Okay, this was a long time coming. I've been trying to get ahead with this story, and have succeeded partially in that regard.
Okay, Review Answer Time
St. Elmo's Fire: Okay, how to put this?
First: I have fixed the problem you had with the summary. You were right in that it was just a bunch of tags and I apologize for that.
Second: I have taken off the Psychic element from Ash, but I'm only really changing two things about him now. Making him smart and a girl. I admitably can't write Canon-Ash and this story is so that she becomes a reseacher in later years. Canon-Ash just can't do that. Aura, however, is actually a canon element, I'm just making it to where Ash uses it more often.
Third: You must remember that I am not a college graduate with an English degree. I may be a senoir in high school, and my dream may be to write novels in the future, but I'm not to that point in life yet. All these tips you're giving me help, but have you actually played the games or read the books that the Pokémon Company publishes? The way I capitalize things is the way they do it.
Fourth: I will admit that the intro chapter wasn't my best work, but it is what it is. I hope that this makes up for it.
So, now that that was dealt with, let's go on with show! (Sorry, Annie Get Your Gun moment.)
[Kanto I]
It was dark. That was only thing that registered in her mind before the flashes began. A blood-red R, a blue alpha symbol, a red omega symbol, a stylized gold G, a blue P, and a red flame symbol. Then there were three orbs in front of her, one red, one yellow and one blue. A voice echoed around her:
"Disturb not the harmony of fire, ice or lightning, lest these titans wreak destruction upon the world in which they clash. Though the water's great guardian shall arise to quell the fighting, alone its will song will fail, and thus the earth shall turn to ash. O Chosen One, into thine hands bring together all three. Their treasures combined tame the Beast of the Sea."
*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*
Ashlyn slammed her hand on the alarm, waking up instantly. She quickly went through her morning routine. After tying her thick black hair into a mid-ponytail with a blue scrunchy, she gazed into the full-length mirror just outside the bathroom. She had grown a lot from the five-year-old girl who had just been abandoned by her father for no apparent reason.
Her hair, when it wasn't tied up, reached her mid-back, her blue eyes had lightened to a more medium shade, her pale-ish skin had darkened into a tan and she had devolved an athletic build with lean muscles. Her simple light blue dress was sleeveless and knee-length, the skirt beginning at her natural waist with navy beltloops. She had a navy elbow-sleeve jacket over top of her dress. On her hands were a pair of black fingerless gloves with gold rims, and on her right wrist was her blue X-Transceiver. She had on a pair of black leggings under her dress and a black belt with a gold buckle around her waist. On her feet were black socks and dark blue combat boots with gold laces and black soles. She finally tugged on her light blue baseball cap with a gold pokeball symbol on the front onto her head, fitting her ponytail through the hole. Nodding her head at her reflection, she deemed herself ready for action.
Walking down the stairs, she caught sight of her mother, Delia. It hadn't been easy for her mother to rise Ashlyn and her four-year-old adopted brother, Cole, on her own, but she did it. Though the only clear memory Ashlyn had of her father was the night he left without a word, Delia would tell her stories about her father. It was a comfort to both of them.
After eating breakfast and promising to come home before leaving (Ashlyn needed to collect her backpack before she left), Ashlyn was on her way to the Professor Oak's Lab, thinking about which starter to pick. Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle? That was the question, indeed.
By the time she had reached the lab, Ashlyn still hadn't decided on the matter. She shrugged, deciding to make up her mind when she saw them. She stood next to Gary as she gazed at the other two starting trainers, Leaf and Austin.
Leaf Green was a pretty girl with a slim build, slightly tanned skin, mid-back length light brown hair and light green eyes. She was wearing a white fedora with a light pink band, a white short-sleeve t-shirt, pink shorts, a white belt with a silver buckle, long white socks, pink tennis shoes with white laces and soles and white fingerless gloves.
Austin Freeman was a power-hungry boy with a muscular build, tanned skin, military-cut black hair and fierce amber eyes. He wore a black muscle shirt under a brown leather jacket, black leather jeans, a gray belt with a silver buckle, black socks and brown combat boots.
The four of them (with exception of Ashlyn and Gary) can rarely get along with each other. Austin thinks they were all weak, Ashlyn and Leaf would yell at each other about anything, and Gary once got into a fist-fight with Austin over something (Gary would never say what it was about). Before the four could do more than glare at each other, Professor Oak was there to let them in.
