Path of the Chosen

I suppose first of all, I should justify myself. I started this story so long ago that I don’t even know when I started it. It’s been slowly growing over the years, and it’s been sitting on my computer for a long time. So instead of letting it rot on my desktop, I figured I’d actually try to DO something with it. It’s only now as I’m re-reading the first chapter that I’m seeing how much work this is going to take. But I might as well since it’s been a while since I ended my last fanfic project.

So, it’s possible that some of you may be here because you read my Zelda fanfic. And if you haven’t read it, check it out. I got over 200 comments on it! So, I’ll have to try to live up to your expectations with this. I’ll be honest. This story is pretty much what I would like to have happen if I ever started a Pokémon journey (though my name isn’t Cara). I’m aware that this is a bit cliché. And I know that there are about 2 million of these on fanfic. And the more unique stuff in my… Pokémon adventure doesn’t happen for a while. So I’ll have to make up for all this my writing as fantastically as I can! I hope you enjoy it, either way. Please read it before you judge! And I am trying to write a little bit from the mind of a ten-year old ( am older than ten in case you’re wondering).

And I’ll get the stupid disclaimer out of the way. I don’t own Pokémon. But I do own Cara and Ben, ex. And my nicknames.

Oh, one last note. You may question my choice of a first Pokémon. But there is a reason for it. When Pokémon first got popular, I didn’t care much for it. But then I found a beat up Japanese Ponyta card on the ground (someone told me it was Piñata, not Ponyta!) And that card got me into Pokémon. Now you know!

Thanks for listening!

I couldn’t believe it! It was today! Today I was finally old enough to get my first Pokémon! I was so excited I fairly skipped along the road on my way home from school.

Yes, It was my birthday today, and I was ten years old. Like most kids, I’d been waiting for this moment for years. And now it was here!

Actually, the moment hadn’t arrived yet. I still had to wait for a week before I could get my Pokémon. It was sort of unfair. I was old enough to start my journey, but I had to wait another week.

Either way, I was excited. Today, I was ten. I‘d waited ten years, so I could be patient for another week. Though I had a feeling that that time would drag by pretty slowly…

Either way, I should introduce myself. I’m Cara Kellan. I’ve always loved Pokémon. I have blue eyes and thick wavy blonde hair that gets absolutely everywhere unless I keep it tied up in a ponytail. I’m not really tall or really short. I suppose I’m pretty average.

I live in Aqua town. The nearest place to get starter Pokémon is Pallet town, a few miles away. Aqua Town isn’t too big, but it does have its own Pokémon center. Over the past year, Id spent every spare moment there, reading every word I could find about Pokémon. I was pretty confident I knew the names of all 149 Pokémon. I’d even seen pictures of the legendary birds!

Since I turned ten today, this was the last day I had to go to school. I’d never been so happy to get out of class.

And to top it off, Zubat and Weepinbell were with me. Zubat belonged to my dad, and Weebinbell was my mom’s. They would sometimes meet me after school and walk home with me. Zubat and Weepinbell would let me hold practice battles with them too so I could learn a little about Pokémon moves. But today was the last time I’d be taking that walk with them. At least I had a week to hold more practice battles!

I was wearing a big, foolish grin on my face and walking with a spring in my step. Zubat was perched on one shoulder, and Weepinbell was hanging from the other by his vine.

I reached down to my belt and felt the empty Pokéball there. Ben had given it to me during class today. My first Pokéball, to put my first Pokémon in. He was my best friend. It was actually because of him that I couldn’t get my first Pokémon yet. He was going to come with me on my journey, but he didn’t turn ten for another week. I’m just glad our birthdays are as close as they are! And I’m sure glad Ben’s coming with me. I didn’t think I’d have the nerve to travel by myself. Waiting for Ben was pretty much the only thing that I would tolerate as a delay in getting my first Pokémon.

I was so distracted by my happy mood that I didn’t notice the voices until I was practically right beside them.

