Disclaimer: Sapphie does not own Pokemon or any other copyrighted material included in this story. The only things she owns are her many OCs, Team Emeral, and the burning desire to own Pokemon. She also isn't going to post the disclaimer every chapter, as she's rather lazy and finds no need to do so. ;D
Author's Note: 'A True Master' is the story of my personal character, Sapphire Masters. It's mostly up here for my friends to be able to read her story, but I'm open to any helpful criticism. It's hard to follow in the beginning if you don't know her history, but it gets simpler later on for those who understand Pokémon. Sorry for the confusion. XD
A True Master
Prologue
"Pidge! Pidgeot!" the large bird-like Pokémon called as he landed in front of his owner's home. She hopped off his back, pushing her sapphire-blue hair out of her eyes and gazing out at the mansion she owned. The Houndoom that guarded the estate barked happily at her arrival. Masters' Manor was amazing…it contained an entire mountain range and all the land within it. Many Pokémon -strong and weak alike- roamed there, as well. Yes, Sapphire Masters had accomplished much in her days as a Pokémon Trainer-now a Master- but not many know how it all began.
An Unlikely Trainer: Part One
A twelve-year-old girl rushed down the stairs. She was followed by a wolf and an oddly-patterned snow leopard. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried to contain it. As she neared the bottom stair, she pushed her dirty blonde hair behind her ears and brushed the tears from her eyes. Her parents waited for her by the door. "Please…don't go!" the girl wailed, hugging them tightly. Her pets lay down near their feet, sad looks in their eyes. "Sapphie, we have to go. They'll wipe out the worlds if we don't." the girl's mother said. Sapphie locked eyes with her mother's identical sapphire-blue ones.
"Fine, but can't you stop them without sacrificing yourselves?" she asked, tears spilling over. "No. We're sorry, but it must be done." Her father answered, his green eyes glistening. Sapphire Masters' parents were the lead spies of an undercover spy organization. They were dedicated to stopping the deadly Team Emeral from destroying the worlds, but to do that once and for all, Sapphie's parents would have to sacrifice their own lives.
"F-fine. Now, what is it you needed to tell me?" Sapphie asked, holding back her tears. She gently stroked her snow leopard, Ikus, as her parents explained. "Take this to the trees out back and press the button. Travel through the portal and make a life there. Find a man named Professor Oak and tell him who you are-the whole story." her mother explained, handing her a ball. It was red on the top and white on the bottom, with a button in the middle. Sapphie nodded.
"C-can I take Ikus and Phire?" Sapphie asked, this time stroking her wolf. "You can…but I think it's better if you don't. You'll see why. Much later, when things are better, maybe you can come back." her mother replied. "Oh…okay…I'll miss you all four of you. And I love you!" the tears were streaming down her face as she pulled her parents and beloved pets into a big hug. Sapphie's mom then handed Sapphie a book. It was bound like a journal. On the cover, it read "The Life Story of Kali Masters". "When you're ready, read it-it reveals some big secrets." her mother said. "Good-bye, and we love you." her parents said, they hugged again, then abruptly left. Sapphie collapsed with grief, sobbing.
Ikus and Phire snuggled with her as she sobbed, but she knew she had to go, and so did they. "Good-bye, guys!" she sobbed. She got up and walked through her childhood house, where she'd lived her whole life. She reached the sliding glass door that led to the backyard, and slid it open. The leopard and wolf followed anyway, they wanted to be there when she left. Phire hopped up and slid the door closed. "Thanks, boy. What am I gonna' do without you?" Sapphie grumbled, stroking both her pets. "I'll be back, I promise!" she cried.
She took a deep breath, the turned towards the trees. A blue backpack hung from her back, with all the belongings she was taking. From her pocket, she pulled out the red-and-white ball. She pointed it towards the trees and pressed the button. A zap of red light came from the ball, then a swirling red-and-white portal. She took another deep breath and stepped through. It felt…weird. It looked weird, felt weird… and then it was over, and Sapphie emerged.
The place was a ranch of sorts. A nice-sized building with a red roof lay on the top of a hill. A windmill swirled behind it. A gate closed off a path with bushes parallel on both sides. A sign read "Oak Pokémon Research Laboratory". "This must be the place." Sapphie said to herself. Shrugging the backpack on correctly, she pushed open the gate and trudged up the steep hill. When she reached the door, she knocked repeatedly. A man opened the door. He had white hair, and seemed rather wise. "Hello, I'm Professor Oak. How can I help you?" he asked. "My name is Sapphire Masters. My mother told me to come to you." she said. "Masters? C-come in, and tell me your story." Oak replied.
Sapphie nodded, and followed him inside. She sat down on the nearest couch. Then, she told the Professor her story. "Then I must teach you about this world." the Professor told her, "For this is the world of Pokémon." "P-Pokémon?" Sapphie asked, confused by the word. "Pokémon are the creatures that inhabit this world." Professor Oak began. The two spent the next few days teaching Sapphie how to be a Pokémon Trainer. She caught on quickly, and in a week, Oak confronted her with a question.