???: This is the world that you created. You wanted some fun, no? Just another adventure?
Female: Mmm… Created what…?
???: You tried to play hero in an unforgiving world, of your own creation.
Female: Me…? Hero…? No…
???: That’s what you say but this world you have created says otherwise. Tell me. Did you ever consider the consequences of what you did? All that you’ve done? Don’t worry though. I’m not so different from you.
Female: I’m… I’m not-
???: Now then… shall we start from the beginning?
Female: The… beginning…?
???: I want you to tell me the story 1 last time. From the very beginning of your existence.
Female: The beginning of… Yes… Ok…
Well where do I even begin with this… CRAZY story. Well, not sure if you know this but I’m the daughter to Hoenn’s own Pokemon Professor, Professor Birch. That’s pretty cool I guess. And my mom is just a regular person but that’s ok. I love them both just the same. Now where to actually start. Hmm… Well nothing of interest happened until I was about 9 years old. I was a couple of months away from where most children would get a Starter Pokemon and start their journey. I was up late 1 night. You know how some kids are. Rebel against the parents by trying to stay up late. I could hear them talking and it was about me. I quietly got up, walked a couple of steps downstairs and listened in on their conversation.
Prof. Birch: You know hun, our daughter is getting really close to the age where all the kids will be getting their 1st Pokemon.
Mother: Yes… That’s true…
Prof. Birch: What’s wrong? You don’t sound too excited about it.
Mother: Have you forgotten what’s happened just a couple of months ago?
Prof. Birch: You mean that whole ordeal with Team Aqua & Magma?
Mother: Exactly! And you want us to send our 10 year old daughter out there into something like that?
Prof. Birch: But honey, that whole ordeal is over and done with. Brendan took care of-
Mother: Yes I know he did! Honestly though… it shouldn’t have been down to a child to take down a team like that. Let alone 2.
Prof. Birch: But if he didn’t, things might have gotten worse.
Mother: Yes you’re probably right… But still, it should have been someone else to have taken that role.
Prof. Birch: I suppose you do have a point.
Mother: Someone that young? Having to deal with something that big? It’s gonna leave some kind of mental scarring on him.
Prof. Birch: Now I’m not so sure about that hun. He went to defeat the Pokemon League and is the Champion of the whole region now!
Mother: That may be true but I’ve talked to his mother recently. Even though everything is better now, he still has nightmares about what he encountered.
Prof. Birch: He… has?
Mother: Yes. He had to deal with not only 1 but 2 Legendary Pokemon and stop them from destroying the region! Everything was on his back and he took it for us! And now, he is suffering for it!
Prof. Birch: I… I see.
Mother: Do you understand now why I do not want our daughter to go on a Pokemon journey? It’s too dangerous. Even if things are going good right now.
Prof. Birch: I see your point now my dear. I really do. But…
Mother: But what? You’re still willing to have her be in that kind of potential danger?
Prof Birch: Of course I don’t want her in that kind of danger! But I think it should be up to her. Not u-
Mother: I’m sorry but no. I’m not having this discussion with you any longer. I’m not gonna let our daughter be in any danger. She can do something else.
Prof. Birch: Like what?
Mother: Umm… She could be a Pokemon Nurse!
Prof. Birch: A Pokemon Nurse? But we have loads of those as it is now.
Mother: It’s better than having her out there and possibly being harmed.
Prof. Birch: I suppose I’ll think about it…
Mother: There’s nothing to think about. This discussion is over.
My mother got up from the chair she was sitting on and went into the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. I looked at my father. He seemed upset with what had happened. He too got up but instead of going into the kitchen to join mother in the kitchen, he was heading for the stairs. I quickly ran up to my room, jumped into my bed, got under the covers and pretended I was asleep. I’m not sure why but I had a feeling that my dad peered into my room and looked at me. Before long, I actually fell asleep. The next couple of days, I could feel the weird tension between my mother and father. It was even affecting me. 1 evening, my mother came into my room, shut the door and sat down on my bed with me. I knew this meant that she wanted to talk to me about something.
Mother: Hey there Felicia.
Felicia: Hey mom…
Mother: You know, your birthday is in a couple of months.
Felicia: I know it is!
Mother: I need to talk to you about that.
Felicia: Ohh…?
Mother: Not sure if you noticed the past couple of days but… things have been weird with your father and I.
