It was nighttime in the Pokemon World and a storm was blowing. Heavy rain was pouring down, strong winds were blowing, thunder could be heard and lightning could be seen in the black clouds. No one would be out in this terrible storm, but if they were, they might have noticed a small figure falling from the sky and landing into the roaring waves of the sea.
The next day came and the storm was gone. The sun was out shining its rays onto welcoming Pokemon and at the beach, the sea was more calmer than last night. But a lone Pokemon was seen laying on the beach.
A young kitten-like Pokemon with the top of its body coloured pink while the rest was coloured cream. It had short legs and has a long thin tail and where it ends, had a pink section with the end having three pin-like shapes. Its head was mostly pink with a cream coloured crescent shape and its ears had tufted, with the inside of its ears being purple. Its eyes began to open, showing slit-like eyes.
"Urrgh...", the young Pokemon moaned weakly, showing it to be a female. "Where...where am I?" The Pokemon's eyes then started closing again, but was showing resistance. "...I can't... Drifting off..." Despite trying to stay awake, she couldn't keep her eyes open for much longer and then she passes out.
Meanwhile up on a cliff nearby, a building could be seen atop the cliff.
It looked like a tent with its top looking like a Pokemon. Two totems could be seen next to this building, and a grate was seen on the ground. In front of the grate was a Pokemon looking at the building.
A young mouse-like Pokemon with yellow fur all over its body. Its ears were long and ended with a black tipped point. Its eyes were black and had two red circles on its cheeks. Its arms were short and its feet were small. It also had two brown stripes on its back and its tail was shaped like a lightning bolt, with a small patch of brown fur at its base. Its tail was also straight, showing that it's a male.
The young Pokemon seemed to be thinking of something and started pacing left and right. He suddenly stopped pacing and looked once again at the building.
"No.", the young Pokemon said. "I refuse to be paralyzed by this any longer! This is it. I have to steel my courage today." As soon as he said that, he walks onto the grate. "Pokemon detected! Pokemon detected!", a young voice cried. "Whose footprint? Whose footprint?", another voice said, sounding more deep. "The footprint is Pikachu's! The footprint is Pikachu's!", the young voice cried again.
The young Pokemon, now known to be a Pikachu quickly stepped back, being shocked by two voices coming out of nowhere. He started looking around, wondering if anyone was around. When he saw no one around, he sighs in relief.
"...I can't...", the Pikachu said sadly. "I can't work up the courage to go in, after all... I told myself that this is the day, but..." He looked down at an item he had in his hands. "I thought that holding on to my personal treasure would inspire me..." Closing his eyes, the Pikachu sighed as he held onto his personal treasure tightly. "...I just can't do it. I'm such a coward... This is so discouraging..." Opening his eyes again, he turns around and walks away, ears drooped down at his defeat.
Little did he know that he was being watched. Two Pokemon come out of hiding from behind the trees.
The first was a round purple Pokemon hovering in the air with small crater-like protrusions all over its body. It has small black eyes and has a white skull and crossbones pattern below its face.
The second was a blue bat-like Pokemon with two long skinny legs, its face lacks eyes and a nose, the insides of its ears and the underside of its wings were purple, with its wings being supported by elongated 'fingers'. Inside its mouth were four sharp teeth, with two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw.
"Hey, Zubat.", the first Pokemon said, showing it to be a male. "Did you get a load of that?!" "You bet I did, Koffing.", Zubat said, showing it to also be a male. "That little wimp that was pacing around...had something good, right?", Koffing said. Zubat nodded in agreement. "That wimp had something, that's for sure. It looked like some kind of treasure." Koffing and Zubat looked at each other. "Do we go after it?", Koffing said, anxious to get the treasure. "We do.", Zubat said.
As soon as he said that, they both nodded and followed the Pikachu. No matter what happens, they were determined to get that treasure from that Pikachu. They know that he couldn't go into the building, so it wouldn't be that hard to steal the treasure from him.
At the beach, bunches of crab Pokemon began blowing bubbles out into the sea. The Pikachu was walking through the beach, feeling the sand going through his feet. He saw the sea and started to smile.
"Oh, wow! What a pretty sight!", the Pikachu said, looking at the sea.
It was indeed a pretty sight. The sun was setting in the distance and the bubbles that were floating over the calm sea was reflecting the light, making it shine different colours. The sea was even looking like it was sparkling.
