Prologue: The Chosen One

Hades0918 · January 4

"Get up, Chosen One," Sephora demands, pounding her staff on the ground. I look up at her, my entire body shaking as I struggle to lift myself off the ground. After much more agonizing rising, I fail, collapsing back to the ground, panting.

"It's... my... birthday," I say between breaths. "Shouldn't I have gotten the day off?"

The silver haired woman scoffs, shaking her head with disappointment. "Sofia," she states, her silver eyes looking down at me with anger. "You are the Chosen One! You've known since you were born that you're going to be the savior of the world some day. If you want to fulfill your duty, you can't take breaks."

I slowly get up, stumbling in the process. Once fully up and steady, I look at Sephora. "But what if I don't want to be the Chosen One," I ask.

Smack

It happened faster than I could even see. Her staff across my face. I look at the town leader with a mix of shock and fear. The elder glares back at me.

"You don't have a choice," she tells me, her agitation clear in her voice. "You're white hair, golden eyes, and, most importantly, the mark of Arceus in your right forearm. It is clear who you are, so don't coward away from it."

I gulp, blinking back years. "O-Okay..." I mutter. Sephora nods.

"Good. Now run up the mountain again. And don't be slow like last time," she commands. I sprint away immediately, my desire to get away giving me energy.

Never in my twelve years of life has Sephora done that to me. Yeah, she's strict, but she's never used physical force. I don't get why she'd do that.

Maybe it's because she's not happy that I've been questioning my purpose lately. She doesn't like that I don't want to be the Chosen One. But why should I have to be?

I didn't choose to be gifted by Arceus. I didn't want the connection to it. To feel its emotions, talk to it, or understand Pokémon. Well, that last one I like, but the first two is annoying.

The god never asks me how I'm doing. Any time I talk to it, it's always asking how my training is going or tells me I'm not ready to fulfill the reason it put me on this Earth. If you're going to make me the savior, at least be supportive!

And nobody in the village treats me differently than it. They barely use my name! I'm always "the Chosen One" or "future hero," never Sofia.

And my parents are the same. They just watch as I'm forced to carry boulders up a hill, run back down it, forced to do Pokémon Battles until I beat everyone in the village, then do 100 push ups, and repeat until midnight. They tell me they love me but yet they've let me suffer like this literally since I could walk.

I hate it! I hate this village! I hate Pokémon battles! And, above all, I hate Arceus for making the its Chosen One!

I reach the top of the mountain for the third time today, panting. Sephora is already there, looking furious. "I'm 57 years old and made it here before you," she states. "What do you have to say about that?"

"I'm surprised your fragile old body could handle it." I say it before I can stop it. Pure rage flashes across Sephora's face.

Smack

Now I have matching bruises on both cheeks. For some reason, the second swing didn't surprise me all that much. "Begin the battles," Sephora demands in a low tone.

Jessica walks up. She's my age with long red hair and sparkling brown eyes. She tosses out a Stunky, doing a small twirl with it.

I sigh, standing up straight and sending out Zane, my Infernape. He pops out the ball with a sigh. "Already doing this again," he asks, looking at the small skunk.

I nod. "Yeah. Close Combat." He pushes himself off the ground, already on the Stunky before anyone can blink. He swings his body around, destroying the opponent before it can react.

Jessica looks shocked by the quick loss. I don't know why, considering this is how it happens every day. As my next opponent steps up, my mind wanders away.

"This will be your partner," Sephora told me way back when I was three. "Its ability is Iron Fist. Like you, it will be most powerful in combat. Train it well and you'll fulfill your duty easily."

Young me looked at the Chimchar with so much excitement, unaware that this would be my only friend for my entire life. "Hewo," I said to it happily.

"Hi," he responded with a happy smile. "I'm Zane! What's your name?"

"Sofia," I told him, returning that smile.

That was one of the last times we were happy. After that the intense training began. By the time I was six Zane was already an Infernape. He loved to battle, but now he doesn't. I've asked him if he hates it like I do, but he told me no.

"What I hate is never having a new opponent," he said. "Never having a challenge. I know I'll win and do the same thing every hour. It's boring."

"Alright, wrap this up," I command as our final opponent sends out a Machamp. "Mach Punch followed by Acrobatics."

Zane does as I say, finishing the battle before it even began. Sephora walks up to us. "Good," she states, looking at the fallen Machamp. "But could have been better."

She always tells me that. No matter how hard I try and amazing I perform, it's always that I could have been better.

"That's all for today," she tells us, me and Zane sighing with relief. "Remember, in the name of Arceus, we are one. Arceus created all that exists. So any time you think about yourself and who you are, remember this village. We are all connected and always will be."

She tells me that every night. What I don't understand is if we're all the same, why do I get treated differently? I would say this, but I don't want a third bruise and lecture.

Instead, I bow. "Thank you," I tell her. I then head down the mountain with Zane.

...

I lay in my room, staring up at the ceiling. My parents didn't even wish me Happy Birthday. I didn't get cake or presents. They weren't even concerned about what happened to my face. I walked in and they sent me to bed, saying I need to be ready for 6:00 AM for my training tomorrow. Same as any other day.

I look out my window and sigh. I wish I wasn't here. If I were to leave, I wouldn't have to train, wouldn't be forced to hear about my prophecy, wouldn't have to battle. Most importantly, I wouldn't have to hear about Arceus non-stop. But I can't escape.

Or can I?

I leap out of bed, rushing around my room and gathering my belongings. Everything in my room fits in a single backpack. I then let Zane out it his ball.

"Six already," he asks, his eyes barely open. I shake my head.

"No," I tell him. "I'm getting out of here. And you're coming…" I go silent, a bit unsure and scared. "R-Right?"

Zane nods his head. "Of course I am! Let's get going."

I smile and sigh with relief. I don't know what I'd do without him. I silently open my window, creeping out of it quietly. Zane follows, falling flat in his face on his way out.

I have to cover my mouth to conceal my laughter. "Shut up," he mutters. He stands up and brushes himself off.

Then, me and him venture out into the woods, ready for a new life.

I've been wanting to make this for so long!

The next chapter is probably going to be short, but I plan for these to be lengthy

Thank you @Hey_PIKMIN for your question about what we wanted in the anime

I never would have thought of this without it!

I will warn right here that this will be an aggressive story, so if that makes you uncomfortable then don't read any future chapters

With that being said, I hope you enjoy!