One of my earliest memories in life is of my grandpa coming to pick me up from nursery school, he hugged me while crying, I didn’t understand what was happening, so I said, “there there”, and pat his back. That was the day my parents passed away.

My parents died because of some reckless trainers engaging some terrorist organization without following the appropriate protocols set by the league. As my grandfather told the story, “Some stupid teenagers decided they could get famous by beating a powerful criminal they recognized walking in the city, their plan was to ambush him while in the middle of the city, apparently they thought the terrorist would have to hold back because of the civilian population, those bloody idiots were wrong”. There were thirty-four deaths that day: the terrorist, one of the trainers, and thirty-two helpless civilians.

Three of the trainers survived the incident and were later condemned by the media, it was a national tragedy not seen in a long time. The Pokemon League announced heavy punishments for them and created more strict practices on dealing with terrorist. That should have been the end, but no, those trainers were children of wealthy and powerful people, who fought in court for years against the league, three years later they got away with paying a fine, an incredibly large one, but just a fine after all.

Even my family received a large amount of money as “compensation for our loss”, it was easier for them to just pay the families for a deal with the league to work out. That was the only time I saw my grandpa truly angry, but he took the money anyway, I wouldn’t understand the reason until much later.

My parents died young and didn’t leave much behind, my grandfather was the only member of my family left who could take care of me. He had a small ramen shop, we weren’t wealthy but had enough to put food on the table, I never lacked anything, grandpa made sure I was raised with love and care.

When I turned 10, grandpa sat me down and told me a story of his youth: “When I was your age I went on a journey of my own, it didn’t last long, I saw kids my age die on the way through Mauville and decided it wasn’t for me, I just couldn’t help but picture myself as one of those who didn’t make it. So I came back to my hometown here in Slateport and never left again, I met your grandma and later your mother was born, I was satisfied”. Then he brought out a pokeball, “My own partner back in those days wanted to get stronger so I entrusted him to one of my trainer friends, and this here is his offspring”, that is how I met Kit, a very cheerful Electrike.

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A year later I decided to get into the Pokemon Battle Academy, one of the most difficult institutions for young trainers to join, only a hundred kids all over the world get accepted every year. But I was confident, I had been working hard ever since Kit came into my life.

There were three rounds of exams, the first round was a written test of basic knowledge from our formative school years, of course I got perfect marks and passed with ease. The second test was some sort of interview, I don’t exactly remember the details, there were some pokemon in the room and it felt like I was put inside some sort of illusion. When it was over, I felt a profound sense of nostalgia while tears fell from my eyes, I was told by the examiner I passed and would be informed of the third exam date later.

I came back ready to celebrate that day only to find out my grandpa had collapsed and was in the hospital, apparently, he had been sick for years, the doctor told me he was alive by sheer determination and unwillingness to leave me alone. I didn’t get to say goodbye, he passed away that night, leaving behind a letter and a bank account in my name.

“My beloved Irene, I’m sorry for not telling you about my condition but I didn’t want you to worry and get distracted from your goal.

That bank account has the money you received from those scoundrels who got your parents killed, I hated myself for having to receive it but I knew you may need it some day. The Pokemon Battle Academy is a very expensive institution and the money in the account should be more than enough to pay for your tuition, I’m confident you will get in and become a great pokemon trainer.

My dear grandchild, you’ve made me so proud and happy, I want you to know that your parents, your grandma and me, will always be watching after you. We love you and we want you to have a long and happy life.”

From that day onwards I was all alone in the world, with only Kit to keep me company. I didn’t notice the passage of time until I got the message from the academy for the third exam, I would make my family proud, there was no way for me to fail.

We were brought into an island, more than a thousand examinees had made it until the final exam. Each participant was given a medal and a set of six pokemon, we would have to battle each other, winning would earn us the opponent medal, the first ninety-six to get eight medals would pass the exam.

I won every battle and was the first one to get accepted into the academy, well, except four people who had guaranteed their entry because their parents were graduates from the school. I couldn’t help but think of the trainers who got my parents killed, I couldn’t help but think of the check my grandpa had to accept from them for me. I wasn’t able to be with my grandpa on his last moments because I was in the second exam, I paid the tuition with the money I got from my parents dying. How is it fair for some kids to just get accepted because of their parents?

At the welcome ceremony I saw him, a handsome kid with light brown hair and deep green eyes, he was approached by a teacher, a friend of his parents, and I knew he was one of them, a legacy as they call them, and I hate him.