Brave to Dare
A/N: Howdy there, readers! This is MiraculousDragonMaster, and I have here another Pokémon story to share with you guys. But some quick some background info before we get started. This is a modern AU based off Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", and there are a few role reversals.
However, here's a warning. This has Pearlshipping vs one-sided Negaishipping vs one-sided Amourshipping; definite love triangle, or square or whatever one would call it in this situation. There will also be some Serena bashing. So, if any of you guys don't like any of this, turn away now.
All right. Now that all of that is out of the way, let's begin the story! And, action!
Chapter 1
Loneliness
Iris Dracon quickly walked through the shadowy alleyways of Lumiose City. She wore a beige tunic with pink trim, matching leggings, matching loafers, and a dark purple hoodie over her head to conceal her face. It was bad enough that everyone at school teases her and spread rumors about her just because she wears a hoodie over her face all the time. But the reason why is because she didn't want them to know something very personal, and she didn't need any more verbal torment.
Finally, she made it to the central plaza of the city. She looked up and saw the place that she called home for the longest time. Prism Tower. The white, sleek, tall tower curving up to the sky at a point was the trademark of Lumiose City, possibly even the entire Kalos region.
Ever since she can remember, at seven years old, she had secretly lived at the very top floor of Prism Tower. The immense height of the tower can give people shaky knees, but not Iris. Living up there for ten years; heights are a cinch.
Iris got out a Poké Ball from her hoodie pocket. A soft smile began to grow on her hidden face. "Dragonite, let's go!" She called out as she tossed the red and white capsule in the air.
In a stream of blue light, a pale orange and yellow Dragon and Flying type Pokémon appeared. It had amber eyes, two pale yellow antennae on his head, and large, powerful wings on his back. He roared as he demonstrated his power and size, towering almost two feet above his Trainer.
Iris covered her ears for a second at his dramatic entrance, then went over to Dragonite. "Shh!" She shushed, pressing a finger to her lips. "Dragonite, keep it down!" She patted the neck of the Dragon type, and it immediately quieted down.
"We can't draw attention to ourselves." Iris said to her Dragon type, and then got onto Dragonite's back. "Take us up." She said to them.
Dragonite spread open his wings and took off into the air. He spiraled up towards the top and stopped at an open window near the higher levels of the tower. Iris then jumped off his back and through the window.
"Thanks, Dragonite." She said. "Go on and take a flight. But, be back soon and don't get into any trouble." Dragonite gave his Trainer a grateful growl, and then he zoomed off into the sky.
Iris rolled her eyes with a smile. She then looked around her home. It was dark and shady, with boxes stacked around the walls and the door, which said on the other side, "Staff Members Only". There was a mattress with a pillow and worn lilac blankets off in a corner. And near the window that she came in from, there was a table with painted wood carvings of the buildings and people that mean something to her.
Iris pulled off her hood to reveal dark tan skin, brown eyes, and dark purple hair in a huge low ponytail. But, her face had jagged pink and white scars all over her cheeks and a very bad one that was hidden by the bangs on her forehead.
When she was seven years old, Iris and her parents were caught in a terrible car accident outside the city. She was the only one who survived; barely. Being left all alone with her Axew, who also survived it, Iris ran into the backways of Lumiose City and then hid inside Prism Tower, not wanting to go to a foster home because of her fears of being mistreated by strangers. She managed to heal her face, but it left all those scars. She thought she looked deformed and ugly. So she never left her sanctuary in the tower.
However, as she started to get older into her teenage years, she wondered what the outside world was like now. A few times, she had snuck out with her hoodie over her face. She eventually attended school a few times, but not often, because of the jeers and suspicious looks the other students would give her. And the whispers. They were always whispering about her.
Her Axew then popped his head out of her hair, slightly gasping for air. He then jumped out and landed on the floor. He had olive green and gray scales, ruby red eyes, and two little tusks coming out of the sides of his jaws.
Iris chuckled softly, then bent down to Axew. "Sorry about that, Axew." She said. "But you know that no one must see me."
"Axew." The little Dragon type said, understanding completely.
Iris then reached into her hoodie pocket again and pulled out two more Poké Balls. "Okay. Excadrill, Emolga, come on out."
The two capsules opened, and when the blue lights disappeared, there were two more Pokémon. One was a Ground and Steel type mole-like creature, with sharp claws and a curved helmet on his head. The other was a cute Electric and Flying type flying squirrel with white and dark gray fur, and yellow electric sacs on her cheeks.
Iris had met Excadrill first, soon after she turned ten and got her Trainer's license, despite her fears of her scars being revealed, with a little help from a friend. Back then, he was just a Drilbur, but after some hard and intense training, he had evolved, and he was proud of his strength and was as battle ready as Dragonite. Some time later, she met her Emolga, when the cheeky Electric and Flying type tried to take some fruit from her by using her feminine charms, plus Attract, on the male members of the group, but eventually, the two became friends and Emolga joined her team. A year later, she met Dragonite, when he had caused some power outage to some parts of the city from the Lumiose Power Plant and stopped by Prism Tower for a rest. Iris managed to befriend him, and added him to her team of friends.
"You guys ready for lunch?" Iris asked as she reached for her backpack. Her three Pokémon cheered happily for something to eat.
Iris got out three cans of Pokémon food from her faded pink backpack. She placed three bowls on the ground, and poured some food pellets for them. As her Pokémon began to eat, Iris got out a bag of apples for herself. But before she could take a bite out of one, a knock was heard on the door.
Axew, Excadrill, and Emolga instinctively hid behind boxes or over in dark corners if they fit. Iris cautiously walked over to the door and glanced outside through the small window. She then visibly relaxed when she saw who it was.
"It's okay, everyone." She called out to her Pokémon. "It's just Serena."
Serena Ryder was the mayor's daughter, and the most popular girl in school. And she was also the only human friend that Iris had. Serena was the first to discover Iris living in Prism Tower, but instead of telling the authorities, she promised to visit her and keep her company. As they grew older, Iris still loved her friend's visits and wished that they could do it more often. But Serena insisted that they hang out in secret. Despite her initial confusion about it, Iris complied, understanding that if they were discovered, Iris would have to go away.
The Pokémon slowly came out of their hiding spots when they learned who it was at the door. Even though they knew that Serena was their Trainer's only human friend, there was something about her that they didn't like. She was sweet and kind when they first met her, but now, she seemed too proud of everything she does, and acts like she knows what's best. Something was wrong about her now at seventeen years old, but what was it?
A/N: All right, now. What do y'all think so far? Okay at least? Sorry, I guess my nerves always get to me whenever I would post a new story. Maybe it's because of those Internet trolls out here. But, they can't bring me down if I read your support. Let me know what you guys think so far in your reviews.
Got to fly! ;)