trebornosliw
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- Seen Jul 22, 2012
Okay, so this is a storyline for the hack I'm creating, Hidden Ties, that grew into something of a fanfic. I broke the word limit on my hack thread, so I'm posting the storyline on its own here. It's my belief that a hack without a good storyline is...well...absolute crud, so I tried to make an engaging plot. I'd appreciate any comments you all have, and if you'd like to see the thread for the hack itself, just click the banner in my signature.
Now, without further ado, Pokemon: Hidden Ties.
Prologue:
The Hallowed Grove glows with dappled sunlight, the grassy earth and thick trees tinting the light with green. Far off in the distance a gentle rumble of thunder spurs a flock of Starly into flight. A young child, no older than four, sleeps peacefully in the thick loam, and Gardevoir watches him sadly. So much hardship... it is not fair. This child's destiny is predestined, inescapable; how could this be considered just? She sighs inwardly, knowing where this line of thought will take her. It is necessary that events be arranged in this way. The free will of one child, for the lives of thousands. It is all for the best, she supposes wearily, and anyway, free will is a powerful thing, and she doubts that it can be suppressed indefinitely.
To think, that in this tiny bundle of life rests everything Gardevoir holds dear...
The child sleeps on, Gardevoir standing over him, waiting for the storm.
Chapters 1-6
Chapter 1: Quest
Gift was running, running towards a pit that seemed to reach beyond the other end of the world. It terrified him, but drew him on just the same. And so he ran, desperately wanting to stop but knowing that he couldn't, running to the pit's edge and gazing into the abyss. The great hole was filled with inky, threatening blackness. There was no sound, no movement in the pit, but Gift could feel a terrible pull on his heart, as if the pit wished to devour him body and soul. And then, a flash of red as two terrible, mad eyes gazed at him from the blackness. The edge of the pit crumbled, and Gift was falling into infinity...
He snapped awake with a sudden jerk, gasping for breath, mind racing. The same dream, again! He had lost count of how many times it had been. It seemed that every night he visited the abysmal depths of the terrible pit, saw those eyes, those awful, insane eyes, glaring back at him. He couldn't, wouldn't tell Gardevoir, he was fifteen after all, and no longer ran to Gardevoir to comfort him after a nightmare.
Why, though? Why always the same dream? Gift had to admit that he was worried. The nightmare was foreboding, ominous, a storm just over the horizon, drawing inevitably nearer. Well, dwelling on it won't get me anywhere, he thought to himself. Getting up, he walked to the pile of clothes in the corner and dressed distractedly. He'd always wondered where Gardevoir had found the clothes. They were human clothes, and Gardevoir almost never left the Grove; Gift doubted that she could have found other humans to trade with.
His thoughts were interrupted by words that seemed to bypass his ears and proceed directly to his mind.
<Gift, come quickly! Something has happened, I must talk with you. Hurry, we cannot afford to waste time.>
Gardevoir wanted him? Gift had never heard her sound so anxious before. Tripping slightly as he pulled on a sneaker, he ran to the edge of his little residence, grabbed hold of the dangling rope, and slid smoothly out of the tree's branches. Gift's room was positioned on top of the many limbs of a squat, sturdy tree, with a floor made of woven branches and loam, and a roof of intertwined limbs. Venusaur had helped to make it, using his elemental abilities to conform the tree to the right shape.
Gift peered around the grove for Gardevoir, and saw her standing serenely by the little pond, watching Seel play. It was a glorious morning, and Gift could see the Pokemon of the grove out and about. There was Pikachu having a race with Nidoran, and Machop practicing his sparring techniques, and Ralts munching on an apple and watching the others idly. Gift ran to Gardevoir's side, waving at his friends as he went.
"Thank you for coming," Gardevoir said to him.
"What's going on? You said it was urgent…"
"I'm afraid it is. Gift, I need you to leave the Hallowed Grove."
Gift couldn't believe his ears. He stared at his mentor, dumbfounded.
"Leave Hallowed Grove," he repeated blankly. "Why? What did I do?"
"Nothing, Gift, you have done nothing." Gardevoir turned to watch Seel again. "Gift, something is happening in the outside world, something terrible. Forces are awakening that could destroy everything we know. I've sensed it, and seen it on my travels outside the Grove." She turned back to Gift, eyes bleak. "Something is coming, Gift. Something with incredible power, and I don't know if we can stop it. Worse, there are humans, the worst kind of humans, who know about this power. They think they can take it for their own, but they are only accelerating their own destruction. There is only one person in this world who can stop what is coming, and that is you, Gift."
"Me? Why? I'm just a human! I can't fight like you or Machop, I have no powers I can use, how can I possibly be the only one?"
"Because," Gardevoir replied, "you are the only human in the world who really understands."
Gift looked blankly at her.
"Listen, we named you Gift because you were an unexpected gift in our lives here. That is not all you are, however. I want you to go to the Human's world, Gift, to find the source of the coming evil, and to stop it, and any who would use it, before all is lost in a sundering of time and space."
Gift stared at Gardevoir. He had never heard her so anxious, so concerned about anything outside the grove. Mutely, he nodded.
"Thank you," Gardevoir looked slightly relieved. "Now this journey will be dangerous, I can promise you. For your protection and guidance, I want you to choose a partner, one of your friends in the grove. Take one of these," she handed Gift a small bag with ten odd orb-shaped devices inside. "Press this button here and point it at the Pokemon you choose, and this PokeBall will store your friend comfortably. Get used to using these, they are a key tool of the Humans. You are to be what the Humans call a Pokemon trainer, one who trains Pokemon and gives them orders in battle…"
Gift listened in rapt attention as Gardevoir told him of Pokemon trainers, of capturing Pokemon and training them to battle, of gyms in far-off regions and mythic Pokemon of legends. The idea of being a Pokemon trainer seemed rather silly to Gift; after all, Pokemon were much smarter than most humans. The Pokemon should be training the humans, he thought, but he listened all the same.
"Now," Gardevoir said when she had been speaking for almost a full hour, "Find a partner who is willing to accompany you. You leave tomorrow morning."
Gift nodded and stood up, clutching one of the PokeBalls and stuffing the rest into his raggedy backpack. He looked around at the inhabitants of the grove. Who should he ask? Making his decision, he strode forward…
Chapter 2: Ambush
"Ralts, please, will you come with me?" The Pokémon looked at Gift solemnly. Of all the Pokémon in the meadow, except of course for Gardevoir, Gift trusted Ralts' judgment the most. Calm, collected, and possessing an abundance of inner strength, she was the perfect choice. Slowly, Ralts nodded.
"Of course Gift," she said solemnly, "I would be honored."
