Hey guys!

I thought I'd start a reimagining of the Black and White series, which follows Trip instead of Ash. Like Ash, he will travel around with two companions; Iris and Cilan. Unlike my other Pokemon fan-fic on here, it will be a lot darker, edgier, and it will look into why Trip acts the way he does towards others and his Pokemon.

I wanted my characters to be a little older in this story, so I made the starting age to get Pokemon 14.

The first entry is called "Goodbye, Trip", and it details both the elation and heartache that Trip has to endure on his 14th birthday, the start of his remarkable journey.

I hope you enjoy reading, and any reviews are very much appreciated!

oOoOo

This is it. This is the day I've been waiting for my whole life. This time tomorrow, you will be a Pokemon owner. This time next week, you will be a fully fledged trainer. This time next year, you will be a fully fledged Pokemon master. This…is where it all begins.

The young boy's eyes shot open, a subtle blue shining in the little light entering the dark room. Brushing his brownish bangs out of his face, he looked over at the wall with a grin growing quickly on his face. In big red writing, the words '14thBIRTHDAY!'dominated his day. The grin grew even wider into a rare smile as the significance of this particular day dawned on the boy…the boy named Trip.

He was not expecting the grand gifts his friends normally received; money was always tight in their household, and his mother had never put much emphasis on birthdays, but he didn't care. Today was to be the biggest day of his life…the day his Pokemon journey was due to begin. Once the age of 14, children became eligible to claim one of three 'starter' Pokemon off the local Pokemon expert, Professor Aurea Juniper, and head off on their respective quests. His, from the very first dream he could remember, was to win 8 Unova Region badges and enter the Unova Champion League. Unfortunately, bigger challenges would have to be crossed before he could even contemplate reaching those lofty heights.

Slipping quietly out of his bed, he walked to the window and opened the cheap curtains to find a miserable day outside. Not exactly what he had envisaged this day to be like. Dark and ominous rainclouds dominated the air, and the pitter-patter of soft rain on the tin roof was only broken by the occasional crash of thunder and brilliant flashes of lightning, like a pack of Blitzle running amok along the skyline. An omen, perhaps? Trip shook his head and turned away from the scene. He had never believed in omens or fortune. In the Pokemon world, it all came down to skill, talent, and perseverance…all three qualities he was confident he had in droves.

Pulling off his tattered pyjamas quickly and sliding into his similarly humble day clothes, Trip slowly opened his bedroom door and made his way through the house to the kitchen. A small dwelling, it suggested a level of poverty not often experienced by those in the normally prosperous Unova region. The kitchen itself was a mess; dirty dishes strewn all over the sink, dirty water dripping onto the floor, and a tell-tale bottle of half consumed whisky on the table. This was the clear sign that something was wrong, and Trip had his suspicions he already knew what it was.

"Mum? Are you awake?"

Trip wondered why he ever bothered asking the question; his birthdays always played out the same way. He had wished that perhaps she would have changed her mind by now, but by all the evidence in the kitchen, it seemed as though this birthday, the one she had been dreading for years, was to be the worst of the lot.

Making his way into the living room, he was surprised to find her out of her usual position; the couch was empty, and all seemed strikingly normal. Maybe he was wrong…maybe she hadchanged her mind? Going on this journey with her blessing would be the greatest gift he could ever receive on this day. A weight coming off his shoulders that otherwise had the potential to ruin his bid for Pokemon supremacy.

"I'm in here, Trip."

The harsh tone of his mother rang out from the kitchen, and he slowly made his way back inside. Sitting at the table, red eyes peering at him from underneath the steam of a morning coffee, was with mother. Her brown hair covered most of her face, as could Trip's when he chose to wear it that way, but it was clearly one worn by years of hardship and despair. He had inherited his blue eyes from his father; his mother's were a crimson red; but this was not a fact that he liked to remind her of. If anything, he had a belief that she resented him for them at times.

"Morning, Mum."

The simple response was received with a low grunt from his mother, who sipped her coffee thoughtfully. She hasn't forgotten it was today, surely?

"It's your birthday, isn't it?"

Trip nodded in response. One could cut the tension with a knife. "And how old are you turning, dear?"

The word dear left her mouth tinged with enough poison to take down every Gym leader in the Unova region at once. He had to tread carefully here; his future hung by a thread. "14. Old enough to…"

His mother's head snapped towards him, her red eyes staring straight through him with a fury she normally reserved for his father. "Old enough to what?"

"To, uh…you know. Old enough to start out on my journey."

Her eyebrows shot up, as if surprised by this unforseen revelation. "On your journey?"

"My journey to become a Pokemon master, Mum."

His mother's hand slightly began to shake at the mere mention of what she referred to as 'the P word'. Her lips pursed into an unhappy line as she rubbed her forehead in exasperation. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't be doing any such thing."

"We never agreed that."

"There are far too many chores to be done around here, Trip! How can you expect me to look after myself if you are off gallivanting around the region on a fool's errand!"

A flash of annoyance waved over Trip's face; he did not like the times when his mother chose to berate his hopes and dreams. "I'm not a fool, Mum! I know what I'm doing; I know I'm good enough to do this…you just have to trust me. You have to let me go and try!"

