Sometimes, a girl needs a change in life. Serena realized this one early summer morning, as her mother's fletchling dragged her out of bed. It was 4:15, and today, like every other day, she had "overslept." From the moment Serena could walk, her mother had dreamed of her daughter becoming a Ryhorn Racer. So, for as long as she could remember, at the crack of dawn she had been ripped from her (warm, soft) bedding, and forced onto the (cold, hard) back of Ronald, the family rhyhorn, in order to practice. This particular morning, however, things were a little different. For starters, she hadn't walked down the stairs. Instead, she had lost her footing and tumbled all the way to the bottom.
Now substantially more awake, she noticed another oddity: a pile of letters right beneath her nose. The postman must have come by late yesterday (or maybe early today?) Atop the loose pile, a flier caught her eye. It was a bright, gaudy pamphlet with a cheesy slogan written in comic sans:
"Join the Adventure Today!"
Underneath the text, there was a picture of a little girl snuggling this adorable Chespin, smile a mile wide. Turning over the pamphlet, Serena began to read. "Adventure! Friendship! Submit your application for a trainer card today! Available at any town centre! Somerestrictionsmayapply."
Pamphlet clenched tightly in hand, she pushed herself off the floor and made her way into the kitchen. "Hey mom! Have you seen this before?"
Her mother sat at the table, two cups of coffee in front of her. Smiling at her daughter, she slid one of the cups towards her. "Seen what?"
"This!" Serena confidently held out the brochure.
Her mother's smile fell instantly. "Pokemon Training? What about your racing, young lady?"
Serena took a deep breath. "Mom, you know how I feel about that! I'm no good at it. I want to try something else for a change."
"Rena, everybody has a hard time at fir-"
"It's hardly 'at first' for me! I've been doing this since I was four!" The girl calmed herself. "What I mean is, I'd like a change. Maybe a break will help me with racing."
The mother sighed, "Okay."
Her daughter grinned ear to ear. "Really? Thanks Mom!" Then, she proceeded to hug the woman so enthusiastically, she almost knocked her out of the chair.
"Hey! Calm down!" The woman half yelled, scrabbling for a purchase on her chair. After regaining a little bit of balance, she asked, "So, when are you going to apply?"
"As soon as the office opens! I want to get going right away."
The older woman choked on her drink. "You want to leave today?!"
"That... might actually be a little too soon." Serena chuckled nervously. "I mean, I'm not even packed..."
"You could always spend the night after getting your pokemon." Her mother finished the coffee. "Or even longer, if you wanted..."
The girl stroked her chin. "Yeah, that's a pretty good idea." Perching on a chair across from her mother, Serena grabbed the extra cup of coffee and chugged it down. "Although, I'll only stay the night. Adventure beckons, after all!"
"I hope you know that's going to be the last real cup of coffee you'll have for ages."
Her daughter waved her hand dismissively, "There are cafes all over. I'm sure one of them serves something edible."
Sighing, her mother hopped down from her pub chair and headed out of the room. Serena cocked her head, "Mom? What are you doing?"
The older woman didn't reply. Instead, she reemerged a few moments later with an armful of pokemon books. Practically heaving with effort, her mother dumped the stack on the table. Grinning at the girl, she finally answered; "If you're leaving so soon, you're going to need to know everything you can."
Serena gazed at the mountain of books in front of her. Giggling nervously, she asked; "Can't a girl get some sleep first?"
"No." Her mother headed toward the fridge. "The PMV opens at 9 sharp. You've got a good four hours for studying."
"But what about packing?!" The trainer-to-be protested.
"I'll handle that. And breakfast."
"But-"
"No but's! You need more than clothing to train pokemon, little miss."
Serena lightly smacked her forehead against the table. If her mother forgot her lucky plush-o-saur...
She intently studied the books in front of her, not sure where to start. Upon closer inspection, the "mountain" was just six books with sizes ranging from "children's book" to "Les Miserables." Reaching out, she grabbed a book from the range's peak, and began to read.
It was already a quarter to 9 by the time she left home. She'd already finished two of the books, and had grabbed a third to read while she waited. Serena couldn't run fast enough. Surely leaving so late was a mistake! If she took much longer, she didn't there would be any pokemon left!
As it turned out, her timing was spot on. The doors had only just opened by the time she barged in through the front entrance. Immediately, she came to a screeching halt . At least twenty other people were already in line, apathetically regarding her graceless approach. Evidently, no timing was good timing at the PMV.