Gift swallowed. "Thanks," he said. Fumbling slightly, he pointed his PokeBall at Ralts and used his index finger to depress the button sitting at the sphere's center. Instantly the ball clicked open, and with a flash of brilliant light, Ralts was gone. The PokeBall clicked shut with finality, and Gift glanced at it, worried, and saw Ralts waving to him through the translucent orb.
"A good choice," it was Gardevoir's voice. "Always remember Gift, that Ralts is not a tool, but an equal, and an ally."
Gift couldn't imagine thinking of her any other way. He couldn't imagine why Gardevoir would even bother saying such a thing.
"You'll need to proceed through here," Gardevoir gestured towards a jagged hillock near the top of the Grove. "That cave mouth opens into the Pike Peaks, and from there follows a tunnel that should take you through to the mountain's exterior. From there, follow the Tangled Way to Broken Path, and you shall eventually find 'civilization,' as the humans call it."
Gardevoir thought a moment. "Oh, when you exit the Peaks interior, be sure to stop by the cave to the east. A cousin of Chansey lives there, she'll help you with any medical needs."
She scrutinized Gift a moment later, then smiled.
"You'll be just fine, I know it. I had best be going, I have errands of my own to complete. Stay strong, stay safe. I will see you again," her form was beginning to fade into translucence, "soon… Good luck, Gift…"
And she was gone, seeming to float out of reality in the Grove's gentle breeze. Gift stood there for a long while, looking at nothing in particular, contemplating the enormity of the day's events. He would never have believed that this would happen; it was all so sudden. He gazed blindly at the PokeBall in his hand, wondering what he had gotten himself into.
Gift arose earlier than usual the next morning. The previous day had been spent in farewells to his friends in the Grove. They had been sad to see him go, of course, and he, sad to leave, but all of them knew that Gardevoir would never have assigned this task to Gift were it not of vital importance.
Gift slid through the early-morning mists as if he himself were nothing but a light fog, his bare feet soundlessly padding across the dew-covered grass as he stole towards the cave entrance. Nobody else was awake, Gift wanted to leave quietly. Goodbyes had already been said, and there was nothing to be gained by dawdling. Gift slipped into the dark opening, shunning the ancient ladder resting against the side of a deep hole and dropping ten feet to the tunnel floor, landing lightly on the balls of his feet. Releasing Ralts from her PokeBall, Gift relied on the luminescence from her horns to pick his way through the tunnel. It was a spacious path, and Gift wondered if it had ever been used before, and by whom.
A slight clatter cut into the vestiges of Gift's hearing, and he froze, peering around by the light of Ralts' horns, looking for the source of the noise.
"Get lost," whispered a voice from the gloom, "this is my territory, human."
Gift looked around quickly, but saw only the shadowed wall. Picking up Ralts, he began to run down the tunnel, weaving around fallen boulders, hoping that if only he ran fast enough, he could escape the unseen menace.
"I said get lost!" The voice came again, sounding angrier this time. "Last chance, human. Turn around, and get out!"
It was pacing him! Whatever was coming after Gift was fast, and from the sound of it, annoyed.
"I don't know who you are," Gift called breathlessly to the surrounding tunnel as he ran, "but I have no intention of subverting your territory. I just want to get to the other side of this tunnel, and then I'll never bother you again."
"Wrong answer, human. Nobody passes through my territory uninvited."
Distracted, Gift didn't see the Geodude until it was too late. His foot caught on the rock-hard Pokémon, and he came crashing and tumbling to a halt, Ralts sailing out of his arms and landing gracefully, a few feet away. Something sharp poked Gift's chin, and his face was forced upward until he was staring directly into the eyes of his attacker.
"Game over, human."
Chapter 3: Inner Strength
The Sneasel's sharp claws dug painfully into Gift's chin as he gazed, eye-to-eye, at the diminutive assailant. Blood began to trickle down his neck, and the Sneasel drew glinting claws back for a decisive slash. Wham! Ralts' small body hurtled into the would-be killer, jolting Sneasel sideways, his claws leaving a jagged red line across Gift's cheek in a thwarted strike. Hissing, Sneasel backhanded Ralts viciously across the midsection, sending the little Pokémon tumbling backwards. As Ralts came crashing to a halt against Gift's knees, Sneasel lept after her, all claws and teeth and shadow.
"Ralts! Flash attack, quickly!" A blinding burst of luminescence illuminated the chamber, and Gift heard Sneasel shout in surprise. Eyes closed, Gift leapt to the right, blindly pulling Ralts along with him, and heard a sinister whistle as Sneasel's claws ripped through the space previously occupied by Gift's head. There was a dull thunk as Sneasel impacted the far wall, and opening his eyes, Gift yelled "Tackle!"
Ralts went sailing into Sneasel's back, driving the Pokémon hard against the unyielding stone wall. Gift heard a grunt of pain from the dark Pokémon, then in a flurry of blindingly fast, swiping movements, Ralts was thrown brutally across the passageway, crashing into the hard floor and barely rolling aside in time as Sneasel came slashing down on the spot where Ralts had fallen. Sparks exploded from Sneasel's claws as they scraped grooves in the tunnel floor, and Gift darted forward, lowering his body and delivering a low, sweeping kick to Sneasel's legs. His foot met only air and floating gravel as Sneasel leapt above the attack, eyes flashing and teeth bared as he sliced a vicious gash in Gift's leg with the claws on his feet. Landing, Sneasel made another mighty leap, avoiding Ralts' desperate tackle, spinning around in midair, and kicking off from the ceiling to hurtle at Gift like a scything bullet. Gift almost failed to see the attack coming in the semidarkness of the tunnel, rolling aside at the last moment and receiving a stinging slash to the left shoulder.
Gift spun himself around on the floor, tearing one of his backpack straps and kicking out blindly at the spot where Sneasel had landed. He was surprised to feel his foot make contact, and he heard another grunt as Sneasel tumbled backwards head over heels. Gift rolled up onto his feet, blinking a trickle of blood out of his eye as he cautiously advanced. Back in the Grove, Machop had taught him some basic sparring techniques, but Sneasel was simply too fast, too skilled for those to be of any real use. Even as Gift was thinking this, he brought up his right arm to deflect a slash aimed for his face, earning another gash across his forearm for the trouble. Sneasel pressed the attack, and Gift backpedaled furiously to avoid the scything claws, finally coming up hard against the wall. Sneasel ducked under Gift's desperate guard and came up directly in front of the boy, eyes glinting, claws pressing delicately into Gift's neck.
"I'm impressed," Sneasel remarked. "You're the first trainer I've met who didn't make his Pokémon do all the work for him. Still, nobody trespasses on my territory. I let you through, and soon everyone will think this is some sort of public highway for them to use whenever they please. So it's nothing pers-" Wham!
