``~Prologue~``

We wear the mask that grins and lies-

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes-

The debt we pay to human guile-

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile-

And mouth with myriad subtleties-

"Why should the world be over-wise,

In counting all our tears and sighs?"

Nay, we only let them see us when-

We wear the mask.

``~End of Prologue~``

Seyla's POV:

How- how do I just- start writing this autobiography? I guess I should start with my earliest memory-

I have hazy memories of being gifted a shiny Eevee by my parents for my fourth birthday. I still have her today, but now she's the most beautiful viridian Espeon you'll ever see. My parents chose an Eevee, apparently because it could grow up to be whatever it wanted, just like me. But we've both grown up. She's an Espeon, I'm just- Broken.

Most people say, "Seyla, no, sweetie, you're not 'broken'!" Mind you, most people who say that hardly know me. But only one person knows me. My childhood friend- now-boyfriend, Drew. No one else, except sweet Espeon, of course- grew up with me. Now that's enough introduction, I guess, now to the part you want to hear. The part of my life where I wore a mask -in several aspects- constantly.

I was considered a prodigy of Pokemon battling as a very young child, maybe five years of age. I learned my type matchups, physical and special moves, all that. It wasn't difficult. I just took it all in and strategized. My white Eevee was my mainstay, but I remember using my mom's Milotic and my dad's Arcanine. I was beating adult Trainers. Oh, and they were mad. To be fair, most people would be mad if they were beaten by a five-year-old at anything, let alone Pokemon battles. But as I was oblivious to- as was everyone else- there- was a rather cold presence... Watching. Waiting, for a chance to strike. I remember an old man named Pryce coming to visit our Trainers' School. He looked at all the students and had a short conversation with the teacher in private. I overheard him asking which of her students were the strongest. She answered, "Well, the strongest students in my class are Seyla, and Drew." He left shortly after that. The teacher explained to us that Pryce was the leader of the Mahogany Gym.

I was walking to school with Drew one morning -we were next-door neighbors- when- some sort of beast, I guess, swooped down and grabbed us. We both started to scream, then promptly realized that no one heard us. The bird dropped us in front of some sort of secluded building. The next thing I remember is being inside. Looking back, I think a Gastly used its mist to walk us inside. I had brought out my Eevee, -Named, and still named Vee- and was holding her tight. "Eevee, it's gonna be okay-" I was interrupted by a figure stepping out of distant shadows. A raspy, cold voice echoed from within that mask. "I'm expecting a lot from you." "I..I- uh- I-" I stammered. He ignored me and continued to talk. "To serve me with absolute loyalty!" Drew and I huddled together, trembling. The masked figure procured two masks from his ragged cape and pushed them onto our faces. A simple mask. A white mask with eye holes and a mouth-hole. But that mask kept me hidden, long after I ripped it off.

I still remember the day Eevee evolved. It was a particularly tough day of training, and I had made a mistake. The masked man was reaching to strike me, and Eevee evolved into Espeon out of love for me. She evolved into who she is for me. Vee used her psychic powers to push him away. I read later that Espeon will be completely loyal to a Trainer it deems 'worthy'. And that Espeon gained precognitive powers to protect its Trainer from harm. I teared up at that. Floored that Vee loved me that much.

The day we escaped was glorious. One of the masked children, Green, led an operation for her and her partner Silver to escape. She helped us as well at the last moment. I remember asking her why. She responded, "I wanted you two to have a chance to be free too." I thanked her and Silver, crying and stumbling over myself. We all took our masks off together. Green's crystal eyes seemed to stare into you, as did Silver's gray eyes. Drew looked at me. "What are we going to do now?" "I don't know."

After making our way back to Kanto, I received word that my parents passed away in an accident. My heart wrenched. The only people I had- were gone. I was able to get my parents' Pokemon, which made me feel a great deal better. Arcanine in particular was heartbroken. We spent a lot of nights crying together. That's when I decided to mask myself, again- but differently. I felt- broken, but I didn't show that. Instead, I kept a front for everyone except those who could see past it.

I hated how when the whole Mask-of-Ice thing was resolved, the press came and tried to interview me and Drew, and I'm sure Green and Silver as well. They wanted us to tell our stories to the world. But the main focus was on the Pallet Town Trainers. Poor Silver. I helped stop him too, but everyone only cared about the 'Pokedex holders'. If I went and told Professor Oak my story, I'm sure that he would give me a Pokedex too. But I'm not that petty.

I'll end this chapter now and let Drew write some.

Until next time, Seyla.