Here we begin with the prologue of The Guardian and Maiden of the Sea. This is the first of two prologues that will set up where the story will go. Hope you enjoy.
Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon or its characters. Those belong to Game Freak, Nintendo, and related companies.
In the faraway kingdom of Aurora, there lived a great warrior. A guardian of his homeland, who fought off all threats and aided those in need. He was well-loved by his countrymen and the ruling prince. In fact, after saving the prince's life, the guardian was given the princess as a reward for his valor. Though they were betrothed, the Guardian continued to serve his duty along with his partner Pokémon. So our story begins when one accident began to change everything for the guardian. A change that would test him and his followers.
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On a beach in a far off kingdom, a boy sat in the sand, meditating. He was a young trainer, no older than twelve, with scruffy black hair and a fierceness that could not be tamed. His dark-blue cape flapped in the sea breeze, his hands in their dark-green gloves rested in front of him, his wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face. Not a muscle stirred as he took long, deep breaths. This was the guardian Sora.
A bush on the coastline further up rustled, but Sora remained undisturbed. Then, a young boy with green hair and a squires tunic charged at the guardian, wooden sword held high to strike, yelling at the top of his lungs. Fast as lightning, Sora grabbed his staff and deflected the squire's attempt. Then he swung at the boy's feet, tripping him up, and pressed the end of his staff on his chest.
"Aw man!" the squire complained. "How did you know?"
With a chuckle, Sora replied, "To yell out your surprise attack defeats its purpose. You must learn that silence is stronger than intimidation, Tidus."
"Yes master," Tidus bowed.
"Although," Sora resumed, "you are getting better. Your stance made it slightly more difficult this time to unarm you. I'm proud." Just then, his partner Pikachu came up to the guardian, holding a piece of scroll in his mouth.
"What's this Pikachu?" he asked of his companion
"Pika Pi, Pikachu." the little electric mouse Pokémon replied.
After reading over the message, Sora's face turned grim. "I must accept Ragnar's challenge again." He told his pupil.
"I'll come watch." Tidus said eagerly. And the three made their way back to the kingdom.
In Aurora port, a black ship sat docked. Its leader, Ragnar the Relentless, stood glaring at the people who came to see him. His purple har lay around his scowling face, a black cape resting behind him. His black garb was only decorated by two spikes on his shoulders. And he held a staff in his right hand.
"Prince Pewter!" Ragnar called out. "Where is your guardian? Send him out to battle me!"
Prince Pewter, a young man with dark-skin and brown hair, wearing a royal tunic that was white with a red sash, replied, "Our guardian shall arrive soon. Have patience, prince of Tyrannia."
Scowling, Ragnar retorted, "I am not known for patience. Your guardian better arrive soon, or Aurora is mine."
Just then, a boy with blond hair and a scribes robe ran up to the prince and informed, "My prince, Guardian Sora has arrived."
"Thank you Teller," The prince graciously replied. Then he cried out, "Guardian Sora has arrived!" At this, the villagers parted like the Red Sea, making way as Sora walked towards Ragnar's ship with Pikachu on his shoulder and Tidus by his side.
Ragnar glared at his long-time rival. He had tried to best Sora for a long time, and claim this land for himself. But Sora bested him every time. But this time, he thought, things would be different. This time, he had a secret weapon at his disposal.
"Ragnar of Tyrannia, I have come to accept your challenge!" Sora called out.
"Very well. But lest you forget, in accordance with the ancient laws, if the guardian is defeated, he surrenders his kingdom to the victor," Ragnar reminded. "And today, that prize shall be claimed by me."
"I won't allow it!" Sora growled.
"Pikachu!" Sora's partner cried out.
"We'll see. Go, Rhyperior!" Holding out his staff, a beam of light escaped from the jewel on top, and became a huge, brown creature with a drill for a horn and drills on its arms.
Sora knew how to take on this foe, and called out, "I choose you! Bulbasaur!" From his staff came a small, blue-dinosaur looking creature that had a plant-bulb on its back appeared, looking ready for battle ready to battle.
Scoffing, Ragnar retorted, "This is what you are sending to face me? Pathetic!"
"We'll see," Sora replied.
Standing to the side, Teller announced, "In accordance with the ancient customs, only one Pokémon may battle. The match is over when either side is unable to continue. Is this understood?" Both sides agreed to the terms. "Then, BATTLE!"
"Rhyperior, Hammer Arm!" Ragnar called out. Rhyperior swung one of its massive arms towards Bulbasaur.
