Pokémon Chronicles 零 (ZERO)

Episode 1: The little children of Misgeriom Woods

Contrary to my impatience before, I couldn't help but stop outside of the house and stare for a moment. This was the last time I would see the place for a very long time after all, so to avoid the inconveniences of homesickness, I had to take it all in now and remember it forever.

I lived on the edge of a small village called Lillistep, nestled conveniently between large fields and a forest. The villagers were nothing special, but the amount they worked in those fields allowed us to make good money from travellers who passed through every now and then. This meant that we had a few luxuries like an inn, a decent market, and our own excuse for a town hall which passed around news. I didn't need them before, but now that I was to be on a journey, getting used to using those facilities was a rule.

Still, the village kept a homely sense of peace and familiarity to me, one that put a smile on my face as I scanned the pleasant scenery one last time. I did a full circle until my neighbour's home came into view, stopping and staring at it dreamily.

"... What, were you thinking it would be too easy to slip by me?" a voice interrupted my thoughts so suddenly that I jumped out of my fur. I recovered just as quickly, knowing that the smug tone could only have come from one person.

"Megan..." I breathed out, holding my chest. The Cyndaquil had snuck right up to my back to shout in my ear, posing boastfully.

"Of course I wouldn't let you run off so suddenly! And just as I was thinking about coming to get you, you run straight past me like I'm not even there. What is with you?" she greeted.

"Whaddya mean what is with me? What about you?" I gasped. "... No really? What're you doing outside?"

"Okay, cut to the chase, Crystal. I'm out and ready to travel for the same reason you are; to get to RBY. And nothing you say or do is gonna stop me."

One look at her would have told anyone that she wasn't really ready. But I knew Megan more than anyone, so I knew exactly why that was. The Cyndaquil had no travel necessities equipped at all, her fur was overgrown in places, and the smell coming from her told me that she hadn't the luxury of washing this morning. She was the polar opposite of me even though we were both abandoned as children - I had to put up with a lot when it came to befriending her.

"Megan... they'll only have limited spaces at the school. That's why I thought twice about going to get you," I pleaded, hoping to get a hint across.

"Hmpf. Somehow I knew you'd try to swat me off, you know that? After knowing you ever since you came here, the one chance you have to give us both gold and you want it for yourself?" she raised her voice. "If you're gonna be that way, then I'll just beat your slow butt there. That's right, I don't need you! I'll get to RBY first and enrol before you! That'll stop you from enrolling too."

"No, wait!" I coughed, tripping after her surprisingly honest threat. She actually stopped right away to show me a pouch, a pouch I recognised right away.

"And lookee here! One thousand gald. I found it this morning," she bragged, shaking the pouch in front of me. Once again my mind quickly settled into focus, and I realised where she had found it.

"Wait that's Suzie's! I dropped it after I got excited about the news..." I begged, making the gesture to snatch it from her. She made that difficult of course, keeping herself a few steps away from me.

"If you want it, you have to come get it by beating me in a race to the academy. Winner gets the money inside," she cheered. I froze. "Hey I mean it, come catch me if you're serious too!"

"Ah, Meg..." I whispered, helplessly watching her sprint away. I couldn't help but smile still though, waiting until she was really out of sight before walking.