A young man sat on the bed of his room with his knees folded. He looked out of the window with tear streaked eyes to see dark clouds in the night sky. Thunderbolts streamed through the clouds as the soft pitter-patter of raindrops was heard from the tin roof.
The boy was 11 or 12 in age. Pale complexion and golden blonde hair along with blue eyes. He was a bit short among his age group with a skinny physique. He looked at his left arm to see 3 new red marks on his skin...
...Caused by his father's belt...
He winced when a loud crashing sound came from downstairs with a pained feminine 'Ahhh!' scream. That was his stepmother...
"...YOU USELESS TRASH! CAN'T DO A SINGLE THING PROPERLY! IS THIS THE BEER I ORDERED HUH?!"
SLAP!
Surge Sparks, the young boy turned his head to the side as he forcibly stopped his body from shuddering in fear when he heard those sounds from downstairs...His father was on it again...
From his childhood Surge knew that he wasn't very lucky. Especially so, when his actual mother died at the young age of 31 because of a car accident. It wasn't her fault really. A drunken driver had just randomly slammed his car into her while she was buying groceries. Since then, his father had changed.
He left his job of being an electrical engineer. He started taking alcohol on daily basis. And he joined a ragtag group of small gangsters called the 'Black Mightyena' who caused trouble in this peaceful city of Nacrene in Unova. Surge knew quite well what the injections in the drawer were...He knew what the white powder was too...It was called Cocaine.
Surge once used to love his father. A lot. So he tried to convince him not to do this...He never listened. On the contrary Surge became his regular punch-bag.
But today...He'd crossed all boundaries by starting to take out his anger on his stepmother who had married his father about 1 year ago. She was a kind woman. Surge soon started to like her and accepted her as a 'mother figure'. But not 'mother'. That honor only belonged to one woman only.
Today his father had barely avoided the police but one of his accomplices got caught. And that whomever-the-fuck-it-was revealed everything about their gang to the police. And so...Surge's father was angry. Even after venting out his troubles on Surge he didn't stop. He went forward to ruining the dinner made by his stepmother claiming it was 'bad'. And ordered his stepmom to bring him some beer which she did...But he wasn't satisfied.
And Surge was getting tired. Tired of his regular hellish life. He wanted to escape. He HAD TO escape. Surge clenched his hands in desperation and determination. He would escape -
...Creak...
"...B-Big br-brother?"
Before his train of thought could go forward the door to his room opened slightly with a creak and a little girl, about 4 or 5 years in age entered his room. The girl was also blonde. She had blue eyes like him too. She was Elesa [1]. His half-sister. She squeakily asked him as she entered the room and softly closed the door behind,
"...Y-yes lil' Ele?" Surge asked her with concern. Half-sister she may be...But he loved her like his own. The little girl giggled a little at being called 'lil' Ele'. That was her nickname. She loved it.
"...Can I stay with you today? Papa's really angry down there...Mama's crying too..." She murmured sadly.
"...Of course. Come here..." Surge nodded as he called out to her and tucked her in under the sheets of his bed. The little girl fell asleep soon.
Surge looked at his little sister and sighed...If he left...Then what would happen to her? Would she -
No. Surge angrily growled as he gripped the sheets. Surge Sparks made a decision.
He will NOT run away like a coward. No he wouldn't. He'd SOLVE his problem. For the kind woman that loved him as her son. And for the little girl that he loved so much...
...Yes...He would solve his problem...
With eyes full of grim determination and a dark glint in them, Surge laid down on the bed just beside his little sister with his eyes on the small clock...
...Tonight at 1:00 AM, when everything would have calmed down...When that monster of a man would finally go to sleep...
...Surge will make sure he doesn't wake up from it...
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It was 1:00 AM. Surge rubbed his eyes once as he got up from the bed sneakily. Surge went to the drawer of his own desk and opened it. Surge took out a little roughed up and patched black cloak and wore it. There was also a small pocket knife that Surge had once stolen from his father...For emergencies...
He quickly pocketed it and then stood on the doorstep to his room to take a last glance at his sleeping sister.
