A/N: Here we are! This is the first official chapter of Part I, and is labeled 1a accordingly (as mentioned in the Prologue).
Part I takes place in the Kanto region and spans two years, making Brie 13-15 years old during her time in this region.
Abrielle felt cautiously optimistic as she headed toward Pallet Town. The meteorologist on the weather channel had mentioned a high chance of cloud coverage, but instead she was greeted with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze that tousled her sun-kissed strands around her face. The sounds of children playing and laughing off in the distance caught her ear, and she wondered if she should consider trying to take a quick nap before reaching the pokémon lab of the infamous Professor Samuel Oak.
She was exhausted, having struggled to maintain a regular, healthy night's sleep for years.
Ever since the Silph Company takeover by Team Rocket a little over fives year prior, Abrielle would toss and turn in her bed at night, replaying the scenes of a tragedy that had initially been delivered to her through a television screen. Her brother, having caught a glimpse of the tragic event, had brought her to Saffron City with him, not wanting to leave her at home by herself. Despite having transpired years ago, Brie could still remember with clarity the flashing of the police cars, the shrill sound of the sirens from the ambulances, and the fear gripping her entire body as she stood beside her brother while he inquired the whereabouts of their parents, only to find out that they had been held as hostages and, ultimately, murdered by the Rockets during the takeover.
After suffering this tragic loss, Abrielle had clung to her older brother like a second-skin. He had promised to always stay by her side, and she had become little more than his shadow, but she didn't mind. Brie would accompany him everywhere, whether it was out and about studying pokémon or running errands for their adoptive parents. He had seemed genuinely happy to have her tag along, and would even ask her to help out with his "research."
So when the acceptance letter arrived in the mail one fateful afternoon, she had never expected him to announce that he was leaving to apprentice under some professor in a faraway land. The idea itself seemed absolutely ridiculous.
How could he go back on his word?
"You're not actually considering this, are you?" She had asked rather anxiously. "Kalos is easily a twelve hour flight without any layovers."
"I know, but Brie, you of all people know how much this means to me." Leal had started pacing back and forth in his room as she sat on his bed, her arms crossed in front of her chest. A mixture of disbelief and hurt was evident in her facial expression. "It's been my dream to become a Pokémon Professor like father, and now I have the opportunity to not only apprentice under the same mentor he had, but also – hopefully – have a chance to continue his research!"
"I understand how exciting it must seem." She had replied in a rather lackluster tone. "But Leal, you're going to be 6,000 miles away! What about our adoptive parents Etsuko and Hotaru? Have you even considered how they're going to feel?"
Her brother's expression softened slightly, but it made Brie uneasy. It was as if he felt apologetic for what he was about to say.
"I've already told them." He admitted softly. "They're thrilled, and they told me that, whatever I decide, I have their full support."
Abrielle wanted to throw a fit, but if what he had said was true, her protests had been reduced to the ranting of a child who was being selfish. Still, it didn't seem all that narcissistic to want her brother to keep his original promise to stay by her side until she felt confident enough to stand alone. He was the only true family she had left.
"I know this is difficult, but Brie, just think how amazing this opportunity is for me. And there's no reason you can't come to visit. Who knows? Maybe you'll become a really strong trainer and travel to Kalos and take on the Pokémon League there one day!"
"Do you hear yourself?" She spat. "Leal, you know I'm still rather uneasy around pokémon, especially after . . ."
"I know." He interrupted her suddenly, not wanting her to revisit the darkest day of their lives. "But Brie, the pokémon that killed our parents were being controlled by evil people. Most, if not all pokémon are completely fine and want to peacefully coexist with humans. You've become rather fond of Hotaru and Etsuko's pokémon, and you even seem friendly toward that Scyther I've been studying."
"They're different." She retorted stubbornly.
"Yes, they are, like many others. Pokémon aren't innately evil, Brie – it's their trainers who make them do evil things. That's why we have to aspire to have a better understanding of them, so we can help them stay away from people who would exploit or otherwise use them for malicious purposes."
