Chapter 1: Our Journey Begins

Janjira was a planet full of life and innovation. In a time when this ancient world was not quite so ancient, legendary creatures battled over supremacy over the planet, terrorizing the anthropomorphic Pokémon that called this world home. The danger was so great, and the results so catastrophic, that they had to be stopped and put to rest by seven mysterious beings that, unknown to the Pokémon, watched over the greater multiverse like silent guardians... like Caretakers...

Kai, a 19 year old anthropomorphic Flareon, was born and raised in Twinleaf Town, which was located in the south-western part of the Sinnoh region just by Lake Verity. The town was so small that it's basically just four houses with a population of only about ten people. There was him and his family, two boys named Trace and Benson who had already left for their own Pokémon journey. There was also an elderly couple, Izzy and Cara, and the town's festival coordinator, Sayer. Despite being the smallest town in the Sinnoh region, Twinleaf Town held the biggest festival anywhere. In fact, it was usually the only reason people across Sinnoh had even heard of the little town.

Oh yes, who was Kai? He was one of the few residents of Twinleaf Town. He also lived with his mother Cassandra and his sister Jaimie. He had no memory of his father though. His mother told him that he was a kind man but he didn't know what he truly wanted in life. He was pretty confident that the single red line in his hair was his own trait, but he did wonder if his father also had red eyes, since he didn't inherit his mother's blue eyes like they were to Jaimie. Half of the people they met usually told that they looked nothing alike because of the difference in their eyes. On the other hand, the other half looked past that and said that they looked so much alike.

It all began on his sister's 18th birthday. Her biggest dream was to become a Pokémon coordinator like her mother. Becoming a coordinator required using a variety of different abilities, but in order to do this, she had to practice using her powers and the only way to do this was to become a Pokémon ranger.

Their mother was the same age as Jaimie when she became a big name coordinator. Now she taught a class on coordination in the town. Students from regions like Kalos, Hoenn, Johto, Unova, and so on came here to learn how to become coordinators. However the town was so small that their backyard was the only place where they could hold meetings. Jaimie had always wanted to be a coordinator but the tough competition that came with it discouraged her from pursuing this journey. Now that her birthday had arrived, she was more prepared than ever.

When Pokémon reached the age of 18, they could leave home to begin their own journey of self growth and independence. The most common career choice was that of a Pokémon ranger. Some people will tell you that the term is very broad as it refers to people who battle other rangers in one on one duels, collecting gym badges, and compete in the Pokémon league. However, every ranger was required to travel with a partner, and many rangers could form teams with other rangers. Jaimie and Kai had friends they knew that were also planning on beginning their paths as rangers.

As for Kai himself, he had no interest in becoming a Pokémon ranger. It's not that he didn't like rangers, in fact some of his oldest friends went on to become well-respected rangers. But it was just that he saw too many negative effects when it came to being a ranger. One of his criticisms was that the profession was hilariously competitive, and even worse was that the battling aspect of it was over promoted to the point of it now being a part of society more than it needed to be. What he really loved, however, was photography. In the town festival they always had a booth for him to display and sell a variety of photographs that really fascinated him as a kid. He had been taking photography classes in Sandgem Town, which was only a bike ride down the road. His biggest dream was to travel the world and become a world famous photographer.

It was 10 in the morning. Kai was on his computer, browsing on the web, looking for inspiration for the photos he would wanna take on his own journey. Today was the day that Jaimie went on her Pokémon journey, and it's also an opportunity for him to begin his own journey. He could hear the door open behind him and knew that it was Jaimie. She was trying to sneak up on him but he knew what she was doing as her excitement gave her away. She wrapped her arms around him.

"Hi, Kai. What'cha doing?"

Kai turned his head and smiled at her. "Just trying to get some ideas."

There was a picture of an Onyx at sunset and a Wailord breaching out of the water. Jaimie pointed at the Wailord.

"I like that one. He's so big but he's testing his limits. I admire that."

Jaimie really supported her brother's dream, and even shared her own perspective that Kai had never considered before.

"Yeah, I think so too. Happy birthday, by the way."

She drew him closer. "Thank you. I'm so glad you'll be coming with me. Well, up to Sandgem Town we're I'll meet my new partner anyway. Who do you think I should choose?"

Kai really wasn't expecting her to ask him that. He thought she would have decided that by now.

"You mean you haven't decided yet?" She looked up.

"Mmm, no. I mean they're all really good friends of ours. Any one of them could do really well in a presentation."

