Chapter 1- Genesis of a Trainer (Chapter Rating: PG-13)
Modern Day
The recent outbreak of murder, theft, and vandalism, can be blamed on
Uhhh, I moaned as I slammed my clock radio off. Turning over, I tried to get back to sleep, not ready to awaken, until I heard, Kierro? Are you awake? It was my mom, speaking to me from outside my bedroom door.
Uh, yeah I am. I answered groggily.
Well keep it down. I was up all night with Ria and she just fell asleep. Now,
Im off to try to catch up on
my sleep.
I looked at my clock radio, which read 7:01 A.M. Alright, good, um, night? I responded. Hearing her walk away, I got out of bed and began to walk to my bathroom. Ria, my twin sister, had had the flu for the past few days. My mom had been charged with taking care of her, because, lets face it, most fifteen- year-olds dont know much about medical care. It had been hard for all three of us, but she was finally starting to recover. I still felt slightly guilty, however for preparing to leave her in this condition.
I stopped in front of my Holo-Calendar, which was switching between a picture of an Arcanine aiming a fire blast towards the viewer, and a Swampert preparing for an Earthquake. The date underneath, read November 27, 2025. In the little box, indicating the date, I had typed, Journey Begins! It was the day I was scheduled to begin my Trainers Quest.
Once in my bathroom, I turned on the hot water and undressed myself. I stepped into the jet of hot water as my mind was taken back, four years ago, back when my friends and I began to study for our Pokemon journeys. We all enrolled in the required year of Pokespeech, Pokemon Law, and Battle & Strategy. After passing the finals, we enrolled in the required finishing course, Pokemon Handling. Once our professors passed us, my friends and I began to start packing for our adventure. We thought wed all be training, battling and collecting Pokemon together, my parents however, had another idea.
Kierro, can we come in? asked my mom from outside my bedroom door.
Wha? Oh, Oh yeah, sure. I said. Sitting in front of my computer, surfing www.Hoennstarters.net, trying to decide between Torchic and Mudkip, had caused my brain to fry, making me oblivious to my surroundings.
My door opened, and I shut off my monitor. Turning in my chair, I saw my parents walking into my room. My dad was the first to sit. He chose to sit on the baseboard of my bed. My mom took a seat next to him, on my mattress. We sat there, staring at one another for a while, until impatience took over and I asked So wha..
Kierro, my dad cut me off, We know how excited you are to begin your Trainers Journey tomorrow, he sighed, but your mom and I dont think its a good idea for you to go.
His words hit me like a stampede of wild Tauross. I sat there, stunned into silence not allowing myself to speak for fear of crying. Finally, once I had collected myself, I said,
Why not? my voice betraying my emotion by cracking.
Honey, youve seen the news, youve heard the radio. Teams Aqua and Magma are getting more ruthless and violent. my mom said, Besides, Pokemon themselves are violent, you would be in danger twenty-four-seven!
Mom! I exclaimed, Ill have a Pokemon with me. Ill be fine. Besides, Im traveling with Eathan, Chris and Shane. Well steer clear of Team Aqua and Magma. Well be fine!
Son, this is the best thing fo.. my dad started.
DONT TELL ME ITS FOR THE BEST! I screamed, YOU KNOW IVE BEEN WAITING MY WHOLE LIFE FOR THIS AND NOW YOURE GOING TO SNATCH IT FROM ME BEFORE I EVEN HAVE A CHANCE?!!
KIERRO DANIEL URASHIMA! my mother exclaimed. You will NOT speak to your father that way! This is the way things are and you need to deal with them! she and my father stood up so in such a synchronized manner, that I swear they must have planned it. Without another word, they turned and left my room.
That was a battle I never won. Afterwards, Chris, Shane and Eathan all left on their adventures, leaving me to find ways to entertain myself. Luckily, I succeeded in this pursuit. Trainers who dont leave on their Pokemon journeys right away and want to continue their education are allowed to enroll in Advanced Trainers University. It was a school, much like a college, that offered continuations of basic courses as well as additional courses. Normally, only Breeders and scientific researchers enrolled but I had already completed grade school and Basic Trainers School so I signed up.
