A Place to Belong

Chapter 1: The City of Lights

Quick Authors Note: Hello 👋 Thanks for dropping bye. Just letting you know that this story is a fun idea I've had for a while, and it'll probably get more random as time goes on. Hope you enjoy! And feel free to leave any critiques in the comments.

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Lumiose City, located in North-Central Kalos. Its a prominent central hub of the region and is the most populous city in the Pokémon world, a fact that it's inhabitants are very proud of. The city is also leading Kalos' tourist industry, thanks to many famous landmarks like Prism Tower and the Lumiose City Museum.

These attractions are just as beautiful at night, as the city is ablaze with lights that shine like a beacon of humanity's accomplishments. This led to it's famous dubbing as the "City of Lights."

It was this very city where I contently lived a comfortable, ordinary life.

... Well, content isn't really the right word. It'd be more accurate to say–

"Kiran! Get your lazy ass back in here! Your break ended half an hour ago!"

I sighed, and picked myself off the bench.

I've been living here in the city for about a year and a half now, and over time the spectacular lights seized to amaze me anymore. The days grew longer, and it became harder and harder to get out of bed each morning. Correction, each night. I worked the night shift at the pokémart, so I slept during the day. Not that it changed anything, as the city's lights were just as blinding as the sun.

But it wasn't all bad. Income was good and stable here. I always had enough food to fill myself. Sometimes, I'll walk to work instead of calling a taxi and see people or pokémon hiding in the alleyways, shivering from the cold and thin from the hunger.

It was on one of these walks that I came across something peculiar. My shift was slow, like usual, and as I left the building I saw a Fletchling. They were common pokémon to see, and their red heads distinguished them from other birds. Yet, this one was hopping around the street, doing it's best not to get trampled by the foot traffic of unaware pedestrians.

The rising sun was like a spot light, and yet I was the only one that acknowledged the bird's prescence.

But what was it doing down there? Fletchlings were small birds, but spectacular fliers.

As I approached the pokémon, I saw the answer.

It's right wing, bent at an unnatural angle, was decorated with spots of dried blood.

I pushed through the crowd and snatched it from the ground, craddling the injured bird in my arms.

It chriped in surprise, and I could see it's eyes widen with fear. No doubt it thought it was getting captured, as it's body temperature quickly rose. A natural defense mechanism for many fire type pokemon.

I kept running while trying my best to ignore the swelling heat, but the fletchling had other plans. It maneuvered itself into a suitable position and scratched my arms.

I let out a gasp of pain and nearly dropped the bird. But not quite.

I kept running and it kept scratching. Each step I took was paired with the sound of tearing cloth and skin.

And I kept going. I don't know why, but I did. The bird kept scratching, it's body temperature kept increasing. Yet, I endured the pain.

–.–.–

By the time we reached my house I was exhausted. The fletchling seemed to be as well, as it's talons lacked power and it's body temperature decreased.

I set the fletchling on the table. "Wait right there," I told it, and left the room.

Looking back after years have passed, the bird could have tried running away. If it had, then I would have still been working the same night shift. I never would have experienced the joy of a pokemon battle. And I never would have met Kaitlyn.

Thankfully, it didn't.

But it did something far more surprising.