Sneasel was once again thrown to the side as a battered and scratched Ralts slammed into his side. Wasting no time, Gift pounced upon the one course of action left open to him, the only thing that might actually work. Hissing in anger, Sneasel leapt to his feet and darted forward… straight into the PokeBall that came flying from Gift's hand. Surprise and fury showed for a brief moment on Sneasel's face, and then the Pokémon was enveloped in a blinding flash of white light and vanished into the red and white sphere. Immediately the ball began to quiver as Sneasel fought to break out. Grimly, Gift fished another PokeBall out of his back and strode forward just as the quivering ball exploded, and Sneasel leapt snarling back out. Even before the PokeBall had finished opening Gift was pivoting on his left leg, bringing his right up, bent, and straightening the leg into a vicious side kick that caught Sneasel in midair, slamming the Pokémon hard in the midsection and sending him flying backwards into the wall. Giving the assailant no time to collect himself, Gift threw the second PokeBall, momentarily glimpsing Sneasel's enraged expression as he was enveloped in a second wave of light.
The ball clacked shut and began immediately to vibrate. Gift watched the orb warily as he selected another ball from his pack, cocking his fatigued arm for another throw. This proved to be unnecessary. With a final shudder, the quivering ball fell still, the button at the sphere's center popping outward with a sharp click!
Gift bent down, scooped the ball into his pack, and looked around for Ralts. The spunky little Pokémon was standing, shaking with fatigue and pain, on the tunnel floor. Though she was obviously badly injured, Gift could see a satisfied smile on her face.
"Here," Gift slung off his pack and sat down in front of Ralts. "Gardevoir gave me some potions before we left; let's fix you up."
Too exhausted to reply, Ralts nodded, and slumped gratefully into the crook of Gift's bloody arm as he sprayed her with the curative liquid. It felt good to rest, and Gift lay gratefully back as he waited for the Potion to take effect. Eventually he became aware of a large number of Zubat, all eyeing his wounds rather hungrily, and, heaving himself to his feet, Gift scooped Ralts up in his arms and trudged onwards, towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chapter 4: Familiar
Gift trudged out of the tunnel and onto the mountain face, stretching his sore and wounded limbs as he watched the setting sun descend towards the horizon. Now, if he remembered correctly, Gardevoir had said there was a Chansey living East of here who could help him out. Putting the sun at his back, Gift clambered gingerly over the mountain's rough stone face, Ralts following alongside.
Bruises and lacerations covered Gift from head to toe, and the rough stone did nothing to soothe the discomfort. A little farther, Gift thought. Just a little farther…
And then he saw it, a deep hole in the mountain's base. Hobbling more quickly now, his destination in sight, Gift all but sprinted the last few steps to the cave mouth and slipped inside, wincing as he lowered himself down a short metal ladder to the cave floor. He blinked. This place was nothing like the cave he had just left. The stone floor of the cavern descended sharply in the room's center into a depression about the depth of Gift's height. Within this depression, the stone gave way to lush green grass surrounding a crystal-clear well, its waters sparkling in the luminescent glow of dozens of shining white crystals that dotted the ceiling. Gift stumbled slightly as he stepped out into the soft glow, gazing in awe at the beautiful scene.
"I'm sorry, may I help you?" Startled at the quiet voice, Gift spun around to see a Chansey gazing enquiringly at him. Her eyes flicked to his wounds, then back to his face.
"Ah yes, Gardevoir told me you might be hurt. Now then, come down to the well and let's get you healed up, come now. You'll need to be in top shape to continue your journey."
Dumbfounded, Gift let her lead him down into the grass and sat obediently at the water's edge. Chansey hummed softly to herself as she tended his wounds, using her natural skills in curative techniques to cleanse and mend his numerous cuts and lacerations.
"Wait," Gift said after a moment, and Chansey paused her work. "Did you say Gardevoir knew I might get hurt? What do you mean?"
"Well of course," Chansey returned to mending Gift's wounds as she replied. "With Sneasel guarding that passageway, it was a given that you would be hurt at least a little." She paused again, and looked at Gift's stricken face. "For what it's worth, she was against the idea from the start. The last thing Gardevoir wanted to do was put you into danger, but she was forced into it."
"By who?"
"That, I can't tell you."
Gift thought about this for awhile. It was odd to think that Gardevoir might submit to the orders of another Pokémon. She had always been the one in charge, the leader, the absolute authority in Hallowed Grove. And to think that she had let him be nearly murdered by Sneasel... Gift couldn't make any sense of it. He was not the type to feel betrayed, and trusted Gardevoir enough to know that whatever she had done would have been for his own benefit. He just wished he could understand why it was necessary for her to do so.
A thought struck him, and Gift rummaged carefully in his backpack, trying to move as little as possible so as not to interrupt Chansey's work. Ralts had gone to sleep by the wellside, he noticed as he felt around the inside of the pack. He pulled out a PokeBall, glanced at it, tossed it back, felt around again, here it was. Withdrawing the PokeBall containing Sneasel, Gift depressed the button and released his one-time assailant. Sneasel burst from the ball in a blaze of light and stood before him, glaring openly.
"Not bad, human," Sneasel said through gritted teeth. "Had anyone told me before today that I could be captured by scum like you, I'd-"
"That's enough," Gift cut in. He had too much on his mind to waste time listening to insults. "Look, I won't make you stay if you don't want to. The exit's over there. If you want to leave, go ahead. I won't make anyone come with me if they're not willing."
Sneasel looked taken aback. He glanced at the ladder ascending into the cavern roof, then back at Gift, undecided.
"What kind of human are you, anyway?" He burst out. "You fight right alongside your Pokémon when most trainers just let the Pokémon do all the work and spend their time telling them what to do. You beat me in a fair fight, capture me, and now you're just letting me go? What is with you?"
"I don't know what other humans are like," Gift responded. "I've never met one, to tell the truth. But my principles are my own, human or no, and I'm sticking to them. A reluctant member on the team would just be a burden, and I suspect that we won't be able to afford burdens where we're going. I think you'd be a tremendous help, personally, and a great partner, but that needs to be your decision. So, are you coming or not?"
Sneasel gazed at him a moment, the glare gone, replaced by a curious, searching gaze. He shrugged.
"Might as well, it's not like I've got anything better to do." He sat down next to Ralts, who shifted obligingly to make room. "Besides, it was getting boring, just sitting around a tunnel all day."
Gift grinned and lay back against the rocky side of their tiny oasis as Chansey finished healing the wounds on his back and moved to his arms.
"That's great," he said, "It's good to have you…"
His eyes fluttered closed, and he slept.
