Returning Home: Prologue

Prologue: The Letter

The bright morning sun lifted over a small cliffside area shaped like a shark-like Pokémon known as Sharpedo. It was early in the morning and very quiet and most Pokémon were still asleep. Even the guild-members from the guild at the other side of a small town were still asleep. So it was strange when a small, brown, fox-like Pokémon climbed out from under the top of the cliff with her blue scarf on and treasure bag as if she was going on an exploration.

When the eevee walked out of the hole in the ground she immediately closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze contrasting with the warm spring air across her fur. After enjoying that for a couple of seconds she moved on. She walked a couple of seconds before looking back at the entrance with a worried expression. She continued looking at it, as if she was having difficulty tearing her gaze away from it. The eevee eventually shook her head before walking onto the dirt path to the side of where their entrance is until she reached the edge of the cliff. She took once more look at the hole in the ground before turning her gaze back to the wide ocean that expanded below and beyond the cliff.

“Hmm…I don’t know,” the eevee mumbled to herself. “Should I, or should I wake up my friends and tell them?”

“Should you what?”

“Leave alone,” the eevee answered as she faced whoever made the question with a groggy glance. “I don’t know whether I want my teammates joining me on something or not.”

“Then telling me that might not be a good idea, ‘least till you’ve thought it over.”

The eevee’s eyes snapped open wide as she realized who she was talking to. She finally saw clearly the figure in front of her. It was a white Pokémon that had the shape of a deer. Its hair was green and it also had green at the bottom of its paws. Finally it had a red scarf around its neck that stuck out at the same point it had a couple of pink flower pedals attached to its neck.

“Shaymin!” the eevee exclaimed.

“Eon!” Shaymin yelled in response. “Now that we’re done establishing our names, what are you up to?”

Eon’s ears lowered and her face fell, almost as if she was a child caught in a lie. “N-nothing,” she said.

“Nothing huh?” Shaymin asked. “Wait, let me guess.” Shaymin smirked before saying, “You’ve got a secret mate huh? You sneaky little fox. I see your game. You just don’t want to break Axle’s heart, huh?”

Eon gave him an unamused glance. “Really Shaymin? You had to go there?”

“And you shouldn’t have expected anything else!” Shaymin said, proudly lifting his head up as he did. “But seriously, I get that your business is your business and if there’s something you’ve got to do alone then you can. I’m perfectly ok with that. But you don’t have to act so secretive about it. Axle and I are your friends so you can feel free to tell us anything.”

“I have something I might need to deal with alone,” Eon said. “Just…give me some time to think about it.”

Eon turned back to look over the cliff, going back into her thoughts. However as soon as she turned Shaymin said, “Alright, fine. But if you really are going alone, be sure to tell your parents I said ‘hi’.”

Eon blanched and nearly fell off the cliff. She turned around and looked at Shaymin with a surprised expression. From what little she could see of Shaymin’s face she could see he had a smirk.

“Wha…how did you know?!” Eon yelled.

Shaymin turned around to look at the eevee. “Wait, so I was right!?” Shaymin asked. “Cool!”

“Well?” Eon asked.

“I just guessed,” Shaymin admitted. “I mean, the only thing we don’t know about you is your family so if there’s something you’re hiding, I figured that’s a good guess. Didn’t think I was actually right but…”

“Alright, fine,” Eon said as she rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m thinking of visiting my family. Possibly alone.”

“So, since I know that, would you mind telling me why you might not want me or Axle following you when you visit your family?” Shaymin asked. “I’m sure we both wouldn’t mind visiting your folks with you.”

“It’s…” Eon trailed off and looked down. “It’s hard to explain really.”

“Well you could start from the beginning,” said a very familiar voice to Eon.

Eon looked past Shaymin until she saw who she thought she heard. A riolu was standing at the entrance, his blue goggles snuggly on his forehead and his arms crossed. Eon jumped back and nearly tripped over herself when she saw him. “Ahh Axle!” Eon yelled.

Axle nodded. “Eon,” he said. “What’s going on?”

“It’s…well…” Eon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them again she said, “Alright, even if I do decide to go it alone, I should still tell you. Come on you guys, let’s head back inside. I have something to show you.”

Eon walked past Shaymin and Axle and went back down the steps to the base. When she got in she walked across the rocky ground until she reached a small wooden table in the middle of three beds that were set down in a triangular pattern on the base floor. With her mouth she reached into her bag and grabbed out a letter from her bag, which she preceded to place on the table. Axle and Shaymin both came down after her and surrounded the table.

“So what is this?” Shaymin asked.

“This is a letter from an old friend of mine named Elvin,” Eon said. “He’s an eevee from the village I come from.”

“What did he say?” Axle asked.

“He…wants me to be at his Evolution Ceremony,” Eon said with a sad sigh.

Axle looked directly at Eon with a questioning glance. “Evolution Ceremony?” Axle questioned. “What exactly is that? Something eevee do?”

Eon looked at Axle and nodded. “Yeah exactly,” Eon said. “You see, I used to belong to a village of eevee that lived in a part of Mystifying Forest, just outside of the mystery dungeon portion. We’re a small tribe filled with all sorts of Eeveelutions. It’s the only place where you can find almost every Eeveelution living in one place and they are all there for one reason.”