I stopped and glanced around, trying to figure out who was talking. I didn’t see anyone else on the street. Then I turned to the bushes lining the road. Sure enough, that’s where the raised voices were coming from. Why would anyone be in the bushes back there? And they were shouting. There was another sound too. It was definitely not… human, whatever it was.

For once, my curiosity got the better of me. I left the road and carried Zubat and Weepinbell through the bushes towards the voices.

This was a small wood in the middle of town. A sort of park. Ben and I used to come in here to play all the time. Sometimes there were even wild Pokémon that passed through. So I knew my way around pretty well.

Zubat fluttered beside me and I crept stealthily over the leaves, holding Weepinbell.

The voices grew louder. And then I heard that strange sound again. It almost sounded like… screaming.

Then I saw them through the leaves: Three boys commanding their three Pokémon. And in front of them was a Ponyta. It was rearing up n its hind legs, eyes rolling in terror. The three boys were ordering their Pokémon to attack the Ponyta! And it was hurt! I could see it favoring one leg.

Ponyta lashed out with its hooves, trying to strike the boys’ Pokémon: A Raticate, a Spearow, and a Beedrill. Suddenly it let out a piercing whinny- the scream I had heard.

I leapt out of the bushes, furious.

“Stop it!” I shouted. “Three against one’s not fair! And that Ponyta is hurt!”

The three boys all turned to me, letting their Pokémon continue to attack Ponyta.

“What do you want?” said the oldest of the boys, apparently the leader. I noticed with a start that all of them were older and bigger than me. “This is none of your business. Get out of here before we make you leave!”

I didn’t move. Weepinbell and Zubat were beside me, glaring menacingly at the three boys I front of us.

I risked a glance at the Ponyta. She was still trying to fend off her attackers, but then Beedrill used Poison Sting and Ponyta screamed in pain again.

Then I felt the smooth surface of the Pokéball at my belt. Moving quickly, I snatched the red and white orb and flung it at Ponyta. She was so weakened that there was absolutely no resistance from her. The Pokéball struck her and she dissolved in a wave of red light and vanished inside my Pokéball. It flew automatically to my hand and I held it protectively.

The boys stared at me, not daring to believe that I had just defied them.

Now that Ponyta was out of the way, their three Pokémon turned to me. Now six sets of eyes were fastened on me and my companion Pokémon.

“You give that here,” threatened the older boy, “and maybe we won’t tear you apart.”

“Not on your life,” I growled. I was quite aware how pathetic I looked. One ten-year old girl daring to stand up to three boys that looked about five years older than me. Plus they had three Pokémon to my two. And if anything happened to me, we were in the middle of a small wood, hidden from sight in all directions. But I never was one to stand by and let bullies get their way.

The boy gave a jerky nod towards his Pokémon, signaling them to prepare to fight.

I shot a quick glance to Zubat and Weepinbell, trying to warn them that we might be attacked at any moment.

I had to get out in the open where people could find us. And suddenly I had a plan.

“Zubat, Whirlwind!” I shouted.

Zubat flapped his wings and created a powerful gust. The boys covered their faces and their three Pokémon tumbled backwards several feet.

I turned and fled.

It took the boys only a moment to recover. They were after me in a flash.

But this time I had the advantage. I knew right where to go. I’d been through this place enough times that I knew where all the obstacles were.

Around a thick bush, over a fallen log, under a hanging vine, and suddenly I was out on the open road.

I whirled around and me and my Pokémon friends were ready to fight.

The boys and their Pokémon burst out of the woods and blinked in surprise to find themselves out in the open. I seized the moment.

“Supersonic!”

Zubat opened wide his mouth and let out high-pitched sound waves that made the three enemy Pokémon stagger over each other in confusion.

“Vine Whip!”

This time, it was Weepinbell that attacked. He flung out his vines, striking Raticate, Beedrill and Spearow. Raticate collapsed under the combined force of confusion and Vine Whip. But the other two weren’t very affected by the grass type move. Beedrill dove forward, its needles stretched forwards to attack.

Before I got a chance to shout out another attack, Zubat intercepted Beedrill, sinking his teeth in for Leech life.

