A/N: This is my first fanfiction on here, so thanks for reading? XD Well anyway, hopefully chapters 2 and 3 will be out soon, and then the rest, so stay tuned for that? Make sure to review if you liked, or even you didn't like, so I can improve and make this better!
Truth and Ideals - Chapter 1 – Jealousy
Leaning back on a tree, I sighed and gazed out into the world beyond the town. It was early in the morning and the grass and leaves glittered with rainbow coloured dew drops, from where it had rained the night before. Large, puffy white clouds moved overhead in the otherwise clear skies, and listening closely I could hear the faraway cries of pokémon.
It was late September, the 21st to be exact, and the world around was starting to feel the effects of the summer gradually leaving and autumn settling in. The wind gently blew and I folded my arms from the cold, despite having a relatively thick knitted jumper on, and shivered in the morning chill. I knew Mum would be annoyed at me for coming out here in the morning, but I didn't care. I had just wanted to be out in the peaceful day, before anyone else woke up.
I turned to look back at our small house, which sat on the very outskirts of town, close to where it broke off into Route 1. Nuvema town was the smallest town in Unova, I'd read somewhere, but yet it still felt too large to me.
Sighing again, I began to walk back to the house. My mum and twin sister White would be up soon, and I didn't want them to worry about me, especially today. Because today was a special day, it was mine and White's 14th birthday.
I slowly pushed open the door to the house, not wanting to wake anyone, and took off my shoes. But it seemed I was too late, as White came bounding down the stairs when she heard me, still dressed in her pink spotted pyjamas.
"Black! Happy Birthday! I thought you weren't going to speak to us at all today!" White exclaimed, as she launched herself into a hug with me.
"What? No, why wouldn't I, White?" I asked, disentangling her arms from my neck and feeling confused.
"Oh, because I saw you outside earlier in the trees – don't worry, I won't tell mum," she added, after seeing my startled expression. She went on, awkwardly looking at the floor. "And well, you know... because today I'm getting a pokémon and... you're not."
I inwardly sighed. I know it wasn't her fault, but still... she had to bring that up, didn't she? Now don't get me wrong, I love White, and she's the best sister you could ever ask for, but despite all that I couldn't help but feel a bit of resentment.
If I was being honest, I could say that I felt that a lot about White, my caring older sister. Whenever I could do something well, she could do it brilliantly. She's charismatic and has lots of friends, whereas I'm pretty much a loner. I'm always second best to her, yet she is still so oblivious about it and so nice to me.
But, now there was this, she gets to go on an adventure across the whole region and I'm stuck here still. I do know they had their reasons for that, but that doesn't mean I had to like it.
But I ignored those feelings and just smiled at her, shrugging it off, which was probably the reaction she was hoping for. "No, it's fine, you should have fun."
With that White beamed back at me and bounced off to get dressed; Cheren and Bianca were coming over later. We were practically neighbours and they were Whites best friends, but I didn't really know them and kept my distance when they were over our house.
The rest of the day after that went fairly quickly. With Cheren and Bianca over, White and I opened our presents – I got a new blue jacket and some books about pokémon, and White mainly got supplies for when she left. It's relatively hard for our family to get by at times, and considering Mum's the only one with a job and we're twins, I wasn't expecting much for this birthday. Though seemed like Mum had gone all out this year, and not just for White, either.
But she wasn't the only one though. White had also bought presents for us, from her own savings. They were matching caps, of red and pink, each with a poké ball logo on the front. It seemed like they would have cost a fortune, and I immediately felt bad – I had only got her a card.
"It's so you won't miss me when I'm away – as long as we wear these, we'll always be together," White had explained, slightly embarrassed, and I felt my gratitude couldn't be put into words. White was always so good to me, when she didn't have to be, and yet I was horrible... Straight away I put the cap on, stuffing my wild hazel brown hair underneath, and White did the same.
With us all sitting in White's room, Mum went off to get what they had all been waiting for, the box that Professor Juniper had dropped off at our house earlier. "Ta-da! Well, I'll be downstairs now, so you kids have fun! Ah, Black, are you staying here then...?"
Before I could speak, White enthusiastically answered for me. "Yes, Black's staying here," she said, glancing over at me. I smiled to show my agreement, and she beamed back.
When Mum had left, Cheren strolled over from where he was sitting and picked up the card on top of the box. "It says there's three pokémon and that we should choose between ourselves... Well, since we're at White's house, she should choose first."
I looked over at White, who was now bright red with embarrassment as she walked to where the large box was in the table. Biting her lip, she turned to me. "Black, what do you think?"
"Huh, me? Well, it's your choice isn't it, so you should pick yourself," I mumbled back, as it was obvious she was just asking me because she felt bad about me being left out.
"Aww, please? I really can't choose..." she pleaded, although smiling, and I rolled my eyes and walked over. Playing along, I looked at the poké balls and each pokémon's description, thinking carefully as I didn't want to jeopardize White's chances on her adventure, despite my subtle jealously.
"Umm," I started, feeling awkward now all the attention was on me. "I think you should go with oshawott. It's well balanced, so would suit you well," I suggested, hoping that sounded somewhat intelligent.
White seemed happy with it, though, as she enthusiastically replied "Okay!" and picked up the middle Poké Ball.
"Oo, oo, me next!" Bianca blurted, rushing over and completely pushing me out of the way. Cheren caught my eye and gave me an apologetic look.
"I'll pick tepig, it's so adorable! Oh, and that means snivy is for you, Cheren!" she loudly exclaimed, leaving me wondering how on earth White and Cheren were friends with her.
Cheren scoffed and looked slightly abashed. "How come you get to choose my pokémon for me? Well, whatever, if you must know I wanted snivy anyway," he grumbled, taking the poké ball from Bianca, making White laugh.
"So, now we have our pokémon, let's have a battle!" Bianca cried, challenging White, who accepted and sent out oshawott. I took that as my cue to leave and snuck out the door, though they were probably too busy laughing and having fun to notice.
I made my way out the house, Mum not noticing, and went to where I was stood before. White and her friends were going to Professor Juniper's lab soon, and then they were heading off tonight... Strangely I didn't feel the need to see them off.
I climbed partway up the tree I was next to, and put in my headphones and listened to music, reflecting on the day. As I watched White and her friends leave a whole new wave of jealousy spilled over in me, and I couldn't help thinking: Why couldn't it have been me? Sure, I had my health to think about but that had been a lot better recently, and I just couldn't stand to think that I would be living in this town my whole life, where nothing exciting ever happened and everyone was a stranger to me.
And so, it was then that I made the decision that would change my life, I decided to leave, to run away. I can get to Accumula town easily enough, and then I can buy some poké balls and catch pokémon of my own, I thought, I knew I had a bit of money saved up, which would probably be enough.
Deep down, I knew that if I didn't leave tonight I never would. I would surely talk myself out of it somehow. But I just felt the need for action, for taking charge and control of my own life for once, and I also swore to myself that I wouldn't be second best to White this time.
However it was then, when I was about to go back to the house to get some things, that I saw it at the foot of the tree, the pokémon that would change my life forever.