Kaory Izanti was seventeen years old. She had shoulder-height curly blonde hair, and was the oldest of fourteen children. Her mother and father were the poorest of poor, and lived in the pathetic streets of Goldenrod, scraping the dead flowers in the back of the flower shop, trying to make them look okay enough to sell them. But it was not enough for food. So instead of trying to get money for food, they saved up for Kaory so she could go to school and study, and perhaps make plenty of money so her family could finally live comfortably, or at least adequatly. Kaory, you see, had been special. She was, simply, a genius. When she was only one, she was running and skipping and talking in complete sentences. At two, she learned how to read vaguely and knew mathematic skills at the top of her head. At three, Kaory was like a talking PokeDex, knowing every knick and cranny about Pokemon. Kaory was five when she went to school, and she succeeded greatly, earning straight A's without effort.
But there was only one problem. As much as she liked being on scholarship at her wonderful school, trying to get a good job, she was lonely. Teacher's pet, of course. Her glasses didn't help much, and she was bullied to the extreme. No one liked her, and even when some nice girls tried, they could not help get upset at how Kaory constantly was busy studying and even corrected their grammar. Kaory was shy and quiet and preferred to be alone, and tried to ignore the rude remarks of her fellow cruel peers. And so Kaory struggled, alone and sadly in a hard world.
But alas, luck smiled upon her. She had suddenly got an invitation in the mail, asking her, since she was smart and useful, if she could become part of the Elite Four! They would train her to become strong, and this was a lifetime chance. Kaory quickly accepted eagerly. This didn't help her popularity, though - they were of course jealous with envy, and only made school worse. But Kaory didn't care about this - she was part of the Elite Four!
The Elite Four, however, only wanted the best. The Champion, Dragian, was cold and harsh, yet she decided to train Kaory. Kaory moved to Saraan, bringing along her family, yet they still had to remain in the streets, since the Elite Four did not pay her. Kaory was recieved Fire types, and was instructed to never use them unless in a battle or when desperatly needed. Her pokemon were beyond extreme, being trained by the legendary Dragian, but Dragian's pokemon were invincible. They was dangerously invincible - something odd about them, something inhumane. Yet so was Dragian. Kaory never saw her face, since she was covered in a black cloak, but one was an odd sharp tail, which led her to believe that Dragian was a Pokemon. A Jolteon Pokemon, it looked like, but this was probably not true, since PokeMorphs were pretty much a myth, yet the Elite Four iwere/i odd.
The other Elite Fours were, in order, Kezith, who was water, Ophelia, who was Grass, and Nargetta, who was Psychic. Kaory was Fire. Kezith and Ophelia were nice, and accepted her immidiatly. But Nargetta... Nargetta had an evil presence about him. She did not seem him either, but once saw his hand, which was white and looked like the paws of a Lugia, which made Kaory think he was a PokeMorph too, but that was unlikely as well.
Her eyes fluttered open, sleepily, revealing the intense green eyes. Kaory yawned and stepped out of her small bed, sharing it with her three other siblings. Her other siblings and her parents were snoozing away tiredly, after a day's work in the streets. Kaory smiled sadly at them, and rushed to the kitchen. She got out her breakfast(which was a cold, half-eaten waffle from earlier, no syrup) and finished with ease. Kaory took a cold bath, dried up, and changed into her uniform in the next half hour, and left for the dreadful school, making sure she didn't step into any puddles from the rainstorm the night before.
As she reached her school, she cringed to herself as the saw the residential bullies and the mean girls snickering as she passed them. Kaory tried to ignore them, but it was quite hard, and she couldn't help give a loud sigh. School was tough.
The bell rang, and Kaory departed quickly, gathering her pencils and books and notes. She had to escape quickly, or else Andrew Smith and his dreadful Quilava would be after her. Normally the students weren't allowed to bring Pokemon to school, but Andrew didn't care. He enjoyed scorching Kaory, and wtaching her run home. This time he had planned to trick her into falling into the five-inch deep puddle down the street. Kaory had heard him talking to his stupid friends about this, and decided to run as quickly as possible to safety.
"There she is! Quilava, come on!" yelled Andrew, his voice harsh and full of mischeif and cruel humor. His shaggy blonde hair was reflecting the sunlight, and the girls giggled, swooning over him.
"Disgusting." Kaory said, as she spotted a long black haired girl staring at him with big puppy eyes. Kaory made a face and turned left, but forgetting about the large puddle in her distraction of the girl.
"Yeah!" cheered Andrew, as he watched Kaory trip into the puddle, face first, into the big dirty puddle. "I didn't even need to do anything."
Kaory got up, tears streaming down her dirty face and into her already-soaked uniform. She looked up and saw a poster, with the letters in a shiny gleaming print,
POKEMON JOURNEY!
Professer Mazana has announced she will be giving a pokemon to trainers so they can start their journey into the region of Saraan.
Pick a pokemon now! Only availible on Monday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM! Hurry now!
Kaory stared. This was it - her chance to get away! She already had her Elite Four pokemon, which she couldn't use, so getting a new one to use would seem perfect. She would have to leave her family, yes, but they would understand. Maybe Kaory could write a book about Pokemon on her journey, and possibly make friends. She look at the sign again.
Professer Mazana? Kaory wondered. She was a Professer Assistant, and helped out Professer Mazana. I wonder why she didn't tell me about this. I would have to quit my job, and it pays nicely for my family, but maybe I could research along the way and send my findings to her, and Professer Mazana could pay me to do it. I'd ask her to send the paycheck to my family. They need it more than me.
