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~Chapter Three~
I didn't get much sleep that night. I slept for about an hour and then I woke up from a terrible nightmare that I was in a giant pool surrounded by blue snakes.
I sat on my pillow and hugged my knees to my chest. I looked at the ceiling let my mind wander. I heard Mom snoring in the room across from mine.
"Mom." I whispered. How could I go away from her? We had been together for such a long time. Tomorrow was going to be so painful.
Finally, I stopped daydreaming and quietly went downstairs. I pulled my diary from my backpack and snuck it back up to my room. I took out a pen and starting writing.
~*Dear Diary,
I'm so nervous about tomorrow. I've been turning this over and over in my head, deciding if I should really go. Mom will be so lonely without me. I don't know.should I really do this? Should I do this just for the sake of honoring Dad? But.Mom was probably planning for me to go. She gave me that watch, after all. Maybe she wants me to honor Dad. I wish I could have seen Dad when he was at the Indigo Plateau and the Johto League. It was too far away for us to travel to, and Mom wouldn't let me watch it on TV, no matter how much I begged. Maybe, somehow, I'll find out why.~*~
I stuck my diary under my pillow and stared at the ceiling some more. My thoughts were jumbling around in my head. Finally, I felt myself rocking, and I fell asleep.
~*~*~
"April! April, honey, wake up!"
I sleepily opened one eye and looked around. My mom was hovering over my bed, trying to shake me awake.
"You must have slept like a log," she said. "I was trying to wake you up for the last ten minutes!"
I laughed and opened both of my eyes. I sat up and became aware of the smell of waffles and syrup.
"Are you making breakfast?" I asked hopefully.
"Yup," Mom smiled. "A going-away breakfast."
I looked at Mom and smiled a little smile. I was still really, really scared about going away.
"Oh honey," Mom whispered, and hugged me. "You'll be fine. I know you will."
I sighed. "I know. I'm just. . ." Mom smiled again. I loved her smile. It lit up her whole face.
"Listen," she started. "Why don't you get dressed and brush that lovely hair of yours and come on down for some waffles."
I laughed again. All of us-my mom, my dad, and I-have really dark brown hair that's almost black. Dad would always braid it for me or something and ask that I would never cut it because it was so beautiful.
I have never cut it. It's past my waist now.
I got up and shook the covers off of me. "I'll be right down," I said.
~*~*~
Fifteen minutes later, Mom and I were sitting at our large dining room table. She was serving us tons of perfect, golden waffles, drowning in butter and maple syrup.
"Mmmm," I mumbled as I stuffed large forkfuls into my mouth. Mom was also serving biscuits, orange juice, and bacon.
"This is excellent," I commented. "It's probably the last big breakfast I'll have in a while," I added, while reaching for a piece of bacon. I quickly ate it and took a sip from my juice.
Mom neatly ate a biscuit. "Yes," she said. "I think so. Now, after you eat, are there any friends you want to call? I don't think you've told anyone you're going away."
I stood up in surprise. "I can't believe it!" I cried. "I have to call Morgan!" I exclaimed as I ran for the phone.
Mom cast a pretend-stern glance at me. "Finish your breakfast first." I laughed. "There's no need to order me to do THAT!"
~*~*~
About five pieces of bacon later, we were both done with breakfast. Mom started doing the dishes and I grabbed the phone and dialed Morgan's number. I knew it by heart because we had been best friends since Poké- Preschool.
"Hello?" Morgan's voice asked, sounding tired.
"Mo!" I exclaimed. "You would not believe what has been happening lately!"
"What?" she asked in alarm.
"I'm going away. . ." I trailed off.
"Where?"
"On a Pokemon journey. Today."
Mo didn't answer at first. There were ten seconds of dead silence between us. I was beginning to think she hung when I heard, "Nooooooooo!" yell from the phone.
"I know it's sudden," I said, trying to calm her down, "But I found this Pokeball Mom gave me when Dad died. Then. . ."
"Then what?" Morgan prompted.
