Pokemon: Ryan
From Create Your Own Story
You yawn, as you slowly wake up. Outside, you can hear the Pidgeys singing. It must be very early in the morning, because, while it is light outside, you cannot see the sun over the mountains. You open your eyes and glance at the calendar on your wall, and suddenly, as you realize what day it is, you feel your heart pumping 5 times harder. Yesterday was your 16th birthday. And today, on the first full day of 16, you are ready to start your very own Pokémon journey. Yeah, yeah, you are aware that you are starting your journey a couple years late... okay like, 6 years late. But that's not your fault, that one is all on your parents. But you're a persistent boy, which isn't surprising considering your parents are as persistent as you. That's definitely where you get your persistence, from your father (who was persistently telling you that you could not adventure on your own until you were of age) and from your mother (who was persistently telling you that you shouldn't give up). This all led to today, you, adventuring on your own 2 years before coming of age ("haha, suck it dad. Just kidding, love you old man.") You. Ryan Yoshizumi, finally going out on your own.
You sit in bed for a couple minutes, just thinking about all the grand adventures you were about to have. Would it be hard? Yes. Would you miss your home, your family, your friends? Heck yes. Would it all be worth it in the end? Definitely.
Your alarm clock rings at 7. It's strange to think that this is the last time your alarm is going to ring in the morning. This is the last time that you are going to hear the familiar chimes it sends out to wake you up. This is the last time you're going to roll out of your bed. The last time you're going to make it. The last time you're going to shower in the shower you've always know, the last time you're going to get dressed, the last time you're going to look at your room. (At least, until I come back.) You take one last glance at the room that you have always known before flipping the light and closing the door. After a moment, the door opens, and you come running inside, grabbing your backpack, and then closing the door.
In the kitchen, your mother has made you one last good-bye breakfast, eggs, bacon, and hash browns... her favorite. Not yours. Weird. She's sipping coffee in a cup and reading the newspaper. You think it's weird that this is the last time that you're going to see her do that, even though you've seen it happen endlessly for about 5,000 days now. "Ryan, eat some breakfast," she tells you without looking up. You do as your told. Obviously, your father has already left for work, but that doesn't surprise you. He lost this battle, and while he loves you, he couldn't manage to see his son off with his tail between his legs.
Finally, after you wash your plate, it's 8 o'clock. Your mother looks at you. You can see that she's holding back tears. "Ryan... where do I even start. You're my baby-"
"Mom-" you try interrupting, but she just interrupts you right back.
"Let me finish, Ryan." She takes a breath. You say nothing. "You are my baby. When I gave birth to you 16 years ago, I was so overjoyed. You bring me joy Ryan. I want you to know that. You're my blonde haired, blue-eyed baby, and I'm going to be proud of you no matter what you do out there, Ryan. Always know that." It made you a bit uncomfortable that she was calling you baby when you outgrew her by 5 inches three years ago.
You say what she couldn't say, "I love you too Mom."
As you walk away, you're slightly worried that she will forget about you. No... no that's not it. You're worried she will replace you with someone or something else. And that's when you realize that you have an overactive imagination, and that something like that would never happen. At least, not with your mom. Your father is a completely different story.
It's very nice outside today. The sky is wonderfully blue. You're sure that it means good luck on your journey. Now, if it was raining, that would mean that something was out of wack. But not today. Today is perfect, you are perfect, it is perfect.
Most roads in Kanto are still dirt with hilly embankments on either side, and you are perfectly fine with that. A light dust trail follows you on your pathway. In the trees surrounding the path, there are numerous bird Pokémon flying around, making noise and doing their own thing. One day, maybe one of these Pokémon might belong to you. You smile at the thought. Eventually, you pass a small pond. You stop to glance at your reflection. A 5'7", 16 year old, blond haired, blue-eyed kid smiles at you. Essentially, you are smiling at you. Sometimes you couldn't even recognize yourself, you're so unconvinced that you are no longer a 12 year old wannabe. You can't really remember growing up so quickly. You take a breath and walk away from the pond, finally seeing the lab in the distance.
Do you want to:
