This story takes place five hundred years before Assassin Tales, however you don't have to read Assassin Tales to get this story! This one is more light hearted and not as violent (except for a battle here and there). Anyway get reading readers!

Our story begins during a time of trial and hardship. The evil king has ruled the land mercilessly for over two hundred years in a castle made from the richest stones the planet had to offer. The rich Pokemon govern the poor and the poor have to live horrible lives. However our story does not begin in this place. It begins deep within a forest, near the edge of the king's territory. It begins in a small village named Cele…

"Blade! Blade! Hey Blade stop ignoring me!"

Blade looked down from the tree he was sitting in. On the forest floor was a Tropius. "What Sky?" grumbled Blade, shifting his weight in the tree.

"Blaze is going to say who his successor will be!" called Sky, "Come on down! Or should I get you down myself?"

"Why does it matter?" grumbled Blade, getting to his feet. He went to the tree trunk and climbed down like only a Treecko could. He plopped on the ground, "Happy?"

Sky laughed and used one of his large wing-like leaves to rub Blade on the head, "You're such a lone Mightyeana you know that?"

Blade shoved the leaf away, "Stop it!"

"Alright but come on!" The two grass type pokemon headed into the village. The village was composed of only three types of pokemon. Water, Fire and Grass. The many huts of the village were all made from woven leaves and vines. A canal went through the village so the water pokemon of the village could travel through it. The three leaders of the village were one from each Pokemon type. Blade and Sky entered a large church-like building in the middle of Cele. Inside every pokemon from the village were already seated in the many long wooden seats around the church. Blade and Sky found a place in the back and sat down. Blade could see the three leaders in the front of the mass of pokemon. Sharp, a Sharpedo was swimming in a pool of water. He was the leader of the water. Second was Blaze, a Blaziken leader of the fire. Finally there was Ivy, an Ivysaur. She had been the grass type leader as long as anyone could remember and was old and wise, as well as the most trusted leader.

"I hate these kinds of things!" Blade crossed his arms and slouched in his seat. Sky nudged him with a foot.

"Stop being rude!" he snapped, "Show some respect!"

Blade ignored him just as Ivy made a vine come out of her bulb. She hit the vine against a gong and the sound ran through the church. Immediately everyone fell silent.

"I thank everyone for being here today!" spoke Ivy, "Now Blaze. In our traditions you must pick an heir to your position. Have you chosen yet?"

"Yes I have," The Blaziken got to his feet, his eyes twinkling.

"I know who he is going to pick," grumbled Blade, "He's going to pick Calm, his son."

"Everyone knows that!" hissed Sky, "Now be quiet!"

"I have decided," began Blaze, "I have decided that the heir to my position will be…" Blade shot a glace at Calm who was sitting in the front row. Blade could see the Combusken was wiggling in excitement. Being an heir was a great honor. "It will be my daughter Torch!"

The room became deathly silent. Torch, a Torchic who was sitting next to her brother got up, "F…Father, I can't…" she began.

"Nonsense!" laughed Blaze, "Now come here!"

The Torchic got up and walked to her father. Her best friend Mud, a Mudkip who was also the healer apprentice's was wagging her tail excitedly. Torch took her position next to her father, her face bright red.

Ivy was shocked as well, but the Ivysaur gathered her wits, "That is all. Dismissed." The church was filled with noise as Pokemon left to go about their daily lives. Blade headed for the exit. He bumped into Mud on his way out.

"Sorry," whispered the Mudkip as Blade walked past her, ignoring her apology.

"How rude," huffed Torch, coming up next to her best friend, "At least he could say sorry!"

'That's alright," said Mud, "Anyway…I have to go. Sun wants to teach me something today."

Torch said goodbye to her friend before heading for her own house. Since her father was one of the leaders of the village she lived in a larger hut than most villagers. She pushed open the straw door and rubbed her feet against the mat before stepping into the house. She made sure to stop in front of a picture of a Blaziken holding some flowers. "Hey mother," she whispered, "I'm home." Torch went deeper into the hut and spotted Calm sitting crossed legged in their dojo room. Like a real dojo the floor was wooden, with sheathed swords in the back. "Are you okay?"

"What do you think?" snapped Calm angrily opening an eye. He swung a clawed hand angrily, "I was supposed to be an heir not you!"

"I know that," snapped Torch, "You think I actually like it? Well for your information I don't!"

"Then why didn't you decline!" Calm slammed his talons against the wooden floor as he got up, "Why?"

"Cause Dad would have been disappointed if I did!" protested Torch.

"Maybe you should have disappointed him," snapped Calm.

Torch tried to hold back tears. She wouldn't cry. Not in front of her brother, "Well then you wouldn't care if I died right? If I died like mom did? Then you would be able to become the heir!"

Calm's eyes turned cold, "Don't you talk about mom like that!" He took a step forward and quick as a whip he slapped his younger sister across the face. Since Torch was smaller than him she went flying. She hit the wooden floor with a thud, "Don't you speak about mom like that!"

Tears were brimming in her eyes as Torch got up and ran out of the hut. Her vision blurred as she ran through the village. She hit someone and knocked whoever it was over.

"Hey!" snapped Blade, "Get off!" He noticed Torch's tears, "Uh…are you okay?"

Torch jumped off Blade. She didn't want to be near Blade. He was the weirdest Pokemon in the village. Ivy had found him in the forest fourteen years ago and adopted him. He was a loner type of guy. "Nothing," said Torch wishing she had hands that moment so she could wipe the tears away from her eyes.

"Torch!" she saw Mud run over, "Hey what's wrong? Did Blade do something?"

Torch shook her head, "No it was…" She noticed Blade seemed to be looking at something over her head. Torch looked up and saw something flying towards them. Whatever it was, it was glowing orange.

"Blade!" Blade saw Ivy waving franticly at him with a vine, "Hurry Blade get over here!"

Blade headed for his guardian. Torch didn't know why but she followed him. Mud like always was close behind her. Ivy pointed to dirt paths that led away from the village, "Take the path. Hurry."

"Why?" asked Mud, "What's going on? What is that thing?"

"I'll explain later," said Ivy, "Go."

"Ivy," began Blade.

"Go!" snapped Ivy, "I'll explain later!"

Blade headed down the dirt path followed by Torch and Mud. "Why are you following me?" snapped Blade.

"I think something was odd by the way Ivy acted," said Torch, "Why did she tell only you to take this path?"

Mud's head antenna twitched and she glanced at the flying orange thing, "I have a bad feeling about this," she said before following Torch and Blade down the path.

So? What did you think of Chapter 1 of A Journey of a Thousand Words? Don't worry it will get better in later chapters! This chapter was just an introduction to the characters!