Hello everyone, welcome to my story! This is the first book in a series I'm writing. Hopefully, it'll be finished the way I want it to be. I have many plans to manipulate known facts and add my own into the fray as well.

Without further ado, I hope you enjoy it!

Pokémon Adventures: Turquoise, Jasper, & Ammolite

Round 1: VS Venonat – Legends Part 1

Location: Twinleaf Town
Date: August 4th, 3000
Time: 8:45am

Legends.

Ancient people weaved together these grand tales of mystery and wonder. Paxton, like all budding trainers from Sinnoh, grew up on them like nursery rhymes. Soaked in their teacher's sunny stories like the seedling he was. Admired the scholars who drenched these claims with beautifully dressed lies. Lies that didn't save his petals from wilting long ago.

Not that it mattered. White lilacs clashed with Paxton's aura often. And he refused to allow its sweet aroma to cloud his mind, leading him astray. Not again, Paxton promised himself.

"Ain't that right, Kiri?" His little formantis trilled beside him. She fell in step beside him, having just defeated a wild bidoof. Paxton wrinkled his nose. Those annoying rodents had the worst aromas.

Paxton shivered. The morning sun beamed down on him, conflicting with the chilling winds shoving at his chest. Late summer winds, though it had to be from the lake. Eastern winds, or so the weather people said. Though, he could do without the musky aroma it carried. He had heard Lake Verity was a beautiful place filled with energetic, young pokémon. Perhaps just another well-nurtured lie.

It doesn't matter. Paxton shrugged. Whatever lies these people needed to make it through the day weren't his concern. Just his mission. And he quite preferred finishing early for some rest and relaxation.

Soon enough, he arrived at Twinleaf Town. A cute little place filled with fresh and golden daffodils swaying in the breeze. He smiled. Daffodils always filled him with new energy. That must be why the townsfolk adored them. He saw them planted outside every building, even worn in people's hair and clothes! It suited them, he decided.

He fell into pace alongside them. Greeting many of them with a smile as he questioned them for an address. Unfortunately, they weren't much help. Although their reactions stunned him. Many froze up and spluttered before excusing themselves. Others scoffed and walked away. Odd. However, all small towns had their eccentricities. He just wished they didn't interfere with his mission.

The merchant stands were a better help. The older people talked his ear off, sure, but they were pleasant. A few of them, after boisterous deliberation, pointed him in the right direction. Well, somewhat in the right direction. He got lost a few stands down and ended in the heart of town by the beautiful statue of Mesprit giggling.

"Pretty nice, huh?" Kiri trilled in agreement. She had been in a good mood since she sniffed some of the daffodils a merchant kept at her stand. Already better than crowded Jubilife City in his book.

Now, all Paxton needed was the right direction—

"I tell ya it's true!" Just north of the statue, a crowd had gathered. Paxton walked over and found a youngster in the middle. Poor thing. His clothes were tattered and caked with mud. Bruises marred his youthful tan along with an odd burn across his forearm. It already looked swollen and blistered.

"There's a monster in the lake! It attacked me and my nidoran!"

A monster in Lake Verity? Paxton scoffed. Too farfetched for his taste. Still, had to be a flock of choleric starly—nothing dangerous there! Powerful pokémon never lingered along the lakefront, or so he was told.

There's no such thing as monsters.

Paxton, however, never left the crowd. The kid had a story to tell, and Paxton felt inclined to listen. It might be good for a laugh. After all, Twinleaf Town hasn't produced capable trainers in years—

"The boy speaks the truth, if only misguided," an elderly man took the boy's side with a pleasant smile. Eyes narrowed with wisdom as he leaned against his cane. "There's always been a force protecting the lake. A guardian blessed by Lady Mesprit herself. It serves to protect the grounds from intruders."

A guardian? Yet another well-watered lie. And the crowd wasn't fooled, erupting into petty gossip.

The elder chuckled. Adjusting his kimono, he tapped his cane against the lush grass. A soft, melodic chime. Yet, it quieted the confused herd with ease. Paxton whistled. He knew plenty of teachers who yearned for that superpower, especially on the last day of classes.

"Now, now," The elder smiled, gingerly tapping the pokéball atop of his cane. "We all knew of the legend."

The ball snapped open and released a beautiful pokémon. Tall and feline with glowing white fur and glossy black skin. It held its head high, soaking in the enthralled gazes, and glared. When the sharp red glare fell on him, Paxton froze. Those eyes dug through his soul for something he wasn't prepared to give.

