Antithesis

A Pokémon: Black/White Fanfiction

By: BlackVelvett Revolver


The Metaphorical Fork


"Honey, do you have everything ready to go for tomorrow?" Came the soft lilting voice of Kendra White's mother drifting up the stairwell.

"Yes!" Kendra called down stairs. She was packing and unpacking her backpack over and over, so technically she was getting everything ready—never mind the fact that she dumped everything out moments later to rearrange and add or subtract from what she was taking with her.

"Make sure you take only essentials." Came her mother's voice up the stairs again.

"Okay!" Kendra yelled back.

She dumped out her backpack again, nearly fuming with exasperation. "Essentials… Essentials…" Her room was a disaster; total and utter chaos. The young brunette frowned; her mother would be upset if she actually came to investigate the sounds of her daughter's stomping.

"This is so not working…" Kendra crumpled to the ground, clapping her hands over her eyes. She snatched up a fallen pillow from her bedside and screamed into the downy object, now the outlet for her current frustrations.

The first backpack she stocked was full to bursting with everything she owned, and much more. Her mother quickly lectured her to tears about what it meant to be a trainer, a traveler and having to tote around an 'anchor', as her mother pointed at her three extra bags, was not what a proper trainer did. So Kendra stomped back up the stairs to her bedroom like an onerous Haxorus to repack her belongings.

Her mental state deteriorated as rapidly as her determination to master her backpack.

You can't even do this… Could she really be a Pokémon trainer?

The faintest tremor ran through her body as she recalled her previous night's nightmare.

"Kendra, dear, your friend is here to see you."

Kendra perked up, wondering who it would be and glad for the distraction. Would it be the bubbly Bianca or the serious Cheren? At the moment she didn't think her nerves could deal with the over zealous Bianca. She loved the girl to death but she had enough gloom to deal with in her home. Kendra didn't want to add to her troubles and dampen Bianca's spirit.

"Who is it?" Kendra yelled at her open door, too lazy at the moment to even get up and be a proper host.

"Me." Came the sensible tones of Cheren. He pushed his thin-rimmed glasses up the bridge of his nose and gave Kendra one of his famous apprising looks that spoke volumes.

"Don't look at me like that, Cheren!" Kendra whined, hiding behind her pillow. "I know it looks bad," She paused and looked about her. "But it could be worse."

"You're a wreck." Cheren nodded to his friend as he sat down on the edge of her bed, a look of worry creasing his forehead. He sighed, evaluating his friend. The girl he had known since he was three was sprawled on her floor with an arm covering her eyes. No doubt she was hiding the dark rings of proof; evidence which meant she still wasn't sleeping well.

"Cheren, don't be mean." Kendra sighed.

"You haven't even packed anything." Cheren looked at his friend's bed and saw an arrangement of clothes; he looked away slightly pink cheeked when he spied a piece of underwear. He coughed and turned away from her pile of clothes. "Want some help?"

Kendra heaved a great sigh of relief. "That would be wonderful, thank you." She rose from the floor and brought her now empty backpack closer. "What are you bringing?"

"Just the essentials." He shrugged.

"So they say…" Kendra huffed sarcastically.

"Start with the basics, Kendra. First, you will need a change of clothes." Cheren gave her a mischievous smile as he tossed her a pair of panties in an effort to get her railed. Anything was better than her in quiet distress.

"Cheren!" Kendra blushed crimson, embarrassed more than anything. Cheren was like her brother and his antics weren't amusing. At all. "How many should I take?"

"Underwear? As much as you can carry." Cheren smirked, his mouth quirking.

Kendra tossed the pillow at her best friend's face; bopping him square in the nose, knocking his glasses clean off. The two laughed whole-heartedly.

"I packed a spare shirt and pants, and something to sleep in. With plenty of underwear." He added thoughtfully, replacing the glasses securely on his face.

Kendra's jaw dropped. "What? Just one?" Kendra wasn't one of those girls that had a vast array of clothes in her closet but just one spare change of clothes? Impossible.

