There's too many to count. The stars, all above my head, massive in number and scope- geez, do I feel puny by comparison. I lower my gaze to look at the pond in front of me, with the moonlight reflecting off of it. Even as Team Corona has enslaved the region of Islaa in a militaristic dictatorship, even their cruel hand hasn't touched the uncharted forests south of Gearbreeze Town, my hometown. Gearbreeze has long had a factory in it, which made various medical supplies, Potions, Antidotes, et cetera. I'm sitting in a small clearing surrounded by trees with a small pond in the middle, with water as clear as glass. It's a truly beautiful sight at night, and the stargazing is wonderful from here.
Suddenly, I'm roused out of my philosophical stargazing by an earthly sound next to me. A soft snoring. I turn my head to see that Eve has fallen asleep again. Eve is my closest friend, as we've been almost inseparable since the time we met. She isn't my sister, as she's an orphan my mother took in when Eve was only a year old or so. I look over at her, snoring peacefully, and think of how much of a crime it would be to arouse her from her slumber and tell he we have to head home. I reach my arm over and brush a few loose strands of hair out of her face, and take a minute to just look at her.
She's wearing her usual clothes- a pink tank-top, with black shorts, a red purse which she keeps various things in, and a gold necklace that was a gift from Juliana when Eve was six years old. Nine years later, she still wears it. Eve has never said she's particularly pretty, as no one has ever told her she is. I'm the only person she's really close to, but for all the time we spend together, have never been romantically involved with each other. People have speculated for years that we secretly are, but we both sternly deny it.
I glance back up at the moon, and see that it's reaching moonhigh. I gently shake Eve's shoulder in an attempt to rouse her. No luck. I do it a tad more vigorously, and this time she shakes her head and opens her eyes.
"Uh… Flight… did I doze off?" She asks drowsily, rubbing her eyes. I look at her.
"Yep. It's time to head back. Juliana will be expecting us soon, and the walk back is at least a mile," I replied.
"It's sooooo far to walk..." Eve moans, rolling her eyes. "Flight..."
"Yeah?" I asked. She looked at me with her large, blue eyes.
"Can you carry me back? I reeeeeally don't want to walk..." She looked at me with puppy-like eyes. How could I refuse?
"Oh, all right…" I agreed reluctantly, and scooped her up in my arms. Good thing I had started hitting the gym lately, or I would have dropped her like a hot potato. She wrapped her arms around my neck as I started the walk home. As I was walking, listening to the sounds of the forest, I started thinking to myself. Eve was my closest friend, and people have called us many things- best friends, lovers, secretly together, and some dude called us friend zoned. He's the guy who was walking around holding his sacred place after Eve delivered a swift kick to that area. For a girl as small as her, dang, she packs a serious kick.
There's my friend Luca. He can talk to Pokemon. The only son of legendary hero of Unova, N, Luca dislikes battling, but can hold his own in a fight. He's a reliable and trustworthy person who is great to have as a friend, but isn't so good in the having-lots-of-fun department. He's quite serious, and earned great grades in school before Team Corona sent me and Luca off last year to work in the factory, forcing him to make medicine that would heal Pokemon after they had been wounded fighting each other. Luca hates his job, needless to say.
Luca's older sister, Juliana, acts as a big sister to all of us. She's a skilled, expert Dragon Tamer, as she is the daughter of Zinnia. My mother works very long hours, so it's usually Juliana who acts as our caretaker. She's kind, patient, and loving- but also fiercely protective of those she cares for. She commands the Pokemon Dragshine, a Fire-and-Dragon-type Pokemon. Juliana's 19, four years older than me, Eve, and Luca. I remember one day, me, Luca, and Eve were playing together on the playground, and some kid who was a couple years older than us, started to bully us. Without hesitation, Juliana's Dragshine, who was just a Draglit at the time, gave the kid wounds to remember her by.
Then there's Rae. She's also Luca's sister, but she didn't inherit Juliana's talent for Dragon Taming or Luca's ability to talk to Pokemon. As such, she began to lose her moral compass and code as she felt like she wasn't valuable enough since she hadn't inherited one of her parent's great gifts. She isn't the most reliable person, and has been known to use her body and charm to get almost anything she wants.
My mind skips back to the reason Islaa's in this mess we're in right now. About twenty years ago, a group who called themselves Team Corona turned rogue out of the Islaa Police Force, called themselves a separate organization, and murdered every last member of the IPF in cold blood. Since, there has been no one to stop Team Corona from enslaving the region in a dictatorship, expending all their resources to find two bands, one gold one silver, with the ability to control the legendary Pokemon, Torretia and Volatia.
Torretia is the Phoenix Sun Pokemon, and is the embodiment of the sun. He was placed atop Islaa's Bestia Spire in order to keep the region in check. However, he was mortally wounded one day. In the same fold in space-time as Islaa, exists another region called Onous. Don't ask me how. The legendary Pokemon Volatia, the Pegasus Moon Pokemon, is in Onous's Bestia Spire for the same reason as Torretia. Team Corona is trying to find the gold band, the band which can control Torretia. For what purpose, I don't know either. All I know is that there is a rift, atop the Bestia Spire, which allows space to flow from one region to the other, keeping them in check, space-time wise. I don't know how that works, either. Stop asking.
