This is a story that has a sort of me-ness to it, but still has the original feel to it. I've had Amber slightly older than Ash, but since it's only by a week, it's no big deal. Anyway, everybody from the show is in this, but I've added some people, and the people in this story know there's more than 150 Pokemon out there…so, ENJOY!
Amber groaned as she heard her alarm clock go off. She gazed sleepily at the glowing numbers on her clock.
It was four in the morning.
She groaned again and rolled over. She stared at the wall with her calendar on it, skimming down the dates. She found today's date. She sat up immediately. "It's my BIRTHDAY!"
She jumped out of bed and struggled to get her clothes on. She finally ran out of her room wearing a blue tie-dye shirt and her lucky jeans. She was sure going to need them.
As soon as she ran into the kitchen, the lights turned on.
"Surprise!"
Everybody in Pallet Town had come to see her for her tenth birthday. Even Ash had come, too! He was going to turn ten a week from now, so she was originally going to wait for him, but she couldn't stand to think of waiting.
She immediately ran up and hugged Celia, a brown haired girl with a quiet personality. She was very shy, but she hugged Amber back and smiled.
"Happy tenth birthday, Amber!"
Ash raised his hand for a high-five, but Amber just hugged him too. He blushed and pushed her away. "Come on, Amber! You have to go blow out the candles!"
Amber slowly turned to the table. She gasped. There, four layers tall, stood a super chocolate cake with the chocolate bread and chocolate icing and those little chocolate sprinkles. Amber's eyes glittered in awe.
Then, Amber's dad walked up to her and patted her on the back. Everybody quieted down. He smiled. "You know, Amber, I think you should get sick and bloated from chocolate overdose after you get your first Pokemon."
Amber looked up at him, and nodded. "Yeah, I should go get one! Wish me luck!"
She ran out, and fresh air greeted her. It was slightly foggy out, with dew on the grass and a muffled silence. To others, this would seem a little gloomy, but Amber liked it just fine.
She skipped all the way over to Professor Oak's laboratory, and knocked on the door. After a few moments, the door opened, revealing the professor holding a notebook, recording something.
He looked up at Amber and smiled. "Well, hello, Amber! Is it your tenth birthday already?" Amber nodded, and Prof. Oak escorted her into his lab. She gazed at all of the shelves filled with Poke Balls.
Professor Oak pushed a button on his desk, and a table came up from the middle of the floor, overfilled with Poke Balls. Some fell to the floor as she picked up one from the top.
She was about to throw it when she hesitated. She turned to the professor. "How can you tell who's in what Poke Ball?"
Oak laughed. "Just throw them until you feel you've found the one you want."
Amber frowned, but she threw the Ball. It hit the wall and opened up. A red beam shot out of it, and a small blue turtle stared up at her. Amber smiled. "It's a Squirtle!"
Prof. Oak smiled. "I see you've studied your Pokemon well, Amber! Well, is this the one you want?"
Amber looked at the little turtle, and shook her head. Prof. Oak picked up the Poke Ball, and summoned Squirtle back inside it. He gave Amber another one.
She threw it, and this time, a small lizard with flame on its tail was dozing at her feet. As Amber petted the Charmander, it sighed and curled up tighter.
Oak looked at her, and she shook her head. The next Ball had a Bulbasaur in it. She sighed as it growled at her. "Maybe there isn't one in here for me after all…"
The professor smiled, and handed her another. "Try this one. I think you'll like it."
Amber pondered what he meant. She shook her head and threw the ball. When the beam shot out, she saw the faint outline of two pointy ears. She slowly saw a curled tail, paws, whiskers and a gem on something's head…
The Pokemon purred at her. She got down on her knees, and it climbed up onto her lap and curled up. She smiled, and looked up at Professor Oak. "I think I'll have this Meowth, Professor."
Oak nodded, and gave her the Poke Ball. She put it on her belt, and Amber felt a huge weight being lifted off of her shoulders. She had finally gotten her first Pokemon! Her very first one!
She smiled and ran off to the door. Oak yelled at her, "Wait! I've got to give you something!" He walked over to the front door, where Amber was waiting patiently. He gave her a small red device.
