Chapter One-Starting the Journey....Again!

Iqaluit, Canada

Sedna opened her eyes.

She was looking up at the night sky, from the comfort of her sleeping bag. The view was amazing out there, so far from the city. There must have been billions of stars out, at any single point in the sky.

"I'm glad you brought me out here, Tamara," she said. She looked over to her sister, lying in the sleeping bag next to hers. "I had forgotten what is was like to lay under the stars up here."

"You must have done that with that boyfriend of yours though, eh?" Tamara asked, knowing what the response would be.

"He's not my boyfriend!" Sedna said, a little annoyed that Tamara had brought it up again. She was referring to Jake of course, who was the young man that she had competed with in the Canadian League. They had journeyed across the entire nation together, parting ways just days ago.

Sedna had been invited to participate in the European League, which was a Pokemon League similar to the one in Canada, though with a few differences. For one, her Gym Battles would no longer be double, but single. Thus, she no longer needed a partner to travel with.

Furthermore, there would be more than eight badges to fight for-a lot more. As she had understood, most European countries had at least one Gym, though many had a few more than that. One of these Gyms was also the nation's headquarters. This would be the last Gym to challenge, after all others in the country have been defeated.

It was an exciting prospect, and it was sure to make Sedna's team stronger than ever before. Plus, she would get to travel the entirety of Europe, something she's always wanted to do.

She would be catching a plane to Montreal the next morning, and from there she would be on her way to Keflavík, Iceland. It was an intersting place to start, being an island far off the coast of Europe, but she was glad to be going there. She assumed it would be a snowy place like her hometown, so she didn't have to worry about that much. She'd get all of her information upon arrival, so she'd be better prepared.

"I guess I won't be seeing you for quite awhile now, Tamara," Sedna told her sister. "You think you can handle the Gym by yourself?"

"Of course, little sister," Tamara said with a laugh. "I did fine while you and your....friend, were off battling my peers."

"Yes, I suppose so," Sedna said. "And you should have enough challengers to keep you busy, eh?"

"Oh, yes," she responded. "Arnie has tried at least six times last week."

Sedna laughed hard at that one. Arnie was a boy she had grown up with. He had been trying to become a Pokemon Master ever since he got his first Pokemon, a Poliwag. But to this day, he has never been able to defeat the local Gym Leader.

Sedna looked back up to the night sky. She would be able to do the same thing wherever she was in Europe, but it would be different nonetheless.

"You have everything packed and ready to go?" Tamara asked. "You can't come back if you forget anything, you know."

"Oh, I know that," Sedna said to her. "And yes, I have it packed. A few changes of clothes, my maps, journal, and this here sleeping bag." In just another night she would be in the same one, but in a completely different country. She couldn't wait.

Tamara let out a yawn. "Well, I suppose we'd better get to sleep then. "We don't want you to miss your flight."

Sedna nodded, and closed her eyes. "No, we sure don't. But I don't feel tired quite yet."

"Of course you don't," Tamara said, yawning. She was obviously tired herself. "You're anxious."

Sedna nodded. She was looking forward to the new scenery, and the new experiences she'll have. Just a few more hours, and she would be on her way....

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"Houndoom!"

She smiled. It was her Houndoom, making sure that she had gotten up in time. She was wagging her tail, sniffing the air. She was back at home for just a few days like her trainer, and she too would be leaving.

Sedna decided to leave most of her Pokemon at the Gym with Tamara, except for Houndoom. She'd like to take them all with her, but she wanted to start off on a fresh journey once again. Houndoom had always been her partner, staying by her side before she had ever become a Pokemon trainer, so stay by her side she will.

Swampert, Mamoswine, Ursaring, Yanma, and Rapidash all had their goodbyes that morning before she left. Sedna knew that Tamara would treat them just fine. Mamoswine was the daughter of her sister's Piloswine, so she in particular would have a lot of catching up to do. Sedna was glad that the two would have some time together over the coming months. Though she could call them over if necessary, she didn't think she would be doing it much.

Sedna quickly got her things ready and headed for the door. She was wearing a pair of jeans and a light purple top. She wore a pair of old sneakers, as well as her travel-sized black backpack. She also wore an old necklace, crafted by her great-grandmother. It was made of silver metal, and ended with a fantastic image of the Legendary Pokemon Articuno. The same as the one sculpted on the top of the Gym.

It was a short walk from the gym over to the airport. It was a rather small place, as Iqaluit wasn't exactly a busy spot like Toronto, but it was big enough.

Tamara walked them up to the plane, and gave her sister a hug. "Send me a post card from Paris when you get there," she said with a smile.

"Of course I will," Sedna said. "Bye!"

And with that, Sedna and Houndoom stepped into the plane. She peered out the window at her sister, still standing on the ground. Soon she would be out of sight, as Sedna would be on her way.