I'm nearing the clearing which opens up into Gearbreeze Town about now. I notice Eve has fallen asleep in my arms, as her grip around my neck has slackened considerably and she's snoring softly. As usual, there's the light from Dragshine as it lights up the house, waiting for us to get back- wait. There's no light. Where's Dragshine? He's always there. As I near the house, I notice there's something on the ground in front of it. I quicken my pace, and I can outline the shape as two- a human's and a Pokemon's. I notice the dull light from it- that's Dragshine!
"Eve. Eve, wake up." I shake Eve awake.
"Hmmm? Mornin already?" She replied drowsily.
"No. Juliana's in trouble. We need to get to her." I hastily let Eve drop off me, and we broke into a run. "Juliana!" I shouted. At the sound of her name, Juliana turned her head, as did Dragshine. I stopped in front of Dragshine, and noticed with a sharp panic- Dragshine's bleeding. "Juliana. What's wrong? Why is Dragshine bleeding?"
"Your mother… they… took her..." Juliana choked out. "Dragshine and I tried to stop them… but we couldn't..."
"It's all right. We'll get her back," Eve says.
"Are you completely crazy?!" Juliana says, bewildered. "If me and Dragshine couldn't stop them, what makes you think you can? You won't be able to!"
"Well, thanks-"
"Juliana! Sis! What's happened? Flight, Eve?" It was Luca, who ran in quickly and crouched next to Dragshine. "He's hurt. I'll get some medecine."
"I love how much faith in us, Juliana. We can beat them! We have to! Right, Flight?"
"Um..." I replied.
"Hang on. Let me finish," Juliana said. "You won't be able to… without these." Juliana reaches into her bag and pulls out three Pokeballs.
"Are those… Pokemon?" Eve asks. "Oh, wow! Do we each get one?!"
"Yes. Though, let Flight choose first. It is his mother, and more his fight than yours." Juliana set the three Pokeballs on the ground, and pointed to the one on the far left. "This one is Foaling, a Grass-type." She pointed to the next one. "This one is Kitsinge, a Fire-type." She pointed to the last one. "And this one is Aukine, a Water-type. Flight, choose." She looked at me. I looked over the three Pokeballs, and finally settled on one. Yes. That's the one. I reached down and picked up the Pokeball containing Kitsinge. "Kitsinge… I knew you would pick that one. Eve, your turn." Without hesitation, Eve picked up the Pokeball containing Foaling. "Foaling. I had a feeling you would pick that one. That leaves Aukine for Luca. However, I tell you this- these are no ordinary Pokemon. They each know a sacred move- for Foaling, it's Nature's Fury. For Kitsinge, its Nightnova. For Aukine, it's Deepsea Freeze. These aren't just ordinary moves- they're dual-type moves."
"Dual-type… moves?" Eve said, disbelievingly. "Those exist?"
"Yes. There are many more that are dual-type, but only become their second type once they're being used by a Pokemon with both types. For example, Blaziken can learn Blaze Kick, a Fire-type move. However, if used by Blaziken, it becomes dual-type Fire-and-Fighting, becoming a fearsomely powerful move."
"Wow! It sounds powerful" Eve said. "So, my Foaling's special move, Nature's Fury… what is it's second type?"
"Nature's Fury is a dual-type Grass-and-Fighting type move. However, it can only be used until your Foaling fully evolves into Stagrest, it's final evolution. Flight, Nightnova is a dual-type Fire-and-Dark move, and can only be used by Tigraze, Kitsinge's final evolution."
"Hey!" It was Luca. "Did you two get your first Pokemon today? Be sure not to hurt them."
"Luca. This one's for you." She handed Luca Aukine's Pokeball. "This one contains the Pokemon Aukine, with the special dual-type move Deepsea Freeze. It can only be used by Auking, Aukine's final evolutionary form. And yes… you will have to use it to battle. Either have Aukine take the pain and become stronger, or become so skilled it can't be hurt. You choose." She closed Luca's fingers around the Pokeball.
"Now..." I stood up, with Kitsinge's Pokeball in my hand. "Let's go save my mother!" Eve and Luca stood up as well, and I turned to the other two, scratching my head. "Where should we go first?"
"Perhaps their headquarters. To the northeast," Eve answered. "They'll be there, without a doubt."
"Then it's done. Let's be off," Luca said, and we set off towards the headquarters building. They couldn't have gone more than twenty meters when we were stopped by another voice.
"Hey! You three! Where are you going?!" came the voice. I froze. Crap! I ready Kitsinge's Pokeball as I turn to face the direction the voice is coming from. "Whoa! Hey! No need to get all hotheaded. I see you two have Pokemon now. Is that Juliana's doing?"
"Aspen! Oh, thank Arceus. I thought it was some Team Corona goon. Do you need something?" I asked, putting Kitsinge's Pokeball down.
