Ah, the excitement and wonder at starting a journey. I always loved that part about beginning a new game! I wanted to create a rift between Kanto and Johto, it always seemed like there was one and it'll be more apparent later.


"Are you sure you won't travel around Johto?" Rowan yawns while following her daughter to the kitchen.

It's early morning, five o'clock to be exact. Serena and Lance decided they want an early start to get ahead of the game. They made a pact of sorts, for the first few weeks they'll travel together until they gain their footing. After that, they'll be true rivals; at Lance's insistence. Serena isn't sure how she feels about that, she's competitive, yes, in everything but battling. He's sure of himself and she has seen his skill; even now as a novice trainer, he has way more potential than she'll ever have. Lance is for sure going to the Indigo League at the end of the year. But Serena is not so sure about following that path. Of course, she wants to travel and meet new people and strengthen her bond with her Pokemon. And that's it. Training for gyms and then eventually, the Elite Four feels like too much.

Lance insists that she'll find her battling spirit once they hit the road.

The gyms around Kanto are small with a little more than eight of them official. The league has been running for a little over a decade already with a current Champion who is doing his best to keep everything in order. League regulation includes Johto gyms, however, the two regions have not been agreeing on terms. Take Johto badges to the League in Kanto and someone may not let you through. That and there aren't enough gyms in Johto, the trainers see no reason to if you're going to be turned away in the end. There's no place to set up an entire other league of elite trainers and staff, leading the two to go to their neighboring region. Serena doesn't like it, but there's nothing for her to do.

"There aren't enough official leaders in Johto to qualify for the league conference," Serena explains.

"But Kanto is so far," her mother counters.

"We live in Blackthorn, it's so close to Kanto... Dad works in Kanto."

"Touche."

Once in the kitchen, Serena is surprised to see her father standing at the counter with breakfast waiting for her. He grins, but she can see just how exhausted he has been from work. There have been a lot of late nights or even days before he comes home. She doesn't know what he's doing, a lot of G-men work has to be a secret. He's doing good work, she always reminds herself and her mother. It's tough, but Rowan and Serena are able to fill in the space with other projects.

"Morning, sweetie," Aaron rubs his face, he seems to age a bit at the greeting, like he's only realizing it's still morning. "You've got my number, your mother's number, Wesley's number and several other ones."

"Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna be fine!" Serena sighs, plopping down at the bar and accepting the plate from him. Eggs, sausages, roasted veggies and buttered toast makes her stomach growl and mouth water. This is the food she'll miss when she's on the road. She remembers packing several protein filled snacks, dry tasting and healthy for some light eating between cities.

"Did you pack your bag?" Rowan asks sweeping up to the fridge.

"Seven times," she responds between mouthfuls of eggs. "I have everything. The clothes, extra pokeballs, first aid kit for me and the pokemon, water bottles, snacks, extra shoes and the map."

She couldn't stop packing the bag to make sure it was absolutely comfortable against her back and easy enough to dig through without having to take everything out and do it again. Her mother bought her a completely new backpack, navy blue with silver and white stars. It holds all her items with room for more items that she will be buying on her trip for sure.

"Do you have enough cash?"

"Yes, and I connected my trainer card to my bank account."

"That's my girl," Aaron pats his daughter on the head. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to call."

"I won't."

"One more thing," Rowan puts a hand on Serena's shoulder. "I know you still are trying to drop some weight. Keep eating healthy things, you're going to need the energy while you travel."

"I will, Mom," Serena promises with a smile. She isn't where she wants to be, but she has learned to be okay with where she is now.

Rowan opens her mouth to ask more questions when there's a rapid knock on the door, and then more knocks, possibly from a second person. Serena swings her arm out to her side, her mind picturing the front door and opening it. There's a creaking sound and then footsteps rushing towards them.

"Don't forget to shut the door," Rowan mutters as Clair and Lance tumble into the kitchen.

"Right," Serena swings her arm inwards and there's the familiar click of the front door swinging shut.

"Are you ready yet?" Lance plops down next to her with excitement.

He's dressed in black pants, dark blue hiking boots and a navy blue and red short sleeved shirt. His hair is cut short, courtesy of his mother to make it easier for him to manage, and still wet from the shower. His brown eyes are sparkling as he regards his best friend. His hiking bag is a little bigger than hers, probably filled to the brim with food and clothes.

"I'm eating," she munches on her food and takes a swig of orange juice. "Beside, we agreed, five thirty we'll be leaving."

"It's five twenty."

"I have ten minutes left."

"A fast ten minutes," Lance nudges her.

"You two better call me when good stuff happens," Clair takes her spot on Serena's left. "And when you're bored and to tell me what you did during the day."

"Maybe, whenever we have time," Serena slides her plate into the sink and wipes her hands on a towel.

"Did you eat enough?" Rowan questions, going back to the fridge to fix more food. "What about you Lance?"
"Don't worry, I ate more than enough," he responds with a heavy sigh.

"We're okay, Mom. And we're leaving too," Serena speaks in a firm tone.

"Okay, baby girl," Rowan nods, forcing a smile on her face.

Serena distracts herself from her mother's pain by looking through her backpack to ensure she has all her items. Her heart pounds in her chest from excitement and anticipation. She's been waiting for this moment for a long time, a chance to leave the house and see the world. To grow and explore. Her mother has told her that it's her time to find herself and her place. The curiosity of the voice from long ago is a whisper in her thoughts, she will find who she is.

That's exactly what she hopes to do.

