She took it all in with a deep breath.
She had long since lost the ability to walk, due to disease. The doctors said it could be treated, but her parents didn't have enough money. Her parents were always so busy working in other towns that she lived by herself all the time, she would bathe herself, make breakfast and eat by herself, and change her clothes by herself. Of course it was a little hard considering she was a cripple. But she worked through it.
One day when she was very young, a young trainer came by her humble town of Silvanum. He was tall, skinny, had short brown hair. He donned a green jacket, black pants, and a pair of aviator shades with an orange tint. With him was a Garchomp, a huge dragon-ground-type pokemon that towered over the small girl and her rufflet. He was there to meet the local professor.
As the trainer nonchalantly strolled through town the girl looked at him in inspired awe. She wondered what kind of travels he had been on. What kind of pokemon he had met and fought against. What kind of friendships had he made with people and pokemon alike?
She rolled her wheelchair as fast as she could towards him. Determination in her eyes. She stopped right in front of him and yelled "One day! One day I'll be as good as you are!"
The young man chuckled, amused. He found it cute. Yet he admired her fiery and youthful determination. He laughed for a bit before calmly replying "Alright. I'll wait for you then."
This young trainer and his Garchomp, nicknamed Bite, would soon battle the elite four and best the champion at martial competition. He would be crowned Champion of the region. The trainer would be known throughout the world as Elohim, Champion of Nivalhiem.
And while he made his way through the elite four, Lucina would watch him on T.V. She would have posters of pokemon all over her room. She would wake up early to wait for his matches and hype herself silly over them. She and rufflet would cheer at every move he made.
But that was a long time ago…
Today was different. Today was her birthday. Today, was the day she embarked on her journey.
She wore her favorite jeans, green t-shirt, and pale cardigan. She affixed a backpack to the back of her wheelchair. She had long blonde hair and erin green eyes. Her skin was pale and smooth.
"Let's go, Pride." She muttered to her pokemon.
The Eaglet pokemon cheerfully obliged with a few chirps before jumping onto her lap. She waddled around in her lap before finding a comfy spot, then laying down.
She rolled her wheelchair out of her house and onto the hard stony streets of Silvanum. Silvanum was an ancient town surrounded by large trees. The ancient part is shown by the old ruin like roads and even older pines. They are so massive that it's like looking at a wall around the town.
Next to the colossal pines was a small pond. It was always frozen due to the deathly cold, it was said that long ago a Milotic with blue fins and a gold tail broke through the ice sheet and flew into the sky. The Milotic ravaged the region, before being stopped and caught by the first Champion Deusmen.
As she made her way to Professor Blackthorn's lab, she grew anxious, nervous, and most of all, excited. She would become a pokemon trainer! Her face flushed in pure mixed emotion.
She neared the laboratory and saw the pokemon professor waiting nonchalantly outside for her.
"Welcome, Lucina. I see you're excited for your new adventure." He said warmly.
"Yes professor." She replied nervously.
"Lucina, are you certain you want to do this?" His warm look turned serious.
"More than anything, professor. Me and Pride have spent the last few years preparing for this day."
He stared at her and she stared back. The professor sighed "Guess I can't stop you then." He rubbed the back of his head with his right arm.
"Come." He commanded while heading back into his lab.
She wheeled her way inside, following the professor through his machines and desks filled with papers. She kept stead up to when he suddenly stopped in front of the table furthest from the entrance.
"Normally I'd give you a starter, but you seem to already have a Pokémon. Your choices would've been Torchic, Treeko, and Piplup. We would've had Mudkip too, but they just can't survive in this climate."
He foraged through the mess that was his desk, knocking over poke balls and other gadgets in the process "Where is it.. Ah, here it is!" He picked up a machine about as big as a calculator. It was black with a blue stripe running along it, it also seemed to open up like a book.
"This, is a Pokedex. It will identify any pokemon you encounter and if you happen to catch said pokemon, it will register in your pokedex and give you information about it. This is a tool especially useful for trainers and researchers alike. For you, this machine could be what makes a battle turn towards your favor. And for me…"
He paused while his face lightened up "For me it's a library to the behaviors of every pokemon ever. Making research so much easier."
