In the far distance, I saw a quaint little town as quiet as ever. I saw people enter and leave the library, people chatting outside the café, and people strolling down the neighborhood. It looked so lovely being able to see people from afar go on in their usual routine as I came closer to New Bark. I felt a slight rumbled and realized I hadn't eaten since earlier that day and it was getting late now. The sun was setting, and the sky looked beautiful with its hues of pinks mixed with the purple clouds. The laboratory looked as silent on the outside as usual, then a man wearing a dark blue uniform exited the doors. He was writing on a notepad and took out a camera and started taking pictures of the building.

"Is something going on?" I asked nervously fearing the worst.

"Huh? Oh, you must be Lonny, the professor was talking about you." He began as I felt two large arms place themselves on my shoulder.

"Lonny, it's terrible. I fell asleep at my desk and before I knew it, I heard shouts from my assistant, and someone jumped out the window." Elm said as I turned around to see him, his hair was messy, and his glasses were smudged.

"You didn't see anything before you left for your errand? Did you?" the officer questioned as he finished snapping photos and put his camera away.

"I saw a boy with long red hair over there before I left. I didn't know what to think. I'm sorry, I should have mentioned it to Elm. Wait, at the Cherrygrove market I bumped into him." I explained as the professor's assistant walked outside of the lab and towards us. "He used a Cyndaquil to battle me. But Chikorita is feisty and was battling other Pokémon on our way to Mr. Pokémon's house, so we defeated him."

"So you battled the theif. That Cyndaquil is given out to Pokémon trainers begin their journey in Johto." The officer added with a deep sigh.

"Elm, don't file a police report." His assistant said as he smiled. "That boy probably wanted to go on an adventure and didn't know how to get a Pokémon."

"That doesn't mean breaking into a facility and stealing one!" The professor snapped, I turned to him and his face was red and fuming.

"I'm sorry, I have to agree with the Professor." I let out quietly, hoping I wouldn't anger the adults.

"Yes and the Pokémon League does require you give out a certain amount of starter Pokémon, you were not meeting quota." The assistant revealed. "You wouldn't want one of them coming down here and finding out why? Would you?" he said as the professor looked away embarrassed.

"Okay, I'll tell you what. How about I keep this on file? If the boy does anything else worthy of a crime report, we'll have something to base it off?" the officer suggested as he held up his notepad.

"Fine, it's settled." The professor said.

Xxxxx

Back home, I ate my favorite, spaghetti with Tamato Berry sauce. I explained to my mom what Mr. Pokémon wanted and she was overjoyed to my disappointment. I didn't want to go on this journey, I wanted to finish reading that detective series I had just found at the library. My favorite writer was also going to release a new romance novel soon and I was looking forward to that. So many books I planned to read, but now I couldn't.

"I wanted to travel when I was younger, but never got to. Go on this journey for both of us and collect gym badges. You don't have to aim to be the champion, but I'd like you to defeat all of the Johto Gym leaders." She said and then it was settled though; I would go on this journey and collect gym badges as well. I went to sleep with the biggest lump in my throat; I don't want to leave.

When I slept, I dreamt of this quiet country setting where many Miltank and Tauros roaming around bleating. It was so beautiful and calm, and I sat on a rocking chair looking out at the scenery. Ha, am I supposed to be an old lady? I thought as turned and saw him. The boy with the long red hair approaching me, he had a gently smile on his face and held a bouquet that contained blue roses, forget-me-nots, white carnations, and baby breath flowers. He handed it to me, making me awaken. What was that? He seemed so cruel, yet I dreamt of him like that. The thought of him being kind made me shudder, but then I remembered the words of the Professor's assistant. "He probably wanted to go on an adventure."

I quietly got ready and went to my mom's bedroom, she was sleeping soundly, I didn't want to awaken her. After finding a pen and paper, I left a note for her on the fridge letting her know I had already left. I gently locked the door and felt my heart sank, this was it, I was leaving. On my way out of the town, I was stopped by a familiar voice calling my name, I saw it was the professor's assistant following me.

"Lonny, before you leave, I want you to take this stuff." He said as he handed me a case filled with Pokéballs. "I also want you to take this." He placed a container with an egg that was decorated with red and blue triangles in my hands. "This is a Pokémon egg, I've had it for a while, but I can't seem to get it to hatch."

"Maybe the egg needs help hatching?" I suggested as I observed the patterns on the egg and wonder what Pokémon would hatch from there.

"It does, it needs to be in a party of active Pokémon." He laughed out. "I'm cooped up in a lab all day. I read old research notes from a former researcher and he hypothesized that in order for Pokémon eggs to hatch, they would hatch around Pokémon that are battling and trainers that are on a journey. Can I entrust you with this?" He said, making me feel the same way Mr. Pokémon and my mother felt, adults wanting me to do something they couldn't.

"Of course I will…but" I stopped myself as I saw the assistant's smile leave his face. "I'd like to know your name." I giggled nervously. "I just know you as the professor's assistant.

"Oh that? My name is Allen." He said as he shook my hand.

"My name is Lonny and I'll be sure to hatch this egg for you." I responded, and I was on my way, towards a new adventure.