Shadows slunk around the room, creeping fingers of a mischievous deity. Loki, 
god of thievery, was my guess. I grinned. He was smiling on me tonight. 
"Rose!"
Or perhaps not. I turned. Professor Fir regarded me from an illuminated doorway, 
hands on hips. He was in a white dressing gown embroidered with little Pokeballs 
and miniature Pokemon caricatures. He was short but imposing nonetheless. He was 
also my father.
You would think that the daughter of a respected Pokemon Professor would grow up 
in respectable ways. Not so, in my case. Fir had fed me, clothed me and taught 
me, but I began my life on the streets. It had been the streets that had stayed 
with me.
"What are you doing down here?" he demanded. "It's three in the morning!"
I straightened up and looked at him innocently. "Just taking Seraph outside." 
Seraph was my first Pokemon, a feline of flame and midnight. I wasn't really 
lying, although Seraph wasn't the only Pokemon I was planning to take. 
He sighed. "Lock the door behind you. And be back by seven." I smiled and 
nodded. He closed the door and I heard the sound of receding footsteps.

I regarded the neatly arranged Pokeballs. Seraph's Masterball was nestled in my 
palms. It had been a challenge to capture him. Here, though, I could pick and 
choose at leisure. A lot could be done in four hours. On this shelf resided my 
father's most prized Pokemon, some legendaries native only to Ilandris. Mermia, 
gentle angel of the ocean. Thor, titan of lightning. Loki, my dark trickster. I 
picked up the black Pokeball with no hesitation. The blue and the yellow 
followed.  

"Glad to see you following my advice." The voice came from the window. I smiled 
but did not turn. I could see him in my mind. He was of the shadows, slender and 
dark. I heard no footsteps but felt his hand on my shoulder and knew he was 
behind me. Still I did not look, for I knew he would melt away. He appeared to 
me in my dreams only. 
"I would be a fool if I didn't," I replied. He chuckled.
"So you would be. One does not befriend the gods with thoughtlessness."
"One god," I reminded him. "There's little chance of any of your brethren liking 
me. Last I checked they were out for your blood."
"And they still are," he said. "Which is why I plan to stay with you for now." I 
nearly turned to stare at him. He steadied me as I overbalanced.
"They won't look for me with a mortal," he explained. "And you, my friend, have 
just stolen the legendary Pokemon of Darkness, who happens to be my equivalent 
in the Pokemon world. You could say we share minds."
I looked down at the Pokeball in my hand. 
"Loki," I whispered. He kissed the back of my head and was gone, but not before 
I glimpsed a rush of darkness flow into the Pokeball. I was still, not quite 
believing.
Leave now, he commanded within my head. I clipped the Pokeballs onto my belt and 
collected some empty Pokeballs. I slipped through the shadows and out the door.

Fir watched from his window, a hand reaching up to caress the pink and gold 
Pokemon on his shoulder.
"Does she really have to go?" he asked sadly.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I have told you hundreds of times. Do not worry, she will be safe. Loki is with 
her."
"But why my daughter, Freya?"
"Loki has chosen her." Freya twitched. "I must go now. My brothers are calling 
me." She vanished. Fir slumped against the window, pain calling silently to the 
girl walking through the darkness.