I feel the need for a small disclaimer here. Please do not think that I have ... 'ruined', for lack of a better word, what you think is an interesting concept by the start of this chapter. There is a reason for locations of some characters.
It will all come together is a (hopefully) interesting way.
Chapter 1: Fateful Encounter
"It's a beautiful day! Sky falls, you feel like it's a beautiful day." The young boy sang out of tune while dancing down the road, much to the humour of the two people walking with him. Sam Nagato is a normal fourteen-year-old boy: lively, energetic, care free, and a little stupid. Coming from Pallet Town, Kanto, he is a budding Pokémon trainer in his fourth year of training.
Ever since he was young Sam had been fascinated with Pokémon. Both of his parents had been trainers and he too wished to become a trainer, maybe even a famous champion. After some hard work and luck he passed the trainer's licence exam and received a Charmander from Professor Oak a couple of months after his tenth birthday as well as a Shellder from his parents. Sam then progressed though both the Kanto and Johto regions, finishing in the top 16 in both League Championships. After deciding he needed a change of pace and location, Sam came to the Actopon region to challenge the Pokémon League of the region.
"Sam, please stop; you're murdering that song... and stop dancing around like that as well; you're giving me a headache." The much older boy moaned at Sam as he trudged along behind.
"Oh stop complaining Alvin; I just want to get to the next city so I can earn another Actopon League Badge!" Sam shouted back to Alvin, who was falling behind.
Alvin O'Brien is a twenty-two-year-old Pokémon Researcher who works with Professor Aspen, the most prolific Pokémon researcher in the Actopon Region. Even from a young age Alvin preferred to study and learn about Pokémon from books, rather than going out to become a trainer. He is currently working on his Research Degree with a paper on, 'The Study of Diversity of Habitats of Pokémon within the Actopon Region.'
He normally spends his time in the lab either assisting Professor Aspen with his work or writing up his own work; however within three years Alvin had expended the majority of relevant research within Actopon and was forced to look further afield. As well as notes delivered to him from Professor Oak, via Sam, and his younger sister becoming old enough to get a Pokémon of her own, Alvin was practically ordered by Professor Aspen to go with his sister and use a Pokédex to collate information on the ranges of Pokémon within Actopon. However, he was beginning to regret accepting the offer to travel with Sam and his own sister, who was now pushing him to catch up with Sam.
"HURRY UP YOU SLOWPOKE!" Alvin's sister Kei shouted up to her brother. Kei O'Brien is a ten-year-old Pokémon Trainer who, like most children received her first Pokémon not long after her tenth birthday. Thanks to her brother's connection to Professor Aspen, Kei was the first in line to receive the newest starter Pokémon at the laboratory, choosing a Squirtle. While she can appear to be stand-offish and obnoxious to her brother at times, deep down she is very kind hearted and cares deeply and greatly respects Alvin, constantly looking up to him for advice and support.
"So... what city are we headed to and how far is it?" Sam inquired to a wall of groaning from Alvin.
"Idiot." Alvin whispered to himself before taking a deep breath and turning to face Sam. "For the last time we are going to Redux City, home of the Möbius Gym and its badge. 'Kay? And if I'm right we will be there within half an hour." Alvin sighed.
"Wait?" Sam tapped the side of his head for a second before pointing at thin air, his eyebrows raised in realization. "Isn't that where one of the Gym Leaders is a Pokémon themselves?"
"Oh yeah." Kei squeaked while stuffing a hand into her brother's bag, rummaging around for the official League Guidebook. She promptly started flicking through the book to the relevant page. "Aren't the Gym Leaders friends of yours?"
"Yep, but I haven't seen either of them for ages." Alvin sighed as he thought. "It will be nice to see them again."
"Well let's hurry up and get there." Sam shouted while running off ahead with Kei closely following. Alvin rolled his eyes before running to catch up.
Half an hour later and the three arrived at the outskirts of Redux City, the rolling country side that made up the route from Actopon's capital city Davenport, quickly becoming a tight urban unit. The city itself was rather small, no more than five miles across with very few tall buildings. Initially serving as a commuter suburb of Davenport to give workers at the business district in the south of the city, a nice quiet place with a more rural feel to live in; as a result Redux City became a large and somewhat sleepy city.