He wasn't ashamed to admit he flinched. He just hated how the pokémon snarled and turned up its nose.

"You feel it, Absol?" The man turned to him, stroking his snow-white beard. His pokémon—absol, he supposed—growled. "Young man, what is your name."

All eyes turned to him. Wide and questioning as soft whispers thumped around him. Paxton winced. His hands twitched at his side, filled with the urge to flip the geezer off. However, he reeled it in. It wouldn't be right.

Instead, Paxton gathered a battle-ready Kiri into his arms. "Paxton," he began softly. His name usually brought him blooming confidence. Yet this flower shivered under the cold questions blanketing his path. Kiri brought him warming comfort. She rubbed his arms and snuggled into his chest. With her close, speaking came easier. "Paxton Lotus of Floaroma Town. This is my partner pokémon, Kiri the formantis."

Kiri hollered in his arms, sprouting a vicious glare. The geezer took in stride, nodding with a twisted smile. "You all remember the legend," the geezer started. He spoke in a booming voice, echoing through the town like claps of thunder. Before Paxton knew it, many more had gathered around, including the merchants! "A child blessed with verity. Discovered by the delicate flower." The geezer gestured to him, and that twisted smile felt like a snake coiling around his heart. "Tell me, seedling. What has brought you to this town?"

Easy. Simple delivery for Professor Kapok. Nothing special—not aligned with this so-called legend. He finished plenty of these over the weeks!

However, when Paxton answered, words so foreign came with bizarre confidence. "To see the lake guardian with my own eyes," he had replied, eyes forward and shoulders stiff, "and start my journey with an adventure."

His mind whirled with questions. Even Kiri looked up at him, cocking her head. The geezer, however, just kept that twisted smile.

"An adventure? Yes, you certainly shall receive an adventure. As foretold by the red strings. Please, follow me, seedling."

Something tells me I shoulda stayed in Floaroma Town

The geezer led him out of town—away from his real mission—to Lake Verity. He spoke a great deal on the way there. Though with jarring jargon that made Paxton's headache. Upon arrival, Paxton happily entered, free of the geezer and his stories.

Suddenly, staying in Floaroma Town felt like the right move. Paxton sighed and ran a hand over his green coils. He should have flipped the geezer off when he had the chance. Maybe then Paxton wouldn't be in this creep lake. He had always heard Lake Verity possessed the friendliest Pokémon of the lakes. That stepping inside filled the spirit with bliss and led trainers to their truth.

All just well-watered lies.

The actual Lake Verity was desolate. Trees swayed to a silent rhythm as a thick fog weighed on their branches. Bent them at odd angles until they hunched over from the stress. Paxton shivered. Not even Eterna Forest looked so eerie.

"I hate this place." Kiri shared this sentiment, moaning beside him.

It reeked of musk as he feared. And each step brought him deeper into the chilling air. Loose strands of hair stood at attention as a frigid breeze nipped at his skin.

After a while, Paxton paused by a familiar tree. Tall with lovely green leaves and strange letter craved into the bark. Some ancient language, he wagered. The letters seemed so bizarre—mishappened with cycloptic eyes. Yet familiar, as if he saw them in a book. Probably one of Professor Kapok's—Father was never a reader. Or perhaps in a dream? Paxton frowned. With letters like that, it had to be a nightmare.

{Paxton…} Speaking of nightmares…a distorted voice whispered to the rhythm of the howling wind. Rand like wind chimes as it grew louder and echoed. Paxton flinched but, when he whirled around, he saw nothing. New words and sounds mashed together into an incoherent mess. Paxton stumbled, his headache returning, and braced himself against the tree.

And he found the speaker.

A teenager just like him. Skin as pale as ice with messy coils and lifeless eyes. Naked but wisping streamers of dense fog yet shrouded anything unsavory. The figure stared at him. Giggled too! Those lifeless eyes took on the shine of a clear sky and they smiled.

Is that a spirit? Paxton swallowed. Ghosts always freaked him out…

The spirit called to him, but their lips never moved. Their voice urged him to follow as they stepped back into the fog.

…Hell. Against his better judgment, he chased after them. Dived straight into the fog and shivered at the chilling needles stabbing into his skin. Kiri followed close behind, he knew. He recognized the shifting patter of her feet anywhere. Good, he needed her strength. If this spirit was anything like the kind in Kanto—

Paxton shrieked, stumbling over a root before he fixed himself. Now would be perfect for that supposed guardian to show up. Shouldn't they handle spirits and stuff?