"Kendra," Cheren sobered, his face impassive but his eyes serious. "You will need to have room for other more important things. Mostly for your Pokémon."

The girl wilted for a moment before cheering. "You're absolutely right." She hopped up and picked out another pair of short jeans and tank top. She folded them neatly and placed them next to Cheren who had cleared a spot next to him on the bed. She jumped over clutter from her room to her dresser where she pulled out several pairs of underwear.

Cheren had crossed his leg and balanced an elbow on his knees, head in hand he added in a droll tone, "Don't forget lots of socks too."

"Right." She added to the pile, along with an extra bra and sports bra set. She placed her delicates under her normal attire, challenging Cheren with a look to say something about it but he was busy staring at the floor, absorbed in his own thoughts.

"You got shoes right?"

"Yeah, my mom just got me a great pair of running shoes with extra thick soles. She said they're best for hiking too." She placed the new shoes next to her backpack, which was next to Cheren's feet.

"Now toiletries." Cheren announced, trying to keep Kendra on task. Cleaning up her room as she went was distracting her. When she had guests over she hated having a dirty room and often cleaned as her company was over. It was one of her nervous habits. Any other time Cheren wouldn't mind, but he wanted to get down to business and really talk to his friend. First things first, however, she needed to get her bag together tonight.

"Oh, I've got those all gathered." She pointed to the top of her dresser to the considerable collection of soaps. Cheren got to his feet and went to investigate. He picked up several bottles before setting them back down, silent and calculating. He began to set aside the cleansers into two groups. Kendra began to notice that one pile was significantly larger than the other and she began to worry.

"This," Cheren pointed to the small meager pile, "Is all you need."

"What?!" Kendra exclaimed.

"Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb, hair tie, wash cloth. You won't need all this other stuff."

"What about soap, shampoo, conditioner?"

"When you go to a PokéCenter they'll have a hostel that will provide you with all that. So you won't need to worry." Cheren explained rather matter of factly.

Kendra put her hands on her hips and reached out and snatched a large bar of soap. "I am not leaving this." She brandished the pink bar almost menacingly towards Cheren who sighed dramatically.

"Fine. Keep your soap then." Cheren over dramatized his voice to sound plaintive and childish.

"I will thank you." Kendra chirped triumphantly. She began stocking her bag, which was considerably lighter than before. As an after thought she tossed in a bikini, just in case as she explained to Cheren when he glowered at her.

"Now you need supplies for your Pokémon."

Kendra nodded. "I've got a few things." She procured a flat but thick bristle brush, a sturdy iron phial, heavy-duty clippers, and a small container of bright yellow salve. The salve was hand-made and meant to cover cuts and scrapes and fight infection. Bianca had showed the both of them how to make it, and it was to be used in dire emergencies when a PokéCenter was too far away.

Cheren nodded in approval. These were basic tools for care of Pokémon. A starter kit Professor Juniper had said they should get to prepare for their journey.

"I think you're ready. Well, as prepared as you can be for the moment. I think our other items will come tomorrow." Cheren sat back down on Kendra's bed and relaxed a bit. He was glad that the packing was out of they way. He watched Kendra flit about her room, cleaning again out of nervousness. She knew the real reason why he was here and she hoped that he would just drop it for tonight.

"Have you slept at all?"

Her frame visibly wilted. No such luck, not with Cheren on the case. His determination was an admirable quality but sometimes he was ruthless and unrelenting when his mind was set.

Kendra bent down and picked up some dirty clothes and pushed them roughly into her laundry bin. Exhaustion suddenly overcame her and her agitation flared. "What do you think?" She snapped, immediately regretting it.

Hurt splashed across Cheren's face before it was smoothed over with a mask of indifference. He was on defense now.

"Any more dreams?"

Kendra leaned against her dresser, clutching her head. "Yes." She spoke quietly.

"The same one? Or anything new?"

Kendra folded her arms across her chest and looked away from her best friend. Her eyes settled on the door and she quickly rushed to kick it closed.

