Chapter 1: Kalos, Where Dreams and Adventures Begin
The sun rose over Vaniville Town in southern Kalos, and Grace kept one eye on her prized rhyhorn, who had just awoken from his small house in the yard, and the other on the breakfast she prepared. The gentle noise of fletchlings chirping in the distance grew closer with each stroke of her whisk.
"Morning, rhyhorn. I'm glad to see someone can wake up on time." She smiled at her old racing partner, who beamed back and dug into the bowl of feed left for him earlier. However, Grace glanced back at the dark staircase across her living room in annoyance. "Fletchy." At Grace's command, a small Fletchling flew in and landed on her shoulder.
"Morning Fletchy, be a dear and go wake up Serena."
"Fletch!" With a crisp salute, the firebird flew upstairs and squeezed through the doorway of a bedroom. Inside, the dawn crept in and lit up stuffed pokemon, bright posters, pictures, and other bright posters, all done up in a neat fashion. However, Fletchy ignored the decorations and flew over a figure hidden under the sheets with only a red bow sticking out.
"Fletch." Fletchy landed over the covers, but the sleeper only stirred. With a determined expression, Fletchy pecked down and earned a sharp yelp from the young woman underneath.
"Ouch! Fletchy!" She sprung up, her light blue eyes aflame in fury and honey-blonde hair flowing. Serena tried to swipe the fletchling with her hands, but Fletchy evaded until the young woman toppled out of bed.
"Ahh." Serena moaned upon impact, then glared up as Fletchy landed on her head, adding insult to injury.
"Glad you finally decided to get up." Grace's voice reached her from downstairs. "Come down for breakfast. We have a long day of training today."
"Yes, mama." Serena's rage contorted into deep frustration and resentment as she puffed up her cheeks and groaned. With a deep breath, she got up and stretched her arms. However, before heading downstairs, Serena walked over to the window and stared out at the horizon beyond her hometown as the run gifted Kalos with light. Despite how much she dreaded her mother's daily training regiment, something about the dawn gave Serena the feeling that it would be a good day and made her smile.
In Lumiose city, the airport doors opened, and Ash Ketchum of Pallet Town Kanto stepped into the vibrant streets of Kalos's capital city. Atop the young man's shoulder rested Pikachu, his first pokemon and partner, who shared Ash's wonderous expression. Six years had passed since they began their journey, and even after visiting so many incredible places around the different regions, something about Lumiose filled the duo with a sense of enthusiasm and optimism for their latest journey.
"It's beautiful."
"Pika."
"I love people's reactions when they see Lumiose for the first time." The reporter Alexa stepped out beside him, a helioptile beside her. "Welcome to Kalos, Ash. I can see someone's excited."
"Excited!?" Ash laughed. As if to answer her, he took out a pokeball and threw it into the air. "Charizard, take a look at Kalos!"
"Grauu!" The enormous fire-lizard flew out and scattered a flock of fletchlings with his exuberant road. Charizard shared Ash's passionate expression as he flew over the enormous city and took in its majesty.
"The Kalos League awaits, and we're going to take it by storm, right Pikachu, Charizard!?"
"Pika!" Pikachu sparked his cheeks and threw his right paw up while Charizard landed beside them, shaking the ground and heating up the street around them with a jet of fire from his mouth. However, all three saw an amused smirk from Alexa.
"Indeed, any other reason you came here?" At this comment, a thick bead of sweat fell down Ash and his team's heads, followed by sheepish expressions.
"Right." Ash muttered. He remembered why the professor asked him to come to Kalos and took out the small spherical stone Oak gave him before they left. It glowed orange in the sunlight with what looked like a red and yellow flame in its center. "Charizadite Y." That was what Oak called it. A crucial element to a phenomenon called Mega Evolution. The professor asked Ash to meet with his former student, professor Sycamore, who was deep into research on mega evolution, and help him.
"Grau." Charizard's eyes fixed themselves on the Charizardite Y and gleamed in delight. Ash let out a deep sigh and patted his Charizard's back. "We'll find a way, Charizard." He assured him.
"Well, you don't have to head to the professor's right away. Is there anywhere in Lumiose City you'd like to visit first?" Alexa gestured to the bustling streets, but Ash's stomach answered for him with a mighty growl, followed swiftly by Pikachu and Charizard.
"Lunch, perhaps?" Alexa chuckled, and all three sweatdropped with more sheepish grins.
"That sounds good."
