Chapter Text
Eva was born in Ivoi, a nation united by its Pokémon, language, and culture, yet diverse by its traditions. Ivoi is unique because half of the Pokémon population is made up of Eevee and its evolutions! The ecosystem, of course, has adapted to this during centuries, and everything thrives there.
Ivoi is divided in 19 regions, and to each one of them is attributed one Pokémon type, except for the region of Ombrea, which is considered Sacred Soil - no human is allowed to enter there, except for the highest priestess.
The capital city of Roema is located in the Lazo region, which is attributed to the Grass type. A river flows there, the Tenere, whose waters flow into the Ivic Sea, or Mediterrean Sea, that surrounds the peninsula.
From Eva’s city to the capital, it's a good forty-minute bike ride. It's a worthwhile effort, as the region's largest Pokémon Lab is located there. In the Pokémon Lab, you can choose with which Pokémon you’ll start your journey, and it is where Eva, tomorrow, will make a big choice.
It's a quiet evening. Eva's parents have already gone to bed, but for Eva, this night is special: it precedes the beginning of her Pokémon Journey!
Unlike the nation of Nippo, in Ivoi, you have to wait until you're fifteen to set off on an adventure, and those extra five years have taken their toll! Luckily, Eva doesn't have to wait any longer: just one night's rest, and her dream will come true.
…if only it was that simple to fall asleep. Excitement is flowing thru her veins, her heart beats rapidly.
Eva, kneeled on the pavement, rethinks all her plans: choose Cocomi, the Grass-Type Starter, set out, and become the strongest! A plan as straightforward as it is difficult: there are so many other kids aiming for the top like her. But Eva is a skilled strategist, and if she intends to win, she wins. This is but another challenge.
«I see you’re awake», comments a feminine and unknown voice.
Eva stops what she’s doing and looks at her window: there, an Eevee is looking at her.
Eva has no clue how it reached the window, nor does she know why that Eevee’s fur is pitch black; all she can focus on is that the Pokémon just talked.
Eevee tilts her head. «Nice to meet you. My name is Nerina, and I’m an Eevee.»
Eva shakes her head. «…I’m sorry… what? You talk?»
«Yes, I do. Anything else you want to ask me before I explain my arrival?»
«I- just- how? — Eva points at her black fur. — Isn’t it supposed to be brown? Or, like, silver if you’re shiny? And, and… how can you talk?»
«These are fewer questions than I expected, actually», Nerina comments. «I can talk because I’m a Blessed Eevee. A Blessed Eevee is an Eevee, born into the Sacred Soil, that is chosen by Arkheon, our Deity. My fur is like this for the same reason.»
«I… don’t understand. Everything’s happening too fast.»
«Arkheon, the Sin-Eater, the Everchanging Deity of Evolution, has chosen me as your companion. Thus, you are blessed as well», explains Nerina without answering the implied question. «I understand if you’re confused or scared. I felt like that too.»
Eva shakes her head again. «No, I… I will start my Pokémon Journey tomorrow. This is all a dream.»
Nerina enters the moonlit room. She puts her paw on one of her knees, gently. «It’s not. Pinch yourself if you don’t believe me… but the truth is this.»
Eva does as told, and the spark of pain she feels is a too strong indicator of reality.
She’s not dreaming. Not at all.
What is happening?
It’s pretty clear what’s happening, but Eva doesn’t want to believe it. She knows well what a Blessed Eevee is and how important this encounter is. A Blessed Eevee is something mythical, something that only happens in legends. No one has ever seen one in person; the most virtuous can only glimpse them from afar. Eva is but a mere worshipper of Arkheon, just like everyone else in Ivoi. She’s… common, to put it simply.
As if she understood her thoughts, Nerina continues: «Only Arkheon knows why you, or me, were chosen, but Khe doesn’t make any mistakes. Kheir choices are perfect and unquestionable.»
«I believe in Arkheon deeply, I trust Khem with my life, but… me?»
«I fear I cannot answer that question. Perhaps it’s something written inside of you.»
«No, no, I can’t, I’m not worthy, I’m just a girl that will start her Pokémon Journey tomorrow!»
Nerina looks at her with understanding eyes. They’re big and cream-colored. «You may not be the high priestess, but - trust me - you are way more worthy than what you think you are. Arkheon has chosen you because Khe thinks you’re the most fit to do it.»
