Hello, all! This is my first story on here. I hope you like it!
Anyways, welcome to Chapter One, Part One of The Suicune Tale! This'll be a long one, but I'll do my best! I wish you the best of luck reading through it, too!

(Here's some quick notes about the fanfic; you can skip through if you wish.)

-This story is based on the events of Pokémon Crystal Version as well as a couple others later on, with original story spliced in. I rated it T for some violence and language, though it's K+ most of the time... Just being safe.

-GSC's hero and heroine will have their anime names—Marina and Kenta, and their personalities are based on Marina and Jimmy/Kenta at the start. Shipping-wise, it's mainly Questshipping—technically Newbarkshipping. There'll also be one-sided Backshipping and some Redemptionshipping if you really want it to be there.

-For reviewing, feel free to review to your heart's desire (even if you don't do it at all). But be gentle on the criticism, as I'm more than willing to make improvements and I take each review to heart. Whether it's a critique or not, it makes me glad for the reviews that show my readers like the story. I take pleasure in that alone.

Now without further ado, the story begins. Enjoy!

Chapter 1
The Chase

For Marina, it all started on one particular day—several years before she became a Trainer.

The warm sun shined above her quaint hometown of New Bark, situated near the southern waters in the Johto region. Gentle breezes swept through the area, offering relief from the heat. A brilliant and relatively normal summer afternoon.

Some of the town's citizens headed toward a house by the small coast. They conversed with laughter, holding vibrantly-wrapped boxes, and excited children followed at a skipping pace. They went through an open gate, inviting them into the backyard. A brown-haired woman wore a friendly smile as the visitors drew near.

"Hello! Good to see you," she greeted them. With a tilt of her head, she gestured toward a picnic table behind her. "That's where the presents go, and—oh! I thought you said you weren't able to come!"

Another woman, with a strong yet gentle gait, came over to her holding the hand of her young son.

"I know, Caroline," the woman responded. "But, I had a lucky break at work. Go on, now, Kenta."

The boy nodded and slipped his hand from his mother's. "Okay."

On a dime, he ran over to the group of children playing in the backyard. They welcomed him with laughs and smiles, and the leading kid wrapped an arm roughly around his shoulders. Kenta and the others surrounded him, chattering with the energetic eight-year old boy who beamed proudly.

Caroline watched with a soft smile. Her gaze wandered across the yard. "We still haven't prepared everything yet; Chris is eager to start opening birthday presents."

"Professor Elm can stall them, can't he?"

"He left not too long ago; he always keeps himself busy." Caroline stopped and turned to her husband. "Dear, a little to the right!"

Caroline's dark-haired husband gave her an understanding nod. Standing back on a ladder, he fixed the position of a hanging cloth sign adorned with sloppy finger-painted pictures made by the kids. The birthday boy in question separated from his friends and bounded toward his father. He was soon joined by the other children as they crowded around him, shouting ridiculous directions at the top of their lungs.

"To the right!"

"No, no, left!"

"Upside down!"

"Right, right!"

"Come on, let's go! He doesn't get it!" Chris shouted. The energetic children dashed away from the man, who chuckled and watched as they proceeded to chase each other across the yard. Kenta's mother too let out a laugh as she slid off her stiff, navy blue work jacket. Carrying it in her arm, she turned back to Caroline.

"Where's May and Marina? I don't see them."

"They're inside." Caroline turned to take the presents from two more arriving guests, welcoming them. Afterward, she looked back at her friend. "May's wearing her favorite dress, so she doesn't want to get it dirty."

"Quite the little lady your May is. I'll go help out some, while I'm here." Receiving a helpful "thank you" from Caroline, she walked away, assisting other fellow parents with setting up some activities for the children to play with.

What both women didn't notice was the shuffling of grass from behind the table stacked with gifts. A young four-year old peeked her youthfully innocent face from her hiding spot. Behind her was an older girl with soft blue hair, the locks tied up high on her head by a set of ribbons. She watched in anticipation.

"May, is she looking?" she whispered.

