Pokemon Fantasy Fan-Fiction

By: Jack Facilier

Chapter 1

The sun had barely begun to shine over the pine forest surrounding Pidgeot's Peak before the sound of metallic hammering broke the sleepy morning silence. The streets were empty except for a young man and his Absol slowly walking toward the sound. He was tall and thin with a tan complexion. He had a small scar over his left eye, and more from burns on his arms. His short dark hair would be uninteresting if it wasn't for the streak of white hair on the right side of his head and a streak of black on the left. He wore a commoners shirt and pants with thick hide boots.

He could just make out the forge light at the blacksmith toward the edge of the city. As he drew closer, he could make out the small sign hanging from the side of the blacksmith's house. The Tusk and Nail, the sign of his father's business. He smiled slightly as he ducked underneath the awning, grabbing his apron as he did so.

Several men were already working the forge. One man in the corner with a pointed nose, sly smirk, and neatly combed hair, was driving rivets into a leather shield. Another with similar facial features was pouring molten metal in casts for pans and pots. A large dark skinned man was sitting at the anvil, hammering out dents in a breastplate. The last man, who was short, portly, and graying, was standing at the oven placing another bowl of steel scrap inside. He looked around as the young man walking over.

"Morning Ethan," He said as straightened up and gave him a one armed hug. He looked down at the Pokemon that had walked in with his son, "and to you, Absol." Absol looked sleepy up at him. Ethan glanced down at Absol, You could do with starting work a bit later. Absol couldn't speak but Ethan always had an idea of what he was thinking; Ethan smiled slightly. An old, greying Growlithe slowly walked around from behind the water barrel and sniffed at Ethan's boots. Ethan reached down and scratched her behind her ear.

"Hey Luna, Morning Dad, I've still got that shield delivery later today right? Mom has a few rose bushes that need to go to the Baron's place too." He nodded his head and jerked his thumb to a simple steel buckler shield sitting on top of the anvil next to James.

"Yeah just gotta paint it, then it will be ready. Should be done by lunch." Ethan saw Jason, the man pouring the metal, mutter something under his breath to Chadwick, the man with the leather shield. Ethan couldn't hear what they said, but his Dad did. He picked up a ball bearing on a nearby table and flung it at Jason. It whizzed past Jason's head, he spun around, a fake look of annoyance on his face.

"What the hell, Ben?" Jason said with an indignantly smirk on his face.

"I heard that, asshole." Ben said. Chadwick, and James laughed, Ethan rolled his eyes at the antics of his uncles. He sat next to James, moved the shield to another table with paints stains all over it, and began his morning work.

Ethan worked throughout the morning. Sharpening several swords, adding an artistic metal twist to a ladle for Mrs. Gladson's order, and shaping a set of horseshoes for Mr. Davidson's Ponyta. While he worked, the city got steadily busier. More people walked back and forth by the forge on the main road. Several stopped to talk with Ben, placing orders for metal-worked items or quickly discussing the goings on in the city.

When the sun was at its highest, Ben walked over to Ethan shield in hand. He had painted it with a family crest of a Sawsbuck head surrounded by roses and lilies. He wrapped it in cloth and tied it gently with twine.

"Looks good, Dad. For one of the Guard Captains?" Ethan asked as he got up from behind the anvil.

"Yep, to be delivered to the castle. Oh and take these by the Post Office will you." He handed Ethan two letters and the shield. Ethan slung the shield over his back and pocketed the letters.

He whistled to Absol who had been napping by the forge with Luna all morning. He got up, stretched, and sauntered over to stand beside his friend. Ethan leaned over and rubbed Absol's mane.

"Lazy Pokemon, alright Dad. I'll see you tomorrow." Ethan said as he gestured to the others.

"Better not be late tomorrow," Chadwick yelled after him. Ethan shook his fist at his uncle as he and Absol walked out onto the busy midday street.

Ethan slowly meandered his way down the street toward his mother's shop. Absol close beside him. They made their way through small crowds of people and pokemon. Several Rattatas scurried about behind crates and barrels, an Abra could be seen taking a nap on the roof of the Tailor's. People hurried here and there discussing the latest news, showing off their Pokemon, window shopping, or else trying to get through the crowd as quick as possible.

Rising up above all of the other buildings was Pidgeot's Peak. A large stone pillar that ascended hundreds of feet. At the top lay a large and empty nest, once the home of the city's fabled Great Pidgeot. At the foot of the pillar stood William's Castle, named for the man who discovered and claimed to have a meeting with the Great Pidgeot. Now the castle was the home of Baron Monroe, his wife, and daughter.

Ethan gazed longingly at the towers and flags of the castle. He felt Absol nudge him and looked down. Absol stared up at him, You could be there one day. Ethan smiled and petted Absol.