The room became quiet, and Abrielle felt her anger and frustration breaking down to its true form – sadness. Ever since their parents' passing, Brie had struggled to cope with the deep sense of loss their absence had left behind. While she loved her adoptive family very much, they were no replacement for her biological parents. She couldn't understand how Leal had been able to find happiness after such a tragic event, but he had – busying himself in his field studies and research outings.
"You know I never mean to hurt you, Brie. I need this." He pleaded while cupping her hands in his own. "And I know you'll be okay."
"How can you know that?" She sobbed as tears rolled down her cheeks. "Leal, you've been with me every step of the way since Mom and Dad died, and now it feels like you're pulling the rug out from under me!"
"That's not what I'm doing at all." Her brother disagreed. "Losing our parents hurt me a lot too, Brie. Not a day goes by where I don't miss Mother waking us up in the morning with a kiss on the forehead, or father bringing home some new gadget or technology from work. The void they left was unmistakable, but I knew deep down in my heart they would have wanted us to find happiness and pursue our dreams. So, everytime I feel sad, I venture outside and busy myself with research. It's helped a lot, and I want you to find something to immerse yourself in whenever you feel lonely – I want you to find your own passion. You need something you can get excited about and focus on when sadness gnaws at you. And I know you would never feel the need to venture out like that while I'm around."
"I will, I swear, but I'm just not ready yet." Brie admitted as she had begun to hiccup in the midst of crying. "And don't lie, Leal. You just said that traveling to Kalos was your dream, so don't try to convince me you're leaving for my sake."
"Well, it's an added bonus then." He huffed, getting tired of the circle the conversation appeared to be stuck in. "Please don't be upset with me."
"I can't promise that." Standing up from his bed, she proceeded over toward the door to his room, about to leave.
Before she had turned the knob she froze, feeling her brother embrace her from behind.
"I love you, Abrielle. I'll always love you, no matter how far apart we are, and I'm sorry for making you a promise I can't keep . . ."
Brie's grip around the brass handle tightened as she clenched her hand.
"But I'll make you one now that I can keep, indefinitely."
She almost turned around and called his bluff, but instead listened and waited.
"I swear to you, no matter how long it takes, that I will continue Father's research to help unravel the mysteries of Mega-Evolution. And when I do, I'll teach you everything about it. You'll become an unstoppable force and never be plagued by feelings of fear ever again."
Brie swallowed the lump in her throat and allowed the remaining tears to trickle down her cheeks and fall to the ground silently.
"But in return, I want you to learn about, train with, and form bonds with pokémon. Mega-Evolution is apparently related to the connections between people and pokémon, so you need to come to terms with your reluctance to form meaningful relationships with them." Tugging at her free hand to turn her toward him, Leal looked into her eyes with determination. "Can you do that for me?
She hadn't been sure, honestly, but had nodded all the same.
"You're awesome, Brie." He praised while embracing her a tad more tightly. "Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you know."
"Okay, Christopher Robin." She sniffled slightly while fighting back the urge to smile.
Winnie the Pooh was one of Brie's favorite childhood stories, and her brother had memorized several of the quotes from the text, having heard it more than a handful of times. She hated how his voice would soften to the register of a lullaby as he soothed her with these snippets of their happiest years that had become little more than distant memories.
Every night following his departure had followed the same pattern.
Abrielle would attempt to fall asleep in her own bed, but find this endeavor impossible – her mind seemingly trapped in the nightmare she had lived through, the scenes playing on repeat. She would wake up drenched in sweat, her heart racing and threatening to burst through her chest, and tiptoe into her brother's empty bedroom, where she would ulimately spend the night, dreaming of the sound of his voice comforting her and the warmth of his hand stroking her head reassuringly.
Needless to say it came as a huge surprise, to her adoptive father and herself, when she woke up one morning and told him she planned to set out for Pallet Town and, soon after, travel throughout the Kanto region.
"Where is this coming from?" Hotaru had inquired while making her breakfast.
