Oh dear christ, someone shoot me now. This was supposed to be the greatest fic I've ever written, but so far it's horrendous. I don't know if anyone is even remotely interested in reading this story, (you may be if you like OC stories) but I'll definitely try and improve the second chapter. I mean, honestly, I can make this WAY better right now...but I can't be arsed. This simply sucks because I rushed it, and...ah, whatever. I'm just rambling now. But seriously, I hate it when my writing doesn't turn out how I wanted it to...
Anyways:
Enjoy.
Eternal Defiance
Rain poured down heavily, followed by a clash of thunder, as lighting struck the fields on Cinnabar Island. The thunderous roar of the storm echoed throughout Kanto, frightening pokemon and humans alike. Not a soul dared step outside, or so it seemed, for the fear of being swept away was too great to bare. Inside a certain house, in a certain room, lay a certain boy. Recently turned 8, he slept quietly, completely oblivious to the horrors occurring below him. Yes – downstairs, the very parents who had brought him into this world and raised him, the ones who protected him and shared memories with him...were being murdered. Dressed in dark robes, mysterious beings wielding knives surrounded the family's kitchen, repeatedly thrusting their weapons at the mother and father. A shrilled scream could be heard as the woman was stabbed in the chest, and fell to the ground, collapsing from pain and blood loss. The man panicked and sent out one of his trusted companions – his rapidash. After it came out of it's poke ball, it neighed as it's fire flickered brightly, before warding off the assassins. It's master saw this as a chance to escape, and promptly escaped the building through a window, abandoning everything he had lived and worked for.
Little did they know, the child, now pale and teary-eyed, had witnessed the entire event through a crack in the door. The shriek of his own dead parent, and the smashing of windows had woken him up. The assassins followed suite through the window and chased the target, leaving the young boy all alone at night...
...in a dark and lifeless house...
The morning light shone in Twinleaf town, entering through a gap in the curtains via the window. The slight warmth rested upon a single boy's nose, allowing him to slowly open his eyes and wake up from his nightmare. He rose up gradually until he assumed a seating position, and groggily let out a deep yawn while stretching his arms. The young male then once again took his time and got out of the bed, walking towards the mirror which had been adjusted so that it was high enough to reach his face at 6ft.'2. He looked at himself with an impassive expression, noticing his scraggy, black medium-long hair, and his tired green eyes. He just wanted to go back to sleep, but he was out of food, and wanted breakfast, so a quick visit to the nearest pokemart was necessary. He had never been one for chores or domestic tasks, and even though he was now living alone, the guy still hadn't gotten used to it. "Ryan Ryker, you are one sorry sack of shit, bro," he said to himself before opening his drawer to get dressed. He quickly grabbed his favourite black hoodie, a white vest to put under it, baggy blue jeans, a pair of white and green striped trainers and his trademark beanie hat which was black with flames along it. The 15-year-old male now double checked to make sure he had his one pokeball with him, but then decided to open it and let his trusted partner ghastly float by him as he travelled there. Most would see it as a dull or disgusting pokemon, but Ryan had always kind of liked that about the ghost type. Fire was another favourite of his. Why, back in his homeland of Cinnibar island in Kanto, practically everyone owned a fire type – and then he paused his train of thoughts. Halfway between grabbing the door handle, he stopped and remembered all about his childhood. How he would go to the park with his parents, tell them about his day at school, and then how they one night simply appeared dead in front of him, just like in his nightmare. He had moved in with his ill grandmother after the incident, but eventually she died. That was where he had discovered Ghastly, and he challenged a few of the Kanto gyms with him, actually earning a few badges.
However, things were now different. He was no longer a child, but now an adolescent, and he deemed himself ready to travel. Well, that was the initial idea, but in the end he had no motivation and just wanted to live a quiet life in the furthest reaches of sinnoh. He casually slipped his hands in his pockets, as he nonchalantly strolled on with his pokemon. Ryan walked through the fields of route 201, taking in his surroundings and admiring the nature. There were starlies and various bug types around, just doing their daily thing. When he was younger, he was energetic and cheerful and would have stared in awe at tall trees and whatnot, but they meant nothing much to him now. He just lived as normal, boring and as depressing as possible. It was a great laid back life, what with him being a lazy bastard and all. He wasn't much of a talker either, so double win-win with it being lonely.
Finally, he made it to sandgem town; yet another peaceful place. That's what he had liked about south-western area of sinnoh – everything was quiet and slow. The young man stepped into the pokemart and went to the aisle which had food for both pokemon and humans. Ryan had pretty much been living off cereal, and didn't complain at all. Well, it was that he didn't care about anything enough to hold grudges. He walked over to the counter and placed the cereal on. He wasn't sure why, but he also decided to buy pokeballs. It was probably by accident because he was half-asleep still, but he had nothing better to spend his money on so he may aswell.
Wait a minute... the boy thought to himself. What money? The voice of the shop owner behind the counter snapped him out of his thoughts: "£5 please." He looked up to see the clerk standing there with a stupid grin on his face and his hand out, expecting him to place the cash in his hands. Ryan quickly searched his pockets, but found nothing. He felt around his clothes to see if he brought his wallet, but to no avail. Damnit...I've got absolutely nothing left, and I've only been here a couple of weeks...and this guy's smile is starting to creep me out, man. Let's see...uh...oh yeah! Of course! Why didn't I think of that before...
A lightbulb went off in his head and he started smiling back to the store owner.
"Uhh...excuse me? I said £5, good sir," he repeated, with a confused look.
"Ah, yeah sure, gimme a moment," replied the other while pretending to search for his money.