Chapter 5: Meeting
Gift slept through the afternoon and into the night, finally awaking to see the first hopeful ray of dawn peeking feebly through the ladder well. Sneasel and Ralts had gone to sleep side by side at the water's edge, and Chansey was nowhere in sight. Stretching luxuriously, Gift went to the ladder and peeked out at the new morning. The mountains glowed with the new dawn's light, and Gift couldn't help grinning. Dropping back down the ladder, he quickly changed out of his ripped and grimy clothes, bathed in the well, and changed into a spare set from his backpack; his only spare set, he realized. Better not get into any life-and-death battles in caves until I can get these clothes mended, he thought, and for some reason he found this extremely funny.
Sneasel and Ralts had awoken while he was bathing, and were now chatting animatedly as they sat on the grass, as if they had been friends for years. Gift grinned again as he finished dressing and stuffed his old clothes back into his tattered backpack, slinging the bag over his shoulder on its one strap and heaving himself to his feet. There was a rustle at the ladder well, and Chansey leapt down into the cave, bearing a basket of fruits and vegetables presumably picked from the forested area surrounding the mountain.
"Oh, so you're up already, are you?" Chansey smiled as she gracefully waddled over, no mean feat, when it is considered how few beings are capable of a graceful waddle. "You'd best be eating before you go, though. Here, I picked you some breakfast from my garden."
Gift, Sneasel, and Ralts accepted gratefully, and tore into the food like they hadn't eaten in days, which, for Gift, was very nearly true. After munching his way through four russet apples, two stalks of celery, and innumerable unidentifiable berries, Gift felt like going back to sleep, but stood anyway and stretched again.
"Thank you Chansey," he said. "We really appreciate your hospitality."
Chansey smiled at him, then said "no Gift, thank you." Puzzled, Gift looked at her frowningly, but she shook her head, and he knew that she would say no more.
Shrugging, Gift clambered up the ladder into the new day, his companions close behind, and breathed in the fresh morning air. It was a lovely day, and he felt rejuvenated just to be enjoying it. Waving to his friends to follow, he went running and sliding down the mountainside, Sneasel keeping pace easily, Ralts finally giving up and wrapping her arms around his neck to keep from falling behind. They reached the bottom and proceeded through the forest in high good spirits, chatting animatedly and laughing with each other, so that even Sneasel, the surliest of the group, was smiling and laughing when suddenly a flock of Spearow came swooping to the attack, presumably hoping to drive the intruders out of their territory. The episode was short-lived. Leaping up, Sneasel let loose with Icy Wind, just as Ralts used Confusion to disrupt the angry birds' advance, sending them tumbling head-on into Sneasel's freezing attack. Looking into the furious eyes of a Spearow frozen not two inches from his nose, Gift had to laugh again.
"I'm not entirely sure you two even need me," he said. "I'm sure you could do perfectly well on your own in the human's world."
Sneasel's eyes turned hard at that, and he brooded as they continued on their way, uncommunicative and sullen. Gift worried about that as he tried to get his bearings in the bewildering tangle of trees and bushes and grass. What was it about Sneasel's past that had made him so hostile? Judging from his speech, Gift was sure that the lonely Pokémon had known human trainers before, but didn't think the acquaintance had been a pleasant one. There was a bitter look in Sneasel's eye that spoke volumes, and Gift knew he would have to address the issue sooner or later. He was just opening his mouth to say so when he had to shut it again, straining his ears, as he heard a faint rustling in the trees ahead. Another wild Pokémon, or a human? Gesturing to Sneasel and Ralts, Gift returned them both to their PokeBalls, and crept forward cautiously. The rustling was getting louder, joined now by the sound of labored breathing, and there, springing suddenly out of the surrounding foliage, it was.
A human boy in jeans and a black T-shirt with PokeBalls at his waist stared at Gift, slack-jawed.
"Um, hi," Gift said uneasily. "I'm Gift. What's your name?"
Chapter 6: Humanity
Cooley was stunned. No, more than that, he was flabbergasted, and a little angry. These mountains were beyond the farthest reaches of the Yaesu Frontier, he thought he would be the first to discover them, the first to plumb their secrets, see their sights, and of course, capture their Pokémon.
But now it seemed that someone had beaten him to it. The boy, Gift, he had called himself, though what kind of a name was Gift? But anyway, he was dressed in a weathered pair of jeans and an old, faded green T-shirt. With his unkempt hair and shredded backpack, he looked like some sort of cultured jungle boy, an image that contrasted sharply with his calm and cultured speech. Gift was as uncomfortable as Cooley himself, he realized, shifting from foot to foot, seeming at a loss for what to say.
Good, Cooley couldn't help thinking, he stole this discovery from me, he deserves to be uncomfortable. Cooley knew this was unfair, but standing in the shattered remains of his greatest dream, he was finding it hard to be charitable.
"Who are you?" He blurted out, "there aren't supposed to be any humans out this far! Where did you come from?"
Gift looked startled by the outburst, and hesitated.
"What, can't you speak English? Come on, how did you get out here?"
"I-I live here," Gift said warily, "Or rather, not here, but on the other side of those mountains, there. I was born in this area."
"Impossible! There are no humans living out this far, didn't I say that already? Where're your parents?"
Gift looked genuinely surprised by the question.
"Parents? I, I guess I've never really thought about that. They must have died when I was young, I can't remember anyone raising me except the Pokémon in Hallowed Grove."
Cooley was dumbstruck.
"Pokémon, what're you talking about? Pokémon can't raise people!"
"But Gardevoir said-"
"To heck with what Gardevoir said! Pokémon can't even talk to people, what're you going on about? You-" Cooley froze, staring at Gift's waist.
"Those are PokeBalls on your belt!" He pointed an accusing finger at the band around Gift's midriff. "You're a trainer, aren't you! There, how could you learn to be a trainer without a human to teach you?"
"Gardevoir taught me," Gift replied uncertainly. He seemed almost afraid of Cooley, as if his words were physically painful to hear.
Cooley opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. He was smart, was Cooley, and looking at Gift's disheveled appearance, clothes that were obviously far from new, heck, the location itself, maybe, just maybe he was telling the truth…
And if he was telling the truth, defeating him in battle would be a cinch. If he couldn't be the first to explore the mountains, well, there was sure to be an award for the person who rescued a helpless boy from the wilds where he was raised. He'd be a hero! Not only that, but Cooley's Pokémon would gain experience from the battle, always a desirable outcome.
"Fine then!" Gift jumped slightly as Cooley jolted out of his reverie. "Let's see just how well she taught you, shall we? I challenge you to a battle right here and now! Hoppip, go!"
"Ralts!" Called Gift, and the little Pokémon burst from the PokeBall in Gift's hand with a flash of light.
"This is my first battle with an actual trainer," Gift said slowly, "so let me know if I get something wrong, could you do that please?"
"Sure!" Cooley grinned. "Rule number one: never let down your defense with idle chatter! Hoppip, tackle!"
Ralts dove headlong to the side to avoid the surprise attack, but too slow, and Hoppip slammed hard into her, sending her tumbling across the tangled grass.