"When the weather's good, the Krabby come out at sundown to blow bubbles... All those bubbles, catching the setting sun's rays off the waves... It's always beautiful." The Pikachu once again watched the sea and the bubbles go by. He was silent for a while until he started to speak to himself again. "This is where I always come when I'm feeling sorry for myself. But it makes me feel good to be here, like always. Coming here is uplifting. It cheers me up."
He looked to his left and noticed something nearby. "Hey...what's that?", he said curiously. "What's going on over there?" He started to walk to it and saw that it was a Pokemon. The Pikachu suddenly gasped. "Someone's collapsed on the sand!", the Pikachu exclaimed. He ran on all fours to the Pokemon, stood up and started to shake the little Pokemon. "What happened?! Are you ok?" The Pokemon started to move slightly. She moaned lightly and started to get up. The Pikachu then sighed in relief. "You're awake! That's a relief!", the Pikachu said as he walked back a few steps to give her some space.
The Pokemon started to look around the beach. 'Where...where am I...?', she thought. She then looked at the Pikachu beside her. "You weren't moving at all. I was seriously worried!", the Pikachu said to her. "Do you remember how you ended up unconscious out here?", he then asked, wondering how this Pokemon passed out on the beach. 'I... I was unconscious?', she thought once again. 'What happened...?'
The Pikachu then decided to introduce himself. "Well, I'm Spark. Glad to meet you!", he said to the Pokemon. "And who are you? I've never seen you around before.", he then asked, curious about this Pokemon. Usually, Spark would never say his name to a complete stranger, but this was a different story. This girl was taking his interest, he just wanted to know about her. "Well...", the girl Pokemon said hesitantly. "I'm a human." Spark became shocked after she said that. "What? You say you're a human?", Spark said to her. "You look like a totally normal Skitty to me!"
The human-turned Skitty started looking at herself and became shocked. Spark was right. She wasn't human anymore, she has turned into a Skitty. 'But how did this happen?', the Skitty thought. 'I don't remember anything...' Spark started to look at her strangely. "You're...a little odd...", Spark said. "Are you pulling some kind of trick on me?" The human looked at Spark suddenly. "W-what?!", the Skitty exclaimed. "Of course not! I'm telling the truth!" "You're telling me the truth?", Spark said doubtfully. "All right, then. Your name? What's your name?" "My name?", she said. "Oh yeah, my name! It's Sapphire." "Ok, Sapphire is your name?", Spark said to Sapphire. "Yes.", Sapphire confirmed. Spark then nodded. "Ok. Well, you don't seem to be a bad Pokemon, at least.", Spark said. "I'm sorry that I doubted you.", Spark apologized. "More and more bad Pokemon have been turning up lately, you see!" Sapphire nodded in understanding. "Many Pokemon have gotten aggressive lately.", Spark explained. "Things have grown somewhat lawless..." "I understand, Spark.", Sapphire said.
She then noticed two figures approaching. Zubat came up and pushed Spark, making him drop his treasure. "Ouch!", Spark exclaimed. "Spark!", Sapphire exclaimed. "Well, I do beg your pardon.", Koffing said sarcastically. Spark then got up and looked angrily at Zubat and Koffing. "Hey!", Spark shouted. "Why'd you do that?!" Zubat laughed at Spark. "Can't figure it out?", he then said. "We wanted to mess with you! Can't face up to us, can you?!" Spark became shocked at what Zubat said. "Wh-what?!", Spark said. Sapphire was shocked just as much as Spark. Why were they saying these things to Spark? Zubat then looked at Spark's treasure that was on the ground. "That's yours, isn't it?", Zubat said, still looking at the treasure. Spark then realized that he dropped his treasure. "No! That's...!" "Sorry, kiddo.", Zubat quickly said. "We'll take that!"
As soon as he said that, Zubat picked up Spark's treasure. Sapphire gasped at what Zubat just did. Koffing then started to laugh. "Not gonna make a move to get that back?", he then said at Spark. "What's the matter? Too scared? I didn't expect that you'd be such a big coward!" Koffing and Zubat looked at each other. "Come on. Let's get out of here.", Koffing said to Zubat. Zubat then looked at Spark. "See you around, chicken.", Zubat said and started to laugh. Koffing and Zubat then leave and enter a cave nearby, feeling that they've succeeded on getting Spark's treasure.
