PETALBURGH CITY

The stars were shining brightly, like they were dancing on their own rhythm. A teenage girl was watching them with so much interest. It was her favorite time pass when she could not sleep. Thus, she was enjoying the company of millions of stars shining beautifully in the late-night sky. She knew that she should sleep by then as the next day would be an adventurous, exciting and nerve-racking day for her. But she could not fall asleep just by thinking about it. She would be moving to a different city in a different region for her higher studies, for the first time away from her family.

The girl was very deep in thought to notice a new presence next to her.

"Blaziken!" a voice startled her bringing her back from her thoughts.

"Blaziken!" she glared at her starter pokemon, "You scared me!"

Blaziken just rolled its eyes, "Bla blaziken blaze?"

"Yeah, I am a little nervous." She replied tiredly, "But, I am excited as well. It will be a new beginning of my life, I am entitled to be a little nervous, right?"

Blaziken gave her a small smile as it took her hand to bring her inside. Once, they came inside the girl's room, the fire pokemon ordered its trainer to sleep. She did not even dare to argue with her short-tempered friend because she already knew the consequences.

"Blaziken," she said, "I will sleep but you too return to your pokeball and sleep."

Blaziken just ignored her and lied down on the floor to sleep. She did not argue. Laying down on her bed, she did not even realize when she drifted to the dreamland.

"May! May! MAY! MA—"

"Yes mom!" the girl, replied in an annoyed tone. "I am up."

"I do not like that tone." Came an equally annoyed voice. "Go and get fresh, it's already 9 a.m. and your flight leaves at 3 p.m."

"Yes mom." replied the girl and went to the bathroom.

"What were you doing all night that you overslept?" questioned Caroline, May's mother when May came to the dining area for breakfast.

"Sure; not studying." Came a snarky remark. It was her younger brother Max at whom she glared.

"Uh-Ah- I wa-was re-checking if I left anything" May replied nervously.

Caroline smiled, "Oh, okay."

"Is dad coming?" May asked. She did know the answer yet she asked.

Caroline's smile faltered a little but she regained her composure. Even Max started to glare at the wall at the mention of their father. Caroline and Norman got divorced 10 years ago as he was having an affair with his secretary. Later, he got married to her and moved. Caroline got her kids custody. "I don't know sweety." Caroline replied with a sad smile not wanting to give false hope to her daughter.

"He do know I am leaving today, right?"

"Yes. I told him yesterday"

"Oh." May replied sadly. She knew he would never come to see her off but was not able to accept the fact. She hates her father but a part of her craves for the days to come back when he was her best man.

"Why are we talking about him!" Max always gets angry when someone mentions his father. Unlike May, he does not remember the good part, he only remembers the pain their father has given his whole family.

"Sorry Max." May was really sorry, how can she even want him here after all that he has done to them.

Caroline seeing the mood, decided to change the topic, "Well kiddos, guess what's for breakfast?"

Both looked confusedly at her and then screamed happily upon seeing the plate, "PANCAKES!"

"Na-uh, chocolate chips pancakes with maple syrup" Caroline grinned as the mood was up again.

"YEAH! We love you mom" Both of them shouted.

"Of course, you do." Caroline grinned.

The Maple family enjoyed their breakfast.

May was going to her room after breakfast when she heard a very faint voice coming from her mother's room. Caroline was talking to someone on the phone too engrossed to even notice another presence in her room. May did a good job at hiding behind the door and started to eavesdrop on her mother but she could not understand a thing. All she heard was angry mumbling, by the tone of which, it seemed as her father was on the other side. When she felt there was no sound anymore, she thought, "I guess she hung up the call."

She knocked on the door, "Mom, you in there?"

"Yes sweety," Caroline replied after calming herself. Last thing wanted right now was for daughter to she her being a mess. "Do you need something May?"

"Naah, just wanted to hang out with you because I won't be able to do that anymore."

"Come in then!"

"I love you mom." May had so many things that she wanted to ask her mother but right now it didn't matter to her. All that mattered to her was her mother and brother and nothing else, not even her sorry excuse for a father.

"Okay! That was sudden!" Caroline said in a fake surprised tone, "I love you too May." She said hugging her daughter.

"No fair" a new voice startled both of them, "I want to join in too." It was Max.

"Then what are you waiting for!" They both replied in unison.

Later on May went to recheck if she has forgotten anything. It was already 12:45 by the time May finished her packing and went to get ready.

"Hey, are you ready?" Caroline knocked on the door, "My baby girl really did grow well; I'm proud of u sweety"

"Yes mom." May replied while opening the door. She was wearing a red t-shirt with a lily at the bottom right side, a lightly washed skinny jeans and a pair of white sneakers. Her brown hair was roughly tied up in a high ponytail enhancing her persona. Her luggage was packed and was kept near the door. Caroline entered the room and hugged her daughter. "I'll miss you sweety." She said softly while few pearls dropped off her worn-out glittery eyes. She then embraced her.

"I'll miss you more mom." May said, trying to hold her tears back.

Meanwhile, a third person joined the hug and said, "I am truly loving this but if we won't leave now, May will continue to annoy me with her horrific snorts."

The maple family burst into giggles and left for the airport. It was 1:45 p.m. and had to board the flight for Goldenrod City in Jhoto region now.

"Bye mom, bye Max." The three shared a family hug. "I'll miss you guys." May said, her voice breaking a little, "You two miss me as well. I love you both."

"Bye May." Caroline and Max shouted as May boarded the plane.

After biding farewell, May recollected her conscience and wiped her tears, saying, "That's it now, let's see, what kind of adventure this new city brings?"

Soon the plane took off for Goldenrod City and May once again drifted off to dreamland.