The colony planet of Shanxi, the region of Eos, Revlon Town.
A child of ten years awakens, bright eyed and ready to face the day in which their life is going to change, forever. However, today is not simply the day that they are given the chance to become a Pokemon trainer and set out on their journey, no... there are events happening light years away that will soon have an effect on this little world, and to the greater galaxy.
Events that they may very well sit at the center of...
The night was cold and clear, with nary a cloud in the sky, nor a light to hide the stars for miles upon miles around. There, at the peak, among ancient shattered pillars and symbols of an ancient people is a rickety fold out lawn chair, upon which sits a man who looks nearly as ancient as the stones he has surrounded himself with. His face like old leather, creased and worn, but his eyes are still bright as they look past a veil of hair white as snow that even now is strong and thick, even as its ends brush the dust by his feet.
The stars, so far away, and yet they still twinkle and shine like gems set into a crown of the deepest and most beautiful velvet. The man has lived for... many a year, at times he's even lost count of how many have passed, but the stars above... they are still the same stars that he looked up to as a young boy. However the world has changed in so many countless ways since the days of his youth.
These days... the wonders of space have become... rote. They have become regular, ordinary... boring. It baffles the man, because once upon a time, they people of the world called Space the Final Frontier, they called it the source of all of life's greatest mysteries, and the place where all the answers could be found. Of course, if one were to look even further back, then one could find so many other things that have been said about space in the millennia that humanity has stood upon this little blue gem that hangs so infinitesimally without that sea of stars above and below.
Glancing back to the small camp, and to his sleeping companion, a small smile quirks at the edge of the old man's face. Tonight has been a night of reflection, a night of remembrance, and a night of looking back to the choices he has made over the many years he has been alive. The choices that have led him and his returned companion to this very moment. The choices that are leading up to the moments of the future, and in particular, the moments that shall occur within the next forty eight hours, where for the first time in... in the many, many years that the ancient man has been alive, he shall step off of Terra, and travel into space.
Over his many, uncountable years, the old man has walked this world, he has traveled from one end of the map to the other. He's crossed mountains and seas, passing through caves and deserts, from icy tundras to forests so deep that they have yet to see the faintest beam of light from the sun. It could be very well argued that this man has seen all the wonders of the world... that he has taken part of all that the world has to offer.
Perhaps another simpler soul would be happy with that, having seen that there is all to see, and that would be enough for them to finally lay down, finally rest... finally stop and be at peace. But for all the musing, the old man simply doesn't know. He has been a wanderer... a vagabond for so many long years now, easily the vast majority of his life, and in the end he simply doesn't know how to stop, how to settle down.
Naturally, this also raises the question - even if he was that kind of man, one who could be satisfied with seeing all the many wonders of the world, all the beauties and horrors of Terra, could such a person who has done all that he has done really find it within themselves to stop there? Could they bare to look up to that sky, knowing that there are nearly three dozen worlds that have been colonized, and twice that many worlds that are slowly being shaped day by day until they will be able to sustain life just the same as this world?
No... The old man didn't think that they would be able to stop themselves, just as he and his companion aren't able to stop themselves. Such is why they are leaving these ancient ruins with the first light of the morning, and leaving this world before the passing of noon. Slowly the man stands, his ancient bones creaking and groaning like stressed steel. It's best he get a little sleep before the first light of the sun comes to awaken his companion... his friend... the only family that he has left.
Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new chapter of this three thousand year old man's life. This story, however, is not his story. This is not the story of his sleeping companion. That isn't to say that all of this was without point, was without meaning, for the events of this story have been irrevocably shaped by the actions of this man. But you see, that is his story, and this is not the place for his story to be told, at least, not here, not now.
No... This story begins far, far away from the Spear Pillar Plateau were the old man rests. It begins far and away from the planet of Terra, and even beyond the grasp of the light of the Helios system's star. It is a journey of tens of thousands of light years, a distance that would be impossible to travel were it not for the strange ancient alien artifacts that have been discovered. These artifacts, massive fifteen kilometer long dual pronged devices allow near instantaneous travel across distances so vast that the minds of mortals boggle when trying to comprehend them, and have come to be known as Exo-Space Bridges, or Exo-Bridges in more common parlance. Unfortunately, nothing has been discovered of the Exo-Bridge's creators, something that has led to the creator's being known as the Faded, for it seems that they have faded from the universe entirely...
