[PROLOG]

[MUSIC: "Pathetique - Adagio Cantabile" - Beethoven]

[http://youtu.be/bjvkl9EGBPE]

Once upon a time,

on an island far away,

there was born a little Eevee called Edgar.

[END MUSIC]

[/PROLOG]

WIND & RAIN

SEASON I

EPISODE 1

OUTER SPACE -

An Earth-like globe dominates the frame.

NARRATOR

(voice over)

The world of Pokémon!

A world teeming with excitement and possibility!

ZOOM INTO EARTH -

Myriads of Pokémon species are seen in various habitats,

FORESTS,

OCEANS,

MOUNTAINS, ETC.

NARRATOR

(voice over)

Countless varieties of these incredible creatures inhabit every corner of the globe!

CUT TO:

EXT. ARVERNA CITY - STREET

CAMERA PANS AS,

A man jogs down the street alongside an Absol.

A woman and her Panpour water flowers in their yard.

A girl rests under the shade of a tree reading a book, a Marowak sleeping with its head resting in her lap.

NARRATOR

(voice over)

And wherever there are people, Pokémon are by their side, offering us their friendship and talent to make dreams a reality!

CUT TO:

EXT. ARVERNA STADIUM

Opposing teams of athletes atop flying Pokémon of various types are passing the ball, defending and attacking in a rapid tussle.

NARRATOR

(voice over)

This is Pokémon Skyball, in which teams of Trainers atop flying Pokémon apply the art of the battle to athletic contests of coordination, strength, and strategy.

A young man wearing a blue team uniform, CRUISE ELROY, breaks from the tangle of athletes. He is riding on the back of his Flygon, SOPHIA.

CRUISE and SOPHIA soar toward an anti-gravity goal post which meanders in the air above the spectators. Two defenders advance head-on to oppose them. CRUISE and SOPHIA duck downward and fake them out.

CRUISE releases the ball into the air and SOPHIA turns swiftly, batting upward with her tail and sending the ball through the goal.

The crowd erupts in celebration as CRUISE's team wins the match. CRUISE and his teammates fly in triumphant formation just inches above the spectators as CRUISE's face is displayed on huge monitors around the stadium.

NARRATOR

(voice over)

Masters of this sport earn fame and respect for the unbreakable bonds they share with their agile and powerful Pokémon.

Pokémon admired by Trainers both good...

CUT TO:

INT. AIRSHIP MACHEATH

HUNTER J, a woman wearing a visor and duster coat is concealed in the shadows. Standing around J are numerous HENCHMEN.

J watches CRUISE's Airball match on television.

NARRATOR (CONTINUED)

(voice over)

...and evil.

J rewinds the video tape, replaying the moment at which CRUISE and SOPHIA swiftly dodge the defenders.

HENCHMAN 1

He's fast, sir.

HENCHMAN 2

Yeah, and that Flygon's ferocious.

J snorts.

HUNTER J

You fools are too used to picking on weaklings. You should be thankful to at last be hunting a worthwhile target.

HENCHMAN 1

Sorry, sir!

HENCHMAN 2

We'll support you with hover-cycles, sir!

HUNTER J

No need. I'll do this myself. Watch the world's greatest Pokémon Hunter in action.

J rises.

ALL HENCHMEN

Sir!

CUT TO:

J struts confidently down a corridor of her ship, followed by her HENCHMEN.

HUNTER J

This target is no typical Trainer. He and his Flygon are a powerful pair, but their maneuvers are extremely predictable.

J opens a hatch.

Wind rushes though the hall blowing the HENCHMEN back as J stands steadfastly at the threshold.

ZOOM OUT -

The airship is flying at high speed above the ocean.

J STANDS AT THE HATCH -

HUNTER J

Move the ship into the target's predicted path and keep it invisible until I return.

ALL HENCHMEN

Sir!

J dives from the gigantic airship.

As J descends at freefall speed, she draws a Pokéball from her belt and throws it, releasing a SALAMENCE which catches her upon its back.

J holds on to SALAMENCE as the turquoise dragon and the airship accelerate into the distance toward the eastern shore of the Munia region.

The ship vanishes into a transparent glimmer in the sky as its cloaking system activates.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE COASTAL OCEAN

The ocean and sky are golden in the light of the setting sun.

CRUISE, wearing his team uniform and flight goggles is flying atop SOPHIA over the water. CRUISE is clutching SOPHIA and hanging on as the dragon Pokémon makes high velocity maneuvers.

When flying at speed, SOPHIA's buzzing wings make a distinct, melodic humming noise.

