This is the first complete chapter of my fanfiction. I hope you all enjoy it. Spoiler: Chapter One: Perfectly Designed, a Perfect Fit Sarah and Magnus sat in the waiting room of the hospital, waiting for the doctor to come so they could see the x-rays. Sarah mindlessly twisted her daughter’s hair into braids as Magnus kept checking the time on his phone despite having no reason to. As the clock ticked, their worry only grew and their fears drove their minds to the worse places. “I hope it’s treatable,” Sarah said softly, undoing her daughter’s golden braids and twisting the hair again. “Whatever it may be.” “I just hope that the muteness is the only thing wrong,” Magnus claimed, clicking his phone off for the hundredth time. Sarah looked at her husband with a raised eyebrow. “Don’t you want to hear our daughter’s voice?” “Of course I do! But I would rather her be mute than seriously ill,” he explained quickly. Their daughter, Anna, wanted to ask what they meant, but she couldn’t speak. That was why all of them were there. Anna hadn’t been able to make any noise since she was born. It’s not like this was the first time they had gotten her checked. This particular appointment was to see how exactly to treat her, now that she was older and able to safely get more treatments. It was ten in the morning when the doctor finally emerged from one of the doors and said, “Sarah and Magnus Vasquez?” Sarah set Anna down on her feet and the three of them followed the doctor down empty white hallways that smelled like the healing and the dying. The room the doctor, who introduced himself as Doctor Jefferson, brought them to was a small section cut off from the large gray room where Anna had gotten her x-rays a few days. It had a computer that was hooked up to a larger screen. The large screen displayed Anna’s x-ray, one from years ago and the most recent one, both zoomed in on the throat. “We had thought that perhaps the larynx wasn't fully developed, or that that part was developing slower than everything else - it's uncommon but not unheard of - but this is obviously not normal. Anna may have a mutation on her larynx that prevents the vocal folds from meeting. This is why she is unable to make any audible sounds,” Doctor Jefferson was explaining to Anna’s parents. “Do you know why it’s like that?” Sarah asked. “Do you know how to treat it?” Magnus added quickly. As Doctor Jefferson was explaining that this was a rare phenomenon and that they did not have any effective treatment options because of this, Anna stared up at the x-ray on the huge screen. The small girl was fascinated that all of these bones and muscles were just under her skin, perfectly fitted together and specially designed to fit a purpose. She suddenly wondered why humans were designed in such a way and if Pokémon were any different. “Anna?” Her mother’s voice cut through her thoughts, returning her back to the present moment. “Did you hear what Doctor Jefferson said?” Anna looked at her mother and shook her head no. Doctor Jefferson smiled at her and asked, “Anna, how would you feel about having a Pokémon companion?” Anna blinked, surprised by the question. She loved Pokémon, sure. One of her favorite memories were of watching Staravia and Skarmory fly over her home in Celestic Town, and she would give anything to have a Pokémon as her companion, but she didn’t understand why her doctor was asking her this. Doctor Jefferson stood and gestured for the three of them to follow him. “Pokémon that are specially trained to assist disabled humans is not a new concept, but those who are mute and deaf didn’t have a lot of options. Sure, there are devices and other methods that help these sort of people, but the abilities that Pokémon have are - and always have been - superior to any technology we could ever dream of creating. Psychic types, in particular, have this fantastic untapped potential for the deaf, mute, and blind. Their powers are incredible, and what a wonderful world it would be if these powers can be used to help these people. But the powers that we long for are hard to come by in Psychic types, as it requires a great deal of power that not many possess, at least those that are willing to lend it to us. However, there have been some experimental training trials over the past couple of years and a few months ago we made a fantastic breakthrough.” Sarah and Magnus kept asking questions about the training and what Pokémon were best suited for this training and Jefferson was explaining it to them, but all Anna was thinking about was that she was about to get a Pokémon that was not from an official professor of Pokémon like most children, and how all of this was happening because she was not like other people. She got special treatment because she was abnormal, fundamentally other. She hadn’t done anything to deserve this. All she had done was have this mutation. She wanted to say all of this, but of course, this mutation prevented her from speaking. These were all just thoughts floating in her head. The pure abundance of them made her want to scream them to the clouds, but she could make no sound whatsoever. After going down three hallways, up two floors, and down two more hallways, the four of them reached a part of the research lab. It was cut off from the rest of the lab by glass. It had a few computers set up on desks, filing cabinets most likely filled with research papers, and