78Notes- UPDATE- Chapter rewritten as of May 30, 2018. Please read outro for further details on Heart and Soul updates! Thanks!
One of the most influential pieces of my life was bought for me when I was seven years old. For my birthday, I was allowed to buy two items from the local store. Having never played a Gameboy and knowing almost nothing about Pokemon, I somehow ended up purchasing a Gameboy Color and Pokemon Silver Version (Ho-oh is my favorite of the two though). To this day it is still the most influential game of my life. Since then I've added Red, Blue, Crystal, Emerald, Diamond, and Heart Gold to my collection. Around that time I picked up writing as well and for years have dreamed about writing a complete story inside my favorite realm of any game, the Johto Region. I hope you enjoy this heart driven tale of my inner trainer, and will provide constructive criticism as well as comments whenever motivated. I'd like to thank Shinneth and her story Tales of the Trifecta for inspiring me to finally write a full Pokemon fic and encourage you all to check it out! Thank you and enjoy!
Chapter 1
The sun rose over Mount Silver, signaling the beginning of a spring morning to the inhabitants of the Johto region. The rays of light stretched out across the land and created a special glow about the region. The tranquility of morning was evident as people and Pokemon alike began to awake from their slumber, realizing that a new day had started. And as the light reflected off a majestic tower in northern Johto, the refraction fell upon a distant city, where one young trainer was about to start his journey.
Cherrygrove City was still sleeping as dawn appeared. The light glared off the empty concrete streets and cut through the wispy fog. However, now that morning had arrived, new opportunities existed for all of its hopeful inhabitants. Passing over the quickly filling streets, dawn finally found its way to Cherrygrove's true beauty.
The sun sparkled brightly upon the bay to the south. A single pair of footprints were all that rested upon the sand. As the tide rose and the waves wiped the sand bare, the water erased hours of unease and insecurity from its memory. The anxiety, tension, and confusion were slowly forgotten as the special day arrived for one of Cherrygrove's most enthusiastic citizens.
A suffocating darkness exploded into being, crushing all forms of light. Its icy grip seemed to steal the very energy of the universe itself. The smothering force held such menace, that only one heart dared to beat aloud. And as death's hand reached out to exterminate its final opposition, that being made a move.
Ring!
"What the—" a boy rose up quickly, banging the back of his head on the bunk above him. "Ow!"
He rolled over onto his back and lay still for a long moment. Slowly, he ran a hand through his light brown hair, feeling gingerly at a lump he feared might already be the size of a Lum Berry. The sudden urge to sleep away the pain tugged at his eyelids. He managed to roll his head across the pillow, bringing his wavering eyes to the window by his bed. A golden glow radiated back, forcing him to blink away stars.
It was morning.
His eyes shot open. He sat up again, just managing to stop his head from reuniting with the upper bunk bed. He stared at the hand drawn map of Johto on the wall directly in front of him. His gaze spread to the rest of the room as the last inklings of sleep left him. An autographed picture of the Johto Gym Leaders drew a wide grin from the young man. Between the drawing and the signatures, Chris would forever be indebted to his ultra talented brother. A day would come when he'd finally be able to thank him. The young man realized his TV was still on; the screen displayed the rerun of a battle between Karen and Will of the Elite Four. He'd been surprised when the Psychic-type user had fought to the pinnacle of the foursome, but the Dark-type beauty had not waited long to enact her revenge. He felt the remote under his leg, and a moment later, Will's fainting Slowking had been replaced by a blank screen. Sliding his feet from beneath his covers, Chris caught sight of the calendar just above his nightstand. The day was May 10th, a date surrounded by a large, red circle. The phrase 'Happy 16th Bday!' covered the calendar square. The sight brought the young man to his feet, the pain in his head fading as the realization of the present came surging forward. He swiped the grey PokéGear off his desk and the clothes hanging over its chair before heading for the shower across the hall. Throwing off what little he had on, he started up the shower with one hand and opened the Johto Radio app with the other. He hopped beneath the steaming current, but not before selecting Professor Oak's Pokémon Talk.
"...always exciting to see this kind of representation in the region," the knowledgeable voice of Professor Oak poured out of the gadget's speaker. "Route 34 is such a beautiful and centralized route. You have Ilex forest to the south, the coastline to the west, and Goldenrod City to the north. The trainers and visitors traveling near our broadcast tower will be quite surprised to see a Hoenn original like Ralts lurking nearby!"
"What do you think may have caused this swarm, professor?" DJ Mary asked. The co-host's excited tone energized Chris like the strongest cup of coffee.
"Daycare releases?" Chris muttered, scrubbing shampoo through his short hair.
"I have a couple theories," Oak replied. "My first thought involved foster families released by the Route 34 Daycare." Chris allowed himself a small fist pump as he stepped forward to rinse his scalp and the remaining soap from the rest of his body. "However, I find it more likely that they were brought overseas by a recent cruise ship."
"Are you referring to the ship out of Slateport?" Mary questioned, her tone saturated in well-crafted intrigue.
