"Darling?"

"Yeah, daddy?"

"Yes, it is yes daddy."

"Of course daddy!" I nodded, my smile never leaving my face.

Daddy cracked his own grin and shook his head. "You know what time it is?"

"Um..." I should know.

"Come on, Ginger, this is a big deal. You remember, right?"

I tapped my chin, before giving up and throwing my hands up to my ow ginger colored hair. " I dunno, daddy."

I saw daddy's eye twitch. "Honey, it's 'I do not know'."

"Then why are you askin'!" I laughed heartily. If not even daddy knew, then I should be fine.

"Darling..." He coughed, clearing out his throat. "You are receiving your first Pokemon, our bloodline Pokemon because you are at the ceremonial age, eight. It will mark you as a Jewel." Daddy patted his arm against his chest. Pride swelled in his cheeks as they turned a bright pink. "Ginger Jewel, it will be official!"

Daddy looked so proud! I couldn't help but grin.

"Now, Darling, do you remember our Pokemon?"

"Um..." I scanned the room. Pictures adorned the wall all involving one evolution of Pokemon. "Bagon?"

"Yes, Ginger, yes! Very good, very good! Now, before I give you your Bagon, what Pokemon does your friend, Logan Ruby, have as his bloodline Pokemon?"

"Ah... a... a Trapinch?"

"Nice! Nice! Yes, well done. Now, remember this, royal bloodlines, like ours and Logan's and others, are marked by a dragon type. Dragon Royalty is the name the commoners have given us. It is

time."

Daddy stepped ahead of me, heading towards the large central doors, which led into the greeting and main room. I kept up to him, right behind his heels. He swung the doors open wide and I was greeted with a blinding light. Shielding my eyes with my hand I kept straight. Inside, a horde of Bagon waited. With them, leaning on one of our Salamance statues. He straightened at the sight of Daddy.

"Sir Jewel, my pleasure," He said as he bowed. Getting up, he gestured his hand towards the pack of Bagon around him. "All bred from perfection!"

Daddy inspected the group, making grunts and sighs every so often. "They will have to do... have your pick, darling."

I tried to copy daddy's eye as he was analyzing the Bagon, but it wasn't working, so instead, I stood their height and kept their stare.

All those I passed had strong, proud, boring eyes. They all held their head high and cast their gaze down at me, like I was a lesser being. I stepped away from them. Is this how they all are?

Before I gave up and did enny-minnie-minny-mo, one Bagon stumbled out of his posture, falling flat on his face.

I giggled as he tried to raise his heavy head. He plopped down on his butt and cocked his head left, watching me.

"I want him!"

"What? Him? You sure, darling? Him? Can you not find one better?"

"Yes, I agree. He's the runt of the litter. A clumsy creature."

"His name'll be Dylan. Come here, boy!" I patted my thighs and Dylan ran over. "Yep, Dylan is my choice."

"Okay, sweetie, if that is who you want..." Daddy ushered the others out. When we were alone, daddy opened the wide window of the room. "Sally," he whispered. Sally was daddy's Salamancer.

A roar sounded and in seconds, the sunlight was clouded by a soaring figure. I watched with my mouth a gap, so did Dylan. With a whoosh, Sally swerved into the room. Air kicked up as she landed

and I held onto Dylan to keep steady.

"Sally." Daddy walked over to her and stroked under her neck. "Look at who my daughter chose."

Sally got closer to Dylan and I. She tapped Dylan with her snout. Her long tail swooshing behind her. Dylan tumbled back, but I kept him up. She turned to daddy again and gave a cry, but nodded her head.

"She approves."

"Of course!"

Dylan also let out a call and pushed his head under my arm. I rubbed his shell like head.

"She made a choice?" Mom said. Her white suit clean cut, not a wrinkle in sight.

"Yep! See?"

Mom mirrored the look that the Bagon's had given me, but she added her own upturn of one corner of her mouth. A sound of disgust broke out. "This sorry excuse for a Pokemon?"

Dylan growled and puffed his chest out. This only got him another grunt from my mom.

"His name's Dylan," I said, placing my hand on Dylan's shoulder.

She sighed. "Why did you let her chose this... this... thing?"

"It is a Bagon. It was her choice to make, not mine."

"We have an image to uphold, and that small Bagon wont do it."

"His name's Dylan..." I whispered.

Mom gave me a glance, then shooed me with her hands. "Go outside while we chat."

I blinked back the tears that were bound to come and rushed out. Dylan in tow. We ran until we got to the garden. The farther away from the house the garden was, the more populated it was by wild Pokemon.

"Tired?" I asked.

He nodded yes and we rested in a shady encampment. It was an area you had to really look to spot anyone in. "I'm sorry, Dylan. She's always like that, don't take it to heart."

Dylan got up and began pacing.

"You're perfect little guy." I saw him flash a grin my way, before he went back and sat beside me. "You are."