Is it a beginning, or an end?

Marionette stood in the bustling city with what could only be described as a scowl on her face. Her eyes darted around and she shifted her weight from one leg to another, uncomfortable with the lively and crowded air around her. There were too many voices-- too many people. It was the same thing that gave her a distaste for Castelia in her home region, and a new surrounding didn't change matters. She sighed, looking to the streets beyond.

The girl had opted to visit Kalos, though unsure of how long the visit would last. After she had decided to depart her miserable heap of a life in Unova to get some air and a fresh view... truthfully, it was more than that. With as much wandering as she had decided on doing, she feared she would come face-to-face with her scorned brother, and that was a reunion she would give anything to avoid. So, instead, she purchased a ticket out of Castelia on the next departing cruiser to whatever region it happened to be going. Unfortunately for her, it ended up landing in the only city busier than the one she wanted to escape from... well, a journey had to be started somewhere. Turning, she caught sight of the building she was looking for, and stepped into the Kalos lab.

"Hello?" she called out, scanning the area for any sign of life. "I'm here to claim my first Pokemon and items, I read that this lab gives them out."

"Ah, welcome! You've read correctly. I am professor Sycamore." Came a man's voice as he rounded a corner, smiling to Marionette as he spoke. "Welcome to Kalos." He added. The man was pretty tall, with wavy brown hair and stubble in his chin. His eyes were blue and filled with kindness.

"Thank you," Marionette replied politely, "I hear the region is quite beautiful." Not that I've seen any beauty as of yet, the noise and people are too much of a distraction. The Professor's eyes were open and friendly, but it didn't do anything to boost any sort of fondness for him. Marionette was much too distant from people to allow it. "I'm here to receive my first Pokemon and items," she hesitated, and a strange thought crosses her mind. "Do you have any strange starter Pokemon? Ones that are a different color or tone than they naturally are, or have a different type than they should?" It was quite a long shot, but she didn't feel harm in asking.

Prof. Sycamore thought, making a mental list of all the new and recent Pokemon that were in the lab that were slightly different than normal. Marionette was in luck it seemed. Without another word he turned on his heel and went back the way he came. After a good ten minutes or so, he came back with a starter kit and a dusk ball.

"In here is a Pokemon who's fur is darker then it's normal species. I'm sure you'd like her, if not then we have other Pokemon, although they don't have any differences from regular Pokemon." He said, handing the kit to the girl before releasing the Pokemon. It's was an Espurr that had it's fur a darker shade of gray, it's dark pink eyes looking at Marionette in slight interest.

Marionette's heart skipped a beat as Professor Sycamore said those words. She hadn't expected her request to become reality, and as he released the darkened Espurr, she knew just what she was going to choose as a partner. Quickly stashing the items away, she keeled down closer to the cat Pokemon's level. "Hello there," she smiled, placing a gentle hand onto its head and glancing kindly into its... ominous wide eyes. "My name is Marionette, and if you'll have me as your partner, I'll call you Tenebra."

(Are you able to edit the starter kit in, or would you like me to do it?)

(Could you do it please?)

The Espurr nodded, her eyes lighting in not only interest but curiosity as she looked towards her new trainer.

"Congratulations." Prof. Sycamore said towards Marionette.

(Done :3)

"Thank you!" Marionette said, too excited to hold back her enthusiasm. The darkened fur of the Espurr was alluring, and she couldn't help but run a hand gently across her new Pokemon's head, feeling the sleek softness of her fur. Then, grinning, she gripped the small cat into her arms and lifted her up, holding her between them. As she did so, a thought crossed her mind. It had taken the Professor quite a while to get this poor little Pokemon, maybe being different made her undesirable to other trainers... or something else is the problem. She shook her head, not wanting the thought to dampen her high spirits. Tenebra is with me now, that's all that matters!

"I'll definitely take her," Marionette said to Sycamore, eyeing the Dusk Ball still in his hand. "We'll do our best and grow together."

He nodded and handed her the Dusk Ball.

"I'm sure you two will do great things! Now go out there and show Kalos what you're made of!" He smiled as he spoke, happy for both trainer and Pokemon. He was sure the two will do something great while in Kalos.

"Thanks again," Marionette said, this time keeping the majority of her enthusiasm and excitement in check as she took the Dusk Ball. She was quite thrilled, and as she stepped out onto the busy stone streets, they didn't seem as bad. Well, I wouldn't go as far as saying I didn't mind them, she thought with amusement while she smiled down toward the Espurr in her arms. Tenebra, in turn, gazed back at her with the typical wide and haunted look of her kind's eyes, though hers had a glint of something more. Interest, perhaps. "What should we do first?" Marionette questioned out loud, looking around the city. She didn't particularly feel obligated to keep within its limits, and with one more downward glance toward Tenebra, she veered in the direction of the nearest exit. Let's go see what lays on the outskirts of the city. Maybe some good training areas if there aren't any good Pokemon out there...

So, Espurr in hand, she left the crowded city to the route nearest to her. Now outside, she couldn't help but let a sigh of relief escape. Glancing around her surroundings, she made her way farther into the wild, away from the noise of the city, looking out for any other trainers or Pokemon that could be near.

The grass rustled, and after a few tense minutes out of it came a Spinda.

A wild Lvl 6 male Spinda appeared!

The Pokemon looked the trainer up and down, tilting its head to the side as it studied her and her Espurr.

Marionette looked down toward the cute panda Pokemon with mixed emotions. Though she did want to battle, the curious eyes and the overall adorable-ness of the Pokemon was deterring. She didn't want to attack something that was just curious enough to wander out to see her. "Tenebra, what do you think, do you want to battle it?" she asked her Espurr, who seemed to be studying the Spinda just as much as it was her.

