Trainer Name: Alice
Location: Cerulean City


Aster (30/30)
[Ivysaur, Male]		 ??? (0/30)
[Tyrunt, Male]		 Jedi (0/30)
[Braixen, Female]
Citrus (0/30)
[Butterfree, Male]		 Memento (0/30)
[Mawile, Female]		 Plume (30/30)
[Archen, Female]

Egg: (P15;30/30)
Partner Pokemon: Paprika [Pichu, Female] (25/25), Abra [Male] (10/10)
Items: Pokeball (x11), Potions (x4), Premier Ball (x2), Lemonade (x2)
Points: 15 (+22)

Aster handed Max the carving. "Thank you...but this a gift my mom made for me before she died." He said softly holding the broken piece,Tears welling up in his eyes. " I miss her.." He said softly running his fingers around its edges. Suddenly the sky darkened.

Oh no! Alice thought with dread. I've made it worse!

"I'm sorry about your mum, Max!" Alice said, trying to keep her voice steady. "She was right. You're going to be a hero..."

Suddenly the world seemed to shake. The boy stood up. "it..it found us.." he said.

Alice looked around. The monster? It was here?

*HE IS OURS....HE IS OURS!* A voice boomed out. Alice's hands flew to her ears. The voice itself was filled with such horror.

Alice tried to focus on Max, but the world had begun to fade. "No! Max!" she cried, reaching for the boy. But he was already gone. What have I done? Did I summon the monster?

*You want to see child..than see..*

Suddenly images flashed all around her. Alice felt dizzy and struggled to keep her footing. Aster had disappeared somewhere... she hoped he was safe. Then...Rose! Alice thought. She had almost forgotten that none of this was real. "Rose!" she cried. "Are you still there? I think we have to get out of here! Rose?! What's happening?!"

Just when Alice thought she would throw up, everything stopped with a jolt. Alice fell to her knees. She was watching another memory. One she didn't understand. A group of men spoke to Max's father, seemingly recruiting him. Alice tried to memorise everything they spoke about, convinced that everything she was seeing was important. A chrome Pokeball... a shiny Aipom... Max running in... but there was no time. The world shifted again. They were in the same room, but this time the men were talking to Max. His father... what had happened? And now Max was all alone in the world. Alice felt tears well in her eyes. All these things she hadn't known about Max. All this time, he was carrying so much pain.

The men continued to talk. Could they see the danger Max posed? Who were they? Alice studied their faces, trying to commit them to memory. Maybe they knew something about the shadow energy... Was this the power Max's father had given him? Alice couldn't imagine any parent being so cruel.

Alice watched the young Max crying, but this time he seemed determined. "Will show all of them." He growled, and for a second Alice could see how this poor child could be corrupted by such power. She thought about all the memories she had seen so far. Where are the happy memories? She wondered. The mother he loved... his relationship with Misty... the heroic trainer he was to become... Had the shadow energy erased all those things? Was that how it controlled him? Feeding on his fear and anger? She longed to give him happy memories, to battle to darkness, but she realised she didn't really know Max very well at all. She had never asked about his past in the short time they'd spent.

"Max," she said softly to the boy. "I don't know if you'll really remember any of this... But you have friends, people who care about you. Don't let the shadow energy control you. You're stronger than that. Everything you accomplished... all by yourself... you're a hero, Max. And you're not alone anymore. We'll fight for you. We won' give up on you, Max. But we need your help. You have to be strong, you have to fight this. Remember your friends! Your Pokemon! Remember me!"