The slowly dimming beams of moonlight filtered through the windows of the Sapphires' house, illuminating the rooms cluttered with unorganized possessions and unopened cardboard boxes. The clocks read one o'clock AM, and all of Littleroot's inhabitants were asleep. All except one.
This ungodly hour found Ghost creeping into her mother's bedroom, her hair tinted silver by the lunar rays. Her shoes and bag lay in the doorway as she slowly and silently made her way to Mrs. Sapphire's purse. She took a deep breath, then picked her way through the bag until she found the wallet, and removed 3000 Poké from it. She stood and stuffed the money in the pocket of her shorts, whispering, "I'm sorry, Mom." The items she bought yesterday were cheap, enough for her to get with built-up allowance. But this was a lot of money for her. And she'd need it.
As the young teenager descended the stairs, Crann cradled in her arms asleep, she noticed a shoebox on one of the boxes near the door, with a note leaning on it that read 'May.' She swallowed hard, knowing that her mother only used her real name, in writing or speech, when it was serious. She gently set her Treecko down and picked up the note, turning it to read the writing.
'My wonderful daughter, do you really think I don't know you? I may not know your entire reasoning, but I'm not stupid. You don't want to say goodbye before you leave. Well, this is a present from your father and me. I love you, and I know you're destined to do great things.
Love, Mom'
Reading that almost made Ghost turn right around and go back up to her room. Almost.
She lifted the lid of the shoebox up, and her eyes widened in surprise. Inside were two brand-new black high top sneakers. She had pleaded for them since seeing them in a store, but her mom said she didn't need them.
"Arceus, Mom. Thanks." She breathed, gingerly taking out the shoes and replacing her worn out tennis shoes with them. The brunette looked around for a writing utensil and, after finding one, hastily scribbled down a few words of thanks to her mother. She once again scooped up Crann and left her house, for the last time.
To be honest, it wasn't just her mother she was avoiding, although she was dodging a goodbye soaked in the older woman's tears. What Brendan had said the day before unnerved her. She hoped to leave before he woke up and lose him before the chase even began.
She woke Crann up, shaking her gently. "Wha... What," the grass-type mumbled groggily. She rubbed her golden eyes and looked up at her trainer questioningly.
"Sorry, but right now you're my only Pokémon, so you have to be awake. But we're going to catch a new teammate."
That made her perk up. "What'll it be? Maybe a Zigzagoon, or a Poochyena! Maybe it'll be another girl, and she'll be tough too."
Ghost just smiled and continued walking, letting her Pokémon fantasize. They passed through Oldale Town, which was dark and silent. Crann leaped down and bounded around, getting her blood circulating and waking herself up.
As they entered Route 103, the Treecko came closer to her trainer, peering about warily. They walked aimlessly around, waiting for a Pokémon to appear. As they passed under a tree, something dropped from the branches and landed on Ghost's face. There was a pause of shock, then the girl started running around, screaming "GETITOFFGETITOFF!" Eventually she had the sense to stop and peel the assailant off of her.
In her hands she held a small red worm-like creature, with yellow spikes on his rear and forehead. His large lemon-colored eyes were fearful as he cowered under the scrutiny of the trainer and partner. "I-I'm terribly sorry," he whimpered quietly. "I didn't mean to startle you. You awoke me from my sleep and I fell off of my branch."
Ghost stared at him for a moment, then realized that he was her first encounter for the route. "It's fine," she replied with a small smile. "Are you a wild Pokémon?"
"Y-yes," he answered tentatively. He yelped as the brunette brought out an empty Pokéball and pressed it gently on his face. He dissipated into a red light and disappeared inside the ball, which shook once, then twice before becoming still.
"Alright!" The trainer shouted, pumping her fist in the air. She released the bug-type and examined him for a moment before saying, "Our first teammate, Sprinkle!"
Crann smiled and patted his head in greeting. "I'm Crann, and this is Ghost. Welcome to the team!"
Sprinkle gave the equivalent of a smile and ducked his head in embarrassment.
"Oh, before I forget," Ghost said, bringing out the Pokédex. She opened it and pressed a button. The device scanned the new addition to the team and read out loud in a robotic voice as a picture appeared on the screen.
"Wurmple, the Worm Pokémon. Wurmple is targeted by Swellow as prey. This Pokémon will try to resist by pointing the spikes on its rear at the attacking predator. It will weaken the foe by leaking poison from the spikes."
Ghost closed the dex and placed it back into her bag. "Alright, Crann, Sprinkle. We're off!" She marched out of the route, back to Oldale. Crann glanced at the Wurmple and shrugged before following their trainer, mocking her exaggerated stride.
When they reached the town, instead of turning towards Petalburg, they continued straight, back towards Littleroot. "Um, Ghost? Where are we going?" The Treecko asked in confusion.
"To train Sprinkle, of course! He needs to catch up with you!"
"So why didn't we train on Route 103?"
Ghost halted in her tracks, causing Crann to crash into the back of her legs. Her mouth opened and closed silently for a moment, then she burst out, "Don't question me!" And they continued on.
