Prolouge
The
night sky was aglow with a beautiful swirl of orange, red, and yellow
hues on the backdrop of navy blue. The spectacle was partially marred
by the plumes of smoke rising from the inferno below. What was once a
strong steady home to a peaceful family of three was now crumbling at
its very foundation amidst the burning flames. Only a few
steps away from the conflagration, a small brunette lay with her eyes
closed, barely moving. She appeared no older then three years old,
but most likely closer to two. Her pale skin was smeared with ash and
a few minor burns and her position on the ground suggested she had
either been thrown from the flaming wreck or had tripped and fallen
in an attempt to escape it. "Hey, look, a kid," a man
standing by motioned to his comrade and approached the girl. "Think
she's alive?" His friend came up beside him and kicked
the girl's foot with his boot, getting no reaction. "Nah, she's
good as dead as it is. She's probably their kid anyway, no harm
done. We said we'd destroy everything, and that's what we done." The small girl stirred, barely able to do more then open her
eyes part way. She looked up at the two men standing over her, most
of their bodies were in shadow against the glaring light of the
flames behind them. "M...mama?" She asked wearily, knowing full
well neither of the men were her mother, but was instead asking if
they knew where she was. "Well whadoya know?" the first
man said, "she's alive after all." "M...mama?" the
girl asked again, "Daddy?" "They're gone, and their
never coming back!" the other man said in a taunting voice. "That's
what they get for refusing us!" "M...Mama?" It seemed
to be all the little girl could muster. "And the same
thing 'll happen to you if you don't learn form this!" the
first man said. "Yea!" his companion jeered. "Know
your place, and stay outta the way of the big boys. Don't
"MAMAAAAAAAAAA!!"
A young girl nearly threw herself out of bed, flinging her covers
everywhere from the jolt. She panted heavily, clutching her chest
over her heart. She had the same complexion and hair color as the
young girl in her nightmare, but was a few years older, about 5.
The small Shinx at the foot of her bed, padded up to her, looking up with a face of confusion and question.
"It's just a dream," the girl told herself. "Just a dream. It was just a dream, Kovou." She petted the Shinx and smiled to convince her pokémon as much as herself that everything was fine.
"Kaylo," a female voice called from another room. "That you? Great timing, breakfast is almost ready."
"Coming, Marta," Kaylo called back as she turned sideways so her feet hung off the bedside and slipped into her slippers.
Kovou hopped off the bed and ran to the door and back in excited circles, eager to start another day.
Kaylo smiled and giggled a bit at the pokémon's antics, a familiar reminder to her that everything was just fine now. She stood up and walked to the door, with Kovou at her heels all the way to the kitchenette connected to the living room. "Hi, Marta," Kaylo sat down at the table.
"Mornin' Kaylo," Marta replied. She was a rather large woman, and wearing a navy blue maid's uniform. Her back was to the table as she was preparing sunny-side up eggs on the stove. "Sleep well?"
"Um, yea," Kaylo lied. "So...uh, how's Auntie Lynda?"
"Oh, fine as eva," Marta said, not looking up from her cooking. "I'm sure she sends her love."
"Did you talk to her?" Kaylo asked.
"Well," Marta paused and put the eggs onto a plate beside a slice of toast, "no, she doesn't talk much to 'the help.'" She turned to set the plate before Kaylo and noticed her downcast look. "But hey, that don't mean she doesn't care about us. She cares plenty, I know it when I git my paycheck!"
Kaylo faked a smile as Marta gave her her plate.
A little smoochum scurried across the floor carrying a bowl full of pokéchow and placed it in front of Kovou. After bowing to Kovou, she ran to catch up with Marta, who was heading towards Kaylo's room.
"Aww, c'mon, don't worry about the bed today," Kaylo said as she noticed Marta walking around the table towards the bedroom door.
"Honey, it's my job," Marta said. "You know well as I do your auntie 'd have my head if I didn't keep this hotel ship shape. And besides, if I left it this way, I'd just go do something else to clean up. I appreciate what you're tryin' ta do, but time's money and I got neither ta waste." And with that, she went into the bedroom and closed the door behind her smoochum.
Kaylo sighed as she finished her breakfast. Kovou stood beside her seat, eating the pokémon food Smoochum had brought him. He looked up when Kaylo rose from her seat, carrying an empty plate to the sink. He abandoned his half-eaten breakfast and stood by her side as Kaylo washed the dish.
"You done, Kovou?" Kaylo asked, noticing the little pokémon beside her. She put the towel she was drying her hands with on the counter as she bent down to pet him. "Then go get your bowl."
