I've been itching to write one of these for weeks! Then I got sudden inspiration for it. I'm going to twist the storyline, which is what I do best! May turn this into more than a one shot, like I did with Covet with Compassion. But the updates will be a little slower than my other works, because this is merely something for me to have fun with when I need boosting.

Soul: The First Chapter.

It had been three days, and the rain still hadn't let up. This storm was getting beyond ridiculous. It didn't help that my home town was renowned for its heavy gale force winds, and so my umbrella was almost pointless. Instead, I held my hat over the majority of my hair, and the rest clung to my neck, completely drowned. I was hurrying for the Professor's home, he'd asked me to drop by when I could, and put it off for a few days due to the weather. I gave up waiting. He lived across town, and it was practically a mission to fight against the winds towards the grand building that he lived in.

I'll never forget when I first spotted him. He looked lost. He was staring into one of the laboratory's windows, and his expression sent a wave of sympathy through me. He looked torn, confused and bewildered, like he wasn't sure about something.

"Excuse me?" Was my initial reaction. He flinched away from me, startled. He stared at me with large, almost frightened eyes, his blood red irises glaring at me defensively. The murderous look he fired at me nearly had me wheeling back home, but I persisted to walk towards him, holding my umbrella out invitingly. He eyed me suspiciously.

"Are you lost?" I asked, and he didn't say anything to reply.

By then, I was just a metre away from him, and so I held my umbrella over him. He looked up and then glared at me. "What do you think you're doing?" He spat, and it startled me. Though his voice was harsh, his accent clearly different from Johto, he pronounced his words so alluringly, I was entranced almost immediately.

"I-I'm Soul." I stuttered, and I was thankful he took it that he was intimidating me. Funnily enough, he'd done quite the opposite.

"Pathetic. Get away from me." He growled, and shoved my shoulder. It didn't hurt, and his hand lingered on my skin longer than necessary, he turned away from me and sat under the window. It's ledge was providing a little shelter for him.

"Why don't you come inside? I'm sure the Professor won't mind." I suggested, gesturing to the door around the corner.

"Are you still here?" He barked back at me, not even looking in my direction. I gave up, turning around and walking for the entrance, not before sending a wistful, sympathetic glance to him. His red hair was plastered to his forehead and neck, slightly covering his eyes. I could still see that he was staring at me with confusion, questioning my actions in his thoughts. Maybe where he came from, strangers kept themselves to themselves, never offering their help to those who clearly needed it. Quite a sad thought.

"Soul!" An extremely happy voice squealed as I entered the laboratory. Ethan Elm hurtled toward me with something cute and green in his arms. "Look what Dad gave me!" He shoved the pokemon toward me. It flailed its little green legs cutely and flicked it's leaf like appendage to me as if to shake my hand. It was adorably soft, and I was envious of Ethan for getting one.

"It's a Chikorita, Dad said a grass type would suit my battle style the most!" He went on to explain, even though I already knew what pokemon it was. I didn't burst his bubble, I just nodded politely and let him babble on about how they made friends.

"Ethan, let the poor girl breathe!" Elm chuckled, ushering him away as he sat me down in his office. He pulled my chair near the radiator, which I was thankful for his kindness. I looked around the room, one that I hadn't been in before, despite the amount of times me and Ethan had played around this building as young children. It was the same, white plain walls, but with photos of pokemon and Elm's family decorating them. It was nice to see a personal touch to the otherwise bland laboratory.

I also noticed two pokeballs resting in a red velvet cushion regally. One had a little flame sticker on, the other had a water droplet. I assumed the third that would have completed the set was now with Ethan. My heart started thumping wildly as I realised why I was here. Elm seemed to chuckle as my eyes lit up with anticipation.

"Go ahead, I'm sure you know what I was going to ask you." He gestured to the cushion, and I sprang up. I already knew which one I would go for, the one that would give me better chance at defeating Ethan. Besides, fire types were harder to come across, grass and water was everywhere for those sort of pokemon to live in.

He hummed; "Good choice. I like Cyndaquil too, I think she in particular will suit you perfectly."

I looked wide eyed at the Professor, who was grinning back at me. I was too excited to do anything but just stare at the pokeball. Sure, I'd seen one thrown countless times, but I was too scared to myself. What if I was bad? What if it broke?

"Like this, see?"

He took the ball from me, and pressed the middle button. It enlarged automatically, and then he threw it underarm towards me. Reflexes had my arms shoot out, but it stopped in the air at the peak of its arc, energy shooting it back into Elm's hand. The energy flashed towards my open arms in a white glow, then gathered into a blob which formed into a Cyndaquil. The glow dimmed until colours and characteristics shone through, then they flashed off the little pokemon in a glitter. I was completely mesmerised. Sure, I'd seen this species of pokemon leave the lab many a time, but this one was mine.

