Link to the Discussion Thread
Date: ???
Time: ???
Location: ???
Cassandra couldn't tell whether she was drowning or flying. It was one of those dreams where her head felt like was underwater, but she could still breathe fine. Her body tossed around like a leaf in the wind. She was surrounded by darkness. It should have frightened her, yet for some strange reason, she was calm. It was as if the darkness was calling out to her. It was saying, I am here, do not be afraid.
"I'm not afraid," Cassandra said even though no one had spoken. Somehow saying it made it true. "I'm not afraid."
Good.
The darkness was illuminated. Cassandra suddenly became the aware that there were thousands of fishes. She swam towards them. As she got closer, the fishes grew smaller. Their silver scales flashed in her eyes.
"No," Cassandra realized. "Not fish. Stars."
Stars! The darkness sang. The stars swirled around Cassandra, enveloping her in tiny bursts of light. Cassandra looked up. The stars appeared to be taking on some sort of shape. It appeared to be a creature with three fins: one for each side, the other on its back. It's body was shaped like a torpedo. Its nose was like a bottle rocket. The creature circled Cassandra making a series of eerie whistles and clicks.
"Are you a Pokémon?"
The creature continued to make clicking sounds. All of a sudden, Cassandra got a weird feeling, like words were being printed on the inside of her brain.
Your home is in danger.
Cassandra stared at the creature. It gave her a knowing nod.
"Who are you?"
The scene melted before Cassandra's eyes. She saw a flash of images. A trident. A tentacle. Things that didn't make sense. The creature that had been floating in front of her disappeared.
"Wait!" Cassandra called. "Come back!"
-----------------------------------------------
Date: July 20th
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Chaplet Town
"Cass! Wake up, Cass!"
"Hmm? Wha?"
Cassandra sat up. She was sitting under the tree in her father's front yard. Her Pokémon, Shade, was sitting on her lap, curled up on top of her open copy of The History and Legends of Mithos.
"Must have dozed off," she muttered.
"How can you be sleeping on a day like today?"
Cassandra rubbed her eyes and stared at the person who had spoken. He was an eleven year old boy with flax blond hair and eyes as blue as Gyarados scales.
"Oh. Hi, Sedge."
"Hi Sedge." The boy sighed. "Is that all you can say? Come on! Get up."
"Hey! Quit yanking on me," Cassandra exclaimed.
Shade opened one eye and yawned. The black feline jumped off Cassandra's lap, allowing her to stand.
"I can't believe you two," Sedge lamented. "Sleeping on the most important day of your lives. Mom and Dad are waiting."
"What time is it?" Cassandra asked, checking her wrist watch. It was 10:30. "Sedge, the starters ceremony doesn't begin for another half-hour. Are the other trainers even there yet?"
Sedge's face fell. "Well, no."
"I knew it."
"But you promised you'd come early," Sedge wailed. "Besides, if we wait, somebody's going to take the best Pokémon for themselves."
"You're their son," Cassandra reminded him. "They'll probably let you pick first anyway."
"Please?" Sedge stressed the "eez" part until he was blue in the face.
Cassandra tittered. "Oh, all right!" She grabbed her stuff, put her book inside of her bag, and slung it over her shoulders.
"It's probably good I didn't sleep anyway. I was having a really weird dream."
"Do me a favor," Sedge said. "Tell me after we get our Pokémon."
Date: July 20th
Time: 8:45 a.m.
Location: Coronet City
Hector was in the kitchen checking his cellphone for messages. His parents were already at work. They left a note on the table, explaining that they had to leave early, but they'd try to be back in time to see him off. The note was signed with six x's and o's, probably his mother's doing.
Hector had sent them both a text, saying that he'd stick around the house until 9:30. The ceremony was being held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, he wanted to get their early so that he'd have a chance at first pick. The Skitty clock on the wall told him that it was presently 8:45 a.m. He had less than an hour to go.
