~Authors Notes~
Happy April everyone! Just kidding. The world is being ravaged by a deadly pandemic, and now I have to deal with a sickening boredom every day. I haven't used this site in years, but I was like "Hey, nothing better to do…"
I'd like to make a disclaimer beforehand that I'm going to be going a little bit out of the box with this story. First of all, I do not own Pokemon. If I did, the newer games would not exist. Continuing on that note, it's important for me to say beforehand that you will see no Pokemon from Galar here, and most likely very few from Alola. I think Pokemon Sword and Shield is a disgrace to the Pokemon franchise. I feel similarly with Pokemon Sun and Moon. They just can't compare to the older games like Black 2 and White 2, or X and Y. Of course, this is my own opinion, and you are more than welcome to have your own.
Secondly, I'm sure you're all aware of the fact that some Pokemon have moves they shouldn't physically be able to learn, and other Pokemon cannot learn moves they should be able to have. A good example of this would be Zangoose not being able to learn Cut. This will no longer exist. If a Pokemon should physically be able to use that move, chances are they'll be able to use it in this FanFic.
Finally, I would also like to say that I'm somewhat new to the writing scene. Any reviews or constructive criticism that could be given would be highly appreciated! I will also most likely go over chapters after reviews come in to make edits. However, if you go out of your way to ridicule me and insult me, you will most likely be blocked, and/or made fun of. I'd also like to say that this FanFic will get better over time. I suck at starting stories, but once I get going I do a lot better.
Now that that's all out of the way, I hope all of you stay safe during these tough times, stay home, for the sake of people like me, who have family members in the medical department. My dad's out there risking his life and the life of his family for y'all, so I expect everyone to stay home and stay safe. Cheers!
Chapter One
( For lack of a better name )
I briefly remember earlier this year, during mid June, standing over a birthday cake. I was in a dark room, with nothing but a white cake providing a source of light. It was lit with twelve candles, all symmetrically arranged in two circles around the perimeter of the cake. It was simple, with white frosting. No fancy garnishing with whipped cream. I didn't need any of that. My father took the time out of his day to make it as best he could. He was no baker, but his efforts were enough for me. The cake was etched with simple writing in blue frosting. In the middle of the twelve white candles were the words "Happy Birthday Owen!" The bold blue seemed to glisten in the candlelight, like the last remnants of a sunset melting into the ocean as it descended.
"Make a wish!" He said enthusiastically. I nodded. I didn't believe in superstitions, but it was a rather comfortable ideology. I silently made my wish and blew out the candles, and I was surrounded by the cold darkness.
…
My body jolted upright and I slammed my head against the top of the bunk bed I had found myself situated on. Ah, right, I was homeless. When I dreamt, I always seemed to forget the predicament I'd found myself in today. The father I once had was very dead. I'd lost everything, and I fled to the streets. They probably would've dumped me in an orphanage, but now that I was a homeless rat, they'd leave me alone. Hell, if they legally let ten year olds go out exploring with their Pokemon, I'm more than positive I can legally be a street bum at twelve. It was an uneventful lifestyle. I sometimes stole to get by, and on rare occasions, I'd stumble into homeless shelters when I couldn't find a place outside, like where I currently found myself. The region I happened to live in, Pytheria, did not have many people that were homeless. Those of us who were unlucky enough to be part of this minority actually had it pretty easy compared to other regions. We were granted natural human rights. Food, clean water, and a place to sleep if needed. But it left life unfulfilling and empty. Some just accepted their reality and lived in shelters, but just the thought of that wounded my ego. I could make it on my own. And if I work hard, maybe fate will have something different in store for me. It was that mentality that kept me going. Things would get better, I just had to be patient.