Kovou nodded and scampered back to his food bowl. He carefully nudged it with his nose until it had arrived back where he had started from.
"Oh, you didn't finish?" Kaylo asked. "Well, O.K." She picked up the bowl and placed it by the door with Kovou's water dish. "I'm sure you'll wanna finish it later."
"Shinx!" Kovou replied happily and ran for the door.
"Hey wait," Kaylo laughed. "We gotta tell Marta we're leaving."
"Go on ahead," Marta said, coming out of the bedroom. "I'll pass the word along to the others. Where ya gonna be?"
"I think I'll go check out the lake," Kaylo said.
"You wanna take Sweet Pea with you?" Marta asked as smoochum hopped up onto the back of the couch to be level with Marta. "She can get ya out if ya fall in."
"I'm a big girl, I won't fall in," Kaylo said.
"I don know," said Marta. "Until we get you some swimmin' lessons, I don't really feel safe with you goin' down there alone."
"Kovou's coming too," Kaylo said.
"He can't swim neither," Marta said.
"Marta, you need Sweet Pea to help you," Kaylo said. "She's you're assistant. I'll be fine. I promise I won't go up to the shore, alright. I'll stay far enough away that even if I fall, I won't fall in, K?"
"Alright," Marta agreed. "I guess we can't shelter you forever. Just be careful."
"I will," Kaylo promised as she and Kovou stepped out into the beautiful morning.
The sun shone brightly, spreading its warmth over the Valor Lakefront Resort. Night fled to the shadows of the buildings and trees to hide from the sun's glaring rays. A flock of Wingul and a few Peliper glided overhead on the sea breeze coming from the south. As their cawing faded into the distance with their ranks, the faint sounds of the waves beating the shore carried over on the breeze with the smell of salty air. Living this close to the ocean was like a dream, and in a five-star hotel for free no less was almost fanciful, but all things come with a price.
Kaylo looked to her right and saw the colossal building that stood at the edge of the Hotel's property. She imagined her aunt and uncle within it, perhaps just sitting down to their breakfast feast, or preparing to head out on their morning inspection.
The click of the handle snapped Kaylo back to reality. She watched as the door opened and two finely dressed teens emerged from the house, one male, one female. Kaylo's instincts told her to run now, but her childish curiosity insisted she investigate. The conflict resulted in her inability to do anymore then stand there and allow the choice to be made for her.
"Well look who it is," the boy approached her, leading the girl. "Where do you think you're going?"
"T...to the lake," Kaylo answered meekly.
"In search of the rare pokémon, huh?" the girl asked with a mocking tone in her voice. "And what makes you think you're so special?"
"Huh?" Kaylo asked.
"Real pokémon trainers have come here searching for the legendary pokémon of Lake Valor," said the boy, "but none of them could find it. What the heck makes a worthless armature like you think you have the slightest chance of finding it?"
"I may not be a pokémon trainer now, but I will be!" Kaylo snapped in retaliation. "I've already got a pokémon!"
"That?!" both teens laughed at Kovou.
"That's not a pokémon," said the girl, "that's a pet!"
"You'll see!" Kaylo snapped. "One day I'll beat both of you!"
"That'll be the day!" the girl laughed. "Come, Brandon, let's go challenge the oncoming trainers."
"A splendid idea, Brenda," said the boy. And with that, the two left towards the exit of the resort area.
Kovou growled at them as they left, though at his age, it did not sound at all threatening.
"C'mon, let's go," Kaylo sighed as she turned to walk in the opposite direction. Kovou soon obeyed his trainer and followed. The pair walked across the large plot of land owned by the resort, winding between apartment-style buildings each housing about seventy to eighty guests, give or take. Finally they reached the gatehouse at the back end that led to Lake Valor, the resort's main attraction.
"Hey Charles," Kaylo waved to the man at the desk.
"Hello, Kaylo," Charles smiled at the young girl. "Going to the lake today?"
"If that's O.K." Kaylo said.
"Of course it is," said Charles. "As the owner's niece, everything is totally free."
"Anyone out there now?" Kaylo asked.
"Nope, it's been pretty quiet," Charles replied. "I guess a lack of sightings of the lake pokémon has dashed everyone's hopes."
"Is there a lake pokémon?" Kaylo asked.
"That's why this hotel was built," Charles said. "I've never seen anything, though, but people have claimed to have seen something that must be a pokémon, but nobody can identify it."
