Hello! It's been a while since I published this, but I reread it a while ago and I was not impressed with it at all. So, most of this chapter is changed. Hope you enjoy it.

Run!

Keep running!

Don't stop!

You know what will happen if they catch you...

"Mei!"

You've got to get away!

Run, Mei!

"MEI!"

My eyes shot open. I sat up with the speed of a rocket, sweat pouring down my face. I hated those dreams, but I could never remember who I was running from, where I was going, or for that matter, what would happen if 'they' caught me. I couldn't remember anything about my past before two years ago.

That's when I noticed the pair of cocoa brown eyes staring at me. "You're awake! Good!"

"Kyouhei..." I said, trying to steady my breathing. My brother, who seems to think it's a good thing to shake my shoulder when he wants me to wake up.

"Are you okay?" Kyouhei asked, running his hand through his scruffy brown hair. He looked like he had just tumbled out of bed himself, since one side of his hair was flat against his head and the other stuck out like an afro. "You were groaning in your sleep. Were you having that nightmare again?"

I nodded. "Yeah... It's nothing, though..."

Kyouhei frowned. Then, obviously deciding to take my word for it, grinned. "So, you ready?"

I blinked. "Ready for what?"

Kyouhei looked at me like I had two heads or something. "Our journey, that's what!"

Of course. The all-important journey. How could I have forgotten. I raised an eyebrow. "Are you gonna go on your journey dressed like that, or are you not bringing any clothes at all?" I teased. "If you don't mind taking fashion advice from your sister, most people like to be able to wonder about the answer to the question 'boxers or briefs?'."

Kyouhei stared down at his tightie whities, and blushed. "Ah man! You spoil everything sometimes!" He turned on his heels and ran to my door. He looked over his shoulder. "If you're not downstairs in five minutes, I'm leaving without you!" With that, he slammed the door behind him, making the pictures on the walls rattle.

I sighed. "Trust Kyouhei..." I muttered.

I hauled myself out of bed, and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was a rat's nest, and when your hair's as long as mine, that's a serious problem. I pulled off my red pajamas and put on my black leggings and yellow shorts. As I pulled on my shirt, I saw the scars on the inside of my elbows. I had had them for as long as I could remember, but whenever I tried to think of it, a wave of nervousness washed over me.

I shuddered and pulled my sleeves over my elbows.

I should probably explain. Kyouhei is my foster brother. I've lived with him and his mother, Mrs Yuki, for two years. You would never be able to tell that I was adopted, though. Kyouhei is seriously protective of me. My amnesia is probably a key factor in all this.

I have no memory before the day they took me in. All I got were nightmares that I couldn't remember after having them. The only thing I did remember was absolute terror. Fun, eh?

I shoved on my visor as I darted down the stairs. Of course it was only natural that I trip halfway down the stairs and bounce on my butt the rest of the way down. No one asked me if I was okay, but we were all used to me falling down the stairs in the morning.

Kyouhei's mom was making breakfast in the kitchen. "Good morning, Mei." she said. "Are you going to go with Kyouhei on his journey?"

I nodded. I wasn't extremely confident.

Kyouhei's birthday was yesterday, so he was going to start his journey today. He had been bugging me to come with him for the past month and a half, and I finally gave in on his birthday.

Kyouhei was sitting at the table, wolfing down his eggs. He had changed into his blue jacket, black cargo pants, and reds. Of course, he also had his visor. He looked up at me. "Are you going to get a pokemon too?"

I frowned. Truth be told, I did want a pokemon, but, as always, there was just one problem. "Maybe, but there's the issue of the buzzing." I said. The thing is, whenever I was around pokemon, this odd buzzing resonated through my brain. It drove me crazy.

I ate my breakfast in silence, listening to Kyouhei blabbing about which pokemon to choose: snivy, tepig, or oshawott.

"What do you think, Mei?" Kyouhei asked through a mouthful of pancake.

"What do I think about what?" I said, my fork a few centimetres from my open mouth.

"Which pokemon are you going to choose?"

I put my fork down. "I'm not sure..."

Kyouhei's mom looked at the clock. "Kids," she said. "You'd better get going. She'll be here in four minutes."

"Let's go!" Kyouhei shouted. He grabbed his last piece of toast and flew to the door.

I grabbed my bag and started after him.

"Be safe, kids, and good luck!"

"Thanks, mrs. Yuki." I said following Kyouhei out the door.

