BRIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGG~!

The alarm clock rattled and vibrated on the bedside table, annoyingly jumping shortly sided to side as it went up and down the dark brown wooden block. Its purpose to wake up the 11 year old girl snoring softly in the bed next to it wasn't really working, the girl being too wrapped up in her dream state that she was able to somehow ignore the metal object. She subconsciously reached over, pressing the center button to quiet the tiny silver clock from its aggressive endeavor to pull her from her sleep. Silence fell across the room once again and the young girl's snoring became the only reverberation in the morning light.

The room hadn't changed much from the day she had moved in, most of the books she had had the day she moved in were scattered amongst the floor. Samantha had gained more collections of books as she had grown, some from birthdays and holidays, others from some of her classmates from Trainer School that they were going to get rid of. The book that sat next to her was titled "Your First Journey: A Guide to Surviving by Yourself With Your Starter Pokemon", it was half open, turning to a chapter about sleeping out in the wilderness for the first time.

The young girl awoke with a slight start, her eyes barely opening as she heard someone running up the stairs. She saw the book she had been reading, her cheeks flushing as her eyes opened wide in slight fear. Her arms slightly flailed as she finally grabbed the book and shoved it into her stack of Pokemon plushies, effectively hiding it from view. She then turned over to face the door, making sure she looked as though she hadn't been trying to cover up anything. She saw the door open, sighing in slight relief as she saw the young dark red-hair of her younger sister. A big smile on her face as she saw her older sister awake and coherent.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" the youngling jumped onto her sister's bed, hugging her tightly as she giggled and laughed. Samantha found herself laughing as well, hugging her sister back just as tightly if not tighter than her.

"Thank you Lea!" she told her younger sister as she gently pushed her off of her, sitting up to face her sister head on. "I can't wait to see what you made for me this year!" She gave a playful smile as she saw her excited little sister almost jump up and down in joy.

Lea went to speak again, looking like she might go on and on about a new picture Samantha knew she had made for her like she had the last few years, when she heard a voice from downstairs yell up the stairs. Both girls fell silent, their smiles falling off of their faces as well. Lea looked down slightly, avoiding eye contact as Sammi sighed.

"Mark-I mean..."Samantha shook her head slightly, still not used to calling Mark her father. Then again, he wasn't...nor did he deserve to have her call her so. "Dad...he's home?" She saw Lea nod her head, still avoiding eye contact. "I thought he was supposed to be in Saffron city for the next four days, what happened?"

Lea looked up at her sister, her previously excited and light blue eyes were suddenly mixed with a grayish tint to them. "He...he said they wanted him to do some stuff at home..." she looked sort of scared, Samantha feeling her heart twist inside her chest. "He's been...he's been..y'know how he can be."

Samantha nodded, moving to stand up. She knew how her stepfather could be...the man was a control-freak, arrogant, he didn't even treat Samantha like his daughter, even if she wasn't blood related to him. Then again, he didn't show Lea any respect either, instead treating her like a doll he could mold into what he wanted. And when she disobeyed, she was reprimanded similar to how Samantha was. Except...except..

Samantha went over to her closet, finding the outfit she had picked out the night before in the very center of it. The bright green/yellow shirt along with a smooth pair of dark blue jeggings seemed pretty enough, though she would've chosen a bright blue gown that she had liked had it not been for her stepfather's obsessiveness with the entire family's clothing choices. No skirts...no short-shorts...nothing that gave off the impression that there was anything other than purity..

Purity...as if his tyrantic rule over the household was in any way pure..."Tell him I'm up and getting changed,"she told her little sister before turning back to her with a smile "I can't wait to see what you've made for me this year Lea, you're stuff always makes me smile." Lea smiled again before heading out of her room before running down the steps, barely closing the door behind her as she left.

Samantha let out a sigh before moving to change clothes, not really looking forward to the rest of her own birthday. She heard a soft tap at her window as she slid her blouse on, an eyebrow raising before walking over and pulling the blinds in time to see a pebble knock onto her window. She sighed slightly, looking down towards the ground with a good idea of whom was below. A smile worked its way onto her face as she looked down and spotted a familiar jet-black haired, tan-skinned boy, standing below her window with a pile of pebble in one arm as the other was down by his side, ready to launch if he didn't see someone appear at the window. Samantha lifted the window open, poking her head out and looking down at her best friend.

"You know if my dad saw you hitting our windows with pebbles, he'd probably kick your a-s-s." She spelled out the swear, being wary as to whether or not her mother or stepfather would walk through her door unannounced. She saw her best friend drop his pile of pebbles with a grin before crossing his arms as he leaned on one leg.