"I don't know," I sighed. "I just feel like I HAVE to go. Like it's my fate or something. " Mo sighed. "Well, you'll call me, right? And tell me about all the neat Pokemon you see?"
"Right," I smiled.
"Hey, what's the Pokemon your. . .your Dad gave you? Did you see?"
"Nope," I answered. For some reason, that had never occurred to me, finding out what Pokemon my Dad had left me two years ago.
"Well, open the Pokeball! Tell me!" Mo exclaimed.
"Later," I said. I just didn't feel like looking at the Pokemon right now. It would be so painful. . .
"Oh," Morgan said, suddenly understanding. "Well, I'll tell everyone at school. They'll either be really jealous or really sad."
I laughed. "Well, I'll talk to you later. . .I guess," I said. It had suddenly hit me-I was leaving, I was really leaving. I wasn't going to see Mo and Brian and Alex and Sandra and everyone every day anymore . "Bye," Mo said softly. Then we hung up.
~*~*~
"Are you all packed?" Mom asked. It was just a half an hour later.
I was looking all around my room, making sure I didn't forget anything. I saw the corner of my diary peeking out from underneath one of my pillows.
"My journal!" I cried. I took it and stuffed into my backpack, which I had somehow lugged up the stairs.
Mom took something from my desk and held it up. It was the watch, with all the cards sticking out from it. "Don't forget this," she said.
"Oh!" I cried. I put it on my left wrist. Then I looked around my room some more. I found a denim baseball cap, and put that on. Then I looked in the mirror. "Well," I said. "This is it."
Mom swallowed. It looked like she was trying not to cry. "Come," she said, carrying my backpack. "I'll help you with this stuff."
We both stood in front of our large house. I couldn't imagine that now, only one person would be living in it.
I stared at my house. I couldn't believe I was going to leave it.
"Mom. . ." I croaked.
"Honey, you can do this," Mom whispered, ruffling my hair. "Just believe in yourself. If you do that, you can do anything."
"Mom," I said again. "That's so corny."
She laughed. "But true. Very, very true."
We looked at each other. I knew it was true. But. . .
"Oh Mom!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her waist. "I'm going to miss you so much!"
"Me too," she whispered. "A lot more then you're going to miss me. But this is the way it is."
"I know," I said, sniffling. I looked at the long road ahead of me. I hoped it wouldn't take too long to get to Cherrygrove City, the next town again.
"Well, you'd better go or you'll never make it to Cherrygrove by dark," Mom suddenly said. "Oh before you go, I have something for you." Mom handed me five tiny Pokeballs.
I stared at them for a few seconds before sticking them in my jeans pocket. Then I started walking down the road without even realizing it. I heard Mom shouting behind me, "Bye sweetie! Make me proud!
I walked on.
~*~*~
"Hum de dum, de dum," I hummed to myself. It was about an hour later, and I was halfway to Cherrygrove City. I hoped I would get there before dark.
I walked down the dirt pathway and looked all around. I didn't see any Pokemon. Just trees, trees, and more trees.
"Whew," I said out loud. My backpack was getting really heavy. I decided to take a rest. I walked over to an apple tree and set my backpack down with a thud. I pulled one of the water bottles out and began to drink
Suddenly, something hopped out of the tall grass near the tree. It was brown and black, with a little white stomach.
"A Sentret!" I cried. Being very quiet, I unzipped a compartment in my backpack and pulled out the Pokeball with a Pokemon in it. I threw it out.
The Pokeball opened. A flash of white light blinded me for a second. Then the image became clear.
I gasped. It was a light-blue worm-like the kind I had seen in my dream!
The creature was sleeping. Its long body was curled up beneath it, and its head was resting on the tip of its tail. I noticed and envelope in its mouth, and gently pulled it out, without waking the creature.
I looked at the envelope and saw 'April' written on the front of it, in my Dad's neat handwriting.