Hector put his phone down and sighed. He felt a tug on his jean. A blue bipedal canine with black mask-like markings and ears barked at him. Hector smiled and picked the Pokémon up. Luk had been his partner ever since he turned ten years old. His parents had handed him a large present with blue and yellow wrapping paper. He tore it open and was a little disheartened when the gift proved to be nothing more than a red and white ball, but his mother pointed out the button on the front.
"Go ahead," she said. "Open it."
So Hector picked up the ball and pressed the round little white button with his finger. The ball cracked open and spilled out a ray of light that transformed, as if by magic, into a baby Riolu. He named him Luk, meaning "bright light" and the two of them of them had been pals ever since. It was thanks to Luk that Hector caught his second Pokémon, a Bronzor named Tong. His parent's also owned Pokémon. A Shinx called Flash, which belonged to Hector's father, was presently stuffing his face with dry food. Hector's mom owned two Pokémon: Jigglypuff named Jam and a Clefairy she called Wish. Both were resting comfortably in the living room.
As a boy who lived with Pokémon pretty much his whole life, Hector couldn't call the ceremony his "starter ceremony". That happened the day he got Luk. Still, receiving a Pokémon from Professor Zanzibar was an honor in itself. It meant that he was finally ready to walk his own path. That his parents were trusting him to venture beyond the city. To blaze a trail unlike anyone who had come before him or anyone who would come after. It might sound corny, but to him, it was a heck of a big deal.
"Just image it," he told Luz. "You, Tong, and I are going to be out there meeting new friends, honing our skills, having the adventure of the life time."
"Yipe! Yipe!" Luz cheered, raising his paws in the air.
Hector laughed. He was happy. He should be happy. Shouldn't he? He starred at the pictures on the refrigerator. They were mostly family photos, various snapshots of Hector and other relatives at various stages of their childhoods. While most of these photographs blurred together, one was impossible to miss. It was the largest one by far, tapped to the center of the fridge. It was taken roughly four years ago. His father stood on the right, wearing a grey suit and black tie. His mother wore a white blouse with black specks all over it. His mom called it a Liepard pattern. Hector thought it looked more like Smeargle splatters. Hector was also in the picture. By the looks of his smile, he must have just lost a tooth. What made this photograph stand out, however, was not the paint splatter shirt or his toothless grin, it was the smiling figure resting a hand on Hector's left shoulder. Looking at him, you might think he was hectors twin. He had the same complexion, the same greasy hair, the only difference was that the figure was at least a foot taller.
This was Hector's brother Jason. He no longer shared the apartment. In fact, Hector had not seen him in over a year. One morning, the newspaper on their doorstep came with the headline: BRONZE NAME TARNISHED: A SCANDAL EXPOSED! The day afterwards, Jason packed up his things and announced that he was leaving for good. That was how Hector found out his brother cheated had his way through the Pokémon League. He still felt betrayed. When he was younger, people might look at him and say, "Hey look! That's Jason's little brother. You know? The Rising Star." Now those people looked at Hector and whispered. "Did you see that boy? That's Jason's little brother. You know? The disgrace to Pokémon trainers." His brothers infamy followed him like a shadow.
Was this why his parents had not bothered to see him off? Because they were afraid he would turn out like Jason? Hector shook his head. No, his mom and dad loved him. His mom was probably asked to cover a shift at the hospital, and dad had to handle more calls ever since the office laid some people off. He stared once more at his phone. It was now 9:15. He pulled up his list of contacts, scrolled down to z, and pressed call. His screen went black. A few seconds later, a base pitch roughly thirty-four year old masculine voice answered the line.
Hello?
"Hi, professor. This is Hector."
Luk jumped up on Hector's lap and barked into the phone.
Oh. Hey, bud. How are you and your Riolu doing?
"Fine, thanks. Listen," Hector said, "I know the ceremony doesn't start until ten, but could I come a little early?"
Hector instantly regretted asking.
"It's just that my folks aren't home right now, and seeing as I have nothing to do---"
Of course! The Professor said. I'm just setting up right now. Come by whenever you like.
"Really?" Hector said. "Thanks! I'll be over in five."