Cruise steers sophia by shifting his weight as he rides her.

POV - CRUISE

CRUISE's goggles display a virtual obstacle course of rings which CRUISE is guiding SOPHIA through.

CRUISE and SOPHIA fly through the final virtual ring.

TRAINING COMPUTER

Training course complete.

END POV

TRAINING COMPUTER (CONT'D)

Personal record beaten by 7.53 seconds.

CRUISE and SOPHIA decelerate.

They are both exhausted.

When flying at high speed, SOPHIA flies in the manner of a dragonfly with her wings buzzing rapidly. At slower speeds, she flies in the manner of a bird, flapping her wings

CRUISE pats SOPHIA with one hand as the Flygon flies at a leisurely pace.

CRUISE

Good job Sophie. That's the third record we've broken today.

SOPHIA

*chuffs contentedly*

CRUISE

Come on girl, it's getting late. Let's get to shore.

*ENGINES ROAR*

CRUISE

What the -

The transparent glimmer of the cloaked airship MacHeath zooms by, barely missing CRUISE/SOPHIA.

(The ship is invisible to CRUISE and SOPHIA.)

SOPHIA rears back, treading the air with her wings. CRUISE braces himself and hangs on. SOPHIA makes a cautious, shallow dive.

CRUISE and SOPHIA look around.

CRUISE

What was that? That sounded like a jet!

Did you see that, Sophie?

SOPHIA

*Shrugs shoulders and chuffs.*

CRUISE

Whatever that was, let's get out of -

J AND SALAMENCE,

Barrel towards CRUISE and SOPHIA.

CRUISE and SOPHIA evade with their signature dodge.

SLOW MOTION -

CRUISE/SOPHIA narrowly miss J/SALAMENCE.

(CRUISE/SOPHIA is read as "Cruise and Sophia", Represents a human riding a top a flying Pokémon.)

CRUISE

A Salamence?

SOPHIA

*growls*

J/SALAMENCE corkscrew around to face CRUISE/SOPHIA.

A ball of energy forms in SALAMENCE's open, roaring mouth.

CRUISE

What? Hyper Beam? Dodge it Sophie!

The Hyper Beam fires, searing the air.

CRUISE/SOPHIA narrowly avoid the hit.

J/SALAMENCE swoop by at low speed, flying alongside CRUISE/SOPHIA.

CRUISE

Hey! What's your problem?

SOPHIA

*roars*

HUNTER J

My client's been seeking a Flygon for his breeding program for quite a while.

J points the cannon attached to her arm at SOPHIA.

HUNTER J

Say goodbye, to your Flygon, Cruise Elroy.

CRUISE/SOPHIA flee into the distance as J takes a shot at them with her cannon, missing.

J presses a button on her headset.

HUNTER J

(into radio)

J to mothership. Target sighted, it’s runtier than it looked on TV, a mid-size case will do.

Pokémon Hunter J, acquiring target.

J/SALAMENCE chase CRUISE/SOPHIA.

CRUISE/SOPHIA,

Race toward the shore.

J/SALAMENCE close in, SALAMENCE fires a second Hyper Beam, intentionally missing.

SOPHIA growls and begins to charge a Hyper Beam of her own.

CRUISE

No Sophie! We've been training in the air all day, if you try to attack you won't have the strength left to make it to shore!

SOPHIA stifles the Hyper Beam.

CRUISE (CONT'D)

We've got to outrun her and get back to land!

SOPHIA

*Sophia nods and chuffs in agreement*

SOPHIA/CRUISE race toward the shore as J/SALAMENCE draw near.

HUNTER J

Salamence! Dragon Pulse!

SALAMENCE roars and launches the attack. CRUISE clings to SOPHIA.

CRUISE

Outrun it! If that Dragon Pulse hits we're through!

SOPHIA/CRUISE speed up and swerve toward the sea, the Dragon Pulse goes off like a bomb well above the spot where they just were.

CRUISE

Good job! But why did it hit so far off? They had a clear shot.

CRUISE looks back and sees that J is no longer pursuing them.

CRUISE

Why'd she stop chasing us?

Now's our chance Sophia, let's get out of here!

SOPHIA

*chuffs in agreement*

SOPHIA's wings scream through the air as she descends sharply. The safety of the beach is tantalizingly near.

SOPHIA is tiring, but struggles on at high speed.

J STANDS ATOP SALAMENCE -

HUNTER J

(into radio)

J to mothership. The target is heading your way. Get ready.

CRUISE AND SOPHIA -

CRUISE

Wait, why's she letting us go?