"Take the Pokedex. Go do your thing, shock everyone, and come home safely. Alright?" The professor smiled dearly at the teenager. Because her family was gone all the time, she felt like a daughter to him.
"Yes sir!" She stated with a confident smile.
As the two were heading out from the laboratory, Lucina noticed her two lifelong friends. Tetra and Beau.
Beau looked preppy and ready for her adventure while Tetra contrasted that with a bored deadpan. Beau wore light bright colors of orange, cyan, and light yellow as if it was a tye dyed jacket. Tetra wore a dark jacket that had a blue stripe running down her zipper. Beau had light blue jeans while Tetra wore her favorite dark snow pants and black boots.
"Hey Lucina! I see you're getting a head start on the journey!" Beau cheered to Lucina, who was smiling gently at the sight of her besties.
"Yeah." Lucina quietly whispered in reply.
Tetra noted Lucina's facial features. She had never seen her this pumped for something. Tetra did have one concern however. She had known Lucina since she was little and wasn't sure if she was ready for a journey.
"So what's the plan? Are you going to go off on your own? Travel in a small party?" Tetra inquired. She was worried
"I'm going to be traveling on my own with Pride. I've waited years for this moment. I don't want anyone babying me on this. I want to become a respected trainer on my own." She stated firmly.
Tetra grinned, "Good, wouldn't be any fun if I had to nurture you the entire time."
"Alright kids, listen up!" Professor Blackthorn caught our attention.
"By now you have all turned sixteen years old. In most other regions you would have at least beaten a few gyms by now. However, the cold and harsh climate of Nivalhiem is too dangerous for young children. We see pokemon battling as more than just a fun sport competition that people go on when they turn a certain age. During your journey you will meet new people. Make new friends, meet enemies. All of the above! You will also endure many hardships and fight to overcome them." As time went on the professor kept rambling about what they were going to do blah blah blah this and that.
Eventually the trio got bored of his speech and started getting ready to leave.
"Listen. Don't get hurt. Stay safe." Professor Blackthorn suggested.
Beau, your Piplup. And Tetra, your Torchic." He handed the two their poke balls respectively. They had asked for them months prior.
The three new found trainers nodded and made their way to the edge of town and to the forest.
The forest was named The Whispering Pines. A forest so dense and so tall that no other could rival it. Some said that in it lies a tree so massive named the Elder Pine.
Her town, Zeke, was located in the middle of Nivalhiem, directly south of the Novak mountain range which covered the top of the region with ludicrously cold weather.
To the south of Zeke was a woodlands like area of the region known as the Tuknot Woodlands. And south of that lies The Pharik Dunes. A brutal and ancient desert that holds ruins as old as the whispering pines.
The region of Nivalhiem existed in the three layers of desert, forest, and mountain range. In each lies a legendary that have been worshipped for centuries.
Chalydeus, the Iron Wolf Pokemon of the North. It is said when someone wishes powerful enough, he can hear them.
Silvaeus, the Forest King Pokemon of central. He has been seen traversing the Whispering Pines and Tuknot Woodlands through the treetops.
Harenaeus, The Anubis Pokemon of the South. Legend has it that he lies dormant in the ruins of the Ancient Nivalhians.
The three discussed where they would travel, they wanted to go to separate areas to avoid each other. After long discussion they decided the following: Beau would travel the Tuknot Woodlands. Tetra would venture through the Pharik. Lastly, Lucina would attempt the towering mountain range of Novak.
Lucina's decision left the professor and Beau worried but Tetra knew she would be fine. After a bunch of goodbyes they all headed off into the whispering pines, going in different directions.
"Okay, first stop is Honlintown!" Lucina said to Pride. Pride chirped back in a cheery response.
In the whispering pines, many different pokemon species could be seen by Lucina and the little Rufflet.
They saw Sneasels, Deerling, and even Skiddo! She never saw this many different pokemon in the small hamlet of Silvanum.
