Back at the house, Xander walked up to Star as she sat on the couch, drinking cocoa to help calm her down. "Star, I've been doing some thinking, and…well, you're still my little Starlight…but I think you're old enough now that you can handle being a Pokemon trainer. Here are your Pokeballs back." He handed them to her.

Star smiled. "Thanks a lot, Dad. It's nice to know that you trust me."

"I've always trusted you, Star. It's the world I don't trust."

"I'll be fine."

"I know. Say, those Pokeballs…they aren't empty! What's in them?"

Star shrugged. "I don't know."

She pointed the balls at the window, and a Milotic, Arcanine, and Onix appeared outside. Star looked surprised. The Pokemon from her dream…they were in the Pokeballs she found. That was strange…

"Wow, Star! You've got some really strong-looking Pokemon! You'll do just fine. Now, if you're gonna train Pokemon, you'd probably get started right away, kiddo."

"Sure thing, Dad." Star got up and walked up to her room to pack. She was going to be off on an adventure!

When Star got back downstairs, Xander was there, waiting to say goodbye. He hugged her tightly, and then opened the door for her. "You take care, okay?"

"I'll miss you, Dad."

"I'll miss you too, Starlight."

Star smiled and said goodbye to her mother as well.

"She'll be fine, Xander. She's a strong kid."

"I know, Summer. I know."

Star was walking down the street, looking for the nearest Pokemon Mart to stock up on goods, when she suddenly bumped into an old friend from down the street. "I'm sorry…" she started to say, but then she looked up. "BRANDON! How are you doing?! I haven't seen you since school got out!"

Brandon laughed nervously. "Hey Star. I'm doing...alright…I'm just about to start training Pokemon to take on the League."

Star jumped in the air for joy. "ME TOO! You wanna come with me?"

Brandon's eyes widened in pure nervous fear. "Well, I…I mean, I'd love too…I mean…"

Star smiled widely and squealed with delight, hugging Brandon so tightly as to nearly choke him to death. "This is gonna be so much fun! Us two best friends training Pokemon together!"

Brandon laughed nervously again. "Ehe…Yeah, friends. Best friends."

Star saw the nervous look on his face and frowned. "Is something wrong? Do you not wanna come with me?"

"NO! I mean…I want to come with you…"

"Nervous because you're new to Pokemon?"

"NEW!? I'm not new to Pokemon! I beat the local gym leader already, thank you very much!"

"Okay, then maybe you can go it alone, and you don't need my help." Star smiled mischievously.

"I didn't say that! I want to go with you!"

Star smiled. "Yay! Let's get going to the Pokemart!"

As they walked through the small suburban town, they spied all of the look-alike white, ranch-style homes, the overdone fake green turf, and the clear blue skies. They weren't at all remorseful to be leaving all of this behind. As they walked into the Pokemart and up to the front counter, the shopkeep smiled widely.

"Hey there, little girl! You and your boyfriend gonna start training Pokemon?"

Brandon blushed. Star looked confused. "Boyfriend? He's not my boyfriend. I don't have a boyfriend."

Brandon, to avoid further embarrassment, walked away and gathered all the supplies they'd need: Potions, Ethers, a tent, two sleeping bags, some Pokemon food, and some prepackaged travel meals. He slapped them on the counter. "We'll take all this."

"Well, we get right to the point, don't we? No small talk for you, no sir," the shopkeep laughed. "Well, that'll come to $15000."

Brandon just handed the man the money, grabbed Star's hand, and dragged her out with the stuff. He didn't want to be embarrassed any further.