I heard a grunt above me, and the younger dude who was sleeping above me moved around a bit before everything went quiet again. Ah right, I probably woke him up after I nailed my head on the wooden boards supporting his mattress. I didn't like sleeping in shelters because I didn't like people seeing me in such a pitiful state. I often found myself sleeping on a park bench or under a tree, with the warm air serving as a natural blanket. Excluding Northern Pytheria, the region had a tropical climate, which meant sleeping outside was a perfectly viable option for me. Though unlike many who welcomed sleep with open arms, I despised sleep with a passion. I frequently found myself living through flashbacks of my past, similar to the one I had just awoken from. Small fractions of memories that slipped through the cracks in the back of my mind where I hid them, resurfacing to plague my sleep. These night terrors were often involved with fires. Harsh reminders of the flames that devoured my family and my future. The first one which took place in April devoured my younger sister and my mother. The second one snatched my father.
They concluded the first fire was arson and the bodies were never recovered. My father surprisingly took it better than I expected. It was hard on me, but it didn't seem like anything had happened to him emotionally. I was almost certain that he hadn't accepted reality, and the loss of half of his family drove him over the edge to the point he didn't even recognize that they were gone. He acted as if nothing had ever happened, and that it was always this way. Just the two of us. Hell, even I started to buy into it. Then, 3 months ago in July, someone lit up our apartment complex by pouring gasoline in the outdoor air conditioning unit and ignited it. Along with many of the other residents, he never made it out. It was now October, and I found myself with an impossible mission. I had found out that the culprit was a member of Team Surge. Witnesses saw an individual fleeing the scene garnered in an electric blue and black suit, the trademark colors of Team Surge. Everyone was familiar with what their attire looked like, so they were easy to identify. The real issue was stopping them. Team Surge is a terrorist organization that exists for the sole purpose of gaining power through whatever means possible. Their motives as to why are unknown.
My goal after losing my family was that I'd bring hell to Team Surge. In my current state, I couldn't even come close, but I had my Rotom that I trained very selectively, and I planned on capturing more pokemon to become one of the most powerful trainers around. It was ambitious, but I had a powerful motive, rather than a children's dream. It was revenge. I would see to it that Team Surge would be wiped off the face of the planet. For now, I steered clear of any knock-off Power Rangers. Especially the electric blue ones.
After drifting through my past events, I observed the electric clock that hung on the side of the room. It hung from a metal wire, and read 5:45 AM in blocky, red numbers. The room itself was not large, it would be better described as wide. It was a simple rectangle, with dull gray walls, and 6 bunk beds lining the back end of the room. The only people in the room other than me were three other guys in other beds and the younger guy above me. As I said, we made up a small, miserable minority. I sat up and making sure to duck my head so I didn't smash it again, and slid out of the bed. I walked to the door, quietly opened it, and entered the hallway. The walls, which were now a bright yellow, made me feel nauseous. I picked up my walking pace and arrived in a small room where a young man who looked to be in his early twenties was putting out food. It was the cafeteria. It had four round tables in it, similar to the kind you'd find in a high school lunchroom. The smell of Lysol was still fresh after last night's cleaning.
"Already putting out food?" I asked as I casually walked up to the serving table where the young man was setting the last few contents of Breakfast on the table. There were pancakes, bacon, fruit and orange juice. It was now almost 6 AM. He smiled, his bright white teeth enhancing his other naturally cheery looks.
"We like to put it out early." He said.
"At 5:50 AM?" I asked him, and he laughed.
"Never know when we'll get people like you. Isn't it kinda early for you to be up?" I shrugged at the question.
"I guess so," I said, dismissively.
"Where are your parents?" he asked, and I sighed.
"Dead." I muttered. I could see him recoil, but he quickly shook himself back together.
"I see. Well um..., did you sleep alright last night? Nothing was uncomfortable?"
"Oh no, I was fine," I said reassuringly. "I just don't sleep well. I have Insomnia." I said, telling half the truth. He nodded understandingly and left, having already finished setting out all of the contents for Breakfast on the serving table.