'Kay. See you soon, bud.
Hector hung up. He liked that Professor Zanzibar called him bud. Actually, he rather liked the professor in general. Maybe it was the fact that he always answered Hector's calls, no matter what he was working on. Or maybe it was just his love for Pokémon. Either way, Hector was glad to know that he and the Professor were on good terms. Professor Zanzibar even let people call him by his first name. Hector didn't only because it felt weird to him. He grabbed Tong's Poké Ball and Luk's too, though he decided it couldn't hurt to have someone to walk with. He stared at the refrigerator one last time before heading out the door.
Just you wait, he thought. I'm going to prove you wrong.
Date: July 20th
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Crest Island
The Gorgeon was watching. Her trainer stood outside of the Crest Island laboratory, tucking her hair behind her ears. The Gorgeon had been with this trainer along time. She knew that she wasn't the type to mess around. Whatever they were here for must be very important.
"You wait outside," her trainer told her. Her voice was cold and calculating. It was hard to tell what she was thinking with the dark sunglasses she wore over her eyes.
"If things get ugly, I'll call you."
The Gorgeon could only nod. Very few Pokémon were capable of mastering the art of human speech. Some could mimic sounds. Others, such as Psychic-types, were capable of forming telepathic connections with their trainers. However, the Gorgeon did not know of any Pokémon that could truly speak human.
Her trainer was called Athena.
The Gorgeon had wanted to give her a different name, the way humans sometimes called Pokémon by different names. "Athena" had a unique sound, but it said nothing about the kind of person her trainer was. The way she walked, swiftly yet silently, like she had something to prove. The way she talked to others. Measured. Calm. Restrictive. The way she carried herself. Her head always held high, but her shoulders were stiff and rigid. Almost as if she was made of stone. No. "Athena" just wasn't enough to describe that sort of person.
She knocked on the door. Without waiting for a reply, her trainer entered the building. The door closed behind her. The Gorgeon could not see what was happening, but the sounds painted a picture.
"Professor Elani Rhoa?"
Footsteps. The shuffling of papers.
"Who are you?" The voice that answered was lighthearted, yet concerned.
"My name is unimportant." Her trainer spoke. "You may call me, 'The Director'."
The Director, the Gorgeon mused. A fitting name, but perhaps not perfect.
“What do you want?”
"You are a researcher of Mithosian myths and folklore, correct?"
Something shattering. A creature skittering away.
"Only as a hobby," the light voice answered. "My real work is with Pokémon. I'm actually expecting some trainers soon, so if you'll come back--"
A slight rustling of cloth. A hand raised?
"I'm afraid my business is quite urgent."
A pause for silence. A click.
"You have an assistant who is coming by in an hour."
The Gorgeon could picture the woman's gasp. "How did you--"
"Know?" A light chuckle. "It is my business to know. Let your assistant tend to these trainers. I'm sure we can come to an understanding."
"Stay back! I'm warning y--"
The Gorgeon suddenly felt her body being sucked into a vortex. The laboratory disappeared and, for a moment, she heard nothing but a soft click, like a case being shut. She saw a red flash and felt her body being pulled back into shape. She stood in a room, presumably the inside of the laboratory. She saw a young woman wearing a white coat with brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She sensed the presence of other Pokémon.
"Petra."
Her human was calling her name. The Gorgeon glanced over her shoulder and saw Athena, The Director, snap her fingers. The Pokémon sighed. She slid up to the white coat woman, who was cowering on the floor.
"Please," she said. "I beg you."
The Gorgeon sighed. Pulling back her own "hair", the Pokémon stared at the professor. There was a brief croak, before the professor's body was encased in stone. The Gorgeon's trainer tsked.
"She won't be easy to move like this," she said, "but at least she won't give us so much trouble."
Athena took out the black box she kept in her pocket and talked into it.
"I have the professor. Have a Sirenade pick us up pronto."
When the lab assistant arrived half an hour later, he wondered two things. Where had the professor gone and how could she leave the laboratory in such a mess?
