Today had been a long day. School had been utter torment. Kacchan pushing me around on the playground, and been mean. Not letting me join him or his other friends play hero. Not even letting me play villain. The role no one wanted to play. The teachers just pulling me away to color when Kacchan started screaming too loudly.
Mom hadn't come home. Instead leaving a note for me to find. She wouldn't be home till really late... it made me wonder. Did everyone forget. Why, why would everyone forget that today is my birthday. I hadn't told anyone, not after last year when I had been accused of lying, trying to gain attention that I didn't care about anymore. Putting the letter down on the kitchen table I went to change. Packing up a small meal and heading out. Heading to one of the shrines. Wanting to be around people that wouldn't care who or what I was. Locking the door behind me and running off. Heading to the one quiet place in the city that didn't care that I was quirkless.
The way was quiet, most people already at home as the sky shifted from orange to black. Families, safe in their homes. People going about their lives. Coming through the gates was always a nice thing. Some of the keepers had quirks that just made the shrine that much 'More'. One clearing the sky's of light pollution, another few cleaned the air, leaving it fresh and kind. Grass and all the plants green and full of life. Fire lit lanterns lighting the way in the early night. A few saw me, a few soft greetings but in the end. I was left alone as I went to my spot. A small hill within the shrine. Covered in soft grass that was great for just laying in and looking at the stars.
I don't know how long I stayed there. How long I would want to stay, but a shooting star fell, soon followed by more. Letting me watch a meteor shower. Maybe, maybe with so many one would truly be a wishing star.
"I wish I may, I wish I might…." I whisper the start of an old poem mom once said, the rest escaping me as I watched the shower continue on. "Please," I whisper to the stars. "I don't want to live like this anymore." Thinking of the friend groups in my school as they joke around with each other. Of families, parents who come to pick up their kids. Smiling laughing happy to see each other. The desire for these things, stronger than the desire to be a hero. Just wanting someone.
'Is this truly your wish?' The sudden voice in my head had me jumping up. Looking for the source of the voice. The shrine was dark now off to the left. The walls of green trees hiding so much lower on the hill. There was no sign of the source. Though as my search came up empty a feeling swelled in my chest. More than a single feeling so many, some so foreign belonging to fading memories. Accomplishment, happiness, joy, love, acceptance all swelling and making me feel full. Bringing tears to my face. Desperately wanting to grasp at the emotions and keep them close, to never let them fade away, having to settle for holding myself.
'Oh cub,' there was something bright before me, looking up before me was a large deer. He was bigger than any deer I had seen before. Maybe as big as All Might with massive crystal like horns. 'I could help.' The deer's mouth did not move, still speaking with his mind as the light behind him vanished. 'I can set you on a path where you can accomplish these feelings far more than you do now. That will ensure you find friends and build a true pack. Would you like that?' The deer leaned down, gently nudging my cheek with his snout.
"Really?" I hiccuped through my tears. Trying to wipe them away.
'Truely.'
"Please?" And the deer seemed to smile. A thing of light opened beside us as the deer gently nudged my side.
'Then come with me.'
"What about my mom?" I needed to make sure. Mom had to be okay.
'You will see your dam again, I promise. She will be happy too, maybe not at first, but she will be truly happy.' I was still hesitant, but mom would be happy? Animals had no reason to lie, and this animal had flat teeth, meaning he wouldn't be interested in eating me besides I'm just small, hardly much meat on me like the lunch lady says. The deer laughed which was a strange sound to hear aloud.
'My name is Xerneas, and I am the keeper of the Bridge.' And as I stepped into the portal everything went white. 'welcome to the world of Pokemon.'
The years past quickly. Time spent in Alola, surrounded by kindness both in words and actions. Accepted by humans and monsters alike. Learning the kindness that all had a right too.
Kanto came training. Not just in the mind with strategies, breaking down the abilities of a pokemon and how to shift the tide of a fight, but in body as well. Rediscovering an old power few were born with and only I chose to cultivate.
Coming to the Sinnoh to learn under Cynthia as she searched the earth for glimpses of the past. I learned so much in the 5 years I was here. Becoming all that I could be. Taking up an old mantle of Aura Guardian in my last year. The role of a hero, helping anyone who asked as quickly as I could. Harnessing the power of old while learning many truths. Some from the legendaries themselves.
There was once one world, but with change came hostility. The pokemon started as quirked animals. Some of their abilities best claimed to be magic. Singularity abilities in their strength. This place referred to as the World of Pokemon was a large dimension made by Arceous, and maintained by the Legendaries. With time one could die of age merely to be reborn mere seconds later continuing the cycle to keep the world of pokemon alive. They were far more intelligent than what the humans gave then credit for. The Legendaries and all monsters under them making a home that protects them yes, but also protects a large amount of quirkless people. The only human quirks I had seen since coming here weak. Only one truely strong, and within Kanto.
'You must go back,' Entei spoke not unkindly, but firm. It was the same warning I had heard the second year since coming. When I was still in Pokemon school, learning under Professor Kukuri with my Lucario partner Akio.
"I know," poking at the fire in front of me. Not looking at the legendary that had taken me in during some of my studies with Cynthia when we had gone to study the Ruins of Alph in the Johto.
'The gates will be closed to you for a time,' this was new information. Making me freeze and look up to him. Confused and worried, having hoped for more time. 'Celebi has vanished from the mother realm.'
"When must I leave?" I ask softly. Trying as hard as I could to keep my voice from shaking. The Legendaries might not mean to be, but in some ways, they were cruel.
'Soon.' And how very on point, but maybe it was time. A warning now could very well mean tomorrow.
"Do I have time to make it to one of the starting towns?" I was given no answer. Merely watched for the longest moment.
'You have till the sun rises on the 6th day to make it to the tree of life.' It was a very straight answer and quickly I put out the fire and pulling out my Charizard, Blaze. We were quickly flying away, not having long for final preparations.