"Think maybe it's just a goldeen or seeking making a splash?" Kaylo asked.
Charles shook his head. "Too many people have claimed to see something. In addition to that, most of the stories match up, so they're seeing the same thing. Some people even claim that it floats above the lake, and a few have claimed to see it flying over their heads, but it is not a bird, that we know."
"Hmm," Kaylo pondered it, looking down at Kovou, who didn't seem to understand much of this at all. "Well, sounds cool. We'll let you know if we see anything." She waved once more as she headed for the exit.
The trail to the lake outside the door was lined with trees that acted like a natural fence, insuring that anyone who intended to visit the lake had to go through the hotel. It was the best the resort could do, since Lake Valor was public property that could not be fully bought. Some Aipom swung through the trees by their tails, chasing each other across the branches with grace only obtainable by spending one's whole life in the trees. A small cluster of Bidoof sat beside the road, munching on a breakfast of nuts and berries they had found. One kind Bidoof approached the two travelers and offered them each an oran berry, which they gladly accepted.
The lake itself was a sight to behold, the mid-morning sun cast its glow all across the clearing around the lake. Gleams of its light danced on the water's glassy surface, only disturbed by slight ripples that appeared from the breeze. A Goldeen leapt from the water, creating a disruption in the otherwise still lake. Its wavy, flowing fins coupled with the droplets it ejected from the water glittering in the sun's golden rays created such a beautiful display that Kaylo and Kovou could not help but gape in awe at it. Some Starly were perched in the trees, but at the pair's arrival, the took off into the great blue sky, perfectly complimenting the scene. For a moment, the two simply stood there, trying to take in all that lay before them.
"Azu azu azu..." the sing-song voice of a young pokémon attracted their attention. It was small and blue and looked a lot like a little mouse. It had no arms, but bounced around on the ball on the end of its tail which was almost as big as the pokémon itself.
"Wow, look at that," Kaylo said, slowly approaching it so as not to startle the small pokémon. "I've never seen a pokémon like that before. It's so cute."
"Azu?" the little pokémon noticed Kaylo, as she crouched down to its level. It hopped off of its tail and stood there, staring at this new creature invading its home with almost the same awe and wonder that the creature stared back.
Kaylo carefully extended her hand, palm up, to the little pokémon, who at first only looked at it in confusion. Kaylo inched closer, still getting no negative response from the pokémon. Finally, she placed her hand gently on its head and stroked its sleek blue coat. "Awww, it's adorable, Kovou, come look."
The little shinx crept up slowly by its trainer's side and looked curiously at the little pokémon who was now blissfully enjoying the attention and love it was receiving. Taking its state of unawareness as a sign that all was well, Kovou inched ever closer and sniffed the little pokémon.
Feeling Kovou's wet nose upon it's chest, the little pokémon opened its eyes. The look of curiosity fled from them the instant they came into focus and was replaced by sheer terror.
"AZUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!" it cried with all its might, tears gushing from its terrified eyes.
Kaylo, initially startled by this reaction attempted to calm it. "Hay, what's wrong? Calm down! Kovou's not gonna hurt you. What's the matter?"
"AZU!" The word came from behind her this time and the voice was different, not cute and cuddly, but assertive and angry.
Kaylo turned to see a larger pokémon, that she was at perfect eye level with when in the crouched position she was in. This pokémon had a coat of almost the same blue, but with a splash of white at the bottom, as if it had fallen into a puddle of white paint. It was much taller and its body was a complete oval topped with two large blue bunny ears.
"Um...hi there," Kaylo sat back, now nervous. "You must be this little cutie's mama, huh? Um...uh, family resemblance is pretty strong...and um, yea, she's real cute."
The mother pokémon paid no attention to Kaylo's attempts at peace and simply glared threateningly at her.
"Um...well then I'll just be going," Kaylo started to stand up.
The little pokémon appeared to be frightened by this and attempted to run away, but instead ran into Kovou and began to bawl again.
"Azu!" the mother snapped again, enraged by her child's despair. "Maril azumaril!" She continued to shout at Kaylo, and Kaylo understood they were threats, although she could not tell what the pokémon was saying.
Kovou jumped between Kaylo and the enraged pokémon, growling and defending her. Because of his closeness to the baby when he jumped, he accidentally kicked it and caused it to fall over and cry harder, though nobody had thought that possible.
This made the mother fuming mad and in retaliation, sprayed a stream of water at Kovou.
"Shiiiiiiiiinx!" Kovou protested, backing up and staggering under the pressure of the water.