A walk into the city centre revealed the location of the Pokémon Centre, as well as the City's Gym. Sam, Kei and Alvin entered into the Pokémon Centre to find it surprisingly empty, with only a couple of trainers sitting on the couches staring into space as they waited for their Pokémon to heal. When queried the Nurse Joy behind the counter just shrugged before replying that it seemed to be a slow day at the gym and how it was unsurprising considering how early it was in the gym season.
While their Pokémon were being healed, the three had a quick lunch courtesy of vending machines within the Pokémon Centre with Sam reading the guide book for some hints on the Möbius Gym.
"So there are two Gym Leaders." Sam vocalised his thoughts as he continued to read. "Well that should be an interesting experience. I've never heard of that before."
"Really?" Kei looked up from her milkshake with her head tilted to the side. "You've never been in a double battle?"
"What? ... No!" Sam frowned slightly. "I've been in double battles before, I've had some here in Actopon. Remember?" Kei mouthed 'oh yeah' before returning to her milkshake.
"It is pretty unique." Alvin replied pointing at the book. "Does that thing have their picture in it?" For a couple of moments Sam flicked through the pages.
"Yeah, there should be but ... The page has been ripped out" Sam turned the book around for Alvin and Kei to see. "See?"
"Why would someone do that Alvin?" Kei asked looking up at her brother for a moment.
"No idea. Anyway the Gym isn't a long way from here." Alvin stood up, stretching his arms. "We can go see if the leaders are there." The three quickly tided away any mess and retrieved their Pokémon from the bored Nurse Joy, leaving with Sam leading the way.
Kei gasped as the Möbius Gym loomed into view, running forward to get a better look. The Möbius Gym is located in a large battle park right at the centre of Redux City. The Gym has a sleek and clean design; the pale yellow rectangular building has curved corners, at each is a column with a vibrant red helix, the spiral standing out against the general paleness of the Gym. At the front was a simple sliding door made up of heavily tinted glass, with the same glass running along the walls below the roof of the Gym. An arch spanned between the two pillars at the front of the gym, the name of the gym written in a simple yet elegant font; a large lit Poké Ball hanging from the arch, above the door.
The grounds surrounding the gym are filled with small battlefields catering to most types, ranging from simple grass and dirt to rocky terrain and lakes. Today they were mostly empty with only one of the lake battlefields being used by two trainers, battling with a Floatzel and Skarmory. As Sam, Kei and Alvin walked towards the gym they noticed a small building next to the gym, the small sign above the door read 'Möbius Cafe'. Several tables were in front of the building, as with the battlefields all but one was empty, with two people sitting half-watching the battle.
As Sam ran the remaining distance to the gym he noticed a small piece of paper pinned to the sign next to the door. However he choose to ignore it and headed straight for the door, slamming into the glass as it refused to open. Sam rubbed his head and moaned as Kei laughed taking the piece of paper from the sign.
"You should really read these signs before walking into things." Kei giggled as she handed the paper to Sam.
"Stupid door. What kind of gym isn't open at one in the afternoon?" Sam scowled as he looked down at the paper. "Gym's closed for the day; three boring battles made us really hungry, we may be back later. Signed, the Gym Leaders." Sam read the elegantly written notice and visibly became annoyed. "What the crap? They can't just close the gym 'cause they're bored!" He looked to his right and saw the couple sitting at a table outside of the Möbius Café. One of them had something to drink; the other was reading a broadsheet newspaper that obscured most of themselves, leaving only what appeared to be the fingers of two green-gloved hands holding the newspaper up.
"Maybe those two may know where the Gym Leaders are?" Sam stuck the paper back onto the sign and walked towards the Cafe.
"Oh genius Sam, just brilliant," Kei sarcastically growled, "You're going to bother that couple who are trying to have lunch, just because you are desperate for a battle." Kei stormed off after Sam, much to Alvin's amusement as he casually strolled after the two.
"Excuse me," Sam asked, approaching the couple, "could you help me?"
The two people seemed not to respond, this really annoyed Sam, who repeated his question as he got to the table and stopped. Unknown to him, from behind the newspaper, the Gardevoir's eyes gave off a subtle light blue glow, as did the three Poké Balls on Sam's belt, which was barely noticeable in the bright daylight.
"Yes little boy, what do you want?" The man sitting next to his partner sipped his drink, looking down at a notepad filled with unintelligible scribbles and numbers.