"Alright then," Cooley laughed, "let's see what you've got!"
Now, without further ado, Pokemon: Hidden Ties.
Prologue:
Spoiler:
The Hallowed Grove glows with dappled sunlight, the grassy earth and thick trees tinting the light with green. Far off in the distance a gentle rumble of thunder spurs a flock of Starly into flight. A young child, no older than four, sleeps peacefully in the thick loam, and Gardevoir watches him sadly. So much hardship... it is not fair. This child's destiny is predestined, inescapable; how could this be considered just? She sighs inwardly, knowing where this line of thought will take her. It is necessary that events be arranged in this way. The free will of one child, for the lives of thousands. It is all for the best, she supposes wearily, and anyway, free will is a powerful thing, and she doubts that it can be suppressed indefinitely.
To think, that in this tiny bundle of life rests everything Gardevoir holds dear...
The child sleeps on, Gardevoir standing over him, waiting for the storm.
Chapters 1-6
Spoiler:
Chapter 1: Quest
Spoiler:
Gift was running, running towards a pit that seemed to reach beyond the other end of the world. It terrified him, but drew him on just the same. And so he ran, desperately wanting to stop but knowing that he couldn't, running to the pit's edge and gazing into the abyss. The great hole was filled with inky, threatening blackness. There was no sound, no movement in the pit, but Gift could feel a terrible pull on his heart, as if the pit wished to devour him body and soul. And then, a flash of red as two terrible, mad eyes gazed at him from the blackness. The edge of the pit crumbled, and Gift was falling into infinity...
He snapped awake with a sudden jerk, gasping for breath, mind racing. The same dream, again! He had lost count of how many times it had been. It seemed that every night he visited the abysmal depths of the terrible pit, saw those eyes, those awful, insane eyes, glaring back at him. He couldn't, wouldn't tell Gardevoir, he was fifteen after all, and no longer ran to Gardevoir to comfort him after a nightmare.
Why, though? Why always the same dream? Gift had to admit that he was worried. The nightmare was foreboding, ominous, a storm just over the horizon, drawing inevitably nearer. Well, dwelling on it won't get me anywhere, he thought to himself. Getting up, he walked to the pile of clothes in the corner and dressed distractedly. He'd always wondered where Gardevoir had found the clothes. They were human clothes, and Gardevoir almost never left the Grove; Gift doubted that she could have found other humans to trade with.
His thoughts were interrupted by words that seemed to bypass his ears and proceed directly to his mind.
<Gift, come quickly! Something has happened, I must talk with you. Hurry, we cannot afford to waste time.>
Gardevoir wanted him? Gift had never heard her sound so anxious before. Tripping slightly as he pulled on a sneaker, he ran to the edge of his little residence, grabbed hold of the dangling rope, and slid smoothly out of the tree's branches. Gift's room was positioned on top of the many limbs of a squat, sturdy tree, with a floor made of woven branches and loam, and a roof of intertwined limbs. Venusaur had helped to make it, using his elemental abilities to conform the tree to the right shape.
Gift peered around the grove for Gardevoir, and saw her standing serenely by the little pond, watching Seel play. It was a glorious morning, and Gift could see the Pokemon of the grove out and about. There was Pikachu having a race with Nidoran, and Machop practicing his sparring techniques, and Ralts munching on an apple and watching the others idly. Gift ran to Gardevoir's side, waving at his friends as he went.
"Thank you for coming," Gardevoir said to him.
"What's going on? You said it was urgent…"
"I'm afraid it is. Gift, I need you to leave the Hallowed Grove."
Gift couldn't believe his ears. He stared at his mentor, dumbfounded.
"Leave Hallowed Grove," he repeated blankly. "Why? What did I do?"
"Nothing, Gift, you have done nothing." Gardevoir turned to watch Seel again. "Gift, something is happening in the outside world, something terrible. Forces are awakening that could destroy everything we know. I've sensed it, and seen it on my travels outside the Grove." She turned back to Gift, eyes bleak. "Something is coming, Gift. Something with incredible power, and I don't know if we can stop it. Worse, there are humans, the worst kind of humans, who know about this power. They think they can take it for their own, but they are only accelerating their own destruction. There is only one person in this world who can stop what is coming, and that is you, Gift."
"Me? Why? I'm just a human! I can't fight like you or Machop, I have no powers I can use, how can I possibly be the only one?"
"Because," Gardevoir replied, "you are the only human in the world who really understands."
Gift looked blankly at her.
"Listen, we named you Gift because you were an unexpected gift in our lives here. That is not all you are, however. I want you to go to the Human's world, Gift, to find the source of the coming evil, and to stop it, and any who would use it, before all is lost in a sundering of time and space."
Gift stared at Gardevoir. He had never heard her so anxious, so concerned about anything outside the grove. Mutely, he nodded.
"Thank you," Gardevoir looked slightly relieved. "Now this journey will be dangerous, I can promise you. For your protection and guidance, I want you to choose a partner, one of your friends in the grove. Take one of these," she handed Gift a small bag with ten odd orb-shaped devices inside. "Press this button here and point it at the Pokemon you choose, and this PokeBall will store your friend comfortably. Get used to using these, they are a key tool of the Humans. You are to be what the Humans call a Pokemon trainer, one who trains Pokemon and gives them orders in battle…"
Gift listened in rapt attention as Gardevoir told him of Pokemon trainers, of capturing Pokemon and training them to battle, of gyms in far-off regions and mythic Pokemon of legends. The idea of being a Pokemon trainer seemed rather silly to Gift; after all, Pokemon were much smarter than most humans. The Pokemon should be training the humans, he thought, but he listened all the same.
"Now," Gardevoir said when she had been speaking for almost a full hour, "Find a partner who is willing to accompany you. You leave tomorrow morning."
Gift nodded and stood up, clutching one of the PokeBalls and stuffing the rest into his raggedy backpack. He looked around at the inhabitants of the grove. Who should he ask? Making his decision, he strode forward…
Chapter 2: Ambush
Spoiler:
"Ralts, please, will you come with me?" The Pokémon looked at Gift solemnly. Of all the Pokémon in the meadow, except of course for Gardevoir, Gift trusted Ralts' judgment the most. Calm, collected, and possessing an abundance of inner strength, she was the perfect choice. Slowly, Ralts nodded.
"Of course Gift," she said solemnly, "I would be honored."
Gift swallowed. "Thanks," he said. Fumbling slightly, he pointed his PokeBall at Ralts and used his index finger to depress the button sitting at the sphere's center. Instantly the ball clicked open, and with a flash of brilliant light, Ralts was gone. The PokeBall clicked shut with finality, and Gift glanced at it, worried, and saw Ralts waving to him through the translucent orb.
