A Checkered Past
Prologue
"What do you mean you're leaving, Mama?" A young girl looked up at her mother with wide, innocent eyes. The mother sighed, wrapping her arms around her daughter as they sat in the soft sand.
"Do you smell that ocean breeze? Feel the air on your skin? I'm like the wind, Skye. . . I can't be expected to stay in one place forever. I need to leave here and follow my dreams." Her mother's voice wavered slightly, gone unnoticed by her daughter.
Tears welled in young Skye's eyes. Wiping at them with the back of her hand, she murmured, "B-But. . . I heard you and papa fighting. . ." Her mother kissed the top of her head, wisps of her light brown hair tickling Skye's cheeks.
"Skye," her mother spoke, avoiding the subject, "I never got to experience Pokemon until I was an adult. I never kept them as pets, never trained them or battled them. I never spent much time around them until I met your father, really. I know you've grown up with them all around, and I suspect your father wants you and your older brother to continue the ranch when he no longer can. But I see so much potential in you my love. There is a sparkle in your eyes that gives promise of greater things." Smiling, her mother gently caressed her daughter's cheek. "Which is why," she continued, reaching into her bag, "I want you to have this." In her outstretched palm was a single Pokeball. She placed it in Skye's hand. "Go on,"she whispered. "Say hello."
Hesitantly, Skye pressed the release button on the Pokeball. In a flash of bright red light, asmall cat-like Pokemon sat before her, eagerly leaping into her lap. Eyes wide, Skye gently petted the small pink Pokemon.
"This is a Skitty, Skye. They're native to the Hoenn region. Where your cousin Luke is from, remember?" She scratched the Skitty under her chin and the Pokemon let out a yawn.
Skye smiled. "Thank you, mama."
Her mother smiled back. "You have to promise me Skye that you'll train this Skitty and treat her with lots of love and respect. ". A sterner look had fallen over her face.
Skye nodded her head firmly. "I promise." With a soft smile, Skye's mother scooped Skye and the Skitty into her arms, and walked back to the road, the smell of cherry blossoms wavering on the salty ocean air.
Farther down the beach was a young, red-headed boy playing at the water's edge, an energetic Totodile splashing along with him.
A girl of the same age, with equally red hair smiled. "C'mon Zane, father says we're leaving!"
With a longing look at the ocean, vast and expansive in front of him, the young boy sighed. A light splash on his legs pulled him out of his reverie. Looking down, he saw his Totodile's face stare bCk at him, lit with a smile. Returning the grin be picked up the Pokemon into his arms and yelled back to his sister. "Okay, be right there!" And he raced off to his family's car.