"So you haven't talked to your mom about it either." Cheren chided disapprovingly.

"What do you want me to tell her, Cheren?!" Kendra seethed, then began to parrot a falsetto voice, "Hey mom, I can't wait to travel all around. By the way, I keep having dreams of the world tearing itself apart by giant Pokémon. Bye!"

"Of course you wouldn't say it like that." Cheren snapped back, annoyed by his friend's behavior. She certainly wasn't helping herself or the situation.

"You haven't even told anything to Bianca yet. I'm surprised you even told me. You need to tell your mom, or at least talk to the Professor. You can't just keep bottling this up. Look at you! You're more frazzled than ever!" Cheren got to his feet as emotion flooded every part of his being. He could see that Kendra was suffering, but she was putting herself in isolation because of it. He just couldn't understand why she couldn't ask for help.

Kendra shook her head. Of course Cheren wouldn't fully understand; he was too pragmatic. She didn't even know where to begin to explain everything. He only knew a few pieces of the puzzle that was her life. She didn't even know the bigger picture to solve it.

Her inability to articulate herself made the silence between then draw on for too long.

"Isolating yourself in your misery won't make your situation any better. Shutting us out doesn't make you stronger and it doesn't mean you're better for doing so." Cheren bit out callously, truthfully. "Bianca isn't stupid. She knows something's up with you, she's just too nice to ask about it."

That was one thing she could always count on where Cheren was concerned. He may be quiet, serious, and wickedly smart but he was also fiercely loyal and refreshingly truthful to the point of tactless.

"I know, Cheren, I know. But I just don't know where to begin."

Since Kendra could remember she'd been steadily having a particular set of dreams. She didn't know when they began. At first they were fanciful and whimsical but as she got older the nature of her dreams turned foul and dark, filled with turmoil, despair and danger. When Kendra had told her mother about them, her mother had dismissed her daughter's imaginings. Such things weren't real, her mother had told her. Kendra needed to learn the difference between reality and fantasy.

Goose bumps erupted all over her arms as she remembered a dream from last night. It had felt so real!

"Come on, Kendra. If you want my help you'll have to open up. I thought we had no secrets between us."

Kendra recalled the pact that Cheren, Bianca, and she had made when they were younger. Never stand alone when you don't have to, never cry alone, and never harbor secrets. They had been five and Bianca had been crying alone outside her house when Cheren and Kendra had found her. She had been in trouble for making a mess in the kitchen and her father had gone off the handle and yelled at her. Together they had made their promise to each other to always be there for each other, to protect each other, and to always be friends. They had even spit on their hands and shook on it.

Now Kendra's dreams were escalating and even more confusing as they were terrorizing. She didn't tell either friend that they were getting worse. It was an old complaint, and you could only talk about it so much. Kendra didn't want to be a burden to either of them. They had been through so much. The only reason Cheren found out was because he was so much more observant than Bianca; if he were a Sharpedo he would be able to sniff out a drop of weakness in any ocean.

"My dreams have been different lately." She finally admitted.

"How so?"

"I keep dreaming of dragons. Of a darkening sky. Of lightning, earthquakes and firestorms. I dream of Pokémon attacking their trainers, of them running away." Kendra's face suddenly seemed far away as she was recollecting. "There is a castle, and in it a throne."

Trying to lighten the mood, Cheren asked, "You a princess now?"

Kendra frowned, distracted. "No, in the dream I know the throne isn't mine. You know how you just know things in dreams? There is a person on the throne, but I can't see who it is. And then lately I've been dreaming about white light. I don't know if it's the moon or a star, or something else entirely, and it gets blotted out, like in an eclipse. I just don't know. But I keep dreaming about it, over and over."

"This doesn't make any sense." Cheren mumbled, puzzled.

"In the dream I'm walking towards the eclipse, and it gets brighter and brighter around the edges but smaller and smaller. Then I wake up and it turns out the sun is in my eyes." Kendra huffed. She finished straightening her room and stood in the center with her hands on her hips. "You know what really freaks me out? There are a lot of things similar in my dreams that are in this book!" She went to her bookcase and pulled out a thick tome that looked old and worn from use.

