Hello, readers! This is my first attempt at a Pokemon fanfic, and I'm very excited about it. Check back in this first post for updates!
UPDATE: There have been various issues preventing me from working on this recently, but I finally posted Chapter Five and seem to be on a good writing schedule. It'll be at least a few days before the next chapter, but it's coming! Lemme know what you think, especially if you like it!
"Oh, HELL no." These were the words of realization and loving support that exploded from my mother's lips when I informed her of my decision. "Over my cold, dead body!" quickly followed.
"Sorry, Ma, but sweet-talking me isn't gonna work," I calmly replied, continuing to pack my bag and go through my mental checklist. "You know that when I've made up my mind, nothing in the world can stop me. I get that from you."
"You get that from your mule-headed father," she snapped, spitting out a few choice expletives under her breath. My father's face registered some mild shock, but he wisely chose not to comment.
"Mother, I've waited far too long for this." I set my bag down and turned to face my dear matriarch, intending to make myself very clear. "To be precise, I've been waiting eleven years. Eleven, Ma."
Her eyes softened slightly, but her body language indicated that the argument was far from won. She stood firmly between me and the front door, her hips leaning sharply in one direction with her fists perched atop them. My mom could be quite adorable when she wasn't fuming, her plumpness usually complimented by a beautifully cheerful smile and one of her colorful aprons. Today, her mouth was pursed into a hard, stern line, and her Sunday apron was clenched in one of her fists. "Simon Anthony Oswald, I simply forbid you to leave."
My body almost instantly composed itself into the same configuration as hers at the mention of my full name, my hands finding my hips and my jaw clenching in defiance. "You will not hold me prisoner here. I did not argue or complain when it was decided I could not start my journey at the normal age. I did not badger or beg or plead you to let me go; I have been the best, most obedient son I know how to be." I drew in a deep breath, trying to keep my tone even. "However, twenty-one is definitely my cut-off line. I am going."
Again, I had her. My mother, as obstinate as she was, refused to deny truth when she faced it. This was different, though. Her stance drooped and her eyes welled up. She backed herself against the door, spreading her arms, and gripped the door frames. "You can't go!" she sobbed. "I won't let you go! I can't!"
With deeply knowing and slightly misty eyes, my father rose from his seat and crossed to his wife, gently pulling her arms to her sides and enfolding her in his own arms. He whispered into her ear and lovingly hushed her as she wept upon his shoulder. Turning his face slightly to me, he smiled through his own silent tears and nodded slowly, finally granting the parental consent that I vocally denied needing yet secretly yearned to have.
I abruptly turned my back to the scene to not betray my own emotions. "Actually, I think I'll wait until tomorrow. I still have a few things I need to get together, but I'm definitely leaving tomorrow." At that, I crumbled and ran across the room to my parents, the three of us grasping each other in a massive emotional hug. This would be difficult for all of us, but we each knew it was time.
As we held each other, I felt a soft tug on the leg of my pants. I peered down to find my little friend watching me in wide-eyed wonder, his head curiously tilted to the side. "I'm gonna miss you, too, Caesar," I cried as I hefted our Growlithe into my arms. He licked my face and yipped enthusiastically, then scrambling out of my clutches to bounce into the next room. I smiled ruefully, further saddened at the prospect of leaving the pup behind.
"You could take Caesar with you, you know?" my dad suggested knowingly as he laid a hand on my shoulder.
"I couldn't. I know how much he means to the two of you." My mother smiled gratefully at me, cheeks flushed from tears and emotion. Suddenly, a light appeared in her eyes, and she rushed off into the kitchen.
"Since you're staying tonight, I might as well make this a dinner to remember!" The rest of that evening will forever be a treasured memory of mine. I was amazed at how close my family became in the moments just before we were truly separated for the first time since my birth. Occasionally, Caesar would scamper up into my lap with his personalized striped Pokéball clenched between his teeth and ready to go. Each time, I gently took it from him, shook my head, and scooted him off my lap.
That night was the last night I slept in the bedroom I was raised in. I laid in my bed awake for a long time, taking in everything around me. My cluttered desk, my old rug, my window that let moonlight trickle in; it was all suddenly very dynamic, as if I was seeing them for the first time when I was actually seeing them for the last. I knew, somehow, that there would be no coming back to this place.
The foot of my bed dipped slightly as I suddenly was accompanied by a fuzzy companion. Caesar slowly climbed up to me where I laid on my side, curling into me and whimpering lowly. Wrapping myself around him protectively, I stroked his fur and hummed a song to hush him. My hand was warmed by the contact, the Puppy Pokémon's internal fire exuding heat through his orange and black striped coat.
I sighed and settled further in, finally sleepy now with Caesar's help. I had to rest up as much as possible. First thing in the morning, I was leaving my home and everything I knew behind to finally become a Pokémon Trainer.
