Chapter 1 – Prologue
They say there's a myth, that with the right ingredients, the legend of all legendaries would be born; a being even greater than Arceus; the true Lord of Pokémon. In order for this extraordinary creature to rise, one would need to collect DNA samples from specific legendaries. Once the ingredients have been acquired, drop them all into the boiling hot lava of Stark Mountain, and the beast will wake from it's slumber. Thousands have tried, thousands have failed, and millions have succumbed to madness. It was then known as the Myth of Madness. After it's prime, it was considered to be a taboo to speak about it, so it was soon forgotten. Until now.
Deep in the forests surrounding Pallet Town, there hides a father and daughter. The father, a sturdy and tall man, with scruffy chocolate brown hair, matching circle beard, light brown eyes, and smooth olive skin. Wearing a black sweatshirt with camo-pants and dark brown leather boots. His daughter had inherited her father's chocolate brown hair, and her long straight locks reached just below her shoulder and was styled in a side braid. However she had bright cyan blue eyes and milky white skin. She was dressed in a similar fashion as her father, a black tank top, a red skirt and dark brown leather boots. Hiding behind some bushes, the father whispered, "Remember what I taught you sunshine, lay low and stay silent,"
"Got it Dad," the little girl whispered back as she extended her bow and arrow. They were both eyeing a deerling with a distance of 30 meters. The daughter squinted her eyes in concentration and remained complete control over her bow. The deerling was calmly minding it's own business and eating the grass. But suddenly, the deerling's head shot up and looked towards the pair, it's eyes fixated on the little girl's. In that single second, the little girl released her arrow and pierced the deer's heart.
"Ha ha ha! That's my little sunshine," the father laughed as he ruffled his daughter's hair. As the two walked towards their fallen prey, the father reminded his daughter, "Now Leaf, you remember what I told you about hunting right? You only kill-"
"-If it's absolutely necessary," Leaf finished as she gently stroked the deerling's head, "I know Dad,"
"Ha ha ha!" The father deeply laughed, "I'm proud of you Leaf, not many 11 year olds can hunt as good as you,"
"I've had a good teacher,"
"Well, your good teacher thanks you for being a good student," the father replied as both of them chuckled, "Come on, let's go back home. I'll be making stew tonight!"
"You're cooking again?" Leaf remarked as her father heaved the dead deerling over his shoulder,
"What? I'm not that bad...am I?" He asked as he scratched the back of his head with goofy smile,
"Last night, you tried to make salad and you set the kitchen on fire," Leaf pointed out as they started to head back to town,
"I was trying out some new techniques I saw Chef Pagliaccio do!" The father retorted,
"Chef Pagliaccio was tossing beef, not vegetables!"
"Okay. Fine. I see your point, but I don't want to burden you with making dinner again,"
"It's alright Dad, really!" Leaf replied, "Oh look, it's Mr Hender!" The duo had come back to civilization and were passing Pallet Town's local bakery,
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Greens," Mr Hender, the local baker, greeted. Mr Hender was a round kind of man, the kind that you would see wearing a bowler hat and had a thick moustache who wouldn't stop smiling. He was in his forties, although he looked as if he was twice his age. There wouldn't be a single person in town who didn't know Mr Hender. Not because he was the town's only baker, but because he was probably the most loudest and bubbliest person you could ever meet. "How was today's catch?" He inquired,
"This one was done by little Leaf 'ere," the father explained as Leaf grinned proudly,
"That big guy? You? Shot him? No!" Mr Hender exclaimed,
"Yes!" Leaf shouted as all three of them laughed,
"You'll grow up to be a fine woman Leaf," Mr Hender said as he pat her head, "Here's your daily bread, it's not much," Mr Hender handed the father a small basket of freshly baked poffins,
"It's plentiful Sam," the father thanked as he put his hand on Mr Hender's shoulder,
"Business hasn't been booming recently, probably because of the big incident in Saffron," Mr hender sighed,
"What happened in Saffron?" Leaf asked her father as she tugged on his pants,
"Just a lil something," her father replied,
"That damn Giovanni," Mr Hender spat,
"Cheer up Sam! Why don't I go buy you a drink next friday eh?" The father offered as Mr Hender gave a weak smile,
"Thanks Carl, but I doubt Marianne would let me go, especially since we've got the twins to look after now,"
"Till next time then!" Carl cheered as both men laughed,
"Tell next time, my good friend, till next time. Good bye!" Mr Hender called out as the father and daughter continued to walk back home. On their way, they passed by Ms Rivera-Gonzalez, the florist,
"Buenas tardes mis chicos pequeñas! I've got some new flowers and they are muy bieno," Ms Rivera-Gonzales greeted in her usual thick spanish accent. Ms Rivera was a widow, she lost her husband to the terrible water incident of '93. Despite her old age, she still lives her life as if she was 20. Her love of flowers helped her overcome her grief. Because of her immense passion, the townspeople gave her the nickname: The Wild Flower. She would always be seen wearing similar clothing that would consist of a bandana wrapped around her large frizzy brown hair, a loose off the soulders white top, a black sash around her waist, and a long flowing purple skirt.