Cheren took the book from Kendra, immediately interested. He loved to read, something that his parents bred into him. The book was titled Legends Around the World and was about all the legends from every region. He flipped through intricate pictures of various legendary Pokémon. The legendary birds of the Kanto region, the dogs of the Johto region, the elemental titans of the Hoenn region, and the fierce dragons of the Sinnoh and Unova regions.

Kendra stopped him at the legend of Zekrom and Reshiram, tapping the pages. The legend told of two dragons that were opposites, broken apart because of two heroes. That when the world was new and forming dragons fought over different ideals that would ultimately shape the world. They were matched in every way, only when they summoned Heroes did the world truly begin.

"A Hero must be—"Cheren began to read out loud but was cut off when Kendra finished the phrase for him.

"'Must be pure of heart, unwavering in conviction, and willing to fight for their belief. Only then will the Hero awaken the mighty dragon and reshape the world'." Kendra spoke quietly, somberly.

The two remained quiet for a moment before Cheren smiled indifferently and closed the book. "This explains everything. You read too much, and this story just got stuck in your head."

"Cheren, I got that book four days ago when my mother and I went to Straiton City. She went to get her hair done and I found myself at an old book store."

Cheren blinked, unmoved. "You had to have heard it before."

"Never. I had asked my mom if she knew the legend of this region. She didn't. She never told me the story as a child. When I stepped in that bookstore I felt like I was drawn to this book. I've never read it before in my life!" Kendra exploded, incredulous that Cheren didn't believe her.

"Maybe you heard it somewhere else. Over heard it in a passing conversation."

"Cheren!" Kendra snapped. "Stop it! I've never heard the story before. Not in my seventeen years of life!"

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry." Cheren looked chastened but otherwise undeterred by Kendra's outburst.

"The light and shadow I've been dreaming about is just like the light described in the story. Apparently, the dragons cannot be in this plane of existence without destroying the very fabric of this world. So their essence was stored in what they call dragon orbs. An orb of light and of darkness.

"They can only be awakened by the heart of a Hero. But if one is awakened, then so is the other, because if one Hero finds an orb, there is another Hero finding their orb too." Kendra finished explaining, her eyes now feverish. "Like mirror images."

"What does this have to do with your dreams?"

"Because, Cheren, in my dream I know that I am a Hero." Kendra finished, exhausted.


"You are ready." Came a great booming voice.

"I am."

"When you go out into the world, you will meet many different people. Know that each of them hold Pokémon against their will. They abuse them and use them. You must preach to the people that Pokémon are not meant to be pitted against each other in battle, that they are wrong to hold them captive, that they must set them free." The heavily robed Sage walked around the young boy, examining every inch.

"You know they will test you, but you must remain true."

"I will." Came the boy's conviction.

"You cannot be tainted, or you will never be chosen. Your dream will never come true." The Sage whispered, bitterness laced through his voice but the sentiment was lost on the boy. A snarl of disgust flitted across his face at the thought of the boy. He was more Pokémon than human. A tool to be used.

"My dream is everything."

"You will travel the region and see its corruption. It is the final proof you need to become a Hero." The Sage closed his eye; an ornate covering that hid his hideous scar and blindness obscured the other. It was an outward sign of weakness that he would never allow. In his dream, his world was different. In his world everything was perfect.

Ghetsis stepped away from N.

"When the time comes and you find that other Hero, be sure not to fall for his tricks. His ideals are wrong. They will destroy everything you have worked for. When you confront the other Hero you must destroy him."

"I will." N bowed low, promising that no matter whom the Hero was his dream was unshakable. He had been training for this moment all his life, there was nothing his opposite could ever hope to change their destiny.


"Kendra, your little friends will be here soon. In your room, I've left a package on your dresser. It isn't to be opened until you friends arrive, alright?" Came her mother's distracted voice. She was busy in the kitchen preparing a hot breakfast for her guests, as well as her daughter. Diana had offered her house as the headquarters for all the mothers and their children. One last breakfast and good bye before they launched their precious babies out into the world.

