A/N: Sorry this took so long to come out, I've been really busy. Also, someone pointed out to me that my last chapter made it sound like Mike is 80 years old. That referred to the range of ages of the trainers he has beaten. He is actually in his early twenties. Kelly is 16.
Excitement. Exuberance. Nervousness.
I sat in the third row back from the front. The valedictorian had spoken, diplomas were handed out, and after ten years of endless schooling, it was over. I had passed the Pokémon Trainers Academy.
I began to wonder what it would be like on the road, away from my family. My friends, Cassie, Shane, and Anthony, had agreed to travel together, and I was to tag along. We'd train together, and battle each gym together. All except Cassie, who had told me privately the previous day that she planned on being a coordinator. She was pretty girly, and I could see how sparkly-heart entrances and glamorous battles would suit her.
I walked up to my parents in my graduation gown, and they stood there, smiling and openly weeping. Mike would be over with the professors, so he would have to congratulate me later. In the meantime, I found my friends.
"So," Shane said, walking up behind me. "We're off to the races. How do you feel?"
"Pretty excited, but I thought I'd be happier."
"It's because we're leaving home, that's all. Also, it's been decided that we're gonna head out at eight o'clock tomorrow morning, ok?"
I gave him a questioning look. "Decided? Who decided?"
"Me, Cassie, and Anthony. Why, is that a problem?"
I glare at him. "Doesn't that seem like too early to-"
"Oh, shut up," he said, half scowling, half laughing. "Can't you get up early once? I've known you for six years, and I don't think you've ever gotten up earlier than ten o'clock."
I pointed out fiercely that I got up for the academy at seven every morning, when he cut me off and said, "Kelly, I'm joking. Chill out." He smiled, and I refrained from jabbing him in the shoulder.
After the rounds of the campus, thanking various teachers, saying goodbye to friends (I did NOT cry, thank you very much.) I finally found Mike being thanked by a stuttering, red faced girl I had never met. As she walked away quickly, I looked at Mike.
"So, having fun being adored by star-struck teenage girls?"
He looked at me quizzically and said, "What are you talking about?"
I sighed and replied, "Don't play dumb. How many other girls have come up and stuttered incoherently to you?"
He rolled his eyes and started to walk away when I ran in front of him.
"Come on, tell me!" This happened every year, and it never got old. He sighed.
"Twenty-four guys challenged me to battle, and I sent them packing promising to battle them once they beat the Elite Four." I smiled. My brother technically was the champion in every region. So even though someone was taking his place in each league, he could go back and resume his job there anytime. So in short, they might actually battle him the second they beat the Elite Four.
"Then," he resumed, "Thirty-six girls did the same thing that one did, and three actually asked for my phone number. The most any of the other teachers got was six."
I rolled around on the ground laughing. He waited for me to stop before saying to me,
"Ha ha, yes, very funny. Well, now that you're done, I want to talk to you." He beckoned for me to follow him, and we walked over to a pond.
"Kelly, as someone who's been around a couple times, seen a few places, etcetera, I want to tell you a few pieces of advice before you run off and leave me alone with mom and dad." He smiled before quickly becoming serious again. "The real world isn't like school. Adults aren't going to be watching over you all the time (I was cheering inside at this statement), and that means they won't be able to help you when you're in trouble."
"I'll be perfectly fine. I'll have my friends with me, and-"
"And they'll take the bullet for you when an armed gang is mugging you and looting your corpses?"
I looked at him, shocked. "I doubt we'll run into any armed-"
"Kelly." He was more serious than I had ever seen him before. "Don't doubt anything. Expect the unexpected. I would know these things, I've seen them before." Mike had sent some time with the Pokémon Rangers, and had come back just a bit quieter, and wouldn't speak about some of the things he'd seen. "I know what it's like to be the one on the doorstep, wounding someone's soul forever."
I stood speechless, not daring to move. It was the most grave he'd ever been in front of me, and ever would be in front of me. But then, to my amazement, he smiled.
"Now that my life's horror stories have traumatized you, come on. We need to get home."
I stared at him. How do you just change back into a light, happy mood after that? But then again, that was my brother. I suppose I should explain.
My brother had gone everywhere, done everything, that a Pokémon trainer aspires to. Leagues, battle towers, you name it. But he also had seen some things that he shouldn't have seen, that no man or woman should ever see. He didn't crack, though. He accepted it and moved on, ever strong-willed and kind-hearted. That was what made him so admirable, and that's why (though I never told him) he was my role-model and the best brother I could ask for.
We hopped onto a large bird pokemon (I forgot what its called) and flew back to the town we lived in, Paratule Town. Paratule was right before Victory Road in the Kanto region. It was where trainers would stop and prepare for the final journey to the Pokémon League. (hence the name Paratule, from the Latin verb "paro, parare, paravi, paratus", meaning to prepare. Smart, right?) I had lived here all my life, though my grandparents and cousins, uncles and aunts, etc. all lived across Tohjo Falls in Johto.
I had dinner with my family, which was an extravagant affair since I was leaving, and then I packed. I decided to stick with practical clothing like jeans and t-shirts and jackets as opposed to my friends, who planned on wearing flashy outfits with skirts and the like. Nature would set them straight soon enough, I told myself.
I had one last conversation with Mike before I went to bed. We talked about being a trainer, and Mike gave me some last minute tips on battling before saying, "I hope I didn't scare you earlier. I just wanted to make a point."
I looked calmly at him and said, "It's fine, I understand. Just…..try not to be so morbid next time ok?"
He chuckled and said, "Alright. Now get to bed, you've got a big day tomorrow."
Biggest understatement of the century.