She let him go, allowing Kai to turn his chair around to face her. "Okay, let's see. There's Mindy, who's a Chimchar. Then there's Amy, and she's a Piplup. And then there's Tommy, who's a Turtwig. They all have their own special ability."

"Ugh, Kai this isn't helping. It's just making me want to choose all of them."

She started pacing back and forth.

"Well, sorry. In case you forgot you have to pick only one."

She bit down on her nails. "I know. But it's so hard to choose."

"Well I can't choose for you. But I'm sure everyone will understand no matter who you choose, I mean heck maybe you'll all form a team someday."

Jaimie sat down on his bed, tired of the pacing. "Yeah, I know. I just have so little time left and we'll be leaving at any moment."

Kai looked at her and smiled. He got up and sat down next to her on the bed and wrapped his arm around her.

"Hey. You're going to be a great coordinator. You know I'll always support you. But this part of your life is something you have to do for yourself."

He gave her a backrub hoping to relieve her of the stress. It worked as she leaned on his shoulder and smiled.

"You really have a way with support, don't you? Well you're right. And don't worry, I'll make my decision before we go. Sorry to talk to you about nothing but my problems. It wasn't why I came up here."

Kai rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Oh, you've been doing it for years. I'm used to it."

Jaimie laughed. When she was a kid she always ran up to his room and complained about whatever it was that went wrong. He never figured out why it was his room she'd run to and not her own. When he began taking photographs he would upload them onto the computer and then she would barge in and go on about the most random things ever imaginable. Mostly girl stuff though.

She poked his cheek. "Well, be grateful it's me that comes to you with a problem. Because if it was mom, she would go on about how you could work around the house more... and then make you do it."

"Hey now. If she did that, she would make you help too."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Well, I'm gonna go get breakfast. Ya coming?"

He looked at the closet where he had her present waiting.

"Yeah, just a bit. By the way, before we head out, I should probably buy you some jeans."

He wasn't sure if he had made a mistake or not. Jaimie loved shopping. She even packed a whole sack of clothes for the trip.

"Yay, great idea! I already know some cute sweaters on sale now."

He was prepared for this.

"Nope, just jeans."

She slumped in response rather cutely.

"Aww, how come?"

"Because I don't know if you've noticed are not, but your legs are showing. Some perverted ranger's gonna stare at them the whole battle."

She cocked her head and smiled. "Aw, don't worry. It'll make it easier for me to win. Besides, you're the only boy I love." She then looked down at them. "Do you really think a cute boy will like 'em? I mean, you never know..."

"Uh, would you look at the time, we'd better get some breakfast."

She walked up to him and giggled. "Good save. Well, come on, I'm starving. Let's eat."

She walked out the door. Kai exited everything off the computer and followed her.

Before they got to the bottom of the stairs Kai just realized something. He and his mom had spent the whole morning setting up decorations for Jaimie's party. So he quickly covered her eyes. She wasn't expecting it but played along nonetheless.

When they got to the bottom he stopped and waited for their mother. She came rushing into the kitchen trying to be as quiet as possible. Kai moved my hands and they both shouted happy birthday to her.

It was pretty much what a normal party would look like: a banner that read HAPPY BIRTHDAY, a nicely decorated table, and a blue cake to go with it. Jaimie was more than surprised and gave her brother and mother a big hug.

Sometime after the cake was half gone, Kai ran upstairs to get her present. He came back down to give it to her. It was a small box with yellow wrapping and blue ribbons but it got her excited. It was a red and white hat that she had been eying for weeks. Cassandra gave her the first ribbon she had ever won. She usually kept it as a good luck charm and she wanted Dawn to have it for her own journey.

They were all packed and ready to go. Cassandra was giving some encouragement to Jaimie who seemed pale with nervousness. Or maybe it was just from that cake. After they hugged Kai was prepared to leave when his mother called out to him.

"Kai! Come here. I want to talk to you, too."

He wasn't expecting that, but he figured she hadn't forgotten her other child. He walked up to her.

"Yes, mom? What is it?"

She gave him a serious look. "Jaimie is your sister. I know you won't be traveling together, but... she still needs you. Make sure you meet up with her every now and then and do things together. She won't see me for a long time, so you'll be the only family she'll have contact with."

"Don't worry, mom. We'll work something out. I'll make sure of it."

It calmed her down, but not by much.

"Good. I'm glad to hear that. Hey, I haven't forgotten you. You're gonna be ready to live your own life too. All my babies are growing up. Come here, both of you."

She gave both of them deep hugs. Nobody could blame her for wanting to be with them a little longer. Kai spent his whole life with these ladies, and now they were gonna be separated for a long time.

Finally, they were on their way.