Her fingers brush against Espeon's pokeball and a flash of Giovanni crosses her mind's eye, sending shivers down her back. She hasn't discussed anything with her parents about him, but she is thinking about trying to find Giovanni sometime on her journey. It's a dangerous idea, but one that would bring her all the answers. But that is a job for later. Right now she needs to get on her feet.

"Be careful and call me when you guys get to the first town," Rowan starts on them, following them to the door. "Aaron make sure they have everything when you drop them off."

"Don't worry, honey. I will and they will be fine," Aaron kisses the top of her head before ushering the kids out the door.

The morning air in Blackthorn is crisp, it shocks Serena and her father awake. The sweet smell of damp grass hits her nostrils as she breathes in and releases a small cloud of warm breath. She's grown up smelling this grass and this is her last moment before she's back again. The sky is light blue with a hint of pink and orange where the sun is beginning to peak. In the distance, the mountain is hidden behind puffy clouds straggling by in peace. A typical morning in Blackthorn has always made Serena feel at peace, her scars don't hurt and her headaches disappear.

She loosens the scarf around her neck, allowing the cool air to ghost across the raised skin on the back of her neck. A shiver runs down her spine and she smiles.

"Clair, are you coming with to drop them off?" Aaron asks, tossing Salamence's pokeball into the air.

"Nah, I gotta get sleep before classes start," the blue haired girl yawns, stretching her arms out.

"Good luck, let me know how it goes," Serena catches her in a hug and spins them around.

With Lance and Serena going off to beat the Kanto League, Clair wants to join the growing Johto League and make a name for herself when it starts. To do that, she is entering some classes in Blackthorn where she will learn all about being a gym leader and at the end, she'll take a test through the league to be a leader. After that, it will be up the elder's in Blackthorn to make her title official. With the state of the League now, Lance and Serena tried to get her to join them on the road, but the blue haired girl didn't want to. It's an honor to be named gym leader, let alone build a gym in your town, especially if you're part of a clan made from honor.

Serena sees that last step as tedious and disappointing. All that hard work and the final verdict is up to the elder's who could turn that work into nothing. But tradition is most important, and they will all have to face the Elders someday.

"I will, I will," Clair nudges Serena off, but offers a punch to her shoulder with a half smile. "Kick ass out there."

"That's what I'll be doing," Lance cuts in smacking his cousin.

"Right, I hope she will keep you in line."

"I'll do my best," Serena grins at the two.

Aaron watches from the side as the three wrap their arms around their shoulders and put their heads together. For the past eight years, that's how they created their bubble. They block out the world, just the three of them and whatever they say.

"Whatever happens, don't forget each other," Clair speaks in a sudden soft tone.

Lance and Serena share a quick look. Being the only one staying put, they can see Clair's concern about her status with them. The two talked and talked about this moment, the moment where she would be left behind and they would have to ensure that she will never be that way to them. The work she is doing is just as important as theirs.

"Of course not, how could we?" Lance is first to speak, he offers her a wide grin.

"A lot can happen in a year," she shrugs in return, her eyes meeting theirs.

"We won't," Serena assures her. "Everything around us may chance, and we may change, but we're still gonna be friends. We'll still be together."

Clair nods her head and looks at the ground. "No need to get cheesy about it..."

"You started it!" Lance laughs, bumping his hips into hers.

"I'll finish it," she threatens with a bump back.

They begin to rock side to side, in sync with each other's movements. Their laughter warms up the chilly morning. They're still kids, naive and optimistic about the world, about their goals and dreams. Aaron watches them with a worried smile, knowing that their journeys are going to be the turning point of their lives. The children that they are now won't be the same children that come home. Just a year older, still teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. What they'll go through will change them, what they'll see will educate them and he's excited. His own journey is still fresh in his mind even though it's been years. He wants Serena to do this, to see the world and understand that, yes, her hardships are unique to her, but everyone has them and she doesn't have to go through it alone.

The three pull away and face him then. He does his mandatory bag checks and such before ushering the two onto Salamence, one at a time. The dragon type, rears his head to Serena's as she reaches up to pull herself on his back. He sniffs the side of her head before nudging her head with his. She giggles and pats the pokemon's large head gently. Clair waves goodbye as the three settle on the large dragon type.

There's a giant gush of air, a second or two where Serena can't breathe, and then, Clair is just a dot on the ground. High in the clouds, the air is even colder. Serena pulls her scarf tighter as Lance reaches around the both of them with his cape. She nestles in it, thanking him over her shoulder for sharing. Her head rests on her father's back as they soar high above the landscapes between Kanto and Johto.

Flights like these are what she's going to learn to do when she has a pokemon that can fly. It may be cold, but flying is such a good way of getting around and it'll be faster that way.

It's not too long before Salamence is descending out of the sky. The giddy feeling in Serena's stomach intensifies the closer they get to the new ground. It's a little bit brighter in Kanto and the air is just a tad warmer. Salamence's massive frame touches the ground and the two are dropped off. Serena and Lance watch as Aaron and his dragon become a tiny dot in the sky.

They wanted a semi easy start for their journey. Outside of Pewter City, near Mt. Moon. It's close to Lance's first gym battle, and close enough to the mountain that they'll get their first taste of travel. It was a spot both trainers and parents could agree on.

"Well... This is it," Serena takes a deep breath. "We're officially trainers."

"Hey," Lance starts in the same tone Clair had taken earlier. Serena glances up at him, her blue eyes searching his brown ones for an answer. "Even though we're going to be rivals, you can still come to me for help. We're still friends."

"I know that," Serena laughs. "This'll be fun. We're gonna do so much and learn so much. We'll be great."

He smiles back at her lifting his hand for hers in a high five gesture. When their hands smack, they close around each others and shake them side to side.

"Yeah. We will be great."