The Power Within - Prologue & Chapter 1
#1 of The Power Within
Prologue: The Face of Death
Have you ever had that feeling that your life has come to a standstill, that even time itself has come to an end? Your mind loses its distinctness, its sharpness, as thoughts blur and blend and your vision becomes hazy and dull. I suppose we've all felt this at one time or another in our lives, but then again, you're not like me. Nobody is like me; we are all individuals, each with their own life, their own existence. Maybe that's why I feel the need to tell this; maybe by sharing it, the truth of the matter will become more real, tangible, even malleable, somehow becoming more a part of me with every outside influence. I know I have a purpose, as does everyone else in this world, though things weren't always this clear, this easy to follow. As I know now, fate will always have the final say, and nothing will ever change what is bound to occur; one's own destiny is inalterable, yet we try. We struggle to make our destiny better, more fulfilling. Our journey is distinct, the path we choose out own. This is my story, and as far as I can tell, sometimes the lines between reality and imagination become blurred and broken. Maybe that's why I am here, staring death in the face with a defiant spirit. But to truly understand what I am saying, we must first go back to the beginning, to square one. As far as I can tell, this is the beginning of my life, my new life, my life in the world of Pokémon...
Chapter 1: A New Beginning
"Why the hell do I have to do this?!"
The sun beats down mercilessly on the forest, the canopy of leaves blocking the light, but doing little to help with the sweltering heat. Every day is the same, has been the same for the past month.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Junsei, though Jun is fine as well, and I work for Team Rocket. Yeah, I know, those guys, but it was the only job available at the time. Public opinion aside, the organization really isn't as bad as it seems - where I work at least. I'm a field agent, a grunt, the lowest of the low. We don't even get to have Pokémon. Regular grunts go on actual missions - stealing Pokémon from unsuspecting trainers and stuff like that. I, however, have had the misfortune of failing again and again, which brings us to the present. Today marks the one month anniversary of my coming to this forest. I'm here alone with no supplies except a tent, emergency radio transmitter, and a tracking device weighing somewhere around 50 pounds.
Ever since Giovanni's failure in the Mewtwo experiment, he has been set on finding a living Mew and obtaining DNA that can be adapted just as easily as the real thing can. Due to my consistent failure and the hazards of the mission, I had the ill fate of being chosen to find a Mew that supposedly lives in the forest. One month later and here I am, with still no sign of anything more powerful than a Spinarak. How would I catch it anyways? It could be invisible, and even if it wasn't, it could just as easily teleport away in an instant. If some wild Pokémon doesn't kill me, I'm sure this 100 degree heat will...
His voice fades away as the last excerpt from his diary is read, on a page titled For whoever finds this notebook.... It has been dropped in the forest, the wear and tear visible.
Jun takes a much-needed break, wiping the sweat from his face and arms as he gets out his canteen. Taking a drink, he thinks about just how peaceful nature is, or would be if he didn't have to lug around a bulky machine. Putting his water away, he looks at the device, which he's pretty sure doesn't even work, and wonders what cruel fate he has. Suddenly, the device crackles and a worn motor starts to whirr. The radar starts to go off, beeping wildly every once in a while, sensing something coming closer and farther away.
A dot appears on the screen, and he excitedly picks up his pack and gear, running off into the woods to follow it, the notebook left behind. The dot flits about, never staying in one place long enough to find whatever is causing the commotion. Thorny branches and brambles scratch Junsei's skin and tear at his clothes, but he continues, pushing his body to the limit.
Then the radar stops, everything going quiet, the dot disappearing. He curses his luck as the machine's engine shudders and dies, the truth being that the energy levels had been depleted until nothing remained. He cast the device aside and sighed, stumbling out into a clearing. The human stopped and rested on a stump, not caring any more about the heat, the sun, or even if he'd make it out of the forest.
Then comes the strangest feeling - an unseen presence haunts Junsei's mind, and he scans the surrounding forest, trying to detect its source. He had just about given up, when he looked up, and there, only inches above his head, was a Mew.
Too tired to do anything about it, however, he just sat and stared. He and the Mew lock eyes, each seeming to look deep into the other's heart, into their soul. The Mew and Junsei, there seemed to be some bond tying them together, as if fate had wanted it to be. He reached a hand up to touch the Pokémon, uncertain if it was really real, or just an illusion caused by the heat. They make contact before the Mew teleports away, leaving the pitiful human alone again.
He sighs, knowing that he'll probably never see it again.
Then, something weird happens. Junsei's body feels light, his head dizzy, thoughts no longer registering with complete clarity. His vision blurs as he is enveloped in inky darkness, the sound of a faraway voice calling his name. Then, that too fades and he is left alone in the ebony abyss.