a single scientist at one of the computers. Doctor Jefferson closed the door behind them and the scientist turned in her chair to face them, looking at Jefferson with dark, questioning eyes. “Is this her?” the scientist asked, her eyes going to small, confused Anna. Doctor Jefferson nodded to her and the scientist stood. “I’m Marsha. A pleasure to meet you, Anna.” She reached her hand out to shake Anna’s, which Anna did. Marsha’s grasp was firm and released quickly so she could shake Sarah and Magnus’s hands, both of them introducing themselves. “I wanted to introduce Anna to Esmond,” Doctor Jefferson told Marsha, without preamble. Anna looked up at Jefferson and blinked, her only way of expressing her confusion. Esmond? “Oh. Oh!” Marsha seemed to suddenly understand why all of them were there. “I see. I’ll go get him.” Marsha quickly rushed out the door with a swish of her lab coat. “Esmond?” Magnus asked Doctor Jefferson. “Esmond is our little miracle,” was all Doctor Jefferson said. After a few minutes, Marsha returned with a Pokémon Anna had never seen before. It looked like one of those little ballet girls, complete with the white tutu, the green hair resembling pigtails and red horns that looked like hairpins. Its large red eyes stared up at Anna, head tilted curiously at the girl. “Anna,” Marsha began. “This is Esmond the Kirlia. He is the first graduate of the experimental training program. He can telepathically communicate with any human.” She looked down at this Pokémon that now had a name. “Go on. Why don’t you say hello to Anna?” Esmond took a long step towards Anna, his eyes on hers. A pleasant male voice suddenly sounded in Anna’s mind. “You are Anna?” the Pokémon asked. His voice silenced her own mind, putting those rampant thoughts to a sudden halt. It was like she had entered another realm, one that was empty of everything except the sound of the question. But how was she to respond? “All you must do is think, Anna, and I will hear it.” “Uhm… Yes, I am Anna,” Anna thought back to Esmond. The words seemed to echo, like an empty opera chamber. “You cannot speak?” Esmond asked. Anna nodded, confirming. Esmond’s lips formed what looked like a small grin. “Ever since I was a Ralts I wanted to be something more than I was, and I have succeeded. It is only fair that I fulfill my purpose and allow you to fulfill your own wish; to share your mind with the world.” It was like a puzzle piece had manifested and slid into place. The two of them were perfectly strange; him that was able to do so much, her that she was able to do so little. Their joining only made them stranger, but that’s what made the two, Anna realized, a perfect fit.
This took some time, but here's the next chapter. Hope you all like it. Spoiler: Chapter 2: Victim of Circumstance The lives of the Vasquez family were somehow even stranger from that point onward. Marsha and her coworkers would either come to their home or the Vasquezs would go to the hospital in Eterna City. These trips were made every six months for the research project. Research on Anna. They took new x-rays, scanned her for any other problems (related to the mutation or otherwise), and studied her DNA. The second trip, when Anna was eleven, was the one she hated the most. This particular appointment was to examine Anna’s DNA in the hopes of pinpointing exactly where the mutation originated. It all took place in this little room with a computer and documents that were piled high on the desk, not unlike the one where they had viewed Anna’s x-rays. The computer screen had this strange spiral structure on it, rotating and glowing different colors. “What is that?” Anna thought to Esmond, pointing at the structure on the screen. Esmond looked at Marsha and communicated this thought to the scientist, his red horns glowing faintly. “That is called DNA, Anna,” Marsha said with a smile. “It is the basis for all life and it’s glorious complexity. All of the instructions that your body needs to grow and develop are contained here.” “How is that even possible?” Anna stared at this strange structure shown on the screen in utter fascination. “The wonders of human evolution,” was all Marsha said before turning to Sarah and Magnus. “So, it took some time, but we have a better idea of what caused the mutation. Much of it has to do with your side of the family, Sarah.” Sarah blinked. Confusion crossed her face, but she suddenly seemed to understand. “I see.” “What is she talking about, Mom?” Anna asked, looking at her mother. “From what we can tell, that unique gene that your family… Something went wrong with it like it was canceled out or the gene had become too weak. We aren’t completely sure just yet. Whatever it may be, this caused the vocal flaps on her larynx to never be able to fully develop. We will have to conduct more tests before we make any certain conclusions.” Sarah sighed, running her hand through her red hair. Anna saw the look in her eyes. It was a distress, an ache that had just started to penetrate her deep down. Anna just didn’t know what it was. “She blames herself for this,” Esmond said out of nowhere. “Are you looking in her head?” Anna turned around to face the Kirlia, green eyes wide. “You shouldn’t do that.” “My duty is to help you, is it not? You wanted to know, so I told you.” Esmond just stared at her, voice completely deadpan, as if he had not just invaded the thoughts of Anna’s mother. “Don’t