(Disclaimer: Pokemon and its characters are the property of Satoshi Tajiri, 4kids productions, and Nintendo. I do not own any of the rights. This Disclaimer goes for not only this chapter, but the ones to follow.)

The Lost Chronicles of Giovanni – Chapter 1: Born with Choices

"We are born with choices. We are born as unique entities. Both Humans and Pokemon have a path set before them in this world where all beings thrive to uncover life's true meaning. But why can we not see it? Because the everlasting darkness has blinded our hopes, our dreams, and our destinies. You might even say we are . . . being tested based on our personal justifications, instincts, and ability to decide. Yes, the power to decide the path set before us. Either way, the future is inevitable. We cannot foresee it because of the challenging darkness. . . yet we can instigate our goals with fearless ambition. That is what defines a hero. But if one wishes to walk the path of good, they must overcome their deceitful fears and avoid succumbing to evil. Some believe evil is a way of coping with life, as a way of understanding the whole concept of it. This misconception will only continue to emanate the world unless a true hero proves otherwise without failing to resist the temptation of evil hatred. No . . . without failing to combat this looming evil."

-Clint Sakaki, Final Journal Entry

…...

Giovanni peaked out the balcony window of his room, staring anxiously at the shining cavalry of stars. The night sky was dark, but the moon's glistening light sheltered Viridian City in a ray of shine, just the way the he liked it. He had just turned 15 the previous day, and tomorrow would be the day he would receive his first Pokemon from the professor himself. His father would be proud. "I hope I get a really strong one.", He whispered to himself in all his seriousness before shedding himself of his doubts. "Of course I will! What am I worried about?" He was full of energy, to say the least. It was incredible for him to know that he would finally be leaving behind his home of oppressive memories. The time had come to escape his imprisonment and begin anew. He was ready for the world, for the past five years he had been! Restlessly, Giovanni leaped away from the window and onto his bed. "I have to get to Sleep!", He finally convinced himself. "I'm not going to start my journey, exhausted."

…...

Morning arrived and Gio awoke with his heart pounding excitedly against his chest, the adrenaline prodding his head up from his pillow. "Today is it!" He hopped out of bed, got dressed, and shuffled downstairs as fast as he could! He couldn't even think about breakfast or showering, he just had to get to Pallet Town and receive his very first Pokemon! He opened the front door of his mansion and standing in front of him was Junior Professor Samuel Oak.

About 10 years older than him, Sammy was the son of the famous Nelson Oak, Kanto's Regional Pokemon Professor. Gio and Sammy had been pretty decent companions for quite some time now. Occasionally, Sam would help Gio out with the school work he was struggling with, or even spend time with the boy for the sake of gifting him some company. Additionally, Samuel was also a very wise mentor, having home-schooled Gio every other week for the past two years. It was the right thing to do in spite of his father's uneasiness towards the Sakaki Family. In reality, Sammy was the only true friend Gio really had, despite age difference. Sammy stared at him irately with both of his arms crossed around the front of his white lab coat. "My dad is pretty upset, you know. He told you to be at Pallet at precisely 8 AM this morning . . . and you weren't there."

"What are you talking about? He said 10 AM!" , Gio said in a panicked toned. Had he really screwed up something as simple as timing? Was his really going to miss out on acquiring his first Pokemon because he cluelessly had overslept?

Sammy shook his head, sighing. "10 AM? My dad is already piled in work by 10 AM! Gio, I don't know why I vouch for you anymore!”

Gio rolled his eyes. "Well you wouldn't have to if you just told me why your dad hates me so much."

Again, Sammy heaved a sigh and leaned on the door. The two glanced blankly at each other before Sammy began to speak again, trying to prevent the situation from becoming more awkward than it already was. "Gio . . . it’s not YOU he hates. Anyway, can we not talk about this anymore? Let's head back to Pallet together and maybe I can get my dad on his own good side, alright?"

Giovanni stretched and yawned for a moment . . . and then reluctantly agreed. "Ughhh fine! But if he starts scolding me, I'll be out of there quicker then a Quick Attack!”

They both shared a chuckle. Sammy had to admit that his younger peer was the more comical of the duo. He seemed to always get a kick out of turning serious matters into pure jest. But was that possibly just a cover for something dire within his personal life?

After putting his shoes on, Gio headed outside and slammed his mansion doors shut. Together, they proceeded to exit the property’s front gate.

While he felt out of place doing so, Sammy objected for the briefest moment: "Ummm, don't you want to inform your mother of your departure?"

Again, Gio rolled his eyes. "Pshh, what does she care? All she does is hide in that basement all day. I'd be lucky to see her a couple times a week . . .” It was all he had to speak of regarding that depressing topic.

"Oh . . . I see." Truthfully, this came as no shock to Sammy. Gio's mother was a very suspicious character. Only rarely would he encounter the business woman because of her preference of isolation, due to the crazed paparazzi. Nevertheless, he could only wonder . . . what could 'Mrs. Sakaki' be up to?

…...

