Pokémon Topaz

by Porporino the III

So what if Eve doesn’t have her own television show? Doesn’t mean she won’t become famous…Follow sixteen year old Eve, the newest Pokémon trainer, as she braves the Sinnoh region after six years of waiting! More mature reading for more mature readers.

1. Ch 1 Start of Something New

Pokémon: Topaz

Chapter 1: Start of Something New

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Disclaimer: I don't own anything solely belonging to the franchise and very few things Poké-related at all, except perhaps the video games/playing cards which I purchased/found myself. There. Happy now?

Summary: So what if Eve doesn't have her own television show? Doesn't mean she won't become famous…hopefully...Follow sixteen year old Eve, the newest Pokémon trainer, as she braves the Sinnoh region after six years of waiting! A more mature Pokémon tale for more mature readers, basically.

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Pre-story Warning: I will be making a few minor alterations to how things are usually done concerning battles and other things, like Pokémon having more than four moves, the currency(money) used will be switched between being called dollars/pokedollars (cuz I'm not creative enough to come up with some original name for money right now), and how trainers can now (eventually) hold up to 12 pokémon at one time. I'll do my best to make the small changes work. Also, most of the chapters will be told in the third person, except for the first chapter and maybe a few others scattered about on special occasions.

ALSO!!! I will do my best to give an accurate, though brief, description of the Pokémon that are encountered throughout the story, but I WILL NOT do a detailed description for each one. I suggest that if you are unfamiliar with any of the Diamond and Pearl Pokémon (or from any game for that matter), or simply wish to have a strong image of it in your heads, that you open another internet window alongside this one, head strait for and type in that creatures name for a great image. Seriously, it's the best way.

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A tenth birthday is a happily anticipated milestone in many young people's lives. Because after that day their Pokémon journey begins, complete with a new Pokémon as partner….or at least, that's how it's supposed to be for most people! Oh no! But not me! I had to put my traveling on hold for six freakin' years before I got to start my journey…!...Oh.., um, whoops…heheh. Sorry about that…

Ahem, (clears throat), Yeah. Sorry. Got a little carried away there for a sec, I guess. Right. Um, so my name's Evelyn—Eve for short—and as of last week I'm now sixteen years old. I live in the Sinnoh region; an island just crazy about using wind and solar energy, that's smack-dabbed in the middle of our beautiful planet, with the region of Hoenn being the nearest continent to the North-West of us. My mom, dad, and I have lived just outside of Jubilife City, a rather enjoyable and fun but none-the-less serene city—not to mention the largest city in our entire region—since I was born.

Jubilife is probably best known for housing one of Sinnoh's oldest and most popular Radio Stations ( Personally I prefer Johto's programs a bit more), a Trainers school for upcoming trainers (I've been taking lessons there after some of my regular school classes end for about seven years now), and of course, the Pokétch Company—creators of the Pokétch. I was really hoping to get one for my Birthday. The pink Corsola sweater on my closet floor is proof that I didn't, and thus, I'm still stuck with my Pokégear and hand-me-down Pokénav from my cousin. Both of which are two and three years out-of-date respectively, thank you.

Moving right along! I'm assuming you've already guessed as to why I get so uppity on the whole "journeying" topic. Thing is, on my tenth birthday, my parents had turned down—more like flat-out denied—my request to begin my Pokémon journey, under the premise that I was far to young and immature to travel all around the continent at the age of ten. Keeping up with the fatality rates and life-threatening injuries children received whilst on these journeys printed in the Jubilife Gazette, I could see they were right, though that left me no less jealous of them having been allowed to travel.

But now that reason will no longer work. I'm six years older than I was then; six years wiser. So I know that sticking my hand near a wild Ekans's mouth is a relatively bad idea. Those kinds of spontaneous acts and immature antics were things I'd already grown out of some time ago in attempts to prove to my parents that I was old enough. I was far more responsible than I used to be…Or at least that's what I thought until I woke up late, a week later after my sixteenth birthday on the day my journey was to actually begin.

I woke up as my Jigglypuff alarm clock beside my bed was practically finished singing along to "We All Live In a Pokémon World" by some Seafoam Island pop-group. Raising my stomach off from my bed's blue comforter, I gave the Jigglypuff clock's hair curl a squeeze and ended its mechanical karaoke. Kneeling up on my bed and rubbing my eyes I looked down to find my extensive "Trainer Overview Notes," as I had labeled them, on the spot my stomach had been laying on. Staring at the digital '10:23 a.m.' in the Jigglypuff's eyes I felt a scream begin to rise in my throat, only barely managing to suppress it.

