Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon X&Y, Pokémon as a whole, the soundtrack, the characters, and the plot of the X&Y anime. I only own Emma Shirona, any original scenes I make, any headcanons in this fic, and any changes in the plot/Ash's journey.

This is going to be my novelization of the Pokémon X&Y anime with a few twists, along with adding people that were not originally in the anime. The necklace in the picture is now a bracelet (as of 5/2/2024).

I hope you enjoy this first chapter. Episode 1 of the Kalos anime will start next chapter!

P.S. Emma's Kalos outfit is pictured above.

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Delia Ketchum stood at the kitchen stove, cooking breakfast for her son and his friends. The sun barely peeked over the sky as it enveloped Pallet Town in a soft, orange hue.

She heard the swipe of a broom against the floor as Mimey dutifully cleaned the floors of the Ketchum residence. The Barrier Pokémon was a tremendous help around the house-and she couldn't imagine her daily routine without it.

Delia blew a stray strand of her red-brown hair out of her face, quickly tucking it behind her ear. She grabbed a nearby spatula, flipping the pancakes she was making to their other sides.

She smiled at what she saw.

'Golden brown and fluffy. Perfect. Just how Emma and Ash like them...'

Delia waited for the other sides of the pancakes to be cooked before taking them out of the pan with the spatula. As she placed the pancakes on a serving plate, Delia's eyes caught a glimpse of a box on the other side of the room.

'Right. That came this morning.'

Delia set the spatula down on a napkin, grabbing the pitcher of pancake batter next to her. She tilted her head towards the living room-where a black, cat-like Pokémon was curled up on a pillow.

"Umbreon, dear... Could you go wake up Emma, please?"

The black, cat-like Pokémon stretched, opening his red eyes. He shook his head, shaking off the sleepiness as he jumped off of the pillow with an affirmative cry.

Umbreon's ears twitched as he heard the sizzle of pancake batter onto a hot surface. The Pokémon didn't know if that was why he was asked to wake up his Trainer, but he would do what he was asked.

The Moonlight Pokémon ran up the stairs, his feet making a pitter-patter noise as he did so. Umbreon stopped at the top of the stairs, slowing his gait down to a walk.

Walking down the hall, Umbreon stopped at a closed door. He ran both of his front paws on the door, lightly scratching at it.

"Bre..." Umbreon trilled, sitting back down on the floor.

After a few seconds, the Eeveelution heard the distinct noise of an object being set down. Umbreon tilted his head as the door opened.

"Oh. Hello there, Umbreon."

Umbreon flicked his ears, gazing up at his Trainer's reporter friend. Alexa stepped aside, allowing the Pokémon to enter the room. The Eeveelution walked past Alexa and jumped on a bed.

Umbreon walked to the head of the bed, lightly nudging the young woman sleeping on it. She groaned and turned to sleep on her back, but didn't wake up.

"Umbre..." Umbreon sighed at his Trainer's actions. She normally was a morning person... but that didn't seem to be the case currently.

The traveling probably wore his Trainer out.

Well... there was a quick way to solve the problem of a sleeping Trainer...

Umbreon jumped on his Trainer's chest. He leaned down, licking her cheek.

His Trainer felt the weight of her Pokémon on top of her, but she tried to ignore it. However, her face scrunched up at the repeated sensation of Umbreon's tongue on her cheek.

"Ugh... Stop it, Umbreon. I'm getting up, okay?"

Umbreon yipped, jumping off of his Trainer's chest.

Emma sat up on the bed, rubbing the sleep out of her blue eyes. She stretched her arms above her head, smiling as she brought them back down.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Emma suddenly lifted Umbreon from the bed, the Moonlight Pokémon giving off a surprised noise. The blonde-haired woman brought Umbreon into her lap.

"Gotcha, Umbreon!"

Umbreon let out a joyful cry, stretching up Emma's chest. He licked her cheek again, with the blonde-haired young woman smiling in response.

"Morning, Emma."

Emma turned towards the bathroom connected to the room. Alexa, in her normal attire and hairstyle, stood at the doorframe, leaning up against it.

She smiled. "Morning, Alexa."

"Umbreon was at the door, so I let him in. I didn't think he would wake you up, though..."

"He normally doesn't." Emma replied, rubbing her hand in between Umbreon's ears. Her eyes widened after a few seconds, an epiphany coming to her. She looked down at Umbreon, who was now sitting on her lap. "Unless... Did you come from downstairs?"

"Bre!" Umbreon nodded his head.

"That's what I thought." Emma nudged Umbreon off of her lap, swinging her legs off the side of the bed. She slipped her feet in the slippers next to the dresser, getting up. "Delia needs me downstairs for something."

"How do you know? You didn't even-"

"-I know the mannerisms of my Pokémon. Umbreon only wakes me up if I need to do something." Emma interrupted Alexa's statement as Umbreon jumped down from the bed, landing next to his Trainer's feet. "Given that it's this early in the morning, Delia needing me is the most likely conclusion."

