CHAPTER 1: The Last Breakfast These were troubled times. Johto, Kanto and Hoenn had made the transition from monarchies to democracies a long time ago. But now, the Ministers had amassed so much power in their respective regions, that it was hard to tell the difference from them and their royal predecessors; the word 'tyrant' was already being whispered. 'Whispered' since no-one wants to get on the wrong side of a tyrant. The region of Kanto was the worst off. At least in Johto and Hoenn it was still possible to vote freely. The new Minister of Kanto, Kaspar, had taken power during an uprising, promising his people more rights and freedoms. A genius of military strategy, he soon turned out to be a disappointment as a politician, worse than his almost psychotic predecessor, and the very same people who had supported him during the war began to regret. The problem was that, as always, a bunch of hot headed youths in Kanto had set up an underground rebellion, the mysterious Kanto Liberation Force, which was a constant thorn in the side of the Minister... * * * * * * * * * * It was early in the morning, barely light. In the pre-dawn gloom, a few wispy clouds were slightly illuminated, a dirty orange. At the horizon, the sun threatened to appear at any moment, as the sea lapped gently on the beach, each wave breaking with a light splash. A young girl looked out at the sea. Behind her stood Olivine City, completely silent at this time. A delicate breeze caused her light brown, shoulder length hair to stir. She stood, savouring the silence. As the first birds began their morning chorus, a few lazy wingull starting to circle lazily overhead, she gave the waters a last look, and turning, began to walk back to the city, her face set in a slight scowl. * * * * * * * * * * John Martinez, Minister of Johto, watched his daughter attempt to sneak back into their executive suite at the Pokemon Centre. There was a grim set to his broad mouth. Sofia had learned what that look meant, and winced. Before she could say a word, he began to berate her. "And just what do you think you were doing, leaving at such an hour, without informing anyone? As my daughter, you should be more careful. You know I don't like you to go wandering off alone, it's dangerous! That's why I wont let you go off on a foolish pokemon journey! When are you going to learn your responsibilities?!" As he continued to rant at her, Sofia, who had learnt long ago to block it out, mumbled responses automatically, before trudging into her room. Martinez sighed. He ran a hand through his thick black hair, which was only recently beginning to go grey. Were all 17-year-olds so hard to manage? Since the death of her mother, Sofia had become almost impossible; almost constantly moody and irritable, with a smart alec remark for almost anything he said. Later that morning, at breakfast with her father and elder brother, Sofia sat sullenly, not touching her food. Her features were now somewhat wistful. Her father, seemed oblivious of her mood, shovelling cereal into his mouth by the spoonload, while absorbed in some paperwork. Her brother, Andrew, was more observant, however. Sofia played with her spoon for a few moments more, before speaking. "Father, I'll go and get my things. My boat leaves soon." "Very well" came the brief response, Martinez hardly moving his head from the notes he was reading. As Sofia left the room, her brother Andrew followed her. "Sofia! Wait!" She stopped, and turned to face her brother. "Look, I can see you're not happy. What's wrong? Did you argue with father again?" There was no response. Andrew knew his sister well. Despite the spikey facade she put on, Andrew knew that she was in actual fact quite nervous, and often doubted herself. That was why she pushed herself so hard, and set herself such hight standards all the time, and also why she took failure so badly; it reinforced any thoughts she had of her own worthlessness. She covered it well, by adopting a tough exterior, and she had a harsh way with words at times. He also knew that since the death of her mother, and her father's insistence that she could not even have a pet pokemon, let alone become a trainer, she had become a lot worse. Perhaps it was because he was so passive that they got on quite well. And because their father was another hot-headed personality, that they argued so often. "Look, Sofia, you can't become a pokemon trainer, you know that!" "So I'm told" came the sullen reply. He sighed. "At least you get to go on a trip to Kanto. Should be educational." "Yeah...I can't remember Kanto from the last time we went. I was too small." "It's overrated! But this time you get to meet that nutcase Kaspar!" Her brother smiled. "Haha, that should be interesting at least. Not jealous, are we?" Sofia grinned back. "What, of you?! No way! Hah, you get to go and stay with the biggest psycopath in Kanto, big deal! Well, lets get packing. The sooner we're rid of you, the better!" "Hah, it's mutual, my dear brother!" She smiled again. * * * * * * * * * * The S.S. Aqua pulled out of the harbour. Sofia stood at the rails, and waved to her brother and father. To either side of her stood security officers, clad in the customary suits. They all had belts with pokemon attached She felt so stifled. Still, she could look forward to making this journey as close to a living hell for them as possible. But first, she needed some rest. She yawned. "Uh...I'm pretty tired out, I think I'll catch up on some sleep" "Yes Miss Sofia" responded the hulking guard to her left. The small entourage escorted her all the way to her door. "The room's been thouroughly checked, Miss Sofia." "Thanks..uh...I'm sorry, I don't even know your name!" "Special Agent Smith." He smiled. "And behind you is Agent Smith, and to your sides are Agents Smith and Smith" "Um..." "It avoids confusion, Miss" "Oh...I see..." said Sofia, utterly confused. "Well, thanks!" Slowly, as the ship made its steady progress through the seemingly endless ocean, Sofia unpacked her belongings. Vast piles of pokemon magazines were stacked up on her desk; she'd brought almost her entire collection. The whole thing would have been far too heavy; not that she had to carry any of her own things, but she liked to think that she was being generous to someone out there's back. She made a note, as she changed, to talk to Special Agent Smith about his pokemon. She wandered briefly what pokemon he had, but the bed was soft, warm and welcoming, and within moments, she was fast asleep. * * * * * * * * * * She was wakened by a loud explosion, which rocked the ship. She sat up suddenly, just as the door burst open, literally, and an Agent Smith came tumbling through. He was bleeding from several cuts to his face, as he turned to look at Sofia. "Quick Miss Sofia, it's an assassination attempt! There's too many of them! Get out through the porthole!" All of this was happening far to quickly for Sofia, so she just screamed as a skinny man, accompanied by a huge machamp came through the wreckage of the door. She looked on in horror as Agent Smith, still lying on the floor released an electrode. He looked at her once more. "Get out! Quick!" She began to scramble out, competely bewildered and disorientated. The sea looked a long way down from where she was. As she started back into her room, she heard Agent Smith cry, "Explosion! NOW!!!" There was a moment of shock as her world seemed to freeze, and this registered. Then she pushed herself out of the porthole as fast and as hard as she could. As she began to fall, time seemed to slow once more, and then the porthole and wall exploded outwards in a burst of flame. The explosion caught her as well, and threw her at the sea with amazing force. She felt a searing pain, and then nothing.