Characters: Jaiden "Jade" Sayo: The main character of this series, 10 years old. Loves pokemon, and loves to help out trainers with their problems. He was an orphan before getting adopted by Lusamine and her family. Starter Pokemon: Riolu (Luca).
Lusamine: President of the Aether Foundation, adopted mother to Jaiden. Very busy and forgetful at times
Lillie "Lil": Jaiden's adopted sister, who is 2 years older than him. Hates Lusamine for reasons that are personal, but still respects her. Starter Pokemon: Alolan Vulpix (Snowy)
Gladion "Ion": Jaiden's Older brother, 5 years older than Jaiden. Starter pokemon: Lycanroc.
Kiawe, Mallow, Sophocles, and Lana: Lillie's friends, all supportive of Jaiden.
Chapter 1: Welcome home, Jaiden! The choice of the Starter!
Jaiden smiled as he felt the cool sea breeze run through his hair. "Ah, Home at last!" He said, grabbing his bags. He had been on Ula'ula Island helping at the Hokulani Observatory. As his boat reached the dock, He saw his siblings waiting for him. "Welcome home, Jade!" His sister, Lillie, said as he walked off the ramp. He hugged her, Laughing. "Where's mom?" Jade asked. "Still working…. You know how she is." His older brother, Gladion, said, ruffling Jade's hair. "Jeez, when will mom ever take a break from her research?" Jade said, pulling his comb out and fixing his hair. Gladion shook his head, "I don't know, little bro. BUT! Me and Lillie have a surprise for you." He said, pulling out a blindfold. Jaiden smilied, "Bro, please tell me this is a good surprise." Jade said as Gladion put the blindfold on him. After hearing Lillie call for Hobbes on her phone, he heard her laugh. "Oh, Jade is gonna love the surprise, Gladion." He heard her say.
Jade instantly smiled, And let Gladion and Lillie lead him into the family limo. After a few minutes, he heard the gates to the mansion open. "We're here, little bro." Gladion said. After Gladion and Lillie led Jade to his room, they pulled off the blindfold. As Jade blinked open his eyes, he saw all of Lillie's friends gathered in his room. "Welcome Home, Jaiden!" Mallow and Kiawe said. Sophocles and Lana clapped their hands, their pokemon jumping in delight. "W-what the? How long did you guys plan this?" Jade asked, looking shocked. "Well, it was all Lillie's idea." Kiawe said, Slapping Jade's back. "And that's not all, Jade! Look at your bed!" Gladion said.
As Jade looked at his bed, he saw five pokeballs. "Uh…. Why are there Pokeballs on my bed?" He asked, looking at Lillie and Gladion. "That's the other surprise! It's time for you to choose a starter Pokemon!" Lana said, walking over and opening the pokeballs. The first pokemon Jade saw appear was a Litten, followed by a Popplio, Rowlet, Riolu, and Eevee. "Can I choose one of them? N-no way.." Jade said, excited. He had always dreamed of owning a pokemon, but now his dream was coming true. As he looked at the pokemon he could choose, he stopped at Riolu. He felt like there was a connection between him and Riolu, but how? Riolu nodded and walked up to him, putting one of its hands on Jade's legs. "Rio! Riolu!" Riolu said, looking up at Jaiden. Jade smiled and picked it up. "I chose this one. He seems to like me." Jade said, smiling.
As Lana handed Jade the Pokeball for Riolu, she put all the others up. "I'll take these to the professor for you, Lillie." she said. Jade smiled, "I think I'll call you… Luca. Because you evolve into a Lucario, I think Luca fits you perfectly." Jade said to his new pokemon. Gladion and Lillie smiled as their younger brother and his new pokemon played for a while. Soon, Jade and Luca climbed into Jade's bed. "I'm.. *Yawn* Tired…." Jade said, covering himself and Luca with his blanket. As Gladion and Lillie left their younger brother and his pokemon to sleep, they heard the front door open. "That's probably mom." Lillie said in disgust. Gladion nodded, knowing the reasons Lillie didn't like Lusamine.
After eating dinner with Lusamine, Lillie checked up on Jade. After seeing her brother have an arm on his Riolu, she smiled and kissed Jade's head. "Good night, little brother. Tomorrow's a big day for you." she whispered, leaving the room. As Lillie left the room, Gladion stopped her in the hallways. "Hey, Lillie… Should We try to explain why Mom hardly cares about us to Jade? I mean… I know he wants to be a trainer, but he needs to know the truth." Gladion said. Lillie thought about it. She then nodded. "Jade deserves to know the truth, Gladion." She said, rubbing her father's Z-ring she was wearing. Her partner, Snowy, looked up at her. "Vul?" The Ice-type Vulpix asked, tilting its head. "I'm fine, Snowy." Lillie said, picking up her pokemon. Snowy licked her cheek.
Gladion smiled, He knew that Lillie used to not be able to touch pokemon because of something an old worker for the Aether Corporation did to her. Gladion hated the one responsible, and swore to face him if he ever saw him get close to Jade and Lillie. Lillie put one of her hands on Gladion's shoulder. "I know that you still hold a grudge against Faba, Gladion. But you need to let it go. We have a brother who wants to be a trainer now, so we need to help him become one." Lillie said, hugging him. Gladion hugged her back, "I know, Sis. I just… wish that thing didn't happen.." He said, holding his sister closer to him.
Chapter 2: Time to learn! Jaiden's first challenge!
When Jaiden woke up the next morning, he looked over at Luca. Luca was sitting on the foot of his bed, looking at him. "Morning, Luca! Are you ready to make some new friends?" Jaiden asked his Riolu, smiling. Luca jumped from the bed and pointed at something on Jaiden's shelf. It was a book on evolution, written by Professor Elm of Johto. "That's one of my books, Luca. I'll read to you some of it later, if you want." Jade said, looking at his watch. "Crap! We're gonna be late!" Jade exclaimed, jumping from his bed and changing clothes. After he got dressed, he called Luca into his pokeball. As Jade walked out of his room, he saw Lillie and Gladion. "Sis? Bro? What are you guys still doing at home? I thought You had to get to school?" He asked Lillie. Gladion put an arm on Jade's shoulder. "Jade, it's time we told you something." he said, walking Jade and Lillie to the living room.
As Gladion explained what had happened before he was adopted, Jade couldn't help but ask questions as to why Lusamine didn't do anything to stop it. "We don't know why Mother wouldn't believe us, Jade. All we know is that she didn't do anything to stop him." Gladion said. Jade looked at his sister, "Are you… still afraid of Pokemon, Sis?" He asked. "Nope! Snowy here broke what Faba did to me. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have organized your surprise, now would I?" Lillie said, smiling at her Vulpix. Jade smiled back, "Okay! Now, are we going to school?" He asked Lillie. "Not today. I want to help you strengthen your bond with Luca with a battle." Lillie said, looking at Gladion. Gladion nodded, "You will first be facing Lillie, since you each have one Pokemon. It's more of a fair fight than if you were going to face me, Jade." He said, smiling. Jaiden smiled at his sister, "Luca and I will give it our best shot, Lillie." He said. Lillie nodded, "Good luck, Little bro." She said, leading Jade to the practice grounds out in the yard.
Jade called out Luca and stretched. "You ready for our first battle as a team, Luca?" Jade asked. Luca nodded, getting into a fighting stance.