Though my illustrated fanfic has been going for a while on my Insta, here's a summary to jump right in! Be warned, it's a bit long, so settle in.
It's a headcanon Pokémon world where time has passed and people age!
This Pokémon story is centered around a special 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 named 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗲𝗯𝗲 and her trainer 𝗥𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶. Randi is a has-been Trainer in his thirties working as a Pokémon lab technologist under 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝘂𝗰𝗲, the premier Pokémon scientist in the Denali region.
In February 2019, on his way home, Randi encountered Phoebe as a 𝗥𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘀, a fated event that would change his life.
As one who vowed never to Train again after an incident long ago, Phoebe's irresistible charm and cuteness appealed to a caretaker instinct, convincing Randi to pick up a Pokéball once again. Since then, they have bonded very closely and are inseparable.
Over the next few months, Randi would encounter additional Pokémon: a neglected 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗯𝗮𝘀 that evolved into 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰 upon experiencing unconditional love for the first time; a mischievous couple of Ralts, the bashful but chivalrous male 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝗺𝗼, and the playful, flower-loving, skilled gamer female 𝗔𝗻𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲; and the steadfast, big hearted, born-from-disaster 𝗔𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹 hatchling named 𝗔𝗯𝗯𝘆.
Under the Supermoon of the spring equinox of 2019, a playful Phoebe evolved into a 𝗞𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗮 after an evening of roughhousing with Randi and his Pokémon. The newly-evolved Pokémon took up dancing.
Phoebe was found to possess extraordinary power. This however came at a cost to her mental health. In April 2019, after losing a tournament, Phoebe went into a dangerous depressive state. Randi took her to the Pokémon Center where with the help of 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘆, she was kept in the mental health unit for a few days. The doctor diagnosed Phoebe with an unknown Psychic Pokémon disorder.
To ease her relentless mind, she needed help beyond the current scientific understanding of Psychic Pokémon. Only Randi's ex-lover 𝗦𝗮𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮, the former Kanto Gym Leader turned Unovan actress, had the psychic acuity to help Phoebe. Thus, Randi, being a non-Esper who also had difficulty asking for help, was forced to confront his past. He had to make this sacrifice for his partner Kirlia.
In 1998, Randi started his Pokémon journey in the Denali region at age 12. He battled his way into the Denali League by age 16 and started travelling the world, aiming to be an international Trainer. In 2002, he ran into Sabrina on the streets of Saffron City after literally colliding with her. Both apologetic about the awkward situation, they had coffee together.
Because Randi didn't fear Sabrina, despite her cold, hardline reputation, and because of his affinity for Psychic Pokémon and his love for their empathetic capabilities, Sabrina took to Randi and they became friends. They later became lovers and went on a Pokémon journey together. But they were young.
In 2003, a scandal erupted in the Denali Pokémon League, fomented by jealous League Trainers with strong political influence. Randi and Sabrina, gathering fame as star Double Battle Trainers, were struck by damning rumors. Sabrina was harassed by the public to the point of an unhealthy mental state, and Randi, thinking he was doing the right thing, sent Sabrina home to Kanto with a false promise he was joining her. They never kept in touch after that. In the aftermath, Randi quit Training in 2004 and went to university to get involved with Pokémon research.
Phoebe, through psychic clairvoyance, sensed Sabrina was in 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 in the Unova region. The duo travelled to the metropolis, many, many times the size of their hometown Anchorage. After being lost in the city for days but enjoying their time, Phoebe pointed out Sabrina in a park and dragged Randi over to her with no preparation.
After Sabrina's initial shock, the two had an intense psychic exchange, telepathically reconciling a basic understanding of their lost years. Afterwards, Sabrina wanted to discuss Phoebe's training over coffee. She is now in her thirties and had a successful acting gig in recent years.
Sabrina developed a strong bond with Phoebe due to her resemblance to her late Gardevoir 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲, who sacrificed herself to save Sabrina from a 2012 incident caused by Team Rocket. The feeling was mutual, and Sabrina became important to Phoebe, seeing her as a mother figure.
Sabrina, now a freelance consultant, agreed to travel to Denali to give Phoebe Master Training on her home soil. The ancient technique is dangerous, drawing power from the Pokémon's life force itself; repeated misuse without a sufficient recovery period can result in the Pokémon's death. It is revealed that Celeste died protecting Sabrina this way, also saving the lives of thousands of people. Psychic Pokémon born with this ancient power must learn the technique to quell their minds. Randi, faced with the alternative of exposing his partner Pokémon to a lifetime of mental self-torture, made the difficult decision to proceed with the perilous training.
Back in Anchorage, Sabrina called Randi to her hotel. They had a heated argument about what happened in 2003, where Randi convinced her that what he did was a mistake, that he believed it was the only choice he had in her best interest because he loved her. He took this action in a youthful lapse in judgment. He promised he would find a way to make this up to her, and they agreed to be friends again and hugged.
Phoebe, having been beleaguered with headaches and growing pains of the chest for being on the cusp of evolution, witnessed what transpired. She felt elated for the two and spontaneously evolved into a Gardevoir. Her pain disappeared.
Phoebe became increasingly invested in Randi and Sabrina's relationship, seeing them as father and mother. She confided in Sabrina's partner Pokémon 𝗚𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲, who can see the distant future and her Trainer's fate. Gothitelle explained that in this timeline, Sabrina would leave after the Master Training is finished. There are, however, a few things Phoebe could do to alter the future in which Randi and Sabrina would marry late in the year 2020. It was also imperative for Phoebe to keep this desire secret; if Randi were to find out, he would become self-conscious of the relationship and it would end in failure. Since her Master Training will end with Phoebe Mega Evolving to 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮 𝗚𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 to use the technique, and there are no secrets between a Trainer and Mega Pokémon's enhanced connection, Phoebe will have to have enough influence for when that inevitable time comes. Once Randi will see Phoebe's wish, his relationship with Sabrina must be strong enough to withstand this revelation.
Upon his return to Denali, Randi encounters more Pokémon: a lone 𝗦𝗵𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁 cast out by its peers under the eaves of Randi's apartment building; and a feisty 𝗙𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗸𝗶𝗻 infamous for blocking trails in one of Anchorage's most popular parks.
In June 2019, the first real test of Phoebe's influence on Randi and Sabrina's relationship comes when 𝗣𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗲, a Fairy Type Pokémon Trainer and Sabrina's old best friend from her acting career arrives in Anchorage to spend the summer with Sabrina. Randi's expansive knowledge about the Ralts evolution line draws Paige's interest, as she has a psychically gifted Shiny Ralts named 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹𝗮. Paige, known for being somewhat unpredictable, starts flirting with Randi. Phoebe is shocked by what is transpiring and returns to Gothitelle to come up with an intervention that won't reveal any secrets.
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So that's the story so far. I have drawn many pictures that fit into this timeline. Look for uploads in the coming days!
J