I knew I was dreaming, but it didn't really feel like a dream. It felt more like I was floating in a black void, perfectly awake. What's happening? Suddenly, a voice I didn't recognize emitted from nowhere.
"Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life. You have lived your last normal day, for your story starts now, and will continue forever. Your life will be filled with laughter and strife, friends and enemies, wins and losses, but more importantly, choices. Only you can decide which way you want to go."
I woke up in my bed, suddenly remembering everything. I was Willow Canoli, resident of Twinleaf town, thirteen years old, and very confused.
Who was that? What was he talking about? Was it really a dream?
I would have thought longer, but my mother was calling me for breakfast. I got dressed in my normal, pink and black dress and grabbed my bag. I'm a bit of a tomboy, so I wouldn't call my bag a purse. It serves the same purpose, but my bag isn't a fashion statement as well. I went downstairs, following the smells that were coming from there. My mother making breakfast: bacon and eggs, my favorite. She told me that Stan had come over earlier and was looking for me.
Stan had been my best friend ever since I moved here ten years ago. We had done everything together since then. He's probably the reason I'm so resourceful and quick thinking. He always acts before he thinks and ends up getting in a huge mound of trouble. Of course, I'm always there to bail him out in the end. For example, one time, he ended up floating on a log in the middle of the pond south of town for reasons I won't tell you. I had used a large tree branch to pull him back in to safety. And like that time we got lost in the woods. I looked for landmarks and individual trees to retrace my steps and found our way home. But every day wasn't exactly like this. Some days, Stan would take a trip up to Jubilife city for his karate lessons. His mom was an amateur pokémon trainer, so if they were ever attacked by wild pokémon on the way, she could fight them off. He would always tell me about what happened on the journey with such enthusiasm. But I have always longed to head out on my own. Since we had both been granted permission to leave town as long as we stayed away from tall grass, I could only wonder what type of trouble he was going to get me in now.
I ate my breakfast with haste, leaving the dirty dishes on the table for my mom to clean up. Then I headed out the door and went over to Stan's house. I was right outside his door when he came charging out, his blond hair flying every which way. He blurted out something about going to the lake, and then ran. He appeared to be in a great hurry. He was always in a rush when he was motivated. He had probably made up a new game based on his new favorite show, The Search for the Red Gyarados and eager to go. I wondered what we would be doing. He was probably going to end up in the middle of the lake on a log again. I met him at route 201, and then we set off for the lake.
When we arrived, there was a queerly familiar man and a boy about our age just leaving. The man had a stern look on his face, but the boy was looking all around, taking in his surroundings. He looked back over his shoulder at us. He had piercing blue eyes and dark hair, but it was mostly covered by his hat. They turned a corner and were gone, leaving us alone at the lake. That was when Stan noticed that there was something hidden in the tall grass by the shore.
"Come on, let's go see what it is!" Stan suggested. He also had a really short attention span. He couldn't focus on one thing for more than five minutes. He'd probably forgotten all about the red Gyarados. But, once again, he was putting us in danger. My mom had warned me about going into the tall grass. Pokémon could come up out of nowhere and attack you. He said that we would only be in there for a second, and that there wouldn't be enough time for a wild pokémon to attack. I didn't have a comeback, so I went along with him. Why am I friends with Stan? He never treats me very well. It's probably because he's the only other kid my age in Twinleaf town. Anyway, we headed into the grass. All that was there was an aged suitcase. Disappointed, we turned to head back. But suddenly, these Starly came charging out of nowhere in a rage! I was frightened, regretting going into the tall grass, but Stan looked bored.
"Aw, they're just stupid little birds, let's go," he said, ignoring the enraged birds around us. He started to leave, but then the Starly closest to him pecked him in the head. Hard. He cried out in pain, staggering backwards.
"I told you so," I sighed in a singsong voice. "Now what's your plan for getting us out of here?"
"We could swim," he suggested, rubbing his head where he had been pecked.
"Oh no, I am not ruining another pair of perfectly good clothes."
"Or, you could get mauled by a bird," he retorted. I desperately looked around for another way out of this situation. I pushed away a Starly that was beating its tiny wings on me. My eyes fell upon the suitcase that coaxed us out here.
"There!" I cried, pointing at the case. Stan looked over, fending off a Starly of his own. "Look in there for something!"
"But it isn't ours," he groaned, swatting at another Starly. "We can't just go through other people's stuff!"
