Pokémon: Maxwell's Journey

The alarm clock blared loudly in my ears. Great, I thought. Stupid thing. Wearily, I got up and turned it off. It's seven o'clock in the morning on the day of my tenth birthday.

Today was the day I got my first Pokémon.

As I remembered this, I got up and went straight to my dresser and picked out the days clothes. Where I live, it's warm all year with some rain showers. I got out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. It was dark black with the word DETERMINATION in small, red letters across where my chest would be.

I quickly put on my clothes, ate breakfast, and brushed my teeth. I then headed out the door.

I live in a very small town in the Unova region called Lumbar Town. It's just a mile west of Castelia City, but no one ever sees the dirt path leading to it (They call it Route Zero). Lumbar Town doesn't really have a purpose, except for providing shelter. There aren't any businesses or major stores there.

My bike was propped us on the house, where I had left it the day before. My friends Ludwig and Grace and I had went to Castelia City to sell some berries to the PokéMart. My mom grows Cheri Berries, Grace's mom grows Pecha Berries, and Ludwig's mom grows Oran Berries. Sometimes we would eat a few of them along the way while sharing with each other.

I put my left leg over the bike so I was standing over it. Before I could take off, I heard my name being called. I turned around to see my mom running around the side of the house.

"Maxwell," She started to say. I got off my bike and hugged her. She squeezed me tight. I don't know what it is about her, but since I'm an only child, she can't seem to put her finger on the fact that I'm growing up.

"I love you, baby." She finished. My mom likes to call me either Maxwell (never just Max) or baby. They both work fine with me. "I know you do, Mom. I'll promise to be safe, and I'll contact you every now and then on my journey. Are- Are you going to be okay here?" I asked. She nodded, but kept me in a tight squeeze. After a short pause, she sniffled once and held me out in front of her.

"You just worry about you, baby. Although you might want to add Grace and Ludwig in your priorities. Are you going to be alright?" She put all of her sweet love and affection into one warming smile when she was done talking. It made me feel cozy inside.

"I'll be fine, Mom." I said. Then I added, "Where's Dad?" Her smile faded. That's never good. "I know he said he would make it here, but on the way back from his trip, his airplane got caught in a bad blizzard. He somehow found reception and called me last night to tell me this." My mom answered quickly, as to avoid ruining the moment. "Oh," Is all I responded. It's not my dad's fault he isn't here. I can't blame him for trying.

"Well," My mom said. "I'll be here if you ever need me." She smiled again. "Good luck to you and your friends!" She then turned back around, went to the front side of the house and entered through the door. I smiled to myself and got back on my bike. I love my mom, and when she says she's alright, her brain tells her she's alright.

Grace, Ludwig and I made an agreement a couple of years ago when we were all eight years old. We said that we would all get our very first Pokémon at the same time. Since I am the youngest, they both had to wait a month or two before I was old enough to have a Pokémon License. All three of us just found out two weeks ago that my birthday was coincidentally on the same day as the famous Pokémon Beginner Trainer's Convention (PBTC). The PBTC happens only once a year, each time in a different place. Only sixteen people get into it, and for a special reason. The PBTC provides sixteen Pokémon, one to each trainer. Those Pokémon are the three starters from each of the five regions, Pikachu. Pikachu was included in it about four years ago when Ash Ketchum became the Pokémon Master.

This year, the PBTC happened to be in Castelia City. As I was riding on my bike, I took one last look at the town before I left it until… well… who knows when. When I was approaching the edge of the town, I could see that both Ludwig and Grace were already at the exiting path, Route Zero. Waiting for me on their bicycles.

"Hurry up," I could hear Ludwig complain. He's light-skinned with curly, light brown hair that barely comes down to the middle of his forehead. I rolled my eyes. Typical, impatient Luddy (Grace and I call him that as a nickname). Grace scowled at him and told him to shut up for once. She has long, black hair that she tied up in a ponytail. Her eyes are a brilliant shade of dark green. Ludwig laughed as if her words were just a big joke.

"Hi, guys!" I said as my bike came to a halt in front of them. "Hey," They replied simultaneously. "Got caught up with your parents?" Luddy asked. "Yeah." I answered. "My mom was a little worried."

"What about your dad?" Grace chimed in. her dad died in a car accident, and ever since then she has been concerned about everyone else's dads. "He, um, got stuck in a blizzard and couldn't make it back here today." I said. She gave me a look of pity and despair. "I hope he's okay." Grace muttered.

Ludwig looked as if he might spontaneously combust. "Alright, alright. We all feel bad for Max's dad. Can we go now?" he was on his bike again and ready to race to the city. I laughed. "Nice rhyming. And yeah, I don't want to be late for the PBTC!" I told him. Luddy's face relaxed as he sighed with relief. It then tensed back up again. "Last on there is a rotten trainer!" He shouted as he took off. Grace and I looked at each other and laughed. "We better get going," She said as she hopped on her bike and took off. That's what I love about those two; they are always energetic and looking for competition.

I started pedaling on my blue bike as fast as I could. After all, I don't want to be the rotten trainer.