Ch.1

The Challenge

It's been a while since I've posted anything in the Hamtaro section. Hopefully some of you still remember me. Anyways, this story contains some of my OCs, so if you don't know them, mini-bios are up on my profile. Please R&R!

The sun beckoned the humans out of their homes for many summer activities such as swimming, going on bike rides, or just being lazy outside. But the humans weren't the only ones out and about. The Ham Hams wiggled their way out of their cages and to their favorite hang out spot: The clubhouse.

Pashmina walked through the sun-soaked grass with her tiny friend Penelope by her side. "I wonder what the Ham Hams are up to. It's too nice of a day to stay inside, so maybe they're out playing soccer."

"Okwee!" replied Penelope.

"Neither am I," replied Pashmina with a slight chuckle. "I think I'll just cheer from the sidelines."

Penelope nodded in agreement. Looking ahead, she began to jump up and down. "Okwee Okyuu!"

"What is it Penelope?' asked the older hamster. Penelope pointed ahead at a red and white-furred hamster walking towards the clubhouse. A smile played across Pashmina's face as she and Penelope rushed towards the boy hamster. "Good morning Kai!"

Kai stopped in place, taking a moment before turning to the two girl hamsters. "H-Hi Pashmina, hi Penelope." Pashmina gave a slight giggle, noticing the boy hamster blushing. Kai almost always blushed shyly when someone spoke to him. "Um…do you two, uh, you know, wanna walk to the clubhouse together?"

"Okay!" exclaimed Pashmina, combined with an 'okyuu' from Penelope. Although the Clubhouse was less than five minutes away, Pashmina was happy to fulfill the boy ham's request.

The past couple minutes went by without the three saying a word. Pashmina flicked her eyes towards Kai, who was gazing about the area nervously as he tried to think of something to say to the girl ham. The pink scarf-wearing hamster suddenly grasped his paw with hers, causing the boy ham's face to turn a darker shade of red. Pashmina smiled at Kai, releasing a small giggle.

"Pashmina!" Before he could do anything, Kai was thrown head over heels as two other hamsters immediately stood by Pashimna's side.

"Isn't the weather lovely Pashmina?" asked Dexter.

"Going t' th' clubhouse I see," said Howdy. "Lemme get that door fer ya."

However, Dexter was already there, his paw on the handle. "Oh please Howdy, why don't you go play with your apron somewhere else?" Howdy's reply was a bit more physical than Dexter wished it had been as the country ham booted him away from the door.

"I said I'd get th' door fer Pashmina!" said Howdy as he swung the door open. "There ye go Pashmina."

Dexter, however, wasn't about to give up as he stood at Pashmina's side. "Fine, then I'll walk Pashmina into the Clubhouse while you stay here."

Howdy released a growl of anger as he took after his rival and his crush, stepping on Kai as the red and white-furred hamster attempted to pick himself up from the ground. "Oh no ye don't! I'm getting' that door fer Pashmina too!" Penelope, fearful for her friend's survival, dashed down the underground hallway.

Kai sighed sadly as he rose to his paws, rubbing the area on his back where Howdy had stepped on him. "Not again."

Pashmina half walked half jogged to the stool between Bijou and Sandy, panting slightly as she planted herself down.

"Are Dexter and Howdy fighting over you again?" asked Bijou as she handed her friend a cup of tea.

The pink scarf-wearing hamster shrugged as Penelope arrived, Sandy scooting over so the tiny hamster could be next to Pashmina. "Actually, it wasn't as violent this time," Pashmina flopped her head down on the desk with an exasperated sigh. "But still really annoying."

Sandy shook her head as Howdy and Dexter entered the clubhouse, Dexter 'accidentally' shutting the door before Kai could get inside. "Dexter and Howdy need to, like, cool it. Can't they see you and Kai totally have a thing?"

"Kai and I don't 'have a thing'," replied Pashmina, blushing slightly. "And for some reason, everyone thinks we do, so Howdy and Dexter are trying even harder to get me to like them."