May turned to her as carefully as she could, playing with her thin brown hair. Covering her short figure was a pink, frilly dress, much more formal than the simple red top the other girl wore.

"No," May whispered back. "Are you really gonna go to the woods, Marina?"

Marina grinned. She gave an excited nod, her bangs bouncing about on her cheeks. "They're busy with Chris's birthday. I can finally go and walk around on my own."

"But, Mama said…"

Marina stood slowly, though the five-year-old was too short to be seen over the pile of presents.

"I'm gonna go, and I'll be back before they get the cake," she claimed.

May hesitated. "I'm gonna tell on you."

"No you won't. You never do."

"I will!"

Marina quickly covered May's mouth with her hands. Luckily for them, Caroline was still busy chatting with other grown-ups. The girl giggled, giving May a silent wave as she turned and ran into the forest.

"No fair!" May quietly called after her. "I wanna go too…!" She clutched her dress with a pout, watching her sister sprint out of her sight.

Marina wove through the trees at a swift pace. The noise of the party faded behind her. Trees and bushes shivered in the wind, and occasionally she would spot little bird Pokémon flying overhead. She began skipping. Her freedom, and getting away with it, excited her almost as much as her brother's birthday party. Even if she got caught, it was worth it.

When she noticed the inlet close by, sparkling in the sun, she walked over to it. A pair of light-blue Pokémon swam lazily on the surface.

"Ah! Wooper!" she cried in delight. Marina reached out for them, but they dived underwater with a soft splash. She giggled and, seeing no other animals, trotted on.

She strolled deeper into the forest, gazing at the blissful scenery, until the tree branches knotted together to block out the sun. It grew still. Even the chirps of Pidgey were gone. The eerie silence spooked her; it was the deepest she had ever traveled in a forest, and the first time alone. It wasn't quite what she had imagined. She had fully expected Pokémon to be flocking to her the further she got from her house.

Where are all the Pokémon? Marina wondered.

Her emerald eyes locked on a tree in front of her. Drawing closer, she placed her little hand on the bark. Deep slashes and splinters scarred the entire trunk. She turned around. It wasn't just one; all the trees around her had the peculiar marks. Pieces of fresh timber were left scattered all over the ground.

"Poor trees," the girl whispered.

An unnerving feeling emerged from her heart. She rubbed her hand very lightly on the rough gashes. It was possible a Pokémon had marked its territory, but Marina hadn't learned about that sort of thing yet. Even so, she knew enough that the marks were not normal. They were all over the place. The forest was beaten up in a scuffle by a furious wild Pokémon, and it scared Marina the more she stared at them. Paranoia stirred in her young body, and she backed away.

It was still so quiet, and she now wished more than anything that she was home.

"I...gotta go back," she said to herself.

A twig snapped sharply. She uttered a startled gasp and, though she did not see what made the sound, ran back the way she came. She searched desperately for the cove she had passed earlier. But, the only thing ahead, behind, and around her was the endless cluster of trees caging her inside the forest. The young girl turned again and again like a broken compass. She had felt like this before, but when she did she had always been with her family. Her parents knew where to go. But this time she was alone and could only regret the decision her carefree self had made not long ago.

Without any other option, she continued in one direction with uncertainty.

"May...? Chris...? Mama...? Papa...?" She softly said the names for reassurance, telling herself that they must be nearby; that maybe it would will her in the right direction so she wouldn't get in trouble. Maybe they had noticed that Marina was gone, or perhaps her sister actually told on her for once. They may even be searching for her as she was for them. If they were calling her name, she would come to them running and smiling as though the fear she felt now was nothing but an illusion.

The sound of rustling reached her hypersensitive ears. A wild, overgrown rosebush had begun shaking nearby. As though feeling her gaze, it stopped. She stared at it accusingly, her feet planted to the forest floor. A bird chirped in the distance. This relieved Marina of her tension. Other peaceful Pokémon were with her in the area, like before. She smiled in gratitude and she began to walk again, focusing on her desire to find her way home.

