Chapter Text
Casey was a 10 year old kid, they had mid length brown hair, a rather skinny frame from undereating, standing at 4 feet tall. Casey had been known in his small Kanto village as a nuisance, messing with peoples stalls.
Casey woke up, getting out of his bed, rushing. He had turned 10. Today was the day he was going to get a pokemon. His father was a researcher working for the Kanto government, he couldn’t wait to see what they’d give him. He rushed downstairs to see his mom and dad embracing, whispering to one another.
“Today's my birthday! I’m 10!” he was excited like any 10 year old should be, he’d finally get a pokemon companion. So why did his mom and dad look so sad? This was their big day, they’re gonna be just like their big sister. She was a captain in the Kanto Ice brigades,
They were used as a quick response force to enemy Dragonite attacks. Where Johto dragon ace’s would soar through the Kanto skies and burn down anything they deemed a target. Lavender town used to be a thriving village, before it got burnt. The old tower was destroyed by a coordinated set of hyper beams.
The Ice brigades were seen as heroes, saving villages and intercepting these terrors, they also had higher casualty rates than any other brigade, since any dragonite ace knew to hit them with flamethrowers. Not to mention they were now hunted by a team using pokemon never seen before. It was well documented that Johto had no Native species of fire types, however a new pokemon, Presumed to be a genetically altered Furret, now melted through any ice brigades unfortunate enough to hit their path, the only counter they had being the uncommon cloyster, being notoriously hard to train.
“Yes Casey, It’ll be a big day, But to get your pokemon we have to go to Vermillion City”
“Why that old port town, don’t you have a lab here?”
Vermillion was mostly used as a shipping center for goods from other regions, it had been heavily hit by Johto forces but held strong thanks to the shock Troops holding the waters and clearing the skies. It was said that Lt. Surge was a demon, destroying entire platoons on his own, He was also one of the rare trainers to fight alongside his pokemon, wielding a revolver and a multitude of emp grenades. The only reason ships still came into the port was an international code that exempted ships flying the colors of neutral regions, unless sufficient suspicion could be held against them, in which case they can be stopped and boarded.
Before they could exit the door, he got hugged by their crying mother “I love you baby, stay safe”
They couldn’t understand. Did something happen? Was she afraid for them?
“I’ll be right back mom, I’m gonna be a trainer soon!.”
She wiped the tears from her eyes, but more just kept on flowing. “I know sweety, I know you’ll be the very best” she gave him one last hug, before giving dad a kiss ewww
They exited the house, being greeted by their neighbor, One professor Oak, whom Casey’s dad worked for. He was a kind man, starting to gray in his older age, and apparently working on something super secret. According to their dad anyway. He said
“How is it Polus? '' He held out his hand for Polus to shake, who took it after a moment of hesitation.
“Always a pleasure Oak, but i’m afraid we can’t stay long”
Oak seemed to ignore their father’s rushed tone
“Ah and Young Casey. I heard you were getting a pokemon today young Casey, do you know which one?”
“Dad told me it’d be a secret, he wanted to surprise me”
Oak smiled, but it didn’t seem to reach his eyes
“Ah yes, he’s kept it secret from everyone in town, not even saying whom he will see, but I have a couple ideas”
Their dad grabbed Casey’s shoulders, pushing them towards their Car, a topless car made in Kalos, shipped over to Kanto from one of their dad’s business friends in Unova.
“Really wish we could talk more Oak, but as you know Ones pokemon journey doesn’t wait”
Oak stopped smiling, extending his arm out to their dad“I’d urge you to reconsider..”
“I said we are going, cmon Casey”
His dad entered their family vehicle, a luxury in these times. He patted the seat next to him.
“I’ll explain everything on the way.”
They rode in silence, Casey bouncing in his seat
What will I get? I hope it’s a Chansey, like my dad, or a Doduo like mom, or maybe even a Cubone, they’re adorable
“So Casey, I need you to understand this is for your best. You remember Professor Jasmine?”
“The Crazy guy from Unova?”
“He is a respected colleague of mine, working in the field of Pokemon and Human relations.” It was a respected member of the field. He worked to understand the effects battling and other pokemon sports had on human Pokemon relations. Citing a multitude of things like increased aggressiveness of wild pokemon, the destruction of pokemon’s habitats. Even questioning the ethicality of poke balls and the pc system.
“ He will meet us in Vermillion, he’s gonna take you to Unova for your journey. ”
“But why? I want to be here, with all of you, you, mom, and Fiora, even if she can be a butt sometimes.”
Their dad’s eyes saddened at the mention of their sister. why? She was a hero!
“Look things have changed, if you try to start your journey here the government will conscript you without a second though, I can’t let that happen”
They bubbled with excitement, they might be able to help their sister!