I enrolled in the school, and signed up to continue the courses I had already started. I took an additional four years of Pokespeech and Battle & Strategy. I continued with Pokemon Law and Pokemon Handling for the remaining maximum of two years and I began new courses. I took four years of Pokemon Breeding, Pokemon History, and Pokemon Biology. After the completion of these courses, I took the final exams and aced almost all of them. Then I began to prepare for my Journey. My additional years of Pokemon Law had led me to discover an obscure law, which is rarely ever invoked. It was the law of reasonable consent. Basically, it said that once a child became fifteen, he or she could start a journey without parental consent.
After informing my parents that I was invoking this law, I set out to prepare. My parents, who were definitely not pleased with me leaving,wouldnt give me any money to buy gear with so I was on my own. However, two weeks before my birthday, with my hand-me-down pack and other crappy gear all packed, my parents surprised me with an unwanted early birthday present.
Kierro, Ria? Your mother and I need to speak to you, my dad said as he turned off the TV, right in the middle of Pokemon Trainer Tonight. He sat in an armchair to the left of the TV and my mom sat on the arm to the left of him. We all sat there, staring at one another. Usually, I would have been the first to grow impatient, but remembering the last time my parents had come to talk to me, I kept my mouth shut.
My sister,however, was desperate to finish swooning over the Elite Four Member, Sydney, her latest crush, and blurted out, What do you want?
Well kids, my dad began, You know how I was looking for a new job? One that would pay better and one I would like?
Yeah? I said cautiously, Did you find one?
Yeah, I did. Ill still be working as a Celestial Theorizer, but the pay will be almost twice what I earn now!
Why would they pay you more to do what you already do? asked Ria.
Because, your father will no longer be working for MCSC, explained my mom, Hes going to be working for the TCSC in Tanzanite City.
For a minute, I didnt understand the implications of what my mom had said. Finally, it hit me when Ria screamed, WHAT?! WERE MOVING?!
Yes honey, mom mother nodded solemnly.
Where the hell is Tanzanite?! My sister exclaimed, clearly sharing my distaste for my parents new plan.
Watch your mouth! exclaimed my father.
Its in the Haito Region, explained my mother, but dont worry, were not moving there.
But, I thought you said. I began.
You kids and your mother are moving to Sandstone while I go to Tanzanite. my father elaborated. Tanzanite is a big city, we want you and your sister to grow up in a small, town lifestyle. Its better for you.
Its a little late for that dont you think? Were almost fifteen. Im leaving in two weeks. Why move to Sandstone?! I exclaimed
Well, just because. he said, giving me the feeling he didnt believe that I was leaving.
We moved on November 13, one week before my birthday. My father did move to Tanzanite, while we moved to this god-forsaken, small town hellhole known as Sandstone.
Finally, the nineteenth arrived. I was packed and ready to go, until Ria came down with the flu. It was the day before our birthday and my mother begged me to stay, at least until Ria got better. I agreed, because in all honesty, I was worried about Ria and didnt want to have to deal with the guilt of leaving her. Finally, she began to get better, and I scheduled the twenty-seventh as my starting day.
Steeping out of my shower, I slipped into my bathrobe and walked into my room. Walking over to the dresser, I pulled on my boxers and socks. Then, I rummaged through my drawers and pulled out my favorite pair of jeans. After putting them on, I went back to rummaging and pulled out a black T-shirt, emblazoned with a red Pokeball insignia. After pulling it on, I grabbed my hair gel and spiked my short, black hair so that my hair stood up in the front of my head. Afterward, I stared at my image, reflected in the mirror above my dresser. Everything looked fine but I stood there for a little while, staring at the only part of my body I wished I could change. My eyes. Unlike most people with black hair, I had pale blue eyes. It looked as though my eyes had never finished developing and didnt belong on my face.