We ran down the street, Kyouhei in front, me just a few feet behind.

It was a beautiful spring morning. The air was full of the cries of pokemon, which gave me a headache.

Asperita city. My hometown, or the only hometown I've ever known. It's a smallish city in the southwest of Unova. Unlike most cities, Asperita always had a fresh breeze blowing through it.

Kyouhei ran down the road like a fool. He was laughing as the wind tousled his hair.

"Slow down, Kyouhei!" I called. "You're going to crash into some-"

CRASH!

Kyouhei landed on his butt in front of me.

I came to a stop and looked down at him. "Told you." I said simply. I looked at who my idiot brother had crashed into, then stifled a laugh. "G'morning Hugh."

Hugh is Kyouhei's best friend. Has been since pre-school. He is a tall, gruff fourteen year old with red eyes, and hair so spiky it would make a quilfish green with envy. Hugh had been rather cold to me when we first met, but in trainer's school Hugh had taken it upon himself to protect me from bullies, just like he did for kyouhei. He really felt bad for me, you know, because of my amnesia.

When Hugh noticed us, he said, "Well, good morning you two. Going to get your first pokemon?"

Kyouhei grinned hugely and nodded like someone had banged him on the head with a cartoon mallet.

"I'll go with you." Hugh said.

Then, a little girl ran out to us. She wrapped her arms around Hugh's leg. It was Hugh's six-year-old sister. She looked at me with bright brown eyes, and smirked.

"What's wrong, Heili?" I asked.

Heili eyed me suspiciously. "What are your... in-ten-shuns toward my bwother?" she grumbled.

Hugh whipped around. "Ah, Heili, cut her a break!" He blushed.

I blushed too, but just a little. Hugh wasn't my cup of tea. Besides, four years age difference at our age is too much.

Heili always did this. She didn't really like me. Likes Kyouhei, though.

I looked at my watch. "Holy crap, guys! We have to go!" I shouted.

I grabbed Hugh and Kyouhei by the hands and dragged them to the lookout area.

Let me explain. We were supposed to meet a girl called Bianca at the lookout ridge in less than five minutes. We were told to look for someone with a big green hat and blonde hair. Lots to go on... Not.

There were three people on the lookout ridge when we got there. The lookout area is the most beautiful spot in Asperita. It looks out on a huge valley that's a wildlife reserve, so there are no houses.

Anyway, back to the people.

The one that caught my eye was a girl with yellow-blond hair and a large green hat. She had a happy-go-lucky expression and she was carrying a large green bag. She was talking actively to the man beside her.

The man was tall, with a brown cloak, and a white beard and mustache.

The third one was a small boy with black hair. He was standing close to the old man, staring out at the lake.

"Uhm, excuse us..." Kyouhei said to the girl.

She turned around really fast, her glasses slipping halfway down her nose. A huge smile lit her face, and she said, "Oh! Are you Kyouhei?" (Well, scratch that. she more shouted than said.)

I was momentarily stunned. How could anyone talk so loudly?

Kyouhei nodded. "Are you Bika?"

"Bianca." I corrected, stepping up. "Your mom told us to look for someone named Bianca who wears a big green hat."

"Yep, that's me! Professor Juniper's personal assistant!" Bianca said. "So, Kyouhei. Are you ready for your first pokemon?"

Kyouhei nodded enthusiastically. Then he adopted a more serious expression. "Hey, Bianca... Could you give a pokemon to my sister? She's going to be coming with me on my journey."

Bianca looked me all over. "Sure, why not? The professor told me you have a sister, so I took a couple extra pokedexes."

Bianca took a capsule from her bag. "Well," she said. "Inside is the pokemon who will be your new partner!"

"You pick first, Kyouhei." I said. I wasn't too sure I should pick a pokemon since the faint buzzing and humming drove me batty. In fact, I didn't like the thought of listening to that buzzing my whole life.

Kyouhei took the pokeball in the centre and released the pokemon inside. Out popped a little blue otter pokemon. She looked half asleep, with eyes half closed and drool coming from her mouth. She opened one eye, studied the people around her, then tackled Kyouhei in a hug.

"Well, I think she likes you." said Bianca, smiling.

Kyouhei blushed right up to the roots of his hair. "I... I guess I'll take her then." He paused for a moment. "I'm going to name you Bubbles."

Bubbles the oshawott seemed to like the name, and cuddled up to him.