Weepinbell opened his huge mouth as Spearow advanced on him. A cloud of blue powder poofed out of his mouth and settled over Spearow. Spearow blinked a couple time, then collapsed, fast asleep. Weepinbell had used Sleep Powder.

And then Beedrill collapsed as Zubat sucked out the last of its energy.

I blinked, startled. Zubat and Weepinbell had attacked before I got a chance to tell them what to do. But that was what I was going to tell them to do. And if they’d waited for me to make the order, it might have been too late to attack before they were hit. So… how had they done it?

The boys snarled and the three of them advanced on me, not even pausing as they returned their Pokémon.

I took a couple steps backwards. They had lost the battle, but they were still gonna fight me. Without using their Pokémon.

Suddenly a siren split the air. The three boys froze and glanced around.

“Run for it!” The leader shouted. As the other two took off away from the siren, he paused long enough to glare at me with pure venom. “If I ever get my hands on you…”

But the siren was drawing nearer. And he had no choice but to run. All of them vanished around the corner.

A motorcycle screeched around the corner and skidded to a halt near me. Officer Jenny was riding it.

“What happened?” She asked. “Someone reported a fight in the street.”

I nodded. “Yeah. There were three boys. But they took off when they heard the siren. They were hurting a Ponyta. I took it from them.”

I held out the Pokéball to show her. “I think she’s badly hurt. I gotta get to a Pokémon center.”

“Well, climb in. I’ll get you there before you know it.”

There was no time to lose. I climbed in the passenger compartment with Zubat and Weepinbell and Officer Jenny revved the motorcycle to life. I explained what had happened on the way there. Since this was a small town, Officer Jenny knew me a little bit. She recognized me, even if she didn’t know my name.

“Well, that Ponyta didn’t belong to them if you caught it in a Pokéball. If a Pokémon already has a Pokéball, it won’t go into another one. So, the Ponyta is yours.”

My heart leapt. Ponyta was mine.

As the adrenalin cleared from my head, the thought slowly came to my mind.

I had my first Pokémon.

Jenny screeched to a halt in front of the Pokémon center. I thanked her and ran inside.

“Nurse Joy!” I shouted as I burst through the front doors. “I need your help!”

Joy looked up from the front desk, startled by my loud entrance.

“What is it, Cara?”

I handed her Ponyta’s Pokéball and blurted out my story.

Nurse Joy nodded, and she and her Chancey vanished inside the operation room.

After a minute, I took a seat on one of the benches. I waited, praying Ponyta would be okay.

My eyes finally fell on phone in the corner of the waiting room. I stood up and dialed my home phone number. No one picked up the phone, so I left a message saying where I was.

The moment I hung up, Nurse Joy came out of the room.

“How’s my Ponyta?” I blurted.

Nurse Joy smiled. She’ll be just fine. She was poisoned, and weak from her fight, but she’ll make a full recovery. We already gave her an antidote to cure her of poison. Now we just need to treat her injured leg and her other scratches. It’s nothing major though.”

I sighed in relief and sank back into my seat.

“She just needs to rest a little longer. You can wait here if you like, or you can go home and I’ll call when she’s better.”

“No, I’ll wait here. Thanks Nurse Joy.”

I peeked into the emergency room and saw my Ponyta on a large table. Her legs were tucked up under her and he head was lowered in sleep. She didn’t look in bad shape.

“Well, Cara,” Nurse Joy said, smiling. “You got your first Pokémon! Though I’m sure you didn’t expect it to happen under such circumstances.”

I shook my head, smiling. “Yeah. I‘m glad she’ll be okay though.”

Nurse Joy walked back into the room and shut the door to door.

I leaned back in the seat, letting my mind wander. I’m not usually one to take naps, but without even realizing it, I drifted off to sleep.

This is a dream. It has to be. I’ve never seen Pokémon like this before.

I was standing somewhere I didn’t recognize. On top of a hill with the big blue sky stretching endlessly over me.

