Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon.

Chapter One: Nowe Poczatki

It was still dark with only a hint of gray signaling a new day at Viridian City's Group Home. Despite the early hour Fara Knight was wide awake, preparing for what many ten year olds dreamed about, her pokemon journey. She was finishing her review of the check list she had painstakingly made for the journey. Besides the basic tent, hiking boots, clothing, and food she had added a variety of items per the suggestion of senior trainers she had spoken to at the local Pokemon Center. A frown marked her brow as she worriedly checked off items in her list for the third time.

Journey List

All weather trail tent

Tarp

Emergency weather blanket

Sleeping Bag (Good to 30 degrees)

Rain Jacket

Flint

Waterproof matches

First Aid Kit (For Humans)

First Aid Kit (For pokemon)

Water carrier

Water filtration tablets

2 week supply of dried food supply (human)

2 week supply of general pokemon food (1 pokemon)

Compass

Water proof map

Flash light (solar chargeable)

Radio (solar)

3 sets of warm weather clothing

3 sets of cool weather clothing

Hiking boots

7 pair of wool socks

Undergarments

Vest

Winter jacket

Gloves (Winter and fingerless)

500 ft of nylon rope

Duck tape

General Camp Repair kit

Camp cookware and utensils

Multi tool

Pocket knife

Wet stone

It was a lengthy list and it had cost her a lot of pokedollars. Years of lawn mowing, saved allowances, and chores for the neighbors had given her just enough for the bare necessities and her trainer's license. She wouldn't dare spend the trainers fund issued by the Viridian City for orphans. While a lot of money, she had heard one to many horror stories from the Pokemon Center about kids who spent their money on fancy pokeballs and potions only to get lost, get hurt, or starve because they didn't have the necessary provisions.

Swiping an errant brown curl from her green eyes Fara checked again, not out of necessity but nerves. She couldn't believe she was actually doing this. Making a journey was something the rest of the kids at the Home would never do. Once you left you were practically on your own. You were treated as an adult and couldn't return. Sure there was a sponsored Guardian that was technically responsible for your well being but that was only in regards to medical necessity or if you got into trouble with the law. You didn't get money or help from them in general.

The basic trainer's stipend was pathetic. A trainer's license and a premium starter pokemon (charmander, bulbasaur, or squirtel) came to around 1500 pokedollars. The lump fund that they were handed came to about 1000 pokedollars and the stipend was only about 50 pokedollars. Ever the shrew when it came to money, Fara was saving that for emergencies only. She still had about 100 pokedollars left from her saved funds for a pokemon. She had already picked out a little Pidgey from Mr. Davies' aviary on Coral lane. It was waiting for her to come back from Professor Oak's lab with her pokedevice. 'No license no pokemon' as Mr. Davis said.

Fara had helped him with feeding the pokemon and cleaning the aviary out for the last six months and he had been kind enough to offer one of the hatchlings for a discounted price. She grinned a little, contrary to the Home kids beliefs; this wasn't an ordinary Pidgey hatchling. Mr. Davis bred and trained superior avian pokemon, primarily from the Pidgey line, for the government's postal services. A former league top eight ranker he has specialized in aviary pokemon and had taken his passion for them from battling to breeding. He didn't breed his champion level Pidgeot often but she had laid a set of eggs in the beginning of spring. The three little eggs had hatched four weeks ago.

Mr. Davis had given her the pick of the hatchlings and she had chosen the only male. Smaller compared to his sisters, she had found that he had twice the spunk as them and had been smitten. In fact, the little rascal had already bitten Mr. Davis five times. She sometimes wondered if the discount wasn't more because Mr. Davis wanted to get rid of him.

Focusing back on the task Fara realized she had checked as much as she could and it was time to repack. Anxiety twisted her stomach in knots as she began to pack every thing into the hiking bag. Despite being prepared it was still scary to walk out into the world alone. She wasn't even sure what she was going to do. She didn't like violence so battling the league wasn't an option and she had never really been fond of the glittery appeal of contests. She knew that she would have to train any pokemon she caught as a matter of safety. Wild pokemon and rogue trainers were around and Mrs. Packard had said 'the fool who wasn't prepared to protect themselves was the fool who deserved what they got".

Stuffing her last few items in her bag Fara looked around the tiny room she had stayed in for the last six years. While well maintained it was plain with just the bed, dresser, and desk. The old cork board above the desk had been cleaned off. Just two days ago it had held a multitude of lists and advice she had received from, books, former trainers, and even the local Nurse Jenny. Any old clothes had been recycled into the home to the other children and she had even given old toys and knick knacks to them as well. It was sad leaving behind the only home she had known. She had cried more than a few times as she was clearing things out. While she had never had the traditional family she had had Mrs. Packard the house supervisor, Dennis the councilor, and the rest of the kids. It was only a small group home; there were only seven children, well six now. Fara had even been fortunate enough to have her own room. There was a genuine warmth and sense of love and she had always had support but it was time to leave.

She had made a decision a long time ago that she would go on a journey. Call her odd but she didn't want to go the same route as the other kids in the Home. She wanted to travel and find her place in life. Not stay and wait until she finished school when she was eighteen. The kids that did that never really were able to travel on a journey anyways. More often then not they went to a trade school and started families of their own. Refocusing once again Fara made sure everything was cleared out.

