The Mission

"We should have a battle," Cheren suggested, looking at Touko with the eyes, she gently imagined, of the outgoing young boy he had once been.

She thought back then, of the last time she had seen that gleam of raw ambition. They were probably 13… Bianca was 12. Cheren had spotted a new PoKémon on Route 1 on his way home from school. She had seen it then, while he had passionately described, in intricate detail, the stray Blitzle that had wandered out of its typical range. She remembered his face, for she didn't know people like them, serious people like them, could exhibit that type of joy. His eyes… She pondered what hers must look like. They must be dull in comparison to those of her friends…

"…maybe she didn't get enough sleep. I've heard of that! Of people falling asleep standing, with their eyes open too!"

Cheren looked borderline concerned when Touko snapped back. The glisten in his eyes was gone.

"No thanks, Cheren. I think I'm too tired to battle today."

"You're not coming with us." Ah, so he had picked up on her conflict.

"Well, I don't know. Just maybe not today."

Cheren was notably disappointed. Bianca was dumbfounded. "Wait! Why did you get a PoKémon today if you didn't want to head out with us? We're your best friends! We need to do this together!"

Touko was untouched by the illogical sentiment pouring from her friend's eyes. She turned to her mother, who had put down the Snivy. Her face was saddened, though Touko imagined her heart was more destroyed than she could express.

"Bianca…" Touko tried to pick her words carefully, "I don't want to be a PoKémon trainer."

She didn't notice Snivy's understanding, though baffled stare towards his new "master".

"I don't want to be a PoKémon breeder, nor a "Champion". There's no reason for me to accompany you on your journey to become something I don't want to be."

Bianca looked about ready to cry. Cheren remained unreadable. Touko threw a glance at the small creature standing off behind her. "I should probably return Snivy to Professor Juniper."

"NO!" Touko's eyes met with the ones of her now troubled mother, "For your own sake, this PoKémon will stay with you! You need this Touko! You need something…"Her tears were becoming steadily more frequent. They rolled down her face like little raindrops, pausing at her cheekbones before racing down towards her chin. "Something… you don't know you need yet."

Touko's placid gaze searched her mother calmly. She was unmoved, but wished to pacify her mother's distress. "Then I will keep Snivy. If that is what you want." She turned to her friends. "You both, please, go on to Juniper's. Get your Pokédexes. Be great." Touko pointed a legitimate smile at Cheren. "I know you will be."

Cheren nodded, nothing more to say. He robotically turned on his heel and walked out the front door. Bianca lingered, trying futilely to assure her friend that she was glad she wasn't going to pursue a dream that was never hers. After a hug which Touko did not return, she ran out the door after Cheren.

Her mother had sat down at the table. She hadn't moved her gaze from the dainty placement mat. "I understand your reluctance, Touko. If there's anyone out there that can understand…" She still hadn't looked up, "It's me."

Touko, still standing, did not respond, but turned her gaze to the kitchen.

"Your father, he…"

"Mom…" Touko knew the subject was painful.

"He was wrong to do that. Just because he had those hang-ups doesn't mean you will too. And just because your first PoKé-"

"I know."

Her mother's eyes, watery with a thick film of tears, pleaded with Touko, "Then why? Why have you no dreams? You're not interested in PoKémon, and PoKémon is all I know. I can't help you out of this depression if you want nothing to do with my cure! You're 18 years old! You could have been a great trainer by now! But… you haven't taken an interest to anything… And I don't know what to do."

"I want to travel."

To Touko, saying this to her mother felt like more of a confession than anything else.

"Then travel! Take your PoKémon and discover what life is-"

"No." Touko never lost her composure. "I don't want to take PoKémon with me."

"Then… what will…."

"-protect me?"

"Yes…" Touko's mother was thoroughly confused. No one would dare travel through the wilderness of the region without something to protect them.

"I am under the impression that I do not need protection to travel, despite common opinion. And furthermore… I will not quickly trust another PoKémon to do me anything but harm for some time. I'm much more comfortable relying on myself."

"What if wild PoKémon attack-"

"-They won't." Touko took a few steps towards her mother. "They attack when trainers sic their own PoKémon on them. It's a defense, primarily. I have a notion that they won't want anything to do with me, so long as I clearly pose no threat. Thus, no PoKémon."

Touko's mother seemed to have regained some control and pondered the thoughts of her daughter.

"I will go around the world, Mom, through caves and oceans, with nothing. I'll write about it, and I'll figure out what PoKémon are to people, or maybe just what PoKémon are. I'll prove the traditions we hold wrong – our beliefs incorrect – our methods unfitting." Touko's blue eyes softened. "I'll make people more aware of what PoKémon feel, how they think, so that they will know how to act around them. Maybe reevaluate their behavior towards them. I don't know. But I'll be the one to put the information out there."

The older woman was moved. Her daughter really did have a dream. Maybe it was just different than hers… maybe more important. She rose, proudly, and placed a hand on her Touko's shoulder. "I won't be comfortable knowing you could be hurt. But I do think that your… mission… is commendable. I just wish you would bring something to take care of you."

She struck a chord. Before the woman could rephrase, Touko's predicted snap came in a steely voice.

"You, of all people, should know the last thing I need to take care of me is a PoKémon. I take care of myself."

"I know. But, just, the fights…"

"I'll be fine."

Knowing when to change the subject, her mother's eyes ventured over to the forgotten Snivy, now staring through the window, looking at the sky. She imagined it was trying to feign disinterest in their dramatics. "What about the Sn-"

"It stays with you."

Touko's mother didn't know what to say to that. She knew Touko's ventures would be discredited if she did not proceed without PoKémon completely.

"Well, when… When do you plan to leave?"

Touko had grown tired of talking with her mother. This had been the longest dialogue between them in years, it seemed.

"Tomorrow. I don't want to bump into Cheren or Bianca. They will try to follow me."

"They care about you, Touko. They'll just want to know you're safe."

Touko's infallible logic kicked in. "Yes. And that is counterproductive to my cause to travel alone." She was turning to go back upstairs, perhaps to plan for tomorrow's beginnings. Her mother, now concerned for the safety of her daughter, sat silently and churned over their words.

Touko went upstairs, not thinking about the Snivy, her mother, or her friends. She didn't do much thinking about others anyway. No need to become sentimental right when it would become a hassle.

Her mother heard the door shut. Her concerns brewed like an upcoming storm. This was her Touko. This was her Touko about to face the world with nothing to help her. No guide, no friend, no protector. It's a venture very few people make… and certainly not when they were just becoming independent. She needed advice. Slipping on her shoes, Touko's mother headed for Cheren's house.