"I would like to know where the Möbius Gym Leaders are so I can challenge them to a Pokémon battle for the Möbius badge!" Sam declared while putting both hands on to table. "However, they seem to have gone out to lunch. Would you know where they are?" Sam waited for a reply.
While he was talking, the Gardevoir was psychically scanning the Poké Balls, looking at what Pokémon were contained inside, their moves, and training strengths. She then telepathically transmitted this information to the man sitting next to her. He was less than impressed.
"Look, and trust me on this, don't waste your time." The man bluntly told Sam, whose eyes widened in shock. "You wouldn't last more than five minutes in that Gym and your Pokémon don't deserve to suffer."
"How do you know that?" Sam retorted, still recovering from the shock. Both Alvin and Kei had caught up to Sam and were just listening to the exchange taking place.
"Well I know that you wouldn't stand a chance in that Gym because ..." The man pulled down the newspaper from in front of the Gardevoir, showing her face. "... My friend here looked at your Pokémon and they are far too weak to be able to battle the Gym Leaders. On top of that, you only have three Pokémon and the rules for the Gym state that you need six to battle the Gym Leaders."
Sam frowned and glanced down at his Poké Balls, placing a hand on one of them.
"I also know that the Gym Leaders won't battle you because-" He was cut off as the Gardevoir finished the sentence.
"-You interrupted our lunch!" Jessica said with a flourish and promptly picked up the newspaper and continued to read it, while Stephen picked up his drink, and finished it off as Sam and Kei stood in stunned silence.
After a few moments of Sam and Kei standing with their mouths open in shock, Alvin finally broke up, laughing at the two kids.
"I wish I had a video camera!" Alvin giggled, pushing past the two stunned kids he walked up the man. "How are you, Stephen?" Alvin asked, pulling up a chair and promptly falling onto it.
Stephen looked at Alvin and smiled to himself, it had been a while since he had last seen his friend and was glad that Alvin finally got out of the lab to see the region he had been studying for the last five years.
"Bored and ..." Stephen looked at Sam and Kei, he recognised Alvin's sister but had no idea who the kid next to her was. "... Surprised they are still staring at poor Jess as if she's some kind of freak." He sighed, his gaze still focused on Sam.
"Do you think we should explain what's going on to those two?" Alvin lazily asked, pointing in Sam and Kei's direction.
"Jess, I think the kids have been shocked long enough now," Stephen said to Jessica, who had now finished her newspaper and was quietly sipping her drink while staring into the eyes of Sam and Kei. "Want to explain it to them?"
"I suppose I have to ..." Jessica sighed and looked up at Sam and Kei. "Take a seat and I'll tell you." As she spoke two chairs were pulled to the table by an unseen psychic force. Sam and Kei sat down, glancing at each other before focusing on Jessica. "Before you ask anything: Yes I am a Gardevoir, yes I am speaking naturally, no I'm not using any form of psychic ability and yes I am co-Gym Leader of the Möbius Gym." Jessica waited for a moment as both Sam and Kei stared at her.
"Oh wow." Sam spluttered as he spoke. "H ... how?"
"How, what?" Jessica replied. "How did I learn to speak, read and write?" Sam nodded. "Well I ..."
"Went to a school with a bunch of 5 year old kids!" Stephen interrupted with a smile.
Jessica glared at him for moment before subtly shaking her head and restoring her composure. "That's how. It was a lot of work but worth it."
"So you're a Pokémon-Pokémon trainer?" Kei sheepishly asked while avoiding making eye contact.
"Yes." Jessica responded, finishing her drink, "Surprising isn't it?" Jessica rummaged in her pockets for a moment before pulling out some change and leaving it on the table paying the bill for the lunch. "So what are we doing now?" She queried to Stephen who was already standing up, chatting intently with Alvin.
"Well I'm too depressed to battle anymore today and I want to show Alvin the Pokémon back at the house," Stephen told Jessica while grabbing his notepad. For a moment he stopped to think before turning his attention to Sam and Kei "You two can come along if you want." The two quickly grabbed their bags and stood up, eager to spend some time with the two Gym Leaders.
Jessica and Kei walked off ahead, the young girl eagerly listening to the answers to her questions. A short distance behind Alvin walked alongside Stephen with Sam a step behind.
