Pokémon World: Adventure through Hoenn

Special: The Place I Once Called Home

Leaf's POV

It was a long trip, but I have now arrived in Pallet Town. It has been 5 years since I've been here, and yet nothing has changed. Or at least...I thought nothing changed.

I passed by our old house and saw that a new family has moved in there. I didn't mind. I continued walking around town, until I heard a Mr. Mime singing merrily. The Mr. Mime looked happy while watering the flowers. As I walked along, I accidentally startled the Mr. Mime. I didn't mean to do that.

"I'm so sorry, Mr. Mime. I was just passing by. I don't mean you any harm." I told Mr. Mime.

The Mr. Mime smiled and continued doing his work. I looked up to see where I was. I realized I was standing in front of the Ketchum residence. I wanted to see if Ash is home, but I doubt it. He is probably on a journey through some other region right now. Still, I wanted to know what Mrs. Ketchum is up to. Hmm...I decided to knock on the door, but to no avail. I guess she wasn't home either, so I continued moving along. I'll visit her again later. I'll just head on to the lab then.

As I walked along, I passed by a river. It wasn't any river. It was where my friends and I used to play all the time. I remembered all the stupid yet funny things Ash would do. I also remembered the little arguments I had with Gary. Those were the days. I haven't spoken with them for 5 years. Do they even remember me? Ugh...why did I even attempt to visit the Ketchums in the first place?

I shook off all the negativity. Of course they will remember me. Professor Oak did tell me to visit his lab. If he remembered me, then those two should as well. But then, my mom was the professor aide before, so I don't know. I shook my head again and moved forward to the lab.

-----------

After the pondering I had done, I have finally arrived in front of the lab. If only I had a psychic type, I would have asked to be teleported in front of the entrance. Those stairs were no joke. There were no stairs like that back in LaRousse City. Everything was automatic. Then, I realized that this is Pallet Town. Everything is completely different. I had already established that idea when my family moved to LaRousse.

I knocked on the door, and as it opened I saw a young man (who was still older than me) with black to midnight green hair.

"May I help you?" He asked me.

"The professor told me to come here. He said he has something to give me." I replied.

"Oh...you must be Leaf, then. You're the daughter of the professor's former assistant, right?"

I nodded. Never mind the fact he called me Leaf, even though I said I wanted to be called Heather now. This is Pallet Town anyway. Everyone called me Leaf.

"Please come in. Sorry to keep you waiting. My name is Tracey by the way. I've been the professor's assistant for 2 weeks now." He said

"It's nice to meet you, Tracey. And thank you for welcoming me inside."

-------------

Tracey led me inside the lab. Nothing much has changed. Nothing much changes here in Pallet Town. It's just as simple as it should be. We went upstairs where the professor was taking care of a Bulbasaur. Bulbasaur, my favorite Pokémon.

"Ah Leaf. I see you've finally made it. It has been 5 years, hasn't it? You've grown into one beautiful young lady. Nice to see you after all this time" Professor Oak told me.

"It's nice to see you too, professor. I see nothing has changed in your lab except your new assistant over here."

"Actually, Tracey met Ash back in the Orange Islands. They traveled together there."