Crann looked back at Sprinkle and laughed, running after the brunette. The young worm followed in bewilderment.
One boring grinding later...
Ghost and Crann stood next to each other, silently examining Sprinkle. After numerous lengthy battles, he had finally evolved. One second he just sat there, then he started to glow white. The next moment he was a white silky oval, with appendages sticking out on top. His eyes had become red, and were barely visible on either side of the oval. They had quickly discovered that he could no longer speak.
"Silcoon, the Cocoon Pokémon," the Pokédex announced. "Silcoon was thought to endure hunger and not consume anything before its evolution. However, it is now thought that this Pokémon slakes its thirst by drinking rainwater that collects on its silk."
Crann finally broke the awkward silence. "Well, it looks like he's..." She paused, glancing sideways at Ghost with a huge grin. "Under the weather."
Ghost stared at her for a moment, unamused. But slowly the corners of the trainer's mouth twitched into a smile, and then she burst out laughing. Finally, after calming down, she gently patted her Pokémon's head, then glanced up at the sky, which was turning pale pink and blue as the sun rose. "We need to get going." She picked Sprinkle up and ran back to Oldale, her Treecko on her heels.
"Hey!" Ghost called as they got closer to the west exit of Oldale. She saw the man who had been sketching the rare Pokémon footprints. He was leaning against the tree, looking at his sketchbook in perplexity. He glanced up as the trainer approached, then his eyes fell back to his drawing.
"Did you finish sketching the footprint? What Pokémon was it?" She asked, trying to sneak a look at the book.
The man blushed and refused to meet her gaze, drawing the pages closer to his chest. "It was... Um... My footprints." He finally answered, his face a deep shade of red.
The teenager stepped back, staring at him, waiting for him to say, "Just kidding!" But he didn't. He just stood there, withering under her silent judgment.
Her voice started calm, but escalated in volume. "How do you mistake your own footprints for a Pokémon's?" She took another step back, lifting her hands up in defeat. "You know what, actually, I don't care. Just don't get in my way again." She then exited Oldale Town, entering Route 102.
"Sorry," Crann said to the stunned man as she followed, though of course all he heard was a Treecko saying its name.
Ghost brightened as they grew farther away from the town. Her mind wandered, wondering what addition to her team this route would bring. Maybe a fire-type. Or a fighting-type. A flying-type that could take her all over the region, even. With no knowledge of Hoenn's Pokémon, the possibilities of her imagination were endless.
She was brought out of her thoughts by a low growl from the bushes. "Zig..."
"Bloody h-" she was cut off as a brown zig-zag striped Pokémon jumped in front of them. "Alright, Sprinkle," she sighed, putting the Silcoon on the ground. "You've got this one. He's our new teammate, so don't hurt him too much."
She needn't have worried. With Sprinkle's boosted defence and average attack, the battle quickly ended with the Zigzagoon caught in a Pokéball. Ghost released him and took out her Pokédex, pressing the activation button.
"Zigzagoon, the Tiny Racoon Pokémon. The hair on Zigzagoon's back is bristly. It rubs the hard back hair against trees to leave its territorial markings. This Pokémon may play dead to fool foes in battle."
"Play dead, eh?" The trainer tilted her head as she looked at her newly acquired teammate.
"That's right, m'dear," the Zigzagoon replied, his tail wagging slightly. He had a strange accent that made Ghost imagine him wearing a monocle. "Emulating death is a fantastic way to avoid said state of being. I've mastered it, myself."
"Hm... Alright, Crann, Sprinkle, this is our new teammate, Actor!"
Actor narrowed his eyes slightly and waited for a moment, staring at his new trainer. "Wait, you're not joking?"
"Of course not!" She exclaimed, offended, as she tossed him a Potion. "Now drink that. We're going to get my Trainer Card now." She picked Sprinkle up then started her strange march in the direction of Petalburg. Crann followed, walking beside her new teammate and introducing herself, as well as explaining Ghost's behavior.
They hadn't gone very far when a human shouted, "Hey, little girl!"
Ghost turned, her eyes burning with annoyance. "Who said that?" She asked furiously, her hands balled into fists.
"Me," a boy even younger than Ghost replied snottily, stepping out of the shadows. "You're a trainer, aren'tcha? So battle me!" Without waiting for a reply, he tossed a Pokéball to the ground, releasing a Zigzagoon.
"You've brought this on yourself, punk. Actor," she paused, then whispered dramatically. "Tackle."
"With pleasure," the normal-type darted forward with surprising speed and slammed into the opponent with full force. It was a critical hit, and the foe collapsed in a faint instantly.
"Zigzagoon, no!" The brat shouted, picking up his Pokémon. He glared at Ghost. "Meanie," he sniffed and walked off.
"Alright, Actor!" Crann shouted, pumping her fist in the air.
Ghost turned from making faces at the kid's back. "Oh, yea. You definitely proved yourself, Actor. That was great."
He grinned cockily, his bushy tail stuck in the air. "Please, that required no effort. Now, I believe you were going to receive a card?"