"I-I…I-I missed-d it… I-I m-missed it..?...I missed it," I stuttered in disbelief. I'd spent practically the entire night, and the two nights before that, going over my notes strenuously until, I swear, my eyes felt ready to fall onto the floor and bleed themselves to death on the mocha carpeting.

In retrospect that may have not been the best idea.

I'd told one of Professor Rowen's assistants that was friends with my mom from Sandgem Town, a town a couple of miles away, that I'd be coming the day before I left to choose my starter Pokémon. Even though I know that I was not the only one planning to do this, I was sure I would be able to beat the rush and wouldn't have to wait an extra month for the next shipment. Starter Pokémon these days flew like hot-cakes during the winter-to-spring months.

The whole "getting your starter Pokémon thing" was taken very seriously by Sandgem's resident Professor, Mr. Rowan. If you failed to arrive on time to pick your starter, well, then it's your loss. They simply hand it off to the kid that chooses it right then and there. …Or at least, all that's what I'd heard at the Trainer's school by the students,… and by the teachers,… and by the janitor.

"I'm so screwed…," I thought dejectedly. There was no way I was getting out of this. My parents had expected me to travel down yesterday with a "friend" who'd promised to drive me there to pick it up. First problem right there.

I don't have very many friends…Heheh, just kidding…I don't have any friends at all.

My mouth has a tendency to run away with itself a lot of the time, giving me quite the disagreeable reputation among both my main school's populous, and the ones at the Trainer school right across from it. But that didn't matter to me. Who needed friends. Once I began my journey the only friends I'd need would be my Pokémon. If people have a problem with my opinions (though quite a few of my 'opinions' happen to be facts), then they can go kiss a Stunky's ass.

Anyway. Friends or not. I was determined to make my way to Sandgem town yesterday afternoon, my body simply filled with anticipation over my upcoming travels and taking my first step towards them. My plans included biking over to the town at about 5 or 6 later that day after both my parents were out, choosing my starter from either Piplup, Chimchar, or Turtwig, obtaining the newest model of the Sinnoh region's Pokédex, making my way back home in a sneaky enough manner so that they wouldn't ask any questions, and begin training for the next day's travels.

Too bad I was so fatigued that, while I was keeping my self busy until my parents' hit the road by going over my notes again, I completely collapsed from sleep deprivation. Jumping up from my bed I rushed myself to the mirror on the other side of the room, feeling the need to laugh as I took in my present form. My long black hair, which I'd tied back into twin pigtails at the sides of my head, were now heavily matted down with sweat from the heated temperatures of the day before, as were my equally disheveled bangs. My light blue eyes were red and vein-filled with sleep, and it was a battle in itself just to keep them open. My white short-sleeved button shirt was completely wrinkled all around, as was my blue-plaid skirt for school beneath it.

"How am I gonna explain all this to mom and dad," I questioned myself before a devastating thought came to mind. "What if they don't let me go on my journey?!"

I could feel my breath begin to quicken as a list of possible excuses began to pop up in my head. "I could,..no. That won't work. How about…! Damn it, that's a stupid idea! AGHHH!" Needless to say I was beginning to get a headache. I decided that I should at the very least begin by changing clothes. Practically tearing off my uniform shirt and skirt I made a beeline for my closet, pulling the clothes I'd set aside alone to the right of everything else right off the hangers. Heading over to my dresser to the left of it and pulled out my comfiest pair of black under garments (though quite fashionable if I do say so myself) and sped through the shower door on the left of my bed and night stand.

Wrapping up the whole process of fully undressing, scrubbing, shampooing, rinsing, drying, and then re-clothing myself in a speedy 5 minutes, I took the multi-tasking of stuffing my extra notes, extra money, ID—and self/beauty-care products of course—into my new midnight blue backpack (specifically boughten for the traveling I still intended to do), while blow-drying my long, black—and right now annoying—locks.

Another 10 minutes and I as basically ready to rush downstairs, though after that I wasn't sure what I'd do. I gave my thin frame another once over in my mirror. My feet were covered by my trusty laced black boots reaching all the way to just below my knee. Above that I'd chosen a pair of black denim short-shorts (Yes, I know. Not the best color with this heat but hey! They look damn good on me) and a blue belt, various straps to hold Pokéballs all around it, with a golden colored buckle at the front. Only slightly tucked in to my shorts was my dark blue tube top that tied down the front with thin black laces. My hair was once again tied up in a pig tail-esque fashion, though more towards the left and right of the back of my head.

