Raised by the Phoenix || A Pokemon Story

Chapter 0 - Familial Ties

The Hartgrave family lived in a lovely Edo-Japan-style house in the wood, far from most towns and cities. Their family was part of both the Hartgrave Clan and the Blackwell Clan. The Hartgrave Clan was a clan that specialized in Fire-type pokemon, and a descendant had been the Fire-type Gym Leader for as long as the gym was around. The Fire Gym Leader usually chose their children as the next one to pass the role to. On the other hand, the Blackwell Clan was responsible for protecting the shrines of the Legendary Ho-oh, mostly being taught the wisdom and sage abilities of the previous guardian.

These clans merged when Apollo Hartgrave married Calida Blackwell. It was a big adjustment but eventually settled on forming the Blackhart Commission responsible for Fire-type related affairs like festivals or fireworks. Eventually, Apollo and Calida had three children Idalia, their eldest child. Kiran, the middle child, and Iris, the youngest child. These three will be very important in this story. However, Iris was the most important, so let's pay close attention to her, shall we?

[Family Age]

Apollo: 32yrs

Calida: 30yrs

Idalia: 7yrs

Kiran: 4yrs

Iris: 2yrs

Chapter I: Early Days

When Iris was a little girl, she ran around and played with her elder siblings. Most importantly, she loved to play with her father since her mother was always busy helping Idalia with her aura-sensing capabilities. Kiran usually played with a Rotom that would come around the house sometimes. She relished the times when she got to be with Apollo. However, when he had to leave to be the Fire Gym Leader. She usually stayed with her mother and learned about pokemon and why they're crucial to Calida and Idalia. She even befriended her mother's Chimchar, who were best friends. They climbed trees and swung around while Calida and Idalia focused on calming activities like meditation or helping a Feebas that Idalia saved from a Braviary. Apollo believed her love for fire types made her the obvious choice of their children to become the next Gym leader, even though Kiran wanted that title. However, his reluctance to not use electric pokemon didn't help his case. When Iris was of age, Apollo would begin her training.

Chapter II: The Next Gym Leader

When Iris turned twelve, her father asked her if she was willing to become the new Fire Gym Leader. Iris immediately said yes because it meant she could spend more time with her father and already loved Fire-type pokemon. Iris grew up as a determined person beyond belief and up for any challenge without complaint. Even when her father said this training would be hell, she was still up or it with a smile, thinking of it as a challenge. Iris was placed in a room with a Slugma and had to meditate for one hour, Work out with her father for another and learn the ins and outs of pokemon battling afterward. Iris didn't once complain; however, her body complained instead, and her mother noticed this as she was mentally and physically drained from this training that happened every other day. She wouldn't get out of bed on her off day but be ready on her training day. Calida told her husband that she would like to train her daughter, and Apollo wanted to say something but didn't want to piss off his wife. A New training schedule was made. This included Normal Meditation with Calida and Idalia and then Working out with Apollo and Kiran. Afterward, all three kids would be taught by their mother about respecting pokemon.

Chapter III: The Burning

Two years after the training started, Kiran sat with Rotom, who had become his pokemon, and they saw what Rotom could do. It was the middle of the night, and they didn't want to wake anyone up, so they would shock some rubber they found. They got too rowdy, and Rotom accidentally used Thunderbolt on a brass vase in his room, which caught fire to the wall. The fire spread fast, and Kiran started panicking and hyperventilating, causing smoke to enter his lungs. He passed out with fire spreading all around him. Iris was currently being taught how Apollo trained his pokemon just like usual, but he was going to demonstrate this time. He brought out his ace Volcarona, and it had some injuries. When Iris asked, she was taken aback when she figured out those were intentional. This quickly devolved into the two screaming at each other over why Volcarona was hurt until Iris punched her father in the face out of frustration. She instantly regretted trying to see if he was ok when Volcarona, on instinct, shot a Fire Blast at Iris that engulfed her entire body and set fire to the room around her. Apollo tried to wake her up but couldn't. He sat there grieving as the room started to be engulfed. At the sound of the fiery explosion, Idalia jolted awake. Realizing flames surrounded her, she looked around for the dresser and ran through the fire with her aura shielding her. She made it to the dresser, coughing smoke and feeling dizzy. She eventually found a Pokeball and threw it while falling into unconsciousness.