Disclaimer-You know how it goes...
A Disgrace to my Family
PROLOGUE
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Shawn flipped back his covers, his heart racing, and pushed the button on his alarm. It wasn't long until his big brother Roy Maverick would show up in Goldenrod city and take him to live in the Tohan region with him. Shawn recalled a vivid memory of two years ago, when his twelve year old (four years older) brother had flipped pages of their father's photographed adventures in Tohan, kept in a sacred book, showing him unnoticed details on each page. His brother had only then (up until now) mentioned this mysterious region to him, and the adventures he would have there when his brother returned to whisk him off on a train to Tohan. After today, Shawn knew his life would change dramatically, and permanently.
The ten-year old child, filled with hope, made his bed and packed away the last of his belongings he would take with him.
Then he saw it.
Shawn went pale and hope left him abruptly. Something told him as he started to sob over the photo of his now divorced parents, that he would never return here.
(flashback)
Tom: Lilian, this isn't working out. I'm sorry.
Lilian: (chokes on sobs) I...I'm taking the boys.
Tom: Fine, I'm better off without them anyways.
(End flashback)
That stung.
Roy and Shawn had been eavesdropping from the stairs and left hearing this comment. That event had strengthened Roy's character, and he was now not so easy to talk to unless you were Shawn, or his mother. Shawn, however, had become frail emotionally and never said a word when his father left them. For a whole year, the boys' father had been gone. He'd flown away on his Skarmory, leaving behind people who loved him dearly.
Shawn delicately packed away his duplicate photo, feeling empty inside, all happiness drained. Just seeing that photo made him feel horrible on the best of days, which is why he avoided glancing at it until now. His blonde hair was drooping along with his spirits.
Part of him was torn, this part being the emotionally influenced part. He was aware of the fact that he ran from decisions, and this would be no different. He was a fool. He wasn't worthy of this family that was known for heroic adventures in regions scattered across the earth. He had convinced himself of this, that his actions were shameful ones. A coward who slipped away to places that protected him. This was his description. He hated this about himself, and that would all change. When he got his pokemon, that would all change........
Part 1 - The Start of a New Adventure.
Shawn regained his composure and went downstairs, after grooming himself and perfecting his slick blonde hairstyle. The family's pet Skitty greeted him and followed him to the table where his mother was sitting, and holding their newborn baby girl.
Tiara was born shortly after Tom had left behind his family, just because it 'didn't work out'. At this point, Shawn knew he and his brother should not have been born. This complicated matters, and his parents had added the children factor into their relationship at the wrong time.
All that didn't matter anymore, because now Shawn would have a better life, and if he had kids, would be a good father to them. He would pursue the career of a trainer and work towards a brighter future. Then, as he ate, he pondered whether or not he would return for his mother and sister once he had a good life.
Shawn told himself he would decide all that once he had a better outlook on life and was a better person. Only then, could he return.
His mother watched him for a time. Tiara was sleeping in her arms. Then his mother spoke up.
"Shawn?"
"Yes mom?" he replied with yet another questioning comment.
"I would be grateful if you would send money home for me and Tiara to live off of."
"Sure. I will also send a helpful pokemon for you both to have around."
Shawn petted Skitty. "I don't mean a cute pet like Ruby, but a little help around the house."
"That would be nice. Oh, you should get going quick, there's only fifteen minutes before the second train arrives!"
Shawn kissed Tiara's forehead and hugged his mother, then left home, possibly forever. He hopped on his bike, barely made the train his brother was on, and was on his way to Tohan.
Author's note about Tohan--For you readers who want to know about this mystical region, it is very unique. Here, starter pokemon are different and there are six to choose from, every monday all through the week until they're gone! Then the weekly cycle continues. An example of starters in Tohan are these- (Pupitar, Geodude, Bagon, Butterfree, Corsola, Elekid)
Chapter 2 - A Strange Begining
Shawn arrived in Tohan with Roy at Dusk, so they walked into a plaza and visited the pokemart to get Shawn an escape rope and three full heals. When they were a safe distance away from any other people that could be hurt during a takeoff, Roy flew them to his house on his Salamence. Shawn unpacked the essentials only, and crawled into his sleeping bag.
At dawn, on monday (how 'bout that?), Roy sat Shawn on his Salamence, and got on in front. They were off, and landed at Volage Town, where Professor Palm's lab was. Roy sucked his Salamence into its great ball. They both walked in, and the room slowly transformed as they walked, into a jungle setting. Professor Palm walked out of the shadows with a box lined with dome-shaped holes which held six pokeballs.