And so young Kaory set off to go the lab.
Meg Zyumi was a rebel, and an orphan. She lived in a wooden house at the edge of Oka Forest. Meg was a tough one, and she even looked boyish, with her short brown hair and many male attributes. Meg despised everything and anyone, and usually played tricks on the new trainers, and sometimes stole their snacks and extra clothes from their bags. Her past was terrible. Meg used to live in a nice house, with friendly parents, and she grew up cheerfully and without worries. But at five, her parents were killed by a crazed man, and he burned their house down. Meg managed to escape, though has a scar on her arm from the fire. She fled to Oka Forest, there meeting a young man named Smith, at least twenty. He was a theif, yet still he took Meg in his wooden house and taught her how to steal, how to get food, and other skills to survive. But one day, he disappeared. Meg learned later on he was sent to jail, and then was punished - by being beheaded. Meg was lonely ever since.
"Oh Niska." Meg grunted, grumpily. She was always like this - grumpy, bad-tempered, and moody. She was very mean for a twelve year old. The young girl spoke to Bill's old Stantler, who stared at Meg, dumbly. Niska was deaf, and though Meg knew it, she liked to talk to him. Meg sighed. "I am so lonely. I have you, but you are old and sick. You shall leave this world soon, and I am saddened by this, but I will be strong. Bill told me that if he ever leaves me, I should be strong and go on with my life. This is true. You know what? I have some spare money, ever since that last Pokemon Trainer came by. He was pretty rich. I counted P20,000! I will get you some tasy PokeBlocks and maybe buy some food for me. You stay here. I taught you how to get apples by yourself, so you can roam around. Don't go far. I will be back by dinnertime."
Meg patted Niska, who understood she was leaving. He was sad to see her go. Meg left, taking her backpack full of money and left to go to Oka Town.
Meg entered the PokeMarket. After buying some things for Niska, and set of to buy lunch and some treats for herself. Meg never delayed or window-shopped. It was pointless and made Meg feel sad, so she never did it. But she happened to glance at a big poster, with big red gleaming letters,
POKEMON JOURNEY!
Professer Mazana has announced she will be giving a pokemon to trainers so they can start their journey into the region of Saraan.
Pick a pokemon now! Only availible on Monday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM! Hurry now!
Meg blinked. This was perfect! She could set off, see the world - but what about Niska? She couldn't bring him. He was frail and old already, and it would be unfair to make him come along. Meg's heart hurt, but she knew she should stay with Niska. But she was had to go - she had to! Bill's words rung in her head. Be strong. Was being strong meaning ignoring the poster? Or being strong by leaving sick Niska? Meg was confused. She traveled home slowly, thinking of the possibilities.
As she reached home, the house looked sad and dreary. When Meg stepped inside, she was no weak Niska, mustering up strength for a welcoming smile. But on Niska's bed was a lifeless body of an old Stantler who once kept a lonely girl company.
Meg wept, shedding tears at first as she ran to hug her beloved Niska, but stopped. Be strong. She would leave Niska and set of to a journey. Meg checked her watch. 6:00! Meg could still make it to the lab. There was no more use in staying here - too many bad memories.
And so young Meg hurried off, drying her tears and traveled to the lab.
Brian Kazami had a perfect life, or so it seemed. He lived in a large mansion, and was handsome and cheerful. Girls oogled over him, which disgusted him, because he had no love for girls. His only love was Pokemon. Yet his parents despised Pokemon. Useless, ugly creatures, they called him. They owned the biggest company in Saraan - The Kazami Company. It manufactured everything, and held buildings everywhere. Brian's parents cared for nothing but money, money, money, though they left a handful to Brian to suit his own needs.
Brians hated this. Why couldn't they at least say good morning to him? Or how was your you day today, dear? No. They did not even speak to him, or allow him to have a pokemon. Brian also had an older brother. No one knew much about him, but Brian knew. He was fifteen years older then Brian, and a very evil man. Brian knew where he was and what he was doing, but it was a secret Brian never revealed.
Brian planned to run away from this terrible life. He was fifteen, a good age to get a job somewhere else. He lived in Oka Town, where many people had small businesses. He could work there - he was fairly smart, got good grades in school. Brian was a rather good kid, but he was home-tutored and never went out. He was banned inside the house for fifteen years.
He packed his bags, with his plenty of money, and his expensive clothes. At early morning, he sneaked out, silently. He managed to avoid their countless maids, and lured their guards away through bribery. When Brian stepped out of the gates, he felt like an imprisoned man finally stepping free from prison.
Brian walked around Oka Town, looking at everything interestedly. Some of the Oka girls stared at him, longingly, but Brian ignored them. He had no taste for lovesick girls. All he wanted to find was Pokemon, but first he wanted to get some pokeballs. But as he tried to find the PokeMart, a large poster caught his eye, and he turned to it, facing a large poster with gleaming red letters, reflecting the sunlight,
POKEMON JOURNEY!
Professer Mazana has announced she will be giving a pokemon to trainers so they can start their journey into the region of Saraan.
Pick a pokemon now! Only availible on Monday, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM! Hurry now!
"Ooooh, boy." said Brian, his heart thumping excitedly. He could escape like this! It was so simple. He could just get a pokemon, and set off to a journey. It was such a perfect idea, his body felt like exploding, in a wonderful way, of course. He checked his watch. Exploring had taken the whole day - it was already 6:00! He had two hours to find this lab.
And so Brian searched for the lab, his heart pounding on each step.