I started off normal enough. I was just the average toddler, a bit-short-tempered, but overall a good-natured girl. Lots of friends, a happy family, a peaceful town. All the essentials. I still wonder why it chose me. I still wonder how I became a legend. And I still don't know the answer.

I was never quite right from that day. But, I suppose you are starting to wonder what exactly I'm talking about, now aren't you? Don't worry, I'm getting to that. Let's start at the beginning. Where else can a good story start, after all?

My name is Theresa Touko, and I grew up in Nacrene City, a quiet, friendly place, an oasis of tradition and calmness in a vast world of adventure, danger, and most of all, Pokemon. There are all sorts, scattered all over this region, Unova, and many others as well. But at that innocent time in my life, those regions were hardly more than fairy tales, exotic places you'd only ever hear about in storybooks. Most Pokemon, even the common ones, were mysteries to me too. I was just six. And I had a lot to learn.

I learned that the world is cruel. Fate is cruel. Life itself is cruel. And I thought the only way to get what I wanted was to be just as cruel. Only now do I know I was wrong.

One day I snuck out again to the little lakes just east of Nacrene. I loved to go on my little "adventures" without permission all the time. It was one of my favorite things, even despite the inevitable scolding afterward. It was calm and pleasant, with the birds chirping, and the surface of the water as still as glass, the only sign of life being an occasional splash made by an excited Basculin. Then everything went quiet.

Something stepped out of the brush and onto the water. It was a strange Pokemon, a horse-like creature with a blue and white body, a horn on its head, and a flowing scarlet mane. It galloped across the surface of the lake for a few seconds, its movements as graceful as any dancer. Then it saw me. It stopped, and watched me silently, as if unsure of what to think. Just as confused, I stared back. It started to step forward, then stopped and looked back as a loud cry, perhaps that of an angry parent, sounded in the woods. It gave me one last curious look, then turned and galloped off into the forest again.

I went back to Nacrene right away. I wanted to know what that Pokemon was, since surely it HAD to be a Pokemon. But when I described it, my family just stared at me blankly. They had never heard of such a thing. And neither had anyone else in the city. But, being the stubborn child I was, the more they insisted there was no such Pokemon, the more I insisted that there WAS. That I had SEEN it.

No one believed me. At first they were somewhat understanding. Then they became irritable. They didn't like a little kid telling them what was real and what wasn't. And the more irritable they became, the more irritable I became. It rapidly deteriorated into a downward spiral of frustration and arguing.

And then there was Jake. It was all fine until he stepped in. He was the clown, you could say, though now I see him more as the bully he actually was. He was always picking out someone to make jokes about. His victims had always been good-natured and humorous about it before. Once their turn was over, he'd move on to someone else. Everyone had their turn, but when he got to me, I didn't have a sense of humor. My nerves had worn thin after over a week of arguing with my family. I punched him. I still don't regret it.

From then on, he stopped switching people. He just picked on me. I was easy to single out since I didn't have friends anymore, and was acting, to put it lightly, a little nutty. That was how I became the Crazy Girl of Nacrene.

My downward spiral continued for years and years. I got worse and worse. I lost my morals, my empathy. People called me cold and cruel and cunning. I replied that I merely did what I had to. I didn't let them get to me. After years of being hated and laughed at, I no longer cared what anyone thought of me. I was on my own. A loner. And I liked it that way.

To this day, I wonder what my life would have been like if I hadn't seen that legendary Pokemon running on the water. Would I have been happier? Had more friends? Had hobbies? I don't know, and I think it's better that way. After all, even if it HAD been better that way… There's no changing it now. I am Theresa Touko, the most dangerous, ambitious, intense Pokemon trainer in Unova. And that is just the way I like it. That's what I thought, anyway. Now I am not so sure.

I decided to become a trainer when I learned about the Pokemon Champion. I figured someone that important knew some very privileged information. Like perhaps what it was I had seen on the lakes. So, at 8 years old, I asked my parents for a Pokemon. They said no. They wanted me to take over the family business. But, I decided if inheriting the business meant I could not be a trainer, then I would not inherit it. I fought them every step of the way. The arguments became more and more frequent over the years.

When I was 12, I decided to write to a few heroes of a region called Sinnoh. I had heard about them on the news, and hoped they would help me. I wrote them a letter telling them my story and asking if they could get me a Pokemon of my own, and sent it. I waited. And waited. And waited some more. They never replied. I still don't know if they even got it. Or perhaps they did, and saw what a crazy child I was, and decided I would be a danger to myself and others if they actually gave me a Pokemon.

That very year Jake's parents gave him his first three Pokemon, a Darumaka, Tympole, and Roggenrola. I cannot describe how jealous I was. Then I made my decision. I WOULD get a Pokemon… No matter WHAT I had to do. I would do whatever it took. Lie, cheat, run away from home, hurt any people or Pokemon that got in the way… ANYTHING.

I began to prepare for the day when I could go on my journey. I secretly collected TMs and HMs, saved money, and bought items such as potions and revives that would be useful. Being from a fairly wealthy family, none of that was too difficult. All that was left was the problem of getting a Pokemon. I was smart enough to know trying to catch one without weakening it first, which of course required another Pokemon, simply wouldn't end well. So I waited for my opportunity. I knew it would come, if I was patient. And I was very patient. And I was right.