Author's Notes: I do not own any Pokémon content. This story is set in the Pokémon universe, specifically in the region of Kalos. I try to stay as accurate as possible to the Pokémon universe as I can, although there will be some things that I created or changed for this story (i.e the geographical map of Kalos will be larger and include more locations than the anime/game). The characters are almost all my original characters, but there will be some easter eggs in there. If anyone spots any grammatical mistakes please feel free to send me a message/review (commas especially) – it is greatly appreciated!

(May 5, 2017) Important Notice: For those of you who have already read my story, I hit a wall last year and stopped posting. There were too many things that didn't make sense to me regarding the overall plot. I have done a huge overhaul to edit the entire thing. It is still the same story. Almost everything has been edited, and the structure is slightly different, as well as some characters. I apologize for the inconvenience, but it was required for the story to move forward. Still hope you enjoy!

Luna

The sun rose on a crisp morning in Kalos, slowly unveiling Violetta Town, Aquacorde's closest neighbor. A thin layer of fog masked the small village and its outlying farms. The haze faded as the sun reached a large, isolated farmhouse surrounded by flower gardens.

The building was decades old; the two story, stone-brick building had egg-white window frames, a charming, lived in feel, and a red asphalt shingle roof. Vines had claimed most of the walls, stretching their reach into every crevice. From the sky, the red roof was a dot compared to their vast, vivid gardens. A row of turquoise greenhouses lay off to the side, filled with all sorts of tropical and local plant-life. A wooden sign reading 'Flouette's Flowers' hung over the front door of their farmhouse. It swung gently in the breeze, the hinges creaking softly.

All the windows were silent and dark except for one on the second floor. Sheer, cream curtains fluttered in the breeze from an open window. A pair of tawny-beige legs hung out, belonging to the young lady perched on her window seat.

The girl rotated her ankles, bumping the back of her heels against the side of the house. Waves of her curly hair hung past her shoulders as she intently read a pokézine. She played with the edge of a page passively before turning it. The article she was reading sported a photograph of a pokémon and its trainer decked in lavish costumes. It depicted both in the heat of motion, dancing on a stage.

Golden light touched Luna's toes, and she looked up from her reading. The sun had finally caught up to her, as she had been awake for hours. She had always had trouble sleeping and could function on a few hours of sleep a night. She didn't mind so much, as she loved watching the sunlight creep over the dewy flower beds, revealing her personal rainbow.

"Mum'll be up soon," Luna murmured to herself, allowing a moment more to enjoy the peace and quiet. The sea of light reached her face, illuminating her clear, gray eyes. She blinked her long lashes until she couldn't stand the brightness and turned around to slip off the window seat.

Luna's bed dominated the room. She had several comforters sprawled across it, some bunched into makeshift pillows. Rows of pokézines sat neatly organized on her bookshelf. It was a generally tidy room, aside from stray socks abandoned on the floor. The soft pink walls reflected onto the beige carpet, creating a warm, rosy glow. The tall, white framed window clicked as she pushed it closed. Sunlight blinked at her through the glass, and somewhere below she thought she saw a floette peek up from an indigo flower patch.

Luna stripped her pajamas and grabbed some dirt dusted jeans and a pink tank top from her laundry pile. Dressing quickly, she slipped out of her room and tiptoed down the stairs.

"Odd-ISH!" An oddish who was pattering by innocently shrieked at the sight of Luna's bare feet overhead. He jumped, the blades of grass on his head sticking up straight. Luna grabbed the railing and came to a halt on the balls of her feet.

"Oh, Oddish, I'm sorry!" Luna gasped, biting her lip. Oddish stamped his small, blue feet and glared at her. The round, blue pokémon occasionally wandered into the house through the pokédoor, seeking tidbits in the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I am." She crouched, balancing on her toes, and reached out a finger. Oddish pouted, but let her gently stroke the leaves sprouting from the crown of his head. "I'll bring you an extra snack when I come out as an apology, okay?"