Though I know some would say how hypocritical for me to "not care" what others think of me or my opinions, yet still work so hard on out appearances, here's what I say: "Go. To. Hell. Kay? It's just my way, and I like it.

Without even realizing that most likely my parents (mostly my father) would forbid me from even standing in the front doorway, let alone going outside, so long as I was dressed the way I was, I stood back from the mirror, grabbed my backpack, grabbed my 'secret' bag which I slung over my right shoulder, and sprung down our circular stairway. Seeing the front door at the opposite side of the room, the thought of simply sprinting outside, grabbing my bike, and making like a Golbat outta hell came to me. But even I knew that that plan would just never work.

As I took a step off the stairs the smell of Cinnibar Island Volcano Burgers, my mom's specialty, hit my nostrils, and I turned my attention to our kitchen at my right. Standing in front of the sink washing dishes with her back to me was my mother, Malon. Her raven colored hair was freely flowing down to her shoulders and just above the midline of her back. It was no doubt that she was the one I'd received my hair color genes from. The rustling of paper made its way to my ears from my left, and as I turned the back of my father's head, with the rest of him hidden behind the cream sofa he sitting in, came into view. The Jubilife Gazette was opened up firmly in his hands, and his head continued to turn left then right as he sped through the articles.

It was quite surprising for me that the two of them were still home this late in the day, not to mention home at all. It was even more of an oddity that they were home at the same time. Why, you may ask? See, my parents both have some pretty time consuming jobs and, while they may supply us with quite a bit of cash, they tend to keep them out of the house, out late, and even on business trips quite often. My mother, Malon? Her family was the one behind the ingenious creation of the "Repel" Pokémon product—created before my mom was even born; a type of body spray, like sun screen spray for instance, that you coat over your arms and legs that can "repel" nearby wild Pokémon. Thus ensuring your travels remain peaceful for roughly an hour each time you apply it.

Thing is, she isn't the only member of her family able to inherit the CEO position, but like the other family members, who are real asses if you ask me, she still holds a relatively high and active position in the company. My dad, Renton, is a sub-head—meaning he is one position below being a head and works directly under one, for Sliph Co. in Saffron City. He's also the one who has to go off on business trips most often.

Though my dad is usually pretty strait forward about things sometimes, whenever my parents see each other after a while apart, I swear, they act even more teenaged and hormonal than the students at my high school. I'd find their kisses and snuggle sessions kinda cute, y'know, if it weren't for the fact that they're my parents!

Flipping to another page my father called out more in a matter-of-factly tone, "They're having a sale down at the Kotobuki Shopping Center. They even have coupons for it here too."

"Think you could cut 'em out for me sweetums," my mother pleaded as she finished drying the final dish in her hands and set it down in the plate wrack.

"Sure thing hon'," he responded.

I couldn't help but smile because, even though it may not look like it, even now, my parents were seriously enjoying each others presence. You could feel it in the air.

"My my my, Renton, look who decided she'd finally received enough beauty rest for the day," my mother chimed as my presence finally became known to her. Setting the paper down on the wooden coffee table in front of him, my father brushed his hazel bangs away from his face, turned his head to me and smiled. Usually I would have smiled right back, but something about the way he did it didn't sit right with me. Hands on the hips of her red to white polka dot dress, it was obvious my mother was giving me the once over, and even more obvious was how much she seemed to disapprove.

She said nothing however, and merely gave dad a nod leaning against the back of the couch, arms crossed. My father stood up from his place on the couch, moved towards the back of it, and stood right beside mom.

"So? …We're waiting," my father announced as he too crossed his arms.

"Waiting? Ugh…for what," I asked confused. Did they mean why I was late to wake up? Were they waiting for an excuse?

"Well dear," my mother interjected, "When your father and I both got home yesterday, we were both just so very curious as to what starter Pokémon you'd chosen. Frankly my bet was on Piplup, while your father was so sure you'd choose Turtwig. We were just so eager to find out who was right, and we wanted to ask you right then and there."

"But we found you completely knocked out on your bed in your room, laying on top of your notes," added my father, "and we just didn't want to disturb you. So we thought we'd wait until today to find out…you wouldn't mind showing us before you," he turned almost slyly to my mother, "dashed on out of here, would you?"

