Pokemon: The Alter Saga

Synopsis: the sun and moon rises and sets with the day and night, time marches forward without mercy and without regard, friends are met only to part ways never too see each other again, a certain trainer oblivious to the trail of heartbreak and disappointment he leaves in his wake and the story of a Pokémon tech graduate and promising mind named Sky who's made to walk through the aftermath and try to fix what's broken before the world buckles under the weight of a trainers one too many mistakes…

Welcome to The Alter Saga

Contains: Time travel, parallel universes, active changes to established canon, Serena, Valerie, Ash, OC, multiple gym leader cameos

Chapter One

So todays the day, a hard fought and well-earned graduation from one of the most comprehensive trainer erm… training programs on the planet and can finally mount that freshly printed "Technical Training Degree".

To be fully honest, I have to give my friends some credit in rightfully telling me that I should have taken the traditional route.

They DID have a point, I had so many missed opportunities in the past, but right now what's done is done and I shouldn't drag myself down regretting something that cost so much in time and money.

Besisides doesent stop me from challenging the gym leaders anyways, although it just won't be the same experience as if I went in green and being lectured by a wise ass like surge for having such wimpy Pokémon that I should have trained better.

Also, even though it would have been "easier" than studying, the traditional route just always seemed….. way too dangerous for your average ten year to undertake.

Having to brave the wilderness, often on your own if you had a hard time making friends, sometimes getting ambushed by swarms of angry spearow you rubbed the wrong way, not to mention the multiple non animal related hazards such as rickety rope and wood plank foot bridges that can snap on a dime, huge drop-offs that no one can see coming, flash floods, thunder storms that I don't think that nylon tent can protect against unless you manage to make it too town beforehand.

I do think that 14 is a lot more of a proper age to actually go out on your own anyways

"SKY, are you ready yet?! You're going to be late for the sendoff"! my mom beckoned, snapping me out of my stream of consciousness.

"Ready mom, I said grabbing my backpack, making sure it contained all the proper survival equipment as the perform a last minute check before sending us off on our bikes towards the main indigo conference to play against returning vets on undisputed big wigs of the league.

Most of what was in the bag would be what one would expect, water, trail mix, assorted first aid and camping equipment with 6 pokeballs fitting snuggly in a side pocket.

I was all set.

We'll all except for one item that was beyond important to me at this point in time.

Something that wasn't required.

"SKY…are you coming down"

"Just a few secs mom," I said searching the drawers of my room until

There it is.

There lying next to my dream journal and shining in the sunlight that beamed through the windows was something I kept hidden for all this time.

It was my dad's old sidearm he used before he died in the great war from a stray flamethrower attack from a rampaging charizard along with a single box of pistol ammo.

It was sent to our doorstep while mom was away at work, along with a small note that simply read.

"Let this weapon protect you always, as I would have."

He couldn't have been more right. if it push comes to shove and all my pokemon have fainted, I need a means to protect myself in case no help would arrive and he trained me in its use secretly as to not spook my mom into thinking I was being trained for war.

But as dangerous it is out in the wilds of the Pokémon regions, it might as well be one.

In fact I heard in the far off Alola region they ditched the old "go from town to town collecting gym badges" system entirely and required trainers to go to a special school when an incident involving a couple of trainers who were led to their demise by a group of dastardly Salamance made it on world news.

But enough about the past, I'm gonna be late.

Stuffing the gun and ammo in the hidden compartment I rushed down the stairs.

"Sky.. please don't run down the stairs" my mom pleaded worriedly.

"But I need to hurry or I'm going to be late"

Just then I almost cought my foot on one of the steps, only catching my fail due to the railing.

"told you so" she said in a matter of fact, sing song way.

"damn that was close"

"…and please keep the swearing to a minimum…" she said concerned.

"I know my mom…" I said, letting out a dejected sigh before continuing down the stairs at a reasonable pace.

"Oh and sky!" she said right as I was about to cross the doorframe from inside to outside.

"Yes mom?" I replied plainly

"be careful out there in the real world… I don't want to lose you too"

At that I almost let out visible tears as I tried to stay strong as to not make her worry any more than she already.

"I will" I stated in the bravest, most stoic fashion I could think off before shutting the front the door and with it, my old life of safety and comfort with the call of adventure coursing through my veins, the excitement, of actually going out to see the world outside my small, run down town, drowning out any remaining doubt and worry I had.

Grabbing my bike, securing my bag to the back, with a kick to the kickstand to its retracted position I raced off to the campus, the final sendoff celebrating everything we worked towards embodied in the graduation and the sending off of all the graduates on their belated journeys.

I even heard there's even going to be motivational speaker to help get our spirits up for the long trip across the region.

I picked up the pace on my bike, easily breaking 20 mph as I kept an eye on my surroundings, checking for any cars that might show up, although due to the countless fuel shortages caused by the wartime air raids a few years back, and kanto getting hit the hardest, auto-motives have become a luxury in their own right,

With the only person I heard of lately actually owning one is the kanto regions professor who gave it to his grandson so he didn't have to walk or take a bike like the rest of us.