"I'm not losing you as well, Trip! Your father…"

Again, Trip's nostrils flared. "I don't care about him! Just because he never came back, it doesn't mean I won't! I'm nothing like him."

His mother pushed her chair out and stood up. A tall woman, she towered over him with a glare that would rival anything that a wild Arbok could ever produce. "You are more like your father than you will ever know! This…obsession you both have…it's unhealthy! There is more to life than Pokemon!"

"I'm not obsessed! You just don't understand…you never have!"

"I understand all too well, boy. Now go to your room…I won't have any more discussion on the topic."

"But I…"

"I said go to your room!"

A small flick of saliva flew out of his mother's shouting mouth and hit Trip on the face. He wiped it off with a grimace and, before he realised what he was doing, grabbed the steaming mug of coffee and threw it across the room. The mug shattered into a million pieces; the hot brown liquid dripped down the wall and onto the floor, forming small pools. He ran from the room before his mother, looking at the shattered pieces in disbelief, could do anything.

oOoOo

Don't cry. Never let her see you cry. Never let anybody see you cry…what are you, weak? No way…you are better than that…stronger than that.

Trip lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Everything he had ever wanted…it was so close, but the idea that it might be all taken away from him…it stabbed his gut so deep he thought he'd never breathe again. Doing anything else had never crossed his mind; he was going to be a Pokemon master. It's all he ever wanted to be…and if he couldn't do that…what was the point of even living?

Crawling up to the window, he looked outside to see the storm partially subsiding. A few children, people he had spent years with at school, were outside playing with their Pokemon. A small boy with red hair ran along with his Tepig, laughing at the small flames shooting out of its nose. A girl giggled playfully as her Snivy played with her hair with its vines. A boy, a bit older, also caught Trip's attention. A spring in his step, a red cap pulled over his messy black hair, and a determined look in his eye. But what really caught his eye was the Pokemon sitting on his shoulder; something not often seen in the Unova region. A Pikachu, the electric type from Kanto. The bright yellow being scurried around his shoulder happily, as he laughed and patted it heartily.

"Wow…a Pikachu…"

Pressing his nose against the glass, he was again reminded of why he wanted to start on his journey. A rare Pokemon from another land! This dream was his ticket to countless adventures, experiences, and successes! He couldn't give it up now!

Rushing away from the window, be grabbed his backpack from the floor and anything of any use, thrusting them onto the bed. Fortunately, or unfortunately as it might be, there were not many things he had any intention of keeping with him; a small book entitled 'Guide to Unova Pokemon', containing a full map of the region; a watch; a packet of small matches he had been stealing from the kitchen over some weeks; and a picture of his mother. Looking at the photo, a twinge of sadness came over him. After some hesitation, he slide it into the bag and hopped off the bed. He opened the door quietly and began to again sneak toward the kitchen.

oOoOo

Peering into the kitchen, he was relieved to see that the coast was clear. The stain of coffee remained on the wall and floor, and a look of guilt flashed across Trip's face; but only for a second. With one hand on the doorknob, he was mere seconds from beginning his journey. He noticed that his hand was shaking, and he stopped it with a smile. No point showing weakness now.

Zzzz…

Trip was interrupted by the sound of a heavy snoring coming from the living room. Walking softly as to not awaken the sleeper, he peeked his head around the corner to spot the sadly predictable sight of his mother on the couch, empty bottle of whisky laying on the floor. The vapours leaving her mouth hit him and he retched slightly. Covering his mouth and his inhibitions, he silently walked to her side and leaned over her pathetic form.

He didn't blame his mother for the way she had acted...not really. Brushing his hands lightly over her cheek, he could feel the years of pain and longing residing in the form of premature wrinkles, taking away her beauty of years past. Her hatred of all things Pokemon was no fault of her own; but also, no fault of his.

Surely it would be unfair to stay because of what happened years ago? I can't let it get in the way of what I want…what I've always wanted.

Making his decision, Trip stood up and slowly made his way towards the front door. Looking around the house, he realised with a jolt that this would be the last time he would ever see it. Suffice it to say, once he was Pokemon master, this dwelling would no longer be suitable for he or his mother. He had no intentions of ever setting foot in the reminder of where he had come from again…his eyes were now firmly planted on the future. The past was exactly that…a horrible reminder of what he never wanted to become.

"Goodbye, Mum."

Looking back with a hint of sadness etched into his normally stoic face, Trip closed the door with purpose. From here on in, he would have to go it alone. Sighing to himself, he disappeared quickly into the fog, and away from the safety of his mother and home.

Back inside the house, the sound of Trip's fading footsteps are soon joined by those of his sniffling mother, who rolled over on the couch and looked towards the door with heartbreak written all over her face. Staggering to her feet, she walked over to the window, but Trip was already out of sight. She could see nothing but the playing of other children with their Pokemon in the fog that was quickly enveloping the town.

"Goodbye, Trip."

oOoOo

I hope you enjoyed seeing another side of Trip!

Read/review, let me know what you thought so far, what you'd like to see in the future, where you think I might go with the story!

- thorney33 -