Hope, a young girl with Autism, is trying to find acceptance for herself as someone with equal matter. She's a new Pokémon Trainer that isn't understood by anyone except her Pokémon... even bullied for her differences by everyone except her family...
"Hey, why are you alone?" The teacher asked me when I was a seven and a half year old, she couldn't give an answer before the teacher said, "The other students are right... you are a useless, stupid, utterly different child." Those words stung me... I didn't even get a chance to answer, I don't understand why nobody gets me... Officer Jenny, Nurse Joy, and both my parents only take care of me but they don't understand me so I just hide myself. It's wearing me down... I can't take this, at this point I may just self isolate myself!
(Present day)
Today I'm ten, I'm in a school and have my own dorm since nobody likes me... but today is when I get my first Pokémon, I just hope that it'll choose to be my friend. I'm attentively listening as I absent-mindedly fidget with my phone, a Rotom was set into it already so I have access to a Pokédex. I hear my name called and I only see one Pokéball... as I predicted, I was called last. I walk up to the table and take the Pokéball containing my new partner, I didn't even get to release it before the teacher called class over. Just before I left with it in hand, the teacher rudely said, "Oh, and Hope... just try to not lose or kill your Pokémon."
I felt offended! I hadn't lost anything or killed anything before! I'm desperately holding myself back from having an internalized autistic meltdown and having a autistic shutdown at the same time! I just run off while grasping the Pokéball... I leave the building and campus to head to the one place I feel free and am not disturbed by Pokémon who don't care about me or any person has been while I'm there, I go to a deep part of the forest in Kanto. I reach my secret clearing in the forest, a lake is part of it. I choose to sit down before I release my new Pokémon, it sits and looks at me as I look at it, it's an Sprigatito which is a Paldean Pokémon.
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Quietly I ask, "Sprigatito, what do you want me to call you?" "Why are you asking me?" My Pokémon asks, of course it would ask that. I close my eyes in anxiety as I answer, "I... I can understand Pokémon. Not only that but I have an odd ability where I can understand Pokémon." I look down and open my eyes as I finish even quieter in a mumble, "I doubt you'll want to even be around me now... and that's just the tiniest thing about me." "That's so cool!" Sprigatito chimes which caught me off gaurd and caused me to look up, Sprigatito then continued to speak, "In that case call me Nyahoja! What's your name?" "Hope..." I answer before saying, "Nice to meet you Nyahoja. I hope we can be friends." I can't help but go off into thought after I finish.
Ironic... that's what my name is. 'Hope' may be my name but there isn't any for me having any sort of true friendship...
"Hope? Somethings up, what are you thinking about?" Nyahoja asked me which startled me... I simply answered with, "Just how much irony is in my name." "What do you mean?" "My name is Hope... but there isn't any for me when it comes to friends or someone understanding me, let alone giving me a voice." I said with a laugh... I can feel the tears from all the pain trying to escape so I just hide it again and push it all down. Nyahoja obviously can tell since she proceeds to come and cuddle me as she says, "Don't hide your pain Hope... I can see the basic level of how your feeling and your pain is obvious." "Is it?" "Just your expression told me. Even if it mainly is just a guess." "Oh... okay." I said in shock, my tone is monotone again so I realized that the mask had fallen since Nyahoja cares about me!
"Your expression and tone changed? Dull and bland? I don't get it." Nyahoja said in confusion which caused me to get my gaurd up in alarm! Immediately I took my clip out and clutched it in my hand as I let my hair cover my face from the fear of being made fun of by my own Pokémon as I mumbled, "I have Autism..." I heard a gasp... expecting the worst but I heard next from Nyahoja was not what I expected! She said to me, "No wonder your so unique, amazing, and wonderful! Sure you can understand Pokémon, but it may be because your deeper in tune with your senses!" I gave a soft smile as I asked, "Really?" Nyahoja gave me a nod causing me to cry from joy as I said, "Thank you Nyahoja!"
I soon heard a rustling in the bushes and saw a boy... the very one I saw on the World Coronation Series Finals... the very same boy who beat Leon... Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town in Kanto.
I still can't believe it when I finally register what is happening. Ash's Pikachu is hurt and he's running to the nearest Pokémon Center. "Ash! Wait! Bring Pikachu here!" I quickly call which surprised him as I grab the supplies from my bag, reluctantly Ash comes over and puts Pikachu down as I say, "Pikachu is in good care and will be fine soon." I treat Pikachu with a Potion before giving Pikachu an Oran Berry which he thankfully ate. I smiled before saying, "Your alright now Pikachu." "Hey, may I know who you are?" Ash asked me.
He asked me who I am. I just simply looked at him as I answered, "What does it matter? I really am just a nobody... my only friend so far is my Pokémon, Nyahoja. Otherwise I'm just a stranger and an outsider to everyone and everything... I don't matter." I began crying as I finished by saying, "Nobody cares for who I am as a person so why does it matter?"
