Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the Pokémon universe, I do however own my crew of Original Characters.
"One doesn't live solely for one purpose, humanity is capably of everything. And that thought, that one can do everything scares us into choosing just one goal and pursuing that until the very end."
Harrold Eversee, writer of 'A look into humanity's mind'
Chapter One
Man's goals.
A soft voice flowed through the radio as a woman sang, static marring the peaceful song until it ended, as it was replaced by the heavier beat of rap.
"Po-po-po-pokémon-po-po-pokémon" a young girl with blonde pigtails sang happily, bouncing along to the beat.
"Daphne!" her older brother admonished, his dirty blonde curls falling haphazardly in front of his dull green eyes, "finish eating your cereal or I'll tell mom on you!"
"You won't!" the girl cried out, her eyes wide as the song on the radio was forgotten "You're a tattle-tale Dave!" The young girl's cheeks puffed up as she glared at her brother, who just grinned.
"Daphne-Dear," a different voice came from the other side of the room as a middle-aged woman walked in, her hair the same as her son's and a smile on her lips but her eyes weary and tired, bags under them "Just eat will you? It's an important day, remember what it is?"
"Yes! Yes!" Daphne chimed as she waved her spoon around, bits of cereal flying around "Dave is finally going away! And I'll get all his stuff!"
"No you won't!" Dave bit back in mock anger, his eyes shining merrily as he ruffled his younger sister's hair, which earned him a squeak and a swat with her spoon.
"Hush now, David, eat your breakfast and Daphne, you too."
"Yes mom," both children replied obediently as they understood the finality in their mother's voice.
The woman just grinned, displaying straight white teeth and dimples, another thing her children got from her, and shook her head. If it wasn't for their looks no-one would believe they were hers, their father, her husband, had died years ago when Daphne wasn't even born. He was a good man, she thought as pride swelled in her heart, they shared a short time together but she had loved him immensely and saw him in both of her children, their children. She smiled as she remembered her husband's antics, always wrestling in the mud with his pokémon. They all died at the same time, fighting for their country as soldiers in the army.
"Mom?" her eldest asked softly as concern laced his voice, still not completely broken by puberty, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine David, thank you for asking dear," she responded kindly, dimples showing as she smiled at him but her eyes didn't laugh, they stayed frozen pools of water.
He just grinned back hesitantly, teeth showing as his curls obscured her view of his eyes again. If she could see his eyes she would know he wasn't fooled by her charade, they were doubtful. But he truly was a good kid, he never complained when helping and only drew the line at washing his sister. When she was a baby it was fine, but now 'she's too old for that, and too annoying!' He even cooked, did the dishes and cleaned when she herself couldn't. Really, he was everything a mother wanted her child to be, without asking, his eyes would just shine all-knowingly as he smiled at her before ushering her to the couch as he just stated "I'll make dinner tonight, you sit and rest down mom."
And today he was leaving, going on some God-forsaken journey across the land, her baby-boy, all alone with creepy old men, kidnappers, criminals and God-knows-what. She felt sick by just thinking of it, but he was fourteen now he'd say, old enough to go on his own. And besides, he'd add with that goofy grin of his 'Am I not responsible enough?'. Gods, he was her first child and today he'd leave and-
Her mind's voice was stopped in its tracks as she felt arms encircle her neck as her son hugged her, mumbling for her not to cry and that everything would be fine whilst patting her back.
"I'll be alright mom, I'm going to get a good, reliable pokémon and together we will keep each other safe," he said softly as he hugged his mother close, feeling tears on his shoulder as her frame shook with silent sobs.
"Mommy?" Daphne whispered softly as she climbed off of her seat, walking towards her mother as she too hugged her, "I'll still be here, and I'll help too! I'll .. I'll cook and clean and do everything David does too!" she said with a determined glint in her eyes, desperate to stop her mother from crying.
"Oh dears," their mother whispered as she smiled lightly, the smile not reaching her eyes "we better get going, or Dave will be late."
David just grinned as he patted his mother's head before trotting of to his and his sister's shared room, their apartment wasn't that big, to get his backpack and check if it still held all the necessary items he'd need.