UPDATE: There have been various issues preventing me from working on this recently, but I finally posted Chapter Five and seem to be on a good writing schedule. It'll be at least a few days before the next chapter, but it's coming! Lemme know what you think, especially if you like it!
***
Prologue
Prologue
"Oh, HELL no." These were the words of realization and loving support that exploded from my mother's lips when I informed her of my decision. "Over my cold, dead body!" quickly followed.
"Sorry, Ma, but sweet-talking me isn't gonna work," I calmly replied, continuing to pack my bag and go through my mental checklist. "You know that when I've made up my mind, nothing in the world can stop me. I get that from you."
"You get that from your mule-headed father," she snapped, spitting out a few choice expletives under her breath. My father's face registered some mild shock, but he wisely chose not to comment.
"Mother, I've waited far too long for this." I set my bag down and turned to face my dear matriarch, intending to make myself very clear. "To be precise, I've been waiting eleven years. Eleven, Ma."
Her eyes softened slightly, but her body language indicated that the argument was far from won. She stood firmly between me and the front door, her hips leaning sharply in one direction with her fists perched atop them. My mom could be quite adorable when she wasn't fuming, her plumpness usually complimented by a beautifully cheerful smile and one of her colorful aprons. Today, her mouth was pursed into a hard, stern line, and her Sunday apron was clenched in one of her fists. "Simon Anthony Oswald, I simply forbid you to leave."
My body almost instantly composed itself into the same configuration as hers at the mention of my full name, my hands finding my hips and my jaw clenching in defiance. "You will not hold me prisoner here. I did not argue or complain when it was decided I could not start my journey at the normal age. I did not badger or beg or plead you to let me go; I have been the best, most obedient son I know how to be." I drew in a deep breath, trying to keep my tone even. "However, twenty-one is definitely my cut-off line. I am going."
Again, I had her. My mother, as obstinate as she was, refused to deny truth when she faced it. This was different, though. Her stance drooped and her eyes welled up. She backed herself against the door, spreading her arms, and gripped the door frames. "You can't go!" she sobbed. "I won't let you go! I can't!"
With deeply knowing and slightly misty eyes, my father rose from his seat and crossed to his wife, gently pulling her arms to her sides and enfolding her in his own arms. He whispered into her ear and lovingly hushed her as she wept upon his shoulder. Turning his face slightly to me, he smiled through his own silent tears and nodded slowly, finally granting the parental consent that I vocally denied needing yet secretly yearned to have.
I abruptly turned my back to the scene to not betray my own emotions. "Actually, I think I'll wait until tomorrow. I still have a few things I need to get together, but I'm definitely leaving tomorrow." At that, I crumbled and ran across the room to my parents, the three of us grasping each other in a massive emotional hug. This would be difficult for all of us, but we each knew it was time.
As we held each other, I felt a soft tug on the leg of my pants. I peered down to find my little friend watching me in wide-eyed wonder, his head curiously tilted to the side. "I'm gonna miss you, too, Caesar," I cried as I hefted our Growlithe into my arms. He licked my face and yipped enthusiastically, then scrambling out of my clutches to bounce into the next room. I smiled ruefully, further saddened at the prospect of leaving the pup behind.
"You could take Caesar with you, you know?" my dad suggested knowingly as he laid a hand on my shoulder.
"I couldn't. I know how much he means to the two of you." My mother smiled gratefully at me, cheeks flushed from tears and emotion. Suddenly, a light appeared in her eyes, and she rushed off into the kitchen.
"Since you're staying tonight, I might as well make this a dinner to remember!" The rest of that evening will forever be a treasured memory of mine. I was amazed at how close my family became in the moments just before we were truly separated for the first time since my birth. Occasionally, Caesar would scamper up into my lap with his personalized striped Pokéball clenched between his teeth and ready to go. Each time, I gently took it from him, shook my head, and scooted him off my lap.
That night was the last night I slept in the bedroom I was raised in. I laid in my bed awake for a long time, taking in everything around me. My cluttered desk, my old rug, my window that let moonlight trickle in; it was all suddenly very dynamic, as if I was seeing them for the first time when I was actually seeing them for the last. I knew, somehow, that there would be no coming back to this place.
The foot of my bed dipped slightly as I suddenly was accompanied by a fuzzy companion. Caesar slowly climbed up to me where I laid on my side, curling into me and whimpering lowly. Wrapping myself around him protectively, I stroked his fur and hummed a song to hush him. My hand was warmed by the contact, the Puppy Pokémon's internal fire exuding heat through his orange and black striped coat.
I sighed and settled further in, finally sleepy now with Caesar's help. I had to rest up as much as possible. First thing in the morning, I was leaving my home and everything I knew behind to finally become a Pokémon Trainer.
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