Pokemon: Mythology

Chapter 1: Everything Old Is New Again

Max Riley awoke in his bedroom with the light from the sun beaming in his face and the sounds of trucks leaving. Max leaned against the window with his face touching the warm glass as he stared out at his new home of New Bark Town. Max walked across the room and leaned on his dresser staring at his reflection in the mirror. He ran his fingers through his jet-black hair and looked down at the picture of himself and his cousin when they were kids, he hasn't heard from him in quite sometime. Max retreated to his bed and sat there picking up a picture frame with a photo of him and his father in it from when Max won his first gym badge in Kanto. Max quit being a pokemon trainer after the murder of his father. He looked at the expression of joy on his face in the photo and turned it face down on the table beside his bed. Max made his way down the stairs and heard of the voices of two women conversating joyfully. Max's mother, Michelle Riley, peered from behind the brown hair woman whose hair was neatly done in a ponytail.

Michelle: Oh Max! So you're finally awake! Look whose here!

The brown haired woman turned around smiling sweetly, showing herself to be Delia Ketchum.

Delia: Hello Max!

Max: Hi Auntie Delia…

Delia: How've you been sweetie?

Max: Fine…I guess…

Delia: How's that pokemon you were raising? What was it again?

Max: Houndour?

Delia: Yes! That's it! How's it been doing?

Max: Just fine. Have you talked to Ash lately?

Delia: Yes, I make sure he calls me everyday to make sure I know where he is, and if he's ok, and if he's eating right or wearing clean underwear. I worry about him so much while he's out there, but at least he has his friends with him, that puts my mind at ease. Max, Have you considered at all returning to training? Continuing your quest?

Michelle got up from her spot and wandered to kitchen to brew some tea and let Max and Delia talk in peace.

Max: No…I'm done…

Delia: Max, I'm sorry about the incident with your father, but it wasn't your fault, it was that god awful Team Rocket. And you shouldn't let it keep you from achieving your dream of pokemon greatness. Do you remember that summer in Pallet Town at the lake when you and Ash were 6 got that Rattata to bite Prof. Oak in the butt?

Max remembered back to the incident and a smile grew on his face as he chuckled. He remembered how mad Prof. Oak was and how he chased Max and Ash all over the place.

Max: How could I forget? Classic…

Delia: Yes, but do you remembered the promise you made to each other?

Max's mind was lost in memories. He remembered that night he and Ash were watching fireworks at the lake.

Ash: Hey Max!

Max: Yeah?

Ash: You see how we handled that Rattata today? We were born to be pokemon trainers, it's like…in our blood!

Max: Yeah, Our dads are both great trainers, maybe we're meant to be too.

Ash: You know what?

Max: Hmm?

Ash: Let's make an oath!

Max: An oath? What's an oath?

Ash: It's like when we make a promise.

Max: Oh ok! What're we promising?

Ash: Let's promise that we'll both become pokemon masters and that we'll have a great battle someday at the top of Mt. Silver!

Max: Yeah!

The two young boys spit in their hands and shook hands while screaming in unison "I Promise!".

Max: Wow…I've forgotten all about that.

Delia: Ash sure hasn't, he was crushed to find out that you've given up on training. Max, please don't give up, your father wouldn't want you to.

Max: Hmm…maybe you're right, I'll have to think about it Auntie Delia.

Delia: Please do Max, I know you'll make the right choice.

Max started towards the door to check out the neighbor there in New Bark Town until Michelle came walking out of the kitchen carrying a tray of tea with the sweet smile that never vanishes.

Michelle: Max! Hold on sweetie, I received a call from Prof. Elm from next door he wanted to speak with you and I hear he has a daughter about your age.

Max grunted at the words "Daughter about your age", she's always trying to hook him up, and walked out of the house closing the door behind. Max stood there taking a deep breath of fresh air. Max stretched hearing some of his bones crack. He cracked his knuckles and whistled loudly and repeatedly. A Houndour came running from behind the house and hopped up on Max with its tongue hanging out. Max patted Houndour on its head and rub behind its ears.

Max: C'mon Houndour, let's check out this town, see if it's ready for us.

Max led Houndour to the large house next door. He walked up to the front door and hesitantly rang the doorbell. The door quickly swung open with a tall blonde woman smiling at Max.