"Ish, Ish!" Oddish chirped, pleased with her offering. He trotted away, and Luna shook her head with a smile. She turned her attention to the kitchen doorway. Her mother would have said something if she was there. It wouldn't hurt to try and sneak a coffee before heading outside. She took one step into the blue and white decorated room before she caught sight of her mother stirring milk into a full mug. Spinning on her heel, she tried to escape but it was too late.

"Good morning!" Her mother said cheerfully, and Luna grimaced.

"Morning Mum."

"Your chores can wait. Have a coffee." She slid a pretty ceramic mug across the table, and set the milk and sugar down beside it. Luna reluctantly sat down, scooting her chair forward. She scooped a spoonful of sugar into the cup and stirred absently. Steam curled around Luna's face as she raised it to take a tiny sip. Long, curled strands of her hair tickled her neck, and she brushed them away.

Her mother leaned against the counter, the white light shining in from behind her. Potted houseplants sat in a row on the windowsill, their slender leaves stretching up to soak in the morning sun. Luna always wondered at how her mother could look stunning even in a ratty pink housecoat. Rita Flouette had caramel blonde hair, round, grey eyes, and perpetually rose-tinted, fair skin. Her soft, straight bangs hid most of her eyebrows, and a loose braid hung down her back.

"Don't look so mopey Luna." Rita scolded lightly. "Today's the day!" Luna bobbed her head, sucking in her bottom lip. "I know you're nervous, but it'll go away once you catch your first pokémon." Rita looked wise as she crossed one arm and sipped her drink. Luna sank a bit lower, avoiding eye contact.

"Does it have to be today?" Luna asked quietly.

"Yes, yes it does! We agreed, remember?" Rita swept around the kitchen collecting eggs, milk, and a cup of flour in one hand without spilling her coffee. "Your father and I will see you off after breakfast. Maybe you'll have better luck if you go without us. A big group might scare the wild pokémon away."

Guilt squirmed in Luna's stomach, and she twined her hands together. "What if I don't catch one today? Last year we didn't find anything."

"Not to worry!" Rita swept out of the kitchen, and when she returned she held a black pokéball with a golden stripe and button in her hand. "It took a bit longer to find, but we had this custom made for you sweetheart." She handed it to Luna, whose mouth had dropped open in surprise.

The guilt doubled in her chest, and she felt sick. "It's a luxury ball, but has a higher catch rate. Any pokémon that goes in here will definitely never want to leave." Rita winked. The exquisite, glossy ball had red and gold stripes across the top and fit perfectly in the palm of her hand. Luna stared at it.

"Mum..." Luna said, her cinnamon-brown eyebrows raised. "This is too much." Rita paused between cracking eggs on a bowl and rolled her eyes.

"Sweetheart, it is not too much! You're twenty years old. Most people get their first pokémon when they're ten! You're always reading those pokézines, and you get along great with every pokémon you meet. I just don't understand why you're not more excited."

Luna simply shrugged and ran a finger over the golden button.

"I'm just tired," she replied, forcing a smile. Rita smiled back fondly and turned her focus to whisking eggs. Luna pushed away from the table with her free hand, placed the ball down, and headed outside to start her chores. The luxury ball rolled a bit from side to side on the table before coming to a stop.

The Flouettes had a ten-acre property that Rita had inherited from her great aunt. At least four acres were forest, which they had left untouched. The rest was devoted to their flower business. Exotic plants grew in their greenhouses, berry bushes took up the back field, and endless flower gardens were nestled in anywhere they could fit. Floettes floated about the gardens, happily tending to their beloved flowers. Some were her mother's pokémon, and some were wild who simply loved their farm.

Sweet, floral fragrance filled the air, and Luna breathed it in deeply. Her shoes crunched on twigs and bits of dry grass. It hadn't rained for days, which meant there was plenty of watering to do. Luna gathered her long, dark blonde hair and tied it up into a ponytail. It bounced as she walked, the lighter, bronzed strands giving the illusion of wildfire. She rubbed her wrist, thinking about what her mother had said.

