It's a warm summer afternoon. Fletchling's are chirping in the air, and Zigzagoon are running through the grass. It's the perfect day to sit outside and enjoy a glass of iced tea. Cory was taking full advantage of this. He is sitting on the patio enjoying the cool breeze as well as finishing a book titled The Haunter Of Malabar Manor. As the last page is turned Cory looks up to the blue sky looking bored. He decides that reading another book might help his boredom, so he goes inside to find another book to read. As he makes his way through the house he passes by a guest room that was turned into an arts and crafts room. Cory stops by it, if only I had more paint, he thought. He then shrugs his shoulders, and continues to his room.
It's a painfully plain bedroom with only a bed, nightstand, and shelves with books and boxes on them. It's not a lot, but it's not like he spends a lot of time in his room. As far as Cory is concerned it serves him well. Cory then goes to the shelves to find another book to read. However, trying to do so is proving easier said than done since he has read all those books many times before. He looks up to the top shelf where a couple books and a box sit. It's been a while since he read something from the top shelf, so why not. Unfortunately, the top shelf is hard to reach, and Cory does not feel like grabbing the step stool from the living room. Instead he jumps up trying to grab one of the books. He jumps up, and he misses. Another jump, and he misses again. Third jump, and he grabs the book, but also the box falls from the shelf nearly missing Cory's head.
The insides of the box come spilling out. Old first place medals and small trophies are scattered on the floor as well as an old pokedex, and a couple TMs. Cory quickly picks up everything and puts it back in the box. He then notices a slim black case still on the floor, and picks it up. After opening it up, Cory is met with eight badges that have been a bit weathered by time, and most are outdated. Cory takes a longer look at them, but shakes his head and quickly puts it with the other stuff. "Never again" he says to himself. Then the sound of a door opening can be heard from the living room.
"Cory, I'm home!" a voice yells out. Cory runs out to go greet his dad.
"Hey Dad, how was work this week?" Cory asked.
"Oh you know. Same thing, different week." he replied before sinking himself into the couch.
Cory quickly got his dad a glass of iced tea before asking another question, "Did you get me any new books?"
"Uh, yeah they're in my bag." he responded.
"Thank goodness, I was gonna go insane if I had to read Moby The Wailord again." Cory explained. Cory then went into the kitchen. "So what are we thinking for dinner tonight?" Cory asked "I was thinking we have alfredo since we still have some noodles left from when we had it last time."
"Cory can I… uh talk to you about something?" his dad asked.
"What do you want to talk about?" Cory responded, still looking through the cupboards for the pasta noodles.
"Come sit down." asked his dad. "This is important."
Cory looks at his dad confused. "Alright then." Cory goes into the living room and sits on the couch next to his father. "What's so important?" Cory asked.
"Look, it's been six years since the incident." his dad said.
"Please don't bring it up. I don't want to talk about it." Cory replied slightly irked
"Well the people still hate you quite a lot, and I don't think that's ever going to change." his dad continued. "I was gonna give this to you on your birthday, but I didn't want you to leave so soon." His dad pulls out a rectangular piece of paper for his pocket, and hands it to Cory. Cory reads it.
"You want me to leave Lenova, and go to Hoenn." Cory said quietly.
"Cory, this place is not for you." his dad replied.
Cory began to speak. "I can't just leave you—
"Son, I've made peace with being alone after your mother and I split," his dad interrupted. "but if you stay here you will never find peace. Your life will be much better if you go to Hoenn and forget about Lenova entirely." His dad grabs Cory by the shoulders. "Don't you understand? This is an opportunity to live away from the past." Cory looks at his father with sorrow.
Cory starts to speak. "But—
His dad interrupts him again. "The ship leaves at six thirty tomorrow. I want you to be on your way by three." His dad gets up to leave, but stops to tell Cory one more thing. "I'll see you on your way out. Start packing what you want to bring with you." His dad then leaves, and Cory sits in silence. A wave of many emotions flush through him. His fists clenched out of anger, his eyes watery out of sadness, but most potent is the shivering fear of leaving to an unknown region. He goes to his room to start packing. Cory goes into his closet and grabs an old duffle bag, and dumps the insides out. Old camping gear and empty pokeballs fall out. The tent is weathered beyond use, and he didn't have any fire starters since he never needed them. At least the old sleeping bag was still good.
Moving on, he gathers some clothes and some daily essentials. Then some of his favorite books, and a flashlight. He had everything he needed, but he didn't want to just up and leave. Cory sits on his bed, and realizes that once he goes out he might never see this place again. The thought sends a shiver through Cory. He doesn't want to leave. Even if the people of Lenova hate him, it's still his home. Lenova is all he has ever known, and now he has to leave it all behind.
After about thirty minutes of Cory just listening to the thoughts in his head a knock is heard on his door. "You finished packing?" His dad asked through the door.
"Yeah." Cory replies quietly.
"Alright then, I'll meet you outside." his dad says before walking away. Cory waits for a couple more minutes to take one last look at a plain albeit familiar room. He then starts to walk out, but notices the box that he dropped earlier. He thinks to himself, In a new region I may encounter pokemon I have never seen before, so he goes through the box and pulls out his old pokedex. He then stuffs it in his duffle bag, and heads out. Walking outside, Cory is greeted by his father. "Before you head off I want to give you some things." he pulls out an envelope, and hands it to Cory. "That is one thousand dollars. It's not much, but it should hopefully be enough to get you started." His dad then reaches into his bag. "One more thing. I want you to take him with you." His dad then pulls a pokeball out of his bag and opens it. Out of it is a Sandile.
Cory gasps. "I really don't think I should—
"You are not leaving here without a pokemon." His dad interrupts him. "I trust you to get through Ocala Forest without one, but I am not letting you go through Hoenn without help. His dad picks up Sandile and holds him out to Cory. Cory slowly takes Sandile from his father. Sandile gives Cory a smile before suddenly headbutting him, knocking Cory to the ground. His dad laughs at Cory's expense. "Yeah this little one likes to pick a fight with anything it sees. Before I caught him he was causing lots of problems at the construction site." His dad then hands Cory the pokeball all while Sandile has begun to headbutt Cory's leg. Cory points the ball at Sandile and returns him back to the pokeball.
"I hope he doesn't cause me too many problems." says Cory, rubbing his head.
"I'm sure he won't as long as you train him right." His dad replied. Cory gets up and brushes himself off.
"Whatever you say Dad." Cory says dismissively. He then faces Ocala Forest. He takes a deep breath and then faces his dad. "I guess it's time I head off."
"I hope you find peace." His dad replies. "Goodbye Cory."
"I'll try. Goodbye Dad." Cory says softly. His dad gives him one last nod then heads back inside the house. Cory then holds up the pokeball that contains Sandile. "Looks like you're stuck with me for the time being, but don't worry I'll find you a good home when we get to Hoenn." He then puts the ball in his bag, and turns to face Ocala Forest. After a deep breath Cory begins to make the long walk to Bocaroot City, so he may leave the Lenova region behind him.