Hey people! Welcome to Shadows Within The Soul! This is my first fanfiction I've written, but I've been jotting down ideas for about two years now. I'll try my hardest to keep this story interesting and keep you all around. Just a little heads up, this story will mostly be in the 1st person from the view of the primary character, Alexander Delumine. However, sometimes the point of view may change, but I'll put a little note in the corner stating so, that way nobody gets confused. This chapter will not be in the POV of Alex, but of a yet to be known character. But, before I bore you all with this introduction, without further ado, I present to you, Shadows Within The Soul!
Prologue
(?'s POV)
Thoughts
-Telepathy-
"Speech"
Wow! The Gracidea flowers smell beautiful today! Mother will love these! I shove my face into the bundle of red flowers again and inhale their scent, the morning dew sticking to my face. The refreshing feeling washes through my body. It's addictive. I just want to stay here and absorb the scent of the flowers. These aren't for me though. They are for Mother. She'll be so happy! I finally take my face away from the flowers and start walking home through the field. The grass tickles my feet as it runs between my toes.
"Alright, Ben. You asked for it. Be ready for a beatdown like you've never experienced before!" A familiar voice rings through my head. I walk towards the sound and peek through the trees and the brush. The first thing I see is two human males standing across from each other. One is a tall boy with jet black hair and the build of a twig. He also has a large nose, almost nosepass-y and it makes him look really goofy. I giggle a little and my eyes drift to the other human. To the one who spoke. This one is shorter, has dark brown hair, underneath some kind of head cover with a bring on the front, and looks to be in better shape than the other. I don't know his name yet, but I know he is very kind and friendly. Despite Mother telling me not to, I can't help but watch him every now and then. He's just so fascinating. I'm not sure what it is. I just can't help it.
"Get ready Alex! My dad just sent this one over from Dewford Town!" The taller one says. So Alex is his name. A warm fuzzy feeling rumbles inside me. I continue watching. Both of them ready their red and white capture devices in their hands. They grow large before they each toss theirs in the air, releasing the Pokemon inside. The taller one sends out an aron, while Alex sends out a mudkip. Oh. They're going to battle! Hmm... maybe I should wish him luck. I look back up at him and nod to myself. I concentrate as hard as I can, and focus my energy on a single point; Alex's mind. It starts to hurt after a little, but I send a message out. I can only manage three words at this distance, but it should be enough. -Good luck Alex…- He turns around and I see his bright red eyes dart around, presumably looking for me. I quickly hide behind a nearby tree trunk. Did he... did he see me? I peek around the other side and see him still just looking around. I give a sigh of relief and sit behind the tree for a minute, thinking about Alex. His eyes... they're so kind and full of emotion. And the color is so pretty. Almost like Father's eyes, but a brighter shade, and more... innocent. I sigh again, then shake my head. Right! I need to get back home before I'm late for lunch!
I stand up and continue my way back home. A couple of my friends wave as I pass them, but their parents shush them inside when they see me. I even hear some mutter things along the lines of "stay away from her". Some even glare at me as I pass them, but I just ignore it. I don't have time to deal with their hate today. Mother's birthday is more important than their gripes with me and my "color." I'm so close to my home that I can smell the fragrance of fresh berry stew. Yes! I love Mother's berry stew! I can't wait to- I trip on a rock about ten feet from my home. "Eep!" is all that comes out of my mouth as I watch all the flowers I had been carrying fly out of my hands. I close my eyes and prepare for the impact of the ground, but it never comes. When I open my eyes I see the flowers floating around me, along with the ground being about five feet away from me. I'm… floating?
-Yes sweetie, you're floating.- I look up to see my mothers amused face in front of mine. -You need to be more careful. You almost lost the flowers you picked.- She pulls the flowers together and hands them to me before bringing me to the ground.
-Actually, Mother, I picked these flowers for you! I know gracideas are your favorite and since they don't bloom often I thought you'd like them.- I give a proud smile and hand them back up to her. -Happy birthday Mother!-
She smiles at me and takes the flowers. She then bends down and hugs me. -Thank you. They're beautiful. I love them. -However, while hugging me she looks up and her expression hardens. -Get behind me.- I look behind me and see several of the elders of our tribe coming towards us. I get behind my mother but peek my head out from behind her.
Mother bows quickly as they approach. -Hello Elders. How may I help you today?- she greets. The elders bow back and the head one steps forward.
-Hello sister. We came by to wish you happy festivities today. Initially at least. On the way over, we saw that one,- he nods his head towards me. -on its way back from the direction of the human village they call Littleroot, and started to watch two humans who were about to commence one of their barbaric "battles" as they call them- Mother looks down at me quickly with a slightly annoyed expression. -And I believe it may have made contact with one or more of the humans, which, as you know, is highly outlawed. We saw it- -
-Stop calling my daughter an it.- Mother cuts the Elder off. She has a fierce expression on her face. The expression she always have when she is defending me. Especially when the elders or others start referring to me as an "It". -You know damn well the my daughter is not an "it". She is a beautiful little Ralts just like yours and everyone else's children and is not some freak just because she has an alternate color pattern than us.- Mother starts getting a glow in her eyes, preparing for any kind of confrontation.