do that, Esmond. Please.” Esmond said nothing. He said nothing as they all left the hospital, got in the car, and drove back home to Celestic Town. ~><~ All Anna wanted to do was sleep, but they lived in a terribly thin walled home. She could hear her parents’ conversation from her bed. They were standing outside her door still. Her mom was crying. “This is all my fault. The thing that makes up my skin, this body, is what destroyed her chances of having a normal life.” “Sarah, no. None of this is your fault. You can’t help your own family history.” “If she had a different mother-“ “Sarah, that is the exact opposite of what she needs to hear right now. Are you not grateful?” “Arceus, of course, I’m grateful. That’s why I wish she had someone besides me as her mother.” Sarah’s sigh was a high, breathy sound, not entirely human. “The damn thing that kept my family alive so long ago…” Anna could not stand to listen to them anymore. She couldn’t bear to listen to her mother’s self-hate, her sobs. Anna tossed aside the covers and began to dress. “Anna? What are you doing?” Esmond asked, sitting up in the small bed they had set up by Anna’s. Anna didn’t answer. She just slid on her jeans, shirt, and coat not even looking at Esmond. She took a hair tie, hastily putting her hair in a ponytail as she made her way to the window. Esmond watched as the little girl, barely ten years old, shove the curtains aside, undo the latch, push the window open, and climb out of it. “Anna!” Esmond got to his feet, nearly tripping on the blanket before he raced after her. There was a shrine in the center of Celestic Town. It was small and wooden, the paint so old and faded you could hardly see it in the light of the moon. It was locked, of course, but Anna didn’t care. She just wanted to be near it. She just wanted to sit in front of it and remember the tales that her mother would tell her about the great Pokémon that shaped the very structure of their reality. So, she did. She sat in the grass in front of the red doors, watching as the leaves of the trees swayed back in forth like ancient ritual dancers. The shadows moved across the small town, bringing darkness to the light. She breathed in the night air, letting the pain of the cold wake her up and clear her head. The sound of her parents slowly faded away, replaced by the sounds of Noctowl and bug Pokémon. “Anna?” Anna returned to the present time to see Esmond standing there, red eyes on her face. “Anna, what’s wrong?” “I don’t want to be there right now.” Anna twirled a piece of grass around her finger as she spoke to him. “I can’t stand it.” Esmond didn’t say anything back. He didn’t need to. He sat down next to her and stared up at the moon. “Is that why you didn’t want me to go through your mother’s thoughts? Because even though you were curious you didn’t actually want to know because the truth would hurt too much?” Esmond was looking at her again. Anna pondered this. She realized that he was right, in a sense. She wanted to know, but the truth was unbearable to hear for some reason. Perhaps she didn’t like hearing her mother blame herself. She didn’t like to see anyone in pain. “Her thoughts belong to her, Esmond. You should not invade on them,” was all Anna said in response. “Just because you can does not mean you should.” Esmond was silent upon hearing this. Finally, he said: “I understand, Anna.” Neither of them spoke for a long time. They just listened to the world around them, letting the sound replace their thoughts, both exhausted but not wanting to sleep. “Why do you think it happened to me?” Anna asked, more to herself than Esmond, but Esmond noticed anyway. “The mutation?” “Yeah. Do you think there’s a reason?” “No.” “No?” Anna raised an eyebrow at him. “Why do you think that?” “I don’t think there’s a reason for much of anything,” Esmond began, then paused. “Well, not exactly. I believe we are all either blessed by or victims of circumstance. I was not chosen by some intangible, ethereal being. I just happened to be one of the few who wanted to enter that program. You were not born mute for some greater plan. You were born that way because of whatever in the world is going on with those genes those scientists were talking about. Why? Do you want there to be a reason?” Anna nodded slightly. “I guess so, yeah. I would like all of this – the tests, experiments, all of that – is worth anything.” “It is worth something, Anna,” Esmond told her. “It may not happen for a long time, but perhaps one day these tests will contribute to some sort of cure for this mutation. I should have been clearer, and that’s my fault. I don’t think there’s a point to it all, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth anything.”