"If you don't 'ave feeling for Kai, zen why are you blushing?" asked Bijou.

"Well, I just had to run from two hamsters, so of course my cheeks would be a bit flushed," explained Pashmina before taking a sip of her tea.

Sandy looked at her friend with confusion. "But you didn't start blushing until we, like, mentioned Kai."

"Okyuu Okwee Okwee!" replied Penelope as she made kissing faces at Pashmina.

Pashmina's face flushed even redder. "Oh hush you!"

As the day began to come to a close, one by one, the hamsters bid farewell to their friends. Pashmina, knowing that Penelope needed to be home early, accompanied her younger friend out of the Clubhouse and back into the grassy park.

"Did you have fun today Penelope?' asked Pashmina.

Penelope smiled back at her friend. "Okyuu!"

"That's good," replied the older hamster. "Remember when Hamtaro tried to read on of Maxwell's books and…" She stepped suddenly, her ears sticking up. She could tell someone was behind her and coming quickly. Two someones to be exact.

"Outta my way four eyes!"

"In your dreams country boy!" Pashmina and Penelope looked back to see Dexter and Howdy bickering with each other once again as they ran towards their crush.

Pashmina sighed tiredly. "What are you two doing?"

"I was wondering if I could walk you home!" explained Dexter.

"Yer only sayin' that 'cause I wanted t' walk 'er home!" snapped Howdy.

The bowtie-wearing hamster rolled his eyes. "Surely you jest. I've been thinking about walking Pashmina home since this morning."

"Well I've been thinkin' 'bout walkin' 'er home since last night!" countered his adversary.

"Were not!"

Were too!"

"Not!"

"Were!"

"No!"

"Yes!"

Penelope began to back away slowly upon seeing the growing annoyance on Pashmina's face. Pashmina rarely got angry, but when she did, it wasn't pretty. "BOTH OF YOU BE QUIET!" The two boy hams immediately stopped, staring at Pashmina with surprise.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice like that," said Pashmina. "But frankly, I've had enough of your arguing! You want me to be your girlham? Fine! I will!"

"Um, I don't think you can be both of our girlhams," explained Dexter.

Pashmina shook her head. "That's not what I meant. We need to settle this once and for all."

"Yeah, but how?" asked Howdy as he scratched his head in confusion.

The pink scarf-wearing hamster took a moment to think before a sudden thought came into her head. "A date! We can go on a date!"

"At the same time?" asked Dexter.

"No," explained Pashmina. "You each take me on a separate date. The date I enjoy more wins. How's that?"

Dexter nodded in agreement. "Sounds good to me, but who gets to go on a date with you first?"

"Um…do one of you have a seed?" asked Pashmina hastily.

Howdy stuck his paw under his apron, producing a sunflower seed. "Yeah, right here! I was gonna give ye this."

"A seed from under your apron?" asked Dexter as he pulled a face of disgust. "That's unsanitary!"

"Howdy, could you chew the shell off of one of the sides?" asked the pink scarf-wearing hamster. Howdy nodded as he quickly did as he was told. "There ye go gorgeous."

"Thanks," replied Pashmina, a little grossed out as she remembered where the seed had been. "Okay, I'll toss the seed in the air. If it lands on the side with the shell, Howdy goes first. If it's the side without the shell, Dexter goes first." She tossed the seed into the air, the two boy hams holding their breath as the seed tumbled on the ground.

Pashmina picked up the seed, showing the boys the side without the shell. "Looks like Dexter goes first."

Dexter sneered at his opponent. "And first is the place I'll obtain. You sure you don't want to back out now Howdy?"

"There ain't no way I'm losin' t' you!" stated Howdy as the two gave each other death stares.

Pashmina sighed in defeat as Penelope looked at her worriedly. "What have I gotten myself into?"

I hope everyone enjoyed the chapter! I'll update this fic every Sunday. Please R&R!