She could also see Nocturns and different evolutions of the Starly family flying amok the treetops. Once in a while she would see a large Sawsbuck strolling through the forest.
"Isn't this so exciting Pride? We get to go on our journey finally!" Pride happily chirred in response. It seemed she was just as excited.
After what seemed like hours of rolling through the snowy wilderness she came across what looked like a few people in the distance. She thought it would be a good idea to ask them for directions.
"Excuse me! Is this the right way to Honlin?" She asked as she wheeled closer to them. It became clear as one of them turned around that they were obviously delinquents. This slow realization made Lucina feel dumb. Pride shuffled in her lap in weariness.
There were three of them, and of them, there was an obvious leader.
"What's it to you?" The leader of them spat. The already growing fear spiked as the delinquent spoke.
"I, um, am heading to Honlin town, I'm trying to challenge the Nivalian Pokemon League.." she muttered.
A long pause before laughing rang out at the fact someone who was obviously not able to walk wanted to pursue that dream, "Ah--haha, oh man that's, whew, that's priceless." Laughed the leader.
"Alright boys, let's make this a quick one." They had poke balls but didn't even take them out. They walked over to Lucina as she gritted and braced herself for impact.
Suddenly, Pride tried to fly at them to keep the gang away from her. They quickly swatted her down. Lucina watched this happen so quickly in terror.
Soon, one of them tried to grab Lucina by the arms but she tried to fight back as much as she could.
The wheelchair fell over, and with her on the ground she had a tough time trying to fend them off.
One of the lackeys grabbed her thighs and felt them squeeze. She had sudden realization of what they were trying to do.
Pride watched this all happen in rage as she lay on the ground. She needed to do something, anything. She struggled to get up, she remembered her trainer's soft, gentle smile.
The Eaglet Pokemon stood, and flew at the delinquents again, this time using the move Aerial Ace. She glowed a faint orange as she hit the leader in the back as he was walking towards her immobile trainer. After he was struck he stumbled a few steps forward. "Why you.."
He turned around and commanded his men, "Get that stupid bird!!"
Pride prepared herself for the oncoming battle. The gangsters took out their pokemon, a Stunky and a Skorupi.
"Stunky use Bite!" "Skorupi also use Bite!"
Pride panicked as the threats were fast approaching, she didn't know what to do!
"Pride! Dodge the two attacks by flying upwards! Then, use Sky Drop on Skorupi!" Pride flew into the air at the last second and dropped onto Skorupi with violent force. The Skorupi was instantly knocked out, due to it's weakness to flying type.
Pride realized with that hit that these Pokémon were very weak and inexperienced. Contrary to all the training Lucina and Pride had done for this journey, she couldn't believe how dumb she was being.
"Bah, stupid thing couldn't take more than one hit." The gangster remarked as he returned it to his pokeball.
Lucina crawled over to her wheelchair setting it upright during the commotion.
The leader grew frustrated with his lackey's incompetence. "Let me handle this."
He unclipped a pokeball from his belt, and threw it into the air. A bright light shone brilliantly as a Manectric flew out and landed on the ground.
"It's over kid, let us have our way with you or else it's gonna get ugly" he offered cockily. His Manectric stood proud, unmoving.
Lucina climbed back into her wheelchair and Pride stood proud in front of her between the Gang members.
Lucina was worried over the Manectric and Stunky. Pride was weak to electric types like Manectric, and didn't have any advantages over Stunky. He was in a pinch.
"Manectric use Thunder Wave, then close the distance with Quick attack!" The trainer shouted. Manectric released a wave of electric energy at the Eaglet Pokemon, paralyzing her. He then dashed at Pride using Quick attack, leaving the Stunky behind in a cloud of dust, when he was within a few feet difference his fangs started to spark.
"Pride use Tailwind! He's going to try Thunder Fang, so dodge it!" A whirlwind consumed the paralyzed Rufflet, she pushed through the paralyzation and flew out of the way at the last second, as the Discharge Pokemon consumed the space she just was with an electricity powered crunch.