Counting the Exo-Bridge in the Helios system, it would take crossing three Exo-Bridges to reach the small colony world of Shanxi. It is here, in the Eos Region, and the town of Revlon that our story truly begins. Thus, in the vein of a tradition as old as time, and yet one completely and totally unknown, a pair of questions must be asked.
A topical use medical solution, stored in a spray container. Not only functions as a Coagulant and Antiseptic, but actively delivers nutrients and accelerates the healing process.
Not for use as a Vitamin Suppliment
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A Basic Pokeball, used for catching Pokemon
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An Ancient Gemstone Anklet, passed down your mother's line for generations. Your mother has set the strange stone that you were given into it.
Oh, this looks interesting.
I can't wait to see how you will deal with the two settings, especially considering how Pokeworld is the home of the creator of the universe.
Edit: On the other hand, AZ is still wandering around, huh. Hope his journey is pleasant. His story is sad enough.
You are. The warm beams of early morning sunlight hit your sleeping eyes like a wifflestick to the face, and with a frustrated groan, you flop over, turning away from the warmth and the light... But, after only a few moments you give up the fight. It's too late to try and get back to sleep now that you are awake, and so with a frustrated moan, you slowly roll up until you are sitting, and rub at an eye with the edge of your hand.
Blearily, you look around the room, trying to find the source of the blinding light, and after a few seconds you find yourself glaring at the open curtains. Why are your curtains open...? You always end up closing them because your room is set up just so that the light of the sun always ends up waking you if the...
Something niggles at the back of your mind. Trying to dislodge both the question you ask, and the absolutely strange dream of the ancient giant watching the stars... There... there is a reason that you have the curtains open...
Grumbling, at past you, and wondering why she did the things that she did, you stumble out of bed, a hand scratching at your scalp as you shamble to the closet, grabbing the first set of clothes that you can lay your hands on, before stumbling into your bathroom. The flick of the light switch makes you hiss, and so you quickly start the shower, getting the water nice and hot as you strip down.
Once you've gotten clean, you find that your mind is a lot clearer. With a long stretch that makes your back pop oh so deliciously, you wipe at the mirror, and smile at the visage greeting you.
[ ][Paige] Bobcut
[ ][Paige] Flower
[ ][Paige] Purple
[ ][Paige] Blonde
You quickly brush and floss, before you finish drying your hair and running a comb through before you get dressed and head back to your room. Now that you are all the way awake, it quickly becomes obvious why you had left your curtains open the night before. It was as clear as the windows overlooking Revlon Town, and the small crowd of kids that are already starting to gather up near Professor's Hazel's old manor at the edge of town.
That would be why you left the curtains open. A quick glance over to the calendar on your wall confirms it - Today is the Third of May, and more importantly it is the first Saturday of the month. That means that it is Embarkation Day, which occurs the first Saturday of each odd numbered month of the year. It is the day that those young boys and girls who have completed their Trainer's License Exam are allowed to get their Starter, their first Pokemon, and embark out on their own journey across the Region, and for a lot of people, across the whole of civilized space.
Another quick glance, this one to the clock next to your bed shows that it isn't even eight o'clock yet, and that for all that the crowd is already starting to form, there is still another hour and ten, maybe twelve odd minutes before the Professor will even open his doors. Then again, it does make some sense that people are already starting to line up, Professor Hazel doesn't just give out Pokemon to the children of Revlon town, but also handles the kids of Markin Village and the City of Alvis too. You'd bet a gold nugget that a couple of those already waiting are from Alvis.
Of course, the fact that there is still an hour isn't really a reason to wait, and that is because of what is by far the most frustrating aspect of Embarkation Day. You see, you took your Trainer's License Exam around a month ago, and it isn't going to be until today, when you go to the Manor that you will find out if you passed, and if you will get a Pokemon.
There is one other reason why you want to hurry down and get there as soon as possible... Your mom and dad say that it isn't true, but you have heard that those who get there first get better Pokemon. So you want to get out there as quick as possible.
Stepping out of your room, you pause a moment, patting your Mom's old Slowpoke on the head, before your feet thunder down the stairs, a hand snapping out to grab hold of the edge of the staircase, spinning you are and into the kitchen, Where your mom stood, a spoon in her fist as she glared down at the book set in front of her.
"So the book says that I should use Cheri Berries to get the right level of spiciness..." You here your mom mutter, as she paces across the kitchen, checking the different cabinets, "but the next best thing I have is Figy Berries... Would that work? Or would that be too spicy?"
