A/N: I did this for two reasons:
1. I love the Hoenn region and miss it dearly(my game is being a bastard and keeps freezing up 15 minutes into my save file)
2.I have a messed up mind and look at reality differently and reasonably(kinda)
This was originally supposed to be 3 super short chapters about the trainers and their first battles, but as I thought about it, it turned into their whole journey.
Chapters will be going by the starter's nickname, not by the trainer, as it's in their POV. Dialogue will be in italics for Pokemon.
Chapter 1: Ryu
The Torchic watched the three trainers in front of them. It was that time of year again, when a new trainer came in for their first Pokemon. He had never been picked, after two years, but it looked like he would finally be able to leave the lab.
In front of him stood three young trainers, two boys and one girl. The tallest boy had short blond hair and sharp, violet eyes. He looked more serious than the two, probably a trainer that would make it through a battle. The next boy had short black hair and kind blue eyes. He had a sweet smile and seemed like someone who would care for a Pokemon in the nicest way. He wanted to be picked by that one. The last one was a girl with brown hair tied messily into a ponytail and green eyes. She looked like the type to jump into battle quickly, not thinking about the outcome.
The black-haired boy came up first, nervously, encouraged by his friends. Torchic watched with wide eyes as he reached forward to the Mudkip with shaking hands. She gave him a small lick on the nose and told him "it's alright." though they knew the humans couldn't understand them. He smiled and stepped back, making space for the next child.
The next one simply nodded to the Treeko, who nodded back awkwardly and leapt off the table to stand next to his trainer. He watched in horror (although he was sure his Torchic face hid it) as the girl came up and plucked him off the table and into the air.
"And this one's mine!" She cheered, one of the boys sighing, while the other just smiled on.
After accepting their pokedex and pokeballs, the three trainers went their separate ways, Treeko - or Sho as his trainer named him - gave him a sympathetic look. Mudkip - Sen, she was named - just gave him a look that said 'You'll come to like her.' as she was carried off by her own trainer. He felt a sigh, even though it sounded more like a chirp.
What had he gotten into?
xXxXxXx
What in the world had compelled the girl to name him 'Dragon' of all things? It would have fit that Treeko more than it did him. They were traveling down Route 102, when a Zigzagoon jumped out in front of them. He was, as he suspected, sent straight into battle.
"Ryu, use beak attack!"
"Oka- Wait, what?"
He gave her this "what-the-fuck" look, to which she began flailing her arms.
"You know, that that thing you do with your beak. Uh, it was, it was - Peck! Use Peck!"
He gave her another look. "I don't know peck.." Did this girl flunk out of trainer school?
"Oh, right, your only level 5, aren't you?" Oh, now she gets it. "Okay then, uh, feet attack!"
"Don't you know your attacks!?"
xXxXxXx
Oh, how he hated humanity. They were now in Rustboro city, where his trainer - Tsukasa, he learned her name was - went straight to the gym.
A little while back in Odale town they met up with the other two trainers who came in with her. There the blond one challenged her to a battle. Seeing as she charged right into battle, and her opponent was a skilled strategist apparently, they were beaten flat before the battle could even pass the five-minute mark. The other boy there had extra potions - Tsukasa never thought to buy any - and healed him up quick. They bid their farewells and went off again, reminding their friend about how to properly take care of a Torchic. Ryu was thankful for that, as they had given her potions and some more pokeballs, but there was something he was suspicious of.
What was this bet she and the blond kid were talking about? The other boy looked like he had nothing to do about it, as he just shook his head and commented on their foolishness. It seemed there was something he and Sho were unaware of, and Sen looked clueless too.
Back to where they were, Ryu and Tsukasa stood outside the large building.
"This must be the gym." She said, walking up to the door. Now, there wouldn't have been a problem for him if she had trained him until he evolved, but Ryu was still a Torchic, therefore he had a huge disadvantage. Especially since the first gym was rock-types.
Needless to say they were beaten pretty quickly, having to rush off to the Pokemon Center. There, he overheard something interesting.
"Did you see that boy with the Treeko? He beat Roxane so quickly."
"Well, it was a grass-type. Of course he had the advantage."
"I heard a kid with a Mudkip came by the other day too and won."
He looked up at his trainer, seeing her fingers tightening around her cup. What was going on?
xXxXxXx
It's been nearly a year now. They had five badges and were heading for the sixth. Ryu was, though he wouldn't admit it, growing quite fond of his trainer. Sure, she was reckless, arrogant, jumped into battle without planning, but she cared for him the right way. The still lost all their battles to that kid, but everything else was turning out okay. He had long ago evolved into Combusken, learning more fighting type moves, making it easier to battle. That was until they got to a psychic-type gym.
Ryu gave out a cry as he was slammed against the wall, the Lunatone in front of him, eyes glowing blue. Because she only had one Pokemon, the were fighting two-on-one, Lunatone and Solrock as their opponents. He still didn't know why she wouldn't catch another Pokemon, but it always worked out in the end for would find out eventually, but first it seemed like his trainer really wanted to win this battle. He brought up his arms, readying a Night Slash, and charged forward.
