Hello, hello! I know my fanfic account has died. I know I haven't updated FE Labs since forever. Sorry!

Anyway, here's that Pokémon fic I've been talking about.

Oh, and I sacked my muse.


Journey Across Singapore


I already knew what I wanted to be.

Seth could blab on and on about being a Champ. Aurora could go on pointing out the finer points of Pokémon Catching in each and every one of her emails. But their words wouldn't sway me.

At the age of 12 – soon turning 13 – I was ready to choose my path.

I would become a Breeder.

And with my 13th birthday only a month away, who wouldn't be excited? I would finally be able to set out on my journey. In fact, if not for that stupid boy who thought it'd be fun to harass a Magmar, landed himself in Tan Tock Seng Hospital with first-degree burns and got the minimum age pulled up to 13, I would have accomplished my dream at the age of 10.

I still haven't forgiven that idiot. He was my senior by one year.

I had everything planned out. Where to go first, what to do, what sights to see, when to visit other regions with the budget airline for trainers…

Only one problem though.

The Pokémon egg with my starter? You know, the ones the government issues every year?

Yeah, that.

It remained unhatched.

I could have asked my father to catch a Pokémon to be my starter, but hey, where's the fun in that?

And so, I found myself gently wiping the cream-coloured egg clean for the umpteenth time, humming a soft lullaby and hoping that it would hatch soon.

However, seeing as I'm not exactly a favourite of Lady Luck…

I placed the egg back in its glass container after I was done with its daily 'bath'. Seth's egg had hatched about a month ago and he had immediately proceeded to send me a lengthy email about his new Riolu, whom he had christened Raine. Video clip of egg hatching attached. Why hadn't mine hatched yet?

I realised that I desperately needed to get out of the house and decided to head to the nearby park. Maybe I would run into some of my ex-classmates if I went there…

I was all packed a few minutes later, my egg nestled comfortably in its glass case. Patting the case affectionately, I left a note on the table for my mother. Then I stepped out of the house, humming tunelessly under my breath.

Oh? What's this? I haven't introduced myself. Oh well, better late than never.

Picture this scene. The verdant isle of Singapore. Further away, there was once an invisible barrier that cut off a whole other world. One day, the barrier began to weaken. And then, it vanished.

Suddenly, all sorts of creatures began to appear. They had all sorts of abilities. Some could breathe fire, others could cause tidal waves. Some shot out sparks of electricity, others could freeze you in your tracks in the blink of an eye. For a moment, our ancestors were astounded, for they recognised these creatures. They were what were once thought to be fictional creations, alive only in TV shows and video games.

They were Pokémon.

Bit by bit, our ancestors worked up the courage to befriend them. While the Pokémon remained wary at first, slowly they warmed up to our ancestors.

Then came an even more startling piece of news.

Beyond the broken barrier, the regions they had traversed in games existed. And so did other humans.

What does this history lesson have to do with me? Well, I was descended from those humans who first befriended Pokémon. In fact, I was named after the first girl who dared to reach out to pat the head of a Mightyena. She was my great-great grandmother.

My name is Nicole, Nicole Dare. I live in Singapore. I turn 13 this year and I'm ready to begin my journey.

Follow me if you must.