Made a couple of edits to this to make things clearer and overall better. Spoiler: Chapter 3: A New Beginning Anna was frequently brought to Eterna City to be studied. They looked at everything, from her genes to her brain to the very cells that made up her body. Anna tried to remember what Esmond told her as they took cell samples to study and gave her strange chemical cocktails in hopes of stimulating the vocal flaps growth, that even if she was not chosen, this was all worth something. She told herself it was worth something when Marsha and her coworkers wrote papers about her mutation and released them to be viewed by the world when she was fifteen. She told herself that this was worth something when journalists all the way from Jubilife City went up to her house to interview her and Esmond. She told herself this so much that the phrase had long disconnected from its meaning. When she was nineteen, on her eighteenth visit, Marsha suggested that they take Anna to the big research facility in Kanto to advance the study. “There will be some rather famous names at the facility who would love to meet Anna,” Marsha said to Sarah and Magnus. “She may be there for some time, but I promise you that- “ “Isn’t that what you said every other time you suggested a new program?” Anna interjected. Esmond’s horns glowed brightly as he communicated this thought to everyone in the room, a policy her parents set so they could communicate with her easier. It almost felt like she was talking. Almost. “Anna, don’t interrupt her,” Magnus told her, shooting her a disapproving look. “But it’s the truth. She has said that every time and it still feels like we’re at square one.” “Anna is right,” Sarah said slowly. “I’m not sure about how I feel about taking her all the way to Kanto, and if it would even be worth the cost. She’s had to deal with so much already.” Marsha pursed her lips, setting the papers she had been holding down on her desk. “I see… We would like if you joined the program, Anna, but if you don’t want to then we won’t force you. It’s your choice.” Esmond looked up at Anna, waiting for her to decide even though he knew the answer. “’I’ll stay out of this program. Thank you for the offer, though, Marsha.” “In fact… I’d like to pull Anna out of this whole thing,” Sarah claimed. Marsha blinked. “I’m sorry, what?” “Mom?” Anna looked over at her mother, really looked at her. These passing years had worn on her. Dark shadows had formed under her eyes, her hair cut short, thin from long exerting nights. She remembered that night when Sarah cried and blamed herself for Anna’s mutation. This woman she called her mother was so different from the mother she knew as a little girl. “It hasn’t been good for her. All of the traveling, the experiments, the attention… She hates it more than I do. I’m not blind, Marsha. So please, it’s best if it stops. I doubt there’s much more that can be done,” Sarah explained simply. As the three of them left Marsha’s office, Sarah put her arm around Anna and smiled. ~><~ On the drive home, Sarah explained that they were moving. “Moving?” Esmond asked, tilting his head. “We’re moving to Twinleaf Town this weekend,” Magnus told her. “It’s a small town not far from Lake Verity. You’ll love it, I’m sure.” “Wait. When did the two of you decide on this?” Anna inquired, eyebrow raised and arms folded. “About a month ago,” Magnus replied, looking at her through the rearview mirror. “And you never told me?” “We wanted it to be a surprise, honey,” Sarah said gently. “We already have everything prepared.” “Why are we moving? What’s wrong with Celestic Town?” “We figured it would be best if we all had a fresh start in a small place, where not as many people know us. A chance to live… normally,” Sarah claimed. “Mom!” Anna could not stop smiling. She hadn’t been this excited since she met Esmond. A fresh start was exactly what she needed. Maybe they could live normally. As normally as they could, anyway. The day before the move, Sarah and Magnus wanted to take care of a few things. Sarah worked at the herbs shop, and Magnus did odd jobs for people in nearby towns, usually Solaceon Town. They wanted to wrap things up with their work and say goodbye to some people. The sun was setting when Sarah finally closed up shop and Magnus got back to Celestic Town. Anna watched the two from the edge of town. They were standing in front of the old shrine, talking to some friends. They looked so happy with the fading sunlight on them, smiles too big for their faces. “Are you sure you want to leave this place?” Esmond asked her. Anna shrugged and gazed at the small town. Celestic Town was a town of history and tradition. There were no cars, no roads, almost to televisions. The old and young road around on bikes. Men sat outside of the small café with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. The old elder of the town observed the sun sinking behind Mount Coronet from the balcony of the great house, the one that was the home to Sinnoh’s champion. Anna closed her eyes and breathed in the air that smelled of the trees with a faint trace of tobacco. “I’ll miss it,” Anna admitted. “But-“ “Good evening, citizens of Celestic Town. My name is Cyrus. I am the leader of Team Galactic.” Anna opened her eyes at the new voice and looked towards the center of the town. Above the shrine was a little yellow, humanoid Pokémon with a vaguely catlike face, brown pauldron-extensions on its shoulders, and a thick long tail. It was an Abra, hovering in a meditating position with a strange device in its hands. A projection of a man came out of the device. The man had a sharp, pale face with spiky blue hair and hard eyes. He was the one speaking. “We, Team Galactic, are seeking out a new source of energy. But we have discovered that with the world as it is, this goal is impossible. Humans, Pokémon… We are incomplete creatures driven by foolish emotions. This has driven us to ruin this world of ours. The only solution is to remake this reality, which I have made Team Galactic’s goal.” “Remake our reality? That’s ridiculous. That’s impossible!” Esmond exclaimed. The people murmured among themselves, saying things such as What is he talking about? and He’s insane! Cyrus continued. “We will start by obliterating this town, this town of legends, so we can replace the old tales with one of our own.” The Abra set down the device as the projection faded and vanished as well. “Mom! Dad!” Anna cried out to them, but it was too late. Anna could only watch as what she now saw was a bomb exploded into an all-consuming fire, blowing the shrine apart and eating it whole. Sarah and Magnus turned in Anna’s direction to run before the flames caught up to them and burned them alive.