I shook my head rapidly and walked over to my bed. I laid my bathrobe on it and kneeled to retrieve my gear from under my bed. The first item was my Trainers Pack. It was a birthday present from Ria. She had gotten it customized in the same design as the shirt I was currently wearing. It had two zipable side pockets. One for minimized items such as potions, and the other specifically made for holding minimized Pokeballs. The front pocket was zipable and held the TM Case and Berry Bag, which had come with the Pack. They were colored the same and even had small red Pokeball insignias The large pocket was zipable, held large items and even contained a small, safe pocket which was reinforced with metal and a lock. The final pocket was a miscellaneous items pocket in the back of the Pack and was very thin. The coolest thing about the pack though, was that it had a strap that slung from the right shoulder all the way to the left waist.
I unzipped the small items pocket and inserted one dozen minimized Potions. They were gifts from my Uncle Brian, who, being the only Trainer in my family, was the only one allowed to buy such things. I zipped up the pocket and opened the Pokeball pocket. I placed the two-dozen minimized Pokeballs and two Great Balls into their holders and zipped it back up. Opening the large pocket, I stuffed in my clothing, sleeping bag, deodorant, soap, and other essentials and then closed it. Finally, I opened the miscellaneous pocket and placed some of my old school books into it. I chose to take,
Pokemon: A Trainers Guide and
Advance Strategy 2nd Edition. I also packed a book my grandmother had bought me called
Legends of Haito. I wasnt very interested in Legendary Pokemon, but I figured it would make an interesting late night read. On the cover, it had two large, humanoid Pokemon, one white and one black; they looked very powerful, but also, slightly evil.
I stood up, and grabbed my Pokeball belt which was also a gift from my uncle. I strapped it to my waist and then went over to my desk. As I was walking over, I realized, I had no idea which kind of Pokemon they offered in Haito. I had wanted to start with Mudkip when I lived in Mossdeep, but I was certain they didnt offer Mudkip here. Sighing at this thought, I opened one of the drawers in my desk and pulled out a small, black box with a red volcano insignia and the words Ruby Isle Industries, printed on it. I opened the box and revealed the Pokepilot inside.
It was a small, black and red machine that attached to a Trainers wrist. The manual had said that it had twelve possible programs, but unfortunately only the Cell Phone, Trainers Card, Calendar/ Clock, Debit System, MDVD Player and TM Player came preloaded. All the other programs could be downloaded from other Pokepilots as well as certain Pokemon Centers across the country. I attached the machine to my wrist and turned it on. The color screen, quickly flashed the same insignia as the one on the box, and then went to the Clock/ Calendar default screen. It read 7:58 11-27-25.
After checking that all the programs that could, worked, I went back to the drawer and pulled out a smaller, navy blue jewelry box. I opened it and took the necklace inside of it out. It was the only gift I had ever received from my grandfather. It was a medium length, silver chain with a stone about the size of a match box attached to it. The stone wasnt cut into any shape and looked just like one you could pick up from the ground, but, for some reason, my grandfather had loved it and he wanted me to have it. I placed it around my neck and was about to put the box away until I heard a huge cry from above my house.
I dashed to my window just as a huge, white bird Pokemon with four large regal wings, tipped in gold and long, flowing, golden tail feathers soared just above my window. Eaaaaaglaaaaa! it screeched as it flew toward the mountains in the distance. In its talons, was a small brown package so I knew it mustve been making a delivery. I watched as it flew toward the only building located in the mountains, the local Pokemon lab. As it drew nearer, it began to descend toward the door. It landed gracefully and two people walked out of the door. They took the package, and patted the Pokemon. The bird nodded, flapped its wings and took off. The two people walked back into the lab, the doors closing behind them.
I was about to turn away from the window until I noticed two people on the side of the building. They were just standing there, but for some reason, I kept watching them. Finally, they began to walk toward the door. They waited a moment, the doors opened and they walked in.
For some reason the situation felt bad to me. Without thinking, I put on my boots and dashed out of my room, down the stairs and out the door.