A single tear drops from Eva’s eyes. She’s not sure whether it’s from sadness, tiredness, happiness or a mix of them. She feels overwhelmed. Too many things are happening at once.
Arkheon, the Everlasting and Everchanging Deity of Evolution, forbear and ancestor of all Eevees and Eeveelutions, the Pokémon second only to the Gods of Creation, Space, Time and Antimatter, has chosen her as a Blessed.
What should she do, now?
«I suggest you go to sleep firstly», says Nerina, «tomorrow you’ll have to wake up early.»
Eva stares at her with wide eyes. «You… you just told me I'm Blessed. You told me I was chosen by Arkheon Kherself to… to do what? How can I go to sleep?»
Nerina shakes her head. «I’m going to explain everything tomorrow. Instead of the Pokémon Laboratory, we’re visiting the Ancient Shrine. There’s something for you inside it.»
«Bu-but… the Ancient Shrine is visitable only by the high priestess…! I won’t even be able to get a glimpse of its interiors!»
«Eva», Nerina says firmly. «Do you trust me?»
«If I can be honest, not really…»
«It doesn’t matter now. I just need tomorrow to arrive, but we can’t stay awake. I shouldn’t say this, but, in a few hours, the Electric Sphere will cast a lighting onto the Ancient Shrine. Then, a gift for you will appear. But we can’t assist to such event… this is Arkheon’s will.»
Eva pinches herself again, and yet again nothing happens. Nerina just told her that the Electric Sphere, one of Arkheon’s Spheres that maintain order between the Types, will be active. Tonight. On the Ancient Shrine.
…seriously, can Nerina actually calm her down instead of adding weird and alarming info? Arkheon has not been this… “actively” active since the dawn of time, when the Creator asked Khem to keep order between the Types and allow evolution. This is taught everywhere from elementary to middle school.
And now, just for Eva, all of this is happening.
«Let’s go to sleep, Eva.»
So Eva finds herself lying on the bed, with Nerina curled up next to her. The Eevee sleeps peacefully, but the girl can't sleep.
Arkheon has chosen her. For what, she doesn't know.
She's not sure what she's really feeling right now; her whole body is in turmoil and her heart is pounding. She stares at the ceiling, her eyes heavy with sleep but unable to close. She blinks two, three times. She's still not sure if this is real. Maybe, once she “falls asleep”, she'll wake up on the floor, her body aching. Then she'll go to the Pokémon Lab and choose her Starter. And then, and then...
Eva falls asleep, exhausted.
Eva is aware that she’s dreaming. She’s not sure why, but she knows it.
She is immersed in total darkness, but it is not scary: it’s warm and welcoming, like the dark fur of an Umbreon.
Suddenly, various sparks of light appear in the air of nothing. Eva looks around, surprised and confused. The lights join together to form a figure of a Pokémon, not really recognizable because of the strong light it emanates.
She’s not sure why, but she isn’t frightened, even though the scene may be terrifying.
«Tell me your name», the mysterious Pokémon orders.
«I’m… Eva», she answers.
«Eva. The path ahead of you is long and fraught with danger. But I trust in your abilities.
Eva. Seek out all the fragments of me... and I shall reveal myself.»
A thousand lights surround her, Eva closes her eyes. A warm feeling permeates everything.
Eva wakes up suddenly, the dream vivid in her mind. «“Search all fragments of me”… what does it mean?» she mutters, bringing a hand to her head. «Who was that…?»
«It seems that Arkheon has said all there is to know», Nerina says, perched at the end of the bed. «It’s good that you remember your dream.»
Eva blinks a few times, then closes her eyes. Arkheon visited her in her dreams. She feels honored, but also a bit scared. She doesn’t want to disappoint her Deity now, since her path is confirmed.
«Do you know what the “fragments” are?» she asks Nerina.
«I’m not quite sure. I was thinking about the Spheres, maybe, but I don’t know.»
Eva sighs, but she makes a little smile. «I guess we’ll discover it along the way.»
«That’s right! …I’m glad to see you’re not too scared», says the Eevee. «I know it’s hard to accept. It took me a week.»
«We’re companions, now?» Eva gets off the bed. She went to sleep with yesterday’s clothes and now they’re all crumpled.
«Yes. Know that only you can understand me. The others only hear “Eevee, vee!” and things like that, I think.»
Eva looks at her. «…how can I introduce you to my family? How can I introduce you to anyone, actually?»