“But then I could help Big sis, You know how she always finds trouble.”
Their dad clenched the steering wheel harder, clenching his teeth.
“She could show me the ropes! It’d be so fun!”
“ENOUGH!” Silence filled the car, even the woods surrounding them were quiet.
“Why not? I’d be safest with her”
Their dad slammed on the brakes, turning to Them with.. Tears in his eyes. “Fiora… she’s gone sweetheart”
Gone, but where could they have gone? Big sis would never leave them behind.
“Her brigade got ambushed, some of them made it back, they said your big sis” their dad sniffled, wiping away tears “That she held them off alone, telling the rest to run. They were only able to find her trainer card, singed beyond repair.”
No it’s not possible, big sis was strong, one of the strongest in Kanto, she couldn’t. They wouldn’t….
He went to hug them, before deciding against it, starting the vehicle.
“You’ll be safe in Unova, it’s on the other side of the Lugian Sea, far from this war.”
The rest of the car ride was spent with Casey curled into a ball, crying over the loss of their big sister, the person who taught them to swim, who told them of all the amazing things in the world. Who taught them how to fish, to Work alongside pokemon.
They arrived at the docks of Vermillion, To meet the sights of battle. Tens of Magnetons, Raichu, and Electabuzz stood on the shore’s end, fighting back Octillary, Jumpluff, and Quagsire. Trainers issuing orders, pokemon fainting and dying. Alongside The famed Lt.Surge, fighting alongside his Raichu, battling a Skarmory and its trainer.
His dad swerved the vehicle to dodge a Hydro Pump. Nearly Flipping the Vehicle before coming to a stop, he dragged Casey out of their car, rushing for the boat currently in harbor, being swarmed by Noctowl.
“They shouldn’t be attacking the Unovan ship.Where is the old man? '' said their father, swiping at a Noctowl that went for Casey
“Polus! This way!” Jasmine waved both his arms, motioning for them to hurry up. The ship’s steam engine roaring to life
Casey felt a rush of wind slam into them, as the Skarmory used hurricane throwing debris across the pier,
They were less than 20 feet from the bridge when Casey felt weightless, he hadn’t noticed it but a lantern had snuck under the dock. His dad had felt the deck shake before making a final decision. His son felt himself being flung through the air, as their dad finished throwing him, the deck below him receding as he fell into a whirlpool
“Dad!”
“NOOO LET GO OF ME”
“He saved your life Casey”
“No… Why didn’t you help him? WHY?!”
Jasmine brought him to the lower deck, where there were plenty of stowaways, some as young as 5.
“I’m so sorry Casey”
“No….” he, why didn’t he
Casey slunk down the wall, finally being let go by Jasmine, as the ship escaped the battle ridden harbor. Crying softly
Polus knew this was probably the end, at least one of his kids would be safe.
He used his final seconds to chuck release chansey onto the pier, confused as they looked for their trainer, before seeing Polus being pulled into the whirlpool, and using a move Polus had said never to Use, Metronome as it jumped in after him. It felt its body be forced to use a move not within its natural limits’ as it fell two huge cyclones of air shoot out of it, blasting every surrounding pokemon away, and launching it and its trainer onto land. It laid there, its owner unmoving beside it, its body strained beyond belief. And it fainted, drifting into unconsciousness.
Jasmine paced the upper deck. The night sky filled with the beautiful sight of the starry sky. This was bad. Now he had a kid, and no one to collect the debt from. Polus had to go and sacrifice himself. Damn idiot. He needed the information from Oaks lab or Ghetsis would have his head.
Polus had told him of a pokemon made for war, completely man made. And for some reason his only sponsor Ghetsis wanted it. If he had some proof though, that’d make him a worldwide name. People across the globe could see just how dangerous People were for pokemon.
Now what to do with the kid.. He gripped the rail, deep in thought.
Jasmine heard the usual sound of Xtrareviever ringing, he opened it to see the ever serious face of Colress, another professor working for Ghetsis, albeit more Independently. Jasmine had always believed in the Goals of Team Plasma, wanting pokemon to be free, however Colress only cared about a pokemon's power, and Ghetsis always seemed busy whenever he brought up Colress’s abuse of pokemon.
“So do you have the documents?”
Always right to the point
“Well not yet bu…”
“You do know our agreement right? You get the documents, and I don’t have to get my hands dirty”
“Well there had been a battle at the dock.. There had been no time to retrieve them”
“Ah yes, Kanto forever stuck in war, it’d be a shame if someone had gone missing in such a chaotic place, right Jasmine?”
As Jasmine was about to say some form of apology, to placate the man Colress continued
“I know of you working behind my back as well, trying to get rid of my funding from team Plasma, and we can’t have that.” Jasmine didn’t even have time to react before a hooded figure pushed him over the railing into the depths.