Prologue:
The rain screamed its curses upon the land as it shot down from the angry clouds above. Mixed with the rain came the shouts from the Gods, occasionally lighting up the sky with their power. It was a thunderstorm, and one of which the land hadn't seen in a decade. The superstitious folk huddled indoors muttering to anyone who would listen that an evil being had finally decided to punish the world that no longer served the gods. The more sensible replied that such Pokémon were nothing but a myth, and that the weather was as natural as the grass that grew underfoot. Whatever the cause, most were seeking shelter from the bad weather that had swept across the land like a dark plague. It streaked across their windows, leaving its mark as it went. Eyes lit up as another flash split the sky in two.
—
The neon signs of Castelia City's harbour flickered and buzzed from the bad weather. Dark shadows streaked across the cobbles of the paths outside the city. Heads down and their movements furtive, unknown nogooders flocked to the darkness provided by the looming buildings, it would be clear to any watchers that such people were up to no good. The docks was largely deserted this late at night, quiet and empty. The only light came from the aforementioned signs and lampposts positioned every dozen paces. Such conditions were perfect for the opportunists who revelled in the unsafe conditions of the night. Lightning illuminated the shadows, sending anyone caught out scuttling back into the dark, away from the accusing eyes of the world. The boats creaked and protested against their mooring lines, more concerned with the sea conditions than the land they pressed into.
—
An alleyway off to the side of the road, marking one of the three dozen paths into the city was shrouded in the absence of light, with exit pipes attached to the walls pumping out black thick smoke. One would imagine it would look the complete opposite under the cover of day, but right now it was foreboding, threatening. The city suffered from a pollution problem, but such problems paled in comparison to others. Two eyes peered out through the smoke, their vision set on one particular sea vessel that shook from one of the many unsettling waves that slammed against its hull. The ship itself was unimpressive, one of many cruisers that occupied the piers that shot out of the city like claws set in the ground. Without this dock, Castelia wouldn't have grown so big in size so quickly. The unknown watcher sighed quietly, their mind lost in thought.
—
Only a few years ago, Castelia was a calm coastal town, populated sure, but not full of the now present skyscrapers that dominated the sky. Were these buildings so different to the trees in the jungle that grew higher than their counterparts to take in more sun and rain? They were ugly, a blotch in the bustle of crowded streets and businesses. What the city used to look like was only shown in museums. Skyscrapers was not the only thing the development had ushered in. Crime was at an all time high and anyone sensible no longer felt safe when the sun dropped below the horizon. It was dangerous here. Gangs prowled the streets, looking to free any night travellers of their valuables, and sometimes their life. Alarms screeched their throats dry, as another robbery started in the distance. Catching the thieves responsible was impossible, as the Castelia Sewers became a city below a city. Down there it was full of criminals and misdeeds that made hell look like a park in the sunshine. After making an attack on the over-world, one could just retreat through one of many secret tunnels and manholes that provided access to the sewers. The experienced crime bosses knew the entrances like the back of their hands. The unexperienced crooks never lived long enough. A city of rattatas and purrloins. The people in charge no more than a roselia petal in a society full of brambleghasts. The back door of an establishment crashed open a few paces behind them, with a person and meowstic suddenly occupying the quiet side path. Intent on eachother, the two figures wasted no time making it clear what they were there for. Hushed moans would be heard from the Meowstic coupled with grunts of exertion from the human. To say this was an unusual occurrence would be a lie, and another quiet sigh escaped the watcher. It would be futile to change positions now so the Pokèmon stayed where they were, listening to the two bodies make love behind them. It was several minutes before the human thrusted into the loud Meowstic one last time which sent the pair into a post-orgasm opera performance. An alleyway, seriously? Shrinking back against the wall, the watcher became invisible, just another shadow no different to the others. They checked the two individuals were still busy with eachother and slipped away. To a Castelia City occupant, this was just another day. Any indication of their presence there tonight would be null.
—
Far away, the trees shook with defiance at the harsh winds that aimed to uproot them. A solitary figure, with their cowl pulled up, sat unmoving in such trees surrounding the Abundant Shrine. The shrine was ancient and it showed, with the stone used in its creation covered in marks and undergrowth. Parts of the monument had even fallen off, littered among the ground like discarded bits of rubbish. It was a sorry sight, one that was sadly common in the modern world. Such landmarks had been forgotten by society, and the locations only known to few. To step inside the building, if you could call it that, wouldn't show a different scene. In there the hard ground sprouted weeds, and the half collapsed roof welcomed in the water. Puddles formed in numbers, the surface tension constantly interrupted by rainfall. Even here the storm was raging on, unchecked and angry. The scene was a complete contrast to Castelia City. Forest stretched for kilometres in every direction, broken only by a mountain. Looking up, the moon was projected a melancholic glow, partially covered by the mellow clouds which unleashed their tears in an unending cycle. It is, was.
—
The Pokémon checked their gear now, although their movements remained slow and cautious. The land around the shrine had been scouted for kilometres only a few hours prior. Any unfortunate traveller who may have passed the sweep undetected would have most certainly turned back at the brewing of the storm. A lightning bolt, one of many shot out from the sky, struck the ground dozens of meters away. The figure threw back their cowl and waited.
—
Let's go back to the beginning. Back to the start of my story. Throughout this tale you will discover the trials and tribulations that I experienced that set me on my way to a purpose, a life that others only dream about. This is not a documentary for the weak of heart, and things will not be sugarcoated to fit your fantasies. I am not here to hold your hand and heat up your hot cocoa. Sufficiently warned? Awesome, let's go.