I was completely at a loss for words. I couldn't tell them I'd slept in and forgotten to complete the most basic task of any Pokémon trainer, could I? I slowly slid past them, taking small steps strait for the door while attempting keep them focused on the logic of my words rather than the language of my actions. "Well, I'd like to, ya see, but, ugh," I was now directly in front of them, "…I'm already so late, and um…," I was now beginning to step ahead of the couch, "If I wanna make it to Oreburgh City before nightfall I'm gonna have ta…"

My mother, before I could even blink, rushed ahead and cut me off. "Now Evelyn dear,…you can't just leave your parent's hanging like that! That would be so cruel…"

"Your mother's right Evelyn, that just wouldn't be right," agreed my father who had silently walked up behind me. "Do show us Evelyn. Were just dying to know…"

With my mother and father now closing the gaps both ahead and behind me, and my elbow room becoming increasingly limited, I realized I had no choice but to cave in.

Backing out towards the kitchen counter to my right, I turned to face them, both hands above my head, and claimed defeat. "Fine! Fine,…you caught me. I fell asleep yesterday afternoon while you guys were out. Therefore I didn't get my Starter Pokémon like I was supposed to; like every trainer is supposed to. But that's only because I've been studying so much lately! I was completely drained!"

My parents, still listening, seemed enthralled in my story, and were completely caught off guard when I accusingly pointed at them. "In fact, this is all your fault! If I hadn't tried so hard to prove to you guys that I was ready by studying so freakin' hard I wouldn't have lost so much sleep over it!"

My parents both looked mildly surprised that I'd even raised my voice to them; usually I never had much need to, and doing so would only be seen as immaturity in their eyes. Something I didn't need them thinking of me whilst trying to prove I could act like a responsible adult. I tucked my hands behind my back and continued before my father even had a chance to respond.

"No. Wait…that's not right. It was my responsibility to wake up on time; to get my butt down to Sandgem Town and choose my Starter on my own. It was my own fault for studying so hard and staying up late…I just wanted this so badly..." I slowly dropped my bags down in exasperation.

My parents again looked mildly surprised, giving each other brief looks and understanding smirks. Then out of nowhere, making the shape of an "L" on their foreheads, they sang out, "DUH!"

"…Huh," was all I could say.

My mother took a few steps forward with both hands on her hips. "Ya see hon'. We already knew you forgot. My friend who works for Professor Rowan called us as soon as we got home, and told me you never came down to get your Partner. Honestly though, we actually expected something like this was gonna happen. We already knew you were studying your gosh darn brains out just ta please us, so we planned ahead."

"You did…?"

My father then took his own steps forward and said, "Yes. We did. Evelyn, were very proud of the progress you've made these past few years. Your grades have gone up, you've kept up with your studies in your Trainer's classes, you've gotten hardly any bad remarks from any of your teachers…You've worked very hard to prove to us that you were ready to travel on your own."

Mom continued as she linked arms with dad. "Ya see, your father and I actually feel pretty bad about it all. We feel that, by instilling this drive within you to continuously prove yourself to us,…to try and make yourself more responsible and mature…that we've made you grow up way to fast these past years. We hardly ever saw you have any fun! All we saw you do was study, study, eat, and study!"

I had to admit, she was right. I tried, tried damn hard, day in and day out to act more mature. No more squealing in front of the T.V. whenever Lance the Dragon Master came on screen, or…late night cartoon/candy binges on the weekends. Day-to-day life seemed to have heavily lost its luster since then.

My reverie was sharply shattered as soon as my mother's comment again peaked my curiosity. "Wait. What did you mean earlier when you said you'd "planned" for this?"

My mother stifled a giggle as my father reached into his left pocket, pulling something I couldn't see from it out. Walking up to me he reached for my right hand, covered my palm with his and placed a small cold something right into it. Looking down I was shocked to find a Pokéball in it, though definitely not any type I'd seen before. Pressing on the button of its face, the Pokéball immediately enlarged to its full size.

The top half of it was mostly black, much like an Ultra Ball in that aspect, but without the yellow or black patch stripes covering its sides. Rather, it had two simple blue crescents encircling the left and right top half ending with a few hole shaped indentions in the center. The bottom white half had the letters "S.C.," imprinted into its base. Before I could ask my father spoke up.

