...

Mama they try and break me...

The window burns to light the way back home

The light that warms no matter where they go

They're off to find the hero of the day

But what if they should fall by someone's wicked way?

7:54 P.M.

That's what Travis' clock read. Travis seemed to like reading late now. He had been researching heavily for the past two or three months on a journey not many could go on. He himself was lucky to be going on it.

Travis Darrell Mura, age 17, and at a height of 6-8, had so far had a sad life. He lived with his grandparents, Nova and James. His father left his mother when he was 11 and was killed in the Rock Tunnel outside Lavender Town after they found a pool of blood to be his after a DNA test. His mother had been dead two years. She died in an accident, and Travis was left with his grandparents. They were his only family now. He had no brother, sister, or aunt or uncle. His other grandparents had also died before he was born.

But in this sad life, Travis felt no sadness really. His grandparents took him in as if he was their own son. They fed him, he worked for them in the yard, or house, he even had his own room upstairs. It was a good life he guessed.

...Still the window burns, time so slowly turns

Someone there is sighing

Keepers of the flames, can't you hear your names

Can't you hear your babies crying?

Mama they try and break me...

Travis loved his music. It was one of the things that helped him contain his sadness. His music helped him settle down, contain anger, get him in the mood, since Travis loved Heavy Metal and Rock N' Roll. He listened to a lot of this, especially Metallica. He connected a lot with Metallica. How? He didn't always understand that himself. Metallica was not Christian, Travis was, but their subject matter was what Travis sometimes agreed with.

But that didn't matter at the present moment. Travis was reading. He had to study for this journey he would be doing in less than a week. He would be starting his pokémon journey soon. He had been studying how to do this type of journey, to pack, how to cook, set up shelter, and other things like that. But what he studied at the present moment was what he'd been looking forward to studying. What to choose as a pokémon partner.

There were so many choices! But he wanted to pick one that he believed he could learn from. He could benefit from any but they each had they weaknesses and other things Travis didn't know if he could handle. He read on.

"...from the time of birth. It is said that if this flame ever goes out, it's life would end. Charmander..."

"Travis, come downstairs!" his grandmother called, as he heard her climbing the stairs towards his room. He laughed. "I'll be down in five minutes." he said as she entered the room. "Travis, you said that twenty minutes ago. Your dinner's probably colder than any ice pokémon you'll encounter." He laughed. "So I'll re-heat it."

His grandmother laughed and made her way towards the dining room, but stopped near the door of Travis' room. "We always knew this day would come..." she said loud enough for him to hear. "I remember your mother used to dream of doing exactly what you're about to do...I never knew why she didn't go..."

Travis laughed inside. "I'll be down in a few."

"You really want me to leave, don't you?" she asked. They both laughed then she left the room and went downstairs.

Travis remembered his mother. Se died a sad woman, because of his father's death. He actually despised his father deep down inside, since he just left. Travis couldn't remember why he left, he just did.

Travis had to leave this town. Too many memories and he'd rather get away from them for a while. He wanted to spend some time in the wilderness, make friends with his pokémon companion, and enjoy life. It would soon happen.

He picked up his book again and read some more. Who to choose? Pikachu? Too popular in the pokémon world, and could easily be caught in some places. Eevee? A good choice, but could be difficult to raise, especially when and what it evolved into. Who? He read on...then he saw an interesting one. "Wow...I think I've found myself a new companion..."

He shut off his lamp and closed his book. He then stood up and went downstairs. "Wonder what Grandma made up for dinner tonight..."