Chapter 1

Instincts

Aaron's eyes blinked open, staring up at the ceiling. Sweat beaded his face, dripping down his neck and onto the bed. His mess of dark brown hair stuck together with perspiration.

Slowly sitting up, the boy looked out the window; white powder dropped down onto the village.

"Great."

As he spoke, Professor Hawthorne's pet Growlithe silently strode in.

Twisting his body around, Aaron looked at the Growlithe.

"Looks like another one of those days, Growly."

The Growlithe responded by sitting there, looking up at him; his concerning puppy eyes staring diligently at his master.

It had been a couple of days since he'd had the dream. The dream of his father being killed, the reality that changed his life, forever. The same dream that reminded him of his father's death. A month ago, he had the first dream, then it stopped. A week ago, he had the second. The past three days, he'd had one every night.

Aaron shook his head, brushing it off. He got up, stretched, then picked up a semi-clean pair of dark blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and his blue and red cap. Grabbing the red brim of his hat, Aaron twirled it backwards. As the boy moved towards the Growlithe, the puppy looked up at his master happily, waiting to get attention. The puppy's young age showed, his eyes bright and assertive, ready to attack on command. Aaron thought to himself, thinking it amazing how Growly had no training, and yet he was eager to battle.

He remembered how his uncle, also known as Professor Hawthorne, told him it was instincts; how Growly knew what he was supposed to do. Aaron wasn't so sure.

As the puppy snuggled up against his leg, Aaron reached down and rubbed its side.

"You ready for some food, buddy?" His face turned into a frown. "No? Okay."

Glancing at the clock on the wall, Aaron walked out of his room. He smiled silently as he walked. The Growlithe sat there, listening. A moment passed...until: "Breakfast time, Growly!" The creamed colored puffs on the top of his head flew backwards, as the Growlithe sprinted out of the room.

The room became silent then, the only sound was of the whipping wind and snow flakes hitting the roof. The boy's room was normal for the age of sixteen: It had a bed crammed in the corner, a dresser to its opposite, a closet, and a window next to the bed.

A few more minutes passed, and then the boy returned. Stopping in the middle of the room, he brushed back his messy hair. His eyes matched his hair, a deep, mysterious brown. Aaron found what he was looking for, his green backpack. He picked it up, holding it with his left hand. As he walked towards the closet, he tripped over a heap of laundry thrown on the wooden floor. He cursed himself for being a lazy teenager.

Searching through his closet, Aaron grabbed a few more t-shirts and another pair of blue jeans. Shoving the clothes into his bag, he walked over to the dresser. He grabbed: five pokeballs, a couple of potions, and his toothbrush and toothpaste. Surveying the his room, he made sure he had everything. When he was satisfied, he zipped up his backpack, and walked out the door.

After walking through a hallway and passing another room, Aaron trudged down the stairs and entered the Laboratory. Growlithe was busy chewing down his food, while Professor Hawthorne sat at the table, reading the Kanto Times. The Professor put down the newspaper and looked up.

"Thanks for doing this errand for me, Aaron. Don't know what I'd do without you."

Aaron responded as he walked past the table and into the small kitchen.

"No problem, Uncle Dan. As long as I get to bring your Growly with me, I'm happy."

He opened the cupboards and grabbed an assortment of food, placing them in his backpack. Professor Hawthorne stood up, stretching.

"Well, today I'm studying and analyzing the facts I found out about the egg. I don't need it anymore, that's why I'm having you take it back to Professor Oak."

Zipping up his backpack, Aaron walked over to his Uncle.

"You can count on me, Uncle Dan."

They smiled at one another, until Professor Hawthorne's eyebrows rose, remembered something. Walking to the kitchen, he opened a lower cupboard. When he reappeared in front of Aaron, he held a clear bag filled with small brown balls, a map, a pot and pan, some cooking utensils, spices, and the oval egg.

"Here, put these things in your bag. I know you won't be gone long, but just in case."

