Chapter One
Chapter One
Arrival
Steph sat in the backseat of the purple moving truck, glancing at the passing scenery. All she could see was trees that had bright green summer leaves growing on them. Steph was becoming sick of green; the color began to nauseate her. She turned away from the small window and focused her green eyes up to the front, where her parents sat, eagerly discussing their new town, Littleroot Town. Steph didn't think she would like it in Littleroot Town. She already missed her home in Goldenrod City. Steph became lost in her daydream as all of Goldenrod City flashed by in her mind...
The small but cozy house, made of white bricks, stood next to the spacious Gym. Steph's father was at the Gym, training his Pokémon diligently. Like a lost puppy, she followed him secretly to watch. Norman saw the young girl with the dusty brown hair and the big green eyes, who was watching her father with amusement. Her eyes captured every move, as if her life depended on the outcome of the battle. Her father focused back onto the battle sent out a big Pokémon that resembled a...
Suddenly Steph felt the moving truck come to a halt. She jolted out of her memory. She glanced out her window and saw the small town of Littleroot before her. A few people were milling about. The town had little charm; in fact, it was almost ugly. "We're here!" her mother called jubilantly after opening the side door. "Help us get the stuff out of the truck."
Steph got up with a groan, opened the truck door, and jumped out. She shielded her eyes against the morning sunshine and took a glance around at her surroundings. A few tan houses with brown shingled roofs stood around. A large, glorious laboratory stood in the center of town, looking spacious compared to everything else. Some flowers danced in the gentle breeze, but that was all the greenery besides some trees surrounding the outskirts of town.
"There's not much here," she remarked to no one in particular while reaching into the back of the moving truck. "Nothing like Goldenrod City."
"You'll get used to it," her mother replied. Steph sighed and took a small box out of the truck. A lively Vigoroth, one of the Pokémovers, offered to take the box from her, but she politely refused. Her mother and father headed into the house, each carrying boxes, and she followed suit. The door was wooden and a single brass knocker lay at the top of the door. Steph's father, Norman, reached into his pocket, drew out a key, turned it into the keyhole, and then headed inside.
She followed her mother and father into the rather tiny house. Her eyes scanned the house slowly. She was instantly unimpressed. The house's downstairs consisted of a living room and a small side room that was meant for a kitchen. The kitchen already had a brown wooden cupboard, an ugly steel sink, a gray stove, and a white refrigerator. She noticed her father taking a small box along with a red drawstring bag up the polished staircase. She shrugged and set the box, labeled kitchenware, onto the living room floor. Steph struggled to rip the box open with her delicate hands.
After a few minutes of Steph's fumbling with the box, Norman came back downstairs, carrying the red bag, and opened a box that the Pokémon mover just placed onto the floor. Steph noticed that he was taking out things such as a water bottle, a watch, and a paper bag and stashing them into the bag and she wondered what he was doing. Then she remembered that he had passed the Hoenn Gym Leader test shortly before their arrival. Her heart sank and her spirits lowered. She wanted to spend more time with him.
"Dad, are you leaving already?" Steph asked with heavy melancholy in her voice as she finally opened the box and began to unpack it. "We just got here!"
Norman ruffled Steph's light brown hair, which was messy from her leaning against the window. "Yes, but don't worry. I'll be back for dinner and a good night's sleep. But I have to leave at the crack of dawn."
"No breakfast?" Steph wondered as she took out tarnished white plates and shiny silverware out of the box.
"A Gym Leader has no time for life's niceties," Norman answered as he stashed his last item, his Pokénav, into his red drawstring bag.
"Not even time with your only child?" Steph said as she stood up, walked over to the cupboard, and started to put silverware and plates into it.
Norman's face turned slightly red and he turned away from his daughter. "I wouldn't go that far, Steph. Anyway, I've got to go now." He tugged the white string and the opening of the bag closed. He got up, hugged Steph, kissed his wife, and slung his bag over his shoulder. "See you both for dinner."
When he reached the front door, he turned around and waved at his family. Steph sadly waved as she watched her father, her advocate, and her idol walk out into the Littleroot air. Norman walked at a brisk pace, his head lowered. He didn't look back once. Steph's spirits sank a bit lower. She watched him walk into the shaded woods and out of her sight.
"Don't worry, Steph," her mother comforted, patting Steph daintily on the shoulder. "He's a determined man, but he won't forget you. He'll be back soon enough. Why don't you go upstairs and set up your clock and check your room?"
Steph nodded. "I will."
She bolted up the polished wooden stairs, nearly slipping at the top, and made her way to the end of the small hallway. There were three rooms upstairs: her room, her parents' room, and the bathroom. A door at the end of the hallway led into her room. Steph turned the brass knob to the plain door and opened it quickly. She stepped inside. She was shocked to see that the movers had unpacked all of her furniture so quickly. Steph stole at glance at her room.
In the upper right corner of her room was a small white desk. A computer and a journal with a pen in the coiled binding sat atop it. A small clock hung on the wall beside the desk. A large map of Hoenn hung beside it, with a small red marker on Littleroot Town. A large red rug with frayed edges covered the center of her floor. A TV on a wooden drawer stood beside the desk, and a bed covered with white sheets was located right next to the rug. Steph headed for the clock and set it to 8 o'clock A.M. The clock featured a pink Pokéball. Her father had bought it for her shortly before the move. I'll always cherish it, Steph thought as she turned the black hands.
When she was done, Steph was about to leave her room until she noticed a small cardboard box in the corner next to the doorway. Steph walked over to it, stooped down, and carefully opened the box. She gasped when she saw what was inside.