She'd had a lot of pokemon-loving friends in the past complain about this place, but she hadn't thought it could possibly be that bad. They weren't even exaggerating. Times like this made her think back to the kids she'd met at that summer camp in Kanto. She was willing to bet they didn't have to deal with anything like this to get their first pokemon.
It felt like a lifetime had passed when finally she reached the counter and had her photo taken. While she couldn't say she was surprised, she was a little disappointed in how dull and grey her image looked in her pokedex. A receptionist handed her an armful of paperwork, and directed Serena down a long, sterile hallway. Resigned to her fate of being eternally confined in the doldrums, she obeyed without saying a word.
But then, at the end of the tunnel, there was a shining light. Hope blossomed in Serena's heart, and her spirit returned as the spring in her step. The final room seemed so vivid and bright in comparison, like a majestic tapestry hanging from ruins. Pushing the door open, serenity washed over her. The room was peaceful, and homely. There were cushions and couches, a beartic rug, and pooling drapes over the windows.
"Can I help you, Miss...?" A gentle voice called from her left.
She turned to face the man. "I'm Serena. I'm here for my first pokemon?"
"May I have your paperwork?"
Nodding, she handed it his way. "You're 16?" He asked.
Serena felt her face flush. "Yeah, I know, I'm a little old for-"
"Nonsense." He replied, eyes trained on her paperwork. "Not fifteen minutes ago, we gave a boy older than you his first pokemon!" Chuckling, he continued. "You look a little younger, that's all. Okay, everything looks to be in order. Let me get the starters."
The man walked over to a tall podium against the wall and started typing on something. A moment later, there was a sort of fizzling sound. When the lab tech turned around, he had three pokeballs in his hands. He smiled awkwardly. "Fresh from headquarters. We're not supposed to keep them here."
One by one, he released his pokemon from their confinement. They were the standard-fare starters for the region: Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie. Before she arrived, she had no idea which starter she was going to pick. But the moment she laid eyes on him, she knew which one she wanted.
"I'd like the Fennekin."
The little fox pokemon trilled happily, hopping to its feet and charging Serena. Within moments, it had buried itself in her arms, nuzzling against her chest. It was a little hard to explain, but she felt nothing but pride signing the adoption papers.
Fennekin, or Fen, as she had decided to call him, didn't leave her arms as they walked home. The entire time, he gazed up at her with adoring eyes. She scratched his ears, eliciting another trill. "You're a cutie, you know that?" More trilling. She smiled faintly. "Tomorrow's a big day, we're going to need to rest up."
For once, Serena slept in. When she rolled out of bed, it was coming up on noon. Hurriedly, she threw on the first outfit she could find, grabbed Fen's pokeball, and charged down the stairs.
Her mother was outside the front door, giving Ronald his breakfast. Serena's rucksack was next to her.
Grace picked up the bag and handed it to her daughter."I packed a lunch for you."
The girl dipped her head. "Thanks mom!" She hugged the woman. "I'll miss you!"
"Stay safe!" Her mother called after her as she took off. "Call me when you get to Santalune!"
"I will! Bye, Mom! Bye, Ronald!"
With that, she started on her pokemon journey.
It was a wonderful day for a walk. Serena had spent the last couple of hours shopping in Aquacorde town, and was now taking time to appreciate the Avance Trail before. Still, she felt the need to keep a keen eye out. Pokemon could be anywhere. Admittedly, she hadn't seen any yet, but they were close! She could sense it!
As if on cue, the grass next to her began to shake frantically. Reaching to her side, she released Fen. Suddenly, a massive druddigon burst out!
Snatching her fenniken off of the ground, she bolted. A large forest loomed ahead. With any luck, it wouldn't follow them in there. Fen looked over her shoulder, and instantly went rigid, his eyes huge. Whimpering, he buried his face into her shoulders.
Serena glanced over her shoulder, and nearly had a heart attack: it was gaining on her. She swore she could feel it breathing down her neck as she dashed into the woods. Eyes feral, she darted between the trees, desperately looking for an out. Then, she saw her chance: a rock wall. If she could make it...
The ground beneath her seemed like it was shaking. In fact, it was, a fact she discovered as the druddigon burst from under her and sent her catapulting through the air. Clutching Fen close, she tried her best to protect him as the pair crashed into the ground a dozen feet away. Grounded, with some undoubtedly nasty scrapes all over, she realized that fighting was her only chance.
She looked to Fen, eyes pleading. Trembling, he leapt in front of the approaching dragon-type, lips drawn back in a snarl.
