PROLOUGE

Well, here I am. About to be killed by "humane" lethal injection. My name is Neos. I'm eighteen, have white skin, spiky, shoulder length, neon green hair, and neon green eyes. I am wearing a black long sleeve shirt, a neon green vest, blue jeans, black tennis shoes, and black framed sunglasses with red lenses. And as the needle inches closer, I shut my eyes. And become flooded by memories…

CHAPTER ONE

We were at a funeral. My mother died today. My sister was really upset and my dad hadn't even bothered to come. He had a business to run, at least, that was his excuse. I was too upset to speak. My mother and I had not been as close as her and my sister, but I was closer to her then with my dad. I saw him about once a month. Anyways, as the funeral came to a close, I stood up. I went and paid my last respects then drove my sister and I home. I was 15 at the time at had just got my permit. When we got home, my dad's car was there.

"That's funny," I said to my sister, "Why is he home?"

"Who knows, who cares?" was the reply I got.

We went inside and saw my dad standing there.

"Kids," he said. "I know today has been a hard day for us."

"Yeah right," I muttered.

"But," he continued, "It is also a happy one."

"Why?" my sister asked.

"Because you two are inheriting my company." My dad said with a slight smile. My sister didn't say a thing but just went up to her room while I stared in amazement.

"Well, Neos, I guess you're going to inherit the company instead of both of you," he said.

"Dad, can I…" I began.

"No you may not!" my father cut in, knowing what my question was. "I forbid you to get a Pokémon. They won't help you run a business."

I went up to my room in a sour mood and reached under the bed. There, now in my hand, were two Poké Balls I had bought with my last allowance. I put them in my pocket. Any other day I would have loved the fact I was inheriting the company. But not today. Why does my dad have to be so bad about like this? I was about to leave the house when the butler and his Rotom blocked my way.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"Out," I replied.

I was too absorbed in thought to notice where I was going. I was walking past the park when I saw it. There, around the slide area, was a Mudkip and a Cyndaquil. They were locked in a battle but both looked tired. Then, with out warning, they both used one last Tackle, knocking each other out.

"This is my chance!" I thought, reaching into my pocket. I brought out both of my Poké Balls and threw them at the collapsed Pokémon. They wiggled once twice, three times! I was so happy, I had caught my first Pokémon! Then, with sadness in my heart, I realized, I couldn't go back to my house if I wanted to keep them. I weighed out the pros and cons and decided I should leave. There was nothing left for me there anyways.

I walked all night looking for a place to stay. I never found one. I walked into a Pokécenter at about 9:30 in the morning. I got my Pokémon healed and sat down on the bench. There was an abandoned newspaper next to me, so I picked it and started to read. My jaw dropped. The front page had a picture of my house, burned in some parts. Underneath it was the story. Apparently, there had been a gas leak and a spark had lit it on fire. There were no survivors. I looked at the next article. It was about my dad. Apparently he had been out at the time and avoided the fire and gas leak, but died in a car crash one hour later. Overcome with grief, I stood up. It was time for me to leave this town.

CHAPTER TWO

Two years later

"Team, line up!" I called.

Thirteen people rushed to form a line. First was Willy. His head was covered in a buzz cut of dirty blonde hair. He has white skin and blue eyes. He had on a blue t-shirt and grungy work jeans that no one could tell what the original color is. He is 22 and is my most reliable team mate. He joined Team Rocket bent on revenge for what law enforcers did to his mother. Next was Elmer. He has orange and yellow, shoulder length hair, white skin, and pink eyes. He had on a black robe with an Ampharos on the back and tan sandals. He is 19 and is an Ampharos Monk and second in command to me. He can work well but is the most random person you will ever meet. He is not part of Team Rocket because he is a lone bandit, but I can call on him in times of need. The other 11 were random grunts who had been assigned to me for the job.

"What are we doing?" Elmer asked in a bored tone. I stared at him.

"I told you in the letter." I said.

"Yeah, well…You actually expected me to read that?" was his reply.

"Let's just go," I sighed. "I'll explain when we get there. Now get on the ship!"

Five hours later

"Ok, we're at Spear Pillar, now what?" moaned Elmer.

"Willy," I said. "Do it."

"Now? I thought we were waiting." Willy said.

"You have something better to do?" I asked. "And yes, we were supposed to wait, but three of the projects aren't going as planned so I have to go supervise them."

"Oh," was Willy's reply. He took out a flute and began to play. A stairway appeared out of nowhere, right in front of us.

"Good flute playing," I said to Willy as we all walked up the stairway.

"It was easy," he replied.

"What are we doing?" asked a grunt.

"Searching for a Pokémon that's been around since before the beginning of the beginning of time." I called over my shoulder. "And hurry up, we are almost there." We reached the top and stood dumbfounded. There, on a raised platform, was Arceus, fast asleep.

"Wow," whispered Willy.

"Elmer," I said. "You know what to do."

"Go, Ampharos!" he yelled. A pink Ampharos popped out of the Poké Ball he threw. "Iron Tail!" Elmer cried. Ampharos jumped up and hit Arceus with its tail. Arceus woke up and glared at Ampharos. It let out a roar of anger and sent a dark wave of energy at Ampharos.

"What is that?" Willy yelled over the noise of the attack.

"I think its Punishment," I yelled back. Ampharos was slammed into a pillar, and the pillar crumbled onto Ampharos, knocking it out.

"GRRRRRRRR!" yelled Elmer while returning Ampharos. "Go Flygon!" A Shiny Flygon was summoned. "Sandstorm!" cried Elmer.

"Crap," I muttered to Willy as Flygon began to flap its wings. "Get behind a pillar." I shouted over the noise of the storm. Everyone except Elmer got behind a pillar right as a huge explosion of light was released from Arceus. The blast of wind that came with it sent my sunglasses flying.

I got out from behind the pillar. The sandstorm had subsided and both Flygon and Elmer lay unconscious on the ground.

"So that was Judgment," I said in shock. Arceus turned its head at stared at me. Its eyes widened in shock as it recognized me. "That's not good," I said as it let out a roar. It sent out another Judgment that I barely avoided. "Go Rayquaza!" I yelled. A black Rayquaza appeared over Arceus' head. "Hyper Beam," I called to it. Rayquaza let out a ferocious beam of energy that slammed Arceus into a pillar. Arceus was too stunned to avoid the pillar as it came crashing down. "Willy!" I called.

"I'm on it," he replied. He took a Timer Ball out of his pocket and threw it at Arceus. Arceus was absorbed into the ball. It shook once, twice, three times. The ball dinged as Arceus was caught.

"Good job, Willy," I said turning to face two grunts. "You two, go carry Elmer back to the ship, after you return his Flygon to its ball." They nodded and walked over to where Elmer lay. I picked up my sunglasses from behind a pillar and a Flame Plate that was also laying there. I turned, thinking about what Giovanni would think after he learned that the Shiny and Item projects were done. Now only five projects remained.

"Neos," called Willy, "You coming?"

"Yeah." I called back. "I'm coming."