They were lead into a rather plain room with white walls and white tile floor. Computers and bookcases lined the walls and a pedastol in the middle of the room. On top of the pedastol were four red and white balls, each with a sticker that indicated what type the Pokémon inside was. There was a leaf one, a teardrop one, a flame one, and, surprising, a lightning bolt one.
"Now, as you can clearly see, there are four trainers starting today. I have a fourth Pokémon, however he is still a bit wild, so only the most responsible among you four will him," the professor said, seeming to stare into Ashlyn's eyes as he did. Austin walked right up to the pedastol and took the extra pokéball and released what was inside. Out came a one foot, four-inch yellow mouse with long, straight black-tipped ears, red pouches on its cheeks, two brown stripes on its back, a lightning bolt shaped tail with brown fur at the base and dark brown eyes. It looked curiously at the four pre-teens before spotting Ashlyn. Its right ear twitched and gave a chirp in greeting.
Before Ashlyn could do anything than stare in amazement, Leaf grabbed the little Pokémon, practically screaming in its ears over its cuteness. The Electric-Type decided that it didn't like the crazy girl holding it, so it shocked her with a Thunder Shock, accidently hitting Austin as well. Once the two were on the ground twitching, the little Pokémon walked over to Ashlyn, let out another chirp before climbing onto her shoulder. She stared at the mouse in confusion before nodding, accepting the apparent decision made. After waking up from the shocking they received, Leaf chose Bulbasaur, Austin chose Charmander and Gary chose Squirtle. They were each given a pokédex and were encouraged to scan their starters before they left the Lab, which they did without further prompting.
[Bulbasaur, the Seed Pokémon. Bulbasaur can be seen napping in bright sunlight. By soaking up the sun's rays, the seed on its back grows progressively larger. This Bulbasaur is female and has the ability Overgrow. She knows the moves Tackle, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf and Sleep Powder. She also has the egg move Leaf Storm, which has not been unlocked.]
[Charmander, the Lizard Pokémon. The flame that burns at the tip of its tail is an indication of its emotions. The flame wavers when Charmander is enjoying itself. If the Pokémon becomes enraged, the flame burns fiercely. This Charmander is male and has the ability Blaze. He knows the moves Scratch, Ember, Bite and Smokescreen. He also has the egg move Flare Blitz, which has not been unlocked yet.]
[Squirtle, the Tiny Turtle Pokémon. Squirtle's shell is not merely used for protection. The shell's rounded shape and the grooves on its surface help minimize resistance in the water, enabling this Pokémon to swim at high speeds. This Squirtle is male and has the ability Torrent and the hidden ability Rain Dish. He knows the moves Tackle, Withdraw, Water Gun and Bubble. He also has the egg move Aqua Jet, which has not been unlocked yet.]
[Pikachu, the Mouse Pokémon. The electric-storing pouches on its cheeks appear to become electrically charged during the night while Pikachu sleeps. It occasionally discharges electricity when it is dozy after waking up. It raises its tail to check its surroundings. The tail is sometimes struck by lightning in this pose. This Pikachu is male and has the ability Static and the hidden ability Lightning Rod. He knows the moves Thunder Shock, Quick Attack, Agility and Charge. He also has the egg move Volt Tackle, which has not been unlocked yet.]
Gary and Ashlyn whistled in appreciation for their starters while Austin and Leaf glared at the two for having Pokémon that had unlocked their hidden ability. It was rare for a Pokémon to have more than one ability unless their hidden ability was unlocked (which almost never happens when they are with a trainer) which means that Leaf's and Austin's starters didn't have a good chance of unlocking their hidden abilities Chlorophyll and Solar Power.
While Leaf and Austin were leaving for their journeys, Ashlyn and Gary stayed a little while longer to hear what else they had to do for their researchers dream. They learned that the next part was simple: keep track of any research-worthy events that happen on their journeys and keep it up to date. That said, the two friends left the Lab to find that Delia and Cole had been waiting for them outside of the Lab. After giving Ashlyn her navy and gold backpack, embarrassing her almost to the point of running and making the two promise to keep in touch, she let the new trainers start their long-awaited journey and all the surprises that will come.
Okay, how was that?
By the way, Cole is my OC since I wanted Ashlyn to have a little brother for a later important plot-line after the Hoenn Ark. He was found early one morning on their doorstep when he was a newborn. He won't be appearing much until then.
See you next chapter!