"Morning mom." You say as you step around the woman, quickly opening the fridge. "I'm gonna make myself a sandwich and head out to Doctor Hazel's. Don't worry about making me breakfast." You tell her, hoping that she won't press the issue. You love your mother, and she is an amazing woman, however there is one thing that you and your mother have never been able to see eye to eye on.
Your mother's tastes when it comes to spicy foods.
Or rather, her lack of taste. She seems to think that if the food isn't spicy enough that you have to worry about it potentially self-igniting that it isn't spicy enough. So whatever it is that she is making, you are more than happy to get out of the house before it reaches the tables.
You quickly slap yourself together a sandwich - Piloswine ham on Rye, with fresh lettuce, mayo and mustard. Glancing up from the fridge, you see your mother roll her eyes at you, but she's smiling. Then, her face a little more sombre, she brandishes the spoon at you, "You better come back by the house before you head off, you hear me?" There is no brooking her when she's like this, but you smile and nod all the same.
"Course," You tell her, "I'm not leaving without giving you and dad a goodbye, and you know he's not going to even get out of bed before I get my Pokemon."
"I'll make sure he's up by the time you get back, alright honey?" There is a pleased, but still somewhat exasperated look on your mom's face, and you can't help but share a grin and a giggle with her before you head out the door.
You almost shiver as you step out of the house, despite it already being May, this morning's air is actually a little biting. Actually, it's been a little unseasonably chill for the last week and a half, and you break into a brisk jog as you head down the lane.
Reaching the end of the lane, you turn round the corner, and towards the old manor, when you hear a familiar and unwelcome boy call out from behind you. "Well, well, well... Look at what the Purugly dragged out. What are you doing here?"
[ ][MShep] What is this asshole's first name?
You barely manage to keep yourself from groaning as you turn to face the elder of the two Shepard Siblings. You and he... You've never gotten along. Partially because he's a smug asshole who thinks himself better than everyone around him, and acts like he is a god given gift to the universe, however the majority of the reason that the two of you don't get along is because he thinks it is funny to push you around. To mock you and pick on you.
In short, the older Shepard sibling is the biggest of dicks, and you are so happy to know that you are heading to the Professor's manor, where you will receive your first Pokemon, and then you hopefully won't ever have to interact with him again. "What do you want?" You say, trying to keep your voice even as you send him a light glare.
"Oh, come on now, neighbor~" The young man singsongs to you, as he swaggers closer, "Is that any way to speak to the future Champion of Eos?"
You just continue to glare at the young man, and if anything his grin seems to be getting bigger and bigger the more you glare at him. "I was just going to be a good neighbor and give you some advice~, but if you don't want it, then that's too baaadddd~"
"If that's all," You quip, turning away, "Then you can keep the advice." Really, you don't have the patience to deal with him right now.
You barely make it three steps before one of his big, meaty hands grabs your arm, jerking you back, and nearly throwing you off your feet. Even taking into account the fact that the older Shepard is almost a year older than you, he is a good deal taller and heavier than you.
He's scowling down at you, and you can see that little muscle on the underside of his left eye twitching. It always does that when he's mad, "Now you listen here, you little..." His grip on your arm hurts, even as you continue to try and pull yourself free. "I'm being nice here, and giving you some free advice." He hisses at you, eyes like flint. "So you better listen, and you better take it. My little sister and I are starting our Journey today, and I don't want to see your ugly mug on the road. Go back home, and wait until the next Embarkation Day to try and get a Pokemon. It's not like Hazel is going to have one for a failure like you anyways."
You don't even have the chance to answer, before the older boy shoves you aside to the ground and stalks off towards Professor Hazel's manor. Slowly, you take a moment to push yourself back to your feet, hissing in pain at the way that the dusty road feels against your now scrapped palms.
"Oh, my." ...Just great. "Are you okay, Paige?" A much kinder sounding voice asks.
[ ][FShep] What is this nicer person's first name?
You look up at the redhead already starting to kneel next to you, quickly shaking your head. "I'm...I'm fine." You quickly sputter out, trying to put on a brittle smile, something to hopefully keep her from noticing the already burning scrapes on your hands.
"I know that you are a little clumsy Paige, but you need to be more careful." She says, holding a hand out "Now let me see your hands."
