FSE

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Chapter 1: As the Dawn Arrives

My eyes shot open with excitement, my tail beginning to wag with excitement. I jumped up and ran out the door. The sun's light was relentless at first, but even it could not compete against with the suspense in them. This guy was ready for the fun.

I took off down the path to the village. I passed a small amount of houses, each appearing in a different style, which caused me to stop and stare at in awe. Each one was a different style and color, no two appearing the same. However it was only them couple of homes that were between where I lived and where the village resided. Surprisingly I didn't encounter anyone on my way to Aramor. That was, until I ran into the all too familiar trio, a Machop, a Spinirak, and Shinx. They really didn't see me eye to eye.

"Aye, look who it is! It's the abandoned!" The Shinx shouted, grabbing my attention.

"Heheh nice one, Fern." The Machop said, then gave a sinister chuckle. The Spinirak glared at me and before I could stop running, a thin thread of strong webbing shot from Spinirak and wrapped around my feet, causing me to land on my face. I heard all of them let loose a "oooh" at the sight of my tumble. I quickly tried to sit up and frantically pulled my feet apart to rip the binding. They were already beginning to advance. Machop cracked his knuckles as he chuckled again.

"So what's a little outcast like you coming into our village for?"

"You know what I'm coming to the village for Brutus." I growled in anger.

"Oh, you think you're going to the ceremony, don't you...Ha...hahaha..." He started laughing only quieting down a second later when he realized how serious I was. "Wait, you weren't joking around?"

"You'd think with him it would be looking at his life." Fern sneered, lightning beginning to bounce off his body. I got to my feet and met all their gazes. They all glared back for a few seconds before Brutus began snickering.

"Tet, tie him up." Brutus said then walked away. The Spinarak gave a nod before shooting another strand of web at me from his mouth. I easily jumped over it and began running to the village. I heard Brutus and Fern snap at Tet before running after me.

"Get back here!"

Too Late.

I already reached the village gate. I passed a watch guard doing his hourly patrols. The Buizel waved me over, saving me from having to escape further.

"Hey there, Safyrex." The Buizel smiled at me. "What are you up to, pal?"

"Hey, Jet." I replied. I tried my best to calm my breathing as I neared him. He noticed anyways and gave me a questioning look. "It's nothing, what's up?" "I was just trying to figure out when you were headed to the ceremony. I was gonna join ya." He said smiling.

"Yeah I was just about to head over to the Well." I said then sat.

"How about you help me finish my patrol and then we can head over there together." He said, straightening the shawl that bore the crest of the village's watch guards, who were also known as The Companions. The crest was a shield that was wrapped twice around by a chain. The Companions said it symbolized how strong everyone can be if they all stuck together. Jet had told me that was what he wanted to do since he was freshly hatched. Even though he was stuck doing just patrols, he did the job with an atmosphere of confidence and a big grin on his muzzle. The trio peeked around the corner at Jet and me. The Buizel noticed them and gave them a nasty glare. Brutus' face went white and they all ran into town. I gave a small smirk. We continued around the border wall talking about the upcoming ceremony before finally reaching a large, five story, clay building, which seemed to complete the exterior perimeter. Jet ran in and was shortly back in a couple minutes, having returned the shawl.

We quickly ran towards the center of Aramar, which was known as The Well. We stopped at the back of the crowd. We watched as the Village Elder, an elderly Armaldo, walk in front of the crowd. He stood in front of a small fountain that sat in the very center of the village. Every year, at this time of season, a miraculous thing happens. Some of us go through a change everyone said was evolution. Everyone who partook the ceremony became different and stronger in some ways.

As the Elder finished the speech about the purpose of the ceremony and about evolution itself, he lifted his claws and shouted 'The Ceremony Commences'. Every Pokemon in the Well let out a roar. We all knew what came next. We closed our eyes and waited. The wind blew gently. When the ceremony starts all the Pokemon close their eyes and wait. Then if you meet what are called the Requirements, a voice calls out to your mind informing you that you have the decision of evolving or not, and if you think yes, you evolve. No one exactly knew what requirements were, though the elder theorized it meant maturity and age.

