1 Chapter 1

Kalen leaned half hidden in the shadows against the schoolyard fence, paint coming off in flakes and the brittle wood digging into his back. His flinty eyes watched impassively as the children his age ran around, laughing, the adults watching with soft smiles on their faces. He knew the second he stepped into sight, the second their eyes locked onto his, their smiles would turn to sneers, fear and contempt battling for dominance in their gazes.

Demon child, spawn of the devil, they would murmur, not caring if the boy overheard. He didn't care. He was used to this. Besides, their opinion meant nothing. They were weak and cowardly, only coming to bully him in their little gangs or with adult supervision. Kalen curled his lip into a vicious sneer, no, he didn't care about them or their worthless opinions, he was destined for something greater than this pathetic little village in the middle of nowhere.

The 8 year old turned, ducking further into the shadows as he left the schoolyard behind. Kalen knew there would be hell to pay when he got back but he couldn't find it in himself to care today. Today, he paused, turning to face the house his feet had unwittingly took him to. It was a normal looking place, the sound of children laughing and the cry of a newborn baby pierced the air.

Kalen swallowed back his anger, pushing down the familiar rush of power flooding through his veins and he knew if he were to look into a mirror, he would see the ethereal purple fading back into his normal green. He turned and headed into the forest, scaling the familiar tree deep inside. He collapsed against the trunk with a weary sigh, eyes gazing off into nothing as his mind spiraled deeper into his memories.

2 years ago. That was when everything went to shit. Well, went more to shit. He still remembered that night vividly, the peaceful night, the calm before the storm. He'd been woken up by a scream, even at the young age of six, he knew the people didn't like him, the vicious glares and vitriol muttered in his direction.

Kalen froze, he knew they hated him, but they hadn't yet done anything that would harm them. He crept off the bed, his steps silent as he stalked towards the source of the scream. His heart stopped when he realized where the sound originated from, his mother's room. He pushed open the door slowly, heart pounding loudly in his ears.

He was drowning. Drowning in the waves of emotion slamming into him, burying him in their relentless onslaught. Because laying there, in a pool of her own blood, glassy eyes unseeing, was his mother, the only one who ever loved him, the only reason he could call this place home. She was dead. She was gone. Forever.

Kalen was vaguely aware of the sobs he let out through the pounding in his head as he turned and bolted, shoving the door open and running deep into the forest. Running and running, as if he could outrun the horrible nightmare he had found himself in. He finally staggered to a stop what felt like hours later, falling to his knees and dry heaving as he remembered the empty look in his mother's eyes and he choked on another sob, curling up into a ball, shivering. It was so cold. He was so tired. So damn tired. His eyes closed.

'Not yet, child,' a regal voice vibrated in his head and a warm, purple glow surrounded him.

"Mom?" Kalen rasped out, his hand reaching out to grasp at nothing.

A low chuckle sounded and he felt a comforting presence wrap around him. It felt warm, safe. His eyes drooped and he snuggled closer to the being.

'You have gone through a lot, but unfortunately there is still more that will be asked from you. There is a long journey in front of you young one. But for now, rest.'

Kalen exhaled, and felt himself drift off.

He found himself back at the village the next day, devoid of memory except the faint purple that he could see in his minds eye when he concentrated. The purple his eyes turned when he was angry, the purple he found himself unconsciously correlating to safe.

Even at 6, Kalen was extremely smart, when all the kids hated you and wanted nothing to do with you, there was a lot of free time available. Free time he used to study. Everything from pokemon to people. But he didn't have to be a genius to know who was responsible for what happened to his mother.

Officially it was deemed a wild pokemon attack. A pitiful excuse that even the stupidest child would at least think it suspicious. His mother's body was littered with stab wound and the house was completely undamaged, no sign of a wild pokemon breaking in. They knew he would put it together. They were responsible for what happened to his mother. They watched with glee as he was told he was to be put into a foster home as a result of the "unfortunate accident" that occurred. He did nothing to curb the rush of anger, his eyes shifting color and watched with satisfaction as they flinched back. It earned him a slap to the face and being locked up in his room without food. He didn't regret it.

From then on Kalen studied. He knew how he was going to get out of this cursed village. He was going to become a pokemon trainer. Kalen read every book he could find on the topic, questioned passing trainers, observed wild pokemon, all in preparation to leave the village, all in preparation for today.

At 10 years old, 3 lucky kids were chosen to receive a starter from a pokemon professor. If you didn't get a starter, tough luck, wait til next year. The professor didn't only give you a starter, they gave you a pokedex, the only thing that could register you as an official trainer, allowed to buy pokeballs and take the gym challenge.

Kalen didn't want to wait til he was 10 and even if he did, he knew there was a slim chance he would be selected to get a pokemon. He wasn't stupid, those picked were either the top in their class at the pokemon school, had influential parents, or had a shit ton of money. He barely attended classes, his mom was dead, and all the money he had was stolen. Add the fact that everyone in a 5 mile radius knew him and despised him. Well, there was no way he was getting a pokemon. At least, not through legal means.

And that's how he ended up here, sneaking through the professor's lab in the dead of night, a few hours before the lucky kids would get their pokemon. Everything was left out in preparation for the big day and there was a surprising lack of security in the lab.

Kalen pushed open a door and smirked, three pokeballs were on a pedestal, the symbol for fire, water, and grass painted delicately on the surface. He scanned the room and noticed 3 sets of pokedexs coupled with 15 pokeballs. He stepped forward grabbing a pokedex and pocketing 5 pokeballs.

And that's when the alarm went off, a loud blaring sound that hurt his head and sent panic shooting through him. He heard yelling and he turned, bolting to the pedestal. To his surprise there was a box of pokeballs sitting at the bottom. He didn't have much time to contemplate, the voices were getting closer, he was running out of time.

Kalen paused and reached out grabbing...

1.) Turtwig

2.) Chimchar

3.) Piplup

4.) A random ball in the box. (If this option is chosen a number will be generated from 1-493 and the pokemon with the corresponding number will be picked. If it lands on a legendary it will be rerolled. There will be no pokemon after Sinnoh.)