Chapter 001:

Lost Within

Sootopolis City Gym (Early Morning)

"Lord Silver. The boy has been transported." A green-haired girl informed. She wore a a black and red cloak with an "R" emblem across the chest area. Looking up at Silver with bright, blue eyes, she turned to walk out.

"Why thank you, Sgt. Tsuki." Silver said, no emotion in his voice. He stood up as he looked around the Sootopolis Gym.

"I guess this will have to serve as a base for now..." He thought.

"Hey! Lemme down from here!" A tied up Trainer yelled.

"Shut up." Silver said coldly and reached for a Pokéball. "Go." Silver mumbled and tossed his Pokéball into the air. His Feraligatr stood tall in front of him. "Ice Beam. Now." Silver ordered. The Feraligatr took in a deep breath and spit a cold rush of wind at the Trainer, freezing him solid.

"A bit harsh, don't you think?" A male voice called from behind him.

"Wanna end up like this Trainer? If not, I suggest you get quiet." Silver ordered.

The sound of a Pokéball being opened was heard.

"You think that's supposed to scare me?" Silver said unemotionally.

A black Charizard approached Silver from behind.

"It should at least make you scared." The male said.

"The shiny Charizard? If it wasn't for those idiots at Research and Development, you wouldn't have that." Silver retorted.

"Whatever. I care nothing for this organization, you know what I'm in it for." The Charizard wielder said bluntly.

"Ah, yes...Project Black..."

Slateport City (Early Morning)

I woke up to be on the shores of the Slateport Beach. How did I get here...? I reached for my Pokéballs...wait...one's missing! I panicked and began tossing sand around, aimlessly looking for the Pokéball. Oh no...not Charmeleon...

"Is this yours?" A voice called from behind me.

I looked up to see a male, he looked about my age, maybe a bit older. His hair was pitch-black but he had a blue streak in it. He wore a closed blue and black jacket with a design of a Pokéball in the middle.

"How pathetic. You lost your own Pokéball. Your starter Pokémon at that." The guy said, throwing my Pokéball at me.

I said nothing and stood to my feet.

"Your name?" He demanded.

"Aaron. Aaron Nightingale." I quickly replied.

"The name's Joshua Flyheight." Joshua introduced.

"Where are you from?" I asked.

"Sunyshore City, in Sinnoh." He replied.

"I'm from Fuchsia City."

"All the way from Kanto, hm?" He said surprisingly.

"...yeah...it was kind of a quick trip." I trailed off.

"Me. You. Pokémon battle." Joshua suddenly said.

"Um...er...sure..." I said unwillingly.

"Good. I have four Pokémon." He explained.

"I only have three."

"You'll just have to manage." Joshua replied, laughing.

I grinned. "Well, I can manage with my team."

"Alright then!" He exclaimed, tossing up a Pokéball.

A Luxio excitedly came out, growling.

"Easy now, Luxio." Joshua said calmly.

"Go! Charmeleon!" I yelled, tossing its Pokéball out.

Charmeleon stood by my side, ready for battle.

Fire VS Electric...how can I manage? I couldn't use Pidgeotto...and...'it' won't obey me...

"Luxio, use Shock Wave!" Joshua commanded.

Luxio began charging electricity in its tail and fired it at Charmeleon.

"Dodge and counter with Flamethrower!" I ordered.

Charmeleon quickly dodged and spit out a rush of fire at Luxio.

"Luxio!" Joshua yelled as Luxio was hit by the flames.

Luxio purred and stood its feet.

It's not done yet? Well then...

"Volt Tackle." Joshua said calmly.

Yellow charges of electricity began to form around Luxio's body.

V-Volt Tackle! It's over...

Luxio roared and charged at Charmeleon.

"Charmeleon!" I yelled.

Charmeleon was tackled to ground, electric charges faintly emanating from his body.

"Return..." I said, returning Charmeleon to his Pokéball.

"Good job, Luxio." Joshua praised, returning Luxio to its Pokéball.

"What Pokémon do you have anyway?" He asked.

"Charmeleon, Pidgeotto, and...Mewtwo..." I uttered.

"...M-Mewtwo! But how...!" Joshua exclaimed.

"I'm...holding it for someone." I lied through my teeth.

"Don't tell me...were you involved with C-13 Incident?" He asked fearfully.

I stayed silent. The C-13 Incident was an explosion at the Cerulean Cave, nearly destroying the Kanto region. It was said the PokéDex holders Red and Gold perished in the explosion.

Joshua grabbed me by the collar. "Were you! Two Trainers were killed in that explosion! Now tell me! Were you involved!"

I grabbed Joshua's hand and tossed it aside. "No. But I was there."

"Oh..." He said remorsefully.

"Yeah. I'll be on my way now." I said bluntly.

"Hey wait..."

"What?"

"To compensate for just now, I'd like to travel with you." Joshua requested.

"Sure. I haven't been in Hoenn since I was a child, I'd probably need to someone to hang with anyway." I said, laughing. I walked over to the water to see my reflection. My green eyes reflected off the sun while my pitch-black hair was messy as always. I looked up to see a boat sailing towards us.

"Hey Josh..." I said pointing towards a boat. An old man was in the front with a Wingull beside him, flying ahead of the boat.

"Way ahead of you..."

"I think we need to go to Littleroot Town first. To Professor Birch's lab." I explained.

"If that's the case, then we need to travel back through Petalburg. Then Oldale and go south from there."

Josh added.

"Right."

The boat approached us quickly.

"Watch it!" I exclaimed jumping out of the way.

"Yeah!" Joshua said, doing the same.

The boat docked in front of us, and an elderly man stepped off. He was bald and he wore a black robe, and he had white hair on his face. The Wingull landed on his shoulder.

"'Ello!" The man greeted us.

"Hello." Josh and I said.

"The name's Mr. Briney and I sail boats." He explained.

I can see that...

"Well, me and my friend here are looking for a trip back to Petalburg City. And you have a boat...but we'll pay you." Joshua quickly explained.

"No no, I don't charge. There were these three Trainers that helped me in the past. I can't quite remember their names though...but either way, I will take you back to Petalburg!" Mr. Briney agreed.

"Yes!" Josh and I exclaimed as we ran onto the boat. Mr. Briney and his Wingull followed behind. The elderly man started up the boat. Onto Littleroot Town then...