The both of us looked at each other, silently asking one and other whether or not we enter the woods. Simultaneously, after a few moments the two of us nodded and began to trot warily down the route, trying to find the source of the voice, which I could now tell was screaming for help. It took a few minutes, but when I found the source, I deemed it instantly worthy of my time.
A large man in a lab coat was running around, trying to shake off an aggravated Poochyena with little effect. I snorted a little, keeping back laughter when he noticed me. Thankfully, he failed to note my amusement in the entire situation.
"Hey, you!" He shouted, seeming winded. I supposed he's been stuck here for a while, poor guy. "Could you help me? I left my balls in my bag over there, so I don't have any Pokemon on me!" He pleaded, narrowly dodging an lunge.
I nodded. "Okay, Vulpix, are you up for this?" I asked. It nodded, saying it's own name enthusiastically and got in front of me into a battle position. "Alright. You should know ember... Yeah... Let's go with that!" I shouted, know wary as I hadn't a real idea of Vulpix's move set. To my surprise, however, Vulpix took in a deep breath before exhaling, letting out a stream of scorching wind and fire. I blinked a couple times and I watched the Pokemon I'd began battling fall to the ground, out cold. That was definitely not an Ember...
I was snapped out of my pondering the attack when the man walked up to me, a large smile across his face as he was panting a bit. "Thanks a bunch!" He said. "I was in the tall grass when that thing jumped out and attacked." He explained. "I guess I accidentally stepped on it's tail, so..." He trailed off awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head, seeming embarrassed for making such a mistake. "But anyways! Thanks for saving me back there. I'm Professor Birch!" He said, gesturing for a hand shake.
I did so, in spite of having felt I'd already done so a few too many times already.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Professor Birch." I said. "I just so happen to be Alice Maple, The daughter of the new leader, Norman." I spoke, finding it funny that I found the one I originally went out to go see all the way over here.
His eyes widened. "Ah, so you're Alice!" He began. "I wasn't exactly expecting to meet you in a place like this..." He said, glancing around the small route. "How about we go back to the lab?" He suggested, still seeming a bit wary of continuing our discussion here. I nodded and followed the odd professor back to the laboratory. The two of us struck up a small conversation along the way, and my the time we'd reached our destination, had landed on the subject of my new companion, who'd again landed itself on my shoulders. It was half asleep, but had positioned itself a nice way that even if it were to drift into a slumber, it wouldn't fall.
"You seem to be doing pretty well for a newbie. I guess you got that from your father." He said, going to his counter and grabbing small red device. "Here – I want you to take this. It's a Pokedex – an handy took for any trainer on a journey." He explained. "With it you can record the Pokemon you've caught. In addition to this, you can also view your party's move set." He went on, opening the device and pointing it at Vulpix, who let out a mix between yawn and it's regular cry at once, seeming bored.
"Ha! I kind of thought so." He said, catching my attention. "That move you saw it use back there was called Heat Wave. It's learned though it's father, which was in this case, and Growlithe or Arcanine." He spoke. "It also knows Hypnosis... an odd move for a Vulpix, leanred through a Spinda, or a Stantler." He added He went on and gestured for me to take the small red device.
"Well, it's nice of you to give that to be but..." I began. In truth, I had always wanted to start a journey of my own, but this was so abrupt. "I don't even know if my family would be okay with this..." I spoke warily, looking at the Fox Pokemon from the corner of my eye.
"I've known your parents a while, and let me tell you. The second your dad found out your mother was pregnant, he couldn't stop talking about you becoming a trainer." He spoke. "You mother, well. She's a kind lady, and I'm sure she'd be more than happy with the idea of you with a Pokemon, but I suppose you'd better go ask her." He told me. "I mean, I'd be pretty worried myself if Brendan went out on a journey without telling me." He went on.
"I'd pretty abrupt, but sure. I'll go ask." I said, tuning for the door.
Before I could leave, however, he gently stopped me and turned me around. "But still, even if you can't go, take this... It's the least I can do, you saving me and all." He said, placing it in my hands.
