=Ninfia=

   *gasp*
My eyes flung open.

Something bad is happening, something was coming, I was caught off guard-

I blinked.

Why is this happening? I thought, not for the first time.

Every night now, for about four weeks, I would wake up in the same fashion. It felt like some... well, presence would enter my dream soon after I fell asleep. It seemed to be the same every night, but I could never remember what actually happened during the dream. I would just wake up with a feeling of panic, and the first few times this happened, I would scream and fall out of my bed. I'm getting used to it now though. Although, now that I think about it, it probably started around three years ago... It was very gradual, and at the beginning, I only felt the presence for a second. It's only recently that I really started noticing it.

I looked over at my desk.

As usual, I had woken up just before my alarm went off. Honestly, I'm not even sure why I set it anymore....

Wait.

Alarm?

I gasped again. Today was my 16th birthday, the day when my parents would let me to go on a journey and become a Trainer! Usually, parents will let you start at 10, but if your parents are overprotective and want you to finish your education, (like mine) then you have to wait until you turn 16. I jumped out of bed, smacking the off button on my alarm, and nearly stepped on Bella, our family's pet Sentret, startling her awake.

"Sorry Bella," I whispered as quietly as I could.  She glared at me, then went back to sleep.  I ran to the bathroom, brushed my teeth and hair, then I ran to go get changed. I was ready in about ten seconds flat (Okay, well maybe it was a little more than that). I ran down the stairs as fast as I could without tripping, and I saw that my parents were sitting at the kitchen table, waiting for me.

My Dad is tall and lean, with blond hair just like mine.  My Mom is a little shorter, and she has dark brown, nearly black hair.  She is wearing an apron, which can only mean one thing.

"Good morning Ninfia! Are you exited?" my mom said with a big grin on her face.

"You bet!" I replied as I ran to the door.

My Dad looked up from his newspaper and said "Hey sweetie, your Mom made pancakes, are you going to eat some?"

I paused. As much as I loved my Mom's famous pancakes, I couldn't afford to waste any time. "Sorry Dad, I don't want to be late!" I said as I finally got the door open and ran out.

My mom sighed, "Okay, but come back after you get your Pokémon!" she yelled out the door.

Today is a beautiful summer day in New Bark Town.  Everything as far as the eye could see was green, (including the pond) and the sky was bright blue with barely a cloud in site.

Wow, I can't believe this day is already here! I thought to myself happily. I've been waiting for soooooo loooong! I wonder what pokémon Professor Hawthorne has for me...

Professor Hawthorne has been Johto's new Pokémon Professor ever since Professor Elm retired, almost twenty years ago.  After Elm passed the job on to Hawthorne, he bought a vacation home in Cerulean City.  In fact, two weeks ago was Professor Elm's 90th birthday.  He even had a birthday party thrown for him by Hawthorne. It was so big and grand, it was featured in the News!  Apparently, Hawthorne isn't anything like Elm, and I've heard that he likes to start off journeys for new trainers a little differently. The starter pokémon are still the same, but Professor Hawthorne was known to throw in some "bonus options", as he calls them. 

I wonder if he has any super OP bonuses... I thought excitedly.

I was lost in thoughts of what pokémon he could possibly choose for me, when a big rubber ball suddenly smashed into my face, making me stumble.

"Ow!!" I grumbled, as I looked around to see where it came from.

After only a few seconds of searching, I saw two little kids, a boy and a girl, trying to hide behind a bush next to a house, looking sheepishly at me.  Instantly, I realized who they were.  A mischievous grin spread across my face.

"Oh, you two have crossed the line now!" I said as I picked up the rubber ball.

The two kids are Nina and Max, twins.  They are about seven years old, as far as I know.  Nina is wearing a pink tank top and shorts, with her signature brown stubby pigtails.  Max has his dirty blond hair cut short, and a red pokémon hoodie that he almost never takes off.  They moved here about a year ago, and have been causing mischief ever since.  Apparently, I was one of their favorite targets.

The twins squealed excitedly and ran off in different directions.  I threw the ball at Max, and it bounced off his shoulder.  While he was distracted chasing it, I caught up to Nina and tackled her, and we fell to the ground laughing.  Max ran back and threw the ball at me, yelling "Meanie! Let her go!" with a big grin on his face.   I started to stand up, but he tackled me, and we all fell in to a heap, laughing like crazy. 

As soon as everybody calmed down, Nina looked curiously at me and asked, "Is it true that today is the first day of your Pokémon Journey?" 

Max looked up at me when she said this. "Yeah, is it? Is it?" he asked enthusiastically.

Oh crap! I thought.  In all the excitement, I had completely forgot about what I was doing.

"Uh, yes, it is! And I'm gonna be late!" I said, and then I took off running toward Professor Hawthorne's Laboratory.