Forums Fantasy: Chapter 1

"Cal, you can't baby Espurr forever," Chris tells me as we and his Pignite finish loading the heavy boxes of mixed fruit onto the old green pick-up truck. "You will have to put her to work eventually."

"Not true," I respond, pushing a stray strand green hair out my eyes and straightening my glasses before picking up my precious cat. She purrs happily as I gently pet under her chin. "She is just fine standing by and being cute!"

Chris sighs and shakes his head with disappointment, his brown hair brushing against his shoulders with each movement. He doesn't say anything else, though, instead moving on to close the trunk of the truck. "Come on," he states, returning his Pokémon and hopping into the drivers side. "Let's go deliver the goods so we can get back in time for dinner."

I quickly climb into the passenger side, still holding Espurr. As soon as my buckle clicks Chris turns the keys to starts the truck but the engine takes a couple turns before working. "We really need a new vehicle," the brunette complains as we begin driving. He always says that, but we both know things will never change. People are only paid enough to stay alive. Nothing more, nothing less.

That's how the king, Hades, runs the region. He chooses what your life will be like since the moment you're old enough to work. He pays everyone the same, no matter the job, and gives us places to live. He says it's the best thing for us, keeping us safe and alive. We should be thankful, he tells us.

Yeah, we're safe and alive, but we're not happy! I didn't choose to be a farmer, yet here I am delivering crops that I grew because I was assigned this job by my King when I was seven. I guess I got it lucky, though, since I got to stay with my family, who are also farmers. Many people are forced away from their loved ones because they get placed into a different job, which is what happened to Chris and why he lives with my family. People of different lines of work are not allowed to interact unless for a reason, like deliveries or getting help by a person with experience. Honestly, it's not fair! We shouldn't be restricted to something that makes us miserable just because some—

"Hey," Chris' voice says as I get shook, snapping me out of my thoughts. I quickly look over to see a pair of brown eyes framed by brown glasses staring at me with agitation. "Finally, I've been saying your name for three minutes! The royal guard is waiting for us, let's get to work."

"O-Oh, right," I reply, hurrying out the truck and rushing to the back. Espurr follows at a casual pace, in no rush to keep up. Chris lowers the trunk door, lets out Pignite and Carracosta, and the four of us start unloading the crates. Multiple times in my rush I nearly trip over Espurr, who randomly decided to take a nap in the middle of my walking path.

"This is why Espurr needs to be put to work," Chris states, bringing back up a conversation I thought was over. "She just gets in the way!"

"She's fine," I tell him, making sure to walk around the cat this time. "She doesn't need to do anything."

Chris grumbles something under his breath that I couldn't fully hear but I'm pretty sure was an insult. After about two minutes we get all the fruits out of the bed of our truck and handed over to the guard, who gives us our money and tells us "have a good one," which we return along with thanks for the payment.

"I can't wait to get home and eat your mom's cooking," Chris says with a smile as we walk back to the vehicle.

"I'm just ready for bed," I tell him, immediately followed by a yawn.

As we reach the truck, we witness a woman getting forcefully dragged along by two soldiers. "Wait, please," she cries as she yanks her arms and kick her feet violently, leading to no success as she gets thrown and locked into a caged Rapidash-drawn carriage. "I-I didn't do anything!"

"You were carving wood with a carpenter, which you are not allowed to as a musician," one of the guards inform her.

"I-I know, but—" she begins to reply but gets cut off by the other guard.

"Because of your actions violating the laws of Lacos, you will be sent straight to the castle for King Hades the Merciless to punish you."

The woman screams and begs for mercy, but the carriage has already started going. Soon, she will be "taken care of." Nobody knows what Hades does to the law breakers, but nobody wants to find out.

"Do you think it'll ever be different," I ask Chris after we get in the car, Espurr curled up in my lap.

"What do you mean," the brunette inquires as he struggle to get the truck working. I know he knows exactly what I mean, but I answer anyways.

"Will we ever be able to freely do what we love?"

The truck finally roars with life, rearing to go. "Let's go home," Chris says, completely ignoring the question. His lack of an answer is the loudest no I could have received.

Tonight, I decide, I am leaving this place.

First chapter is done!

Let me know if you want tagged in future chapters

This is the series that y'all gave me characters to use

Hope you enjoy!