"That's a prototype of one of Sliph Co.'s newest products. It doesn't exactly have a name yet though."

"So it isn't just a regular Pokéball then," I asked.

"It shares the same basic functions of the average Pokéball, but like added effects of the Heavy Ball and Timer Ball, it has its own special trait. This type of Pokéball allows the owner to bring out the Pokémon inside simply by calling out that Pokémon's name. Vocal commands trigger all Pokéballs, but in sync with a physical command. No physical contact with this Ball is even needed, though still possible. Mostly for situations in which you can't reach your Pokémon, yet you need them."

"Like when your being mugged, or something," I inquired.

"Yes. Definitely 'like when your being mugged,' or something…Made to protect you if your attacker has left you Pokémon-less. It was brought up by another one of the sub-heads during a meeting we had a few months ago. "

"Really!? I didn't know that," sounded my mother as this was obviously news to her. "You just told me that you'd caught a Pokémon for her. You didn't tell me you were using a special Ball for it too." That tidbit of information is what really caught my attention.

"You mean you caught a Pokémon for me," I shouted. Staring at the Ball with a renewed interest I could hardly wait to see the Pokémon it held inside.

"That's right," my father said while sending a disapproving side glance towards mom, "Remember when I had to travel down to Kanto for one Sliph Co.'s board meetings?"

Both mom and I answered with a brief, "A-huh," as we gawked at the mechanism in our hands, myself imagining what type of Pokémon could be inside. A Cyndaquil? A Poliwag? Or maybe an Azurill. A Cubone perhaps?

"Well," continued my father, unfazed by our dull and unenthused reply, "While I was staying at one of the hotel suites the company had supplied me with, I thought I'd be a bit productive rather then just relax and enjoy myself during the breaks I received from the meetings. I took a trip into Celadon City a couple of miles away on that new Subway they had installed and looked around on the outskirts of one of Celadon's entrances. Using that Ball I managed to capture a particular Pokémon I thought could be of use to you."

My mother took a step back and smiled at my father, then chuckled. "Tell her which one you caught dear."

I looked up at my dad, Pokéball fully in my grasp. "Which one did you catch?"

"I'll tell you,…and show you," he responded. "Houndour! It's time!"

I jumped a little as the Ball abruptly opened itself, the bottom half of which I wasn't holding swung open downward on its inner hinge, and a white light shot out from the Ball's confines landing right onto the floor. The light quickly faded, giving rise to the new color's of the Houndour's rather shiny black coat, and red muzzle and underbelly. As it stood next to me staring up at my father, I noticed that size wise it wasn't a very tall creature. Its head just barely reached up to my waistline; not to say that I'm remarkably tall in comparison though, since I'm only 5ft. 6in. in height.

My father then kneeled down in front of Houndour and began to scratch its ears. Gently pushing its head upward to me dad began to speak to it. "Now listen Houndour." It's ears perked up and its body stiffened. "This young woman right here is my daughter, Evelyn. I caught you so that you could protect her while she's going on her journey. You are now her Pokémon. Understand?"

The Houndour took a few steps toward me, taking in my scent as it sniffed at my boots and legs. I must've passed the test as it quickly returned to my father, its feet strait and in line, looked up at him and nodded.

"Woof," it cried out. Despite its size, its cry proved that Houndour could definitely leave a commanding impression.

"Good boy," my mother cooed as she too scratched behind its ears.

"Evelyn," my father called at which I perked up. He rose from his kneeled spot on the carpet, gently took the Pokéball from my hand, and opened it once more. Taking one of his small tools from his left pocket, the one I always mistook as a simple needle, and began to tinker with the upper and lower insides of the Ball.

"Dad? Whatcha doin?"

"Just resetting the Vocal Memory Analyzer," he answered, and, as usual, continued on before I could ask. "It's part of the feature that releases the Pokémon from the Ball without having to do it manually. I have to reset it and record your voice, otherwise it won't work when you call it out."

Giving the Ball one last jab, he turned it and the needle-thing to me. "See that little glowing red square in the upper corner," he directed with his finger.

"Yeah, the one that's beeping right? Yeah, I see it," I responded.

"Okay, just press the prick into it, and then say something. This way the Pokéball will remember your voice."

"Say what? Anything? My name, or a,…sentence," I questioned.

"A simply sentence should suffice. About ten seconds or so."

"Alright," I said, as a simple sentence suddenly came to me. I picked at the little red square, turning it blue, and calmly spoke. "Hello world. My name's Evelyn Roseberry Braig, and I say: "If knowledge is power, and power corrupts, then school is the root of all evil."