Aaron rolled his eyes while he grabbed the items. "Thanks, Uncle." Aaron inspected them as the professor placed them in the bag.

Aaron zipped up his bag and snatched his brown coat from the hook by the door. He made sure he had his blue and red cap on, then waved goodbye to Professor Hawthorne.

"Come on, Growly. Time to go to Pallet Town."

The Growlithe ran out the door as Aaron opened it. The wind howled fiercely inside for a moment, then abruptly stopped as the door slammed shut.

The Laboratory became silent again, Professor Hawthorne returning to the Kanto Times.

Telltop Village sat on top of a small mountain, Mount Staven. It was a peaceful village, with a few wooden houses scattered here and there. Snow came rushing down, building on the already thick layer of white snow. Rooftops were covered too, scaled with pointy icicles.

A lonely cave entrance was drilled out on the western side of the village. The cave acted as a connecting point to the rest of Kanto: it winded through Mount Staven, then opened out onto a scraggly path, which eventually ended up in eastern Pallet Town. To the northeast of Telltop, a sheer cliff dropped down from the snowy mountain top, kept apart from the village by a wooden fence. This fence was built five years ago. Telltop had just started becoming a village, when a woman was thrown off of the cliff, never to be found. So they named the cliff on her behalf: Mosey Cliff.

Aaron's right eye twitched as a snowflake came down and smacked his left eyeball. He rubbed his eye until the blurriness ended. He then glanced down at Growly, who had been walking right next to him.

The two travelers passed the few houses, and eventually stood in front of the cave entrance into Mount Staven. Aaron took a deep breath before entering the pitch black of the cave. Walking forward, Aaron disappeared into the blackness.

I've visited Professor Oak for five or six years on my own, now. So what's so different? Why now?

Aaron's stomach knotted as he continued to walk. Reaching for his flashlight, he grasped the handle of it and unclipped it from his bag. He sniffed the air as he flicked the flashlight on, causing a beam of light to shoot out of the device. Growly sniffed the air too, his little black nose gently sifting through he air.

"Uh." Aaron's face twisted in disgust. "Growly, did you do that?"

The Growlithe looked behind itself, as if checking to see if the odor came from its own behind. The boy glared at the Growlithe, scolding him.

"Growly! That's disgusting! Uh! No more of that new Pokemon food for you, mister!"

Growly looked down as if ashamed of itself. It only lasted for a moment, however, as his ears perked up alertly. The bright orange puppy just stood there, on edge. Not ignoring his master, but smelling the musty air. Aaron immediately sensed Growly's alertness.

"What is it, buddy? What do you smell?"

Aaron became quiet, waving his flashlight around. He focused his ears, trying to seek out any intruder. He heard nothing...until... ... ... THROOOOP!!! Something sharp smacked into Aaron's neck, causing him to fumble backwards. The boy's eyes rolled upward, causing him to fall onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. As he laid there, his vision blurred in and out of focus. He felt a person grasp his feet, dragging him, scraping his body against the ridged surface of the cave. Darting his eyes around, Aaron searched for Growly. He found him, but he was limp and just a little ways behind him. Aaron forced his neck upwards.

"Excuse me? Hello! Anybody-"

"Hey this one's still conscience!" Growled a deep voice.

"Well, deal with it! Don't want boss to get angry with us again, now do we?!" Snapped a woman's voice.

"Yes, ma'am."

Aaron suddenly felt his feet drop to the ground, and saw the shadow of a man towering over him. His head went dizzy and his eyes continued to blur in and out of focus.

"Well hello there sweetie, you have a good nap?"

The man snickered at his own joke. A frown creased his face when the woman's voice shouted at him.

"Just do it!" The man nudged the black hat he wore, then wiped the sweat from his hands onto his black coat. A red "R" was embroidered on the front.

"Yes. ma'am"

As Aaron's eyes began to get used to the darkness, the man's fist came whirling down, knocking him unconscious. As his world turned to black he thought to himself.

A red "R." Haven't I heard of that before?

TO BE CONTINUED…