I grabbed three pancakes and some orange juice and sat down at one of the few tables in the corner of the room. The white walls were a little more comfortable than the yellow-green walls in the hallway. I poked the contents of my plate with a plastic fork and took a bite out of the fluffy pancake and my tastebuds danced in delight, having finally eaten something other than stolen donuts or snacks. I didn't even contemplate using syrup or butter. I was too focused on the plate before me. As I assaulted the remainder of my meal, a young man entered the room. I recognized him as the man who had slept in the bunk above me. He let out a yawn and looked in my direction. Our eyes made contact and I turned away, pretending I didn't notice, but he'd already started heading in my direction. He sat himself down, and I looked up noticing something different about him. I took the time to observe his physical features. Despite being homeless, he was quite neat. He was somewhere around six feet tall, with tidy brown hair. An impressive beard sat on his face. He had gentle green eyes and wore a gray, fabric blazer that didn't look expensive. However, it gave off a fancy, rustic feel. He was clearly amused as he watched me quietly assessing him. After a moment I composed myself and looked him in the eyes.
"Aren't you gonna eat?" I asked. He shrugged and pulled a packet of peanuts from his coat pocket. He popped it open and began to munch on the contents inside.
"Nah." He finally said. "I'll save it for those who need it."
"Aren't you homeless?"
"Yup."
"So you need it" He shook his head and popped another peanut in his mouth.
"Nah, I have these." He gestured to the yellow peanut bag, now about half empty. I stared at him for a few moments.
"You're not homeless, are you?" I finally asked him. It was more of a statement than a question. The man was quiet for a moment.
"And why do you say that?" He asked.
"If you were homeless, you'd have saved those peanuts for when you need them. I never know where my next meal is gonna come from. I usually shoplift whatever I can get my hands on. However, I save the stuff I steal for when I need it. I'd never turn down a meal for convenience store snacks. So then, who are you?"
The man stared at me for a brief moment before he began to laugh. A wholehearted laugh which I found rather mocking.
"What's so funny?!" I snapped at him. He disregarded my question as I continued to glare daggers at him. He finally composed himself and returned eye contact.
"Apologies," He said cheerily. "I meant no harm. It's just that you remind me of your father. You're just as witty as him, blowing my cover in mere seconds." It took me a minute to fully process what he had said. My father? The man began laughing again, and I concluded he was probably a delusional crackhead.
"My father and I are nothing alike, I think you have the wrong person," I told him, to which he shook his head.
"No, Owen Carter, I assure you I have the right individual. After all, I've been searching for you for a while." He said with a wide grin. After hearing those words, I immediately began to fear for my life. I threw my chair back and bolted out the cafeteria door. I took one glance back to see him sitting casually, with an innocent smile plastered on his face. I sped through the hallways, almost colliding with multiple volunteer workers. I didn't even get a chance to apologize as I flew by. The yellow walls were a blur and as I turned the corner and ran past the reception desk, the receptionist called out to me. It sounded like she had said someone was here to see me, but I was already out the door. I was immediately caressed by the warm Pytherian air as I strained my body to continue running. Everything became bright and fuzzy as I focused solely on conserving my energy. I passed the wispy forms of tropical plants and smiling people. My father didn't connect with people. He had the same personality type as me, but he was very different from me. However, I recognized that I didn't know of his past, and realizing he had a history with Team Surge made me conclude that the man was here to finish the job his coworker failed to do.
After about 10 minutes of nonstop running, I ran into a local park and I collapsed under a tree. The sweat from my forehead burned my eyes, and my body refused to move. I managed to lean up against the tree as I struggled to catch my breath. It felt like hours before I suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"I have to say, you sure are fast. I guess that's what the streets do to you." My eyes shot open to see the man standing about ten feet away from me, with a grin.
"H-how?" I asked near breathlessly. I had regained some of my strength, but not enough to pull a stunt like I just did. Then I noticed a small yellow pokemon floating at his side. He knelt down and patted the creature on the head.
"I caught this little guy a few weeks ago, and he's proved to be a big help. I can't wait until he evolves! Isn't that right, Abra?"