I smiled. "I can't thank you enough for this." I said.
"No problem, but I'd like to ask one more thing of you." He began. I looked at him with an eager expectancy. "Could you go to Route 103 sometime and battle with my son?" He asked. "I think he's getting a little cocky, and I have a sinking feeling you'll be able to put and end to that." He said, smiling coyly.
"I'll give it a shot, but I can't promise you anything." I assured, returning the sly smile.
"Anyways, thanks for everything! Now you get on going!" He said, waving me out. I laughed a bit and headed on out back to my house, which I could actually see from the lab. It was an odd feeling for me, being able to take only a couple minutes out of my day to get from place to place here, when I would have to travel for hours to get anywhere in Goldenrod.
When I got to my house, I opened the door to see my mother and Mrs. Birch sitting at the newly placed coffee table. The chatted a bit with a couple cups of coffee while watching a contest on the television. Figures. My mother had participated in a few in her days and actually had a couple ribbons to show for it. I think she had four now, actually. She was also talking about earning her fifth and competing in the Hoenn Grand Festival. Of coarse, I rooted her on.
"Ah! Alice, I hear you introduced yourself to the..." She trailed off seeing the small mammalian creature around my neck, who'd woken up and analyzed the house. "Dear, why is that Vulpix around your shoulders...?" She asked, seeming to like it, though also slightly puzzled as to why it had taken up residence on my shoulders.
"Ah, well... To make a long story short, their trainer ditched it a little while ago, and I was wondering..." I trailed off, now feeling the butterflies begin to flutter around in my stomach. "If I could keep them, and maybe..." I trailed off again, not sure how to word this without seeming all too blunt - one of my many problems. "I was wondering if I could maybe... start my own journey...?" I asked, expecting the worst.
She looked at me blankly for a few moments, as did Mrs. Birch; who's presence was a bit awkward for a moment. My mother then smiled. "Ah, I always thought this day would come... You are your father's daughter, after all..." She began. "It would have been nice if you might have spent a little more time here, but you can always come on over ever one in a while." She caught herself getting off topic, perhaps emotional of the situation.
"Anyways, dear. Of coarse. You and your friend there have my blessing." She said. "Just wait here for a moment, though... Okay?" She asked.
"Oh, uh... Sure." I agreed. She smiled and walked off into her room before coming back with a bundle of money. "Here, I want you to take this... As a sort of parting gift from me. It's 10,000 PokéDollars, not much, but..." She came to a halt, now getting to be quite emotional. I couldn't blame her, though.
"Mom, it's okay – it's more than enough. Don't worry, I'll be careful along my way, and I'll phone every now and again, okay?" I assured her.
"Yes, yes... I just can't help it... My little girl's finally grown up!" She said, a mix of happiness and sadness in her voice.
"Well," I started. "I'd better go back up." I announced, feeling bad to leave her, but awkward staying in the room. I quickly unpacked a suitcase I'd used while moving, and scurried about my room, and the rest of the house for items I'd need along my way, packing them into a large over the shoulder bag. It took a couple hours to pack, but I wasn't too concerned about this – I wanted to be sure I wasn't halfway to the next town when I realized I'd forgotten something. The entire time, Vulpix had wandered around the house, sniffing things and begging my mom for some of the pastries on the table.
I headed back to the kitchen, and found that Mrs. Birch had just left – Vulpix having taken her seat. I looked at my mother. "Well, I suppose this is goodbye for now." I spoke quietly, giving her a weak smile.
She walked up to me and brought me into a tight hug. "You promise me you'll do well and take care of yourself." She said.
I smiled reassuringly, despite her being unable to see it. "I promise." I replied. She broke the hug.
I went to the chair where Vulpix sat and brought them to the ground. I then headed to the door, but looked at my mother once more before leaving, as a sort of silent goodbye. She waved as I exited, closing the door behind me.
I walked off, a few tears rolling down my face; tears of both joy and sorrow.