Chap 1

I sat on the edge of my tiny bed in darkness. My eyes fixed on the yellow, rectangular building that sat directly in front of my house. The trainer registration card I clutched in my hand reminded me of the future I desperately wanted, while the mustard-colored monstrosity standing before me was a constant reminder that I could never have it. I was too insignificant. Only trainers with parents of substance were invited to Professor Oak's Lab to receive their first Pokémon. The rest of us didn't exist.

I'd wanted to be a great trainer since I watched Ash win the championship when I was five. I had been obsessed with it so much so that everything I did was in preparation for me to be the best trainer I could be. When my registration card showed up three days ago, I was ecstatic. I marched into the Lab and up to Oak himself. I held the card out in front of me as if it was a badge made of solid gold. I expected a warm welcome to the world of Pokémon training, instead I received laughter. Hard, uncaring laughter meant to show me that I didn't matter in his eyes. He never even spoke to me. One of his flunkies told me to leave.

So here I was sitting in the dark watching, waiting for my chance to take my future into my own hands. I refused to be just another loser with dozens of average Pokémon and more battle losses than I could keep track of. I was destined to be great; Oak couldn't stop me. I put my card in my pocket and pulled on my black ski mask as the last light in the lab went dark. It was the final piece of the all black outfit I had picked out for myself. If my parents weren't passed out sleeping from working so hard, I would've been in a world of trouble. Silver linings, right? I waited longer still until I saw the lab tech walk out and lock the door behind them before I crept out of my house. I skulked to the row of windows beside the lab's entrance. At this point I needed a little luck. I wasn't an experienced burglar so breaking into a place without getting caught wasn't something I knew for a fact I could accomplish.

I hefted a large, grey stone in my right hand. I wasn't sure if there was an alarm on the window or not, I just knew that once I threw it, I would have only a few seconds to get in, locate and secure a Pokémon, and get away. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. As I raised the stone a cool breeze touched my covered skin somehow. The muggy night air returned after a few seconds and froze my throwing hand. Out of curiosity I tested the window in front of me with my left index finger. A hot rush of excitement coursed through me when it silently moved backward.

In less than a second, I was through the window and standing in the deserted lab. My eyes on the prize now I walked up to the empty, rectangular table. In the center of the table there was some kind of compartment. I searched the table for a switch and found a button on the right side. When I pressed it, the compartment opened with a slight hiss, as a display case rose to the surface of the table. I expected to see a poke ball, but there was only a black egg with dark blue and orange spots.

I took the egg from the display case and studied it for a few seconds. It was too big to fit into just one of my hands. I had to tuck it like a football to carry it and still have a free hand. I turned and started back toward the window. The sound of keys turning in the lock cut through the silence like the screeching of a thousand angry Spearow. My eyes scanned the room so quickly I started to get dizzy. There was no good place to hide in stupid, lab. I ducked behind the rectangular table and squeezed beneath it. Hugging the egg close to my chest I sat as still as I could.

The door opened and I heard several sets of feet enter. The first two sounded normal, like shoes on linoleum. The third was more of a fleshy thud, as if someone was pounding on the floor with their fists.

"And you're sure it's right this time, I won't accept another failure from you" Said a man with a voice more like that of an Ekans.

"Yes, for sure this time, I figured out what was wrong with the genetic code and fixed it earlier today. It's just hard to do without any of the others finding out." Said another man. His voice radiated fear.

"It better be fixed, because if it's not, it'll be the last time you fail at anything ever again."

"I understand completely sir."

The three of them walked up to the table. One of them wore long grey boots with orange bottoms. The second guy had on a long, white, lab coat. The third set of legs were bare, powder blue, and extremely muscular with only two toes. That's definitely not a human I thought to myself.

"Well Sir, I just hope this arrangement can finally end. It's too risky and stressful for me. I'm losing my hair."

"Ha, you think I care about your hopes. This arrangement will last as long as I say it does. Now shut up and give me my weapon!"

"Yes sir" The scientist said before the compartment made the hissing sound again.

I gritted my teeth. I was the only person in the room that knew there was nothing inside.

"Where is it?" Snake voice demanded.

"I, I don't know. It was right here. I swear.

There was a loud bang on the table above me. It startled me so bad I almost dropped the egg.

"This is a failure, I warned you not to fail me again."

"It's not a failure, it's just not here. I can get it back. I just need some time."

"Time, no there's no more time. You were right after all this agreement needs to come to an end. Champ give the Doc here his severance package please."

"No, no please don't. I have a fa...." His plea was interrupted by a sickening crunch. His lifeless body dropped to the floor afterward. His empty, glassy eyes staring directly at me. I wanted to scream and run but fear's icy grip held me in place like an invisible chain.

"We'll come back in the morning and blend in with the police and see what we can find out."

The two of them walked out and left the poor scientist lying where he fell. I hated that I caused that to happen. It bothered me even more that I couldn't do anything to help the scientist, but if I had spoken up, I would've been the one lying there. I said a silent sorry to the scientist and snuck back out the way I had come in. Thoughts swirled in my head about what would be happening next. The only thing I knew for sure was that I could not be anywhere near Pallet Town when that body was discovered.