The group finally sat down to enjoy dinner together, Nicole ended up asking before long, about the Pokemon they had captured, before demanding they be let out of the Poke balls to play and eat. She squealed when she saw how cute the Pokemon, before looking at Ryan.
"I thought you wanted something strong Ryan." She teased him like only a mother can.
"My Pachirisu is going to be the greatest Pokemon that ever lived with my help. Now tell me about Machamp."
"Hmmm, well, believe it or not, I used to be the Roseford City Gym leader."
"What? The fighting gym?" Jordyn said with surprise in her voice.
"Yes, I gave it up when Ryan was due, we moved here for a quieter life. I don't talk about it too often because, I guess I miss it. Someone had to be here to look after you, so I couldn't go back."
"So Machamp was your main Pokemon?"
"Not just my main Pokemon, but my friend, I had him since I was younger than you, a long time ago in this region, trainers could start their journey at 11 years old like in the other regions in the area. So I got my Machamp from my father when I turned 11. The Hanno Pokemon League decided they wanted to breed a better batch of trainers than the other regions, which is why you now start your journeys at 16. The rule only came in a year or two before you were due to start your journeys, so you guys really are the first batch of Hanno's elite trainers."
The trio continued to talk about the journey ahead until dinner was finished, by now it was already 4pm, so Jordyn had decided to go home for her last night. Ryan had continued to enquire about Nicole's exploits on her journey, and as the Gym leader. He found out that to become a gym leader in this region, that you had to be from the city of the gym, and also that his mother would only carry two Pokemon for her journey, Lucario and Machamp. Lucario was a particular favourite of Ryan's at least he knew where it came from, he knew his grandfather also had a Lucario, and a few relatives before that. It had become something of a family tradition.
The couple continued to talk most of the evening, until they were interrupted by a particular news report on Pokenews.
"Violet Corp. today angered officials by continuing to go ahead with production of their latest edition in the line of Pokemon technology. When a former worker spoke up after his release from the company, of a new type of technology they were producing, officials from the Pokemon League condemned their actions. We are of course referring to their development of their very own strain of 'Dark Balls'. These balls reportedly have the ability to enhance any Pokemon's abilities whilst removing any shreds of free will and conscience the Pokemon may have. There has been no confirmed reports of these Poke balls other than a few tips from the scientists they apparently have on the job."
"No good will come from that company, they don't want anything like what they claim." Nicole said. "They are going to start something big, the Pokemon League need to do something." She added with frustration.
Ryan knew of the company, they claimed to want to protect wild Pokemon, though they did what they claimed by frequently attacking trainers. They had gone very quiet lately, and that has done nothing to help their reputation, a lot of people think they are preparing for their 'grand plan'. A scientist who was supposedly being tracked down by them, had rang in to a talk show which were on the subject of the company in question. He had claimed that they are making 20 Dark balls to use on legendary Pokemon, he even threw some names around, such as Mewtwo, Rayquaza, the 3 legendary birds of Kanto and even the 3 legendary beasts. Rumours from Johto claimed that scientests had been sniffing around the Ilex Forest, that was supposed to be the home of Celebi, apparently there is a way to summon him, maybe they were trying to figure out what that was?
It had become quite late once the report was finished, Ryan had decided to go to bed, he wanted to start his journey early in the morning. Pachirisu was already asleep on the sofa, he tried to gently pick it up, though, to no avail, must be a light sleeper. It woke up with a cry, seemingly of frustration.
"Don't worry, im just getting us to bed, you can go back to sleep in there."
Pachirisu was happy again, it slowly crawled up his arm, and perched itself on to his shoulder as he climbed up the stairs. the two finally reached the familiar bedroom. Ryan opened the door and let Pachirisu down, he predictably, jumped straight on to the bed and fell asleep at the foot of the bed. Ryan smiled at him before looking around the bedroom, so many memories, posters of the elite 4, and pictures together with Jordyn covered most of the back wall, it seemed strange to be this close to leaving such a familiar place. He wouldn't be gone forever, he could come back anytime of course, but still, it was almost saddening, though the prospect of many new friends did help a lot, and even just journeying with Jordyn and Pachirisu made him smile. He finally got himself changed and climbed in to bed he spent a few more moments thinking about his upcoming journey, though he was soon sleeping.
Mornings light shone through the gaps of Ryan's blinds, Pidgey's tweeted their morning songs. It seemed like it would be a great day to start a journey, though Ryan didn't much care for this. Right in this moment, bed was the best place in the world, Pachirisu seemed to agree, he was no longer curled up in a ball, over the course of the night, it had become sprawled across the bed, still, he was only small so didn't intrude in to any of Ryan's space. Ryan probably would have had something to say if he had of took any space from him.