If that was what she wanted, then they were winning this.
xXxXxXx
"There, that looks good, right?"
The Combusken looked around. They were in their newly-built secret base, and Tsukasa had just finished decorating. After a quick stop in Lilycove, of course.
He sat on the fluffy pink carpet in the middle of the room. The other decorations included a large table piled high with stuffed animals, a few posters, and a Skitty TV. Right now she was trying to get the TV to work while he sat and watched. When the screen finally flickered to life, they watched as the news played on whatever channel it was pre-set to.
xXxXxXx
"We're finally got it!"
Ryu felt like cheering too. They finally managed to receive their eighth badge. He had to admit, it was a tough battle, the gym being a water-type gym. After four tries they managed to wear down his team and deliver the final blow. Wallace watched them with a smile, at first unable to believe he had been beaten by a fire-type and it's new trainer, but he had to give them credit.
"Congratulations." He said, handing the eager young girl her badge. "You are now able to take on the Hoenn League."
Tsukasa was practically radiating happiness, and it somehow made Ryu happy too.
xXxXxXx
This had to be a nightmare. Ryu wanted to believe that so much. He still couldn't believe how their journey and time together could end so quickly.
It had only been three years.
Tsukasa lay on the cave floor, her entire lower body crushed under several large boulders. He watched in horror as she looked up at him, crooked smile almost hidden by all the blood.
"I'm sorry," She said, voice cracking. "Team Aqua was just too much for me. I'm sorry you had to get involved. Not that we could help it, your my only Pokemon."
Blood poured out from the gash on her forehead, covering the pale face. Ryu wanted to help her, but he knew any attempts at a Rock Smash or Strength would simply make things worse. The cave would fall in even more. She raised herself up on her elbows as much as she could and reached under the collar of her shirt. From there she pulled out a silver necklace, the charm around it in the shape of a Torchic's head. Ryu bent his head, knowing what she meant to do. She put the chain around the Combusken's neck, elbows giving out.
"Ne, Ryu?" He raised his head and looked back at her, seeing the sad smile on her face. "I'm not really from Hoenn. I moved here from Saffron in Kanto. We moved here so I could be a trainer." His chest felt tight. Why did they have to agree to helping take out Team Aqua?
"The bet..." She continued, and his eyes widened. "I... made a bet with Allen. We wanted to see... who could last the longest... with just one Pokemon." She closed her eyes for a moment, then looked back at him. "I know I'm apologizing a lot, but... I'm sorry. Yuuki was right, if I hadn't agreed to that bet, maybe we could've gotten out of this together, if I had more Pokemon..."
Ryu's eyes widened at the sight of blood pouring from her mouth. He knelt down in front of her, patting her head with his large paws.
"I... I know you never liked me. I could tell by the look on your face when I picked you up. But I hope you've... come to like me, even a little."
He felt the tears welling up in his eyes as her's slid shut, hearing her mumble one last thing.
"Your still my best friend..."
xXxXxXx
Ryu looked over the faces of the new students. He didn't even pay attention as the teacher gave out instructions.
After the death of his trainer, he returned to Oldale town, locating her house rather easily. The drawings on the outside wall were a bit of a give away. The moment her mother saw him, and the chain around his neck, she broke down. He knew then why she gave it to him.
After telling Yuuki, who had come back after finishing his contests, he knew it was a matter of time before the boy broke down too. They were still too young.
He barely heard the teacher introducing him.
After the events in Hoenn, he moved with the family back to Saffron, where he entered the Fighting Dojo as one of the Pokemon students. It took a mere two years for him to evolve into a Blaziken and . He looked over their eager faces, all staring at him in awe. What was so great about him? A Blaziken, heart broken over the loss of his trainer, now a teacher at a dojo, was that it?
The chain around his neck glinted in the sunlight streaming through the window, the ruby eye of the Torchic giving off a faint red glow.
The class was divided into two groups, each with an even amount of Pokemon and trainers. He set them to train right away, not bothering with any introductions.
"Ryu-sensei, can you help me with this move?"
He looked down to see a little girl, only a little over nine, with medium-lenght brown hair tied into pigtails. She had dark blue eyes and a determined smile on her face.
Who knew, maybe he could take after his own trainer?
xXxXxXx
There I go again, killing off my own characters again.
So this fic went from complete crack to total tragedy. And theres more. I may not be able to finish the last two chapters tonight, since it's the dreaded Sunday and I may be going to school tomorrow. Or not. Dunno yet, my mom hasn't told me anything. But yeah.
If your wondering:
Tsukasa: Sapphire verse - vs. team Aqua
Allen: Ruby verse - vs. team Magma
Yuuki: Emerald Verse - vs. no one
This fic was originally supposed to be about the 15 starters and their first battles with their new trainers, but I kept thinking about it and it turned into this. I may do a few more versions of this, set in different games and regions, but for now it's these three chapters.
So, who can guess what happens next chapter?