"That's a Pokedex." He said, and opened it up. "It's a device I made that records data on Pokemon that you find, battle, and capture. It is the ultimate Pokemon Masters' encyclopedia."
She took it and smiled at him. She ran off, and almost ran right into Gary. They both stumbled backwards. Gary quickly regained his posture and glared at her. "Watch where you're going, moron!"
She glared back at him, and she fingered her belt. She wanted to summon Meowth right now and scratch his face with Fury Swipes. But, she sighed and walked past him.
He scoffed and walked up to his grandfather's front door. Amber ran quickly to her house, wanting to show everyone her new Meowth. Then, she stopped. "Oh, no!"
She thought quickly of what she had learned about Pokemon like Meowth. 'A Meowth is extra hard to take care of as a pet, because it needs a litter box, fresh food and water, and a scratching post everyday. They also shed their fur often.'
Amber slapped her forehead. Her mom was allergic to Pokemon fur! She'd be sneezing all over the place. She sighed, and picked up Meowth's Poke Ball.
She couldn't bring Meowth back just because of that. Besides, she was already packed to start her journey to the Pokemon Gyms and the Elite Four. She would only stay for at least a day, and then she'd be gone.
She smiled and threw the Poke Ball. It opened, and Meowth licked its fur down. Amber petted it, making it purr, and said, "Well, Meowth, it seems we're pals for this journey. Are ya with me?"
Meowth meowed. Amber scratched behind its ears, and stood up. She saw Ash and Celia coming towards her with everybody following them. Meowth watched them all curiously as they gathered around it, murmuring. Mom kept behind the group, far away from Meowth and its fur.
Ash and Celia petted Meowth, and it purred and rubbed against their arms happily. Amber picked it up and walked to Dad. He smiled as she came confidently to him, with the Meowth staring at him, very curious.
He rubbed under its chin, and it slowly closed its eyes. Soon, it started to purr contently in a steady rhythm.
Mom smiled at her. "I'm so proud of you, Amber! Your very first Pokemon, and your beginning of the long and perilous journey to the Elite Four!" She wiped a tear from her eye. "You're growing up."
Ash patted Amber on the back, and Celia smiled as Amber slowly let her hold Meowth. She buried her face into its soft fur, and its ear twitched. She gave it back to Amber and said quietly, "I like her; she has a soft pelt."
Amber looked at Meowth. "'She'? It's a girl?"
Celia nodded, and Meowth stirred and yawned. Amber put her down, and she stretched her paws out.
Ash looked at her, smiling. "Are you going to name her?"
Amber looked down at the yawning Meowth, and shook her head. "I think she should be unnamed. It shows she has a free spirit."
Ash nodded thoughtfully, and Celia giggled. "You're starting to sound like a grown-up, Amber!"
Amber pretended to look surprised, and gasped. "Oh, that would be terrible! I better stop now!"
Celia giggled again, and Ash smiled. Then, Ash's mother came over. She smiled and petted Meowth. "It's so cute! I see why you love it so much!"
Amber smiled as Meowth leaned into Ms. Ketchum's warm touch.
Finally, after everybody had eaten their fill, they began to leave. Celia and Ash stayed, though, since their birthdays were a week after Amber's, and this would be the last time they'd see her for a while.
They played with Meowth and talked about the Pokemon they'd get. Ash bragged, "I'll probably get a Charmander and train it into a Charizard!"
"But Charizards are hard to tame even for the pro trainers." Celia pointed out.
Amber leaned back. "Besides, a Squirtle could take Charmander down before it evolved, anyway!"
Celia sat, thinking, and said, "Unless he got an Electric type Pokemon; that'd take out Squirtle quickly!"
Ash nodded. "Squirtle's no match for a Magnemite, or Electabuzz. He'd be knocked out before you could say 'Pikachu'!"
Amber thought quickly. She bit her lip. Then, she smiled. "Graveler!"
Ash looked at her. "What?"
Celia nodded, understanding what Amber meant. "Graveler is a Ground/Rock type Pokemon with a high defense. Even though Charizard is part Flying, it wouldn't be able to knock it out before Graveler used Earthquake or Rock Throw."
Amber smiled. "And, it can take out Pikachu at the same time! It's a neat type combo."
