Author's note: Hey guys! Sorry it has been long since I've posted something. So, I decided to write my first Pokémon AU fanfiction.

Act 1: Start of a Journey

Part 1: Dream

My name was Astaku Arimi.

I lived at Sandgem in the Sinnoh Region. The year was 2012. I was 13 years old at the time. In my past childhood, I didn't travel on my own, nor was I allowed to travel. Though, one day… my childhood changed. It all changed when…

I was asleep. I dreamed I was lost in the grassy field at Lake Verity. I cried, tears swelling. Then I heard a cry. A cry of a Pokémon I never heard before. I followed where the cry was coming from. It led me outside the tall grass. As I was led outside the tall grass, I saw a Pokémon.

It was one of the legendary lake guardians: Mesprit.

Part 2: Amon

It was after I woke up. I undressed, showered, and then dressed in my usual clothes. I walked into my siblings' room to check on them. That was when I had an idea.

It was Mother's Day. I already had my present ready for my mother. My mother was Professor Rowan's assistant. I had to be in charge of the house and looking after my little brother and sister. My little brother made a drawing of the family, and my sister made a charm bracelet.

"Little brother, little sister," I called for them. "Shall we visit Mom?"

Both of them nodded. I packed everything in my bag and walked to the Research Lab with my siblings. We were going to give Mom her gifts. I knocked on the door, and an assistant pulled open the door.

"Professor Rowan isn't here," the assistant said to me in an impolite tone, "nor is Assistant Arimi."

"I'm Astaku Arimi," I told her, "a daughter of Assistant Arimi, oldest child in the family. I also brought along my siblings. Where is our mother?"

"Near Lake Verity," the assistant replied. He shut the door like he was done talking.

I looked at my siblings and then kissed their cheeks. "Don't worry," I said to them, "mommy will be back soon."

Somebody poked my back. I turned around and it was Amon who had poked me. "Amon?" I spoke. Amon also lived in Sandgem Town. He had short, curly brown hair and wore an orange Pokémon Trainer uniform. He was a student at the Trainer School in Jubilife City. His first Pokémon was Lotad.

Amon whispered in my ear, "Visit me." Then he walked back to his house.

Amon was the mysterious type person. He and I met when we were five years old, him being a month older than me, and ever since this region was unbalanced…

Yes, this region became unstable; plants wilted, the lake dried, burned trees, but basically the region's wildlife had become poor. Not just the wildlife; it was the cities and towns, too. Even in Sandgem Town…

If only the wind could howl. If only the fragrance of the camellia flowers could travel as we breathe through our noses. If only all of us, Sinnoh civilians, could again see the true life of what this region had before.

I decided I wasn't going to visit Amon. Not yet.

I grabbed both my sibling's hands and took them inside our house. "Little brother, little sister…" I began. "Please stay here."

I walked outside of the house and had shut the door. Though, I stayed at my post. Then I heard a cry. It was a cry of a Pokémon. I realized it was the same cry I heard in my dream.

Mesprit… I thought.

3 minutes later, as I looked down, I felt a touch on top of my foot. It was Amon's Lotad.

"Lotad!" it said.

I looked up and saw Amon in front of me.

"Why didn't you visit me?" he asked.

I sighed. "Amon, do you now have any idea about why this region became poor?"

"I am still looking into it," said Amon, "though I fear I'd have to explore each city and town past Jubilife City."

"Then go outside of Jubilife City," I suggested. "I don't want to hear anymore theories. I want to know what really happened."

"Then why can't you ask Professor Rowan for a Pokémon to travel?" Amon replied.

"My mother wants to me to earn it," I said.

Amon scoffed as he laid his hand on the left side of my shoulder. "You deserve a Pokémon," he said. He kissed my cheek and pulled me into a hug.

I blushed. However, I wanted this hug to end. The hug had made me felt uneasy.

Amon whispered in my ear, "Visit me, Astie." He stood there, hesitating for my response. I, too, had hesitated. I tried to think of a response.

"In a little bit," I responded finally.

Amon had already vanished among the shadows; the shadows that had showed my fear, wanting him to go away. I shook my head and then saw Amon was still hugging me. I sighed, realizing it was just my imagination that made me think he left.

"Astie?" Amon called.

"Just…" I stammered. "Just go. I'll visit you, but not now."

"Do you fear me?" he asked.

Then I had burst out with rage, "I have to take care of my siblings, okay?! My mother is working! I'm in charge of the house, Amon!"

Amon was right. The rage… it was full of my fear. It wasn't just because I was in charge of the house. I had feared him ever since he told me his secret.

Amon sighed. He had let go of me and frowned. "Right…"

"What's going on?" someone asked us. I realized it was my mother.

"Mom!" I called.

"Mrs. Arimi…?" said Amon. "It's nothing. We were just having a discussion."

"Astaku," my mom began, ignoring Amon, "we need to discuss something important."

Something... important to discuss?

