Flying Off
To Places Unknown, Prologue

I'm beginning a story. Which is big. This will be my first venture into the Pokémon fandom, mainly brought on by an obsession with Gen V and a desire for continuation. I'm an enormous N/White fan, and that will be the eventual pairing. I'll do my best to keep all in character and running smoothly.

I would love it if you would review. :3

They're so happy, now.

Bianca is studying with Professor Juniper. She has been, for a while. Started as an assistant, sort of… helping out, nothing formal. Spending time with the professor, you end up learning things. Apparently, Bianca enjoyed it enough to stay. I'm happy for her, but she's gone quite a bit, off collecting things for Juniper, and sometimes still insisting on being her 'bodyguard'.

I miss Bianca.

Cheren is around even less frequently. He trains with Martial, at the Pokémon League, to the point of obsession. Drives Caitlin absolutely insane, I hear, charging between the Elite Four at strange hours of the evenings, nearly decimating her team with his Liepard. While Martial is his official sensei, he supposedly spends inordinate amounts of time with Shauntal, watching her write. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what he's doing. Experiencing, learning, shaping his mentality by their examples and shaping them at the same time.

I miss Cheren.

N is… somewhere. Off in a distant region, certainly. But all I know about his whereabouts is what I hear on the television, of questionable veracity. If he has his Pokémon with him, he's as close to happy as such a person can ever be.

I miss N. In a bizarre way, it's him I miss the most. Because he was… my foil. Besting him was the reason for my training, my Pokémon, for my life, it is beginning to seem.

Now, he's gone, Cheren is gone, Bianca is gone, and I am lying in my room watching 'The Waving Weaving Walk' on loop until the abilities blend together and I finally fall asleep.

So this is my life, without adversity. Why go after the League Champion, anyway? Alder is happy where he is. And that's Cheren's goal, not mine. Looker put away the Seven Sages, admittedly with my help, but… it's not as if that's a career option, is it? There are only seven of them, no more to find. No one needs my help any more.

My mom knocks again on the door, and I look up, jerked back into reality.

"-It sure would be nice if I had an ability like that-" says the television. I roll out of bed, clicking it off with the remote.

"Coming, mom," I call blearily, the blood rushing to my head and turning my vision a fuzzy green around the edges as my system struggles with the transition from reclining to walking. I stumble down the stairs, into the kitchen where my mother waits, her arms crossed impatiently.

"White," she says sharply. "Honey, this has gone on long enough. How long has it been since you let your Pokémon out? Saw a friend? Left the house?"

"I'm tired, mom," I sigh, throwing myself down on a cushion. "I've done a lot, okay?"

"I could accept that for the first week, White. It's been a long time since you found that last sage. Weeks. You need to go somewhere! Do something!"

"There's nothing to do!" I argue. "Unova's perfect! Everyone's happy! I've saved the region, okay? I'm going back to bed. Wawalk's on."

"You're not going back in there, White," mom snaps. "This is not like you. You are a social creature, and you will get out of the house."

I open my mouth to argue further, but she cuts me off. "Don't make me call Alder! You know very well he'll come!"

Grinding my teeth, I shut my mouth, glowering at my mom. She's right on one count, at least. Alder will come. He'll likely bring Cheren with him. They'll drag me out of my house by force if they have to, they'll call Zekrom out of his Pokéball, and…

I feel a pang of guilt at how I've neglected my Pokemon. I shoot another look at my mom, who returns the hard-eyed glare that I inherited from her, anyway. Then, I edge back towards the staircase.

Before she can protest, I hold my hands in the air.

"I'm just going to pack my bag, mom. Promise."

She purses her lips, but I can see that she is immensely relieved.

"You'll thank me, White. Really, you need this."

I nod curtly, dragging myself up the stairs, grabbing my bag, and jamming the various Pokémon paraphernalia I accumulated over the months obtaining gym badges, chasing N with increasing urgency. Last, I reach under my pillow, pulling out my chain of six Pokéballs.

My Samurott is still first, and I can feel her through the Pokéball. Zekrom's energy hums from the second. My Liligant is third, I recall, and my Simisear fourth. My Emolga, and then the Deino I caught on Victory Road. It's been a long time since I looked at them, but it was comforting just to have them there, sleeping beneath my head. I breathe deep, and then clip the chain to the pocket of my shorts.