They went on and on, chatting about battle techniques and combos, until Amber's Mom came in and told them they should get home. Amber waved 'good-bye' to Ash and hugged Celia, and watched them walk down the street.
Dad was packing her some food in her pack when she walked into the kitchen. He looked up at her. "I think you wouldn't mind having some of Mom's stew while you're out adventuring, now, would you?"
She shook her head. Dad walked over to her and patted her on the back. Amber smiled at him. "Can you show me how to make a fire again?"
They walked outside, and Amber's Mom watched them rub two sticks together out in the dark. She smiled and walked over to the dresser.
She opened one drawer on the top and pulled out a small wooden box. She carefully tip-toed into the kitchen and put it into Amber's bag, and put in a couple more apples, just in case.
She walked back by the window and watched them sit by the fire, warming their hands to it in the moist air of the night. She looked up at the stars, twinkling far, far away.
She saw a shooting star shoot across the sky. Amber pointed at it, and her Dad nodded and watched the stars with her.
He pointed at one string of stars. "That's the Milotic Constellation, a Pokemon from a far off land. I've heard stories about them; amazing stories, almost too incredible to believe."
Amber looked long and hard, and pointed at a very bright star. "Is that the Pikachu star?"
Her Dad nodded. "Yes, Amber, very good. You're getting better at reading the stars every night."
She smiled, looking at the Pikachu star winking brightly. It seemed to say, "Go ahead, do whatever you please. I'll watch over you."
After a long time of star-gazing, her Dad stood up, his legs stiff. "Well, Amber, you should go to bed. You need the rest for the journey you'll embark upon tomorrow."
Amber groaned. "I can't sleep! I'm not tired." But, as she said this, she yawned, and he put her in bed.
She smiled as he opened the door to leave. Before he left, she said, "Wait! Dad, come back!"
He looked back in, and Amber picked up an old tattered book from under her pillow. "Please, read another tale to me tonight! Before I go, please? Just one more, a short one, for old time's sakes."
He sighed, and came back in. He slowly shut the door and walked over to her bed. She gave him the book, and he flipped through the pages.
He kept searching for a while, until he finally stopped and took a deep breath. Amber got into a comfortable position, and listened intently on her father's voice.
Once upon a time, a small Pikachu looked upon the hill far, far away. He saw a beautiful house with windows of diamonds and gold. He looked at it for an hour, right before dinner, when the sun was setting and the windows glowed.
One day, as he was watching the house, he decided he wanted to go see it up close. So, he packed some food and a compass, and set off the next morning.
He kept east, because of how the sun reflected off of the golden windows at sunset. He swam across great rivers, through dark forests, and over deep muddy ponds.
Finally, he came out of the last forest, and the morning had come again since his trip. He looked up the hill, but found that the golden house was not there. Instead, a normal house stood on the hill, as shabby as his house.
He walked glumly to the house, thinking the people must have moved the golden windows out, and knocked on the door.
A kindly old Slowbro opened the door. When she heard about his tale, she invited him in for breakfast. A small Pikachu, about his age, was eating at the table.
When he told her his story, she shook her head. "You've been going in the wrong direction, Pikachu!"
The Pikachu perked up, and she grabbed him and pulled him outside. She pointed to a hill far, far away. He looked. A house was on a hill with golden windows by where his house was.
He looked closer, and he saw it was his house. He laughed and thanked the Pikacu and old Slowbro. He quickly ran home, over ponds, through forests, and across rivers.
When he got home, his parents greeted him. His mother said, "Did you see something new?" The Pikachu nodded.
The father came up to him. "Did you learn about anything?"
The Pikachu nodded. His father asked, "What did you learn?"
The little Pikachu smiled. "Our house's windows are made of gold and diamonds.
Amber's Dad carefully put down the book and got off of the bed. Amber slept soundly, breathing in and out deeply. He closed the door and walked to the kitchen.
Mom was tightening the belt onto the backpack when he came in. She smiled at him. "Is she asleep?"
Dad nodded. "Dead to the world." Mom smiled and tightened the belt again. She checked all of the zippers and pockets, before Dad finally took it away from her.
She tried to protest, but Dad said, "You need sleep, too. I've got things to do, anyways, so it won't bother me."