Spoiler: Chapter 4: Death Brings Change It all seemed to happen in slow motion. Her parents turning on their heels, Sarah’s hair whirling around her face, their eyes wide with fear as they started to go towards her. The fire engulfed their bodies and Anna only heard their screams before the flames stole them from her forever. They might have stolen Anna and Esmond’s lives as well (which Anna kind of wanted at this point) a light blue shield formed around the two of them. The flames hit Esmond’s Protect, turning their world into a roar of red. It ended so fast, too fast. The flames vanished, leaving smoke in its wake. Despite this, Anna could see what was once Celestic Town. It was awful. The dirt was scorched as black as coal. The wood from what were once buildings were scattered around and on fire. The center of the town, which was already sunken in, had entirely collapsed in on itself. It was filled with large rocks, most of them from the cave that held the ruins. It would take a long time to dig up all of the bodies. Anna didn’t see her parents, but she saw some of the other dead. The bodies were lying on the ground, their skin as black as the earth faces charred beyond recognition. You could see blood seeping from the cracks in what used to be skin. The one’s closer to the shrine weren’t so lucky. There were bits of them scattered around the rubble. Celestic Town was a city of history, and never before was that better displayed than right now. Celestic Town would be known as a tomb for the dead. The second Esmond’s Protect wore off, Anna turned around and vomited on the ground. Esmond approached her and rubbed her back gently, not saying anything. There was nothing to be said. The burning sensation and the absolute grossness of it was welcoming, though. Having her body feel disgusting and weak took her mind off the fact that, holy Arceus, her parents are freaking dead. One of the survivors, a guy she had seen at the herb shop her mother had worked at, came over to Anna and helped her up, saying that they had to leave. “How many survived?” Anna asked the man. “Not many,” was all he said. ~><~ A week later… “You should be good to go, Ms. Vasquez,” said Doctor Covington told Anna as he handed her a pair of glasses. They had a lavender rim and very thick lenses. Apparently, staring directly at an explosion can cause monumental damage to your eyesight. “Thank you, sir,” Anna said as she slid on the glasses. Finally, the world had come back into focus. She could clearly see where she was for the first time since the incident. She was sitting across from the optometrist in a cream-colored room, with warm wood and black furniture and a computer. Posters displaying the structure of the eye, human and Pokémon, decorated the walls. Even when her eyesight was normal, she could not see as well as she could with these glasses. “Is there anything else I could do for you, Ms. Vasquez?” the doctor asked her. “I know what happened to you…” Anna just stood from her chair, shaking her head. “No, I can get by. But thank you, again.” That was probably the thing she had said the most in her lifetime. You say thank you a lot in hospitals. Anna and Esmond waved him goodbye before leaving the office. They left the building and stepped out into the familiar sight of Eterna City. It was an old town, with dark buildings and streets full of people, cars lazily driving down the streets. Trainers went in and out of the Pokémon center, shop, and gym, their faces alight with glee or dark with the disappointment of defeat. The air smelled of dirt and gas. Anna walked past the bakeries, the stands with people yelling the names of their products, and the wild Pokémon that frequented the alleyways. The world went on, despite all that had been lost. She headed to the west exit, which led out to Route 205 and Eterna Forest. A small, makeshift cemetery was set up outside of Eterna forest. Sarah and Magnus’s graves were easy to find. They were the ones still without a headstone. Anna had read plenty of books and movies. She remembered how they would go up to the grave and say a few words, maybe crying, before going off on some adventure. She didn’t know what to say. What was she supposed to say? She just wanted to scream, to cry out, to release this horrible ache that had been building up for days. But she couldn’t because she couldn’t even make sound. All she could do is let the tears flow down her cheeks, blurring the world as if she were still blind. “What are we going to do now?” Esmond asked her, putting his long white hand on her leg. Anna just shrugged. She didn’t know what to do. Where was she supposed to go from here? “Are you Anna?” A new voice came from behind her, one that sounded female. Anna turned around to see a tall blonde woman