"Do you have my favorite flowers today?" Leaf eagerly asked as she looked around her flower cart,
"Ooh, not today chica," she pouted as she rubbed Leaf's head, "Why not try these muy bonito pink daises chica?" Leaf took a glance, twirled it around, and shrugged her shoulders,
"Come on bud, they're beautiful," Carl said as he pat Leaf's back. Still slightly disappointed, Leaf shrugged her shoulders once again. Noticing this, Ms. Rivera bent down till she was at eye level with Leaf,
"Look at me chica, I know you're muy muy muy triste because your favorite flowers aren't here, lo siento mami. But why don't I promise you the next time I go restock, I will personally go and get you your flowers, si?" She suggested in a gentle voice as Leaf nodded her head with excitement, "I'll even promise with the pinky chica." After wrapping their pinkies around the other and made the eternal oath, Carl and Leaf took off once again. Carrying the large bouquet of pink daises, Leaf started to admire the pink plants. Soon they reached a small little house. It was a quaint little home, with a small front porch, wooden framed windows, and a little red brick chimney. Her father went in to drop off the deerling and came back out. Facing the sunset, Leaf twirled the bouquet in one hand and grabbed her father's in the other,
"See bud? It's not so bad right?" Carl said as they began to walk down a leafy path,
"Not so bad at all," Leaf replied, taking a small whiff of the flowery scent,
"Leaf, your Mum would've been very proud of you today," Carl told her as she looked up at him,
"Thanks Dad," she replied as she smiled, "Hey Dad? Could you tell me a story about Mum?"
"Another one?"
"Please!"
"Oh alright then. Hm...let me think of a good one...ah! I remember! It was when we first met. Back when your mum and I were tweens. There would always be pokémon battles everywhere you went, it meant everything back then. Although it seems to be dying down right now. Anyways, I was a pretty big competitor back in the day, never lost a match in my life. Then one day, whilst I'm traveling to Cerulean City, I bump into this klutz of a girl. She has the nerve to tell me to mind where I'm going when she was clearly at fault. In frustration, I challenge her to a pokémon battle. Never losing a battle before, I was confident I would win. Especially since her pokémon seemed fairly weak. However I was proven wrong. It didn't take her long till she wiped out my entire team. I still remember the exact words she said after she beat me. You're not so bad, pansy. My name's Genevieve, remember it. And I did. Soon after, I happened to run into her again at Cerulean City. At the time I couldn't stand her guts at all, so I was quite aloof with her. But then we soon became traveling partners after realizing we were heading in the same direction. Over time, we got to know each other more, and we found out how well our team dynamics were, and before we knew it, we had fallen in love. Oh look, we're 'ere," Carl said as they reached a clearing at the edge of a cliff. Right by the edge was a headstone engraved with a bauhinia flower and the words: In memory of Genevieve Bellerose-Green, a wonderful wife and a marvelous mother. Leaf laid down the pink daises and said,
"I miss her, even though I've never met her," she hugged her father's arm tightly,
"Don't worry sunshine, just remember, nothing is ever a mistake." He gently said back. Hours passed by and they spent their time talking about their day and anything new that's happened with Genevieve.
Soon, the two said their goodbyes and went back home. Gathered round a small table, the duo were eating a fresh bowl of mouth-watering stew, "This looks amazing sunshine,"
"If you had cooked tonight, we would've had another fire,"
"Ha ha ha ha! That would be true!" Carl merrily laughed as they started to eat. But then in the midst of their peace, a loud frightening scream achoed around the village. Carl quickly stood up and gazed out the window. He saw men and women come out of their houses in curiosity. But in the darkness, red lights scattered in the bushes, red lights that turned out to be the malevolent slitted eyes of Houdooms.
