Elysium
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PART ONE: IN THE BEGINNING

CHAPTER ONE: MORNING OF THE END

EXPERIENCE IS NEVER LIMITED, AND IT IS NEVER COMPLETE; IT IS AN IMMENSE SENSIBILITY, A KIND OF HUGE SPIDER-WEB OF THE FINEST SILKEN THREADS SUSPENDED IN THE CHAMBER OF CONSCIOUSNESS, AND CATCHING EVERY AIR-BORNE PARTICLE IN ITS TISSUE.
*HENRY JAMES*


The sun shed its golden light across the sky like a blanket, covering the world with its warm glow. As it rose above the horizon it faced the sleepy town of Pallet, drawing its inhabitants from their beds and into the stream of life that flowed incessantly in the small civic. A single paved road ran into and out of Pallet, and from it, like veins, sprang smaller dirt roads leading to various destinations of little importance. Along the main road, Main Street as it was called, were lined shops of various types. The grocery store, the plant nursery, the pokémart, the doctor's office, even a small police station manned by one inhabitant three days a week.

At the end of Main Street stood the largest building, the home of the prestigious Professor Oak. Standing over three stories it towered above the other residences, a huge white building with brown wooden window frames, and a long, concrete stair way leading to the front door made ironically from oak wood. Surrounding the laboratory was a small world compromising of fields and forests, mountains and lakes, all inhabited by hundreds of pokemon all in the Professor's care.

None of the other homes were near as striking. Simple cottages surrounding a castle. Veering from the last stretch of Main Street, within feet of the Laboratory, the dirt road called Decem Drive twisted back far from the main part of town. Lining the drive were houses, few with large spaces between, and at the final house just within sight of the forest beyond the town, the residents were just awakening.

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The ringing of the alarm clock jolted Masika Koi from dream filled slumber. Her arm appeared from under the green quilt covering her bed accompanied by grumbling as she swatted uselessly at the machine. Finally she sat up, her black hair tousled and falling in her eyes as she slammed her hand down on the slumber button. Dropping her head back down on the pillows she pulled the quilt over her eyes in a futile attempt to go back to sleep.

Not five minutes after the clock had went off then someone came banging loudly on her door. Muttering curses and threats Masika crawled out of bed nearly falling before she reached the door, jerking it open ready to slap the person knocking. Before her stood her mother, already dressed for work with a permanent smile plastered on her face. Masika groaned and prepared to slam the door.

"Now dear" Celia began catching the door and entering as Masika wandered to her closet and began digging for a pair of clothes. "Don't you remember? Today is the day you start your journey as a Pokémon trainer!"


Masika stifled a groan. She had no wish to become a pokémon trainer, sure the little critters were cute but who wanted to just run around fighting with them all day? Certainly not her. But both her parents had been set on her becoming a trainer and after her father had been killed three years before, it had been decided that after she was over the shock of his death she would become a trainer like he had been.

Turning she stared at her mother with icy blue eyes filled with irritation. Masika and her mother were complete opposites in all aspects. Celia was short and slightly plump with rosy cheeks and hair the color of a daisy. Her attitude toward life was completely optimistic and this showed in her constant smile and friendly brown eyes. Masika was nothing like her. Tall and slender with long raven hair and dark complexion. Her blues eyes were icy reflecting her cold, pessimistic out look.

Still smiling from ear to ear Celia handed Masika a small brown leather backpack. Placing it in her free hand Masika shifted through the belongings: hairbrush, clothes, CD's and portable CD player, food and water, and other things including Pokéfood and treats. Dropping it on her desk Masika forced a smile as she faced her mom.

"Just give me time to get ready okay? Then I'll go" almost immediately her mother shook her head holding up a hand as if to stop her.

"Dear you haven't got time, you overslept you just have timed to get dressed and you better hurry. You don't want to keep the Professor waiting"

Curses and oaths running through her head Masika locked herself in her bathroom and prepared to get ready in record time.

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Standing in front of Professor Oak's door Masika wondered if the old man was deaf as well senile. She had rung the bell at least half a dozen times and still there was no response. Well, she thought, I'll just tell mom that he wasn't home turning she prepared to walk down the stairs and back home, when the squeak of rusty hinges and a friendly 'hello' brought her back to her original position. The Professor stood there, dressed in a white lab coat and brown shirt, his grey hair disheveled but his amber eyes friendly.

"Well Masika, it's wonderful to see you! I didn't think you were going to make it everyone else is here already." he pushed the door open farther and walked back into the house while she was forced to follow.

The inside of the house was larger, it seemed, then the outside. The walls were metal and all around machines and experiments were strewn about. As they walked quickly down the hall Masika regretted wearing her boots as she listened to their loud echoing. Abruptly the Professor turned into a room on the left and Masika nearly collided with him. Entering the room she noticed that there wasn't as much machinery, but instead only a single circular table in the center. Around this table crowded four other soon-to-be trainers.

Much to Masika's embarrassment she realized that she was at four or five years older then those gathered around, who all seemed to be ten or eleven. When she walked in they all turned to stare and she thought she could see why. Each was dressed in traveling garb old jackets, sneakers, and jeans as well as caps. She was dressed in some of her best clothes a black tank top with a long-sleeved denim jean jacket, matching bell-bottoms, and high-heeled boots.

Grumbling Masika took her place at the back of the gathering and prayed it would over soon as she watched Professor Oak take a stand on the other side of the table.