'I'm not dependent on that ability, you know? I don't always have to use it...'

"Come on, Umbreon."

The Moonlight Pokémon let out an affirmative cry, following after his Trainer. Both Trainer and Pokémon exited one of the guest rooms-which was pretty much Emma's room at that point-and closed the door behind them.

Emma's slippers slid across the ground as she walked on the hardwood floor. She descended from the second floor of Pallet House using the stairs, Umbreon running down beside her.

Umbreon beat his Trainer down the stairs. He sat down at the bottom of the stairs, tilting his head at Emma. She smiled, a small chuckle escaping her due to Umbreon's antics.

'Umbreon, you're such a goof...'

Emma stepped onto the living room floor at the bottom of the stairs. She went towards the kitchen, Umbreon following behind. As she crossed the threshold between the kitchen and the living room, Emma saw Delia putting more pancakes onto the plate.

"Good morning, Delia."

"Oh!" Delia turned around after placing down the spatula. Once she saw who spoke to her, the brown-haired woman smiled. "Good morning, Emma! How did you sleep?"

"I slept fine... once I got to sleep. You can't help but be excited for a new journey, after all." Emma responded, looking around the kitchen. She saw a cardboard box on the counter, which piqued her interest. "Do you need help with breakfast... or did you call me down for the box on the counter over there?"

"It was for the box on the counter." Delia replied, gesturing towards the package. "It came for you by Dragonite Transport this morning."

Emma nodded, walking over to the package. She picked it up, looking at the label on the side.

"Oh! My mom sent me something." Emma adjusted her hold on the package. "These must be the clothes I asked for... Just in time for a new journey, too."

"Well, go try them on while you wait for breakfast! It'll be done in a few minutes."

"Alright." Emma started to turn towards the door. She stopped in place, tilting her head back towards Delia as a thought entered her mind. "I know I ask you this every time, but are you sure it's okay for me to-"

"-Yes, Emma. It's okay if you just call me Delia." The brown-haired woman's eyes softened as she smiled at Emma. "I've known you for ten years now-and you've traveled with Ash for six of those. You've kept my son safe all this time. Letting you call me Delia is the least I can do."

Emma smiled, nodding. She left the kitchen with the box in her arms. Umbreon trotted after his Trainer, climbing the stairs at the same time she did.

Both Trainer and Pokémon got to the top of the stairs. They walked towards the guest room, with Emma opening the door with her free hand.

Alexa looked up as the door closed, her eyes looking into Emma's own. One of her eyebrows quirked up at the box in Emma's arms as the reporter hummed in curiosity.

"What is that?"

"Clothes my mom sent me for the Kalos journey." Emma replied, adjusting her hold on the box. "I honestly don't know what's in here, but, I trust my mom picked something both sporty and practical."

Alexa nodded. She glanced at the time, humming to herself.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." Alexa picked up her fanny pack from the vanity and strapped it around her waist. She grabbed her headphones as her Helioptile jumped on her shoulder. "I'll meet you downstairs."

Emma made a noise of acknowledgment as Alexa closed the door behind her. The blonde-haired young woman walked over to her bed, placing the box down. She opened the box, smiling at its contents.

'Mom knows me so well.' Emma thought to herself. 'This is my favorite outfit out of all of them...'

She pulled out the top piece of clothing on the pile-a primarily white jacket with blue stripes on the sleeves and black on the bottom half of it. Emma averted her eyes to the nightstand next to the bed, grabbing the bracelet on it and placing it snugly in one of the jacket's pockets.

'There... Now it won't get lost.'

Emma grabbed the rest of the clothes in the box and went into the bathroom. She emerged after a few minutes with her morning bedhead tamed and her bracelet on her wrist. The young woman sat down on the bed, putting on her trusty black combat boots. She laced up the boots, gently draping her black pants over them once she was done.

Satisfied with her appearance, Emma sat up from the bed as she zipped up her white jacket. She looked down at her feet-where Umbreon gazed back at her.

"Let's go, Umbreon."

The Moonlight Pokémon yipped in response, following behind his Trainer after she put her pajamas in her black backpack... which she swung over her shoulder.

Emma opened the door and then closed it after both her and Umbreon were out of the room. They went down the stairs and into the living room, where they were greeted by Alexa upon arrival.

"Looking good, Emma." Alexa smiled as she gave the younger woman a thumbs-up.

"Thanks!" Emma replied. She signaled to Umbreon that it was okay if he went back on the couch. The Eeveelution did just that. "Tell Delia I'll be at the videophone if she needs me."

"Alright."

Emma went towards the videophone, sitting down on the small bench in front of it. She dialed a number, waiting for the picture to clear up.

'Hopefully I caught her before she went to work...'

The image cleared up to reveal a woman with long, blonde hair and gray eyes.

'Phew... I did. I was worried I wouldn't be able to talk before I left..."