But the bush hissed loudly, and as she turned back, a large orange blur flew above her. Marina could only squeak and stumble back in surprise.

A truly unusual creature sat crouched in the canopy. It was some kind of Pokémon she had never seen before, one bearing a figure similar to that of a human's. Spikes protruded from its head, and four long arms swished below it like vines in the wind. At the center of its uncanny body was a sparkling purple crystal, which was the only thing the girl would have found pretty about it.

"H...Hi..." Marina choked nervously as she gawked at the creature. Its presence frightened and confused her. Her mind was racing as she urged herself to run, but her trembling legs failed to obey.

It eyed her with its static black and white eyes; the way it had been staring changed, and she couldn't figure out how. It twitched, as if in resistance. Without warning, it extended one of its scythe-like tentacles and slashed at the ground.

The wind whistled and cracked in her ear, and the helpless girl froze stiff. The grass at her feet squatted under the whip's pressure. Tears formed in her eyes, and she bolted away wailing. Loud thumps and breaking sticks erupted behind her, and Marina looked over her shoulder. She screamed in fear as she saw the strange Pokémon flying after her in wild pursuit.

"No!" she cried. "Leave me alone!"

She was alone, but incredibly thankful that she did not drag May along. Her little body began to fatigue. The tears in her eyes clouded her vision and streamed down her cheeks. Her heart pounded her ears as she felt the creature behind her whipping at her heels and everything behind her.

For a brief moment, a distant voice called.

"I am here, Maya."

Marina willed herself to look back again.

The creature had stopped. Floating just barely above the ground, its eyes glinted red. The path they had taken was in tatters. She wondered if it was the one that had spoken, unsure whether to be intrigued or even more terrified. This Pokémon did not belong here, her instincts screamed; such a freaky thing should not exist and frighten her so.

Panting and clinging to a tree for support, Marina watched as the creature twittered unusual sounds. Then, like an afterthought, its voice became comprehensible again.

"I will save you this time."

"What...?" Her confused thoughts were smacked away as she saw it lurch and raise two of its baneful tentacles, one orange and the other teal, but both containing fine, knife-like points. It then emitted a horrid cry. Marina fled, hearing the terrifying cracking sound of trees being hit and snapped in two.

Her chest ached and pleaded for her to just collapse onto the ground to catch her breath. Fear urged her to keep going.

"No, please come back."

She pushed on in spite of the order, unable to gather enough breath for a reply. A root snagged her sneaker and sent her landing face-first onto the forest floor. A sense of panic washed over her, and Marina weakly scrambled to her knees.

The Pokémon approached her at a torturous pace, walking on its needle-like legs. It looked down at her wordlessly. Marina stared back, her face smeared with tears and dirt. Tension mounted inside her; she had to force herself to keep looking at the rogue monster, disdainfully aware that she had no more energy to carry on. The forest itself slid into a ghostly quiet, mourning to what would inevitably happen.

The creature looked down on her, never leaving her face. Two of its tentacles twisted and disgustingly squirmed to form into a human arm. The hand was tightly held in a fist, shaking.

Marina sniffled and cried as quietly as she could muster. She was almost too frightened to breathe. Yet within that strangling web of desperation and fear, she could somehow feel the Pokémon's lamentation. Its pain was far too obvious, even for a five-year old girl to notice.

"I-I'm sorry," she apologized as she choked on her tears. "I'm not M-Maya!"

Without hesitation, it whipped her with its remaining needle arms. Marina froze as she watched it tear through her shirt. Her every mutilated nerve screamed, never feeling such intense pain before in her short life. She fell over and curled up, whimpering. Warm, wet blood smeared on her hands. It stung, ached, and throbbed, and she felt like she'd been paralyzed. Her lips moved soundlessly as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

The creature raised both of its remaining arms. It moved slowly now. The sentimental part of its mind spoke out to her with somber finality.

"I am… the sorry one, Maya."