A soft knocked sounded at her door and Mrs. Packard poked her head through the doorway. Her face was lined with soft wrinkles and her grey eyes were the same color as her upturned hair. She was a tall and plump figure and always smelled like the cinnamon buns she liked to make for the kids. "Fara, are you ready? It's about time you came down for breakfast." "Yes,' Fara said. "I'll be down in just a minute; I wanted to make sure that I had everything ready."

"Ok hun, but hurry. I refuse to send you off on an empty stomach and you need to leave soon so you can make it to Pallet Town before nightfall. You don't have a pokemon yet and I don't want you wandering around at night without protection."

Fara smiled at the worried tone, despite the lack of relation, Mrs. Packard had always been a mother to all the children at the home. She was always protective of them and Fara's decision for a journey made her decidedly nervous. She didn't like the idea of Fara leaving at such a young age. But, despite that, she had been Fara's most avid supporter; helping her find the small jobs to fuel her journey's fund and pointing her into the direction of useful information guides, be they book or people.

Mrs. Packard left and Fara gave a last minute look around the room then went down the hallways to the smell of eggs and bacon. Entering the large white kitchen she made her way to the heavy oak dining table. Capable of holding up to twelve people at a time it was already piled with eggs, bacon, pancakes, and an assortment of breakfast goods including, to her delight, cinnamon buns. She made a beeline for the plate carrying them, making sure to get three, before piling her plate with other breakfast goods. Taking a seat she began to eat quickly.

The clock above the door told her that Mrs. Packard was right and it was almost 6 o'clock. She had planned to be out by then so she could take her time to get to Pallet. She hadn't hiked much with her bag's full weight of gear and she knew she was going to need to take a few breaks. Any delusion to being able to carry weight large distances without effort had been disabused by carrying Mr. Davis bird seed bags around the aviary. Eating a little more quickly Fara finished within fifteen minutes giving her, according to the clock, five minutes until six am. Again her nerves began to assault her, making her just the slightest bit jittery.

A gentle hand started to stroke her head, making her jump. Looking up she realized it was Mrs. Packard. "Are you nervous honey?" Fara began to say no but a look into Mrs. Packard's eyes stopped her. "Yeah, I guess. I don't really know why though. I have everything I could need according to you and Nurse Joy. Even Mr. Davis said I work well with his pokemon and that I should do well with the Pidgey he's letting me get."

Mrs. Packard stopped stroking her head and took a seat next her. "Fara, you are starting a brand new phase in your life. You are leaving everything you have known for something that's uncertain. I'd be surprised and worried if you weren't nervous. But I want you to know that you will be alright." Smiling Mrs. Packard reached to take Fara's hand into her own. "You have prepared for this journey very well. Unlike the rest of the kid's at your trainer's school you took the time learn about the life outside of pokemon training. How many ten year olds out there know how to prepare for severe weather conditions, forage, or treat their own injuries? You are ready sweetie."

Fara swallowed at the lump in her throat. It touched her how much faith Mrs. Packard had in her. She sometimes forgot how much her mother figure believed in her. She was a loner and didn't have too many special people in her life. So having someone like Mrs. Packard speak to her this way always made her emotional. Instead of speaking she just nodded her head and wrapped Mrs. Packard in a hug. She was going to miss this woman more than anyone else.

"Fara, it's time to go honey." Leaning away from the embrace Fara rubbed her eyes then got to her feet. The clock read five past six. Mrs. Packard got up as well and moved to the refrigerator. She returned to Fara with a medium plastic case and handed it to her. "I made you a lunch, I know you have provisions but I thought you'd like a homemade lunch.'

Smiling took the container from her and put in the hiking bag beside the kitchen entrance. Standing back up she looked out the window to the horizon. The sun was just peaking over the edge of it. Picking up her bag she placed it on her shoulders and then secured the waist clasp. Mrs. Packard walked to her and then they both started down the hallway for the front entrance. After walking outside Fara turned to face Mrs. Packard and was promptly smothered into another soft hug. She was given a kiss on the head before being released. Mrs. Packard was smiling but her eyes were suspiciously wet. "I want you to promise to take care of yourself Fara. Promise me you will call if you ever need anything." A confident "I promise Mrs. Packard, Goodbye" was the reply.

Taking a small step back Fara then turned toward the street and began to make her way down towards the Viridian City limits. Though she had smiled for Mrs. Packard her stomach was in knots. Taking a deep breath she looked at the horizon. "Ready or not journey here I come." Smiling she hurried forward.

A/N: Hello readers. I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is CGFlare and this is my first fan fiction story. As you probably could tell this is a classic OC story about a girl going on a journey. This is probably going to be a long story because like Fara, this is a journey to me. I am exploring the world with her and though I have many ideas of what her future will be like only time will tell what happens. I hope that you do enjoy the story as it evolves and forgive me for any grammar errors. I don't have a Beta currently and will be editing myself.

I also would like you to know a few things. I will not promise on regularly scheduled updates. I will do my best to make them frequent but my lack of practice with writing will probably cause some delay. Second I do want you to know that I will not respond to flames at all. I will just delete those so please avoid wasting my time and yours if that is what you want to do. I will take constructive criticism though so if you have ideas or see something I missed please let me know.

Anyways thank you!

CGFlare