I gasped a little. With trembling hands, I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter:
"iDear April, I don't know when you will be reading this. I pray its after I have come home, retired from.Pokemon training, but you never know what can happen. April, I have tried my best to teach you all about Pokemon. I have taught you their attacks and evolutions and such. But this is a Pokemon I have never told you about, and the reasons you will find out. This Pokemon is a Dratini. She is quite young, and at a low enough level for her not to get out of hand. Her attacks are Extremespeed, Wrap, Leer, Slam, and Thunderwave. Use them wisely. April, one day you will learn where this Dratini has come from. I hope you will be happy in your quest. I love you. Love, Dad. P.S. When you get to Cherrygrove City, go to the Pokemon Center and ask the Nurse Joy in there if you can have the item Chris Tamer left./i"
I gasped again. A Dratini? What Pokemon was this? How could Dad not have told me?
"Dratini?" I murmured. The giant snake woke up and looked at me with its big, shining brown eyes.
I sighed and began crying. "Dratini. . ." I said again. "Dad? How could you not have told me? Why?"
Dratini saw me crying and hopped into my lap. I giggled a little. "You're sweet," I said. "How about a nickname? I could give you a name much prettier than Dratini."
"Draaaaaaaa," she answered.
I giggled again. "Hmmm." I wondered. "How about. . .Mystic?"
I don't know where that name came from. It flew out of my mouth. But Dratini did look mystical, with those brown eyes, and wings coming out of her head.
"Dratini, dra drati!" Mystic cried, and did a little flip in the air. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "I guess that means you like that name. . .Mystic."
Mystic seemed to smile. She hopped around all over the place. I smiled and looked for the Sentret so we could battle, but it was gone. "Oh well," I shrugged. "Come on Mystic, let's go to Cherrygrove City." I said, while walking towards my backpack.
Mystic followed me, hopping in the rhythm I was walking. "Come on my shoulder," I suggested. "I hope you're not too heavy. . ."
Mystic smiled again and took a large leap to my shoulder. She rested her head on mine. I grabbed my backpack, threw it on, and continued to Cherrygrove City.
~Chapter Three~
I didn't get much sleep that night. I slept for about an hour and then I woke up from a terrible nightmare that I was in a giant pool surrounded by blue snakes.
I sat on my pillow and hugged my knees to my chest. I looked at the ceiling let my mind wander. I heard Mom snoring in the room across from mine.
"Mom." I whispered. How could I go away from her? We had been together for such a long time. Tomorrow was going to be so painful.
Finally, I stopped daydreaming and quietly went downstairs. I pulled my diary from my backpack and snuck it back up to my room. I took out a pen and starting writing.
~*Dear Diary,
I'm so nervous about tomorrow. I've been turning this over and over in my head, deciding if I should really go. Mom will be so lonely without me. I don't know.should I really do this? Should I do this just for the sake of honoring Dad? But.Mom was probably planning for me to go. She gave me that watch, after all. Maybe she wants me to honor Dad. I wish I could have seen Dad when he was at the Indigo Plateau and the Johto League. It was too far away for us to travel to, and Mom wouldn't let me watch it on TV, no matter how much I begged. Maybe, somehow, I'll find out why.~*~
I stuck my diary under my pillow and stared at the ceiling some more. My thoughts were jumbling around in my head. Finally, I felt myself rocking, and I fell asleep.
~*~*~
"April! April, honey, wake up!"
I sleepily opened one eye and looked around. My mom was hovering over my bed, trying to shake me awake.
"You must have slept like a log," she said. "I was trying to wake you up for the last ten minutes!"
I laughed and opened both of my eyes. I sat up and became aware of the smell of waffles and syrup.
"Are you making breakfast?" I asked hopefully.
"Yup," Mom smiled. "A going-away breakfast."
I looked at Mom and smiled a little smile. I was still really, really scared about going away.
"Oh honey," Mom whispered, and hugged me. "You'll be fine. I know you will."
I sighed. "I know. I'm just. . ." Mom smiled again. I loved her smile. It lit up her whole face.
