Chapter One: Star Search
Pallet Town- Kanto
A teenaged boy was standing in the kitchen of a small but cozy house, staring in complete confusion at the letter in his hand. He rubbed the back of his head in bewilderment, further ruffling the already out of control hair. He couldn't understand why he had it. He hadn't even recognised the abbreviation on the front of the letter until he'd opened it.
Lilycove Academy of Creative and Performing Arts
This was the letterhead, and he really hadn't gotten past processing that, and the fact his name and address was printed on the front of it. The only hint he'd had before opening the letter to what it might be was the seal on the back with the letters "LACAPA" pressed into the circle of bright blue wax. All he'd remembered thinking when he saw the wax seal was "this is the fanciest letter I've ever seen in my life, who the hell uses these things anymore?" But it was no doubt it meant for him, on the front of the envelope it read:
Mr. A. Ketchum
4 Easel Road
Pallet Town
Kanto
Ketchum wasn't a common last name, and even so, it looked like it was pressed into envelope with a typewriter. If something was going to be incorrectly mailed, it wasn't going to end up in Pallet Town. It was just about the middle of nowhere. It was only just big enough to actually have streets, and it only had six of those.
At first when he'd read his name printed on the front of the letter, he presumed it was something from his grandparents. Seeing as they were his only relatives other than his mother, they were constantly sending him gifts and letters to try to fill in the gap. They also undoubtedly felt bad about what they're son, his father, had done to the family. He'd just presumed it was them; but he knew they didn't have anything to with the famous "LACAPA."
Even in his thoughts there was a tone of derision as he thought of the school. He knew about it of course. Even in a tiny town like this everyone knew about it. It produced snobs left, right and centre. Sure they were all extremely talented snobs, but he knew that was the worst kind. Every singer, actor, dancer, designer that were particularly famous had attended the school. But nothing could make him more shocked or stunned when he started reading the letter:
Dear Mr. Ketchum
Congratulations, you have been accepted. Your audition for our first-year singing course has been successful, and we can't wait to see what you can bring to the table in our programs. After receiving and watching your audition tape, we have deduced that you are truly worthy of one of the prestigious slots at our school, you have true talent.
'Wait a second, what audition tape? I didn't send one in... Mum!' he yelled loudly, realising undoubtedly on what had happened.
There was a few seconds lag before his mother, Delia, leaned around the door frame, broom in hand, 'Yes Ash dear?'
Ash looked at his mother, knowing exactly what she must have done, 'Mum, why do I have a letter from the Lilycove-'
But he didn't get much more out then that before his mother's entire face lit up, 'Really? Wait, did you get in?! Please tell me that I was right, please Ash, what does the letter say!?'
'Mum, what did you do?' he asked her; feeling both bemused and irritated at his mothers actions.
'Well, I sent them a tape of you singing in your room, you've always been the most brilliant little performer always dancing and jumping around-'
'Mum!' Ash cried, unable to believe his mother's ease at admitting this, 'See, that's the reason right there why I don't sing in front of people! You go overboard and-'
'Please Ash tell me what the letter says! Did you get in?' his mother practically begged.
'Well... yes, but that not the point-'
Ash once again didn't get much of a chance to respond; because the moment those words were out of his mouth, he was practically being suffocated in his mother's strangling hug, 'Oh my little Ashy I'm so proud of you! Long gone are the days of having to home school you! And now there's so much of a better future for you rather than just helping me out at the restaurant!'
'Mum-'
'This will be amazing Ash, think of all the opportunities you're going to get in Lilycove, it's a real city Ash! With a real beach rather than that little cove! And all the shops and the people and you'll finally be with people more around your own age! Arceus knows there's next to no one here you can talk to!
'Mum-'
'Imagine what it'll be like Ash, your future is so bright my little star! I'm so proud of you!'
'Mum!' Ash practically had to yell to get his mother's attention, and she loosened her grip ever so slightly, 'what makes you think I want to go?'
'What?' she asked, completely confused, 'Ashy, this school is where dreams come true you have so much potential; and it's wasted in a place as small as Pallet Town.'
She was holding his arms, imploring him to see it her way, but he just looked at her in disbelief, 'Mum, I can't leave you here by yourself, I'm not going to, and I can't-'
'Ash, I want you to go, you're holding yourself back here,' she pleaded.
