#1 - Lost In Your Mind

Please always check the latest chapter's author's notes for updates on writing schedule.

Hearing the subtle spool of the engines fade and a chime of the speakers, Lucas cracked his eyes open. The surroundings were still the same as thirteen hours ago. Dirty economy plane seats, a screen with earbuds playing The Greatest Showman, and his parents sleeping on both sides of him. His family was moving to Sinnoh, as per usual with his father's busy schedule. However, his parents would always tell him that he was never too far from home. But, the fact was that he didn't know where home was; life was all too much of a blur for him to pay attention to it. Truth be told, he never even really had a life; lab work took up most of his time. He'd never had the time to explore anything that was out of his parents' curriculum.

As he woke up, the flight attendant came on the speakers and spoke, pausing the best part of the movie he was watching. Right on the bartender scene. He always thought that Zach Saffron was terrible and the bartender should've been hired instead. His dad snorted awake and sat up, listening to the announcement that was being put out.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the flight attendant started, "We are about to land at Jubilife City South International. Please make sure your tray tables and window shades are up, your seats are in the upright position, and your seatbelt is securely fastened. We thank you for flying with Xatu Air flight 203 from Goldenrod to Jubilife, Johto's best airline."

As people clicked their seatbelts on, Lucas pulled out his Pokegear. The display read 12:33, local Johto time. Sinnoh must be at least six hours ahead. He smiled, knowing that when his father got his first Pokegear, it was big and bulky and could barely make calls. While the plane was making a roll left for approach, Lucas looked out the window at the view. Wide, open ocean complimented ships dotting the horizon. He could see a few islands here and there. He had to be optimistic. It could be a great experience if he made it so. He didn't know what would come after the touchdown into Jubilife. He just knew that he would have to deal with it.

After they landed, Lucas got up, ready to get off the plane. His dad, with a dirty lab coat on, started talking to him.

"Lucas, do you have our passports?"

"Yeah, Dad. Right here." He pulled out three passports, all with the Johto name and emblem on it.

His dad turned away as they were exiting the plane. Lucas turned around and looked at the plane behind him. The last remnant of his last home. Not that it was his home anyway. People always used to tell him that he was lost in his mind all the time. Thought was his home, where he got carried away and where he rested. There was nothing he couldn't do with his imagination.

Jubilife Global Terminal, 8:42 PM

"So Dad," Lucas started, "where are we going after this?"

"Well, we're taking the bus to Twinleaf Town. It's where my lab is. And I have a surprise for you there."

"Oh really," Lucas laughed, "or is it just a new pair of glasses, like last time."

The Professor rolled his eyes. "I promise it's worth something."

At that moment, his mom rushed out of the door of the airport, with a cart with two pieces of luggage on it. "Where are we going?"

"The bus terminal, right there." The professor pointed towards a sign with a bus on it.

"Well then what are we waiting for? I wanna get some good sleep!" Lucas said, jokefully.

They walked to the bus station together. Lucas noted the smell of the saltwater beach right next to the airport, and the scent of the lively city just down the road. The doors opened to the bus terminal, and they got a ticket to Twinleaf.

"You'll be on Bus 81, departing at 10:00 PM. It's just arriving from League Station." the bus lady chimed in.

"Thank you! By chance…" Lucas asked, "do you have any SIM Cards? My friends back in Johto are worried about me…"

"Yeah! We have some plans here to show you!" As the lady droned on to Lucas about cell phone plans, his dad and mom were sitting off near the platform.

"It's nice, huh, babe?" Emma, Lucas' mom, asked.

"Yeah. It's quite nice actually. Better than Johto," he replied.

"So," Emma sat up and looked in her husband's face. "What's that surprise you're giving Luke, huh? I hope it's not glasses like last time," she teased.

"Ha," he chuckled. "I promise I'm not, Ems. I said it was a surprise, right? I have to keep it a secret!"

"Come on, Rowan." She glared at the Professor, smiling at her with his white mustache tilting a little. She lightly punched him in his ribs, causing a glare from her husband too. They broke out in laughter, with Emma eventually resting on Rowan's shoulder.

"Just don't be too… rough with him, okay? He's my baby too." Emma said, sweetly.

"I won't," Rowan reassured.

As Lucas came back from the ticketing desk, phone in hand, he stopped and looked at his parents. "So, the bus is departing at 10:00 on Bus 81. And…" He pulled out three cards with SIM cards, "these go in your phones."

"Thanks, son." Rowan stood up and took the card, punching out the SIM card and putting it in his phone.

Lucas, having already put the card in his phone, plopped his bag down on a table and sat down on the quite comfy station chairs. He pulled out his phone and opened the Messages app. He started to text his best friend back home, Ethan.

Lucas: "Hey, I'm in Jubilife now. the bus station" 9:56 PM

Ethan: "Hey, dorkhead. Lyra and Silver have been dead worried about you! How's Sinnoh?" 9:57 PM

Lucas: "It's… decent. Jubilife has crazy skyscrapers. It's right next to the beach. But we're going to this shitty town up north... Twigleaf I think?" 9:57 PM

Ethan: "I'm pretty sure it was Twinleaf, I dunno."

Lucas: "How are y'all doing back home? How's your boyfriend?" 9:57 PM

He smiled making that last remark.

Ethan: "We're actually doing pretty good. Third date near the Goldenrod Lake. Amazing view." 9:58 PM

Lucas: "Ha! I wish y'all the best." 9:58 PM

Even though Lucas was straight- or at least always considered himself straight, he had to still appreciate that Ethan and Silver were a cute couple. A very cute one.

Ethan: "Did you hear about that new trainer? Brendan something? He just beat the Elite 4 in Hoenn!" 9:59 PM

Lucas: "Yeah! Tbh his team looks strong af" 9:59 PM

At that moment, the chime-bell rang and the loudspeaker announced the arrival of the Twinleaf bus. Lucas yawned, then begrudgingly joined his parents in boarding the bus, carrying a piece of luggage behind him.

A/N: That's a wrap! You may notice (or not) that I haven't been active for a long time. I probably will only have this fic updated, and even this is going to be on an irregular schedule because of SCHOOL and stuff.

This fic was beta'ed by Garioshi! Special thanks to him.

Please like, follow, and share!

-Arbirchy