You never hear stories of people who lose everything in this world.
Maybe their missing a dad? Maybe they are an only child.
Or they float through everything with no REAL issues.
Maybe they had a great childhood. Maybe you hear about the kid who was late to pick his partner, only to have an oddball starter plunged into his hands?
Not the case here. My name is Shawn Flintwood, current Champion of Unova, 21 years old at the time, and this is my life story up 'til now.
(Shawn, 9 years old.)
"Shawn! You need to get ready! We need to be out in the street in 5 minutes to see Alder!" my father shouted from downstairs. My only parent.
"I'm on my way pops!" I stumbled out of my room with one shoe on, the other in hand. Alder was returning today from the Hoenn Region after helping out Steven Stone with something, and he was doing a big come back tour of Unova.
We barely got to Accumula before everyone in town and a few others from nearby areas like Nuvema town. It was pretty packed for what it normally is. People were pushing to see Alder, as him and his guard closed in on the outskirts of town, people were getting very riled up as he got closer. Right before He fully entered my line of sight I was pushed out, and fell into the street, Guards immediately were on guard.
Then the oddest thing happened, Alder rose his hand to tell his guards to stop, as he stepped forward with almost a familiarity to him, to help me up, dusted my shirt off, and smiled. I couldn't help but cry, as my dad tried to push forwards to help me. "So how old is ol' Shawn?" How did he know my name... I barely knew what was going on, as my dad finally got to the front.
"SHAWN!" I looked down, and saw my bloodied knees and began to cry as my father shouted in worry as I realized what happened.
Alder began to try to comfort me as my father knelt down sending out his Audino to try to help comfort me, as Alder elbowed my father smiling, there was some connection was between Alder and pops I didn't quite realize just yet, as Alder stood up and began to get back with his guards carrying on as normal as my father picked me up and began to walk home.
He unlocked the door letting me in and stood out front for a bit while I played with Audino for a bit inside, and after 5 or so minutes I looked up to see Alder outside talking to my dad.
Pops turned around smiling, opened the door. "Come on in bud, We've got some catching up to do."
"I hoped you'd say that, Eren." Alder chuckled.
What happened next would set me up for the adventure of a life time that I wouldn't trade for anything.
Alder walked in, still talking to my father and glanced over at me.
"Hold on Eren, Let me do something really quick." Alder turned and began to walk over to me and knelt down smiling.
I didn't remember much of my childhood, almost like it was blocked out and locked away since I was six, but this moment when Alder spoke to me, I will never forget it, because of what he gave me.
"Hey, Shawn. How's your knee?" It seemed normal.
"It's doing fine..."
"That's great, I was hoping you were okay, say Shawn, how old are you?"
"Nine..."
"So you'll be going on your own adventures soon, I assume?"
I knew my eyes lit up at that point. "Yeah! I'm planning on trying to visit Professor Juniper the day I turn 10!"
"Well, then I assume this will be fine, since your so close to your tenth birthday... hold your hands out Shawn." I did as he asked, as he placed a Pokeball with his signature Etched into it into my hands. "Go ahead, send it out."
I followed through with what he asked, as a Torchic materialized from the red light, as it looked up, looking directly into my eyes, as I began to tear up. "Thank you Alder!" I practically tackled him with a hug.
I then walked over to the Torchic. "I think I'll call you... Trace."
He basically smiled back with his eyes alone. "Let's go Trace!"
Trace and I played for a good 2 and a half hours, before I heard any other noises, and it was my father calling me. "SHAWN! Get ready! We're going to head to Accumula again, for a party!"
I picked up Trace and practically dove down the stairs, Where my father stopped me. "Trace need to be in the ball for now if he is coming with us, and I'll hold on to it for now. Your first battle will be when you are ten, not today, okay?"
I silently nodded, put Trace down looked into his eyes. "I'll see you there bud, okay?" Trace nodded and I returned him, and handed it to my father as he clipped it on the last slot on his belt, and opened the door as I sprinted past him as he shut it and locked it.
(Back in Accumula)
Alder was standing outside a building talking to someone else, as they went in as we rounded a corner, my father grabbed my hand "It's about to start, hurry Shawn!"
and picked up the pace, as he practically dove through the door and laughed.
"Guess I'm late as usual, huh Quinn!"
The gym leader of Straiton City was standing their smiling at my father, "Sure are Eren! How's Shawn doing?"