Diana poked her head from around the kitchen doorway, eying her daughter.

"Did you sleep well, baby?" She asked with concern.

"Not really." Kendra rubbed her eyes, trying to dispel the exhaustion that was still lingering. Cheren's visit last night, while helpful, had been exacerbating to her gnawing worries and vivid nightmares. Though he said he was there for her, after he left for the night she had been alone to face the dark that seemed to surround her. "Lots of dreaming, so not really rested so much as running around in my dreams."

"Oh, that's just your nerves. You must have been anxious about today." Her mother reasoned. She continued her task in the kitchen; crafting omelets full to bursting the bacon bits, cheese, spinach, mushrooms, and peppers.

Kendra didn't correct her mother otherwise about her dreams. She was anxious, not only because it was the day to start her journey but also she felt that she had reached a point of demarcation in her life. On the one path she could start her Pokémon journey and trigger whatever it was that fate had in store for her. On the other, she could stay here, get a job, finish school and become a full citizen without her Pokémon experience.

The metaphorical fork in her life seemed like an easy pick.

She wanted to start her journey and begin a life with Pokémon, travel the world and see everything that Unova had to offer. It was her biggest dream to explore the world of this region and beyond. There was only a small window of opportunity here. Either she started her journey now or never.

At the same time she was frightened. If she did start on her journey and her dreams really did mean something, what would happen? Where would life take her? She knew once she crossed that imaginary line then she would be finished. It was as if she could sense it within her very soul that something wicked and beyond her control was viciously dragging her into something bigger and badder than she could possibly imagine.

And that sort of feeling just didn't bode well.

Kendra thought about it. All she wanted from life was to be ordinary. She wanted an ordinary Pokémon adventure. She wanted to meet ordinary people and maybe take a shot at the Elite Four. After her journey she planned on going to a university and get some sort of a degree. In what, she didn't know. She had time for that later.

Kendra was grounded. Her dreams were realistic. She kept her hopes and goals small. She wanted life to be predictable… right?

"Hey, mom?" She called.

"Yes, honey." Her mother hummed absently, inwardly thinking she would miss the sound of her daughter's voice. She was about to go through an undetermined period of loneliness.

"Has dad called?"

Kendra could hear the frying pan clank against the stovetop rather sharply as her mother cursed, her spatula falling to the floor unsaved. Her omelet had spilled and now her utensil was dirty. Ms. White turned the stove top off to clean up the mess.

"No, dear, I'm afraid not." Her voice was laced with bitterness and irritation. "I called him the other night to remind him of your big day. He should have called."

Kendra's face fell, crestfallen. "It's okay, mom."

"No it's not! He's an adult and you're his daughter." She replied tersely, throwing the spatula with more force than needed into the sink.

"Its fine, I didn't really want to talk to him anyways." Kendra rubbed her eyes. She wasn't surprised. Her father wasn't the most reliable man in her life. She could count more on Cheren or Bianca's fathers more than her own. At least they lived in the same zip-code as her.

It had been a very dark time for her when her parents began to separate. Before Kendra was even born there were problems in their relationship. Her father's job required him to travel around the country, leaving his wife to sit at home and wait for his return. Her mother knew the arrangement before getting into the marriage but they had been wildly in love with each other, despite the fact they had little in common.

Kendra remembered them arguing a lot when she was smaller.

Apparently, while out on his many jobs her father had met another woman. The affair had started out small. Her father would meet her for drinks, lunches and short outings whenever he happened to be in the area. The encounters became more direct and frequent. Her father had begun to take more jobs that got him away from his home, which required him to be gone for longer periods. Even when there were no jobs available he would lie to his wife and take off to be with his mistress.

