Hey! Akira here! Betcha you're all surprised to hear from me again so soon. Well, I was eager. And I finally nailed down some stuff, including the character designs of Silver and Lyra. You can see 'em on my DA account, which is under the same username. Lyra's was easy, but Silver's took a lot of looking into.

I ended up choosing the name "Auro". Aside from "Sakaki" (which I kinda didn't want to use since it sounded so out of place), it was the most popular option in my short poll. For those who didn't know, the name auro means gold or gilded, which I thought fit the title of the story to a t.

This chapter is more like the second part of the introduction. It won't really be called the beginning of the actual story until the next chapter or so.

As another note, this fanfic may be a bit dark or bloody at times, hence the T. It's not like they have the insta-heal machines at the Centers, so healing will take longer, and there are fewer (if any) laws about Monster abuse. Also, people carry daggers, bows and arrows, and swords. The bad guys especially. And unlike the games, they'd probably have no qualms about using weapons against this story's heroes. Plus... it's the Middle Ages. I'm sure there was a whole lot of violence then, especially when it came to power struggles.
But remember, none of my stories have lemons or limes, so no worries about that kind of T Rating.

Please read, enjoy, and review! ^^

(~)

I watched from the balcony as the sun sank past the horizon, and dusky hues of orange, purple, and blue streaked the sky and slowly painted it the color of night. Even still, I did not move. I had stood as still as stone for the past two hours, waiting. My eyes were trained upon the sky, watching closely, my hand wrapped around the hilt of a sword. It was as if I was waiting for a sign.

Which I suppose I was.

Finally, the gleam of the first star in the sky started to glow. The corner of my mouth edged upwards only slightly. It had been a fond tradition of my mother to wait for the first star of the night to appear and lift up a prayer to God each night before going to sleep. I remember countless nights of her sitting beside me when I was a child, watching the night sky to see who could point it out first.

It seemed only right that I pay her homage before setting out without looking back, even if I wasn't too sure if it would even be heard.

My slight smile faded and died. If she were here today, I probably wouldn't have to leave in the first place. I clenched my teeth and my fingers tightened further around the hilt of my weapon.

The grip was wrapped in wire, with the black leather showing through the gaps in the metal. The cross guard curved nicely upwards. The pommel was also silver, set with an orb of polished onyx. The scabbard was steel, covered in black leather and a single ruby adorned the front.

It was a simple, yet beautiful weapon, and it was mine. I never used the one given to me by my father for my sixteenth birthday. It was claimed to be one of the most beautiful and costly swords in Kanto, made with precious metals and set with valuable stones. But that sword could rust in the armory for eternity, for all I cared about it. It would always be ugly to me.

No, this weapon was made for me. For the person, not the prince.

I had snuck away to a blacksmith in disguise, offering to pay handsomely for a sword made to my liking. Mine was much simpler, bolder, and intimidating- not to mention much more practical. I was pleased with how it came out.

It occurred to me once when I had gone to check on the blade's progress that my father would be displeased with me for refusing the sword he had commissioned for me and holding it in such contempt.

And I remember smirking and reasoning that that was precisely why I was doing it.

My memories came to a halt as the glow of the first evening star caught my attention. I briefly closed my eyes.

Please. Help me escape this prison. I no longer can stand being associated with such atrocious people. This is not the life I want to lead.

It was a short prayer, but I was not prone to spilling out emotions and pleas for help like water. A short breeze ruffled my red locks as I turned on my heel and left the balcony.

I had an escape to plan.

Hours passed, and it was the dead of night. I had changed into clothes I had smuggled into the castle, and I was grimly satisfied. Instead of the elaborate clothes I usually wore, I instead was clothed in dark blue trousers, black boots, and a hip-length black tunic. Draped over me was a black hooded cloak, trimmed with red along the edges. I grabbed a leather pouch from my bed and checked its contents once more. Coins, a small knife, and an intricate wooden ball. I fingered the smooth, inlaid surface. It was a Capsule beautifully made from mahogany and cherry. Within the capsule, in a form of pure energy, slept my companion for this journey. The only living soul in this castle that I trusted whole-heartedly. My mother's beloved Weavile, Lotus. The only friend I had in this accursed place. I closed the pouch and attached it to my belt before leaving my room for what I hoped would be the last time.

I kept my ears sharp for any noise. There were guards that patrolled the castle at night, and though I would not get into any trouble if they found me awake in the corridors, it would lead to questions and attention I did not want to receive.

I hurried through the dark hallways, only too glad that my father was currently traveling. Though he was more likely visiting and consorting with criminals. Had he been here, the amount of guards would have been much more difficult to avoid.