Hours later, back inside Gio's mansion, Rita Sakaki herself sat relaxed in her cozy chair. Her secreted office in the basement was dark, windowless, and cold. Corporate files and boxes, power generators, and tons of research papers scattered abound the room, much to her inattentive nature. Moving to Viridian City two years ago had been a major stress on her work. Staying focused on papaerwork and keeping in contact with her lackeys, such as her top agent Zerelda Miyamoto, had became even more complicated towards her industrious career as the one of the wealthiest woman in the world. If the law were to discover her corporate 'Alter Ego', than her sprouting organization, hiding under the mask of her corporate workings, would immediately fall apart.

On her desk, the phone began to ring. From upstairs, the mansion housemaid, Paris, answered . . . then without a word, transferred the call to Rita's basement chamber. Rita immediately reacted to the caller. "Hello? Who is this?”

It was her son, Giovanni. "Hey . . . Mom."

Instantaneously, Rita became outraged at the very sound of voice. "What is it? I'm busy, you know! Trying to work so I can afford to put food on the table!" . . . "Unlike your father."

He grunted bitterly: "I know! I know! I just felt kind of bad about leaving without telling you first! It was Sammy who convinced me to call you and let you know.”

"Leaving?", Asked Rita, confused and a bit edgy. She had forbid the boy the step foot away from the house all these years. After all she had spoiled him with, was he still actually more driven by the outside world? What had it to offer that she could not?

"I'm calling from the Pokemon Center in Pallet Town.. Sammy drove me here. I'm going to go see his dad, and maybe earn my first Pokemon Today.", He boasted with pride. No longer would he cower in the shadows of his mother's cruelty.

Rita grew even more annoyed. "Like I've told you before, a Pokemon is the last thing you need right now! How about thinking about your own mother for a change and get a job!" Rita slammed the phone down on the receiver and groaned furiously. "That brat boy is pathetic as he is stupid. Just like his father. He knows so little." She sat thinking for a moment . . . and then, once more, picked up the phone again while dialing another number. She would worry about her defiant son later. After all, she had bigger fish to fry. And now was the time to focus on work. After a moment's pause, she spoke into the phone phone against her ear. "Kade?"

"Yes, my dear?" , Said the other voice in a very dainty tone.

"I want to talk to you about Project Rocket.", She spoke seriously.

Rising an octave louder, Kade questioned with great interest, cackling giddishly through the speaker: “Oh really?”

Rita paused for a moment. But after a few pondering seconds, her decisiveness had reached a conclusion. "Indeed. When can we meet? When . . . can we ALL meet?"

…...

Meanwhile, following the 'warmhearted' chat with his mother, Gio followed Sammy out of his car and towards the Pallet Town Laboratory. Aside from the lab, the community itself was very old fashioned . . . and peaceful. He was comfortable with it. Mainly, because it felt great to finally be away from his confining mansion after so many dolorous months. But when the time eventually came, after climbing a series of hillside steps, Gio paused almost five feet from the laboratory entrance with a nervous countenance.

Concerned, Sammy laughed: "Gio, I was only joking about the killer Clefairy I mentioned earlier-”

Gio shook his head. "No, it's your dad! I . . . don't know if I can go in there. I mean, what if he's like really upset!”

"He's my dad, you know. And I'm still alive!", Sammy confirmed jokingly.

Gio laughed to himself, a bit enlightened. "That's probably because you're like the perfect child!"

Sammy sighed, ruffling Gio's brown hair. "No one's perfect, Gio.”

The boy's mind was made up. He wouldn't dare be in the presence of another individual who despised him. "I'm gonna head home.”, He decided dejectedly. “I'll be seeing yo-" But Gio was immediately cut off in mid sentence as a mysterious girl skew in front of them, knocking Gio over in the process. The girl spun spun around, dazed and appalled at what she had done.

"Watch where you're going!", Gio angrily exclaimed, standing to his feet while grunting. “You could have killed me!”

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" The worried girl said back to him. "I'm just in a rush is all! Please don't be mad!"

Giovanni stood up to face her directly . . . and then suddenly, he felt more secure than he ever had in his life. The moment he laid his eyes on her, he simply couldn’t remove them. She . . . was stunningly beautiful, around13 years of age. She had smooth white skin, luscious curly pigtails, and a cute but enchanting guilty smile. She was carrying a ton of heavy books as she struggled to maintain her balance.

"Oh umm don't worry about it." He said embarrassingly to her, an empathetic tone suddenly overtaking him. "Can I help you with those books?"

She gazed at him blankly before coming to respect his sudden change of attitude. "Oh really? That's so kind of you!”

Sammy immediately knew what Gio was trying to pull. "How come you never help me with my books, Gio?" He cut, trying to be funny.

Gio rolled his eyes to Samuel as he piled Delia's books into his arms. "With all the books you read, I'd be in an ambulance by now.", He mocked his friend.

The three laughed as they began to walk inside the laboratory. Gio began to wonder to himself: "Did I just make a new friend already?" He smiled to himself as he carried his new friend's belongings inside the bulking building with great pride. While he should have be thinking about Pokemon, he couldn't stop thinking about . . . her. "By the way, I'm Giovanni and this is my buddy, Sammy." He blurted out randomly after a long silence. "You got a name?"

"Well of course!" She endowed him with another lovable smile. "My name is Delia, Delia Ketchum."

TO BE CONTINUED . . . ?