Leaf was sitting on her bed, thinking about everything that was going to happen soon. It would only be a week before she could receive her very first Pokémon from Professor Oak and begin her Pokémon journey! She was so excited!

She'd been counting down the days for months now, hardly able to focus on anything as time passed by at an extremely slow rate. It had been Leaf's life-long ambition (admittedly, she was only 10, but still!) to finally become a Pokémon Trainer. And now, it was only a matter of days before her dream would come true!

Leaf was still daydreaming about the adventures she would have on her journey when she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Come in," she called, and the door opened to reveal her father. He came and sat down next to Leaf, a solemn look on his face.

Leaf was worried; her father was usually a cheerful person. Had something happened?

Almost afraid of the answer, she asked, "What's wrong, Dad?"

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, the same shade of brown as Leaf's.

"Leaf, honey, I need to tell you something," he said softly, not easing her fears in the least.

He continued, "It's about you going on your journey."

Suddenly she wasn't just worried; she was panicked. Was he going to tell her that she couldn't go? That would be devastating, and Leaf didn't think she could stand hearing that.

"You know how much I love you, sweetie, and I couldn't bear it if something happened to you on your journey. Even with your Pokémon, I just don't think it's safe enough."

So she was right. He was going to force her to stay here, and she might never become a Pokémon Trainer! She felt like crying. Her vision was blurry and she wasn't really focusing on anything. She couldn't, she felt like she was in a dream, a horrible dream and she would wake up any second and find that everything would be right again. She hoped with all her heart that it really was a dream.

"That's why I want you to travel with someone. It will be a lot safer with two of you. You can go with whoever you like, but if you don't find anyone, I won't let you go. Sorry, sweetie, but that's just how it is. I'm sure you'll find a great travelling partner!"

Relief overwhelmed her, and this time the tears running slowly down her cheeks were those of joy.

She was able to go after all! She wouldn't have to watch all the other kids in Pallet receive their first Pokémon and leave her behind to travel. She could go too!

Her father embraced her, and she hugged back.

"I love you, Leaf," he whispered softly, with his arms still locked around her.

"I love you too, Dad," she whispered back, and they parted.

Then he left, closing the door quietly behind him.

Leaf just sat there for a moment, stunned. Then a wide grin broke out on her face, and she hurried out of the house to look for someone she could travel with.

~O~

Leaf was now walking back along the path, heading to Ash's house. She had just gone to see her friend Katie, another future Trainer, but she had said that she planned to travel alone. And, as she'd been walking, Leaf had realised there were only two people left to ask: Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak. She began to shudder uncontrollably when she thought of the latter, and she tried not to think of having to travel with him.

She desperately hoped that Ash would say yes, or she'd have to travel with the arrogant, cocky, self-centered jerk whose name was Gary. She couldn't think of anything worse that could happen to her.

Eager to confirm that that wouldn't have to happen, she began to run. She was so intent on finding Ash that she accidentally ran straight into someone. They both fell to the ground, and Leaf struggled to get up.

"Hey! Watch where you're going, Leaf, you loser!" Unfortunately, she knew this voice all too well.

"Why don't you watch where you're going, Gary," she hissed in anger as she stood and dusted herself off. Gary was doing the same.

"No thanks, my sense of direction is perfect, unlike yours," he replied smugly, making Leaf want to hit him so hard that when he fell over, he wouldn't get back up.

"You think so, huh? I bet you couldn't even find yourself in a mirror!" she retaliated.

"Oh, I sure can! It's not even possible for you to find yourself in a mirror, because it cracks whenever you try!"

Leaf, who wasn't that great at comebacks, was left trembling with fury, at a loss for words.

Gary smirked. "Well, I don't have time to waste talking to someone as stupid as you," he said, and started walking. He called back to her, "So long, loser!" and Leaf was so mad she felt like she could explode from anger.

You had better let me travel with you, Ash, or else! She mentally screamed this as she took off at a run in the opposite direction to Gary, toward Ash's house.

~O~

"Sure, Leaf, that'd be great!" Ash replied, after hearing her request. "It'll be good to not have to travel alone!" At this, Leaf was overcome with joy. I don't have to go with Gary! she thought cheerfully. She was so happy, she almost felt like dancing, but she stopped herself; she didn't want Ash, her new travelling partner, to think she was nuts. Or that she was that happy to be travelling with him.

"Great!" she replied, settling for a smile. "I guess I'll see you when we get our Pokémon?"

"Yeah," he returned, and Leaf started walking towards the door. Turning around to look at Ash, she called back, "OK, see you then!" and stepped outside.

She decided to head for a stream just on the edge of Pallet Town, close to her house. It was quiet, secluded, and a great fishing spot, but Leaf didn't feel like fishing right at that moment. So, when she arrived there, she simply sat down with her back against a tree in the shade, partially hidden from view and closed her eyes, just relaxing.

She snapped back into reality when she heard a noise. Opening her eyes and turning, she looked across to the other side of the bank to find Gary with a fishing rod in hand, having just cast his line into the water. Gary clearly didn't know she was there, and she was considering resuming her previous position and ignoring him when he noticed her.

"Well if it isn't Leaf the Loser! What a surprise," Gary taunted, smirking. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Gary," she snarled in response, getting to her feet. "It's really none of your business, but I was just sitting here thinking. Now, I'm leaving."

She turned and stalked off, as Gary laughed and called out, "Wow, I didn't know you could think! It's a good thing you're going; hanging around with someone stupid like you is bad for my health!"

It took all of her self-control to not turn around and strangle him so much that he wouldn't be able to insult her anymore.

She reached her house, climbed upstairs and into her room, and collapsed on her bed.

Not long now until I won't have to deal with him, she thought, her head throbbing from anger.

Gary Oak, I hate you so much.