*Updated December 2021*

Hi everyone!

After a long time away from this story, I've caught a creative bug and decided that I wanted to pick this back up. I'll be slowly replacing the chapters currently posted as well as adding new content. Looking forward to picking up readers and actually finishing this fic.

Thank you kindly,

Charoshi

Also, I should note. All OCs featured in this story will be my own unless mentioned otherwise, but I sadly have no ownership on already established characters such as Professor Oak or any of the Pokémon.

Prologue

Kickstart My Heart

"With all due respect, Sir, this is absolutely nuts!" exclaimed a rather bulky man, whose emerald green eyes were wide with shock. He knew his boss was always a little loony, but he had never truly expected that he was this far off his rocker. Perhaps it's not too late to turn in my resignation, he thought to himself.

"Nonsense, Johnson! My plan is brilliant! All we need is for our little friend to show up and we're in business," cried Johnson's boss, whose long flowing blonde hair danced wildly in the wind. Johnson wished he had hair; he had always loved the feeling of having it blown by the wind. All he had was a glint of moonlight shining off of his bald, hairless head.

With a sigh, Johnson knew there was no reasoning with his boss. He had a head harder then a Rampardos, and was more stubborn then a rampaging Tauros. He recognized this look in his boss's chocolate brown eyes. He recognized that fire from their youth, a look of determination, stubbornness and courage. His mind was already made up.

"Johnson, ready your Poké Balls. This one might just be the hardest of them all," Johnson's boss decreed, but Johnson didn't need his boss to tell him that. He could feel the night air chilling, and he knew that the time would be arriving soon. He instinctively threw out his Poké Balls, and he knew they'd be in for one hell of a fight.

"Sir, the power of this creature is immense. Are you sure my Umbreon and Alakazam can do it?" he asked hopefully. He believed in his Pokémon completely, but even then he knew it would be tough. His Umbreon, a black Pokémon with multiple yellow rings that looked something like a cross between a common domestic dog and a rabbit, looked on edge. His Alakazam, a human-like Pokémon who was mostly yellow with a brown chest, a couple of spoons in his hands and a mustache that Johnson would have killed for, looked fairly calm. He was twisting his spoons around with his psychic powers, his mustache flowing around in the breeze.

"Don't fret, Johnson. They will have help from my Swellow, you are simply the distraction," he told Johnson carefully. Upon cue, his Swellow was released from the ball, his green, orange and white plumage shining gracefully in the moonlight. Swellow wasn't a large bird, but it was fast. Johnson's boss gave his Swellow a small, syringe like item. He whispered something quietly to it, and the Swellow nodded in understanding.

Suddenly, the night air grew chilly, the Pokémon became tense, and Johnson knew the time had come. It was here.

"They should be around here somewhere..." muttered a dark cloaked man. He knew the layout of this building inside and out, even in the dark. He had needed to wait for his "boss" and his crony, Johnson, to leave, so he could finally follow through with the mission. It felt like a long time coming. He despised the fact he had to go undercover here. For so long he had to pretend to be something he wasn't, but thankfully that ended today. Carefully, he rubbed his hands along the walls and shelves, before he finally felt the sweet sensation of cold metal.

Found it, he thought, a sense of relief washing over him. Sweat had been dripping down his lightly tanned face, the only skin he had showing, a raven black cloak covering the rest of his body. He began to twist his long, slender, fingers around the lock. Thirty, Twenty-five, three; a rather simplistic combination for an "evil genius," he thought spitefully. You're going to regret leaving this place unattended Al-

"Stop right there, Galiano!" screeched a feminine voice. Suddenly, the place lit up, like the tail of a Charizard when its blaze ability had been activated. Shit! Knowing escape wasn't going to be able to instant, he turned around to face his newest obstacle.

"Miranda, sweetheart, we're on a first name basis. Please, call me Steven," he said in a sarcastic, seductive tone, before cringing at the look on her face. She tried to look angry, but Steven saw her eyes betrayed her emotions. Her sky blue eyes were watering and they lacked the life they usually had. Her strawberry blonde hair, usually straight as ruler, was standing on end.

"Johnson said you might betray us. They left me behind to guard the building. I didn't want to believe it, but I guess it's true! Why did you betray us? Why did you betray me?" Miranda cried, tears streaming down her face. Her left hand gripped a Poké Ball tightly, while her right hand gripped a stun gun. The only thing Steven agreed with the boss on was his no killing policy. However, he was not against torturing them, and many committed suicide to end the pain. I guess that's a cruel form of assisted suicide, Steven mused.

"Stand down, Miranda, this has nothing to do with you. If you care that much about me, then leave here and follow me," Steven declared, extending his free arm towards her, hoping his gesture would either soothe her over or buy him some time.

"You know I can't so that! And I never would! You're a traitor, and thus you are dead to me!" Miranda screamed, tears still streaming from her eyes. Steven, realizing that continuing to argue with her was completely pointless, quickly turned around and grabbed the box that was concealed in the safe. He could sense his partner was finally here. With a condescending look on his face, he turned to face Miranda one final time.

"I'm no traitor. I was never part of this organization to begin with! I got what I wanted, and I got what you guys want too! Xatu, use teleport!" Suddenly, a green bird with white wings appeared. Xatu had always reminded Steven of those Totem poles he saw during his travels.

(As you wish, Master) cooed Xatu. He latched onto Steven, causing them to disappear in a blinding white light, leaving behind a hurt, stunned and angry Miranda.

"You have done well, Steven," a telepathic voice declared.

"They still have one though. We acted too late," he muttered in defeated. "At least they do now. We should have struck earlier and taken them down from the inside."

"Yes, it appears they got its DNA, but we have the other 8. There is nothing more we could have done. You are our only agent who isn't incapacitated or in hiding, even you couldn't have done it all yourself. As for the samples we do have, I will now begin processing which humans best match the sample. It could take days, months or even years. We have to wait for the right vessel to be born."

"What if they try to get the DNA again? It could take far too long to find the right match for each sample" Steven asked. He had truly wondered this the whole time; it just seemed far too easy. He furrowed his brow; he wasn't completely convinced. I shouldn't have been able to get in and out that easy, he pondered.

"We both know they won't, they are far too stubborn. Now if you excuse me, I must begin the long screening process. We need to find the perfect bloodline for each match. The legend of the Valiant Hearts will soon begin..."

"WHAT? HE GOT THEM?" the long blonde haired man screeched.

"Yes he did; unfortunately, I was no match for the traitor. He pulled a fast one with his Xatu. Are we going after them?" Miranda asked, trying not to sound too curious. She did not believe the boss knew anything of the relationship that she had, or felt she had, with Steven.

Although I have no way of knowing for sure where those DNA experiments will end up, I assume they will be used the same way I intended to use them. Perhaps I will come across one of MY experiments by chance, the blonde haired man mused.

"No, I have the only one I need! And who knows, maybe we might come across information to what they plan to do with the stolen DNA. Now, prepare the search for a suitable vessel!" he declared, startling Miranda. Not wanting to wait for another order, she quickly booked it to the main research lab, knowing full well it was going to a long night.

I finally have everything I need! The world will be mine! First Anotica, then the rest of the world! And I will complete it, with its DNA. Mewtwo...