"A good choice," it was Gardevoir's voice. "Always remember Gift, that Ralts is not a tool, but an equal, and an ally."
Gift couldn't imagine thinking of her any other way. He couldn't imagine why Gardevoir would even bother saying such a thing.
"You'll need to proceed through here," Gardevoir gestured towards a jagged hillock near the top of the Grove. "That cave mouth opens into the Pike Peaks, and from there follows a tunnel that should take you through to the mountain's exterior. From there, follow the Tangled Way to Broken Path, and you shall eventually find 'civilization,' as the humans call it."
Gardevoir thought a moment. "Oh, when you exit the Peaks interior, be sure to stop by the cave to the east. A cousin of Chansey lives there, she'll help you with any medical needs."
She scrutinized Gift a moment later, then smiled.
"You'll be just fine, I know it. I had best be going, I have errands of my own to complete. Stay strong, stay safe. I will see you again," her form was beginning to fade into translucence, "soon… Good luck, Gift…"
And she was gone, seeming to float out of reality in the Grove's gentle breeze. Gift stood there for a long while, looking at nothing in particular, contemplating the enormity of the day's events. He would never have believed that this would happen; it was all so sudden. He gazed blindly at the PokeBall in his hand, wondering what he had gotten himself into.
Gift arose earlier than usual the next morning. The previous day had been spent in farewells to his friends in the Grove. They had been sad to see him go, of course, and he, sad to leave, but all of them knew that Gardevoir would never have assigned this task to Gift were it not of vital importance.
Gift slid through the early-morning mists as if he himself were nothing but a light fog, his bare feet soundlessly padding across the dew-covered grass as he stole towards the cave entrance. Nobody else was awake, Gift wanted to leave quietly. Goodbyes had already been said, and there was nothing to be gained by dawdling. Gift slipped into the dark opening, shunning the ancient ladder resting against the side of a deep hole and dropping ten feet to the tunnel floor, landing lightly on the balls of his feet. Releasing Ralts from her PokeBall, Gift relied on the luminescence from her horns to pick his way through the tunnel. It was a spacious path, and Gift wondered if it had ever been used before, and by whom.
A slight clatter cut into the vestiges of Gift's hearing, and he froze, peering around by the light of Ralts' horns, looking for the source of the noise.
"Get lost," whispered a voice from the gloom, "this is my territory, human."
Gift looked around quickly, but saw only the shadowed wall. Picking up Ralts, he began to run down the tunnel, weaving around fallen boulders, hoping that if only he ran fast enough, he could escape the unseen menace.
"I said get lost!" The voice came again, sounding angrier this time. "Last chance, human. Turn around, and get out!"
It was pacing him! Whatever was coming after Gift was fast, and from the sound of it, annoyed.
"I don't know who you are," Gift called breathlessly to the surrounding tunnel as he ran, "but I have no intention of subverting your territory. I just want to get to the other side of this tunnel, and then I'll never bother you again."
"Wrong answer, human. Nobody passes through my territory uninvited."
Distracted, Gift didn't see the Geodude until it was too late. His foot caught on the rock-hard Pokémon, and he came crashing and tumbling to a halt, Ralts sailing out of his arms and landing gracefully, a few feet away. Something sharp poked Gift's chin, and his face was forced upward until he was staring directly into the eyes of his attacker.
"Game over, human."
Chapter 3: Inner Strength
Spoiler:
The Sneasel's sharp claws dug painfully into Gift's chin as he gazed, eye-to-eye, at the diminutive assailant. Blood began to trickle down his neck, and the Sneasel drew glinting claws back for a decisive slash. Wham! Ralts' small body hurtled into the would-be killer, jolting Sneasel sideways, his claws leaving a jagged red line across Gift's cheek in a thwarted strike. Hissing, Sneasel backhanded Ralts viciously across the midsection, sending the little Pokémon tumbling backwards. As Ralts came crashing to a halt against Gift's knees, Sneasel lept after her, all claws and teeth and shadow.
"Ralts! Flash attack, quickly!" A blinding burst of luminescence illuminated the chamber, and Gift heard Sneasel shout in surprise. Eyes closed, Gift leapt to the right, blindly pulling Ralts along with him, and heard a sinister whistle as Sneasel's claws ripped through the space previously occupied by Gift's head. There was a dull thunk as Sneasel impacted the far wall, and opening his eyes, Gift yelled "Tackle!"
Ralts went sailing into Sneasel's back, driving the Pokémon hard against the unyielding stone wall. Gift heard a grunt of pain from the dark Pokémon, then in a flurry of blindingly fast, swiping movements, Ralts was thrown brutally across the passageway, crashing into the hard floor and barely rolling aside in time as Sneasel came slashing down on the spot where Ralts had fallen. Sparks exploded from Sneasel's claws as they scraped grooves in the tunnel floor, and Gift darted forward, lowering his body and delivering a low, sweeping kick to Sneasel's legs. His foot met only air and floating gravel as Sneasel leapt above the attack, eyes flashing and teeth bared as he sliced a vicious gash in Gift's leg with the claws on his feet. Landing, Sneasel made another mighty leap, avoiding Ralts' desperate tackle, spinning around in midair, and kicking off from the ceiling to hurtle at Gift like a scything bullet. Gift almost failed to see the attack coming in the semidarkness of the tunnel, rolling aside at the last moment and receiving a stinging slash to the left shoulder.
Gift spun himself around on the floor, tearing one of his backpack straps and kicking out blindly at the spot where Sneasel had landed. He was surprised to feel his foot make contact, and he heard another grunt as Sneasel tumbled backwards head over heels. Gift rolled up onto his feet, blinking a trickle of blood out of his eye as he cautiously advanced. Back in the Grove, Machop had taught him some basic sparring techniques, but Sneasel was simply too fast, too skilled for those to be of any real use. Even as Gift was thinking this, he brought up his right arm to deflect a slash aimed for his face, earning another gash across his forearm for the trouble. Sneasel pressed the attack, and Gift backpedaled furiously to avoid the scything claws, finally coming up hard against the wall. Sneasel ducked under Gift's desperate guard and came up directly in front of the boy, eyes glinting, claws pressing delicately into Gift's neck.
"I'm impressed," Sneasel remarked. "You're the first trainer I've met who didn't make his Pokémon do all the work for him. Still, nobody trespasses on my territory. I let you through, and soon everyone will think this is some sort of public highway for them to use whenever they please. So it's nothing pers-" Wham!