Ghost entered the Trainer Card Issuing Station in Petalburg, Crann riding on her shoulder, her other two Pokémon hidden in her bag, to assume the appearance of a new trainer. They had met a few more trainers on the way, but with the combined strength of Crann, Sprinkle, and Actor, it was no problem sweeping them.
"I'd like a Trainer ID, please."
"Name?"
She paused, debating whether to use her real name or her nickname. "Ghost Sapphire."
The man behind the counter gave her a look. "You're Norman's kid?"
"Yes, yes I am."
He paused for a moment, scrutinizing her curiously, then looked away and started typing information onto a computer. "No badges yet, though?"
"No."
"Is that your only Pokémon?"
She hesitated, glancing at Crann with uncertainty.
"Be honest, kid. It's important."
She sighed. "No, I have a Zigzagoon and a Silcoon that I evolved from a Wurmple."
A machine next to the computer started making noise, and a laminated green rectangle slid out of a slot. The man handed it to Ghost. "Here ya go, you're now an official trainer. Good luck, and have fun!"
"Thank you," she replied and left, breathing a sigh of relief as she stepped out of the building, putting the license in a small pocket of her bag.
"You don't like answering questions, do you?" Crann asked, peering at her.
"No," the trainer admitted, shoving her hands into her pockets.
"Is that why you won't tell me what the Nuzlocke challenge is?"
Ghost halted, looking at the Treecko with warm eyes and a sorrowful frown. Even though she was a skilled battler and showed herself to be sharp-tongued when frustrated, the grass-type was still young and naïve. Her golden gaze glimmered with innocent curiosity as she patiently waited for her trainer's reply.
"Okay, Crann. You need to know."
A few minutes later, the team sat in the shade of a tree, the three Pokémon watching their trainer intently. The males had been informed by Crann only that they were learning something important. Ghost had paced while they lounged as she searched for the right words. She was hoping not to frighten them away, but she didn't want to lie or sugarcoat it. Finally, she went and sat cross-legged in front of her teammates, looking at them for a moment before taking a deep breath and beginning.
"Well, there's something that I need to tell you guys. You see, I've taken a challenge. It's called the Nuzlocke challenge. It's a special, more difficult way to travel around the region with Pokémon. There are three rules. First, I can only catch the first Pokémon I encounter for each route. Which would be you two," she said, gesturing to Sprinkle and Actor. "Second: I have to give a nickname to each Pokémon I catch. And the third and worst rule. If a Pokémon is injured to the point of fainting, then I can't heal them or use a revive. I have to let them die."
Crann's reaction was instant and furious. She jumped to her feet and glared at her trainer, making wide gestures with her arms. "Die? You have to let your Pokémon – let us - die? That's insane! Why would you do that?"
"I don't know," Ghost admitted truthfully. "The thrill of the challenge, maybe? All I know is that it's what I want to do. If you guys don't want to risk it, then you can leave. I'll... I'll be fine with it. It's your choice." Her head lowered slightly, her eyes hidden beneath the bill of her hat.
There was a minute or two of silence as the Pokémon looked at each other, silently debating on whether they were willing to risk their lives or not. Finally, Actor sighed and stepped forward. "Ma'am?" Ghost looked up at him as he spoke softly. "I may not have been in your service for long, but I do believe you are a capable trainer, and I want to help you complete this challenge."
The corners of the girl's mouth tilted upwards slightly. Her eyes shone as Sprinkle shook a little in a sort of nod, a pleasant hum emitting from the silver oval. Crann stood, turned away from them, her arms crossed as she stared at the ground defiantly, battling with herself.
She had grown up confined in the lab, and when she had first realized that the professor was going to give her to the brunette who had commanded her to attack that Poochyena, she thought that finally she would get to go on an adventure, traveling about Hoenn and defeating gyms. But now there would be the constant threat of losing her life or her friends in an instant. Was that a risk she was willing to take?
The Treecko faced her trainer, clutching the bandanna around her neck gently. "When you gave me this, you said that it signified our new partnership. Did you know at that point that it was possible that I would die?"
"Yes," Ghost answered hesitantly.
Crann's grip tightened, and for a heart-pounding moment she was tempted to rip the cloth off and run away. Maybe back to the lab. But Birch's last instructions to her rang in her ears.
"You stay with her, no matter what. No matter what. Don't fail the mission."
Slowly her hand relaxed and fell to her side. "I see no reason to part so soon. It's not like you'll deliberately set us up to die. Besides," she added with a smirk, her fingers tracing the healing scars running down her face. "If I stick with you, I have a good chance to get my revenge on that glorified campfire of Brendan's."
Ghost managed to return the grin, getting to her feet and placing her hands on her hips. "Now that we have that out of the way, it's time to move on to another problem." She took Sprinkle into her arms and turned back to Petalburg. Being closer to her mouth than the others, the silent Silcoon was the only one to hear the whispered words of his trainer.
"I'm coming, Dad."
Current Team
Crann - Treecko - Level 9 - Bold - Female
Sprinkle - Silcoon - Level 7 - Docile - Male
Actor - Zigzagoon - Level 7 - Hasty - Male
-_- *stares at Actor's and Sprinkle's names* What's WRONG with me?