"Really, I'm okay. You don't need to worry about me." You tell the girl as you push yourself back to your feet. You... You don't dislike the younger Shepard, and actually you do enjoy her company...
However... there are a few things about the girl that do get on your nerves. The fact that she thinks you are clumsy is almost a microcosm of the whole issue - The younger Shepard is a kind hearted soul, the type of person who looks for the best in everyone, even if it isn't really there. Most strikingly, she thinks the world of her big brother, thankfully, she isn't aware of the crueler things that he does, but...
That isn't for a lack of trying on the parts of the other kids in town. The elder Shepard is an unrepentant bully, but one who does go out of his way to keep his sister from seeing what he does, and she is the kind of person who absolutely refuses to believe that he would be the kind of person to do things like that. Somewhere along the line, she seems to have come to the conclusion that the scrapes and bruises that her brother leaves you with are the result of you being clumsy.
"Are you sure...?" The younger Shepard asks... looking down at your hands as she slowly works her lip. "I... I could go and grab my first aid kit... I mean, I was kind of not wanting to use anything until Big Brother and I got out to the first route at the earliest, but if you're hurt, then I should help you."
"No, it's fine. Really." You tell the girl, waving a hand, which doesn't seem to relieve her at all, in fact her eyes seemed locked on your palm the whole time. "It stings a little, but it's nothing serious. I'll stop by my house after I pick up my Pokemon and get it cleaned up then. It'll be fine."
The girl still doesn't look happy, but after a moment she finally nods, "Fine." She whispers out, before her hands went to her hips and she fixed you with an icy stare. "You better go and take care of that once you get your Pokemon."
With a bit of a laugh, you roll your eyes. "Yes mom."
"Oh!" She sounds so scandalized, "Don't you start with that. I have enough of those cute kids that Dad babysits calling me Mom, I don't need you doing so too!"
You can't help but to laugh, and while the girl looks a little put out, it's only a moment before she starts to laugh as well. From there, the two of you start to walk down the lane towards Professor Hazel's manor, spending the time exchanging whatever small talk comes to mind. The two of you talk about the various cute kids that her father spends his time babysitting, to asking her about the last time she heard from her mother (The Shepard Matriarch is in the Space Force and has apparently just gotten command of her own ship as of last month. Neat.)
You complain about the weather, and she complains about something about job security, you know, the kinds of complaints that you hear adults say but you don't really understand. On a slightly less silly tangent, the two of you talk about what kind of Pokemon you would like to have the chance to raise as your starter.
As you had seen from your window when you first woke up, there are already boys and girls gathered around the outside of Professor Hazel's lab, the majority of them are on their own, but there are a handful that have parents with them too. Even from where you stand at the edge of the scientist's property, you can easily spot the elder Shepard, as he stands easily a head above almost everyone else. Likewise, due to standing a head taller than everyone else, Shepard can see you, and you barely see the scowl that starts to form before he notices his sister.
You have never been so glad that you are with her, as you are today. There have been a number of times when the older Shepard had to not be an asshole around you because his sister was near, and he always ended up coming around to pick on you later instead. Only now, he isn't going to get the chance, because you don't exactly have plans to see him again after today.
Now that you've arrived, all that is left to do is wait...
...
and wait you do.
...
Then, at nine o'clock on the dot, there is a audible 'clack', and the doors to the Lab open. Doctor Hazel stands there, looking over the gathered boys and girls, a warm grin on his bearded face. The doctor is tall, taller than anyone you have ever seen while waking, with broad shoulders and arms that look like they might be as large around as you are. "Good Morning everyone!" He bellows cheerfully, "It's good to see that you all are punctual. That is something that you will learn is quite important in life."
He stands there, in the doorway for a few moments, looking over each and every one of the boys and girls, their parents, and even the townspeople who tend to come by and watch.
...
...
"And you know how to be patient when it calls for it. Good good." Turning, the man starts to enter into the building, before throwing a sentence over his shoulder. "Alright everyone, you may enter." Slowly everyone begins to file through the doorway, entering into the large main lobby of the Lab. There is a white board on one of the walls, and it is practically covered in pages. Even from the doorway you can tell that it is the list of everyone who took their exams over the last two months, and what their scores are. While there is a bit of pushing and shoving, the majority of people are simply waiting their turn to get close enough to see if they passed.