«Just say I’m a tanned Eevee, or a regional variant from a far nation like Chichina. Then we hope they believe it.» Nerina wagged her tail with nonchalance.
«This is the most horrible excuse I’ve ever heard. Can’t we directly say you’re Blessed?»
«Too risky.»
«Mh… the-»
«Eva? Are you ready?» a masculine voice interrupts them. It’s Eva’s father.
«Just a moment!» she replies, then Eva turns to Eevee. «We’ll have to find an excuse, and fast! Think of something while I get properly dressed!»
«Gotcha.»
Eva grabs the clothes she had laid out the night before. They're her best, in fact, her family had enough of them made for the Journey. She puts on the white lace shirt first, then the blue corset, the red skirt trimmed with fake gold, and finally the matching jacket with the golden bow. The clothing is traditional in style, Eva's choice, as she wanted to honor Nettuno Town during her travels. She adjusts her neck-length brown hair and partially covers them with a handkerchief. She’s ready!
«Nerina, have you thought of- Nerina?» Eva looks around, but the Eevee is absent. «Nerina?»
«Eva! If you wait more, you’ll lose your Starter!» her father calls her.
«Coming!» she shouts of response. Nerina is probably hiding somewhere. Eva leaves the room and quickly descends the stairs, almost tripping.
She reaches the living room, where her parents are.
«Iacopo and Isabella have already gone to Professor Fir's Laboratory to get their Starter. Hurry!» her mom gently scolds her. «Otherwise you won’t get Cocomi!»
«I’m going, I’m going!» Eva exclaims, putting on her shoes and heading out running. She doesn’t know what to do. Pick her Starter, despite already having her Partner Pokémon (kinda)?
She runs towards the Pokémon Lab, although Nerina told her to meet in the Ancient Shrine, still pounding with questions. Where is Eevee? Is she following her, somewhere? Is she still at home?
All in all, it's a beautiful morning, with the crisp, cool air typical of autumn. It would be even better if Eva wasn’t involved in some strange business regarding Arkheon Kherself, but what can she do? Say no? That’s heresy, at best. And also, a part of her feels honored for that. She was chosen by her Deity, whom she loves deeply and prays to every day. Arkheon obviously knows what Khe’s doing.
If she’s fit for it, then she doesn’t have anything to fear.
She hopes.
She arrives at the Lab out of breath, almost hobbling along by sheer force of will. Her house is the furthest from the Pokémon Lab, and the enormous hill it's on certainly doesn't help.
«Eva? You finally arrived!» Marika, one of Professor Fir’s assistants, greets her. «Calm down, breathe, Iacopo and Isabella have not chosen their Starter yet.»
Eva almost blurts out a “I don’t need a Starter”, but thankfully stops herself before making a mess.
«C’mon, come in. They decided to wait for you», Marika urges her. «Isabella said you would have complained for days and days if you didn't have the chance to choose.»
Eva squints in stress. Of course it is Isabella who said it. «How kind of her…» she mutters, heading inside.
The Pokémon Lab is a gigantic facility, home to countless different Pokémon. It's a paradise for those who want to study them without having to spend hours searching for them. Compared to other Pokémon Labs, like those in Nippo, this one has a more traditional style: it's made of polished stone and other hard materials designed to withstand the elements and Pokémon. The simple wall decorations are hidden by dozens of sheets of paper stuck onto them with special magnets.
Eva and Marika arrive at the central room, filled with modern machines and other things that are in contrast with the old-fashioned design.
«Eva! There you are!» exclaims Professor Fir. She is a woman in her forties, with dusty-pink hair and kind dark eyes. She is the one who gives the Starter Pokémon to the new Trainers. «You’re just in time.»
«I had some… trouble along the way», Eva lies.
«Just say you forgot to set the alarm», scoffs a girl. She has dark hair and olive eyes, bronze-like skin and wears a traditional dress like Eva. She’s Isabella.
Eva stifles a biting insult. She's used to Isabella's rudeness.
«That’s not what happened. I bet I woke up earlier than you, anyway.»
Isabella rolls her eyes. «I highly doubt it. Everyone’s been waiting for you, y’know?»
«Girls!» Professor Fir calls to order the two. Eva and Isabella eye each other, then they enter a salon that houses a large circular machine, with thirty different Poké Balls on top. Around it there are other girls and boys, all eager to choose their Starter from the newly hatched Eggs in the Pokémon Lab.