The doorbell rings downstairs, and I gasp sharply. It would be just like my mom to call Alder before threatening to… it's him, definitely… I bite my lip, my hand tightening on my Samurott's Pokéball.

"White!" mom called from downstairs. "Your friend is here!"

I don't even bother to ask which one she's talking about. I toss my bag over my shoulder and race downstairs, stopping short at the grinning boy who stands beside my mom.

"Black!" I exclaim, launching forward to hug him in greeting. "It's been forever since Nimbasa, hasn't it? How are you?"

He hugs me back, and I look up to see that I now exactly meet his eyes. I've grown since we last saw each other, which my mom seems to note, smiling broadly at the two of us.

"I've been fine, White," he says, releasing me. "My life hasn't been near as exciting as yours, if I'm to believe half of what people are saying about you!"

It's wonderful to see Black again. We're kindred souls, in more ways than one, though he has an incredible kindness to him that I lack. This is a guy who would help you up if you had fallen while trying to trip him.

"Go on out, the two of you," my mom scolds, though she is smiling from ear to ear. "This house is enough of a wreck without a reunion scene."

"Oops, sorry," Black says ruefully. "Come on, White! My Archen evolved! You need to meet him!"

We exit quickly, me waving to my mom and grinning like an idiot. She's right about more than one thing. It feels great to be back with someone my age. I feel less… empty. Who needs crazy adventures when you're with a friend with the personality of a golden retriever?

Black is more than happy to do most of the talking. He immediately lets his Archeops out of his Pokéball, and the birdlike Pokémon is clearly infatuated with him.

"What about you, White?" he asks. "How's your Dewott? I remember you were having trouble with Elesa..?"

I laugh, sending my Samurott from her Pokéball.

"She's great! Evolved a little after Driftveil."

Samurott blinks in the late morning light, looking as though she's just woken up. I can't imagine I looked much different upon going outside.

"What's been the matter, White?" Black finally says, watching as I stroke Samurott's head. I look up sharply.

"Nothing," I reply, a shade too quickly.

"Look, Cheren called me on my Xtransceiver the other day. That's why I came. Have you been ignoring his calls? He and Bianca are worried about you, White."

I relent, heaving a long sigh.

"I've just been having some trouble since I found the sages, Black."

"Oh?"

"I've been all through Unova. Everywhere. To every single town, city, everything. I've met Kyurem, Reshiram, and even befriended Zekrom," I explain.

"Yeah?" he says, expectantly. "Is something wrong with Zekrom?"

"No, that's not it," I say, a bit exasperated by my inability to get my meaning across. "It's just… it's just…"

"Well, there's got to be something else out there," Black says matter-of-factly.

Samurott and I both look at him.

"What, you don't honestly believe that Unova's the only region out there, do you?"

"…I guess not," I say, shrugging.

"Well, how do you think that Plasma boy's pulled such a disappearing act? There've got to be loads of places outside of Unova… you just have to be looking for them."

"I've never really thought about that," I sigh. "I mean… leave Unova?"

Black nods happily.

"Yeah, exactly! That's another reason I was coming here. Sort of to say goodbye."

"What?" I ask sharply, stopping short. Samurott nudges my hand, demanding to know why I've stopped stroking her. "When are you leaving? Why?"

"Pretty much the same reasons you've been talking about," he says, trailing off. "You know, there are so many trainers here. Young ones, really good ones. Cheren's monopolizing the Elite Four, you know that, White, Bianca's got Juniper, and you… well, you've done well for yourself, haven't you? But it's like all the… special… things have already been done."

He stretches, looking more uncomfortable than I've ever seen him before.

"It's okay, Black," I say, trying to be reassuring but likely failing.

"That sound's really selfish, though. I mean, I've gotten to do more than most trainers get to… I know you, don't I? You're practically a legend! And we came really close to beating Ingo and Emmet. It's not your fault we lost, okay? Just… I kind of want to meet more people. Be a part of something else."

He is searching for something, but I'm not picking up on it.

"Dewott and Simisear were the first to faint, Black, which makes it my fault. But that's beside the point, okay? You've got the right idea. But I could never do something like that. It would be really lonely, not knowing anyone. What if they spoke a different language?"

