Prologue:
Cephiene, the Soul Pokémon:
It is said that Cephiene selects and delivers a trainer's their fated Pokémon before their 1st birthday. Cephiene is said to resemble Gardevoir, the Embrace Pokémon.
"Grand-" I stopped as I heard raised voices from the other side of the door. Mother and Grandmother seems to be fighting again. I leant on the door as I waited for the argument to die down. Knowing Mother though, it'll probably take some time.
"-good for nothing daughter how DARE you talk this way to me!"
"How dare I? All I asked was for some time o-"
"For another one of your pointless singing shows?"
"Just because you can't appreciate the won-"
"Tsk. Useless daughter, as expected of someone born with a flying bond."
"YOU-" There was a crashing sound as Mother probably threw a vase in frustration. Not that I blame her. If Athena was in that room she would be really sad again, after all, grandmother always spoke ill of her because of her typing.
"How you managed to give birth to a daughter as brilliant as Shannon I'll never know, considering her what a delinquent her sister turned out to be."
"DELINQUENT? Kathy is on a musical scholarship, can't you see how brilliant that is?
"As it is, grades are what matters most, Katherine is simply not good enough." I clutched my report card to my chest. They were straight A's of course, unlike my sister. Katherine was gifted in the way of people, her songs move people in a way I can't understand, and I admire her greatly for that. Katherine was free and fresh, but grandma could never see that, not when Katherine's bonded with a fairy type. On my shoulder, Suri gave a soft coo and started snuggling into my cheek. I gave her a little grin in return.
"But she's talented!"
"Talented or not, both you and her are a disgrace to the Rosehill Clan. To think I'd have not one, but two non-grass bonds in this family, I am ashamed. Both of you should be learning from Shann-"
"YOU! ...Even Shannon may not be a grass bond, and you know that." What..?
"Even so-"
I slid open the sliding door and walked in bowing. "Good afternoon Mother, Grandmother. What you said about Suri not being a grass bond.. Is that true?" Cocking her head, Suri chirped too, peeking out from my hair. Suri was my precious friend that has been with me since a baby. Suri is clearly a grass bond and yet...
Grandmother looked up from her position at the low table. There was paperwork piled up in neat stack along the table, and she seemed to have been looking through them before Mother came. Grandma has always been extremely dedicated to the traditional, and had kept the house almost the exact same in the full 40 years she had been the head of house. Mother on the other hand... Was sitting cross-legged on a nearby cushion. No wonder Grandmother had no patience with her.
Grandmother sighed deeply and replied. "It seems that you have taught your daughter some of your bad habits, Alice." We stood in silence for awhile as Mother and Grandmother exchanged weary glances, before Grandmother sighed once more and turned back to the paperwork.
Mother gestured for me to sit, before sighing as well. "I was hoping to not have to tell you this until at least a few years later..." I met her gaze, nodded and walked up to the low table to sit in a seiza, tucking the ends of my kimono under my legs and placing the report card down beside me. I could almost feel the approval radiating from Grandmother.
"You were a healthy, quiet baby. Never caused much trouble, and just that probably earned you plenty of brownie points, considering me and your sister...ehehe. Well-" Mother cut herself off before continuing. "You know how most people get their chosen bond around two months before their birthday? Us of the Rosehill Clan usually get ours one month before our birthdays, so we weren't worried when yours was coming late. When your birthday came and there was no egg though, well... We waited until midnight, Cephiene never came for you." I stared at Mother in shock. Cephiene was Hoenn's most worshipped legendary, even more than Groudren and Kyogre. Legends say that Cephiene was a Pokémon created to achieve a long lasting peace between humans and Pokémon. As a baby is born, Cephiene is said to see the future of the child, and selects an unhatched Pokémon for each human child before their first birthday. This is now what we call our chosen-bonds; Pokémon and human pairs born made for each other. This was elementary information taught in every school in Hoenn.
"That would mean...?"
"Yes. Suri was an egg recently hatched in our reserve around that time. I'm sorry."
It was the first time me or Suri heard of such a thing. I clutched the scarf that hung around my waist tightly. Ever since I was small, I was told that it was a gift from Cephiene, a little something to tell me that I'd become something, someone special. I was sure that that was the only reason why Grandmother would've let me wear it in such an informal manner. Was that all a lie too?
"I.. May I be excused?" I rose from floor. Grandmother looked up from her work and looked pointedly at the report card beside me.
"I'm assuming that is for me."
"Yes Grandmother." She flicked through the grades and looked back up with an approving smile. "Good job." Mother's face on the other hand, she looked close to tears. Surprisingly, I felt more calm about this than she is. Without another word, I walked out and slid the door behind me.
"Dew dew, Budew...?" Back in my room, Suri looked up at me with watering eyes. I smiled back and cuddled her to my chest.
"It's okay, even if you aren't my chosen-bond, you are still the one who knows me the best, am I right?" She nodded and sniffled into my chest.
Sitting there, cuddling and petting Suri, I started thinking. Grandmother had planned the majority of my life out for me, preparing me for the day I took over the reserve. For the most part I had just gone along with it, but now...
I want to know. Why did Cephiene not come to me? Everyone I've seen has been given their bonded by Cephiene, and she certainly wasn't some myth. Was I... Just not important enough for her to come? I turned to look around me, at my neatly organised files and the single poster of a silhouette, one of the only pictures of Cephiene taken by the famous Professor Oak. No, there must've been a reason.
In the midst of this repetitive, formal life, I took a step in a whole new direction.
"Mother."
"Yes Shannon?"
"I'm... Going on a field trip. To Kanto."
"Sure, is there a sheet I need to si... KANTO?" Mother yelped and dropped the carrot she was peeling. Luckily not into the bin. Suri giggled from atop of my head.
"I've decided to go on my Pokémon journey." People generally start their Pokémon journey on their 10th birthday. However, I had decided not to leave and continue my studies under Grandmother. That was 3 months ago.
"Was it because...?" Mother trailed off. We both knew she was referring to our conversation a week ago. She looked at Suri in concern. "Are you going to let Suri battle?" Many trainers, especially females, refuse to let their chosen bonds to battle, reluctant to let them get harmed.
"Suri wants to give it a go." Mother put down her peeler and took my hands in her own.
"Oh Shannon. My baby's all grown up, about to leave the nest." I smiled back at her. Mother is melodramatic at the best of times.
I explained my intentions to visit Professor Oak while in Kanto, and showed Mother all my packed supplies/food, berries and money, which she gave me some more of.
I felt a bit sad but equally excited to visit somewhere so far away from home. It's also a bit weird how easily I could up and leave, considering I've spent my whole life here outside of the reserve, school, and the occasional field trip. Though that may be because I failed to mention this 'field trip' to Grandmother. And knowing Mother.. Grandmother wouldn't be knowing for several more days.
Notes: Hiii this is my first fanfic, so please give feedback! Some of my knowledge is kind of iffy since I played the game and watched the anime like ages ago so go easy on me :D I probably have to re-watch the(dubbed =.=) anime and just follow the plot. Keeping this mostly cannon, except Misty stays as Gym Leader instead of following Ash through Johto. I think Shannon's 1 year younger than Ash..? (though i guess it doesn't really matter since Ash is forever 10 anyways.) Also, this isn't beta'd and I'm too lazy to read through it so... Lmao.