Sneasel was once again thrown to the side as a battered and scratched Ralts slammed into his side. Wasting no time, Gift pounced upon the one course of action left open to him, the only thing that might actually work. Hissing in anger, Sneasel leapt to his feet and darted forward… straight into the PokeBall that came flying from Gift's hand. Surprise and fury showed for a brief moment on Sneasel's face, and then the Pokémon was enveloped in a blinding flash of white light and vanished into the red and white sphere. Immediately the ball began to quiver as Sneasel fought to break out. Grimly, Gift fished another PokeBall out of his back and strode forward just as the quivering ball exploded, and Sneasel leapt snarling back out. Even before the PokeBall had finished opening Gift was pivoting on his left leg, bringing his right up, bent, and straightening the leg into a vicious side kick that caught Sneasel in midair, slamming the Pokémon hard in the midsection and sending him flying backwards into the wall. Giving the assailant no time to collect himself, Gift threw the second PokeBall, momentarily glimpsing Sneasel's enraged expression as he was enveloped in a second wave of light.
The ball clacked shut and began immediately to vibrate. Gift watched the orb warily as he selected another ball from his pack, cocking his fatigued arm for another throw. This proved to be unnecessary. With a final shudder, the quivering ball fell still, the button at the sphere's center popping outward with a sharp click!
Gift bent down, scooped the ball into his pack, and looked around for Ralts. The spunky little Pokémon was standing, shaking with fatigue and pain, on the tunnel floor. Though she was obviously badly injured, Gift could see a satisfied smile on her face.
"Here," Gift slung off his pack and sat down in front of Ralts. "Gardevoir gave me some potions before we left; let's fix you up."
Too exhausted to reply, Ralts nodded, and slumped gratefully into the crook of Gift's bloody arm as he sprayed her with the curative liquid. It felt good to rest, and Gift lay gratefully back as he waited for the Potion to take effect. Eventually he became aware of a large number of Zubat, all eyeing his wounds rather hungrily, and, heaving himself to his feet, Gift scooped Ralts up in his arms and trudged onwards, towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
Chapter 4: Familiar
Spoiler:
Gift trudged out of the tunnel and onto the mountain face, stretching his sore and wounded limbs as he watched the setting sun descend towards the horizon. Now, if he remembered correctly, Gardevoir had said there was a Chansey living East of here who could help him out. Putting the sun at his back, Gift clambered gingerly over the mountain's rough stone face, Ralts following alongside.
Bruises and lacerations covered Gift from head to toe, and the rough stone did nothing to soothe the discomfort. A little farther, Gift thought. Just a little farther…
And then he saw it, a deep hole in the mountain's base. Hobbling more quickly now, his destination in sight, Gift all but sprinted the last few steps to the cave mouth and slipped inside, wincing as he lowered himself down a short metal ladder to the cave floor. He blinked. This place was nothing like the cave he had just left. The stone floor of the cavern descended sharply in the room's center into a depression about the depth of Gift's height. Within this depression, the stone gave way to lush green grass surrounding a crystal-clear well, its waters sparkling in the luminescent glow of dozens of shining white crystals that dotted the ceiling. Gift stumbled slightly as he stepped out into the soft glow, gazing in awe at the beautiful scene.
"I'm sorry, may I help you?" Startled at the quiet voice, Gift spun around to see a Chansey gazing enquiringly at him. Her eyes flicked to his wounds, then back to his face.
"Ah yes, Gardevoir told me you might be hurt. Now then, come down to the well and let's get you healed up, come now. You'll need to be in top shape to continue your journey."
Dumbfounded, Gift let her lead him down into the grass and sat obediently at the water's edge. Chansey hummed softly to herself as she tended his wounds, using her natural skills in curative techniques to cleanse and mend his numerous cuts and lacerations.
"Wait," Gift said after a moment, and Chansey paused her work. "Did you say Gardevoir knew I might get hurt? What do you mean?"
"Well of course," Chansey returned to mending Gift's wounds as she replied. "With Sneasel guarding that passageway, it was a given that you would be hurt at least a little." She paused again, and looked at Gift's stricken face. "For what it's worth, she was against the idea from the start. The last thing Gardevoir wanted to do was put you into danger, but she was forced into it."
"By who?"
"That, I can't tell you."
Gift thought about this for awhile. It was odd to think that Gardevoir might submit to the orders of another Pokémon. She had always been the one in charge, the leader, the absolute authority in Hallowed Grove. And to think that she had let him be nearly murdered by Sneasel... Gift couldn't make any sense of it. He was not the type to feel betrayed, and trusted Gardevoir enough to know that whatever she had done would have been for his own benefit. He just wished he could understand why it was necessary for her to do so.
A thought struck him, and Gift rummaged carefully in his backpack, trying to move as little as possible so as not to interrupt Chansey's work. Ralts had gone to sleep by the wellside, he noticed as he felt around the inside of the pack. He pulled out a PokeBall, glanced at it, tossed it back, felt around again, here it was. Withdrawing the PokeBall containing Sneasel, Gift depressed the button and released his one-time assailant. Sneasel burst from the ball in a blaze of light and stood before him, glaring openly.
"Not bad, human," Sneasel said through gritted teeth. "Had anyone told me before today that I could be captured by scum like you, I'd-"
"That's enough," Gift cut in. He had too much on his mind to waste time listening to insults. "Look, I won't make you stay if you don't want to. The exit's over there. If you want to leave, go ahead. I won't make anyone come with me if they're not willing."
Sneasel looked taken aback. He glanced at the ladder ascending into the cavern roof, then back at Gift, undecided.
"What kind of human are you, anyway?" He burst out. "You fight right alongside your Pokémon when most trainers just let the Pokémon do all the work and spend their time telling them what to do. You beat me in a fair fight, capture me, and now you're just letting me go? What is with you?"
"I don't know what other humans are like," Gift responded. "I've never met one, to tell the truth. But my principles are my own, human or no, and I'm sticking to them. A reluctant member on the team would just be a burden, and I suspect that we won't be able to afford burdens where we're going. I think you'd be a tremendous help, personally, and a great partner, but that needs to be your decision. So, are you coming or not?"
Sneasel gazed at him a moment, the glare gone, replaced by a curious, searching gaze. He shrugged.
"Might as well, it's not like I've got anything better to do." He sat down next to Ralts, who shifted obligingly to make room. "Besides, it was getting boring, just sitting around a tunnel all day."
Gift grinned and lay back against the rocky side of their tiny oasis as Chansey finished healing the wounds on his back and moved to his arms.
"That's great," he said, "It's good to have you…"
His eyes fluttered closed, and he slept.
Chapter 5: Meeting
Spoiler:
Gift slept through the afternoon and into the night, finally awaking to see the first hopeful ray of dawn peeking feebly through the ladder well. Sneasel and Ralts had gone to sleep side by side at the water's edge, and Chansey was nowhere in sight. Stretching luxuriously, Gift went to the ladder and peeked out at the new morning. The mountains glowed with the new dawn's light, and Gift couldn't help grinning. Dropping back down the ladder, he quickly changed out of his ripped and grimy clothes, bathed in the well, and changed into a spare set from his backpack; his only spare set, he realized. Better not get into any life-and-death battles in caves until I can get these clothes mended, he thought, and for some reason he found this extremely funny.