"Bite him, Fen!" The fox surged forwards, tearing into the beast's outstretched hand. With a light swat, the druddigon flung him across the clearing, continuing his approach.
Scrabbling back, Serena called another attack. "Try ember!"
Fen landed neatly on his feet, and charged the enemy once more. Jumping into the air, he rained fire from above. The dragon was unfazed.
"Again! Don't give up!" She called, voice hoarse.
Charging under the monster's legs, the fennekin unleashed another ember attack. Flames licked around the druddigon's snout, charring its flesh.
Hissing, its head snapped back. Glowering down at the scrap of fur, it raised its hand to swipe at him.
"Fen! Dodge it!" Serena half shrieked. But it was too late. With a lightning-fast strike, the beast smashed Fen into a tree. She stifled a scream as she watched Fen fall to the ground, struggling for breath.
Ignoring the pain, the girl scrambled to her feet, limping to her pokemon's side. Crouching beside her friend, she realized the full extent of his injuries. His fur was soaked with blood, and although she wanted to believe otherwise, every drop was his.
Gazing up at her, he whimpered. If she could, she would have taken him into her arms and held him close. But she'd seen a lot of people like this at her mother's races. It was best not to move them. Gently, she placed a hand on his paw. "It's okay, Fen. You did your best."
The druddigon was steps away now, watching them closely. Serena could do nothing but pray for a miracle. Maybe her mother packed pepper spray? That probably wouldn't work on a pokemon, though. Short of a handgun, she didn't think anything could hurt this bastard... but did it have to? Couldn't she distract it? Reaching into her backpack, she pulled out the first thing she could find: a small, paper bag. It didn't look familiar to her, but curiosity was for people who didn't have a large, angry predator less than ten feet away from them. With a mighty throw, the bag sailed right over druddigon's head.
The dragon spun around to check out whatever it was she had sacrificed to escape, and she seized her only opportunity for escape. Unable to think of anything else to do, she recalled Fen, and slipped away.
Everything in the woods was a threat to her without Fen. She knew the potions in her bag would help, if only a little, but he needed rest. There were lodges scattered throughout the forest, but those were on the main route. Being completely honest, she had no idea where those were anymore. If only her map saw the trees instead of the forest.
Checking her pokedex, she noticed it was less than an hour until sunset. Being very short on good options, Serena decided to press forwards. Using the pokedex compass, she began to head north. As she walked, the forest grew darker. There was no way she'd find her way out before nightfall. All she could do was set up camp, and hope for the best.
Grabbing a few choice branches, she started the biggest bonfire she could muster. Then, she cracked open her first-aid kit, and called out Fen. He had passed out, but it looked like the bleeding had stopped. Picking up a potion, she liberally applied it to his wounds, and covered him with a spare jacket. It was a given she wouldn't be sleeping.
Unable to sleep, the girl allowed her mind to wander. It wasn't the first time she'd been lost in the woods. As a child, she'd been sent to a summer school in Kanto. During their nature hike, she and a young boy were separated from the group. She'd been terrified then as well, but he'd taken her hand and said to her; "The only time we can be brave is when we're afraid." He kept a firm grip on her right up until the camp counselor found them. For an embarrassingly long time after that, she'd had a crush on him. The other children had teased her for it, and she spent the rest of the camp running away from him. Looking back, it had been moronic. She couldn't even remember his name anymore. Sometimes, she wondered if he was the reason she had a thing for black hair...
By some miracle, nothing found them that night. When dawn finally broke, Serena scooped up her fennekin, and headed north. He woke up shortly after, and the girl had to wonder if he was hungry. Searching her bag for food yielded disappointing results: a package of chewing gum. The fox sniffed the box, and pouted. Apparently, his disappointment was short-lived, because a moment later he was thrashing wildly, clawing his way out of Serena's arms. Landing on the ground, he darted forwards, barking excitedly. In a marvel of nature the girl could barely believe, the fox launched himself up a stubby tree, claws lightly skimming over its bark.
As he weaved through the branches, Serena lost sight of her charge. Concern was beginning to gnaw at her, until his head poked out of the leaves above her, a half-dozen berries clenched in his jaws. Leaping down from his perch, Fen dumped his cache at her feet.
She crouched down and scratched his ears. "Good boy." Glancing at the mangled fruit, she added. "You keep them. I'm not hungry."
Fen nodded, and began to wolf down the fruit in front of him, tail wagging.
Serena could still hear rustling above her; there must have been other pokemon foraging up there. Since her pokemon was feeling better, maybe they could catch one...
