Sparx and the Hunt for the Ultimate Power

[Kaboom]

Timeline:

2250: The idea of travelling in space make all the Pokémon in the land of Uthiopia to bubble with excitement.
2265: The first prototype rockets are launched. They failed, but excitement levels were higher than ever.
2290: Infernape becomes the first Pokémon to travel in space. Its journey lasted 30 minutes.
2301: Explorations began to chart the celestial system.
2327: Charting of the system is complete. None of the other planets seem to be capable of supporting life. It's all a bit of a let-down, really. Exotic holidays on another planet are ruled off the list.
2370: A team of Alakazam scientists have successfully constructed a spaceship motor that allows FTL (Faster Than Light) travel. Suddenly, new doors open, and possibilities explode, but the plans are kept secret until a suitable number of engines are available to fit the demand.
2371: A small ship crash-landed in Uthiopia. The body disintegrated, but the contents remained intact: rolled-up sheets of paper. They landed in some old Pokémon's back garden. The news quickly spread that they told of a treasure concealed somewhere in the far reaches of the galaxy. The excitement rose another notch.
2372: A revolutionary screw-up occurred: someone broke into the Alakazam's laborotory and made off with the secret plans. A few days later, they appeared on the Internet. That, combined with the stories of treasure, lead many Pokémon to build their own spaceships, but the vast majority failed for various reasons. Only a few actually succeeded, and only one would find and take possession of the treasure.

Sparx, a Luxray, lost her parents soon after her birth: they fell to a ruthless band of Honchkrow. Nobody noticed her as she lay, near-dying, outside in the cold. Her only possession was a small pendant that had belonged to her father. It was scored with a bolt of electricity, striking a circle.
Then a Skarmory saw her and took pity. She carried her to her lair up on Metal Mountain, and cared for her. Several years later, Skarmory, too, was attacked and killed by Honchkrow. Sparx hadn't heard anything, but when she went to Skarmory's chamber and found her dead, she cried out in anger and sadness. As she made to leave the room, she noticed something on the floor. It was a pendant, identical to her own.
She had grown in that time, of course, and was capable of looking after herself. She evolved quickly, afraid that the Honchkrow might come for her next. Wherever she went, she always wore the two pendants around her neck.
A couple of decades later, she learned of the treasure in space and, by asking a few subtle questions, discovered the existence of the FTL plans. She cobbled up a ship in her excitement, which fell apart the moment she started the engines. Sparkle Mk2 fared little better, reaching an altitude of twenty metres before falling back to the ground. Sparkle Mk3, however, was a beauty. Sparx spent three months working on it, and forgot to eat for some of the days, but it was finally ready.
The test flight was perfect, so she entered her ship and launched it. She began to rise up. Sparx was going into space!
The only clue as to the treasure's location was "in the far reaches of the galaxy". Fat lot of use that was. She'd have to try each planet one at a time.
Then again, maybe a scan of the environment could yield something? Sparx called up a scan on the supercomputer she had stolen from the laborotory, and initiated the procedure. The tests revealed nothing out of the ordinary, besides her own ion trail. Sparx sighed and closed the software. Clearly, she was the first to depart on the quest, and she'd have to start from scratch. She picked a planet at random and set off towards it.

[Kaboom]

Of course, as could be expected, Sparx wasn't the only Hunter for long. A Sceptile, by the name of Shade, joined the hunt.

Shade had always been a lonely child. He was never cared for very well, but when he became independant he became strong very quickly and suddenly people started liking him. He was never boastful and was always striving to help others, but what he really loves is a challenge! He can be fairly selfish, and when on a treasure hunt he takes no quarter and keeps everything for himself.

After hearing all the hype about there being some "hidden treasure" in space, Shade quickly went about finding out some more in-depth technicalities of the hype. After finding out about some Faster Than Light drive that was being developed, he soon had a plot as to how to build an FTL spaceship.

After several months of building, a prototype of his ship was built. All tests went well, but the interfacing was lacking. Two months later the final thing was built. It was a slick, glorious sight to behold! The first few moments were the most tense, but after getting out of the atmosphere things calmed a bit. He quickly ran a systems diagnostic with some software stolen from the FTL Lab after it was leaked onto the 'net, all systems fine. "Now", he said, "I wonder, it seems as if someone's already been looking though this system, perhaps a short jump to the next using the FTL drive might not be a bad idea!"

And so, Shade, the second Hunter, began his journey.

[Kaboom]

Even then, there was more to come.

A Rapidash, Spyra by name, called together a band of mercenaries. They were seated around her mansion dining room table, waiting impatiently for her to arrive.
The doors opened and she entered. For all that Rapidash are beautiful Pokémon, this one had had too many years in "the business" to maintain that figure. Her eyes were almost hidden by her constant frown, and she was greedy.

She greeted the impatient mercenaries.
"Hello, nearly friends, and mostly enemies. You have doubtless been wondering why I have summoned you here. Before I reveal that to you, I would like to know if any of you has any form of technical knowledge of spaceships?"
A murmur ran through the Machoke on one side of the table, and a Manectric stood.
"Aye, I be knowing a thing or two of them things."
"Have you ever been into space?"
"Aye, a few weeks back, I went to a couple planet in this system. Purty thing, that ship. So much so, that when the fella who'd gone and lent it to me asked fer it back, I zapped 'im good!"
The mercenaries laughed. Spyra smiled.
"So you now have a ship at your disposal?"
"I got five, now. I been collecting a few... lost ones."
Another wave of laughter.
"Excellent. In that case, I have a mission for you."
"I be ready for anything the lady asks."
"Take three others at this table and myself to your ships. We shall then go to my associate's workshop where he will install FTL drives on them. Then we must go to distant systems to seek what I believe is a most unique and valuable treasure."

The mercenaries fell over each other, trying to get Manectric to pick them.
"Take me!"
"No, me!"
"You lot are noobs. I've flown a ship loads!"
"In your dreams, Pudgy-features."
"Who are you calling Pudgy-features, Gargoyle-face?"
"I do believe that was you."
Spyra called, "Settle down! Now!"

And there was calm. Instantly.
"Now, Manectric, your name, please?"
"Sir Voltsar Veripower Fullin Deed, miss Spyra."
"I take it that's a name you have given yourself?"
"Aye. My true name be just Voltsar."
"I see. Voltsar, make your choice. Everyone else, remain in your seats, unless you want a singed backside."

Half an hour later, Spyra, Voltsar, two Umbreon and a Lumineon were on their way to the workshop, and another two hours later, five more ships had left Uthiopia.