TO GET TO THE STORY, SCROLL DOWN. There goes everyone… Anyway, for those who remain, the following is a small note from the author on this story.
I'm sure that you authors and readers have all seen your fair share of Other Trainer Pokemon Fanfiction. I am not claiming that this is any better, any worse, less original, more original, filled with any more dedication or quality than any of the stories of Fanfiction.net. I just wanted to say this. Read as much as you want (not that I can control you), and if this is too cliché for you, I apologize. I know how it feels to read the same plot over and over again.
I'm beating around the bush… Ah, what the hell… Here's the shortened version. I can't please every author and reader, but I hope at least some of you enjoy this story.
-A Nervous Writer
HERE IS THE STORY.
Disclaimer: Pokemon will never belong to me.
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The path of a pokemon trainer is a noble one. Once a person decides to become a trainer, he or she has decided to sacrifice the comforts of home and a normal life for adventure. The trainer must cut their own paths into history, and only with great work, skill, and determination will a trainer reach their ultimate destination… Greatness.
Yet, sometimes the question is not what a trainer does on the journey, but instead what drives the trainer to go on the journey to begin with…
If that Kataro jerk hadn't pushed her so far that afternoon, Agility would have long since gone back home to stay.
Instead she trudged miserably through the fields, an eager Cyndaquil (who was dubbed Pyra after a small fire that she started in the lab) prancing ahead of her to sniff out any wild opponents. The fire mouse's pace quickened. When the faint light from her pokemon faded into the night and she heard a strange, new cry, Agility knew that Pyra had found what she was looking for.
Pyra had managed to track down an odd little owl with stubby wings protruding from its round body. Her huge red eyes stared calmly, almost curiously, at the now active Cyndaquil.
"Cyndeheey! You!" The translator kicked in with a gentle buzz. Pyra's squeaks carried a hard edge to them, demanding attention from all. She looked up into the branches of the tree. "I've chosen you to be part of this group. Come fight me so I can test your strength!"
There was another buzz, and then a beep signifying that a new pokemon species was being translated. "Well, well, I say. Fight why?" The HootHoot asked, tilting her head rhythmically from side to side.
"Are you deaf, bird? I challenged you!"
"Fight hurt, hurt bad, yes yes…"
"You'll be fine. Now get down here before I make you come down!"
"To try, say you. I would like to see." Pyra shrieked in rage, head butting the trunk with no effect. She stumbled away, shaking her head in shock. Soon she redoubled her efforts. It was a terrifying sight—A Cyndaquil shrieking, thrashing, howling, and waving little embers in all directions. Every so often she'd attempt to climb the tree by running up its crooked trunk. A little kick, peck, or flap of the wings, however, made the mouse lose her balance.
Agility watched as Pyra turned back to her, saddened face pleading for a solution to her problem. "Smokescreen?"
The Cyndaquil grinned as best as she could. This bird would be perfect to try her new move on! She charged at the tree and braced herself, sprinting up the trunk with an explosion of tree bark. Her body heat increased exponentially as thick, black smoke began to spew from her back. From the sudden darkness, the word "Tackle!" boomed in Pyra's skull. She slammed into something feathery and warm, bringing the HootHoot off balance and crashing to the ground.
"Yield!" Pyra shoved herself into the terrified HootHoot's view. All the owl could see now was that raging Cyndaquil with the powerful voice and the smoking tree that she herself once perched in. There was little time to think about her fate. A faint burning sensation and a flash of red gave way to darkness.
Agility approached the pokeball she'd thrown. The shaking had long subsided and a final locking click let her know it was safe. She grinned at a sudden noise near her. Pyra had already lost it. She was jumping in the air and whooping in victory, and her trainer was joining in with the festivities. She—no, they—had fought and won.
The HootHoot woke up to meet sunlight. Despite a few darkened feathers, she felt fine compared to last night.
"Hey, you're awake!" Something chirruped. A rotund, pink, pokemon with an egg in her pouch waddled to the bed. She turned quickly, nearly sending the little nurse hat off her head. "Nurse Joy! She's awake!"
The first person to come through the door was the human from last night. The HootHoot had seen others like her pass by her tree, similarly dressed as well. It was a simple light blue t-shirt with blue jeans and sneakers. Around her neck was a thin necklace with a pawprint dangling on her chest. Her brown hair was drawn into a ponytail held by gray scrunchie—a common, ordinary girl.
The owl froze. There was Cyndaquil with her last night, and she couldn't find her anywhere. The battle played again her mind, bringing forth a lesson her mother had burned into her brain—Never, ever, let an opponent leave your sight.
"W-where?" She asked, voice hoarse from disuse. The translator hardly made a difference in the croaking calls of the Hoothoot. "Where's the Firebringer?"
Agility sat on the edge of the bed, motioning for the Chansey to leave. It was after the disappointed nurse trudged out of the room did Agility answer the question.
"She's in another room. Please, don't be afraid of Pyra… She's nice after you get to know her."
"Chance I take on my own, yes… You are who?"
Agility shrugged. "Hopefully your new trainer."
"Sound unsure." The HootHoot shook off her fears. "You train me, yes? I learn to fight?" It was a good idea. If not this girl, then someone else would defeat her. There was a lot to make up for ignoring her mother's lessons.