You can always tell those people who failed, the way that they seem to freeze up upon reading the news, and the way that their shoulders slump. You don't know if it is intentional, but it seems that everyone who has failed ends up along one side of the room, waiting for the rush of people trying to enter to finally cease so that they can leave. Meanwhile those that find their names move into the next room. Slowly, people are starting to trickle back out of the room, each of them smiling wide as they hold onto the deep red Pokeballs that Starters are known to come in.
This has to be the worst part of it all - the uncertainty. Like, you have no doubt that you succeeded... and yet...
Seeing all those faces that fall, scooting off to the side due to failing... They must have thought that they succeeded too, but it is clear that they didn't. It leaves a little gnawing worry in your gut until you are finally able to get up to the front of the crowd, and start to draw your eye across the names, slowly sliding down until you find yours.
Paige Turner
150/150 Correct
3.5/5 Essay Correct
PASS
You did it. You knew that you would, but still...
You did it. You passed. All that is left is to go and get your Pokemon, and then you'll be able to finally leave Revlon town and explore the Eos region. Making your way through the crowd, you push out and into that next room, where there are eight people sitting in chairs, lined up next to a door.
A moment of silence, then - The door opens, and the Younger Shepard steps out, a grin on her face. She waves at you as she hurries out the room. "Next!" The Professor calls from within that next room, and the whole line of people shift one chair over, sliding up so that the girl right next to the door can enter. You spend another twenty minutes here, slowly moving chair by chair as individuals enter... then leave. Finally, it is your turn, and you step into the room. The professor's face lights up when he sees you. "Ah! Paige! How are you doing today. Give me just one moment..." The man fiddles with his computer for a moment, before sitting down next to you and turning to screen so that they both of you can see it.
"So this will take just a moment." The Professor says, "You did well enough on your exam that I am allowed to pull from the Ace starters as well as the more local starters, and that means that at least one of your Starter choices are coming from beyond Shanxi. While it is still much faster than traveling by Ship, teleporting Pokemon over these distances still takes ti-" There is a beeping chime, and information began to roll across the screen. "Hmm..." The Professor makes a noise as he quickly starts to type, before there are a trio of short flashes, and three balls appear on a tray on the desk. "So let's see what we have got here for you..."
"So first off, you have the choices between a Sobble - A small water typed lizard Pokemon. Records say that it appears to be relatively Modest, as far as the shy little lizards go." The Professor quickly typed something out, and an image appeared on the screen.
"The second option that was sent is a Riolu. They are strong little lupine like Pokemon, with a tendency towards fighting type moves. Records here says that it is remarkably Quiet and calm."
"And lastly, there is a... Well, I'll be." The Professor quickly reads the text rolling across the screen, and after a second an image appears.
"A blue Ralts. It isn't often that I'm sent an unusually colored Starter. And the notes say that the poor thing seems to be remarkably Lonely as well. Likely because it's colors are different."
He turns to you, bringing up the three images one last time. "It's time to choose your starter, Paige."
...You know what. Sure. Yes. Whatever. I rolled for the pokemon, I rolled for their natures, and I rolled for several other things, including Shiny.
I didn't think that a shiny would actually show up, but apparently Ralts is a shiny.
So that is a thing.
Also this vote, and all other votes unless specifically noted are Line votes.
I like purple, but let's go with bobcut.
So we got the Renegade AND the Paragon, let's see if we can stick to Pokemon 2000 and watch if the world(s) turns to Ash one way or another. Plus we could always shorten them to Ash and Lynn, and if you greet them that way together it's almost like you're cutting the rude one out of the conversation before it starts!
Oooh, I see a shiny Gardevoir in our future! Plus the Lonely Nature means her favorite food is spicy, so she'll get along great with the mom!
I like purple, but let's go with bobcut.
So we got the Renegade AND the Paragon, let's see if we can stick to Pokemon 2000 and watch if the world(s) turns to Ash one way or another. Plus we could always shorten them to Ash and Lynn, and if you greet them that way together it's almost like you're cutting the rude one out of the conversation before it starts!
Oooh, I see a shiny Gardevoir in our future! Plus the Lonely Nature means her favorite food is spicy, so she'll get along great with the mom!
Yeah, I flipped some coins to see if they would be Paragon or Renegade, best three out of five, and this Dude Shep is an asshole, while Sis Shep is a nice.
Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have rolled for shiny chance for your starters, but I mean, I wasn't exactly expecting the 1/4096 to actually be rolled for one of the starters.
♂
♀