A red sleeveless shirt with a black collar, adorned with circle prints near the bottom and a thin white line that ran down the middle of the whole blouse, was lying on top of a pile of clothes. Gently Steph lifted the shirt and held it up against herself. It fit perfectly, gliding over her small frame. Underneath the shirt there was a pair of black shorts, a green pack that fastened at the waist, white and black gloves, two black and green bracelets, and black socks. She took each piece out, and each one fit her as well as the shirt. She imagined herself on a wild adventure, with her Pokèmon faithful always at her side…
"Steph! Steph! Hurry! Your father's on TV!"
Steph jumped slightly at her mom calling her name. She quickly folded each piece of clothing and was about to put them back into the box when she saw a green bandana at the bottom. She picked it up and tied it around her head. Its fit was just a well as the others. Quickly she untied it and laid the clothes into the box. She dashed down the stairs and slid into the living room, nearly crashing into the TV. She glanced around.
All of the furniture in the living room was unpacked. A red rug like the one in Steph's room lay on the floor. A small wooden table with four chairs was positioned in front of the TV. The rest of the kitchen's silverware was stored neatly in the cupboard. Steph knew how much her father enjoyed her mother's cooking. She felt crestfallen that he would only come home for one meal a day.
Steph quickly sat at the chair next to her mother, whose eyes were glued to the television. Norman, dressed in a maroon sweat jacket and gray sweatpants, stood in front of the Petalburg Gym. His blue-tinged hair reflected in the morning light. An interviewer held out a black microphone while asking questions. Steph barely heard the interview through her bumbling excitement.
"How does it feel to be a Gym Leader?" the interviewer asked.
"It feels very thrilling. To be an inspiration and an idol to trainers…it's the best feeling ever. I want to inspire trainers to do their best," Norman replied.
"Do you think that your daughter is inspired by you?"
Steph's heart nearly stopped. She moved her face closer to the screen. Her mother reached across the table, grabbed her arm, and squeezed it.
"I certainly hope so. I deeply wish that she will become a Pokémon trainer soon."
Steph's head now swam with thoughts.
"Dad must have left that outfit in my room," she thought out loud.
Her mother nodded. "He did."
"Dad must really want me to be like him," Steph said.
Again, Steph's mother nodded.
"That concludes our interview of Norman, the Petalburg City Gym Leader," said the reporter. "Thanks for watching, and stay tuned for more of Hoenn Now!"
Steph got up slowly from her seat and headed toward the front door, her head so full of thoughts that she couldn't think straight. "I'm going to say hello to Professor Birch," she said. Professor Birch, their neighbor and the person that worked in the laboratory, often visited Johto. He and Norman were close friends.
Steph's mother smiled. "He would be delighted to finally meet you."
Steph carelessly walked over to the door and opened it. She stepped out into Littleroot Town, letting the fresh air fill her lungs. Professor Birch's house was right next door, so the walk wasn't long. Steph lavished in the fresh air and tried to clear her mind. Hoped she'll be a trainer…I hope she's inspired by me…
Steph briskly shook her head. Let's focus on what I'm doing, she corrected herself.
Once she arrived at the front door of the Birchs' house, which was identical to her house's, Steph knocked lightly. It wasn't long before a woman around Steph's mother's age opened the door. She had a warm smile plastered on her face. Her soft brown hair blew gently in the wind.
"Hello there. You must be our new neighbor, Norman's child, correct?" the woman blissfully asked.
"Yes, I am," Steph replied.
"Our son Brendan's not here, but feel free to stay a while. I'm Professor Birch's wife, by the way," Mrs. Birch said. She stepped aside to let her new neighbor in. Steph gingerly set her feet into the Birch's home and looked around. The house's structure was the same as her home. The furniture was modern and was semi-similar to her house's, too. She headed toward the stairs and began to climb them.
When she reached the top, she noticed a sign on the door at the end of the hallway that read "Brendan's Room". She made her way to the door and opened it slightly. Inside there was a bed and a Pokèmon doll lying on the floor. Brendan plays with dolls, she thought with a laugh. Brendan's room had a desk much like hers and a manual sat atop it. She opened the door more and stepped inside.
She could see a Pokéball on the floor. Steph examined the ball with her eyes and saw that it probably contained a Pokémon. She bent to pick it up but was interrupted by loud, echoing footsteps coming from the stairs. She gasped and stood rigid. A boy who was dressed in trainer's gear appeared in the doorway. His gear was black and he wore a white hat on his black hair. He looked to be around Steph's age. Kindness sparkled in his soft green eyes, whoch were almost like Steph's.
"Are you our new neighbor?" he asked, already knowing answer.
"Yeah. My name's Stephanie, but you are going to call my Steph," she replied. She hated being called by her full name.
"Oh, okay. My name's Brendan. You're the Gym Leader's kid, right? I assumed you'd be a guy." He walked over to where Steph was standing. His face turned suddenly serious. "Did my mom tell you to come into my room?"
"Uhh…not your room, but…" Steph felt her face turn strawberry red.
Brendan laughed. "Gotcha! I don't mind. Anyway, I'm going to go help Dad with his fieldwork. See you around," he said. He turned around and proceeded to the stairs. Steph followed after him. She bade farewell to Mrs. Birch and headed out into the clean air.
Brendan raced out into the open, smiling jubilantly. Steph watched him frolic in the sun as he headed toward the shaded woods that her father entered shortly before. In the distance Steph could see a figure dressed in white. Brendan stopped to talk to the figure, looking excited.
Then Brendan turned and proceeded onward, disappearing from his neighbor's view.