Prologue
The clock in the Pokemon Center chimed the 10th hour, and the pink and white clad nurse behind the counter yawned. A tv in the corner of the room droned with late night news, infomercials and the occasional drama that only showed when it was way to late to care. The security guard on duty walked into the Center, and Joy gave a slight wave.
"Evening Bruno. How's the evening?"
The guard tipped his hat to the nurse, before taking a drink from his mug. "Quiet as usual. This side of Celadon is peaceful. A bit windy though."
Almost in response to his comment the winds outside let out a howl. Joy rubbed her eyes and stretched a bit. "Well, no news is good news I guess." She picked up a remote and turned up the volume on the tv, and the reporter's voice could be heard."
"-and we are looking forward to another early winter this season. In international news, forest fires in the Hoenn Region are still running rampant. Though no word on the cause of the fires, sources tell us that the local authorities are spreading the search from the local New Mauville area to the Lavaridge Town county."
Bruno shook his head and took a sip from his mug. Joy just sighed.
"And we are going Live to New Mauville City with our local correspondent, Giles McRidge. Giles, from what we understand, there is yet another forest fire, happening right now correct?"
As the reporter started to speak, the lights in the Pokemon Center began to flicker. Joy frowned, standing up a little bit straighter.
"Think nothing of it Ms. Joy." Bruno said, the lights coming back on again. "It's probably just the weather."
No sooner had he said that than the air in the room took on a metallic taste. The lights flickered again as a wisp of light appeared for a moment in the center of the room. Joy's eyes widened as she ducked behind the counter, and Bruno scrambled to jump outside. The wisp grew suddenly, the light shining from the form giving off blinding light. And in the span of 3 seconds, it was over. The lights came back on, the air turned normal, and the shine was gone.
Joy peeked over the counter, and gasped to see the shape of a young person with black burns on them in the center of the floor. Bruno poked his head back in as Joy ran from around the counter.
"What the hell?" He said, moving to the person as Joy tried to see if they were still breathing. She pressed two fingers to the neck, then whipped her head back.
"Chansey! We need a crash cart and gurney stat! Bruno, help me move him!"
The large egg Pokemon rushed in as the two humans moved the body to his back. The grimacing face of a young boy twitched when he was moved, but he didn't make a sound. In his partially burnt arms was a quivering Ralts, making small scared noises. As Bruno and Joy moved the boy to the stretcher, his eyes flickered open. Joy saw and leaned down, a hand on his unburned cheek.
"Shh, it's ok. You're at the Pokemon Center. Can you tell me your name? Do you know what happened?"
The boy shuddered, his voice coming as a rasp, the smell of smoke on his breath.
"Ghost... Fire..." He gave a shuddering cough before passing out. Joy frowned, but moved her attention to the Ralts. It's one visible eyes was wide and frightened, but it too soon passed out. Something poked out from under the green hair on the Ralts, and Joy used her hand to move it aside. Hey eyes went wide and she took a step back.
"Chansey, move these to the IC Unit. He's in bad shape, we'll do what we can. The Ralts seems to simply be scared." The Chansey nodded and pushed the gurney to the ICU. Bruno looked at Joy, who had her chin resting in her palm and one arm crossed thoughtfully.
"What is it Joy?"
"That Ralts... I remember it. She has a black scar on the back of her skull hidden by the hair..."
"So... that boy is it's Trainer?"
"More than that... Last I saw of them was a routine check up three years ago. Right before he said he was going to the Hoenn Region."
"What? Are you saying..." Bruno's eyes flickered to the tv. Joy nodded. "It's a long shot... but I think that boy at his Ralts teleported from the fire that's going on... In New Mauville City."
