Pokemon Fan Fiction ❯ When It All Falls Down ❯ A Life not Lived ( Chapter 1 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Another lecture. Another. Oh, for the love of... "How many times do I have to tell you,
Alaina? You don't have your own Pokemon yet, therefore you cannot..." "That's because you won't
let me have one," I interrupted her. "Dad has offered me one, grandma offered me one, even Adam
offered me one, Mom, but you always refuse. "You know exactly why. Do you realize what kind
of dangers are out there? Your father does not see that from my point of view since he became a
Trainer at 11-years-old..." "And I'm now 14," I replied.


Mom sighed. She sat down on my bed next to me and put her arm around my shoulders.
She pressed me into a small hug, though I was still a bit stiff from inner anger. "When you have
kids someday, Lainie," she said, using my family nickname, "you'll understand why it's so difficult
for me to allow you to travel." I said nothing. Mom stood up again and walked to my door. "I don't
want you in the grassy areas again without your dad, okay?" I didn't answer for a minute, then
muttered, "Okay."


She nodded and went back to the kitchen down-stairs to check on Alyssa. I sat there
for a minute, then went to my desk and picked up the phone. I dialed the number, then waited.
"Hey, Kasey. Uh, do you think I can come over your house for a while? No, no, not to spend the
night, I just wanna be there... Alright, see you in an hour." I grabbed my jacket and before I left,
gazed at the picture set on my dresser. It was of Dad, holding a Pokemon Contest trophy with
his best in Tough category Pokemon, Swampert.


A lump in my throat threatened to release a sob, but I held it back. As long as Mom
forbade it, I could never show Dad I could be as great a Trainer as he is. Maybe even better.
"But it can't happen," I thought. I slipped on my jacket and left the room.


************************************************

"I don't get it," Kasey said. "You make it sound like Pokemon Training is the most
honourable and best job in the world when it's not even that.." "I don't see it as a job, I see it as
a gift." She scoffed, "That's because you've never had the privelage to raise one." I glared at my
cousin. "Neither have you!" I shot back. She rolled her eyes. "In case you've forgotten, I don't
even like Pokemon, let alone I wouldn't wanna train 'em."


That was Kasey alright, usually insensitive to those around her, joking or not. But
there were very few who could push her buttons, and thankfully I was one of them. "You may
not like Pokemon, but I know how deperate you are to travel..." I was flipping through her CD's
until I felt a heavy 'thud' on my back. "Ow!" I turned around, suprised. She threw her shoe at
me... Kasey got off her her bed, her face still in a pout. "Sorry..." I began. She cut me off by
raising her hand. "I'm not desperate... well, maybe a little... but still! I won't be staying here
for much longer." "..... You're 13." I said cautiously.


The crazy look was back in her eyes, yet I still let out a small laugh. "I'm not 13,
I'm 18!" We were quiet for a minute, then started laughing. "So what if Fabio is 22, we're in
love!" she said in a dramatic voice. One of our weird inside jokes, but that was me and Kasey.
"I promise," I said, "if I am allowed to go journeying one day, I'll take you with me." Kasey gave
a genuine smile, which was rare. "Yeah, you better."


************************************************


After Kasey cheered me up from the fight I would never win with my Mom, I headed
home. In the quiet atmosphere of Cherrygrove City, (I never knew why they called it a city, it was
as small as a town and didn't have any tall buildings) Kasey lived about a quarter of a mile away
from me. As I neared, I could hear voices coming from my house. The front porch light was on,
and sitting on the steps outside was my father's Houndoom, whom he named Wolf.


My face brightened with a smile as Wolf caught sight of me and happily ran towards
me. I wrapped my arms around him, laughing as he licked my face. I knew him since I was 7,
when Dad first caught him as a Houndour. If Wolf was here, that meant Dad had finally come
home from Goldenrod City.


I ran to the porch steps, but stopped right outside the door as I heard my parent's
voices. "Gisele, she's 14. 10-year-olds have started their training and traveling before her, and
she's past the age requirement. You and I both know she'd make a great trainer," I heard Dad
say. "She's still too young! Why can't you see that, Jim?" "Alaina is not too young. She knows
right from wrong when it counts, and she knows enough about Pokemon to get her out on her
own," Dad replied calmly. Mom was silent, and I was holding my breath to the point I felt I was
turning a shade of blue.


"If I... allow Lainie to go...how can I know she'll be alright?" Mom asked in a shaky
voice. "You won't," my father replied honestly, "but I have complete faith that as long as she
has her Pokemon companions with her, she'll make it through whatever is thrown in her path."
Mom was silent again. I looked like a balloon that was gonna explode for holding my breath so
long. "Give me until tomorrow morning to think about it. I'll have decided by then."



I breathed out with a great 'whoosh'. Wolf tilted his head in a confused matter. I
caught up on my breathing, then sat down on the steps. I put my arms around Wolf and leaned
onto his shoulder. "This... this could be my chance. This could be it," I whispered to him.
Wolf's reply was a small whine.