"Dad? What's happening?" Leaf asked in a scared tone,
"Leaf, go grab your bow and arrow," her father ordered as she obeyed and went to go fetch them. Still staring at the window, he witnessed the residents being torn up limb by limb. It was unbelievable. Questioning how the pokémon succumbed into this violent behavior, he noticed all of them were wearing the same metal collar. He saw the perpetrators in the distance. They were a whole army of trainers in black uniforms with a large red G symbol on the front of their chests. Carl grabbed a pokéball and summoned his Blastoise out. He knew if he tried to flee the house the brain-washed Houndooms would tear them up. The army of G-soldiers were invading each and every house in sight. Leaf came dashing back with her bow and arrow slung around her back,
"Dad, I'm back, what's happening? Should we go down to the basement? I smell ash, what's Blastoise doing out?" Leaf streamed out in panic, "What's happening outside? Should we go fight? Wh-" Her father bent down and grabbed her tightly by the shoulders,
"Leaf, I want you- No, I need you to do something for me. Stay in the storage closet and no matter what happens, don't come out. Lay low and stay silent. Do you understand me?"
"Dad, it's a fire! The town is on fire!" Leaf exclaimed as she could see the fiery glow from the window,
"Leaf! Do you understand?" Her father repeated in a louder voice as a wide eyed Leaf nodded, "Then go! Remember, what ever happens, you are not allowed to come out of there until it is safe!" He ushered her daughter towards the closet,
"Dad, is everything going to be alright? What's going to happen to you?" She anxiously questioned,
"Leaf," he gently said as he pat her head, "Remember everything I've taught you, alright?"
"Dad?" Leaf called as she got into the room. Her father remained silent and continued smiling, "Dad? Why aren't you answering me?" Before he closed the door, he looked at his daughter with teary eyes,
"I love you sunshine,"
"W-Wait, DAD!" Leaf screamed as he shut the door. She felt her heart racing, adrenaline flowing, breaths fastening. She remained as quiet as she could be in the tiny little room. Soon she heard a loud crash; it was her front door being pummeled. Loud grunts from her father resonated. Leaf spotted a tiny little hole in the door and decided to peek through, but it was not a pleasant sight. Her father's Blastoise had been punched aside and was slumped against the wall while her father was suspended by Houndooms, "NO!" She screamed. She immediately regretted it and covered her mouth with her hand. The Houndooms reacted to her scream and started walking towards the closet,
"Hey you ugly mutts! What are you, stupid? I'm right 'ere!" She heard her father say as the Houndooms decided to ignore the cry and focused back to Carl,
"Shut up you little dirty insect!" Leaf heard one of the G-soldiers commanded as he slapped Carl's face and grabbed Carl by the shirt, "Where's the Prof's research facility?"
"What? Why are you numbskulls interested in the Prof's research- Oh...so this is what it's about. I thought Giovanni was aiming for Major Célesta, I can't believe he's going for that ridiculous myth-"
"I said shut up and give me the directions!" The G-soldier ordered as he slapped Carl once more, "Tell me! Now!"
"Yeah sure, I'll tell you. Just down the road and a little further up your ass! Phouu!" Carl sarcastically remarked as he spat into the soldier's face,
"Yuck! You filthy piece of trash! Rip him to shreds, he's like the other villagers: useless," the G-soldier said as he snapped his fingers. Summoning all his strength, Carl yanked his body from the Houndooms and began to fight off the villains. He was winning. Leaf continued watching through the little hole and hope filled her entire body. She was relieved. The G-soldier underestimated Carl's power and called for extra back up. Soon the little girl saw her father's body being decapitated in the midst of his courageous battle. His blood splattered across the walls and floor and body parts thumping on the floor. She kept both hands over her mouth while tears gushed down her shaking face. When the Houndooms had finished having their feast, the G-soldiers and pokémon moved onto the next home. The little girl fell back and tried to catch her breath. She heard the screams of pain and agony from the other side of the door. Not only that, what frightened the girl the most was the bone-cracking sounds of arms being ripped off. Leaf covered her ears and rocked back and forth,
"This is a nightmare, this is a nightmare, this is a nightmare, this is a nightmare..." she repeated to herself as she continued to rock. Even with her hands over her hands over her ears, she could still hear the horrible splitting sounds . Tears still running down her cheeks, she could feel her whole body shake from horror. She tried to wipe away the tears, but felt an unfamiliar substance under her eye. When she took a closer look at her fingers, she saw a dark crimson red stain. "This is a nightmare."