"Now, you all want to be pokémon trainers do you not? Well being a trainer is far more then simply going out and winning badges, but certainly you all know that." The Professor paused to sweep his gaze over all of them, lingering for a moment on Masika, and then he continued on with his speech.

"Pokémon aren't just animals to gain wealth and prestige with they are your friends, in fact many will end up being your best friends. They think and feel the same things we do so you must always remember to treat them with the proper respect and kindness." Stopping he hit a button on the table causing a screen to rise up out of a now opened hatch. On the screen were four pokémon. A Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Pikachu.

"Now these are the normal starters, each of a single type. Which you choose will reflect your personality. Has everyone thought of which pokémon they would like?" immediately a chorus of responses rang out and the Professor smiled. "Well then why don't you come get them?" He hit another button and the table opened reveling four pokéballs each a different color. One was red, for fire, another green for plant, the third blue for water and the last yellow for electric.

Rushing forward the four younger trainers grappled over the balls while Masika watched, she had decided to just get whatever was left. Which was obviously going to be nothing. Professor Oak preached a little more on how important the bond between trainer and pokémon was then he gave out pokéballs and pokédexs. After friendly rushed thank-yous the new trainers rushed out in a flurry of boasts.

Professor Oak continued to chuckle as he watched them leave then turned to look at Masika who was sliding toward the door.

"Ah, yes you still need a pokémon" motioning for her to follow the old man walked to the table and pulled open a draw, removing a white pokéball that had the symbols of fire, water, lightning, the sun and the moon carved into it. "Here I was saving it for a special occasion and I believe you will be the perfect trainer for it."

Taking the ball Masika examined it closely with scrutinizing eyes. Finally she felt compelled to ask. "What's in it?" At this the Professor's eyes shown with merriment as he tried not to laugh.

"Open it and find out" shrugging Masika shot the man a glare then pressed the release button and watched as a flood of red light descended onto the table quickly taking the shape of a small animal. The pokémon was small with large ears and a fluffy tail and thick cream-colored ruff around its neck that stood in contrast to its russet fur.

"An Eevee?" she asked her voice betraying her surprise at getting such a rare species.

"That's right, I think you two will be perfect for one another." The Professor replied reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pokédex and five pokéballs. Taking the items Masika nodded a thank you and returned the Eevee to its ball before leaving the lab.

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Once outdoors Masika shivered despite the warmth of the day. Professor Oak's words about friendship floated in her mind and she couldn't shake the feeling of love and acceptance she had felt when she had held the Eevee. It was almost as if they were part of one another. Shrugging away such foolish thoughts she continued down the street toward her home, twirling the pokéball in her hand. She was nearly home when she saw that the door was closed, meaning her mother was not there. Sighing she turned on a heel and started back toward Main Street.

As she strode down the street she wondered about where she would be going first. Maybe being a trainer isn't so bad, she thought brightly staring at her pokéball and envisioning the cute normal type pokémon contained within. Finally she grew bored and hit the release button on the pokéball, setting the Eevee free.

The little pokémon seemed to never have been out in the sun before and blinked its wide, starry eyes blearily then barked "euii!" and began rubbing against Masika's leg. Grinning widely she reached down and scooped the little creature up, placing him on her shoulder before starting on her way again.

As she walked Masika stroked the warm fur of her new pokémon and, as they found themselves outside of the town's gates, she began talking to it.

"Well, I guess you need a name huh?" she asked conversationally "Everything needs a name."

"Euiiiii" Eevee replied licking her cheek with his rough tongue. Masika giggled and scratched its ears.

"How about…" she paused, what was a good name for an Eevee? "Well...how about Cephissus?"

"Vee! Euii!" the little beast snuggled closer to her neck making a sound almost like purring.

Laughing Masika didn't hear the sound of footsteps behind her until they were nearly upon her.

"Hey 'Sika!" whirling around in surprise Masika found herself facing a boy around ten years old wearing a striped green shirt and khaki pants. In his right hand he clutched a red pokéball. As he caught up with her he bent double panting resting his hands on his knees. When he finally caught his breath he continued.

"Hey 'Sika, you finally got a pokémon! Me too! Wanna battle?" Masika's eyes narrowed at the nickname 'Sika. Her father had called her that as well as many of the kids around town, she hadn't heard it since her father had died, hearing it now made her angry but she managed not to explode. The boy, Adam Thompson, looked up winningly at her and waved his pokéball in the air.

"Please?" he begged, and Masika shuddered but decided a battle wouldn't hurt since neither she nor Cephissus had any experience in this sort of thing.

"Alright" she said tucking her hair behind her ears. "Who's your pokémon?"

Adam's face lit up and he let out a whoop of joy jumping up and throwing his arms around her in a big hug. Growling Masika disengaged his arms from around her and pushed him away.

"Hands off! Now lets get this done I'm in a hurry"

"Right! Gotcha!" Adam let out another whoop and ran a few feet away whirling around to face her. "I'm gonna beat ya 'Sika!"

Masika snorted and gently removed Cephissus from her shoulder. Looking him the eyes she kissed his forehead.

"You're going to win this for aren't you sweetie?" she asked stroking between his ears.

"Euiii!" Cephissus yipped as she set him on the ground with a final pat to the head.

"Hey cute pokémon! Too bad I'm gonna mangle it!" Adam yelled laughing as he prepared to throw his pokéball.

"We'll see" Masika replied quietly, her blue eyes shining with confidence.

In front of her Cephissus braced himself for battle as they waited for Adam to release his champion.