“Luminous Spring, right?” Shaymin asked. “The place where all Pokémon go to evolve.”

“I guess it make sense then,” Axle mused.

“Anyways,” Eon continued, looking back at the letter, “the Evolution Ceremony is a ceremony that takes place when one of the eevee born to the village are ready for evolution. Usually what happens is the eevee will first go out on a journey through the forest to find the Evolution item they need. Once they gain it they’ll bring it back to one of the elders and the ceremony can begin.”

“The ceremony is similar to how most evolutions go in the lake, only the eevee’s friends, family, and the village elders all watch it happen as well. Plus the eevee will usually make a sort of speech about what they plan on doing with their new evolution. It’s at that point that the Pokémon will either stay or leave the village.”

“And you want to watch your friend’s Evolution Ceremony,” Shaymin finished for her. “So what’s the problem?”

“I broke the village’s rule,” Eon confessed finally. “I broke the village’s rule. Because of that, I’m exiled from entering the village ever again. I…knew that might happen but…”

“Start from the beginning,” Axle suggested before Eon broke down into rambling. “What exactly happened?”

Eon looked to Axle for strength before she explained what happened.

“As you both know, I used to be very timid. I had a hard time working up the courage to do anything really. At the same time though I dreamed about being able to go off and explore. I dreamed about not being so afraid and exploring throughout the world, discovering new things, and help Pokémon out on the way. I wanted it more than anything.

At the same time though, our village has a rule. We, as eevee, aren’t allowed to leave the village until we are deemed strong enough, and not allowed to leave the forest until we evolve.

The problem was my timid nature always got in the way. I couldn’t explore the area around our village where we were allowed to go, I didn’t have the nerve to challenge other villagers to a fight, there was just no way for me to gain experience. So at the rate I was going I would never be able to evolve and leave the village.

Now, due to Explorers frequently visiting Luminous Spring I heard about Wigglytuff’s Guild. I wasn’t supposed to, since we’re not supposed to talk with Pokémon outside our village, but I did. When I heard about it, I wanted more than anything to join Wigglytuff’s Guild since I was sure that joining the guild would help me become more courageous. But Mom, Dad, the elders, almost everyone didn’t think I’d make it. They didn’t want me going there because they thought the training would be too hard on me. Even Elvin wanted me to wait a bit before I tried.

I didn’t want to wait and get stronger though, since I knew I never was going to by just staying in the forest. So one night…I just left. I left the forest behind and went to Treasure Town, never looking back.”

Shaymin chuckled when he heard that. “Wow,” he said. “You actually ran away from home? I never would have thought you’d have it in you!”

Axle glared at him before glancing at Eon. “Not to agree with Shaymin completely, but I’m surprised you did that too. Weren’t you the one who always said you were too timid?”

“I was too timid!” Eon said desperately. “I should have stood my ground! I should have told them that I was going! I should have at least tried to talk it out with my parents or the elders! But no…” Eon’s head lowered and her ears flopped. “I was too big of a chicken. I was too afraid that they would just reject me outright and that would be it. I was afraid they’d actively try to keep me from leaving. So…I ran away like the chicken I was.”

Axle opened his mouth to argue against it but Eon noticed him and cut him off. “No, don’t say anything Axle. Don’t even try to argue against it. I was a chicken. You and I both know that. And because of how big of a chicken I was, I’m exiled from my home. And now I might not be able to see one of my best friends at the most important time of their life.”

Eon lifted her head back up and the glint of determination shone in her eyes. “But not anymore! I’ve grown a lot stronger since that day, back in the forest! I’m not the timid eevee I used to be and I am going back to my village to make things right!”

Axle took it in for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright, I think I understand the situation now,” Axle said. “I just have one more question for you. What part of this is making you unsure about whether to bring Shaymin or me? Is it something you just have to do alone?”

“Sort of…” Eon looked between her teammates. “It’s…really hard to explain. I just…I feel like since this is my home and my friend, I should be the one going to fix things. Plus, my village really doesn’t like outsiders so…”

“Alright, fine then,” Axle said with a soft smile as he crossed his arms. “I understand. There are some things in life you just have to do alone. We’re fine with that.”

“I’m glad you guys understand but…” Eon paused for a second and thought about a few things. “I decided…I want you guys to come with me.”

Axle and Shaymin both looked at Eon with surprise. “Are you sure?” Axle asked. “You don’t have to bring us. We’re fine waiting here for your return.”

“Yes, I am sure,” Eon said. She took a step back in order to see both Axle and Shaymin. “Axle, it’s thanks to you that I became as brave as I am and Shaymin, you are my teammate. We’re friends so I should share my problems with you. There are things there that I will have to do alone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come with me to back me up. That’s what friends are for.”

“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Shaymin said, though as usual Eon couldn’t tell whether he was joking or serious. Probably both.

Axle just nodded. “Alright then,” he said. “When the time comes we’ll let you do what you need to do. But we’ll be sure to accompany you.”

“Thanks you guys,” Eon said. “Anyways, let’s go. Elvin’s Evolution Ceremony will happen soon and I don’t want to miss it.”

Shaymin and Axle both nodded and the three of them started on their way to the forest.