There were birds above me. Big birds. Three of them I recognized: Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres. But then there was a gold bird, larger than the three others. And then a silver flying creature that didn’t look too bird-like.

My eyes dropped back to the ground and I saw more strange creatures. There were a lot of them, but I only got a glimpse of the few that were closest.

A small pink creature with a long tail, three cat-like creatures of different colors, a strange floating green creature with antenni, And then there was a purple human-like figure with a thick tail.

It struck me how none of them were moving. They looked frozen in space somehow. Like a photograph. I tried to see some of the other Pokémon behind them, but suddenly the image vanished.

I jerked awake with a gasp. I’d never had a dream like that before. Never one that felt so…real. The images of the Pokémon I’d seen were still vivid in my memory. But the others that had been in the background, they had faded away before I got to look at them. There had been something like a whale… and… blue and silver four-legged creature…

But my thoughts were cut off as I realized what had woken me. Nurse Joy was standing there.

“Oh!” I jumped to my feet. “How’s Ponyta?”

Nurse Joy smiled. “She’s just fine. She’s awake now. You should come and see her.”

I nodded vigorously and followed Nurse Joy into the operation room.

Ponyta was up on her feet now. She saw us approach and slowly backed away, looking wary and frightened.

“She’s a little shy,” Joy whispered.

I nodded. I didn’t blame her one bit. She had been treated badly by humans.

I smiled at Ponyta, hoping she’d get the message that I wasn’t mean like those boys.

“It’s okay, sweetie,” I said, slowly taking a step towards her. She backed away as far as she could until she was pressed against the far wall.

“I won’t hurt you. I helped you earlier. Don’t you remember? Not all humans are bad. Really.”

I took another step forward. Ponyta looked tense, but she didn’t seem hostile.

I slowly moved closer to her, talking softly all the time, trying to keep her calm. I saw the Ponyta slowly relax as I moved closer, soothed by my quiet words and my peaceful attitude.

By the time I was right in front of her, she didn’t look as frightened. She had been listening to what I was saying, and knew I wasn’t lying. The smarter Pokémon can usually tell when people are lying.

I slowly lifted my arm towards her face. She raised her nose at the same time, bringing it up to rest in the cup of my hand.

I smiled and stroked the silky muzzle.

“See? It’s all right. You’re okay now.”

Ponyta gazed as me with beautiful blue eyes. She let me reach up to run my hand along her neck, below the fiery mane.

“I think you need a name. I was thinking about it while I was waiting for you to get better. Your coat is white. The pictures of other Ponyta I’ve seen… well, they had kind of yellowy fur. Yours shines like a star. Polaris. The north star. That’s your name. Polaris, the star that points travelers on their way if they’re lost.”

Polaris nuzzled my shoulder.

“You like it? That’s good. I always thought Pokémon should have nicknames. Most people go around calling their Pokémon ‘Charmander’ or something like that. It’s like calling your dog ‘dog.’ Pokémon should have their own names, just like people!”

I scratched her behind the ear and she sighed in contentment

Zubat and Weepinbell came up behind me.

Polaris looked at them, much calmer now.

“These are my parents’ Pokémon,” I explained. “They helped me rescue you.”

Zubat and Weepinbell went up to Polaris and allowed her to sniff them thoroughly. She then nuzzled them too, to thank them for helping her.

“I couldn’t have got you away from those jerks without their help,” I explained.

Nurse Joy walked up to me and held out Polaris’s Pokéball.

“Here you are, Cara. She’s actually a very young Ponyta. Almost a baby. I think you’re all ready to go home. All you need…”

We were interrupted by the sound of the front door of the center opening.

Joy and I headed to the lobby to see who it was. Polaris and my parents’ Pokémon were behind us.

It was my dad!

He caught sight of the two of us in the doorway and headed toward us.

“Hi, Dad!” I exclaimed.

“Ah, you’re still here, Cara! When I got your message I came down. It’s a good thing we sent Zubat and Weepinbell after you, huh?”

I nodded, grinning. They sure had been helpful today.