Back when Luna was just a weed, and could hardly open the fridge, she'd pranced into her first day of school. All the kids had their pokémon there with them, mostly grass, bug, or fairy types. Their town was known for its flora and fauna, and was a prime location for catching all sorts of rare grass and fairy Pokémon. Without a pokémon at her side, Luna had gotten some weird looks, but it blew over quickly. She got along so well with any pokémon she met that they all forgot she didn't have one of her own. It wasn't so easy as she got older though.

Every year on her birthday, her mother would wrap a pokéball and stick a pretty bow on top, and every year Luna would fake surprise when she unwrapped it. Then they'd have their family outing of going out into the tall grass. When she was little, she enjoyed spending time with her parents and seeing all the kinds of pokémon in the forests and fields; once she saw a wild treecko climbing a tree trunk.

After a few years of fruitless searching, the family outings had become tiresome. Her parents' encouragement and over-enthusiastic smiles irked her. Whenever they came across a potential pokémon Luna would throw the pokéball and miss by a mile, or develop a 'stomach-ache' and urgently head for home.

Luna scooped portions of pokémon food into bowls just outside their red barn. The kibble was dark brown with bits of green mixed in. Her dad specially ordered it to suit their pokémons' needs. She scraped out the rest of the food and set the empty bag down against the barn wall.

There was one time, one of the first times that Luna's parents had taken her out to find a pokémon, that Luna would never forget. She thought about it every year.

As a kid, she couldn't see over the tall grass as they waded through it. Her dad had led the way, and her mother followed. They moved quietly, pausing when they heard the grass ruffle. Finally, they'd exited the tall grass, and a green and brown chespin sat with his back against a tree. He ate from a pile of berries with gusto, unaware of their presence. Luna's mother had gently nudged her, nodding. Luna had pulled out a pokéball, certain this would be the time she wouldn't go home empty handed.

She'd raised the pokéball over her head, ready to throw, when another pokémon emerged from the woods. It was a paras, a little orange grass type pokémon with mushrooms growing out of its back. It approached the chespin, and they greeted each other happily. Chespin patted the ground beside him, offering the paras a spot.

It had struck Luna that the wild chespin had friends, a family, and a home. She'd looked up at her father's bearded face, smiling down at her, and was inwardly horrified at the idea of someone taking her away from her parents. Shocked by the realization, she'd thrown the pokéball at the tree behind the chespin. The two pokémon had jumped, and, seeing the three strangers, ran away. Each time she picked up a pokéball she would picture the frightened expression that had crossed the chespin's face, and her stomach would turn over.

Luna leaned against the table, sighing. Her parents' pokémon, along with the wild ones, gathered around the table to dig in to their breakfast. Oddish pushed his way through the small crowd, chirping insistently at Luna. She smiled and pulled a special treat out of her pocket. She held it out, and the oddish hopped up, snatching it away. His leaves swooshed back and forth as he waddled towards the barn.

She had plenty of exposure to pokémon and didn't disapprove of people for catching them. Lots of kids were given a pokémon by their parents, or adopted them from the pokécenters, but the opportunity had never been there for her. Her parents always said that catching your first pokémon was an incredibly rewarding experience, and it developed character. It didn't help that Luna had never voiced her feelings. She had assumed one day she would get over it. She moaned, rubbing a hand over her face, and said, "What is wrong with me?"

Luna had been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn't noticed a young woman accompanied by an ivysaur strolling up their gravel driveway. The pair approached Luna, reaching her just as she moaned aloud. The girl held a hand up to cover her smile.

"Well, you're easy to sneak up on, for one," the girl said. Luna squeaked, her legs almost giving out, but she caught herself on the table. She laughed nervously, turning around. As she did her eyes widened.

"Meera! Your hair...it's green!" Meera ran a hand through her long hair, and she grinned. Meera had a pretty heart-shaped face and a charming smile. Her bangs were cut just above her almond-shaped brown eyes.