"It's not like this idea randomly popped into my head, dad." She reminded him. "Leal suggested that I set off on a journey of my own, maybe even try to become a pokémon trainer."
"Yes, I do recall, but that was two years ago."
He had every right to be skeptical, of course, having seen firsthand how Brie was easily startled around pokémon and seemed to develop an ingrained distrust of them, always defaulting to being wary around them. That being said, Hotaru wasn't sure his daughter fully understood what was involved in becoming a true pokémon trainer.
"Why the sudden change of heart, Abrielle?"
Truthfully, she didn't have a concrete answer for him, which hurt her argument even more. Maybe she was just tired of waking up in a panic every night. Or perhaps she had finally come to terms with facing her fears (or at the very least, working up to overcoming them). It could have been the words Leal had spoken to her before he left for Kalos to pursue his dream, leaving her to forge her own path toward creating and realizing one of her own.
"I want you to learn about, train with, and form bonds with pokémon."
As she looked at Hotaru, the only living "parent" she had left – her adoptive mother having passed away rather suddenly from health related complications a little over a year ago – Brie saw strength, but also a gripping sadness that he had been struggling to cope with since the death of his wife. While he had tried his best to be there for his daughter, the man had opted to bury himself in his work, distracting himself from the pain that always followed his mind's wanderings.
"I suppose, more than anything, I want to prove something to myself." She replied. "I mean, I'm older now, definitely mature enough to travel on my own, and I would like to feel less edgy around pokémon. Leal told me that's what he wanted for me as well, and I know I can't go on living in fear." Taking a bite of her breakfast she added, "Who knows? Maybe I'll even decide to take on the Pokémon League."
"Really?" Her father's voice did little to conceal the shock and disbelief he still felt, but he wasn't about to contest it. If Brie truly wanted to embark on a journey of her own and challenge herself, he wasn't going to stand in her way. He would support her in whatever capacity he could. More than anything else, he wanted her to find happiness, just as her brother had. "That's quite an ambitious goal you have, but I think it's fantastic, and you have my full support."
Brie smiled, genuinely appreciative to hear those same words Leal had received before he embarked on his journey to Kalos. She loved Hotaru like a real father, and it physically pained her to willingly separate herself from him and this life of security and comfort he had so selflessly given to the two of them after their parents died. But she knew that she could never become stronger by sitting idly by and waiting for strength to suddenly blossom inside of her.
She needed to attain it through her own merit.
A few days later, she had packed up anything she felt would be essential for her travels, with Hotaru's guidance and wisdom helping her decide how to make the most of her limited space in her satchel. He had also given her one of his pokémon to accompany her – his growlithe, which he promised would fiercely protect her through her travels. The puppy pokémon wasn't a stranger to Brie, and although she still had her reservations, she knew she could depend on it, having grown up with the fire-type serving as a guard dog for the household. She had also sought out the scyther her brother had been studying, and despite her hesitation, she boldly approached the intimidating insect pokémon. Talking to it in a friendly manner, Brie sat down on a nearby rock.
"I know you want to become stronger." She began. "Leal told me that solitary behavior is rare with your species, so you're either an anomaly, or you were exiled from your swarm. You must be training hard to be accepted back into the swarm, or prove something – to them, or perhaps yourself."
The flying mantis pokémon glanced in her direction while it continued slicing against a sturdy tree that refused to be felled, despite the force of the blades hitting it nonstop.
"I want to become stronger, too, but I need your help. If you accompany me on my journey and lend me your strength, I know you'll grow stronger and more powerful, too."
This seemed to peak the scyther's interest, and it stopped its fury cutter attack.
"Once I have ventured through the region and challenged the Pokémon League, I will bring you back here and leave you to finish your endeavors." Tossing an extra berry in its direction, Brie was startled slightly by how it had pierced the fruit with a single bladed arm like a skewer before bringing it up to its mouth. "Do we have a deal?"