«Who wants to go first?» asks Professor Fir.
All the children raise their hands, leaning forward, trying to be seen. All the children, except Eva. She shifts her feet tensely, unsure of what to do. Procrastination is the best option, but — like every best choice — it's the most difficult. Professor Fir notices her and asks: «You don’t want to choose?»
«Erm, I… I decided I want to wait», Eva tries to explain herself, hesitantly.
«Aah? You changed your mind, huh?» Isabella crosses her arms. «Is Cocomi no longer in your good graces?»
Eva closes her eyes, and sighs loudly. «Choose quickly, so I can get rid of you sooner.»
«Girls…!» Professor Fir claps her hands. «Alba, you choose first.»
A girl with brown hair and eyes cheers, then walks over to the Poké Balls and picks Pruneton, the Fire Starter. After her, all the other kids choose their Starter Pokémon, until only two Poké Balls are left; only Eva and Isabella remain.
«I’ll go first», says Isabella without Professor Fir’s permission. She looks at Eva with a smirk and picks Cocomi.
«…» Eva doesn’t say anything. She's tense as a rope, not knowing what to do. Time's up, and Nerina's still nowhere to be seen. She walks hesitantly toward the last remaining Poké Ball, which houses an Electric-type Pokémon whose name she can't remember. Will she choose that one?
«Ve ve ve!» exclaims something.
Marika bursts through the door and exclaims: «Professor! A-a Blessed Eevee has appeared!»
To the shock of everyone present, Nerina jumps onto Eva's shoulders.
«Here I am!» she says. «Wonderful plan, isn’t it?»
«Eva… Eva!» screams Professor Fir. «Eva, that’s a Blessed Eevee!»
«I know- Really!?» Eva quickly corrects herself.
«The name’s Nerina», Eevee introduces herself, forgetting that only Eva can understand her. «And as you understood, I’m a Blessed Eevee.»
«Marika, call the high priestess! Eva, remain where you are! And still!»
Nerina sits comfortably on her shoulders and wags her tail lazily. Either she's unaware of everyone staring at her or she doesn't care. Although Eva has only known Nerina for a short time, she can confidently say it's the second option.
«All this fuss and for what?»
«Nerina, in case you forgot we’re deeply religious here…» whispers back Eva, making sure no one can see or hear her. «Seeing a Blessed Eevee is no everyday thing. It’s a miracle.»
«I know, I know, but they should be happy, not worried. Sometimes I don’t understand humans.»
Before Eva can respond, the high priestess arrives.
Her name is Vanna. Virtually no one knows what color her hair is, because it's always covered by a large white and gold veil. Her eyes are hazel. She wears a long white dress and gold gloves. The colors are symbol of Arkheon.
Although her demeanor is calm and poised, it’s clear that she’s agitated.
«I was told that there’s a Blessed Eevee», she says. «I'm here to verify the facts.»
Eva picks up Nerina and shows her to Vanna. «It’s her.»
The high priestess looks at Nerina for one good minute, then she proclaims: «This girl has been blessed by Arkheon, the Everchanging Deity of Evolution! I shall take her to the Ancient Shrine.»
«She reacted better than I thought», comments whispering Eva.
«I mean, she’s the high priestess. She must’ve seen some weird stuff», replies Nerina.
«What is your name, young girl?»
Eva bites her lip. «My name is Eva.»
«Great things await you, Eva», Vanna says. «You shall become my apprentice.»
«Wait!» a voice protests. It’s Isabella’s. «She can't just become an apprentice overnight! Besides, what about us? Everyone here dreams of becoming the high priestess or priest! Are we not important now?»
«I never said that», Vanna calmly replies. «But Eva must become the next high priestess; not by our choice, but by Arkheon’s. We can only agree.»
Isabella looks down with clear envy, but doesn’t say anything else.
Professor Fir says: «We must inform Eva’s parents and get everything ready for the ceremony.»
«The ceremony for what?» asks Nerina. «I’m getting confused.»
«The ceremony for the next high priestess I believe», Eva replies. Then she realizes something crucial. «Wait!» she exclaims. «I cannot become the next high priestess! I dreamt- no, sorry, I simply can’t! My Pokémon Journey starts today and I-»
«I understand if you’re scared, but being the next high priestess is more rewarding», Vanna cuts her off. «Trust me, you’ll love it.»
Eva doesn’t know how to respond.