"Impressive, most people fall for the Thunder Wave-Quick attack combo. They feel safe that it's "just a Quick Attack", most trainers forget that you can make plans with your pokemon before a battle, you don't need to guide them by the hand every time." The leader sighed. "I think it's time I ended this. Manectric, use Thunder." He commanded seriously.
Not even a second passes and a gigantic explosion of lightning crackles and explodes, striking Pride, sending her back flying. Lucina's ears were filled with a ringing flat line sound after the surge of thunder.
Pride was on the ground, barely conscious. "Pride!" Lucina cried. Pride had burn marks all over her body, some her feathers burnt off.
Lucina rolled over to her precious pokemon, worried for her safety.
"It's over, you fought well. But not well enough." He began walking over to Lucina, plucking Manectric's pokeball off of his belt. He was preparing to return Manectric, when suddenly he noticed the Eaglet Pokemon stirring.
Pride barely stood up, looked into the gang leader's eyes and gave him a deathly stare. The singular look screamed to leave her alone. He could feel chills reverberate throughout his body at the sight. A slight panic consumed his immediate thoughts.
"Manectric use--" A bright light shone and the tiny Rufflet started to shape shift in a blinding white light. Lucina stared at this in awe at the sight before her. Pride was evolving!
As the shifting pokemon finally reached a big enough volume, the light broke as if it was shattered glass, revealing a powerful and colossal Braviary. It still had a burn mark where Manectric struck it with lightning, sure to leave a scar. She flew onto the back of Lucina's wheelchair, extending his wings out and cawing loudly in warning.
"My my, it seems you aren't out of tricks yet, girly." He commented with a smug face. He didn't seem concerned with this new challenge, in fact he seemed he had a moment of realization.
"What is your name?" He inquired, confusing Lucina.
"It's L-Lucina.." she answered cautiously, a hint of anger in her tone. A scowl was cast across her face.
"Lucina.. My name is Wolfgang Sterling. Don't forget it." He suggested as he began to stumble off and away from the trainer.
The other members that were silent the whole time stared at him in awe. "Boss.. what are you doing? Shouldn't we fight her?" They asked him warily.
"I've no business stomping on weak little seeds." Wolfgang replied, walking off. The grunts ran after him trying to catch up. They left Lucina dumbfounded and traumatized at the events that had taken place.
"Cya!" Wolfgang put his arm up, waving behind him.
"Fuck you, I hope you die!" Lucina cursed. What just occurred was an enigma. Her mind was rushing, thoughts racing. She had to get to Honlin to heal Pride.
Pride stood proud on her wheelchair's back, battle scarred and dusty. "Come." She invited him to her lap. The Valiant pokemon fell onto her lap as if she was an athlete after a long day of sports falling onto their bed in exhaustion. She had fainted.
Lucina started racing her wheelchair as fast as possible. She needed to get to Honlin, fast!
Lucina bust through the Pokemon Center's door with a troubled kick. She rolled in with haste.
"Hello and welcome to ou--woah what happened?" Her eyes widened as she saw the scene of a burnt and injured Braviary draped over a woman in a wheelchair, "Chansey get the stretcher." She signaled to her pokemon partner.
She walked over to Pride checking her vitals. "Sorry but he's going to be hospitalized for a bit while we treat these burns. It's like he got struck by lightning while he was flying."
"Uh, actually,"
"Hmm?"
"We were attacked by this guy called Wolfgang and this is my Braviary, her name is Pride. And I tried but--" She tried to explain but the words came out all in the wrong order. She shook with anger and sadness. Salty tears welled up in her eyes, slowly rolling down and dripping onto the fainted pokemon.
"Shhh, it's okay, we'll get her patched up.. Okay?" Lucina looked up at the Nurse consoling her. She nodded her head in silence.
The nurse and the Chansey lifted the Valiant Pokemon onto the stretcher and took her to another room.
The dream she so frivolously thought of proved to be a much more arduous challenge than she expected. Reality had smacked her in the face, showing the truth of the world. For now, all that was left to was sit on the waiting chairs. In silence.
She exhaled that deep breath.