Mom nodded and walked out of the kitchen. Dad smiled at a picture of Amber and him fishing by the giant body of water by Pallet Town. He tucked it into one of the pockets and tightened it.
He smiled and put Amber's shoes and coat by it in the front hall and walked into the parents' room. Mom was sound asleep.
He smiled and lay down on top of the blankets. He took out a book and read, watching over Mom, and the picture of the whole neighborhood gathering for Amber's third birthday.
He smiled at the pictures that adorned the wall. They were the last things he'd see of his daughter for a while.
He wondered what she was thinking right now, in her dreams. Was she dreaming sweet dreams of victories and purring Meowths? Or was it hissing and defeat that haunted her?
He sighed. He was worrying too much. This was her choice, and she chose her own path in life. She might as well follow it.
Amber slowly got up as her alarm went off. She hadn't gotten to sleep until two, and it was only six. She slammed the alarm off, and flopped back onto bed.
She felt something furry rub against her arm. She rubbed it, and a muffled purring came up to her though the blanket.
Meowth hopped onto the bed and licked her face. Amber finally yawned and got up, rubbing her eyes. She looked at Meowth's glowing eyes. They seemed to hypnotize her, awaken her. She heard a voice, whispering something to her. She couldn't understand…
She shook her head. She got up, and Meowth followed her. They tip-toed past Mom and Dad's room and sneaked into the kitchen.
She sneaked a granola bar and dashed to the front hall. She grabbed her bag, put her shoes and coat on, and put Meowth on her back. Her claws dug into her coat and held on.
She walked out into the crisp air. She let herself drown in the moist sensation for a moment, lost in the muffled silence. (I like that phrase, 'muffled silence'…so deep)
She bit a piece off of the bar and gave a bit to Meowth. As she nibbled on it, her ears perked up and moved around on her head like little radars.
Amber looked at her. "What is it, Meowth?" Meowth mewed, and Amber looked around. She saw three figures walking down the street towards her.
She squinted in the fog, and saw a red-and-white cap bobbing up and down. She smiled and ran over to Ash. He had Celia and Gary with him, too.
Amber hugged Celia. "Thanks, guys! I was hoping I could see you one more time before I went." Celia smiled, and Ash rubbed the back of his neck. "We couldn't have let you go without the proper 'Bon Voyage'!"
Amber smiled, and looked at Gary. He avoided eye contact. Amber smiled and walked over to him. She held out her hand. "See you next week! I hope you can catch up to me!"
Gary didn't take her hand. Instead, he scoffed and looked at her like she was an idiot. "Don't worry, I will."
Amber glared at him. "Hey, dude, can you not be 'Mr. Grumpy' for uno momento? You might have more friends that way."
Gary glared back at her. "I don't need friends, thank you very much."
Amber crossed her arms. "Umm, yeah, you do. Everybody needs friends, 'thank you very much'!"
Ash and Celia watched as they threw insults and remarks back and forth. Finally, Ash came in between them and grabbed their fists. "Whoa, hey there! Is that anything to do at a 'Bon Voyage' good-bye assembly?"
They both grumbled and looked away. Celia sighed. Ash shook his head, and smiled at Amber.
"Well, I guess you better get going. The farther ahead you get the better!"
Gary smirked. "Yeah, the farther you get from me, the better!"
Amber stuck her tongue out at him. Ash looked at Celia for help. Celia came in between them and took both of their right hands. She put them together and made them shake.
They both tried to squeeze the life out of each other's hands, but otherwise, it was peaceful. They turned away from each other, grumbling darkly, and Celia whispered in Ash's ear, "They have a worse rivalry than you do with him."
Ash nodded. "That's because whenever she tries to be nice, he just bites her head off. I think she stopped after the thirty-second attempt." Celia stared at him. He nodded. "Yeah, I counted after a while. So?"
Celia sighed. Ash looked at her, confused. "What'd I do?"
Amber walked over to them and hugged them. She smiled as Celia gave her a small carving of a Meowth. "Thanks, Celia! Seriously, I wish I could make stuff as good as you!"
Celia blushed, and nudged Ash. Ash gave Amber a big pack of postcards. "You can use them to write us back." He said nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
Amber nodded, looking at the postcard designs. She put them in her coat pocket, and turned to look at the road she planned to go on. It looked long, and rough.