"The very same. The ship contained a well known group of performers who specialized in-"
A bang on the door sent Chris stumbling into the shower curtains. "Today would be a good day to finally try a short shower!" his mother's firm voice suggested.
"Yep!" Chris shot back, tone sharper than he'd meant. The footsteps faded and he found a sigh passing through his lips. Can't be too mad at her, he thought. This is a big adjustment for both of us. Chris switched off the water and changed the channel to Pokémon Music. He dried himself off to the quick piano of Jubilife, brushed his teeth to Olivine's melody, and found himself humming along to an orchestration dedicated to Ice Path as he threw on a red t-shirt and a pair of beige shorts. As he pushed back his short bangs, Ecruteak's traditional theme began to play, and both hands dropped to his side. He looked into the mirror and found an idiotic grin plastered onto his face. The day had finally come.
He slid into the hallway, grabbing the grey running shoes outside his door as he turned for the stairs. Taking two steps at a time, Chris brought himself to a halt halfway down. He turned to admire his favorite picture in the house. The watercolor painting depicted a majestic tower glowing in the sunlight. However, it was the radiant glow of the multicolored bird resting atop the structure that always drew Chris' eye. The young man couldn't believe the picture was almost eight years old. The fact that an Ecruteak Sage would actually give the artwork to Chris' father only added to its appeal.
The remaining steps passed by and he soon found himself in the kitchen. A delicious looking breakfast on the dining table pulled the young man over like a magnet. A metallic thud on his left stopped him before he could take a seat. His mother scrubbed at the pan he'd used to make pizza the night before. She had her back to him, giving Chris an opportunity to return the scare.
"Food looks great, mom!"
Her shoulders shot up as her body instinctively turned toward him. Some of the soapy water in the pan she'd been holding splattered onto the floor. "Goodness, Chris. How about a little warning next time?"
"Sorry." He hit her with a grin as he grabbed a paper towel and dried off the wet linoleum.
"Don't worry about that. You don't have a lot of time to spare."
"It's all good," Chris assured. He swished the crumbled up paper towel into the garbage before taking a seat.
"You sure you don't want to take up basketball? Your father always thought you were great. And it can pay as much as Pokémon training."
"And there's a pro team in Cherrygrove to boot," Chris added in a knowing tone. "I appreciate the sentiment, but pops hasn't seen my abilities as a trainer. He'll be glad I chose this path. It's what I'm best at."
His mother slid the pan back into the sink and dropped a hand to her hip. She didn't hide the humor in her voice. "And just how do you know that? You haven't even started!"
"I've been prepping for the last eight years. I know I'm ready."
"Then you better start eating," she replied, nodding at the clock on the wall. "The bus for New Bark Town leaves in twenty minutes."
As the young man chowed down, he flipped through a trainer manual on the table—one of the dozens scattered throughout the house. Memories of reading it the previous night came rushing back.
"I came in last night from work," Chris' mother began, her eyes fixed on the manual in his hand, "and found you passed out in that chair. I'm surprised a page of that book isn't tattooed on your face this morning."
"It'd be great to get some advice every time I looked in a mirror." His confident smirk faded quickly upon seeing his mother's expression. A change of subject was in order. "How was work last night?"
"No serious crimes, thankfully." Her tone let him know she wouldn't be swayed off topic. "Do you remember me waking you up so you could actually get a good, comfortable night's rest?"
"No," Chris squeaked, "but I appreciate it!"
The red headed woman shook her head. "Go ahead and finish eating. You're already not the best with time, and this is something you can't be late for."
Chris didn't need to be told a third time. He had cleaned his plate and chugged the glass of milk in short order.
"You eat like a sixteen year old boy," his mother said with a laugh.
Her words triggered something in Chris' mind and his expression turned serious. He stood up and walked over to where his mother stood at the sink. He sat the empty plates and glass into the warm pool of water and turned to face his mother. "Dad called this morning, didn't he?" He hung his head in disappointment as his mother nodded.
"He did, but you know how much his company needs him right now!" Stress lines appeared on her forehead at the sight of Chris' exasperated expression.
"But it's been almost eight years since the Rocket takeover!" Chris retorted, his hands balling into fists. "You'd think he could convince the director to let him come home more than twice a year!"
"Honey," his mother's tone softened, "it's not something your father can control. He loves us, but he wants to do what's right for—"
"For the Johto Broadcast Network?" Chris interrupted. "Have their needs superseded ours these past four months?" Chris pointed toward a picture on the nearest wall. The photo depicted a family of four smiling happily toward the camera. Ben and Jennifer Aedan stood side by side in the back, the latter leaning on her husband's shoulder. In front of them stood two boys with their arms draped over each other's shoulders. Nine year old Chris beamed at the camera, a toy Ultra Ball in his hand. The fourteen year old boy next to him stood about a foot taller and wore a navy baseball cap over his short black hair. His left arm reached toward the camera, a blue case gripped firmly in hand. Inside the open box, eight badges could be seen sparkling brightly in the sun. "Dad's one of the chief operators there, and yet he can't request time off?"