"Excellent, I know just the one." Alexa gestured them forward as he returned Charizard. Ash lost himself in a fantasy of all the delicious food Kalos was famous for when he felt Pikachu's ears twitch against his neck.
"Pika?"
"Huh? What's wrong, Pikachu?" Ash looked where his partner did, up on a rooftop. For the briefest moment, he thought he saw two figures above them, but they vanished into the darkness. However, with another growl from their stomachs, Ash and Pikachu convinced themselves it was just their imagination.
Alexa took them to a high-end restaurant named Le Yeah. She sat at one end of the table and enjoyed a glass of wine but not as much as the entertainment Ash and his team provided. Alexa gave a bright smile as she and Helioptile watched Ash enjoy himself.
"Lunch and a show." She chuckled while Ash battled with Pikachu and Charizard against the chef who prepared their meal.
"Simisage use seedbomb! Simipour Rock Slide!" The chef threw his hand out as his two monkey-pokemon unleashed their moves. However, a fiery passion lit in Ash's eyes that spread to his pokemon.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt. Charizard Steel Wing!"
"Pika chu!"
"Grau!"
Pikachu leaped up and blasted the incoming barrage of seeds which exploded. At the same time, Charizard coated his wings in steel and smashed apart an avalanche of rocks sent down by Simipour.
"Now, Iron Tail! Dragon Tail!" Ash threw his hand out and guided his team forward. Alexa watched in awe as Pikachu and Charizard closed in before their opponents could react. Pikachu slammed Simisage onto his back with a brutal stroke of his tail while Charizard likewise embedded Simipour into the floor after somersaulting in mid-air. A few nearby spectators applauded Ash when Alexa noticed two patrons, in particular, a boy Ash's age and a much younger girl. Both watched Ash with noticeable intrigue. The boy trembled while the girl appeared to scold him and point toward Ash. Alexa stroked her chin, deep in thought, for she was certain she knew who they were.
"Ahh. We are defeated." The chef almost doubled over with his two Pokemon on their backs, unconscious.
"Alright, our first victory in Kalos!"
"Pika!"
"Grau!" All three threw up their hands together before Alexa heard their stomachs growl again. Ash and his team now looked ready to faint from hunger.
"Ahh, monsieur, mademoiselle, your meal is ready." The chef returned his pokemon and gestured a garcon over who set down plates. Alexa chuckled again when she saw the way Ash gazed upon the Kalos cuisine. He gorged himself alongside Pikachu and Charizard while other patrons ate or battled the other staff members as they waited.
"I thought you might enjoy this restaurant."
"Thank you, Alexa!" Ash's eyes glistened in delight with each bite.
"Pika."
"Grau." His pokemon shared this sentiment.
"It's my pleasure. Professor Oak always said you were a skilled trainer. He wasn't wrong. I think my sister Viola will have trouble with you."
"Yeah. This was a great warmup! Once Pikachu and Charizard are ready, we're heading straight for her gym and earning a Bug Badge."
"Pika."
"Grau." Their enthusiasm grew like a raging fire, which only exacerbated Alexa's embarrassment as she let out a sweatdrop and stroked her cheek with one finger.
"About that, Ash. I might have forgotten to mention that my sister Viola's gym isn't here. It's in Santalune city, many miles south." Seeing the color leave Ash and his Pokemon's crestfallen faces forced Alexa to close her eyes in shame.
"There is a Pokemon gym here. The Voltage Badge. It's located in Prism Tower." Alexa opened her eyes a crack and breathed a sigh of relief when the fiery passion rekindled itself in Ash.
"Alright! Where is Prism Tower?"
"The city center, trust me, you won't miss it." Alexa and Ash both went silent when they thought they heard a yelp followed by what sounded like more scolding. "Anyway, I'm afraid you will have to continue without me."
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm afraid I promised Viola I'd see her as soon as I got back. Still, it's been wonderful traveling with you. We'll meet up again when you get to Santalune City."
"Thank you, Alexa."
Before they left Le Yeah, Alexa showed Ash Prism Tower and Sychamore's lab on his map of the city. Ash approached the city center and soon realized just what she meant. Prism Tower loomed over every other building with an almost triangular shape that came into a pointed pillar that narrowed the further it went. However, Ash fixed his eyes on the Kalos league Pokeball symbol over the doorway. Moments later, the doors flew open, and a young woman, perhaps thirteen, rushed out with a white-furred dog pokemon in her arms.
"Hold on, Furfrou, I'll get you to the Pokemon center!" She cried with a frantic expression. When they passed Ash, he and Pikachu saw the dog Pokemon twitch, followed by sparks of electricity over his fur.
