"So, Soso, where do you think Bianca is?" asks a raven-haired boy wearing a blue sweater and black trousers.
"Hmm?" I ask absentmindedly.
As you can probably tell, I am Soso. Being thirteen years old, and only slightly younger than my friends Cheren and Bianca, our mentor, Professor Juniper, has decided to give us a Pokémon. I was zoning out of Cheren's tirade of Bianca, who was late, again, for something this important. I eye the festive, wrapped box sitting on my desk, wondering whether to open it anyways. It is holding our Pokémon! But then, Cheren, being a CHEREN, would probably stop me. On the other hand, I could make a run for it. Hmmmm…
"WHEW! Sorry I'm late!" Blond Bianca, wearing her typical green skirt and white blouse, runs into my room.
"Bianca, I've known you for ten years. I know you're always late, but why today?" Cheren sighs.
"Well, I'm here now. Where are the little cuties?"
"On Soso's desk"
"Then she should open it," Bianca says firmly.
"Obviously."
"What do you mean?!"
"That she should open it…"
"No! Then why'd you say it so meanly?"
"What?!"
"You're so mean!
"Soso?" Cheren appeals to me. I sigh. I'm ALWAYS the person to resolve my friends' endless fights.
"Bianca, lay off. Cheren didn't do anything. But seriously, Cheren, try to use a kinder voice at times. Now, if ya don't mind, I'm going to open the box." I say.
"Yes! Unleash the cuties!" Bianca squeals.
And slowly, carefully, I do just that.
"Te!"
"Sni!"
"Oshawott!"
"OHMYGOD WHY ARE THEY SO CUTE HOW ARE THEY SO CUTE GIMMEEEEEEEE!" Bianca screams.
"Geesh, Bianca, just can't live without breaking my eardrums, can you?" Cheren asks dryly.
I ignore them both, looking at the Pokémon. They might pretend it's no big deal to get one, but for me especially, it is. We would have left on our journey three years back if that didn't happen. I shake my head, trying not to think about that. I look at the Pokémon. Snivy looks arrogant, looking at everything over the tip of its nose. I immediately dislike it. I never have liked anything like that, arrogant and mean. Tepig looks too un-serious. Not that either.
I look at the remaining Pokémon, Oshawott. It looks unsure of itself, new to the world.
"I pick Oshawott!" I cry, picking up my unsure Oshawott and hugging it.
"What?" Cheren looks up from where Bianca and he were fighting.
"Oh! I want Tepig!" Bianca says.
"Why do you guys get to pick first? Whatever, I always wanted Snivy," Cheren says.
"Suits you…" I mutter.
"Soso, I challenge you to a Pokémon battle!" Bianca cries abruptly.
"What? Oshawott, you up to it?" I ask
"Osha…" Still unsure.
"Sorry, can't back out! Go, Tepig!" Bianca cries. Ooookay, first Pokémon battle, coming up!
Soso vs. Bianca!
"Go, Oshawott!" I cry.
"Osha…"
"Use Tackle!" I cry.
"Growl?" Bianca says.
The Tackle hits right on. The Tepig falls backwards, growling.
"Osha?" Oshawott looks back at me, confusion in its gaze.
"Go, on!" I encourage it.
"Osha!" It leaps back, Tackling the Tepig into fainting.
"Yes! Oshawot, you won!" I yell exultantly.
"Osha? Osha!" "Well, I must say your Oshawott did well. Here, I'll heal it for you," Cheren offers.
"Sure. Oshawott, you did so well!" I say. Oshawott definitely looks more confident, and happy too.
"Soso, I challenge you as well!" Cheren says about as abruptly as Bianca.
"What? Fine."
Soso vs. Cheren!
"Go! Snivy!"
"Oshawott!"
"You know, Snivy has the advantage," Cheren informs me.
"So? Not right now! Tackle, Oshawott!" With the element of surprise, Oshawott knocks over the Snivy and finishes it off quickly. It uses a Tail Whip, and then a series of Tackles.
"Sniiiiiiiii…" Somehow, the Snivy has not fainted yet.
"Time for payback! Scratch!"
"Tackle!"
Green clashes with blue and white. Oshawott receives a strong Scratch, but the Tackle sends the Snivy into la-la-land of fainting.
"Oshawott! You won again!" I say. "I'm proud of you!"
"OshaWOTT!"
"Uh-oh, look at the mess!" Bianca says nervously, chewing on her nails.
"Noooooo!" comes and unearthly cry from Cheren. Bianca and I whip our heads around to stare at him.
"NOOOO! I'm going to be in trouble! I'm gonna die! HELP MEEEEEEEEEE!" Cheren falls to the ground in an mess.
"Really? You're crying cause you made a mess? 'Cause you might get into trouble?" Bianca scoffs.
"I have NEVER been in trouble? What's it like? Where's the jail?"
"I vote for ditching him here right now," Bianca volunteers.
"For once, I may agree with you. Let's go downstairs and APOLOGIZE," I say. Bianca and I walk out of the room, Cheren scuttling out behinds us.
— x-| —
"Ummm… Ms. Mom, we're sorry for making Soso's room a mess…" Bianca says nervously again.
"Oh, its fine! I could hear the whole commotion! Pokémon, so small and cute, but so capable of damage…" my mother muses.
"Great! Come on, Soso, and Cheren if he can be a MAN, let's go to Professor Junipers'!" And with that, Bianca leaves.
"Of course I'm going! I was just… acting…" Cheren leaves too.
"Mom? Are you sure you don't need help?" I inquire.
"'Course not. By the way, I packed a bag for your journey. And honey…"
"Yes?" I ask, knowing and dreading what comes next.
"Please be safe. You know the last time I left you alone what happened. Please, please be safe."
"Of course, Mom. I'm older. I'll call you everyday, if it helps. I love you! Bye!" I say. Don't cry, don't cry… I chant in my mind, willing myself and my mom.
"That would be great. Bye! Love you too!" my mom says tearfully as I walk out of the house and out on my journey.
