Globe-Trotter

Chapter 1

The sun filtered through the curtains of little ten year old Edith's curtains, waking the young child up. Despite the fact that it was only 6:30 in the morning, she was wide awake. After all, she and her parents had just moved to Hoenn the day prior from Sinnoh. She was excited to get going and make new friends. 

The brunette bounced out of bed and threw on some clothes, then bounded down the stairs toward the kitchen where her parents were. "Morning, Mama! Morning, Papa!"

"Good morning, Edith." Judith smiled and bent down to brush down her child's unruly hair. "You sure are excited. Are you going to go exploring today after you go with your dad to meet the professor?"

"Yep!" Edith nodded excitedly with a giggle. She turned to her father, who had been reading some sort of study or another. "Papa, you said you had a surprise for me today?"

Richard looked up, a smile on his face. "Yes I do, sweetheart. We'll have to wait until after we talk to Professor Birch, but I'll give it to you today. It's a promise." He ruffled his daughter's hair and kissed her forehead. "For now, why don't you check out the town? It'll give you something to do until I'm ready."

"Okay!" Edith grinned and dashed outside, excited to get to see her new home. "So, this is Littleroot town~" She looked around, occasionally shielding her eyes from the bright morning sun. "Hoenn is really warm!" Much warmer than her hometown of Snowpoint. She had gotten really used to the constant snow, but the warmth of the tropical sun was something she liked a lot more.

"I wonder what kinds of friends I'll make here..." She mused quietly, humming a small tune to herself as she wandered around the small rural village. Despite coming from a sparsely populated area, Littleroot was far more quaint that Snowpoint ever was. Not that she minded, it made it all the more fun to run around and explore in the woods surrounding it.

She was about to do just that when her dad walked outside, donning his formal looking lab coat. "Come on, Edith, let's go meet Professor Birch. She's waiting for us." He held out his hand for his daughter to take and led her toward the Pokemon lab.

Standing outside the Pokemon lab was a young man, probably no older than 18. He had a kind, round face, and bright brown eyes. He also wore a bright white lab coat and held a clipboard. Edith figured he must be the Professor. Young, but a professor nonetheless.

"Hey, Mr. Lostlorn! Glad to see you made it here safely." Professor Birch greeted happily. "How are you liking Hoenn so far?"

"Just fine, thank you." Richard smiled and shook the professor's hand. "I had forgotten you had taken over for your father as the professor here. Are you overwhelmed?"

Professor Birch laughed and shook his head. "Only a little bit! I've gotten used to it already, though." He turned his attention down toward Edith, who had clocked out while the adults were talking. "Is this your daughter?"

Richard nodded and gently prodded Edith to turn her attention toward the professor. She blinked, then smiled wide. "Hi, I'm Edith!" She held her hand out for Professor Birch to shake. "After this, I get to go explore outside Littleroot!"

"That so? Starting a journey, are we?" Birch chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Well, good luck to you Edith! I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun."

Edith nodded excitedly and tugged on her dad's sleeve. "So, Papa, when am I gonna get my surprise?" She had almost completely forgotten about it in her excitement to look around her new home, but when Birch brought up her journeying, she suddenly remembered.

"Well," Richard sighed a little bit. "since you're so excited, I'll give it to you now and you can go exploring to your heart's content." He reached into the pocket of his lab coat and pulled out a Poke Ball and Pokenav. He helped her put on the Pokenav and handed over the Poke Ball. "Go ahead and click the middle button."

Edith stared at the ball for a few moments before she finally clicked the button in the middle. As soon as she did, the ball burst open and an Absol hopped out. She shook her head and turned around to face Edith, who was smiling widely. "I'm naming her Yuki! We're gonna be best friends!"

"Good to hear, sweetheart." Richard smiled. "Before you go out and explore, why don't you go back home and grab a bag from your mother? It'll help you to have something to hold the Poke Ball in."

"Okay!" Edith nodded, hugged her father, and ran back to her house. Yuki followed behind, padding happily along with her new trainer. Edith opened the door and poked her head in. "Mama, I got a Pokemon!"

Judith looked up from her book and smiled. "Congratulations, sweetheart! Did you get your Pokenav too?" Edith nodded, and she stood up. "Well then, I suppose you'll be adventuring around Hoenn now, hm? You'll want something to hold all your items in, so here you go." She reached over to the coffee table and picked up a forest green messenger bag, then handed it to Edith.

"You have fun, dear. Be sure to call home sometimes, and make lots of friends on your way." Judith leaned down, kissed her daughter's forehead, and fixed her hair again. "Be safe, okay?"

"I will, Mama! I'll come home and show you all the Pokemon I've caught and all the friends I make!" Edith nodded excitedly and gave her mother a hug. She turned around, waved, and ran off; Yuki following behind her once more.

"This is gonna be the best adventure ever, Yuki! Let's go!"