A small 'beep' sang out from the Ball before the light inside of it once again turned red, though ceased to blink.

"Now that my daughter," piped my mother still sitting with Houndour in her lap, "…was deep." I gave a bow.

"Alright now my beloved daughter. I believe it's time," said dad.

"For what," I asked.

"Time to shove off and give your father and I some peace," sassed my mother jokingly as she raised a fist into the air. Houndour, still resting in her lap tiredly rolled his eyes.

"Such loving parents I have…," I said with a sigh. "So…should I return Houndour to its Pokéball now?"

"That's your decision Evelyn," said my dad almost off-handedly, "He's your Pokémon now, and you his trainer."

"Point well-taken," I agreed. Turning to Houndour as he rose up from my mother's lap to look at me, I pointed the Ball's face in his direction and squeezed it.

"Houndour…return." As soon as those words were uttered, a thin blast of red shot from the button face of the Pokéball, striking Houndour, and in a sense, absorbing him back into his convenient transport. As soon as the entirety of the red light was gone, I could feel it. A sense that I would be doing this for a long time to come. And I loved it.

My satisfaction must've been pretty noticeable, since my mother came up in front of me and chuckled, "Trust me. Your going to like calling 'em out onto the battle field much more." And I knew she was right.

Pressing the button on the front of it again, the Ball returned to its miniscule size, and I stuffed it into my right pocket for safe keeping. "Soooo, …if I may ask. Where did the idea for this come from?"

My mom was the one who answered my question as she began to sheepishly poke at my father's right shoulder.

"Well, heheheh, You see…You recall those stories I told you, about when I was younger, I trained to be one of the best Pokémon Coordinator's out there right?"

"Yeah. You placed third in the Hoenn Grand Festival your first year on that journey."

"Right!..Ahh, such fond memories…," she sighed dramatically, "Anywho, so yes. Like I told you. My parents weren't entirely keen on the whole idea, and it took about—maybe a month?—of pleading in advance for them to even consider the idea."

"Gee. Doesn't that sound familier...," I joked.

"Haha," remarked my father as he pushed his thin rimmed glasses farther up his nose.

"The only reason my father even agreed to let me was because I promised to bring our guard dog Growlithe, or as we called him, Growly, with me. A basic line of protection for their only daughter against bad people like muggers, rapists',…

"…boys…," mumbled my father.

I could practically feel the warmth of the proverbial light bulb blinking on above my head. "So that's what this is about. You just don't want any boys coming near me on my trip. That's the reason you caught Houndour in the first place," I grumbled as I crossed my arms.

"Now now dear," my mom uttered nervously, "before you go pointing fingers, just remember…we love you……..and this was your father's idea…"

"Excuse me! You're the one who brought it up when we went out to eat at Cherrim Gardens the night before my trip," accused my father towards my mother.

"Let me guess…," I interjected, "You taught it to attack any boy who comes near—or onto—me?"

"Sadly no," answered dad in a much more subdued tone, "unlike Growly, Houndour wasn't given any special training such as that. What with the time restraints of my job and everything at the time."

"Unlike Growly," I probed.

"Oh right," giggled mom, "my first date with your father. My dad did everything humanly possible to get your father away from me. The date ended as soon as Growly tried to bite your father in the…er…y'know…down there."

"You mean the crotch," I offered, internally sighing at my mother's inability to word a simple sexual organ or the area surrounding it. I'm sixteen after all. I have an anatomy class…

"Sick balls…, Malon,…I could understand Sick 'em, but, really now. I'll never understand how your father engraved that into its commands…," my father said grudgingly. My mother could again only giggle.

"I can't believe you two. Dad's had me take self defense classes since I was about 6 years old. 2 years of Muay Thai? 3 years of Jiu Jitsu? A couple of months worth of gymnastics? Gosh….." My parents had to be some of the most paranoid people on planet Earth.

"And obviously Grandpa Niles and Growly didn't succeed. Seeing as how I stand before you now." I took pleasure in seeing my mother's face heat up and my father attempt to hide his almost choking, behind a not so subtle cough. "Now that our stroll down Reminiscent Avenue is through, I think it would be a good idea if I head out now. I should be able to head down to Sandgem Town, pick up my Pokédex, and make it into Jubilife City before Dinner time."