"Thanks Buddy." He said, as they turned right into a large courtyard filled with flowers. Ethan squeezed by customers as they ogled the large Hibiscus flowers that ran all the way up lattices on the walls. Absol too had to wind his way through the legs of people purosing the tulips, carnations, and daisys.

When they finally escaped the tightly packed crowd, they entered the large open storefront of his mother's shop. His Grandmother was sitting in a chair off to one side, slowly pruning a decorative ivy vine.

"Hey Grammy," Ethan said has he pecked his grandmother on the cheek. She smiled and grasped his arm.

"Hello Ethan, your mother is looking for you." Ethan nodded as he accidentally kicked a small pot over beside his grandma's chair. The plant in the pot rose quickly out of the soil.

"Oddish Oddish!" An Oddish was wriggling out of the potting soil, irritated that his sleep had been interrupted. Ethan lifted his foot away from the pot and began to move toward the back of the shop.

"Sorry Oddish, my bad!" Ethan said as he walked away. Absol leaned over the pot and sniffed at Oddish's leaves. Oddish shook his leaves, trying to cover Absol in Paralysis Powder. Absol simply blew the powder back toward Oddish and hurried after Ethan.

Ethan slid behind the front counter covered in small succulents and herbs. He opened the swing door to the back room. His mother was working at the far end of a long greenhouse. The greenhouse was filled with berry bushes, healing herbs, and the rarer flowers that were grown. Several grass Pokemon moved down the rows of plants, tending them. Ethan walked toward his mother, patting a Bayleef and Ivysaur as he passed. Ethan's Mother turned toward him as he drew close.

"Hey sweetheart, how was work at Dad's?" She asked. Ethan hugged his mother and his chin rested on the top of her blonde head.

"Bent some metal, sharpened swords, the usual." he replied, pulling an oran berry from a nearby bush and tossing it to Absol, who caught it and wolfed it down. "Those two rose bushes going to the castle today?" Ethan asked.

"Yes they are, and if you could run these two shipments of healing herbs to the post as well." She pulled to cloth sacks out of a nearby pot and tied them closed with vines. Ethan sighed as he heaved the large rose bushes into his arms.

"Yeah add them to the pile, Dad's got some stuff going too. Mind giving it to Absol though?" Ethan said, his voice slightly muffled by the thicket of leaves and thorns. His mother smiled and lashed the bags together, draping them over Absols back.

"Ok Mom, I'll see you at dinner,"Ethan said as he shuffled his way back down the rows sideways. Absol ran down the adjacent row and held the door open, "Thanks buddy," Ethan said as he readjusted the plants and walked out the door.

Ethan and Absol made their way toward the castle. Ethan was struggling a little bit with the weight of the bushes. Absol looked up concernedly, You are going to hurt yourself you know, Ethan reassured his friend as they paused for a guard patrol to pass by. They continued down the street for a few minutes before arriving at a large domed building near the castle.

Ethan walked inside, sat the pots on a small wooden bench, and looked around. The ceiling of the dome was covered in small nest boxes and perches. Dozens of different flying type Pokemon zipped here and there. In the center of the domed ceiling was a large hole opened to the blue sky. A young man was working at a counter in front of a large board covered in tags and strings that branched out to every nest box in the building. They may their way to the desk, the man looked up.

"Ah, Hello Ethan. Good to see you." The man said cheerily.

Ethan smiled at him, "Heya Toby. Got some mail for you." Ethan said producing the letters from his father and grabbing the backs of healing herbs off of Absols back.

"What do we have today, Ethan?" Toby asked, pulling the letters and bags closer for inspection.

" Well one letter is going to the Dwarven Forgemaster at Korsorek, requesting a Slugma for the forge. Our Growlithe can't get the forge quite as hot as she used to. The other is going to Baron Monroe. Dad finally finished the application for a Apricorn Licence so we can forge Pokeballs." Absol put his front paws up on the countertop, watching a Pidove flutter on top of a low nest box. "As for the herbs. One is going to the Fort Aron and the other is going to the Crustle Outpost"

Toby nodded and spun around. He moved down the board mumbling quietly to himself as he scanned the tags. When he found the tag he was looking for he pulled the cord, a few seconds later a Bird Pokemon would land on the counter in front of them. When he had them all down he turned back around.

"Alright then. First a Fletchinder for the Letter to Korsorek." He handed the letter to Fletchinder, who took it in its beak and soared out through the ceiling hole. "Then two Pidgeottos for the heavier packages," he tied the bags to the Pidgeotto's legs then sent them on their way out. "Finally for local deliveries, a Pidove," Absol stared hungrily at the Pidove. Toby quickly handed Pidove the letter and almost threw it up and out.

Ethan eyed Absol, who looked back at him, trying to be innocent. He payed Toby then moved to the door grabbing up the rose bushes as he backed out the door."Thanks Toby. We're still goin exploring in the woods with the guys tomorrow night right?" Toby gave him a thumbs up as Ethan and Absol back out onto the street.