"Bulbasaur, Vine Whip and dodge it!" Sora told his partner. Bulbasaur swung out vines from its back, and latched onto Rhyperior's other arm. Then, it pulled itself up, knocking its opponent off-balance. "Great! Now use Razor Leaf!" And Bulbasaur launched leaves from its bulb, hitting Rhyperior dead on.
"Get up! What is the matter with you?!" Ragnar growled at his Pokémon. With difficulty, Rhyperior got up and tried to block most of the Razor Leaf. "Now, use Bulldoze!" With a heavy stomp, Rhyperior created shock waves that caused Bulbasaur to flip over. "Got you now. Horn Drill!"
"Bulbasaur, roll out of the way!" Before Rhyperior got too close, Bulbasaur managed to roll out of its path. Rhyperior pulled its horn out of the ground where it hit, and faced the tiny dinosaur. "Bulbasaur, ready your Solarbeam!" Sora ordered.
"We can't let him win," Ragnar growled. Then he barked, "Rhyperior, Hyper Beam!" And Rhyperior let loose a powerful orange beam of energy, and nailed Bulbasaur. But as Bulbasaur flew up from the resulting explosion, he let loose a beam of light on Rhyperior. Unable to bear the attack, Rhyperior fell back and fainted.
"Rhyperior is defeated. Bulbasaur wins!" Teller refereed.
"Alright! Way to go Bulbasaur!" Sora cheered.
"You did it!" Tidus cheered alongside his master.
"Pika!" Pikachu joined. Even Bulbasaur cheered at his victory. Ragnar, on the other hand, returned Rhyperior to his staff, very angrily.
"I'll deal with you back home," He muttered seethingly. He looked up after as he called out, "Enjoy your victory for now guardian. Because someday, I will claim Aurora as my own. Weigh anchor!" And with that, Ragnar's ship left port for the open sea.
Later at the castle, Prince Pewter threw a feast in celebration of Guardian Sora's rousing victory, prepared for by the kingdom's top chef, Opal. The chef, a tall figure with light-green hair and eyes, stood by his prince as his brothers and he set out the magnificent food before his guests.
"A wonderful assortment for a wonderful victory, dear Opal." Prince Pewter graciously complemented.
"Many thanks, my prince," Opal replied. "It is a privilege and an honor to serve you." Immediately, Tidus and Pikachu dug into the food with gusto. Sora had even let out his other Pokémon to join in the celebration too, a wide array from his travels before settling in Aurora. Everyone piled up the food into their platters, and the prince called for all his servants to join too.
The only one not partaking was Guardian Sora himself. Sure, he would eat until his belly bulged, and he was well-known for it. But today, there was too much on his mind to consider eating. This was the fourteenth time Ragnar challenged him for Aurora in the past three years. And no matter what, he continued to fail in recognizing his Pokémon's efforts. It saddened him to no end.
Pikachu was the quickest to pick up on this, and clambered onto his shoulder to join him on the balcony looking out to the kingdom and the sea beyond.
"Pika Pi? Chu Pi?" Pikachu chirped in his ear.
With a sigh, Sora replied, "I don't know Pikachu. I'm beginning to wonder if Ragnar will ever learn. It isn't fair, what he does to his friends like that."
"You're really worried about Ragnar?" came the voice of Yolanda, the princess of Aurora. A young girl about Sora's age, her blond hair flowing gracefully behind her, a silver tiara resting in the midst of it. Her brown eyes were filled with concern. She wore a wide-brimmed, blue dress and had amber gloves reaching just past her elbows.
In reply, Sora told her, "I am. When will he learn?"
"If you ask me, I don't think he will," Yolanda responded, linking her arm with his. "But as long as you keep defeating him, our kingdom will be safe."
"I can't keep defending my home forever," Sora said with a frown. "Someday, he may best me. And I will be cast out, or worse. My strength is limited when I stay here." Yolanda looked at the guardian worriedly. For a long time, Sora had once traveled the world to seek out new Pokémon and discover hidden lands. He only settled in Aurora after he saved her brother, Prince Pewter's life.
Finally, she told him, "Don't worry. Once we are wed, you'll be free to travel as far as you wish. And when you do, I want to come with you." Sora's expression remained unchanged. In a last ditch effort, Yolanda offered, "Let us enjoy the feast before your Snorlax scarfs it all."
As soon as his stomach rumbled, Sora replied, "I guess you're right. I can't train on an empty stomach." So the two plus Pikachu made their way back to the feast.
Late that night, while Sora and Tidus were training in the courtyard, an Absol leapt into their presence, startling them both by its appearance. In equal response, Prince Pewter came out with his partner Swampert.