'...Stay safe lil' Ele. Tonight I make sure that that man would never lay a single hand on you...Just...Just take care of yourself...You'll never be hurt by that man again...That much I can assure you...Wait...' Surge's eyes widened a little as he realized that her birthday was coming soon...A sad smile lit up on his face as chuckled at bit,
'...It will be my last gift to you Elesa...Happy Birthday in advance...'
...Creak...
Surge closed the door behind with a creak and never looked back.
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Surge sneaked downstairs with a frown on his face...The dining room was empty. Snoring sounds could be heard from the room near the dining room. Surge who was garbed in that black cloak slowly opened that room to see the blonde man sleeping soundly inside on the bed with his stepmom on the floor.
Surge gulped as he nervously walked into the room. He slowly went towards the drawer at the corner of the room and opened it,
...CRRREEEAAAAKKKK...
"...Huh who's there?"
A sleepy mumble was heard as Surge's face went pale. His hand froze when his father turned and murmured in his sleep.
It was only Surge's good luck that the lights were off and he was wearing a dark black cloak that concealed his figure in the dark room. When his father was asleep once more Surge took the gun that was in that drawer...It was a beautiful gun. Completely GOLDEN. It was the ultimate treasure of the Black Mightyena gang that his father was the master of.
With shaky hands Surge turned back to see -
"...Well, well, well...Would you look at that? What's that in your hands runt?"
His father sitting up on the bed with an angry expression on his face. Surge panicked and before the man could lunge at the blonde teenager to retrieve his gun -
BANG!
A gunshot echoed throughout the silent night as a scream tore through the man's mouth when a bullet planted itself on his shoulder that Surge had fired when he was panicking,
"GRRRAAAH! YOU SON OF A -"
BANG!
Another gunshot. This time in his chest. Left side of the chest to be exact.
The man's mouth opened to scream profanities and curses and screams...But nothing came out. The bullet had gone right where Surge had wanted it to...
...Straight through the heart...
A loud gasp ran through the room when Surge's stepmom woke up to see the figure of the blonde man coughing out copious amounts of blood from his mouth and writhed on the floor in agony...And Surge standing over that man with a dark glint in his eyes and the golden gun in his hands...
She wanted to scream...But no words came out...She was too shocked...
"...Y-Yo-Youuuu -"
BANG!
The brown haired woman with greenish blue eyes turned her head to the side in disgust as blood splattered all over when another bullet planted itself in the man's head.
Eventually the pained breathing and groans stopped after a minute and Surge pocketed the golden gun as he turned to his stepmom,
"...M-mother..." Surge began with a hoarse voice as he spoke, "...Please forgive me..."
The woman who was too shocked found her motherly instincts coming into play as she went forward to give a tender hug to Surge. The boy relaxed a little before he pushed her away gently,
"...I'm sorry mother...Although I have no right to say this now...Please promise me something..." Surge said with his face downcast.
"...A-An-Anything..."
"...Take care of Elesa...Make sure nothing ever hurts her...And take of yourself...The police and neighbors will come soon...Tell them it a murderer who kidnapped me and murdered him. Please...I need you to do this...Please..." Surge begged her with tears in his eyes.
The woman shakily nodded as she spoke, "...G-Go Surge...Go away...I'll keep your lil' Ele safe..."
Surge cast a thankful nod at her before he bolted. He would have liked to hug her goodbye but...Currently he didn't have the luxury to do that. As soon as Surge reached the exit of the house...
He ran...But not as a coward. He ran as a hero who dealt with his problem and it was time for him to go now...
...So Surge ran...
...And never looked back...
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Surge reached the famous Nacrene harbor garbed in his cloak with tears streaming down his cheeks...He knew that there will be a ship that leaves to Kanto soon...It was perhaps 1:15 or 1:25 AM...The ship would leave the harbor at 1:30.
Surge's eyes widened when he saw a steam ship slowly start its engines...Oh god...Adrenaline coursed through his veins as the blonde's running speed increased on its own. When Surge reached the harbor the ship was already 4 meters away, into the waters...
...But Surge didn't stop...He jumped from the edge of the harbor and -
Thud!
- Landed on the ship's wooden deck with a dull 'thud'. Thankfully the ship he had mounted was mostly empty. It was actually just a cargo ship. A small one that used to transport fruits to Kanto every once a week. Surge was lucky that the day of his plan coincided with this ship.
