Author's Note for the Entire Story: I'm posting this story to see if I should bother continuing it. I have written a few chapters and will post both the prologue and the first chapter today, and if it is well received, I will continue the story :). If not, I will focus my time on other projects.

I have the entire story plotted down already and will resolve to see this finished if this miniature test works out well. So, please, if you are one of the first people to read this, and if you enjoyed the story, leave me a little note.

A thing you should know: you do not have to review. As long as people enjoy reading my work, I'm not bothered either way. If you can find flaws in my writing, I ask that you to point them out to me so I can fix them. (If you are one of the first readers, though, I'd greatly appreciate any form of feedback, although I do not want you to feel obligated to do so. No worries either way!)

That is all. Please enjoy the story.

Prologue: A Question

Where do Pokemon come from?

Over time, people have come up with theories, some as elaborate as a big bang, and others as simple as a grand creator. Aside from those theories, we don't have any definite answers.

But if I've learned anything, it's that there is always an answer. All one must do to find it is look.

I guess that's why I became a Pokemon Researcher. Professor Sycamore took me in as one of his field assistants. He gave me my starter Pokemon and sent me across the region in search of Kalos' mythos. He wanted me to study evolution, which was fine by me. Evolution, I surmised, plays a big part in the existence of Pokemon, and understanding evolution is crucial to understanding them as well.

And right now, I was so close to that understanding.

These ruins are the only things standing in my way. From what I can gather from the ancient symbols and text, these ruins were once home to a Pokemon called Yveltal—or maybe Xerneas. It was hard to interpret the ancient text accurately.

The wall in front of me, however, was written in easily translated Pokémon footprint script: Sacrifice is key.

What did that mean?

My loyal companion and starter, Wes the Charizard, grumbled. "I do not like this, Trainer. A sacrifice? That cannot be good."

Wes often assisted me in my research. He was a real asset when traveling in dangerous territories, but I tried not to make a habit of it: he is my only Pokemon, after all.

"You're probably right. But we have to proceed. The answer is here. I know it."

Wes eyed me wearily. "That is not an excuse to act rashly."

"Eh. We'll be fine." It wasn't that I didn't take him seriously, but Wes was overly cautious. A sacrifice could mean anything, especially in ruins. I mean, if all I had to do was slaughter one Mareep… but I had a feeling it was more than that.

"… Trainer?" Wes nudged me with his paw. "What do you think it means?"

I paused for a moment. "A sacrifice…? Don't legends say that Yveltal collected the souls of a thousand Pokemon before entering its slumber? Perhaps it means more Pokemon must be sacrificed to awaken them?"

"If that is the case, then it is better we leave, don't you think?"

Another dead end. And I was so close, too.

"Yeah, you're probably right…" The walls turned into a distinguished bright green. "Huh? Wes, are you seeing this?" He nodded his head furiously. "Hmm, I wonder what—ah! What the heck is going on here?"

The Pokéglyphs and Pokémon footprint script glowed a sunset orange and came off its ruins. They swarmed around me and started spinning, and spinning, and spinning.

I didn't have a clue what's going on—for all I know, this was a trap planted by some ancient psychic Pokemon to drain all my energy. It wouldn't be the first time ancient ruins were rigged with traps. Most people would be scared, but not me. No, I was fascinated.

Everything looked so real. Could those glyphs really be coming off the walls? Why are they glowing colors, and why orange and not another color? I didn't understand a thing that was going on, but that only excited me further: I needed to know more.

"Nathan!" Wes roared. He unleashed a furious flamethrower, but a green barrier erected itself around me and absorbed the attack. Wes let out a cry and charged at the barrier, his body burning up in the hot blue flames of the Flare Blitz. He collided with the barrier, but to no avail. He was effortlessly tossed aside.

The barrier glistened and rapidly spun in circles, the symbols shined, and everything was starting to turn white.

Wes' frustration quickly vanished in favor of desperation. He got back up and lunged, his wings turning into steel. The barrier crackled, but otherwise showed no signs of giving in.

Through it all, I was perfectly calm. My vision was fading, sure, but there was a warm, soothing sensation flowing through me. A huge grin formed on my face and, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get rid of it.

I tried to tell Wes not to worry, but for some reason, my voice wouldn't work. My vision was fading alarmingly faster now—I could no longer see Wes.

The last thing I remember seeing through the corner of my eye was a pair of iridescent blue eyes before everything went black.