"Paralyzed, I'll bet this is an electric-type gym. Looks like it's your specialty, Pikachu."
"Pika!" Pikachu thrust both paws up and sparked his cheeks in anticipation. Ash almost ran up to the doorway, but it did not open even when he tried to push it.
"Huh?" Bewildered, Ash knocked on the door, but there was no response. "Uhh, hello, I'd like to challenge the gym leader." Ash gritted his teeth in frustration when Pikachu nudged him toward a screen near the doorway.
"Please present your badges for entry." An automated voice said.
"Badges? But I just got to Kalos. I don't have any yet, at least not from here."
"Please present your badges for entry." It repeated. Ash and Pikachu sweatdropped together with exacerbated expressions.
"It's no good. You need at least four badges to challenge the gym leader here." A quivering voice came from behind, followed by a softer but sharper one.
"Don't stutter, brother!"
"Huh?" Ash turned with Pikachu and saw them, a boy around his age and a girl, perhaps eight, both with matching light blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Bonjour! I'm Bonnie, and this is my big brother, Clemont!" The little girl beamed a bright smile and then grabbed the young man by the hand and pulled him closer. Unlike Ash, Clemont had a scrawny body hidden under a gray jumpsuit and a metal backpack.
"Bonjour." He muttered and adjusted his glasses in a nervous manner.
"Kon'nichiwa. I'm Ash from Pallet Town in Kanto, and this is my partner, Pikachu."
"Pika."
"Ahh, a Pikachu! So cute, Dedenne, say hello!"
"Dede!" A tiny electric mouse Pokemon poked his head out and sparked his whiskers. Ash saw an intrigued look on Pikachu's face before he climbed down his arm and joined his cheek electricity to the Dedenne's.
"Dede!"
"Pika!" Both electric mice laughed in delight.
"Ahh, a Kalos Pokemon." Ash reached for his Pokedex but sweatdropped when he remembered that Oak had taken it back under the promise Sycamore would give him a newer one.
"Oui, Dedenne, an electric and fairy pokemon that communicate with other electric pokemon with their whiskers." Clemont's voice raised a little as he spoke, and Ash felt traces of confidence.
"Pleasure to meet you, Clemont, Bonnie. You said the gym leader here only takes trainers who have four badges?" Ash saw the confidence vanish from Clemont, who almost trembled as he looked back at Prism Tower and sighed.
"Oui, he's very skilled and says he doesn't waste time on unproven trainers."
"I see." Ash and Pikachu sighed. For a brief moment, he considered trying to convince the leader that he was a proven trainer since he had dozens of badges from other regions. However, Ash had a feeling that if the gym leader required trainers to have badges already, he would probably say he only recognized Kalos ones. "I guess we'll have to wait a little longer, Pikachu." Ash stroked Pikachu's head when he noticed a stern look on Bonnie's face that he never imagined a little girl could wear. She pushed Clemont closer to him again, and he trembled.
"Uhh, we saw you in Le Yeah. You're a really strong trainer."
"Thanks. We came here to compete in the Kalos League and learn more about mega-evolution. Are you a trainer too?"
"Hmp, my big brother Clemont is gonna be a world-renowned trainer one day." Despite Bonnie's confident pose, Clemont shivered again and adjusted his glasses.
"I'm just an aspiring trainer, really, and a passionate inventor." The confidence Ash saw in Clemont before returned when a robotic Aipom arm extended from his backpack and lifted Bonnie up.
"You built that?"
"Pika?"
"I did! Among other inventions." Clemont opened his bag and revealed an assortment of gadgets, including an airbag, a helicopter propeller, and a robotic Chatot.
"This one's my latest prototype, a Chatot that can sing anyone to sleep, the end of insomnia around the world. Observe!" Clemont flipped a switch, and the robot let out a soft song. Ash saw Pikachu yawn and felt his own eyes grow heavy. The invention really worked. It was incredible. However, before Ash could express his excitement, the robotic Chatot surged with electricity and let out smoke.
"Huh? Is it supposed to do that?"
"Nnno." Clemont stuttered and scrambled inside its circuity until the invention exploded. Ash covered Pikachu with his body and turned back to see a soot-covered Clemont who coughed up some smoke and then collapsed onto his back.
"Ouch."
"Another failure, brother!" Bonnie screamed at Clemont as she stood over him. "Dedenne, help him up."
"Dede!" Dedenne jumped onto Clemont and shocked him up onto his feet.
