PROLOGUE: In Which Backstory Is A Thing

The girl was huddled behind a dumpster. The chill of the night bit through her dirty t-shirt, and the unidentifiable, but rank, leakage from the dumpster was seeping through the knees of her ratty jeans. She was curled into the dumpster; not because it was warm, or comforting, but because she knew it made her harder to see, and right now she needed to be invisible.

The alleyway where she hid was quiet and dark, and she could hear the sounds of the city outside. Vendors calling out to the passing tourists, trying to sell them things they didn't want for prices they'd never pay. Young couples giggling as they strolled past the entrance to the alley, their primped and polished pokemon trotting after them.

Someone walking past was eating, and the smell was hot and savoury. She closed her eyes, and tried to ignore the pangs of hunger that made her feel like vomiting. She had to wait here, just a little longer, until she knew they were gone, and then she could go back to her real home, get something in her stomach. Maybe there'd be some hot water, and she could even have a shower. She just had to wait.

"Well, well, well," came a soft voice from above. Her eyes snapped open. "What do we have here?"

No. No. She would have heard them!

She looked up, heart beating like a Pidgeot's wings, and felt her stomach drop to her toes.

Two tall, lanky men stood over her. She would have thought they were brothers if she didn't know better. They were both pale with beaked noses, weak chins, and piercing dark eyes. Behind them stood a Kadabra, which explained why she hadn't heard their approach.

"I think we found our lost little Pidove, Boss," said the one with the blonder hair, a mean twist to his lips. He pulled out a pokeball, and retrieved the Kadabra.

"Indeed," his boss smirked. "I guess she thought she could just...run away?" His voice conveyed what a stupid idea he thought that was.

"I," she started, in little more than a whisper. She looked down, blinking away terrified tears. "Please, I just want-"

"Sweet Pea," the boss said, kneeling down in front of her. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eyes. "Do you really think I care what you want?"

She shook her head as best as she was able, more tears welling up, mouth crumpling. She didn't think he cared – in fact, she knew he didn't.

"Exactly," he said with relish. "So get whatever silly thoughts are in your head out of there, and come back with us. The others miss you."

She wouldn't. She couldn't.

But she had no choice.

She was silent as he stood, and hauled her to her feet, eyes firmly on her raggedy shoes. She had tried, and failed, to escape, and she knew she was never going to get another chance. This had been it, and she'd blown it.

The fact that she was looking down was the only reason she wasn't blinded with the men when the alley was lit up like a firework show for an instant.

"What the-?" the boss hissed, blinking furiously like it would clear his vision. His lackey was stumbling around, trying to find something stable to hold on to.

Neither of them saw the alleyway entrance light up; a man and a pokemon standing in dramatic silhouette against the light.

"Fiends!" the man shouted, striding towards them. The pokemon, a yellow creature that stood on two legs and had two red gems on its body; one on its forehead, the other at the end of its tail, followed. "Unhand that child!"

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Who the heck are you?" snarled the boss, reaching out as though he wanted to strangle the man coming towards him. "What did you do to my eyes?"

"My Ampharos has blinded you," he explained in the same theatrical voice. "It will wear off eventually, do not fear. I would not harm another, even one as nefarious as you."

"Ne-nefarious?" the boss stammered. "I think you've got the wrong end of the stick here, neighbour. She's – uh, she's my daughter. She ran away from home! My brother and I were worried sick, and -"

"Is that correct, child?" The strange man asked, bending down to look at her, brow creased with worry. "Is this man your father?"

There were a lot of answers to that question. But the way her heart had leaped when she saw him – she knew this was the second chance she thought she'd never get. This was freedom being offered on a plate.

"No," she said decisively. "He's trying to kidnap me!"

The boss swore loudly.

"Don't listen to her!" he yelled. "She's a liar!"

The man with the Ampharos stood, and regarded him coldly. "I think you should all come with me," he said, sliding a pair of handcuffs off his belt. "To the police station. We can work it out there."