Bianca handed Kyouhei the oshawott's pokeball.

"What will you pick, Mei?" Hugh asked.

"I'm not sure..." I said. I was seriously doubting what I could do if I couldn't take the humming.

The man standing beside Bianca stepped up and said, "Why don't you let one out and see if you like them?"

I looked up at him. Something about him gave me a chill down my spine.

I took up a pokeball, but a black blur grabbed the pokeball out of my hand.

A small black and blue fox-like pokemon landed in front of the cloaked man, the pokeball in his mouth.

"Hey." I said. "Give that back!"

The little black and blue fox frowned at me. That buzzing filled my ears.

I covered my mouth with my hand. The buzzing was making me nauseous.

The little fox rolled his eyes, and then the buzzing stopped.

I blinked the spots out of my eyes.

Kyouhei bent down beside me. "Are you alright, Mei?" he asked, concerned.

I nodded. "Yeah... Just give me a second." When I was sure I wasn't in any danger of throwing up, I got up.

The man in the cloak bent down and picked up the little fox. "I do apologize for young Zorua's behaviour." he said. "He's always been a little impulsive."

"A zorua, eh...?" I muttered.

Zorua fixed me with a very irritated stare. Then the buzzing filled my ears, as well as a kind of whistling.

I flinched and covered my ears with my hands. Finally, I couldn't take it any more. I turned on my heels and ran down the steps, and made a left, past the last house in the north, into the small gateway that led to the route.

I ran past the gatekeeper, who tried to call me back, but I ignored him. I just needed to go somewhere quiet. I needed to get away from all the buzzing.

Finally, I came to a stop next to a huge rock. I bent my knees and rested my forearms on my thighs, hung my head, and gasped for breath.

When I finally caught my breath and looked around. I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Standing beside me, staring at me scornfully, was the little blue Zorua.

I slumped against the rock, then to the ground, and buried my face in my arms. "Go away." I muttered.

I turned my head just a bit, to look over my shoulder.

He was still there. Glaring at me.

I sighed and sat up a little straighter. "What do you want?"

Zorua stared at me intensely.

I closed my eyes. "Okay. Fine. You were just going for a walk, and you thought I looked pathetic and you came to laugh at me."

Zorua glared at me again.

"Not it, eh?"

I grunted and got up. "I'm gonna keep going, then. I think the only way I can get rid of this buzzing is if I keep moving. Then, maybe I'll be able to find something out about my past maybe."

I started off. It was a nice day. The sun shone off tufts of tall grass and the wind lightly tousled my hair.

Then, something bit my calf.

I nearly jumped a foot in the air.

Then I noticed Zorua. "What?!" I snapped. "That hurt, you know!"

Zorua glared at me.

"Don't follow me." I said. "I wanna be alone." I started off again. I scratched my head. "I guess I could head to Verbank city to start..." Then I stopped. I had a strange feeling that something or someone was watching me. I turned. "I know you're there."

Zorua appeared out of a patch of grass. He glared at me again.

I sighed. "You're not gonna leave me alone, are you?"

Zorua shook his head.

I sighed. This little pokemon was giving me a headache.

Suddenly, I heard a buzzing noise.

I covered my ears. "Oww..." I groaned.

A look of determination crossed Zorua's eyes. Then, he tackled me.

I gasped, as I was knocked sideways.

I hit the grass with a thump. I groaned, rubbing my butt, and looked up.

Standing over me was a huge... Pokemon. Scolipede, I think they call it. It was a bug pokemon the size of a car, with huge horns and a carapace that oozed green stuff.

"Yuck." I muttered. Then I remembered why Kyouhei and I weren't allowed on the route alone. There were wild pokemon.

I looked down at Zorua, who was on my lap. "Thanks, you saved me there. Was that why you bit me?"

Zorua shut his eyes. Do you think I would bite you for no reason. Your tights tate bad.

I frowned. "They're not tights. They're leggings." I blinked. "Wait a moment. You can talk?"

That comment earned me another glare. All pokemon can. It's just you humans are so daft you dismiss it as growls and squeaks, or just plain silence. Some humans are born with the ability. Kinda like you. Except something was blocking you. You needed to open your mind and be willing to listen.

"I just need to want to listen?"

Are ability and desire the same thing to you?

I sighed, then yelped and ducked under the scolipede's strike. "You think I could talk to him too?"

I wouldn't risk it. Zorua said. Run, human in tights, run!