Felicia: I know mom.
Mother: Yes… Well…
Felicia: I know what you’re going to say.
Mother: Huh?
Felicia: You’re going to tell me that I’m not gonna get a Pokemon and start my journey… right?
Mother: How did you know about that?
Felicia: I listened in on your talk with dad the other night.
Mother: Well… yes. You’re correct. You won’t be going on an adventure like the others.
Felicia: I know you’re worried about me but I can take care of myself!
Mother: I’m sorry Felicia but my decision is final. I’m not gonna risk you getting hurt out there by some Legendary Pokemon or evil teams! It’s just not gonna happen!
Felicia: That’s not fair! What about what I wanna do?!
Mother: The decision is final!
Felicia: I hate you! Get out of my room!
I laid down on my bed under the covers and started to cry. My mother did as I requested and left my room. Before shutting the door though, I did hear her quietly tell me that she loved me. She then shut the door and I was laying in there in silence. I was hoping that her talking to me about this would have her change her mind but that wasn’t the case. Now because of my mother, I wouldn’t be going on my Pokemon Adventure. For the next couple of days, things were really awkward between my mother and I. We would barely look at each other or even speak. But then I started to slowly understand her thinking. She just wanted me to be safe. I mean what mother wouldn’t want their child to be safe? Then I was starting to think something else. Being a hero was really a good thing. I mean yea. Brendan did save the whole region but what he was going through now? That wasn’t worth it. I had decided right then and there that being a hero wasn’t something that I wanted to be. 1 day, my father came to me. He could see the conflict between my mother and I.
Prof. Birch: Hey there Felicia.
Felicia: Hey daddy.
Prof. Birch: Whatcha doing?
Felicia: Just playing around.
Prof. Birch: That’s good. Are things… good between you and your mother?
Felicia: I mean… not really.
Prof. Birch: I take it that she told you about our conversation the other day?
Felicia: Yea. She told me that I couldn’t go on my Pokemon Journey when I turn 10 next month.
Prof. Birch: I’m sorry hun. I tried to change her mind but you know how she is.
Felicia: Yea I know but… I’ve thought about it.
Prof. Birch: Ohh?
Felicia: Yea… I think maybe mom has a point.
Prof. Birch: She does?
Felicia: Yea. I mean she just wants me to be safe. And knowing what Brendan is going through right now? I wouldn’t want to risk that.
Prof. Birch: I see. And you’re absolutely sure about this?
Felicia: Yes. I know she wouldn’t change her mind if I tried to anyways but she’s right.
Prof. Birch: Well… if that’s how you see it then I support your decision.
Felicia: Thanks daddy.
Prof. Birch: So what are you gonna do then when your 10th birthday comes along?
Felicia: I’m not sure but I’m sure I’ll think of something.
Prof. Birch: Well how about we all come together and forgive each other? I’m sure you’ve felt the tension between all of us right?
Felicia: Yea. I’d really like it to stop now.
Daddy held my hand and the 2 of us walked downstairs and into the living room where my mom was. We walked up to her to where she was sitting. She looked at the 2 of us and we back at her. Tears started to swell up in my eyes. I let go of my father’s hand and jumped onto my mother, hugging her and feeling her returning it.
Felicia: -sobbing- I’m sorry mom!
Mother: It’s ok hun.
Felicia: -sobbing- I-I didn’t mean to tell you that I hated you!
Mother: It’s ok hun. I know you didn’t mean it.
Felicia: -starts to calm down- Y-You were right?
Mother: About what sweetie?
Felicia: Starting a Pokemon Journey. I might get into trouble and if I have to help save a region and become a hero, I might be worse off still. So… So I’m just gonna do something else with my life.
Mother: Ohh hun. I’m so glad you saw what I was saying. I just want you to be safe.
Felicia: I-I know that now mom. I love you. And you too dad!
Prof. Birch and Mother: We love you too Felicia.
The 3 of us embraced each other in a long hug. It felt good to finally have things to be back to normal after everything felt so awkward and tense for the last couple of days. After that, things got back to normal. My dad was happy doing his things as being a Professor, my mom just doing her mom duties and me being a kid. It was nice. My 10th birthday came and went and no journey happened but I was ok with that. Potentially becoming a hero wasn’t something I wanted to do or be apart of. Nothing of importance happened until my 12th birthday but I’ll save that story for another time.