“Well, you’re smiling, which must mean that the Ponyta is all right. Where is it?”

“She’s right here.”

In reply, Polaris stuck her head over my shoulder, examining Dad from head to toe.

He laughed. “Well, it sure looks fine to me.”

Her name’s Polaris,” I explained. We stepped out to the lobby so she could meet Dad. Dad patted her neck.

“Thanks for everything, Nurse Joy!” I said as we made our way to the front doors. Zubat was perched on Dad’s shoulder and Weepinbell was sitting on Polaris’s back.

“Any time, Cara!” Nurse Joy and her Channcey waved to us as we headed down the street towards home.

I excitedly told the whole story to Dad as we walked. He listened, a little startled that I had risked my own safety to stand up to those boys, but still proud that I did what I did.

Polaris walked alongside me, her hooves making clip-clopping sounds on the cement.

We had a nice little house with a nice big garden for Zubat and Weepinbell. And now Polaris could enjoy it too.

Weepinbell bounced off to find Mom and Polaris set off to explore our yard.

I followed her, showing her everything and letting her munch on the cool grass.

Then Mom came outside and I got to explain my whole story again.

Dad laughed. “She won a battle against three Pokémon using two Pokémon that didn’t even belong to her. You’ll be a great Pokémon trainer someday, they way you battle.”

“Well, Zubat and Weepinbell helped some. Their last couple attacks, I didn’t even order them to do anything. They just sort of acted on their own. It was strange. Because I was just about to tell them to attack, but they did it without even waiting for me to tell them what to do!”

“I’ll bet you’re psychic,” Mom teased.

“Oh!” I cried suddenly. “I gotta call Ben and tell him what happened!”

I dashed into the house, leaving everyone staring after me.

It took me only a moment to shout at Ben to come over and listen to my story. Then I was back outside again.

With Ben on his way, I decided to say something that I’d been thinking about for a little while.

“Mom, Dad?” I paused, trying to figure out how to say this. “Well, since I have my first Pokémon now, I was thinking about heading off to Pallet Town tomorrow. By myself. I’ll meet up with Ben there next week. But I want to get there by myself… just to prove that I can do it alone if I have to.”

My parents exchanged glances.

“Well, I think you’ve proved that you can look after yourself. And we actually went out to buy all your supplies today. That’s why we weren’t home when you called. So you have everything that you need.”

Mom nodded. “We can call everyone and tell them to come over tomorrow morning to see you off. And we’ll call Professor Oak and tell him to expect you early.”

“Yeah!” I shouted. “Did you hear that, Polaris? Tomorrow we get to set off!”

Polaris whinnied happily.

Mom and Dad went inside to start making phone calls.

I gave Polaris one last pat and rushed in after them to start loading my pack with everything I would need. My parents had gotten me some Pokéballs and potions, plus maps, clothes, food and everything else I’d need on my journey.

There was a knock on the door. I dashed there and flung it open and came face-to-face with Ben.

Ben was much taller than me with blue eyes and straight brown hair that lay flat on his head. Ben had a knack with all sorts of electronics, unlike me. He’s been my best friend for about as long as I could remember. We’d been planning our Pokémon journey pretty much since we were old enough to talk! Or so my parents told me, though that sounded an awful lot like teasing.

Ben and I went around to the side of the house to sit with Polaris.

“Polaris, this is Ben, my friend. He’ll be traveling with us next week. And Ben, this is Polaris!”

I was pretty hyper by this time. I had a tendency to do that sometimes. I felt like I was bouncing off the walls, even though I was outside. Ben had seen me like this before, and knew enough to let me talk until I burned myself out.

I chattered on, telling my story yet again. Then I explained that I was gonna set out tomorrow and we were going to wait for him at Pallet town. As it usually happened when I was so excited, as I continued to talk, I got louder and faster in my speech.

Finally I stopped talking, practically gasping for breath.

Ben grinned.

“That’s fine. I don’t mind meeting you in Pallet Town. I bet you can learn a lot from Professor Oak in a week. Besides, I never really did think it was fair that you had to wait for my birthday before you could set off on your journey.”