"Hello, little Quilly." I giggled, tickling its little tummy, to which is flailed its arms and squealed; "Quiiiiil!"

"Quilly?"

I looked up at Professor Elm, who was staring at me incredulously; "Well she's got to have a name, doesn't she?"

"It's not necessary," he muttered; "But what about when she's a Typhlosion?"

I pouted, then grinned; "Well why don't I call you Flo, now? Do you like that?"

She tensed all her muscles and flames ignited out of her back, I held her out away from me, careful not to touch the fire. Her legs flailed cutely. "Quil! Cynda-Quil! Quil!" I took it as a yes.

"Now, I was wondering if you could run an errand for me?" Elm smiled. Of course there would be a catch, nothing in the world is free. I nodded anyway, an Errand would only cost me time, and I had a lot of that now I'd finished school.

"Of course, Professor, where to?"

"Well, my son will go with you, but I just didn't want him going alone. Would you go to the north of Cherrygrove with him and pick up a Pokemon Egg? I think you'll be able to look after it better." He smiled at me ruefully, knowing as well as I did how clumsy Ethan was. I nodded eagerly, not only was I setting off into the world, I was doing it with my best friend.

"Yes, Professor. When would you like us to go?"

"As soon as you can." He said quickly, than gave me an apologetic glance when I looked to the window. I caught a glimpse of the red-headed boy who had been watching us, he ducked before Elm could see him. The frown on my face had been because of him, but Elm thought I was complaining about the weather. I assured him quickly; "We could go now, if you want?"

"That would be great, but tell your Mother before you leave. I don't want her thinking I'm being irresponsible, now." He grinned at me, and I grinned back. Elm was a very nice man, he'd known me since I was a baby, being friends with my Father since they were kids. He grieved beside me and my mother when he passed away.

I stepped back into the rain, and Flo squirmed until I tilted the Umbrella just right until no droplets touched her. Of course, I got soaked doing so. Oh well, that was part of being a trainer, right? We would give each other everything loyally for the rest of out lives.

The mysterious boy was peering around the corner when I'd started walking again, I looked down at Flo, who was peering at him curiously too.

"Why did you pick that one?" He sneered suddenly, and I frowned.

"Because fire types are cool." I replied, and Flo smiled up at me.

"So you're going to become a Mono-type trainer?" He nearly laughed, but it was more patronising and angry to be called a laugh.

Still, I jutted my chin out; "No, but me and Flo are going to become really good partners."

I saw him grimace at my nickname, but I just smiled, refusing to be put down by a pessimist.

"Do you not have any pokemon?" I asked politely, but he recoiled like I'd punched him below the belt. He instantly lashed out; "Are you calling me weak?" He shrieked, yet it was somehow quiet in these busy winds. He pushed me on the same shoulder as before, accenting his curse when he said; "Leave me alone, bitch."

"Ss-" I was not one to be affected by name calling, and his hit hadn't hurt, so I had no clue as to why I was stuttering. "Sorry." I finally spat out. I turned and walked away, if he'd had his doubts about my weakness before, I wasn't going to confirm it now.

I hurried home and explained my plans to my mother. She groomed Flo while I showered ready for my little journey, and she gave me a bag full of essentials. She then hugged me close and cried on my clean hair. Great, now I had to wear a hat.

"Oh baby! I'm going to miss you!" She hiccuped, and I decided to please her, wrapping my arms around her and nuzzling my head into her shoulder; "I'm not going to be far."

"But this is just the start!" She protested; "Next you'll be off to fight the world!"

I chuckled; "Not quite ready for the world fighting, but I might travel."

She sniffed, but our private moment was brought to an abrupt stop by a knock at the door. We turned our heads, and it took a moment for me to prize my way away from my mother, but I reached the door and let Ethan in. He and his Chikorita shook like wet Luxray, then moved into the hall way.

I grinned; "I'll be ready in a minute!"

"Forget your hat?"

"How did you guess?" I laughed, leaping up my stairs two at a time. There my hat sat, on my made up bed. I whipped it up, and placed it neatly onto my gravity defying flicked out from underneath, and I scowled, but gave up and hurried back down the stairs. Flo squealed its name and leapt for my arms, away from Chikorita who had been trying to play.

"Ready?"

I nodded, and Ethan bounded for the door. He held it open, bowed and gestured his hand to the horrific weather outside; "Ladies first."