Date: ???
Time: ???
Location: ???
Cassandra couldn't tell whether she was drowning or flying. It was one of those dreams where her head felt like was underwater, but she could still breathe fine. Her body tossed around like a leaf in the wind. She was surrounded by darkness. It should have frightened her, yet for some strange reason, she was calm. It was as if the darkness was calling out to her. It was saying, I am here, do not be afraid.
"I'm not afraid," Cassandra said even though no one had spoken. Somehow saying it made it true. "I'm not afraid."
Good.
The darkness was illuminated. Cassandra suddenly became the aware that there were thousands of fishes. She swam towards them. As she got closer, the fishes grew smaller. Their silver scales flashed in her eyes.
"No," Cassandra realized. "Not fish. Stars."
Stars! The darkness sang. The stars swirled around Cassandra, enveloping her in tiny bursts of light. Cassandra looked up. The stars appeared to be taking on some sort of shape. It appeared to be a creature with three fins: one for each side, the other on its back. It's body was shaped like a torpedo. Its nose was like a bottle rocket. The creature circled Cassandra making a series of eerie whistles and clicks.
"Are you a Pokémon?"
The creature continued to make clicking sounds. All of a sudden, Cassandra got a weird feeling, like words were being printed on the inside of her brain.
Your home is in danger.
Cassandra stared at the creature. It gave her a knowing nod.
"Who are you?"
The scene melted before Cassandra's eyes. She saw a flash of images. A trident. A tentacle. Things that didn't make sense. The creature that had been floating in front of her disappeared.
"Wait!" Cassandra called. "Come back!"
-----------------------------------------------
Date: July 20th
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Chaplet Town
"Cass! Wake up, Cass!"
"Hmm? Wha?"
Cassandra sat up. She was sitting under the tree in her father's front yard. Her Pokémon, Shade, was sitting on her lap, curled up on top of her open copy of The History and Legends of Mithos.
"Must have dozed off," she muttered.
"How can you be sleeping on a day like today?"
Cassandra rubbed her eyes and stared at the person who had spoken. He was an eleven year old boy with flax blond hair and eyes as blue as Gyarados scales.
"Oh. Hi, Sedge."
"Hi Sedge." The boy sighed. "Is that all you can say? Come on! Get up."
"Hey! Quit yanking on me," Cassandra exclaimed.
Shade opened one eye and yawned. The black feline jumped off Cassandra's lap, allowing her to stand.
"I can't believe you two," Sedge lamented. "Sleeping on the most important day of your lives. Mom and Dad are waiting."
"What time is it?" Cassandra asked, checking her wrist watch. It was 10:30. "Sedge, the starters ceremony doesn't begin for another half-hour. Are the other trainers even there yet?"
Sedge's face fell. "Well, no."
"I knew it."
"But you promised you'd come early," Sedge wailed. "Besides, if we wait, somebody's going to take the best Pokémon for themselves."
"You're their son," Cassandra reminded him. "They'll probably let you pick first anyway."
"Please?" Sedge stressed the "eez" part until he was blue in the face.
Cassandra tittered. "Oh, all right!" She grabbed her stuff, put her book inside of her bag, and slung it over her shoulders.
"It's probably good I didn't sleep anyway. I was having a really weird dream."
"Do me a favor," Sedge said. "Tell me after we get our Pokémon."
Date: July 20th
Time: 8:45 a.m.
Location: Coronet City
Hector was in the kitchen checking his cellphone for messages. His parents were already at work. They left a note on the table, explaining that they had to leave early, but they'd try to be back in time to see him off. The note was signed with six x's and o's, probably his mother's doing.
Hector had sent them both a text, saying that he'd stick around the house until 9:30. The ceremony was being held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. However, he wanted to get their early so that he'd have a chance at first pick. The Skitty clock on the wall told him that it was presently 8:45 a.m. He had less than an hour to go.
