Chapter 4: The Road splits at Dawn.

Holly Ketchum tightened the straps on her Silph Co. space backpack, adjusting its weight on her shoulders. Even fully packed, it felt surprisingly light—technology was a wonderful thing. Every item was neatly tucked inside, organized down to the last detail. She had checked and rechecked everything the night before, but one final inspection wouldn't hurt.

Poké Balls? Secured.

Portable food and water storage? Packed.

Tent, cot, bedding? Triple-checked.

Clothing with extra underwear and socks? Checked by mom.

Pokedex? Fully charged.

She exhaled, satisfied. They were ready.

Across the room, Ash was finishing up his own preparations, shoving an extra pack of energy bars into his bag. Unlike Holly's meticulous organization, Ash's method of packing was more… chaotic. He had a system, but it was one that only he seemed to understand.

"Are you seriously packing last-minute?" she asked, crossing her arms.

Ash grinned. "Hey, I know where everything is."

"Sure you do," she muttered, eyeing the mess of supplies still strewn across his bed.

He ignored her skepticism, instead zipping his bag shut and tossing it over his shoulders. "We're good to go! Pikachu, you ready?"

"Pika!" Pikachu chirped, perched proudly on Ash's shoulder.

Holly glanced down at Growlithe, who was lying beside her cot, watching her with intelligent eyes. "You ready too?"

Growlithe barked, tail wagging.

A warm feeling settled in her chest. This was it.

Ash and Holly left the house together, stepping into the cool morning air. The sky was painted in soft pastels, the first hints of sunlight breaking over the horizon. Their mother, Delia, stood outside waiting for them, a mixture of pride and worry in her eyes.

"You two be safe, okay?" she said, wrapping Ash in a tight hug before turning to Holly and doing the same. "I expect calls whenever you reach a new town."

"We'll be fine, Mom," Ash assured her.

Holly nodded. "I'll make sure we both stay in one piece."

Delia sighed, brushing back Ash's hair before squeezing Holly's hands. "I know. I just… You're my babies, and now you're going off into the world."

"We'll come back," Holly promised. "This isn't goodbye forever."

Delia smiled through misty eyes. "I know. But still… take care of each other, at least for today."

With that, they set off together, walking side by side as they left Pallet Town behind.

For a while, the journey was quiet, save for the occasional chatter between them. Holly snapped a few pictures along the way—the morning sun casting long shadows through the trees, a Pidgey flock soaring overhead, Ash and Pikachu walking ahead of her, silhouettes against the light.

She smiled. These were the moments she wanted to capture.

They reached a clearing by midday, deciding to take a break. Holly set up a small cooking station, heating up a simple meal. She had been the one to pack the actual nutritional food, while Ash had stuffed his bag with easy-to-grab snacks.

As they ate, the reality of their impending separation settled between them.

"This is weird," Ash said suddenly, picking at his food.

Holly raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"Us… going different ways." He frowned. "We've always been together, you know?"

Holly nodded, stirring her tea. "Yeah. But we both have our own paths to take. You're heading for the Pokémon League, and I…" She exhaled, looking at the forest ahead. "I want to see the world differently. I want to find beauty, capture it, create something meaningful."

Ash studied her for a moment before grinning. "You're gonna take the best Pokémon photos ever, huh?"

Holly smirked. "Obviously."

They spent the rest of the day walking together, enjoying the companionship while it lasted. As the sun dipped lower, they found a good spot to set up camp for the night. Holly took care of the fire while Ash worked on his tent.

That night, under the vast expanse of the starry sky, they sat side by side, listening to the sounds of the wild.

"This is nice," Ash admitted.

Holly hummed in agreement.

Morning would take them in opposite directions.

Ash, toward Viridian City and his dream of becoming a Pokémon Master.

Holly, into the forest, where beauty and adventure awaited.

But for now, they were just two siblings, sharing a quiet moment before the road split ahead.