So he wouldn't have to worry about anyone throwing him off the ship...Because there wasn't anyone beside him and the captain on this ship. And this was a fruit cargo ship, so he didn't have to worry about food either.
With a victorious and at the same time sad smile on his face Surge looked back. The harbor was only a mere speck on the horizon at the distance now...
...By the time the police reached his home, Surge would be on his way to Kanto on the ship. He just hoped that his stepmom and little half-sister would be safe. Surge turned back to the ship and found a safe corner between two large fruit barrels. He opened his cloak and laid it down on the wooden deck near the barrels and laid down on it...He really needed some rest now...
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When Surge awoke, he could sense that the ship was stationary. The soft 'gon-gon' sounds of the steam engine of the ship was also absent. That could only mean that he'd reached Kanto.
Surge quickly stood up and wore his tattered black cloak that he'd been using as a temporary mat. Surge looked around the ship to see a new port just 4 feet away. The blonde boy readied himself for a jump and then jumped onto the new port.
Surge noticed the distinct lack of any person on the port. It was nighttime. Just a little over dusk. Surge scanned the port with his cautious eyes and when he saw no one present on it he made a dash.
The blonde boy with blue eyes ran to the gates of the port to see two sleeping guards. Surge quickly slipped past them and took his first steps on the land of Kanto.
Although there were no signs nearby for him to know exactly WHERE he was. So Surge did the only sensible thing...Stated to run on the path that led away from the port.
When Surge felt that he was an adequate distance away from the port and that no one will look for him, he settled down under a tree, resting his tired back against the trunk. Surge started to think about all what he'd done...The golden gun was still in his pocket...And that was something he was proud of. That gun was special to him. It would always remind him that he was one to take the bastard's life with his own hands with his own gun.
Surge was about to fall asleep when he heard his stomach growl...He was hungry. Luckily enough, he was currently in a forest. There must be plenty of berry trees waiting to be plucked.
Surge wandered around a bit before he found what he was looking for. A big tree with juicy Oran berries hanging from it. Surge went to it with a happy look on his face and was about to pluck one when he heard some pained whimpers coming from somewhere...
The blonde boy looked around a bit before he found the bush from where the noises were coming from. When he looked into the bush he found something unexpected...It was a Pikachu. The yellow rodent pokemon that was very uncommon to see in his homeland in Unova. And by the looks of it...It was injured.
Surge softly picked it up and searched for some long grass blades. When the blonde found them he turned to the yellow electric rodent and spoke, "...Sorry lil' fella. This may hurt a little bit..." Surge put it down on the ground and tied the red wound on its leg with the long grass blades. The Pikachu let out a whimper but didn't say anything.
When Surge was done tying up the Pikachu he wiped the sweat on his forehead and smiled at the electric pokemon, "...Heya lit' fella. I'm Surge Sparks. Full time soon to be Pokemon trainer and part time badass! And well...That's it..."
The electric pokemon laughed a little before it spoke, "Pika Cha! Chuuu! PikaPi Pika Chaaa!"
"...Err...I don't understand what you mean..." The 12 year old blonde sheepishly admitted. Surge was about to say something when his stomach growled once more. Surge and Pikachu laughed a little at that before Surge went up the tree and plucked about a handful Oran berries.
He asked, "...Anyway...You want some?"
"Pika Pi!" The yellow rodent said with a nod. Surge gave the Pikachu a few of his share of Oran berries as they ate in silence. Surge looked up to see the starry night sky...
An old face of a sweetly smiling red haired woman with black eyes came into his mind as he looked up at the constellations...Sonia Sparks, his true mother used to say about people...And when they die...They go up to reside among the stars and look upon their loved ones from there...Perhaps...Perhaps she was there too...
"...Pika Chhhaaaa?"
Surge turned to the side when he noticed Pikachu looking up at the sky too. Surge let his hand pat the rodent on its head as he spoke, "...You see those bunch of stars? They look like my mother...And look...There...They look like my sister...And there...My stepmom..." Surge muttered with a bit of his own imagination leaking into non-existent constellations.