David had been saving money for years now, ever since the War getting a trainer's licence was expensive, very expensive. It started about ten years ago, David had been only four at that time, when a young girl named Green started her journey in Kanto. She was a very skilled trainer and at age twelve had defeated all eight Gyms there, but she had a view on things that differed from everyone else's so no-one ever listened to her. Her shouts grew desperate and then silent, the girl chose another way to be heard. Violence. She started attacking people, places and pokémon until she would be heard. But she wasn't, but those few that actually did listen found themselves hypnotised by her voice and ideals as they followed her. Together they formed The Opposition and started murdering people in Kanto and Sinnoh, the army and every trainer above the age of 15 was sent to fight and many perished. Here, in Hoenn, 8 out of 10 children have lost a parent, most of the time their dads, and in some cases both parents.
At David's sixth birthday his father died, together with his unit and pokémon. His mother was heavily pregnant at the time and never really recovered from the shock, you wouldn't say but she was fragile in her mind, veryfragile at times.
Green disappeared about three months after David's father's death, as the rest of The Opposition, and the world started to heal. Sinnoh, Kanto and Hoenn were the worst, orphans, material damage and a loss of faith in trainers. It had taken years for that trust to heal enough for one-sixth of the original amount of trainers to be currently out in the wild. The license price didn't help either, people didn't want more children like Green so they set a line. Pay the price or stay home. Owning a pokémon without a license became illegal and less eleven-year-olds set out every year, now only the richest could afford their younger kids to go and the older always worked for years to go. David was one of them.
He had been doing odd jobs since he was eight, newspaper rounds, babysitting, cleaning, doing errands. He did it all, never once complaining because it was the way of life now. Almost all kids his age did the same, there was no other option.
He grinned as he caught his reflection in his sister's pink mirror, grinning back at him. He truly was lucky, one of his friends, 16-year-old Cole wasn't as lucky as him. Cole worked his arse off at the docks to provide for his mentally-unstable mother, she went crazy after Cole' s father died and Cole was now her caretaker instead of her son. All his hard-earned money went to her medication, the rent and food. But Cole would just laugh and say it's nothing, he'd pat David's back and tell him not to worry 'cause he's fine. But Cole wasn't always nice, he once stole a pokèball from a shipment he was to carry to the warehouses and caught a pokémon, a Poochyena, Zacharias. He kept him hidden but no-one here would rat him out, everyone knew Cole and knew he deserved Zacharias.
David just shook his head and made a mental note to remember every day just how lucky he was, having Daphne to care for his mother when he'd be gone, out, on adventures like his dad once did. He wish he could remember his dad, but he couldn't. He only knew him from the photographs scattered around their tiny home and the stories his mother would tell when she was clear in her mind. But he knew his dad was a hero, as was Cole's, and Gina's mom, and Joshua's parents. They all died for Hoenn, and to David that was the ultimate way of showing your love for your country.
David shouldered his backpack with determination, a grimace on his face as he grabbed the only things he had from his dad. His coat and his diary, dating from his own journey to his time in the army. He'd never read it, but wanted to when he himself was on his journey, so David wrapped it in a towel and placed it gingerly in his bag.
He walked back to the kitchen/dining room combination, his sneakers making soft sounds against the wooden floor as he took in his home for the last time. He touched the picture of his father, smiling, with his mother and a Tailow perched on his shoulder as they all seemed so happy. That was before the war, before he was even born, and he made another silent promise to make him, his father, proud.
He walked into the room and saw his sister bouncing, pigtails bobbing up and down in sync with her body as she grinned, showing some gaps were tooth had been lost.
"Dave! Dave! Mom said I could go with you to the center!" the eight-year-old exclaimed as she grabbed his hand, her earlier anger at him completely forgotten as his mother nodded at him, tears still in the corner of her eyes.
"It's okay Dave, taker her with you .. and call remember? Every night, if you don't .. I'll call a search and rescue squad."
David grinned at his mother as he nodded his head, "Every night," he promised solemnly.
Then he grabbed his wallet and stuffed it in the pocket of his father's, his, coat as well as kissing his mother on her forehead as he gripped his sister's hand tighter, refusing to cry. He walked towards the door with big strides, Daphne struggling to keep up as she waved enthusiastically to her mother. David stopped on the doorstep, raising his hand to wave to his mother before pulling Daphne with him and closing the door, putting the first chapter of his life to an end and starting a new one.
One where he too would travel across the vast land of Hoenn, meeting pokémon and people, making his parents proud and showing whoever would look that trainers weren't all that bad anymore.
