[color=0054a6][center][h1]The Keeper of the Keys[/h1][/center][/color]

The town was buzzing like a zubat hive. Everywhere he looked people dashed around putting up banners and streamers, engaging in the mindless pomp and ceremony that precluded any town's Biggest Day of the Year. Even inside the normally quiet and relaxed shops, shopkeepers rotated their wares and scrubbed their windows preparing for the big day. In every window, on every banner "Start your Summer Adventure at Sanctuary"

A lot of towns had a ritual to set off budding Pokemon trainers... Lo Town’s was just a little more commercial designed to revive a town that’s off beat location left it perpetually on the brink of financial collapse. You wouldn’t know it today… the town gleamed in the dawn sunlight.

Ken couldn’t help it… he smiled a broad smile under his big bushy white moustache. He remembered his own big day. The day he had caught his first ever Pokemon Kaisa, right here in this little town, over 50 years ago. She had been a Spearow then. He remembered his father’s face as Ken had turned with the pokeball clutched in his hand. The tears of pride in his father's eyes, how his father had rushed to hug both him and his own faithful Hypno (without whom Kaisa could never have been caught). A bond that would link all four of them forevermore

As if in answer to his nostalgia Kaisa swooped past him diving under a half erected banner making an elderly man on a ladder wobble dangerously. He swore loudly turning angrily to shake his fist but he swallowed his anger as he met Ken’s eyes.

[color=007236]“Mornin keeper”[/color] he growled with enforced civility.

[color=00aeef]“Sorry bout that Mo. You know how they get today”.[/color] grinned Ken, unable to keep his face level
Mo’s face broke into a wide smile looking fondly down at his own Growlithe happily chasing it’s own tail.

[color=007236]“Aye, that I do”
[/color]
They remembered it too, he knew it. The day they had found each other!

It was the only explanation for why everyone got so excited on this particular day. He watched Kaisa swoop and roll in the distance, her loud cawing cry echoing through the village. He had travelled the world with Kaisa at his side. He had won the Indigo League with her at his side , cried as she fell still fighting to Karen's Gengar's savage Night Shade. Finally he had retired here with her as Keeper of the Keys.... back to where it all began!

It was a good life! Even though he had no real purpose beyond a famous figurehead; even if he was, technically, defender of the sanctuary.  He snorted. Who would try and rob the Sanctuary? There hadn’t been an attempt since its fouding. It was so safe he’d even retired some of his own Pokemon in there.

Nope he opened and shut the doors each day, signed a few autographs and in return he got a nice little cottage on the outskirts of town and enough money to keep his belly growing. Contentedly he rattled the keys in his hand. It was a good day.

_______________________________________

Elder Jona was not having a good day. She had a million things to do, her sciatica was playing up and Elder Bloody Algenon had forgotten to arrange collection of the Bloody PokeGears from Saffron City.

[color=ec008c]“You’re a cretin Algy, a half wit and a fool, how could you forget the PokeGears and why In Ho-Oh’s name are you smiling?”[/color]

The old man’s incredibly lined face was crinkled in a wide smile, seemingly impervious to her rage, as he watched his ancient Rattata trying to climb up one of the banner poles to nibble at the fresh rope holding the sign.

[color=fff200]“It’s just a wonderful day, isn’t it?”[/color]

She gave a half strangled roar of frustration catching the arm of his daughter as she hurried past 
[color=ec008c]“Daisy dear, go into Danny’s copy shop and get him to knock out 50 official looking PokeGear Vouchers. I’ll ring the store- they’ll just have to collect from Saffron.” [/color]

She strode over to the Registration table where Elder Priscilla and Elder Robert were snoozing gently in the morning sun. She resisted the urge to wake them with a loud slap to each cheek. They would have a long day ahead.

Grimly she taped a big notice detailing the rules and regulations to the table and stepped back to read them one more time. 

1. This event is for first time trainers only. Trainers must present their new registration with the Pokemon League to be entered.
2. Only 1 pokeball can be brought into the Sanctuary… yes we do check.
3. All trainers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who in turn may bring 1 Pokemon.

This event was typically a generational affair but there was always one who tried to sneak an extra pokeball in.... in ways that stunned her limited knowledge of Biology.

She couldn’t help it, even as her own Chansey, reached up to hold her hand she smiled. That buffoon Algy was right it was a wonderful day!