"Espurr," Tenebra replied with a yawn. Of course, she and Marionette weren't yet close enough to communicate with both languages, and the trainer sighed. Her Pokemon, meanwhile, shot the Spinda a questioning look, and through PokeSpeak, asked if it wanted to battle or not.

The Spinda nodded, almost eager to battle. He made some distance between him and the other Pokemon, a smile on his face as he waited for his opponent to make the first move. He swayed gently from side to side, patient, excited.

"You are really cute," Marionette sighed as she watched the swaying Pokemon wait patiently. "But if a battle's what you want, I'll gladly oblige. Tenebra, let's start things off with a Leer!" She was still feeling excited and giddy herself, and with no one around, she didn't feel harm in expressing her excitement.

Tenebra herself seemed excited as well, but didn't express it as much as her partner did. Instead, she grinned as she narrowed her usually wide eyes in a threatening gaze, attempting to lower Spinda's defenses.

Spidna shuddered as Leer took affect, then used Encore, clapping and cheering for Tenebra. Afterwards, he would follow up with an Uproar, crying out loudly as he covered his own ears. Hoping for a challenge from the trainer, he smiled wider as he stood in a battle stance.

Tenebrous heart soared with pride in her Leer attack as Spinda used Encore, locking him into that move for a while. As the Uproar hit, he cringed and took the damage. Shuddering, he narrowed his eyes once more and shot a Leer toward the Spinda.

"Guess we're going to cut things close. Lower defenses enough so that our attacks will do a ton of damage. Tenebra, let's last long enough to strike back!"

Spinda cringed, his denfenses were lowered. He then charged at Tenebra with a Tackle attack. If this successfully hit, he would use Uproar once more. His smile was still in place-he was having fun. See, he usually pulls pranks on most trainers or store owners in the city and usually gets away before they can catch him. But he could tell that this trainer was different, but she has to prove that she can be the trainer he's been waiting for!~

"Dodge!" Marionette commanded, and with the enthusiastic prompt from her trainer, Tenebra jumped aside and away from the incoming Tackle, rolling around her shoulder to remain steady and get back to her feet. The Espurr was grinning as well, and an odd feeling washed over her. A glint of battle found its way within them, and her grin upturned with challenge. Her darker side was taking hold, and her lust for battle rising in her chest. Narrowing her eyes, she launched one more Leer, after doing so, she felt the effects of the Encore fade. He was finally ready for attack.

Spinda quickly used Uproar after Tenebra used Leer for the last time. He kept his distance, though curious of what move the trainer would command next. His facial expression hadn't changed the slightest either.

The Uproar was successful, and though it damaged Tenebra, she didn't show any signs of weakness. Her wicked, battle-hungry grin intensified, and a slight red sheen gleamed over her eyes. Her threatening smile turned toward Marionette, waiting for her trainer's command.

She looks... different. Almost evil. The trainer noted with a grim curiosity. Odd color didn't seem like the only thing off about her Espurr. "Er, use Covet!" she commanded.

Tenebra was more than happy to oblige. Her wicked grin turned into a cute, pouting smile while her eyes widened much like a begging puppy. Her head tilted down, and her tail wagged ferociously as she made her way toward Spinda. She then jumped in attack, somehow doing it cutely. If it hit, she'd take the opportunity to steal any item Spinda had.

(Wasn't sure how to describe Covet. The move descriptions weren't very helpful x3)

Spinda flinched back as Tenebra moved closer, he didn't have any held items on him unfortunately. His smile wavered, turning into a small frown as he suddenly became uncomfortable at Tenebra's closeness. He used Tackle at that moment, his demeanor becoming slightly more serious.

The Tackle collided with Tenebra, and the Espurr was in dire straights. She was quite weak by now, and things weren't looking good. Still, her heart beated with adrenaline and her claws longed for attack. Spinda's defenses were quite low, one good hit and she may stand a chance. Before Marionette could call anything, the battle-hungry Espurr lunged at Spinda with glowing, sharp claws. She was trying a Scratch attack.

Spinda squeaked in pain as scratch hit and he was thrown to the ground. The tables had turned ever so slightly in Marionette's favor. He would only be able to take so many more hits before he'd be deemed catchable.

While Spinda was on the ground, Tenebra's wicked grin widened and the corners of her mouth upturned. She lifted her claws and stepped toward the Pokemon. "Wait," Marionette commanded, causing confusion to light the Pokemon's gaze. "There's no honor in hurting a foe while they're down. Even if it's a move that loses us this battle, I'd like to have some honor and mercy." The statement caused the Espurr to become conflicted. Her nature called for her to finish the job, but her trainer had made another call. She glanced from the downed Spinda to Marionette, and hesitated for the moment, allowing Spinda to get back up if he could.

Spinda got back up, he was panting lightly but smiled at Marionette, he was honestly losing interest in the battle and quickly got distracted by a flower that caught his eye. Marionette had the chance to catch him, for he really had no objection to it. She had earned the little guys trust.

Marionette smiled. Spinda are unique in their own right. Each one is different in pattern than the next, he'd make a fine addition to my team. Nodding to herself, the trainer realized with a start just how great of a distraction her journey was so far. After receiving Tenebra, she hadn't thought of her past nor of her crippling guilt. Guess that's saved for my nightmares, she sighed, pushing the thought from her mind. She picked up a Pokeball from her pack, and tossed it toward Spinda while his attention was elsewhere.