"That's what I plan to do!" Agility mentally sighed. This was easier than she thought. "I can't just call you HootHoot, though. A new name would be nice, like-"
"Talon should be. Please."
"Well... I guess." Agility was disappointed. She'd looked forward to naming her pokemon by herself. "So, ready to meet your teammate?"
Talon trembled gently. "Ready to meet I suppose. I go later, goodbye?" Agility took it that her newest pokemon wanted her out of the room. She got off the bed and headed out, avoiding the enthusiastic Chansey that barged past her.
Pyra had gotten a reasonably large crowd of pokemon gathered around her, the majority of them newly captured and eager to hear anything exciting. "And in the black night I was blind! I had no idea of the ambush set up for me. As soon as I went up that tree asking for the Hoot to surrender peacefully, I was attacked on all sides by the claws of hidden enemies!"
The few trainers that had translators had joined the crowd, but only the younger trainers and pokemon were at all shocked by the tale Pyra told. A Pichu hid behind his more eager Nidoran friend. The poison pokemon wasted no time in asking her question. "How did you stay alive, Pyra?"
"Ah… My glorious leader Agility and my powerful abilities guided me to victory!" Pyra had gotten the attention of some of the older trainers now. She smiled and prepared for the grand finale. "I came back with my injuries and looked up at her. 'I fear I may have to make this bloody!' I said, knowing she wasn't fond of long battles. Was Agility worried?"
"No!" A few Rattata cheered, happy to add to the story.
"Right! She looked at me with shining eyes and I knew she had a plan in mind. 'What should I do?' I asked. She told me to charge into the ambush again, pretending that I was darkness itself. I would be foolish to doubt her, so I followed her advice. As soon as I went up that tree, fire no longer came from my back…" Startled gasps and murmurs filled the room. They were putty in her paws. "But instead came forth the blackest night ever to exist!"
The Pichu from before quietly asked his own question. "What h-happened to the H-hoots?"
"They were terrified. 'How does the Firebringer use the night against us? Where is she?' Little did they know I was right behind their leader, ready to strike! With one leap I smashed into the largest of them all. It was a monster with twisted claws, blade-like feathers, and three blood red eyes that make mighty Char dragons flee to their mothers! It fell from its tree with a horrific shriek, knowing that it had been defe- Oh hello, Agility!"
The girl that had been so "glorious" in the story looked no stronger than any of the trainers in the Pokemon Center. Nevertheless, many pokemon tugged at her jeans, begging her to tell her secrets.
"I know you had something to do with this." Agility shook her leg in hopes of dislodging the sparking Pichu on her jeans. Pyra simply smirked and went back to the group of pokemon.
"Your Cyndaquil's quite the storyteller." A trainer chuckled, trying to pull the Pichu from Agility's leg. "I hear you helped her capture a three-eyed griffin and its loyal minions. Aren't you proud?"
Agility laughed back, covering her face in mock humiliation. "Yes well, the griffin is doing just fine now. I'm guessing this is your Pichu?"
A particularly hard tug sent electricity coursing through the bodies of both, though the trainer trying to help received the brunt of the attack. He merely made a squeaking sound before collapsing on the floor. "A painful yet rewarding experience. No, no… I'm fine, really." He coughed, waving Agility off dismissively. He rolled over to extinguish the small flames on his brown jeans, tan shirt, and matching brown jacket.
"I'm Agility." She smiled. After meeting Kataro for the first time, it was a relief to talk with a guy without cursing.
"Leon. As you can see, I'm a bit unlucky…" He smiled up at her from the floor, Pichu curling up on his chest for a nap. "It's a bit off subject, but would you be interested in a pokemon battle?"
"Battle?!" Agility cringed as Pyra shot past her. "Yes, yes! Come on, Agility, bring the Hoot and let's go!"
"Hoot?" Leon asked, nervously picking up his Pichu.
"The so-called griffin my Cyndaquil went on about. I'll meet you outside, Leon." Agility hurried back to the room Talon rested in. Leon was alone, staring at the grumpy Pichu that stood half-awake before him.
"Chuu…"
"This could get painful…"
Trainers gathered to see the pokemon battle about to take place outside. A few chairs were set up and a section of the street was marked off in pink chalk. Traffic in Cherrygrove was rare—The streets were perfect for pokemon battling.
A rather chubby boy named Gerald made his way to the middle of the rectangle, producing a large safety cone. "Quiet, please! The battle is about to start!" The kids didn't listen and the cheering grew louder. The boy grimaced at his lack of control. This happened every time… He found Agility and Leon with two quick glances and led the two to the marked zone.
"No time limit, two on two battle, half of the loser's money goes to the victor. You fight until your pokemon faints, and use a substitute if necessary. Any signs of cheating or excessive damage will result in automatic-"
"Did you practice for this moment?" Agility asked, staring at the boy that stood between them.
"Eh, it makes the battle more interesting and the kids eat it up." He patted his pocket, noticeably full of money. "We all gotta make a living somehow, right?"
There was an uncomfortable silence from the opponents. Gerald cleared his throat nervously. "Er, right… Any signs of cheating or excessive damage will result in automatic disqualification. State your name, shake hands, and let's get this battle underway!" He raised the cone to his mouth at the very end, earning noisy cheers from spectators around him.
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