"I'm fine Sir."
Quinn Triton, Father to Cress, Cilan, and Chili, at the time all 9, almost 10, all of which was in attendance.
Followed by a Cackle from Miles Azure, Leader of Mistralon gym, Who was attending with his Grandaughter, Skyla, who was fairly shy.
Alder laughing, "That's my Eren!" he had a kid I didn't recognize standing next to him with Violet Hair
The laughing subsided as pops handed my Trace's pokeball then walking away with the other grownups, as I swiftly sent him out, and picked him up.
The Chili almost immediately tackled me making remarks like "That'll make a nice Chicken Tarragon." and "Anyone want fried chicken?" While Cilan and Cress were sitting back talking with Skyla and the other girl.
"Do you want to fight Chili? Cause you already know I am stronger and faster than you. You will not touch Trace."
Chili laughed and spoke "Maybe a battle then? My Pansear vs your Torchic?"
I laughed, and set Trace down "Wanna do it buddy?" Torchic nodded at me. "Lets take this outside then." I stepped outside as Chili's Pansear hopped up onto his back before swinging outside, as the other Kids follow suit, as the new kid shot me a dirty look.
We took our positions, about 15 feet from one another as Cilan stepped forwards, "Alright! We have a Battle between Shawn Flintwood from Nuvema Town and Chili from Straiton City! This will be a one versus one pokemon battle and will be fought until one person concedes defeat or until on pokemon is unable to battle! Trainers to the ready!"
Cilan raised his arms up, and shouted, "BEGIN!"
I took to the start, "Trace, Growl!"
"Pansear, leer."
"Trace get in close, Ember!"
"Pansear, dodge it, and grab hold of it."
His Pansear grabbed Trace after a small fireball came from his beak.
"Trace, Peck it!"
"INCINERATE!"
Pansear almost immediately flinched in pain as Trace took advantage of the hold, burying his beak into its arm, as flames danced across Trace, searing some of his feathers as Pansear let him go
Pansear fell to its knees as Trace landed gracefully.
"Pansear, Get up and hit it with a scratch!"
"Trace, backup when it attacks and then Ember!"
The Pansear stood unsteadily as it dove after the small bird as it rapidly moved back as it swung, then sent another small fireball at the elemental monkey, procuring a direct impact, though not very effective, it did stop it.
Chili began to panic. "Pansear! Get up and try to get back!"
"Trace, don't let it escape. Peck."
Trace flew in,and started to attack as Chili cried out "I surrender!"
"Trace hold it!" The small chicken tumbled into the monkey, from the momentum he had built.
Cress slugged Cilan laughing, while the new kid just kept glaring at me. I started to walk towards the two pokemon in the middle, pulled 2 sitrus berries out of the little pouch I keep a small assortment of berries in, and gave one to Pansear, while holding Trace's for him. Chili walked over, his hand extended, while glancing away almost nervously. "Good match, Chili." I shook his hand as I heard Skyla Squeal like a banshee when she saw the little notion.
I swear to god she needs to keep her wits about her, this isn't like her special mangas... I think?
The group began to walk over. Cilan snickered "So what was that about going to win against Shawn always, Chili?"
"Bug off, leaf boy." Chili hissed out.
"So, Shawn where'd you get a torchic?" Cress was always the most curious of the triplets.
"Alder gave it to him." The new kid, sternly speaking.
"What's your name?" I was genuinely curious at this point, mostly cause I didn't want to punch someone who's name I didn't know.
"Iris. The person that Torchic was SUPPOSED to go to." She was seriously pissed.
"Well Alder gave it to me, not you, so if you wanna box, I'll comply."
"No, but I'll battle you for him."
"Are you crazy?"
The Adults came outside at each others throat with Lenora holding My father back with one hand and Clay with the other, while Alder and Quinn were digging their heels in to hold him back while Miles and Erika were holding Clay back barely.
Erika is Elesa's mother, and Elesa was sick that day, which sucks. I wish she were there to see my first battle.
My dad was supposed to take over Castelia City Gym and denied to raise me and not be an absentee father, He didn't want me to be left without a father figure or have to move out of Nuvema District, all while Professor Juniper was trying to reason with the drunken Clay.
Lenora yelled "YOU TWO STOP BICKERING AND BATTLE IF YOU THINK ONE IS WEAKER THAN THE OTHER."