As he walked down the stairs on the left side of his boring, grey apartment building he chatted softly with Daphne, talking about everything and nothing as he tried to ease his nerves, for the first time in his life he, David Anthony Owens, was truly scared of something. He could feel his hand grasping his sister's even tighter as his knees shook lightly. Daphne looked at him in worry, her blue-grey eyes staring at him for a moment before she saved the day by distracting him again. Asking him about what pokémon he'd catch and other things he had already told her a million times, one more didn't hurt.
He waved at some people on the streets, all of them knowing he was leaving today and some of them shouting "Good luck!"
Others just nodded and smiled, Cole walked over when he saw him and patted his back before ruffling his hair.
"One day kiddo, I'm going out there too and Imma kick your ass," he smiled softly after that "But good luck mate, call me once in a while to tell me about your progress or I'll send Zach after you."
Dave just nodded as he watched the older boy walk away, Cole was, in a way, his (and the rest of the neighbourhood's) older brother.
After fifteen minutes of walking and insignificant chatter with Daphne they arrived at the center of Slateport City, it was the second biggest city of Hoenn, second only to Lilycove. You could see the change because the buildings became lower and bigger, more green was visible and you saw pokémon with their trainers walking. Most of the people still gave them a wide berth, but David didn't notice that as he stared at the big red-and-white building in front of him.
The pokécenter.
Every city had one, it was a safe haven for trainers and pokémon and you could sleep there for free, get your pokémon healed and register yourself and many more things. David had only been inside once, and that was years ago.
As he and Daphne entered through the blue sliding doors they marvelled at its elegance, they had entered the stylishly decorated lobby where tables and chairs, each with plants on them, were scattered throughout the spacious room. Some trainers looked up when they walked in and smiled politely before going back to their conversations, most of them lounging on big white couches or standing next to the counter where a Nurse Joy was smiling and talking to a young girl.
David and Daphne shuffled forward, some trainers looked at them again when they noticed them going towards the counter as they talked in hushed voices if he was going to be one of them too.
"Hello dear," the Nurse Joy said in a friendly voice as she noticed David fumbling with his coat "Can I help you?"
"Err, yes please," David answered as he grabbed his wallet with shaky fingers "I .. err, want a pokémon licence please."
It was silent for a few seconds that felt like hours before the trainers jumped from their respective couches and all went to stand around David.
"That's great! My name is Amber and I'm sooo glad to see another newbie working hard to have his own adventure!"
"Good choice mate, much more fun out here anyway!"
"What pokémon are you gonna catch? Should we help? I'm Robert and this is Minnie and we are-"
The shouting subsided as Nurse Joy raised a hand and smiled brilliantly, causing David to flush red.
"Fill in this form for me will you, dear? Then this herd of Tauros will without a doubt help you catch your first pokémon," David could see Nurse Joy's own eyes sparkling happily as she regarded the scene, all too happy to see another young boy defying the odds and spending his hard-earned money on something that once was so common.
He quickly filled in the necessities, his name, address, phone number, blood type, gender, and all such stuff while Daphne claimed the attention of the trainers standing around them by batting her eyes and saying she too would be a trainer when she grew up. That, of course, got her a whole fan club of her own as the girls all cooed at the eight-year-old and her cute antics. The boys just grinned and promised to help het catch the cutest pokémon when she'd leave in a few years.
As Dave handed the form back in he gave Nurse Joy his wallet, a heavy feeling in his stomach as she softly mumbled whilst counting the money. Money he worked so damned hard for, money that could have been spend differently. Money that was his.
Nurse Joy then handed him the standard stuff one got with a licence, two pokéballs, a map, a potion and, most importantly, the tiny plastic card with his name on it and all the other information he just filled in.
"Thank you," he whispered as he got his wallet back and placed the tiny card inside of it before putting it back in one of the pockets on his coat.
Nurse Joy just smiled back before saying the thing that got all trainers present worked up again, "Now help this young man catch his first pokémon will you? I'll make lunch for when you come back, now off you go!"
David and Daphne soon were ushered out by the trainers, all of them enthusiastic to show off their pokémon and abilities to a newbie. When they got on the streets again David saw first-hand how trainers were treated, people moved out of their way and some older men and women glared or just looked away. Younger children pointed and whispered, a small amount of people smiled or just didn't look distrustful of the group clogging up a big part of the sidewalk.
But David didn't care, those new people were quickly becoming friends and he had seventeen new numbers on his phone within twenty minutes of meeting them.
