Well, here is chapter 5. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 5

"Absolutely Not! That is out of the question!" This yell echoed through Nicolas' house in the early hours of the evening. It had only been a day since Asano had given him all the items he need for a Pokemon journey and since then, Nicolas had been planning to tell his parents of his desire to leave out into the world. He had finally acted upon his plans this evening when he had walked out into the living room under his own power. His parents' reactions had been predictable. His mother had screamed and his father had gawked at him.

After clamoring about how he was able to accomplish this and being happy that he was getting stronger. He had told them that he had something he wanted to discuss with them. The conversation had been very brief, as he had only said, "I want to go on a Pokemon adventure."
This alone had caused the shout that still rang in Nicolas' ears. His mother was on her feet across from him, glaring down at him breathing hard as though she had run a mile. She was smaller than his father, by about a foot, and yet despite this, was a fiery woman with red hair to match. She was slightly plump and typically wore a sensible set of comfortable clothes. At the moment though, her fury made her look less like a kindly mother and more like a ferocious Persian.

Nicolas tried not to waver under her killer glare and said, "And why not? I have proved that I am getting stronger, that I am healthier. I can take the trials of the journey."

His mother shook her head vehemently but Nicolas' father spoke instead, raising his hand in a sage like way and said, "Of this I have no doubt Nicolas, but a Pokémon journey is extremely difficult, on the mind and body. You may be able to handle a simple walk or maybe even a jog. But I have my doubts that you could handle an earth shattering explosion mere feet from you."

Nicolas' father had many of the traits that Nicolas had. His hair was short and black, his eyes were the same color, and he was quite thin and fit. He wore a pair of glasses, perched neatly on the edge of his sharp nose. He had been fairly quiet during all of this. While Nicolas' mother had shouted and raged, his father had remained calm and collected. After a few more moments, Nicolas' father stood up and placed a hand on his wife's shoulder. She looked sideways at him and after a moment, sighed and sat back down. After she had, Nicolas' father turned to his son and folded his hands behind his back, eying his son over the top of his glasses.

Nicolas didn't know what it was, but something about his father's calm stare unnerved him more than his mother's screaming. It was as if he always knew more than he was letting on, and yet never revealed it all. After a moment, Nicolas squirmed and looked away from his father. His father stared for a moment more before saying, "Nicolas. I realize that your new found strength no longer limits you to the bed. I am encouraged by this, and take it as a sign that you will be able to now live a normal life. I think your mother won't mind as much if you go out into the town whenever you wish and walk around a bit on your own. You've proven to be more than capable of this."

He paused here as though thinking, all while Nicolas' mom looked as though she'd rather eat dirt than allow Nicolas the chance to wander freely. She didn't say anything though and soon Nicolas' father continued speaking, "I must say however, that our ban on you having a Pokémon is still very much in effect. They are far too dangerous Nicolas, and believe me, your mother and I know from personal experience."

He turned back to the couch and sat down on it next to his wife. He could see that Nicolas wanted to argue and before Nicolas could even open his mouth he said, "I'm sorry Nicolas, but that's my final word on the matter."

Nicolas stared at his father, inwardly feeling an empty sensation in the pit of his stomach. He had always known that they would refuse his owning a Pokemon. Even though he had been given the ability to wander, he still didn't feel like it was a victory at all. Nicolas bowed his head, staring at the floor and then said, "I understand…"

He didn't want to argue with his parents anymore. It was easy to fight with his mom, when she yelled, he felt justified to yell back. But when his father spoke, in that serenely calm, cool voice, it took every bit of fight straight out of him. After a few moments he looked up at his father and asked, "May I go now father?"

His father nodded and waved for him to go. Nicolas nodded and stood up, heading back to his room. As he did so, he saw Asano standing just outside the room, having clearly been listening in. He shook his head and sniffled a bit before heading into his room and closing the door behind him. Nicolas flopped down on the bed and buried his face in his pillow, weeping silently at the prospect of what lay ahead of him. He didn't want to have just the freedom to walk, he wanted the freedom of a friend, of having a Pokemon. He'd wanted one since he was six and it had always been denied him. It just wasn't fair and he felt that his parents knew that, and to him the injustice that they had Pokemon and told him he couldn't have one was more than he could stand. A taint of rage mixed with her sorrow and he pounded a fist against the pillow, wanting to shout and scream his frustrations.

He knew that to do this would only make things worse, as his parents would come to see what was wrong, and he'd probably shout at them, which would start the fight in earnest. He didn't want that but at the same time it appealed to him. He grit his teeth, warring with himself, struggling to calm his anger. It was then, that he felt a pair of soft, old hands, slide over his shoulders. A weight was set on the side of his bed and he heard Asano say, "There there Nicolas. I'm here."

Nicolas' anger melted under her kindness and he sobbed into the bed with renewed vigor. Asano comforted him quietly, rubbing along his back tenderly, making soft hushing sounds. After Nicolas had cried his fill, he hiccuped into silence and turned his head to look at Asano. She smiled warmly at Nicolas and asked, "Feel better?"

Nicolas rubbed his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "A little bit…"

He shifted and sat up, sliding his legs off the side of the bed and wrapping his arms around Asano. She smiled and hugged him back. When he broke free he said, "It just isn't fair. I prove that I'm getting stronger and they still say no. Why won't they let me have a Pokemon?"

Asano smiled a bit and stroked a stray strand of Nicolas' hair out of his eyes and said, "They are only worried for you Nicolas. But you notice they are going to let you walk around, and that's a step in the right direction. Small changes lead to bigger ones eventually."

She smiled and then stuck her foot under the edge of his bed and pulled it forward, the backpack and gear she had bought him sliding out from under it. Nicolas looked down at the backpack as Asano said, "Of course, if you are as impatient as your mother, you can always take this option."