Woman: Yes, can I help you?

Max: Um…Hi, I'm looking for Prof. Elm?

Woman: Oh! You must be Max!

Max: Yeah, that's me.

Woman: Hi, I'm Helena Elm!

Max: Hi, nice to meet you.

Helena: Oh No! The pleasure's all mine!

Max: Um…ok, if you say so. Is the Professor in?

Helena: Oh, no he's out at the moment, but c'mon in he may be back shortly.

Max: Ok then.

Helena stepped aside letting Max and Houndour into the living room. Max and Houndour's jaws dropped in shock and amazement as the looked around at the Ikea/Martha Stewart Hell. The house had everything from the dishes with the tiny bubbles in them to the coffee table shaped like a yin/yang symbol.

Helena: Max, would like some tea?

Max: No thank you, I'm fine.

Helena: Yes you are…

Max: Huh?

Helena: Nothing!

Max: Ok….

Helena: Y'know, we have a daughter about your age.

Max: So I've heard…

Helena: Why don't you go on up there and say hello. She's such a lovely girl, very pretty, name's Alicia. She's usually in her room on her computer when she's not out training.

Max: She's a pokemon trainer?

Helena: Oh yes, she's quite the trainer in the making. Are you a trainer?

Max: No…not anymore.

Helena: Something happen?

Max: Yeah, but I'm not ready to talk about it…

Helena: Ok, take your time hon, you don't have to if you don't want to.

Max: I think I'll go up and say hi to Alicia.

Helena: Ok hon, nice meeting you, by the way it's the door on the left.

Max: Yeah…

Max turned and was startled as Helena pinched his butt. He turned to her and she smiled as if nothing happened. Max climbed up the stairs to the second story with Houndour following behind him. He opened the first door on the left that he saw and stepped into the room catching a whiff of something that smelled like cookies and white plums. Max walked around the empty room examining the Jigglypuff, Clefairy, and other pokemon posters that covered the walls. He moved over to the computer desk where a half eaten cookie sat and was on the computer screen. Max notices a shadowy figure of a girl creeping up behind him in the reflection in the screen swinging a baseball bat at his head. Max quickly turns around when Houndour barks blocking the bat with his forearm breaking it in two. The girl jumped back holding the handle looking down at the splinters.

Max: What the fuck! What's with the bat?

Alicia: I…I…I…

Max looked the girl up and down and observed her shaking, curvy figure. He stepped to her and pulled the bat handle away and sat her down on the bed to calm her down, Houndour ceased barking and sat waiting patiently. Max rubbed her shoulders gently and moved some of her chestnut brown hair from her face and looked into her hazel eyes.

Max: Relax Alicia, just relax.

Alicia: Who're you? How'd you know my name?

Max: Relax Alicia. My name's Max, Max Riley, I just moved in next door. I thought I'd come by and say hi.

Alicia: Oh, So you're Max, the son Ms. Riley has about my age.

Max: Your parents told u that?

Alicia: Yes.

Max: Hmm...My mom did too.

Alicia looked out behind Max at Houndour who was lying on the floor waiting.

Alicia: Is that your pokemon?

Max looked over at Houndour.

Max: Sure is...

Alicia: You're a trainer?

Max: Not anymore...

Alicia: Not anymore? What do you mean?

Max: I quit...

Alicia: You quit? Why?

Max: It doesn't concern you.

Alicia: Well, if you're gonna be a dick about it...

Max: I'm sorry, it's just...I'm not ready to talk about it.

Alicia: That's all you had to say.

Max: I'm looking for your dad, you know where he is?

Alicia: Hmm...he went to his lab then...Oh Yeah! He went out to Route 29! He should be there.

Max: Thanks, I heard he wanted to see me about something.

Alicia: I'm sure.

Max: I better go meet up with him.

Max nods towards the balcony.

Max: I think I'll take this way out, your mom kinda bothers me.

Max whistles and Houndour hops up and follows Max off the balcony. Alicia stands on the balcony and watches Max and Houndour go to Route 29.

Elsewhere...

A shadowy figure watches Max and Houndour through a crystal ball.

Shadowy Figure1: That is him.

Shadowy Figure2: That boy? Are you sure?

Shadowy Figure1: Quite sure? Can't you sense that power within him? He's the one that'll tame the beasts.