball, "Hypellu, stand ready!" Lance threw the ball, catching it expertly as it flew back. The ball release a large blue dragon with red wings, a salamence. Hypellu had a large scar across her left eye, a mark left by an old challenger by the name of Red.
Ethan watched himself smiled and produce a pokeball, "I choose you, Zeal!" Ethan threw the pokeball, a large black canine with white horns and a white armor around it's back and sides was released from the ball. Houndoom.
"Hypellu, let's start things off strong with Dragon Pulse!" The salamence gather a ball of blue flames and shot it forwards.
"Zeal, Dark Pulse!" Zeal created a blobby ball of darkness and launched it forwards to counter Hypellu's attack. The attacks collided and exploded with incredible force, creating a smoke cloud.
"Hypellu, use your wings and send the smoke towards Ethan"
"Zeal, return" Ethan returned his pokemon and grabbed a greatball from his belt, "Go-"
He returned to the real world, "What was that?" He asked himself aloud.
"What was what?" His mother asked.
"I… it's nothing" Ethan lied, "I told prof. Elm I'd head back to see him, I'll be back" Ethan stood up.
"Are you bringing Sobek?" His father asked.
"I don't have a pokeball for him" Ethan said, "Plus I haven't gotten my license in the mail yet" Ethan then remembered that Elm had already offered him a pokemon of his own, "Maybe it went to the professor though, he did offer me a pokemon. That reminds me actually, Elm wanted me to ask you guys if I can run an errand for him"
"Depends on what this errand is"
"He wants me to go up to Cherrygrove and grab something for him"
His mother looked to his father, she never went on a journey with her pokemon, instead growing up on a ranch in Alola where she raised pokemon with her parents. Her husband was a gym challenger once though, but he only ever made it to owning seven badges.
"As long as you can find someone else to go with, Lyra or even Travis maybe"
"I'll go ask them both" Ethan said, "Coming Sobek?" The little guy looked to his mother once again, Quana nodding her agreement. Sobek then waddled over to stand by Ethan's feet, "Let's go"
Ethan decided to go and tell Elm that he could go as long as he had both Sobek and at least one other person -who also had a pokemon- with him.
"Hm, why not go with both Lyra and Travis? Travis doesn't have a Pokemon yet, but since you have this guy with you I guess I can give him the pokemon that was meant for you"
"Alright, and you're okay with him coming? I know that your wife is a little over protective of him"
"Of course, how else is he going to fulfil his dreams if he stays here?" Elm smiled, "I'll call him, you go see Lyra"
Ethan nodded and ran out of the lab, Sobek bounding after him on all fours. They made straight for Lyra's house, 'Shoulda come here first' He thought as he walked in the door.
"Lyra!" He called out, noticing that neither her nor her parents were in the main room or kitchen.
"Upstairs Ethan!" Lyra called out, "Be there in a minute!"
She jogged down the stairs, a small blue pokemon following her -Marill.
She saw Sobek and her eyes opened wide, "ISTHATYOURPOKEMONOHMAGOSHHE'SSOCUTE!" She squealed, running to pet Sobek. The little crocodile turned and ran out the door as she chased him, bouncing away on all fours.
Ethan sighed and ran after Sobek, who was darting towards the lake. Ethan ran faster, sliding right in front of Sobek and grabbing him, the pokemon's small claws tearing through the skin on his arms.
"SOBEK!" He shouted through the pain, "Calm."
The small creature continued to struggle until he opened his eyes and saw Ethan. Sobek immediately stopped and dipped his head as an apology.
"It's alright buddy, just don't do it again" Ethan patted Sobek on the head, the scratches were mostly superficial, though he did need to get a new jacket now, and maybe some trainer mesh for under his clothes.
Lyra managed to catch up, her marill still bouncing after her, "Ethan I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare him" She said, kneeling down and letting Sobek slowly go towards her.
Ethan smiled until he saw Sobek's spikes rise, "Sobek, down," Ethan lunged on top of his pokemon, pinning it down just before he could leap at Lyra, "Be nice"
Marill was now standing in front of Lyra, holding it's stubby arms out defensively.
"Tell your pokemon to get back." Ethan warned, "I'm gonna let him up"
Marill retreated behind Lyra as Ethan slowly let Sobek up, "Be nice." Ethan held Sobek in his lap as Lyra slowly approached, Ethan repeated his command as Lyra approached. She put her hand on his head cautiously and he opened his eyes, leering at her.
"SOBEK!" Ethan growled. His gaze became one of caution as opposed to malice.
"Come to think of it, he's scarier than he is cute" Lyra said.
"Imagine how scary he'll be fully grown" Ethan smiled, "So, I have a question."
"Shoot" Lyra said as she sat down, marill curling up in her lap.
"Prof. Elm wants me to do an errand for him, so I'm going up a little past Cherrygrove with Travis and I was wondering if you'd wanna come." He said, "Elm said he'd offer you one of the two pokemon he has left, but I'm sure you'll be fine with just marill"
"Sure I'll come." Lyra stood up, "I'll go ask my parents." She turned around, "And her name is Larima"
Lyra and Ethan went back to her house, she dipped inside and held her index finger up, signifying Ethan to wait.
She downstairs, where her parents were watching television in the sitting room, "Hey mom, dad," She said, "I've got a question"
"What is it sweetie?" Her mother asked.
"I just saw Ethan and Prof. Elm asked him to do a favor for him, and he asked if I wanted to go"
"What is this favor?" Her father asked.
"He wants us to go to Cherrygrove to get something for him." Lyra said, "I know it's dangerous but I've got Larima, Ethan has Sobek, and Travis is getting a pokemon from his dad"
Her parents looked at each other then back to Lyra, "You can go" Her father said.
Lyra's eyes widened, "Really?"
"Let's go pack." Her mother stood up and walked upstairs, Lyra followed closely behind. As she passed the door she ran outside quickly and gave Ethan a thumbs up, then popped back inside.
Ethan smiled and turned to go back to the lab.
LINEBREAK
I hope you guys enjoy it, I've been working on this for a while and while my beginning is sub-par I hope you guys enjoy it.
Travis's pokemon will actually be a poll on my profile, the choices are Cyndaquil, Chimchar, Litten, Snivy, or Shinx. I will have an 'other' tab also if you guys have another suggestion.
The next chapter will be up within a week or so. I'd love to get some feedback on this.
Thanks for reading
UPDATE
I just fixed some grammar issues. That's all. Chapter 2 is almost done and should be out around Wednesday. Don't forget to vote on the Poll, it's up on my profile now.