Hi dear readers! This is my first story ever. I have absolutely no experience, so please do give helpful advice!

To be honest this is quite a cross between the anime and the games as some characteristics of Pokémon are rather like the anime but I took some data from the Gen IV games. I'll be completing the chapters one by one.

Insert generic copyright declaration. Nintendo is awesome. Enjoy.


First Encounter

Like every other human on the planet, I don't really remember my childhood anymore. Virtually all the memories of me being a toddler - if you call them memories - are retold by my one and only one mother, like, months ago. Or it would be Houndoom, if he could speak human language. Boy, he's got amazing memory. Thing is, despite our inextricable link that literally sends messages psychologically, an exact language is the only thing we lack in communication. It doesn't matter though, as the man's best friend - or my best friend - almost shares my every single thought.

Mother says it all began with that picnic when I was six. That day was probably the only day in my childhood that has left a conspicuous trace in my memory - at the very least, I remember the golden sunshine illuminating the harmonious ambiance. It was one of our rare family days when the three of us got to gather and have a nice outdoor time. And there we were, on the vividly coloured mat, savouring mother's culinary delights. I was a particular fan of her lettuce sandwiches, just as I still don't particularly prefer meat anyway.

The thing about family gatherings that still irks me today is the exclusive adult chats. The adults - be they parents, or their friends, or their friends, simply like to talk to each other, ignoring our presence. From what I overhear, most of the time they say bad things about us. Ugh. Guess I wouldn't comprehend that until I become a dad. From what mother remembers - or rather, doesn't remember, because she deduced it - the 6-year-old me probably got bored and wandered off on my own. (Parents never care, do they?) Now that I think of it, I've liked to disappear from time to time since I was that young. Since the environment there was more bushes than fields, with my miniature torso, I snuck into one of them and came out into the fresh air on the other side.

And boy do I have an unforgettable memory of that place, that scene! It was just an arbitrary, tiny open area surrounded by the dangerous bushes (or so they say). But it was that random area that marked one of the most crucial events that has affected me today. As a child, I simply looked around for Pokémon that I'd never seen, given our reclusive dwelling place. And there they were, little birds hovering over the bushes - later known as Starly - and odd-looking bugs hanging from the branches - Burmy. I wanted to reach for them, yet I was simply too tiny, and slightly too cowardly for that, unlike my childhood friend Shadow - she dared to touch literally anything. Focused on hopping towards the weird insects, little did I notice other things around me, especially some noises behind me.

No sooner had I noticed the rustling sound when something solid bumped into me, hard. Losing my balance, I fell on my back and tried hard to hold myself from wailing, thanks to the idea of emotionally strong boys I'd been taught. I looked at the object - and my jaw dropped, quivering and speechless.

A dog-like Pokémon gritted its sharp fangs, growling fiercely towards me! I backed a step against the trunk behind me. A second or two later, though, I realised it wasn't doing anything. I stared at it, not knowing what to do at all. But it wasn't seconds before I began to look closely at its face and body. Its expression was frightening, yet a little...pretentious. The skull on its forehead was shivering, just like I was, even revealing a slight crack. All of a sudden, as if running out of energy, it gave in its feigned fierceness and slumped onto the grass, not at all strong as a hound ought to appear. For seconds I didn't dare to loosen my hardened muscles a tiny bit, but eventually I plucked up my mere courage to step forward towards the unmoving body.

What I saw got me stiff. The only thing I saw on its pitch black body and white exoskeleton was none other than deep scars, some elongated and some round, uncovering the flesh. As a toddler I was nothing but absolutely nauseated and shocked. Why would a strong-looking Pokémon like this get attacked and scarred so badly? I took another step forward, only to become relieved that it was apparently still alive and breathing, yet a pungent odour took over my senses, almost making me back away yet again. The young me hesitated, but looking at the near-lifeless Pokémon throbbed my heart. Enduring the unsettling smell, I carefully walked in front of it and laid my hand on its side.

The dog twitched a little. The black, or deep blue, fur was surprisingly smooth and the warm skin beneath it periodically expanded as it breathed heavily. My hands trembled more vigorously than that though. Before letting my arm's weight land on its fragile withers, I slid my young and tender fingers lightly over the fearful cuts, though I quickly drew them back as it abruptly twitched again, and didn't dare to touch it any more.

All of a sudden, with a bark, it jumped right up from its lying position and stood shakily. Shocked, I backed away a foot and, intimidated, looked timidly into its eyes.

The Pokémon's eyes were unexpectedly endearing, yearning, or even...a bit pitiful. I wondered, deep in my heart, what had happened to this poor dog?

I guess I accidentally spoke that aloud, because as if having read my mind, the dog crouched on the ground, as if preying on something. I looked at that direction, where there was nothing but an imaginary, small prey. Turning back towards the Pokémon, it was now acting out a certain scene, and its fierce-looking eyes melted into sympathy and retreated a bit. Then it jerked to its sides, as though in pain and likely...beaten up. I wasn't sure if this was real or acted, but it slumped onto the ground again. "Houn," pitifully it moaned.

The conveyance, to say the least, wasn't very clear. But for some reason that I really couldn't explain, I understood it all - every single bit of its experience. This Pokémon was a one-of-a-kind kind-hearted one within its species and, like me, couldn't bear to kill an injured prey. Being a pack-oriented species, its counterparts looked down upon this poor thing and kicked it out.

I wasn't sure, but I just felt like this is what had happened. Was that a sign that the two of us are destined to be together, linked, now that I think of it?

I couldn't procrastinate. Without hesitation, I made a promise. "I'll save you," I told the Pokémon. "I'll help you. I promise." I had to get someone to take care of this hurt Pokémon. I had nothing else in my mind no matter what I wanted, just like any other kid. I turned and ran from the open area into the bush. I knew my way back - smart kid, I know. I dashed towards mother, panting, grabbed her attention, and hastily retold the whole thing.

Mother smiled, perfunctorily, and turned her head away. That was all.

I couldn't give up. I just had to help the dog, yet I couldn't do it on my own. I nagged her, I shook her, I threw a tantrum. I didn't care - I'd probably gotten mad inside. I tried to get father as well, but neither of them would care! Why? Didn't they have kind hearts? Were adults all cold-hearted?

Eventually mother couldn't take it anymore and she caught fire. "I don't care about your stupid fantasies. That wild dog going to die is none of our business, and if you think you can read its mind, you're stupid." That was all she said before furiously escorting me home. But wasn't I furious as well?

That night, I couldn't sleep. My mind was all on the poor Pokémon, and every moment in silence, I could feel it call out to me in its low, hollow cry, "Houn"; and every moment when I closed my eyes, its scars would appear vividly on my mind.

However, like any other kid, that event was soon tossed cheerfully to the back of my mind, and the imagery only appeared in my brain occasionally. Until the next time.