The orphanage was quiet, the air stale with the scent of old bricks and cleaning chemicals. Fluorescent lights flickered above, humming softly. In the rec room, the only sound came from the flickering television screen—a glowing window to a world far brighter than the one Azure knew.
He sat cross-legged on the worn carpet, eyes locked on the screen. The Pokémon World Championship Finals were underway, and the battle was at its peak.
Leon's Charizard flew overhead, trailing heat and fire, before diving with blinding speed. "Charizard, use Slash!"A sharp white arc cleaved through the air, striking Cynthia's Mega Garchomp across the chest.The dragon roared in pain before collapsing face-first onto the stadium floor.
"It's over!" the announcer roared, his voice swallowed by a thunderous crowd. "Leon defeats Sinnoh's reigning champion, Cynthia! Once again, the unbeatable champion holds his crown!"
The stadium shook with chants of "Leon! Leon! Leon!"
On screen, Cynthia walked up to the younger man, composed despite her loss. She extended her hand. Leon clasped it firmly and raised their hands together. The roar of the crowd only intensified.
"YES!!" Azure shouted, punching the air. A bright grin spread across his face, a rare light in the dull walls of the orphanage.
Dressed in a red jacket patterned with diamonds and loose grey joggers, he looked like any other teen—except for the fire in his lapis-blue eyes. His ash-gray hair hung down in two bangs that framed his face, his brown skin glowing under the flickering TV light.
A beautiful interviewer approached the champion, microphone in hand."Leon, sir! Do you have any words for aspiring trainers across the world?"
Leon took the mic with his signature charisma."Attention, aspiring Trainers! After the recent tragedy involving a young trainer and the chaos stirred by a criminal organization, we've realized it's time for change. We're raising the starting age to sixteen and offering financial aid to help people follow their dreams—no matter their background. With Director Rose and champions from across the world, we're launching a new global initiative. Training should never be locked behind privilege."
Azure's eyes widened. His chest tightened.A chance… Is this real?
The screen cut to Chairman Rose, standing at a grand podium in a VIP booth surrounded by nine distinguished guests.
"We're proud to announce the Trainers' Need Program, designed to give disadvantaged youth the resources to become trainers, professors, coordinators, or rangers," Rose declared. "This will create fairness for all, regardless of class or region."
The camera panned across the panel: Blaine of Cinnabar Island in his lab coat, stern-eyed Konako of Johto in a sleek black dress, the jovial scout Scott from Hoenn, and Nicola—Cynthia's youthful-looking mother from Sinnoh. Each brought their presence, and their weight, to the initiative.
But then came Lysandre.
Azure leaned forward.
No way. Even he was involved?
The famous tech mogul, dressed in a bold red suit, looked as charismatic as ever. Despite his controversies, his influence couldn't be denied.
"Enrollment begins tomorrow," Rose concluded. "Visit your local Pokémon Center to see if you qualify. Good luck—and never stop dreaming."
Azure could hardly breathe. His heart thundered.A real chance... I can finally leave this place. I can be a trainer!
But his moment was shattered by a familiar, shrill voice.
"Azure!"The head caretaker's shadow loomed behind him like a Gengar. Wrinkled, scowling, and always angry, she hobbled closer with her cane. "Didn't I tell you to make dinner for the other children? And here you are, watching TV like some slacker! When are you going to take life seriously instead of dreaming about being a Pokémon trainer?"
Azure turned to her, eyes still burning from Leon's speech."It's not a dream, you old hag. It's going to be reality. The National Pokémon League just announced it—young trainers like me finally have a chance!" he said with a smirk.
She smacked him upside the head with her cane."Get your ass in that kitchen, brat!"
As Azure stormed off, wiping spit from his cheek, the old woman's expression changed. She turned to a dusty photograph on the shelf—an image of a smiling man with Azure's eyes.
"Shin… I don't think I can keep my promise. He's more like you than I expected. And maybe his dreams are even stronger," she whispered, before shuffling downstairs.
That evening, the dining hall buzzed with warmth. Laughter echoed off the stone walls as kids of all ages ate together around a long wooden table. Bowls of steaming broccoli cheese soup with chunks of ham were passed down, along with bakery-fresh bread.
"Mmm! Azure's soups are always the best!" said little Oliver, his cheeks puffed like a Marill.
Azure chuckled, tousling the boy's blond hair. "Thanks, Oli. If you behave, I'll whip up dessert later."
"Yay!" a chorus of children rang, showering Azure with praise like he was the true champion.
But not everyone was feeling the love.
Ken, a red-haired teen, snorted. "Pokémon Master? More like Pokémon maid. What kind of dude wears a frilly apron?"
A fork clanged near Ken's head, just missing him. He flinched.
"Watch your mouth, Ken," the caretaker warned, eyes narrowed. "Especially around the little ones."
Ken scoffed but stayed quiet as a blonde girl giggled nearby. Azure smiled at his friends—Loraine Ackers and Ren Tokoki—the only ones his age in the orphanage. They had his back no matter what.
Azure tapped his glass.
Silence fell.
"I've made my decision," he said. "Tomorrow morning, I'm taking the trainer's exam. I'm going to follow in my father's footsteps and become a Pokémon Trainer."
Everyone froze.
Ken burst into laughter. "You? You're still clinging to that fantasy?"
Azure's smile faded.
Even Loraine looked away, her cheer gone.
Ken leaned forward, voice laced with venom disguised as logic. "Look, man. Be realistic. No academy is going to accept a guy whose father was an abusive alcoholic, or a girl whose father nearly destroyed a region, or some loser whose dad abandoned him to chase championship dreams across the world—"
SLAM!
The caretaker stood, slamming her palms on the table.
"Enough, Ken!" she shouted.
The room fell into a stunned silence. Azure was gone, and Loraine stared into her bowl, tears threatening to fall. The younger kids whimpered quietly, the joy of the evening broken.
Ken sat back, guilt crashing into him like a Brick Break to the gut.
"…Sorry," he mumbled.
Elsewhere, under the cover of darkness in Veilstone City, figures cloaked in shadow crept through the outskirts of the industrial zone. They searched, desperate and frantic.
Something was missing.
Something dangerous.
Down an alley, barely conscious, a strange Pokémon limped on four uneven legs. A grotesque chimera—fish tail, insect limbs, armored hide. A helmet adorned its head, wires pulsing faintly from its sides. Blood dripped from its wounds.
It stumbled toward Celestic Town.
Far behind, a man crouched near a footprint. His Bisharp stood beside him like a silent sentinel.
Clicking his earpiece, the man whispered, "I've located the escapee. Subject JEWEL OF LIFE. It's heading north, toward Celestic Town. Should I engage?"
A pause.
Then a cold voice replied, "No. Abort. Celestic is home to Sinnoh's champion. If Cynthia finds out, everything we've built could fall apart."
The man stood, eyes narrowing."Understood."
End of Chapter 1.