"Now wheeeeere did it all go..." he said aloud, a small smile playing on his lips. The other man just stood there.
"Can you please hurry up sir? There are people waiting to be served."
"K dude, keep your shirt on...by the way, what's that behind you?"
The unfortunate worker turned around to see ghastly pulling one of the scariest faces he'd ever seen, and fell backwards into the wall, banging his head. Ryan let out a short laugh and grabbed his merchandise before making his escape running towards the exit "Nice work ghastly!" he turned his head to see said pokemon, while panting slightly. "He didn't know what hit hi-" but he was cut short, as his tallness caught up to him and his head collided with the top of the door frame, making him fall straight onto his arse, and leaving him dizzy.
"Ugghh...that fucking hurts..." the boy managed to groan as he lay on his back. The store owner stood over him and looked down at him with crossed arms. "It's called karma, kid. Now give me that stuff and get out of here. You're lucky I don't call officer Jenny on you...if you're that desperate for money, go get yourself a damn job, scum".
Those last harsh words rang in his ears as he walked out of the store with his head hung low. "Scum eh...can't argue with that." He sat down with his ghastly near the beach and stared at the morning sun. He reminisced about how good and promising his life used to be, and compared it with now. "I've got more freedom, but I'm probably gonna end up dying lonely in a ditch somewhere..." Ryan actually enjoyed solitude, but having nobody left alive knowing you at all was pretty dark. He got up, and began walking back to twinleaf town. "Where am I gonna get a job in a place like this?" Just before he walked out of Sandgem though, he noticed a sign to his right:
Wanted: Lab assistant for Professor Rowan.
No experience needed
Apply inside if Interested
"...well that was stupid."
The lab was pretty regular. It looked like a cross between a kitchen and a library, with bookshelves and a wooden floor near the entrance and then machines and white tiles a few feet in front. Ryan walked in (ghastly was now in his pokeball) with his hands in his pockets and a moronic look on his face, just having a gander at all the different objects and scientists in there, working away. He shuffled along to the main room, slightly dragging his feet, before coming to a standstill. He saw 3 pokeballs on a table labelled "Turtwig, Piplup and Chimchar" and bent down to get a closer look. This caught the attention of a middle-aged looking man who was messing with a hand-held device.
"Excuse me, can I help you?"
He turned to look at the source of the voice and stood up straight again, making the man's head rise. "Yeah, uh...I'm looking for Professor...Rowan? Or something? I saw the ad for the job."
The man's eyes lit up. "Ah, wonderful! That would be me! Why don't you come over here for a second..."
He followed Rowan over to a desk which had two more of those hand-held devices on. "Now, remember when I said anyone can do the job? You don't need any experience? Well, that's because you're going to start a new experience as of today!"
"I am?" the younger one muttered.
"Yes. I'm sure you've heard of it before, but pokemon trainers travel all around the region catching and battling pokemon, whether it be for a lifestyle, to challenge gyms and get stronger, or to enter contests etc."
"Right...I know that part...so how does this relate to me 'assisting' you?" he questioned, still sceptical.
"Well, obviously you'll be going on this journey and taking one of these with you!" he picked up one of the devices and handed it to Ryan. "Listen, this will automatically store data of any pokemon you meet, so I want you to go on a quest to find every single one of 'em and complete it for m-"
"No."
"..."
"…"
The professor fell down in a classic anime way.
"I-I'm...I'm sorry?"
"I ain't goin' on some shitty-ass safari trip getting info for you so you can jizz over your silly little gadget. I just want money so I can get food so I can sleep and do nothing for the rest of my life."
"Oh come on. Being a trainer is fun! Look, you've already got a pokemon of your own, haven't you? I'm sure you'd enjoy being in the company of a few more. Besides, it'll give you chance to get out more and go and explore the world."
"Sorry mate, but I just ain't interested. Money makes the world go round, and as long as I get it, I'm alright. See ya around, man." And with that, he began to walk away, until the professor opened his mouth again:
"You can challenge the gyms if you want, you know. I hear the prize money is pretty darn good."
Ryan stopped in his tracks. "Money?"
Rowan sighed in relief after realising that he got his attention. "Yeah. You look like you'd be a strong trainer, and with a bit of training, could easily take on the gym leaders."
This time, the teenager turned around. "You get..prize money for winning in Sinnoh?"
"Yep. Did you think they reward all your hard work by just giving you a little badge?"
"Hmmm...alrighty then, old man - I've reconsidered. I'll do your stupid task."
"Great! You only have a single pokemon, would you like to browse one of these starter-"
"No."
"Oh. How some supplies, like poti-"
"No."
"Well how about-"
"No."
The professor sighed yet again. "Can you please stop interrupting me like that?"
"No."
"Now you're just being awkward."
Ryan scratched his head and let out a coy chuckle, while Rowan just sweat-dropped.
"Well I know you'll want this, young man." he stated matter-of-factly. He threw the new trainer a pokeball, and it was opened immediately.
"Hey, a ponyta...just like the ones back on cinnabar island. You're giving me her?"
"Yep. It should help you on your journey. By the way, I never got your name. What is it?"
"Ryan Ryker."
"Hm, nice name. Well Ryan, I've got work to do, so hurry on out, and good luck!"
"Cheers mate." And with that, he left the building, and headed towards the city of the first gym.
He sure is quick to change his mind when it comes to money, thought the professor, smiling to himself.
There we go, your torture is over. Well, as far as I'm concerned, the only problem with it was how fast-paced it is...I rushed it so badly that some parts actually don't make sense.
Dat review button eh. I love criticism, compliments, flames, you name it. Just don't expect me to care if you review or not.
...hm. That sounded rather nasty. :S
