It was a quiet morning even though I was hanging out on the porch watching the road.
Today was the day the annual journey began. When young ten year old trainers headed off into the wilds with nothing but a pokemon and gumption.
It was also something I’d kinda been looking forward to.
See there was another bit of cultural stuff that trainers starting their journey don’t really think about.
All the trainers that had already gone on their journey, all the older trainers that only had their pet pokemon. The wanderers, and even just the Pokemon rangers disguised as normal people would be out there for the first week or so as well, to give the new trainers something to clash against, while also getting to see how the newbies were doing.
And of course protect them if they had to.
There was just one problem.
"Vicky really. No ones going to want to battle you if they see you. So let them have their time." Mama reminded me as she passed out some cookies to me and Riolu.
"I know that... But I still want to check on them." I whined, but I was playing along and as Mama patted me on the head, I began to enact my sinister plan.
Everyone was starting to leave, so I headed towards the back of the house with a backpack and a ring of Pokeballs.
"You ready?" I whispered to Arcany. Who snorted at me, and stood up.
I had to leave Arcanine at the stables, because if she knew what day it was, there was no way she wouldn’t want to battle all the new trainers.
Then we were off, running off into Viridian forest, along one of the main paths. I passed plenty of trainers that I recognized hanging around waiting, and laughed at the look they gave as an Arcanine blurred by.
But then I found a good spot, and crawled off. "Thanks Arcany. Come pick me up tonight if I’m not already home okay?"
"Arc." He agreed, our pact long since sealed with secret treats leading to this day.
Then it was time. I walked behind a tree and pulled on my super secret ninja disguise!
No not Nike, she was the protector of the Moon and had no time for this.
"Dang... I bought this wig years ago and it still fits... It must really be stretchy." I told myself and then I stepped out.
"Mwahaha! Ruby Red has returned!" The red hair and red jacket meant I was a fire type trainer, the perfect challenger for all the kids out here! Then I released Blissey, who popped out and looked around, taking a moment to look at me.
Our eyes met.
She brought a flipper to her mouth and I could see her entire body ripple.
"It’s not that funny." I informed her, but a moment later it all came out.
"Blis-blisblisblis!" She burst into laughter and all I could do was stare at her pouting. That’s so not fair. She stumbled over and pulled me into a hug and patted my wig still giggling.
"It’s not funny." I repeated and she just continued laughing. "Whatever! You know what to do!" I demanded and she continued giggling even as she grabbed my bag that I’d left and headed a bit farther into the woods.
Blissey was going to make a camp, so the kids and their pokemon could have a snack once I smacked them around.
Slapping my cheeks a bit to get rid of my irritation I looked around and realized that... I’d be waiting here for a while huh?
I sighed and trudged to follow Blissey and help her get set up. Even if I had to deal with her giggles.
Red hair just didn’t suit me afterall.
—--
"You! Trainer! You come face to face with Ruby Red! Fire Type Expert!" I announced as I jumped down from a tree landing perfectly thanks to my Ninja training and then power stance, into pointed finger!
Perfection.
The boy looked startled, jumped back and even balling his fists at my appearance.
"Wha-"
"Hooohoooohooo!" I laughed as I locked eyes. "Our eyes have met! So a battle must now commence! Release your first Pokemon!"
"Grr! No another brat! What are you waiting for? Send out your Rattata or whatever! Come on Charmander!"
"Char char!" I felt my eyes brighten at seeing my favorite Starter!
"Oh a Charmander! What a delightfully fierce and cutey boy!" I almost broke character and started rushing for a hug but shook it off.
"Very well! If you face a Fire Type Expert with flame, I will do the same to teach you a lesson! Go Pillow!"
I threw a pokeball and out came Pillow.
"Growlithe?" He asked confused, looking around.
"Cough cough, Pillow we’re doing battles today. Cough Cough." Pulled it off.
"Growl growlithe." He grumbled, looking not super pleased, but I pulled out the secret weapon.