The scyther had no sooner eaten the berry before approaching her and coming to a kneel at the base of the rock she was seated upon, signifying its compliance to her request. Without contest, it disappeared into the pokéball clutched in her hand.
Having found a moderately large tree to sit beneath, basking in the shade created from its heavy foliage, Brie was able to relax, if only for a short while. She didn't want to waste the daylight, but she also knew she needed to take a quick power nap. She had managed to make the trek to Pallet Town within a week's time, but it had been challenging and required a limited number of stops along the way to make adequate progress. Thankfully, she had brought some money she had saved up to spend on bus rides a handful of times (not wanting to ask Hotaru for anymore handouts than he had already given her throughout the past five years of living with him). Resigning herself to close her eyes and lean back against the sturdy trunk, Brie questioned if she would ever feel truly ready to take the first step toward becoming stronger on her own.
Mentally prepared or not, it didn't matter though – she had already made her way to Pallet Town, and there was no turning back now.
She intended to keep her promise – to Leal and to herself.
"Why, hello there." Professor Oak stood bearing a congenial face and his hands were tucked into the pockets of his white lab coat that hung open around him. "And who might you be?"
"My name is Abrielle." She offered softly. "I'm seeking to learn more about Pokémon and travel throughout the region, and my brother recommended that I pay you a visit before setting off on my journey as a trainer. His name is Leal – not sure if you remember meeting him?"
"Ah, I see." Scratching his head momentarily, the professor smiled warmly. "As a matter of fact, I do recall someone by that name stopping by here awhile back. He was very passionate about studying Pokémon and especially eager to get my input on a few things he had been looking into."
"He wants to become a professor one day, too." She said with a small smile. "He applied for a scholarship to study under someone in Kalos and was selected out of all the other applicants. He's been apprenticing there for the past two years." Brie stated somewhat solemnly.
"Goodness, that's quite far." Professor Oak noted. "But I'm sure he's really enjoying working with Augustine. The man is very knowledgeable and has recently been looking into an interesting phenomenon that causes Pokémon to evolve based on the bonds they have with their trainers. Truly remarkable!"
Upon noticing that Brie was now standing in a somewhat awkward silence, he reined himself in. "Well, Abrielle was it? What can I do for you?"
Grasping at the strap of the satchel she had slung across her chest, Brie contemplated how to explain her reason for coming. "I guess, more than anything, I want to learn how to be more comfortable around pokémon."
Quirking an eyebrow, the renowned expert on human and pokémon relationships seemed a bit puzzled. He had never heard such a request before.
"Hmm, well, first we need to know why you're uncomfortable around them, dear."
Brie hesitated a moment, wondering how she could possibly explain her distrust toward pokémon to someone who studied how beneficial it was to forge bonds of trust with them. Still, she hoped that, if anyone could direct her down the right path, it would be Professor Oak, remembering how highly Leal had recommended him.
"I've seen how quickly they can turn on people, and I suppose I'm just worried that they'll turn on me, too. After all, what's really stopping them from hurting people?"
The professor's brown eyes softened as he gazed at Brie, sensing that this young girl standing before him had likely experienced some sort of tragic incident, and it had clearly left a substantial emotional scar. His mind instantly gravitated toward Team Rocket, a criminal syndicate that served as a prime example of just how badly corruption could infect not only people, but their pokémon as well. The organization had long since been established in the Kanto region, and he had reason to believe – along with many others – that they likely had another headquarters set up elsewhere.
"I see." He finally offered while taking a few steps toward her, placing a firm hand on her shoulder. "I can only imagine the pain you must have experienced to cause these feelings to develop. You have no reason to feel guilty or badly about them. However, I would remind you that pokémon – in and of themselves – are inherently good. They seek to live in peace amongst us, and they have for many, many years."
Gesturing over to a table with three pokéballs he continued, "That is why our culture has indoctrinated the young to form bonds with these creatures and set out on a journey of growth and courage. By sharing in life's experiences together – beautiful and challenging alike – humans and pokémon can learn to truly appreciate and respect each other. That is why I send off every child who has come of age with a starter pokémon."
