A Late Start

Reunion

Present-day, 1 week after Ethans gym challenge

I rolled out of bed, hoping beyond hope that today would be better than the past week. After mom had found out about my "Involvement" in Ethan's training she grounded me, I was no longer allowed to leave the house at all. as a result, the past week had been indescribably dreary; wake up, Have breakfast, do my chores and sit around waiting for enough time to pass to go back to bed. When he found out Ethan had offered to take my dex everywhere he went, so I could still get some more data while I couldn't leave home. I hadn't seen him in a few days, so I assumed he left the city early to continue his training for the next gym. the best part of my day had become watching the sunset through the tinted windows in my bedroom since it meant the day was almost over. but I had hope for today since it was my sixteenth birthday. maybe this was all some elaborate setup for a big surprise like last year. Or maybe I was a fool for thinking as such especially considering how mad mom was at the end of my surprise trip last year. I glanced across at my alarm clock, 7:30; my alarm wouldn't go off for another half hour yet. I turned off my alarm since I was already awake and headed downstairs. I decided to have a cup of coffee in the event something happens today before sitting down and watching the sunrise from the dining room table. Before long mom came down the stairs, her slippers clicking against the wood with each step.
"You're up early, excited for your big day?" She asked quietly.
"I guess? I'd probably say more hopeful than excited." I replied taking another sip of my coffee.
"Aw, don't be like that Lex. I know you've not had the best week but today's supposed to be special."
"I'm hoping that it will be."
"How about we go for a little walk later? Just you and me."
"It would be nice to get out of the house, where did you wanna go?"
"Oh, I dunno. Around town, where do you like to hang out?"
"Mostly at school, sometimes out by the lookout," I couldn't help but sound flat as I responded.
"Maybe we'll run into your little friend while we're out too."
"Ethan? What happened to being grounded?"
"Jeez, lighten up Lex, it's your birthday, let me at least make it up to you for a day."
I let out a sigh before I responded "Alright, mom, sorry for being bratty. Just not feeling great lately," I relented.
"I know baby girl, just try to keep an open mind. As hard as I can be on you, I hate seeing you down like this."
"I'll try," I pulled a weak half-smile.
"I love you, Lex. At the end of the day, you're always going to be my little girl."
"I know mom. I love you too."
After we finished talking I headed back upstairs to get changed out of my PJs. I grabbed a pair of dark purple leggings, a short pencil skirt to match, a navy blue t-shirt and my usual black and white trainers. I pulled my hair up into a simple ponytail and grabbed my bag before heading downstairs to meet up with mom for our "walk."

By the time we reached the lookout mom was already panting.
"What? you went all the way to Flocessy yesterday and a few flights of stairs has you winded already?" I teased.
"It's not like I made the whole trip at once. you know I don't get out much these days," she said through short breaths.
"Apparently neither do I anymore," I shot back, cold. she scrunched up her face at my comment but didn't say anything further.
"So. what exactly do you do up here anyway?" she asked after a while.
"Usually, I just sit here, watch the forest that sorta thing."
"Well, how come?"
"It's.... not important," I trailed off
"It's about the Pokemon... isn't it?"
"Not exactly. I just wonder what it would be like. to be out there, exploring the world hearing the sounds of nature all around me. sometimes. I like to dream I'm out there, somewhere," I gestured vaguely towards the horizon.
"What's wrong with Aspertia?" 
"Nothing it's just. It's all I've been able to see for my entire life. I've only left town once, everything beyond the horizon is a mystery."
"You feel trapped here, don't you?"
"I guess? I've never thought of it like that before."
"Lex, you know how dangerous it can be out there. I don't want you going out there because I don't want you getting hurt, or worse."
"People just like you and me are out there every day. hell, even Ethan goes into the wilds sometimes."
"That's different though Lex they're all.." she trailed off before finishing her sentence.
"They're all what?" I asked quietly.
"With pokemon," she mumbled sadness washing over her face. I decided to drop it and continued staring off into the forest, I didn't want to push her any further.  We both sat there in silence for what had to be at least an hour, neither of us wanted to revisit the previous conversation. I found myself getting lost in the view of the forest, seeing the trees swaying with the wind, the rustling of the leaves as creatures of all shapes and sizes rummaged through them in their quests for survival. I imagined the sounds, the wind running past me the struggle of being wild, living every moment in uncertainty.
I was snapped out of my daydream by a loud voice calling out.
"HEY LEXI, YOU UP THERE?" It was Ethan
"Huh? Yeah, I'm here," I called back. He burst over the top of the stairs, panting
"I've been looking all over town for you."
"You look like you've just run a marathon dude, what happened?"
"Had to make a trip.. to Floccesy... just got back," He said between breaths.
"Hello Ethan," Mom interjected 
"Oh uh, hey Mrs Evans, didn't see you there," 
"Here to take my daughter on another adventure I assume?"
"Oh heh, no. not today just here to wish her a happy birthday and give her this." he pulls a small box from his bag and hands it to me. "Don't open it yet, it's for later."
"Uh, okay," I was a touch confused but I took the box carefully in my hand, it wasn't wrapped very well and you could see the cardboard underneath the paper. "Thanks, Ethan."
"It's no problem. so, what're you guys doing up here anyways?"
"I decided to take Lex for a walk to some of her favourite spots for her birthday, spend some time together."
"Well. if you're on a walk anyway, you should come with me back to Floccesy. It's only like 20 minutes from here and you know what they say about safety in numbers." mom and I exchanged glances before she replied.
"You're sure it'll be safe?"
"'Course, I make the trip all the time. besides most of the 'mon around here are friendly anyway."
"I think it sounds like a great idea," I butt in before Mom had a chance to respond "Ethan is a badge holder after all," Mom let out a sigh
"Alright, fine but stay close to me okay?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes
"Fine, I'll stay close." I tucked Ethan's gift into my bag and stood up, stretching my legs. Mom got up too and followed us down the stairs. We arrived on the route soon after leaving and I saw the hole where Royce had attacked me last week still indented in the ground prompting me to give Ethan another playful jab in the arm.
"Hey! you can't still be bitter about that now."
"Maybe not. doesn't mean I won't get even with you." He rolled his eyes, chuckling.
"Shoulda seen your face though," he jeered
"Do you WANT me to hit you again?"
"No ma'am," he replied, thick with sarcasm. We both chuckled for a moment.
"What're you kids laughing about?" Mom interrupted
"Nothing, just a memory," I told her.

