Four years after arriving at the orphanage...
"Psst..."
One day, when Chikorita was polishing the furniture of the orphanage, she turned and saw a Charmeleon hiding behind a bookcase, motioning to her. She went over and asked him, "What?" He whispered, "Quiet! I have here a map of all my hiding places. I've seen how awful they treat the pokémon here. I stayed up all night making spare copies in case the elders catch me." She asked, "Wouldn't it be easier just to do your chores?" He whispered, "You're weird, Chikorita. I've tried that, and it never works. They always beat me; they say it's not good enough when anyone can tell it's perfect..." Chikorita said, "And what if the elders find those maps?" He realized he'd made a dumb move, and he ripped up the maps and threw them away.
Then they heard the elders say, "All right, everyone! Look your best! There's someone coming here to adopt. Mind your manners, respect your elders, look happy, you know the routine. And anyone who disobeys will be beaten and starved and never adopted EVER!!!! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!!??!?" The Pokémon responded, "We love you, elders." The elders responded, "Oh, shut up!" All the Pokémon did what the elders said, and none more so than Chikorita. Well, everyone except Charmeleon; he skulked off to one of his hiding places.
The one coming to adopt was Neil's best friend, Ella. She looked over all the Pokémon for about ten minutes (they stayed cheerful, respectful, and obedient) before making her decision. "I want the Treecko." Treecko squealed with delight, and the other Pokémon tried to keep on their smiles (inwardly, they were devastated that they had been rejected, and they wanted to cry). Ella told him with a smile, "Go get your things packed. You're coming home with me." Treecko went off to do just that.
Then the elders turned in an absolute rage on the other Pokémon. "YOU HAVE DISGRACED THE ORPHANAGE WITH YOUR COMPLETE DISOBEDIENCE OF OUR ORDERS!!!!! ALL LINE UP FOR BEATINGS, AND THERE IS NO DINNER FOR A MONTH!!!!! USELESS FAILURES!!!!!! NOBODY WANTS ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!!!!" The Pokemon felt sick. Was this their reward for complete obedience? The elders kept ranting and raving as they beat the Pokémon senseless. Anyone who cried was beaten even more. Charmeleon was found and dragged into line, but his beating was no more severe than the others. When the elders were done, they walked off lauging sadistically, except for two; they collared Charmeleon and Chikorita and made them mop the hall floor. However, the other elders began to grumble about Treecko's adoption. "We can't believe that spoiled brat got adopted! Now he's gonna think he can get away with disrespecting us! We're his elders, and we are entitled to the utmost respect!" But another elder said, "I thought of that. That's why I composed the rule sheet for new adopters. Ella will follow it to the letter; everyone else does, heh heh heh heh heh heh."
Charmeleon and Chikorita had just finished mopping the hall. She then asked him, "Why didn't you turn out for adoption?" He scowled and responded, "Adoption is a big fake. They say they love you and will keep you forever, but that's a bold-faced lie! It's just a matter of time, and they will take you right back here, and you'll never see them again. Your best hope is to evolve. I know for a fact that one day I'll become a Charizard, and then I'll be big enough to fight back. You will evolve into Bayleef, and then Meganium. Then you'll be big enough to fight back." Chikorita said with tears in her eyes, "I know what you mean! *sniff* That's happened to me ten times!"And she began to cry. Charmeleon responded, "Ouch. It happened to me fifty times."
Then the elders showed up and yelled, "YOU CALL THIS FLOOR CLEAN!??!" The floor was actually immaculate, but the elders just wanted to torture the two innocent Pokémon. "WE'RE GONNA TEACH YOU A LESSON YOU'LL NEVER FORGET!!!!!" But just then, Treecko came into the hall with his suitcase, and the elders' expressions completely changed. "There's our favorite little boy!" they said all affectionately. "We're really gonna miss you." Charmeleon piped up, "Miss him? Where's he going?" Chikorita answered, "He's been adopted. Ella came in and adopted him." Treecko happily said, "I've got a new mommy, and she's so nice!" Charmeleon scoffed, "Really?" The elders smiled answered while patting Treecko (which they had NEVER done before), "Yes. Good little Pokemon get good homes." Then, glaring at Charmeleon and Chikorita, they bellowed, "Bad little Pokémon get something else!" And then, turning to Treecko, they said (fake) sweetly, "It's just too bad you had to get adopted before your evolution party." Chikorita asked, "Evolution party?" The elders answered, "Yes. When a Pokemon evolves, that is an important stage in their life, so we give them a big party. It celebrates their 'coming of age,' if you will." Charmeleon cut in and said, "You don't believe this nonsense, do you?" Then one of the elders took him by his head-spike and dragged him into a nearby room. The others said, "Of course it's true. Ask anyone here." And so she asked Clefairy, Quilava, Krokorok, Sliggoo, Lombre, and Rhydon. They all affirmed their evolution parties and described how wonderful they were, but Rhydon said, "It's the only time the elders treat us nice." Chikorita was excited. "Now I've got to evolve!"
But that night, Charmeleon sneaked into Chikorita's room, got her out of bed, took her to one of his hiding places, and told her, "They're all lies! The elders NEVER give anyone evolution parties! Don't believe them! The elders are forcing them to lie about it. I know what actually happens. They treat you worse than ever. They work you to death, make you help them torment the little Pokémon, and they beat you hard even when you're perfect. You'll have to become a Meganium and fight back to be happy." Chikorita thought about it. Was Charmeleon right? He couldn't be. Clefairy, Quilava, Krokorok, Sliggoo, Lombre, and Rhydon all had parties, didn't they? Who was right, they or he? She sneaked back to her bed, and just in time, because the elders were now doing the "bed check," making sure everyone was in bed.
It sounds like Chikorita is in a quandary. Clefairy, Quilava, Krokorok, Sliggoo, Lombre, and Rhydon claim to have had wonderful evolution parties, but Charmeleon claims it's all a lie. Who is right? We'll find out eventually, but the next chapter will see Mario and Neil in a "Guys' Night In."
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