"If you complete this battle, there is a camp that you can rest in on top of my-your favorite pillow." I explained and Pillow was suddenly all for it.
"Jeez you have to make deals with your own pokemon? Aren’t you too young to be a trainer?"
"I’m eleven! I’ve already gone on my Journey and returned!" I snapped at the brown haired brat that looked like he didn’t believe me.
"Sure."
"It matters not, we have a battle! Pillow!"
"Growl!" He jumped up and took a battle stance, and Charmander did the same, the lizard growled cutely!
Aaah! I wanted to hug him!
"Alright Flamethrower!" I called out, and Pillow opened his mouth and a burst of flame and heat erupted.
"Charmander!" The trainer shrieked, not ready for such a powerful attack and instead of doing anything useful Charmander was soon dodging jumping back and forth into the grass to avoid the attack...
"E-Ember! Use Ember!"
I blinked. Oh right. This was a normal trainer’s first day. Flamethrower would be too much huh? Too bad though.
I would use this as a learning experience!
"HooHooohooo!" I cackled as the ember hit Pillow and suddenly his aura emerged, as he appeared as if he was on fire.
"What!?"
"Silly trainer! Did you not make sure to figure out your pokemons weaknesses to the common Pokemon of Kanto?"
"Weakness!? It’s a fire type!"
"That’s right! But do you know Growlithe’s two common abilities?" I asked, and suddenly right then the boy reached into his backpack.
Ah, deja vu, but Ruby Red would allow it! She was a magnanimous Fire Type Expert!
"I want to." I said, but not super excited, but instead serious. "I really do need to go to Alola for Jangmo-o, and... I wanted to go there anyway." I admitted because Z moves were... Big. "But what about?"
"Nothing to worry about. We have a Clan now." Papa said and looked actually pleased. "Leo has already spoken to Cousin Shino, he’ll house sit while we’re gone, feed Arcany and the Pack, and of course look after the Milotic."
"Great... Then I just need to figure out who’s coming? I’ll need Jangmo-o obviously, and Dragonite can come! She can watch over the flight even, or-"
"Vicky. There are a lot of restrictions on what Pokemon that Alola will accept. Before you make plans, let’s go down to the vacation planner and they’ll help us answer all those questions." Mama offered a bit overly kindly.
I didn’t want to leave my friends here though!
I shook it off and sighed. "Okay. We’ll figure it out. I want to go, stupid restrictions."
"Vicky. Your Gyarados, won’t be allowed to come." Papa said, and I looked up in surprise as Papa was blunt.
"Victor, I was trying to be gentle about it."
"You know how she is." Papa said with a smile that he offered me. "You’ll need to plan for that, okay?"
"Right... Right Blue Heart can’t come." I mumbled, and that... Tore out my heart a little.
He’d be so lonely without me!
"I’ll go talk to him." I decided and stood up and before anyone could say anything I headed outside.
It was chilly, and there was still snow all over, but as I walked over to the water. I didn’t care. Blue Heart slipped his big derpy head out of the water to greet me, and I just fell against him in a big hug.
I hadn’t really imagined an Alola adventure without Blue Heart, and Milotic. Without Dragonite, or Arcanine. Without... Any of my friends.
But if I wanted to cross regions... There would be rules.
"Hello my Heart." I whispered to him, and he rumbled in return.
I know he’d be lonely, but he had made friends among the Milotic, and he’d have my other pokemon.
But still... I didn’t want to leave him behind. I took a breath and started explaining what was going to happen.
—--
"You sure you don’t want to come Gram Gram?" I asked, and my grandmother just gave me a look. "Pfeh! Me head to some silly island? Hmph!"
"They have Dark Type Meowth there. The Persians have silly faces." I teased.
"I’m aware child." Gram Gram grumbled. "A proper Persian should look fierce and strong! Not... That."
I couldn’t help but giggle as Gram Gram complained about Alolan Persian. He was so derpy! But it was cute!