Meanwhile, there was a knock at his door, Nicole who had managed to actually pull herself from bed, answered it.
"Hey Nicole, is Ryan ready?" It was Jordyn, fully prepared and ready to go. Perhaps she was late for everything else because it didn't matter to her as much as this did?
"He's not actually up yet, if you wanna go up and get him then feel free to. I suspect you'll be doing a lot of this on your journeys." Nicole replied, giggling at the thought of Jordyn having to take care of Ryan.
"Thanks, I'll make sure he's awake." She commented. Nicole let her past and she creeped up the stairs, she had a plan. She gently pressed the handle down on the bedroom door so as not to wake him. Creeping in, she got her first glimpse of his bedroom, in 16 years, she had never seen it. She spent a moment smiling at the photo's of the pair, the memories of each one flashing through her head. Each one told a story. She manage to drag herself away from the pictures for a moment to see Ryan and Pachirisu sprawled across the bed. She creeped to the bottom of the bed and knelt down, she then grabbed Pachirisu and threw him on to Ryan, Pachirisu woke up annoyed at Ryan having done this twice, now. He cried before hitting a thundershock attack on Ryan. He screamed and fell out of the bed.
"What's your problem?!" He shouted at Pachirisu. He protested his innocence, he was only retaliating to being woken up in such an aggressive manner. Jordyn fell over with laughter. They both glared at her, before looking at each other, Ryan nodded in her direction and Pachirisu followed orders, shocking her instead. She screamed at the attack before he stopped.
"I was enjoying sleep Jordyn, you couldn't have just woken me up nicely? If you even had to at all." She laughed once more.
"It's time to go Ryan, come on, lets go." She pleaded with him, until he finally gave in.
"Okay okay, just let me get ready, take Pachirisu with you while I get changed." She obliged and left the room as Pachirisu jumped on to her shoulder.
Ryan didn't take long to change, he pulled on a pair of black cargo trousers with an olive coloured t-shirt and finally a black jacket with red accents. He was never really a one to follow much fashion, Jordyn was always trying to get him to dress better but he didn't like that at all. He expected lots of shopping trips on this journey that's for sure.
He stepped out of his room for the last time before dragging himself down the stairs, he was met with Jordyn at the bottom, who had a smile plastered all over her face, she was ready to go, that much was obvious. She let him past and he went straight to the kitchen to pick up a few sandwiches his mom had made, he stuffed them in to his bag along side a few other things he had picked up the night before, his mom had made sure to pick up some potions and antidotes for Route 101, these would be the only things he would really need. Minus that family of Tyranitar who only come out when they're attacked, the route was mainly inhabited by bugs and birds.
"Before you guys go." Nicole started. "I wanted to give you a little head start over the other trainers, I bought you guys a couple more Poke balls, I could only afford a few, so I thought you could share them between you, there's 2 each if you like. They're on the table over there."
Sure as she had said, 4 Poke balls lay on a table in the middle of the room, Ryan being closest, he took them all before passing half to Jordyn. Nicole stood from the seat she was in and hugged Ryan. This one seemed to last longer than any before, it made sense, they weren't sure when they would be back, and this is what Ryan had put it down too.
"Ryan, do you mind if I have a moment with Jordyn? Just before you guys leave." She asked.
This puzzled Ryan, but still he obliged, he walked to the front door of his home and gently pulled it open. As he stepped in to the archway, he turned his head back, gazing upon his home one more time. After a short moment he pulled the door shut behind him and took his first steps outside for the day.
"Listen, I know he will be a great trainer, I really do. But he is naive, not in his knowledge of Pokemon, he just has a bit of a temper at times, Violet Corp are planning something, and I don't want him getting pulled in to it. Please Jordyn, look after him." She was saddened to have to make such a request of a girl who was taking her own journey as well, but she felt it had to be made.
"I've been looking after Ryan since the day we met." Jordyn replied with a smile. "I will do what I can for him, I care as much as you do."
They hugged for a moment before saying their final goodbyes, Jordyn left the house to meet with Ryan who was looking towards Route 101.
"You ready?" She asked.
"What did my mom say in there?" He replied.
"Just making sure you changed your underwear every day." She laughed as she walked ahead, leaving him to blush.
"I do that anyways you know." He snapped at her with frustration in his voice.
"Well done Ryan... Well done."