"They're leggings!" I snapped. I grabbed the little pest, holding him against my chest, and running as fast as I could.

Zorua adjusted himself in my grip so he could look over my shoulder. "Duck."

I did. Good thing, too. A huge amount of poison hit a tree in front of me.

"What is his problem?!" I shouted.

I think you woke him up from a nap.

I felt a cold bead of sweat trickle down my neck. "Oh, that's a great reason."

Hasn't it ever occurred to you that you could fight him?

"I don't have any pokemon, in case you didn't notice!" I panted. "By the way, you weigh a ton! Can't you run on your own?"

You're carrying a pokemon, in case you didn't notice. Zorua said, rolling his eyes. One that has lots of experience battling.

I stopped and dropped him. "Why didn't you say so sooner?!"

Zorua sat back on his haunches. Because I wanted to see you run a bit first. He got up, stretched, and walked leisurely up to the huge pokemon. Watch and learn, Noob.

He opened his mouth, and dark energy swirled in front of his jaws. It gathered until it was as big as a coconut. Then, it launched.

It sailed through the air and hit the scolipede in the chest. And it actually worked. The huge pokemon let out a bellow of pain and collapsed.

Zorua strutted back to me and stuck his nose in the air. You may now thank me, tight girl.

I frowned at him. "We need to do something about that ego of yours." But I thought about it. I bent down and picked him up, and hugged him tight. "Thanks, Zorua..."

I noticed a red tinge in his black fur. I'd rather not be crushed to death by a human... That would be pathetic.

I put him down. "Shall we go back?"

Zorua nodded.

"MEI!"

I was immediately tackled in a bear hug from my foster brother. "It's okay... Kyouhei... I can't breathe!"

Kyouhei let me go, and stared at the little pokemon at my feet. "I was wondering what happened to that kid. Did you see the little black and blue haired boy followed you to route 19?"

I frowned. There hadn't been any humans besides myself on route 19 as far as I could remember.

Zorua gave me a strange look.

"You mean that was you?"

Yup. Look it up on that fancy machine.

Fancy machine? Oh, right. A pokedex.

"Here's your pokedex." Bianca said, handing me a pink and grey machine without any buttons. "Try it out."

I pointed the machine at Zorua. This is what it read:

Zorua, the tricky fox pokemon:

It's ability to create illusions is what gives this pokemon the ability to escape from enemies.

"Oh." I said. "Illusions."

He nodded. I'm used to that form, so I use it whenever I go anywhere with the old man. I don't like our place in Driftveil city, so I follow him around now and then.

Oh, right. The old man.

He was standing beside Bianca, staring at Zorua and me. He stepped up to us. "Excuse me, young miss." he said. "It seems Zorua has grown attached to you. Would you like to take him with you on your journey?"

Zorua and I both looked at each other.

"What do you think?" I asked him. It's true I'd never liked a pokemon before.

Zorua shrugged. Fine. But if you think I'm going to listen to your orders, tight girl, you've got another thing coming.

I sighed. "I keep telling you, they're not tights, they're leggings."

Everyone stopped.

"Excuse me young miss," the old guy said again. "Can you hear the voice of this pokemon?"

I nodded.

"Well then, he definitely has found a good trainer."

Zorua rolled his eyes. More like I'm training you.

"Shut up." I muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Not you, sorry! I was talking to Zorua!"

The old man chuckled. "Well then, please drop by the pokemon shelter I run when you get to driftveil city. My name is Rood, by the way." Then, he turned and walked off.

Rood. That's a weird name.

I looked over at Zorua. "Now you just need a name." I said.

You're going to give me a name? Zorua asked.

"Yeah. How about Cobalt?"

Zorua nodded quickly and then jumped on my lap. You do realize that I will be running the show until you can learn to walk.

I frowned at him. Well aren't we full of ourselves.

Wow. My first pokemon.

"Hey!" Kyouhei shouted. "We need to show mom our new pokemon!" He grabbed my hand and dragged me down the stairs. "Thanks Bianca!" I called.

"Kyouhei! Stop dragging me!" I yelped, trying to keep a hold on my pokedex.

Hugh dashed after us, his pokedex in his hand. "Hey, wait for me!" he called.

At the top of the stairs, Cobalt sat there, shaking his head. Humans are such weird creatures... But there's something about them... That girl kinda reminds me of him...

So, that was the new chapter 1! I hope it's better than last time.

Please review!