"Kovou look out!" Kaylo exclaimed as she saw her pokémon nearing the water's edge. She hurried to her pokémon's aide, and stood between him and the onslaught of water to prevent him from falling further.
Noticing that the enemy was losing, the baby gained courage to also fight. It too contributed a spray of water, but was unable to shoot it very high and in the end, only ended up spraying the ground. This caused the ground to become muddy and slick, and under the pressure of the mother's water gun, Kaylo slipped and tumbled into the lake.
"Shinx!" Kovou turned to the lake and cried. He was suddenly shot from behind with another stream of water, only this time it was the combined efforts of mother and child. Kovou lost his footing and also fell into the lake.
Kovou! Kaylo thought as she fell to the depths of the lake. It was much deeper then she could have ever imagined from the surface, but really nothing but mud beneath. A school of magikarp swam around them and Kaylo flailed her arms in an attempt to get their attention.
One magikarp stopped and starred at her with its spaced out and oblivious look. "Karp." It said in a voice that even suggested stupidity.
Kaylo continued to flail and pointed to the surface. "Karp," Magikarp said again then swam away. Kaylo shouted as best she could without opening her mouth at the fleeing pokémon. She spotted Kovou also sinking beside her. The poor pokémon had already passed out with his mouth open, allowing precious air bubbles to escape. She grabbed him and held him close.
A bright light suddenly illuminated the dark depths. Kaylo shielded her eyes against its light, but could still see the source was a cave on the lake floor. The two of them were surrounded by a light blue aurora and began to float to the surface. They floated up out of the water and landed on the shore.
"Kovou?" was the first word out of Kaylo's mouth once she'd coughed up most of the water. "Kovou?!" The little pokémon lay still in her arms, faintly breathing. "Kovou, don't give up! Please, Kovou!"
Kovou slightly opened his eyes, his vision was blurred and he hadn't the strength to focus. He could see the faint outline of his trainer, but behind her was a gray blob floating there that he couldn't identify, but the sight of it seemed to give him strength. He suddenly coughed, spraying water in Kaylo's face as he did.
"Oh Kovou, thank God!" Kaylo hugged him. "If I wasn't so happy I'd be mad at you for doing that!"
Kovou smiled between coughs as he struggled to rid his lungs of the water. He looked over Kaylo's shoulder to try and see what had been there, but it was gone. It had been replaced by the source of all their problems.
"AZU!" the bunny-like pokémon towered over them, not at all pleased that they were alright.
"No! Not again!" Kaylo cried. "C'mon, we don't wanna hurt you!"
"Azu!" it snapped. The pokémon inhaled and prepared to squirt them again.
Kaylo and Kovou braced themselves for another onslaught. There came the sound of splashing water, but none of it hit them. Confused, the two looked up and saw a rounded shield of energy holding off the attack. Between them and the shield was a mass of swirling energy that had a distinct figure, seeming to have a head, arms and legs and a tail...or was it three?
The mother pokémon ceased her attack and glared angrily at the energy as if she knew what it was. "Maril azu!"
No,
There was a voice that sounded young and male. Kaylo assumed it came
from the energy creature before them. They
mean you no harm. Now stand down and let them leave. I promise they
won't hurt you.
"Maril
azumaril azu!" the mother said, not sounding at all convinced. Her
tone suggested that she was challenging what the creature had just
said.
"Shinx shinx shinx!" Kovou piped in, but then backed down a little in fear.
The mother pokémon looked at the creature as if for confirmation of what Kovou had said. The creature appeared to nod, which was proof enough for the other pokémon. "Azu." She led her baby away into the trees around the lake.
Kaylo watched in awe as her savior turned and flew back to the water and floated over the lake. She stood up quickly and moved closer. The creature appeared to wave then faded away. Kaylo and Kovou both starred wide-eyed and open-mouthed, neither knowing what to make of this.
"Kaylo!" Charles's call snapped them back to reality.
"Huh? What?" Kaylo turned around to see Charles emerging from the path.
"Well, I just thought I'd check on you," Charles said. "Since, you know, you can't swim a- you're soaking wet."
"Um...yea," Kaylo said. "I...uh see this water pokémon got mad and squirted us, but...uh, Kovou chased it away."
"Oh, well, c'mon, you should go back to your room and get some dry clothes. It's lunch time anyway," Charles began to leave, leading Kaylo who led Kovou.
Kaylo stopped just before she reached the path. "Someday," she whispered, "I'll get a water pokémon and then I'll go down there and thank you personally."