"Considering how well tied our parents are, I highly doubt your dad would do anything to me personally." He spoke with such cockiness yet at the same time Samantha knew he was correct. That was the way it had been since they had moved to the small town of Pallet, seeing as they were one of the more influential and extroverted families in town, it was hard for Mark NOT to become friends with Anikin's family.

Ani...Ani had been Samantha's friend since she first met him, he had allowed her access to the little bit of freedom she craved from this secluded little town. Anikin had helped her understand Pokemon more as well as loaned her every trainer's guide she couldn't get ahold of on her own due to her stepfather's restraint when it came to studying for her Trainer's License. After all, he didn't want her to leave..meaning she couldn't be a trainer. At least, not if he had any true say about it.

"I'll be down after breakfast I promise! I wanted to go see that little family of Pikachu's we found before!" She called down to him, before her eyes widened in slight realization "Oh! And I finished with the book you gave me! I can toss it down to you or I can sneak it out."

Ani waved his hand as if to wave off her offer, "It's yours Sammi! I don't need it anymore, after all I'm gonna be a real trainer soon enough!" He gave a kind smile "Besides, I still have to give you your birthday present!" Samantha felt her cheeks slightly pinken as she smiled back at him before nodding.

"I'll be down in a bit!" she repeated before closing the window behind her, changing quickly into her pants before running downstairs.

"Arceus! We were wondering what was taking you so long!" her stepfather's voice made her smile waver slightly as she entered the kitchen, her mother cooking what looked to be pancakes and her step-father had set down what looked to be a box about the size of a medium sized tissue box on her usual seat at the table. "I spend all this time making sure you two have food and nice things and you repay it by being so slow at times..."

"Good morning father," Samantha spoke monotonous, making sure not to sound angry or upset as she picked up the gift her father had given her. "Thank you for the present...may I open it?" she didn't want to start a fight...not today...She had promised herself she wasn't going to fight him today. For once she wanted to have a nice birthday.

"Yeah..go ahead and open it." her stepfather sat down across from her, taking his coffee off his coaster before downing a quarter of it. "It was expensive so .." Samantha tore at the wrapping paper, not expecting much seeing as he mainly bought books on...

"How to build your own pokeball..."Samantha hadn't expected anything less. All Mark wanted was for her to be involved in technology...Silph Co. had offered him an awful big pay raise if one of his daughters decided on the path to create technology...to try and apply for the company. "Thanks Mark..." She put on a smile, giving as much illusion as an 11 year old could give.

Mark nods in approval, "You're such a smart girl that I think its time you start building your own items." he drinks again from his coffee "After all, we need to prepare you for your future in the company. Mr. Silph has a nice place for you once you finally start training, which means he also has a new office for me as well." Samantha saw Lea look down at her already prepared pancakes, trying not to say a word. Lea knew as well as Samantha did that this wasn't what either of them wanted.

Samantha looked up at her mother, whose back was towards her, "Mom I want to go hang out with Anikin-"

"Samantha Lee, we've discussed this, we're going to have a nice family dinner-"

"Mom it'll only be for an hour I promise.."

Her mother let out an exasperated sigh, flipping the pancake she was fixing onto a plate before reaching up to the window sill where a cigarette sat lit. She took the cigarette between her middle and index finger, bringing it to her lips before taking a long drawl from it. She turned back towards her daughter, cigarette still in hand as she muttered out, "Pain in the ass..." she raised her voice, "Fine. Only because it with that boy. I trust that entire family more than I trust most people in this town." She shooed her out, letting Samantha start to head towards the door. "Hey!"

Her mother stopped her in her tracks, beckoning her back, "Take this to eat, just so you're not complaining you're hungry okay?" She handed the paper plate to Samantha whom took it in both hands before heading back for the front door. "Don't be late!" her mother called out to her as she pushed open the door, heading outside.

Ani wasn't too far from the house, waiting a few blocks down as he watched the house. When he saw Samantha stumble out the door with pancakes in her hand, he smiled before getting up from his position and heading over to help her. "Wow you're quick." He commented, taking a small piece from the pancakes, placing it into his mouth.

"Well, I told you I'd be down here soon enough," she smirked slightly, lightly smacking his hand away from her food "And hands off, these are mine!"

Ani laughed "Well you'll want to share with me once we get to where your birthday present is." he teased, poking her nose before heading down the sidewalk, Sammi trailing behind him slightly confused.

"Wait...where are we going?" she asked him, confusion plaguing her mind as she munched on her sweet and tantalizing breakfast, following him merely out of curiosity.

Ani looked back at Sammi, before turning around fully as he continued, instead walking backwards down the path. "We're getting our starters. Professor Oak wanted to give you and me our first steps to our journey."