Hector put his phone down and sighed. He felt a tug on his jean. A blue bipedal canine with black mask-like markings and ears barked at him. Hector smiled and picked the Pokémon up. Luk had been his partner ever since he turned ten years old. His parents had handed him a large present with blue and yellow wrapping paper. He tore it open and was a little disheartened when the gift proved to be nothing more than a red and white ball, but his mother pointed out the button on the front.
"Go ahead," she said. "Open it."
So Hector picked up the ball and pressed the round little white button with his finger. The ball cracked open and spilled out a ray of light that transformed, as if by magic, into a baby Riolu. He named him Luk, meaning "bright light" and the two of them of them had been pals ever since. It was thanks to Luk that Hector caught his second Pokémon, a Bronzor named Tong. His parent's also owned Pokémon. A Shinx called Flash, which belonged to Hector's father, was presently stuffing his face with dry food. Hector's mom owned two Pokémon: Jigglypuff named Jam and a Clefairy she called Wish. Both were resting comfortably in the living room.
As a boy who lived with Pokémon pretty much his whole life, Hector couldn't call the ceremony his "starter ceremony". That happened the day he got Luk. Still, receiving a Pokémon from Professor Zanzibar was an honor in itself. It meant that he was finally ready to walk his own path. That his parents were trusting him to venture beyond the city. To blaze a trail unlike anyone who had come before him or anyone who would come after. It might sound corny, but to him, it was a heck of a big deal.
"Just image it," he told Luz. "You, Tong, and I are going to be out there meeting new friends, honing our skills, having the adventure of the life time."
"Yipe! Yipe!" Luz cheered, raising his paws in the air.
Hector laughed. He was happy. He should be happy. Shouldn't he? He starred at the pictures on the refrigerator. They were mostly family photos, various snapshots of Hector and other relatives at various stages of their childhoods. While most of these photographs blurred together, one was impossible to miss. It was the largest one by far, tapped to the center of the fridge. It was taken roughly four years ago. His father stood on the right, wearing a grey suit and black tie. His mother wore a white blouse with black specks all over it. His mom called it a Liepard pattern. Hector thought it looked more like Smeargle splatters. Hector was also in the picture. By the looks of his smile, he must have just lost a tooth. What made this photograph stand out, however, was not the paint splatter shirt or his toothless grin, it was the smiling figure resting a hand on Hector's left shoulder. Looking at him, you might think he was hectors twin. He had the same complexion, the same greasy hair, the only difference was that the figure was at least a foot taller.
This was Hector's brother Jason. He no longer shared the apartment. In fact, Hector had not seen him in over a year. One morning, the newspaper on their doorstep came with the headline: BRONZE NAME TARNISHED: A SCANDAL EXPOSED! The day afterwards, Jason packed up his things and announced that he was leaving for good. That was how Hector found out his brother cheated had his way through the Pokémon League. He still felt betrayed. When he was younger, people might look at him and say, "Hey look! That's Jason's little brother. You know? The Rising Star." Now those people looked at Hector and whispered. "Did you see that boy? That's Jason's little brother. You know? The disgrace to Pokémon trainers." His brothers infamy followed him like a shadow.
Was this why his parents had not bothered to see him off? Because they were afraid he would turn out like Jason? Hector shook his head. No, his mom and dad loved him. His mom was probably asked to cover a shift at the hospital, and dad had to handle more calls ever since the office laid some people off. He stared once more at his phone. It was now 9:15. He pulled up his list of contacts, scrolled down to z, and pressed call. His screen went black. A few seconds later, a base pitch roughly thirty-four year old masculine voice answered the line.
Hello?
"Hi, professor. This is Hector."
Luk jumped up on Hector's lap and barked into the phone.
Oh. Hey, bud. How are you and your Riolu doing?
"Fine, thanks. Listen," Hector said, "I know the ceremony doesn't start until ten, but could I come a little early?"
Hector instantly regretted asking.
"It's just that my folks aren't home right now, and seeing as I have nothing to do---"
Of course! The Professor said. I'm just setting up right now. Come by whenever you like.
"Really?" Hector said. "Thanks! I'll be over in five."
'Kay. See you soon, bud.