'Mum, what if you get sick, whose going to take care of you? What if you hurt yourself, and can't get the phone, whose gonna know? Who's going to help you at home and in the restaurant when things get hectic? Mum, I know my place, I need to stay here and help you-'
'Ash,' she said softly, 'I'm going to be okay. And if anything goes wrong, you're going to be the first one I call; you know that. But I'm not going to let you live a life as small as I have-'
'But-'
'Honey, you know I love you; but this is the biggest opportunity you'll ever be presented with, you have to go Ash, please, what do you say?' she pleaded.
The boy bit his lip slightly, but the look on his mother's face was almost heartbreaking she was so desperate before he asked slowly, 'when exactly am I supposed to be in Lilycove by?'
...
Petalburg City- Hoenn
It wasn't the first time that screams entered the Maple household so early in the morning, but these seemed more hysteric than usual. A teenaged girl with chestnut hair, half tripped as she came down the stairs, looking through bright blue eyes around her in concern. And hastily she hurried down into the kitchen to see what was going on.
'Mum?! Mum!? Are you okay?!' she asked in alarm running around the corner
'May, you'll never believe it,' her mother, Caroline, babbled from where she stood at the dining room table, practically trembling.
'Mum, what happened?' she asked sounding fearful for a moment, until her mum turned around; a piece of paper unfolded in her hand, an envelope with a wax seal on the table.
'Mum? What is it? Is it dad? Did something happen on his trip? Did-' May began worriedly.
'May... you know how we got your father's friend to give your performance video to the Head Master at Lilycove?' Caroline asked.
May's expression blanched, her face going the same white as spoiled milk, 'Wait... I got a letter... does... does that mean that...?' her voice trailed off weakly, she was unable to say it, almost as if her asking would make it not true.
'May, you got in,' her mother whispered.
May stared at her mother, not sure if she should believe it or not; it just didn't seem real, 'I-I-I...'
'You got in May; you're in,' her mother sub-quoted herself before paraphrasing the letter; 'They say they think you've got what it takes.'
There was about a five second gap where neither of them said anything, May blinked sharply, and then slowly a grin spread across her face, 'I got in?' she asked.
'Yes-' her mother began again, but she barely got the words out of her mouth before May shrieked ridiculously loudly.
May was doing some sort of deranged happy dance around the room; squealing as she jumped around in a circle before throwing her arms around her mother's neck in a tight embrace, 'You've done it May, you're so gifted and now you're getting the recognition you deserve.'
'I can't believe it, I'm... I'm really going... This is amazing mum!'
'I know, I'm so proud of you,' she said squeezing her daughter tighter, 'You have to be there by the twenty-sixth of this month -'
May stared at her before saying, 'Wait, wait a sec. That's next week mum. That's the Friday of next week!'
'Well, they've never have been one to give much notice, most of those who audition would give their left arm and leg to get in. They have two hundred slots for the entire year group, but still I heard from one of your father's friends that seven hundred and thirty-four thousand teenagers tried out this year.'
'That many?' May breathed.
'And you my dear, beat them all,' Caroline said proudly.
'Well, I didn't beat them mum, and certainly not that many. The people who didn't get into the singing course I guess, but there's more than just me in it. Remember there are other kids-'
'Thirty out of over a hundred thousand people May, and your one of them, honey. You're on the way to the top,' she smiled, 'Now, I'll call the school and confirm your enrollment, and then we're going shopping.'
'Shopping? What for?' May asked excitedly.
'For a whole new wardrobe dear, we can't have you go to somewhere like Lilycove in the clothes you have now. And you're going to need a big reward for getting into the school, and we need to pick out a place to have dinner tonight; we've got to give you a proper send off. Now, go wake up your brother and tell him the good news.'
May smiled brightly before saying, 'Now that sounds like a plan, well apart from the brother thing.'
...
Veilstone City- Sinnoh
A man in his mid-twenties entered the living room, carrying a couple of shopping bags. But even as he unloaded them, placing the contents in the fridge, cupboards and draws, he didn't notice that there was clearly something missing from his home. He noticed that he hadn't unpacked the dishwasher earlier that day; so he began sorting everything back to their respective places. Plates and bowls clattering against each other in the dead silence of the house.
