Chapter Text
Our story begins with Lian Harper as she faces the greatest decision of her life so far.
“Oh my god, is she eenie-meenie-miny-moe’ing it?” Roy asks.
“Shhh, you’re being rude,” Jason whispers as he elbows Roy in the ribs.
“This is your fault,” Roy whispers back, ignoring the the harsh shushing coming from the other parents gathered outside the Pokémon Center. “Why did you have to make that stupid spreadsheet with the pros and cons of all the starters?”
It’s a whole thing in the community, the Pokémon Selection event. Every year, the children of appropriate age who have decided they want to become Pokémon Masters get the blessing of the Center Leader to make their merry way around the globe to achieve their dream. It’s a great way to get into that world plus they get extra perks like an official Pokédex and free entries to participate in tournaments and competitions. Roy thinks he's been incredibly supportive of Lian and her choices for her future.
“Because the first ‘mon is important! It’s going to be her best friend!”
Roy doesn’t say anything else because Jason lost his first Pokémon and that is a really sore subject everyone tries to avoid at all costs.
On stage, Lian hems and haws for a bit more until she snatches one of the Poké Balls up and raises it above her head like it’s a trophy. “I’m gonna name him Ray!”
There’s a snicker or two somewhere in the crowd but mostly, everyone just politely claps.
Lian moves to the side to allow the next child to make their starter selection.
“Ray, almost like her daddy. That’s cute.” Jason says.
Roy nods but doesn’t say anything. He’s too busy focusing on where Lian is sitting and marveling at how happy she looks as she kicks her legs; she’s too short for her feet to reach the ground and even though the other kids around look just as little, Lian looks even smaller. It makes something in Roy’s heart flutter.
“Jaybird,” Roy says with a gasps a few minutes later, “our Lian is leaving home.”
Jason looks at him with a confused frown. He claps automatically when he hears other people do it but he’s not entirely cognizant of doing so. He’s to busy looking at Roy and wondering where his panic is coming from.
“Don’t you get it!” Roy whispers frantically. “She’ll have to leave if she’s going to become a Pokémon Master!”
Jason stares. Then his eyes go wide because it finally clicks as to what’s making Roy go frantic.
“Do you understand?” Roy ask and he tugs on Jason’s jacket. “Do you realize what this means?”
The last child makes their choice and the kids are brought back to the front. Some adult on stage gives a speech but Roy is too busy pulling on Jason and Jason is frozen in place that both of them miss it. They only start behaving relatively normal again when Lian runs to them. She gives Roy the fiercest hug.
“I chose Treecko!” Lian yells.
“That’s an awesome choice.” Jason says as he pats her head.
“Sure is,” Roy says. He hugs Lian tightly.
“Okay,” Lian says as she tries to pull away. “It’s time for me to go.”
“Go?” Roy says as he realizes he’s practically bear-hugging Lian. He really doesn’t want her out of his sight.
“Dad!” Lian says. She reaches out for Jason but Jason pretends to cough and moves away discreetly. “Dad! I gotta go if I want to travel with the others to Gotham.”
“You’re not going to challenge Gotham’s gym first!” Jason says with a mean snarl.
Lian rolls her eyes. “No duh, Jay-Jay. But everyone is traveling together there so we’re gonna all hang out on the way and Grandpa Bruce told me to stop by so he could give me some gifts.”
“Uh, baby? Isn’t that cheating?” Roy asks. “Not everyone has the hookup with the CEO of Wayne Tech.”
“Hey! This is Pokémon training. It’s every person for themselves out there!”
“Right, right,” Roy says still holding onto Lian tightly. “But hey! Wouldn’t it be a good idea to visit Grandpa Ollie first? We can take that scenic train that takes like three weeks to get to the other side of the country! We’ll make it a family vacation.”
Jason nods. “Yes, let’s do that.”
“Nope. I’ll go see Grandpa Ollie later, when I’ve raised a fire type. I’m going to kick his butt on the first try!”
Jason pulls out one of his Poké Balls. “Here, take Torkoal. I can help you two bond while we travel to Star—”
“I’m not traveling with you two,” Lian says, sounding every bit like a bratty teenager. “Seriously, let me go Dad! I still gotta hug Jay-Jay good-bye!”
Jason pulls her right out Roy’s arms and into his. “Seriously, take Torkoal. He’s already in the triple digit levels.”
Lian kisses his cheek. “No, he’s yours. You can’t send him away. Besides, I want to do this all on my own.”
Roy snatches her right back. “You can take one of mine instead. Jaybird doesn’t know how to optimize move sets.”
“Like hell I don’t.”
Lian kisses Roy’s cheek too and then pulls away, almost kicking Roy in the shin on accident. “Oh no, they’re leaving. Let me go! Let me go!” She grabs her bag that’s been at their feet and races away yelling, “Bye! I love you!”
Roy is stunned for about two seconds then he growls. “Come on, I’m not letting her travel alone to Gotham of all places along some snot-nosed babies.”
Jason sticks his hand out to stop him. He’s waving at Lian even though she isn’t even looking at them; she’s too busy chatting with the group of children whom are slowly started to head away from the Center. There’s one or two kids chasing after the group bringing the total count to maybe nine kids walking together from what Roy can tell. Roy hates it that all of these adults are just letting the kids go by themselves with zero adult supervision but he’s starting to hate Jason a bit more for not letting him drag his daughter back to safety.
“Let’s be smart about this,” Jason says. His attitude shifts and Roy can tell he’s making that mental switch from Jason Todd to Red Hood. (Alright, Roy forgives him.) “We can’t follow too closely. We’ve trained her well enough that she’ll catch on pretty quick if we do. She’ll be pissed if she catches us.”
“So we treat this like a mission,” Roy says.
“Exactly,” Jason says. “We’re going full Red Hood and Arsenal with this shit. Get your gear.”
“Way ahead of you, I’ve got everything I need with me right now.”
The two head after Lian, sending Roy’s Corviknight up ahead while they remain a safe distance away. They’re professionals and know how to follow a target at long distance. Roy’s Pokemon are especially trained for that. Even though Lian could recognize any of their Pokémon in a heartbeat, they feel confident enough that they can keep her from finding out what they are doing.
Unbeknownst to Roy and Jason, Lian is having a grand time doing her own thing. She’s making friends, putting her survival skills to the test and loving every second of the adventure. Unlike some of her fellow companions who are capturing the first Pokémon they see, Lian has decided to be a bit more selective. She’s seen how amazing the bond between human and Pokémon can be when there’s time to cultivate it. She wants that. She wants the amazing teamwork Roy has with his Pokémon and she wants to be able to rely on her Pokémon like Jason does with his.
She already has a plan in mind as to what Pokémon her team is going to consist of. And she knows exactly what she needs to get it done.
This is how Lian Harper’s amazing Pokémon journey begins…but will Roy and Jason’s lack of trust in her ruin it all?