Prologue

Hi there.

My name's Sienna Volbeda, I'm 17, I'm a pastry chef in training and I've been a Pokemon trainer for two years now. I've got a "spirited" Ampharos named Meloi and five other Pokemon just as mad as she is. Heh, I know what you're thinking... Pretty unremarkable, right? Well… it is until I add one teeny-tiny, incy-wincy little fact in:

I once even saved the world.

I did, honestly! Really! Two years ago, in fact. There was a criminal organization, legendary Pokemon, fighting for your lives, stopping evil forces from taking over the world, everything. I almost died too. Really! I'm not actually joking!

But, hey. I guess I'm not here to talk about that, am I? I'm pretty sure you know all about it anyway.

I'm here to tell you about something else.

I remember when I was little, whenever I read a book, I found that, in most cases, after heroes and heroines save the world from all manner of evil villains and malicious plots, that's always it for them. After one adventure, nothing else interesting ever happens to them ever again. I always found this a little strange. There's a happy ending, and then that's it. No more adventures. As a kid, I reckoned that if these people were so strong and amazing, they would always have incredible adventures. I thought that one great story would always make another and another, and just go on forever. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen too often, does it?

Well it happened to me.

On the day of my 17th birthday, to be exact.

I couldn't believe it. I was starting to think I was cursed when it came to birthdays. I mean, think about it! Two birthdays in the space of three years ruined by unexpected news that would breed into something a lot bigger than anyone could have ever anticipated. Talk about bad luck, huh?

Last time, on my 15th birthday, I found my house empty and a note from my mother telling me she had gone chasing after my estranged father. You all know the history, so I won't bore you with too much detail. You know, my dad that owned the Pokemon dojos, wasn't exactly your "model father" growing up, got involved with a criminal organization against his will, ended up going mad for the power, attempted to capture Legendary Pokemon and then got thrown in jail for it. Yeah. That guy.

I thought I'd never have to have anything to do with him again. And to be honest, I kind of had mixed feelings about it. My father was a headcase, there was no denying that. Hyper-critical, pushy and even violent towards me as a child, and then a member of a criminal organization to catch legendary Pokemon when I was older. However, something seemed to change in him towards the end of my first adventure. He revealed he had only ever joined the organization because he was forced to, on pain of my death, and my mother's death. Somehow though, that all changed after he did join, the power made him mad and he revelled in his status as a high ranking criminal. But then, right at the end, faced with the knowledge everything around his was falling apart, he seemed to change. There was some almighty shift in him. I could see it happening right in front of me. And that's why; against everything I had ever thought about him, I protected him.

I thought I'd never understand why I did that. I had always hated my father, for how he treated me as a child, and what he did in the organization he was a part of. And I especially didn't think I would ever come to understand him. Understand him and his motives. He was thrown into jail, along with the rest of the people in the criminal organization and I thought I'd never see him again.

But that day, on my 17th birthday, I was celebrating, hanging out with my family, friends and Pokemon, when my mother delivered me some unbelievable news. Dad had been released from prison, was living in Goldenrod City in the Johto region, had opened up a dojo and to my intense shock, wanted to see me.

I almost didn't want to go at first. But my curiosity was so deep; I found I just couldn't ignore it. I saw it as an excuse to take off and go around Johto with my friends like the old days, getting some answers as I went. Another adventure.

Only now I see how foolish I was. After everything that happened after that, I kind of wish I hadn't gone. Yeah, sure… I had some fun times. I met some cool people and Pokemon. I had another adventure. I even learned the truth about my dad. The truth about everything. But there was a hard price I had to pay for it…

I can't even think about it now without getting upset. I just keep thinking about how I could have changed things. My desire to get answers to the questions I had, just led to more questions, the answers to which I doubt I'll never find now. The events that day left me even more confused than I had ever been before. Now, whenever I think about my father, I just feel guilty. Guilty, empty, sad, numb… you name it, I've felt it.

But I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear my whining. You want to find out what the hell I'm talking about, huh? You're just like me when I was a kid, after finishing a book, wanting to read more and more to find out what happened next. Well, this is kind of like the sequel to an adventure story you and I may have read as a kid. There are evil men, a criminal organization, fighting for your lives, people trying to take over the world, and yes… even legendary Pokemon.

Only this time, I'm not much of a heroine.

And the happy ending? The staple of all childhood adventure books?

It's bittersweet, at best.