"He's certainly stubborn when it comes to work," his mother acknowledged, "but that kind of attitude is why he holds such a high position. And I don't think he's the only member of this family to be hyper focused on one thing." She gave him a stern look. "He does want to come home and see us—he said as much this morning. I would have let you speak to him," she paused to shake her head, "but you needed a good night's sleep for the journey ahead."
Chris let his eyes drift to the floor.
"Even though it's been eight years, that terrible organization left the Radio Tower in shambles. It was a miracle your father and his team managed to get the main programming back on line as soon as they did. But he's just as busy now that the company has expanded into television, marketing, competitive battling, and Arceus knows what else. And they still haven't completely reversed all of the damage from years passed. It's breaking him, but you know what he says—"
"If you're gonna do something," Chris interjected with the mantra, "you don't do it halfway."
Mother and son fell silent.
Chris sighed, irritated at himself for getting so worked up. He tried to bring the tension level down by getting to the point. "I guess what confuses me is that I've given him time. After all of this chaos with criminal organizations, the Pokémon HQ moved the beginning age of a Pokémon Trainer to sixteen. That gave him six extra years. Heck, Matt was nearly fourteen when he started on his journey and dad was almost never around then!"
"Chris," his mother's voice remained calm, "even if he's not here, you know he'll support you along your journey as best he can. We both will. We expect you to tackle the Johto League Challenge and commit all the way to your passion. More importantly though, we want you to be safe and not lose track of why you've chosen this path."
Chris was silent for several seconds as he let his mother's words sink in. The young man found a smile on his face as he stepped forward to give his mother a hug. "Thanks, mom." Chris glanced out the kitchen and noticed that the city was beginning to wake. "I better get going." Stepping back from the embrace, he nodded to his mother who in turn nodded back in understanding.
"Your pack and jacket are over there on the chair," she said as he threw on the black and red jacket over his shirt. After he had slung his silver satchel over his shoulder, he turned to head for the door. "Wait! Aren't you forgetting something?"
Chris looked back at his mother in confusion. She nodded at the table he'd just ate at. He shuffled over and noticed a brown piece of packaging on the counter. He looked back at her. "You didn't have to get me anything, mom."
"Great, I can still return it!"
"Say no more!" he replied, wasting little time in ripping open the package. He slowly turned the black cylindrical device over, a wild grin coming to his face at the sight of a golden "S" embedded at the top of the device.
Chris flipped open the gadget and found the wrist watch possessed two screens. The displays each held a block of text. As he began to read it aloud, he realized immediately that it was a pre-programmed message. -The PokéGear Version 6 is the newest, most up-to-date version in the PokéGear line. It is the ultimate tool for both Pokémon trainers and everyday life. The PokéGear Version 6 comes equipped with multiple features, each of which can be used by trainers and travelers alike. Version 6's features include a detailed map of the Johto region, calling and texting functionality, a top of the line camera, a notes section, and of course, the ability to listen in to all of the fantastic Johto Broadcasting stations. Please enjoy your new PokéGear."
Scrolling back through each feature, Chris noticed that his mom had already added her phone number into the contact list. He smiled, realizing that she had prepared for this moment for a long time. He shut the PokéGear and strapped it around his wrist. Its sleek design and black color matched well with his attire.
"You're awesome, mom!" Chris exclaimed as he turned to thank her. He blinked away confusion upon finding he was alone in the room. The reason for his absence slowly dawned on him. Chris wiped a bead of water from his own eye as he spoke aloud, making sure his voice carried throughout the house, "Goodbye, mom! Next time I see you, I plan on having all eight badges!"
He stepped through the doorway and immediately felt the cool breeze drifting off the bay. He shut the door behind him and swiftly made his way down the porch and across the yard. He found himself facing his house one last time. A thought came into his head and his feet faltered. I wonder if this is how every trainer feels when they start their journey, Chris thought. What was running through your mind? The photo hanging in the kitchen drifted into his thoughts.
Had he done enough?
Chris had spent years preparing for this moment. He had watched his brother battle from a young age. The trainer had begged his mother into buying countless videos of trainer tutorials and top ranked battles. He had volunteered at the local library to re-shelve books just so he could have the first opportunity to snatch up trainer guides. Now that the time had come, the young man began to think back to those same books and the thousands of trainers they depicted across the world. These men and women already had a leg up on him in experience and strength. On top of that, eight powerful and world renown Gym Leaders stood in Chris' way. Surpassing his brother and becoming the best trainer in Johto could end up being a pipe dream. It'd be downright impossible if he lost his way. His mother had been right to remind him.
The future trainer took a deep breath and turned away from his home. With each passing step, an infectious sense of opportunity spread deeper into his heart. He'd work hard—harder than his brother and father combined.
It wasn't long before he had disappeared into the crowded streets.
As of May 2018, I've been going back and re-editing/rewriting some of these old chapters! For longtime H&S fans, I hope you see a drastic improvement in the quality of the writing. Look for notes on these early chapters to see when they're updated and improved. I'm looking to make Heart and Soul the best story it can be! Thanks!