Spark moaned sadly and looked at Sapphire. "Wh-what should I do?", Spark said to Sapphire. Sapphire then looked at Spark. "That's my personal treasure. It means everything to me." Spark's eyes then started to water. "If I lose that..."
Sapphire was still shocked at what they just did. Stealing an item from someone is one thing, but stealing someone's personal treasure is a whole different matter. Seeing Spark like this was starting to hurt her. Sure, they just met, but Spark is so kind, honest and innocent. He didn't deserve to be treated like that. It made her angry just thinking about it. But she decided to push that thought aside and focus on cheering Spark up.
She approached Spark and started rubbing her head against Spark's body in an attempt to cheer him up. "Shhhh, Spark.", Sapphire quietly said to Spark. "Don't cry. We'll get it back." Spark suddenly looked at Sapphire and sniffed. "But how?", Spark said sadly. "They're right about everything they said." "No they're not!", Sapphire suddenly exclaimed. Spark looked at Sapphire in surprise. Did she just say that? "You're not a chicken.", Sapphire explained. "In my opinion, if they said that to you then they're the ones that are chicken!" "S-Sapphire...", Spark said in complete shock.
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Someone didn't believe he was a coward. No one's ever said things like that, not since he left his home in the forest to become an explorer, and that was a long time ago. "Spark, we will get your treasure back.", Sapphire said with confidence. Spark quickly snapped out of his shock. "You...you really mean it, Sapphire?", Spark said, wanting to make sure he wasn't imagining things. Sapphire stopped rubbing her head against Spark and nodded in reply. "Yes, Spark.", she then said. "Every single word." Spark started to wipe his tears away. "Sapphire.", he then said. When he finished wiping his tears, he looked at Sapphire confidently. "You're right! There's no time to waste! We have to go in there and get it back!" Sapphire started to smile happily at Spark. "Let's go, Spark!", Sapphire said happily. Sapphire and Spark then nodded and went into the cave, determined to get that treasure back from Zubat and Koffing.
The cave was surprisingly full of light, the ground and walls were rugged and they would occasionally see patches of water everywhere, all in different depths and sizes.
Spark would admit it, he was kind of nervous. He was actually going into a place that was riddled with dangerous Pokemon and narrow pathways, just to get his treasure back from those two Pokemon. But when he took a side glance at Sapphire, she just looked absolutely calm. Spark didn't understand it. Sapphire was a human and couldn't remember anything except her name and that she was human, so she wouldn't have any experience of a Pokemon. Yet despite this, she looks so calm and brave. Spark then began to think, maybe he could learn something from her. Maybe he could be brave, just like her. It seems impossible to him, yet he could at least try.
Sapphire looked around the cave. It looks quite small and secluded. Yet she could see signs of life in here. That must mean that there could be Pokemon living here. Though, there hasn't been any sign of them yet. Maybe those two thieves defeated some of them. Sapphire looked at Spark. "So Spark.", Sapphire said. Spark looked at Sapphire. "What is it, Sapphire?", Spark asked, wondering what Sapphire wants. "What is this place?", Sapphire asked in reply. "This is Beach Cave.", Spark explained. "To be honest, I'm kind of nervous."
Sapphire understood what he meant. He was about to confront two Pokemon who stole his treasure, and there was also a chance of being attacked by aggressive Pokemon. So it was no wonder he was nervous. She didn't want to admit it to Spark, but she was a bit nervous too. She has turned into a Skitty and is now helping a Pokemon she just met get his treasure back. But she knows she has to stay calm. One of the worst things to do in a situation is panicking, so there was no way she was going to show any weakness to an enemy.
"Don't worry, Spark.", Sapphire said. "Sometimes, the best thing to do is to stay calm." "But how can I stay calm?", Spark then asked. "I mean, how do you stay calm when you're in a place that's crawling with bad Pokemon?" "Easy.", Sapphire said calmly. "You just have to take deep breaths." Spark blinked at that response. "Deep...breaths?", he then asked questionably. Sapphire nodded in reply. "Sometimes, the best thing is a couple of deep breaths. It helps me so it should help you.", Sapphire said. "Go on, give it a try." Spark wondered if it was going to work, but decided to listen to Sapphire and he started taking deep breaths.