She smiled. That's the thrill of life; you never know what'll happen. She waved good-bye and started walking down the road.
As soon as she left Pallet Town, she felt utterly alone. Meowth rubbed her head, and she scratched under her chin. She took out an apple and took a bite out of it. She felt something fall out of her bag.
She looked down, and she saw a wooden box. She picked it up and turned it over. It had carvings of Pokemon on it.
She opened the box, and she saw a flute. It was old looking, and it had the same carvings as the box. She sat under a tree and took out the flute.
She looked it over, and finally, she put it to her lips and started to play. Although she was playing a happy song, the tune that the flute sung was a sad, lonely song.
She found herself crying, and she stopped. She looked at Meowth, who was sobbing too. She put the flute back in the box and just sat there, relaxing.
Finally, she got up, and Meowth walked beside her as she walked down the road again. She took another apple out, but she dropped it and it rolled into the bushes.
She was about to go get it when she heard a hissing sound. She froze. It could be an Ekans, or maybe even an Arbok. She gulped.
A yellow rattle flicked from the grass. Amber carefully backed up and grabbed Meowth. The Ekans came out of hiding, holding the apple. It gulped it down whole, and Meowth hissed at it.
Ekans glanced at Meowth, then thought better of it and looked straight into her eyes. Meowth shivered.
Amber gulped again. It was using Glare, or maybe Leer. It looked at Amber, and she made sure not to look directly in its eyes. She busied herself with the strap on her backpack.
The Ekans looked at her expectantly. Amber finally realized it was waiting for another apple. She slowly took an apple out and rolled it over to it.
The Ekans gulped it down whole and rattled its tail very softly. Amber slowly took out her flute and started to play the only charming song she knew.
Ekans slowly got up to its full height and rocked back and forth to the rhythm of her movements. She played the flute as good as she could, until the Ekans suddenly nodded at her and slithered off into the grass.
She stood there, still holding the flute to her mouth, staring at where it disappeared. She finally put it back in the box and put the box in her bag.
She continued walking down the path, keeping an apple handy in case more came, until nightfall. She spread out a blanket on the ground. She looked around, trying to see some red or yellow eyes staring at her or something.
Finally, she put the blanket up in a tree. She climbed the branches as Meowth jumped up quickly. She made a sort of cushion for her head out of leaves, and tried to get comfortable.
She listened to the Bug Pokemon singing and looked up at the stars. She knew all of the constellations, and pointed them out easily.
"There's the Pikachu star again," She said to Meowth. "It's right in the Gardevoire Constellation. Under that is the Gligar Constellation. See that kind of 'S' shaped string of stars? That's the Gligar."
Meowth looked as she explained what each Constellation meant to the ancient people. Finally, Meowth dosed off, leaving Amber still staring at the stars.
A shooting star shot across the sky, and she thought of home. This was her first time of being away from her parents, and her friends. She thought of Celia and Ash.
She looked back at the stars, and whispered, "I hope they'll come soon. I'm so lonely out here."
The stars winked at her, making her feel more comfortable. Besides, she wasn't alone. She felt Meowth's slow breathes in and out, in and out. She rubbed its back and closed her eyes. She fell asleep under the watchful eye of the Pikachu star.
Commentaries
Thanks for anybody who has just read this, since nobody's really reviewed it; it is the first chapter ;) But, I do have thanks to give.
Thanks to my mom, who always believe in me, no matter what happens. Thanks, mom!
Thanks to my friends, Lizzy, Katie, and Ashley, for just being my friends, even when I'm weird XD If it wasn't for you, I'd be writing gloomy stories of gloom and doom. So, thanks!
Thanks to my stepdad, who always looks out for me and takes me to cool places. Without you, I wouldn't be eating the red hots and lemonheads I'm eating now! ;) Thanks for the goods!
And, last but definitely not least, is all of the people who read my stories! Thanks, I hope you like them. Please keep hanging in there, I may be a slow updater, but I love to write, so thanks! ;)
So, now all you've got to do is press that little button with 'submit review', put in your opinion, and I'll definitely thank the people who do and recommend their stories, since you R&R mine! So, press the button, and away we go!