Nicolas continued to stare at it and said, "If I do, they'll come after me."

Asano simply stared at him and said, "If you don't they'll find out about Amaya eventually and then you'll really have to fight them. Unless you're going to give her up to prevent that."

Nicolas scowled and said, "I'm never going to give Amaya up. She's mine."

Asano smiled and said, "Well, you have three options then, you can stay here and pray they never find out about Amaya, you can take this and run, or you and use Amaya as prove you can take care of a Pokémon and try to force a change in your parents' decision."

Nicolas looked back down at the backpack and said, "Its not an easy choice to make."

Asano shook her head and said, "It rarely is. But these decisions are the ones that truly shape our lives. And decisions of such magnitude are never easy to make."

Asano sighed and pushed the backpack under the bed. After she did she stood up and said, "Listen Nicolas, whatever choice you make, I will support it. If you need time to think, I certainly understand."

She smiled a bit and said, "Get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

Nicolas nodded and bade goodbye to Asano as she left the room, shutting the door behind her. After she had left, Nicolas laid back down on his bed and stared up into the ceiling. Asano was right that this was not an easy decision to make, but what she had said to him about running away disturbed him a bit and it was this choice he dwelled on the most. He had no experience with the outside world apart from a crawl through dirt and an encounter with a group of murderous trainers. With these being his only real world experience, of course he was frightened. But…at the same time, the thought gave him a thrill of excitement.

He'd be doing what his parents didn't want him to do, regardless of their wishes, he'd be living his dream and meeting all kinds of Pokemon along the way. He knew his parents would come after him, but by the time they caught up with him, he'd already be strong enough to continue walking his own path. He rolled over slightly and pulled the backpack out from under his bed. Staring at it, he felt the desire to just leave building within him, stronger and stronger. Adventure, companionship, exploration, a life he'd longed for but been long since denied. Now just within reach. He smiled at the backpack and eventually, he made his decision.
It was time.

A few hours later…

Nicolas slowly crept out from his room in the dark depths of midnight, looking around cautiously for any sign of his parents. At this late hour, he wasn't surprised to not see them. He crept slowly towards the kitchen and began to scour around, collecting an array of preserved foods, wrapping them up carefully before carrying them back to his bedroom. He made sure to not drop anything as he carefully packed everything away into what space he had in his backpack. After zipping it back up, he put on the warmest clothing he had over his t-shirt and jeans, and then unlatched his window.

Fear and worry sat in the pit of his stomach as he picked up his backpack, checking that he had everything on hand before he dropped his backpack quietly to the ground outside his window, then climbed out of it himself. Once outside, he picked up his backpack and put it on, looking back into his room for what he felt may be the last time. On the bed was a carefully worded note to his parents, explaining what he had done. The more he thought about it, the more sick he felt at what he was doing. He tried to push away thoughts of his mother and fathers worried reactions, their fear and panic. He tried to control it but couldn't help but feel that what he was doing was wrong.

Inside the house it had been easy to prepare, easy to plan. Now, with only trees, bushes, and grass ahead of him, he felt like he was literally being torn apart. Through the bushes, he saw Amaya, standing there watching him. She cocked her head to the side to stare at him, obviously wondering what he was doing. Nicolas gulped audibly and then said, "Amaya…I'm coming."

He looked back down at the ground, and then with what felt like a huge effort, lifted his foot from the ground and took a step away from his home. Away from comfort, from care and family, stepping away into the great unknown, into a world that scared and fascinated him. He felt tears slide down his cheeks as the thought of what he was doing suddenly surged back to the front of his mind. He ignored these feelings and pressed on, walking past Amaya, who turned and followed after him. He felt her beside him, could sense her concern for his emotions but he didn't want her to feel worried for him. He looked down at her and smiled a bit, the tears in his eyes ruining the effect of trying to set Amaya at ease.

She looked at him and then jumped up at him, trying to wrap her arms around his neck as she gave him a comforting hug. Her concern for him and her compassion warmed him inside, helping him to feel like it was going to be okay. Nicolas smiled and wrapped an arm around Amaya and eventually let go of her. She smiled at him and the repositioned herself to sitting on his shoulder as he continued onwards towards the nearest town. He wanted to try and stay off the main road, as that was the most obvious path he'd take with his inexperience. He hoped that he wouldn't get lost, but he had found a map in his bag so he felt confident that he wouldn't.

And so he walked, marching onwards into the trees, away from all he had known. On and on he went, hours rolling by as he lost himself in the task of just keeping a straight line. Eventually, he felt Amaya's head rest against his and he suddenly became aware of his own fatigue. He yawned broadly and came to a stop. Amaya about fell off of his shoulder when he had, but she caught herself and looked around curiously.

He smiled and asked her to hop down, which she complied to easily. Once she was down, he pulled off his backpack and unpacked the sleeping bag, unrolling it in a clear spot before eating a little of the food he'd brought. He gave some to Amaya, who took it and ate, and once they had both finished, Nicolas slid into the sleeping bag. He held it open for Amaya, who stared at it for a moment before dropping on her hands and knees and crawling in beside him. She seemed to be exploring the confines of the bag, tickling him as she moved around. After another minute or so, she turned from the bottom and crawled back to the top, laying down beside him.

He smiled, and then wrapped his arms around her. Another of the advantages of what he had done, being able to cuddle with his first and only Pokemon friend without any fear of getting in trouble. He smiled and kissed the top of her head gently before saying, "Good night Amaya." She smiled and snuggled up closer to him and he felt that he understood. Nicolas yawned once, then closed his eyes and was asleep within moments.

There you go, chapter 5. More coming.