The Crystal Chronicles. Chapter 3: City Life Blues
An ordinary Pokémon Battle has turned into a bizarre disaster as Brendan has been “taken” by Arceus: god of all Pokémon. He has disappeared into the unknown along with his tiny Pikachu nicknamed Nardi. It is unknown what became of his friend Jacques, and the world they both once knew...
April 24, 2008. New York City, New York. We see the middle of Times Square in the afternoon. It is a sunny and warm day; unusual for this time of the year. We see Brendan standing on the corner of 32nd and Broadway waiting to cross a busy intersection. Numerous people crowd around him waiting to cross as well in a typical New York street scene fashion. “Mo’s Discount Electronics Shoppe” can be seen adjacent to Brendan. In the shop’s window, a TV is turned on the news. Brendan watches the station:
“Mythical creatures exist in our world! The new invasive species: Pokémon as it’s named is a total mystery to us all, but yet blessings as these wondrous creatures have begun to assimilate with people all around the world!” It’s only fairly new news really, but Brendan watches it in awe seeing a group of Scyther fly through a thick forest captured on the TV as part of the news clip. He feels indifferent to Pokémon. Indifferent maybe because of fear or nevousness; he wasn't really sure...
The street light finally indicates a "safe" crossing for the walkers and Brendan; if there was such a thing as "safe" in NYC. The pushing and shoving of people is strong, as Brendan is tossed around like in a mosh pit to the opposite side of the intersection. Typical city life...He was used to it.
Brendan made his way down to lower Manhattan. He had a spot in which he could escape the claustrophobia of city life.
W-what is this?
“The usual spot at the pier.” Brendan murmured. “Overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge. The spot helps me forget my hardships; at least for a little while.” He traveled to the same spot every other day after school. Brendan wasn’t like the other kids. His parents were both killed in a boating accident in Baltimore’s inner harbor 4 years ago. His parent's wills and social security helped him stay alive; well off in fact. Living along in a small apartment at 44th and Walker, he felt “disconnected” from his peers at school with his circumstance. You can’t have a big apartment in the middle of NYC no matter how “well off” you are after all; especially at only age 18. His wealth however, didn’t change him. He was the same quiet, much to himself sort of teen: lonely.
Hard to lose oneself in a cruel world like that; I know...
A long half an hour’s walk paid off. He made it to his spot. Brendan jumped onto the concrete barriers separating land from sea and gazed off into the sky. Spearow and Fearow can be seen flying off into the distance.
“What am I going to do with myself...?”
“When will I find a place to feel attached to...?”
“When will I find... a friend...?”
“I want to be free...like those Pokémon.” Brendan thought all this out loud to him while observing the bird Pokémon fly overhead...
Why am I seeing this??
As they began to fly overheard of him, one of the Fearow’s suddenly was electrocuted and a small yellow speck began falling towards the ground.
“?! A Pokémon!” Brendan, without much thought ran right under the falling Pokémon, leapt from a planter and desperately held out his arms to catch to catch the Pokémon.
“Hang on!” Brendan yelled. That yellow speck was caught in nick of time by Brendan as he fell face first into a planter of dirt. He quickly smeared away the dirt from his face and looked down at what he saved.
“A-are you okay?”
“P-pika...” the yellow speck was a Pikachu.
“Hey, Hey! You alright?!” A voice called out.
...I’m feeling ok, what’s... up?
“Oh! You talked! You ARE O.K! I was worried back there!”
“...What do you mean back there?”
“Hello?....hello?!”
Darkness settles in once again...and the pitch black. Unknown.