"Absol? What awaits us?" he asked. Everyone knew that when Absol appeared, something was coming that spelt disaster. After a quick couple of grunts, The three noticed Swampert's fins on its head begin to twitch. Prince Pewter understood the situation all too well.
"How strong?" he requested of his friend. Swampert walked over to a soft patch of sand, and slammed its two arms to use Magnitude. As shockwaves appeared in the sand, the prince grew worried.
"A 6 Magnitude," He evaluated. He quickly turned to the guardian and apprentice and ordered, "Let everyone in the village know that a level 6 tempest is approaching! Tell them to stay inside, and stay as far inland as they can!"
"Yes your Highness!" both boys replied. And they took off.
Then the Prince offered, "Absol, stay here until it passes. Judging by how quickly you came, it must be approaching fast." Absol nodded, and walked alongside the prince into the castle.
The tempest came so suddenly. Rain and wind whipped through Aurora worse than a Razor Wind. Waves pounded onto the stone pathways of the port town. But for Prince Pewter's own court, everyone was safe and away from the worst of it. Guardian Sora returned moments after the storm hit.
"My prince," he informed, dismounting his Ponyta, "all the villagers have taken shelter and have made preparations for the worst of this tempest."
"Good work Sora," Prince Pewter commended. "Now we shall wait out this storm." It was then that Tidus returned from his run around the kingdom.
"Master, your Squirtle is still out in the storm," He told him. "It probably thought this storm was a part of its training. I tried calling to it, but I think the wind drowned me out." Sora became worried. His Squirtle was usually headstrong, and it often got itself into a lot of trouble. This time was no different.
"Stay here. I will be back soon," He told his pupil. He then instructed, "Come Pikachu." Pikachu happily obliged, and the two took off into the storm.
"No, Sora, come back!" Yolanda called to him.
She was about to go after him when Prince Pewter called out, "Sister stop!" So she did, looking at her brother strangely. "If you go out there, then Sora will have someone else to rescue," He explained to his younger sibling. "We must remain here, and hope he can return safely." That was what worried her.
Out on the coast, Sora struggled to move through the wind and rain. Pikachu had taken shelter in his coat, nearly drenched from the downpour. Sora searched hard for his stubborn Pokémon, hoping to spot the turtle Pokémon before things got worse.
It wasn't long until he spotted Squirtle, lying on its shell and unable to right itself.
"Hang on Squirtle!" Sora called out. He rushed to the bluff Squirtle rested on, and worked his way over. But then, the wind picked up, and Squirtle began spinning towards the water. With very few options, Sora thrusted his staff at it, and managed to block its path from behind. In addition, the jewel at the top turned Squirtle into a beam of light as it returned the turtle Pokémon. Relieved that his friend was okay, Sora began making his way to retrieve the staff.
Just then, a huge wave spilled over and knocked him and Pikachu into the stormy seas. Sora tried to right himself underwater, but the currents tossed him and Pikachu like ragdolls. Without his staff to call upon his Pokémon, Sora was in real trouble. Eventually, he and his partner couldn't hold their breath any longer, and they passed out.
Sora's final thoughts before he did were, My prince, Tidus, Yolanda, I'm sorry. I failed.
The next thing Sora knew, he was waking up to hear someone singing.
A twinkle in the night sky, far far away
A golden star I gaze upon in my dreams
On a sleepless evening, I sing along.
Tomorrow I'll sing with you. On the Wings of a dream
On a sleepless evening, I sing along
Tomorrow I'll sing with you. On the wings of a dream
Squinting with difficulty, Sora began opening his eyes. At first, the glare from the sunlight blinded him. But as his eyes began to adjust, he saw that someone was resting over him. It was a girl. She couldn't have been any older than him, from first appearances. She was quite pretty, her red hair lying flat behind her, a string of pearls tied in it. She had deep blue eyes, and ruby-colored earrings. She also wore a shell necklace and a pink, clam shell bikini top. But as more of the girl came into focus, Sora noticed that from the waist down was a teal blue tail with a starfish imprint on her hip.
"A… mermaid?" Sora muttered.
The girl nodded, then said, "My name is Rina. I saved you."
"Saved me?" Sora replied groggily. But then his eyelids began to feel heavy, which caused his rescuer to worry.
"Are you alright? Please, stay with me!" Rina begged, her voice sounding somewhat distant. And then Sora fell unconscious again.
Bit of a rocky start, eh? Well, you'll find out about Sora's mysterious savior in the next prologue, which will introduce the other half of the traveling company.
To note one point, the song used is from Cardcaptors. It's the song Madison(Tomoya) sang in the series, or the American version anyway.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this first chapter, and look forward to more coming soon.