The roar of the crowd echoed through the stadium, a tidal wave of energy and anticipation. The Pokémon Fighting Championship was at its peak, and all eyes were on the rising star, Thomas. The young trainer stood tall, his Alolan Ninetales by his side, its shimmering fur glowing like moonlight against the harsh arena lights. Across from them, a seasoned trainer commanded his Scizor, its metallic body gleaming ominously as it prepared for its next strike.
The battle was fierce. Scizor’s sharp claws glinted with deadly precision as it darted toward Ninetales, its movements fast and calculated. But Thomas and his Alolan Ninetales were a force to be reckoned with. With a swift flick of his wrist, Thomas called out, and his Ninetales unleashed a dazzling Ice Beam that struck the Scizor mid-flight, sending it crashing to the ground. The audience held their breath, eyes wide, as the referee raised his hand, ready to declare victory.
But just as Thomas was about to be crowned champion, the television screen flickered, cutting off the action. The lights dimmed for a brief moment before static filled the screen, leaving the room in a tense silence. A voice crackled from the speakers, but it was too late—Thomas’ victory was stolen by an untimely interruption.
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Uriel's POV
I woke up early, the light from the window casting long shadows across the room. I groggily pushed myself up from the bed, feeling the weight of another sleepless night dragging on me. In the mirror, my reflection showed a face that seemed foreign. My black hair, streaked with patterns of white, looked messier than usual, falling across my forehead in uneven waves. My skin, pale as snow, looked almost ghostly in the morning light. My violet eyes were bloodshot, the sleepless nights clear in every line on my face. I hadn’t been sleeping well for weeks now—worrying about rent and the future, Morgan.
I ran a hand through my hair, sighing deeply. There was no time for rest. I had to get moving.
Before heading out, I went to Morgan’s room. Her face, soft and peaceful, was framed by her beautiful, messy black hair patterned with white streaks. She had bronze-colored skin, and her amber eyes always seemed to shine with quiet hope, even on the darkest days. At 16, she was still so full of life, and it hurt me to see her so burdened by everything we were going through.
I leaned over her bed and kissed her forehead, as I did every morning. “Be good, Morgan,” I whispered, hoping she would sleep for a little longer, even if I couldn’t.
The café wasn’t busy yet, so I had a moment to talk to Mr. Melvin, the owner. His tired eyes avoided mine as I approached. I knew what was coming. The quiet, calculating way he shifted his gaze told me everything I needed to know.
“Mr. Melvin, please… I really need this job. I can’t lose it,” I said, desperation creeping into my voice. “I need the money. We’re behind on rent, and—”
He interrupted me, shaking his head slowly. “Uriel, the café isn’t doing well. I’ve been trying to make cuts, and… well, I’m sorry, but it’s just not working out anymore.”
I felt a sharp sting in my chest, but I couldn’t let it show. “Please, just one more chance. I’ll work harder; I’ll do anything you need—”
“It’s not about that,” he said, his voice a little more distant than usual. “You’re a good worker, Uriel. But I can’t afford to keep anyone on the payroll at this point. I’m sorry.”
I wanted to argue, to beg, but the words stuck in my throat. Mr. Melvin was doing what he thought was best for the business. What he thought was best for him.
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So, I gathered my things, leaving the café behind for what felt like the last time. The streets outside were just as crowded and noisy as ever, but everything felt… different. The weight of it hit me as I walked back to the apartment. Rent was due next week, and I didn’t have nearly enough to cover it.
I could already hear the landlord’s voice in my head, the angry tone he'd take when he found out we couldn’t pay. I’d been stretching every last penny, borrowing from friends, but it wasn’t going to be enough.
Morgan couldn’t work—she was too young, and I wouldn’t let her. She deserved a chance to live her adolescence, to not worry about bills or survival. I was the older one, 17, and I couldn’t let her carry that burden. But now, with no job and no way to pay the rent, what was I supposed to do?
The thought of being homeless, of losing everything, gnawed at me. If a miracle didn’t happen soon, we’d be out on the streets.
When I got home, I didn’t want to tell Morgan just yet. She was still in bed, probably dreaming of something better than the life we were leading. But as I put my things down by the door, I saw a small letter on the counter.
It was addressed to me, from the Pokétch Company. I frowned, confused. I hadn’t entered any contest or draw. I tore it open, the words inside making my heart skip a beat:
Congratulations, Uriel and Morgan! You have been selected as the winners of the Pokétch Company’s draw! You have won two all-expenses-paid journeys across Sinnoh, sponsored by Pokétch!
I stared at the letter, disbelief flooding me. What was this? Some sort of mistake? But the letter went on:
We ask that you take the tickets that come with this letter to our headquarters in Jubilife City to discuss the next steps in the process and how the journeys will be carried out.
A journey? Across Sinnoh? It didn’t make sense. It was too good to be true.
Just then, Morgan appeared in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. She looked at the letter in my hands, her expression shifting from grogginess to confusion.
“What’s that, Uriel?” she asked.
I handed it to her, watching as she read it with growing excitement. When she finished, her face lit up with a grin. “We won! We’re going on a journey to Sinnoh!”
I took a deep breath, trying to wrap my mind around it. “Morgan, when did you sign us up for this draw? What was the process?”
She shifted uncomfortably, looking down for a moment. “I saw an ad online. I thought it would be a good chance for us to get away… to have a break.” She hesitated. “I knew you’d never say yes if I asked you first.”
I felt my chest tighten. She was right. If she’d asked me, I would’ve refused. I would’ve told her that we couldn’t afford distractions, that we had to focus on surviving, on scraping by.
“I would’ve said no, Morgan,” I said, frustration creeping into my voice. “I just got fired. I need to find another job. We don’t have money to waste on a journey we don’t need. What if it’s just some scam?”
She looked at me, her eyes earnest, but there was a quiet understanding there. “I know you would’ve said no. But I didn’t want to hear that. I just wanted something better for us. And honestly, Uriel, winning this... it feels like a miracle. Maybe this is the break we need.”
My heart ached at her words. The truth was, I would’ve said no—just like I’d always said no to anything that threatened our fragile stability.
“We’re not even supposed to be here, Morgan,” I whispered. “We’re not supposed to have to live like this. But it’s been this way ever since we ran away.”
She nodded quietly. We didn’t talk about the past often—the orphanage, the harsh reality of growing up alone. We’d been orphans since we were little, and when I was 15 and she was 14, we ran away, unwilling to be caught up in the system. We’d lived in poverty ever since, never staying in one place for too long, always moving, always surviving.
“It was my decision, Morgan,” I added, guilt weighing heavily on my shoulders. “I felt like we were too old to be adopted. I didn’t want you to go through that… but I still feel guilty that you had to live like this because of me.”
Morgan walked over and placed a hand on my cheek, gently wiping away the tear that had escaped down my face. “It was my decision too, Uriel. And I don’t regret it. I’m with you, and we’ve made it this far together.”
I ran my hand through my hair, frustration and helplessness mixing with something I hadn’t felt in a long time: hope.
“Are we really going, Uriel?” Morgan asked, her voice full of wonder, her eyes bright with that same hope.
I didn’t know how it would all work out, but for her, I had to try. “Yeah. We’re going.”
And just like that, everything changed. The path ahead was unclear, but for the first time in a long time, I felt like we might be able to make it.