Pokemon: Haven Crisis

Niko's Beginning

Niko bolted out of the lab, shiny new Pokeball in one hand, and a Pokedex in the other. "Okay! Thanks Professor!" He called back over his shoulder as he headed for the edge of town. Today was the day. He was finally 10 years old and could start his journey. He felt so full of energy despite having barely slept the night before. He stopped at the edge of town and turned around and gave New Bark one final look. "Won't be back here for awhile I guess. I think I might actually miss it." He said to himself. Niko held up his Pokeball and looked at it with awe. He held in his hand, his first Pokemon, his partner. He hadn't met the Pokemon contained within yet, but that was about to change. He tossed the ball forward yelling "I choose you!" as he did. The ball burst open with a flash of white light, the ball returned to his hand as if summoned by some unforseen force. The white light coalesced into a small creature with a long nose. It had a tan underbelly and maroon fur on it's back. The small Pokemon yawned and looked around confused. "Oh right. Your last memory was probably being in the lab huh?" Niko said, clapping his right fist onto his left palm. "Well don't worry little buddy, we're gonna be the best of friends you and me!" Niko said, reaching for the Pokemon. It's confusion turned to panic and it let out a startled "Cyndaaaaa" as teal colored flames erupted from it's back. It hunched forward and growled at Niko, the flames on it's back rolling intensely as it did. 

Niko took a startled step back. "No no little guy. I'm your trainer. Don't be afraid." Niko said holding his hands out, attempting to seem like less of a threat. This failed and the Cyndaquil lunged forward and bit Niko's hand. Niko yelled out in pain. With his free hand he managed to get the Pokeball's return feature activated, a red beam of light shot out of the ball and struck the Cyndaquil, turning it's body into red energy and sucking it back into the ball. Niko shook his hand, attempting to get rid of the pain. "Oh good. It didn't set anything on fire." A voice came from behind Niko. 

Niko turned around in alarm.  He jumped when he saw Professor Elm standing there, hunched over breathing heavily. "I'm not as young as I used to be. You run really fast kid." The professor said between breaths. "You left the lab before I could explain anything. That Cyndaquil is very shy. My aides and I have been working with it, but it's really only warmed up to me. I had hoped you'd take Totodile or Chikorita, but regardless, you're it's trainer now." the professor straightened his posture. "Can I see it's Pokeball? I'll give you two a proper introduction."

Niko nodded and handed the professor the ball. Elm wasted no time in letting the Cyndaquil back out. It saw Niko and growled, before it could do anything more, Elm picked it up and scratched it's head. "Take it easy little one. This boy is your trainer. He's going to take good care of you from now on ok?" The Cyndaquil seemed to relax instantly, Niko noted that it's demeanor totally changed. 

"That's incredible professor!" Niko said excitedly. Elm chuckled before responding. "It's something they taught us when I was studying to be a professor. Younger Pokemon like your Cyndaquil need the care and affection like this to form a proper bond with their trainer. Here, why don't you try it Niko?" Elm extended his arms, handing Cyndaquil to Niko. Niko took Cyndaquil gently, he felt it tense up in his arms. "Don't worry little guy. I promise, like the professor said, I'm gonna take really good care of you!" Niko said as he reached slowly and began scratching it's head. The Cyndaquil stayed tense, but after a moment or so it relaxed a bit. 

"Now that IS incredible. It took me weeks to get it that relaxed. You have a real talent Niko. You should really consider being a professor one day." Elm said with another chuckle. "Alright, I'll have to get back to the lab now. You have my Pokegear number if you need anything. So you two go and have an exciting journey!" Elm turned and waved as he headed back to New Bark Town and his lab. Cyndaquil looked up sadly and let out a weak "Cyndaaaaaaa" as Elm walked away. Niko held his left hand infront of Cyndaquil. "Don't worry buddy, I have this Pokegear see? We can call and talk to the Professor any time you want ok? I can see you really care about him."

Cyndaquil looked at Niko's wrist, and then up at Niko. It had tears forming at the corners of it's eyes. Niko scratched it's head again. "I told you, I'm gonna take great care of you. We're partners now after all right?" Cyndaquil let out what to Niko sounded like a joyful cry as it nuzzled up to him excitedly. Niko couldn't see it, but Elm smiled to himself as he walked, hearing the exchange on the wind. "The kids a natural." Elm said to himself as he walked. 

Niko and Cyndaquil spent the next few days travelling to Cherrygrove city. Along the way they bonded even further. Niko let it spend most of it's time outside it's Pokeball, though the last half mile or so they accidentally picked a fight with a flock of Pidgey, and Niko had to call it back into it's ball and break into a dead sprint so that Cyndaquil wouldn't faint from it's injuries. He made it to the Cherrygrove Pokemon Center and spoke to Nurse Joy. After a few hours, Cyndaquil was back in top condition. It leapt off the counter into Niko's arms happily, nuzzling up against his neck with it's head. "You two certainly are close." Nurse Joy said with a smile. "You think so?" Niko responded quizzically. She nodded afirmatively. "Most beginning trainers haven't managed to win their Pokemon's trust this soon into thier journey. But your Cyndaquil seems to really trust you."

Niko smiled and nodded back. "Alright partner. Ready to go?". Cyndaquil cried excitedly and nodded it's head. It crawled onto Niko's shoulder and pointed toward the door. Niko laughed and headed for the door, but before they got there, a broadcast caught his eye on the center's TV. There was a man with spikey red hair wearing a weird looking jumpsuit and a cape. He had a Dragonite and a Charizard behind him. The camera zoomed out, and they were standing in a large arena, to either side stood two people. Niko recognized them as Johto's Elite Four. They all gave a smirk and threw Pokeballs into the air. The camera panned upward into the night sky, then there was a flash of light, and clips of various Pokemon and their trainers battling began to play. A voice over started not long after. 

"We stand at the top of the League, not because we were given this position, or because we're better than you. We stand at the top of the League, because we've earned this spot. We trained hard, and battled harder. We've overcome challenging obstacles and the fiercest opponents. But we let none of it stop us. And nothing will stop us either. Do you have what it takes? Complete the Gym Challenge and come to the Indigo Plateau and find out! Maybe you too will stand at the top of the League. Good luck challenger!" 

The camera shot cut back to the man in the cape. He flung his cape backwards dramatically as he turned and walked away. The camera panned out again, this time the shot was the man's Dragonite and Charizard. The Dragonite was hitting a Vileplume with a Fire Punch, and the Charizard was hitting a Venomoth with Flamethrower. As the camera continued panning, Niko could see that the Elite four members were kneeling down in defeat, their fainted Pokemon strewn across the arena in what had to have been an epic battle. 

Niko noticed Cyndaquil was mesmerized. "You wanna take on the League partner?" He asked the small fire type. Cyndaquil cryed determinedly, and nodded. "Alright then. Let's do it! We'll stand on top of the League for sure!" Niko told his partner as they made for the door of the Pokemon Center.