"Could you do it with me, White?" he asks after a second, looking me in the eye. "We've got the same idea. And I think we both really need to get out of Unova. My parents already know that I'm going. They think I'm already gone."

He sees my surprised expression, and adds, "It's okay if you don't want to. I mean, I'll be fine."

I bite down hard on my lip. Doing this would be… pretty much the only answer to my bout of depression. But wasn't I practically in a vegetative state just this morning? Wasn't my mom yelling at me to get out and do something? This is… something. Something big. A chance to do something bigger. Lots of big things… I could meet more Pokémon, train Zekrom and Samurott even more, evolve Deino…

"I'll talk to my mom," I say indecisively, but Black grins as if I've just said 'yes'.

"Great, White! Thanks so much! This is going to be really great, I know it! We're really going to do it!"

Oh, Samurott, I think, looking into the dark, knowing eyes of my favorite Pokémon. What have I just gotten myself into?

Black doesn't speak as I recall Samurott into her Pokéball, but he lets Archeops stay perched on his shoulder. The colorful flying-type Pokémon affectionately bites his ear, and Black winces.

"What's up, White?" mom asks, looking up from sweeping the floor as we walk in.

"Mom, I've got something to ask you," I say painfully, my hands curling and uncurling into fists around a Pokéball that isn't there.

"Oh," she says, looking at the two of us. "Oh. White, is this about leaving?"

"How do you know about that?" I ask, surprised.

"I can read you like a book," she says, smiling softly. "Do it, White. Whatever it is. Adventure doesn't always seek you out. Sometimes you need to find it on your own. Black's a good friend. Where're the two of you going?"

Before I can say that I haven't an idea, Black cuts in.

"Sinnoh is the closest. We'd be flying there."

"You've done your research," mom says, impressed. "I haven't got a problem with it, as long as you've both got your Xtransceivers."

Black and I produce our devices, eliciting a nod from my mom.

"Good. Then you're free to go. Take care of your Pokémon, White. And both of you, take care of each other. If I need to assist you, I can fly over. Professor Juniper has my Unfezant, but he'll be more than able to carry me there if you need help."

"Do you want to come with us, mom?" I ask, though I can barely believe I am asking her.

She laughs lightly.

"I've had my fun, years ago. The two of you, enjoy the flight… call me as soon as you reach Sinnoh."

I hug her tight, struck by the realization that I am almost her height.

"You're sixteen, White, don't worry," she whispers. "You can handle yourself, now. I'll miss you, though, honey."

"I love you, mom," I say quietly, worrying at the fact that I am really, truly leaving her, once again. "You'll be okay without me?"

"Don't worry about me, White. Have fun with Black. He's a good friend."

She breaks away, ending our embrace. Her eyes are watery, and I suspect that mine are as well. Black looks on, smiling.

"Thank you for letting her come," he says to my mom. "It means a lot to me not to be going alone."

"I can imagine," mom says, patting him on the shoulder. "Take care, now, both of you. I love you, White."

I smile through my tears, walking towards the door, but turning back to see her face again. She is crying, as well. It will always be hard to leave home, even if it is expected of people my age. My mom is all I have, really. I can't take leaving her lightly.

"Go," she urges quietly. "At worst, you can come back."

I close the door quietly behind me, and Black's grin grows even wider.

"This is going to be amazing, White… are you ready to go?"

Putting my hand on the proper Pokéball, I call out Zekrom, holding my breath in anticipation. The enormous dragon-type Pokémon emerges in a crackle of static electricity, raising his head to the sky before looking down at me.

"Zekrom, use Fly!" I call, hopping onto his back as the leathery black wings spread and begin to take him up into the air.

"Go, Swanna!" Black calls from the earth beneath me. "Use Fly as well!"

He and his Pokémon spiral up to meet me and Zekrom in the sky.

"Let's go, then!" he cries, looking excited, his dark brown hair whipping in the breeze generated by Zekrom and Swanna's wings. "To Sinnoh, Swanna! Twinleaf Town!"

"Follow them, Zekrom!" I say loudly, barely audible in the wind that rushes through my ears. I barely have time to straighten my hat before we are off like a Bullet Seed attack, close behind Black and Swanna.

I can hear him cheering in delight ahead of me, and despite the melancholy of leaving home once again, I can barely restrain myself from doing the same.

And… I'm happy, too. It's been too long.