After doing that, he suddenly felt more calmer than before. The nervous butterflies that were flying around in him slowly disappeared. Sapphire looked at Spark anxiously. "Well? Has it worked?", Sapphire asked. She was hoping that Spark was a bit more calmer. Spark looked at Sapphire and smiled. "That feels much more better. Thanks Sapphire!", Spark said happily. Sapphire smiled at Spark at that response. She then sees a bigger room up ahead. "Hey Spark.", Sapphire said to Spark and pointed at it. "Look." Spark looks at where she was pointing and then looks at Sapphire. As soon as Sapphire looked at Spark, they both nodded and ran into the room.
This part of the cave was much more spacious than the rest. The ground was covered in sand, with water surrounding it. There were also massive rocks in some parts of the water. This wasn't what Sapphire or Spark was expecting in a cave. Sapphire then sees two familiar Pokemon up ahead and instantly recognizes them.
It was Zubat and Koffing.
"There they are!", Sapphire exclaimed. Spark sees the two Pokemon and approached them. "Uh... Hey!", Spark exclaimed, trying his best to be brave. It got their attention and they turned around, instantly recognizing Spark.
"Well, well...", Koffing said. "If it isn't our old friend, the big chicken." Spark started to shake slightly, remembering what they said. Sapphire notices Spark's shaking and stood beside him. Spark sees Sapphire close by and stopped shaking. He looked back at Zubat and Koffing. "Give me... Give me back what you stole from me!", Spark shouted. "That's my personal treasure! It means everything to me!"
Zubat and Koffing then started to take some interest. "Treasure, you say?", Zubat said. "So that thing really is valuable, huh?" "It could be worth more than we'd hoped for, I'd say.", Koffing then said. "We ought to try selling it. Who knows? It might get a good price." Koffing started to laugh. "All the more reason not to give it back!" Spark became shocked after that. Them? Sell his personal treasure? They...they couldn't. "If you want it that badly...", Zubat said. "Come and get it!" He then started to laugh.
Sapphire started becoming angry, the look on Spark's face at the beach reappearing in her head. This was it. It's time she showed her anger to these Pokemon. "Spark!", Sapphire exclaimed to Spark. Spark snapped out of his shock when he heard Sapphire. "Sapphire?" Sapphire started to smile confidently. "Let's show these Pokemon who's boss.", Sapphire said confidently. Spark started to smile. Of course, Sapphire was on his side. He should be brave, for her. Spark nodded and got ready to fight.
Koffing went ahead. "Poison Gas!", Koffing shouted, spewing out toxic gas to Sapphire and Spark. Luckily, they both manage to dodge in time. Zubat flew towards Sapphire, getting ready to use Bite. Sapphire sees this and jumps away from Zubat. "Thundershock!", Spark shouted, shooting out electricity from his body at Zubat. Zubat didn't have time to dodge and got hit. Zubat screamed as electricity flowed through him. Because he was a Flying type, it was super effective against him.
As soon as Spark stopped Thundershock, Zubat fell to the ground, defeated. Koffing saw his partner go down, but he wasn't about to give up yet. "Tackle!", Koffing shouted, charging straight towards Spark.
Spark got hit on the chest. Spark moaned in pain from that Tackle. "Spark!", Sapphire exclaimed, worried that Spark was hurt. Koffing saw this as an opportunity and used Tackle again, this time on Sapphire.
Sapphire got hit on the side. Spark quickly got up when he saw Sapphire get hit and ran over to her. "Sapphire!", Spark exclaimed. "Are you ok?" Sapphire got up and looked at Spark. "Yeah. I'm fine.", Sapphire replied. They heard Koffing say something and looked at him and they were surprised at what they saw.
Koffing now had hearts in his eyes and was mumbling about how beautiful Sapphire was. Sapphire couldn't believe what she was seeing. He has fallen in love with her. But how?
"What's...going on?", Sapphire asked. Spark was thinking about it and then figured it out. "Cute Charm must have taken effect.", Spark replied. Sapphire looked at Spark. "Cute Charm?", Sapphire asked, confused about what Spark just said.
"You see, when a Pokemon of the opposite gender physically attacks you, there's a good chance of the Pokemon being infatuated.", Spark explained. "And since you're a girl, that means male Pokemon would get infatuated to you." Sapphire smiled at that information. "Is that it?", Sapphire said. "Well then, that helps a lot! Tackle!" Sapphire started charging at Koffing. Koffing got hit straight on. "Thundershock!", Spark shouted, once again shooting electricity at Koffing. Koffing snapped out of his infatuation, but by then it was too late.
Electricity suddenly shot through him, and once Spark stopped, Koffing fell to the ground, defeated just like Zubat.