I turned a corner, my cloak swishing around me, hand still clenched around my sword's hilt.

"Halt! Who goes there?" A harsh question sounded behind me.

Damnation!

I turned to see a guard who must have glimpsed me turned the corner, staring at me with suspicion and warning.

"State your name and business here, else I raise the alarm and arrest you," he threatened. Despite my anger for being caught so soon, I calmly strode up to him. This was not going to end so easily.

"S-State your name or I may have to attack," he repeated, a little started by me moving towards him. I smirked coldly.

"I did not know that I had to ask permission to stroll the castle at night," I sneered, lowering my hood with one hand.

I was not sure if the guard was relieved or alarmed at the sight of me. Most likely both, as he had just barked orders at me, and I had the power to get him in trouble for it. He hastily sheathed his sword and bowed shakily.

"I-I beg your pardon, Your Hi-"

I lunged at him, interrupting his apologies by pulling out my sword striking him in the temple with a blunt blow from the rounded pommel. He dropped to the floor with a thud, unconscious and with a small trickle of blood flowing from the bruised cut I'd given him. I quickly sheathed my sword, pulled up my hood, and left as quickly and as silently as I could. It wouldn't take long for another guard to find him, and I only hope that I had knocked his memories of seeing me loose from his head.

What felt like several ages passed in the darkness as I maneuvered my way around sentries and through corridors. Finally, I made it to the door that lead to the stables. A Houndoom was chained to the wall to serve as a guard. His head lifted up and he snarled in warning, baring his sharp teeth at my strange appearance. But as I expected, my familiar scent found its way into his nose and his hackles dropped as he recognized me. He was trained not to attack those of the Auro bloodline. His tail wagged slightly as I passed through the door to the stables, but I ignored him. His only purpose was to keep out thieves. And as I walked past him, he'd already failed his purpose.

The stables were not lit by torches, only because they were not necessary. The fiery manes and tails of the finest-bred Ponyta and Rapidash served to keep the stone building lit quite well. I tried to quickly observe the Monsters kept there as best I could.

I had to eliminate the idea of taking a Rapidash. They were the fastest in the stable, but their fires would bring too much attention in the night. It would be a truly foolish thing to do. I stopped at a stall containing a Dodrio.

They were still very fast, only second to Rapidash. But they were much lighter on their feet and could run without making as much noise. My only risk was if they would bicker with each other.

Dodrio were quite stupid in my mind. Their purpose lay in being mounts for couriers, not much more. Their intelligence was lacking, and they would often pick useless fights with its other heads. Foolish Monster.

But it was a risk I had to take. I moved towards the tack room, having to fumble around in the dim light coming from the open door behind me to try to locate the proper saddle and bridle for a Dodrio.

Unfortunately, as I had grabbed the bridle, one of the leather loops snagged on something, and when I had stupidly tugged to free it, down cascaded a bunch of bits, saddles, and bridles in a startling cacophony. I lurched, my legs getting tangled in the equipment, and I fell.

Panicked, I grabbed the objects I needed and ran to the Dodrio's stall, practically kicking the bird awake. He staggered up onto his long legs and I rushed to adjust the saddle onto his back.

"I think I heard something from the stables!" came a distant shout from one of the outside sentries.

Moving even more quickly, I quickly pulled the bridle onto the middle head and opened the door to the stall. I swung myself up onto the bird and kicked his sides, urging the bird to move.

"Move, you bloody creature. Move!"

With a shrill squawk from the three heads, the Dodrio leapt forwards, accelerating out of the stables, his feet a blur, hardly making a noise as they touched the ground and pushed us forwards into the moonless night.

I felt a sense of exhilaration as I realized that I had managed to get away. I still had a long way to go before I could be out of my father's clutches, but it was the first step. And I had the head start.

They would be hard-pressed to catch me when they cannot see me. I smirked, kicking the Dodrio's sides once more, urging it to go faster still. My cloak whipped in the wind behind me as I directed the Monster west. West, towards the Johto Kingdom, where my father could never reach me.

I never had even the fleeting urge to look back.

(~)
So Silver escapes, blah-de-blah-de-blah, and now the story really starts. Next chapter will introduce a lovely little peasant girl named Lyra.

And as an additional note, if you guys spot any discontinuities (i.e. Me referring to Monsters as Pokemon, or making a grave error) I would LOVE it if you guys point it out so I can fix it. And if you have suggestions on how to make it more realistic and medievalish, please, by all means let me know!

Now I'll get to work to see how quickly I can whip up a new chapter for Time's Design. ^^

See ya! ~Meta-Akira