Hector hung up. He liked that Professor Zanzibar called him bud. Actually, he rather liked the professor in general. Maybe it was the fact that he always answered Hector's calls, no matter what he was working on. Or maybe it was just his love for Pokémon. Either way, Hector was glad to know that he and the Professor were on good terms. Professor Zanzibar even let people call him by his first name. Hector didn't only because it felt weird to him. He grabbed Tong's Poké Ball and Luk's too, though he decided it couldn't hurt to have someone to walk with. He stared at the refrigerator one last time before heading out the door.
Just you wait, he thought. I'm going to prove you wrong.
Date: July 20th
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Location: Crest Island
The Gorgeon was watching. Her trainer stood outside of the Crest Island laboratory, tucking her hair behind her ears. The Gorgeon had been with this trainer along time. She knew that she wasn't the type to mess around. Whatever they were here for must be very important.
"You wait outside," her trainer told her. Her voice was cold and calculating. It was hard to tell what she was thinking with the dark sunglasses she wore over her eyes.
"If things get ugly, I'll call you."
The Gorgeon could only nod. Very few Pokémon were capable of mastering the art of human speech. Some could mimic sounds. Others, such as Psychic-types, were capable of forming telepathic connections with their trainers. However, the Gorgeon did not know of any Pokémon that could truly speak human.
Her trainer was called Athena.
The Gorgeon had wanted to give her a different name, the way humans sometimes called Pokémon by different names. "Athena" had a unique sound, but it said nothing about the kind of person her trainer was. The way she walked, swiftly yet silently, like she had something to prove. The way she talked to others. Measured. Calm. Restrictive. The way she carried herself. Her head always held high, but her shoulders were stiff and rigid. Almost as if she was made of stone. No. "Athena" just wasn't enough to describe that sort of person.
She knocked on the door. Without waiting for a reply, her trainer entered the building. The door closed behind her. The Gorgeon could not see what was happening, but the sounds painted a picture.
"Professor Elani Rhoa?"
Footsteps. The shuffling of papers.
"Who are you?" The voice that answered was lighthearted, yet concerned.
"My name is unimportant." Her trainer spoke. "You may call me, 'The Director'."
The Director, the Gorgeon mused. A fitting name, but perhaps not perfect.
“What do you want?”
"You are a researcher of Mithosian myths and folklore, correct?"
Something shattering. A creature skittering away.
"Only as a hobby," the light voice answered. "My real work is with Pokémon. I'm actually expecting some trainers soon, so if you'll come back--"
A slight rustling of cloth. A hand raised?
"I'm afraid my business is quite urgent."
A pause for silence. A click.
"You have an assistant who is coming by in an hour."
The Gorgeon could picture the woman's gasp. "How did you--"
"Know?" A light chuckle. "It is my business to know. Let your assistant tend to these trainers. I'm sure we can come to an understanding."
"Stay back! I'm warning y--"
The Gorgeon suddenly felt her body being sucked into a vortex. The laboratory disappeared and, for a moment, she heard nothing but a soft click, like a case being shut. She saw a red flash and felt her body being pulled back into shape. She stood in a room, presumably the inside of the laboratory. She saw a young woman wearing a white coat with brown hair tied back in a ponytail. She sensed the presence of other Pokémon.
"Petra."
Her human was calling her name. The Gorgeon glanced over her shoulder and saw Athena, The Director, snap her fingers. The Pokémon sighed. She slid up to the white coat woman, who was cowering on the floor.
"Please," she said. "I beg you."
The Gorgeon sighed. Pulling back her own "hair", the Pokémon stared at the professor. There was a brief croak, before the professor's body was encased in stone. The Gorgeon's trainer tsked.
"She won't be easy to move like this," she said, "but at least she won't give us so much trouble."
Athena took out the black box she kept in her pocket and talked into it.
"I have the professor. Have a Sirenade pick us up pronto."
When the lab assistant arrived half an hour later, he wondered two things. Where had the professor gone and how could she leave the laboratory in such a mess?
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