"I got it done at a salon in Lumiose!" Meera said excitedly. She spun around, and her hair moved like a wave of green silk. Luna's automatically patted down her own wildfire ponytail. "They massage special dye into your scalp. It's like a spa treatment. They even did some for Ivy!" She gestured to her Pokémon, and Luna inspected her bulb. The usual, deep green was tinted with shades of violet.

"Wow!" Luna bent over, holding a hand out to the seed pokémon. Ivysaur nuzzled Luna's hand. The blue pokémon had short legs with sparse, dark patches and tropical leaves growing out from under the bud on her back. It was a full, almost blooming flower, and Ivysaur was as high as Luna's hips. She was bigger than the last time Luna had seen her. "You look beautiful Ivy!"

"Oh, happy birthday by the way!" Meera exclaimed, pulling Luna into a quick hug. Luna had celebrated on the day with her family. Her mother had made a feast big enough for her aunt, uncle, and cousins to enjoy. The entire day had passed in a blur of her little cousins racing around the farm, lemon squares, and laughing. She'd been relieved to not see a pokéball shaped gift until her mother brought up postponing it. "I'm honestly so busy in Lumiose, I can hardly keep my head on straight. Sorry I didn't call!"

"Thanks! It's fine," Luna replied, pulling away and smiling. Meera Joy had been Luna's friend for as long as she could remember. Whereas Luna had always been quiet and shy, Meera was the opposite. She'd been battling her friends since the first day she got her bulbasaur. Luna had always admired how outgoing she was and wasn't at all surprised when she left Violetta town to become a full-fledged pokémon trainer.

"So-o, did you want to hang out with me today?" Meera asked in a light tone. Luna gave her a look and continued stroking Ivysaur. Ivysaur hummed happily, plopping her butt down.

"Don't think I don't know why you're here," Luna said pointedly. Meera blinked and held up her hands innocently.

"What? I have no idea what you're talking about! I'm just here to visit my very good friend! It has been over a year since I've seen you."

"No-o," Luna contradicted, shaking her head. "You're here as bait to get me excited about my yearly pilgrimage. I saw the berries in the fridge. Did she bait you with cobbler?"

"Maybe." Meera giggled, dropping the charade. "You're half right. Your mom called, and asked me to go with you today, and I think it's a great idea! I still don't understand why you don't have your own pokémon yet." When Luna didn't offer any sign of answering Meera continued. "But I also wanted to see you! And maybe convince you to come stay with me in Lumiose City!" She grinned expectantly, her eyebrows raised high.

"What?" The thought seemed too big for Luna's brain, and she shook it off. "No, no way. I can't leave!"

"But you can!" Meera said, waving off Luna's objection. "It'll be just like before I left! I have an apartment, and it's totally awesome. You can stay with me as long as you want, and we can hang out all the time!"

"I don't know what my parents will say," Luna replied hesitantly. Her friend's eyes sparkled.

"I have a feeling they won't mind," she said, winking. "Besides, they had adventures when they were young too. Just come with me today! I promise it'll make you change your mind!" Meera bit her lip, dancing in place. Luna was fond of Oddish, the floettes, and all the other pokémon she grew up with. The little fairy pokémon gingerly nibbled at the kibble, their long green lashes fluttering. Her mother's butterfree, Aishell, swooped down to land. Her large wings swayed as she scooped up a handful of food into her blue paws, holding it close to her purple body. She looked at Luna with her big, red eyes and then took off. A trail of sparkling pollen was left behind.

Luna recognized that dangerous shine in Meera's eyes. She wouldn't give up until Luna conceded. She half smiled, and said, "Okay. I'll think about it!"

"Yay!" Meera exclaimed, spinning in a circle and dancing around Ivysaur. The grass pokémon reached out one of her vines, and Meera danced with it. "You're going to love it! I have something special planned, just for you!" She winked. "You'll be begging to come with me to Lumiose City by the end of today!"

Luna's heartbeat quickened, and a little part of her got excited. It was the tiny part that loved reading about the news around the world and imagined what it would be like to travel.

