Like clockwork, five-thirty came, and her mother went to work. Waiting a breathless ten minutes in her dark room, Heather deemed it safe to get started. Today, the teen would start her Pokémon adventure, like most people did, albeit younger.
Heather peered out her window and looked around to make sure her mother was gone, the streetlights illuminating the dark streets. As early as it was, Heather wasn't tired, far too excited to go back to sleep. Besides, she needed to pack!
Closing her blinds just incase, the girl turned on her bedroom light and dug around under her bed, pulling out an already half packed bag. The tan messenger bag, sporting an eevee playing with a ball on the front, held most of the things she needed, minus things her mother would notice missing.
She sighed as she went through the house gathering up things like her toothbrush and bottles of water, feeling guilty about having to do everything behind her mothers back.
Heather's mother was over protective to say the least. Many times Professor Juniper had come over for tea and tried to convince her to allow her daughter to travel Unova over the years, but every time Luna disagreed, saying it was too dangerous. Now, Heather was eighteen, and could do what she wanted.
Every day Heather helped at the lab, from filing papers to caring for Pokémon, and she spent most of her time there. Eventually, a month after she had turned eighteen, Juniper had asked her what she wanted to do in life. An automatic response of having a journey and beating the gyms was what made the Professor give a few calls, and tell Heather to prepare to go.
That was one week ago, and now, she was going.
She turned off her light and grabbed her bag, trotting down the stairs to the living room. She held her breath and listened for any form of movement, scared that her mother might somehow know her plan, and make her stay home. She went into the kitchen and grabbed some more bottles of water, writing a quick note to her mother.
Dear mom,
I love you so much, but you can't control my life any longer. I'm sorry about going behind your back like this, but I know it's the only way you would let me go. Don't get mad at Juniper either.
I'll keep in contact, but I'm going to be busy training, beating gyms, and catching new Pokémon. I'll make a name for myself.
Love, Heather.
She used a magnet to put it on the fridge for her mother to see after making a few lines of colour to make it stand out, going to the door and slipping on her shoes. A long breath and a double check later, the girl was off on her way to the lab, locking the door and jumping the gate of her house, walking away without looking back.
From Heather's house, the lab was only down a path about five minutes away, past a few houses on the outskirts of the small town of Nuvema, giving the Professor as much room as she needed for Pokémon pens, research, and the like. This also gave Heather five more minutes to feel guilty, and be excited.
Finally the teen reached the door to the lab, her stomach turning from so many emotions and excitement. Heather took a few moments to breathe and relax, hand moving to knock at the door. Just as her knuckles were about to touch it, the door swung open and she was bumped into, falling onto her bum in surprise.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" A young man cried, stretching out a hand to help her up. Heather took in the shaggy brown hair, and green eyes, instantly recognizing the boy, a childhood friend.
"Neil!" She chirped as she took his hand and stood, dusting off her bum and legs, smiling to him happily. Neil and her had been friends for a long time now. He'd moved to Nuvema six or seven years back, and the two had met thanks to Juniper. Neil didn't go on a journey like the rest, and stayed in the town to finish school, and work a part time job. Now seeing him with a blue otter Pokémon on his shoulder, left Heather confused.
"I'm so sorry Heather! I was just super excited to go, I didn't see you fast enough... Are you okay?" His green eyes flashed with concern and he moved a hand to the back of his neck, embarrassed by knocking her down.
"Yeah, don't worry about it, I'd be just as excited. Whose this little guy?" She waved to the blue otter like creature on his shoulder, the little Pokémon waving back excitedly with a paw.
"This is the Pokémon I got from Juniper, I'm starting my adventure today, since I graduated a few days ago. His name is Otty, he's an Oshawott. What about you, you're here super early... It's only what, six-thirty?" Neil questioned her curiously, almost surprised that he was even up and functioning at this time of day, never mind her. The otter waved more and held onto Neil's shoulder, looking content.
"Professor Juniper is setting me up with a Pokémon since we don't have to be approved by my mother anymore." She explained, looking past him eagerly to the door, which had closed on its own after Neil ran out of it. "That's a really cute name, hello Otty!" She waved back again, smiling. Seeing her gaze Neil stepped aside, motioning for her to enter.
"Hey, I'll wait for you and we can go together if you want to. I just have to get my X-Transceiver from home before we leave."
Heather smiled and nodded, slipping past him to open the door. She peeked her head in to make sure nothing would escape, opening it fully and walking in with Neil behind her. At a desk across the room sat an orange-brown haired woman whose aqua blue eyes shot up as a bell on the door rang while the two entered, a smile crossing her lips as she stood.
"Neil, back already? And you've brought Heather! Good, good. We need to give you your Pokémon. Come over here, both of you. I'm glad you're back, because I forgot to give you something." The Professor rambled on, grabbing a handful of items, and a smaller black box.
She handed Heather a set of five Pokéballs, a light blue Pokédex, and the box, while she gave Neil a set of Pokéballs. Both trainers put their collective items away before Heather opened the box, two round red and white baubles greeting her in a soft velvety lining.
She placed the box on the desk and removed a ball from the lining, a silver tag under it labeling it 'Snivy.' Excitement coursed through her as she enlarged the ball and took a breath, tossing it lightly in front of her.
From within came a bright red beam of light which took the form of a sort of snake, the Pokéball returning to her hand directly afterwards. The Pokémon that was released from the ball stood about two feet tall, a long body and tail, with short arms and legs. Most of the creature was green, with a pale strip from its nose tip down its belly.
Large brown eyes were highlighted with yellow around them down to its neck where two grass-blade like yellow appendages rested. The creatures tail flared out into a sort of three pointed leaf, a snooty look on its face as it examined the girl in front of it.
"Eeeeee!" Heather squealed at the Pokémon, instantly dropping to her knees and scooping it into her arms for a hug. The Grass-type simply endured the embrace, a little surprised at her actions. Heather however just hugged him more, looking to the chuckling professor.
"Can I have him?"
Both Neil and the woman laughed for a few moments before the professor nodded and Heather let go, smiling to the Pokémon. "Are you going to name him?" The woman asked as she typed something into her computer, presumably registering the Pokémon to Heather.
"Hm... Yeah, I'm going to. What to call you though?" She mumbled to herself, looking over the Snivy. She sat straight up and gasped, a name popping into her head.
"Lark! Do you like that name?" Heather asked, looking to the Pokémon curiously. She was relieved as the Grass-type nodded and gave a snake like smile, Heather pulling him into her arms again.
Half an hour later, Heather had the basics of the Pokédex drilled into her head and Neil was sick of having it happen a second time, both the teens and their Pokémon ready to make a break for it. With promises of keeping in touch, they escaped, sighing as soon as the door shut behind them.
"She doesn't know when to stop... Lets head to my place and go before she hunts us down to test our Pokédex knowledge..." Neil mentioned before walking down the path, going toward his house.
With everything they needed safely packed away, and their Pokémon wandering at their sides, Heather and Neil made their way out of Nuvema, taking their first steps on Route One as new Trainers.