A shrill howl filled the air, and a figure leapt from the battered forest. Landing between them, the new Pokémon radiated an angelic glow that forced the murderous creature back. It tackled the orange Pokémon away with all its might, causing a violent thump to shake the ground.

Marina, lying still and limp, opened her eyes just enough to see. Though her vision was blurred from pain and tears, she made an effort to peer through the haziness.

Near her stood a massive, wolf-like beast, which snarled at the other monster with intense severity. Its deep azure mane and white ribbons wavered on their own accord, giving the Pokémon an elegantly beautiful appearance.

It again howled with a powerful, echoing voice, summoning a wake of cold wind to fall upon the forest. Leaves surrounded them and landed on Marina harmlessly..

"S...Suicune...?" she forced out its name faintly. Despite that, its head perked just a bit in response.

Marina's mind overwhelmed her with memories of the bedtime stories her mother used to tell her. According to legend, three mighty beasts ran wild and free throughout the Johto region, flowing with incredible power blessed upon them by a rainbow bird. In the only picture book her family had of them, Marina was especially fond of the mythical image of the beast which was given the power to control water and wind. Her brother, Chris, had happened to be there when she first heard the story.

"I'm going to see them first!" She could recall his grinning face as he had announced it, only to have Marina retort that she would find them before him.

The girl rushed out of her thoughts. Time must have passed—how much, she didn't know—as her savior now faced her. Suicune, the embodiment of the northern wind; she gawked at it with the strength she had left. The very appearance of it was so much more magnificent than the rough sketch in the picture book; it was like a hallucination, but the girl believed everything her eyes revealed to her.

"Suicune," she uttered again.

All was quiet. The other violent monster must have fled in Suicune's presence.

Inevitably, Marina's vision blurred even more, her breaths coming slowly. The pain that had grabbed her very soul eased away into numbness. Cool wind caressed her hot cheeks. The small red puddle beside her covered the grass, its fragrance filled with impending death. Suicune gazed back at her with its red, cat-like irises. Something shining in those eyes seemed similar to that of the orange creature. Grim, sorrowful, and sympathetic.

Unable to look any longer at the brilliant, indistinct wonder in front of her, the girl's consciousness faded into darkness.

"Marina! Marina!"

Caroline called as she stood at the border of the woods. Among her, other adults called out the same name.

She almost fell as she sat on the bench of the picnic table. Over an hour had passed since her daughter's disappearance was noticed. However, they could not find little Marina. They had checked every hiding spot in the house ten times over, and had called every house in the neighborhood and countless stores in town. But their efforts were fruitless. No one had seen her. This truth weighed heavily on her mind, causing her to hold her head in silent distress.

Her friend from earlier that day entered the backyard, fully dressed in her navy blue work uniform. She approached the crestfallen mother.

"No one found her?" Caroline asked.

"Not yet," she answered her honestly. She crossed her arms and looked at the dense forest with a stern look. "If we don't find her, I'll have to call in a search team. The Pokémon further east are stronger than the ones to the west, on Route 29."

Caroline sighed.

"I've told her time and time again not to go in alone. I thought she was with May."

"It can't be helped now. But..." The woman trailed off. Caroline nodded, understanding the resistance to make her feel any worse.

"Yes..."

Inside the house, May and Chris crammed together at a windowsill, looking out from the second floor. Their friends played on the rug nearby; fiddling with colorful party favors or the brand-new toys that Chris had unwrapped. Even though they still seemed to be full of energy, they were playing calmer than before.

The two siblings continued to watch their neighbors scurry about the lawn.

"Man, this sucks," Chris groaned. "Marina ruined it! We were going to beat the crap out of the piñata, too..."

When May failed to respond, the boy turned to her. His face fell in shock as he saw his sister's trembling lip.

"Uh... C'mon, don't cry, May. I was just kidding, okay?"

"She said she'd come back," she sniffed.

"Huh?"

A tear sparkled as it rolled down May's cheek, and she quickly went to wipe it away. Chris frowned and spent a quiet moment looking out the window. He reached out his hand and patted her head.

"She'll be fine, May...I'm sure of it."