Chapter One: Siege

~I never thought of myself as special. The other kids were stronger, faster, smarter, and never seemed to struggle. I on the other hand couldn't catch a break. I was the outcast. I never found my place or people who understood me. To be popular… to be talented… to be wanted. ~

I felt a prodding at my leg as I lay still in bed. I was having a major space session and I'd forgotten that Hex had been waiting on me.

"Sorry buddy," I said patting him on the head. "You wanna go outside huh?"

Gengar smiled wide and laughed his innocent and mischievous laugh. He floated a few feet off the ground before falling through the floor still giggling with glee. I couldn't help but smile. I grabbed my backpack off of the desk and shut off the light to my room before dashing out the room.

Gengar's laugh was still echoing nearby as Mom stood behind the sink. Her long black hair was tied back and bright red gloves covered her hands as she worked away at the dishes. Here and I shared more resemblances than I did with dad. At least, that's what mom always said. We had the same fair olive skin and dark eyes. Mom looked tired but she always managed to remain youthful in experience and personality. She and dad had me young. They always told me that I was their happy little accident, but I never quite believed that.

"You going out for a walk dear? It's getting dark." She said with concern.

"Yeah," I said walking into the kitchen and grabbing a water bottle out of the fridge. "You know how excited Gengar gets about night time. We'll be back soon."

"You stay safe and don't stay out too late, okay?"

I nodded with a slight smile as mom walked over and kissed me on the forehead. She was one of the few people that tried to understand or encourage me. We lost dad early on in my life. Fifteen years ago they were in a freak Electrode accident while working in the power plant near Lavender Town. Mom had barely escaped certain death and while she recovered in the hospital I had the pleasure of staying with my god uncle Derek.

Before I left the house, I felt an odd feeling pull at me. I stopped and turned toward mom.

"I love you…"

"I love you too sweetie."

I closed the door behind me and chased after Gengar. Pallet town was quiet and peaceful, especially at night with the soft brush of the wind against my exposed skin on my arms and legs. The weather was fairly warm and had necessitated the use of shorts and short sleeved shorts, but at night the temperature was perfect. Gengar appeared beside me, popping out of nothingness and laughing as I got spooked to the ground. Gengar laughed and I just rolled my eyes.

I brushed the grass and dirt from my pants and followed behind Gengar as he leisurely strolled forward and we made our way around town. It was just like the hundreds of other walks we took, but different. I kept staring at the sky and noticing the stars' absence from the sky. The moon was full and loomed over pallet like a bright pale giant, glistening moonlight onto the crisp grass. Everyone's lights were going out for the night with the exception of several homes that were still burning the candle into the wee hours of the night so to speak. Gengar abruptly stopped and I bumped into him.

"What's the matter buddy?" I said crouching down to his eye level.

He pointed at the largest building in town and I smiled.

"You wanna go see uncle? Hmm… he should be up. He's always busy working on something."

Gengar grinned wide and we made are way to the Pokémon Laboratory. The lights were still on despite the late hour and surprisingly the door was ajar. Uncle Derek was always a little forgetful when it came to his research. He would find himself so enthralled with the world of Pokémon and the mysteries behind the powerful and unique creatures that he'd often times forget the most basic of everyday tasks… such as locking his front door.

"Let's go buddy."

Gengar and I entered the large lab and began searching for Uncle Derrick. I instructed Gengar to check the upstairs while I investigated the main floor. The computers in the room were all on complex and intricate screens with mountains of data on them. His notes were spread out on the table and his desk on the opposite side of the room and something appeared to be odd with his fish tank. Several Goldeen and Magikarp swam in the tank, but they were all huddled in the rear corner of the tank. They looked as if they'd seen a ghost. I was about to make my way into the storage room when the power to the lab suddenly cut out.

"Fuck."

I found myself amidst the darkness as I stumbled through the thick veil of shadows. This was getting ridiculous. I reached for my belt and grabbed a Pokéball.

"Come on out Nova!"

Flareon emerged from its ball and stood before me trying to see me in the darkness. I told him to illuminate the path and he did as I said. Nova covered himself with a light blaze as its luminescence cut through the unrelenting darkness. I followed Nova through the hall and into the inventory and I gasped as I was confronted by empty selves.

"This can't be happening… all of uncle's Pokémon."

Flareon gave nibbled at my ankle to get my attention and when I met his gaze he gave me a smile. He was trying to reassure me things would be okay. I patted Nova on the head as his flames refused to injure me.

"Let's go find uncle Derrick."

I didn't have much time to think before a loud explosion knock Nova and I to the ground. Gengar returned almost immediately rushing to my side with a worried expression on his face. I smiled and rose to me feet, assuring him I was okay.