Her mother had known something was going on but she was too frightened to ask him directly nor did she want the scandal to become public. The passion had gone out from the marriage, much like a bursting flame. It had been a quick, hot and passionate burn but now the novelty had worn off and the flames had all but died out. Desperate to rekindle her marriage her mother had done the only thing she could think of: get pregnant. She thought that if he had a child to come home to then he would no longer stray, that he would take up responsibility, that he would start acting like a proper husband.

The plan backfired in the end.

When finding out his wife was pregnant her father had promised her all the things she hoped he would. He wanted to make it work for the baby. At the same time his mistress had also conceived. The battle for his attention had been fierce soon after Kendra had been born.

Her mother became embittered with the entire ordeal. She fought with her husband and even went to see and speak with his mistress in person, shocked that he had a child with her as well.

Kendra's fifth birthday had been the day that her father walked out the door and never came back. Her parents had been screaming at each other, fighting about whose birthday was more important. Apparently her father had wanted to be there when his son turned five. It had been confessed rather angrily from her father that he didn't love Diana anymore.

The divorce had been a horrid affair.

Her mother had been scared to death that her father would earn full custody. In the end, the judge found it more prudent that the child would stay with the mother. Her father was rewarded limited custody and could only visit his daughter under supervision. The only time her mother ever really talked to her dad was when she was screaming at him that he was late for child support.

Kendra watched something inside her mother break. Her mother never remarried, never dated, or ever seemed to be interested in finding love again. She had turned into a man-hater. She was disillusioned about love. She taught her daughter to be a survivor, to stand alone, to never need the support of a man or anyone. She cautioned her daughter on love.

"Choose your partner well." She always said. "Love will make you blind to their flaws. Don't let it blind you like it did me with your father." She would spit the words out like acid. Kendra got the message loud and clear; which was why 'til this very day she had yet to have a boyfriend.

Kendra couldn't stand being in the same room with either of her parents when they were near each other. It was like a war zone. For the most part, she avoided ever mentioning him for her mother's benefit.

Twice a year she would receive a phone call from him; once on her birthday and once for the holidays. Sometimes she would receive a card in the mail with a quick note and money clipped inside. There was always a promise of getting together that for some reason or another never panned out.

As a young girl, she used to cry about the situation. She went from missing her father terribly to hating him, now she felt indifferent. He was a stranger to her. She was still angry, but as far as Kendra was concerned she wasn't good enough for him to even stick around, custody order be damned. To say she wasn't jaded in that area was an understatement.

News about father and his new family was limited to what little her mother told her and the cards she received. She knew she had a half-brother she'd never met named Hilbert Black, keeping her father's name. Kendra kept her mother's.

She didn't appreciate the great cosmic joke with their names.

"You might see him along your journey…" Her mother had warned, meaning her father or her half-brother.

Her daughter had told her that she didn't care either way.

To her, her father was a voice on the telephone and a money bribe. He often tried to get her to visit him for a weekend, see him, and get to know his family and son. Kendra refused. She'd rather stay in this little town and be with her real family and friends. Her father had his chance years ago. Where was he then? Why now all of the sudden did he want everybody to meet?

Kendra shook her head at her dark musings.

She shouldn't be surprised that her father didn't remember to call and wish her luck on her Pokémon journey. It still hurt; that same open wound that always continued to ache. She wondered if time would ever heal her, like all the clichés said it would. Unless she had a direct confrontation with the man she didn't think so.

Kendra looked at her mother who was now fussing in the kitchen. Asking about her father had been a bad idea. Now her mother was upset.

She was about to get up to go and hug her when there was a knock at the door.

"Kendra, can you get that for me?"

"Okay." She bounced to her feet, determined to set her face into a sunny disposition and answered the door. "Hey guys!" She greeted her bestest friends in the entire world, Cheren and Bianca.

Cheren simply smiled.

Bianca hugged her friend wholeheartedly and began animatedly talking about their new and awaiting adventures as they made their way upstairs.


Hope you like this first chapter.

The story is going to be darker than it seems and is rated "M" for a reason. I am keeping with the spirit of the actual game, which you can name your main character anything. I do not personally like the American or the Japanese name given to the girl.

Please Read and Review!

BVR