Spark couldn't believe it. The Pokemon that have taken his treasure have been defeated. They have done it.
Sapphire and Spark looked at each other and started to celebrate their victory. "We did it, Sapphire!", Spark shouted happily. "We did it!" Sapphire just smiled at Spark, happy that they have won. Moans of pain interrupted them as they looked at Zubat and Koffing.
They got up and looked at Sapphire and Spark. "B-blast it...", Koffing said. "How'd we get wiped out by wimps like them?" Zubat looked at Spark with disgust. "Bah!", Zubat exclaimed. "Here you go. Take it, then!" He then threw Spark's treasure onto the sandy ground. "Don't think you're so awesome.", Koffing then said. "Your victory was a fluke!" "Yeah, you just remember that!", Zubat exclaimed. And with that, they fled quickly out of the cave.
Spark looked at his treasure on the ground. "Oh! It's my Relic Fragment!", Spark exclaimed as he picked it up. "Am I ever glad... I actually did manage to get it back." Sapphire smiled at Spark, happy that Spark got his treasure back. Spark then looked at Sapphire. "It's only because you helped me, Sapphire." Sapphire looked at Spark suddenly. "Thank you, Sapphire!" Sapphire smiled once again at Spark, as the two Pokemon started to make their way out.
Back at the beach, Spark was once again thanking Sapphire for helping him. Sapphire could only smile at Spark's happiness. As long as Spark was happy, she was happy too.
Spark then showed Sapphire his treasure. "Here's what they stole.", Spark said. "This is a Relic Fragment. ...Well, at least, that's what I started calling it... But this Relic Fragment... It's my precious treasure." He started to explain some more.
"You see, I've always liked legends and lore... I always get so excited when I hear tales from the past! Don't you fell the same way? Hidden troves full of treasure and strange relics..." He then looked out towards the sea. "...uncharted territories veiled in darkness...and new lands just waiting to be discovered! Such places must be full of unimaginable gold and treasure! And history! Wouldn't it be amazing to make historic discoveries?" Spark looked back at Sapphire, who was showing quite some interest. "That's what I always dream of. It's all exciting to me. So one day...I happened to come across my Relic Fragment. I admit that it looks like junk, but take a closer look."
Sapphire walked closer to the Relic Fragment and saw something strange about it. It had some sort of pattern on it. "See? That inscription forms a strange pattern, doesn't it?" "You're right, Spark.", Sapphire said. "It is pretty strange." "There must be some significance to this pattern.", Spark said. "This Relic Fragment must be the key to legendary places! To areas where precious treasure lies! At least that's the feeling I get. That's why I want to join an exploration team. This fragment must fit into something...somewhere! I want to discover where that is. I want to solve the mystery of my Relic Fragment! So earlier, I tried joining an exploration team as an apprentice..." Spark looked away sadly. "But...I chickened out."
Sapphire started to frown when she heard that. Now she knew why those Pokemon were saying those things to Spark. They must have seen him trying to go there. Spark looked at Sapphire. "What about you, Sapphire?", Spark asked. "What are you going to do now? You lost your memory. And you somehow transformed into a Pokemon... Do you have anywhere to go and stay after this?" Sapphire fell quiet when she heard that. "If not, can I ask a big favor? Would you be willing to form an exploration team with me? I'm convinced that I can form an effective exploration team with you, Sapphire. So will you? Please?"
Sapphire...didn't know what to say. She doesn't know what an exploration team, but it was true, she does have nowhere to go, and she didn't have a clue what to do next. After thinking through her options, Sapphire had finally made her decision.
She looked at Spark and smiled. "Of course I will, Spark." Spark started smiling even more after hearing that. "Yes? Really?!", Spark said. "You'll form an exploration team with me? Yes! Thank you!" Spark then hugged Sapphire. "We're going to be a great combination! Let's make this work!" Sapphire was a bit surprised by the sudden hug, but then smiled and returned the hug. Spark let go of Sapphire and looked into the distance. "First, we should go to Wigglytuff's place and sign up as apprentices.", Spark explained. "That's where we need to train to become a first-rate exploration team." Spark looked back at Sapphire. "I'm sure the training will be very tough... But let's give it our best, Sapphire!" "Yes, Spark.", Sapphire then said. "Because we're a team!"
Smiling at each other, Sapphire and Spark starting to cheer, not knowing that this would be the start of an amazing adventure.