"I'll go say hi to your parents," Meera called back to her, strolling in the direction of the house. "And maybe taste test that cobbler!" She waved, and Luna waved back, watching her go. Meera had changed so much in the time she'd been gone. She sported knee-high green socks and heeled brown boots on her long legs. Her forest green shorts matched her fitted jacket. Wearing nice clothes wasn't a change for Meera, but Luna could see a difference in the way she walked. She looked like a real trainer.

Luna turned away, her chest hurting from her mixed-up feelings. She wanted more. She wanted her own pokémon.

"Pokémon aren't things," she mumbled to herself. "How can I just take them away from everything they know?"

The floor inside the red barn was a thick carpet of grass; it was a barn Luna's dad had specifically designed for their pokémon. It kept them out of the weather, and they could make whatever nests or beds they wanted to. Luna plucked the few spiky weeds growing before picking up the hose to water the floor.

A tree had grown up through the roof, which they had never bothered to repair. Sunlight streamed through the cracks, decorating the walls and lawn with golden specks. Oddish had nestled underneath a large fern, dozing off with a full, rotund belly. Luna sprinkled a soft mist over him with the hose, and he smiled lazily, drooling. He rolled onto his belly and dug out the soft dirt underneath him with his feet. He snuggled in until he was fully covered, and all you could see were his leaves poking out. Oddish slept through most of the day, absorbing nutrients.

"Goofball." Luna chuckled. She turned to the large wooden stall in the corner and groaned.

Inside the old stall was her father's first Pokémon; an ancient, mean victreebell. Luna swore it was going to die any day now, but she still had to water it occasionally. It had been a few days, so she stalked over reluctantly. She peeked over the side. The stall was full of overgrown, leafy plants. As usual, Victreebell smelled like honey, which came from its sweet-smelling saliva. It would lie still, and the smell would attract prey. Luna shuddered. That honey-like fluid was actually an acid that could dissolved its food.

The stall also had a funky smell, and it made Luna think of a kid hiding in his basement for days playing video games and eating junk food. In the corner, she saw an expanse of yellow, half hidden. "There you are," she whispered. Moving slowly, she raised the hose and set it to 'Stream'. She ducked her head behind the wall and held down the trigger.

"VIC-VICTREEBELL?!" Victreebell shrieked, and Luna blindly sprayed as Victreebell used vine whip. Its tendrils lashed all over the stall trying to grab her, but she managed to avoid them. The intense stream of water assaulted Victreebell's front, and he wailed, waving his leaves around. The yellow bell-shaped pokémon rolled around, too lazy to get up as the spray washed him down.

"I'M SORRY!" She yelled. A vine whipped close to her head and she frantically sprayed down the rest of the stall. "YOU NEED WATER! STOP IT!"

Luna emerged from the barn dripping with water. Meera was leaning next to the front door of the house with Ivysaur and burst into laughter at the sight of Luna's dripping mess. Luna flicked her fingers in Meera's direction.

"Laugh it up," she said, spritzing her friend.

"I'm sorry. I'm just happy I'm not the one watering that old grump." Meera held up a couple of boxed lunches. "Your mom provided lunch. Let's go!"

"I just have to change first." Luna wiped her face, blinking water from her eyes. "Mum and Dad will wanna say bye too. This is the first time I'm going without them." Ivysaur helped wipe some of the water off her arms using her vines. "Thanks Ivy."

Luna ran inside and up the stairs to her room, water droplets trailing her on the floor. She pulled open a dresser drawer. She grabbed a pair of faded maroon jeans and a clean crop top with soft pink, blue, and white stripes. She thought about what Meera had said as she pulled the shirt over her head.

I've never been to the city, Luna thought. She pictured busy streets and coffee shops. She'd gone once with her parents, but she'd been little and couldn't remember it. Everyone knew you couldn't travel without your own pokémon. It was far too dangerous, especially if you went alone. She shoved it out of her mind and stared out the bright window. She would just have to focus on the day ahead of her.