It's been a long time since I've last posted anything here. Life, chronic illness, problems, lots happened since my last appearance on the site. In recent times, an old friend of mine and I would send each other small pokemon shorts. With her encouragement and some other signs from the universe, I decided to give this another try. Maybe writing pokemon fanfiction here again can inspire my lost creativity. We'll see how this goes.

The following is dedicated to my best friend who has inspired the story, provided great feedback and pushes me to continue when things go rough. Thanks hitachiintwinsfan989

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Time isn't as simple or linear, like a river moving forwards. Rather, it is vast like the ocean. An ocean teeming with life of all kinds. Rich experiences and unknown mysteries hiding beneath the surface, each contributing to the waves that ripple across the waters edge. Even the smallest creature can impact which direction the tides turn. Endless possibilities and futures await us all.

One is not stuck on the wave they are on. They can change the current they're swimming in to find their own way through time's wave. Or perhaps, the tides themselves shift on their own and take you somewhere else entirely. Some try to fight the riptides to change their fates and fight for control. There are those who are swept away, letting the water choose their fates. You could try to control where you go but there is no guarantee you'll get there. All we can do is keep swimming and head to the horizon, towards the unknown.

Your passage in time's ocean is but a blip. Still, even a tiny fish can change the ocean's course.

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10 years ago

Postwick Town; an old farming community in Galar's most southern point. It was a small community of farmers and artisans. Farmhouses and barns dotted the rolling hills of the countryside. While it wasn't as big or flashy like other Galarian cities, Postwick had a peaceful, old-world charm. People who grew up here were kindhearted, happy individuals who lived alongside equally lovely pokemon.

One of the residents, a young boy, was walking alongside a stone wall. A fluffy wooloo trotted at his side. "Mum didn't hafta push me outside..." The boy, Hop, pouted.

"Bah." Wooloo responded.

Hop's older brother, Leon, had been away from home more and more these days, due to his work. It was hard to predict when he would come home and for how long. When Hop heard Leon was coming home for several days, he was ecstatic. Practically bounced all over the walls with excited energy. That might have been why his mom was so eager for Hop to 'get some fresh air'.

Leon wasn't coming till evening so Hop had to find a way to occupy himself awhile. While he wanted to the train station to wait, he knew he'd get in trouble with his mom for wandering outside of town (even if he did have a pokemon). Instead, Hop decided to go exploring and pretend to be a pokemon trainer on a journey.

The little boy jumped over the stone wall. "Hup! Let's go Wooloo! I bet there's a biiiiiiiig adventure over there!"

Wooloo bleh'd and bounced after him happily. They were at the southern reaches of the town, in the grassy green hills dotted with colorful wild flowers. Rockidee and fletchling soared through the clear blue skies.

"Champion Hop and Wooloo found a new, never-before-seen place!" Hop narrated. "What kind of strong pokemon are here?"

"Bah bah!"

"Footprints in the grass! Maybe they're a charizard! Or a toxtricity!"

Of course, Hop knew they were Skovet footprints. When Lee wasn't at home or battling on tv, Hop read books all about different kinds of pokemon. If he was going to beat Leon in a battle someday, he'd have to know about all sorts of strong pokemon out there. Still, this was just pretend. There was no way anything that exciting happened in a sleepy farm town...

"BAH! Bah bah bah!"

Wooloo was tugging on Hop's sleeve. It seemed to be trying to tell him something urgent.

"Eh? What's the matter Wooloo?" Hop asked.

"Bah bah bah!"

Hop looked where Wooloo was directing. In the distance, there seemed to be something sprawled on one of the hills. A pokemon? No, it didn't look like one. Maybe a person? Hop went over to get a better look.

A girl. A young girl with long, light auburn hair was asleep in the grass. She might've been the same age he was.

Hop practically knew everyone in Postwick and quite a few of the kids in the Wedgehurst. He had never seen this girl before. Who was she? And what was she doing sleeping in the middle of the fields like that? She'd catch cold or be attacked by tall grass pokemon.

"Um, hey!" Hop started shaking her shoulder. "Wake up! This isn't a place for napping!"

No amount of budging rustled the girl from slumber. In fact, upon feeling her arm, it was slightly cold. At another glance, her pale skin had numerous bruises and scrapes. On the left side of her forehead, hidden under messy bangs, there was a large bruise with multitude of colors.

"Wooloo, I think she's hurt!" Hop exclaimed.

"Bah!" Wooloo agreed.

"W-we need to help her! Gotta do something!" Hop said, panicking. "I-I-I'll go get help! You stay with her! Keep her safe!"

Wooloo hovered by the girl's side, following Hop's orders. Hop took off running through the hills. What to do, what do do? If a pokemon was injured, you'd go to a Pokemon Center. What about a human? Oh right! Hospital! But the doctors were in Wedgehurst. Hop couldn't go over and get a doctor, not without Wooloo to help him. And he couldn't carry the girl there. Best to go get mom. She'd know what to do.

The main road came into view. Two people were walking on the path, talking to each other. Leon! He came home early! He could help! He knew what to do in emergency situations!

"LEE!" Hop yelled. "LEE LEE LEE!"

"Hey little hopper! And here I thought I was gonna surprise you." Leon greeted.

"He came all this way to see you! How sweet!" The other person said.

It was the neighbor lady, Ms. Hana. She was always super nice, offering his family flowers from her shop and discussing cooking recipes with his mom. Even if Leon didn't know what to do (which was impossible, Leon was the best at everything), Hana would.

"LEE! She's hurt! Sh-she needs help!" Hop's told him, voice shaking.

"Who's hurt?" Leon asked.

"There's a girl out in the field! She's hurt all over and won't wake up!" Hop explained. "

Right away, the grownups seemed to understand this was serious. Leon picked up Hop and charged in the direction he was pointing, with Hana following behind. In almost no time, they reached back to the spot. Wooloo guarded over the girl, who still hadn't woken up. Hana felt the girl's wrist for a pulse while inspecting the forehead bruise.

"A pokemon attack? But the ones around here couldn't do this much damage..." The young woman mumbled, lost in thought.

"Hop, do you know her?" Leon asked.

Hop shook his head.

WHOOSH!

A large gust of wind blew past the group, rustling the treetops. Within the wind, there was a faint sound. The boy felt a chill through his spine. Was something watching them?

"I feel a pulse." Hana said. "We need to get her to a doctor and treat the wounds."

"I'll take her to the Wedgehurst clinic." Leon said as he scooped the unconscious girl into his arms.

"I'll call to let them know you're on the way." Hana offered.

Leon summoned charizard out from the pokeball. Hop climbed onto the dragon pokemon's back with Leon behind him, carrying the girl. Wooloo went off to Hop's house along with Hana. At the trainers command, charizard took off into the sky. For a moment, Hop was in awe over the flight. He had never been up so high! What an incredible view!

His attention soon went back to the girl. Still no reaction. Hop had to look hard to catch her breathing; otherwise, it seemed like she was dead. All those dark bruises...what happened to her? And who was she?

"No worries, kiddo." Leon assured. "She'll be fine once we get her patched up."

Route 1 seemed to pass in no time at all. The small town of Wedgehurst came into view along with the doctor's clinic at the north side.