Wander (Pokémon)

3

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - J. K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

***

I stared at myself in the mirror, my eyes inspecting every inch of my body. My dress, a much nicer black dress than the one I considered wearing yesterday, hung a few inches above my knees, a respectable length. My hair hung neatly over my ears and reached down to the middle of my back. Eyes popped with a bit of thin eyeliner and mascara and I wore the slightest bit of foundation to highlight my face.

I wore black boots with a slight heel on them to make myself seem a little bit more put together with my outfit. I made sure that I freshly showered and that I was perfectly in order, my hair straightened and my nails filed down to smooth ends. I don't want to accidentally scratch someone with rough nails.

"Ok, Leaf, you can do this," I muttered to myself. "Today, you get to leave for a journey."

"You've been dreaming of this since you were a child."

"Don't screw this up."

I left my bedroom after dragging a brush through my hair one final time. After double checking to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything important, I swiped the card from my nightstand and looked at the address of Professor Oak's lab. According to a quick search on Dad's phone I did last night, the lab was located south of here, near the water.

When Dad caught sight of my clothing of choice, a smile brimmed on his face. "You look fabulous, Leaf."

"Thanks, Dad."

"You know where you need to go, right? I can walk down with you if you want, I know the way to get there."

I shook my head. "I think I can handle this, Dad. I'll be back in some time, probably an hour or so. And then, of course... I can leave for my journey."

A prideful smile adorned Dad's face. "Your mom would've been so proud of you right now, sweetheart. She always wanted you to do great things, and I think you'll accomplish so much on your adventure. Remember to stay true to yourself, hun."

"Dad, I'll come back right after I get the Pokémon. It's not like I'm leaving home and won't return for five years." I smiled. "Maybe just a year."

My dad laughed and stood up from his spot on the couch. He enveloped me into a bear hug and I wrapped my arms around him as well. "Good luck, Leaf. I hope you get a great Pokémon."

After I left my dad's loving arms, I gave him a quick wave and headed out the door, effectively kick starting my own journey. The August air beat down on me as I walked in my black dress. Already I wished that I wore something different that would've been slightly more comfortable to walk half a mile in. As I walked, a few people said hello to me, even if I had no idea what their names are.

I guess living in a small town means that everyone knows pretty much everyone. Back in Saffron City, when I walked down the streets, people gave me dirty looks for having clothes that didn't come exclusively from a thrift shop and a pair of nice shoes. I'd have to worry about getting mugged for the little money I carried on me.

But, here? I can walk down the street, wearing my nicest dress, with no worry of crimes committed against me. Here, I could relax my muscles and walk without fear. Yet, my muscles still tensed whenever I saw someone and my heart still managed to skip a beat every time I had to say hello to another person.

I guess living in a dangerous neighborhood will never leave me.

I arrived at the Pokémon Lab ten minutes before noon because of a fear of arriving late and getting denied any chance of going on a journey. With a deep breath, I pushed open the door and entered the lab. As soon as I entered, a cool blast of air hit me, giving me a chance to cool down from the heat I previously experienced.