standing there. The woman was dressed darkly, from her shoes to her long coat to her small hairpins. Her gray eyes were directly on Anna, inspecting. “Yes,” Anna answered, taking off her glasses and wiping away her tears. “Who are you, exactly?” The woman smiled ever so slightly. “My name is Cynthia. A pleasure to meet you, Anna.” It took her a moment, but the name sparked up a memory. “You’re Cynthia… Champion of Sinnoh, right?” she asked slowly, putting on her glasses to make sure her eyes were not deceiving her. They weren’t. The real Sinnoh Champion was standing before her. She might have been more enthusiastic if this were any other situation. “Yes,” Cynthia confirmed. “I was out conducting my own studies when I heard what happened in Celestic Town. I came here to visit my family and to make sure everything was all right.” Anna nodded. The elder of Celestic Town, along with the others in Cynthia’s family that had lived there, managed to survive, though many of them with injuries or becoming ill from the smoke. “It’s awful,” Cynthia continued, her voice softer. “Team Galactic didn’t seem threatening, just some thieves with improbable claims of the remaking of the universe, but for them to do something so drastic…” “Yes, truthfully absurd,” Anna said. A thought came to her mind then. “Why are you here, talking to me?” “I wanted to ask you what you planned on doing,” Cynthia claimed. “Do you have any relatives you could live with?” “No one I know,” Anna said. “My grandparents live in another region. I never met anyone else.” “I see…” Cynthia fell silent for a time, seeming to be pondering something. “What do you plan to do, then?” “I…” Anna shook her head, her hair falling over her face. “I don’t know. I want to stop them. Team Galactic, I mean. But I’m not a Trainer.” “It’s never too late to become one,” Cynthia claimed. The champion slid her hand into her coat pocket and pulled out a smooth, bright blue stone that shone like the sun emerging for a new day. “This is a Dawn Stone,” Cynthia told Anna. “This can evolve your Kirlia into a Gallade, making him more powerful than he is now.” She pressed the stone into Anna’s hand as she spoke. “You may not be like most Trainers that travel across Sinnoh, gathering badges and training their team for the Pokémon League, but you will be no less of a Trainer.” She then turned away from the pair, saying: “You have two decisions before you now. To try and stop Team Galactic, or to lay low and let it pass. I suggest you take some time to think about which you will choose.” And then she vanished into Eterna Forest. ~><~ Anna and Esmond were sitting around the great statue of Dialga and Palkia, the creators of time and space, watching as the sun sank below the horizon. “What do you want to do, Esmond?” Anna asked the Kirlia out of nowhere. “I’m not certain myself,” Esmond admitted. “I want to stop Team Galactic as well, but I’ve never battled before. Do you think we can start right now when so many others are already far ahead of us?” “We have done stranger things,” Anna said. “I only ask because I want to know if you want this. I remember you saying that you wanted to be something more…” “Anna Vasquez.” Esmond stood up and looked down at her. “You have given me all that I could have ever wanted. Even if I spent most of my life training to assist someone such as yourself, I don’t live just for that. You have given me a companionship that I could not have found with anyone else. This is the least I can do for you after all you have done for me.” “Esmond…” Anna stared at the human-like Pokémon, a bit shocked. “You’ve already done so much for me.” “So why don’t I do more?” Anna smiled, really smiled, and stood up. She took the Dawn Stone out of her pocket before saying: ”Ready?” Esmond nodded and she gently placed the stone on the Kirlia’s body. His body began to glow a vivid blue as it shifted. He grew taller, legs and arms growing a bit larger, the skirt and pigtail features vanishing. A helmet-like crest grew from the top of his head. The light eventually burst like a bubble and faded, revealing Esmond the Gallade. He looked like a knight from the old stories, his head shaped like a helmet and his arms like swords. He might have looked intimidating if his red eyes weren’t still so familiar to her. He smiled down at her and spoke to her in a voice that still hasn’t changed. “For your family.” “For my family,” Anna agreed.
Spoiler: Chapter Five: Beginning Anew “So, where should we go first?” Esmond asked. “No idea,” was Anna’s reply. They had stayed in a hotel for the night (not a fancy one, but the receptionist let them stay without charge anyway. The weird things people do for you when you lose your family) and now they were getting ready to leave. Well, Anna was getting ready. Esmond was sitting on the bed, trying not to hit the lamps with his blade-like arms. Anna watched Esmond through the mirror as she gathered up her blonde hair, holding her hair tie between her teeth. Esmond was looking at himself, taking in all of the changes. Even though his evolution had happened yesterday, he was still fascinated by it. He had done the same with the wild Pokémon around Celestic Town, and when there was a small landslide on Mount Coronet. He marveled at the world and never seized to be amazed when it morphed around him. Anna returned her attention to herself as she took out her hair tie and went through the