“Aww, I didn’t mind waiting for you.”

“I know. I can’t wait to meet up with you in Pallet Town though!”

The next morning, all my friends and family were there to see me off. Polaris and I headed down the road. I waved back to everyone, grinning at Ben. He grinned back.

We made our way out of town and down a path through the trees. It would be a few hours walk to Pallet Town.

“I hope we see some Pokémon on the way! Don’t you, Polaris?”

She nodded.

“Hey, Nurse Joy told me that you’re still a baby. But you look really strong. Can I try riding you?“

Polaris nodded.

I whooped happily and led over to a stump so I could scramble onto her back.

She started slowly down the path.

“You know. I bet it’s a lot faster to ride to Pallet Town than walking.”

There was a rustling sound in the bushes. Polaris and I turned in time to see something yellow dash from bush to bush.

I hopped off my Ponyta’s back.

“Polaris! Go get it!”

Polaris reared up and dashed into the forest leaping easily over a bush.

The wild Pokémon cried out, frightened, and fled right towards me into the middle of the road.

It was a Pikachu!

Polaris was on the Pikachu’s heels. She leapt and landed directly over the Pikachu, with her front legs blocking it from going forwards and her back legs keeping it from backing up.

Pikachu had too much momentum built up to stop in time. He crashed right into Polaris forelegs and rolled backwards, slightly dazed. But Pikachu recovered quickly and its cheeks started sparking.

“Look out! He’s gonna use Thundershock!”

Polaris leapt out of the way in time to avoid the attack. Pikachu wasn’t thinking about running now. He wanted to fight!

“Ember!” I shouted.

Polaris opened her mouth and shot out a shower of small flames.

Pikachu flinched as the fire singed its ears.

“Tackle!”

Ponyta charged forwards, battering Pikachu with her hooves.

“Pikaaa!” Pikachu cried, toppling over, stunned.

I grabbed a Pokéball from my belt.

“Go!” I shouted, throwing it. It struck Pikachu and it vanished in a burst of red light.

The Pokéball fell to the ground, the button blinking red. It rolled from side to side, and then the light went out and the Pokéball was still.

I had done it! Polaris and I had caught a Pokémon!

“YEEEESSS!!” I shouted. “Polaris, we did it! We caught a Pikachu!” I grabbed the Pokéball and held it above me triumphantly.

Polaris whinnied happily. I threw my arms around her neck, feeling her pleasantly warm mane flicker around me.

“I’m gonna name him Pooka. My Dad’s friend has a Pikachu named Pooka. That Pooka knows how to surf! The two of them are the best surfers around!”

Just then, we heard a strange sound. We turned to see what it was. I was still holding Pooka’s Pokéball in my hand.

There it was, floating in the air above the bushes. It looked like a pink kitten with a long tail and big blue eyes. I had never seen anything like it.

“Muu,” it sighed gently.

“Hi! I’ve never seen a Pokémon like you! How do you float like that if you don’t have wings? What are you?” I didn’t want to scare it away. And since I knew nothing about it, I didn’t think it was smart to try to catch it. For all I knew, it could be really strong. Or it might have a type advantage against Polaris.

“Muu,” it said again, doing a back flip.

I laughed. “You keep saying ‘Muu.’ Is that your name?”

“Mew,” she said.

“I thought I knew all the Pokémon in Kanto. But I’d never heard of a Mew.

I slowly reached forwards towards the Mew. She darted forward, gave my hand a playful swat, and then flipped back, giggling.

I laughed again. “Hang on a minute. You might like this.”

I pulled off my backpack and pulled out an apple. I held if out on my hand. Mew again darted forwards, grabbed the apple, and spun away again, giggling. She gave me a wink, and then vanished. As if she had never been.

Polaris and I stared at each other, wide-eyed in astonishment.

“Mew,” I whispered. “I wonder if we’ll meet again.”

Somewhere in the distance, mixed with the wind in the leaves of the forest, I heard a familiar giggle.