"Ahh, I'm up, I'm up!"
"I told you to spend less time inventing and more time training, brother. How will you become a top-notch trainer if you don't!" Bonnie somehow looked bigger than Clemont, who all but shrunk beneath her. An idea lit up in Ash's mind and filled him with fiery enthusiasm.
"If you'd like to train, there's nothing like a good battle. I'll battle you, Clemont."
"Pika, Pikachu."
"I, uh, well-" Clemont stuttered.
"He'd be honored! Come on, big brother, show Ash what you're made of." Bonnie's sternness turned into encouragement, and Ash saw the effect on Clemont, who nodded.
"Right this way."
As they prepared to leave, Ash sensed something. He was not quite sure how to describe the feeling. A premonition, instinct, or perhaps just his imagination, but Ash thought for sure someone was watching him. He glanced up at a building, but whatever was there disappeared.
"Ash, come on, Clemont has to get stronger!"
"Right, coming."
Several minutes passed, and they arrived at a battlefield located near some tables and a cafe. A few other trainers made use of the adjacent battlefields, and Ash longed to use a Pokedex on the unknown Kalos pokemon he saw.
"Unfortunately, my brother only has one pokemon at the moment. That means they'll need to become extra strong. Ohh, how about you use your Charizard?!" Bonnie beamed, but Ash and Pikachu imagined Charizard's enthusiastic love of battle, and Clemont's poor young pokemon turned to dust. They looked at each other and sweatdropped.
"Why don't we start with Pikachu."
"That'll work." Clemont walked to one end of the battlefield and held out a Pokeball. "We need to become stronger. We can do this. Go Bunnelby!"
"By!" A gray and brown bunny-pokemon hopped out and took a fighting stance in front of Clemont.
"Bunnelby, huh? Let's see what he can do. Ready Pikachu?"
"Pika!" Pikachu leaped down and sparked his cheeks.
"Ok, big brother, this is your chance, especially with so many pretty girls watching." Bonnie giggled and gestured to several teenage girls in the area.
"Bonnie!" Clemont turned bright red and tried to hide his face from the onlookers.
"Wow, those two are something." Ash chuckled with Pikachu.
"Hmmm, Pikachi is an electric type. This could work. Bunnelby use Mud Shot."
"By!" The Bunnelby flipped himself and scooped up bits of dirt with his ears, then hurled them toward Pikachu.
"Pikachu, agility."
"Pika, Pika, Pika." Pikachu moved like flashes of lightning, appearing in one spot and then another.
"Come on, Bunnelby hit him." Despite his best efforts, Pikachu proved too fast, and nothing made contact.
"Hmp, you're not the only one who can move fast. Bunnelby use Double Team!"
"By, by, by!" Dozens of Bunnelby hopped around Pikachu, who lost track of the original.
"Quick attack."
"Pika." Pikachu moved even faster than before and destroyed each copy upon contact.
"Brother, do something!" Bonnie pouted while Dedenne clapped his paws together. Ash saw the fear in Clemont's eyes as Pikachu closed in on the real Bunnelby.
"Clemont, don't get scared. Bunnelby needs you."
"Right, I've got it. Bunnelby use Dig." Bunnelby burrowed himself underground while Bonnie grinned.
"That's it, brother."
"Not bad Clemont." Ash nodded.
"Of course, once Dig hits, Pikachu will take enormous damage from a ground-type move." Clemont stood tall until he saw the passionate smile shared by Ash and Pikachu.
"That's true if I let it hit. Being a good trainer sometimes means thinking outside of the box. Pikachu, Iron Tail!"
"Iron Tail? But Bunnelby's underground." Clemont's eyes went wide when he saw Pikachu slam the battlefield with his steel tail. The impact almost knocked him off his feet and forced Bunnelby back up.
"Ahh, Bunnelby use Double-Slap!" Bunnelby slapped his ears onto Pikachu's tail, but the electric mouse's smile remained. When their eyes met, Bunnelby shivered.
"By."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu swung his tail and sent Bunnelby flying into the air.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pika chu!" The bolt of electricity hit Bunnelby dead-center.
"By!"
"Bunnelby!" Clemont watched his Pokemon land in front of him with swirled eyes and turned pale. "Forgive me."
"Ahh, brother, what was that!?" Bonnie snarled at Clemont, who cradled Bunnelby in his arms.
"That was quite a battle, Clemont." Ash said as Pikachu climbed back onto his shoulder.
"We lost." Clemont almost doubled over when Ash kept him upright with a strong hand on his shoulder.
