Get away. Run, run. The voice in my head urged me forward as raindrops sped towards me, piercing through my thick fur.

Don't turn back. Just get away. The same thoughts repeated in my head, like a broken record.

Never come back. Just go. Just run, run. Just run. The thudding of my paw steps echoed, matching the beat of my heart and the steady rain.

I kept running forward, through the dense forest, blinded by rain and tears, until I could run no longer. Then I collapsed onto the forest floor, and wept. No amount of running was going to let me escape from the memories.

"You useless Pokemon!" my old trainer's voice echoed in my head. "You're worthless! "

I sat there and listened to my brown haired trainer's rant. I had just lost to the Nacrene City Gym Leader, Lenora, for the third time. Ever since I had traveled from Sinnoh to Unova with my trainer, he had become increasingly cruel.

"You make Magikarp look like Gyrados! That's how pitiful you are!" my trainer screamed, his hazel eyes burning with fury. I whimpered and lowered my head in shame.

"You know what?" my trainer demanded, reaching for my Pokeball and clipping it off his Pokebal belt, "You know what I'm going to do?"

I back up a pace from my trainer, looking up at him fearfully. He held up my Pokeball, which hung open as if he were to return me.

Then he took one part in each hand and snapped it in half before letting the halves drop. The two parts fell down to the ground and shattered. I felt my heart shatter with them.

"Go!" my trainer yelled to me. I stayed put, staring at the remains of my Pokeball in shock.

"Go!" my trainer shouted again, louder. I looked up at him, then turned and ran as tears stung my eyes. I just ran where my paws took me.

Now I was lost and alone. No one would come looking for me; no one would wonder where I had gone. Because no one would care.

I laid on the forest floor as raindrops splashed onto my coat and cried until I had no more tears left. The rain increased, and puddles formed at my feet. I looked into one.

My reflection stared back, taunting me. Reminding me that I was nothing like the strong Pokemon my trainer desired. My golden eyes, my light blue and black fur, my large, oval ears with stars, the tuft of fur on top of my head: none of it was intimidating. My trainer was right. I was pitiful.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the forest grew dark. Fearful of the Pokemon who might come out at night, I glanced around for a shelter. My eyes landed on a hollow tree. I raced under its cover, and turned to watch the storm.

The forest grew quite, except for the soft patter of rain and the occasional roll of thunder. Memories of my travels in Sinnoh flashed trough my head, and tears stung my eyes again. That night, I cried myself to sleep.

*.*.*.*.*.*.*

I woke late the next morning, wet. Whether it was from the rain or my tears, I could never be sure.

Cautiously, I poked my head out of my shelter. The forest floor was sodden, and puddles were everywhere. I slowly walked up to a puddle and lapped the water. Once I had drunk my fill, I glanced around for some form of food. I spotted some blue berries on a bush, and rushed over to it.

Carefully, I plucked a berry from it's branches, and ate it in one bite. It was sweet, with a slight tang to it. I licked my lips, being sure I hadn't wasted any. Then, I greedily reached for another, and a loud, gruff voice shouted, "Don't touch that!"

I withdrew my paw quickly as a Timburr and Pansage leapt from inside the bush. "Those berries are ours!" the Timburr growled.

I quickly backed up. "I- I'm sorry. I didn't know. I- I thought they were for everyone to share," I stuttered.

"Well, you thought wrong," the Pansage replied, "These berries are ours. Now go before we make you!"

I whimpered, "Okay. I'm going. Look, see!" I back up as quickly as I possibly could.

"Hey, are you taunting me?" the Timburr demanded.

"I think she is," the Pasage noted.

"Shall we teach her some manners?" Timburr inquired.

"Yes, we should," the Pansage answered.

Both Pokemon turned to me, and evil glint in their eyes. The Pansage shot a number of shimmering seed at me. Timburr slammed his log into the ground, sending several small rocks flying at me. I yelped, turned, and ran away as fast as I could.

After I was sure the two Pokemon weren't going to chase after me, I went in search of another berry bush. However, at every bush I found, the Pokemon were just as hostile. And at every bush, I ran away, whimpering.

Eventually, I after I had run from a particularly scary group of Pidove, I found my self in a clearing. Having left the Pidove behind, I sat.

My trainer was right. I'm not strong. I can't battle. I can't even get berries to eat!

These and other, worse thoughts circled through my head, and tears started to stream down my face. "I- I'm terrible," I whimpered, "I- I'm pitiful. I- I'm not worthy of being anyone's Pokemon. I- I- I can't even take care of myself!"

I heard someone approaching from behind me. I whirled around, and saw a tall, green, antelope- like Pokemon walking towards me from the other side of the clearing. I braced myself, prepared for the Pokemon to lunge at me, probably yelling something like, "That's my spot!"

Instead, the Pokemon smiled. "Tell me. Why are you crying?" the tall Pokemon inquired, laying down in the field next to me.

"I- I- I," I stuttered, choked up from crying. Finally, I managed to wail, "I- I'm pitiful! N-n- no one likes me! Nobody cares!" I buried my face in the Pokemon's soft fur, crying.

Surprisingly, the Pokemon didn't move away. She just sighed, "I can see you've been through a lot, more than any Pokemon should have to go through. My name's Virizion," she added, "You can stay with me, if you would like."

---

~ Author's Note

Warning: This author's note will be a bit lengthy.

There you go, the intro to Losing Hope. What do you think? Good? bad? Please tell me! This is my first attempt at a short story (Most of my stories are long. REALLY long).

I'm ShinyPonyta. You probably already know me from my other story, Zapped (also a Pokemon Fan Fiction. Just not a short story). I will try to update this story as often as I can (this story will have four chapters, not including the Prologue). However, since I'm updating this with Zapped, no promises.

Also, if you haven't read my story, Zapped, please read it! I also have a randomness book, Total Randomness.

This story did start out sad, but it gets better! Then it gets worse. Then it gets a bit better! Then it's great! Then it's normal. ^-^

So, anyways, please vote, comment, and I'll see you next author's note!