Prologue: Reason....
A beautiful day dawns in the mysterious new land of Vanguard, where a new adventure is about to unfold. What do these fields and hills, these forests and valleys hold for us? The greatest and most mind blowing mystery of all: the world of Pokémon. Flying though the vast skies, swimming in the ample oceans, running the bountiful lands. Pokémon be our friends and companions, our partners and for some, our bane. For me, Pokémon was the start of my investigation; too find that which hid from me, from the world. My name is Shino and this is my story.
I huddled under my blanket as the thunder crashed outside like a thousand boulders slamming against the skies. The lightening illuminated my mother's face as she knelt before my bed, her smile warm and knowing. Comforting me against the night's storm.
"Be still Shino." She had told me, her hand so cool on my cheek. "Storms are nothing to be afraid of. You will be just fine."
... But that same night as she went downstairs to find out what had caused a crashing noise, it had happened. She didn't come back, plus she promised she would sleep with me. I was afraid but no afraid enough to go see what was wrong. It looked like the rain was subsiding to. It was a mere drizzle now. So I slipped down the staircase quiet as a rattata holding my stuffed froakie close to my chest and what I saw there was enough to make a boys mind turn to insanity, crazed fright. She laid at the bottom of the stairs her dressing gown torn and as the lightening flash I saw it was also bloody. My knees began to tremble as I beheld the terrible scene before me. A towering figure of which face I couldn't see stood over her, claws extended from arms that were way too long to be humans. It gave a haunting cry that made my scalp itch. What Pokémon would do such a horrid thing? I don't remember if I passed out while screaming but when the professor found me he said that I had been unharmed but my mother was dead. The Pokémon that did it was never caught. I have always wondered what its name was but I never after that night two years ago, saw a Pokémon who resembled that murderer. Oh I remember that outline well, if I ever saw it. I will know. I have searched but never seen it before or since. I know it's out there and with my tenth birthday will begin the real search to find the Pokémon who killed my mom.
****
The professor woke me early the morning of my tenth birthday like it was any other day. The sun was blazing and from my room above the lab I could see new trainers coming to collect their starter Pokémon from my guardian. Professor Willow was a very nice woman. She took me in after my mom died and has been very nice to me for the past two years. Now I will be able to pay her back by helping with her research. I was just about to jump out of bed when Coustii came into my room.
"Hey you, if you don't hurry all the starters will be gone." She said leaning against my doorway and tossing up a pokeball all important.
Coustianna was the professor's daughter and only child. You could say she was a long time friend of mine, but there was something about her that rubbed me the wrong way. She had her mother's blond curls and eyes that were so blue they were like a piece of sky.
"So what did you get?" I asked softly, knowing it was killing her to show off.
Her grin was like haunters on Halloween.
"I decided to forgo normal starters and get me something that's my favorite type."
I frowned. Wasn't her favorite type steel? I was most sure it was. She always kept mentioning something about 'stiff defense' and 'hard attacks'. It made me laugh allot, but I'm not sure why.
I got off my bed and started to undress so I could change.
"Hey. Have some manners Shino. I am standing here." Coustii suddenly shouted turning away her ears bright red.
"So what is it you got? Mawile? Aron? "I asked not paying much attention.
"I'll.......tell you later. So hurry down."
She was gone so fast I didn't get to even ask her what her problem was.
***
When I did come down to breakfast the only one there was Professor Willows Wynaut, sitting on the table.
"Morning Wynaut, where's everyone?"
"Wyyy!" It replied pointing at the door to the lab.
"Thanks." I said giving it a pet on the head.
I grabbed me a slice of toast and a glass of orange juice before heading into the lab. Only Willow, Coustii and a guy I had never seen were there.
"Shino, I thought you had died in your sleep. Good morning." Willow joked. I like her half hearted jokes.
I nodded since my mouth was full.
"You are the last here, but don't worry, I saved you a Pokémon for your own." Willow continued pointing to a black and white pokeball on her desk.
I had never seen a ball that color. It doesn't matter which Pokémon I start with. Once I found that Pokémon I would caught it......then....what?
As I walked over to the desk Professor Willow continued to speak.
"You three are on luck. I decided to forgo the usual starters with these three Pokémon and try something new. Usually you'd get basic element starters. Water, Grass and Fire, but today I decided on a new set of elements. Dark, Fighting and Psychic."
Despite my uncaring attitude to which starter I received, I felt a slight excitement build within me.
