"Ten minutes… I swear…" I groaned from under my blue covers. "Ten… more…" Oh, the wondrous joys of sleep. Why couldn't Dad comprehend this?

Father walked into my messy room, I knew this because he was unbelievably large. You can hear his footsteps from across the street. "Uuuup and at 'em!" Dad bellowed. He had a deep voice to match his size. And he had very hairy arms.

I grunted. Too much light. And screaming. I cracked my eyes open, staring at the clock on my nightstand. It was noon. I yawned angrily. Only noon? I had to be at the lab at…

Whoops.

I bounded off the bed and shooed my dad out of my room. He was laughing. Ugh. I slammed my door and began to dress myself as fast as I could. How could they have the ceremony thing at one o'clock? I mean, come on. I'm not a morning person, not in the least bit. And I know one o'clock in the afternoon technically isn't morning, but my metabolism says it is. Everyone's says it is. And if it doesn't you have issues.

After tugging my last boot on, I glanced in the mirror. It's amazing how my hair can go straight as an arrow to jungle mess over night. I grabbed my comb and began to work through it. I apparently got my hair color from Mom, she had purple hair, like me. I got the bazillions of hairs from my dad though. I'm just happy I'm not as hairy as him. We don't talk about my mom much, so remind me to not bring it up again.

I would prefer not to talk about it.

But ranting aside, I guess I'm halfway decent by now. I put on my goggles and headed out my bedroom door.

Dad was watching Pokémon cooking tips on the TV when I walked in the kitchen. There was a plate of eggs waiting for me. And bacon. Tasty. Also waiting for me was my packed bag with two thermal containers on top of it.

"Newest recipe?" I said, taking my seat at the table and eating fast. My dad was a tremendous cook, he could make the best Pokéball cookies you've ever tasted, and people actually want to buy his Pokéfood. He's pretty fantastic.

"Yep. I hope your new Pokémon'll like it." He said in his gruffy voice. "You got one in mind yet?" He looked at me over his shoulder. Lovely mental image he'll have forever now too, my mouth so stuffed I can barely breathe.

I swallowed hard, then gasped for air. "Yeah, I wan—" Dad cut me off.

"Don't tell me! I want it to be a surprise!" He chuckled heartily, then returned to his cooking. I downed my OJ and glanced at the clock again. Twelve thirty. I still had time. I stuffed the thermal containers in my bag, under the few changes of clothes I had, and opened the door.

"Vic?" Dad said before I shut the door behind me. I glanced over my shoulder.

"Yeah?"

"I love you." He smiled, then returned to his cooking. You'd think that by now I'd be used to that gushy lovey goo from him. You'd think that. But I don't think it sunk in yet, even with the thirteen years that I've been with him.

"Likewise, Paps." I said, grinning as I slammed the door behind me.

Well, this was it. Spare me the 'Ooooh, here she goes on an epiphany rant.' I can think about whatever I damn well please, if you have a problem, then stop reading.

Anywhos, this was it. Great things happen when people get their first Pokémon. All those new 'Adventures' and meeting new people, and becoming the 'best'. False hopes, false dreams.

All I wanted was to get out of this terribly small town.

And with that, I ran to the lab. My next obstacle: Remembering the stupid Professor's name…