.…Prelude….

The beginnings and ends of shadow lie between the light and darkness and may be infinitely diminished and infinitely increased. Shadow is the means by which bodies display their form. The forms of bodies could not be understood in detail but for shadow.

Leonardo DaVinci

…

It was a dry, autumn evening, and the sky was dark.

The seasons were in an in-between kind of time; the time before the cool touch of ice dulled the colorful breath of life from the Unova region. A since of fragility was sent upon all the people in the area as winter slowly encroached nearer and nearer in quick bursts of cool weather that seemed to come from a higher place. The air was crisp and bitter to the throat, the sky was murky and dark, and all the people and Pokémon alike were ready and expecting a difficultly cold and miserable winter ahead.

Professor Juniper let a small scowl slip on to her face as she observed the Pokémon before her with scrutiny. It had certainly been a long time since anyone from the Pokémon Center had needed her help, especially a case like this.

"How long has this been going on?" she asked Nurse Joy.

The pink haired woman gently pet the head of the ailing Patrat in front of her, a frown never leaving her face, "A trainer brought this one to us a few weeks ago after finding it in this condition, but we aren't positive exactly when his symptoms began."

The little Patrat was less than what it normally was; completely allowing them to examine him instead of trying to flee. It's skin and coat was dull and fur was falling out in places. His eyes were tired and glossy, and the poor little Pokémon's paws and tail kept twitching. The Patrat looked up at the two women, eyes brimming with pain filled tears and complete, utter weakness. It was a tragic sight to see such a gentle, loving thing as a Pokémon in such a horrible state.

"Do you have any idea what's wrong with it?" the Professor asked, "Have any other Pokémon been infected?"

"About thirty four confirmed cases," Nurse Joy sighed, "And several others are starting to show signs of infection. W-We don't understand what's causing it to spread so fast, all we can figure out is that it is most likely a form of Pokérus."

"How can you tell?" Juniper picked up a note book from her desk

"The Pokémon we were able to observe as they were in the first stages of infection showed the normal symptoms affiliated with the virus," she explained, "Rapid growth, excessive increase in strength, doubling of normal power, and other such effects. While having Pokémon develop normal Pokérus in most instances is not very common or normal, it can be fairly beneficial to the Pokémon's growth. But obviously-"

"This is no longer the case," the Professor nodded in understanding, quickly jotting down something in her tablet, "The strand of virus must have undergone a mutation somewhere down the line," she peered down at the ill Patrat on the table before her, "Normal Pokérus only lasts for a few days or so, correct?" she didn't wait for Nurse Joy's answer, "You said that this specific Pokémon has been in deteriorating condition for over a week, which is abnormal for a simple Pokérus virus," she bit her lip, "I'm not sure exactly what's causing this, but I know that we can figure this out soon enough before any Pokémon can be permanently effected."

Nurse Joy hesitated for a moment before speaking, "This may not be that simple."

"Why not?" Juniper turned, confused.

"If this was only effecting Pokémon, the Pokémon Center could handle it," the nurse turned away from her and looked out the window to gaze into the sunset on the edge of Nuvema Town, "That's why we didn't immediately contact you. We are masters of curing all the aliments of Pokémon, but this… this maybe one issue that we can't fix…"

"Why?" the Pokémon Professor asked, growing even more concerned, "What makes this different?"

Nurse Joy sighed and started to gather up the Patrat and her things. She then went to the door, "A few days after the first few ill Pokémon came to Center," she started, turning to Juniper from the open door way, "One of our nurses who was tending to them started to act strangely. She started doing more hours, eating more, over working in general. She complained that she had too much energy and she wanted to burn it all up quickly. Soon, later, she feel ill, all of her previous build-up energy completely diminished."

"But that's not-" Nurse Joy interrupted Juniper before she could finish.

"Of course Pokémon can't infect humans with normal Pokérus, but it seems as though this new strand of the virus can be caught by people," she gently pet the Patrat's pokeball in her hand, "We don't think physical contact is what's spreading this, or the entire Pokémon center would be infected by now. All I know is we need the help of someone with the social power that you have to find out how this is effecting the region on a much larger level. We don't have as much data or relations outside of Pokémon research."

"I understand," Juniper nodded, "I'll do what I can," she looked to the Pokeball, "Might I borrow the Patrat? For observation?"

"Of course," Nurse Joy handed it to her, "Take good care of him."

"I will," she smiled and tucked the ball into her lab coat, "Take care on your way. It's a long trek between here and Lacunosa Town."

"Thank you very much, Professor," she called as she left, "Please do your best!"

The Professor watched her leave from her window, feeling at the Pokeball in her pocket.

What could possibly be happening? This such a strange mystery, that was laid at her feet on such a cool autumn night. Despite the calmness of which Nurse Joy had addressed the issue, Juniper knew the woman had been very troubled over this, and it took a lot to make a Joy troubled, especially when it came to something like a Pokémon illness.

Was this spreading rapidly? Or was it destined to only stay in the Unova region? Would she have to address the other regions Professors? Or even Alder?

So many questions flashed through her head, everything accumulating into a huge, jumbled mess. It took her a moment to pull herself together before the Professor sat down at her desk and pulled out her Xtransceiver from under the folds of her lab coat sleeve and quickly typed in to try and bring up the familiar faces of three familiar people whom she knew could help her figure this mess out.

Her hands barely touched the smooth screens glass as she selected her call request recipients; 'Hilda' 'Bianca' 'Cheren'

It was a dry, autumn evening, and the sky was dark.

A/N: Hello readers! *blows a light confetti into the air* Yeah! I'm in another fandom again! Whelp, this is what happens when I'm sick for more than three days XD. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the prelude to my first Pokémon story (Don't worry, We All Fall Down will be updated as normal… meaning like, once or twice a week).

I want to say that this will be one of my only A/N's but I have a habit of forgetting that later XD so you most likely will be having more babble to not read. This story will be mostly based around Cheren, due to the fact that I adore him hands down as the coolest and most amazing transformation from jackass to kickass… pardon my French… Anyway, there will be no pairings unless their canon, and this takes place directly after Black and White, but before Black and White 2, so in those two years.

I also would like to point out that I have yet to actually play Black and White 2, due to all of my Pokémon games going missing/stolen, and I literally am starting over my collection. I will be getting (hopeful) X and Y for Christmas and I am praying Black 2 might be in there as well…

Anyway, my little rant is over, peace out! YOLO forever!