"I think that blast came from the backyard. Let's go guys!"

I rushed through the storage room and found the backdoor and threw it open to find myself greeted by a harsh blaze and a sea of black clad figures. Gengar and Flareon stood by my side as I witnessed the figures holding uncle Derrick hostage. He was tied up and being guarded by two of the black figures. A large truck was backed through the enclosure and the fiends were loading up the Pokéballs into the truck. I started to back away when I felt something snap within me. It was like all of a sudden a fire was burning within my core. Was this… rage?

"Gengar use shadow ball!"

Gengar fired a swift attack that collided with the ground as the dark figures scattered and began removing pokéballs. One of the figures stepped forward and the flames illuminated his face as a harsh glow cast across her face. Her eyes were cold black and showed no signs or remorse or mercy. A bright red 'R' was embroidered on her chest and a dark black cap concealing her bright blue hair.

"Beat it kid. You've got no business meddling with Team Rocket's affairs. Leave and we'll let you live.

I clenched a pokéball in my fist as Gengar and Flareon stood ready for battle.

"So you're Team Rocket huh?"

The Team Rocket grunts began to fan out as we stood against the army of black, completely outnumbered and surrounded.

"That man over there looked out for me when I had no one. He gave me the Ghastly that became my partner. He showed me that when I fall short in all other place, the one thing I thrive in is Pokémon battles!"

"Take this kid out." The woman in black commanded.

"Come on our Nidoqueen!" I called.

The team rocket members began sending out their Pokémon. There were several Golbat, Raticate, a few Machoke, several Victreebel, and three Hypno. I didn't have any time to waste. I ordered Flareon to use protect and sent Gengar after Uncle Derrick. I instructed Nidoqueen to thin their numbers quickly with an earthquake attack. Gengar moved swiftly across the ground as a shadow and managed to sneak past the rockets to grab uncle Derrick. He made it just in time as Nidoqueen unleashed a ground shaking earthquake attack that connected with most of the Pokémon. The rockets began ordering out their attacks. The Golbats swarmed around us and began firing off their poison sting attack.

"Guard Nidoqueen, Flareon stop them with a fire spin!"

Nidoqueen braced itself against the poison sting attack, holding her own fairly well as Flareon leapt into attack as he unleashed a torrent of flames against the Golbat. The attack connected trapping the Golbat in a fiery vortex.

"Raticate use dig!" a rocket ordered.

"Machoke use vital throw!"

Raticate burrowed underground and snuck up behind Flareon landing a devastating blow on him as the vortex disapated. The Machoke was going straight for my guarding Nidoqueen and managed to get it in a hold and heave it over its shoulder, sending her flying and crashing to the ground. Team Rocket was making a vicious counter assault. I couldn't run the risk of trying to command any more than three Pokémon at the same time or else I would be setting myself up for failure… I only had one choice.

"You don't stand a chance against all of us. There's dozens of us and only one of you!" the woman in charge jeered. "You signed your death certificate the moment you challenged us."

"…Gengar, Flareon, Nidoqueen… Return."

I called my friends back to their pokéballs and stood facing the enemy with eyes wide open. My heart was filled with adrenaline and apprehension, but I wouldn't let it show.

"You finally wising up kid? If you surrender quietly, we'll make your demise quick."

"You got the wrong guy…"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Ryan Matthews isn't a quitter. You see, I've only just begun to fight."

I grabbed my fourth pokéball off of my belt and called forth my Pidgeot and wasted no time in going for the victory.

"Pidgeot use hurricane."

The winds tore through the enemy Pokémon and the rocket members with a swift, almost instantaneous motion as the massive column of wind threw everything in its path on its head and landed for massive damage on the opposing team. The truck harboring the pokéballs was knocked back and on its side as the enemy fell back to earth, crashing with a loud crash. The rocket's Pokémon were defeated and the looks on their face ranged from surprised to afraid.

"Leave my uncle's lab or I will destroy you."

"Golem, use stone edge."

Out of nowhere a sharp rock attack connect with my Pidgeot and struck it right in the wing. He crashed to the ground sustaining major damage from the attack. I rushed to his side.

"Pidgeot are you okay buddy?"

A man in dark sunglasses, a rocket hat, and a sharp black suit approached. He walked with a cane but something told me he didn't need it for walking. His boots clicked rhythmically on the concrete as he drew near.

"Foolish boy. You think you can interrupt one of team rocket's operations and walk away a hero? You're about to learn that heroes don't exist and that the real world isn't like your games and movies. When you make mistakes you don't get a checkpoint. There is no extra lives, no fame or rewards or do overs," he said removing his glasses to look at me with piercing blue eyes unlike anything I'd ever seen. "There's only death.