"Listen," she started. "Why don't you get dressed and brush that lovely hair of yours and come on down for some waffles."
I laughed again. All of us-my mom, my dad, and I-have really dark brown hair that's almost black. Dad would always braid it for me or something and ask that I would never cut it because it was so beautiful.
I have never cut it. It's past my waist now.
I got up and shook the covers off of me. "I'll be right down," I said.
~*~*~
Fifteen minutes later, Mom and I were sitting at our large dining room table. She was serving us tons of perfect, golden waffles, drowning in butter and maple syrup.
"Mmmm," I mumbled as I stuffed large forkfuls into my mouth. Mom was also serving biscuits, orange juice, and bacon.
"This is excellent," I commented. "It's probably the last big breakfast I'll have in a while," I added, while reaching for a piece of bacon. I quickly ate it and took a sip from my juice.
Mom neatly ate a biscuit. "Yes," she said. "I think so. Now, after you eat, are there any friends you want to call? I don't think you've told anyone you're going away."
I stood up in surprise. "I can't believe it!" I cried. "I have to call Morgan!" I exclaimed as I ran for the phone.
Mom cast a pretend-stern glance at me. "Finish your breakfast first." I laughed. "There's no need to order me to do THAT!"
~*~*~
About five pieces of bacon later, we were both done with breakfast. Mom started doing the dishes and I grabbed the phone and dialed Morgan's number. I knew it by heart because we had been best friends since Poké- Preschool.
"Hello?" Morgan's voice asked, sounding tired.
"Mo!" I exclaimed. "You would not believe what has been happening lately!"
"What?" she asked in alarm.
"I'm going away. . ." I trailed off.
"Where?"
"On a Pokemon journey. Today."
Mo didn't answer at first. There were ten seconds of dead silence between us. I was beginning to think she hung when I heard, "Nooooooooo!" yell from the phone.
"I know it's sudden," I said, trying to calm her down, "But I found this Pokeball Mom gave me when Dad died. Then. . ."
"Then what?" Morgan prompted.
"I don't know," I sighed. "I just feel like I HAVE to go. Like it's my fate or something. " Mo sighed. "Well, you'll call me, right? And tell me about all the neat Pokemon you see?"
"Right," I smiled.
"Hey, what's the Pokemon your. . .your Dad gave you? Did you see?"
"Nope," I answered. For some reason, that had never occurred to me, finding out what Pokemon my Dad had left me two years ago.
"Well, open the Pokeball! Tell me!" Mo exclaimed.
"Later," I said. I just didn't feel like looking at the Pokemon right now. It would be so painful. . .
"Oh," Morgan said, suddenly understanding. "Well, I'll tell everyone at school. They'll either be really jealous or really sad."
I laughed. "Well, I'll talk to you later. . .I guess," I said. It had suddenly hit me-I was leaving, I was really leaving. I wasn't going to see Mo and Brian and Alex and Sandra and everyone every day anymore . "Bye," Mo said softly. Then we hung up.
~*~*~
"Are you all packed?" Mom asked. It was just a half an hour later.
I was looking all around my room, making sure I didn't forget anything. I saw the corner of my diary peeking out from underneath one of my pillows.
"My journal!" I cried. I took it and stuffed into my backpack, which I had somehow lugged up the stairs.
Mom took something from my desk and held it up. It was the watch, with all the cards sticking out from it. "Don't forget this," she said.
"Oh!" I cried. I put it on my left wrist. Then I looked around my room some more. I found a denim baseball cap, and put that on. Then I looked in the mirror. "Well," I said. "This is it."
Mom swallowed. It looked like she was trying not to cry. "Come," she said, carrying my backpack. "I'll help you with this stuff."
We both stood in front of our large house. I couldn't imagine that now, only one person would be living in it.
I stared at my house. I couldn't believe I was going to leave it.
"Mom. . ." I croaked.
"Honey, you can do this," Mom whispered, ruffling my hair. "Just believe in yourself. If you do that, you can do anything."
"Mom," I said again. "That's so corny."