"Emmy!" The woman smiled. She held her hands together in front of her. "I see you're wearing the clothes I bought you. I would've sewn some myself, but, you know how I am with a needle..."

"It's fine, Mom. I love these clothes." Emma replied, smiling. "Though, I can't talk for long. I just wanted to call you before Ash and I eat breakfast and then to go to the airport."

"That's fine, sweetheart. How are you?"

"I'm doing good." Emma said before a thought crossed her mind. She frowned, lightly sighing.

Her mom furrowed her eyebrows, slightly leaning forward. "Emmy? Are you alright?"

"I've been traveling for eight years, but I haven't won a League yet. Are you sure I'm not disappointing you, Father and Great-Grandmother?"

"Emilia, listen to me... You're not disappointing any of us." Her mother's expression hardened as a slight bit of strictness entered her eyes. "You haven't won a League, yes, but that's not the most important thing. It's a goal that you can reach at the end. The most important thing is the journey you take to reach that goal... Do you understand me?"

"Yes. I'm sorry, Mom..."

"You don't have anything to apologize for, sweetheart. No matter how you do at the Kalos League, your great-grandmother, your father, and me will still support you." Her mother replied, tucking a piece of long blonde hair behind her ear. "Don't let those who compare you to me get you down, Emmy. You are your own person... not a shadow of me and your father."

"Alright." Emma smiled at her mom's reassurance. She heard a scream from upstairs before a thud resonated throughout the residence. She shook her head as a small chuckle escaped her. "Well-Ash is awake, now."

"Alright. I'll let you go talk to your friend. Call me once you all land in Kalos. You know where I'll be."

"Okay! Bye, Mom!"

Her mother waved as she reached forward, ending the call. Emma got up from the stool, pushing it back to where it was prior. She walked into the living room, almost running into Ash as he ran down the stairs.

"Woah!"

"Sorry!" Ash responded, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "I didn't mean to almost hit you, Emma. I'm just so excited for our new journey!"

Pikachu gave out a cry of agreement as he jumped on his Trainer's head, grabbing onto Ash's red hat. Ash-in the clothes his mother had sewn for him for the Kalos journey-rubbed Pikachu's head in between the ears.

"It's alright, Ash." Emma responded as both her and Ash walked into the kitchen. Umbreon had gotten up at the commotion and followed behind his Trainer and her friend. "You're not the only one who's excited... I am, too."

As the two individuals walked into the kitchen, Delia turned around from placing the platter of pancakes on the table. She gave off a beaming smile. "Perfect timing, Ash! I just finished breakfast."

"Thanks, Mom!" Ash replied, sitting down at the kitchen table and grabbing the serving fork. He put a small stack of pancakes on his plate before he gave the fork to Emma, who sat beside him. She put a smaller stack of pancakes on her plate, placing the serving fork next to the serving plate afterwards.

"You're welcome, Ash." Delia replied, smiling at the two teenagers in front of her. Well, Emma was eighteen, but still... "After everyone is done, we need to head to the airport to catch your flight. Don't worry about the dishes, I'll get them when I come back."

Mimey poked his head in the kitchen, giving off a "Mime!" three times before his head went out of view.

"Or Mimey will do them. Either way, they'll be done, so don't worry."

Ash and Emma nodded, both of them eating their pancakes. Ash scarfed them down with gusto-contrasting Emma's quick but leisurely pace at which she ate her pancakes.

After a few minutes, Emma was the first one done. She stood up, grabbing her plate and silverware and putting them in the sink. Alexa followed after her, placing her dishes in the sink as well.

Emma looked towards Ash, who was done with his monstrous stack of pancakes. However, she did not notice his bag anywhere. "I got yours, Ash. Go get your bag."

Ash nodded as he rapidly left the kitchen. Emma grabbed Ash's dishes and put them in the sink at the same time Delia put hers in.

Grabbing a Pokéball off of her belt, Emma turned towards Umbreon, holding the ball out in front of her.

"Umbreon, return!"

The Moonlight Pokémon gave out a light yip as the red beam enveloped him. Emma held the Pokéball in her hand securely before putting in on her belt.

Ash came back to the kitchen, his bag now with him. Pikachu jumped onto his shoulder, excitement exuding out of his small figure.

Delia, seeing that everyone was ready to go, grabbed her car keys. All of them went out of the house and into the car: Delia and Alexa in the driver and passenger seats, respectively, and Ash and Emma in the back seats.

Ash and Emma looked at each other as Pallet Town passed by in the distance. The same thought went through both of their minds...

'Kalos... Here we come!'

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And here is the prologue of my Kalos anime fic. The next chapter will have the first episode of the Kalos anime.

I will try to have the next chapter published quicker, but it all depends on if my schoolwork wants to cooperate with me. Being a senior is time-consuming, that's for sure.

Tell me what you thought of the chapter! Did Emma catch your interest?

Well, no matter what you think...

...See you when the next chapter is published!

- Yugiohchick