"...Pika Pika Pi Pika Chu! Chu Pika Pi..." Pikachu too started to move his limbs side to side erratically to point out many other stars. Surge and Pikachu smiled at each other as they looked into each other's eyes...
...That day Surge just knew that he'd found himself a lifelong companion...
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An 18 year old Surge Sparks stood in front of the hulk of man that was their army general. 6 long years had gone by since that eventful day when he'd killed his father and found his trusty partner, Pikachu who was now a Raichu.
In these 6 years Surge had trained himself to the limits and travelled throughout entire Kanto. Surge had even gathered 6 badges...But after that, it was just impossible. The 7th Pokemon badge, at Cinnabar Gym was just...Unobtainable. Impossible.
After trying and losing 3 times at the Cinnabar Gym...Surge quit trying. His current team, Raichu, Magnezone, Eelektross, Electrivire, Luxray and Jolteon were quite unhappy too.
But then...Surge saw an advertisement. The army was recruiting soldiers. Surge fit all the requirements. He was buffed. With 6 pack abs and what not. His arm muscles were basically bulging...The blonde 18 year old didn't like to admit but...Being the son of a gangster would do that to you.
So currently here Surge stood. With hundreds of more commando-wannabes in that large boot camp near Indigo Plateau. Their general was currently in front of them lecturing them about the rules and regulations around here.
Surge inwardly smiled. His life was finally taking a turn for the good.
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23 year old Surge Sparks stood on a cliff of the Charge Stone Cave in his homeland in Unova. It has been 5 years since he'd joined Kanto National Army and became a soldier for his nation. Kanto and Unova had hit a rough path in their relatively peaceful relationship over a mine in this Cave. Charge Stone Cave was naturally rich in minerals but the problem was that it was both close to Kanto and Unova despite being a part of Unovan territory.
So...Yeah, mineral contractors were not too happy to share their resources with their neighboring nation.
And that conflict had gotten too far. So much that Unova had started to deploy troops in Charge Stone Cave. But Kanto wasn't one to sit idly either. So Surge along with his regiment were sent there to unarm the Unovan troops...
...And that's exactly why the 23 year old blonde sat on top of the cliff with blood leaking out of his mouth with a small but deep bullet wound on his right arm. Surge had taken out the bullet...But it was bleeding like hell.
Both troops had clashed with each other and...It was quite safe to say that other than Surge there were no survivors. The blonde had survived due to his excellent planning and using Charge Stone Cave's NATURAL electricity to power up his own electric pokemon and wreck havoc.
But he wasn't without injuries either. He'd taken a bullet in his arm. And his leg was aching too. So Surge sat upon that cliff, near a cave end that he'd came out of.
He was tired. Exceptionally so.
...The last thing that he saw before his eyes closed on their own were two large yellow wings in front of him and a beak poking him in his stomach playfully...
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Surge woke up from his rest with a groan. His arm was still hurting...But he was happy. He hadn't died...Somehow.
Surge opened his eyes and looked around...He was laying on what seemed like a thick bed of dried twigs and tinkers.
"...Zap Zap Dos?"
Surge hastily turned back in fear and what he saw made his eyes bulge out of his sockets...There stood the majestic figure of a yellow bird with a large orange beak on the nest where he was.
The legendary thunderbird pokemon seemed...Happy? To see him awake.
"...Zap Dos Zap Zap?" It cawed with a tilted head as if asking something.
"...W-were y-you the one w-who s-saved me?" Surge shakily asked...This was legendary thunderbird common people WORSHIPED! The GOD of lightning and thunder along with many others. This was the pokemon that was NOT supposed to EXIST beyond myths! And he was TALKING TO IT!
"ZAP DOS ZAP!!" The bird proudly cawed as it puffed out its chest with a happy nod.
"...Thank you..."
The blonde didn't know what to say beyond that. They stood in comfortable silence just like that. Surge was awed to see the legendary bird...It was so...So happy and energetic...Like electricity.
"...Zap Zap?" The bird asked once again as it scourged a part of the nest to bring out some juicy blue and yellow berries and held them in front of Surge.
Surge shakily took the Sitrus and Oran berries with a thankful expression on his face...He hadn't eaten since...He didn't even know the time...
