Hello! ^_^ This is my for-sure shot at writing a fanfic, so this better not let me down.

Brief Disclaimer: There is obviously no way I own Pokemon or any place featured in this story. However, the characters, inspired or not, are of my creation, especially Laura, who is a clear remake of myself. The storyline is both fantasy and based from life experience.

(rating this fanfiction PG-13 for your safety. Content includes language, violence, and some horrific moments)

To Those Who Still Care...
(a trainer's story by Kikyo)

Prologue - Chapter 1: A Dream Met by Fate
The air was calm and cool that day in September along the rocky shores of Dewford Town in Hoenn, and all was peaceful. A single figure of a limber, feminine structure walked along the shoreline alone, dressed merely in a long-sleeved dark blue casual shirt and khaki pants; barefoot to enjoy the water brush against her feet. Her locks of a brown close to ebony and dark blue blew gently from the breeze, eyes of a green hazel widened in amazement behind silver glasses. The choker around her neck was black and bore a Celtic cross, and in each ear were three small silver loops which lightly jingled by her steps. This was Laura Deirdre, a young girl who had recently turned the young age of 15. Because of boredom striking her, she was taking a walk along the shoreline.

She stretched her arms outward before her walking turned into a light jog, and all seemed well for her. She sensed destruction to soon arise out of this calm perfection. However, it all slowed down as she was stopped by a masculine figure adorned in black and spikes. His hair and eyes were both an eerie dark brown. This was Mike Hetfield, someone that was considered a very good friend of hers until around past July when communications slowed down. However, also with Mike was somebody else; a girl not much older than Laura with bluish eyes and light brown hair, adorned in a sleeveless white top and a rather short skirt of crimson and ebony plaid design.

“Um…Hi, Mike…” Laura began startled in her quiet voice, wondering who this girl was. “It’s been awhile…”

“Yeah, about that,” Mike replied, rolling his eyes sarcastically. “You see, I’ve thought over this a lot…no, very little. You see, I found Fiona here to be much more suitable for me, so I’m going to leave you with this one comment: I hate you, I always hate you, and may love never come to you.” Laura’s eyes widened with fear as the two began to knock her into the ocean floor; and it was hurtful considering the water was shallow. As the two strode off beyond the horizon, Laura was left to miserably cry in agony. Why this? Why did she have to experience such an experience? And was Mike right that love will never come to her? Soaking wet, the sobbing young girl ran back towards her home, face buried in her hands.

Past everywhere that mattered in Dewford she turned to a house next to the gym and ran in; this was her home, the home of her uncle, Brawly, the gym leader of Dewford Town. When she looked about the house, it seemed quiet and empty. As she checked the kitchen she found her uncle, lying on his side on the marble floor, eyes open as if with fear. Because of his motionless, Laura knew he was dead. Now almost everybody dear to her was gone, and she knew the world was against her, gasping, she quickly gathered clothing, a CD/mp3 player, some food, essentials, healing items, her ferry pass, and a few Poke’Balls into a bag and dashed out the door with her shoes on, calling for help. The streets were empty, as if they, too, were gone. She dashed for the docks with her pass, in order to get to Slateport City to find help.

“To Slateport, please!!” Laura cried immediately once she got to the booth and rushed onto the ferry. Few people were on, and she assumed something had to happen if people were few in numbers. She gazed up to the TV screen

“Is it the Black Death all over again? As it seems, apparently a third of Hoenn’s population has died of something much like the bubonic plague in the fourteenth century, possibly caused by the apocalyptic awakening of Kyogre and Groudon weeks earlier…” Boomed the speakers, which gave way to a story beyond both fantasy and reality. “However, it has taken toll of common people and gym leaders. We have lost so far five gym leaders from the plague: Roxanne Stonewall of Rustboro, Wallace Aquali of Sootopolis, Norman Harahura of Petalburg, Wattson Bridge of Mauville, and Brawly Deirdre of Dewford. Reports covering over Winona, Tate, Liza, and Flannery show that they are okay. Other casualties included the Elite 4, yet Steven Stone is showing signs of being okay. From Hoenn News, this is Ayumi Hitoyuri.”

“I knew it…” She whispered to herself in misery, and whimpered quietly in agony. Since it would take about two hours to arrive in Slateport, there was probably nothing else to pass time but to sleep. She stretched herself out on the bench and placed the bag underneath her head, staring at the grey skies above her. The air felt too dry to bring rain, so she guessed it was okay to be out. With a final sigh, she closed her eyes, and dosed off.