"Would you–Ow! –Rather go swimming?" I challenged, getting pecked in the head.
"It is hot out…" Stan whimpered, looking longingly at the water lapping at the lakeshore as if tempting him to jump in.
"Open the case!" I nearly yelled. Stan jumped and quickly popped open the case and found three pokéballs within.
Good! That's just what we need!
I was happy to find pokéballs for a couple of reasons. One was because now, we didn't have to go swim in the lake, and two, I got to try battling pokémon! I didn't really care that these pokémon weren't ours, I just wanted to get away from the danger. The future, and what trouble this might get me in, didn't really matter to me. I grabbed at one and saw that the label read 'PIPLUP'. I released the latch and a little light blue pokémon emerged in a flash of light. It was small, flightless, birdlike, and had two button-like dots on its chest. Neither of us had any experience battling with pokémon, but we didn't really have a choice. We battled the Starly like there was no tomorrow. It was better than swimming away, probably followed by these enraged Starly. After a long battle, the Starly finally fainted. Stan ended his battle briefly after I did. He had chosen the pokéball that had 'TURTWIG' written on it. The pokémon within looked like a turtle with a leaf on its head.
"Well, that was…eventful," Stan said, kneeling down to scratch the Turtwig under the chin. The Piplup I chose turned around and looked at me, cocking his head to the side as if asking, "Who are you?" Just then, the boy that was with the man at the lake earlier came sprinting to where we were.
"The professor left his suitcase here, did you see it?" he asked, out of breath from running. When he saw that we had used the pokémon, he freaked out. He muttered something about the professor being really angry, grabbed the suitcase, and ran before we could return the pokémon we borrowed. We stood alone once again. I looked over to Stan, who shrugged and said we should head back home. I agreed, and off we went.
When I got home, I talked to my mom about what happened at the lake. She said that I should go and apologize to the professor for using his pokémon without permission. I made my way up to Sandgem town, but not after battling many Starly and Bidoof, the residents of the tall grass on route 201. The Piplup I had borrowed was having fun battling all of the pokémon. I felt like I had just made another friend. I really didn't want to give him back now, but he wasn't mine. I had to return him to the professor.
I made the most out of the short time I had with the little Piplup. When I arrived at Sandgem town, the boy was there, waiting. He introduced himself as Lucas, professor Rowan's assistant. He started to lead me inside, but Stan came rushing out.
"Oh, hey Willow! Hey Lucas! Professor Rowan is one crazy geezer. Gotta go, bye!" he blurted, running past us towards Twinleaf town. Lucas and I stood there for a second, bewildered by Stan's hurried behavior.
"No offence, but your friend is a bit of a spazz," said Lucas, breaking the silence.
"No kidding," I laughed. Anyhow, we went inside and Lucas took me to see the professor. I was nervous. I thought he would be angry for using his pokémon without permission, but he shocked me by letting me keep the little Piplup! He said that I had already developed a bond with it, and in my mind, I agreed with him. I named the Piplup Fabio, since he looked like he was wearing a little blue tuxedo. Then professor Rowan surprised me again by asking me to complete a pokédex for him! He wanted me to go across the entire Sinnoh region and seek out every pokémon that lived there. I was grinning when I exited the lab. Lucas suggested I go home and tell my family that I was leaving. I said farewell and headed back home.
When I got to my house and told my mother about leaving, she wasn't that choked up. She gave me a journal, some running shoes, and some other traveling supplies. She gave me a hug and wished me luck. When I turned to leave, Stan's mom walked in the door. She said that Stan had run in, blurted something about leaving, grabbed his bag and shot out the door. He was apparently thrilled about this new mission of ours. She had wanted to give him some supplies before he left, and she said that he was probably headed for Jubilife City.
"It looks like I'm going up to Jubilife city again," she sighed "That is, if I can keep up with him." Suddenly, I had a great idea.
"I'll take it for you!" I offered. "I was planning on going up there anyway."
"Would you really do that?"
"Sure! It's no problem!" I exclaimed, taking the package.
"Thank you Willow! That's really kind of you," she said.
I walked out the door at looked at the package I was supposed to deliver. It was wrapped in paper and tied with string.
So you left without me Stan? So much for being best friends forever.
I walked out of Twinleaf town for the last time in a long time. I looked back at the town I had been raised in, and then turned away towards the route. And so, my adventure began.