The route was unusually quiet, not even a Patrat was scurrying through the fields. we made it to Floccesy with no trouble or encounters of any kind.
"Quiet out, don't you think?" I said quietly to Ethan
"Hmm, not really. I hadn't noticed."
"seriously? how often do you make this trip without anything at all happening?"
"More often than you'd think actually. Ah, here we are." we pulled up on a large building with a bright red roof and a large Pokeball decal over the second-floor windows, a Pokemon centre "My friend is waiting inside, give me like 5 minutes to let him know you're coming and then meet me inside." he disappeared into the building before I could respond.
"He always like this?" Mom asked quietly.
"Pretty much yeah. well, you heard him. guess we'll wait here for a few."
"Guess so."
We both just stood there for a while, looking awkward as we still weren't ready to really talk to each other again. before long Ethan popped back out through the doors.
"Alright guys, come on in." we exchanged glances and shrugged before walking in. The room was almost pitch black I could barely make out the counter at the far end of the room, even Ethan had disappeared and he was here just two seconds ago. I had a feeling I knew where this was going. Almost on Queue, the lights flicked on and a cacophony of voices cried out.
"SURPRISE."
I flinched a little from the shock and took a second to Check who had jumped out from behind the counter. Ethan was the first one I noticed, Followed by the professor and Cheren it looked like Roxie and her band were here too as well as the nursing staff and a handful of trainers I recognised from the school. I couldn't help but stare at Ethan, dumbfounded.
"How did you manage to get all this setup?" I asked him
"He had a little help," Cheren butt in
"We all had to pull a few strings," the professor chimed. I turned around to look at mom who was just standing there smirking.
"Wait, you KNEW about this?" I cried out
"Of course I did, it was my idea."
"Wait wait, this was your idea?"
"Mhm, I wanted to make your 16th something you'd really remember."
"How long have you been planning this?"
"About a month or so."
"Wait, you grounded me a week ago if you knew I was in contact with all of these people.."
"We just needed enough time to get everything set up, I grounded you so you couldn't go poking around and ruin the surprise."
"Isn't there something you're forgetting Sarah?" The professor chimed in again.
"Oh, right," her face turned serious as she looked down at me. "Lex, you're sure this whole adventure thing is something you want?"
"Of course. It's all I've ever wanted."
"You sure you can handle it? it's not going to be too much for you." I shook my head
"Then here, this is yours." She had tears in her eyes as she handed me a small plastic card. I took the card in my hand, turning it over to look at the front side.
"A.. a trainer license?"
"Your trainer license Lex." another glance at the card revealed she was telling the truth. my name was printed on the card along with a picture of me taken a few months prior.
"Wait, I thought there was a whole interview and process you needed to go through to get one of these?"
"Alexis, we all know you're more than qualified to be a trainer, you've earned it," Cheren said quietly.
"You can open the box now Lexi," Ethan called out from the back of the pack. I fished the package out of my bag and took the paper off, the cardboard inside immediately unfolded. the box was mostly empty save for a single red and white marble no bigger than a bottlecap. I pulled it out and it immediately expanded into a round ball that fits almost perfectly in my hand, a black band separating the red and white halves with a big white button in the dead centre. A Pokeball. I held it to my chest and clutched it in my hand looking back at mom who was now in full tears.
"You're serious about  this?" I asked her quietly, my voice shaking. she nodded without making a sound
"Push the button, Lexi, there's more," Ethan stated.
I depressed the small notch on the ball with my pointer finger causing the ball to emit a bright white light after the light had faded there stood a small fox-like creature with a puff of white fur on its chest and tail, bright blue eyes beamed up at me and a purple scarf was draped around its neck, worn bare and tattered as it drooped towards the floor. It was an Eevee, MY Eevee.
"S...Silas? Is that you buddy?" I couldn't keep my voice steady as tears were welling in my eyes and I collapsed to my knees. the creature gave me a quick look over before making a cheerful cry and running towards me, placing its paws on my knees.
"Eevoii" 
"I've missed you too buddy. I've missed you too." I said through sobs as I took him in my arms and curled over on the floor.