A robot with wheels for feet, sensor tipped metal fingers, and a satelitte head, approached them, a mechanical version of a grown woman's voice emmiting from the satelitte, which was dotted with tiny holes for sound to come from.
"Hello all beginner trainers. I will now show you the available starter pokemon today."
Shawn shrank back, eyeing the disturbing robot.
From the satelitte, a ray of sky blue light shone, and a type of powerpoint slide show made of light showed the pokemon available and their stats.
These were the choices. Electrike, Vulpix, Dratini, Kecleon, Scyther, Cubone
Shawn said, "I would like the Cubone."
"Yes sir," said the robot.
The Professor nodded and came forward, his leather box begining to vibrate. The last pokeball to the right glowed, and was lifted upward and outward, inches from Shawn. As he took the pokeball, Shawn noticed that inside the hole that once held his pokemon's pokeball, was a thin rod-like arm with three stubby metal fingers coming from a metal plate version of a palm, which had just protruded from the snug hole to give him the pokeball. The professor was a mechanical genius!
Shawn released Cubone, which growled at him. Shawn didn't know it was saying hello, so he backed away. Cubone drooped its head disappointedly and was returned.
"You will become friends in time," said Prof. Palm. Then he observed the older boy beside Shawn. "...Oh! Welcome Roy!"
"Hi Professor," replied Roy, smiling. "This is my little brother I told you about."
"Oh, yes. .....Shawn, was it Roy?"
"That's right. He's ready to explore Tohan and be a hero."
Shawn thought to himself, Hey! I said nothing at all about being a hero. What if I just want to be me?
In spite of these thoughts, he smiled and nodded. He was scanned from head to toe by Ida, the robot, and a pokedex materialized in his free hand. He tucked it in one of his pockets, and gratefully took his five pokeballs and belt sack. He put the soon-to-be-occupied (or so he thought) pokeballs in the belt sack, which he wore proudly, yet inside he was afraid he would not live up to the family reputation. For the moment, he shoved that thought out of his mind and walked with his brother to a low grass-filled field. He saw an unsuspecting pokemon and made his Cubone attack.
"Bone club," he said. Cubone came out and tossed the bone at Sandshrew expertly. It hit, and Cubone followed up with headbutt, and Shawn caught the pokemon with no trouble. He healed it with Roy's potion, unintentionally ignoring it's claw hand shakes, which saddened the pokemon. SHawn returned his new pokemon happily.
"Now Shawn, let's see how good you are at battling," said Roy. Half-smiling, he chucked a pokeball into the air, which opened to reveal a Linoone. Shawn could tell from the barely built figure of Linoone, that it had just evolved.
"Um....ok, so...go Sandshrew!" Shawn shouted unsurely, and the powerful ground type blinked and stared at Linoone when it was sent out.
"Shrew?"
"Try a rock blast Sandshrew," said Shawn.
Sandshrew, still feeling neglected, threw chunks of rock, and only two hit out of the dozen it threw.
Linoone skidded back a bit, and angrily used quick attack, knocking down the sad Sandshrew. Sandshrew, stood, and used scratch, hitting Linoone's side, and making it wince.
Linoone bunched up it's muscles and jumped.
"Dig quick Sandshrew, and stay under as long as possible!" Shawn said panicking.
Sandshrew dug as fast as it's little claws would allow, trying to please its trainer. It dissapeared into a hole. Linoone used pound, dropping itself inside the hole. There was a thud, some growling, and movement.
"Scratch," pleaded Shawn into the hole.
Roy yelled firmly, "Sand attack."
Some puffs of dust escaped from the hole, and Sandshrew leapt out of the hole. Linoone jumped out after it, and was scratched between the eyes, making it tumble over the hole backwards and hit the ground.
"Now rock blast!" Shawn shouted hopefully.
Linoone was ordered to use metal claw, which sliced the rock and cut Sandshrew. Sandshrew got its balance, and when Linoone used tackle, knocked it back with rock blast. Shawn had won just in the nick of time. His pokemon was very tired from the fast-paced battle. When Sandshrew saw Linoone returned, it allowed itself to topple onto the ground in exhaustion.
Roy patted Shawn's head approvingly. "Nice battle little brother."
"Quit babying me for goodness sake," complained Shawn.
With his big brother, Shawn walked to the Volage town pokemon center. So far, things were going ok for him, and maybe soon he would have his first badge. Maybe he wasn't such a disgrace to his family after all.