Clearing his throat, the infamous professor of pokémon placed his hands back into the pockets of his lab coat.
"Do you need one?"
Brie shook her head and retrieved two pokéballs from her satchel.
"Ah, so you have already obtained pokémon to accompnay you on your journey? Excellent!" Cupping his chin with his hand he added, "I think it would be best for you to attempt to bond with them before capturing a lot more pokémon. Forge a relationship with these creatures first. They are you partners, your teammates, and your companions."
She was quiet as she considered Professor Oak's words carefully.
"Okay, how do I bond with them?"
"There are many ways to do it. Feeding them, talking to them, training and battling with them, and even just taking them out of their pokéballs every so often to give them an opportunity to walk about freely." With a wink he added, "No need to overthink it. Just do what feels natural, and your pokémon will return your gestures of kindness with loyalty."
Peering down at the pokéballs clenched in her hands, Brie exhaled deeply. She still felt a bit reluctant, but apparently it wasn't difficult to bond with them. While her mind continued to entertain the possibility that these powerful creatures wanted to live amicably with humans, Professor Oak waved his hand in a manner as if to say 'Follow me.' before heading to the outdoor habitats he created to accommodate all of the pokémon at his lab.
Brie internally gasped as she took in all of the unique pokémon, which seemed to be eating, playing, and just relaxing contentedly. Professor Oak gave her the grand tour, stopping by each habitat to share what he and his assistants were learning by studying the pokémon living inside them. At one point he offered to let her interact with his Pidgey. The tiny bird pokémon perched on Brie's arm with steady feet and eyed her curiously. It churred happily when she stroked it beneath its chin as Professor Oak advised, and she felt her stomach flip flop upon seeing the Pidgey flap its wings happily before flying off to join the other pokémon.
"So, what do you think Abrielle?" He asked. "Do you feel you can find a way to connect with your pokémon?"
"I still have my reservations, of course." She confessed. "But I'm willing to give it a try."
"I'm glad to hear that." Professor Oak said with a smile. "And remember to move at your own pace. It's important to be authentic, and your pokémon will appreciate you for it."
Brie nodded in understanding.
"Well, as a parting gift I would like to give you a few things."
Within seconds a red square-shaped device was placed on the table in front of her, along with five pokéballs, and what appeared to be a map neatly folded into a perfect square.
"Some supplies to help you get started. The pokéballs will be helpful to you when you're ready to start catching pokémon. The map will provide you with some support navigating the region. And this . . ." Pointing to the last object, which looked like some sort of technology she had never seen before, he continued, "Is my pride and joy made through collaboration with Professor Westwood. I call it the Pokédex. It's a digital encyclopedia that gives information about all pokémon contained in the database. It will help you better understand and interact with pokémon as you encounter them throughout your adventures."
"Wow." Was all Brie could offer in return, genuinely taken aback by the man's generosity. "I don't know what to say except . . . thank you, Professor Oak."
"You're most welcome." Crossing his arms in front his chest he nodded knowingly. "I don't know what it is about you, but I see a lot of potential. I get the feeling you'll become a very capable trainer once you are able to bond with your pokémon. You might even become a champion one day."
Brie averted his gaze momentarily. "I wouldn't go that far, but I appreciate the sentiments all the same."
"You never know." He said with a chuckle. "To date, there haven't been many instances where my intuition has been wrong."
As she stood up from her seat Brie bowed her head politely and proceeded to pack the items into her satchel. Before she left, she heard Professor Oak address her.
"Beyond these doors, a world of dreams and adventures with pokémon awaits you! Forge your own path through the region, Abrielle, and remember to keep your heart and mind open to others. If you do that, there is no limit to what you can accomplish."
Brie hesitated a moment while allowing the words to sink in. If someone as intelligent and experienced as Professor Oak had seen potential in her, who was she to doubt him? With a small smile she nodded and disappeared through the door, hopeful that perhaps the future did hold some promise for her.