It was then she woke up, and knew the ferry arrived in Slateport. Grabbing the Poke’Nav from her pocket she checked the time: it was a few minutes passed 6 in the evening. The skies were clear and lightening up in color before sunset would arrive. She sat up with regained energy, sliding the device back into her pocket, and walked off the ferry into the beach. People seemed to be acting normal, and Laura guessed Slateport was a pocket of immunity. Trying to cut back on her grief, she walked in an oblique path from the city, towards the standing lighthouse of great design. It had a marble-like feel to it, showing that it was probably built back during the classical era, and off-white in color.

“Because I know nobody in Slateport, I have no choice…” She whispered to herself, stepping inside and walking up the stairs until achieving the top. She stepped outside and looked down below, her possible grave. The tide was pulling back in, so she would be washed out to sea in hours. “Goodbye cruel, hateful world.” She took one final, deep breath and rushed towards the edge, jumping off and falling feet below. Closing her eyes, she felt the impact greatly, as she landed on soft, dry sand. Rolling onto her back, she realized it was no use; she now understood she had a purpose to fulfill, and there was probably no way for it to be done. With a sigh, she laid there with the cool sand beneath her, gazing towards the ocean, the sound somehow soothing her. Yet what she didn’t realize was that a lithe figure small and silver was walking towards her; this was an Absol, one that had nowhere else to go after being abandoned by her own family. This Absol was the runt, considering her grayish-blue eyes, lighter fur, and lithe structure.

“Ab?” The Pokemon cried, looking towards Laura. Without response, she trotted over next to the girl and leapt to the other side, to get the attention.

“Hello,” Laura responded, moving a hand towards her to scratch this new acquaintance underneath an ear. The Absol grinned, for she never felt such joy. “Were you abandoned, too?” The Pokemon nodded with a look of melancholy upon her face. Laura sat up and placed her within her lap, stroking her. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you. Is it okay if I give you a name, perhaps Kikyo?” The newly-named Kikyo smiled with glee and snuggled within Laura’s lap, soothed by affectionate stroking.
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From overhead loomed a single armored bird and its trainer, a grey eyed, blue haired man of at least 30 years of age, dressed plainly. This was Steven Stone, at least as a pseudonym. Nobody knew his true surname, but they are aware that Steven is his name.

“Airdrian, dive down.” He whispered to the Skarmory he rode on. The bird nodded and slowly sank downward, landing quietly on the sand. Steven leapt off and returned the beast to its Poke’Ball. Looking around, he enveloped the sea air.

It’s rare occasions like these where a champion can just relax…. He thought to himself, before striding along the shoreline with no sense of worry to appearance, but deep down, his worries were about his niece, Laura. Because with Brawly gone, she was almost nowhere. Spotting a lone figure nearby, he dashed towards the girl, realizing it was Laura with an Absol. Relieved that she was okay, Steven slowed down towards stopping and knelt down beside her.

“Hey,” Laura said quietly, realizing that Kikyo was asleep and that her uncle was beside her, “What do you want?”

“Assuming the tone, you’ve heard…” Steven added, closing his eyes in remembrance of his younger brother, and resentment of his older sister, Laura’s mom. “I’m glad you’re okay, but all I know is that your mother doesn’t care…” He rested a comforting hand on Laura’s shoulder.

Laura gave a faint nod of agreement, with the sudden assumption that Mike was laughing with joy because of her misery. She turned to her uncle and asked, “I know it seems a bad time, but I believe I should start the Hoenn League adventure, even if some of the leaders are gone…”

“It’s alright, Laura. There will be replacements for the fallen soon…” Steven replied, slipping out of his pocket a notepad-like device, cobalt blue in color. “It’s a PokeDex that I had customized for you recently. I also registered you for the league, so there’s no hassle for going to the Pokemon Lab where many go daily.” Laura nodded, whispering quietly “Domo arigatou.” Steven smiled lightly as he stood up, helping Laura up. Kikyo remained sleeping within Laura’s arms, undisturbed.

“Let’s get you started, then,” Steven said with faint enthusiasm, letting Airdrian out of the Poke’Ball. The Skarmory extended its wings and allowed Steven and Laura atop it. “Petalburg.” The bird of steel cried before taking off into the air. The air was as still while flying as it was on ground, so going was easy. Within minutes, they were above the small village known as Petalburg City. Airdrian let down into the village and Laura was on her way to the start of her long journey. The bird landed near the western edge of the village, quietly letting Laura step off as Steven remained on.

“You know you can contact me by Poke’Nav if needed, and…uh…yeah.” Steven said, making sure that Laura was well-prepared. By the size of her bag, it seemed so. Laura waved a hand as a goodbye as Steven and Airdrian took off through the air. Kikyo woke up and climbed up onto Laura’s shoulder to rest. Laura smiled at Kikyo faintly before walking on the path covered by trees and the nearby Petalburg Woods. Regardless of what the road of the Hoenn League would offer now, Laura understood that this would also be her road to destiny.