"You three can't go on a journey without supplies, geniuses. It's dangerous to go alone- take these." Aspen handed us three tablets, and he pressed a button on each, and the screen flashed up. "As well as these." He handed us several Super Potions, as well as Full Heals. "That X-Gear was taken from Unova's C-Gear and given one hell of an upgrade. In addition to communication tools, you can see all the information for each of your Pokemon- stats, moves, et cetera. It's also got a nifty little camera, as well as the ability to play music and browse online. It's essential to your adventure."
"So… how do we work this thing?" Eve asked, tapping on her X-Gear, somewhat confused. "There are a bunch of features… how do I know what to do?"
"You're smart. I'll let you figure it out. Now, where are you off to in the dead of night?" Aspen asked.
"Team Corona took my mother, and we're going to get her back," I replied.
"So you're up against Team Corona… you'll need the power of Arceus to carry you through. They'll kill you without hesitation." Danger suddenly dawned on me, but there was absolutely NO way I was going to chicken out of this now, especially not in front of Eve. Look like a coward in front of her? Unthinkable.
"Then let's go," I said. "Let's go get my mother back." With that, the three of us took off running towards the fortress. Behind us, Juliana walked up to Aspen and shook her head.
"Do you think we just sent them to their deaths?" She asked nervously, and looked at Aspen. Aspen nodded his head.
"Despite the power of the three Pokemon you gave them, Team Corona will slaughter the three of them without a second though. We need to go after them." Aspen pulled a Pokeball out of his pocket, and looked at it. "Allright, Pyrugami. Let's go after those kids." Juliana looked at Dragshine, and the two nodded in unison. "Hop on, Aspen." Aspen climbed aboard Dragshine, and he started on a slow glide across the ground in direction of the fortress. Meanwhile, I was on crawl as we were nearing the fortress. Guards were roaming around the area.
"Eve," I whispered. "Should we try to take them on one each? There are three of them, and three of us."
"Ask Luca." He's the third, after all." I turned to Luca and explained the plan. He nodded in agreement.
"Let's go, team!" I said, and advanced out of the bushes. It wasn't long before one of the guards saw me.
"Hang on. I've got a bit of trouble over here. You two check the rest of the fortress grounds. I'll deal with this." As he finished speaking, the other two guards, subordinate to him, apparently, walked in opposite directions. I stood up, shaking, and looked straight at the guard, holding Kitsinge's Pokeball. "Who do you think you are, kid? Oh, you have a Pokemon, I see. Mind if I take that from you?"
"Not a chance. Kitsinge, let's let him have it." I flicked Kitsinge's Pokeball out of my hand, and it hit the ground. A flash of light, and I saw Kitsinge for the first time. He was a kitten, with red, spiky fur, parts of it on fire. His face was darker, and the tips of his ears were smoking. "So that's what Kitsinge looks like."
"A Kitsinge? I've never seen one of those. Never mind. Ferrince, let's take him on." The man tossed a Pokeball out onto the ground, and out came a Ferrince. The thing easily outleveled Kitsinge, but strength-wise? Kitsinge had been raised and bred by Juliana- she didn't just make mistakes. If this Kitsinge was raised by her, and it had, it would be peerless. "Ferrince, Slam!" Ferrince charged forward, but in its lunge, Kitsinge delicately sidestepped and sent Ferrince tumbling into the dirt.
"Now, Kitsinge! Scratch!" As I issued the command, Kitsinge dived at Ferrince, scratching its flank painfully. Kitsinge grinned as Ferrince cried out in pain.
"Ferrince. Slam, again." This time, Ferrince lunged at Kitsinge, and bodied Kitsinge into the ground. Kitsinge gave out a squeal of pain, and I could see him start to bleed. I had to finish this fast, or there was no way Kitsinge, even perfect-bred Kitsinge, would survive. There was no choice- I had to do it.
"Kitsinge! Use Nightnova!" Kitsinge stood up, and at first nothing was happening. Then I realized that Ferrince was being surrounded with thick, impermeable darkness. What happens next? I thought. As I watched Ferrince struggle against the darkness, suddenly, flames started bursting out of the darkness, searing Ferrince and causing him to cry out in pain.
"Ferrince!" The man yelled. "What's happening to you?" As he yelled, I saw a ghostly figure rise up out of Ferrince, and up into the sky. As the flames cleared. Ferrince crumpled to the ground. "You… what have you done?!" The man roared, and ran for Ferrince. "Ferrince… you monster! You've killed him! You didn't just make him faint, you KILLED HIM!"
"I… did… what?!" I looked at Kitsinge, and Kitsinge looked mortified. At that instant, I heard Luca's voice as he was approaching from the other direction.
"Flight. You didn't just kill Ferrince," he said, strangely calmly. "You completely burned his soul away from his body. I guess that's the power of Nightnova. Come on, no time to dawdle. Your mother's in there." Eve ran towards us, happy-looking.
"Saving your mother will be a breeze! Let's go!" As she finished speaking, we ran off towards the fortress. Kitsinge ran behind us, as did Foaling and Aukine. My mother was in there- and it was our mission to save her.