"Abraaa…"
"In any case, Owen, I'm here to fulfill your father's last wishes."
"Huh?"
"I said I'm here to fulfill your fathers-" I cut him off.
"You mean you're not part of Team Surge?" He looked at me, surprised, and sighed.
"So that's why you panicked..." He said finally. He looked at me with sadness. I didn't like it, but I stayed quiet. I could feel a load of stress slide off my back. No fighting for my life. Yet, at least.
"In any case," he said, "the past is the past, let's not forget that. As I said before, I'm here to fulfill his wishes, as it's the least I can do for my old friend."
"What were my father's wishes? And how do you know him?" I questioned skeptically. He straightened up and took a deep breath.
"Well, first of all, my name is Deke Pyther. I'm a-
"What?!"
"I said my name is-"
"Deke Pyther?! As in, the Pytherian council member?"
"Ah yes, I do seem to forget that I'm quite famous around these parts," he said while scratching the back of his head sheepishly
"Famous?! You're literally-"
"Enough about me though, I'm here about you. As I was saying, I'm a Pytherian Council member, as well as a Pokemon researcher. However, I'm also the director of the most prestigious Pokemon Trainer school in the country, Eon Academy. I'm here to fulfill your father's wishes of making you an amazing Pokemon trainer, and I'll do that by accepting you into my school." I was about to interrupt but he continued. "However, before we discuss that, I want to see where your ability currently stands. Let's have a Pokemon battle, shall we?"
"Hold on a sec! What do you mean? How'd you know my dad? Since when did he have a will? Everything's happening so fast, slow down a bit!" I said spastically. He shook his head.
"As much as I'd love to have a leisurely conversation about all of this over some tea and pastry, I'm unfortunately I'm on a bit of a time frame."
"But you have time to fight me," I said, unamused.
"Look, my secretary is a demon." He muttered almost inaudibly. "I'm supposed to see if you're capable by evaluating you. She'll be pissed if I'm gone too long, and she'll start accusing me of slacking off!" he groaned.
I really wanted to ask more questions, but I realized that would get me nowhere. Plus I didn't like the sound of an angry demon secretary, especially because I'd be stuck going with him to confront her. Plus, I was genuinely curious as to what I was getting caught up in. A man suddenly walks up to me, claiming he's part of the Pytherian council, an elite group of trainers who govern the region and offers me a place in one of the best schools in the country. Maybe this is the twist of fate I was looking for?
"Fine, I accept your offer."
"Now that's what I like to hear!" He said relieved. "Now fight me like you mean it!" He flipped his coat back with a swing of his arm and pulled a Dusk Ball from his belt. "Dusclops, to me!" He called as he tossed the ball into the air. The Dusk Ball exploded with darkness and from it came the ghost type Pokemon. As it gently hit the ground, it observed me with it's cold, unblinking eye. Deke looked at me expectantly. I nodded and pulled a standard red Pokeball from my pocket and expanded it.
"Rotom, come on out!" I threw the Pokeball and my familiar partner Rotom emerged from it with a crackle of electricity. Deke grinned as he and I stared each other down as our Pokemon awaited our command. Little did I know that this battle would mark the beginning of a series of events that would forever change the world as we knew it. It was the day my descent was cut short, and my ascendance began.
~Authors Notes~
Phew, finally! Hopefully, that was a good start. As I said, I have trouble starting stories, so be sure to call me out on anything I can do better!
I probably shouldn't have been listening to heavy metal as I wrote this, cuz it made the whole editing process a lot more difficult, but come on this is metal we're talking about here!
I've specifically enjoyed "I am a Stone" by Demon Hunter. I don't even think this counts as a metal song even though it's in a metal album, but good music is good music! Well anyhoo, it's about time I check out. Be sure to review, and slap that follow and/or favorite button if you wanna see more. I'm more encouraged to write when I know people are waiting for me! :)
~Cheers, and I'll see you all soon!(?)