rigorous process of putting all of that hair into a ponytail. Unlike Esmond, her appearance had changed very little over the past few years. She was still as short as when she was fourteen. Same big green eyes, same puffy cheeks, same skinny arms and legs that did not match her chubby belly. She even dressed the same as she always had; jeans, a bright yellow shirt with a Pikachu on it (the only shirt she had left), black sneakers, and this pink jacket with purple and white stars and hearts all over it that she had somehow not grown out of. The only change on the outside was her glasses. How could she look almost exactly the same on the outside when she felt so different on the inside? “Hello? World to Anna?” Esmond’s voice interrupted her thoughts. Anna looked back at him. He was standing and tapping his foot, a bit impatient. “Did you hear what I said?” “Not a word,” Anna answered bluntly. “I was lost in my own mind. Sorry.” “Isn’t that always?” “So, what did you say?” Esmond sighed before continuing. “I said that maybe we should seek out the Pokémon Professor. Rowan was his name, right? Maybe he could give us some guidance.” “I’ve heard worse ideas,” Anna claimed, picking up her messenger bag putting the strap over her shoulder. “Any idea where he lives?” “Nope. We could ask around, though. I doubt he’s very inconspicuous.” The two of them left their room and went downstairs to the lobby. When Anna returned the room key to the receptionist and went through the process of checking out of the hotel, she decided that this was a good enough place as any. “Sir, do you happen to know where Professor Rowan lives?” “Professor Rowan? Yeah, he lives in Sandgem town,” the receptionist told her. “A bit far away from here, but not terribly.” “I see. Thank you, sir.” Anna bid the receptionist goodbye before she left with Esmond. “It would probably be a good idea to get a map before we leave.” “Probably,” Esmond agreed. ~><~ Upon buying a map from the local mart, they saw that they had two ways to get to Sandgem Town: they could either go through Eterna Forest, Floaroma Town, and Jubilife City or take the Cycling Road to Oreburgh City and go through Jubilife. While the Cycling Road option would be faster, Anna remembered hearing something about the Valley Windworks from her father. Something about the power from there being stolen. An image of him formed in her mind. He was standing in the kitchen, his Staravia resting on his finger, nibbling on the food that he had in his hand. Anna quickly discarded the memory. She needed to focus. Eterna Forest was so thick that the light barely breached the barrier of leaves above them and when the wind blew it seemed as if the world shifted around them. Butterfly-like Pokémon fluttered just below the canopy of leaves. Bug Pokémon crawled around on the grassy floor and a dark-winged bird Pokémon, Murkrow, watched Anna and Esmond as they trekked down the well-traveled trail. It was the only trail, so Anna hoped that it was the one that would lead them out. She folded up the map and slid it into her bag before pulling out a pack of bubblegum. “You seriously got bubblegum?” Esmond asked, narrowing his eyes at her. “Why?” “Stress relief,” Anna replied, unwrapping a piece, popping it into her mouth, and chewing on it. Esmond had nothing to say to that. “You there!” a female voice yelled out from nowhere. A woman leaped out from trees with a grand swish of her trench coat, the dirt on the trail flying up into a cloud as she landed on it. “I am-“ She was cut off when she inhaled the floating dust. She held up a hand as a sign for them to stop as she coughed into her other arm. “Okay, okay. I’m good,” she said as she recovered. She then reached into her trench coat and pulled out a gold badge with the words ‘International Police’ engraved on it. “I am Isabel of the International Police. Seeing that you have not ordered your Gallade to attack me, I presume that you are not a part of Team Galactic or any other evil organization. While we are on the topic, do you have any information about Team Galactic? Whereabouts, information, perhaps their next move?” Anna and Esmond just stared at Isabel, taking a moment to process everything that had just happened. This was a member of the International Police, supposedly the most respected police force in the world? She certainly didn’t look the part, with her black and white striped shirt, wide ended jeans, combat boots, and short white hair that was so obviously dyed it was hilarious. “Well?” Isabel asked, still holding out the badge. “She’s mute, ma’am,” Esmond explained to Isabel. “Did you hear something?” Isabel asked, looking around at the surrounding trees as if they could have spoken. “That would be me.” Esmond raised his hand slightly. Isabel looked at Anna, then Esmond, then Anna again. “Oh. Oh!” she exclaimed, seeming to understand. “I apologize. I didn’t realize… Well never mind. You’re Anna Vasquez, then?” “Um… Yes,” Anna said after a moment, feeling a bit awkward. “You said you were going after Team Galactic?” “So, you’re the quieter, higher-pitched voice, got it,” Isabel muttered to herself. “And yes, I am. I’ve been trying to trail them since the incident at Celestic Town.” “So were we. We were heading to the Valley Windworks, actually,” Anna said, hoping to end this conversation quickly so they could get going. “Extraordinary! I was heading there myself,” Isabel said, her dark eyes growing wide with excitement. “Oh! How about we travel together? It would probably be safer for the both of us. You’re not exactly a battler, right?” Anna and Esmond exchanged looks. She wasn’t wrong. “I guess you’re right on that front,” Anna admitted.