Sneasel and Ralts had awoken while he was bathing, and were now chatting animatedly as they sat on the grass, as if they had been friends for years. Gift grinned again as he finished dressing and stuffed his old clothes back into his tattered backpack, slinging the bag over his shoulder on its one strap and heaving himself to his feet. There was a rustle at the ladder well, and Chansey leapt down into the cave, bearing a basket of fruits and vegetables presumably picked from the forested area surrounding the mountain.
"Oh, so you're up already, are you?" Chansey smiled as she gracefully waddled over, no mean feat, when it is considered how few beings are capable of a graceful waddle. "You'd best be eating before you go, though. Here, I picked you some breakfast from my garden."
Gift, Sneasel, and Ralts accepted gratefully, and tore into the food like they hadn't eaten in days, which, for Gift, was very nearly true. After munching his way through four russet apples, two stalks of celery, and innumerable unidentifiable berries, Gift felt like going back to sleep, but stood anyway and stretched again.
"Thank you Chansey," he said. "We really appreciate your hospitality."
Chansey smiled at him, then said "no Gift, thank you." Puzzled, Gift looked at her frowningly, but she shook her head, and he knew that she would say no more.
Shrugging, Gift clambered up the ladder into the new day, his companions close behind, and breathed in the fresh morning air. It was a lovely day, and he felt rejuvenated just to be enjoying it. Waving to his friends to follow, he went running and sliding down the mountainside, Sneasel keeping pace easily, Ralts finally giving up and wrapping her arms around his neck to keep from falling behind. They reached the bottom and proceeded through the forest in high good spirits, chatting animatedly and laughing with each other, so that even Sneasel, the surliest of the group, was smiling and laughing when suddenly a flock of Spearow came swooping to the attack, presumably hoping to drive the intruders out of their territory. The episode was short-lived. Leaping up, Sneasel let loose with Icy Wind, just as Ralts used Confusion to disrupt the angry birds' advance, sending them tumbling head-on into Sneasel's freezing attack. Looking into the furious eyes of a Spearow frozen not two inches from his nose, Gift had to laugh again.
"I'm not entirely sure you two even need me," he said. "I'm sure you could do perfectly well on your own in the human's world."
Sneasel's eyes turned hard at that, and he brooded as they continued on their way, uncommunicative and sullen. Gift worried about that as he tried to get his bearings in the bewildering tangle of trees and bushes and grass. What was it about Sneasel's past that had made him so hostile? Judging from his speech, Gift was sure that the lonely Pokémon had known human trainers before, but didn't think the acquaintance had been a pleasant one. There was a bitter look in Sneasel's eye that spoke volumes, and Gift knew he would have to address the issue sooner or later. He was just opening his mouth to say so when he had to shut it again, straining his ears, as he heard a faint rustling in the trees ahead. Another wild Pokémon, or a human? Gesturing to Sneasel and Ralts, Gift returned them both to their PokeBalls, and crept forward cautiously. The rustling was getting louder, joined now by the sound of labored breathing, and there, springing suddenly out of the surrounding foliage, it was.
A human boy in jeans and a black T-shirt with PokeBalls at his waist stared at Gift, slack-jawed.
"Um, hi," Gift said uneasily. "I'm Gift. What's your name?"
Chapter 6: Humanity
Spoiler:
Cooley was stunned. No, more than that, he was flabbergasted, and a little angry. These mountains were beyond the farthest reaches of the Yaesu Frontier, he thought he would be the first to discover them, the first to plumb their secrets, see their sights, and of course, capture their Pokémon.
But now it seemed that someone had beaten him to it. The boy, Gift, he had called himself, though what kind of a name was Gift? But anyway, he was dressed in a weathered pair of jeans and an old, faded green T-shirt. With his unkempt hair and shredded backpack, he looked like some sort of cultured jungle boy, an image that contrasted sharply with his calm and cultured speech. Gift was as uncomfortable as Cooley himself, he realized, shifting from foot to foot, seeming at a loss for what to say.
Good, Cooley couldn't help thinking, he stole this discovery from me, he deserves to be uncomfortable. Cooley knew this was unfair, but standing in the shattered remains of his greatest dream, he was finding it hard to be charitable.
"Who are you?" He blurted out, "there aren't supposed to be any humans out this far! Where did you come from?"
Gift looked startled by the outburst, and hesitated.
"What, can't you speak English? Come on, how did you get out here?"
"I-I live here," Gift said warily, "Or rather, not here, but on the other side of those mountains, there. I was born in this area."
"Impossible! There are no humans living out this far, didn't I say that already? Where're your parents?"
Gift looked genuinely surprised by the question.
"Parents? I, I guess I've never really thought about that. They must have died when I was young, I can't remember anyone raising me except the Pokémon in Hallowed Grove."
Cooley was dumbstruck.
"Pokémon, what're you talking about? Pokémon can't raise people!"
"But Gardevoir said-"
"To heck with what Gardevoir said! Pokémon can't even talk to people, what're you going on about? You-" Cooley froze, staring at Gift's waist.
"Those are PokeBalls on your belt!" He pointed an accusing finger at the band around Gift's midriff. "You're a trainer, aren't you! There, how could you learn to be a trainer without a human to teach you?"
"Gardevoir taught me," Gift replied uncertainly. He seemed almost afraid of Cooley, as if his words were physically painful to hear.
Cooley opened his mouth to reply, then closed it. He was smart, was Cooley, and looking at Gift's disheveled appearance, clothes that were obviously far from new, heck, the location itself, maybe, just maybe he was telling the truth…
And if he was telling the truth, defeating him in battle would be a cinch. If he couldn't be the first to explore the mountains, well, there was sure to be an award for the person who rescued a helpless boy from the wilds where he was raised. He'd be a hero! Not only that, but Cooley's Pokémon would gain experience from the battle, always a desirable outcome.
"Fine then!" Gift jumped slightly as Cooley jolted out of his reverie. "Let's see just how well she taught you, shall we? I challenge you to a battle right here and now! Hoppip, go!"
"Ralts!" Called Gift, and the little Pokémon burst from the PokeBall in Gift's hand with a flash of light.
"This is my first battle with an actual trainer," Gift said slowly, "so let me know if I get something wrong, could you do that please?"
"Sure!" Cooley grinned. "Rule number one: never let down your defense with idle chatter! Hoppip, tackle!"
Ralts dove headlong to the side to avoid the surprise attack, but too slow, and Hoppip slammed hard into her, sending her tumbling across the tangled grass.
"Alright then," Cooley laughed, "let's see what you've got!"