But that's only because he's a professor with money to spare, what a prick, I wish I had a car right now.

After a good 15 minutes of tiresome peddling the campus finally came up on my right as I turned onto the main entry road.

I looked towards the open field by the main school building were the ceremony is held.

There didn't seem to be any bikes there as of yet, good that means I got here a few minutes early.

I began to slow down considerably as I coasted towards the bike rack by the front entrance as I locked my bike into place and unlatched by backpack from the rear holster as I made my way inside to register my arrival with the reception.

The inside wasn't too fancy, compared to the other school, sterile doctor's office scent, plain sheet rock and wooden floors, Pokémon tech took a more utilitarian substance over style, and that's actually in good thing in that more of the money goes towards actual education rather than lavish banquets for snobby rich donors.

Even though the building itself was nothing special, I couldn't help but feel I'm going to miss this place.

I really don't know why as I made my way towards the main reception desk, but like the old saying goes, home is were the heart is, and I definitely put my heart and soul into making sure I could get the best grade possible, so yeah, I guess it did start to feel like a second home after a while.

I guess I could always come back a few years down the line as a substitute teacher. But for now I have bigger fish to fry.

"Oh why hello Mr. Warden or should I say Pokémon master Warden" she said half-jokingly, a warm cheeriness flooding off of her, almost like nurse joy, but not quite.

Warden is my last name by the way, kind of embarrassed by it so I just let everyone know just to call me by my first, Sky.

She began to shuffle around some loose paper before typing a few thing into the computer.

"and…. Present" she said happily switching the status on my soon to be deleted profile. But were still students up until the moment we receive our official graduation badges and diploma to be mailed home, so it was a bit of a formality.

"You're all set for the final sendoff ceremony, goodbye"

"thanks" I said looking over my shoulder smirking as I made my way to the open field were rows of chairs were lined up in front of a portable stage with the podium and audio equipment just being moved into place.

"nice of you to come so early Sky, take a seat by the others, I'll offer my speech shortly" interjected the headmaster, walking towards me to shake my hand as he patted me on the back for a job well done.

Taking advantage of being punctual, I took one of seats closest to the frost, just to make sure I don't have someone's fat head in the way of whomever is talking.

A few minutes of looking at my phone for any snapchat updates from my distant friends and everyone in my class taking their seats the headmaster was all too eager to begin his well-rehearsed speech.

"Men and Women of the Class of 1997 of Pokémon Tech, I would like to congratulate you all on your spirit, your optimism, and dedication towards achieving a true, comprehensive, and deeper understanding and appreciation of the methods and nuances of what it truly means to be a Pokémon trainer and sense I'm well aware your all sick of the long winded speeches I would like to say thank you for your time here and hope the bonds you form with your Pokémon will be genuine and lifelong."

The ceremony went on for another 10 minutes as the headmaster brought in the motivational speaker that was talked so much about beforehand.

Long story short, the guy spoke in the vaguest of platitudes and kept saying over and over again how we should "JUST DO IT" over and over again.

But for some reason me and my peers found it vaguely entertaining.

Last but not least was the graduation badge that I had honorably pinned to my flannel trainer jacket I wore over my hoody and acid washed jeans, giving me the rugged survivalist grunge look that tended to impress those who just came in khakis and pull overs, cmon people, its 1997, not a golf outing.

Now a lot of people wonder when do we get our starters to begin our journeys, well this is the best part of being a pokemon tech grad.

We aren't just limited to the 3 starters like most trainers who decide to start there journeys right away.

Instead, were given each a singular master ball to go and catch ANY wild Pokémon of our choice of ANY type as our STARTER.

Okay, now I remember why I went to Pokémon tech. We just have that edge.

We were simply let loose in the vast woods behind the school, surprisingly teeming with a whole variety of Pokémon.

The first Pokémon I set my eyes on, I didn't hesitate for a second before throwing my self guiding containment orb at the creature.

The caterpie didn't see it coming. Bug types are a really good type to have, especially when going toe to toe with pesky psychic types, Sabrina's not going to turn me into a doll any time soon...

It may just be a rumor but I'm not taking my chances.

Well that and I wanted to evolve it into butterfree which were the most boss Kanto pokemon next to charizard.

The only drawback is I need other Pokémon to cover for him (don't ask, nerdy stuff) while he's in his metapod stage doing nothing but hardening.

So there I was, all set, my graduation badge that I put away in my badge case for safe keeping, a trusty bug type pokemon, and…

"Wait who are yo….."

I was cut off by a hand that went over my mouth.

"listen, I don't have much and know this isint the best of circumstances, but I need your help and things are only to get weirder, im better off just showing you rather than telling"

The person who sounded a couple years old said under his breath. Releasing my mouth allowing me to turn around as I was met with a male a couple years older than me with a plain red hoodie and jeans, a bandolier strung across with all his equipment on display, some of it I've never seen before or know what the heck it does.

But what did he need help with exactly and why was I of all people picked for it?!