So this isn't really the best chapter, but I hope you guys like it anyway. Spoiler: Chapter 6: A Wandering Soul Anna hoped that Isabel would shut up, but the world doesn’t care what you want. Isabel just kept rambling on about this and that, complete with wide hand gestures and dramatic facial expressions. Anna wondered if she was just trying to fill the inevitable silence or if this was just the way she was. Whichever it was, it made Anna and Esmond feel rather awkward. “I know going to the Valley Windworks is a small job, but it is the biggest thing I’ve done for the International Police,” Isabel was saying. “Investigating Team Galactic, getting whatever information I can, and reporting it back to base.” “Wait,” Anna interrupted. “You’re a beginning officer?” “Yep! Started three months ago.” “That explains the aura of informality.” “Heheheh… I suppose so, yeah. Not that that would have changed much if I got a different job. This is my fourth job, actually,” Isabel claimed, then stopped herself. “Ah, I should not have mentioned that. Ignore that little tidbit.” “Wait, what happened with your other-“ “Oh look, there’s Route 205!” Isabel exclaimed. The trees parted around the exit, letting the light stream in. Outside was a long route, one side slightly elevated and dark with well-worn dirt, and the other side was bright green with grass and flora. A stream bordered the land and cut through it. Across the stream they could see two tall windmills peeking out from behind the trees, the blades spinning slowly with the wind. “There it is. Just a little farther, and we may have some answers,” Isabel claimed. ~><~ “That’s it?” Isabel asked the man, tilting her head, her face scrunched up in disappointment. The man nodded, folding his arms behind his back. They were inside the power plant, a cold, mechanical place filled with generators and computers. The only people there today was a young, dark haired man that was dressed rather casually for this line of worked and looked just the slightest bit annoyed with Isabel’s presence. “I’ve told you all that I knew already. Team Galactic came, stole the energy, and took off,” the man said slowly. “They didn’t say anything that you don’t already know.” As the man spoke, a small orange Pokémon ran up behind him, peeking at Anna and Isabel behind his leg. It looked like a lifeguard became a Pokémon, with the yellow ring around its neck and blue fins on its arms. It’s split tails swayed back and forth, sliding along the floor. “I tried to fight them,” said the orange Pokémon to Esmond in a series of noises that Anna only understood because of Esmond. “Those weird people that you guys call Team Galactic.” “You did?” Esmond glanced at the young man that Isabel was still speaking to. “Is he your Trainer?” “No, I don’t have a Trainer,” said the Pokémon, which Anna determined as Buizel. “Jacob took care of me after they left. Now I just come to visit every now and then. I’m Batal, by the way. That’s what Jacob calls me.” Batal didn’t seem confused by Esmond’s telepathy. Maybe it was different for Pokémon than for humans. Anna listened to the conversation between the two Pokémon, pretending to be paying attention to what Isabel was saying. Isabel was looking at Anna now, she realized. She had said something. What had she just said? “I’m sorry, Isabel, I wasn’t listening,” Anna said. “Jacob said that there was an incident in Pastoria City, in the Great Marsh. After I report back to my boss we could go there and investigate,” Isabel suggested. It was a tempting offer, but Anna remembered that she needed to go to Professor Rowan’s lab to ask for advice. “No, I need to go to Sandgem Town,” Anna claimed. “Are you guys going after Team Galactic?” Batal asked, tilting his head with the question. He was speaking to Esmond, but Anna couldn’t stop herself from answering. “You could say that.” Batal looked at Isabel, then Esmond, then Anna. “Wait, who said that?” “That would be Anna,” Esmond said, gesturing slightly to her with his arm. Batal’s eyes widened slightly, absolutely amazed. “Psychic types. They’re so cool.” Isabel bid Jacob goodbye and thanked him before they left. “So, you’re heading to Sandgem Town?” Anna nodded in response. “That’s close to Jubilife, where my boss is. How about we split up when we reach the place?” “Sounds good.” ~><~ You could see Floaroma Town from the Valley Windworks. It was a small town with only a few buildings, but perhaps due to this, it was filled with wildlife. There were vibrant flowers as far as the eye could see and tall, full trees. The houses, shop, and Pokémon center stuck out among all of the flora. The Center dueled as a small hotel, so the three of them went there to get a room. Just as the receptionist was saying, “Here is your room key.” to Isabel, there was a loud BOOM that rumbled from the TV on the wall. Anna quickly turned to the TV and saw what was on the screen. Water exploding from what looked to be a large lake, knocking down the trees and whoever was recording the event. The headline on the screen read “Lake Valor Blown Up By A Galactic Bomb.” Upon reading those words, something inside Anna collapsed.