"You tried. That's what matters. Giving up just because you take a loss is when you truly fail. You can't tell me you've given up inventing just because something doesn't work." Ash saw the light return to Clemont, who adjusted his glasses.
"You're right, Ash. Bunnelby and I will get stronger. I know it!"
"Ohh, brother." Bonnie hugged him. Ash savored the look on Clemont's face. However, he soon found himself scanning the area. The same premonition hit him again during the battle, and Ash knew it meant something.
"Pika!" Pikachu's ears twitched, and he jumped in front of Ash with grit teeth.
"Pikachu what's-" Ash did not finish before two bursts filled the air with smoke.
"Ahh, brother, what's happening!?" Bonnie screamed and hid behind Clemont as other trainers and pokemon nearby fled or disappeared into the smoke.
"It couldn't be!?" Ash tightened his fist in anticipation of Team Rocket. However, to his surprise, it was not Jessie and James who emerged from the smoke but a different man and woman. The pair wore matching orangish-red suits, shades, and even dyed hair with ends done up to look like flames.
"Huh? Who are they?"
"I have no idea?" Clemont stuttered and trembled when both figures stared at him.
"There he is, the inventor boy I told you about." The female grunt smiled, but her companion appeared less convinced.
"We were told to round up scientists. Will this punk really earn us promotion?"
"He's better than nothing. If we go back to Bryony empty-handed again-"
"Ehhh!? You want to kidnap me?!"
"Not on my watch, Pikachu-"
"I don't think so, kid. Supersonic." The two figures pointed their hands at the smoke, and a pair of Golbat flew in from both directions. Two supersonic attacks hit Pikachu, who stumbled about in confusion.
"Pikachu!" Ash picked him up and reached for Charizard's Pokeball, but the Golbat closed in on Clemont.
"Brother!"
"Bunnelby-"
Ash's eyes went wide, the sensation returned stronger than ever, and then, he saw him. A flash of blue and white light over Clemont, followed by a water gun into both Golbat.
"Froak!" Ash's eyes widened as he took in the small blue-frog-like pokemon before them.
"A Froakie?" Clemont muttered. The Froakie took a fighting stance and stared down the Golbats.
"What's this? Supersonic!"
"Gol!"
Ash almost shouted a move to the Froakie out of instinct, but it was not necessary. Instead, he gazed in awe and wonder at the strange pokemon who moved like a ninja around the battlefield.
"Froak!" The Froakie hurled some white frupples from his neck into the golbats' mouths and afflicted them with coughing.
"What are you doing?! Crush that thing! Use Air Cutter!" Both Golbats came in again, but the Froakie avoided them with flips and jumps. He could not see it, but Ash could, an opening when the two Golbats crossed their flight paths.
"Froakie, use a water gun now!" Ash cried and threw a hand out as if Froakie was his Pokemon. Just then, the feeling from before hit, and Ash realized it came from the Froakie. To his surprise, the water frog shot out a water gun and hit both Golbats, who collided.
"Yay, get em' Froakie!" Bonnie cheered. The Froakie blinked, apparently taken aback as to why he obeyed Ash. Their eyes met, and Ash had the idea he was being sized up. However, that did not matter. Ash had a good feeling about this Froakie and put on his friendliest smile as he approached him.
"Kon'nichiwa, Froakie, I'm-"
"Froak!" The Froakie leaped away from Ash and took a defensive stance.
"Easy Froakie, I just want to-".
"Froak!" The Froakie cried out in agony when two more Golbat flew from the figures in red Pokeballs and slashed Froakie with Air Cutter.
"Froakie!"
"Froak." Froakie hit the ground hard and gasped for breath.
"Now we've got him. Finish that meddling Froakie off."
"I don't think so, Pikachu!"
"Pika!" Pikachu's eyes returned to normal as the supersonic wore off.
"Thunderbolt!"
"Pika chu!" Pikachu blasted both Golbat into the figures, who screamed with them in agony before disappearing into the smoke, which soon vanished.
"Whew, Ash, you saved us." Clemont hugged Bonnie before they saw a battered and bruised Froakie.
"Ahh! Froakie!" Both ran over as Ash picked him up.
"We need to get him to a Pokemon center."
"No, Professor Sychamore's lab is closer!" Clemont cried. Ash checked his map and realized he was right.
"Let's go!"
Author's note
Yep it's been a long time, but I finally decided to post this one I've had in mind for a long time. Let me know what you guys think.
As usual, please review, comment, suggest, or ask (VIA PM)