They walked for about thirty minutes, trading the busy city of Slateport for the rural look of route 110, leading to Mauville City. Here it was silent except for the louder noises of the docks that drifted along with the wind, but that too didn't sound as loud as it was when you were inside the city. Pokémon ducked away when they walked through the tall grass, some boldly sticking up their heads before disappearing again. A flock of Taillow flying overhead, chirping as they all gathered in one tree.
"Okay David," an older girl with brown curls said as she gestured at the tall grass "Any pokémon in mind?"
David nodded as he released Daphne's hand, "A Poochyena."
"Why?" a boy with pale blonde hair and glasses asked, a thin smile on his lips as he stared impassively at David.
"A friend of mine has one," David answered vaguely "And they are loyal, strong and smart."
The bespectacled boy nodded as his smile grew before pushing his glasses further up the bridge of his nose "Good reasons, you may borrow Althea, my Taillow, to battle one."
David smiled happily as the boy handed him a pokéball, David quickly threw it in the air to see what Althea looked like as the other trainers and his sister just watched, smiles on their faces.
"Wow," Dave breathed as he saw the bird-pokémon materializing from the red-and-white sphere in a burst of red light. Instead of the usual blue and red feathers this one had pale green feathers accented with orange, its belly stayed the same though, it was still white.
"She is shiny yes," the boy said with a strange glint in his grey eyes, pride in his voice as he smiled at his pokémon.
"Althea, you will aid David here in catching a Poochyena, do not fail him."
Althea chirped happily as she perched down on David's shoulder, instantly reminding him of the picture in his living room and the silent promise he made there. He would make his father proud.
The others said they'd wait for him there and that he would have to catch his Poochyena himself, David just nodded as he started his trek through the grass.
It took him some time but then he heard rustling next to him, David immediately turned to see what made the sound but was disappointed when he saw a Plusle shuffling away, sparks coming from its cheeks.
The grass got lower until it barely touched his shins, enabling him to easily spot the various pokémon living in it. And- There, baring its teeth at a Zigzagoon stood a Poochyena.
"Althea!" David whispered as he pointed at the Poochyena "Get it with a wing attack!"
The Taillow obeyed, her wings starting to glow a silvery colour as she stretched them out, shooting at the grey pokémon with amazing speed as she hit its side. The Poochyena wasted no time in retaliating, his jaws snapping shut on Althea's wings as he flung the bird to the ground with a sickening crunch.
"No!" David said as he saw the Taillow struggle, he couldn't let it get hurt, it wasn't even his!
The Poochyena ignored the boy's yell as he picked the bird up again and threw it against a bush, the pokémon falling limply to the side as he ran towards it. Intent on making it its breakfast.
Sadly enough, the Poochyena didn't see the shoe flying towards it, hitting him at the same place the blasted bird hit him just before. The Poochyena fell to the ground when a second shoe hit it, this time hitting its face, the sickening smell of feet and sweat protruded its nose as the shoe obscured his view, keeping him from seeing the round object flying straight at him.
Thankfully the other object didn't hit it, no, it surrounded him in a red light as he was sucked inside the wobbling sphere. It wobbled for a few tense seconds before it made a single 'ping' sound and the button on the center flashed up.
David couldn't believe his eyes, so he blinked. And stood still for a good minute before rushing up to get his pokéball, with his very own pokémon inside of it! His eyes fell on Althea lying limply on the ground left of him and he quickly pocketed the ball as he ran towards her and delicately picked the knocked-out bird up before making his way back to the group.
But in his mind he replayed the situation from just minutes before continuously, still not believing that his own adventure really was going to start, today.
A/N.
Chapter one, finally finished. I really enjoy writing stories, and I hope you, as the reader, enjoyed reading what came of that. If you, please leave a review.
This chapter is merely the beginning, I have everything planned and it will not be like the millions of stories that neatly follow the games. Boy/girl, one of the three starters, super-epic-battle against criminal organisation, defeating champion, fin. And I will do everything I can to keep David from being a Gary Stu. Also, I know a Poochyena is overused but it has a reason, one that won't be known for quite some time, but it's also one of the few pokémon I can stand that fall in the category of 'common'. Can't have him running around with a Mewtwo now can we?
Please do review.
Also, please note that I do not speak and/or write English as my native language, Spellcheck can only do so much.