"Oh right. You still gotta snag yourself a Pokédex," my mother realized.

"Your going to head into the city? You could just head home afterwards and start off your travels fresh tomorrow y'know," my father pointed out.

"Ugh, yeah….I could, I guess…but, well…"

"It's all right sweetie. You go ahead and grab what you need from Professor Rowan. We'll still see you on your way back, so you can make up your mind then, kay?"

To say I was flabbergasted would've been the eloquent understatement of the year. My parents, mostly my mother, were usually all for keeping their "little girl" safe and close by.

"Malon, are you-"

" Renton," my mother said sternly as she pulled him in front of her, "Our daughter's been dead-set on this for how many years?"

"But, hon-"

Another hard stare stopped him again mid-sentence.

I picked up my things and turned for the door, all the while laughing on the inside.

"Not so fast."

I could feel my mother tugging gently on the yellow duffle bag on my right.

"What's this," she questioned.

"Just a bag," I answered.

"Just a bag, huh," joined my father, "You should know by now that you're a terrible liar."

"We've seen you carry around that particular bag quite often these past few weeks, yet, I nor your father can recall buying if for you."

"Your mother's got you there."

"Why do I have to have such suspicious parents…" I sighed. "Fine, fine." Slowly opening the yellow bag, I pulled out a cylindrical glass case, a large egg, dark green on the top with a wave-like black bottom, fit snugly inside.

"…Look Malon, it's an egg. I wonder where she could've gotten that…," my father murmured darkly.

"No….Evelyn, don't tell me…," my mother pleaded.

"Yeah," I shrugged, "before we left the reunion at Gram and Gramps's farm last month,…Grams pulled me aside and gave me this egg."

"Ooooooh! I told you not to tell me! Darn that mother of mine…"

"Wait! Look! Before you get mad, Grandma already filled me in on all the basics. I just have to wait for it to start moving, shaking, then glowing, then use the Pokéball at the top of the case to catch it." I could tell by my parents intermingling sighs that they wouldn't be putting up much of a fight over this, and sighed myself.

My dad's glasses were lightly pushed upwards as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine. Alright. Just….take this… Before we hear something else that makes us change our minds."

In his left palm, coated in a sleek black metal covering, was the recently up-graded and heavily manufactured gift of my dreams.

"A Pokétch!? OH MY GAWWD! THIS IS AWESOME!!!"

"Consider it a going-away present," said dad as he recovered from my sudden outburst.

"There now. You have all the technology you could possible need," stated my mother.

"And your mother and I even took the liberty of adding some special features along with a few average ones already set in."

Charging right for them I pulled them into a back-breaking embrace, and stopped only when my parents began to cry out for oxygen. "I'll see you guys soon alright?" Quickly pecking my parents on the cheek—and tip-toeing to reach my father's—I headed for the door. Holding the door open so my parents could escort me outside, I took a look at the surroundings of our home.

It was an odd place really. Here we were embraced by the fruits of nature—trees, flora, the wide open sky—and yet, not even 7 minutes away was the biggest city in the continent; filled with buildings taller than some mountains, bakeries, stores, restuarants, and even a few malls! Funny how things work out sometimes.

Grabbing my bike I took a few careful steps off the porch, and hung the bag with my egg inside on the right handlebar. I took another look at my parents, still standing on the cherry-wood porch to the right of me, big grins glued to their faces.

"We love you dear," my mother sang.

"Be safe," ordered my father.

"Don't worry. I'll be fine."

I slowly began to peddle down the street away from our house on the right of the beaten dirt path. As I started picking up speed, their conjoined farewell reached my ears.

"We love you!"

Sure. They may seem a little sappy to you. And they are a lot of the tim, believe me…..But I love them for it.

I took another look back and waved. "Love you too! I'll see you guys soon!"

XxXxX

Watching their daughter biking off towards the beginning of her future journey, Renton and Malon Braig continued to smile, waving off into the distance until their child could no longer be seen behind the dense forest and hills she'd ventured towards.

" Renton dear?"

"Yes honey," Renton responded.

Hitting him upside the head she cried out, "How could you let our daughter leave the house dressed like that!?"

XxXxX

Sorry about the ending if it seemed a little rushed. I've been playing and tweaking with this story's first chapter so much. I pray it turns out okay. I'll be setting up the next chapter and uploading it as soon as I can, along with my other story hopefully. If you liked it (or found any mistakes that really stand out) then please…please…leave a revew?