The elder just steps back and huffs. -We saw "her",- he corrects. -gather energy and seem to send it out, almost like a message to these humans. Any human contact is strictly forbidden, and it- mother growls. -Err.. she is constantly seen coming from the "Oldale" and "Littleroot" areas. It needs to stop. And with the day that your vision foretold of coming up, we must be careful. You may be our High Priestess, but something must be done to prevent this from repeating any further, otherwise, it could jeopardize the sanctity of our village. If you do not put a stop to this, we will ourselves, and "She" will not be the only one being punished.-
-Is that a threat?- Another familiar voice joins the conversation, but from behind the elders this time. They all turn around to stare at the source of the voice. I look through the elders legs to see Father standing there.- Because if it is,- he extends the green blades on his elbows. -I'm going to have to ask you to leave this place, unless someone feels strong.- He puts his hand to the stone on the leather strap at his side The elders all look around at each other, and start shuffling their feet. -Thought so. Now leave.- The elders go around my father and start heading back towards the village center. After a few feet, the Head Elder turns around.
-Next time we won't be so forgiving towards you and your abomination of an offspring. The village will not put up with it any further- He turns back around and continues walking with the others.
-Mother?- I sniff as tears start falling down my face. -Why do the elders hate me so much? It's not like I chose to be different…- Mother and Father reach down and both hold me close.
-I know honey.- Mother strokes my face and soothes me. -They just don't understand different. So they fear it and react with hatred. But I don't want you to listen to them. You're no abomination. You are a wonderful and beautiful little Ralts, and your father and I love you. Maybe one day... - Mother suddenly lets go of me with a yelp of pain and drops to the ground holding her head. If Father wasn't holding onto me too, I would have dropped as well. The flowers mother had floating next her fall as well. I grab one of the flowers before it falls and hold it close.
-My lady? What's wrong?- Father sets me down gently and bends down eye level with Mother.
-Mother?- I grab her hand. Mother slowly stands up and shakes her head.
-We need to leave. Now. I'll explain on the way.- Mother grabs me and starts walking, with Father at her heels.
-My lady, what has happened? Was it another vision?- Father starts looking around, eyes alert for danger.
-Yes. I saw a young human male alongside a shining gardevoir standing against the darkness of my last vision. But this darkness had grown, and I feel as though our village is no longer safe.-
Mother takes us down a path that I haven't seen before. The trees and brush start to get messier, and it looks as though nothing has traveled this way in a long time. Then I sense it; a dreading feeling of hostility and horror. -Mother?-
-Yes I know. I sense it too. It should not be here. Not today at least. Arceus help us. We should have had more time-
"Oh trust me. Not even Arceus can help you here." A large, imposing, human male steps out from the trees about ten feet away and stands before us. He is very muscular, almost machoke like, and wearing a blood red jacket and a dark brown, hooded cloak. Something about him is familiar, but I can't put my finger on it. He has a dark shadow of aura surrounding him, and I sense nothing but hostility from him. Hostility and evil. I cling to Mother tighter.
Father steps in front of us with his elbow blades drawn. -Who are you? Why and how have you come here?- Father says telepathically to the man as he puts his hand to the stone at his side again.
"How is none of your concern. I have my ways and my resources. Why, however, is something you will have to worry about." The man puts his arms behind his back and starts pacing slowly. "You see, I'm searching for something. A powerful artifact of sorts. What it is or does isn't too important to you right now, but what is important, is that I am in the need of some powerful Pokemon to help me. And my sources tell me that there are particularly powerful Pokemon here. Pokemon capable of mega evolution without the need for a trainer." The man turns his head towards my father and is in my fathers face in the blink of an eye. So fast… what even happened?
My father flinches and takes a step back. -So you've come to this sacred place to enslave us then.-
"No no. Of course not. Well, that is if you cooperate with us."
-And if we refuse?-
"Well, then I will have no choice but to use force. And I can assure you that that would not be the smart option for you."
-Well, neither was invading my village and threatening my people and family.- Father touches the stone at his side. He and the stone begin to glow at once and soon Father is surrounded by a resonating lightish red ball. It shatters to reveal my father with longer, sharper elbow blades with red ends, his torso has turned all white with the exception of his midsection spike, his head spikes extended and with a long flowing cape cut down the middle. Father has mega evolved.
Wow! So cool! I've never seen father mega evolve, only heard stories. This guy is done for.
"Ah. So the stories were true. Excellent." The man grabs a capture device off of his belt. "But I guess force is the only option then. Too bad for you." As he throws his device, he touches a stone on his right wrist. The device is surrounded by the same type of lightish red ball as Father was and when it shatters, a small goblin-like creature with gems for eyes and razor sharp claws lands on the ground with a large red gem twice the size of it. This Pokemon also has a dark aura around it. It smiles a wicked, toothy grin and laughs fiendishly.
Father turns his head to us. -My lady. These are no ordinary foes. I'll hold them off. Get out of here, warn the others if it's not too late and head towards the Petalburg village to warn them of what's happening here. I'll meet with you there. And if I should fall, just remember. I love you both-. Father turns back to the man. -Before we begin, may I learn the name of my adversary?-
The man chuckles and shrugs. "Heh. I suppose it would be a good thing to know your soon to be master's name. My name… Is Red."
End Prologue
Phew. So that's my prologue. I hope you guys enjoyed that. Do not worry though, as there is much more to come. Just... be patient please. I don't always get much time to dedicate to writing this, but when I do, I try and write as much as I can. But I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible, as I have many other ideas to put into writing. And if you have the time, please leave a review on what you liked (or disliked) about my prologue. And any criticisms, tips, or suggestions are welcome as well, so don't be afraid to say anything. Well, I've rambled enough. See you next chapter! :D