But it wasn't until he realised how silent it was that he realised something had to be wrong, and after a few seconds that it took to process this, he spat out, 'Shit. Paul?! Paul!?'
His brother, who was five years his junior, hadn't stopped blasting his music at ridiculously high volumes for the last six months straight. Rock, metal, occasionally even screamo if he was in a pissed off enough mood; and it was rare that he wasn't angry about something. The only time he turned it off is when he slept, and that really wasn't too often. Usually between the hours of about two in the morning till about eight, with the occasional nap if he was grumpy enough. And more often than not he wouldn't even turn it off then.
It was quiet now, and Paul was definitely awake when he'd left.
He ran out of the kitchen, down the corridor, and found the trap door to Paul's attic bedroom, and hastily pulled the ladder down, clambering up as fast as he could. But when he reached the top, he quickly discovered that not only was the room empty, almost all of Paul's stuff was gone. Reggie swore loudly, before praying to Arceus that Paul had taken his phone and ran down stairs to use the home phone.
'Please dear lord pick up Paul,' he muttered to himself and almost the second that it would have gone to the answering machine, someone responded.
'Yes Reggie?' Came Paul's answer on the phone, filled with exasperation.
'Paul, where the hell are you?' he demanded, filled with irratance.
'If you must know, I'm on a train to Pastoria City.'
Paul's voice sounded completely uncaring, even as Reggie was filled with disbelief, 'why are you on a train to Pastoria City.'
'Because it has a port,' Paul responded matter-of-factly, like he was a complete idiot for not knowing that.
'Why?' Reggie asked, feeling a migraine coming on.
'Simple, I need to get to Lilycove City, Pastoria has the nearest port. Therefore, I'm going to Pastoria City.'
'Lilycove? In the Hoenn Region? Are you kidding me? What are you going there for? And why did you take all of your stuff?' Reggie asked in complete and utter bewilderment.
'Must you ask ten questions at once? If you must know, not that I can see why it matters to you Reggie, but I've been accepted into a school there. A boarding school, so I left and took my stuff. What would be the point in leaving anything behind?'
'A school there... wait Paul, are you talking about that performing arts school?' Reggie asked before Paul could say anything else to brush him off.
'Yes, not that it's a big deal,' Paul huffed even as Reggie became pretty sure he was about to pass out, 'I'm attending the school, and now I only have to impose on you in the summer holidays. And if that's an inconvenience, I'm sure I can find somewhere to stay over here.'
'Impose? What on Earth are you talking about? Paul, why didn't you tell me any of this-'
'I really didn't see the point, goodbye Reggie; call me if it's necessary for you to do so.'
And that was the last Reggie heard from his brother before he hung up on him, and refused to pick up the phone afterwards.
...
Cerulean City- Kanto
A girl with long red hair walked down a corridor lined with pictures, banging on the three doors as she went by, 'Daisy! Violet! Lily! Come on, it's eleven o' clock! Time to get off your lazy asses!'
She reached the end of the corridor, flicking part of her fringe out of her bright aqua eyes, and eventually one of the doors opened to show a blonde girl, 'Morning,' she sighed, 'Why do you always have to wake us up?'
'You know why Daisy, the cook won't make me anything until there's more than just me,' she said stubbornly, and almost on cue, another door opened.
A girl with wavy dark blue locks opened the door, looking considerably less awake than the blonde, 'Why do you have to wake us up so rudely every morning?' she whined.
'Oh shut up Violet,' the red-head sighed before moving towards the still unopened door.
'I wouldn't do that if I were you,' the blonde sighed loudly.
But the younger girl simply made a face at her, and opened the door, 'Lily wake u- Come down to breakfast when you and Tyler get some clothes on.'
Slamming the door closed, she turned around with a disgusted look on her face, directed towards the other two, but Daisy simply sighed and said, 'I warned you.'
She got a dark look in exchange before she walked down the corridor into their large open living room, 'Anya, pancakes please. If you put any of that mushroom and pepper sauce on it, I will kill you,' the red-head called.
'Yes Miss Misty,' came a tired and exasperated voice from the kitchen.