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6 days and many bonding sessions with the legendary thunderbird later Surge Sparks was healed enough to try and get out of this mountain now. Surge looked at his supplies for the final time. He'd 10 Oran berries that Zapdos had given him as a goodbye gift. He'd that blood red bandage still tied around his arm. His leg was apparently fractured...But he fixed it somewhat by tying a piece of hardwood to keep it straight.
For the final time Surge looked at his FRIEND and spoke, "...Thanks Zap. Without you I wouldn't have been able to see the next day sun...Thank you my friend...And goodbye..."
"...Zap Zap Dos Dos..." Zapdos cawed silently. It didn't like to lose the only human he'd made friends with. Suddenly a lightbulb glowed over Zapdos' head as his expression became happy, "ZAP ZAP ZAP!!" Zapdos searched through his own large yellow wing and took out a small feather and handed it to Surge who took it with a look of comprehension on his face.
"...You're giving it to me?"
"ZAP DOS ZAP!"
"...Thanks Zap...I know what this feather means...Maybe if fate wills so...We'll meet again..." Surge smiled and tied the electric yellow feather around his neck with a string.
"...Zap Zap..."
Both Surge and Zapdos turned away from each other.
FLAP! WHOOSSSSHHHH!
Surge walked forward with tears in his eyes. Zapdos flew away.
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The bulky figure of Surge Sparks came out of a pitch black cave, an expression of pain was etched on his face, he was walking with the help of a stick, a piece of hardwood was tied to his left leg and there was a red bandage around his left arm.
He walked forward with an expression of happiness on his face. Finally he was out of that godforsaken mountain.
But he was tired...So much. Surge fell down on the ground. He didn't know much after that.
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The blonde woke up feeling slightly lightheaded and tired. He slowly opened his eyes and felt that he was on a bed.
"...My, my, soldier...A tough cookie aren't you? Broken Tibia and Fibula in the right leg. A bullet lodged into the arm almost near Humerus bone. And also an infection near the bullet wound...Severe dehydration and ion imbalance in the body..."
Surge turned his head to the side to see...
...An angel?
Surge rubbed his sore eyes and blinked...There stood the figure of a woman, about 20 or 22 in age. She had auburn colored hair that flowed freely straight to her hip length and captivating reddish brown eyes. She was wearing a white lab coat that reached beyond her hips over a black top and miniskirt with high stockings. She had a notepad in her hand and was eyeing him like he was some new experiment gone crazy.
"...W-Where am I?" He hoarsely asked.
The doctor looked at him and responded, "Mistralton City Hospital. Some bunch of travelers found you lying in front of the Charge Stone Cave..."
"...Oh..."
"...Oh indeed Mister Surge Sparks. Oh indeed. I am still confused though, why do you have the feather of a legendary bird pokemon around your neck?" She inquired curiously when the blood drained from Surge's face...
"...What will it take for you to stay quiet about that?"
"...Oh nothing too much...Just gimme the juicy details about Zapdos and I'll pass it off like some fake good luck charm..." She said while grinning ear to ear like a madman.
"...Alright..."
"GOOD!" She chirped, "...Oh and don't worry. I won't tell anyone that you're that mysterious murderer who killed the leader of Black Mightyena about 11 years ago alright?" She said happily with a smile as if nothing was wrong and sauntered off.
(It would be atleast 6 years later Surge told this bedtime story to year old daughter and ended it with, "...And that was day I met your crazy mother...")
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End. This was the longest chapter EVER. 4050 words. Did anyone get emotional seeing Surge's highs and lows of life? I certainly did...
Well guys...I have a request actually.
If there is any aspiring author among my dear readers who I may have motivated to write a story about Surge. Then please. PLEASE take this idea of Surge's life and write it into a story...He DESERVES a book. Please guys...or gals, if the idea seems appealing to you then take this idea and write a book on Surge. I really do think that Surge deserves a book in his name...And if you don't then well...Thanks for hearing me out anyway ^_^ ...I'll write it myself after I finish this one.
And please note, this Interlogue was told to Ash by Surge himself. You'll get their interaction in the next chapter.
And by Elesa I meant yes. Later on the Gym Leader Of Nimbasa town, and model Elesa.
So stay safe...Read and Review. Vote if you like. Goodbye!