"So why are you out here in the real world? You normally spend all your time in the lab back in Redwell with Aspen."
"This is why." Alvin said as he pulled out the Pokédex. "Aspen told me that I had to do some fieldwork for my research paper, so I have to traipse around Actopon and use this thing to log data." He sighed and shook his head. "So my parents decided it would be a great idea to go around with my sister."
"So what about him?" Stephen pointed back at Sam, who took notice and caught up. "He's clearly not from Actopon, his accent means he's from Kanto. I'm guessing Viridian City."
"Close." Sam excitedly replied. "I'm from Pallet Town."
Stephen laughed humourlessly. "Very funny kid. Seriously where are you from?"
"Pallet Town." Sam frowned as he looked up at Stephen.
"He is." Alvin added. "Sam is from Pallet Town. He delivered the notes I had requested from Professor Oak." Stephen shook his head.
"No way." Stephen looked down at Sam. "No way is this kid from Pallet."
Sam sighed and slid his hand into his trouser pocket, pulling out his Trainer's Licence, handing it to Stephen. "Look at it." Sam pointed at the home town line. "See, Pallet Town, Kanto."
"Well I'll be damned!" Stephen shook his head, handing Sam his licence back. "Sorry kid, you must get that a lot." He ruffled Sam's hair and gave him a smile. "So why are you hanging around with this loser?" Stephen earned a kick in the ankle from Alvin.
"Well he originally asked me to go with his sister ..." Sam started to answer but was cut off by Alvin.
"Because I was going to send my sister with him." Alvin hurriedly replied. "Professor Oak told me that Sam was a good and mostly responsible kid and Kei was annoying the fuck out of me, begging me to get her first in line for the starter Pokémon." He took a deep breath. "I didn't anticipate being given a Pokédex and a shove from Aspen." Stephen shook his head and smiled.
"Silly Alvin." He mocked.
Stephen and Jessica lead Alvin, Sam and Kei back to their house on the outskirts of the city. Along the way the two Gym Leaders were constantly recognised by citizens and trainers alike. Stephen politely shrugged off most of the advances with a smile and a nod, while Jessica gave some polite conversation and a handshake to those who offered.
After a relatively short walk the group found themselves outside of the main area of Redux City, looking at a huge hedgerow. A walk down the path running next to the hedge revealed a large iron gate with an ornate symbol in the middle. After walking down the drive they came to a small, unassuming house, however, it was the land behind the house that impressed Sam and Kei. Fifty acres of Pokémon ranch filled with a variety of Pokémon all belonging to the Möbius gym.
"Now what's this?" Stephen mused aloud as he spotted a small plain package on the doorstep. "How did this get here?" He picked the parcel up, rolled it around to try and find who sent it.
"No idea." Jessica frowned as he took the package from Stephen, giving it a quick scan. "It contains four Poké Balls ... they have Pokémon in them too." She carefully handed the package back, pointing at the return address. "It looks like The League sent it."
"Why not send it to the Gym then?" Stephen sighed as he opened the front door. "I'll phone them up and see what this is all about. Why don't you show the kids the Pokémon 'round the back?" Sam and Kei's eyes lit up at the idea.
"Oh wow please?" Kei squeaked and tugged on Alvin's arm, looking up at her brother.
"Sure, I need to release a couple of mine for some rest." Jessica shrugged. "Come on kids." She headed of around the building with Sam and Kei in tow, while Stephen entered the house with Alvin.
As soon as Stephen was inside he ripped open the package while walking into the living room, he stopped in the door way, gasping as he did.
"What?" Alvin asked as he quickly avoided bumping into Stephen. "What's up?"
"No way ... That's impossible." Stephen's voice was whisper-like. "How in the name of all that is holy..."
"What is it?" Alvin became more alarmed trying to see what Stephen was holding, while he continued to walk into the living room.
"Dear Mr Warren." Stephen read off the letter that was inside the package, his voice was cold. "We received this parcel for you at the Actopon Pokémon League Headquarters in Davenport three days ago. As per Article 23b of League Regulations the parcel was opened. Upon discovery of the contents we immediately forwarded the items to you for further investigation. Please contact Michael Young at ... blah, blah, blah."