She laughed. "But true. Very, very true."
We looked at each other. I knew it was true. But. . .
"Oh Mom!" I exclaimed, wrapping my arms around her waist. "I'm going to miss you so much!"
"Me too," she whispered. "A lot more then you're going to miss me. But this is the way it is."
"I know," I said, sniffling. I looked at the long road ahead of me. I hoped it wouldn't take too long to get to Cherrygrove City, the next town again.
"Well, you'd better go or you'll never make it to Cherrygrove by dark," Mom suddenly said. "Oh before you go, I have something for you." Mom handed me five tiny Pokeballs.
I stared at them for a few seconds before sticking them in my jeans pocket. Then I started walking down the road without even realizing it. I heard Mom shouting behind me, "Bye sweetie! Make me proud!
I walked on.
~*~*~
"Hum de dum, de dum," I hummed to myself. It was about an hour later, and I was halfway to Cherrygrove City. I hoped I would get there before dark.
I walked down the dirt pathway and looked all around. I didn't see any Pokemon. Just trees, trees, and more trees.
"Whew," I said out loud. My backpack was getting really heavy. I decided to take a rest. I walked over to an apple tree and set my backpack down with a thud. I pulled one of the water bottles out and began to drink
Suddenly, something hopped out of the tall grass near the tree. It was brown and black, with a little white stomach.
"A Sentret!" I cried. Being very quiet, I unzipped a compartment in my backpack and pulled out the Pokeball with a Pokemon in it. I threw it out.
The Pokeball opened. A flash of white light blinded me for a second. Then the image became clear.
I gasped. It was a light-blue worm-like the kind I had seen in my dream!
The creature was sleeping. Its long body was curled up beneath it, and its head was resting on the tip of its tail. I noticed and envelope in its mouth, and gently pulled it out, without waking the creature.
I looked at the envelope and saw 'April' written on the front of it, in my Dad's neat handwriting.
I gasped a little. With trembling hands, I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter:
"iDear April, I don't know when you will be reading this. I pray its after I have come home, retired from.Pokemon training, but you never know what can happen. April, I have tried my best to teach you all about Pokemon. I have taught you their attacks and evolutions and such. But this is a Pokemon I have never told you about, and the reasons you will find out. This Pokemon is a Dratini. She is quite young, and at a low enough level for her not to get out of hand. Her attacks are Extremespeed, Wrap, Leer, Slam, and Thunderwave. Use them wisely. April, one day you will learn where this Dratini has come from. I hope you will be happy in your quest. I love you. Love, Dad. P.S. When you get to Cherrygrove City, go to the Pokemon Center and ask the Nurse Joy in there if you can have the item Chris Tamer left./i"
I gasped again. A Dratini? What Pokemon was this? How could Dad not have told me?
"Dratini?" I murmured. The giant snake woke up and looked at me with its big, shining brown eyes.
I sighed and began crying. "Dratini. . ." I said again. "Dad? How could you not have told me? Why?"
Dratini saw me crying and hopped into my lap. I giggled a little. "You're sweet," I said. "How about a nickname? I could give you a name much prettier than Dratini."
"Draaaaaaaa," she answered.
I giggled again. "Hmmm." I wondered. "How about. . .Mystic?"
I don't know where that name came from. It flew out of my mouth. But Dratini did look mystical, with those brown eyes, and wings coming out of her head.
"Dratini, dra drati!" Mystic cried, and did a little flip in the air. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "I guess that means you like that name. . .Mystic."
Mystic seemed to smile. She hopped around all over the place. I smiled and looked for the Sentret so we could battle, but it was gone. "Oh well," I shrugged. "Come on Mystic, let's go to Cherrygrove City." I said, while walking towards my backpack.
Mystic followed me, hopping in the rhythm I was walking. "Come on my shoulder," I suggested. "I hope you're not too heavy. . ."
Mystic smiled again and took a large leap to my shoulder. She rested her head on mine. I grabbed my backpack, threw it on, and continued to Cherrygrove City.