Unless - Oh no!

J GRINS -

HUNTER J

Too late.

SLOW MOTION -

SOPHIA and CRUISE pass the boundaries of the cloaking illusion concealing the airship, and they both see it.

They are on course to crash directly into the steel wall of its fuselage.

SOPHIA opens her wings and struggles to "brake", but her momentum is too great.

She snatches CRUISE from her back and tosses him clear at the last moment before,

FULL SPEED -

SOPHIA slams with a horrendous crunching thud unto the side of the airship and plummets like a stone, unconscious.

CRUISE falls out of reach of SOPHIA, dazed and tumbling through the air.

CRUISE

Sophia!

The impact against the ship is so severe that its cloaking device falters, making the high tech pirate ship plainly visible.

J/SALAMENCE swoop in after the falling CRUISE and SOPHIA.

J fires a shot from her arm cannon at SOPHIA, she is frozen into a bronze statue.

HUNTER J

Target Pokémon subjugated.

J throws a Pokéball.

HUNTER J

Ariados! String shot!

The giant spider Pokémon solidifies from the beam of light and ties up CRUISE with its silk just before he can grab a Pokéball from his belt.

CRUISE struggles as SALAMENCE catches ARIADOS and the restrained CRUISE on its back.

The frozen SOPHIA continues to fall.

HUNTER J

Where is that capture case? If we lose our target in the ocean I'll drop you idiots in after her!

RADIO HENCHMAN

(via radio)

Yes, sir! Sorry sir! Deploying now!

A hatch opens from MacHeath's hull, a disk shaped platform launches from it and flies after SOPHIA, gently catching the petrified Pokémon as a force field dome activates, turning the platform into a sick display case.

J stands atop SALAMENCE as the capture case catches up with them. CRUISE still struggles to free himself, but to no avail.

CRUISE

No! Sophia!

The capture case flies over to the ship and enters the hatch, the hatch closes.

RADIO HENCHMAN

Target Pokémon secured, Sir!

Mission accomplished!

HUNTER J

Good. Now get MacHeath out to sea before they're witnesses. Don't you dare take a break until the camouflage system is back online.

RADIO HENCHMAN

Yes, sir! You're clear to come aboard, sir! Shall we prepare the brig for the prisoner as well?

HUNTER J

No need. I'll dump him when we're out to sea. Tell Seth we have his Flygon.

RADIO HENCHMAN

Yes, sir!

The airship, and SALAMENCE, bearing J, ARIADOS, and CRUISE, change course for the open ocean as dusks sets in.

The Munia region rapidly shrinks into a dark blur on the horizon.

CRUISE lamely continues to struggle as his adrenaline peters out.

CRUISE

Seth? Seth Bedgood? The owner of the Driftveil Icemen? I've got more money than that wannabe gangster!

I can pay you whatever you want, just let Sophie go!

HUNTER J

No can do. It'll take more than cash to bribe me out of a contract.

My reputation is worth more to my trade than what you can pay.

CRUISE continues to struggle against the silk.

HUNTER J (CONT'D)

In a way I really do respect you, Cruise.

When my client commissioned me to take your Flygon, I started watching your matches and saw what a talented Trainer and flyer you were.

Even though you still allowed me to crash you straight into my ship -

CRUISE

Sophia's gonna kill you and Bedgood!

HUNTER J

Not likely. My client had a special request for me to rough up your Flygon before we brought it to him.

He doesn't care if it ever flies again. He just wants an egg laying machine to produce world class offspring so his Airball team can win matches.

CRUISE

She won't let anyone use her like that!

She'll kill him!

HUNTER J

Once my client pays me I don't care what your Flygon does to him. Or vice versa.

I doubt your body will wash ashore from this distance, so I'll let you go now.

I've got a year and a half's worth of clients in Sinnoh waiting for me, including Team Galactic, and I'd hate to keep them waiting.

CRUISE struggles to reach the Pokéballs attached to his belt. J rips the belt clip from Cruise's pants and throws it, and the attached Pokéballs, over the side and into the ocean.

CRUISE stops struggling as SALAMENCE climbs higher into the sky. There are tears in his eyes.

CRUISE

You'll pay for this.

HUNTER J

Not likely. Goodbye.

J shoves CRUISE from SALAMENCE's back.

CRUISE,

Falls, and falls and falls.

CRUISE hits the ocean at terminal velocity.

CUT TO:

BLACK

END OF EPISODE 1 - "WIND & RAIN BEGINS"

NEXT TIME:

A warrior awakens.

The true villains emerge.

ARE YOU PREPARED?