Two hundred kilometres of traveling, and I was stuck in the back of the moving van.

Not for the first time this trip – never mind ever – I cursed my mother. The van went over a bump, and I swore out loud.

"This is the worst! Why did we have to move to Hoenn anyway?"

I stared at my PokeNav Plus, which had been playing some irritating introductory app for newbie Trainers that my mom had loaded onto it. It was stuck on a screen, and I realized it was expecting me to input my gender.

"Fuck you. As if I'm going to become a Trainer just because we're moving out of Johto." I switched off the PokeNav and stared at the slight crack of light that was entering the doors.

My thoughts wandered to Hoenn at large. I'd done my research before we left – it was a tiny region, population of about 250 or so, peaceful and beautiful. Nice people, apparently, though they had a bit of a big fondness for trumpets. Apparently.

What would they really be like? Nothing in real life was actually that nice.

I was snapped put of my reverie by the sound of the moving van doors opening. I rushed out – and fell flat on my face right beside a mud puddle. Apparently, it had rained earlier.

"Sorry about making you ride in the moving van, honey!" came my mom's airy voice. She didn't even look at me as I stood and wiped the mud off my face.

"Sure you are," I mumbled. Unfortunately, she heard me.

"What was that?" Her tone was sharp, and I internally flinched.

"Nothing."

"It certainly didn't sound like nothing."

"Ma'am," one of the movers interrupted, offering her a clipboard. I slipped into the house right in front of a Machoke carrying a box from the van, and headed upstairs to claim a room.

Half an hour later, after a short shower, I came downstairs to see Mom watching TV.

"Look, Zanna! Dad's on TV!"

I came around to glance at the screen, but Norman wasn't there. Instead, a short, bald newscaster was talking to the camera.

"Oh, you must have missed him. Oh well."

"Yeah, too bad."

"Now. We have to talk."

She sat down at the table, turning the chair to face me. "I wasn't very impressed with the way you spoke to me in front of the movers. You really embarrassed me out there, Zanna."

Some part of me wilted, but I'd learned to ignore it. "Do I look like I care?"

"Zanna!"

I rounded on her, taking out my pent-up frustrations from the move. "You know what? You don't get to say anything. The only reason there were movers to "embarrass" you in front of is because of you. You dragged me away from the life I knew – from my school and my friends – to move to this Arceus-forsaken region, just because one of the neighbours was going to tell Norman you're cheating on him again!"

She gave me a surprised look, but I snorted. "Don't look so shocked. Anyone who's not an idiot – meaning anyone but Norman, apparently – could have figured out you're an unfaithful bitch. Your only child isn't even his."

Suddenly, Cheryl stood and advanced on me, swinging her hand and delivering a stinging slap to my face. I recoiled, holding my face.

"You," she began. "You, are an ungrateful, selfish, lazy tramp who doesn't deserve my love. How dare you say such awful things about your mother?"

I spat in her face. "You're not my mother."

Calmly, she wiped the spit from her face. "You know what? I've had more than enough of your awful behaviour. You have half an hour to pack up your shit and get out of my house."

I opened my mouth to retort, but nothing came out, so I shut it and turned on my heel to storm upstairs.

Once I was in my room, I slammed the door and started throwing everything of any value that would fit into my bag. The Wii U was first – I could pawn that at a Poke Mart for some cash, I was sure. My Potion, a few sets of extra clothes, my wallet and PokeNav Plus, and a sleeping bag and pillow. I tied my bandana around my head, pushing my hair back.

I stomped my way down the stairs, ignoring years of conditioning to be as quiet as possible, and headed right for the door. Before I left forever, I turned back and glared at Cheryl.

"You know what? My first move is to head to Petalburg City and tell Norman that you kicked your daughter out of the house. Maybe then I can tell him that you've had a string of boyfriends, and maybe he'll even believe me."

She replied something, but I didn't hear her over the sound of the door slamming.

I breathed a sigh of relief, and squared my shoulders. The world was there. Time to face it.