Just Outside New Bark Town
When he had told his grandparents that it wouldn't be long before he was top of the world,
this was not what he had meant.
Zeph Bagley spared a quick glance downwards at the long drop between the ground and the tree branch that he was clinging onto for dear life, before almost instantly averting his gaze and looking overhead. A couple of feet above him, caught several branches, tires torn slightly by twigs sticking into the rubber, was bicycle.
His bicycle.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath as he tried to pull himself up so that he was no longer dangerously dangling over the edge. He... still wasn't entirely sure how this had happened. One minute he had been speeding down a small hill, on his way to New Bark Town. The next, his bicycle had seem to... jump. And before he knew it, he had soared right over the trees and then...
Well, now he was here, doing his best not to fall, slinging himself up so he was now sitting on a large but creaky branch. He sighed, feeling a little safer as he glanced at the ground once more. However, his relief was short-lived as he heard a loud creak up above and the sound of wood snapping. He head snapped upwards just to see several Spearow perched on his crashed bike, and weighing it down so the back wheels were now hanging down, close enough he could probably reach up and touch them.
Zeph grimaced, and then that grimaced became a snarl.
"Oi! Get lost!" he shouted, waving his hands frantically in an attempt to shoo the bird Pokemon away.
The Spearow did not appreciate it.
One of the Spearow flew up from its perch before darting down and pecking Zeph right on the forehead.
"Ack!" Zeph hissed, covering his head protectively.
"Ow, ow, ow!" He tried flapping his arms around but this just caused it to attack him persistently. Soon, he fell backwards and ended up hanging by his legs like a Zubat. Without even meaning to, he looked down once more... and forced himself to swallow a lump that formed in his throat.
It really was a long. Way. Down.
"Are you sure you'll be alright on your own?"
Mattie Linder turned to look up her at her father, peering at him through her long red fringe.
"Mhm," Mattie replied with a nod.
They were standing at the edge of New Bark, with Professor Elm's lab just in sight. Edgar Linder had wanted to accompany his daughter all the way to the lab, but a nagging voice within warned him against this. As much he worried for his daughter, he didn't want to show her up or embarrass her in front of the other children. Mattie would already have things difficult enough without making them worse.
Still...
"And you'll be sure to call either me or your mother if you need anything?" Edger continued.
His daughter nodded again.
"Mhm.""And you're
sure you have all the things you're going to need for your journey?" He knew it was probably a little late to be asking this, considering how far from home they were, but Edgar needed to make sure.
"Mhm."Edger paused. "Okay," he said, giving his daughter a nervous smile. She stared up at him blankly, uncertainly.
"Should I... go now?" Mattie asked.
Edgar nodded. "Yes," he said. "You don't want to be keeping them waiting." His smiled became less nervous and full of warm. "I can't wait to see you when we next meet. I'm sure you'll have caught a lot of Pokemon. Maybe even get some badges."
Mattie nodded, but honestly, she didn't really care about badges. There were other things on her mind.
"Well," Edgar said. "Good luck." He gave his daughter a quick hug and was about to turn away when suddenly...
*Riiiiing riiiiing*
Edgar sighed as he glanced back to see Mattie holding her Pokegear, staring at the device for a second as it rang in her hand before finally answering. Both of them could guess who it was.
"Hello, mum," Mattie said.
"Mattie, my child!" a familiar, overly dramatic voice spoke from the other end. "The stars are aligned! I see you made it safely to New Bark Town. I am glad."
Mattie nodded, even though it was obvious her mother wouldn't be able to see it.
"Mhm," she said. She glanced over at her father.
"Dad's still here. Do you want to...?" She didn't get to ginish her sentence.
"No," Sylvia Linder said hastily. "I wish to speak to you."
Okay," Mattie said, expectantly. Her mother must have seen something. Mattie could hear the slightest note of ergency in her voice.
"Last night I had a premonition. A dream of the future!" her mother said mysteriously. "It has revealed to me that you will be travelling with many strange people. I advise you to do the following..." He paused dramatically.
"Okay," Mattie said, to show she was still listening.
"Never wear the colour green," her mother said, with a tone of almost comedic seriousness. "And remember to buy some ear plugs. Also, be sure to put those paper charms I gave you around you tent or room every night."
"Is that all?" Mattie said.
"One last thing: always be yourself," her mother said seriously. "Even if people mock you or find you strange, never forget that you are my daughter and both me and your father love you dearly."
"Okay," Mattie said simply. She paused before saying, awkwardly,
"I love you too, mum."She heard her mother give a sharp outtake of breath, a sound not unlike a sob, before she then heard a light chime in the background. The door bell. "I must go now, my child!" her mother said. "But we shall talk again. Until then, farewell!" Her mother than hung up.
Mattie kept the Pokegear to her ear for a moment longer before finally letting her hand drop to her side. She then put it back in her bag.
Her father was still looking over at her, somewhat nervously. "Was she okay?" he asked.
Mattie nodded.
"She told me not to wear green, and to buy ear plugs," she said, matter-of-factly.
Edgar frowned. "Did she give a reason why?"
Mattie shook her head.
Edgar sighed. "Typical." He then smiled at his daughter. He approached her and put a firm hand on her shoulder. "Anyway, please call us whenever you want. And if things don't work out, you can always come home."
Mattie nodded slowly to show she understood. Her father then gave her a kiss on the forehead, wished her luck once more and then turned away and left.
Mattie watched him go, and for a moment, suddenly felt a strange nervousness inside her. She turned towards the lab. Maybe... maybe she should of let her dad walk her there. The building seems so daunting, and she could see two people standing outside. They looked about her age. Were they going ot be trainers too?
Taking a deep breath and grabbing the strap of her bag, she made her way timidly towards the lab.
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