Prologue - The Spoon In The Road

"Eraaarghuuuuah!"

Echoes scattered amongst the debris of the village, bouncing off of the surface of the river and mixing with the baby's wails. Lowering its head to the house, harsh sunlight gleaming dully from the rock-battered steel, worn smooth from endless tunneling, the Steelix considered the keening child; loosing a mighty roar and slamming its tail down to smash the house and boy to rubble. The earth shook and even the proud Pidgeot who had braved the raging cries took flight, scarlet plumage and ivory breasts flashing against the sun as they flew from the tremors of the impact, their harsh indignant cries stark against the sudden silence.
The great tail of the giant iron snake trembled as it ground against an upraised spoon, held in an unshaking arm. The holder stepped forward into the street, spoon scraping against the chitinous scales as it slid and caused the tail to rise further, lifting from the rails of the crib where it had lain, spherous segments dangling just inches above the baby. The boy stared, wide-eyed and gurgling as the coarse metal retreated shivering and bouncing across the wooden beam.

Swinging its head around in anger, the Steelix locked eyes with a man standing across the river, obscured by the shadow of the forest. They stood staring as the seconds slowly stretched away until the stranger narrowed his eyes, furrowing his brow into a frown. The Steelix once more reared up, this time with a bellow of fear, before plunging itself into the ravaged ground, its tail rattling against the spoon in the unwavering grip until, with a last flick, the final bulbous segment skittered around the rim of the dark abyss and disappeared into the shadows of the earth.

Looking beyond the far boundary of the ruins, the man saw the nervous villagers in the woods; their faces overcast with fear and shadow.
Turning and striding into the gloom he disappeared amongst the trees, the shadow cast by the spoon-grasping arm vanishing.

16 years pass

In Acacia Village, home to the renowned Professor Fenn, the foremost authority on pokemon habitats, and a peaceful forest town, all aspiring pokemon trainers aged 16 receive their licenses at the start of the new year.
A gust of wind causes the leaves of the trees to rustle and twitch, saluting the rising sun and the new saga which has decided to emerge.