The cool Autumn air hit me like an ice beam from a Snorunt. I had forgotten my jacket, and this was definitely not Mossdeep. I decided not to waist time, by returning for it, and I began to dash toward the hills.
After about twenty, tiring minutes, I arrived, breathless, in front of the lab. I stood in front of the doors and they slid open. Once inside, I saw that there was no one around. I did however, hear groaning and mumbling coming from the back room.
I walked cautiously toward the door which I believed lead to the back room. I pressed the button, it slid open and I walked into the room. In the back, left corner of the room, six people were huddled in a corner being attacked by two, small tan bird Pokemon with short, stubby wings. They were hovering only a few inches above the ground and didnt appear to be much of a threat. That is, until I saw the two people from earlier.
They were wearing black cloaks with red hoods and were facing away from me. I couldnt see their faces, but I could however, see the electric shock stick in one of the thugs hand and the Pokeballs in the others.
Tell us where it is Pine, The thug holding the stick said. or next time, itll be this. He held up the shock stick.
The man he was speaking to didnt say anything. He just sat there, with the other five people staring at the thugs with a look of pure anger and hate. The man in the cloak signaled to his partner and she said, in a clearly feminine voice, Chick, Dee, Return! she held up the Pokeballs and the two birds were transformed into red energy and pulled into the Pokeballs. The man then pressed a button on the stick and three, small claws, much like those of a claw machine, extruded from the end of the stick. He jammed the claws right into the mans leg, making a sickening sound as it punctured his skin. The man than pressed another button and the stick made a charging noise. Suddenly, the stick began to send pulses of white, blue and yellow electricity into the mans body.
Ahhhhhhh! He screamed as his body began to convulse uncontrollably. Some of the people around him began to cry while the others screamed at their captives, horrified with the terror they were witnessing.
LEAVE HIM ALONE!, I yelled, appalled with what I was seeing. The two thugs slowly turned around, clearly not happy with being discovered. I could only see their faces but the love and lust for the pain they were causing, was evident, and horrifying.
And who the hell are you? asked the woman as she pulled her Pokeballs out preparing herself for a battle. The man, removed the stick from the others leg revealing that it was only a flesh wound. The other man however, couldnt stop convulsing.
Kid, youd better get out while I have a mind to let you live. the cloaked man said. Im using this because we need the Professor alive. This however. He said pulling a pistol from his cloak, will be your punishment if you dont get out of here. NOW!
I stood there, shocked. Though I had grown up in a big city, I had never found myself being threatened. Not by a gun at least.
Michael, the woman said, We really do
not need to have to explain a murder to Devin. This is supposed to be a clean, snatch-and-go job. She laid her hand on his shoulder, Let
me handle this.
Alright he said and he turned back to his captives . The woman, however, stepped forward and released her two Pokemon. Chick, Dee, get out here! The two bird Pokemon from earlier appeared in front of me and assumed their fighting stances. The birds wouldnt have been frightening had I had my own Pokemon. However, I didnt and some how, she knew it. Whats wrong? she sneered, No Pokemon?
Kid! the Professor yelled. That machine next to you holds Pokeballs, go ahead and grab one!
I turned to the machine as the woman yelled Chick! Peck that brat! Dee, Tackle him! The machine was a cylindrical object with three small indented lines splitting the machine into thirds. Close to the edge was a small circle on each line. Just above the circle, was a small rectangular button. The one closest to me had a small flame insignia, indented into it. I pushed the button in the midst of being Tackled and Pecked. The circle below the button, split into halves and a platform containing a Pokeball appeared. I grabbed the Pokeball, but all of a sudden, I could no longer breathe.
The woman thug was behind me with her arm around my neck stopping air passage to my lungs. Drop the ball, now!
Sure. I wheezed. I threw the ball and it opened. A red silhouette appeared which, almost instantly, materialized into a small, red, black striped kitten Pokemon. It stretched its self out a then mewed,
Tigracub!