"Stephen?" Alvin slowly approached as Stephen threw the letter onto one of the couches before slumping onto it himself, staring intently at the contents of the package.
"Why would someone send these to me?" Stephen looked down at the four Cherish Balls in his hands. He looked up at Alvin, showing him the Cherish Balls.
"Oh my ..." Alvin's eyes went wide as he saw them. "Stephen ..."
"I need to get Jessica." Stephen interrupted, carefully placing the Cherish Balls on the table before dashing out of the room.
Outside the back of the house, Jessica was giving Sam and Kei a chance to get up close to some of hers and Stephen's Pokémon. As the three made their way back to the house Kei noticed a small fenced-off enclosure, as soon as she was close enough to see, her eyes widened.
"Awwwww!" Kei cried out as she ran towards the enclosure. "Look at the baby Pokémon." She quickly covered the ground. "Cleffa, Pichu, Magby, Riolu and even Eevee's!" As she reached out to open the gate, her shoulder was grasped and Kei was pulled away.
"You can't just run in there." Stephen looked down at Kei with a stern expression as he released her. Jessica and Sam had managed to catch up.
"Kei, those Pokémon are very young and are not all that comfortable around humans." Jessica explained. "They even attack Stephen sometimes."
"Speaking of..." Sam added looking at him "What was in the parcel?" Stephen simply motioned towards the house with his head and walked back inside; Jessica, Sam and Kei quickly followed.
"What did the league want?" Jessica asked with a slightly worried tone to her voice.
"I don't know yet, I haven't phoned them yet ... I want you to see them first." Stephen replied as he led the three into the living room, where Alvin was sitting and staring at the Cherish Balls. Jessica gave a slight gasp as she saw them while Sam and Kei stood silent.
"These were inside that package!" Jessica looked up at Stephen, who just nodded in reply. "Why would The League send these to you?"
"They didn't." Stephen replied "Someone else did. Thing is ... they don't know who. These were dropped off at the HQ addressed to me. There was nothing else inside, nothing telling them who sent it." He sighed, staring intently at the Cherish Balls. "I want to know what Pokémon are inside but ..." Stephen's voice trailed off as he descended into deep thought.
"So what's the problem?" Sam was quiet as he spoke. "If you want to find out what Pokémon are inside the balls, why don't you just open them?"
"You don't understand." Stephen answered holding up one of the balls. "These are Cherish Balls. They are extremely rare; in my entire eighteen year Pokémon training career I have only ever had two of them." He flashed his belt showing one of the aforementioned Cherish Balls. "One contains Arkbird, my treasured Togekiss; the other is empty, waiting for the perfect Pokémon to be housed in it." A look of mild shock spread across Alvin, Sam and Kei's faces. "Now can you see my dilemma? Why would a trainer with four of the damn things, give them to me out of the blue?" Stephen asked putting down the ball with the others, staring at them with the same serious look on his face.
"But if you release them, wouldn't you get a better understanding of what's going on?" Kei asked, giving Stephen a quizzical look.
"The problem is..." Jessica answered. "... Cherish Balls are normally used to capture an extremely rare Pokémon due to the rarity of the ball. So Stephen doesn't want to release a possibly rare Pokémon, who could be scared and run off."
Kei walked up to the table and picked up the four Cherish Balls. "Well there's no point just staring at them." Kei said as she walked towards the door. "If you won't find out what Pokémon are hidden inside these balls, I will!" With a flourish she walked out the door.
Stephen gave Alvin a withering stare, "Is she always that hot-headed?" He asked chasing after Kei before Alvin could answer.
"Go Poké Ball!" Kei shouted as she prepared to throw one of the Cherish Balls. Stephen grabbed her arm at the last minute, stopping the ball from being thrown. He hastily took it from her.
"Kei, I know you're excited to know what Pokémon are in these balls." Stephen condescendingly told Kei. "But anything could be inside of them and whatever it is could be very aggressive." Stephen took the remaining three balls off Kei. Turning to his left he asked Jessica. "Are you ready to restrain what comes out of here?"
"As I'll ever be." Jessica gave a thumbs-up, readying herself for a possible attack.
"Cherish Ball go!" Stephen called out, tossing the ball forward. There was a flash of light and the ball opened, releasing the Pokémon inside. Once the flash had died down, there was a collective gasp from the group of five as they saw the Pokémon before them.