CHRONICLES OF SHADOWS The Boy: Prologue A story by Akei-Dragon E-mail: simfreak322@hotmail.com Category: OT - Author's note: I won't put a rating on this story, because certain people have different limits, but I can tell you this: All of my stories in the Chronicles of Shadows series are most likely going to be too mature for anyone under the age of 13 - possibly even 15. There's swears, drugs, party-hard 16-year-olds, and stuff that you and I both know but I won't mention. With that said, let us begin! --- My name is Ryan Camden. I'm 16 years old, and today I'm starting my Pokemon Journey. Sounds a little late, huh? Actually, not really. Most kids nowadays don't start seriously training until they've finished high school. In fact, I'm lucky I'm leaving now. Mom is always pretty flexible about that kind of stuff. My older brother, Jake, is 22 now, and he left when he was my age, too. Right now he is the Gym Leader of our town, with Gem, his Umbreon. Mom says Dad would have been proud of him. You see, my father used to be the Kanto Pokemon League champion of 3027. He was on his way to becoming the Johto League Champion when something happened. Nobody knows how my dad died, but my mom still can't get over it. It happened 14 years ago - I was 2, so I don't even remember him, but mom says he loved me alot. Jake remembers him. We used to be really poor until he became the Gym Leader. Jake had to give up school to become an apprentice of the former leader to pay for my own education, and mom worked at the Pokemon Center. Of course, I owe alot to my brother. He gave up his own schooling for mine. A couple years ago, however, the Fortree Heights Gym Leader left to pursue the Hoenn League Championship, so he promoted my brother. Oh yeah, did I mention we live in a town called Fortree Heights? It used to be called Fortree City. However, some lady called Winona decided to name it Fortree Heights because... it wasn't a city. We all live in treehouses, actually. It's pretty awesome. But bugs fly in the windows all the time, which is a pain. But a couple years ago, my uncle Roger sent us a Skitty that he caught in Rustboro City. Minky sits on the windowsill at night when the bugs come (especially those damn venonats - they're nasty) and scares them off. Anyway... today I'm leaving. I'm taking a boat to Kanto to visit Professor Gary Oak's lab. Each month they take 5 kids from each of the continents - Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, and Sevii - and choose a random lab to give them Pokemon from. It just so happens I'm going to Kanto... --- I awoke to the sound of a screeching noise. I shot out of my bed, feeling my heart pound against my chest. A giant Yanma had flown into my room and started attacking Minky. She stood there in a crouched position, hissing and waving her tail. The huge dragonfly Pokemon buzzed about the room. I looked around myself desperately, looking for anything I could use to fend it off. I didn't have a Pokeball, which was a bummer, because I could have caught it and sent it to my friend Max. Damn it. He's staying here until his senior year, because his grades didn't cut it, but he's still old enough to actually train. Well, that was out of the picture. Wait a sec, Minky's a Pokemon. And Pokemon can fight! "Minky!" I shouted at her. She turned her head to me, confused. "Uh... use scratch." She understood now. She sent out some type of battle cry, and lunged at the Yanma, swiping her paw across its head... face... thing. It tumbled over itself. It was mad, though, and it tackled her. Minky was hurt a little, but she jumped back up. I told her to do a scratch again. She obeyed, and the Yanma was sent back again. It attempted another tackle. However, Minky leapt out of the way. It looked like it was going to do it again, though, so I took action. "C'mon, just one more scratch, Minks." She nodded, and just as the giant bug was about to tackle her, she scratched it in the face again. I guess the Yanma had given up, because it just flew out the window. Minky looked tired, but got up and had a triumphant smile. My first Pokemon battle. Sweet. I took a breath of relief and scooped Minky up in my hand, cuddling her and congratulating her for the battle. I guess she was strong from all those years of chasing bugs. I changed into baggy jeans and a red t-shirt that had a little fire symbol on it. I put my chain belt around my waist, and a light jacket over my shirt. Finally, my blue trucker hat covered my messy blond hair. Mom said it matched my eyes. Oh yeah, mom. I knew she would freak out if I told her about the battle. So, I kept it a secret and climbed down the sturdy pine stairs. Mom had made some cereal for me, so I sat down at the table and ate. She was at the counter stuffing something into my bag. "Morning, mom." I dipped my spoon into my cereal. It was some retarted kid's brand, like "Yummy Puffs" or something. "Good morning, Ryan. Are you excited for your big day?" She put on a goofy smile. "Whatever." I was actually so excited I could hardly contain myself. But, I had to keep my cool. She probably knew I was, though. "Well, Obsidian is dropping you off at Lilycove. The boat will leave at 2:00. Oh, and I put $5,000 in your pocket in case you get hungry." Obsidian was Jake's Murkrow. I flew on him alot of times before. I shrugged and continued to eat my cereal, then I got up and grabbed my bag. I said goodbye and thank-you to mom, then headed out the door. I walked over to the Gym. I had to climb down the ladder first, then cross a bridge, climb another ladder, and walk across a pier overlooking the lake. I finally got to the gym, but not before tripping over a freakin' Kecleon. Inside the gym were trainers of all different ages. The Gym was cool because there are all these creaky bridges that you have to cross (over total darkness, by the way)while fighting trainers, and if you win, it becomes a little lighter and you progress. However, no Gym battles had begun, so all the lights were on. I took the perfectly sturdy cement bridge on the far right wall, which no trainer could ever see in the pitch black of the gym. Jake was waiting there at the end of the bridge. "Hey, Ry! Are you ready?" My enthusiastic brother greeted me with his arms out, as if to give me a hug. I shrugged and embraced him anyway. "Sure," I replied. I gave Gem a pat on the head, and she licked my fingers. Obsidian was resting on his perch, but he flew right over when he heard my voice. He landed right next to his master and ruffled his feathers. "Just send him back when you're done." Jake took my hand and put something in it. I opened my hand and I saw there a small round golden ball. It looked like a Pokeball, except bigger and shinier, and it had a little symbol on it that I couldn't figure out. He laughed. "That is a special type of Pokeball," he said. "Though... I don't really know what it is. But Jeffrey sent it to me." I rolled my eyes. Jeffrey was the old Gym Leader, and he was always doting on Jake. But, he was an extremely talented man, and one not to question. I thanked my brother, and Obsidian and I walked out the door. When we left the building, I walked over to the pier and mounted Obsidian. "Kay... you ready?" I gulped. Flying was never my thing. Nevertheless, Obsidian took off, flapping his great black wings through the air... --- Part one is coming up... which Pokemon will Ryan get? You'll just have to find out!