Part 3: Starter Pokémon

At my house, my siblings and I celebrated Mother's Day with Mom. Presents were given out to Mom and all of us had smiles and happiness spread. Mom invited Amon to the house.

"Mrs. Arimi," Amon spoke, "you have such lovely gifts from your lovely children."

"Lovely". He thought I was lovely…

…Or was it just him being creepy? I wanted him out… I wanted to tell him to get out.

And I shall talk it out to him in my room.

"Mother, may Amon and I talk in my room?" asked I.

"Oh, but we haven't started the discussion yet," she said. She grabbed a capsule with three Pokéballs and placed it on the floor. Could it be…?

Amon's and my eyes widened.

"Would you like to travel all over Sinnoh?" asked Mom.

I gasped as I said, "Mom…!"

"You deserve to go out on a journey," Mom continued. "And perhaps take Amon with you?"

"Perhaps," Amon said.

"Like hell would I take you!" said I to Amon in a nervous tone. Then I saw Mom glaring at me. I just wanted Amon to stay away from me.

Mom opened the capsule and then grabbed the 3 Pokéballs. She threw them high into the air as the Pokéballs opened and thus the Pokémon were sent out. Each of the Pokémon cried out:

"Turt-twig!"

"Piplup pip!"

"Chim-char!"

The green turtle Pokémon was Turtwig. The little blue penguin Pokémon was Piplup. The orange chimp Pokémon with a fiery tail was Chimchar.

Now it's time for me to choose. I have to decide which Pokémon to pick.

"I pick…" I started to say, kneeling to the floor. I hesitated, feeling uneasy.

Both Mom and Amon were staring at me. They were waiting for me to make my choice—to decide which Pokémon I want to travel with. "I pick Piplup," I finally said.

Then Piplup hugged my left knee as it chanted its own name. It smiled at me. Its smile warmed my heart and thus I thought about how adorable this Piplup was acting towards me.

"It is fond of you," said Mom.

Amon smiled a little bit. "If I may ask, why did you choose Piplup?"

"Because…" I began. "…Because I decided to specialize in Water Type Pokémon. I also want to aid the other Water Type Pokémon."

Amon smiled more. "You are cute."

He thinks I'm cute? I thought.

"Do you want to nickname your Piplup?" Mom asked me.

I tried to think of a nickname for Piplup. And now I thought of one.

"Happy," I chose. "Like the title of a movie, Happy Feet. This Piplup was happy when I chose it."

And I saw a smile on my mom's face.

Part 4: Ready for the Journey

Amon walked with me to my room, though I was struggling to break free from his grasp. I assumed he wanted to talk to me about my goals. Perhaps the goals for when I start journeying across Sinnoh,

"Astie…"

That nickname…

"Astie," Amon continued. "I want to make a bargain with you."

This was my chance. This was my chance to kick Amon out. This was my chance to persuade Amon to stay away from me.

"I want to make a bargain as well," I told him.

Amon took a deep breath and pulled out two Town Maps. He grabbed my left hand and laid one of the Town Maps at the palm of my hand.

"Thank you for the—"

"If we're going to find out what really happened in Sinnoh," he said, interrupting me, "then we must journey together."

He now pulled me for a hug.

"No!" I yelled.

Amon had now let go of me. His eyes widened. "What?"

I admitted bluntly, "I don't want to travel with you! Yes, I fear you! I have been ever since you told me your secret! And ever since you revealed your secret to me, you've been acting creepy!"

Amon looked down, depressed. "I'm sorry…"

"Get out," I demanded, also looking down. "Leave me alone…"

Amon nodded. He went downstairs, said goodbye, and left my house.

Even if I wanted to find out (which I really did), I didn't want Amon near me. Not ever.

I noticed Amon wrote a letter before leaving my room. He had put it on my desk. I opened the letter. It read:

"I'm sorry I made you feel disturbed.

I wanted to travel with you because you… you are so passionate about Sinnoh. You care about your own region. That's what I like about you the most. You loved to know what was going on outside of Sandgem Town.

Again, I'm sorry. If it makes you feel any better, I… won't ever see you—"

I heard the cry of Mesprit's again, instantly dropping the letter before I could finish reading it. The cry was worsening every time I heard it. I looked around, feeling uneasy. I felt like I was going berserk.

I covered my ears. The cry won't stop.

"Stop! Stop crying!" I demanded

The cry didn't stop. It didn't stop until my little sister shook me. "Astacie?"

Astacie was just a nickname.

I looked at my little sister, slowly moving both my hands away from my ears. "Thank you…"

Later, I dressed, putting on my lavender fedora with star pins in a shade of silver, my pink scarfed shirt, my dark blue skirt and bracelet. I put the Town Map in my bag as I walked out of the house after saying goodbye. Happy was in its Pokéball. I was ready. I was ready to take the journey across Sinnoh.

Mesprit… I thought. I will come for you. I will aid you. I will find out what happened to Sinnoh. When we meet, I hope we could be friends. My journey starts now.

My destination will be Jubilife City.