Chapter 3: Departure
After having overhearing my parents heart-to-heart and then joining in a heartfelt hug I leave to go get some rest in order to get ready for the big day in a couple of hours but when I get to bed my parent's conversation runs through my head especially my father opening up about his worries and crying that impacted me the most because I rarely see him cry, not because to him it shows weakness, but because he's very stoic and strong, like a Golurk, yet caring father so when I heard him break down it was like an eye opener for me driving home the point that I am going to be leaving home and that my father loves me with all his heart and then some. Wiping the tears from my eye I make a silent promise to myself that not only will I travel around the region for a place to start my restaurant, but I am doing this to not let my parents down, to show them that there is no need to worry about me and that I'll come home with a great smile on my face and brimming with good news… but for now *yawn* I got to get some sleep, so much to do tomorrow…
*The Next Day*
I awake with a start as if my body was telling me "Get up already! Time's a wasting!" I jump out of bed and quickly make my way downstairs my father is drinking a cup of coffee while reading the Daily Rufflet my mother is drinking a cup of tea and reading a book "Morning Mom, Morning Dad!" I exclaim to which my father looks at me from the top of the newspaper "Good morning son, I take it you slept well?" "Only like a baby Munna, today's the day" I reply barely able to contain myself "well since it's your big day and all I decided to make breakfast this morning it's on the stove it'll fill you up for the long train ride to Nimbasa City" says my mother looking up from her book "really thanks mom I'll go get dressed then I'm going to be back to eat" I retort a goofy smile is plastered onto my face as I can't believe that this day came so fast it feels like yesterday I was only 16 when I began planning my route across the region, and the Pokemon I was going to catch man 4 years later I am beginning to live that dream it's so surreal. Looking through the remnants of my closest I look for an outfit to wear today "hmmm what to wear, what… to…wear… ah here they are!" picking out a light blue button up shirt and a beige sweater vest with a blue diamond pattern stitched across, a pair of khaki pants, brown socks, and a pair of brown boots because I am going to be doing A LOT of walking.
After getting dressed I walk back downstairs my father hands me 20 pokeballs among them is a moonball "I want you to catch some Pokemon that you'll think will help you on your way around the region, while I don't expect you to do much battling, but I do want to see the team you can come up with for when you return. I will want to see the fruits of your labor Arphelius because I wanna battle you that'll be your final test" he holds out a pokeball of his own and shows it to me "is that a challenge old man?" I reply a competitive spark flaring up within me "Damn straight little boy" he replies the seriousness in his voice lights a fire in the pit of my stomach "I'm going to miss you dad" I say pulling him into a hug he returns it "Imma miss you too son" he pats me on the back as we end the hug "Boys will be boys, but if Willy's battling, then I'm damn sure battling as well" says my mother standing from the table and pulls out a pokeball from her apron pocket "Woah mom you too?! If that's the case then I had better get a team put together fast, but I don't think I'm going to lose to some old geezers like you two" I joke as the kitchen erupts into laughter "you're in for a world of hurt Arphelius" jokes my mother, but her warning couldn't come any clearer "that's where you're wrong ma you don't know what I am bringing to the table, I'm the wild card I've seen your teams already" I reply a smug grin snaked its way onto my face
"We'll settle this for when you come back Arphelius" says my father placing his hands on my mother's shoulders as if he's dousing the blazing inferno that is my mother it seems to work, "alright, alright I'm going to get my bag and then I'll get some breakfast then I am out" making my way back up the stairs for one final time I grab my packed bag and go downstairs to set it by the door. Filling my plate with omelets, hot cakes, hash browns, and bacon I sit at the table and immediately dig into the food "it'll be a long while before I can eat mom's cooking again so I'll savor every bite" I say my mom smiles but before I realize it I'm already halfway through my plate! I chuckle to myself and continue eating. Pulling out the train schedule from my bag I see that the next train comes in 45 minutes, "that gives me enough time to check out the surrounding forest for my first partner and I know just the ball to use too" placing the schedule on top of my bag I put the 20 pokeballs into my bag but I keep the moonball out "just in case I run into my first partner" I put the ball into my left pocket and the folded schedule into my right pocket. Feeling that my time home is drawing to a close I pick up my weighty bag with a might heave and place it on my back "Mom, Dad! It's time that I leave, I'm going to make my mark on the world!" I exclaim my mother and father give me one last farewell hug and wish me luck on my journey I say my farewells and close the door behind me "this is it… this is where I begin" I look up to the sky for what for what seemed like an eternity, watching the dark blue hue transition into a light blue. Taking my first step off of my porch all the memories of my childhood surge through my mind leading me all the way to where I am at currently "the first step of the journey is often the hardest one, but it's the most important as well…"