Or, Paxton frowned in thought, what if the spirit was the guardian? A chill raced down his spine. He hoped not. Dealing with the undead was Caspar's thing, not his! That rundown chateau gave Paxton his fill of ghosts for centuries.

For now, he shoved those thoughts aside. Chasing down this spirit was hard enough without the distractions. His lungs screamed at him to take a break while his legs grew slow and sluggish. Ignoring it, Paxton finally broke free of the fog.

They arrived in a clearing. And the first thing Paxton saw was the crystal blue lake glowing with a strange pink light. The spirit turned, praising him for making it here. Paxton didn't respond. Instead, he leaned against the nearest tree and was shocked to see more of those strange letters carved into the bark.

The spirit didn't seem to mind. Instead, they floated off the ground and flew over to the glowing lake. They danced, swinging their arms and giggling. Before, it sounded like distorted wind chimes. Now, they gained clarity, echoing the sounds of soft waves rolling against the shore. With one final grin, the spirit dove into the lake.

Glittering light erupted across the water, engulfing the lake in a rainbow splendor.

Its radiance bathed Paxton. Thoughts and feelings buried long ago were unearthed, blooming into lovely daffodils in his mind.

(Veno-NAT!)

Paxton didn't realize he moved until the heat hit him. As he rolled along the soft grass, charred dirt sprinkled his skin. Ignited by flashes of green light. Something attacked him, but he couldn't see anything in the grass. Just rustling as the breeze blew through—

(NAT!)

This time, Paxton was ready. He lunged away as streaks of light smashed into the ground. Unharmed except for the light scarps. Good enough for Kiri as she dashed into the fight. She weaved through the streaks of light and unleashed a spiral of glowing leaves into the tall grass. Trimmed grass fluttered through the air, but the rustling told him all he needed to know.

"Kiri, widen your range and trim the grass! Razor Leaf!"

Sharpened leaves ripped through the air and trimmed the tall grass. Paxton caught a glimpse of the assailant. Purple for sure…and were those clodhopper feet?

The creature paused in the epicenter of the field. And…it had to be the ugliest thing Paxton ever saw. Thick, disheveled purple fur mashed with giant, red eyes, stubby paws, and insect features.

Paxton frowned. This must be the monster. Ugly or not, he had to get rid of it.

"Kiri, time to water the garden." Kiri rushed it and slashed it across the chest. The bug cried out, but Kiri didn't stop there. She scored and slashed, drawing pained buzzes from the creature. Now that Kiri had a target, that bug didn't have a chance.

"That's it! Fury Cutter!"

The bug stumbled away from a slash and hopped off. But Kiri raced after it, unleashing more spiraling leaves to smash into its back.

"Finish it, Kiri! Leaf—"

Kiri cried out, low and mangled, as she fell forward onto her blades!

But how?! Paxton watched in horror as the air rippled and smashed into Kiri, blowing her back. He lunged for her. Caught her just before she crashed. And when he pulled her close, he found streaks of purple staining her green skin. Poison?

(Nat?) The bug hopped over. Body tensed as green light oozed underneath its messy fur. Paxton dipped a hand to his belt. He had the perfect pokémon for this ugly—

"Motha," A calm, melodious voice washed over the field. And the beast paused. "That's enough."

The beast hobbled over to the lake with a certain bounce that Paxton didn't appreciate.

"That's enough fighting, please," the same voice spoke again. A trainer climbed out of the crystal waters. Clad in only a pair of black briefs decorated with bugs and bubbles. His soaked black coils hung over his eyes, dripping water down his toned hazelnut body. He parted the coils, showcasing sky-blue eyes.

He…looked just like that ghost.

But…his looked so shattered.

"Who are you?" He spoke again with that same melodious quality. Only this time, there was a noticeable edge. Like a cliff blocking a powerful wave. "What are you doing in Lake Verity?"

Paxton scowled. Figures the monster had a trainer. It fought too well to be wild. But it didn't make sense. Why attack? Paxton shook his head.

"My name is Paxton—Paxton Lotus of Floaroma Town," he gulped. His heart pounded against his chest. "I'm here to defeat the monster in Lake Verity. That you, ain't it?"

The trainer paused. And his eyes darkened with flecks of gray.

"I am the guardian of Lake Verity," he began slowly as a storm brewed behind his lips. "My name is Turquoise. Turquoise Yukule."