'I'll have a fruit salad,' Daisy and Violet called out in sync before looking at each other and shrieking, 'Twinsies!'
'Yes Miss Daisy, yes Miss Violet.'
The mimed shooting herself in the head while her sisters weren't looking, making Caden, Daisy, Lily and Violet's personal trainer, who'd just entered from the balcony snort slightly, 'Morning all,' he said warmly walking in, 'I picked up your mail on the way in.'
'Morning Caden,' Violet purred seductively.
Daisy gave him a beam and took the large stack of mail from his hands, leaning forward slightly so he'd have a better view at her body through her rather see-through nighty, 'Thanks so much.'
While Daisy and Violet turned their attention to the enormous stack of letters. Caden looked at Misty and shot her a "save me" look that made her grin and look away slightly, pulling out her laptop and beginning to look up surf conditions for the day.
That was Violet tossed her a letter uncaringly, 'someone sent you something, probably junk mail.'
Misty gave her a glare, just because they constantly got letters from their overly obsessed fans didn't give them an excuse to treat her like dirt. She didn't even particularly notice as Lily came in, giggling as she pulled her current boy toy towards the kitchen table. Glaring at her sisters in general, she picked up the letter, they were probably right; it was most likely junk mail. She couldn't help but hope it was something else, but when she saw the abbreviation on the front of the envelope, she almost had a heart attack.
'Oh my god,' she stuttered out, stumbling to her feet.
'What is it Misty?' Caden asked curiously, the only one who had really noticed her shock.
'LACAPA? This can't be right...' she whispered.
'La what?' Lily asked air-headedly, she tended to hear whispers better than shouting; her ear for gossip was ridiculous.
Misty ignored her, even as her sisters appeared slightly more interested, as she turned over her letter to make sure that this was right:
Miss M. Waterflower
9 Shore Boulevard
Cerulean City
Kanto
She stared at the letter, a smile starting to spread across her face, as she carefully unsealed it, part of her paranoid that if she ripped the envelope that she'd change the contents:
Dear Miss Waterflower;
Congratulations, you have been accepted. Your audition for our first-year singing course has been successful, and we can't wait to see what you can bring to the table in our programs. After receiving and watching your audition tape, we have deduced that you are truly worthy of one of the prestigious slots at our school, you have true talent.
Our school takes in two hundred students each year, and this year we received over seven hundred and thirty-four thousand entries from across all regions, from video auditions, recommendations and talent scouts. You are one of thirty students in the singing course, which has produced stars like Whitney and Roxie among many others. And we at the Lilycove Academy for Creative and Performing arts believe you have what it takes to do the same.
Misty didn't read the rest of the letter at that moment, because she suddenly became just as bad as her sisters and began squealing and jumping up and down in a circle. Daisy, Violet, Lily and Tyler all looked at Misty like she was some sort of alien, but she couldn't care less, she was out of here.
The only one whose mouth wasn't hanging wide open was Caden who trying to calm her down grabbed her shoulders, calling out over her squealing, 'Misty! What happened? What's the letter about?'
'I am out of here, I am so out of here!' she babbled, not caring if it sounded offensive.
'Like what are you talking about Misty?' Lily complained, not used to seeing her sister excited about anything.
'My audition... for Lilycove... I got in!' Misty panted still not quite able to process this thought.
'Where? Like what on Earth are you talking about?' Daisy asked, in her usual valley-girl inflection.
Misty who had started crying slightly by this point, wiped her eyes before handing the letter to Caden, unable to say anything, who scanned the letter before beaming at her, 'Congrats Misty, I'm so proud of you!'
'What happened!?' Daisy, Violet and Lily all demanded.
Caden smiled at them before saying, 'Your baby sister is going to be a star,' he said handing them the letter.
The response that came out of Misty's mouth was probably uncalled for, even if it made Caden laugh, but she couldn't help but mutter out of the corner of her mouth, 'and unlike them I'm going to do it on talent.'
Hey there; hope your enjoying the first chapter of my story "What It Takes" I'm a brand new writer on , but I've read it for years, this is my first attempt at a fanfiction and I'd love to know what people think about it, I started writing it because once I got the idea in my head, it just had to come out, so please let me know if it's any good.
-Love From Rissa
