Hello, everyone, and welcome to the third main story, and my fourth story overall! This story will also be my first one to have collaboration chapters with fellow writer, Fancyyy. If you haven't read his story, Hoenn - Where the Journey Begins, go ahead and do so; it's a really good story :) As with the other main chapters, there will be a Hall of Fame for those who write at least three reviews either in the chapters or through PMs. Without further ado, enjoy the prologue for Johto: Accepting Destiny! :)

Hall of Fame: WyldClaw, Fancyyy, obsidianwolf1

Prologue

Three beings stood inside the largest room of a blue limestone cave on a dark, cool night. One was a yellow beast with black stripes, a plume of purple swirling behind his black and light blue mask. Although he looked aggressive, with his yellow saber teeth and long claws, he was the most laid-back of the three. The second was an orange beast with shaggy fur and a serious expression. His red, yellow, and grey pointed mask accented the regalness of his wispy light grey mane. Finally, the third was a blue beast with white diamonds along her side, a flowing purple mane, and two white streamer-like tails. Instead of a mask, she had a cerulean blue hexagon crystal crest that stood prominently on her forehead, which designated her as the leader of the trio.

"All right, Sandā, Kazan," the blue one spoke, her red eyes glancing at each of her companions. "What is your progress of searching for candidates?"

The yellow one, Sandā, hesitantly answered, his red eyes shifting back and forth. "I'm...still looking… No one has impressed me as my candidate."

The leader sighed. "Sandā…how much more do you have to search? I hope you are not munching on all the Grepa Berries in the region again! Our efforts have been hastened since that Team Rocket almost destroyed the Kanto Region."

"Hey! Finding someone to replace her is difficult, Kitakaze!" Sandā retorted. "Besides...it's not good to search for humans on an empty stomach!"

She bitterly gritted her teeth and didn't press further. "How about you, Kazan? Are you still choosing her as your candidate?"

The orange one nodded. "Of course. I saw it in her four years ago, and my decision has not changed since."

Sandā yawned. "I can see why you chose her, Kazan. I just happened to take a brief trip to the archipelago and saw her helping a Pokémon abandoned by his Trainer. She's like her, that's for sure."

"But are you sure you made the right choice, Kazan?" Kitakaze questioned, not as accepting as the two. "She seems...too methodical to represent us."

Kazan raised his left eyebrow. "And what's wrong with that? She has the right balance of compassion and logic. Especially since-"

"Please, Kazan. I don't want to hear it."

"Why, Kitakaze?!" Kazan's eyes flared with anger. "You know she's better than that any member of that trio."

Kitakaze groaned, "Don't remind me. That man in the purple suit keeps testing my patience, and the girl in the orange dress is trying your patience, I'm sure." She then looked upwards. "All right, Kazan. We'll give her our tests to prove her worthiness. I assume you have no objections?"

He eagerly grinned. "Of course not. I look forward to her success."

"We'll see, Kazan."

As she sprinted out of the room, Sandā tutted, "Kazan, Kazan, Kazan. Why do you always have to quarrel with her?"

His friend argued, "She's the one who starts them. Just because she's the closest to our Master doesn't mean she can order us around."

Sandā sighed the headed for the entrance. "I'll do my test first if that pleases you."

"Go ahead. I won't stop you."

The yellow one chuckled and sprinted to the outside world, leaving Kazan alone. Good luck, Summer Scorcher...

Questions for the Chapter:

Who are these Pokémon?

What tests will they conduct?