Prologue VI: Goodbye Mr. Ardelis

The journey to Kanto was to take place early that morning. Professor Elm had completed collecting data for his research, and was keen on sharing it with his colleague Professor Oak in Pallet Town. They would be traveling using the professors own plane, an ancient looking thing. Will awoke to the smell of breakfast cooking and quickly dressed. He found both Weavile and his grandfather waiting at one of the Pokemon Centers tables, happily eating a hearty meal.

"Ahh so the prince finally rises!" joked Pryce whilst munching on a crispy apple, "What took you so long eh?"

"So long? Grandpa its six in the morning most people are still sleeping."

"Yeah and those people are the ones missing out on all the good stuff! Mark my words kid, there isn't a better time to hunt for Pokemon than during the hours of dawn. Also one of the best times for viewing scenery but then again most youth don't seem to care much for that anymore."

"Come on gramps, you know better than anyone that I'm a sucker for a pretty picture," laughed Will, digging into a bowl of oatmeal.

"Good morning everyone!" said Professor Elm, proudly walking through the doors of the center. His face was alight with fresh excitement.

"Elm? What were you doing out there, I thought you were still in your room?" asked Pryce.

"Achieving success that is what I am doing!" blurted Elm, obviously delighted at the opportunity to explain himself. "You see I realized that I had been going about my method all wrong! Sure Oddish dislike direct sunlight but that alone wasn't enough. Ilex forest is the ideal place for hatching their young, just not during the day! It's at night! NIGHT! I can't believe it took me so long to realize! I mean the species makes their primary periods of migration during the night!"

"I take it then you managed to get the eggs to hatch?" asked Will excitedly. He had always wanted to see one undergo the process.

"Oh without a doubt my boy! Though sadly I did not manage to produce any cases of Albinism. That mystery will have to wait for another day."

"Well where are they then? The Oddish?"

"I found a larger group of them moving through the forest led by a Bellosom and a Vileplume. Better to leave them out there in the wild among their fellow Pokemon then keep them with me. I'm no trainer after all." The idea of newly hatched Pokemon wandering around in the wild bothered Will, but if a Professor deemed it alright then it must be.

They spent the rest of the morning talking and eating breakfast. They were slated to leave at eight that morning, and as the hour crept closer Will's heart kept beating faster and faster. When Elm had left to get the plane ready Will stood waiting by the Centers door, bag on his back ready to go.

"Calm down now boy, you're going to give yourself a heart attack before you even start!"

"I know I know it's just… Wow this is actually happening! I mean it's finally happening Grandpa!" Pryce smiled at his Grandson.

"You know, even after sixty years I still remember the day my journey started. Nothing ever really quite like it. Treasure every moment of it William, you've more than earned it." As he said this Pryce revealed a large wrapped present from under the table. "Here, something to remember your old Grandpa by. Sinnoh is a much colder region than Johto, even us ice specialist's need to be prepared sometimes." Inside was a dark blue jacket, just Will's size.

"Grandpa it's perfect!" he said quickly pulling it on over his T shirt. "Thank you!"

"The only thanks I need is to see you put it to good work. From what I've heard that's the current fashion up there in old Sinnoh. It's a great place William. Lot of history to it. Remember to take your time. It's easy to rush through a region and not realize you're doing it." Will gave his Grandfather a long hug. He was the only thing that he would miss.

The roar of an engine told the two that it was time. They did not say goodbye; they didn't need to. Instead Will gave one last look back, a mischievous smile on his face.

"You better be ready for one heck of a battle when I get back!"

"Ha! You better come ready! I won't go easy on you anymore!"

With that Will walked outside. The plane was all set for takeoff and after one look at it Weavile seemed rather happy to return to its Pokeball. Will hopped up into the passenger seat and before long they were off, flying high up into the clouds. Azalea looked like a tiny blip when compared to the enormity of Ilex forest, and to the northwest Will could just make out the skyline of Goldenrod city. Soon though he saw nothing but open ocean. Far down to the south he thought he could make out something on the horizon and he pointed to the professor who had to shout to be heard.

"That's Mt. Ember! Part of an archipelago called the Sevii Islands! They branch down into the seas between Kanto and Johto!" After about thirty minutes of flying Kanto came into view. Will's eyes wandered hungrily about the regions landscape. He wasn't sure when, but someday he knew he would walk its routes, forests, and caves. After another forty-five minutes the plane dipped and veered to the left. They were heading for the heart of the regions trade center. Vermillion City, famous for the many ships that visited its harbor. The plane landed down into the water of the harbor, the landing going much smoother than Will would have thought the machine capable of.

"Well Will, we made great time but you've still only got about thirty minutes left till the ferry departs, probably best if you make your way over there now."

"Will do, and thank you so much professor! For everything!" Will waved as Elm took off back into the sky. The harbor was bustling with many persons and Pokemon all boarding ships but before long he was able to find his ferry.

"All aboard for Sinnoh! S.S Nautica soon to depart for Sinnoh!" Called a man up on the Ferry's deck while ringing a bell. Will retrieved his ticket from his bag, approaching a stairwell on wheels that led up to another sailor who was busy checking passengers aboard. Before Will could make it though, a familiar voice called out to him.

"William stop!" He knew it before he turned to look. It was his father.

"What are you doing here?" Will asked with a grumble. His feelings had turned rather sour towards his father after their battle.

"I know I said that I would let you go, son. We had a deal and I will honor that. However, I still have one last card to play in this little game of ours." He handed a postcard to Will, a picture of his mother and her Evee waving happily from up in a tree with gold and red leaves. Beneath it read,

See you soon!

"What… What is this?"

"One last chance son," said Mr. Ardelis gravely. "I need you to grasp the true gravity of this situation, and yet time and time again you have ignored the reasonable. Now I am forced to deal my hand. You have a choice to make, William. Just like your mother did. I warned her of the dangers Pokemon create, the situations they inevitably lead us towards. Terrible beauties, every single one of them. She knew the risks of climbing a mountain as dangerous as Silver, yet nothing could deter her. Not even her duty to her family. You take after her in so many William, but Id always hoped that this particular trait, you might learn to control. I had hoped all those years without them might have helped you to see that; to know when its time to stop.

I beg you, stay with me, and take your rightful place in a business that I have spent my whole life building up not just for me, but for you and your future! Don't waste your life by continuing down this route! If you do… I cannot support you… I will not stand idly by again and allow another member of this family die because of Pokemon!"

These words resonated within Will in a way he did not expect. For so long all he had perceived was his father's lack of emotion. But now he understood.

"Funny… You know, I expected you to try a lot of things but this…This isn't healthy. Dad I know how much you miss her, but, to blame mom's death on all Pokemon? That's not fair to them! Or Grandpa! And especially to me! Cutting them out of your life entirely, treating them like common place tools. It won't make the pain disappear, and it won't bring mom back! I need this journey. I want to see the world! Not spend every moment in fear of what could be or always playing things safe! I want to be able to move on from all of this. Its what she would have wanted."

William waited, his heart beating fast hoping that maybe he had gotten through this time. Yet his father said nothing, his jaw simply locked in frustration. With nothing left to say, Will offered him back the photo, yet his father declined.

"Keep it. You'll need her out there more than me." With that his father turned and began to walk away from the ferry. Glancing over his shoulder he offered a final parting.

"You're on your own then."

With that William took the stairs up to the ferry handing the checker his ticket. He then proceeded to the front of the bow, his eyes set out on the open ocean, and all that he knew lay before him.

"Goodbye then Mr. Ardelis." he thought while taking in a deep breath of the briny sea air, ready to start on something new.