As the time went on I still kept my eyes tightly shut, waiting for the question. But when the wind stopped we all opened our eyes. About five out of the twenty Pokemon had underwent evolution. I looked at myself and saw no change. I gave a frown.

"Holy... crap..." I turned to look at Jet and my mouth fell open. He was no longer a Buizel. "I did it... I evolved!" He said and pumped his fist in the air.

"I'm happy for you Jet. You earned it."

"Thanks Safyrex. Hey let's go out to the Backforest so I can try this new me out!" And as soon as he said that the whole village gave a vicious shake, as if the earth itself had moved. A couple Pokemon gave a panic cry, but as soon as the rumble started, it ended. Everyone looked around in confusion.

"It seems the Earth shifted a bit. Do not be at alarm everyone." The Elder said getting everyone to calm down. "Let us draw attention to our fellow friends and family who have grown. Truly it is such a privilege to know such gifted Pokemon. So in your honor... May the feasting begin!"

"Come on." Jet said then began running to the Backforest. I followed after him quietly. After running through the five house neighborhood we entered a slightly dense forest. We then came upon a large lake. Jet looked back at me then jumped in. I walked to the edge and stared in, watching him swim around at an amazing speed. After about ten minutes he came out.

"That is so amazing! I'm so much faster now." He said then looked back into the water. He then sat next to me. "I'm sure you're next for sure. There's still a about fifteen more days until the next ceremony. I'll bet you'll have the requirements by then."

"You think so?" I asked, looking at my reflection. The off white furred face stared back, those all too familiar black eyes watching me intently. Not usual for an Eevee as Brutus and the gang like to constantly remind me.

"I know so..." He said then ruffled my hair.

*****

We stayed at the lake for a couple hours. I watched Jet try out his strengths and pull off some really cool moves. But soon hunger got the best of us. We quickly ran back to the Well, where the feasting was still going on. After eating our fill it was just becoming dusk, and all the Pokemon began heading home. Unless, that's what they thought.

Jet and I were just saying good-bye to one another the ground shook harshly again, though this time it was worse. This one didn't stop. I lost my footing and fell on my side, and if I thought about getting up again that was out of the question as I couldn't even get anywhere near to a standing position. As I tried to get to my feet again a large crack noise caught all my attention. I looked next to me I fear as the house next to me started falling my way.

I tried getting up but the shaking prevented that from happening. As the wall got closer and closer to collapsing on top of me, I heard my name being shouted. And then it was dark and I could feel the weight on top of me.

...it was over for me...

{You really think that?}

My eyes shot open, though darkness was all that surrounded me. An orb of light seemed to descend downward to me, casting a hazy glow upon me. I looked around and found no one. Where was I?

{This is the back of your mind. Very dark place...} The orb seemed to whisper as it circled me.

"Y-you can read my thoughts?"

{That I can.}

"Who are you? How did we get here? Am I dead?" I found myself spouting out question after question in fear.

{Calm down Safyrex... Now answer my question... Do you really think that it's over for you?}

"Well a wall kinda came crushing down upon me, so yeah." I said gloomily.

{Don't be so down. Life isn't always so black and white.} It said spinning around me again.

"I think I would know if I was alive or not. And from where I'm standing, it's not looking so good."

{I have a feeling you're wrong. You have someone who really cares for you... You know that?}

"You've seen how everyone has ridiculed me. I get bullied every day and not one Pokemon has stepped up to stop that. The Elder would if he saw it, but it was always done out of sight."

{Not one Pokemon, huh?} It asked. There was silence, as though it were waiting for me to think back and remember a hero.

"Not one."

{I see... You'll be coming through very soon. Maybe next time we meet, you'll have a different answer...} The wisp slowly faded, and what looked like light from the end of a tunnel began shining in my eyes. I winced as it got closer until suddenly I was surrounded by it. And when my eyes finally adjusted... I had wished that I didn't...