My father Immediately grabbed his first ball with his partner. "I am game... to make this BABOON understand that I didn't deny the offer because I was WEAK."
"AND I'll BEAT YOU TO PROVE YOU NEVER DESERVED THE OFFER!" Clay screamed as he grasped at his belt.
Lenora practically threw them away from each other as you could practically cut the tension with a butter knife. Erika Sprinted across the field, ushering the group of kids back to the bench, while Lenora sent out her Golurk. "Protect the kids from any stray attacks."
Clay sent out his Seismitoad while Eren sent out his Emboar. "So you won't use your partner to prove this, Clay, ARE YOU AFRAID OF ME?"
"Just using type advantage to end this fast so I can get back to the bar."
"DESTROY HIM DAD!" I screamed from the side lines.
"You know I plan to, Shawn." He smiled over to me.
Miles walked to the edge of the field while the rest sent out a pokemon to help guard against stray attacks.
Erika laughed. "This reminds me of the first time we all met in Trainer school. Those two have always been wild, and constantly at each others throats."
Lenora had started to laugh as well at that remark. "I'm willing to bet Eren's Emboar levels that wall after taking a hit goes flying." They all were having fun.
Alder spoke up "Don't get sloppy now Eren!"
"Don't plan on it, Alder!"
Miles finally threw up his hands. "THIS IS A ONE ON ONE BATTLE BETWEEN EREN FLINTWOOD OF NUVEMA TOWN AND CLAY CHANTAL OF DRIFTVEIL CITY! THE BATTLE WILL CONTINUE UNTIL ONE POKEMON IS KNOCKED UNCONCIOUS OR IS UNABLE TO CONTINUE TO BATTLE! EREN, ARE YOU READY?"
"Damn straight." He muttered.
"CLAY, ARE YOU READY!"
"HELL YEAH!"
Miles dropped his hands and bolted back "BEGIN!"
"Em, wait til he gets in close, and full power a smog as a smokescreen, follow up with a toxic and backpedal."
"SEISMITOAD, POISON JAB!"
The collosal toad croaked before lunging at Emboar as a black cloud filled the air as Emboar fell backwards grasping his side as the toad fell back coughing with a bright purple line across the chest showing the Toxic found its mark.
"BRICK BREAK!"
"Em, Grass Knot, and follow up with a Heat Crash."
Vines break through the dirt below the seismitoads path as it sprints forwards, tripping it as Emboar lunged forwards enveloped in fire, crushing the toad, and bouncing back as the toad pokemon slid towards Clay.
"DIRTY MOVE EREN!"
"Would you rather me take it head on, drunkard?"
"Keep your guard up Eren!" Alder screamed across the field.
The Seismitoad lunged in the moment he wasn't paying attention, and used payback, finding register with Emboar while he was gloating, launching him back, crashing into the wall as Quinn facepalmed, and passed Lenora 1000 Pokeyen, sighing. "DAMMIT EREN!"
"Em, you good?" The Fire type hopped up from the rubble and puffed smoke out his nostrils. "Good, get ready, buddy."
Clay laughed and began to command again "Seismitoad, Aqua Ring, then follow up with a drain punch."
"Em, ready?" The Emboar lowered its head, and braced.
Water formed in the air in bands around the bleeding sections of the Seismitoads arm, closing up the wound a bit as it then lunged towards the Mega Pig, fist colliding with its head, getting some more of the damage it had taken reverted, as its hand burst into flames, being quickly quenched by the Aqua Ring, followed by Emboar bursting into flames and tackling the Seismitoad to the ground, straddles it and begins hitting it with a flurry of full power Rock Smashes knocking it unconscious as a crunching noise started at the second blow as a pair of hands covered my eyes and Quinn said "Cover your eyes, boys." as I could hear my father laughing like a maniac before ordering the Emboar to back off, as you could hear someone falling and the sound of vomiting, and the sound of a return and pounding of feet towards the Pokecenter.
The hands lowered as they the noise faded, and my dad glaring down with tears at a red splotch on the ground by Emboars feet. "Dammit... I lost control again..."
This was the only time I have ever seen him cry...
Alder stood up, taking his hands off Iris' eyes as Quinn simply said "Cress, Can you have Panpour clean that up, please." Cress lowered his hands and nodded as Panpour burst from the ball using bubble already starting to clean up the blood.