"Maybe I should catch one?" I asked to the air and I could see the physical pain Gram Gram took at the fact I was actually saying I would catch a cat, but that I would catch that cat?
"I know you’re teasing me, Grandchild, but it still pains me." She muttered, reaching out and ruffling my hair.
"If it helps. Alola also have Litten."
"That..." She made a sigh and grumbled all at once. "They won’t let you, believe me." She decided to say and I couldn’t help but laugh at that.
"It’s okay. I don’t think I’d want an Incineroar anyways. Arcanine would either love it, or hate it." I decided and Gram Gram chuckled. She took a bite of her snacks as she turned back to the tv show that was on.
Pokemon TV was weird. Soap opera’s with pokemon were like at least 80% better than Earth soap operas.
If only because they had these really well groomed Pokemon strutting around looking pretty.
Of course Gram Gram was only watching because one of the Pokemon that the bad guy had was one of our Persians.
His sinister face was so cute, especially since I could tell with the way his tail twitched that he was actually one second away from rolling over and demanding belly rubs.
"You be careful. Traveling that far. I don’t like all of you being in a plane, but that son of mine is confident." Gram Gram mumbled, and I felt a sense that...
"Gram Gram?"
"It’s nothing, child." She mumbled as she pulled me into a side hug.
"I was really tempted to have Dragonite fly along with us, but apparently the rangers would flip out." I added because I wasn’t entirely comfortable leaving my safety in the hands of others when I had a perfectly good jet bomber Pokemon.
"Heh. No, it’s safer now. There haven’t been any accidents in years. Us old people are just... Still wary." Her face looked from me to the show, but then to the corner of the room.
Where pictures of the family were stacked up. There were plenty of faces in those pictures that I’d never met.
People that no one spoke about on how they died.
Did... Someone die in an airplane?
Instead of asking, instead of opening old wounds I just snuggled in. "Look, Persian is half a second from mauling that guy."
"Hmph? Hah! So he is. Would serve that fool right!" Gram Gram called out as the man on the show was talking about how weak Persian was.
Even if it was for a TV show, I doubt that Persian liked that guy much after this scene.
—--
I went over my Journey bag again. Thankfully it was the only luggage I needed, but I still didn’t want to miss anything.
I looked up and Pillow opened his eyes and yawned at me before going to sleep.
It was early, the sun not even up yet, which actually didn’t mean much considering it was winter, but still.
"Sleep well Pillow." I called out as I threw the bag on my shoulder and walked out. I was in my winter clothes for now, but I had a quick swap gear for warmer weather ready.
Mama and Papa were the same and we all smiled. As we met up. There was thankfully no vacation rush. We’d packed and prepared well the night before.
"Alright. Let’s go." Papa turned and smiled brightly as Lucario did the same.
As she disappeared into his pokeball.
"UUUGH!" I groaned loudly as I bent back my neck and stared at the ceiling. Papa laughed as he reached over and pulled me into a side hug.
"Thank you Vicky."
"It’s FINE." I grumbled, I could only have six pokemon with me, and there were a ton of restrictions.
In the end I decided on the baby team, since the only adult pokemon I could bring was Milotic, and Blissey and... That sucked. We’d have to leave Dragonite behind, and I’d made a promise to her. And I kinda needed Blissey to stay home to keep watch on everyone... Mostly Arcanine.
So instead. I had Gible, so I could help her relax. Mimikyu, which was restricted everywhere, but Alola funnily enough. Jangmo-o obviously. Brave, and Dratini, I’d go swimming with him instead of his papa. Then I was bringing Riolu because Lucario was coming.
Originally Papa and Mama had wanted Lucario on my team, but obviously, my limit was an issue, so...
Papa was now the proud trainer of Lucario. It sucked, but... Well it was going to happen, I knew. Lucario just... Fit in with Mama and Papa more. Especially since she’d been going with him to train Growlithe, and had taken a liking to the police training.
I let it go, and turned to the door.
Time to go on a new adventure.