"Hey Fen," She whispered.
He glanced up at her, ears perked.
"Wanna fight?"
Yipping, he thrashed his tail side to side. Hoping that was a "yes," she snatched one of his berries, and pitched it into the branches overhead.
A couple thuds and a yelp later, this zigzagoon tumbled out of the canopy. Bristling, it leapt to its paws and charged Serena. "Fen! Ember, now!"
White-hot flames erupted from the fox's jaws, dousing his foe in a fiery inferno. The zigzagoon dropped to the ground and rolled, kicking up a storm of dust. Concealed in the smoke, it tackled Fen from behind. It wasn't enough to faze her pokemon, who buried his fangs into the racoon's tail and tossed it a couple feet away.
Snatching a pokeball from her pocket, Serena threw it at her weakened foe. Zigzagoon was swallowed in a red light, and the ball fell to the ground, rocking gently.
A loud click echoed through the clearing, signifying her first catch. "We did it, Fen!" She half-screeched, soaring across the clearing to embrace her starter. Gently, she picked up her brand-new zigzagoon's pokeball, and called it out.
The racoon huffed, refusing to look at Serena.
"Hey now, don't be like that." She scolded. "Hmm... You know what? I think I'm gonna call you 'Starman,' ok?"
The rodent grumbled.
"What? It's cute!" Crossing her arms, she continued. "I need to get out of the forest. If you help me, I'll buy you all the pokepuffs you can eat."
Squeaking happily, it darted off into the undergrowth. Serena ran after it "Wait! You're going too fast!"
Starman didn't slow down for a minute, nimbly dodging over the rocks and roots scattered between mighty trees. Its trainer, while nowhere near as fast, wasn't too far behind. She didn't know if her latest catch actually knew where it was headed, but she was hopeful.
Intentional or not, eventually, they wound up on a well-worn forest trail. Calling back her pokemon, the young trainer checked her compass, and began to walk north. After last night, she was eager to get to Santalune and get some rest. Or at least, she was, until something caught her eye: a Pikachu, sleeping soundly on a stump.
Reaching for another pokeball, she threw it at full force. To her surprise, it bounced off of him harmlessly. Pikachu sat up, rubbing his eyes, looking quizzically at her discarded pokeball. Then, it suddenly dawned on the creature that she'd just tried to capture him, and he shot out of sight. Running to the stump, she figured out where the mouse had gone: his trainer's tent.
Seconds later, a boy emerged from the tent, clad in naught but his pyjamas. Serena went red, no doubt she looked like a deerling-in-the-headlights to him.
"S-sorry!" She bowed. "I thought he was wild!"
The boy looked at her with bleary eyes. "Huh?"
Her heart skipped a beat. Black hair, sharp eyes... He looked so familiar... It couldn't be him, could it? "Didn't your Pikachu wake you up?" She asked, fighting to keep her voice steady.
He yawned, "Yeah, he does that. It's not usually to let me know there's a pretty girl outside though."
Her cheeks were still a dusty pink. "That's very sweet of you... I'm Serena. And you are?"
"Ash. Nice to meet ya."
"If you don't mind me asking, Ash, have we met before? You seem familiar."
Shrugging, he replied; "Doubt it, I'm from Kanto."
"I've been. I don't suppose you attended any summer camps when you were little?"
"One or two, sure."
Serena perked up. "Pewter Pokemon Ranch?"
His eyes widened. "Yeah! How'd ya know?"
"I was there with you! We were in the same group, remember? We got lost in the woods one time and spent the entire afternoon swapping pokemon stories."
An awkward silence descended upon the clearing. Ash suddenly looked uncomfortable, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He brought his hand up to his chin, as if he were deep in thought. After an agonizing minute, he spoke:
"I'm sorry." The boy smiled sheepishly, "but I don't remember you."
A/N: One chapter down, the next should be up in a few days. I feel I should mention that for this fic, I will defaultly be referring to pokemon with male pronouns. In my first draft, I referred to pokemon of unknown gender as "it," but I felt it was awkward. Since he/him are the (archaic) default pronouns, I elected to use them. What does this mean? Well, it means I might "change" a pokemon's sex at some point. For instance, Fen is not supposed to have a specified gender. He's (loosely) based off of anime!Serena's Braixen, but I haven't specified whether he's male or female yet, so in three chapters "he" might be a "she." The same goes for any pokemon without visible gender differences.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to message me or drop a review. Hope to see you next time!
